TLR3 recognition of viral double-stranded RNA in human dental pulp cells is important for the innate immunity.

Dental caries or trauma can expose human dental pulp cells (DPCs) to various oral microorganisms, which play an important role in the development of an innate immune response. In the present study, we examined the expression of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) for sensing microbe-associated molecular patterns in human DPCs. Interestingly, real-time PCR analysis demonstrated that TLR3 is the most highly expressed among 10 different TLRs in human DPCs. Poly(I:C), a representative TLR3 ligand mimicking viral double-stranded RNA, potently induced IL-8 expression in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Concordantly, poly(I:C) treatment substantially increased the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines such as IL-6, CCL2, and CXCL10. Human DPCs transfected with TLR3 siRNA exhibited decreased IL-8 production compared with non-targeting siRNA-transfected cells, suggesting that the expression of poly(I:C)-induced inflammatory cytokines is dependent on TLR3. IL-8 secretion induced by poly(I:C) was down-regulated by MAP kinase inhibitors, indicating that the MAP kinase pathway contributes to IL-8 production. Furthermore, C/EBPß and NF-κB were essential transcriptional factors for poly(I:C)-induced IL-8 expression, as demonstrated by the transient transfection and reporter gene assay. Since lipoproteins are known as major immunostimulatory components of bacteria, human DPCs were treated with poly(I:C) together with Pam2CSK4, a synthetic lipopeptide mimicking bacterial lipoproteins. Pam2CSK4 and poly(I:C) co-treatment synergistically increased IL-8 production in comparison to Pam2CSK4 or poly(I:C) alone, implying that co-infection of viruses and bacteria can synergistically induce inflammatory responses in the dental pulp. Taken together, these results suggest that human DPCs potentially sense and respond to viral double-stranded RNAs, leading to effective induction of innate immune responses.

Butyrate potentiates Enterococcus faecalis lipoteichoic acid-induced inflammasome activation via histone deacetylase inhibition.

Enterococcus faecalis, a Gram-positive opportunistic pathogen having lipoteichoic acid (LTA) as a major virulence factor, is closely associated with refractory apical periodontitis. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are found in the apical lesion and may affect inflammatory responses induced by E. faecalis. In the current study, we investigated inflammasome activation by E. faecalis LTA (Ef.LTA) and SCFAs in THP-1 cells. Among SCFAs, butyrate in combination with Ef.LTA markedly enhanced caspase-1 activation and IL-1ß secretion whereas these were not induced by Ef.LTA or butyrate alone. Notably, LTAs from Streptococcus gordonii, Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus subtilis also showed these effects. Activation of TLR2/GPCR, K+ efflux, and NF-κB were necessary for the IL-1ß secretion induced by Ef.LTA/butyrate. The inflammasome complex comprising NLRP3, ASC, and caspase-1 was activated by Ef.LTA/butyrate. In addition, caspase-4 inhibitor diminished IL-1ß cleavage and release, indicating that non-canonical activation of the inflammasome is also involved. Ef.LTA/butyrate induced Gasdermin D cleavage, but not the release of the pyroptosis marker, lactate dehydrogenase. This indicated that Ef.LTA/butyrate induces IL-1ß production without cell death. Trichostatin A, a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, enhanced Ef.LTA/butyrate-induced IL-1ß production, indicating that HDAC is engaged in the inflammasome activation. Furthermore, Ef.LTA and butyrate synergistically induced the pulp necrosis that accompanies IL-1ß expression in the rat apical periodontitis model. Taken all these results together, Ef.LTA in the presence of butyrate is suggested to facilitate both canonical- and non-canonical inflammasome activation in macrophages via HDAC inhibition. This potentially contributes to dental inflammatory diseases such as apical periodontitis, particularly associated with Gram-positive bacterial infection.

