Effects of different steaming times on the composition, structure and immune activity of Polygonatum Polysaccharide.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: As a commonly used traditional Chinese herbal medicine, Polygonati Rhizoma has high medicinal value, it can enhance the immune capacity of the body, regulate the metabolism of blood glucose and lipids, treat weakness of the stomach and intestines and physical fatigue, and so on. There are three plant varieties of Polygonati Rhizoma recorded in Chinese Pharmacopoeia, including Polygonatum sibiricum Red., Polygonatum kingianum Coll. et Hemsl. and Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua, compared with the first two, Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua is less studied. Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua is one of the basal plants of the Chinese herb Polygonati Rhizoma, that strengthens the spleen, moistens the lungs, and benefits the kidneys. Polygonatum polysaccharide is the main active substance of Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua, which has various biological effects of regulating immune system, anti-inflammatory, anti-antidepressant, antioxidant and other effects. AIM OF THE STUDY: In order to analyze the necessity and scientificity of multiple cycles of steaming during the traditional nine-steaming and nine-drying process of the concoction of Polygonatum, we investigated the changes in the composition and structure of polysaccharides, and explored its immunomodulatory activity and molecular biological mechanism. METHODS: The structural characterization and molecular weight of polysaccharides were studied by scanning electron microscope (SEM), high-performance size exclusion chromatography-evaporative light scattering detector (HPSEC-ELSD) and Matrix.assisted laser resolutionu ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). The composition and proportion of monosaccharides were determined by PMP-HPLC method. A mouse immunosuppression model was established by intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide to compare the immunomodulatory effects and mechanisms of different steaming times of Polygonatum, The changes of body mass and immune organ indices of mice were measured; the secretion levels of interleukin-2 (IL-2), interferon γ (IFN-γ) and the expression levels of immunoglobulin M (IgM) and immunoglobulin A (IgA) in serum were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; and then flow cytometry was used to detect T-lymphocyte subpopulations to evaluate the differences of immunomodulatory effects of polysaccharides during the processing and preparation of Polygonatum. Finally, the Illumina MiSeq high-throughput sequencing platform was used to analyze short-chain fatty acids and to investigate the effects of different steaming times of Polygonatum polysaccharides on immune function and intestinal flora in immunosuppressed mice. RESULTS: The structure of the Polygonatum polysaccharide with different steaming times changed significantly, the relative molecular weight of Polygonatum polysaccharide decreased significantly, and the monosaccharide composition of Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua with different steaming times was the same but the content was different. The immunomodulatory activity of the Polygonatum polysaccharide was enhanced after concoction, which significantly increased the spleen index and thymus index, and increased the expression of IL-2, IFN-γ, IgA and IgM. The CD4+/CD8+ ratio of Polygonatum polysaccharide also increased gradually with different steaming times, indicating enhanced immune function and significant immunomodulatory effect. The content of short-chain fatty acids in the feces of mice in both six steaming six sun-drying of Polygonatum polysaccharides (SYWPP) and nine steaming nine sun-drying of Polygonatum polysaccharides (NYWPP) groups increased significantly, including the content of propionic acid, isobutyric acid, valeric acid, and isovaleric acid, and also had a good effect on the regulation and improvement of microbial community abundance and diversity, SYWPP and NYWPP increased the relative abundance of Bacteroides and the ratio of Bacteroides and Firmicutes (B:F), while SYWPP significantly increased the abundance of Bacteroides, Alistipes and norank_f__Lachnospiraceae, but the effect of raw Polygonatum polysaccharides (RPP) and NYWPP was not significant than SYWPP. CONCLUSION: Overall, both SYWPP and NYWPP could significantly enhance the immune activity of the organism, improve the imbalance of intestinal flora in immunosuppressed mice, and increase the content of intestinal short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), it is noteworthy that SYWPP has a better effect on the improvement of the immune activity of the organism. These findings can explore the stage of the concoction process of Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua to achieve the best effect, provide a reference basis for the development of quality standards, and at the same time promote the application of new therapeutic agents and health foods in raw and different steaming times of Polygonatum polysaccharide.

Structural characterization of a heteropolysaccharide from the fruit of Crataegus pinnatifida and its bioactivity on the gut microbiota of immunocompromised mice.

