The Role of the Immune System in the Course of Hashimoto's Thyroiditis: The Current State of Knowledge.

The process of thyroid autoimmunization develops against the background of genetic predispositions associated with class II human leukocyte antigens (HLA-DR), as well as cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4), protein tyrosine phosphatase non-receptor type 22 (PTPN22), and forkhead transcription box protein P3 (FOXP3). Environmental factors, such as vitamin D deficiency, Zn, Se, and Mg, as well as infections, chronic stress, pregnancy, smoking, alcohol, medications, intestinal dysbiosis, and malnutrition, also play an important role. The first stage of autoimmunization involves the accumulation of macrophages and dendritic cells, as well as plasma cells. In the second stage, the mutual interactions of individual cells in the immune system lead to a decrease in the level of CD8+ in favor of CD4+, which intensifies the synthesis of T lymphocyte derivatives, especially Th1, Th17, Tfh, and Tc, reducing the level of Treg. Consequently, the number of the anti-inflammatory cytokines IL10 and IL2 decreases, and the synthesis of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-2, Il-12, Il-17, IL-21, IL-22, IFN-γ, and TNF-α increases. The latter two especially trigger the pyroptosis process involving the inflammasome. Activation of the inflammasome by IL-ß and IL-18 produced by macrophages is one of the mechanisms of pyroptosis in the course of Hashimoto's thyroiditis, involving Gram-negative bacteria and NLRC4. In the next step, the apoptosis of thyroid cells is initiated by the intensification of perforin, granzyme, and proteoglycan synthesis by Tc and NK cells. The current findings raise many possibilities regarding interventions related to the inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines and the stimulation of anti-inflammatory cytokines produced by both T and B lymphocytes. Furthermore, since there is currently no effective method for treating thyroid autoimmunity, a summary of the review may provide answers regarding the treatment of not only Hashimoto's thyroiditis, but also other autoimmune diseases associated with autoimmunity.

Six Weeks of Supplementation with Bovine Colostrum Effectively Reduces URTIs Symptoms Frequency and Gravity for Up to 20 Weeks in Pre-School Children.

Bovine colostrum is considered to provide anti-infective protection. Here, we present the first randomized controlled trial (RCT) aimed at assessing the preventive use of colostrum against upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) in healthy pre-school children. We analyzed 57 children-35 in the colostrum (COL-dried bovine colostrum) and 22 in the placebo (PBO-dried whey) group, who received these substances as follows: first 15 days 2 × 500 mg and then 30 days 1 × 500 mg. The reporting on the children's health status, specifically on the frequency and gravity of URTI symptoms and abdominal side effects, was performed via an online survey. The influence of colostrum on the frequency of days with URTI symptoms remained significant until the 20th week of observation and reached 31% of median reduction. The median reduction reached 37% when the gravity of symptoms was analyzed. When we grouped symptomatic days into episodes of second gravity level, the reduction in their frequency was even larger (50%) and lasted until the end of the trial (21 weeks). No significant side effects, especially abdominal, were reported during the trial. Colostrum supplementation in pre-school children is well tolerated, safe and provides protection from frequency of URTIs and their gravity.

Moderate Dose Bovine Colostrum Supplementation in Prevention of Upper Respiratory Tract Infections in Medical University Students: A Randomized, Triple Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Colostrum supplementation has been confirmed to protect from upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) in athletes. Our trial was designed to find out whether other young adults who have potentially been exposed to increased risk of developing URTIs can also benefit. Homogenous population of medical (MED) students (at risk) and health science (HSci) peers were supplemented with a relatively low dose (0.5-1.0 g/day) of bovine colostrum (COL) or placebo (PBO) over 45 days and then once again over 7 days starting at day 87. The trial lasted 107 days. Subjects were monitored solely by them filling out online daily questionnaires containing questions about frequency and severity of URTIs symptoms, well-being, and potential gastrointestinal side-effects. A significant level of protection from URTIs was observed as expressed by dropping frequency of symptomatic days in COL vs. PBO group among MED vs. HSci students. The same effect was also recorded for severity of symptoms, as well as general well-being perception. Overall, it can be concluded that although young healthy people seem to have sufficient defenses from URTIs, COL supplementation can provide significant support in such protection among those at higher infectious risk because of exposure to a heavy workload and increased contact with infectious agents.

Post-Delivery Milking Delay Influence on the Effect of Oral Supplementation with Bovine Colostrum as Measured with Intestinal Permeability Test.

