TREM-2 Drives Development of Multiple Sclerosis by Promoting Pathogenic Th17 Polarization / 神经科学通报·英文版

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neuroinflammatory demyelinating disease, mediated by pathogenic T helper 17 (Th17) cells. However, the therapeutic effect is accompanied by the fluctuation of the proportion and function of Th17 cells, which prompted us to find the key regulator of Th17 differentiation in MS. Here, we demonstrated that the triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM-2), a modulator of pattern recognition receptors on innate immune cells, was highly expressed on pathogenic CD4-positive T lymphocyte (CD4+ T) cells in both patients with MS and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) mouse models. Conditional knockout of Trem-2 in CD4+ T cells significantly alleviated the disease activity and reduced Th17 cell infiltration, activation, differentiation, and inflammatory cytokine production and secretion in EAE mice. Furthermore, with Trem-2 knockout in vivo experiments and in vitro inhibitor assays, the TREM-2/zeta-chain associated protein kinase 70 (ZAP70)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signal axis was essential for Th17 activation and differentiation in EAE progression. In conclusion, TREM-2 is a key regulator of pathogenic Th17 in EAE mice, and this sheds new light on the potential of this therapeutic target for MS.

Significance of Tim-3 and Its Ligand Galectin-9 in Th1/Th2 Imbalance in Patients with Multiple Myeloma / 中国实验血液学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the significance of Tim-3 and Galectin-9 in Th1/Th2 imbalance in patients with multiple myeloma (MM).@*METHODS@#55 newly diagnosed MM patients and 20 healthy controls were included. Flow cytometry was used to detect the expression of Tim-3 on CD4+T cells, the proportion of Th1, Th2, Tim-3+Th1 and Tim-3+Th2 cells in peripheral blood. ELISA was used to detect the levels of cytokines IFN-γ and IL-4 in serum, and PCR was used to detect the level of Galectin-9 mRNA. Then the correlations between Galectin-9 mRNA expression and Th-cell subsets and related cytokine levels, as well as the relationship between Tim-3+Th1/Tim-3+Th2 ratio and corresponding clinical features were analyzed.@*RESULTS@#Compared with the control group, the expression of Tim-3 on CD4+T cells in peripheral blood of MM patients was significantly increased (P<0.05), the proportions of Tim-3+Th1 cells, Tim-3+Th2 cells and Tim-3+Th1/Tim-3+Th2 ratio in MM patients were also increased (P<0.05), while the proportion of Th1 cells and Th1/Th2 ratio in MM patients were significantly decreased (P<0.05). The level of cytokine IFN-γ and IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio in MM patients were significantly decreased (P<0.05), while the level of cytokine IL-4 was increased (P<0.05). The mRNA levels of Galectin-9 in MM patients were significantly increased (P<0.05). The levels of Galectin-9 mRNA were positively correlated with Tim-3+CD4+T cells (r=0.663), Tim-3+Th2 cells (r=0.492) and IL-4 (r=0.470), while negatively correlated with IFN-γ (r=-0.593). The ratios of Tim-3+Th1/Tim-3+Th2 in MM patients were positively correlated with ISS stage (r=0.511), osteolytic damage (r=0.556) and chromosome abnormality (r=0.632).@*CONCLUSION@#These results suggest that Tim-3 and Galectin-9 are involved in Th1/Th2 imbalance in MM patients, and the high ratio of Tim-3+Th1/Tim-3+Th2 is associated with poor clinical prognosis.

