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Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy of lenalidomide combined with bortezomib and dexamethasone (RVd) regimen in treatment of newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM) patients and its effect on the levels of regulatory T cells (Treg cells) and natural killer (NK) cells.Methods:Thirty-eight NDMM patients who were admitted to the Second Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College from September 2019 to May 2022 were selected for a prospective study, and were divided into control group (18 cases) and observation group (20 cases) according to random number table method. The control group was treated with bortezomib+epirubicin+dexamethasone (VAd) regimen, and the observation group was treated with RVd regimen. The efficacy and safety were compared between the two groups. The levels of Treg cells (CD4 + CD25 + FOXP3 +) and NK cells (CD3 - CD56 + CD16 +) before and after treatment in the two groups were detected by flow cytometry, and the results were compared. Results:After 4 courses of treatment, the objective response rate (ORR) of the observation group was 95.0% (19/20), which was higher than that of the control group [77.8% (14/18)], and the difference was statistically significant ( P = 0.016). Before treatment, there was no statistical difference in the levels of Treg cells and NK cells between the two groups ( P values were 0.381 and 0.650). After treatment, the level of Treg cells in the control group increased from (1.5±0.5)% before treatment to (4.7±1.3)% ( P = 0.008), while the level of Treg cells in the observation group increased from (1.4±0.5)% before treatment to (6.8±1.5)% ( P = 0.001), and the level in the observation group was higher than that in the control group ( P = 0.027); the level of NK cells in the control group increased from (16±6)% before treatment to (20±5)% ( P = 0.004), while the level of NK cells in the observation group increased from (16±6)% before treatment to (24±6)% ( P = 0.006), and the level in the observation group was higher than that in the control group ( P = 0.032). The incidence rates of thrombocytopenia and neutropenia in the observation group were higher than those in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant ( P values were 0.012 and 0.027), which was reversible after active treatment. There was no statistical difference in the incidence rates of other adverse reactions (all P>0.05). Conclusions:RVd regimen for NDMM is clinically effective, safe and reliable, and the patients' levels of Treg cells and NK cells elevate after treatment.
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Objective:To investigate the changes of T helper cell (Th), regulatory T-cell (Treg cell) related cytokines in vaginal lavage fluid of patients with high risk-human papilloma virus 16 (HR-HPV16) positive and its predictive effect on the development of cervical neoplasms.Methods:A total of 200 cases of HR-HPV16 positive patients who admitted to Xingtai People's Hospital from January 2022 to December 2022 were selected as the experimental group. According to the results of pathological examination, all patients in the experimental group were divided into non pathological group (78 cases), low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL) group (49 cases), high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) group (39 cases) and cervical cancer group (34 cases); and 100 healthy people undergoing the physical examination in the same period were taken as the healthy control group. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) double-antibody sandwich method was used to detect the levels of interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, IL-17, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interferon γ (IFN-γ) and transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) in vaginal lavage fluid of patients in different groups. Multivariate logistics regression was used to analyze the risk factors of cervical cancer, and a nomogram model was established. The receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve was drawn with pathological results as the gold standard, and the area under the curve (AUC) was calculated to evaluate the predictive ability of the nomogram model.Results:The levels of IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, TNF-α, TGF-β in vaginal lavage fluid of patients in the experimental group were higher than those in the healthy control group, while the levels of IL-2, IL-12 and IFN-γ in the experimental group were lower than those in the healthy control group, and the differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.05); the difference in IL-4 level of both groups was not statistically significant ( P > 0.05). There were statistically significant differences in IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, TNF-α, TGF-β, IL-2, IL-12 and IFN-γ among non pathological group, LSIL group, HSIL group and cervical cancer group (all P < 0.05); the levels of IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, TNF-α, TGF-β in cervical cancer group were the highest, the levels of IL-2, IL-12 and IFN-γ were the lowest; the level of IL-4 in non pathological group, LSIL group, HSIL group and cervical cancer group had no statistically significant difference ( P > 0.05). Logistics regression analysis showed that low IL-2, high IL-4, high IL-6, high IL-10, low IL-12, high IL-17, high TNF-α, low IFN- γ and low TGF-β expressions in vaginal lavage fluid of patients with HR-HPV16 positive were independent risk factors for the development of cervical cancer (all P < 0.05). The results of nomogram analysis showed that IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, TNF-α, TGF-β in vaginal lavage fluid were the factors predicting the development of cervical cancer in HR-HPV16 positive patients. The ROC curve analysis showed that the AUC of nomogram model in predicting the development of cervical cancer in HR-HPV16 positive patients was 0.945 (95% CI 0.901-0.988), and the predictive efficacy was good. Conclusions:Th and Treg cell related cytokines levels in vaginal lavage fluid of patients with HR-HPV16 positive show pathological changes in cervical cancer patients and the above indicators have a high value in predicting the development of cervical cancer.