Crataegus pinnatifida is a common food in China, Europe and North America. In order to confirm polysaccharide was the material basis for C. pinnatifida to exert immune regulation. A polysaccharide (CPP) with a molecular weight of 13.58 kDa was isolated from C. pinnatifida. The structure of CPP was determined to be a backbone composed of â†’ 3,5)-α-l-Araf-(1→, with two branches consisting of â†’ 4)-α-d-Galp-(1 â†’ and â†’ 5)-α-l-Araf-(1→, with α-l-Araf and α-d-Manp as the terminal unit. CPP (10 âˆ¼ 500 µg/mL) could promote the secretion of nitric oxide, interleukin-2, interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α in vitro. CPP could significantly restore the body weight of immunosuppressive mice and improve the immune organ index and interleukin-2, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α secretion. In addition, CPP increased the abundance of Bacteroidetes and Verrucomicrobia and decreased the abundance of Proteobacteria at the phylum level. So CPP can regulate the gut microbiota and play an important role in immune regulation.

Personal exposure to electrophilic compounds of fine particulate matter and the inflammatory response: The role of atmospheric transformation.

Atmospheric oxidation can produce electrophilic compounds, altering the health effects induced by fine particulate matter (PM2.5); however, little is known about these electrophilic compounds or their health effects. Using electron capture negative ionization, we systematically detected 301 electrophilic compounds from personal PM2.5 samples in a panel study in urban Beijing. Most were oxygen-containing compounds with 3-17 double bond equivalents (DBE), suggesting the dominance of oxidized aromatic structures. Over 64% of the species, mostly outdoor-originated, were associated with inflammatory cytokines in both exhaled breath condensate and serum. Primary components of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and high-DBE oxygenated PAHs, mainly from fossil fuel combustion, were positively associated with interleukin (IL)- 6, a cytokine related to oxidative homeostasis. Oxidized secondary species, particularly maleic and phthalic anhydrides, were negatively associated with IL-2/IL-8, which changed by - 3.8% to - 16.4% per one-fold increase in the abundance of the secondary source, indicating the immune disorders in response to the oxidized aerosols. Mediation analysis demonstrated the necessity of transformation products between atmospheric oxidation capacity and IL-2/IL-8 inhibition. This study provides new information on particulate electrophilic compounds and highlights the role of atmospheric chemistry in specific immune disorders.

Successful Direct Acting Antiviral Therapy in Chronic Hepatitis C Normalizes IFNγ and IL2 Production in T Cells Together with TLR8 Expression and Functionality in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells.

Chronic hepatitis C infection (HCV) activates a systemic cell-mediated immune response characterized by the production of IFNγ and an innate immune response addressed by the activation of TLR signaling. We aimed to investigate whether HCV eradication by direct acting antivirals (DAA) leads to a recovery in cell-mediated immune response and TLR expression and functionality. Blood samples were obtained in HCV infected patients before DAA treatment and at week +48 after the end of treatment. Results were compared to healthy controls. Cell surface expression of TLR8 was assessed on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) by flow cytometry. Freshly isolated PBMCs were cultured with specific TLR8 agonists and intracellular production of cytokines was determined by flow-cytometry after ex vivo TLR8 activation with ssRNA 40. Production of IFNγ, IL2 and IL17 was assessed by flow cytometry in T cells after polyclonal activation. Included were 50 HCV-infected patients and 15 controls. TLR8 expression in PBMCs was significantly increased before treatment and recovered normal levels at week +48. Production of IL1b, IL6 and TNFα dependent on the activation of TLR8 in PBMCs was also increased in patients before DAA treatment, with a significant reduction at week +48. Combined expression of IFNγ and IL2 in CD4+ T cells in HCV-infected patients was significantly increased compared to controls and recovered normal levels at week +48. DAA-mediated clearance of HCV is associated with a decreased expression and activation of TLR8 in PBMCs until healthy control levels which is accompanied by a reduction in the Th1 response.

Salivary irisin: potential inflammatory biomarker in recurrent apthous stomatitis patients.

OBJECTIVE: Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis (RAS) is the most common inflammatory condition of the oral mucosa characterised by recurrent onset of single or multiple painful ulcers mainly affecting the nonkeratinized oral mucosa. RAS mostly occurs in healthy individuals with no associated systemic diseases. Irisin is a newly identified adipomyokine and research has revealed that it has anti-inflammatory effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the significance of salivary irisin levels in patients with recurrent apthous stomatitis (RAS). PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this investigation, 80 individuals were evaluated. The patient group included 30 patients diagnosed with RAS and each control group consisted of 25 smoker and non-smoker healthy individuals. Saliva samples were collected and salivary irisin, interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferon-É£ (IF-É£) levels were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: IL-2 and IF-É£ levels in RAS patients were significantly higher than control smoker and non-smoker groups (p=0.0001, p=0.0001, respectively). Irisin level was higher in RAS patients than smoker controls and non-smoker controls. The level of irisin was found as sensitive and specific as IL-2 and more sensitive and specific than IF-É£. The salivary levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-2 and IF-É£ and irisin were higher in RAS group compared to controls. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report evaluating the irisin an adipo-myokine as an inflammatory biomarker in RAS.

