ABSTRACT
Interleukin-17 s (IL-17s) are well-known proinflammatory cytokines, and their antagonists perform excellently in the treatment of inflammatory skin diseases such as psoriasis. However, their physiological functions have not been given sufficient attention by clinicians. IL-17s can protect the host from extracellular pathogens, maintain epithelial integrity, regulate cognitive processes and modulate adipocyte activity through distinct mechanisms. Here, we present a systematic review concerning the physiological functions of IL-17s. Our goal is not to negate the therapeutic effect of IL-17 antagonists, but to ensure their safe use and reasonably explain the possible adverse events that may occur in their application.
Subject(s)
Interleukin-17 , Psoriasis , Humans , Cytokines , Psoriasis/drug therapyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Crohn's disease (CD) is a progressive inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract associated with malnutrition, high levels of inflammation and calcium and magnesium deficiencies. However, the relationships between these symptoms are poorly defined. METHOD: Seventy-six adult CD patients who had not yet started treatment and 83 healthy volunteers were recruited. The dietary intakes, serum calcium and magnesium levels, nutritional indicators and biochemical markers of disease activity were measured. RESULTS: Most participants had inadequate magnesium and calcium intake. The serum magnesium and calcium levels, as well as nutritional and inflammatory indicators, differed significantly between CD patients and controls, especially in the active phase. Serum levels of magnesium and calcium correlated with both nutritional status and inflammation. The cut-off values for CD development were 0.835 mmol/L (magnesium) and 2.315 mmol/L (calcium), whereas those for the active phase were 0.785 and 2.28 mmol/L, respectively. CONCLUSION: Adequate intake of magnesium and calcium may both improve the nutritional status of CD patients and reduce inflammation, benefiting disease relief. As both magnesium and calcium reflect CD status, they may be useful markers for CD diagnosis and disease activity.
Subject(s)
Crohn Disease , Adult , Humans , Crohn Disease/diagnosis , Calcium , Magnesium , Nutritional Status , Calcium, Dietary , InflammationABSTRACT
MicroRNAs are universal post-transcriptional regulators in genomes. They have the ability of buffering gene expressional programs, contributing to robustness of biological systems and playing important roles in development, physiology and diseases. Here, we identified a microRNA, miR-125a, as a positive regulator of granulopoiesis. MiR125a knockout mice show reduced infiltration of neutrophils in the lung and alleviated tissue destruction after endotoxin challenge as a consequence of decreased neutrophil numbers. Furthermore, we demonstrated that this significant reduction of neutrophils was due to impaired development of granulocyte precursors to mature neutrophils in an intrinsic manner. We showed that Socs3, a critical repressor for granulopoiesis, was a target of miR-125a. Overall, our study revealed a new microRNA regulating granulocyte development and supported a model in which miR-125a acted as a fine-tuner of granulopoiesis.
Subject(s)
Leukopoiesis/genetics , Leukopoiesis/physiology , MicroRNAs/genetics , MicroRNAs/metabolism , Neutrophils/cytology , Neutrophils/metabolism , 3' Untranslated Regions , Animals , Binding Sites/genetics , Cell Death , Cell Differentiation , Cell Proliferation , Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor/metabolism , Granulocytes/cytology , Granulocytes/metabolism , Mice , Mice, Knockout , Models, Biological , Myeloid Progenitor Cells/cytology , Myeloid Progenitor Cells/metabolism , Shock, Septic/genetics , Shock, Septic/metabolism , Shock, Septic/pathology , Signal Transduction , Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 3 Protein/genetics , Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 3 Protein/metabolismABSTRACT
Background: Rectal cancer has a high risk of recurrence and metastasis, with median survival ranging from 24 months to 36 months. K-RAS mutation is a predictor of poor prognosis in rectal cancer. Advanced rectal cancer can be stopped in its tracks by pelvic exenteration. Case summary: A 51-year-old woman was diagnosed with advanced rectal cancer (pT4bN2aM1b, stage IV) with the KRAS G12D mutation due to a change in bowel habits. The patient had experienced repeated recurrences of rectal cancer after initial radical resection, and the tumor had invaded the ovaries, sacrum, bladder, vagina and anus. Since the onset of the disease, the patient had undergone a total of seven surgeries and long-term FOLFIRI- or XELOX-based chemotherapy regimens, with the targeted agents bevacizumab and regorafenib. Fortunately, the patient was able to achieve intraoperative R0 resection in almost all surgical procedures and achieve tumor-free survival after pelvic exenteration. The patient has been alive for 86 months since her diagnosis. Conclusions: Patients with advanced rectal cancer can achieve long-term survival through active multidisciplinary management and R0 surgery.
