Single nucleotide polymorphisms of IL-2, but not IL-12 and IFN-y, are associated with increased susceptibility to chronic spontaneous urticaria

Background: A clear picture of interaction of Th1/Th2 cytokines in pathogenesis of chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), remains elusive. Impaired IFN-γ production and decreased levels of IL-2 have been reported. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of Th1 cytokines; IL-2, IL-12 and IFN-γ polymorphisms with CSU. Methods: 90 patients with CSU and 140 age-sex matched subjects were included in this study. DNA samples were evaluated through PCR-SSP assay in order to detect single nucleotide polymorphisms of IL-12 (A/C -1188) or (rs3212227), IFN-γ (A/T UTR5644) or (rs2069717) and IL-2 (G/T -330 and G/T +166) or (rs2069762 and rs2069763). Results: G allele at -330 at promoter region of IL-2 gene was overrepresented in CSU. Heterozygotes (GT) at this locus and heterozygotes at +166 of IL-2 gene (GT) were more prevalent in CSU group. Additionally, the haplotype GT for loci -330 and +166 of IL-2 gene was powerfully associated with CSU (OR (95%CI) = 57.29 (8.43-112.7)). Conclusions: SNP at position -330 and +166 of IL-2 gene are differently expressed in CSU. The haplotype GT of IL-2 at -330 and +166 might confer vulnerability to a number of immunological disorders in Iranian region (AU)

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Th1 and th2 cytokine expression in nasopharyngeal secretions during acute bronchiolitis in children younger than two years old

Objectives: We characterised the T helper cytokine profiles on the surface of nasal mucosa of children with acute bronchiolitis caused by Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Parainfluenza Virus, Influenza Virus, Adenovirus, or without any viral identification, in order to examine whether these viral types modified cytokine responses. As an additional objective we sought to determine if T helper polarisation was associated with other demographic and environmental factors. Methods: A prospective study of children with acute bronchiolitis was performed. Patients were recruited from the emergency department of a central hospital in Lisbon, Portugal. Demographical, epidemiological and clinical data were gathered from a questionnaire. Nasal swabs were collected for viral studies (immunofluorescence) and T cell cytokine responses (detection of expression of interleukins 4, 13, 12 and interferon-ã by real-time polymerase chain reaction assays). Results: Respiratory Syncytial Virus elicited lower levels of interleukin 4, when compared with samples without virus identification. A similar tendency to Th1 polarisation was found in older children, in those who attended day-care centres, and in breastfed individuals. Exposure to tobacco smoke was associated with a Th2 bias in this population.ConclusionsThese findings show that Respiratory Syncytial Virus infection contributes to Th1 polarisation in immune response of respiratory mucosa, an effect that is similar to other environmental factors. Further studies are needed to assess immune response to other infectious causes of acute bronchiolitis (AU)

Clinical and Immunological Responses in Ocular Demodecosis

The purpose of this study was to investigate clinical and immunological responses to Demodex on the ocular surface. Thirteen eyes in 10 patients with Demodex blepharitis and chronic ocular surface disorders were included in this study and treated by lid scrubbing with tea tree oil for the eradication of Demodex. We evaluated ocular surface manifestations and Demodex counts, and analyzed IL-1beta, IL-5, IL-7, IL-12, IL-13, IL-17, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, and macrophage inflammatory protein-1beta in tear samples before and after the treatment. All patients exhibited ocular surface manifestations including corneal nodular opacity, peripheral corneal vascularization, refractory corneal erosion and infiltration, or chronic conjunctival inflammatory signs before treatment. After treatment, Demodex was nearly eradicated, tear concentrations of IL-1beta and IL-17 were significantly reduced and substantial clinical improvement was observed in all patients. In conclusion, we believe that Demodex plays an aggravating role in inflammatory ocular surface disorders.

Maturation of bone marrow-derived dendritic cells by a novel beta-glucan purified from Paenibacillus polymyxa JB115

We investigated the immunostimulatory effects of a novel beta-glucan purified from Paenibacillus (P.) polymyxa JB115 on bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (DCs), a type of potent antigen-presenting cells. beta-glucan isolated from P. polymyxa JB115 enhanced the viability and induced the maturation of DCs. beta-glucan markedly increased the cytokine production of DCs and surface expression of DC markers. In addition, DCs treated with beta-glucan showed a higher capacity to stimulate allogeneic spleen cell proliferation compared to those treated with medium alone. These results demonstrate the effect of beta-glucan on DC maturation and may increase the use of beta-glucan.

