A novel homozygous variant in PMVK is associated with enhanced IL1ß secretion and a hyper-IgD syndrome-like phenotype.

The evolutionarily conserved mevalonate pathway plays an important role in the synthesis of cholesterol and isoprenoid compounds. Mevalonate kinase (MVK) and phosphomevalonate kinase (PMVK) enzymes regulate key rate-limiting steps in this pathway by sequentially phosphorylating mevalonic acid to yield downstream metabolites that regulate protein prenylation and cell signaling. Biallelic pathogenic variants in MVK cause a spectrum of rare autoinflammatory disorders that encompass milder forms of hyper-IgD syndrome (HIDS) at one end and the more severe mevalonic aciduria on the other. In contrast, pathogenic variants reported in PMVK are heterozygous and associated with porokeratosis, a skin disorder with no systemic manifestations. Recently, biallelic variants in PMVK were reported as a cause for an autoinflammatory disorder for the first time in two unrelated patients. In this study, we describe a child with recurrent arthritis and a HIDS-like phenotype harboring a novel homozygous variant c.398 C>T (p.Ala133Val) in PMVK. Mononuclear cells isolated from the patient showed significantly elevated production of interleukin 1ß, a key cytokine that shapes the inflammatory response in HIDS. Protein modeling studies suggested potential defects in PMVK enzyme activity. These results posit a further expanding of the genotypic spectrum of autoinflammatory disease to include biallelic PMVK variants.

Sleep loss-induced oncogenic pathways are mediated via the neuron-specific interleukin-1 receptor accessory protein (AcPb).

Interleukin-1ß (IL1), a pleiotropic cytokine, is involved in sleep regulation, tumor ontogeny, and immune responses. IL1 receptor adaptor proteins, including the IL1 receptor accessory protein (AcP), and its neuron-specific isoform, AcPb, are required for IL1 signaling. The AcPb isoform is resultant from alternate splicing of the AcP transcript. Our previous studies using AcPb null (AcPb-/-) mice characterized its participation in sleep regulation and emergent neuronal/glial network properties. Here, we investigated the impact of acute sleep disruption (SD) on brain cancer-related pathways in wild-type (WT) and AcPb-/- mice, employing RNA sequencing methods. In WT mice, SD increased AcPb mRNA levels, but not AcP mRNA, confirming prior similar work in rats. Transcriptome and pathway enrichment analyses demonstrated significant alterations in cancer, immune, and viral disease-related pathways in WT mice after SD, which were attenuated in AcPb-/- mice including multiple upregulated Src phosphorylation-signaling-dependent genes associated with cancer progression and metastasis. Our RNAseq findings, were analyzed within the context of The Cancer Genome Atlas Program (TCGA) data base; revealing an upregulation of sleep- and cancer-linked genes (e.g., IL-17B, IL-17RA, LCN2) across various tumors, including brain tumors, compared to normal tissues. Sleep-linked factors, identified through TCGA analyses, significantly impact patient prognosis and survival, particularly in low-grade glioma (LGG) and glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) patients. Overall, our findings suggest that SD promotes a pro-tumor environment through AcPb-modulated pathways.

Endometrial senescence is mediated by interleukin 17 receptor B signaling.

BACKGROUND: We previously identified Il17RB, a member of the IL17 superfamily, as a candidate marker gene for endometrial aging. While IL17RB has been linked to inflammation and malignancies in several organ systems, its function in the endometrium has not been investigated and is thus poorly understood. In the present study, we performed a functional analysis of this receptor with the aim of determining the effects of its age-associated overexpression on the uterine environment. METHODS: We analyzed IL17RB-related signaling pathways and downstream gene expression in an immortalized human endometrial glandular epithelial cell line ("hEM") forced to express the receptor via lentiviral transduction ("IL17RB-hEM"). We also prepared endometrial organoids from human endometrial tissue sourced from hysterectomy patients ("patient-derived EOs") and exposed them to cytokines that are upregulated by IL17RB expression to investigate changes in organoid-forming capacity and senescence markers. We analyzed RNA-seq data (GEO accession number GSE132886) from our previous study to identify the signaling pathways associated with altered IL17RB expression. We also analyzed the effects of the JNK pathway on organoid-forming capacity. RESULTS: Stimulation with interleukin 17B enhanced the NF-κB pathway in IL17RB-hEM, resulting in significantly elevated expression of the genes encoding the senescence associated secretory phenotype (SASP) factors IL6, IL8, and IL1ß. Of these cytokines, IL1ß inhibited endometrial organoid growth. Bioinformatics analysis showed that the JNK signaling pathway was associated with age-related variation in IL17RB expression. When IL17RB-positive cells were cultured in the presence of IL17B, their organoid-forming capacity was slightly but non-significantly lower than in unexposed IL17RB-positive cells, but when IL17B was paired with a JNK inhibitor (SP600125), it was restored to control levels. Further, IL1ß exposure significantly reduced organoid-forming capacity and increased p21 expression in endometrial organoids relative to non-exposure (control), but when IL1ß was paired with SP600125, both indicators were restored to levels comparable to the control condition. CONCLUSIONS: We have revealed an association between IL17RB, whose expression increases in the endometrial glandular epithelium with advancing age, and cellular senescence. Using human endometrial organoids as in vitro model, we found that IL1ß inhibits cell proliferation and leads to endometrial senescence via the JNK pathway.