ABSTRACT
In recent years, tissue clearing has revolutionized the way we view biological materials. This has resulted in considerable advances in neuropathology and brain imaging. Its application to gliomas has the potential to increase understanding of tumor architecture, reveal mechanisms of tumor invasion, and provide valuable insights into diagnostics and treatments. This review outlines numerous tissue-clearing applications and recent developments in glioma research and delineates the limitations of existing technology and potential applications in experimental and clinical oncology.
Subject(s)
Brain Neoplasms , Glioma , Humans , Brain Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Brain Neoplasms/pathology , Glioma/diagnostic imaging , Glioma/pathology , Brain/pathology , Imaging, Three-Dimensional , Tumor MicroenvironmentABSTRACT
It is generally believed that environmental or cutaneous bacteria are the main origin of surgical infections. Therefore, measures to prevent postoperative infections focus on optimizing hygiene and improving asepsis and antisepsis. In a large cohort of patients with infections following major surgery, we identified that the causative bacteria are mainly of intestinal origin. Postoperative infections of intestinal origin were also found in mice undergoing partial hepatectomy. CCR6+ group 3 innate lymphoid cells (ILC3s) limited systemic bacterial spread. Such bulwark function against host invasion required the production of interleukin-22 (IL-22), which controlled the expression of antimicrobial peptides in hepatocytes, thereby limiting bacterial spread. Using genetic loss-of-function experiments and punctual depletion of ILCs, we demonstrate that the failure to restrict intestinal commensals by ILC3s results in impaired liver regeneration. Our data emphasize the importance of endogenous intestinal bacteria as a source for postoperative infection and indicate ILC3s as potential new targets.
Subject(s)
Immunity, Innate , Lymphocytes , Mice , Animals , Lymphocytes/metabolism , Liver Regeneration , Interleukins/metabolism , Skin/metabolismABSTRACT
Alzheimer's disease (AD), one of the most common types of chronic neurodegenerative diseases, is pathologically characterized by the formation of amyloid ß (Aß) peptidecontaining plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Among Aß peptides, Aß142 induces neuronal toxicity and neurodegeneration. In our previous studies, Cdk5 was found to regulate Aß142induced mitochondrial fission via the phosphorylation of dynaminrelated protein 1 (Drp1) at Ser579. However, whether blockage of Drp1 phosphorylation at Ser579 protects neurons against Aß142induced degeneration remains to be elucidated. Thus, the aim the present study was to examine the effect of mutant Drp1S579A on neurodegeneration and its underlying mechanism. First, the phosphorylationdefect (phosphodefect) mutant, LentiDrp1S579A was constructed. Phosphodefect Drp1S579A expression was detected in primary cultures of mouse cortical neurons infected with LentiDrp1S579A using western blotting and it was found to successfully attenuate the phosphorylation of endogenous Drp1 at Ser579. In primary neuronal cultures, the neuronal processes were evaluated under microscopy. Treatment with 10 µM Aß142 significantly decreased dendritic density and length, spine outgrowth and synapse number. As expected, infection of neurons with LentiDrp1S579A efficiently alleviated the inhibitory effect of Aß142 on neurite outgrowth and synapse density. In addition, infection with LentiDrp1S579A abolished the cleavage of caspase3 and apoptosis in neurons exposed to Aß142. Thus, the current data demonstrated that blockage of Drp1 phosphorylation at Ser579 may be an effective strategy to protect neurons against Aß142induced degeneration and apoptosis. These findings underline the therapeutic potential of targeting Drp1 in the treatment of AD.