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Objective:To investigate the incidence of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) in patients with HIV (HIV) and tuberculosis (TB) infection, and analyze the relationship between Th17/Treg cytokines, CD4 + T lymphocytes and IRIS. Methods:HIV patients with TB infection admitted to Public Health Clinical Center of Chengdu from June 2020 to June 2022 were divided into IRIS group (31 cases) and non IRIS group (93 cases) according to whether IRIS occurred after highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). The Demography data, clinical data and laboratory indicators of the two groups were compared. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to investigate the influencing factors of IRIS in HIV patients with TB infection.Results:There was no significant difference in Demography data between the two groups ( P>0.05). There was a statistically significant difference in the history of opportunistic infection between the IRIS group and the non IRIS group (χ 2=5.194, P<0.05). The levels of HIV RNA, interleukin (IL)-17, and IL-23 in the IRIS group were higher than those in the non IRIS group (all P<0.05). The levels of the γ interferon (IFN- γ), the transforming growth factor-β (TGF- β) and baseline CD4 + T lymphocyte count were lower than those in the non IRIS group (all P<0.05). The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that IL-17 ( OR: 1.266, 95% CI: 1.095-1.464), IL-23( OR: 1.384, 95% CI: 1.120-1.710), and TGF- β( OR: 0.589, 95% CI: 0.436-0.797) were influencing factors for the occurrence of IRIS in HIV patients with TB infection (all P<0.05). Conclusions:For patients with high IL-17 levels, high IL-23 levels, and low TGF- β level of HIV complicated with TB infection, clinical prevention and control should be carried out as soon as possible to prevent the occurrence of IRIS.
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Objective:To investigate the efficacy of Zhibitai capsules combined with low-dose atorvastatin in the treatment of cervical arteriosclerosis and its effects on high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and regulatory T cells in the peripheral blood. Methods:A total of 104 patients with carotid arteriosclerosis admitted to Fenyang Hospital from January 2021 to April 2022 were retrospectively included in this study. They were divided into a control group ( n = 52) and an observation group ( n = 52) according to different treatment methods. The control group was orally given atorvastatin calcium tablets 20 mg once a day. The observation group was orally given atorvastatin calcium tablets 10 mg once a day, and Zhibitai capsules 0.24 g, one capsule in the morning and one capsule in the evening. After 8 weeks of treatment, changes in total cholesterol, triacylglycerol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and regulatory T cell proportion in the peripheral blood were evaluated. Results:After treatment, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level and regulatory T cell proportion in the observation group were (1.53 ± 0.29) mmol/L and (5.52 ± 1.38)%, respectively, which were significantly higher than (1.19 ± 0.21) mmol/L and (4.48 ± 0.86)% respectively in the control group ( t = 6.84, 4.61, both P < 0.05). Total cholesterol, triacylglycerol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels in the observation group were (2.88 ± 0.27) mmol/L, (1.21 ± 0.15) mmol/L, (2.01 ± 0.19) mmol/L, (2.58 ± 0.43) mg/L, respectively, which were significantly lower than (3.68 ± 0.41) mmol/L, (1.33 ± 0.19) mmol/L, (2.69 ± 0.31) mmol/L, (3.70 ± 0.25) mg/L, respectively in the control group ( t = 11.75, 3.57, 12.31, 17.23, all P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in carotid plaque size pre-treatment between the two groups, but the plaque size decreased after treatment compared with before treatment. The efficacy of Zhibitai capsules combined with low-dose atorvastatin in the treatment of cervical arteriosclerosis in the observation group was superior to that in the control group ( P < 0.05). Conclusion:Oral administration of Zhibitai capsules combined with low-dose atorvastatin for the treatment of cervical arteriosclerosis is safe and has few adverse reactions. The combined therapy can decrease serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels, increase the proportion of regulatory T cells in the peripheral blood, help stabilize plaques, and reduce plaque size.
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Objective:To explore the link between the differentially expressed long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and the number of regulatory T cells (Tregs) by detecting the lncRNAs expression profiles in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), then analyze the correlation between Tregs and lncRNAs and the clinical features of SLE patients. We also predict the mechanism by which lncRNAs regulate the differentiation and development of Tregs, and provid new approach for the treatment of SLE.Methods:Peripheral blood of 9 active SLE patients was collected and mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were extracted. The lncRNAs expression profiles of PBMCs was analyzed by whole transcriptome sequencing. Nine healthy people served as controls to screen the differentially expressed lncRNAs, and to analyze the correlation between lncRNAs and Tregs number. Pearson test was used to analyze the correlation between lncRNA and the number of Tregs, and the correlation between Treg-associated lncRNAs and systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index(SLEDAI) score, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C3, C4 in SLE patients. The targeted genes of Treg asso-ciated lncRNAs were predicted with miRcode and Targetscan databases and co-expression network.Results:There were 240 differentially expressed lncRNAs in SLE patients compared with healthy controls, including 134 highly expressed lncRNAs ( P<0.05) and 106 low expressed lncRNAs ( P<0.05). The expression of ANKRD44-AS1 ( r=0.74, P=0.022), LINC00200 ( r=0.70, P=0.037), AP001363.2 ( r=0.78, P=0.014) and LINC02824 (r=0.79, P=0.011) were positively correlated with the number of Tregs, and the expression of AP000640.1 ( r=-0.72, P=0.028), AC124248.1 ( r=-0.77, P=0.016), LINC00482 ( r=-0.83, P=0.005) and MIR503HG ( r=-0.96, P<0.001) were negatively correlated with the number of Tregs. Among these eight Tregs associated lncRNAs, the expression of LINC00482 ( r=-0.73, P<0.001) and MIR503HG ( r=-0.76, P<0.001) were negatively correlated with C3. LINC00200, ANKRD44-AS1 and AP000640.1 related to Tregs regulated the expression of STAT5, PLD1, HOPX and RUNX3 through competitively binding of miRNA or transregulatory mechanism, thereby regulating the differentiation and development of Tregs. Conclusion:The lncRNAs expression profiles are changed in SLE patients, the differentially expressed lncRNAs are associated with abnormal number and function of Tregs in SLE patients, and Treg associated lncRNAs are associated with SLE disease activity, which may affect the expression of STAT5, PLD1, HOPX, RUNX3 and regulate Tregs function and participate in the pathogenesis and progression of SLE by competitively binding to miRNAs or trans-regulatory mechanism.