Clearance of inflammatory cytokines in patients with septic acute kidney injury during renal replacement therapy using the EMiC2 filter (Clic-AKI study).

BACKGROUND: The EMiC2 membrane is a medium cut-off haemofilter (45 kiloDalton). Little is known regarding its efficacy in eliminating medium-sized cytokines in sepsis. This study aimed to explore the effects of continuous veno-venous haemodialysis (CVVHD) using the EMiC2 filter on cytokine clearance. METHODS: This was a prospective observational study conducted in critically ill patients with sepsis and acute kidney injury requiring kidney replacement therapy. We measured concentrations of 12 cytokines [Interleukin (IL) IL-1ß, IL-1α, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, interferon (IFN)-γ, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, vascular endothelial growth factor, monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, epidermal growth factor (EGF)] in plasma at baseline (T0) and pre- and post-dialyzer at 1, 6, 24, and 48 h after CVVHD initiation and in the effluent fluid at corresponding time points. Outcomes were the effluent and adsorptive clearance rates, mass balances, and changes in serial serum concentrations. RESULTS: Twelve patients were included in the final analysis. All cytokines except EGF concentrations declined over 48 h (p < 0.001). The effluent clearance rates were variable and ranged from negligible values for IL-2, IFN-γ, IL-1α, IL-1ß, and EGF, to 19.0 ml/min for TNF-α. Negative or minimal adsorption was observed. The effluent and adsorptive clearance rates remained steady over time. The percentage of cytokine removal was low for most cytokines throughout the 48-h period. CONCLUSION: EMiC2-CVVHD achieved modest removal of most cytokines and demonstrated small to no adsorptive capacity despite a decline in plasma cytokine concentrations. This suggests that changes in plasma cytokine concentrations may not be solely influenced by extracorporeal removal. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT03231748, registered on 27th July 2017.

Hair cortisol concentration in anxiety disorders: exploration of relationships with symptom severity and inflammatory markers.

BACKGROUND: Hair cortisol concentration (HCC) can be used to periodically assess hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function, and appears correlated with prolonged exposure to stress. METHODS: Serial assessment (at Baseline, Week 6 and Week 12) of participants (n = 35) with anxiety disorders by psychopathological rating scales, with assays of HCC and levels of peripheral anti- and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Patients underwent antidepressant treatment for an initial 6 weeks, followed by cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor-2 (COX-2) inhibitor (celecoxib) augmentation or 'treatment as usual' for a further 6 weeks. RESULTS: At Baseline (n = 35), HCC was elevated in patients with single-episode but not recurrent-episode anxiety disorders, mean IL-12p70 levels were low, and mean TNF-α levels were elevated. Following 6 weeks of antidepressant treatment (n = 33), mean HCC was within the normal range but mean IL-2 level was low. Celecoxib augmentation (n = 18) was associated with a reduction in anxiety symptoms and normalisation of mean IL-2 levels. LIMITATIONS: Small sample size. Not all participants were assessed at all time points. CONCLUSION: Serial assessment of HCC is practicable in patients with anxiety disorders. These preliminary findings warrant further investigation in larger samples.

