Lack of cell movement impairs survival of peripheral blood IL-2-stimulated natural killer cells originating from solid cancer and promotes red blood cells to induce their switch toward a regulatory phenotype.

BACKGROUND: Red blood cells (RBCs) can have a modulatory effect on immune cells; so changes in their dynamism could considerably influence their physiology, and consequently the immune activities of neighbouring cells, like natural killer (NK) cells. Herein, we studied the effect of both RBCs and lack of cell movement on the proliferation, survival and regulation of peripheral IL-2-stimulated NK cells from normal and solid malignant conditions. METHODS: Experiments were conducted on twelve cell culture groups, including NK cells from patients with solid malignant tumor or healthy controls, cultured alone or with autologous or nonautologous RBCs under shaking or no shaking conditions. RESULTS: NK cells from neoplastic patients behaved differently depending on the culture conditions including shaking and/or RBCs presence. Therefore, NK cells survival was downregulated in the absence of shaking; whereas, shaking have not only upregulated cell survival, but also downregulated the levels of p53-related apoptosis. Moreover, RBCs enhanced NK cells proliferation; while, this effect was modulated by shaking. Furthermore, RBCs can generate opposite effects on the production and modulation of protumoral or immunosuppressive cytokines, depending on the origin of NK cells, i.e., whether they derive from healthy or solid malignant tumor conditions. Finally, NK cells become able to express Foxp3 regulatory marker when combining three main conditions that include (i) treatment with high dose of IL-2, (ii) presence of RBCs, and (iii) absence of shaking. CONCLUSIONS: Our outcomes showed for the first time that cell stagnation would be markedly involved in peripheral NK cell apoptosis, as well as in switching toward a regulatory phenotype-induced Foxp3. Cell movement may be one of ex vivo potential approaches in boosting the activities and survival of such cells during solid cancer.

Rituximab Treatment Modulates the Release of Hydrogen Peroxide and the Production of Proinflammatory Cytokines by Monocyte at the Onset of Type 1 Diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Monocytes are the main blood innate mononuclear phagocyte and one of the most important effector cells expressing Fcγ receptor, which is critical for the interaction with Fc domain of antibodies. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of Rituximab (RTX, a chimeric human anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody) on the functional activities of Monocytes (MOs) at the onset of human Type 1 Diabetes (T1D). METHODS: MOs were isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) obtained from volunteer patients with recent-onset T1D and healthy control donors. RESULTS: The levels of the production of Interleukin 1ß (IL-1ß) and IL-6 were significantly increased in MOs from patients with T1D when compared to MOs from healthy controls (respectively, p < 0.01 and p < 0.05). Similarly, Interferon γ (IFN-γ), and intracellular free Calcium Ion (ifCa2+) levels were increased in T1D MOs than in control MOs, but the difference did not reach a significant level. Conversely, the production levels of IL-4 and catalase activity, as well as of both phagocytosis and killing capacities were decreased in MOs of T1D patients compared to MOs from healthy controls, but the difference was not significant for catalase activity and killing capacity (respectively, p < 0.01, p > 0.05, p < 0.01, and p > 0.05). Additionally, treatment with RTX significantly upregulated phagocytosis (p < 0.05), markedly downregulated the release of IL-1ß (p < 0.01), ifCa2+, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and slightly downregulated the Nitric Oxide Synthase (NOS) activity, NOS activity-to-arginase activity ratio, the levels of Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH)-based cytotoxicity, and the production of IL-6 and IFN-γ. Moreover, RTX treatment significantly upregulated the production of IL-4 (p < 0.05), IL-10 (p < 0.01) and the catalase activity (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our study has shown for the first time that RTX can reverse the abnormal functional activities of MOs as well as their production of proinflammatory cytokines at the onset of T1D. From a therapeutic point of view, RTX may potentially be suggested at the beginning of T1D to immunomodulate innate immunity and inflammatory conditions.

