Serum autophagy-related gene 5 level in stroke patients: correlation with CD4+ T cells and cognition impairment during a 3-year follow-up

Abstract Autophagy-related gene (ATG) 5 regulates blood lipids, chronic inflammation, CD4+ T-cell differentiation, and neuronal death and is involved in post-stroke cognitive impairment. This study aimed to explore the correlation of serum ATG5 with CD4+ T cells and cognition impairment in stroke patients. Peripheral blood was collected from 180 stroke patients for serum ATG5 and T helper (Th) 1, Th2, Th17, and regulatory T (Treg) cell detection via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and flow cytometry. The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scale was completed at enrollment, year (Y)1, Y2, and Y3 in stroke patients. Serum ATG5 was also measured in 50 healthy controls (HCs). Serum ATG5 was elevated in stroke patients compared to HCs (P<0.001) and was positively correlated to Th2 cells (P=0.022), Th17 cells (P<0.001), and Th17/Treg ratio (P<0.001) in stroke patients but not correlated with Th1 cells, Th1/Th2 ratio, or Treg cells (all P>0.050). Serum ATG5 (P=0.037), Th1 cells (P=0.022), Th17 cells (P=0.002), and Th17/Treg ratio (P=0.018) were elevated in stroke patients with MMSE score-identified cognition impairment vs those without cognition impairment, whereas Th2 cells, Th1/Th2 ratio, and Treg cells were not different between them (all P>0.050). Importantly, serum ATG5 was negatively linked with MMSE score at enrollment (P=0.004), Y1 (P=0.002), Y2 (P=0.014), and Y3 (P=0.001); moreover, it was positively related to 2-year (P=0.024) and 3-year (P=0.012) MMSE score decline in stroke patients. Serum ATG5 was positively correlated with Th2 and Th17 cells and estimated cognitive function decline in stroke patients.

Association of ulcerative colitis with the imbalance between Th1, Th2 and Th17 cells in the colonic tissues / 解放军医学杂志

Objects To explore the association of ulcerative colitis (UC) with the imbalance between Th1,Th 2 and Th17 cells in the colonic tissues.Methods A total of 41 UC patients and 52 controls was recruited in the present study.The real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR was applied for detecting the mRNA levels of Thl,Th2 and Th 17 cells-associated transcription factors T-bet,GATA-3 and RORγt and cytokines IFN-γ,IL-4 and IL-17A in the colonic tissues.Simultaneously,the expressions of IFN-γ,IL-4 and IL-17A in the colonic tissues were also examined by an immunohistochemical staining method.Results Compared with the controls,the mRNA expressions of GATA-3,RORγt and IL-17A were more significantly enhanced in UC patients (0.84 ± 0.24 vs.0.69 ± 0.22,P=0.002;0.99 ± 0.29 vs.0.83 ± 0.23,P=0.004;1.59 ± 0.65 vs.1.35 ± 0.43,P=0.035).According to the ＂Truelove and Witts Severity Index＂,those patients were divided into different subgroups.The mRNA expressions of GATA-3,RORγt,and IL-17A were shown to be higher in patients with moderate and severe UC than in those with mild UC (0.90 ± 0.18 vs.0.78 ± 0.16,P=0.030;1.11 ± 0.31 vs.0.87 ± 0.26,P=0.011;1.83 ± 0.64 vs.1.34 ± 0.66,P=0.020).Moreover,the immunohistochemistry results demonstrated that the IL-17A positive cells were positioned mainly in the intestinal epithelial layer and lamina propria.Compared to the controls,the mean integral optic density of IL-17A was significantly increased in the colonic tissues of UC patients (0.25 ± 0.07 vs.0.13 ± 0.03,P＜0.001).The similar results were obtained for IL-17A in patients with moderate and severe UC when compared to those with mild UC (0.31 ± 0.07 vs.0.19 ± 0.06,P＜0.001).In contrast to the controls,the mRNA ratios ofGATA-3/T-bet,RORγt/ T-bet and RORγt/GATA-3 were significantly higher in the tissues of colonic UC patients (1.12 ± 0.30 vs.0.96 ± 0.31,P=0.014;1.33 ± 0.37 vs.1.15 ± 0.33,P=0.015;1.44 ± 0.45 vs.1.20 ± 0.42,P=0.009),and in the patients,the mRNA ratios for GATA-3/T-bet,RORγt/T-bet and RORγt/GATA-3 were significantly higher in the patients with moderate and severe UC than in those with mild UC (1.27 ± 0.35 vs.1.00 ± 0.32,P＜0.001;1.45 ± 0.37 vs.1.19 ± 0.36,P=0.028;1.59 ± 0.43 vs.1.28 ± 0.46,P=0.031).Conclusions These findings suggest that the imbalance between Thl,Th2 and Th17 cells in the colonic tissues may be implicated in UC.

Serum antibody & Th2 cytokine profiles in patients with cystic echinococcosis.

