Estado de vacunación en pacientes con riesgo de enfermedades invasoras por bacterias capsuladas en un hospital pediátrico de Buenos Aires / Vaccination status in patients at risk for invasive disease with encapsulated bacteria at a children's hospital in the City of Buenos Aires

Introducción. El Ministerio de Salud contempla vacunas específicas para personas con riesgo elevado de infecciones invasoras por bacterias capsuladas (BC). En la actualidad se desconoce el cumplimiento del programa. El objetivo fue evaluar el estado de vacunación para BC en ≤ 18 años con factores de riesgo. Población y métodos. Estudio observacional, analítico, mediante encuesta a padres de ≤ 18 años con VIH, asplenia y/o déficit de complemento que concurrieron al vacunatorio de un hospital pediátrico de octubre de 2020 a septiembre de 2021. Se recabaron datos sociodemográficos y clínicos. Se evaluó el estado de vacunación para BC: neumococo, meningococo y Haemophilus influenzae b (Hib), calendario regular y antigripal. Se administró la escala de reticencia a la vacunación (ERV): rango 10-50. Se analizó la asociación entre las variables estudiadas y la vacunación para BC mediante regresión logística (OR, IC95%). Se utilizó la base datos REDCap® y STATA vs14®. Resultados. Participaron 104 sujetos, media 9,9 años (DE 4,4). Asplenia: 91,3 %, VIH: 7,6 % y déficit de complemento: 0,9 %. Nivel socioeconómico: pobreza relativa: 38,4 %, seguido por clase media: 37,5 %. Estado de vacunación completa para meningococo: 45 %, neumococo: 42 %, Hib: 97 %. El 77,9 % tenía al día el calendario regular y el 61,5 %, el antigripal. Media ERV: 41,9 (DE 3,2). No se encontraron asociaciones significativas entre las variables y el estado de vacunación para BC. Conclusiones. Un elevado porcentaje no tenía vacunación completa para BC, tampoco el calendario regular y antigripal. La confianza en la vacunación de los cuidadores fue elevada.

Introduction. The Ministry of Health has established specific vaccines for people at high risk for invasive infections with encapsulated bacteria (EB). There is currently no information about compliance with the vaccination schedule. Our objective was to assess EB vaccination status in subjects ≤ 18 years with risk factors. Population and methods. Observational, analytical study with a survey to parents of subjects aged ≤ 18 years with HIV, asplenia and/or complement deficiency attending a vaccination center at a children's hospital between October 2020 and September 2021. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected. Their vaccination status for the EB pneumococcus, meningococcus, and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), their regular vaccination and flu vaccination schedules were assessed. The vaccine hesitancy scale (VHS) was administered: range 10­50. The association between the study variables and EB vaccination was analyzed using logistic regression (OR, 95% CI). The REDCap® database and the STATA® v.14 software were used. Results. A total of 104 subjects participated; mean age: 9.9 years (SD: 4.4). Asplenia: 91.3%, HIV: 7.6%, and complement deficiency: 0.9%. Socioeconomic level: relative poverty: 38.4%, followed by middle class: 37.5%. Complete vaccination status: meningococcal vaccine 45%, pneumococcal vaccine: 42%, Hib: 97%. The regular vaccination and flu vaccination schedules were up-to-date in 77.9% and 61.5% of cases, respectively. Mean VHS score: 41.9 (SD: 3.2). No significant associations were observed between variables and EB vaccination status. Conclusions. A high percentage of subjects had not completed neither their EB vaccination nor their regular or their flu vaccination schedules. Caregivers' confidence in vaccines was high.

Clinical characteristics and prognosis of anti-factor H antibody associated-atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome in children / 中华实用儿科临床杂志

Objective:To summarize the clinical data of anti-factor H antibody-associated atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) in children, and analyze the risk factors for disease recurrence and poor prognosis.Methods:A prospective cohort study was conducted on 52 children with anti-factor H antibody-associated aHUS in Beijing Children′s Hospital, Capital Medical University from November 2011 to November 2021.Patient information about the genetic background, clinical and renal pathological characteristics, treatment, and prognosis were collected.Then, the disease recurrence and prognosis were analyzed using the survival curve and Cox regression model. Results:In 52 children, there were 33 males and 19 females.The average age of onset for aHUS was 2.4-12.8 years, and 92.3%(48/52) of the children developed symptoms at the age of 4-12 years.The copy numbers of complement factor-H-related 1 (CFHR1) and complement factor-H-related 3 (CFHR3) genes were calculated in 42 children.Among the 42 cases, 18 cases (42.9%) had CFHR1 homozygous deletion, and 83.3% (15/18) of them also had CFHR3 homozygous deletion.All the patients were given plasma therapy.Besides, 76.9% (40/52) of the children were treated with immunosuppressive therapy (steroid and/or immunosuppressant) at the first onset of the disease.About 86.5%(45/52 cases) of the patients received immunosuppressive therapy in the course of disease, and the immunosuppressive treatment lasted for 6-20 months in total.The median follow-up time was 58 (28, 91) months.Among 52 patients, only 12 patients (23.1%) suffered disease recurrence.The relapse-free survival rate in children with CFHR1 homozygous deletion was significantly lower than that in children with non-homozygous deletion ( χ2=4.700, P=0.030). The relapse-free survival rate in children with CFHR1 and CFHR3 homozygous deletions was also significantly lower than that in other children ( χ2=4.181, P=0.041). At the end of the follow-up, 73.1%(38/52) of the children had normal renal function and no persistent proteinuria or hypertension.23.1%(12/52 cases) of the children had persistent proteinuria and/or hypertension.One child had Stage 3-4 chronic kidney disease, and 1 child was dialysis dependent. Conclusions:Anti-factor H antibody-associated aHUS is prone to occur in children aged between 4-12 years old, who respond well to plasma therapy and immunosuppressive therapy.Children with anti-factor H antibody-associated aHUS and CFHR1 and CFHR3 homozygous deletions have a high recurrence rate.Treatment with immunosuppressive therapy and assessment of the copy number of CFHR1 and CFHR3 genes in the early stage of the disease are important for preventing disease recurrence and improving prognosis.