Correlation between HPV-negative cervical lesions and cervical microenvironment.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlation between high-risk human papillomavirus (HR HPV)-negative cervical lesions and cervical microenvironment in Inner Mongolia, China, and to find the pathogenic factors of HR HPV-negative cervical lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 74 cases of HR HPV-negative healthy women and 80 cases of patients with cervical lesions (28 cases of LSIL, 49 cases of HSIL and 3 cases of CSCC) were selected as the study group; 26 cases of HPV-positive women and 352 cases of patients with cervical lesions (108 cases of LSIL, 214 cases of HSIL and 30 cases of CSCC) were control group. Questionnaires were collected from the study group and the control group and specimens were collected. Gram staining, hematoxylin and eosin staining microscopy, and substrate colorimetry method were used to detect vaginal micro-ecological indicators; ELISA was used to detect the concentration of SIgA, IgG, IL-2 and IL-10 in vaginal lavage fluid. Genetic testing was used to detect HPV, mycoplasma, and chlamydia infection. The changes of vaginal micro-ecology evaluation index and local immune factor concentration in healthy women and cervical lesions of all grades in the study group and the control group were compared. RESULTS: Patients with cervical lesions, compared with healthy women, had a decrease in dominant lactobacilli and dysbacteriosis (P < 0.05), and this trend became more apparent as the disease progressed. The diversity and concentration of the flora in the HPV-negative group increased, the abnormal composition ratio decreased, and the HPV-positive group showed the opposite trend. As the lesion progressed, H2O2 decreased first and then increased, and the overall trend of SNa, LE, GUS, and GADP increased. The infection rate of trichomoniasis, BV and chlamydia increased and infection rate of Candida decreased. Also, compared with healthy women, patients with cervical lesions showed changes in immune factor concentration (P < 0.05). As the lesion progressed, IL-2 decreased, IL-10 increased, and IL-2/IL-10 decreased. However, IL-2 expression in HPV-negative group was higher than HSIL. SIgA was significantly lower in patients with cervical lesions than in healthy women. IgG had an upward trend in the HPV positive group. CONCLUSION: This study showed that vaginal micro-ecological imbalance and weakening of local cervical immune function are important reasons for the development of cervical lesions. It is expected to inhibit the development of cervical lesions by regulating the balance of vaginal micro-ecology and enhancing local immune function. By detecting Lactobacillus vaginalis, pre-enzyme, IL-2, IL-10, SIgA, it can guide the further diversion of HPV-positive women and predict the development direction of cervical lesions after HPV infection.

Development of a flow cytometry assay for bovine interleukin-2 and its preliminary application in bovine tuberculosis detection.

Mycobacterium bovis, the causative agent of bovine tuberculosis (bTB), poses a risk of infection for livestock, humans, and wildlife. An interferon (IFN)-γ release assay has been used with tuberculin skin tests to detect bTB; however, infected animals may still be missed. Previous studies have suggested that bovine interleukin-2 (BoIL-2) may act as a potential biological marker for the diagnosis of bovine infectious diseases. However, a detailed evaluation of IL-2 as a diagnostic target for bTB is lacking. Therefore, we established hybridoma cell lines that produced monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) recognizing the native BoIL-2 and developed a flow cytometry assay, based on the BoIL-2 mAbs, for detecting M. bovis-specific IL-2. Subsequently, the method was utilized for a preliminary investigation of bTB in cattle; significantly (P < 0.0001) more CD4+IL-2+ T cells were detected in infected cattle than in healthy animals when a specific mycobacterial antigen CFP-10-ESAT-6 fusion protein was used. Moreover, our method demonstrated high coincidence rates with the BOVIGAM® test and an IFN-γ flow cytometry assay for the diagnosis of bTB. These findings show that the present method may be useful for detecting bTB.

Cellular immune responses in amniotic fluid of women with a sonographic short cervix.

Objectives A sonographic short cervix is one of the strongest predictors of preterm delivery. However, the cellular immune composition of amniotic fluid in women with a short cervix has not yet been described. Herein, we determined cellular and soluble immune responses in amniotic fluid from pregnant women with a mid-trimester asymptomatic short cervix. Methods Amniotic fluid samples (n=77) were collected from asymptomatic women with a cervical length between 15 and 25 mm (n=36, short cervix) or ≤15 mm (n=41, severely short cervix) diagnosed by ultrasound. Flow cytometry and multiplex measurement of cytokines/chemokines were performed. Results (1) The cellular immune composition of amniotic fluid did not differ between women with a severely short cervix (≤15 mm) and those with a short cervix 15-25 mm; (2) amniotic fluid concentrations of multiple cytokines/chemokines were higher in women with a severely short cervix (≤15 mm) than in those with a short cervix 15-25 mm; (3) the cellular immune composition of amniotic fluid did not differ between women with a severely short cervix (≤15 mm) who ultimately underwent preterm delivery and those who delivered at term; and (4) amniotic fluid concentrations of IL-2, but not other immune mediators, were increased in women with a severely short cervix (≤15 mm) who ultimately delivered preterm compared to those who delivered at term. Conclusions Women with a severely short cervix (≤15 mm) have increased concentrations of pro-inflammatory mediators in the amniotic cavity; yet, these do not translate to changes in the cellular immune response.

Prenatal arsenic exposure interferes in postnatal immunocompetence despite an absence of ongoing arsenic exposure.

