Lactobacillus Intestinalis Primes Epithelial Cells to Suppress Colitis-Related Th17 Response by Host-Microbe Retinoic Acid Biosynthesis.

Gut microbiome is integral to the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis. A novel probiotic Lactobacillus intestinalis (L. intestinalis) exerts a protective effect against dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis in mice. Based on flow cytometry, colitis-associated Th17 cells are the target of L. intestinalis, which is supported by the lack of protective effects of L. intestinalis in T cell-null Rag1-/- mice or upon anti-IL-17-A antibody-treated mice. Although L. intestinalis exerts no direct effect on T cell differentiation, it decreases C/EBPA-driven gut epithelial SAA1 and SAA2 production, which in turn impairs Th17 cell differentiation. Cometabolism of L. intestinalis ALDH and host ALDH1A2 contributed to elevated biosynthesis of retinoic acid (RA), which accounts for the anti-colitis effect in RAR-α -mediated way. In a cohort of ulcerative colitis patients, it is observed that fecal abundance of L. intestinalis is negatively associated with the C/EBPA-SAA1/2-Th17 axis. Finally, L. intestinalis has a synergistic effect with mesalazine in alleviating murine colitis. In conclusion, L. intestinalis and associated metabolites, RA, have potential therapeutic effects for suppressing colonic inflammation by modulating the crosstalk between intestinal epithelia and immunity.

Idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome with hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome: A case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) is classified as primary, secondary or idiopathic. Idiopathic HES (IHES) has a variable clinical presentation and may involve multiple organs causing severe damage. Hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (HSOS) is characterized by damage to the endothelial cells of the hepatic sinusoids of the hepatic venules, with occlusion of the hepatic venules, and hepatocyte necrosis. We report a case of IHES with HSOS of uncertain etiology. CASE SUMMARY: A 70-year-old male patient was admitted to our hospital with pruritus and a rash on the extremities for > 5 mo. He had previously undergone antiallergic treatment and herbal therapy in the local hospital, but the symptoms recurred. Relevant examinations were completed after admission. Bone marrow aspiration biopsy showed a significantly higher percentage of eosinophils (23%) with approximately normal morphology. Ultrasound-guided hepatic aspiration biopsy indicated HSOS. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) of the upper abdomen showed hepatic venule congestion with hydrothorax and ascites. The patient was initially diagnosed with IHES and hepatic venule occlusion. Prednisone, low molecular weight heparin and ursodeoxycholic acid were given for treatment, followed by discontinuation of low molecular weight heparin due to ecchymosis. Routine blood tests, biochemical tests, and imaging such as enhanced CT of the upper abdomen and pelvis were reviewed regularly. CONCLUSION: Hypereosinophilia may play a facilitating role in the occurrence and development of HSOS.

Pulmonary cryptococcosis after immunomodulator treatment in patients with Crohn's disease: Three case reports.

BACKGROUND: Corticosteroids and anti-tumor necrosis factor α mAbs are widely used to treat Crohn's disease (CD). However, one disadvantage of this treatment is impairment of normal immune function, leading to an increased risk of infection. Cryptococcus infection is an opportunistic infection that occurs mainly in immunocompromised patients and poses a significant diagnostic challenge in patients with CD. CASE SUMMARY: Here, we report three cases of pulmonary cryptococcosis in patients with CD after receiving immunomodulatory treatment. The patients presented with no or mild respiratory symptoms. Chest computed tomography scans revealed pulmonary nodules in the unilateral or bilateral lobes. Diagnoses were made using pathological examination and metagenomic sequencing. The patients were treated with fluconazole 400 mg once daily for 1 to 6 mo, and symptoms were resolved. Literature searches were conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase to retrieve previously reported cases and summarize patient characteristics. CONCLUSION: The incidence of cryptococcus infection has increased along with immunomodulator use. Clinical vigilance is required for early identification and standardized treatment.

Lactobacillus johnsonii alleviates colitis by TLR1/2-STAT3 mediated CD206+ macrophagesIL-10 activation.