Down-regulation of complement genes in lipopolysaccharide-challenged zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae exposed to Indonesian propolis / Regulação negativa dos genes do complemento em larvas de peixe-zebra (Danio rerio) desafiadas com lipopolissacarídeo expostas à própolis indonésia

Abstract Although propolis has been reported for having anti-inflammatory activities, its effects on complement system has not been much studied. This research was conducted to find out the effects of Indonesian propolis on the expression levels of C3, C1r/s, Bf, MBL, and C6 in zebrafish larvae which were induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Counting of macrophages migrating to yolk sac and liver histology were carried out. Larvae were divided into four groups: CON (cultured in E3 medium only), LPS (cultured in a medium containing 0.5 μg/L LPS), LPSIBU (cultured in a medium containing LPS, and then treated with 100 μg/L ibuprofen for 24 hours), and LPSPRO (cultured in a medium containing LPS, and then immersed in 14,000 μg/L propolis for 24 hours) groups. The results showed that complement gene expression in larvae from the LPSIBU and LPSPRO groups were generally lower than in larvae from the LPS group. The number of macrophage migrations to the yolk in the LPSPRO group was also lower than in the LPS group. Histological structure of liver in all groups were considered normal. This study shows that Indonesian propolis has the potential to be used as an alternative to the substitution of NSAIDs.

Resumo Embora a própolis tenha sido relatada por ter atividade anti-inflamatória, seus efeitos no sistema complemento, uma parte do sistema imunológico inato, não foram muito estudados. Esta pesquisa foi conduzida para descobrir os efeitos da própolis da Indonésia nos níveis de expressão de C3, C1r/s, Bf, MBL e C6 em larvas de peixe-zebra induzidas por lipopolissacarídeo (LPS). Foram realizadas contagens de macrófagos que migram para o saco vitelino e histologia do fígado. As larvas foram divididas em quatro grupos: CON (cultivadas apenas em meio E3), LPS (cultivadas em meio contendo 0,5 μg/L de LPS), LPSIBU (cultivadas em meio contendo LPS e, em seguida, tratadas com 100 μg/L de ibuprofeno por 24 horas) e LPSPRO (cultivado em meio contendo LPS, e então imerso em própolis 14,000 μg/L por 24 horas). Os resultados mostraram que a expressão do gene do complemento em larvas dos grupos LPSIBU e LPSPRO foi geralmente menor que em larvas do grupo LPS. O número de migrações de macrófagos para a gema no grupo LPSPRO também foi menor que no grupo LPS. A estrutura histológica do fígado em todos os grupos foi considerada normal. Este estudo mostra que a própolis indonésia tem potencial para ser utilizada como alternativa na substituição dos AINEs (anti-inflamatórios não esteroides).

Down-regulation of complement genes in lipopolysaccharidechallenged zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae exposed to Indonesian propolis / Regulação negativa dos genes do complemento em larvas de peixe-zebra (Danio rerio) desafiadas com lipopolissacarídeo expostas à própolis indonésia

Although propolis has been reported for having anti-inflammatory activities, its effects on complement system has not been much studied. This research was conducted to find out the effects of Indonesian propolis on the expression levels of C3, C1r/s, Bf, MBL, and C6 in zebrafish larvae which were induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Counting of macrophages migrating to yolk sac and liver histology were carried out. Larvae were divided into four groups: CON (cultured in E3 medium only), LPS (cultured in a medium containing 0.5 μg/L LPS), LPSIBU (cultured in a medium containing LPS, and then treated with 100 μg/L ibuprofen for 24 hours), and LPSPRO (cultured in a medium containing LPS, and then immersed in 14,000 μg/L propolis for 24 hours) groups. The results showed that complement gene expression in larvae from the LPSIBU and LPSPRO groups were generally lower than in larvae from the LPS group. The number of macrophage migrations to the yolk in the LPSPRO group was also lower than in the LPS group. Histological structure of liver in all groups were considered normal. This study shows that Indonesian propolis has the potential to be used as an alternative to the substitution of NSAIDs.