Arsenic (As) readily crosses the placenta and exposure of the fetus may cause adverse consequences later in life, including immunomodulation. In the current study, the question was asked how the immune repertoire might respond in postnatal life when there is no further As exposure. Here, pregnant mice (Balb/c [H-2d]) were exposed to arsenic trioxide (As2O3) through their drinking water from time of conception until parturition. Their offspring, 4-week-old mice who had not been exposed again to As, were used for functional analyses of innate, humoral and cellular immunity. Compared to cells from non-As-exposed dam offspring, isolated peritoneal macro-phages (Mϕ) displayed no differences in T-cell stimulating ability. Levels of circulating IgG2a but not IgG1 were decreased in As-exposed dam offspring as compared to control offspring counterparts. Mixed-leukocyte reactions (MLR) indicated that CD4+ T-cells from the prenatal As-exposed mice were significantly less responsive to allogenic stimulation as evidenced by decreases in interferon (IFN)-γ and IL-2 production and in expression of CD44 and CD69 (but not CD25) activation markers. Interestingly, the Mϕ from the prenatal As-exposed mice were capable of stimulating normal allogenic T-cells, indicating that T-cells from these mice were refractory to allogenic signals. There was also a significant decrease in absolute numbers of splenic CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells due to prenatal As exposure (as compared to control). Lastly, the impaired immune function of the prenatal As-exposed mice was correlated with a very strong susceptibility to Escherichia coli infection. Taken together, the data from this study clearly show that in utero As exposure may continue to perpetuate a dampening effect on the immune repertoire of offspring, even into the early stages of postnatal life.

Changes in Different Cytokines (IL-2, TNF-α, and IFN-γ) Profile in Acquired Aplastic Anemia Patients: A Study From Eastern India.

Although aplastic anemia has been extensively investigated, little is known about their circulating cytokine pattern. The present study was done to evaluate the severity of the disease with the 3 major anti-hematopoietic cytokines interleukin-2 (IL-2), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ). This study is ethically cleared. A total of 102 bone marrow plasma and peripheral blood plasma paired samples were collected from the confirmed acquired aplastic anemia (AAA) patients and 10 control cases after taking written consent and analyzed by the quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The Mann-Whitney U test was used for statistical analysis. Considerably increased levels of IL-2, TNF-α, and IFN-γ were found in the peripheral blood plasma and bone marrow plasma of AAA patients as compared with controls, that is, 45.76±20.61 versus 1.99±1.25, P<0.00001; 26.51±15.62 versus 11.7±3.67, P=0.00188; 17.04±11.64 versus 5.27±1.92, P=0.00034 and 70.54± 37.57 versus 3.12±1.82, P<0.00001; 251.82±243.80 versus 15.66±6.35, P<0.00001; 39.35±22.58 versus 11.12±2.41, P=0.00012, respectively. The IL-2, TNF-α, and IFN-γ levels were observed to be extraordinarily elevated in AAA, but were very low in the control cases. The results confirm that IL-2, TNF-α, and IFN-γ may have an imperative association with the disaster in the bone marrow compartment of AAA patients. The levels and ranges of the observed cytokines can also be predicted by the severity basis of this study.

Cytomegalovirus-specific CD8+ T-cell responses are associated with arterial blood pressure in people living with HIV.

People living with HIV (PLHIV) are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD), and immunity against cytomegalovirus (CMV) may be a contributing factor. We hypothesized that enhanced T-cell responses against CMV and CMV-IgG antibody-levels are associated with higher arterial blood pressure in PLHIV. We assessed serum CMV-IgG, systolic- (SBP) and diastolic- (DBP) blood pressure, pulse pressure (PP), traditional risk factors, activated CD8+ T-cells (CD38+HLA-DR+), senescent CD8+ T-cells (CD28-CD57+) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in 60 PLHIV and 31 HIV-uninfected controls matched on age, gender, education and comorbidity. In PLHIV, expression of interleukin-2, tumor necrosis factor-α and interferon-γ was measured by intracellular-cytokine-staining after stimulation of T-cells with CMV-pp65 and CMV-gB. Associations between CMV-specific immune responses and hypertension, SBP, DBP or PP were assessed by multivariate logistic and linear regression models adjusted for appropriate confounders. The median age of PLHIV was 47 years and 90% were male. Prevalence of hypertension in PLHIV was 37% compared to 55% of HIV-uninfected controls. CMV-specific CD8+ T-cell responses were independently associated with higher PP (CMV-pp65; ß = 2.29, p = 0.001, CMV-gB; ß = 2.42, p = 0.001) in PLHIV. No significant differences were found with regard to individual measures of SBP and DBP. A possible weak association was found between CMV-IgG and hypertension (ß = 1.33, p = 0.049) after adjustment for age, smoking and LDL-cholesterol. HIV-related factors, IL-6, CD8+ T-cell activation or CD8+ T-cell senescence did not mediate the associations, and no associations were found between CMV-specific CD4+ T-cell responses and blood pressure in PLHIV. In conclusion, increased arterial blood pressure in PLHIV may be affected by heightened CMV-specific CD8+ T-cell responses.

