HIV-1 gp120 Glycoprotein Interacting with Dendritic Cell-specific Intercellular Adhesion Molecule 3-grabbing Non-integrin (DC-SIGN) Down-Regulates Tight Junction Proteins to Disrupt the Blood Retinal Barrier and Increase Its Permeability.

Approximately 70% of HIV-1 infected patients acquire ocular opportunistic infections and manifest eye disorders during the course of their illness. The mechanisms by which pathogens invade the ocular site, however, are unclear. Under normal circumstances, vascular endothelium and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), which possess a well developed tight junction complex, form the blood-retinal barrier (BRB) to prevent pathogen invasion. We hypothesize that disruption of the BRB allows pathogen entry into ocular sites. The hypothesis was tested using in vitro models. We discovered that human RPE cells could bind to either HIV-1 gp120 glycoproteins or HIV-1 viral particles. Furthermore, the binding was mediated by dendritic cell-specific intercellular adhesion molecule 3-grabbing non-integrin (DC-SIGN) expressed on RPE cells. Upon gp120 binding to DC-SIGN, cellular NF-κB signaling was triggered, leading to the induction of matrix metalloproteinases, which subsequently degraded tight junction proteins and disrupted the BRB integrity. DC-SIGN knockdown or prior blocking with a specific antibody abolished gp120-induced matrix metalloproteinase expression and reduced the degradation of tight junction proteins. This study elucidates a novel mechanism by which HIV, type 1 invades ocular tissues and provides additional insights into the translocation or invasion process of ocular complication-associated pathogens.

[Clinical effects of different therapeutic regimens for Helicobacter pylori infection in children].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical effects of sequential therapy, triple therapy, sequential therapy combined with Lactobacillus, and triple therapy combined with Lactobacillus in the eradication of Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) infection in children. METHODS: A total of 416 children with H.pylori infection were randomly assigned to sequential group (102 children), triple group (100 children), sequential-Lactobacillus group (109 children), and triple-Lactobacillus group (105 children). The clinical outcome, H.pylori eradication rate, cost-effect ratio, and incidence of adverse events were compared between the four groups. RESULTS: The sequential-Lactobacillus and triple-Lactobacillus groups had significantly better clinical outcomes than the sequential group and the triple group (P<0.05). The sequential-Lactobacillus group had the highest marked response rate, followed by the triple-Lactobacillus group. The triple group had the lowest marked response rate. The sequential-Lactobacillus group also had the highest H.pylori eradication rate, followed by the triple-Lactobacillus group. The triple group had the lowest H.pylori eradication rate (P<0.05). The sequential group had the lowest cost-effect ratio, followed by the sequential-Lactobacillus group. The triple group had the highest cost-effect ratio (P<0.01). The sequential-Lactobacillus group had the lowest incidence rate of adverse events, followed by the triple-Lactobacillus group. The triple group had the highest incidence rate. CONCLUSIONS: Sequential therapy combined with Lactobacillus seems to be the best regimen for the eradication of H.pylori infection in children.

Human Blood-Circulating Basophils Capture HIV-1 and Mediate Viral trans-Infection of CD4+ T Cells.

UNLABELLED: Cell-associated HIV-1 infection has been proposed to play a pivotal role in the spread of HIV-1 infection. Granulocytes are a category of white blood cells, comprising mainly basophils, neutrophils, and eosinophils, and participate in various inflammatory reactions and defense against pathogens. Here, we investigated the role of human blood granulocytes in the dissemination of HIV-1. These cells were found to express a variety of HIV-1 attachment factors (HAFs). Basophils expressed HAFs dendritic cell (DC)-specific intercellular adhesion molecule 3 (ICAM3)-grabbing nonintegrin (DC-SIGN), DC immunoreceptor (DCIR), heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG), and α4ß7 integrin and mediated the most efficient capture of HIV-1 on the cell surface. Neutrophils were found to express DCIR and demonstrated limited efficiency of viral capture. Eosinophils expressed α4ß7 integrin but exhibited little or no virus-binding capacity. Intriguingly, following direct contact with CD4+ T cells, viruses harbored on the surface of basophils were transferred to T cells. The contact between basophils and CD4+ T cells and formation of infectious synapses appeared necessary for efficient HIV-1 spread. In HIV-1-infected individuals, the frequency of basophils remained fairly stable over the course of disease, regardless of CD4+ T depletion or the emergence of AIDS-associated opportunistic infections. Collectively, our results provide novel insights into the roles of granulocytes, particularly basophils, in HIV-1 dissemination. Thus, strategies designed to prevent basophil-mediated viral capture and transfer may be developed into a new form of therapy. IMPORTANCE: Cell-associated HIV-1 infection has been proposed to play a pivotal role in the spread of HIV-1 infection. Here, we demonstrated that human blood-circulating granulocytes, particularly basophils, can capture HIV-1 and mediate viral trans-infection of CD4+ T cells. The expression of a variety of HIV-1 attachment factors, such as the C-type lectins, etc., facilitates viral capture and transfer. Intriguingly, the frequency of basophils in patients with different levels of CD4+ T counts remains fairly stable during the course of disease. Our results provide novel insights into the roles of granulocytes, particularly basophils, in HIV-1 dissemination. We suggest that strategies designed to prevent basophil-mediated viral capture and transfer may be a new direction for the development of anti-HIV therapy.