Imbalance of gut microbiota homeostasis is related to the occurrence of ulcerative colitis (UC), and probiotics are thought to modulate immune microenvironment and repair barrier function. Here, in order to reveal the interaction between UC and gut microbiota, we screened a new probiotic strain by 16S rRNA sequencing from Dextran Sulfate Sodium (DSS)-induced colitis mice, and explored the mechanism and clinical relevance. Lactobacillus johnsonii (L. johnsonii), as a potential anti-inflammatory bacterium was decreased colonization in colitis mice. Gavage L. johnsonii could alleviate colitis by specifically increasing the proportion of intestinal macrophages and the secretion of Il-10 with macrophages depleted model and in Il10-/- mice. We identified this subset of immune cells activated by L. johnsonii as CD206+ macrophagesIL-10. Mechanistically, L. johnsonii supplementation enhanced the mobilization of CD206+ macrophagesIL-10 through the activation of STAT3 in vivo and in vitro. In addition, we revealed that TLR1/2 was essential for the activation of STAT3 and the recognition of L. johnsonii by macrophages. Clinically, there was positive correlation between the abundance of L. johnsonii and the expression level of MRC1, IL10 and TLR1/2 in UC tissues. L. johnsonii could activate native macrophages into CD206+ macrophages and release IL-10 through TLR1/2-STAT3 pathway to relieve experimental colitis. L. johnsonii may serve as an immunomodulator and anti-inflammatory therapeutic target for UC.

Effect of Hydrotalcite on Indometacin-Induced Gastric Injury in Rats.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Hydrotalcite plays an important role in the therapy of gastric ulcer induced by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), but little is known about the mechanism. We designed two experiments to study the preventive and curative effects of hydrotalcite on NSAIDs-related gastric injury in rats and to investigate the relationship between the protective and curative mechanism of hydrotalcite and the secretion of epidermal growth factor (EGF)/prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). METHODS: Two experiments were separately designed to evaluate the preventive and curative effects of hydrotalcite. A total of 25 male rats and 25 female rats were randomly divided into five groups (vehicle group, model group, omeprazole group, hydrotalcite group, and ranitidine group) in each experiment. Rats were treated with indomethacin by gavage to build the model of acute gastric mucosal injury. The concentrations of EGF and PGE2 in blood specimens and mucosal injury indexes by gross inspection were measured and an immunohistochemical technique was also employed to test the levels of EGF, cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in gastric mucosa. RESULTS: Comparing with model group in both preventive and curative experiments, hydrotalcite decreased the gastric injury in the mucosa of stomach significantly (7±4.5 vs. 16±11.25, 1.5±2 vs. 2.5±6; P<0.01, P<0.05). The levels of EGF and PGE2 in blood serum were markedly higher in hydrotalcite group than that in model group and ranitidine group in preventive experiment (574.39±34.28 vs. 486.22±41.73, 488.07±24.44; P<0.01, P<0.01). The expression levels of COX-2 in gastric mucosa were also higher in hydrotalcite group than that in model group in both preventive and therapeutic experiments (12±4 vs. 9±6, 14±7 vs. 9±4; P<0.01, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Hydrotalcite promotes gastric protection and healing via several mechanisms, including increased levels of PGE2 in blood serum, activation of EGF, and antagonising the inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX) caused by NSAIDs.

Small intestinal hemolymphangioma with bleeding: a case report.

Small intestinal hemolymphangioma is a very rare benign tumor. There was only one report of a hemolymphangioma of the pancreas invading to the duodenum until March 2011. Here we describe the first case of small intestinal hemolymphangioma with bleeding in a 57-year-old woman. She presented with persistent gastrointestinal bleeding and endoscopy revealed a small intestinal tumor. Partial resection of the small intestine was thus performed and the final pathological diagnosis was hemolymphangioma. We also highlight the difficultly in making an accurate preoperative diagnosis in spite of modern imaging techniques. To arrive at a definitive diagnosis and exclude malignancy, partial resection of the small intestine was considered to be the required treatment.