Elevated levels of IL-32 in cerebrospinal fluid of neuro-Behcet disease: Correlation with NLRP3 inflammasome.

Interleukin-32 (IL-32) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that induces other cytokines involved in inflammation, including tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, IL-6 and IL-1ß. The objective of this study was to evaluate IL-32, NLRP3 inflammasome, IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-17A, TNF-a, IL-10 and IL-37 in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and paired serum samples of patients with neuro-Behcet disease (NBD) by ELISA, RT-PCR and Western blotting analysis. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was employed to explore of the predictive value of IL-32 levels. IL-32, IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-17 and TNF-α, were highly expressed in CSF of NBD and multiple sclerosis (MS) patients contrasting with their low levels in patients with noninflammatory neurological diseases (NIND) and Headache attributed to BD (HaBD). IL-32 and NLRP3 inflammasome in NBD, correlate significantly with CRP and ESR. IL-32 should be studied further as potential BD biomarker of inflammation in NBD.

Whole genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of six SARS-CoV-2 strains isolated during COVID-19 pandemic in Tunisia, North Africa.

BACKGROUND: In Tunisia a first SARS-CoV-2 confirmed case was reported in March 03, 2020. Since then, an increase of cases number was observed from either imported or local cases. The aim of this preliminary study was to better understand the molecular epidemiology and genetic variability of SARS-CoV-2 viruses circulating in Tunisia and worldwide. METHODS: Whole genome sequencing was performed using NGS approach on six SARS. CoV-2 highly positive samples detected during the early phase of the outbreak. RESULTS: Full genomes sequences of six Tunisian SARS-CoV-2 strains were obtained from imported and locally transmission cases during the COVID-19 outbreak. Reported sequences were non-identical with 0.1% nucleotide divergence rate and clustered into 6 different clades with worldwide sequences. SNPs results favor the distribution of the reported Tunisian sequences into 3 major genotypes. These SNP mutations are critical for diagnosis and vaccine development. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate multiple introductions of the virus in Tunisia and add new genomic data on SARS-CoV-2 at the international level.

Elevated expression of TSLP and IL-33 in Behçet's disease skin lesions: IL-37 alleviate inflammatory effect of TSLP.

The release of TSLP and IL-33 affect the skin integrity, which unsettled transcription factor regulators. We investigate TSLP and IL-33 in Behçet disease (BD) and we prove the effect of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-37 in BD skin lesions on TSLP production. TSLP, IL-33 and GATA-3/T-bet, were measured using PCR in BD skin lesions. We tested the suppressive effect of IL-37 on skin samples stimulated with a cytokine mixture inducing TSLP expression. TSLP and IL-33 were increased in BD patients particularly in patients having skin manifestations and correlate with indexed skin lesions. TSLP expression in BD with skin lesions correlates significantly with the transcription factors GATA3/Tbet ratio. The anti-inflammatory mediator IL-37 acted as a suppressor of TSLP-skin synthesis. The microenvironment in cutaneous lesions of BD patients' skin lesions is dominated by the expression of IL-33 and TSLP along an inflammatory Th2-type current. IL-37 acts as a booster to restore homeostasis.