Background & objectives: Human cystic echinococcosis (CE), caused by Echinococcus granulosus, is one of the most important and widespread parasitic zoonoses. T helper cell-2 (Th2) dominated immunity in CE is associated with increased susceptibility to the disease, while T helper cell-1 (Th1) cell activation is assumed to induce protective immunity. Hence, in order to investigate in vivo Th2 cell activation and serum complement levels, the present study was aimed to detect serum levels of specific IgG, IgE, interleukin (IL)-4, IL-10, C3c and C4 in confirmed CE patients. Methods: Specific IgG levels in serum was measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay using recombinant E. granulosus antigen-B/2 (RecEg-AgB/2) and serum IgE, IL-4, IL-10, C3c and C4 were quantified by nephelometry in 45 surgically confirmed patients with CE, and 10 healthy controls. Results: Specific IgG (P<0.0001), IgE (P<0.05), IL-4 (P=0.0197) and IL-10 (P<0.01) levels were significantly elevated in CE cases compared to healthy controls. IL-4 could be detected in 34 patients (75.55%) and six controls (60%) in a low concentration. The IgE concentration was elevated (>120 U/ml) in 36 (80%) cases of CE and in one healthy control. Interpretation & conclusion: Our results showed higher C3c and C4 levels in CE patients than healthy controls. No significant association was found between IgE concentrations and cytokine levels. The results of this study point to a cytokine profile suggestive of Th2 cell dominance in vivo in CE.

Regulation Effect of Shengmai Injection on T Helper Cells Balance in Patients with Graves Disease / 中国中医药信息杂志

Objective To explore the changes of Th1/Th2 cytokine in patients with Graves disease(GD) and the regulation effect of Shengmai Injection on its balance.Methods The patients with GD were randomly divided into 2 groups,the Shengmai treated group and the Methimazole treated group,30 cases per group and 30 healthy subjects were enrolled in this study.The serum concentrations of their Th1 cytokine(IFN-?) and Th2 cytokine(IL-10) were assayed by ELISA before and after treatment.Results The serum levels of INF-? and IL-10 in patients with GD were significant higher and the ratio of INF-?/IL-10 were significant lower than healthy subjects(P

Function Analysis of Immunocytes in Synovial Fluid in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis / 医学研究杂志

Objective To study the function of immunocytes in synovial fluid and the mechanisms of immune function disorder in patients with rheumatoid arthritis(RA).Methods The synovial fluid of 20 patients with RA and 10 healthy amputees because of traumatism in the affiliated hospital of Zhejiang university were collected in this syudy.Monoclonal antibodies against CD28,CD154(CD40L),CD80,CD86,CD40,CD69,CD25,HLA-DR,CD71 were used for flow cytometry and the expressions of costimulatory molecule CD28,CD154,CD80,CD86,CD40 on immunocytes and lymphocyte activation markers CD69,CD25,HLA-DR,CD71 in synovial fliud were studied in these patients.We also used enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) to detect the cytokines level of Th1 cell including interleukine 2(IL-2),interferon-gamma(IFN-?) and those of Th2 cell including interleukine 6(IL-6),interleukine 10(IL-10) in the synovial fliud.Results Compared with control group,the expressions of CD80[(2.09?0.59)%vs(0.67?0.57)%,P

Peripheral Th1 and Th2 Lymphocytes Values by Intracellular Cytokine Staining for Interferon-and Interleukin-4 in the Patients with Repeated Spontaneous Abortion / 대한진단검사의학회지

BACKGROUND: In the women who experienced recurrent spontaneous abortions (RSA), cellular immune abnormalities of peripheral blood Natural Killer (NK) cell have been reported and the imbalance of Th1 and Th2 response to the trophoblasts may lead to pregnancy loss. This study was performed to evaluate the Th1 and Th2 lymphocytes as a more useful parameter for the impending status of RSA. METHODS: Peripheral blood samples from 17 women with a history of RSA of unknown etiology, 16 normal pregnant women, and 11 non-pregnant women with a history of RSA were studied. Peripheral Th1 and Th2 lymphocytes were measured by intracellular cytokines staining for interferon (IFN)-and Interleukin (IL)-4 using FACScan (Becton-Dickinson Co. San Jose, CA, USA) and FASTIMMUNE (TM) cytokine detection system. RESULTS: The percentage of Th1 cells (10.3+/-.9% and 13.3 +/-.0%) and Th2 cells (1.9+/-.5% and 7.2+/-.8%) measured at the second and fourth month of gestation, respectively, of the RSA patients was significantly higher compared with Th1 (8.1+/-.9%) and Th2 (0.5+/-.5%) cells among the non-pregnant control group with past abortion history. The ratio of the Th1/Th2 cells is not a useful predicting marker of impending abortion. CONCLUSIONS: Th1 and Th2 cell counts by flowcytometric staining of IFN-gamma /IL-4 intracellular cytokine detection may be a useful diagnostic tool and potential parameter to identify impending abortion involving abnormal immune alteration in reproductive processes.

Imbalance of Th_1/Th_2 cells in thyroid tissues of patients with autoimmune thyroid diseases / 中华内分泌代谢杂志

Objective To investigate the role of the imbalance of Th 1/Th 2 cells in the pathogenesis of autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITD). Methods Thirteen patients with Graves′ disease (GD), 12 patients with Hashimoto′s thyroiditis (HT) were recruited for the study, and 8 patients with non-toxic nodular goiter served as controls. The expressions of interferon-? (IFN-?) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) of intrathyroidal mononuclear cells (ITMC), representative cytokines of Th 1 and Th 2 cells respectively, were assayed by immunohistochemical technique. Thyroid stimulating antibody (TSAb), thyroglobulin antibody (TGAb) and thyroid microsome antibody (TMAb) in peripheral blood were detected by routine methods, and their correlations with the IFN-? and IL-4 were analyzed. Results (1) Compared with the controls, the IL-4 and IFN-? expressions of ITMC in GD and HT patients were remarkably increased (both P