Background and objective: The health supplement bovine colostrum reportedly improves immunity and regulates intestinal homeostasis. Reliable assessment methods are needed to ensure the satisfactory biological activity of all marketed colostrum products. Of the well-established effects of colostrum use, the restoration of appropriate intestinal permeability assessed with the lactulose/mannitol (L/M) differential sugar absorption test upon supplementation with colostrum has been consistently observed. Milking time after delivery is one of the factors that influences the composition of bovine colostrum, which causes a rapid decrease in bioactive components. Materials and methods: We use the L/M test to evaluate the intestinal permeability reduction upon supplementation with colostrum (2 × 500 mg) harvested at various times after delivery (2, 24, and 72 h) or a placebo (whey). In our randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled (DBPC) trial, 31 healthy athletes were divided into four groups and assessed at baseline and after the intervention. Results: The trial revealed that only colostrum collected after 2 h and 24 h caused a significant reduction of intestinal permeability. The comparison of post-intervention vs. baseline Δ values produced statistically significant results for 2 h colostrum versus the placebo and 72 h colostrum groups. Conclusions: We conclude that the change of bovine colostrum composition over the first three days of lactation is accompanied by a decrease in its biological activity as measured with the L/M test. This test may offer a biological quality measure for colostrum.

Assessing the Association of Elevated Zonulin Concentration in Stool with Increased Intestinal Permeability in Active Professional Athletes.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The causative factors or conditions leading to increased intestinal permeability (IIP) have only been partly elucidated, suggesting excessive zonulin release to be a key factor among them. Likewise, it is known that athletic activity predisposes individuals towards the development of IIP; however, little is understood about the nature of this phenomenon. We decided to test the actual coincidence between IIP and increased stool zonulin (ISZ) in actively training athletes. Materials and Methods: We compared intestinal permeability tested with lactulose/mannitol differential absorption (lactulose/mannitol (L/M) test) and zonulin concentration in stool in 20 professional athletes (PRO), 9 amateur athletes (AMA), and 9 non-athletes (CTR). Results: The results confirmed that professional athletic activity showed significant positive association with intestinal permeability. ISZ was observed exclusively in athletes (CTR vs. AMA vs. PRO, respectively, 0% vs. 22% vs. 55%), and its prevalence was significantly higher in PRO than CTR. When we divided the participants into four categories related to exceeding the upper reference limits for both tested parameters (ISZ + or - and IIP + or -), significant differences were found between CTR and PRO; however, no significant differences were found between CTR and AMA or AMA and PRO. Conclusions: Our trial confirmed previous findings that professional athletic activity predisposes individuals to IIP. We also demonstrated that although ISZ was associated with intense training, there was no statistically significant association between ISZ and IIP in the tested group of professional athletes, which suggests the existence of additional mechanisms causing IIP.

Oral Supplementation with Bovine Colostrum Decreases Intestinal Permeability and Stool Concentrations of Zonulin in Athletes.

Increased intestinal permeability has been implicated in various pathologies, has various causes, and can develop during vigorous athletic training. Colostrum bovinum is a natural supplement with a wide range of supposed positive health effects, including reduction of intestine permeability. We assessed influence of colostrum supplementation on intestinal permeability related parameters in a group of 16 athletes during peak training for competition. This double-blind placebo-controlled study compared supplementation for 20 days with 500 mg of colostrum bovinum or placebo (whey). Gut permeability status was assayed by differential absorption of lactulose and mannitol (L/M test) and stool zonulin concentration. Baseline L/M tests found that six of the participants (75%) in the colostrum group had increased intestinal permeability. After supplementation, the test values were within the normal range and were significantly lower than at baseline. The colostrum group Δ values produced by comparing the post-intervention and baseline results were also significantly lower than the placebo group Δ values. The differences in stool zonulin concentration were smaller than those in the L/M test, but were significant when the Δ values due to intervention were compared between the colostrum group and the placebo group. Colostrum bovinum supplementation was safe and effective in decreasing of intestinal permeability in this series of athletes at increased risk of its elevation.

Mixed chimerism and transplant tolerance are not effectively induced in C3a-deficient mice.