Embora a própolis tenha sido relatada por ter atividade anti-inflamatória, seus efeitos no sistema complemento, uma parte do sistema imunológico inato, não foram muito estudados. Esta pesquisa foi conduzida para descobrir os efeitos da própolis da Indonésia nos níveis de expressão de C3, C1r/s, Bf, MBL e C6 em larvas de peixe-zebra induzidas por lipopolissacarídeo (LPS). Foram realizadas contagens de macrófagos que migram para o saco vitelino e histologia do fígado. As larvas foram divididas em quatro grupos: CON (cultivadas apenas em meio E3), LPS (cultivadas em meio contendo 0,5 μg/L de LPS), LPSIBU (cultivadas em meio contendo LPS e, em seguida, tratadas com 100 μg/L de ibuprofeno por 24 horas) e LPSPRO (cultivado em meio contendo LPS, e então imerso em própolis 14,000 μg/L por 24 horas). Os resultados mostraram que a expressão do gene do complemento em larvas dos grupos LPSIBU e LPSPRO foi geralmente menor que em larvas do grupo LPS. O número de migrações de macrófagos para a gema no grupo LPSPRO também foi menor que no grupo LPS. A estrutura histológica do fígado em todos os grupos foi considerada normal. Este estudo mostra que a própolis indonésia tem potencial para ser utilizada como alternativa na substituição dos AINEs (anti-inflamatórios não esteroides).

Down-regulation of complement genes in lipopolysaccharide-challenged zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae exposed to Indonesian propolis

Abstract Although propolis has been reported for having anti-inflammatory activities, its effects on complement system has not been much studied. This research was conducted to find out the effects of Indonesian propolis on the expression levels of C3, C1r/s, Bf, MBL, and C6 in zebrafish larvae which were induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Counting of macrophages migrating to yolk sac and liver histology were carried out. Larvae were divided into four groups: CON (cultured in E3 medium only), LPS (cultured in a medium containing 0.5 g/L LPS), LPSIBU (cultured in a medium containing LPS, and then treated with 100 g/L ibuprofen for 24 hours), and LPSPRO (cultured in a medium containing LPS, and then immersed in 14,000 g/L propolis for 24 hours) groups. The results showed that complement gene expression in larvae from the LPSIBU and LPSPRO groups were generally lower than in larvae from the LPS group. The number of macrophage migrations to the yolk in the LPSPRO group was also lower than in the LPS group. Histological structure of liver in all groups were considered normal. This study shows that Indonesian propolis has the potential to be used as an alternative to the substitution of NSAIDs.

Resumo Embora a própolis tenha sido relatada por ter atividade anti-inflamatória, seus efeitos no sistema complemento, uma parte do sistema imunológico inato, não foram muito estudados. Esta pesquisa foi conduzida para descobrir os efeitos da própolis da Indonésia nos níveis de expressão de C3, C1r/s, Bf, MBL e C6 em larvas de peixe-zebra induzidas por lipopolissacarídeo (LPS). Foram realizadas contagens de macrófagos que migram para o saco vitelino e histologia do fígado. As larvas foram divididas em quatro grupos: CON (cultivadas apenas em meio E3), LPS (cultivadas em meio contendo 0,5 g/L de LPS), LPSIBU (cultivadas em meio contendo LPS e, em seguida, tratadas com 100 g/L de ibuprofeno por 24 horas) e LPSPRO (cultivado em meio contendo LPS, e então imerso em própolis 14,000 g/L por 24 horas). Os resultados mostraram que a expressão do gene do complemento em larvas dos grupos LPSIBU e LPSPRO foi geralmente menor que em larvas do grupo LPS. O número de migrações de macrófagos para a gema no grupo LPSPRO também foi menor que no grupo LPS. A estrutura histológica do fígado em todos os grupos foi considerada normal. Este estudo mostra que a própolis indonésia tem potencial para ser utilizada como alternativa na substituição dos AINEs (anti-inflamatórios não esteroides).

In vitro research of mesenchymal stem cell-coated human islets to alleviate instant blood-mediated inflammatory reaction / 器官移植

Objective To evaluate the effect of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) coated-islets on instant blood-mediated inflammatory reaction (IBMIR) after islet transplantation. Methods MSC labeled with tracer and human islets were placed into an ultra-low adsorption cell culture dish, shaken and mixed twice at an interval of 0.5 h, and then incubated at 37 ℃ and 5% CO2 for 24 h to obtain MSC-coated islets. The coating effect of MSC and in vitro function of the islets were assessed. A blood circulation tube-shaped model was established in vitro. In the blank control group, 0.2 mL of islet culture solution was added. In the islet group, 800 islet equivalent quantity (IEQ) of uncoated islets were supplemented. In the MSC-coated islets group, 800 IEQ of MSC-coated islets were added, and circulated for 60 min at 37 ℃. A portion of 0.5 mL blood sample was taken for routine blood test at 0, 30 and 60 min, respectively. After 60 min circulation, the blood sample was filtered with a 70 μm filter to collect plasma, blood clots and islets. Blood clots and islets were subject to hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and immunohistochemical staining. Morphological changes and the aggregation of CD11b-positive cells surrounding the islets were observed. The contents of plasma thrombin-antithrombin complex (TAT), tissue factor (TF), C3a, C5b-9, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 and IL-8 were determined by enzyme-linked immune absorbent assay. Results After 24 h co-incubation, the islets were coated by MSC, with a coating degree of approximately 80%. In the islet and MSC-coated islet group, a large quantity of neutrophils and monocytes were observed surrounding the blood clots and islets, and the quantity of CD11b-positive cells in the MSC-coated islet group was less compared with that in the islet group. After co-incubation with the whole blood for 0, 30 and 60 min, the quantity of platelets, neutrophils and monocytes was declined in the MSC-coated and islet groups, and gradually decreased over time. Compared with the blank control group, the quantity of platelets, monocytes and neutrophils was lower, whereas the TF content was higher in the MSC-coated islet group. Compared with the islet group, the quantity of platelets, monocytes and neutrophils was higher, whereas the TAT and TF contents were less in the MSC-coated islet group, the differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). Compared with the blank control group, the expression levels of C3a, C5b-9, IL-6, TNF-α and IL-8 were up-regulated in the MSC-coated islet group. Compared with the islet group, the expression levels of C3a, C5b-9, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, IL-8 and MCP-1 were down-regulated in the MSC-coated islet group, and the differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). Conclusions MSC-coated islets may reduce the exposure of islet TF in the blood and prevent the incidence of IBMIR during the coagulation response stage, thereby mitigating the injury and loss of islet allograft in the early stage of islet transplantation.

