Inflammatory mediators drive neuroinflammation in autism spectrum disorder and cerebral palsy.

Inflammation conditions are associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and cerebral palsy (CP), primarily observed in the peripheral immune system. However, the extent of neuro-inflammation and neuro-immune dysregulation remains poorly studied. In this study, we analyzed the composition of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to uncover the inflammatory mediators driving the neuro-immune system in ASD and CP patients. Our findings revealed that ASD patients had elevated levels of four inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-4, IL-21, and BAFF) compared to controls, while CP patients exhibited increased levels of eight inflammatory cytokines (IFN-γ, GM-CSF, TNF-α, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-17A and IL-12), one anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10), and five growth factors (GFs) (NGF-ß, EGF, GDF-15, G-CSF and BMP-9) compared to both controls and ASD patients. Additionally, intrathecal infusion of autologous bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMNCs) led to a slight decrease in TGF-ß and GDF-15 levels in the CSF of ASD and CP patients, respectively. Our study provides new insights into the molecular composition of CSF in ASD and CP patients, with the potential to develop more effective diagnosis methods and improved treatment for these diseases.Clinical trial registration CSF samples used in this study are from clinical trials NCT03225651, NCT05307536, NCT02569775, NCT03123562, NCT02574923, NCT05472428 and previous reports [7, 9, 17-19].

Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Severe Neurological Sequelae due to Anti-N-Methyl-d-Aspartate Receptor Encephalitis: First Case Report.

Anti-N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor encephalitis is caused by altered patient immune reactions. This study reports the first patient with severe neurologic sequelae after NMDA receptor encephalitis treated with allogeneic umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (UC-MSCs). A 5-year-old girl was diagnosed with NMDA receptor encephalitis and treated with immunosuppressive medicaments and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG). Despite intensive therapy, the patient's condition worsened so that allogenic UC-MSC therapy was contemplated. The patient received three intrathecal infusions of xeno- and serum-free cultured UC-MSCs at a dose of 106 cells/kg. At baseline and after each UC-MSC administration, the patient was examined by the German Coma Recovery Scale (CRS), the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS), the Gross Motor Function Measure-88 (GMFM-88), the Manual Ability Classification System (MACS), the Modified Ashworth Scale, and the Denver II test. Before cell therapy, she was in a permanent vegetative state with diffuse cerebral atrophy. Her cognition and motor functions improved progressively after three UC-MSC infusions. At the last visit, she was capable of walking, writing, and counting numbers. Control of urinary and bowel functions was completely recovered. Cerebral atrophy was reduced on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Overall, the outcomes of this patient suggest a potential cell therapy for autoimmune encephalitis and its neurological consequences.

Outcomes of bone marrow mononuclear cell transplantation combined with interventional education for autism spectrum disorder.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of autologous bone marrow mononuclear cell transplantation combined with educational intervention for children with autism spectrum disorder. An open-label clinical trial was performed from July 2017 to August 2019 at Vinmec International Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam. Thirty children who fulfilled the autism criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, and had Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) scores >37 were selected. Bone marrow was harvested by anterior iliac crest puncture under general anesthesia. The volume collected was as follows: 8 mL/kg for patients under 10 kg (80 mL + [body weight in kg - 10] × 7 mL) for patients above 10 kg. Mononuclear cells were isolated with a Ficoll gradient and then infused intrathecally. The same procedure was repeated 6 months later. After the first transplantation, all patients underwent 8 weeks of educational intervention based on the Early Start Denver Model. There were no severe adverse events associated with transplantation. The severity of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) was significantly reduced, with the median CARS score decreasing from 50 (range 40-55.5) to 46.5 (range 33.5-53.5) (P < .05). Adaptive capacity increased, with the median Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales score rising from 53.5 to 60.5. Social communication, language, and daily skills improved markedly within 18 months after transplantation. Conversely, repetitive behaviors and hyperactivity decreased remarkably. Autologous bone marrow mononuclear cell transplantation in combination with behavioral intervention was safe and well tolerated in children with ASD (Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03225651).