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Objective:To investigate the level of peripheral blood regulatory T cells in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and its clinical significance.Methods:A total of 191 patients with RA in the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Shanxi Medical University and 86 healthy controls (HCs) were enrolled from January 2019 to January 2021. All peripheral blood CD4 + T lymphocyte subsets of participants were assessed by flow cytometry. Patients were divided into RA-CVD group ( n=71) and RA only group ( n=120) and their clinical data were recorded. The differences between the groups were analyzed by Independent-Samples t test, Mann-Whitney U test or χ2 test, and risk factors that affected CVD were analyzed using Logistic regression. Results:① The age of patients and the proportion of male patients in the RA-CVD group were significantly higher than those in the RA only group [age: (64±10) years old vs (56±12) years old, t=-4.16, P<0.001; male patients: 35 cases vs 31 cases, χ2=10.86, P=0.001]. ② The level of Treg cells in the peripheral blood of patients with RA only and RA-CVD groups was significantly lower than that of HCs ( Z=-4.14, P<0.001; Z=-6.27, P<0.001), while the numbers of peripheral Th17 cells in the two groups of patients were not significantly different from those of HCs ( P>0.05). The ratios of Th17/Treg cells in the two group patients were higher than those of HCs, but only the difference between RA-CVD patients and HCs was significant ( Z=-5.49, P<0.001). ③ Compared with the RA only group, the absolute number of Treg cells in peripheral blood of RA-CVD group was significantly lower [19.00(13.62, 26.73) vs 24.94 (19.32, 34.12), Z=-3.19, P=0.001], the level of Th17 cells was significantly higher [absolute number: 7.77 (3.86, 13.64) cell/μl vs 5.59 (3.49, 8.91) cells/μl, Z=-2.14, P=0.033; percentage: 1.37%(0.78, 2.00)% vs 0.80%(0.56, 1.24)%, Z=-4.20, P<0.001], and the ratio of Th17/Treg cells was significantly higher [0.40(0.24, 0.62) vs 0.23(0.14, 0.35), Z=-4.46, P<0.001]. ④ Logistic regression analysis showed that Treg cell [ OR(95% CI)=0.934 (0.903, 0.967)] was a protective factor, while elder age [ OR(95% CI)=1.038(1.003, 1.074), male [ OR(95% CI)=2.450(1.005, 5.973)], hypertension [ OR(95% CI)=2.654 (1.219, 5.779)] and Th17 cell [ OR (95% CI)=1.066 (1.019, 1.116)] were risk factors of RA complicated with CVD. Conclusion:The level of Treg cells in peripheral blood of RA patients with CVD decreases significantly, and the immune imbalance of Th17/Treg is more singificant than that of RA patients without CVD. It is suggested that the immune imbalance and dysfunction caused by the number and/or functional deficiency of Treg cells may be involved in the occurrence and development of RA complicated with CVD.
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Objective:To explore the expression level of interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase-1 (IRAK1) in the peripheral blood of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and analyze its relevance between disease activity and CD4 + T cell subsets. Methods:① The concentration of IRAK1 in the peripheral blood of 77 RA patients and 24 healthy controls were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). ② The demo-graphic and clinical data of the RA group including disease activity score with 28 joints (DAS28), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), CD4 + T cell subsets in peripheral blood. ③Independent sample t test or Mann-Whitney U test were used to compare the differences between the two groups. Spearman rank correlation test and multiple linear regression were used to analyze the correlation between IRAK1 expression level and clinical data. Results:① The IRAK1 level of the peripheral blood of RA patients was significantly higher than in the normal controls ( P<0.001). ② Compared to normal controls, the peripheral blood of the RA group, the absolute numbers and proportion of regulatory T (Treg) cells were decreased ( P<0.001), the absolute numbers and proportion of helper T (Th) 17 and the ratio of Th17/Treg were increased. Moreover, the ratio of Th17/Treg was also increased. ③ With the increase of disease activity in RA patients, the expression of IRAK1 also increased. The expression of IRAK1 in the peripheral blood of RA group was positively correlated with ESR, number of joints involved and DAS28, and had statistically significant difference between the two groups ( r=0.23, P<0.05; r=0.24, P<0.05; r=0.27, P<0.05). Meanwhile, it was sign-ificantly negatively correlated with the percentage of Treg ( r=-0.27, P<0.05), and was significantly positively correlated with the ratio of Th17/Treg ( r=0.23, P<0.05) . However, there was no significant correlation with the ratio of Th1/Th2( P>0.05). Furthermore, multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that the expression of IRAK1 in the peripheral blood of RA group was positively correlated with ESR and the number of joints involved ( β=0.34, P=0.019; β=0.27, P=0.004), and it was inversely correlated with percentage of Treg ( β=-0.23, P=0.047, R2=0.219). Conclusion:IRAK1 expression in the peripheral blood of RA patients is up-regulated and correlated with disease activity. The decrease of Treg and the imbalance of Th17/Treg caused by high expression of IRAK1 may be one of the main factors for the occurrence and development of RA. Interfering the expression of IRAK1 may be a potential new target for RA treatment.