Grape Seed Extract Attenuates Demyelination in Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis Mice by Inhibiting Inflammatory Response of Immune Cells / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To examine the anti-inflammatory effect of grape seed extract (GSE) in animal and cellular models and explore its mechanism of action.@*METHODS@#This study determined the inhibitory effect of GSE on macrophage inflammation and Th1 and Th17 polarization in vitro. Based on the in vitro results, the effects and mechanisms of GSE on multiple sclerosis (MS)-experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) mice model were further explored. The C57BL/6 mice were intragastrically administered with 50 mg/kg of GSE once a day from the 3rd day to the 27th day after immunization. The activation of microglia, the polarization of Th1 and Th17 and the inflammatory factors such as tumor necrosis factor- α (TNF- α), interleukin-1 β (IL-1 β), IL-6, IL-12, IL-17 and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) secreted by them were detected in vitro and in vivo by flow cytometry, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), immunofluorescence staining and Western blot, respectively.@*RESULTS@#GSE reduced the secretion of TNF-α, IL-1 β and IL-6 in bone marrow-derived macrophages stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (P<0.01), inhibited the secretion of TNF-α, IL-1 β, IL-6, IL-12, IL-17 and IFN-γ in spleen cells of EAE mice immunized for 9 days (P<0.05 or P<0.01), and reduced the differentiation of Th1 and Th17 mediated by CD3 and CD28 factors (P<0.01). GSE significantly improved the clinical symptoms of EAE mice, and inhibited spinal cord demyelination and inflammatory cell infiltration. Peripherally, GSE downregulated the expression of toll-like-receptor 4 (TLR4) and Rho-associated kinase (ROCKII, P<0.05 or P<0.01), and inhibited the secretion of inflammatory factors (P<0.01 or P<0.05). In the central nervous system, GSE inhibited the infiltration of CD45+CD11b+ and CD45+CD4+ cells, and weakened the differentiation of Th1 and Th17 (P<0.05). Moreover, it reduced the secretion of inflammatory factors (P<0.01), and prevented the activation of microglia (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#GSE had a beneficial effect on the pathogenesis and progression of EAE by inhibiting inflammatory response as a potential drug and strategy for the treatment of MS.

Regulating the immune response to carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis in mice by blocking inducible co-stimulatory molecules and interleukin-33 / 中华肝脏病杂志

Objective: To investigate the effects of combined blockade of interleukin-33 (IL-33) and inducible co-stimulatory molecule (ICOS) on carbon tetrachloride-induced chronic liver fibrosis and imbalance of T helper lymphocyte subsets in mice. Methods: There were 40 BALB/c mice in each model and control group. Flow cytometry was used to determine the proportion of Th1/Th2/Th17 cells in the splenic lymphocyte suspension of mice, the expression levels of interferon γ, IL-4, and IL-17 in the splenic lymphocyte suspension of liver fibrosis mice after combined blockade of IL-33 and ICOS, and the pathological changes of liver histopathology in mice with liver fibrosis. Two independent sample t-test was used to compare data between groups. Results: Compared with the non-blocking group, the proportion of Th2 and Th17 cells in the IL-33/ICOS blocking group was significantly down-regulated (Th2: 65.96% ± 6.04% vs. 49.09% ± 7.03%; Th17: 19.17% ± 4.03% vs. 9.56% ± 2.03%), while the proportion of Th1 cells and Th1/Th2 ratio were up-regulated (Th1: 17.14% ± 3.02% vs. 31.93% ± 5.02%; Th1/Th2: 0.28 ± 0.06 vs. 0.62 ± 0.23), and the difference was statistically significant (t = 5.15, 6.03, 7.14, 4.28, respectively, with P < 0.05). After entering the chronic inflammation stage of liver fibrosis in mice (10 weeks), compared with the non-blocking group, the expression levels of IL-4 and IL-17 in the blockade group were significantly down-regulated [IL-4: (84.75 ± 14.35) pg/ ml vs. (77.88 ± 19.61) pg/ml; IL-17: (72.38 ± 15.13) pg/ml vs. (36.38 ± 8.65) pg/ml], while the expression of interferon γ was up-regulated [(37.25 ± 11.51) pg/ml vs. (77.88 ± 19.61) pg/ml], and the difference was statistically significant (t: IL-4: 4.71; IL-17: 5.84; interferon γ: 5.05, respectively, with P < 0.05). Liver histopathological results showed that hepatic necrosis, hepatic lobular structural disorder, and fibrous tissue hyperplasia were significantly lower in the blockade group than those in the non-blocking group at 13 weeks of liver fibrosis. Conclusion: Combined blockade of the ICOS signaling pathway and IL-33 can regulate Th2 and Th17 polarization, down-regulate the inflammatory response, and inhibit or prevent the occurrence and progression of fibrosis.

