Inflammation markers in healthy and periodontitis patients: a preliminary data screening

Advances in diagnostic research are moving towards methods whereby the periodontal risk can be identified and quantified by objective measures using biomarkers. Patients with periodontitis may have elevated circulating levels of specific inflammatory markers that can be correlated to the severity of the disease. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether differences in the serum levels of inflammatory biomarkers are differentially expressed in healthy and periodontitis patients. Twenty-five patients (8 healthy patients and 17 chronic periodontitis patients) were enrolled in the study. A 15 mL blood sample was used for identification of the inflammatory markers, with a human inflammatory flow cytometry multiplex assay. Among 24 assessed cytokines, only 3 (RANTES, MIG and Eotaxin) were statistically different between groups (p<0.05). In conclusion, some of the selected markers of inflammation are differentially expressed in healthy and periodontitis patients. Cytokine profile analysis may be further explored to distinguish the periodontitis patients from the ones free of disease and also to be used as a measure of risk. The present data, however, are limited and larger sample size studies are required to validate the findings of the specific biomarkers.

Avanços no diagnóstico da doença periodontal levam a métodos nos quais o risco e atividade da doença periodontal podem ser identificados e quantificados por biomarcadores. Pacientes com periodontite podem apresentar elevados níveis circulatórios de marcadores inflamatórios específicos que podem ser correlacionados com a severidade da doença. Portanto, o objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar as diferenças nos níveis séricos de biomarcadores inflamatórios em pacientes saudáveis e com doença periodontal. Foram incluídos no estudo 25 pacientes (8 saudáveis e 17 com periodontite crônica). Uma amostra de 15 mL de sangue foi obtida para identificar os marcadores inflamatórios simultaneamente utilizando Array de proteínas através de citometria de fluxo. De 24 citocinas inflamatórias analisadas, apenas 3 (RANTES, MIG e Eotaxina) apresentaram diferenças estatisticamente significantes (p<0,05) entre os dois grupos. Conclui-se que alguns marcadores inflamatórios selecionados apresentam diferença de concentração em pacientes com periodontite e saudáveis. A análise do perfil de citocinas pode ser utilizada tanto para distinguir pacientes periodontais de pacientes saudáveis, como para medir o risco à doença. Contudo, mais estudos com número maior de amostras são necessários para validar os achados sobre os biomarcadores específicos.

Niveles de citoquinas megacariocitopoyéticas en pacientes con trombocitemia esencial y su relación con características clínicas y bioquímicas / Megakaryopoietic cytokine levels in patients with essential thrombocythemia and their relationship with clinical and biochemical features

La megacariocitopoyesis y la producción de plaquetas están regidas por factores de transcripción y citoquinas presentes en el microambiente medular. La trombocitemia esencial (TE) es una enfermedad mieloproliferativa crónica caracterizada por aumento del recuento de plaquetas e hiperplasia megacariocítica. En el presente trabajo se evaluaron los niveles de las citoquinas que participan en el desarrollo megacariocítico en plasma de pacientes con TE que se encontraban sin tratamiento y los de trombopoyetina (TPO) antes y durante el tratamiento con anagrelide. Las determinaciones se realizaron por técnica de ELISA. Dentro de las citoquinas involucradas en la etapa de proliferación, los niveles de interleuquina 3 (IL-3) se encontraron aumentados en los pacientes (p=0.0383) respecto al grupo control. Los niveles de factor estimulante de colonias granulocito-macrofágico y stem cell factor fueron normales. Dentro de las citoquinas con acción sobre la maduración megacariocítica, tanto la interleuquina 6 como la interleuquina 11 y la eritropoyetina estuvieron normales. Los niveles de TPO antes del tratamiento no difirieron del grupo control y durante el tratamiento aumentaron de manera no significativa. Los pacientes que presentaron agregación espontánea tuvieron niveles más altos de TPO que los que no lo hicieron (p=0.049). Los niveles de las citoquinas no tuvieron relación con ninguno de los parámetros clínicos ni de laboratorio evaluados. El aumento de los niveles de IL-3 podría contribuir al incremento en la proliferación megacariocítica en este grupo. La presencia simultánea de niveles más altos de TPO y trombocitosis sería un factor predisponente para la ocurrencia de agregación espontánea en los pacientes con TE