Mixed chimerism, a phenomenon involved in the development of specific alloantigen tolerance, could be achieved through the transplantation of hematopoietic stem cells into properly prepared recipients. Because the C3a complement component modulates hematopoietic cell trafficking after transplantation, in the present study, we investigated the influence of the C3a deficiency on mixed chimerism and alloantigen tolerance induction. To induce mixed chimerism, C57BL/6J (wild-type strain; H-2K(b); I-E(-)) and B6.129S4-C3(tm1Crr)/J (C3a-deficient) mice were exposed to 3 G total body irradiation (day -1). Subsequently, these mice were treated with CD8-blocking (day -2) and CD40L-blocking (days 0 and 4) antibodies, followed by transplantation with 20 × 10(6) Balb/c (H-2K(d); I-E(+)) bone marrow cells (day 0). The degree of mixed chimerism in peripheral blood leukocytes was measured several times during the 20-week experiment. The tolerance to Balb/c mouse antigens was assessed based on the number of lymphocytes expressing Vß5 and Vß11 T-cell receptor and on skin-graft (day 0) acceptance. Applying our experimental model, mixed chimerism and alloantigen tolerance were effectively induced in C57BL/6J (wild-type) mice, but not in C3a(-/-) animals. The present study is, to our knowledge, the first to demonstrate that C3a is vital for achieving stable mixed chimerism and related to this induction of transplant tolerance.

Different strategies of mixed chimerism induction may determine stem/progenitor cell populations in recipient mice.

Mixed chimerism has been suggested to induce tolerance to transplanted alloantigens. As the precise influence of mixed chimerism induction on the host organism has still not been fully elucidated, the aim of the present study was to explore this phenomenon in relation to the stem cell compartment. The experiment was performed on B6.SJL-Ptprc(a)Pep3(b) mice. Mixed chimerism induction protocols involved 3 Gy TBI (Day -1 of the experiment), injection of 20-30 × 10(6) Balb C bone marrow cells (Day 0), and administration of blocking antibodies against CD40L (Day 0 and Day 4), anti-CD8 (Day -2) with/without anti-NK1.1 (Day -3). Selected groups of mice were also treated with cyclophosphamid (175 mg/kg) on Day 2. The presence of mixed chimerism was assessed in peripheral blood, bone marrow, and spleen, as well as in various subpopulations of leukocytes (CD4(+), CD8(+), CD45/B220(+), Gr-1(+), lin(-)/Sca-1(+)/c-kit(-), lin(-)/Sca-1(+)/c-kit(+), lin(-)/Sca-1(-)/c-kit(+)). Furthermore, the percentage of stem/progenitor cells (lin(-)/Sca-1(+)/c-kit(-), lin(-)/Sca-1(+)/c-kit(+), lin(-)/Sca-1(-)/c-kit(+), VSEL, HSC) was analysed for the first time in bone marrow and peripheral blood of chimeric mice. The range of mixed chimerism differed significantly among various cell populations: it was lowest in CD8-positive cells and lin(-)/Sca-1(+)/c-kit(-) cells, and highest in granulocytes. The induction of mixed chimerism revealed a significant impact on the stem/progenitor cell frequency in recipient mice, providing potential therapeutic insights into the long-term immunologic tolerance observed in chimeric mice. Collectively, these findings contribute to further optimization of mixed chimerism induction protocols and might help in the introduction of this phenomenon into clinical practice.

Clinical evidence that very small embryonic-like stem cells are mobilized into peripheral blood in patients after stroke.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: In a murine model of stroke, we identified a population of very small embryonic-like (VSEL) stem cells (SCs) in adult murine bone marrow that could be mobilized into peripheral blood (PB). This raised the question of whether a similar population of cells is mobilized in human stroke patients. METHODS: We evaluated a number of cells that corresponded to VSEL SCs in the PB of 44 stroke patients and 22 age-matched controls. After each patient's stroke, PB samples were harvested during the first 24 hours, on day +3, and on day +7 and then compared with normal controls. The circulating human cells with the phenotype of VSEL SCs were evaluated in PB by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis, and direct immunofluorescence staining. In parallel, we also measured the serum concentration of stromal derived factor-1 by ELISA. RESULTS: In stroke patients, we found an increase in the number of circulating cells expressing SC-associated antigens, such as CD133, CD34, and CXCR4. More important, we found an increase in the number of circulating primitive cells expressing the VSEL phenotype (CXCR4(+)lin(-)CD45(-) small cells), mRNA for Octamer-4 and Nanog, and Octamer-4 protein. All changes were accompanied by an increased serum concentration of stromal derived factor-1. Additionally, we found a positive correlation between stroke extensiveness, stromal derived factor-1 concentration in serum, and the number of CXCR4(+) VSEL SCs circulating in the PB. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that stroke triggers the mobilization of CXCR4(+) VSEL SCs that have potential prognostic value in stroke patients. However, the potential role of these mobilized cells in brain regeneration requires further study.