Preliminary report of perioperative monitoring of six-gene-edited pig-to-cynomolgus monkey kidney xenotransplantation / 器官移植

Objective To investigate the establishment of a six-gene-edited pig-to-non-human primate kidney xenotransplantation model. Methods The kidney of humanized genetically-edited pig (GTKO/β4GalNT2KO/CMAHKO/hCD55/hCD46/hTBM) was transplanted into a cynomolgus monkey. The survival of the recipient and kidney condition after blood perfusion were observed. The parenchymal echo, blood flow changes, and size of the kidney were monitored on a regular basis. Routine blood test, kidney function test and electrolyte assessment were carried out. Dynamic changes of urine, feces and body mass were monitored. At the end of life, the transplant kidney, heart, liver, spleen, lung, and cecum were collected for pathological examination. Results The recipient died at postoperative 7 d. After blood flow was restored, the kidney was properly perfused, the organ was soft and the color was normal. At the end of the recipient's life, a slight amount of purulent secretion was attached to the ventral side of the kidney, with evident congestion and swelling, showing the appearance of "red kidney". Postoperatively, the echo of renal parenchyma was increased, blood flow was decreased, the cortex was gradually thickened, and a slight amount of effusion surrounded the kidney and abdominal cavity over time. In the recipient, the amount of peripheral red blood cells, hemoglobin, albumin, and platelets was progressively decreased, and serum creatinine level was increased to 308 μmol/L at postoperative 7 d, whereas the K+ concentration did not significantly change. Light yellow urine was discharged immediately after surgery, diet and drinking water were resumed within postoperative 3 h, and light yellow and normal-shape stool was discharged. The reddish urine was gradually restored to normal color within postoperative 1 d, which were consistent with the results of the routine urine test. A large amount of brown bloody stool was discharged twice in the morning of 2 d after surgery. Omeprazole was given for acid suppression, and the stool returned to normal at postoperative 4 d. The β2-microglobulin level was increased to 0.75 mg/L at postoperative 7 d. The body mass was increased by 1.7 kg. Autopsy pathological examination showed interstitial edema and bleeding of the transplant kidney, a large amount of infiltration of lymphocytes and macrophages, infiltration of lymphocytes in the arteriole wall and arterial cavity, accompanied by arteritis changes, lymphocyte infiltration in the cecal stroma and congestion in the spleen tissues. No significant abnormal changes were observed in other organs. Conclusions The humanized genetically-edited pig-to-non-human primate kidney xenotransplantation model is successfully established, and postoperative survival of the recipient is 1 week.

Development and application of a detection method for varicella-zoster virus neutralizing antibody titer based on complement dependence / 中国生物制品学杂志

@#ObjectiveTo develop and apply a method for detecting the titer of varicella-zoster virus(VZV)neutralizing antibodies based on complement dependence,so as to improve the sensitivity of traditional plaque reduction neutralization assay for detection of the titer of VZV antibody.MethodsThe antigen(live attenuated varicella vaccine)and antibody(human VZV immunoglobulin)were mixed in different proportions and different incubation times. After neutralization,the antigen-antibody mixture was inoculated into human diploid cell 2BS strain cultured in a six-well plate. After 7 ～ 10 d of culture,the number of plaques was counted by Coomassie brilliant blue staining,and the 50% neutralizing antibody titer was calculated by Karber′s formula. Under the optimal neutralization conditions obtained,the effect of complement on the sensitivity of neutralization experiment was explored by changing the addition amount of complement(lyophilized guinea pig serum)to evaluate the optimal addition amount of complement. According to the determined neutralization test parameters,the neutralizing antibody titers of 12 anti-VZV mouse sera and 14 anti-VZV human sera were detected by using traditional plaque method and complement-dependent plaque method respectively.ResultsThe key parameters of the detection method were determined:the titer of VZV standard antigen was 500 ～ 1 000 PFU/mL;the proportion of complement added to the antigen-antibody neutralization system was 1∶10(v/v),and the neutralization condition was 37 ℃ for 1 h. Both the complement-dependent plaque method and the traditional plaque method were positive for anti-VZV mouse serum antibody,while the antibody titer detected by the traditional plaque method was generally lower,and the antibody level of mice inoculated with 2 doses of live attenuated varicella vaccine was significantly higher than that of mice inoculated with 1 dose(t = 0. 45,P < 0. 05);Both of the two methods were positive for anti-VZV human serum antibody.ConclusionA complement-dependent detection method for neutralizing antibody titer of VZV was established. The addition of complement significantly improved the sensitivity of neutralization detection. The evaluation of the titers of neutralizing antibodies in mouse serum with different immunization strategies by the method suggested that the immune effect of two doses of vaccine was better than that of one dose.