Megakaryopoiesis and platelet production are driven by transcription factors and cytokines present in bone marrow environment. Essential thrombocythemia (ET) is a chronic myeloproliferative disorder characterized by high platelet count and megakaryocytic hyperplasia. In the present work we evaluated plasmatic levels of cytokines involved in megakaryocytic development in a group of patients with ET that were not on treatment, as well as thrombopoietin (TPO) levels before and during anagrelide treatment. The assays were carried out using ELISA techniques. Among the cytokines mainly involved in proliferation of megakaryocytic progenitors, interleukin 3 (IL-3) levels were found increased in patients compared to normal controls (p=0.0383). Granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor and stem cell factor levels were normal. Interleukin 6, as well as interleukin 11 and erythropoietin (EPO), cytokines mainly related to megakaryocytic maturation, were normal. Plasma TPO levels before treatment were within the normal range and increased during treatment but the difference was not statistically significant. Patients who displayed spontaneous platelet aggregation had higher plasma TPO levels compared to those who did not (p=0.049). We did not find any relationship between cytokine levels and clinical or laboratory parameters. The high IL-3 levels seen in some patients with ET could contribute to megakaryocytic proliferation. The simultaneous occurrence of higher TPO levels and elevated platelet count could be a predisposing factor for the development of spontaneous platelet aggregation in ET patients

Granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor: role in induction of monocyte CD14 receptor and adhesion molecules expression in chronic liver diseases

This study included 36 chronic liver disease [CLD] patients who suffered from viral hepatitis and / or schistosomiasis and 12 age and sex matched healthy individuals who represent the control group. The study aimed at clarifying the role of rhGM-CSF on the release of sICAM-1 and sCD14 from PBMNC. According to the severity of liver disease, patients were classified to Child A, B and C groups. All patients and controls were subjected to thorough history taking and clinical examination, a full routine laboratory investigation including hemogram, liver function tests and hepatitis markers. PB mononuclear cell culture was performed to all the study groups with and without the addition of rhGM-CSF to the culture media. Afterwards, slCAM-1 and sCDl4 were measured in culture supernatant fluid using ELISA technique, Levels of sICAM-1 in culture supernatants with and without addition of rhGM-CSF showed significant progressive increase with advancement of CLD which may reflect the increase ofsICAM-1 in sera of CLD patients with progression of the disease. As well, the addition of rhGM-CSF to PBMNC culture resulted in a significant reduction of sICAM-1 level in culture supernatants in control and patients groups in comparison to its level without the addition of rhGM-CSF. There was a significant progressive increase in sCD14 level with the advancement of the disease. The increase in sCD14 level with and without addition of rhGM-CSF was significant in all patients groups in comparison to the control group. As well, the addition of rhGM-CSF to culture media led to significant reduction of sCD14 concentration in supernatants in control group and in each of the patients groups in comparison to their levels without the addition of rhGM-CSF. It can be concluded that rhGM-CSF might be considered as one of the potential future tools against defective monocyte functions in CLDs. Using rhGM-CSF to improve monocyte functions will be associated with reduction of sICAM-1 and sCD14 levels which might be implicated or contribute to liver pathology

Effect of herbal preparation, brahma rasayana, in amelioration of radiation induced damage.

Oral administration of brahma rasayana (BR; 10 and 50 mg/dose/animal) for 15 days increased significantly total leukocyte count and percentage of polymorphonuclear cells in irradiated mice. Bone marrow cellularity and alpha-esterase positive cells also increased significantly in radiation-treated animals after BR administration. Number of nodular colonies on the surface of spleen on day seven increased significantly in lethally irradiated recipients receiving bone marrow cells from animals treated with BR. Oral administration of BR also enhanced in serum level of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), interleukin-2 (IL-2), and granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor(GM-CSF) in normal and irradiated mice. These results indicated that proliferation of stem cells induced by BR in irradiated mice may be related to its stimulation of cytokine production.