The Levels of Inflammatory Regulatory Factors in Acute Leukemia Complicated by Infection and Its Clinical Significance / 中国实验血液学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the expression levels and clinical significance of helper T cell 1/helper T cell 2 (Th1/Th2) cytokine and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in patients with acute leukemia (AL) complicated by infection.@*METHODS@#68 patients with AL complicated by infection admitted to Wuhan Fifth Hospital from May 2017 to January 2020 were enrolled as study group, 50 AL patients without infection were enrolled as AL group, and 30 healthy volunteers checked in physical examination center were enrolled as healthy control group. The levels of serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-10 (IL-10), and peripheral blood Th1/Th2 cells subsets were measured and compared among the three groups. The serum IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α and Th1/Th2 were compared between the patients with mild to moderate infection (n=52) and septic shock (n=16). The relationship between IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, Th1/Th2 and AL infection was analyzed.@*RESULTS@#The levels of IL-6, IL-10 , TNF-α, and the proportion of Th2 of the patients in study group and AL group were significantly higher than those in healthy control group (P<0.001), while the proportion of Th1 and Th1/Th2 were significantly lower than those in healthy control group (P<0.001). The levels of IL-6, IL-10 and TNF-α, and the proportion of Th2 the patients in study group were significantly higher than those in AL group (P<0.001), while the proportion of Th1 and Th1/Th2 were significantly lower than those in AL group (P<0.001). The serum IL-6, IL-10 and TNF-α level of the patients in septic shock group were significantly higher than those in mild-to-moderate infection group (P<0.001), while Th1/Th2 was lower than those in mild-to-moderate infection group (P<0.001). The results of ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the ROC curve (AUC) values of IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α and Th1/Th2 alone for the diagnosis of septic shock were 0.779, 0.761, 0.724 and 0.718, which were lower than that their combination (0.910) (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#The levels of serum IL-6, IL-10 and TNF-α are high in patients with AL complicated infection and septic shock, while Th1/Th2 cell subsets is low. The combined detection of serum IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α and Th1/Th2 is a good diagnostic value for predicting the occurrence of severe septic shock.

First report of expansion of CD4+/CD28 null T-helper lymphocytes in adult patients with idiopathic autoimmune hemolytic anemia

ABSTRACT CD28 null T helper (Th) cells are rare in healthy individuals, but they are increased in various inflammatory and immune-mediated diseases. In this study, we determined the size of the CD4+/CD28 null T lymphocyte compartment in the peripheral blood of 40 autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) patients (idiopathic and secondary) and 20 healthy control subjects, using tri-color flow cytometry. The frequency and absolute count of CD4+/CD28 null T helper (Th) cells was significantly higher in idiopathic AIHA patients, compared to healthy controls (p = 0.001 and 0.001, respectively) and to patients with secondary AIHA (p = 0.04 and 0.01, respectively). The percentage of CD4+/CD28 null Th cells was also negatively correlated to the hemoglobin (Hb) level (p = 0.03). These findings demonstrate, for the first time, the expansion of this phenotypically-defined population of T lymphocytes in patients with idiopathic AIHA and indicate that it likely plays an etiological role in the development of this disease. However, establishing the use of this marker for diagnosis or monitoring treatment of such patients needs further studies.

Dramatic secukinumab-mediated improvements in refractory leprosy-related neuritis via the modulation of T helper 1 (Th1) and T helper 17 (Th17) immune pathways

Abstract A 39-year-old woman was diagnosed with relapsed multibacillary leprosy and refractory neuritis. Here, we describe an evident loss of therapeutic effectiveness after the third pulse of corticosteroids, which may be attributed to tachyphylaxis and the posterior modulation of interferon- γ (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor- α (TNF-α,) interleukin-17A (IL-17A), and IL-12/23p40 after the induction phase of secukinumab. In this case, plasma cytokine analysis showed that secukinumab induced a reduction in IL-17 concomitant with impressive clinical improvements in the patient's neural function. Interestingly, secukinumab induced reductions in cytokines related to Th1 responses and earlier stages of the Th17 response, including IL-23/12.

Perfil de citocinas Th1, Th2, Th17 y otras citocinas pro inflamatorias (IL-1ß, IL-6 y TNFα) en el plasma de pacientes con cáncer gástrico / Th1, Th2, Th17 cytokine profile and other pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1ß, IL-6 and TNFα) in the plasma of patients with gastric cancer