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Objective:To investigate the effects of human placenta tablets combined with active folic acid and compound nutrient tablets on Th1 cytokines and hormone levels in pregnant patients with threatened miscarriage.Methods:A total of 226 pregnant patients with threatened miscarriage who received treatment in Linyi Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital from April to September 2021 were included in this study. They were randomly divided into a control group and an observation group, with 113 patients in each group. The control group was treated with human placenta tablets. The observation group was treated with human placenta tablets combined with active folic acid and compound nutrient tablets. All patients were treated for 4 weeks. Before and after treatment, serum levels of Th1 cytokines, β-human chorionic gonadotropin, progesterone, and estradiol as well as the rate of success of protection against miscarriage, adverse reactions, and perinatal complications were compared between the two groups.Results:After 4 weeks of treatment, serum levels of interleukin-2, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interferon-γ in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group ( t = 27.53, 20.99, 31.69, all P < 0.001). Serum levels of β-human chorionic gonadotropin, progesterone, and estradiol in the observation group were (143.79 ± 9.56) IU/L, (36.43 ± 4.71) ng/L, (234.72 ± 13.29) pmol/L, which were significantly higher than (122.53 ± 7.47) IU/L, (29.32 ± 4.22) ) ng/L, (167.86 ± 8.93) pmol/L in the control group ( t = 18.63, 11.95, 44.39, all P < 0.001). The rate of success of protection against miscarriage in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group (92.9% vs. 76.1%, χ2 = 12.20, P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the incidences of adverse reactions and perinatal compilations between the two groups (both P > 0.05). Conclusion:Human placenta tablets combined with active folic acid and compound nutrient tablets can improve serum levels of Th1 cytokines and hormones, and increase the rate of success of protection against miscarriage, without increasing the incidences of adverse reactions and perinatal complications.
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Objective:To investigate the effect of interleukin (IL)-23 receptor (IL-23R) overexpression on the balance of T helper 17 (Th17 cells)/regulatory T cells (Treg cells) in experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU) mice.Methods:Twelve 8-week-old female C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into LV-Ctrl group and LV-IL-23R group, with 6 mice in each group. Two groups of mice were injected with LV-Ctrl and LV-IL-23R lentiviruses through the tail vein, respectively; 7 days after injection, the EAU mouse model was established by active immunization with vitamin A-binding protein 1-20 between photoreceptors. Starting from 13 days after immunization, the fundus of the mice was observed by indirect ophthalmoscopy every 2 days and clinical scores were performed; 30 days after immunization, hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to observe the histopathological changes of mouse retina. The levels of IL-17 in serum of the two groups of mice were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; the proportion of Th17 cells and Treg cells was detected by flow cytometry. The relative mRNA expression of IL-23R, IL-17, retinoic acid-related orphan receptor γt (RORγt), IL-10 and forkhead transcripyion factor p3 (Foxp3) were detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Comparisons between groups were performed using repeated measures analysis of variance, independent samples Mann-Whitney U test, and independent samples t test. Results:Compared with the LV-Ctrl group, the retinal inflammatory reaction of the LV-IL-23R group was more severe. At 13 days after immunization, there was no significant difference in fundus inflammation scores between LV-IL-23R group and LV-Ctrl group ( t=-2.001, P=0.058); 15-29 days after immunization. The fundus inflammation scores of LV-IL-23R group were higher than those of LV-Ctrl group, and the difference was statistically significant ( t=-4.429,-6.578, -7.768, -10.183, -6.325, -7.304, -4.841, -6.872; P<0.001). Histopathological examination showed that the infiltration of inflammatory cells in the fundus increased, the retinal structure was damaged more seriously, and the histopathological score was significantly increased, and the difference was statistically significant ( t=-4.339, P=0.001). Compared with the LV-Ctrl group, the relative expression of IL-23R mRNA in the spleen of the LV-IL-23R group was significantly increased, and the difference was statistically significant ( Z=2.087, P=0.037). The relative expression of IL-17 and RORγt mRNA increased, while the relative expression of IL-10 and Foxp3 mRNA decreased, and the differences were statistically significant ( t=-6.313,-5.922, 4.844, 7.572; P=0.003, 0.004, 0.008, 0.002). Compared with the LV-Ctrl group, the level of IL-17 in the serum of the mice in the LV-IL-23R group was significantly increased, and the difference was statistically significant ( t=-5.423, P=0.002); the proportion of Th17 cells in the spleen and lymph nodes was significantly increased, whereas, the proportion of Treg cells was significantly reduced, and the difference was statistically significant ( t=-4.290, 3.700; P=0.002, 0.006). Conclusion:IL-23R overexpression can promote Th17/Treg imbalance in EAU mice, and aggravate the clinical and pathological manifestations of EAU.