Complement content in plasma under different storage conditions / 中国输血杂志

【Objective】 To investigate the changes in complement content in component blood before blood transfusion. 【Methods】 180 samples from 20 plasma donors were collected at different stages of the preparation process, stored at different temperatures and time periods, and tested in the same batch to observe the changes in complement C3 and C4 levels under different storage temperatures and process stages. 【Results】 The same sample was used to test C3 and C4 levels, and the test results were sorted into nine groups for comparison according to different storage temperatures and preparation process stages. C3: 0.994 1; C4: 0.957 1, with no significant difference in storage at -40℃ and -60℃(P>0.05); C3: 0.133 3, 0.224 06(P>0.05); C4: 0.027 3, 0.025 1(P<0.05), storing at 4℃ for 7 days may significantly reduce complement levels, which needs further verification; C3: 0.047 0, 0.038 3; C4: 0.042 6, 0.012 1(P<0.05), virus inactivation preparation process can significantly reduce complement levels, repeated freeze-thawing during frozen plasma processing can change complement levels. The correlation analysis of C3 and C4 content determination experiment shows that they are significantly positively correlated under different storage temperature, preparation process and storage time(P<0.05). 【Conclusion】 Storage temperature, storage time, preparation process of frozen plasma such as repeated freeze-thawing, centrifugal concentration and light inactivation have an impact on complement content.

Value of serum complement C3 in the diagnosis of liver fibrosis associated with primary biliary cholangitis / 临床肝胆病杂志

‍ ObjectiveTo investigate the value of serum complement C3 level in determining the stage of liver fibrosis in primary biliary cholangitis （PBC）. MethodsClinical data were collected from 108 patients with PBC who attended Tianjin Second People’s Hospital and underwent liver biopsy from January 2012 to October 2022. The degree of liver fibrosis （S0-4） was assessed according to the Scheuer scoring system， with ≥S2 defined as significant liver fibrosis， ≥S3 defined as progressive liver fibrosis， and S4 defined as liver cirrhosis. The independent samples t-test was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between two groups， and a one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison between multiple groups； the Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data between two groups， and the Kruskal-Wallis H test was used for comparison between multiple groups； the chi-square test or the Fisher’s exact test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups. The area under the ROC curve （AUC） was used to evaluate the efficacy of complement C3 in the diagnosis of liver fibrosis in patients with PBC. The Spearman correlation analysis was used to investigate the correlation between complement C3 and liver fibrosis stage. ResultsAmong the 108 patients with PBC， there were 87 （80.6%） female patients and 102 patients （94.4%） with positive autoantibody. As for the stage of liver fibrosis， there were 5 patients （4.6%） in S0 stage， 41 （38.0%） in S1 stage， 23 （21.3%） in S2 stage， 25 （23.1%） in S3 stage， and 14 （13.0%） in S4 stage. There was a significant difference in the level of complement C3 between the patients with different liver fibrosis stages （H=42.891， P<0.001）. The level of complement C3 gradually decreased with the aggravation of liver fibrosis， with a negative correlation between them （r=-0.565， P<0.001）. Liver stiffness measurement （LSM）， aspartate aminotransferase/alanine aminotransferase ratio， aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index， and fibrosis-4 were negatively correlated with complement C3， with a correlation coefficient of -0.439 （P<0.001）， -0.323 （P=0.001）， -0.206 （P=0.033）， and -0.291 （P=0.002）， respectively. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that complement C3 level was an independent predictive factor for significant liver fibrosis， progressive liver fibrosis， and liver cirrhosis， while LSM was an independent predictive factor for significant liver fibrosis and progressive liver fibrosis. The ROC curve analysis showed that complement C3 had an AUC of 0.731， 0.832， and 0.968， respectively， in the diagnosis of significant liver fibrosis， progressive liver fibrosis， and liver cirrhosis， with a corresponding cut-off value of 1.445， 1.235， and 1.005， respectively， and complement C3 combined with LSM had an AUC of 0.811， 0.941， and 0.976， respectively， in the diagnosis of significant liver fibrosis， progressive liver fibrosis， and liver cirrhosis. There was a significant difference in AUC between complement C3 combined with LSM and complement C3 alone in the diagnosis of significant liver fibrosis （Z=2.604， P=0.009）， and there was also a significant difference in AUC between complement C3 combined with LSM and complement C3 alone in the diagnosis of progressive liver fibrosis （Z=3.033， P=0.002）； there was no significant difference in AUC between complement C3 combined with LSM and complement C3 alone in the diagnosis of liver cirrhosis （Z=1.050， P=0.294）， while There was a significant difference in AUC between complement C3 combined with LSM and LSM alone in the diagnosis of liver cirrhosis （Z=2.326， P=0.020）. ConclusionSerum complement C3 level has a certain clinical value in assessing the degree of liver fibrosis in patients with PBC， and complement C3 combined with LSM can further improve the efficacy of complement C3 or LSM in the diagnosis of liver fibrosis in PBC.

Research progress of medication treatment of dry age-related macular degeneration / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

Age-related macular degeneration(ARMD)is one of the leading causes of irreversible visual impairment worldwide, and the number of patients is increasing with the aging of the population, with dry ARMD accounting for about 90% of cases. Effective treatments for dry ARMD are currently lacking, making it a prominent area of research. Pharmacotherapy, targeting pathogenic factors such as oxidative damage, inflammation, and vascular issues contributing to ARMD, is one of the main treatments and some drugs have been shown to slow the progression of ARMD. This article reviews drug treatments for dry ARMD, including antioxidant drugs, complement biological agents, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and immunosuppressants, vasodilators, neurotrophic drugs, as well as traditional Chinese medicine. It summarizes their mechanisms and recent clinical research to contribute valuable insights for the treatment of dry ARMD and the development of novel therapeutic agents.