El cáncer gástrico (CG) es la neoplasia del tubo digestivo más prevalente en el mundo, asociada a factores genéticos del hospedero y externos, como infección por Helicobacter pylori. La patogénesis incluye inflamación crónica mediada por citocinas del microambiente tumoral, detectables sistémicamente. Estudios previos reportan niveles séricos de citocinas y su contribución al diagnóstico de CG. El presente estudio analiza el perfil de citocinas del tipo de Th1(IFNγ), Th2(IL-4 e IL-10), Th17(Th-17A) y otras pro inflamatorias: IL-1ß, IL-6 y TNF-α, en plasma de 70 casos de pacientes con CG comparándolos con 132 sujetos sanos equiparables en edad y sexo. Los casos provinieron del Hospital Roosevelt e Instituto Nacional de Cancerología de Guatemala (Incan) y formaron parte de un estudio previo. Se analizó la base de datos clínicos, patológicos y epidemiológicos. Se midieron los niveles de citocinas utilizando el sistema "MSD MULTI-SPOT Assay System". La edad promedio de los casos fue 59.5 años, (DE 13.0), 51%, eran positivos para IgG anti H. pylori. Un 71% presentó adenocarcinoma grado III (Borrman), según clasificación de Lauren 55% tenían tipo intestinal. Las siete citocinas cuantificadas se encontraron significativamente elevadas (p < .05) en el plasma de los casos respecto a sus controles. Los casos de CG tipo difuso presentaron niveles de IFNγ significativa-mente elevados. Por regresión logística, las citocinas IL-6 e IL-10, están asociadas significativamente a CG (p < .05) independientemente del estatus de infección por H. pylori. Se destacan la IL-6 e IL-10 como las principales citocinas asociadas a la presencia de CG.

Gastric cancer (GC) is the most prevalent gastrointestinal neoplasm in the world, associated with host and external genetic factors, such as Helicobacter pylori infection. The pathogenesis includes chronic inflammation mediated by cytokines of the tumor microenvironment, systemically detectable. Previous studies report serum levels of cyto-kines and their contribution to the diagnosis of GC. The present study analyzes the profile of cytokines of the type Th1 (IFNγ), Th2 (IL-4 and IL-10), Th17 (Th-17A) and other pro-inflammatory: IL-1ß, IL-6 and TNF-α, in plasma of 70 cases of patients with GC compared with 132 healthy subjects comparable in age and sex. The cases came from the Roosevelt Hospital and the National Cancer Institute of Guatemala -Incan- and were part of a previous study. The clinical, pathological and epidemiological databases were analyzed. Cytokine levels were measured using the "MSD MULTI-SPOT Assay System". The average age of the cases was 59.5 years, (SD 13.0), 51% were positive for IgG anti H. pylori, 71% had grade III adenocarcinoma (Borrman), according to Laurenís classification, 55% had intestinal type. The seven cytokines quantified were found to be significantly elevated (p < .05) in the plasma of the cases compared to their controls. The diffuse GC cases presented significantly elevated IFNγ levels. By logistic regression, the cytokines IL-6 and IL-10 are significantly associated with GC (p < .05) regardless of the H. pylori infection status. IL-6 and IL-10 stand out as the main cytokines associated with the presence of GC.

Regulatory effects of miR-138 and RUNX3 on Th1/Th2 balance in peripheral blood of children with cough variant asthma / 中国当代儿科杂志

OBJECTIVES@#To study the expression levels of microRNA-138 (miR-138) and Runt-related transcription factor 3 (RUNX3) in peripheral blood of children with cough variant asthma (CVA) and their regulatory effects on Th1/Th2 balance.@*METHODS@#Sixty-five children with CVA (CVA group) and 30 healthy children (control group) were enrolled. Peripheral venous blood samples were collected for both groups, and CD4@*RESULTS@#Compared with the control group, the CVA group showed significantly decreased levels of IFN-γ and IL-2 from CD4@*CONCLUSIONS@#MiR-138 regulates Th1/Th2 balance by targeting RUNX3 in children with CVA, providing a new direction for the treatment of CVA.