High-density lipoprotein immunomodulates the functional activities of macrophage and cytokines produced during ex vivo macrophage-CD4+ T cell crosstalk at the recent-onset human type 1 diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Both CD4+ T cells and macrophages are mainly involved in the autoimmune-mediated ß-cells destruction in type 1 diabetes (T1D). The aim of this study was to examine the effect of HDL on functional activities of macrophage and its ability to regulate the production of cytokines in autologous mixed macrophage/CD4+ T cells at the recent-onset human type 1 diabetes. METHODS: Cell samples were isolated from volunteers with recent-onset T1D or healthy controls. RESULTS: The levels of the production of IL-1ß, IL-2, IFN-γ, nitric oxide (NO), and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) were significantly increased in the co-culture of T1D cells when compared to that of cells from healthy controls. Similarly, those of intracellular free calcium ions (ifCa2+) were slightly, but not significantly increased (p> 0.05). Conversely, macrophage exhibited significantly decreased levels of the relative tyrosine phosphorylation of STAT6 (p-STAT6, Tyr641) in culture of T1D cells than in that of cells from healthy controls; while those of p-STAT4 (Tyr693) were significantly increased. Likewise, the levels of IL-4 and IL-10 were significantly decreased in the co-culture of T1D cells compared to co-culture of cells from healthy controls. Additionally, HDL treatment significantly down-regulated the production of IL-1ß, IL-2, IFN-γ, NO, H2O2, phagocytosis, bacterial killing, the relative tyrosine phosphorylation of macrophage-expressed STAT4 (p-STAT4, Tyr693), as well as the ratio of IL-1ß/IL-10, NO production/arginase activity, p-STAT4/p-STAT6, IFN-γ/IL-4, IFN-γ/IL-10, and the combined proinflammatory (PICs)/anti-inflammatory (AICs) cytokines. Moreover, HDL treatment significantly up-regulated the production of IL-4, IL-10, arginase activity, and p-STAT6 (Tyr641) (for all comparisons, p< 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: We show for the first time that HDL may reverse both the functional activities of macrophages and immunoinflammatory response during reciprocal macrophage-CD4+ T cell crosstalk at the beginning of T1D. These findings should open the way for therapeutic trials in the short- and medium-term.

Increased Gustatory Response Score in Obesity and Association Levels with IL-6 and Leptin.

Background. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the circulating IL-6 and leptin levels with taste alteration in young obese patients. Methods. A retrospective case-control study was conducted in thirty obese patients and thirty age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Results. Circulating levels of IL-6 and leptin were significantly increased in obese patients than in controls. However, catalase and ORAC levels were significantly decreased in obese patients compared to controls. Additionally, obese participants had high scores for the detection of fats (gustatory response scores [GRS]; p < 0.001). Moreover, IL-6 and leptin were strongly associated with GRS alteration among patients with GRS 4 (resp., OR =17.5 [95% CI, 1.56-193.32; p = 0.007]; OR = 16 [95% CI, 1.69-151.11; p = 0.006]). For the Mantel-Haenszel common odds ratio estimate (MH OR), IL-6 and leptin were strongly associated with obesity, in patients with either GRS 4 or GRS > 4 (resp., MH OR = 8.77 [95% CI, 2.06-37.44; p = 0.003]; MH OR = 5.76 [95% CI, 1.64-20.24; p = 0.006]). Conclusions. In a low grade inflammation linked to obesity, taste alteration is associated with high levels of IL-6 and leptin.

Clinical association of baseline levels of conjugated dienes in low-density lipoprotein and nitric oxide with aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma and their relationship with immunoglobulins and Th1-to-Th2 ratio.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to highlight the clinical association of baseline levels of conjugated dienes in low-density lipoprotein (LDL-BCD) and nitric oxide (NO) with immunoglobulins (Igs) and T helper (Th)1/Th2 ratio in patients with newly diagnosed B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-two newly diagnosed patients with aggressive B-cell NHL and 25 age-, sex-, and body-mass-index-matched healthy controls were randomly selected for a cross-sectional case-control study conducted at the Hematology Department of Tlemcen Medical Centre University (northwest of Algeria). RESULTS: Circulating levels of LDL-BCD and NO and those of IgA and IgM were significantly higher in patients than in controls. The levels of Th1/Th2 ratio and plasma total antioxidant capacity were significantly lower in patients compared with controls, while malondialdehyde and protein carbonyl levels were significantly higher in patients. B-cell NHL was significantly associated with high levels of LDL-BCD from 25th to 75th percentile (25th percentile: relative risk [RR] =2.26, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.42-3.59, P=0.014; 50th percentile: RR =2.84, 95% CI 1.72-4.68, P<0.001; 75th percentile: RR =5.43, 95% CI 2.58-11.42, P<0.001). Similarly, the disease was significantly associated with high levels of NO production from 25th to 75th percentile (25th percentile: RR =2.07, 95% CI 1.25-3.44, P=0.024; 50th percentile: RR =2.78, 95% CI 1.63-4.72, P<0.001; 75th percentile: RR =4.68, 95% CI 2.21-9.91, P<0.001). Moreover, LDL-BCD levels were positively and significantly correlated with interferon (IFN)-γ, whereas NO levels were inversely and significantly correlated with IFN-γ and Th1/Th2 ratio. CONCLUSION: LDL-BCD and NO production seem to be associated with aggressive B-cell NHL and alteration of Th1/Th2 ratio. Our results have to be examined using ex vivo mechanistic studies leading to further investigations of these parameters, with an interest in the link between Epstein-Barr virus infection and NO and immunoglobulins.