Studies on the activating capacity of heat killed M. tuberculosis and its culture filtrate proteins on polymorphonuclear neutrophils and peripheral mononuclear cells from tuberculosis patients

En este estudio se investiga la eficacia de M. tuberculosis muerto porcalor (Mtbi) y las Proteinas del Filtrado del Cultivo (PFC) en la activación de las células mononucleares (MC) y polimorfonucleares neutrolilos (PMN)de sangre periférica de pacientes tuberculosos. Se evalua en 16 pacientes tuberculosos, HIV- y 12 controles sanos el Estallido Respiratorio, los metabolitos derivados del NO y la producción de IL-2, IL-12 y TNFeÁ por las células estimuladas. Se detecta un incremento en la concentración de TNFeÁ en el sobrenadante de cultivo (s.c.) de PMN al comparar con los valoresbasales y en la evaluada en s.c. de MC y PMN estimulados, al ser comparadas con las del grupo control, excepto para los neutrófilos estimuladoscon PFC. Se mostraron niveles aumentados de IL-12 e IL-2 en s.c. de ambas células, MC y PMN estimuladas por en PTB, mientras que no se hallarondiferencias en los s.c. de los controles. Los valores basales de Estallido Respiratorio (RB) detectada en MC y PMN de pacientes no difirieron significantivamente de los correspondientes al grupo control. La expresión del Estallido Respiratorio en ambos tipos celulares fue menor en los pacientes que en los controles, independientemente del estímulo empleado. Sedeterminaron concentraciones de nitritos más elevadas en los sobrenadantesde las MC estimuladas con Mtbi y PFC provenientes de pacientes, comparadas con las de los controles. Los datos obtenidos relacionados al estímulo de la respuesta celular, nos proporcionan información sobre la inmunidad protectiva contra el M. tuberculosis y, a la vez, aportan algunos recursos útiles para una terapia anti-tuberculosa más eficiente (AU)

The efficacy of heat-killed Mycobacterium tuberculosis (HKMtb) andits culture filtrate proteins (CFP) to activate blood mononuclear cells (MC)and polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) from tuberculosis patientswas investigated. Respiratory burst, NO-derived metabolites, IL-2, IL-12and TNF-¦Á production of stimulated cells from 16 HIV- tuberculosispatients and 12 healthy controls were analyzed. Increased amounts ofTNF-¦Á in supernatants from baseline and stimulated polymorphonuclear and mononuclear cells of tuberculosis patients were detected whencompared with controls, except for CFP stimulated neutrophils. Augmented IL-2 and IL-12 levels were observed in supernatants of both stimulated MC and PMN from TBP while no differences were found in control supernatants. The patients had a lower respiratory burst responsethan the controls, for both cell types, regardless of the stimulus employed. Higher nitrite concentrations were found in HKMtb- and CFP-stimulated mononuclear supernatants from patients, compared with controls. The obtained data of the stimulated cellular responses provides usinformation about the protective immunity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis and some resources to obtain a more efficient anti-tuberculous therapy (AU)1

The Effect of CpG-Oligodeoxynucleotides with Different Backbone Structures and 3' Hexameric Deoxyriboguanosine Run Conjugation on the Treatment of Asthma in Mice

CpG-Oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) has two backbones. Phosphorothioate backbone (PS) shows a strong immunostimulating effect while phosphodiester (PE) shows little in vivo. 3' hexameric deoxyriboguanosine-run (3' dG6-run) conjugation to PE CpG-ODN has been reported to enhance immunostimulation and to protect against asthma when injected at the time of sensitization in mice. We evaluated the treatment effects of PE and PS CpG-ODN with or without 3' dG6-run on asthma in presensitized mice. BALB/c mice sensitized with ovalbumin and alum were challenged with 1% ovalbumin on three days. CpG-ODNs (100 microgram) or PBS were injected 4 times; 27 hr before challenge and 3 hr before each challenge (CpG-dG6: CpG-ODN with 3' dG6-run, PE*-CpG-dG6: PE-CpG-dG6 with two PS backbones at the 5' terminus). PE-CpG showed no treatment effect. PE-CpG-dG6 only increased ovalbumin-specific IgG2a. PE*-CpG-dG6 increased ovalbumin-specific IgG2a but also reduced BAL fluid eosinophils and airway hyperresponsiveness. PS-CpG increased ovalbumin-specific IgG2a, reduced airway inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness. PS-CpG-dG6 was less effective than PS-CpG on airway inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness. In pre-sensitized mice, PE-CpG required not only 3' dG6-run but also the modification of two PS linkages at 5' terminus to inhibit features of asthma. PS-CpG was strong enough to inhibit asthma but PS-CpG-dG6 was less effective.