Cytokines in peritoneal fluid of ovarian neoplasms.

The aim of this study was to evaluate cytokine levels (IL-2, IL-8, TNF-α, IL-5, IL-6 and IL-10) in the peritoneal fluid in non-neoplastic tumours, benign ovarian neoplasms and malignant ovarian neoplasms. Peritoneal fluid or ascites was collected from 117 patients with neoplastic and non-neoplastic ovarian tumours. Cytokine levels were assessed by ELISA. The unpaired groups were compared by the Kruskal-Wallis test with Dunn's post-test. Higher IL-6 levels were found in malignant neoplasms when compared to non-neoplastic tumours (p=.0241). There was no significant difference in the evaluation of other cytokines. Therefore, higher IL-6 levels in peritoneal fluid are related to the diagnosis of ovarian cancer. Further studies should be performed to evaluate the profile of cytokines in the peritoneal fluid of patients with ovarian tumours, and may be a new diagnostic strategy and a future target for treatment.Impact statementWhat is already known on this subject? Cytokines can be dosed in both the serum and peritoneal fluid, and in the ascitic fluid of women with ovarian neoplasia. Elevated levels of IL-6 were found in the ascitic fluid of patients with malignant ovarian tumours.What the results of this study add? To our knowledge, this is the first study in the literature that evaluates a large panel of cytokines in the peritoneal fluid (and not only in ascites), comparing non-neoplastic tumours, benign neoplasms and malignant ovarian neoplasms.What the implications are of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? The cytokine dosage in the peritoneal fluid should be considered to map a profile of inflammatory cytokines that permeate the peritoneal cavity of patients with ovarian cancer. The dosage of these cytokines can be a potential pre-surgical tumour marker. In addition, a better understanding of the pattern of cytokines around ovarian neoplasia may be targeted for further studies in the development of new therapies for ovarian cancer.

Recognition of Schistosoma mansoni egg-expressed ovalbumin by T cell receptor transgenic mice.

Schistosoma mansoni eggs can influence immune responses directed at them, and the mechanisms by which this is achieved are being unravelled. Going towards, developing effective tools for the study of how S. mansoni influences naïve T cells, we have developed S. mansoni eggs expressing chicken ovalbumin (OVA), using a lentiviral transduction system. Indeed, such a parasite could be used in conjunction with cells from OT-II transgenic mice as a source of naïve, antigen-specific T cells. The expression of the transgenic protein was confirmed by real-time RT-PCR of OVA-specific mRNA and western blotting using polyclonal antibodies specific for OVA. T cells from OT-II transgenic mice expressing a T cell receptor specific for the OVA323-339 peptide recognised the OVA-transduced S. mansoni eggs. Using flow cytometry on CFSE-labelled OT-II splenocytes, we demonstrated that OVA-transduced eggs elicit higher OT-II proliferative responses than untransduced eggs. The OT-II T cells also produced TNF-α and IFN-γ following exposure to OVA-transduced eggs. In addition, moderate amounts of IL-6 and IL-17A were also detected. In contrast, no IL-10, IL-4 and IL-2 were detected in cultures, whether the cells were stimulated with transduced or untransduced eggs. Thus, the cytokine signatures showed the transfected eggs induced predominantly a Th1 response, with a small amount of IL-6 and IL-17.

Comparison of Three Cellular Immunoassays to Detect Tuberculosis Infection in 876 Healthy Recruits.