Serum C3 complement levels predict prognosis and monitor disease activity in Guillain-Barré syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: Biomarkers are needed to predict prognosis and disease activity in patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). The complement system is a key player in the pathogenesis of GBS. This study aimed to assess the potential utility of serum complement proteins as novel biomarkers in GBS. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of 76 GBS patients with C3 and C4 measurements during hospitalization between 2010 and 2021. Clinical outcomes were correlated with baseline serum C3, C4, and seven additional predictors: four existing biomarkers (GM1, albumin, immunoglobulin G, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio) and three clinical factors from the modified Erasmus GBS outcome score model. Five complement activation products (C3a, C4a, C5a, soluble C5b-9, factor Bb) were measured in 35 patients and were compared with C3 and C4 levels. Longitudinal changes in C3 and C4 levels were compared with the disease course in 12 patients. RESULTS: Higher C3, but not C4, was associated with poorer outcomes: lower Medical Research Council sum scores (MRCSS), higher GBS disability score (GBSDS), longer hospitalization, and more frequent treatment-related fluctuations. Age, MRCSS at admission, and baseline serum C3 were significant independent indicators of 1- and 3-month GBSDS. We found that C3 was positively correlated with C3a (r = 0.32) and C5a (r = 0.37), which indicates an activated complement cascade with high C3. Longitudinal change of C3 coincided with clinical severity of the disease course. INTERPRETATION: This study highlights the use of serum C3 as a novel mechanistic biomarker in GBS. Larger prospective studies are needed to validate our findings.

Skin Biopsy as a Novel Diagnostic Aid in Immune-Mediated Neuropathies.

Immune-mediated neuropathies are a heterogenous group of inflammatory peripheral nerve disorders. They can be classified according to the domain where the autoimmune process begins: the internode, paranode, or node. However, conventional diagnostic tools, electrodiagnosis (EDX), and autoantibody testing do not fully address this issue. In this institutional cohort study, we investigated the value of dermal myelinated fiber analysis for target domain-based classification. Twenty-seven consecutive patients with immune-mediated neuropathies underwent skin biopsies. The sections were stained with antibodies representative of myelinated fiber domains and were scanned using a confocal microscope. Clinical and pathological features of each patient were reviewed comprehensively. Quantitative morphometric parameters were subjected to clustering analysis, which stratified patients into 3 groups. Cluster 1 ("internodopathy") was characterized by prominent internodal disruption, intact nodes and paranodes, demyelinating EDX pattern, and absence of nodal-paranodal antibodies. Cluster 2 ("paranodopathy") was characterized by paranodal disruption and corresponding antibodies. Morphological changes were restricted to the nodes in cluster 3; we designated this cluster as "nodopathy." This report highlights the utility of skin biopsy as a diagnostic aid to gain pathogenic insight and classify patients with immune-mediated neuropathies.

Sensory Guillain-Barre syndrome following the ChAdOx1 nCov-19 vaccine: Report of two cases and review of literature.

Massive vaccination against COVID-19 has become a global priority. Simultaneously, concerns regarding the safety of vaccines are growing. We describe two patients who developed sensory Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) shortly after the first dose of the ChAdOx1 vaccine. We also summarize 12 published cases of GBS after ChAdOx1 vaccination, highlighting their unique clinical and paraclinical features. We propose a possible association between the risk of GBS and the ChAdOx1 vaccine and recommend surveillance for GBS following vaccination. Population-based studies are needed to determine causality and whether specific subpopulations are susceptible.

Immune Responses to Irradiated Pneumococcal Whole Cell Vaccine.

Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) can cause respiratory and systemic diseases. Recently, γ-irradiation-inactivated, non-encapsulated, intranasal S. pneumoniae (r-SP) vaccine has been introduced as a novel serotype-independent and cost-effective vaccine. However, the immunogenic mechanism of r-SP is poorly understood. Here, we comparatively investigated the protective immunity and immunogenicity of r-SP to the heat-(h-SP) or formalin-inactivated vaccine (f-SP) without adjuvants. Mice were intranasally immunized with each vaccine three times and then challenged with a lethal dose of S. pneumoniae TIGR4 strain and then subsequently evaluated for their immune responses. Immunization with r-SP elicited modestly higher protection against S. pneumoniae than h-SP or f-SP. Immunization with r-SP enhanced pneumococcal-specific IgA in the nasal wash and IgG in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Immunization with r-SP enhanced S. pneumoniae-specific IgG, IgG1, and IgG2b in the serum. r-SP more potently induced the maturation of dendritic cells in the cervical lymph nodes than h-SP or f-SP. Interestingly, populations of follicular helper T cells and IL-4-producing cells were potently increased in cervical lymph nodes of r-SP-immunized mice. Collectively, r-SP could be an effective intranasal, inactivated whole-cell vaccine in that it elicits S. pneumoniae-specific antibody production and follicular helper T cell activation leading to protective immune responses against S. pneumoniae infection.

Effect of polyelectrolyte electron collection layer counteranion on the properties of polymer solar cells.

Polyviologen (PV) derivatives are known materials used for adjusting the work function (WF) of cathodes by reducing the electron injection/collection barrier at the cathode interface. To tune and improve device performance, we introduce different types of counteranions (CAs), such as bromide, tetrafluoroborate, and tetraphenylborate, to a PV derivative. The effective WF of the Al cathode is shown to depend on the size of the CA, indicating that a Schottky barrier can be modulated by the size of the CA. Through the increased size of the CA from bromide to tetraphenylborate, the effective WF of the Al cathode is gradually decreased, indicating a decreased Schottky barrier at the cathode interface. In addition, the change of the power conversion efficiency (PCE) and the short circuit current (Jsc) value show good correlation with the change of the WF of the cathode, signifying the typical transition from a Schottky to an Ohmic contact. The turn-on electric field of the electron-only device without PV was 0.21 MV/cm, which is dramatically higher than those of devices with PV-X (0.07 MV/cm for PV-Br, 0.06 MV/cm for PV-BF4, and 0.05 MV/cm for PV-BPh4) This is also coincident with a decrease in the Schottky barrier at the cathode interface. The device ITO/PEDOT/P3HT:PCBM/PV/Al, with a thin layer of PV derivative and tetraphenylborate CA as the cathode buffer layer, has the highest PCE of 4.02%, an open circuit voltage of 0.64 V, a Jsc of 11.6 mA/cm2, and a fill factor of 53.0%. Our results show that it is possible to improve the performance of polymer solar cells by choosing different types of CAs in PV derivatives without complicated synthesis and to refine the electron injection/collection barrier height at the cathode interface.

Nonconjugated anionic polyelectrolyte as an interfacial layer for the organic optoelectronic devices.

A nonconjugated anionic polyelectrolyte, poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS-Na), was applied to the optoelectronic devices as an interfacial layer (IFL) at the semiconducting layer/cathode interface. The ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy and the Kelvin probe microscopy studies support the formation of a favorable interface dipole at the organic/cathode interface. For polymer light-emitting diodes (PLEDs), the maximum luminance efficiency (LEmax) and the turn-on voltage (Von) of the device with a layer of PSS-Na spin-coated from the concentration of 0.5 mg/mL were 3.00 cd/A and 5.5 V, which are dramatically improved than those of the device without an IFL (LEmax = 0.316 cd/A, Von = 9.5 V). This suggests that the PSS-Na film at the emissive layer/cathode interface improves the electron injection ability. As for polymer solar cells (PSCs), the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the device with a layer of PSS-Na spin-coated from the concentration of 0.5 mg/mL was 2.83%, which is a 16% increase compared to that of the PSC without PSS-Na. The PCE improvement is mainly due to the enhancement of the short-circuit current (12% increase). The results support that the electron collection and transporting increase by the introduction of the PSS-Na film at the photoactive layer/cathode interface. The improvement of the efficiency of the PLED and PSC is due to the reduction of the Schottky barrier by the formation of a favorable interface as well as the better Ohmic contact at the cathode interface.