Recent advances in myeloid-derived suppressor cell biology.

In recent years, studying the role of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) in many pathological inflammatory conditions has become a very active research area. Although the role of MDSCs in cancer is relatively well established, their role in non-cancerous pathological conditions remains in its infancy resulting in much confusion. Our objectives in this review are to address some recent advances in MDSC research in order to minimize such confusion and to provide an insight into their function in the context of other diseases. The following topics will be specifically focused upon: (1) definition and characterization of MDSCs; (2) whether all MDSC populations consist of immature cells; (3) technical issues in MDSC isolation, estimation and characterization; (4) the origin of MDSCs and their anatomical distribution in health and disease; (5) mediators of MDSC expansion and accumulation; (6) factors that determine the expansion of one MDSC population over the other; (7) the Yin and Yang roles of MDSCs. Moreover, the functions of MDSCs will be addressed throughout the text.

Blue light emitting diodes enhance the antivirulence effects of Curcumin against Helicobacter pylori.

Introduction. Growing concern about the increasing frequency of resistance of Helicobacter pylori to the available antimicrobial agents worldwide has encouraged the search for new strategies in treating and eradicating H. pylori infections. Endoscopic blue-light therapy has been used in patients with H. pylori gastritis with limited success due to subsequent repopulation with H. pylori. Clinical trials using Curcumin could not eradicate infection either.Aim. We studied the effect of blue light emitting diodes (LEDs) in conjunction with Curcumin on H. pylori, since this has not been previously reported.Methodology. We examined the effect of Curcumin with and without irradiation with blue LEDs on the viability of H. pylori and four key factors important for colonization and establishment of H. pylori infection, namely urease production, motility, adhesion and biofilm formation.Results. We found that a combination of Curcumin and blue LEDs caused significant reductions in viability, urease production, motility, haemagglutination activity, as well as increased disruption of mature preformed biofilms of H. pylori, in comparison to Curcumin alone (P<0.0001), at sublethal concentrations of Curcumin.Conclusion. Targeting the virulence factors of H. pylori with blue LED photoactivated Curcumin would theoretically cripple this pathogen from colonizing and causing tissue damage and perhaps overcome the problem of repopulation with H. pylori that often occurs following endoscopic blue-light therapy.

Blue light emitting diodes cripple Helicobacter pylori by targeting its virulence factors.

BACKGROUND: The endogenous photosensitizing porphyrins in Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), make blue light therapy an attractive addition to the armamentarium in the war against this very prevalent and difficult to treat infectious agent. METHODS: In the current study we examined in vitro the effect of blue LED (Light Emitting Diode) irradiation for 1-6 minutes on the viability and virulence factors of H. pylori, which allow this microorganism to colonize and establish infection. Specifically, we examined the effects of blue LED on urease production, motility, adhesion and biofilm formation. RESULTS: We found that exposure to blue LED for 1-6 minutes significantly decreased the viability of H. pylori and caused decreased urease activity, as well as, swarming motility. Furthermore, blue LED irradiation for 6 minutes caused greater than 50% disruption of preformed mature biofilms of H. pylori, relative to controls. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, the results of our in-vitro study indicate that therapy with blue LED may be an added weapon in the eradication of H. pylori by targeting the virulence factors of this very common pathogen. We envisage that phototherapy will have an adjuvant effect on conventional anti-H. pylori therapy, especially considering its efficacy in biofilm disruption and the fact that microorganisms are unlikely to develop resistance as a result of the multi-target effects.