A secondary structure in the 5' untranslated region of adhE mRNA required for RNase G-dependent regulation.

Escherichia coli RNase G is involved in the degradation of several mRNAs, including adhE and eno, which encode alcohol dehydrogenase and enolase respectively. Previous research indicates that the 5' untranslated region (5'-UTR) of adhE mRNA gives RNase G-dependency to lacZ mRNA when tagged at the 5'-end, but it has not been elucidated yet how RNase G recognizes adhE mRNA. Primer extension analysis revealed that RNase G cleaved a phosphodiester bond between -19A and -18C in the 5'-UTR (the A of the start codon was defined as +1). Site-directed mutagenesis indicated that RNase G did not recognize the nucleotides at -19 and -18. Random deletion analysis indicated that the sequence from -145 to -125 was required for RNase G-dependent degradation. Secondary structure prediction and further site-directed deletion suggested that the stem-loop structure, with a bubble in the stem, is required for RNaseG-dependent degradation of adhE mRNA.

Gene cluster and regulation system for 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)ethylene (DDE) degradation in Janibacter sp. TYM3221.

A DDE-degrading bacterium, Janibacter sp. TYM3221, is able to grow on biphenyl and degrades 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)ethylene (DDE) via a meta-ring cleavage pathway. The bphAa gene, encoding a biphenyl dioxygenase large subunit, was previously demonstrated to be involved in the degradation of DDE in TYM3221. The bph gene cluster, containing orf2 and bphDAaAbAcAdBCST was cloned and characterized. Reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) analysis indicated that these genes were transcribed as an operon. The real-time RT-PCR on orf2, bphAa, bphC, and bphS suggest the presence of the inducible orf2 promoter (orf2p) and constitutive bphAa promoter (bphAap). The TYM3221 bphST conducted biphenyl-dependent inducible activation plus constitutive basal activation of orf2p and constitutive activation of bphAap in a rhodococcal host strain, Rhodococcus erythropolis IAM1399, suggesting that expression of the TYM3221 bph operon depends on the bphST-coded two-component regulatory system. Both of these promoters were also induced by the bphS1T1 of a biphenyl degrader, Rhodococcus jostii RHA1, and contained the 24-bp consensus sequences of RHA1 bphS1T1-dependent promoters. The replacement of RHA1 bphS1 with TYM3221 bphS in combination with RHA1 bphT1 suggests that TYM3221 bphS is responsible for low inducible and high constitutive activation of orf2p in IAM1399 by the TYM3221 bphST-system. Expression of bphAaAbAcAdBC in IAM1399 resulted in the transformation of DDE to the meta-ring cleavage product via 2,3-hydroxylation, suggesting that these genes are involved in DDE degradation.

Uncoupling the pleiotropic phenotypes of clk-1 with tRNA missense suppressors in Caenorhabditis elegans.

clk-1 encodes a demethoxyubiquinone (DMQ) hydroxylase that is necessary for ubiquinone biosynthesis. When Caenorhabditis elegans clk-1 mutants are grown on bacteria that synthesize ubiquinone (UQ), they are viable but have a pleiotropic phenotype that includes slowed development, behaviors, and aging. However, when grown on UQ-deficient bacteria, the mutants arrest development transiently before growing up to become sterile adults. We identified nine suppressors of the missense mutation clk-1(e2519), which harbors a Glu-to-Lys substitution. All suppress the mutant phenotypes on both UQ-replete and UQ-deficient bacteria. However, each mutant suppresses a different subset of phenotypes, indicating that most phenotypes can be uncoupled from each other. In addition, all suppressors restore the ability to synthesize exceedingly small amounts of UQ, although they still accumulate the precursor DMQ, suggesting that the presence of DMQ is not responsible for the Clk-1 phenotypes. We cloned six of the suppressors, and all encode tRNA(Glu) genes whose anticodons are altered to read the substituted Lys codon of clk-1(e2519). To our knowledge, these suppressors represent the first missense suppressors identified in any metazoan. The pattern of suppression we observe suggests that the individual members of the tRNA(Glu) family are expressed in different tissues and at different levels.