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Objective:To investigate the effect of interleukin (IL)-7 receptor α (IL-7Rα) antibody on the immune inflammation and renal injury in MRL/lpr lupus mice.Methods:Fifteen 3-4-week-old female MRL/lpr lupus mice (specific pathogen free) weighing 15-16 g were bred to 14-week-old and randomly divided into three groups: IL-7Rα antibody intervention group, isotype antibody (positive control) group and normal saline (negative control) group. The mice in the threc groups were intraperitoneally injected with IL-7Rα antibody, isotype antibody and normal saline respectively, with 100 μg three times a week for 4 weeks. At the age of 18-week old, the mice were sacrificed. Twenty-four-hour urinary protein was detected by Coomassie brilliant blue method, serum creatinine was detected by peroxidase method, and the expression of autoantibody (anti-double strand DNA antibody) and inflammatory factors such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and IL-21 was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. Renal pathology was detected by PAS and Sirius red staining, and CD3 and F4/80 in renal tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry method. Regulatory T cells, follicullar helper T cells (Tfh) and follicular regulatory T cells (Tfr) were detected by flow cytometry.Results:The 24-hour urinary protein, serum creatinine, serum anti-double strand DNA antibody and serum IFN-γ and IL-21 in the IL-7Rα antibody intervention group were significantly lower than those in the control groups (all P<0.01). However, there was no significant difference in serum TNF-α among the three groups ( F=0.39, P>0.05). The positive infiltrating cells of CD3 and F4/F80, and the ratio of type Ⅰ/Ⅲ collagen fibers ( F=41.11, P<0.01) of renal tissues in the IL-7Rα antibody intervention group were lower than those in the other two groups. Compared with the control groups, the ratio of regulatory T cells (CD4 +CD25 +Foxp3 +)/effector T cells (CD4 +CD25 +) in blood of IL-7Rα antibody intervention group increased ( F=21.64, P<0.01), while the ratio of Tfr (CD4 +CXCR5 +Foxp3 +)/Tfh (CD4 +CXCR5 +) in peripheral blood and spleen increased ( F=38.95, P<0.01; F=12.90, P<0.01). Conclusion:IL-7Rα antibody can reduce the production of autoantibodies such as anti-double strand DNA antibody and inflammatory factors by increasing the ratio of regulatory T cells and Tfr/Tfh, thus alleviating immune inflammation and renal damage in MRL/lpr lupus mice.
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Objective:To investigate changes in the peripheral interleukin-35 (IL-35) level in patients with alopecia areata, and to assess its modulatory effect on regulatory T (Treg) cell activities.Methods:Totally, 81 patients with alopecia areata (alopecia areata group) and 27 healthy volunteers (control group) were enrolled from Shanxi Provincial People′s Hospital between December 2019 and January 2021. Sera and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to detect the serum IL-35 level, real-time fluorescence-based quantitative PCR to determine the mRNA expression of IL-35 subunits EBI3 and IL-12p35, and flow cytometry to determine the proportion of CD4 + CD25 + CD127 dim/- Treg cells. Sorted Treg cells were stimulated by recombinant human IL-35, ELISA was performed to detect levels of perforin and granzyme B in the culture supernatant, and real-time fluorescence-based quantitative PCR to determine the mRNA expression of EBI3, IL-12p35, and immune checkpoint molecules, such as programmed death protein 1 (PD-1) , T cell immunoglobulin and mucin protein-3 (Tim-3) , cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) and lymphocyte activation gene-3 (LAG-3) in Treg cells. IL-35-stimulated or unstimulated Treg cells were co-cultured with autologous PBMCs, and cell counting kit-8 (CCK8) assay was conducted to assess cellular proliferative activity. Measurement data were compared between 2 groups by using t test, comparisons among multiple groups were carried out by using one-way analysis of variance, correlation analysis was carried out by using Pearson correlation analysis, and enumeration data were compared by using chi-square test. Results:Compared with the control group, the alopecia areata group showed significantly decreased IL-35 levels (90.10 ± 11.98 ng/L vs. 100.74 ± 28.71 ng/L, t= 2.71, P= 0.008) , mRNA expression of EBI3 and IL-12p35 in PBMCs (EBI3: 1.06 ± 0.15 vs. 1.25 ± 0.11, t= 6.09, P < 0.001; IL-12p35: 1.00 ± 0.15 vs. 1.38 ± 0.22, t= 10.16, P < 0.001) , and proportions of Treg cells (5.91% ± 1.17% vs. 6.85% ± 1.23%, t= 3.54, P= 0.001) . In the alopecia areata group, the proportion of Treg cells was positively correlated with the serum IL-35 level ( r= 0.25, P= 0.026) , and the mRNA expression of EBI3 and IL-12p35 in PBMCs ( r= 0.31, 0.24, P= 0.004, 0.032, respectively) . Compared with the control group, the unstimulated Treg cells from the alopecia areata group showed significantly decreased supernatant levels of perforin and granzyme B, mRNA expression of EBI3, IL-12p35 and immune checkpoint molecules ( P < 0.05 or 0.001) , as well as weakened inhibitory effect on the proliferative activity of PBMCs ( P= 0.013) . There was no significant difference in the level of perforin or granzyme B between the recombinant human IL-35-stimulated and unstimulated Treg cells from the patients with alopecia areata (both P > 0.05) . However, the mRNA expression of EBI3, IL-12p35 and immune checkpoint molecules was significantly higher in the IL-35-stimulated Treg cells than in the unstimulated Treg cells in the alopecia areata group ( P < 0.05 or 0.001) , and the inhibitory effect on the proliferative activity of PBMCs was also significantly enhanced in the IL-35-stimulated Treg cells compared with the unstimulated Treg cells ( P= 0.037) . Conclusion:The peripheral IL-35 level was significantly decreased in the patients with alopecia areata, which was closely associated with reduced activities of Treg cells, and IL-35 may be involved in the occurrence of alopecia areata.