Human Mucosal Mast Cells Capture HIV-1 and Mediate Viral trans-Infection of CD4+ T Cells.

UNLABELLED: The gastrointestinal mucosa is the primary site where human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) invades, amplifies, and becomes persistently established, and cell-to-cell transmission of HIV-1 plays a pivotal role in mucosal viral dissemination. Mast cells are widely distributed in the gastrointestinal tract and are early targets for invasive pathogens, and they have been shown to have increased density in the genital mucosa in HIV-infected women. Intestinal mast cells express numerous pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and have been shown to combat various viral, parasitic, and bacterial infections. However, the role of mast cells in HIV-1 infection is poorly defined. In this study, we investigated their potential contributions to HIV-1 transmission. Mast cells isolated from gut mucosal tissues were found to express a variety of HIV-1 attachment factors (HAFs), such as DC-SIGN, heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG), and α4ß7 integrin, which mediate capture of HIV-1 on the cell surface. Intriguingly, following coculture with CD4(+) T cells, mast cell surface-bound viruses were efficiently transferred to target T cells. Prior blocking with anti-HAF antibody or mannan before coculture impaired viral trans-infection. Cell-cell conjunctions formed between mast cells and T cells, to which viral particles were recruited, and these were required for efficient cell-to-cell HIV-1 transmission. Our results reveal a potential function of gut mucosal mast cells in HIV-1 dissemination in tissues. Strategies aimed at preventing viral capture and transfer mediated by mast cells could be beneficial in combating primary HIV-1 infection. IMPORTANCE: In this study, we demonstrate the role of human mast cells isolated from mucosal tissues in mediating HIV-1 trans-infection of CD4(+) T cells. This finding facilitates our understanding of HIV-1 mucosal infection and will benefit the development of strategies to combat primary HIV-1 dissemination.

Anti-HIV-1 activities of extracts and phenolics from Smilax china L.

Four extracts (EtOH, CHCl3, EtOAc, and BuOH) and five phenolics (dihydrokaempferol (1), resveratrol (2), kaempferol-7-O-ß-D-glucoside (3), dihydrokaempferol-3-O-α-L-rhamnoside (4), oxyresveratrol (5)) from Smilax china L. was evaluated for anti-HIV-1 activities and cytotoxicity activities in vitro. All these extracts and phenolics showed lower or no cytotoxicity at a concentration ranged from 0.8 µg/mL to 100 µg/mL, but some showed potential anti-HIV-1 activities, that is, BuOH extract and compound 2 showed higher anti-HIV-1 activities than other extracts and compounds in the tested concentrations. EtOAc extract and compound 1 and 3 showed moderate anti-HIV-1 activities at a concentration higher than 4 µg/mL. In the end, the structure-activity relationship of four extracts and five phenolics was discussed.

Stimulation of Cryptococcus neoformans isolated from skin lesion of AIDS patient matures dendritic cells and promotes HIV-1 trans-infection.