High Mobility Group Box 1 Gene Polymorphism and Serum High Mobility Group Box 1, Interleukin 1 Beta, and Alpha-Klotho Crosstalk in Severe COVID-19 Patients.

AIM: To evaluate the serum levels of HMGB1, IL1ß, and α-klotho in COVID-19 patients with different disease severity, investigate their association with clinicopathological parameters, and to assess HMGB1 rs1045411 polymorphism and its relation with clinical severity. METHODS: 120 COVID-19 patients (89 critically ill, 15 severe, and 16 moderately severe) along with 80 healthy control were enrolled.The serum levels of HMGB1,IL1ß, and α-klotho were determined by ELISA. The HMGB1 rs1045411 polymorphism was detected by RT- PCR. RESULTS: The serum levels of HMGB1, IL1ß, and α-klotho were significantly higher in critically ill COVID-19 patients compared to other groups. The HMGB1rs1045411 polymorphism revealed a significant decrease in the percentage of T/T genotypes in COVID-19 patients compared to controls. The (ROC) analysis showed moderate diagnostic potential for serum HMGB1, IL1ß, and α-klotho. CONCLUSION: The serum HMGB1, IL1ß, and α-klotho may be severity markers and promising therapeutic targets for COVID-19 patients.

Impact of Photobiomodulation on IL1ß and TGFß-1 concentrations in patients with aphthous stomatitis.

Laser therapy has shown effectiveness in promoting wound healing by influencing various physiological factors such as blood flow, cytokines, histamine, nerve signals, lymphocyte function, tissue oxygenation, and cell growth. This study aims to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of Photobiomodulation (PBM) treatment, by using diode laser, in modifying the levels of interleukin-1 beta (IL1ß) and transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGFß-1) in patients diagnosed with aphthous stomatitis. A before-after interventional design was conducted over 10 months with 20 subjects. Data on demographic details and serum concentrations of IL1ß and TGFß-1 were collected pre-treatment and on Days 3 and 7 post-treatments. The intervention involved a single session of four 30-second applications of a QuickLase dual-wavelength laser operating at 980 nm. Results show significant reductions in IL1ß and TGFß-1 levels after 7 days of treatment, indicating a time-dependent effect of PBM therapy on these inflammatory markers. The findings suggest that PBM therapy holds promise as an intervention for reducing inflammation associated with aphthous stomatitis.

Role of the Fungus Pneumocystis in IL1ß Pathway Activation and Airways Collagen Deposition in Elastase-Induced COPD Animals.

Inflammation and mucus production are prevalent characteristics of chronic respiratory conditions, such as asthma and chronic chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Biological co-factors, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi, may exacerbate these diseases by activating various pathways associated with airway diseases. An example is the fungus Pneumocystis, which is linked to severe COPD in human patients. Recent evidence has demonstrated that Pneumocystis significantly enhanced inflammation and mucus hypersecretion in a rat model of elastase-induced COPD. The present study specifically aims to investigate two additional aspects associated with the pathology induced by Pneumocystis infection: inflammation and collagen deposition around airways. To this end, the focus was to investigate the role of the IL-1ß pro-inflammatory pathway during Pneumocystis infection in COPD rats. Several airway pathology-related features, such as inflammation, mucus hypersecretion, and fibrosis, were evaluated using histological and molecular techniques. COPD animals infected with Pneumocystis exhibited elevated inflammation levels, including a synergistic increase in IL-1ß and Cox-2. Furthermore, protein levels of the IL-1ß-dependent transcription factor cAMP response element-binding (CREB) showed a synergistic elevation of their phosphorylated version in the lungs of COPD animals infected with Pneumocystis, while mucus levels were notably higher in the airways of COPD-infected animals. Interestingly, a CREB responsive element (CRE) was identified in the Muc5b promoter. The presence of CREB in the Muc5b promoter was synergistically increased in COPD animals infected with Pneumocystis compared to other experimental groups. Finally, an increment of deposited collagen was identified surrounding the airways of COPD animals infected with Pneumocystis compared with the other experimental animal groups and correlated with the increase of Tgfß1 mRNA levels. These findings emphasize the role of Pneumocystis as a potential biological co-factor in chronic respiratory diseases like COPD or asthma, warranting new perspectives in the treatment of chronic respiratory diseases.