Role of complement system in the pathogenesis and development of COVID-19 / 中华微生物学和免疫学杂志

COVID-19 is a highly contagious disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection. Systemic inflammatory response is one of the crucial pathogenic mechanisms. As a key component of the innate immune system, the complement system can quickly provoke an inflammatory reaction against infectious pathogens, serving as a defense mechanism of the body. Studies have showed that the inflammatory storm caused by over-activation of the complement plays a critical role in the development of COVID-19, and blocking or regulating the complement cascade has a certain therapeutic effect on patients with COVID-19. In this review, the roles of the complement system in the pathogenesis and development of COVID-19 were summarized.

Association of serum complement C3, C4 with renal pathological lesion degree in IgA nephropathy patients / 中华肾脏病杂志

Objective:To explore the relationship between the levels of serum complement C3 and C4 and the degree of renal pathological injury in patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN).Methods:It was a retrospective study. The clinical and pathological data of patients with primary IgAN diagnosed by renal biopsy in the Department of Nephrology of the Second People's Hospital of Qujing City, Yunnan Province from December 1, 2019 to December 31, 2022 were collected. According to the IgAN Oxford classification criteria, the patients were divided into mild renal pathological injury group (mild group, <3 pathologic types) and severe renal pathological injury group (severe group, ≥3 pathological types). The levels of serum C3 and C4 and other clinical data were compared between the two groups. Spearman correlation method was used to analyze the correlation between serum C3, C4 levels and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) during renal biopsy.Multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the influencing factors of the pathological injury degree in IgAN patients and the forest map depicted the effect of risk factors.Results:A total of 164 IgAN patients were included in the study, including 77 males (47.0%), aged (35.5±12.9) years old. There were 60 patients in the mild group and 104 patients in the severe group. Compared with the mild group, the patients in the severe group were older, had higher levels of serum C4, serum uric acid, low density lipoprotein cholesterol and 24 h urinary protein, higher proportions of hypertension, glucocorticoids/immunosuppressant therapy, C3 deposition in renal tissues and microscopic hematuria, and had lower hemoglobin and serum C3 level (all P<0.05). The results of Spearman correlation analysis showed that the level of serum C3 was positively correlated with eGFR ( r=0.303, P<0.001), and the level of serum C4 was negatively correlated with eGFR ( r=-0.238, P=0.002). Multivariate logistic regression analysis results showed that serum C3 (every 0.01 g/L increase, OR=0.976, 95% CI 0.957-0.996, P=0.018), serum C4 (every 0.01 g/L increase, OR=1.091, 95% CI 1.020-1.166, P=0.011), hemoglobin ( OR=0.969, 95% CI 0.950-0.988, P=0.002), and serum uric acid ( OR=1.005, 95% CI 1.001-1.009, P=0.012) were independent related factors of renal pathological damage (severe injury /mild injury) in IgAN patients. Conclusions:Serum C3 and C4 are independent related factors of the severity of renal pathological injury in IgAN patients.

Expression of type 2 complement receptor in kidney tissue of IgA nephropathy patients and the possible mechanism involved in complement C3 deposition / 中华肾脏病杂志

Objective:To explore the expression of type 2 complement receptor (CR2) in mesangial cells of the renal tissue in IgA nephropathy (IgAN) and its possible mechanism involved in complement C3 deposition.Methods:The demographic data, samples of plasma and renal tissues of primary IgAN patients diagnosed by renal biopsy in the Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital from August 2021 to May 2022 were collected. According to the fluorescent intensity of mesangial complement C3 deposition, the patients were divided into complement C3 deposition ≥2+ group and complement C3 deposition <2+ group. The circulating IgA and complement C3 levels were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The influencing factors of kidney prognosis, plasma IgA and complement C3 levels were compared between the two groups. Immunofluorescence was used to detect the expression of IgA, complement C3 and CR2 in the renal mesangial cells of IgAN patients and normal renal tissues around renal carcinoma. Human mesangial cells were cultured in vitro and randomly divided into control group and experimental group. The experimental group was incubated with IgA protein (2 g/L) for 8 hours. The expressions of CR2 protein and mRNA were measured by Western blotting and real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR. The biological function of differential genes was analyzed by gene ontology (GO) and Kyto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis. Results:A total of 75 patients with IgAN were included in this study, including 50 patients in the complement C3 deposition ≥2+ group and 25 patients in the complement C3 deposition <2+ group. The proportions of patients with urine red blood cell count negative, 1+, 2+ and 3+-4+ in the complement C3 deposition ≥2+ group were 2.0%, 8.0%, 18.0% 72.0%, respectively, which were more serious than those in the complement C3 deposition <2+ group (4.0%, 4.0%, 52.0%, 40.0%) ( Z=-2.320, P=0.020). Meanwhile, the proportion of S1 in Oxford pathological classification in the complement C3 deposition ≥2+ group was higher than that in the complement C3 deposition <2+ group (68.0% vs. 40.0%, χ2=5.389, P=0.020), and there were no statistically significant differences in gender, age, 24-hour urinary protein, serum creatinine, other indicators of Oxford pathological classification between the two groups. ELISA results showed that plasma IgA concentration in the complement C3 deposition ≥2+ group was higher than that in the complement C3 deposition <2+ group [3.62 (2.95, 5.53) g/L vs. 2.72 (2.15, 4.24) g/L, Z=2.405, P=0.016], and the plasma complement C3 concentration was lower than that in the complement C3 deposition <2+ group [199.6 (116.0, 328.0) mg/L vs. 319.2 (158.3, 454.5) mg/L, Z=-2.383, P=0.017]. Spearman correlation analysis showed that the complement C3 deposition intensity was positively correlated with IgA deposition intensity in mesangial area ( rs=0.441, P<0.001). Immunofluorescence results showed that there was colocalization of IgA and complement C3 in the glomeruli of IgAN patients. The expression of CR2 in the kidney was consistent with complement C3 deposition, and CR2 was colocalization with complement C3. In vitro experiments, the expression of CR2 in IgA protein group was higher than that in the control group ( P<0.05). GO and KEGG enrichment analysis found that IgA protein induced active changes in various pathways of mesangial cells. Conclusion:IgA protein induces mesangial cells to express CR2 and participates in complement C3 deposition, which may be an important mechanism of complement C3 activation in IgAN.

Clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of idiopathic membranous nephropathy with or without C3 deposition / 中华全科医师杂志

Objective:To investigate the clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN) with or without C3 deposition.Methods:Clinical and pathological data of 576 patients with IMN diagnosed in Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from January 2017 to January 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into C3 deposition group and non-C3 deposition group according to the immunofluorescence staining of C3. The clinical and pathological characteristics were compared between the two groups. Kaplan-Meier survival curve was used to compare the prognosis of the two groups.Results:A total of 576 IMN patients (male 364 (63.20%)) were enrolled, including 400 patients (69.44%) with C3 deposition and 176 patients (30.56%) without C3 deposition. Compared with the non-C3 deposition group, the levels of total blood cholesterol ( t=0.94, P=0.002) and the proportion of phospholipase A2 receptor ( χ2=9.99, P=0.002), IgG ( χ2=10.67, P=0.001), IgM ( χ2=7.00, P=0.008), IgA ( χ2=7.87, P=0.005) and C1q ( χ2=8.28, P=0.004) depositions in renal tissues was higher in C3 deposition group, while the levels of serum C3 ( t=2.87, P=0.004), albumin ( t=3.57, P<0.001) and IgG ( Z=3.55, P<0.001) were lower in C3 deposition group. There were no significant differences in other clinicopathological indicators between the two groups. The survival analysis was performed in 460 patients who were followed for>6 months, including 319 cases (69.35%) of C3 deposition and 141 cases (30.65%) of non-C3 deposition. The end point event was defined as an eGFR decline>30% or entry into end stage renal disease (ESRD). There was no statistically significant difference in treatment method between the two groups ( P>0.05). The median follow-up time was 22 (13,32) months, 327 (71.09%) patients achieved remission, and 22 patients had renal end-point events. Compared with the non-C3 deposition group, the proportion of urinary protein remission was lower ( χ2=10.85, P<0.05), the incidence of renal end-point events was higher ( χ2=5.05, P<0.05). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that patients with C3 deposition had a lower cumulative remission rate (Log-rank χ2=6.68, P=0.010), and a lower cumulative renal survival than those without C3 deposition had ( χ2=5.42, P=0.020). Conclusions:Compared with patients without C3 deposition, IMN patients with C3 deposition have more severe clinical and pathological changes, lower renal cumulative remission rate, and are more likely to have poor prognosis.

Activation of the complement C3/C3aR pathway in the prefrontal cortex mediates methamphetamine addiction in rats / 中国药理学与毒理学杂志

OBJECTIVE To investigate the role of the complement C3/C3aR signaling pathway in the prefrontal cortex and colon neuroglia cell interactions during meth-amphetamine(METH)addiction,to observe the effects of TLR4 inhibitors as well as complement C3 elimination on METH reward and relapse behavior,and to explore the neuroinflammatory mechanisms of complement C3 acti-vation in METH addiction.METHODS ①A 14 d and 28 d rat METH addiction model was established to observe the effects of TLR4 antagonist ibudilast 3 mg·kg-1 and 10 mg·kg-1 on self-administration,reward motivation,relapse,and natural reward behavior in METH-trained 14 d rats and the effects of 0.02 mg·kg-1 complement C3 antago-nist on self-administration behavior in METH-trained 28 d rats.② Differences in the expression of TLR4,NF-κB,GRP94,C3,cathepsin L,CD68,and GFAP in the pre-frontal cortex of each group were examined using West-ern blotting.③ In addition,the expression of ATF6 in the prefrontal cortex of each group and the effects on neuro-nal and microglia/macrophage INOS,CD206 GRP94,and complement C3/C3aR.RESULTS ① Endoplasmic reticulum stress occurred in neurons and microglia after METH exposure depending on GRP94 and unfolded pro-tein responses to the ATF6 pathway.In addition,it acti-vates the TLR4-NF-κB pathway.② Microglia with high complement C3/C3aR expression in the prefrontal cortex were recruited to synaptic pruning and phagocytic responses around neurons with high GRP94,comple-ment C3/C3aR expression and these effects were blocked by complement C3 antagonists.③ In the rec-tum,GRP94 functions as a molecular chaperone for com-plement C3 and cathepsin L.Crosstalk occurs between enteric neurons high in GRP94,complement C3,and macrophages high in C3aR,located in the submucosa,lamina propria,and muscular,respectively,and all of these effects are blocked by complement C3 antago-nists.④ Treatment with the TLR4 antagonist ibudilast inhibits self-administration,reward motivation,and cue-or METH-priming in METH-trained 14 d rats,but fails to affect natural reward behavior.Ibudilast treatment attenu-ates the TLR4-NF-κB inflammatory pathway and comple-ments C3/C3aR pathway in the prefrontal cortex.CON-CLUSION Activation of the complement C3/C3aR signal-ing pathway by TLR4-NF-κB inflammatory signaling in the prefrontal cortex mediates the METH addiction pro-cess,providing an experimental basis for the clinical treatment of METH addiction,and targeting TLR4/NF-κB inflammatory signaling and complement C3/C3aR may be a new way to intervene in METH addiction.