Granulocyte macrophage - colony stimulating factor [GM- CSF] in bronchial asthma

This study included 41 subjects classified into 3 groups. Group 1: Twenty-one asthmatic patients [6 with mild and 15 with moderate asthma]; Group 2: Ten patients with other inflammatory lung diseases [bronchiectasis, COPD, IDF] and Group 3: Ten normal controls. FOB and BAL were done for groups 1 and 2; and blood sample was collected from all groups. GM-CSF levels in serum and BAL were measured. The results showed a significantly higher GM-CSF level in serum and BAL of the asthmatics compared to the other inflammatory diseases. A highly significant level was also found in the serum of asthmatic patients compared to the normal subjects. There was a significant negative correlation between the mean FEV 1% and mean levels of GM-CSF in both serum and BAL of the asthmatic patients. In light of these findings, we would recommend measurement of this important cytokine, GM-CSF in the serum and airways secretions in different asthmatic patients and this should contribute to monitoring the status of asthma and selecting the most appropriate anti-inflammatory therapy

Granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor as a marker for neonatal sepsis

To evaluate Granulocyte Macrophage Colony Stimulating Factor [GM-CSF] as an early marker of neonatal sepsis.: forty-five newborn infants of varying gestational age were included in the study. Thirty-five neonates with suspected sepsis [group I] were classified according to the results of blood culture into: subgroup Ia: 17 infants with positive blood culture and subgroup Ib: 18 infants with negative culture. Ten healthy neonates served as control group [group II]. The GM-CSF level was measured in all the studied subjects. Comparison of mean GM-CSF levels by group was accomplished by an analysis of variance.: the mean GM-CSF levels in subgroup Ia was significantly higher than that of subgroup Ib and II. The mean GM-CSF level in subgroup Ib was significantly higher than that in group II. The mean GM-CSF level was 45.76 pg/ml in subgroup Ia, 22.81 pg/ml in subgroup Ib and 6.40 pg/ml in group II [P<0.0001]. The GM-CSF level was positively correlated with the immature or band cell/total neutrophil ratio in subgroup Ia.: GM-CSF level represents a reliable early marker for neonatal infection

Temporary appearance of a circulating granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor in lethal murine malaria.

Infection of mice with Plasmodium berghei engendered a temporary appearance of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) in the serum. The peak of GM-CSF levels was detected at day 2 post-infection, and then gradually decreased. On the other hand, the number of committed stem cells for granulocytes and macrophages (CFU-GM) in bone marrow transiently decreased at day 2 post-infection, and then increased and peaked at day 6 post-infection. When the serum of P. berghei-infected mice was fractionated by gel chromatography on Sephacryl S-300, GM-CSF activity was detected as a single peak with an apparent molecular weight of 64 KDa. GM-CSF was entirely adsorbed to concanavalin A-Sepharose 4B affinity chromatography, and was sensitive to pronase digestion, indicating its glycoprotein nature. These results suggest that the circulating GM-CSF would contribute the increase of granulocyte-macrophage hemopoiesis in the early phase of malaria.

Tinospora cordifolia induces colony stimulating activity in serum.

Tinospora cordifolia (Tc) is an Indian medicinal plant with proven immunomodulatory activity. This study was performed to elucidate its possible mechanism of action. We measured CFU-GM Cotony forming units of the granulocyte-macrophage series in serum of mice treated with Tc. We found that 10 days treatment with Tc (100 mg/ kg/d) induced a significant (p < 0.01) increase in the number of CFU-GM (255 +/- 49.32 vs 38.51 +/- 9.98) This suggests that activation of macrophages by Tc leads to increase in GM-CSF which leads to leucocytosis and improved neutrophil function.