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The immune mechanism of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) persistent infection is closely associated with T cells, and the development of T cells requires the coordination of a variety of cytokines. The proteins of the signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) family are mainly involved in the signal transduction of cytokines, and STAT5a/b and STAT3 play an important role in the differentiation and development of regulatory T cells (Treg) and T helper 17 cells (Th17). This article analyzes the association of STAT3 and STAT5 with Treg/Th17 balance in CHB and investigates the chronicity of hepatitis B virus infection and the regulatory mechanism of liver inflammation.
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Objective:To investigate the changes of intestinal mucosal barrier function related indexes [diamine oxidase and secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA)] in peripheral blood of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and their correlation with peripheral immune function.Methods:A total of 40 patients with RA who admitted to the Rheumatology and Immunology department of the Second Hospital of the Shanxi Medical University were enrolled. We collected their clinical and laboratory data, and selected 20 age and gender matched people as the control group. Enzyme-linked immunosorbnent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the level of DAO and sIgA in the peripheral blood, the lymphocytes and CD4 + T subsets were detected by flow cytometry. Then t-test, rank sum test and correlation analysis were conducted for statistical analysis. Results:① The level of DAO in patients with RA was higher than that of healthy controls [205(164, 251) ng/ml vs 364 (276, 483) ng/ml, Z=-4.48, P<0.001], while the level of sIgA was decreased [3.64 (2.76, 4.83)×10 5 ng/ml vs 6.83 (4.80, 9.44)×10 5, Z=-3.84, P<0.001]. ② The absolute number of B and CD4 + T cells were increased in RA, the difference were statistically significant, but the absolute number of T, natural killer cells (NK) and CD8 + T cells were not significantly different between the two groups. For CD4 + T subsets, the absolute number of T helper cells (Th)1 and Treg cells in RA group were significantly decreased than healthy controls, but there were no statistical significant difference in the number of Th2 and Th17 cells. ③ The level of DAO was positively correlated with absolute number of Th17 cells in patients with RA ( r=0.36 P=0.038), and positively correlated with age and white blood cell count ( r=0.40, P=0.021; r=0.40, P=0.020), but no significant correlation among other indicators were found. ④ The serum sIgA level of RA patients in antimutated citrullinated vimentin antibody (MCV), antiperinuclear factor (APF) and antikeratin antibody (AKA) positive group were higher than those in the negative group [3.99(2.99, 5.58)×10 5 ng/ml vs 2.73(2.29, 3.05)×10 5 ng/ml, Z=-2.55, P=0.011; 5.49 (3.26, 5.70)×10 5 ng/ml vs 3.12 (2.29, 4.04)×10 5 ng/ml, Z=-2.28, P=0.023; 4.07 (3.19, 5.65)×10 5 ng/ml vs 2.88 (2.24, 3.86)×10 5 ng/ml, Z=-2.42, P=0.016], while there was no significant difference in DAO level between groups. ⑤ The DAO level of RA patients with pulmonary interstitial fibrosis was significantly higher than that in the group without pulmonary interstitial fibrosis [421 (216, 528) ng/ml vs 191 (150, 223) ng/ml, Z=-2.81, P=0.005], while there were no significant differences in DAO and sIgA levels among other groups. Conclusion:In RA patients with inte-stinal mucosal barrier impairment, the DAO level is increased, while the sIgA is decreased, and in addition, elevated peripheral blood Th17 may be involved in the process of intestinal mucosal barrier impairment.
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Objective:To explore the effect of Notch1 signaling on regulatory T cells and its roles in vascular damage in patients with Kawasaki disease (KD).Methods:A total of 42 children with KD were enrolled in the present study from March 2019 to June 2020, as 32 age-matched healthy children were recruited as control. The proportions of CD4 +CD25 hiFoxp 3+ regulatory T cells (Treg) and expressions of transcription factor forkhead box protein 3 (Foxp3), cytotoxic T lymphocyte associated antigen-4 (CTLA4), glucocorticoid-induced tumor necrosis factor receptor (GITR), and Notch1 protein were evaluated by flow cytometry. Chromatin immunoprecipitation was conducted to detect acetylation level of histone H4 (H4Ac) associated with the promoter of Foxp3 gene and its binding abilities of Notch1 intracellular domain 1 (NICD1), recombination signal binding protein for immunoglobulin kappa J region (RBP-J) and p300 in CD4 + T cells. Transcription levels of Foxp3, presenilin 1 (PSEN1), mastermind like transcriptional coactivator 1 (MAML1), and RBP-J in CD4 + T cells were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Concentrations of interleukin (IL)-10 and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) in plasma and culture supernatant stimulated with Jagged1 were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Independent-sample t-test, Pearson correlation analysis was used as the statistical method in this study. Results:① The frequencies of Treg in acute KD patients decreased significantly [(4.3±1.5)% vs (7.9±2.9)%; t=6.41, P<0.001], as protein levels of Foxp3, CTLA4 and GITR and