ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the expression of IL-17-producing regulatory T cells ( Treg) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus ( SLE) and to analyze their clinical significance. Methods This study recruited 32 patients with SLE ( including 14 with active SLE and 18 with inactive SLE) and 13 healthy subjects matched for age and sex. Flow cytometry was performed to detect the expression of Foxp3 and IL-17 in CD4 T lymphocytes and the phenotypic characteristics of IL-17-producing Treg. Correlations between these cells and clinical indicators of SLE were analyzed. Peripheral CD4+CD25+ T cells were isola-ted from five healthy subjects and then stimulated with IL-6 and IL-1βalone or in combination. An in vitro T cell polarization assay was performed to investigate the role of cytokines in the polarization and regulation of IL-17-producing Treg. Results Compared with the healthy subjects and patients with inactive SLE, the pa-tients with active SLE had a higher percentage of IL-17-producing Treg in peripheral blood. Moreover, the expression of Foxp3 and CD45RA by IL-17-producing Treg in the active SLE group was down-regulated, while that of IL-2, granzyme B (GramB), programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) and glucocorticoid-in-duced tumor necrosis factor receptor ( GITR) was up-regulated. Inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 and IL-1 could induce Treg to produce IL-17. Conclusions This study suggested that increased inflammatory cytokines might correlate with higher percentages of IL-17-producing Treg in patients with active SLE. These cells were a subset of pathogenic Treg failing to prevent autoimmune.
ABSTRACT
ObjectiveTo assess the efficacy of herpes virus entry mediator (HVEM) gene modifled dendritic cells (DCs) in protecting against myosin induced myocarditis,and to investigate the involving mechanism.MethodsWe treated experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM) mice with myosin-pulsed DCs which were transfected with HVEM-expressing adenovirus (Ad-HVEM) or control vectors,then evaluated myocarditis,plasm cTn [ and autoantibody by histopathology,fluoroimmunoassay,and ELISA,respectively.ResultsWe found that DCs transfected with Ad-HVEM (DC-Ad-HVEM) could protect against EAM.Further study showed DC-Ad-HVEM could produce regulatory cytokine IL-10,and IL-10 promoted the production of a key regulatory T cell subset which is important in peripheral tolerance.The T cells mediated protection against EAM.ConclusionThis study suggest that myosin-DC-Ad-HVEM cell gene therapy is a safe and effective way for inhibiting the development of EAM,and the signal net mediated by HVEM plays different roles in different cells.
ABSTRACT
Objective To assess the sequence variations in preS/S regions of occult hepatitis B virus (OHB) and their relationship to severe chronic hepatic injury. MethodsWe collected samples from HBsAg negative patients, and evaluated their HBV-DNA by nest-PCR. HBV-DNA positive samples were used for analysis of preS/S region by PCR sequencing. Results Sixty-nine cases with HBV-DNA were identified in 468 cases without HBsAg. The positive percents were 16％, 8.7％, 36.4％, 18.3％ and 0％in group of only HBcAb positive, only HBeAb positive, only HBeAg positive, both HBcAb and HBsAb positive and all indexes negative, respectively. The level of HBV-DNA of OHB was significant lower than that in HBsAg positive patients. Compared with HBsAg positive controls, preS/S deletion, M1I and Q2K in preS2 region, Q129N/R/P,G185R and S210R in S region were more common in OHB. Moreover, M1I and Q2K in preS2 region, G185R and S210R in S region in OHB with severe chronic hepatic injury were more common that those in OHB without severe chronic hepatic injury. Compared with HBsAg positive patients with severe chronic hepatic injury, the level of HBV-DNA was lower, while the frequency of M1I and Q2K mutation in preS2 region, G185R and S210R in S region were more common in OHB patients with severe chronic hepatic injury. ConclusionThe virological factors were different between OHB and HBsAg positive patients. The M1I and Q2K in preS2 region, G185R and S210R in S region might be useful for prognosis evaluation of OHB patients.