Expression of MicroRNAs in Peripheral Blood of Patients with Primary Immune Thrombocytopenia and Its Correlation with the Imbalance of Th1/Th2 Cell / 中国实验血液学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the expressions of microRNAs in peripheral blood of patients with primary immune thrombocytopenia(ITP) and its correlation with the imbalance of Th1/Th2 cells.@*METHODS@#Thirty patients with ITP (ITP group) and 15 healthy people (control group) were enrolled．Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect the expressions of six miRNAs (miR-107,miR-205-5p,miR-138-5p,miR-326,miR-1827,miR-185-5p) and Th1-specific transcription factor T-bet mRNA and Th2-specific transcription factor GATA-3 mRNA in the peripheral blood of the two groups. Th1 and Th2 cells were detected by flow cytometry. The expressions of Th1-cytokines TNF-α and IFN-γ and Th2-cytokines IL-4 and IL-10 were detected by AimPlex multiple immunoassays for Flow. The expression difference of miRNAs, mRNA, Th1, Th2 cells and cytokines of the two groups were compared, and the correlations of miRNAs to mRNA, Th1, Th2 cells and cytokines were analyzed in ITP group.@*RESULTS@#The expressions of miRNAs（miR-107, miR-205-5p, miR-138-5p, miR-326, miR-1827, miR-185-5p）and Th2-specific transcription factor GATA-3 mRNA of the patients in ITP group were significantly decreased (P<0.05) as compared with those in control, while the expressions of Th1 cells and Th1-specific transcription factor T-bet mRNA and Th1-cytokines TNF-α were significantly increased (P<0.05), also for the ratios of T-bet mRNA/GATA-3 mRNA and Th1/Th2 cells were significantly increased (P<0.05). The relative expressions of miR-107, miR-205-5p, miR-138-5p in ITP patients were negatively correlated with Th2 cells (r=-0.411, r=-0.593, r=-0.403,P<0.05) and the relative expression of miR-1827 was negatively correlated with TNF-α (r=-0.390).@*CONCLUSION@#The relative expressions of the six miRNAs in peripheral blood of patients with ITP are significantly decreased, which result in the increasing ratio of T-bet mRNA/GATA-3 mRNA, then lead to the imbalance of Th1/Th2.

Intrathyroid injection of dexamethasone inhibits Th2 cells in Graves disease

ABSTRACT Objective Intrathyroid injection of dexamethasone (IID) was used for decrease the relapse rate of hyperthyroidism in the treatment of Graves' disease (GD), but the mechanism is still unclear. We aimed to explore the effect of IID on T help (Th)1/Th2 cells and their chemokine in patients with GD. Subjects and methods A total of 42 patients with GD who were euthyroidism by methimazole were randomly divided into IID group (n = 20) and control group (n = 22). Thyroid function and associated antibody, Th1/Th2 cells proportion, serum CXCL10 and CCL2 levels, and CXCR3/CCR2 mRNA expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells before and after 3-month IID treatment were tested by chemiluminescence assay, Flow cytometry, ELISA, and real-time PCR, respectively. Thyroid follicular cells were stimulated by IFN-γ and TNF-α and treated with dexamethasone in vitro. CXCL10 and CCL2 levels in supernatant were determined. Results After 3-month therapy, the proportion of Th2 cells and serum CCL2 levels, as well as TPOAb, TRAb levels and thyroid volume decreased in IID group (p < 0.05). However, the proportion of Th1 and CXCL10 levels had no change in IID group and control (p > 0.05). The CXCR3/CCR2 ratio had no change in both groups (p > 0.05). Conclusion IID therapy could inhibit peripheral Th2 cells via decreasing CCL2 level in peripheral blood, and this result partly explain the effects of IID therapy on prevention of relapse of GD. Arch Endocrinol Metab. 2020;64(3):243-50

A genetic analysis of children with Epstein-Barr virus-positive hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis and its association with T-helper type 1/T-helper type 2 cytokines / 中国当代儿科杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To study the effect of genetic variation on the prognosis of children with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) and its association with cytokines.@*METHODS@#A total of 81 EBV-positive HLH children who received the sequencing of related genes were enrolled. According to the results of gene detection, they were divided into a non-mutation group and a mutation group. According to the pattern of gene mutation, the mutation group was further divided into three subgroups: single heterozygous mutation (SHM), double heterozygous mutation (DHM), and homozygous or compound heterozygous mutation (H-CHM). The serum levels of cytokines were measured and their association with HLH gene mutations was analyzed.@*RESULTS@#UNC13D gene mutation had the highest frequency (13/46, 28%). The STXBP2 c.575G>A(p.R192H) and UNC13D c.604C>A(p.L202M) mutations (likely pathogenic) were reported for the first time. The mutation group had a significantly higher level of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) than the non-mutation group, while it had a significantly lower level of interferon gamma (IFN-γ) than the non-mutation group (P<0.05). The IL-4 level of the DHM subgroup was higher than that of the non-mutation group, while the IL-4 level of the H-CHM subgroup was lower than that of the DHM group (P<0.0083). The H-CHM subgroup had a significantly lower 1-year overall survival rate than the non-mutation group, the SHM subgroup, and the DHM subgroup (39%±15% vs 85%±6%/86%±7%/91%±9%, P=0.001).@*CONCLUSIONS@#There is a significant reduction in IFN-γ level in the mutation group. Children with homozygous or compound heterozygous mutation tend to have poorer prognosis, while other mutations do not have a significant impact on prognosis.