The currently purified protein derivative (PPD) skin test and 2 interferon (IFN)-γ release assays (IGRAs) were usually used to detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. We try to evaluate the performance of these methods to detect latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in this study. Each subject of the 876 recruits (19.05 ± 1.55, 17-24) underwent the PPD test, enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assay, and chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay (CLEIA). The prevalence of LTBI among the participants, as estimated by PPD, ELISPOT, and CLEIA, was 49.89% (437/876), 25.34% (222/876), and 28.77% (252/876), respectively. Of the participants, positive results were noted in 12.79% (112/876) for both ELISPOT and PPD, 19.52% (171/876) for both CLEIA and PPD; 9.82% (86/876) for 2 IGRAs; and 6.62% (58/876) for all 3 methods. Overall, the consistency among the 3 tests was 36.99% (324/876). ELISPOT-positive rate (41.38%) in the recruits with a PPD result ≥20 mm was higher than PPD <20 mm (24.76%; P < 0.05). Increased PPD skin reactions were associated with significantly increased CLEIA-positive rates and IFN-γ levels. Of 307 recruits without the bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination, 2 IGRA (42.19%)-positive rates in the PPD-positive group were significantly higher than those in the PPD-negative group (28.40% and 23.05%; P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively).There was low correlation and poor consistency among 2 IGRAs and PPD in healthy recruits, but IGRAs may be more accurate screening methods for TB infection in the countries with BCG vaccination.

Cytokine clearance with CytoSorb® during cardiac surgery: a pilot randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is often associated with degrees of complex inflammatory response mediated by various cytokines. This response can, in severe cases, lead to systemic hypotension and organ dysfunction. Cytokine removal might therefore improve outcomes of patients undergoing cardiac surgery. CytoSorb® (Cytosorbents, NJ, USA) is a recent device designed to remove cytokine from the blood using haemoadsorption (HA). This trial aims to evaluate the potential of CytoSorb® to decrease peri-operative cytokine levels in cardiac surgery. METHODS: We have conducted a single-centre pilot randomized controlled trial in 30 patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery and deemed at risk of complications. Patients were randomly allocated to either standard of care (n = 15) or CytoSorb® HA (n = 15) during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Our primary outcome was the difference between the two groups in cytokines levels (IL-1a, IL-1b, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, IFN-γ, MCP-1) measured at anaesthesia induction, at the end of CPB, as well as 6 and 24 h post-CPB initiation. In a consecutive subgroup of patients (10 in HA group, 11 in control group), we performed cross-adsorber as well as serial measurements of coagulation factors' activity (antithrombin, von Willebrand factor, factor II, V, VIII, IX, XI, and XII). RESULTS: Both groups were similar in terms of baseline and peri-operative characteristics. CytoSorb® HA during CPB was not associated with an increased incidence of adverse event. The procedure did not result in significant coagulation factors' adsorption but only some signs of coagulation activation. However, the intervention was associated neither with a decrease in pro- or anti-inflammatory cytokine levels nor with any improvement in relevant clinical outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: CytoSorb® HA during CPB was not associated with a decrease in pro- or anti-inflammatory cytokines nor with an improvement in relevant clinical outcomes. The procedure was feasible and safe. Further studies should evaluate the efficacy of CytoSorb® HA in other clinical contexts. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02775123 . Registered 17 May 2016.

Combination of chick embryo and nutrient mixture prevent D-galactose-induced cognitive deficits, immune impairment and oxidative stress in aging rat model.

Aging is spontaneous and inevitable processes that lead to changes in biological systems. The present paper was designed to investigate the anti-aging roles of chick embryo (CE) and nutrient mixture (NM) in aging rats. Aging was induced by administration of D-galactose (D-gal, 500 mg/kg/day for 90 days). CE and NM were administered to aging rats through different dose gavage once a day. Cognitive function assessment was performed using the Morris water maze test. At the end of experiment, serum and tissues were collected for immunity and antioxidation function. The organs and tissues were excised for histological study. The results demonstrated that CE plus NM was superior treatment to improve the histopathologic changes and reverse learning and memory impairment of the aging rats. CE plus NM also increased the spleen and thymus index as well as splenocyte proliferation, and reversed inflammatory cytokine levels. In addition, the biochemical index showed that CE plus NM could improve the antioxidant enzyme activity of the aging rats, decrease lipofuscin (LF) and glutamate content. CE plus NM also inhibited the activation of TLR4/NF-κB pathway stimulated by LPS in splenic B lymphocytes. Overall, these results seem to be implying that CE plus NM was used as potentially natural supplement or functional food for preventing aging.

A quartz crystal microbalance modified with antibody-coated silver nanoparticles acting as mass signal amplifiers for real-time monitoring of three latent tuberculosis infection biomarkers.