Impaired responses of leukemic dendritic cells derived from a human myeloid cell line to LPS stimulation

Several myeloid leukemia-derived cells have been reported to possess the ability to differentiate into dendritic cells (DC). MUTZ-3, a myeloid leukemia cell line, responds to GM-CSF, IL-4 and TNF-alpha, and acquires a phenotype similar to immature monocyte-derived DC (MoDC). In the present study, MUTZ-3-derived DC (MuDC) showed high level expression of HLA class II molecules, CD80 and CD86, and were able to function as potent antigen presenting cells as previously reported. Interestingly, MuDC maturation was induced by CD40-mediated stimulation, but not by LPS stimulation. We analyzed CCR1, CCR7 and Toll-like receptor (TLR) expressions in MuDC, and measured IL-10 and IL-12 production after maturation stimuli. Although MuDC expressed the mRNA for TLR4, a major component of the LPS receptor system, they did not show an enhanced level of CCR7 or cytokine production after LPS stimulation. In contrast, they responded to CD40 stimulation, which resulted in increased levels of CD83, CD86 and CCR7. Moreover, while LPSstimulated MoDC could potently stimulate NK cells in a DC-NK cell co-culture, LPS-stimulated MuDC failed to stimulate primary NK cells. Taken together, our findings suggest that, although MuDC express TLR4, unlike TNF-alpha and IL-1beta, LPS does not stimulate MuDC to acquire mature phenotypes, and they may have impaired activity to initiate innate immune response.

Effects of combined therapy with thalidomide and glucantime on leishmaniasis induced by Leishmania major in BALB/c mice

For treating Leishmania major infection in BALB/c mice, we used thalidomide in conjunction with glucantime. Groups of mice were challenged with 5 x 10(3) metacyclic promastigotes of L. major subcutaneously. A week after the challenge, drug treatment was started and continued for 12 days. Thalidomide was orally administrated 30 mg/kg/day and glucantime was administrated intraperitoneally (200 mg/kg/day). It was shown that the combined therapy is more effective than single therapies with each one of the drugs since the foot pad swelling in the group of mice received thalidomide and glucantime was significantly decreased (0.9 +/- 0.2 mm) compared to mice treated with either glucantime, thalidomide, or carrier alone (1.2 +/- 0.25, 1.4 +/- 0.3, and 1.7 +/- 0.27 mm, respectively). Cytokine study showed that the effect of thalidomide was not dependent on IL-12; however, it up-regulated IFN-gamma and down-regulated IL-10 production. Conclusively, thalidomide seems promising as a conjunctive therapy with antimony in murine model of visceral leishmaniasis.

Inherited disorders of the Interleukin-12/ Interferon-gamma axis: Mendelian predisposition to mycobacterial disease in man / Alteraciones hereditarias del eje il-12/ifn-gamma: susceptibilidad mendeliana a la enfermedad por micobacterias en el hombre

Severe disseminated infections with weakly virulent mycobacteria, Salmonella and/or Mycobacterium tuberculosis, in otherwise healthy individuals, characterise a recently defined primary immunodeficiency syndrome named mendelian susceptibility to mycobacterial disease (MSMD, MIM 209950). Molecular analysis of affected families has identified mutations in five genes in the IL- 12/IFN-γ axis, highlighting the importance of this pathway in human immunity to mycobacteria. Genetic heterogeneity accounts for the clinical spectrum of MSMD, ranging from mutations in IFNGR1 or IFNGR2 which result in complete receptor deficiency, disseminated infection in early childhood and progressively fatal disease to, at the other end of the spectrum, mutations involving IFNGR1, STAT1, IL-12 and IL-12Rβ1 in individuals who have not developed infection with either mycobacteria or salmonella. Correlation between clinical phenotype and histopathological findings has also been observed. Immune function in patients with MSMD is in general remarkably normal. Inherited defects of IL-12/IFN-γ axis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of all patients presenting with severe infection with intracellular microorganisms, particularly when the organism is considered to be non-pathogenic in the «immunocompetent» individual. Circulating IFN-γ levels, protein expression, functional studies and ultimately DNA analysis are diagnostic but in approximately half of the patients with the clinical syndrome of MSMD, mutations in IFNGR1, IFNGR2, STAT1, IL-12B, or IL-12RB1 have not been found. Children with MSMD should be treated on an individual basis, in close collaboration with a centre specialised in the care of such patients. The investigation of more patients is necessary to further understand human mycobacterial immunity (AU)