T helper type cytokines in sepsis: time-shared variance and correlation with organ dysfunction and hospital mortality

ABSTRACT Objective: We evaluated the kinetics of cytokines belonging to the T helper1 (Th1), Th2, and Th17 profiles in septic patients, and their correlations with organ dysfunction and hospital mortality. Methods: This was a prospective observational study in a cohort of septic patients admitted to the intensive care units (ICU) of three Brazilian general hospitals. A total of 104 septic patients and 53 health volunteers (controls) were included. Plasma samples were collected within the first 48 h of organ dysfunction or septic shock (0D), after seven (D7) and 14 days (D14) of follow-up. The following cytokines were measured by flow cytometry: Interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12/23p40, IL-17, IL-21, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF). Results: IL-6, IL-8, G-CSF and IL-10 concentrations were higher in septic patients than in controls (p < 0.001), while IL-12/23p40 presented higher levels in the controls (p = 0.003). IL-6, IL-8 and IL-17 correlated with Sequential [Sepsis-related] Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) D0, D1 and D3 (except for IL-6 at D0). IL-8 was associated with renal and cardiovascular dysfunction. In a mixed model analysis, IL-10 estimated means were lower in survivors than in deceased (p = 0.014), while IL-21 had an estimated mean of 195.8 pg/mL for survivors and 98.5 for deceased (p = 0.03). Cytokines were grouped in four factors according to their kinetics over the three dosages (D0, D7, D14). Group 1 encompassed IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-1β, and G-CSF while Group 3 encompassed IL-17 and IL-12/23p40. Both correlated with SOFA (D0) (p = 0.039 and p = 0.003, respectively). IL-21 (Group 4) was higher in those who survived. IL-2, TNF-α and GM-CSF (Group 2) showed no correlation with outcomes. Conclusion: Inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines shared co-variance in septic patients and were related to organ dysfunctions and hospital mortality.

Evaluation of the cervicovaginal environment in asymptomatic Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 infected women

ABSTRACT Introduction: Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is sexually transmitted and causes persistent infection. This virus induces activation of the immune system and production of inflammatory cytokines. This study aimed to assess the cytokine profile and cytopathological findings in the cervicovaginal fluid of asymptomatic HTLV-1-infected women. Methods: HTLV-1-infected and uninfected women were selected at the Centro de Atendimento ao Portador de HTLV in Salvador-Brazil. None of the included HTLV-1-infected women reported any HTLV-1-associated diseases. All volunteers underwent gynecological examination to collect cervicovaginal fluid. Cytokine quantification was performed using the Cytometric Bead Array (CBA) Human Th1/Th2/Th17 kit. Light microscopy was used to evaluate cervicovaginal cytopathology. In addition, proviral load in cervicovaginal fluid and peripheral blood was measured by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results: 112 women (63 HTLV-1-infected and 49 uninfected) were evaluated. No differences were found with respect to cytopathological cervicovaginal findings between the groups. IL-2, TNF, IL-4, IL-10, and IL-17 levels were significantly higher in cervicovaginal fluid of the HTLV-1-infected women than in uninfected women (p < 0.05). Conversely, IFN-γ was found to be lower in the HTLV-1-infected women (p < 0.001) compared to uninfected individuals. Cervicovaginal proviral load was detectable in 53% of the HTLV-1-infected women and was found to be consistently lower than the proviral load in peripheral blood. Conclusions: HTLV-1 infection induces immune activation in cervicovaginal environment, characterized by elevated concentrations of Th1, Th2, and IL17 in the cervicovaginal fluid.

Artesunate promotes Th1 differentiation from CD4+ T cells to enhance cell apoptosis in ovarian cancer via miR-142

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of artesunate on Th1 differentiation and its anti-tumor effect on ovarian cancer. A Murine ovarian cancer model was established by ID8 cells transplantation. The expression of miR-142 and Sirt1 proteins in peripheral CD4+ T cells were quantified with qRT-PCR and western blot, respectively. Peripheral CD4+ T cells were induced for Th1 differentiation. The percentages of apoptosis of Th1/CD4+ T cells and ovarian cancer cells were analyzed by flow cytometry. The IFN-γ level was examined through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Artesunate promoted miR-142 expression in peripheral CD4+ T cells and Th1 differentiation from CD4+ T cells. Artesunate promoted cell apoptosis of ovarian cancer cells by inducing Th1 differentiation. By up-regulating miR-142, artesunate suppressed Sirt1 level and promoted Th1 differentiation. Artesunate enhanced the pro-apoptotic effects of Th1 cells on ovarian cancer via the miR-142/Sirt1 pathway. Artesunate promoted Th1 differentiation from CD4+ T cells by down-regulating Sirt1 through miR-142, thereby enhancing cell apoptosis in ovarian cancer.