PIEZO1 expression at the glio-vascular unit adjusts to neuroinflammation in seizure conditions.

Mechanosensors are emerging players responding to hemodynamic and physical inputs. Their significance in the central nervous system remains relatively uncharted. Using human-derived brain specimens or cells and a pre-clinical model of mesio-temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE), we examined how the mRNA levels of the mechanosensitive channel PIEZO1 adjust to disease-associated pro-inflammatory trajectories. In brain tissue micro-punches obtained from 18 drug-resistant MTLE patients, PIEZO1 expression positively correlated with pro-inflammatory biomarkers TNFα, IL-1ß, and NF-kB in the epileptogenic hippocampus compared to the adjacent amygdala and temporal cortex tissues. In an experimental MTLE model, hippocampal Piezo1 and cytokine expression levels were increased post-status epilepticus (SE) and during epileptogenesis. Piezo1 expression positively correlated with Tnfα, Il1ß, and Nf-kb in the hippocampal foci. Next, by combining RNAscope with immunohistochemistry, we identified Piezo1 in glio-vascular cells. Post-SE and during epileptogenesis, ameboid IBA1 microglia, hypertrophic GFAP astrocytes, and damaged NG2DsRed pericytes exhibited time-dependent patterns of increased Piezo1 expression. Digital droplet PCR analysis confirmed the Piezo1 trajectory in isolated hippocampal microvessels in the ipsi and contralateral hippocampi. The combined examinations performed in this model showed Piezo1 expression returning towards basal levels after the epileptogenesis-associated peak inflammation. From these associations, we next asked whether pro-inflammatory players directly regulate PIEZO1 expression. We used human-derived brain cells and confirmed that endothelium, astrocytes, and pericytes expressed PIEZO1. Exposure to human recombinant TNFα or IL1ß upregulated NF-kB in all cells. Furthermore, TNFα induced PIEZO1 expression in a dose and time-dependent manner, primarily in astrocytes. This exploratory study describes a spatiotemporal dialogue between PIEZO1 brain cell-mechanobiology and neuro-inflammatory cell remodeling. The precise functional mechanisms regulating this interplay in disease conditions warrant further investigation.

Sex-specific contribution of glucocorticoid receptor alpha isoforms to anxiety and depressive-like behavior in mice.

Adolescent stress predisposes individuals to increased risk for anxiety and depression in adulthood. The stress response is mediated by the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) via regulation of GR-responsive genes involved in brain reaction to stress. Although dysregulation of GR in depression is well documented, this is the first study investigating the role of GRα isoforms in pathogenesis of depression. We exposed adolescent male and female C57BL/6J mice to chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) for 12 days starting at postnatal day 28 (PND28). Tests evaluating anxiety and depressive-like behaviors were performed at PND70. We analyzed corticosterone concentrations in serum, levels of GRα isoforms (95, 67, 50, 40, and 25 kDa), and mRNA levels of GR-responsive genes (GR, FKBP5, BDNF, and IL-1ß) in the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex (PFC). CUS increased anxiety and depressive-like behavior in adult animals of both sexes, but did not affect corticosterone serum levels, 95 and 67 kDa GR isoforms. However, the levels of shorter GRα isoforms (50, 40, and 25 kDa) were altered in adult mice underwent CUS, in sex- and brain structure-specific way. Changes in gene expression revealed that female depressive-like behavior could be related to increased levels of IL-1ß in hippocampus and reduced BDNF levels in both hippocampus and PFC. However, in males, adolescent CUS increased expression of GR in adult hippocampus and BDNF in PFC. These findings suggest that adolescent stress altered levels of GRα isoforms, especially those with lower molecular weight, in sex- and tissue-specific ways, contributing to anxiety and depression in adult mice.

Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Contributes to the Development of Delayed Neuroinflammation.

INTRODUCTION: In recent years, according to the literature, the problem of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) has become more and more urgent. Compared to moderate to severe craniocerebral trauma, mTBI occurs in a far greater number of people. The delayed sequelae caused by a single mTBI or multiple mTBIs are a significant public health problem. METHODS: A weight-drop model was used for the formation of mTBI. A metal rod weighing 337 g with a blunt tip of 3 mm diameter was uplifted at 8 cm height and held by a lever. The trauma was created by lowering the lever and the rod and free-dropping onto the rat skull. In the cerebral cortex of experimental animals, we analyzed the level of microglial activity (Iba-1-positive system) and the expression of pro-inflammatory markers (IL1ß, IL6, and CD86). Also, the expression level of the endocannabinoid system receptor (cannabinoid receptor type 1 [CB1]) was assessed in brain samples. RESULTS: Experiments have shown that mTBI increases (1) the amount of microglia (iba-1) activated by the pro-inflammatory pathway (CD86); (2) the level of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL1ß and IL6; and (3) CB1R activity. CONCLUSION: Overall, the results of this study indicate that mTBI induces a sustained neuroinflammatory response.

TNFα rs1799964 TT genotype may be a susceptibility factor for vertical transmission of Toxoplasma gondii and clinical signs in newborns from pregnant women with acute toxoplasmosis.

BACKGROUND: One of the main impacts of Toxoplasma gondii infection occurs during pregnancy and is related to the vertical transmission of the parasite (congenital toxoplasmosis), which can cause severe clinical outcomes and fetal death. During acute infection, in order to control the rapid replication of tachyzoites, different host immune response genes are activated, and these include cytokine-encoding genes. Considering that polymorphisms in cytokine genes may increase susceptibility to vertical transmission of T. gondii by determining the immune status of the pregnant woman, this study evaluated the influence of polymorphisms of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) rs1799964 (- 1031) and interleukin 1 beta (IL1ß) rs16944 (- 511) genes on gestational toxoplasmosis and on the vertical transmission of the parasite and verified the allele and genotype frequency of these polymorphisms in pregnant patients whose respective newborn did or did not present clinical abnormalities suggestive of congenital toxoplasmosis. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 204 pregnant patients with (n = 114) or without (n = 90) infection by T. gondii were enrolled. No associations were found involving the polymorphisms rs1799964 (- 1031) of the TNFα gene and rs16944 (- 511) of the IL1ß gene with the increased chance of T. gondii infection during pregnancy. However, it was observed that the maternal TT genotype referring to the polymorphism of the TNFα gene seems to influence the vertical transmission of the parasite (P = 0.01; χ2 = 6.05) and the presence of clinical manifestation in newborns from pregnancies with acute toxoplasmosis (P = 0.007; χ2 = 9.68). CONCLUSION: The TNFα rs1799964 TT genotype may act as a susceptibility factor for the vertical transmission of parasite and for the presence of clinical signs in newborns from pregnant women with acute toxoplasmosis.

Microbiota-dependent TLR2 signaling reduces silver nanoparticle toxicity to zebrafish larvae.

Many host-microbiota interactions depend on the recognition of microbial constituents by toll-like receptors of the host. The impacts of these interactions on host health can shape the hosts response to environmental pollutants such as nanomaterials. Here, we assess the role of toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) signaling in the protective effects of colonizing microbiota against silver nanoparticle (nAg) toxicity to zebrafish larvae. Zebrafish larvae were exposed to nAg for two days, from 3 to 5 days post-fertilization. Using an il1ß-reporter line, we first characterized the accumulation and particle-specific inflammatory effects of nAg in the total body and intestinal tissues of the larvae. This showed that silver gradually accumulated in both the total body and intestinal tissues, yet specifically caused particle-specific inflammation on the skin of larvae. Subsequently, we assessed the effects of microbiota-dependent TLR2 signaling on nAg toxicity. This was done by comparing the sensitivity of loss-of-function zebrafish mutants for TLR2, and each of the TLR2-adaptor proteins MyD88 and TIRAP (Mal), under germ-free and microbially-colonized conditions. Irrespective of their genotype, microbially-colonized larvae were less sensitive to nAg than their germ-free siblings, supporting the previously identified protective effect of microbiota against nAg toxicity. Under germ-free conditions, tlr2, myd88 and tirap mutants were equally sensitive to nAg as their wildtype siblings. However, when colonized by microbiota, tlr2 and tirap mutants were more sensitive to nAg than their wildtype siblings. The sensitivity of microbially-colonized myd88 mutants did not differ significantly from that of wildtype siblings. These results indicate that the protective effect of colonizing microbiota against nAg-toxicity to zebrafish larvae involves TIRAP-dependent TLR2 signaling. Overall, this supports the conclusion that host-microbiota interactions affect nanomaterial toxicity to zebrafish larvae.