concentrations of IL-10 and TGF-β in plasma reduced remarkably in acute KD patients ( t=6.87, P<0.001; t=4.26, P<0.001; t=7.88, P<0.001; t=8.42, P<0.001; t=13.01, P<0.001). All parameters afore-mentioned in patients combined with coronary artery lesions (CAL) were lower than those of patients without coronary artery lesions (NCAL) ( t=5.83, P<0.001; t=3.83, P<0.001; t=3.28, P=0.002; t=5.05, P<0.001; t=5.96, P<0.001; t=5.17, P<0.001), and increased after therapy ( t=7.13, P<0.001; t=6.10, P<0.001; t=4.31, P<0.001; t=6.55, P<0.001; t=7.40, P<0.001; t=7.84, P<0.001). ② H4Ac associated with promoter of Foxp3 gene and the binding abilities of NICD1 and p300 in acute KD patients were lower than those of the controls ( t=10.25, P<0.001; t=6.93, P<0.001; t=6.75, P<0.001), and increased remarkably after therapy ( t=7.72, P<0.001; t=4.16, P<0.001; t=5.76, P<0.001). Meanwhile, the three items in CAL group were found to be less than those of NCAL group ( t=6.08, P<0.001; t=2.66, P=0.011; t=6.02, P<0.001). Pearson correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between H4Ac associated with Foxp3 promoter and its mRNA level in acute KD patients ( r=0.47, P<0.001). No statistical significant difference about the binding ability of RBP-J with Foxp3 promoter were found among the groups ( t=0.57, P>0.05; t=0.61, P>0.05; t=1.20, P>0.05). ③ Protein level of Notch1 and the expressions of PSEN1, MAML1 and RBP-J mRNA in CD4 + T cells from acute KD patients were down-regulated remarkably ( t=5.28, P<0.001; t=6.31, P<0.001; t=11.78, P<0.001; t=8.06, P<0.001), and restored after therapy ( t=4.77, P<0.001; t=6.43, P<0.001; t=11.95, P<0.001; t=7.79, P<0.001). In parallel, the four indexes aforementioned of CAL group were lower than those of NCAL group ( t=3.16, P=0.003; t=4.13, P<0.001; t=5.42, P<0.001; t=4.05, P<0.001). Upon rhJagged1 stimulation for 48 hours, H4Ac level of Foxp3 promoter and its binding abilities with NICD1 and p300 in CD4 + T cells in KD patients and control group was significantly higher than those of untreated group [(KD: t=15.36, P<0.001; t=7.25, P<0.001; t=14.29, P<0.001), (Ctrl: t=7.87, P<0.001; t=5.71, P<0.001; t=8.74, P<0.001)], as the binding ability of RBP-J with Foxp3 promoter increased slightly without statistically significant difference (KD: t=1.11, P>0.05; Ctrl: t=1.37, P>0.05). Simultaneously, H4Ac level of Foxp3 promoter and its binding abilities with NICD1 and p300 in KD group were still lower than those of the control group after stimulation ( t=3.86, P<0.001; t=3.42, P=0.001; t=2.85, P=0.006). ④ After incubation of PBMC from heathy children with KD serum, the proportion of Treg cells, protein level of Foxp3 and expressions of Notch1 and RBP-J in CD4 + T cells in the group treated with IVIG increased significantly compared with the untreated group ( t=7.10, P<0.001; t=10.16, P<0.001; t=8.06, P<0.001; t=9.77, P<0.001), as well as H4Ac level of Foxp3 promoter and its binding abilities with NICD1 in the group treat with IVIG were also higher than the latter ( t=7.24, P<0.001; t=8.24, P<0.001). Conclusion:Insufficiency and impaired function of Treg caused by aberrant Notch1 signaling may be the important factor contributing to immune dysfunction and vascular damage in KD.
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Objective:To explore the effect and mechanism of different concentrations of metformin on bleomycin (BLM)-induced systemic sclerosis (SSc) mice model.Methods:C57BL/6 mice were divided into the normal group, the model group, the high, the medium and the low metformin (MET) treatment groups randomly. All mice were sacrificed after BLM and metformin treatment for 4 weeks. Local skin was exminedby histopathological staining method to measure the thickness of dermis and collagen, and immunohistochemistry and real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) were used to detect the protein and mRNA levels of Interleukin (IL)-17, forkhead box P3 (Foxp3) and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA). Flow cytometry was used to detect the percentage of effector T cell (Teff) and regulatory cells (Treg) in splenic mononuclear cells. The data such as dermal collagen thickness, α-SMA, IL-17, Foxp3, Teff and Treg levels were statistically analyzed by one-way analysis of variance. The data such as dermal collagen thickness, α-SMA, IL-17, Foxp3, Teff and Treg levels were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance, and least significant difference (LSD)- t or Kruskal-Wallis test was used for comparison between groups. Results:Compared with the normal group, remarkable fibrotic lesions appeared in the skin of mice in the model group, and the levels of T-helper cells (Th)1, Th2, Th17, and T follicular helper cells (Tfh) cells were increased, accompanied by a significant decrease in the level of Treg cells. After high-dose metformin treatment, the dermal thickness [(131±25) μm], collagen thickness [(119±18) μm], and α-SMA [(3.0±0.5)/HPH] were significantly reduced( F=14.390, P<0.01; F=40.245, P<0.01; F=44.626, P<0.01). Th1[(27.00±6.68)%], Th17[(0.56±0.20)%], Tfh[(6.4±1.6)%] cells ware significantlyreduced ( F=32.390, P<0.01; F=16.083, P<0.01; F=16.546, P<0.01), and Treg[(11.23±1.52)%] cells were significantly increased ( F=10.171, P<0.01). Conclusion:Metformin can effectively reverse the local skin changesin BLM-induced SSc mouse model, and show immune regulation and anti-fibrosis effects by restoring the Teff/Treg balance.