Clinico-immunological spectrum of American tegumentary leishmaniasis and leprosy coinfection: A case series in Southeastern Brazil

Abstract INTRODUCTION: American tegumentary leishmaniasis (ATL) and leprosy share common areas of prevalence, but reports of coinfection are scarce. METHODS: We report a series of 9 ATL-leprosy cases and discuss the association. An integrative diagram to analyze the clinico-immunological features of coinfection with both diseases. RESULTS: Nine patients with leishmaniasis (5 cutaneous, 3 mucocutaneous, 1 disseminated case) exhibited concurrent infection with distinct clinical forms of leprosy. Our diagram-based analysis evidenced a divergent clinico-immunological spectrum for each disease in 8 out of 9 cases. CONCLUSIONS: The spectrum of ATL-leprosy comorbidity suggests that the host has a specific immune response against each pathogen.

Protective Effect of Zengye Decoction () on Submandibular Glands in Nonobese Diabetic Mice / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the protective effect of Zengye Decoction (, ZYD) on the submandibular glands (SMGs) in nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice.@*METHODS@#Twenty-seven female NOD mice were randomly equally divided into 3 groups: the model group, the hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) group, and the ZYD group. Nine C57/B6 mice served as the normal group. After 1-week acclimation, the HCQ and ZYD groups were intragastrically administered with HCQ and ZYD, respectively, and the normal and model groups were administered with normal saline. Changes in the salivary flow rate were observed. Mice from all 4 groups were sacrificed at the age of 20 weeks. The serum and SMGs were collected. Serum cytokines gamma-interferon (IFN-γ), interleukin-10 (IL-10) were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Histological changes in the submandibular glands were examined by hematoxylin and eosin staining. The mRNA expression of IFN-γ, IL-10 and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in the submandibular glands were measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction.@*RESULTS@#Compared with the model group, the salivary flow of the ZYD group significantly increased (P<0.05), the extent of the histological changes was ameliorated (P<0.05), and the Th1/Th2 cytokine imbalance was remedied (P<0.05). In the ZYD-treated mice, the VIP mRNA was up-regulated (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#ZYD is beneficial in protecting structure and function of SMGs in NOD mice. The mechanism may be associated with the correction of the Th1/Th2 cytokine imbalance, and with the prevention of a progressive decline of the VIP level.

Levels of airway inflammatory mediators in peripheral blood in infants and young children with wheezing / 中国当代儿科杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To examine the levels of airway inflammatory mediators in peripheral blood in infants and young children with wheezing and to study the possible pathogenesis of wheezing from the aspects of T helper cell 1 (Th1)/T helper cell 2 (Th2) imbalance and airway inflammation.@*METHODS@#A total of 50 children aged 1 month to 3 years with an acute wheezing episode were enrolled as the wheezing group, and 25 age-matched healthy infants were enrolled as the healthy control group. According to the number of wheezing episodes, the wheezing group was divided into a first-episode group (n=25) and a recurrent wheezing (number of episodes ≥2) group (n=25). According to the presence or absence of high-risk factors for asthma, the wheezing group was divided into a high-risk factor group (n=22) and a non-high-risk factor group (n=28). According to the results of pathogen detection, the wheezing group was divided into a positive pathogen group (n=23) and a negative pathogen group (n=27). Levels of interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-5 (IL-5), interleukin-13 (IL-13), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), and total IgE (TIgE) in peripheral blood were measured for each group. For children with wheezing, eosinophil (EOS) count in peripheral blood was measured, and related samples were collected for respiratory pathogen detection.@*RESULTS@#The wheezing group had significantly higher levels of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, TGF-β1, and TIgE in peripheral blood than the healthy control group (P0.05). The correlation analysis showed that in children with wheezing, EOS count was positively correlated with IL-4 level (P<0.01), IL-4 level was positively correlated with IL-5 and IL-13 levels (P<0.01), IL-5 level was positively correlated with IL-13 level (P<0.01), and IL-2 level was positively correlated with TGF-β1 level (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#Th1/Th2 imbalance with a predominance of Th2 is observed in infants and young children with wheezing. IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, TGF-β1, and IgE are involved in the pathogenesis of wheezing in these children. Airway inflammation is also observed in these children with wheezing, but it is not associated with the number of wheezing episodes, presence or absence of high-risk factors for asthma, or results of pathogen detection.