El síndrome de inmunodeficiencia primaria descrito recientemente y denominado susceptibilidad mendeliana a las enfermedades micobacterianas (MSDM, MIM 209950), se caracteriza por infecciones diseminadas causadas por micobacterias poco virulentas, Salmonella y/o Mycobacterium Tuberculosis, en individuos, por lo demás, sanos. El análisis molecular de las familias afectas ha permitido identificar mutaciones en cinco genes del eje IL-12/IFN-γ, destacando la importancia de esta vía en la inmunidad humana frente a las micobacterias. La heterogeneidad genética explica el amplio espectro clínico de la MSMD que abarca desde las mutaciones en los genes IFNGR1 o IFNGR2, con un defecto completo de receptor e infecciones diseminadas y fatales en la infancia, hasta el otro extremo, en el que se han hallado mutaciones en los genes IFNGR1, STAT1, IL-12 e IL-12Rβ1 en individuos que no han padecido infecciones por micobacterias ni salmonella. También se ha podido observar que existe una correlación entre el fenotipo clínico y los hallazgos histopatológicos. La función inmunológica en los pacientes con MSMD es en general normal. Los defectos hereditarios del eje IL-12/IFN-γ deberían considerarse en el diagnóstico diferencial de todos los pacientes con infecciones severas por microorganismos intracelulares, sobretodo cuando éstos se consideran no patógenos en el individuo inmunocompetente. Los niveles plasmáticos de IFN-γ, la expresión de la proteína, los estudios funcionales y en última instancia el análisis del DNA, son procedimientos diagnósticos, pero en la mitad de los casos con el síndrome clínico de MSMD no se han hallado mutaciones en IFNGR1, IFNGR2, STAT1, IL-12B o IL- 12RB1. Los niños con MSMD deberían ser tratados a nivel individual, en colaboración con algún centro especializado en el manejo de estos pacientes. Es necesario investigar un número mayor de pacientes para poder entender mejor la inmunidad micobacteriana humana (AU)

Citoquinas inducidas por la inmunización experimental antitetánica. Efecto de la formulación vacunal / [Cytokines induced by experimental anti-tetanus immunization. Vaccine formulation effect]

Several factors are involved in the selective activation of T helper 1 or T helper 2 cells, such as the type of antigen-presenting cells involved in the immune response and the different physical characteristics of antigens. The aim of this work was to evaluate if adding other antigens to tetanus toxoid modifies the original immune response. BALB/c mice were immunized with tetanus and diphtheria toxoids associated with whole-cell Bordetella pertussis (DTPw vaccine), B. pertussis soluble antigens (DTPa vaccine) or Salmonella typhi plus DTPa (DTPaSt vaccine). DTPw and DTPaSt immunization induced a T helper 1/T helper 2 (Th1/Th2) anti-tetanus response with gamma interferon and interleukin 5 production. DTPa immunization induced a Th2 response with production of interleukin 5 and interleukin 6. Only DTPw vaccine induced higher levels of IL-12 in non-immunized mice. Our findings indicate that the co-injection of whole-cell antigens such as B. pertussis or S. typhi, modifies the anti-tetanus response shifting it from Th2 to Th1 type. However, the original Th2 immune response is not modified when the vaccine consists only of soluble antigens.

Defects in the differentiation and function of bone marrow-derived dendritic cells in non-obese diabetic mice

Due to their high immunostimulatory ability as well as the critical role they play in the maintenance of self-tolerance, dendritic cells have been implicated in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. The non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse is an animal model of autoimmune type 1 diabetes, in which pancreatic beta cells are selectively destroyed mainly by T cell-mediated immune responses. To elucidate initiation mechanisms of beta cell-specific autoimmunity, we attempted to generate bone marrow-derived dendritic cells from NOD mice. However, our results showed low proliferative response of NOD bone marrow cells and some defects in the differentiation into the myeloid dendritic cells. NOD dendritic cells showed lower expressions of MHC class II, B7-1, B7-2 and CD40, compared with C57BL/6 dendritic cells. In mixed lymphocyte reactions, stimulatory activities of NOD dendritic cells were also weak. Treatment with LPS, INF-gamma and anti-CD40 stimulated NOD dendritic cells to produce IL-12p70. The amount of IL-12, however, appeared to be lower than that of C57BL/6. Results of the present study indicated that there may be some defects in the development of NOD dendritic cells in the bone marrow, which might have an impact on the breakdown of self tolerance.