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Programmed death-1 (PD-1) and programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) are important co-inhibitory molecules, while regulatory T cells (Tregs) are important suppressor cells. The increase of them in tumor microenvironment is closely related to tumor immune escape and tumor development. PD-L1 plays an important role in the development and function of Tregs. The application of PD-1/PD-L1 blockade also affects the proliferation and function of Tregs, which further participates in the occurrence of drug resistance and hyperprogressive disease. Further understanding of the role and correlation of PD-L1 and Tregs in tumor immunity and immunotherapy can provide new ideas for improving the efficacy of PD-1/PD-L1 blockade.
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Inflammatory immune response runs through the course of ischemic stroke. Different subgroups of CD4 + T cells play a complex and important role in the course of ischemic stroke. Among them, the balance of pro-inflammatory effect of T helper cell 17 (Th17) and anti-inflammatory effect of regulatory T cells (Treg) is closely associated with the outcome of stroke. This article reviews the role of Th17/Treg balance in ischemic stroke, in order to deepen the understanding of the mechanism of immune inflammation after ischemic stroke and explore possible therapeutic targets in the course of ischemic stroke.
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The etiology and pathogenesis of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) remain unclear and are currently considered to be associated with genetic susceptibility and environmental factors. Regulatory T (Treg) cells play an immunosuppressive role by secreting IL-10 and TGFβ, while T helper 17 (Th17) cells mainly promote inflammatory response, suggesting that Treg cells, Th17 cells, and the dynamic balance between them may be involved in the development and progression of AIH; however, further studies are needed to explore related participation mechanisms. This article reviews the association between Treg/Th17 cells and AIH in recent years and elaborates on their mechanism of action and therapeutic targets.
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The etiology and pathogenesis of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) remain unclear and are currently considered to be associated with genetic susceptibility and environmental factors. Regulatory T (Treg) cells play an immunosuppressive role by secreting IL-10 and TGFβ, while T helper 17 (Th17) cells mainly promote inflammatory response, suggesting that Treg cells, Th17 cells, and the dynamic balance between them may be involved in the development and progression of AIH; however, further studies are needed to explore related participation mechanisms. This article reviews the association between Treg/Th17 cells and AIH in recent years and elaborates on their mechanism of action and therapeutic targets.
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Abstract Introduction: Oral tolerance is defined as the suppression of the immune response to antigens that have been previously administered orally. The purpose of inducing oral tolerance is to avoid using immunosuppressive drugs since, considering that they are not antigen-specific, they make the host more susceptible to acquire infections and develop neoplasms. Objective: To carry out a literature review on the most relevant theoretical references regarding oral tolerance induction in organ and tissue transplantation to prove that oral tolerance is a viable alternative therapy in transplant patients. Materials and methods: A literature review was conducted in the PubMed, MEDLINE, LILACS and Embase databases using the following search strategy: publication time: no limits; publication language: English and Spanish; type of studies: case-control studies, literature and systematic reviews; search terms: "T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory", "Autoimmunity", Immunosuppression", "Immune system" and "Immune Tolerance", and their equivalents in Spanish. Results: After the initial search was completed, 719 records were retrieved; however, only 99 addressed oral tolerance induction. Once duplicate records and articles without full-text access were removed, 75 studies were included for analysis. Conclusions: Oral administration of antigens is an effective way to induce immune tolerance in transplant patients (murine models) as it eliminates the adverse effects associated with immunosuppressive therapy, which currently is the standard therapy to treat these patients worldwide.
Resumen Introducción. La tolerancia oral es la supresión de la respuesta inmune a antígenos administrados con anterioridad por vía oral; su inducción tiene el propósito de evitar el uso de fármacos inmunosupresores, los cuales, dado que son poco específicos a antígenos, vuelven al huésped más susceptible de contraer infecciones y desarrollar neoplasias. Objetivos. Realizar una revisión de la literatura sobre los referentes teóricos más relevantes de la inducción de a tolerancia oral en lo que respecta al trasplante de órganos y tejidos para demostrar que el uso de esta alternativa terapéutica es viable en pacientes trasplantados. Materiales y métodos. Se realizó una revisión de la literatura en PubMed, MEDLINE, LILACS y Embase mediante la siguiente estrategia de búsqueda: periodo de publicación: sin límites; idiomas: Inglés y Español; tipo de artículos: estudios caso-control, revisiones sistemáticas y de la literatura; términos de búsqueda: "T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory", "Autoimmunity", Immunosuppression", "Immune system" and "Immune Tolerance", y sus equivalentes en español. Resultados. La búsqueda inicial arrojó 719 registros, sin embargo solo 99 abordaban la inducción de la tolerancia oral. Una vez los registros duplicados y los artículos sin acceso a texto completo fueron removidos, se incluyeron 72 estudios en la revisión. Conclusiones. La administración oral de antígenos es una opción efectiva para inducir tolerancia inmunológica en pacientes trasplantados (modelos murinos), pues elimina los efectos adversos que conlleva la terapia inmunosupresora actualmente utilizada.