Effects of Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors on the Th1 and Treg Cells of CML Patients / 中国实验血液学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To compare the immunomodulatory effects of the 2nd generation of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs)-dasatinib and nilotinib as well as the 1st generation of TKI-imatinib on chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients.@*METHOD@#To evaluate the T cell subtypes by flow cytometry on the CML patients of our center who received the treatment with dasatinib (n=10), nilotinib (n=26) or imatinib (n=44) for more than 3 months, and to analyze and correlate these data with the clinical remission situations and prognosis.@*RESULTS@#80.0% of the patients in dasatinib group, 16.6% of the patients in nilotinib group and 27.5% of the patients in imatinib group respectively had a Th1 proportion in the peripheral blood (Th1/CD4 T) above the upper limit of normal. More specifically, the Th1 proportion in dasatinib group (30.86%±9.75%) was significantly higher than that in nilotinib group(17.37%±9.35%) (P<0.001) and that in imatinib group (20.79%±9.01%) (P<0.001). Among the 3 groups, both the CD8 T cell proportion (CD8 T/Lymphocyte) and the Th2 proportion (Th2/CD4 T) in the peripheral blood did not show a statistically significant difference. The Treg proportion (Treg/CD4 T) in dasatinib group (1.31%±0.10%) was significantly lower than that in nilotinib group (2.65%±0.97%) (P<0.001) and that in imatinib group(2.99%±1.40%) (P<0.001).Among all the CML patients analyzed, for CML patients who had a Th1 proportion above the upper limit of normal(25.8%) (n=28), 84.62% of these patients obtained CCyR (complete cytogenetic response), 71.43% of these patients obtained MMR (major molecular response), 71.43% of these patients obtained MR4.5; for CML patients who had the Th1 proportion in the normal range(11.8%-25.8%) (n=45), 90.7% of these patients obtained CCyR, 75.56% of these patients obtained MMR, and 75.56% of these patients obtained MR4.5; for CML patients who had the Th1 proportion below the lower limit of normal (11.8%) (n=21), 57.14% of these patients obtained CCyR, 47.62% of these patients obtained MMR, and 47.62% of these patients obtained MR4.5. The above-mentioned data shows that the patients in high Th1 group and the normal Th1 group obtained the higher remission rate as well as the deeper remission level.@*CONCLUSION@#This study shows that during the CML treatment with TKIs, the increased or normal Th1 proportion indicates a bigger chance for CCyR, MMR, and MR4.5. Dasatinib may significantly increase the level of Th1 while decrease the level of Treg in the patients, as compared with nilotinib and imatinib.

Mechanism of Th1/Th2 Cytokines in HLA-DQ8 Transgenic Mice Model of Ocular Experimental Autoimmune Myasthenia Gravis / 中国医学科学院学报

Objective To analyze the levels of cytokines (IL-2,IFN-γ,IL-6,IL-10) associated with Th1 and Th2 cells in HLA-DQ8 transgenic mice model of ocular experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis (oEAMG) induced by recombinant H-AChR γ subunit immunization.Methods DQ8 mice were immunized with 20 μg of AChR γ subunit,20 μg of crude E. coli extract (E. coli group),or complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) only (CFA group). All mice were immunized on days 0,30,and 60. Mice were euthanized 28 days after the third immunization,and draining lymph node cells (LNC) and spleen lymphocytes were cultured in vitro. The supernatant was collected to observe the interleukin(IL)-2,interferon(IFN)-γ,IL-6,IL-10 production by ELISA.Results LNCs and spleen lymphocytes of H-AChR γ subunit-immunized mice exhibited significantly enhanced IFN-γ (F=76.332,P<0.001;F=34.865,P<0.001) and IL-2 (F=42.835,P<0.001;F=38.030,P<0.001),which associated with Th1 cells,as compared to E. coli group and CFA group. There were no significant differences in IL-6 (F=1.325,P=0.284;F=1.935,P=0.166) and IL-10 (F=0.908,P=0.417;F=1.189,P=0.322) levels,which secreted by Th2 cells,among these three groups.Conclusion Th1 cytokines play key roles in the pathogenesis of oEAMG,while the mechanism of Th2 cytokines for oEAMG remains unclear.