Aminoclay Nanoparticles Induce Anti-Inflammatory Dendritic Cells to Attenuate LPS-Elicited Pro-Inflammatory Immune Responses.

Although 3-aminopropyl functionalized magnesium phyllosilicate nanoparticles (hereafter aminoclay nanoparticles, ACNs) are well-known nanomaterials employed as drug carriers, their effects on immune cells remain unclear. To address this issue, we explored murine dendritic cells (DCs) as these cells belong to the innate arm of the immune system and function as antigen-presenting cells to elicit adaptive immune responses. We examined the in vitro effects of ACNs on DCs isolated from B6 mice. ACN treatment significantly down-regulated the expression of inflammasome-related markers, including NLRP3, caspase-1, and IL1ß. The ACNs-induced anti-inflammatory DC phenotype was further confirmed by down-regulation of the AKT/mTOR/HIF1α signaling pathway. Such anti-inflammatory effects of ACNs on DCs occurred independently of DC subtypes. To document the effects of ACNs on DCs more clearly, we examined their anti-inflammatory effects on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated DCs. As expected, excessive inflammatory responses (increased mitochondrial ROS and Th1-type cytokines such as IL12 and IL1ß) of LPS-activated DCs were dramatically attenuated by ACN treatment. Furthermore, ACNs down-regulated IFNγ production by antigen-specific CD4+ T cells, which is consistent with a reduced inflammatory phenotype of DCs. Overall, our results provide support for employing ACNs as drug delivery materials with therapeutic potential to control inflammatory disorders.

Neurotensin receptor 2 is induced in astrocytes and brain endothelial cells in relation to neuroinflammation following pilocarpine-induced seizures in rats.

Neurotensin (NT) acts as a primary neurotransmitter and neuromodulator in the CNS and has been involved in a number of CNS pathologies including epilepsy. NT mediates its central and peripheral effects by interacting with the NTSR1, NTSR2, and Sort1/NTSR3 receptor subtypes. To date, little is known about the precise expression of the NT receptors in brain neural cells and their regulation in pathology. In the present work, we studied the cellular distribution of the NTSR2 protein in the rat hippocampus and questioned whether its expression was modulated in conditions of neuroinflammation using a model of temporal lobe epilepsy induced by pilocarpine. This model is characterized by a rapid and intense inflammatory reaction with reactive gliosis in the hippocampus. We show that NTSR2 protein is expressed in hippocampal astrocytes and its expression increases together with astrocyte reactivity following induction of status epilepticus. NTSR2 immunoreactivity is also increased in astrocytes proximal to blood vessels and their end-feet, and in endothelial cells. Proinflammatory factors such as IL1ß and LPS induced NTSR2 mRNA and protein in cultured astroglial cells. Antagonizing NTSR2 with SR142948A decreased NTSR2 expression as well as astroglial reactivity. Together, our results suggest that NTSR2 is implicated in astroglial and gliovascular inflammation and that targeting the NTSR2 receptor may open new avenues in the regulation of neuroinflammation in CNS diseases.

Soluble total antigen derived from Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites increased the expression levels of NLRP1, NLRP3, NLRC4, AIM2, and the release of mature form of IL1ß, but downregulated the expression of IL1ß and IL18 genes in THP-1cell line.

Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is an intracellular parasitic protozoan infecting homoeothermic animals and about a third of the world's population. Inflammasomes are intracellular multi-protein complex, which are activated by many factors. Inflammasomes are activated during toxoplasmosis; however, there are a lot of obscure aspects. THP-1 monocyte cells were converted to M0 macrophages by PMA and treated by 100 µg/mL soluble total Ag (STAg) derived from T. gondii strain RH for two time points 3 h and 24 h. After total RNA extraction and cDNA synthesis, the expression pattern of NLRP1, NLRP3, NLRC4, AIM2, IL1ß, and IL18 was evaluated by relative real-time PCR. In addition, the cytokine release of IL1ß and TNFα was evaluated in the supernatant of each well. The results showed statistically significant time-dependent overexpression of inflammasomes. NLRP1 and NLRP3 showed the higher and lower expression, respectively, during 3 h and 24 h after exposure. Both IL1ß and IL18 downregulated 3 h after exposure. IL18 presented statistically significant upregulation after 24 h, but IL1ß showed statistically significant downregulation after 24 h. The release of IL1ß increased after 3 h, but it slightly decreased during 24 h after exposure. The concentration of TNFα showed an insignificant decrease compared to control, while it increased during 24 h after exposure. Taken together, this study suggested that T. gondii STAg induces NLRP1 more than NLRP3, NLRC4, and AIM2. Our findings also proposed that T. gondii STAg downregulates the gene expression of IL1ß, but increases the release of this cytokine. It seems that Toxoplasma STAg probably increase the release of IL1ß via activating NLRPs and AIM2 to cleave pro-caspase 1 to caspase 1 that leads to conversion of pro IL1ß to mature IL1ß.

Notch Signaling and the Breast Cancer Microenvironment.

Notch promotes breast cancer progression through tumor initiating cell maintenance, tumor cell fate specification, proliferation, survival, and motility. In addition, Notch is recognized as a decisive mechanism in regulating various juxtacrine and paracrine communications in the tumor microenvironment (TME). In this chapter, we review recent studies on stress-mediated Notch activation within the TME and sequelae such as angiogenesis, extracellular matrix remodeling, changes in the innate and adaptive immunophenotype, and therapeutic perspectives.

Effect of Central Corticotropin-Releasing Factor on Hepatic Lipid Metabolism and Inflammation-Related Gene Expression in Rats.

Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) in the brain acts on physiological and pathophysiological modulation of the hepatobiliary system. Central CRF administration aggravates experimental acute liver injury by decreasing hepatic blood flow. Conversely, minimal evidence is available regarding the effect of centrally acting CRF on hepatic lipid metabolism and inflammation. We examined whether central CRF affects hepatic lipid metabolism and inflammation-related gene expression in rats. Male Long Evans rats were intracisternally injected with CRF (10 µg) or saline. Rats were sacrificed 2 h, 6 h, and 24 h after the CRF injection, the liver was isolated, and mRNA was extracted. Next, hepatic lipid metabolism and inflammation-related gene expression were examined. Hepatic SREBF1 (sterol regulatory element-binding transcription factor 1) mRNA levels were significantly increased 6 h and 24 h after intracisternal CRF administration when compared with those in the control group. Hepatic TNFα and IL1ß mRNA levels increased significantly 6 h after intracisternal CRF administration. Hepatic sympathectomy or guanethidine treatment, not hepatic branch vagotomy or atropine treatment, inhibited central CRF-induced increase in hepatic SREBF1, TNFα and IL1ß mRNA levels. These results indicated that central CRF affects hepatic de novo lipogenesis and inflammation-related gene expression through the sympathetic-noradrenergic nervous system in rats.

Preliminary Evidence for a Relationship between Elevated Plasma TNFα and Smaller Subcortical White Matter Volume in HCV Infection Irrespective of HIV or AUD Comorbidity.

Classical inflammation in response to bacterial, parasitic, or viral infections such as HIV includes local recruitment of neutrophils and macrophages and the production of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Proposed biomarkers of organ integrity in Alcohol Use Disorders (AUD) include elevations in peripheral plasma levels of proinflammatory proteins. In testing this proposal, previous work included a group of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals as positive controls and identified elevations in the soluble proteins TNFα and IP10; these cytokines were only elevated in AUD individuals seropositive for hepatitis C infection (HCV). The current observational, cross-sectional study evaluated whether higher levels of these proinflammatory cytokines would be associated with compromised brain integrity. Soluble protein levels were quantified in 86 healthy controls, 132 individuals with AUD, 54 individuals seropositive for HIV, and 49 individuals with AUD and HIV. Among the patient groups, HCV was present in 24 of the individuals with AUD, 13 individuals with HIV, and 20 of the individuals in the comorbid AUD and HIV group. Soluble protein levels were correlated to regional brain volumes as quantified with structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In addition to higher levels of TNFα and IP10 in the 2 HIV groups and the HCV-seropositive AUD group, this study identified lower levels of IL1ß in the 3 patient groups relative to the control group. Only TNFα, however, showed a relationship with brain integrity: in HCV or HIV infection, higher peripheral levels of TNFα correlated with smaller subcortical white matter volume. These preliminary results highlight the privileged status of TNFα on brain integrity in the context of infection.