A strategy is described for continuous monitoring of multiple latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) biomarkers, specifically of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-2 (IL-2). Silver nanoparticles acting as mass signal amplifiers were linked to respective antibodies to form mass nanoprobes for increasing the mass loaded on the surface of the quartz crystal microbalance (QCM). This results in enhanced sensitivity. The mass nanoprobes can be oxidatively dissolved by hydrogen peroxide that avoided the steric hindrance caused by the scale effect of mass nanoprobes. This offers the option of signal recovery monitoring. By using this method, IFN-γ, TNF-α and IL-2 can be monitored serially. The frequency shifts caused by TNF-α, IFN-γ and IL-2, respectively, are reversible. Hence, the biomarkers can be continuously quantified. Compared to multichannel QCM sensing, the new method avoids acoustic interference and has a simplified instrumental setup. The assay is simple, accurate, sensitive, and inexpensive. Graphical abstract Silver nanoparticles as the mass signal amplifiers were linked with the antibodies to form mass nanoprobes for enhancing the monitoring sensitivity. With the introduction of H2O2 to dissolve the mass nanoprobes attached on sensing interface, a signal recovery QCM strategy is established for real-time and continuous monitoring of three LTBI biomarkers.

¿Pueden ser la interleucina-2 y la interleucina-1ß biomarcadores específicos de la sintomatología negativa en la esquizofrenia? / Can interleukin-2 and interleukin-1ß be specific biomarkers of negative symptoms in schizophrenia?

Introducción: Hay evidencias que sugieren la existencia de alteraciones de algunas citocinas en pacientes con esquizofrenia, pero su asociación con la psicopatología aún no está clara. El objetivo de este estudio es determinar si los niveles de citocinas proinflamatorias (factor de necrosis tumoral-alfa, interleucina [IL]-6, IL-2, IL-1ß, IL-1RA) están aumentados en pacientes ambulatorios clínicamente estables en comparación con individuos sanos, y analizar si podrían ser biomarcadores específicos de las diferentes dimensiones clínicas de la esquizofrenia. Métodos: Se evaluaron 73 pacientes con esquizofrenia en sus primeros 10 años de evolución de la enfermedad y 73 controles sanos pareados por edad y sexo. Se realizó una evaluación precisa de las dimensiones clínicas (positiva, negativa, depresiva y cognitiva) en estos pacientes. Resultados: Solo los niveles de IL-6 están significativamente elevados en los pacientes tras controlar por índice de masa corporal, perímetro abdominal, tabaquismo y tratamiento psicofarmacológico en comparación con sus controles sanos. Tras ajustar por varios factores de confusión, los modelos de regresión lineal múltiple identificaron cómo las concentraciones de IL-1ß predicen los síntomas negativos, psicopatología general y gravedad global de la Escala del Síndrome Positivo y Negativo, mientras los niveles de IL-2 predicen el dominio motivación y placer de la Entrevista de Evaluación Clínica para Síntomas Negativos y la puntuación global en la Escala de Funcionamiento Personal y Social. Sin embargo, el rendimiento cognitivo, la gravedad de los síntomas depresivos y positivos no correlacionaron con ninguna de las citocinas. Conclusiones: Nuestros hallazgos sugieren que las concentraciones de IL-6 permanecen elevadas en pacientes estables con esquizofrenia. Mientras que la IL-2 marca específicamente la gravedad en el dominio motivación y placer de la sintomatología negativa, la IL-1ß no es específica para esta dimensión, ya que también predice la gravedad de la sintomatología general y global

Introduction: Evidence suggests the existence of cytokine disturbances in patients with schizophrenia but their association with psychopathology is still unclear. The aim of the current study was to determine if pro-inflammatory cytokine levels (tumor necrosis factor-alfa, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-2, IL-1ß, IL-1RA) are increased in stable outpatients compared with healthy subjects, and to analyze if they could be specific biomarkers of clinical dimensions in schizophrenia. Methods: We studied 73 stable outpatients with schizophrenia in their first 10 years of illness and 73 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. An accurate assessment of clinical dimensions (positive, negative, depressive, cognitive) was performed in patients. Results: Only IL-6 levels were significantly increased in patients after controlling for body mass index, waist circumference, smoking, and psychopharmacological treatment, compared with healthy subjects. After adjusting for several confounders, multiple linear regression models identified that Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale negative symptoms, general psychopathology, and global severity are predicted by IL-1ß concentrations, while motivation and pleasure domain of Clinical Assessment Interview for Negative Symptoms and Personal and Social Performance global functioning scores are predicted by IL-2 levels. Cognitive performance, positive, and depressive symptom severity did not correlate with any cytokine. Conclusions: Our findings suggested that IL-6 concentrations are elevated in stable patients with schizophrenia. Whereas IL-2 specifically marks severity of the motivation and pleasure domain of negative symptoms, IL-1ß is not specific to this dimension as it also predicts severity of general and global symptomatology