Dendritic cells (DCs) play a pivotal role in host defense against invaded pathogens including fungi, while DCs are targeted by fungi for deleterious regulation of the host immune response. A few studies have reported fungal modulation of DC function in these immunocompromised AIDS patients. Cryptococcus neoformans (C. neoformans) is referred as one of the opportunistic fungi of AIDS. Here, we isolated native C. neoformans from an AIDS patient and investigated its effects on DC activation and function. Stimulation of C. neoformans matured DCs, and enhanced DC-mediated HIV-1 trans-infection; moreover, C. neoformans-stimulated DCs promoted the activation of resting T cells and provided more susceptible targets for HIV-1 infection. Microbial translocation has been proposed as the cause of systemic immune activation in chronic HIV-1 infection. Understanding the potential effects of pathogens on HIV-1-DC interactions could help elucidate viral pathogenesis and provide a new insight for against the spread of HIV.

[Genetic diversity and genetic structure in Sassafras tsumu populations along altitudinal gra-dients in Tianmushan Mountain, China.] / å¤©ç›®å±±ä¸åŒæµ·æ‹”æª«æœ¨ç¾¤ä½“é—ä¼ å¤šæ ·æ€§å’Œé—ä¼ ç»“æž„.

To analyze the genetic diversities and structures of Sassafras tsumu and to explore their changing patterns at five different altitudes, Bioptic Qsep 100 DNA fragment analyzer combined with 13 SSR primers was applied. The results showed that S. tsumu in Tianmushan Mountain had a relatively high genetic diversity, with the expected heterozygosity (He) and observed heterozygosity (Ho) being 0.84 and 0.61, respectively. According to Shannon index (I), the diversity of S. tsumu at middle altitude (500-800 m) was higher than that at low (200 m) and high altitudes (1100-1400 m). The coefficient of genetic differentiation and AMOVA results indicated that the genetic variation of S. tsumu was mainly distributed within populations. UPGMA cluster analysis and STRUCTURE analysis showed that S. tsumu populations at the middle and lower altitudes were similar, but different from that at higher altitude. The differences in genetic distance of S. tsumu populations at middle and low altitudes revealed that human disturbance posed a negative effect on the diversity, whereas, natural reserve played a significant positive role in protecting species diversity.

Histamine enhances HIV-1-induced modulation of dendritic cells to skew naïve T cell differentiation toward regulatory T cells.

Altered cytokine profiles and imbalanced frequencies of CD4(+) T helper cell subsets are thought to be linked with HIV-1/AIDS pathogenesis, but the causes need to be further clarified. Histamine, a biogenic amine with many functions, shows enhancement in HIV-1 infected individuals, which are considered to link with disease progression, but is poorly understood. This study investigated histamine-assisted HIV-1 modulation of dendritic cell (DC) functions. Histamine and HIV-1 showed a synergistic role in induction of interleukin-10; histamine inhibited HIV-1-induced IL-12 production from MDDCs (monocyte-derived DCs); notably, histamine augmented HIV-1-induced MDDC functional polarization and skewed naïve T cell differentiation toward regulatory T cells (Tregs). The results indicate the novel role of histamine in HIV-1-induced DC functional regulation, which promoted Treg cell differentiation and up-regulated immunosuppressive factors. These findings help to bridge the correlation between elevated histamine and increased Treg cell frequency in HIV-1 infected individuals, and add to our understanding of HIV-1-induced immunosuppression.

Genome-wide association study identifies two new susceptibility loci for atopic dermatitis in the Chinese Han population.

Atopic dermatitis is a chronic, relapsing form of inflammatory skin disorder that is affected by genetic and environmental factors. We performed a genome-wide association study of atopic dermatitis in a Chinese Han population using 1,012 affected individuals (cases) and 1,362 controls followed by a replication study in an additional 3,624 cases and 12,197 controls of Chinese Han ethnicity, as well as 1,806 cases and 3,256 controls from Germany. We identified previously undescribed susceptibility loci at 5q22.1 (TMEM232 and SLC25A46, rs7701890, P(combined) = 3.15 × 10(-9), odds ratio (OR) = 1.24) and 20q13.33 (TNFRSF6B and ZGPAT, rs6010620, P(combined) = 3.0 × 10(-8), OR = 1.17) and replicated another previously reported locus at 1q21.3 (FLG, rs3126085, P(combined) = 5.90 × 10(-12), OR = 0.82) in the Chinese sample. The 20q13.33 locus also showed evidence for association in the German sample (rs6010620, P = 2.87 × 10(-5), OR = 1.25). Our study identifies new genetic susceptibility factors and suggests previously unidentified biological pathways in atopic dermatitis.