IL1ß inhibits differentiation of cementoblasts via microRNA-325-3p.

Cementum regeneration is considered the gold standard for the treatment of periodontitis. As one of the most important primary proinflammatory cytokines, interleukin 1ß (IL1ß) plays an essential role during the early stage of periodontitis and its amounts simultaneously increase dramatically during this stage. Though promising, the differentiation of cementoblasts upon IL1ß-induced inflammation of the microenvironment and the relative interaction mechanism are still unknown. Here, we found that IL1ß inhibited cementoblast differentiation and microRNA-325-3p (miR-325-3p) was increased during IL1ß-stimulated cementoblasts. Bioinformatics analysis and luciferase reporter assay demonstrated miR-325-3p targeted runt-related transcription factor 2 directly. Transfection of miR-325-3p suppressed cementoblast differentiation in vitro and the formation of cementum-like tissues in vivo. The inhibitor of miR-325-3p could mitigate the above effects induced by IL1ß. Accordingly, our finding suggests a critical role of miR-325-3p in linking inflammation to impaired cementum regeneration and provides a potential possibility for applying miR-325-3p inhibitors in the treatment of periodontitis-related bone loss.

Immunoregulatory effects of Lurbinectedin in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Despite significant therapeutic improvements chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) remains an incurable disease and there is a persistent pursuit of new treatment alternatives. Lurbinectedin, a selective inhibitor of active transcription of protein-coding genes, is currently in phase II/III clinical trials for solid tumors such as small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). In this study, we aimed to evaluate the activity of Lurbinectedin on circulating mononuclear cells from CLL patients and to determine whether Lurbinectedin could affect the cross-talk between B-CLL cells and the tumor microenvironment. We found that Lurbinectedin induced a dose- and time-dependent death in all cell types evaluated, with B cells, monocytes and monocytic myeloid derived suppressor cells (Mo-MDSC) being the most susceptible populations. At sub-apoptotic doses, Lurbinectedin decreased the expression of CCR7 in B-CLL cells and impaired their migration towards CCL19 and CCL21. Furthermore, low concentrations of Lurbinectedin stimulated the synthesis of pro-IL1ß in monocytes and nurse-like cells, without inducing the inflammasome activation. Altogether, these results indicate that Lurbinectedin might have antitumor activity in CLL due to its direct action on leukemic cells in combination with its effects on the tumor microenvironment. Our findings encourage further investigation of Lurbinectedin as a potential therapy for CLL.

CBD Reverts the Mesenchymal Invasive Phenotype of Breast Cancer Cells Induced by the Inflammatory Cytokine IL-1ß.

Cannabidiol (CBD) has been used to treat a variety of cancers and inflammatory conditions with controversial results. In previous work, we have shown that breast cancer MCF-7 cells, selected by their response to inflammatory IL-1ß cytokine, acquire a malignant phenotype (6D cells) through an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). We evaluated CBD as a potential inhibitor of this transition and inducer of reversion to a non-invasive phenotype. It decreased 6D cell viability, downregulating expression of receptor CB1. The CBD blocked migration and progression of the IL-1ß-induced signaling pathway IL-1ß/IL-1RI/ß-catenin, the driver of EMT. Cannabidiol reestablished the epithelial organization lost by dispersion of the cells and re-localized E-cadherin and ß-catenin at the adherens junctions. It also prevented ß-catenin nuclear translocation and decreased over-expression of genes for ∆Np63α, BIRC3, and ID1 proteins, induced by IL-1ß for acquisition of malignant features. Cannabidiol inhibited the protein kinase B (AKT) activation, a crucial effector in the IL-1ß/IL-1RI/ß-catenin pathway, indicating that at this point there is crosstalk between IL-1ß and CBD signaling which results in phenotype reversion. Our 6D cell system allowed step-by-step analysis of the phenotype transition and better understanding of mechanisms by which CBD blocks and reverts the effects of inflammatory IL-1ß in the EMT.