Subject(s)
Amyloid beta-Peptides/metabolism , Dynamins/genetics , Dynamins/metabolism , Neurons/metabolism , Peptide Fragments/metabolism , Alzheimer Disease/metabolism , Amyloid beta-Peptides/pharmacology , Animals , Apoptosis/drug effects , Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 5/metabolism , Mice , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Mitochondria/metabolism , Mitochondrial Dynamics/drug effects , Mitochondrial Proteins/metabolism , Neurodegenerative Diseases , Peptide Fragments/pharmacology , PhosphorylationABSTRACT
Since most variants that impact polygenic disease phenotypes localize to non-coding genomic regions, understanding the consequences of regulatory element variants will advance understanding of human disease mechanisms. Here, we report that the systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) risk variant rs2431697 as likely causal for SLE through disruption of a regulatory element, modulating miR-146a expression. Using epigenomic analysis, genome-editing and 3D chromatin structure analysis, we show that rs2431697 tags a cell-type dependent distal enhancer specific for miR-146a that physically interacts with the miR-146a promoter. NF-kB binds the disease protective allele in a sequence-specific manner, increasing expression of this immunoregulatory microRNA. Finally, CRISPR activation-based modulation of this enhancer in the PBMCs of SLE patients attenuates type I interferon pathway activation by increasing miR-146a expression. Our work provides a strategy to define non-coding RNA functional regulatory elements using disease-associated variants and provides mechanistic links between autoimmune disease risk genetic variation and disease etiology.
Subject(s)
Epigenesis, Genetic/immunology , Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/genetics , MicroRNAs/genetics , Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid/genetics , Animals , CRISPR-Cas Systems , Case-Control Studies , Cell Line, Tumor , Female , Genetic Predisposition to Disease , Genotyping Techniques , HEK293 Cells , Healthy Volunteers , Humans , Interferon Type I/metabolism , Leukocytes, Mononuclear/transplantation , Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/blood , Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/immunology , Mice , MicroRNAs/metabolism , NF-kappa B/metabolism , Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide , Primary Cell Culture , Promoter Regions, Genetic , RNA-Seq , Signal Transduction/genetics , Signal Transduction/immunologyABSTRACT
Objective: Lupus nephritis (LN) is one of the most serious complications of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Type I interferon (IFN-I) is associated with the pathogenesis of LN. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of SLE, however, the roles of lncRNAs in LN are still poorly understood. Here, we identified and investigated the function of LN-associated lncRNA RP11-2B6.2 in regulating IFN-I signaling pathway. Methods: RNA sequencing was used to analyze the expression of lncRNAs in kidney biopsies from LN patients and controls. Antisense oligonucleotides and CRISPRi system or overexpression plasmids and CRISPRa system were used to perform loss or gain of function experiments. In situ hybridization, imaging flow cytometry, dual-luciferase reporter assay, and ATAC sequencing were used to study the functions of lncRNA RP11-2B6.2. RT-qPCR, ELISA, and western blotting were done to detect RNA and protein levels of specific genes. Results: Elevated lncRNA RP11-2B6.2 was observed in kidney biopsies from LN patients and positively correlated with disease activity and IFN scores. Knockdown of lncRNA RP11-2B6.2 in renal cells inhibited the expression of IFN stimulated genes (ISGs), while overexpression of lncRNA RP11-2B6.2 enhanced ISG expression. Knockdown of LncRNA RP11-2B6.2 inhibited the phosphorylation of JAK1, TYK2, and STAT1 in IFN-I pathway, while promoted the chromatin accessibility and the transcription of SOCS1. Conclusion: The expression of lncRNAs is abnormal in the kidney of LN. LncRNA RP11-2B6.2 is a novel positive regulator of IFN-I pathway through epigenetic inhibition of SOCS1, which provides a new therapeutic target to alleviate over-activated IFN-I signaling in LN.