Research progress on mechanism of biotrauma caused by ventilation-induced lung injury / 中华危重病急救医学

Mechanical ventilation is an advanced life support treatment for patients with acute respiratory failure. While stabilizing respiratory function, it also acts as an injury factor to exacerbate or lead to lung injury, that is, ventilation-induced lung injury (VILI). There may be a more subtle form of damage to VILI known as "biotrauma". However, the mechanism of biotrauma in VILI is still unclear. This article intends to review the mechanism of biotrauma of VILI from the aspects of inflammatory response, oxidative stress and complement activation, in order to provide a new strategy for clinical prevention and treatment of biotrauma caused by VILI.

Immunology of a unique biological structure: the Echinococcus laminated layer

The larval stages of the cestode parasites belonging to the genus Echinococcus grow within internal organs of humans and a range of animal species. The resulting diseases, collectively termed echinococcoses, include major neglected tropical diseases of humans and livestock. Echinococcus larvae are outwardly protected by the laminated layer (LL), an acellular structure that is unique to this genus. The LL is based on a fibrillar meshwork made up of mucins, which are decorated by galactose-rich O-glycans. In addition, in the species cluster termed E. granulosus sensu lato, the LL features nano-deposits of the calcium salt of myo-inositol hexakisphosphate (Insp6). The main purpose of our article is to update the immunobiology of the LL. Major recent advances in this area are (i) the demonstration of LL "debris" at the infection site and draining lymph nodes, (ii) the characterization of the decoy activity of calcium Insp6 with respect to complement, (iii) the evidence that the LL mucin carbohydrates interact specifically with a lectin receptor expressed in Kupffer cells (Clec4F), and (iv) the characterization of what appear to be receptor-independent effects of LL particles on dendritic cells and macrophages. Much information is missing on the immunology of this intriguing structure: we discuss gaps in knowledge and propose possible avenues for research.

The Effect of Low Tidal Volume Ventilation on Inflammatory Cytokines During Cardiopulmonary Bypass

Abstract Introduction: Halting ventilation during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is implemented to operate in a less bleeding setting. It sustains a better visualization of the operation area and helps to perform the operation much more comfortably. On the other hand, it may lead to a series of postoperative lung complications such as atelectasis and pleural effusion. In this study, we investigated the effects of low tidal volume ventilation on inflammatory cytokines during CPB. Methods: Twenty-eight patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery were included in the study. Operation standards and ventilation protocols were determined and patients were divided into two groups: patients ventilated with low tidal volume and non-ventilated patients. Plasma samples were taken from patients preoperatively, perioperatively from the coronary sinus and postoperatively after CPB. IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α and C5a levels in serum samples were studied with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. Results: C5a, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α were similar when compared to the low tidal volume ventilated and non-ventilated groups (P>0.05) Comparing the groups by variables, IL-6 levels were increased during CPB in both groups (P=0.021 and P=0.001), and IL-8 levels decreased in the ventilation group during CPB (P=0.018). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that low tidal volume ventilation may reduce the inflammatory response during CPB. Although the benefit of low tidal volume ventilation in CPB has been shown to decrease postoperative lung complications such as pleural effusion, atelectasis and pneumonia, we still lack more definitive and clear proofs of inflammatory cytokines encountered during CPB.

UnderstandingComplement-mediatedNervous System aginginOrder toDevelop Neurodegenerative Therapeutics

Aging is becoming one of the biggest burdens to the developed world, mainly due to it being linked to a variety of diseases from neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease to cancer. It involves the dysregulation of virtually every biological process known, affecting every organ and tissue by distinct mechanisms, the nature of which is only now beginning to be truly understood. This is also true for memory loss, which is considered one of the most typical signs of old age. This is not surprising, given the still limited knowledge regarding how memories and thoughts are stored and utilised by the Central Nervous System (CNS). A potential hint, however, is the recent discovery that the complement system plays a role in synaptic pruning, which is essential for erasing unneeded memories. This is particularly intriguing given that the complement system is a branch of the innate immune system which has been documented as being overactive with aging. This review will thus cover what is currently known about the relationship between the immune system and aging and how the changes in the immune system with age affect the brain in an effort to direct further research. This topic has not been reviewed as a whole, which is why this paper aims to summarise the information on this topic whilst also elaborating on the gaps in research in order to develop potential therapies for neurodegeneration and immunosenescence.