Intrathyroid injection of dexamethasone inhibits Th2 cells in Graves disease

ABSTRACT Objective Intrathyroid injection of dexamethasone (IID) was used for decrease the relapse rate of hyperthyroidism in the treatment of Graves' disease (GD), but the mechanism is still unclear. We aimed to explore the effect of IID on T help (Th)1/Th2 cells and their chemokine in patients with GD. Subjects and methods A total of 42 patients with GD who were euthyroidism by methimazole were randomly divided into IID group (n = 20) and control group (n = 22). Thyroid function and associated antibody, Th1/Th2 cells proportion, serum CXCL10 and CCL2 levels, and CXCR3/CCR2 mRNA expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells before and after 3-month IID treatment were tested by chemiluminescence assay, Flow cytometry, ELISA, and real-time PCR, respectively. Thyroid follicular cells were stimulated by IFN-γ and TNF-α and treated with dexamethasone in vitro. CXCL10 and CCL2 levels in supernatant were determined. Results After 3-month therapy, the proportion of Th2 cells and serum CCL2 levels, as well as TPOAb, TRAb levels and thyroid volume decreased in IID group (p < 0.05). However, the proportion of Th1 and CXCL10 levels had no change in IID group and control (p > 0.05). The CXCR3/CCR2 ratio had no change in both groups (p > 0.05). Conclusion IID therapy could inhibit peripheral Th2 cells via decreasing CCL2 level in peripheral blood, and this result partly explain the effects of IID therapy on prevention of relapse of GD. Arch Endocrinol Metab. 2020;64(3):243-50

Influence of tumor associated macrophages on biological function of SW620 cell / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the influence of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) on the biological function of SW620 cell.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Macrophage was induced into M2-type macrophage form with interleukin (IL)-4. CD68, macrophage mannose receptor (MMR), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) were analyzed with Western blot. SW620 was co-cultured with TAMs in the Transwell. Cytokines including IL-10, IL-12, IL-23, and tramsforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) were detected with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The activity of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) in SW620 was analyzed with electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). The proliferation and apoptosis of SW620 cells after co-cultured with TAM were determined with tetrazolium four nitrogen (XTT) assay and fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS), respectively. RESULTS IL-4 induced M2 type macrophage expressed CD68 and MMR instead of iNOS. After co-cultured with SW620 for 24 hours and 48 hours, M2 type macrophage secreted higher levels of IL-10 and TGF-β than the pre-culture level (P 0.05). The activity of NF-κB in SW620 decreased by 72% and 75% after 24 hours and 48 hours compared with the pre-culture level, respectively (both P<0.01). The activity of proliferation decreased by 48% and 59% and the apoptotic rates increased by 6.37% and 7.68% and 0.37% after 24 hours and 48 hours (all P<0.01) compared with the pre-culture levels.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>TAM may inhibit the proliferation and promote the apoptosis of SW620 by suppressing the activity of NF-κB.</p>