Mobilization of bone marrow-derived Oct-4+ SSEA-4+ very small embryonic-like stem cells in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to assess of the mobilization of nonhematopoietic very small embryonic-like stem cells (VSELs) in acute myocardial infarction (MI). BACKGROUND: Acute MI induces mobilization of bone marrow stem cells. Recently, a rare population of VSELs, expressing markers of embryonic pluripotent stem cells (PSCs), was identified in adult murine bone marrow and human umbilical cord blood. METHODS: Thirty-one patients with acute MI and 30 healthy subjects were enrolled. Blood was sampled on admission, after 24 h, and 5 days later. Erythrocytes were lysed and lin(-)CD45(-) VSELs were isolated using a live cell sorting system (FACSAria, Beckton Dickinson, San Jose, California). RESULTS: In healthy subjects the median number of circulating VSELs was very low (median 0.8 [range 0 to 1.3]) cells/microl. In acute MI, VSELs were mobilized early (median 2.7 [range 0.2 to 3.9] cells/microl; p < 0.001) and remained elevated after 24 h and 5 days (median 4.7 [range 0.2 to 6.4] cells/microl; p < 0.003, and median 2.6 [range 0.3 to 3.6] cells/microl; p < 0.03, respectively). The mobilization of VSEL was significantly reduced in patients older than 50 years and with diabetes in comparison with younger and nondiabetic patients. Circulating VSELs were small (7 to 8 microm) and enriched in the messenger ribonucleic acid of PSC markers (Oct-4, Nanog), cardiac lineage (GATA-4, Nkx2.5/Csx, MEF2C), and endothelial (VE-cadherin) markers. The presence of PSC markers (Oct-4, SSEA-4) and the chemokine receptor CXCR4 in circulating VSELs was confirmed at the protein level by immunofluorescent staining and ImageStream system (Amnis Corporation, Seattle, Washington) analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Acute MI induced mobilization of VSELs expressing pluripotent markers, early cardiac and endothelial markers, and chemokine receptor CXCR4.

Early detection of an early onset infection in the neonate based on measurements of procalcitonin and C-reactive protein concentrations in cord blood.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to test the diagnostic model of combining procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in the cord blood and routinely used biochemical parameters and clinical data in the prediction of early onset neonatal infection. METHODS: PCT and CRP concentrations were measured in cord blood of neonates with infection (group A, n=46) and compared with uninfected neonates (group B, n=240). Inclusion criteria for group A were based on obstetric history, clinical data and results of laboratory tests. Logistic regression was applied. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed for PCT, CRP and the diagnostic model. RESULTS: There was a highly significant (p<0.000001) difference in PCT and CRP concentrations between both groups. The cut-off point for PCT in cord blood was 1.22 ng/mL [sensitivity % (SE%) 80.43, specificity % (SP%) 71.67, positive predictive value % (PPV%) 35.24, negative predictive value % (NPV%) 95.03], and 1.0 mg/L for CRP (SE% 73.91, SP% 77.92, PPV% 39.08, NPV% 93.97). In total, seven variables were included in the model (concentrations of PCT and CRP in cord blood, tocolysis, nutritional status of the newborn, Apgar score, neutrophil ratio and red blood cell count in neonatal venous blood), which proved to offer the highest sensitivity (91.3%; 95% CI: 83-99) and specificity (90%; 95% CI: 86-94) for the detection of early onset neonatal infection. The likelihood ratio for the model was high at 9.13, with PPV% 63.64 (95% CI: 52-75), NPV% 98.18 (95% CI: 96-100) and calculated area under the curve at 0.973. CONCLUSIONS: The diagnostic model based on seven clinical and laboratory parameters, using the concentration of PCT and CRP measurements in the cord blood, could be a useful tool for the prediction of early onset neonatal infection.

An efficient two-step method to purify very small embryonic-like (VSEL) stem cells from umbilical cord blood (UCB).

The identification in murine bone marrow (BM) of very small embryonic-like (VSEL) stem cells, possessing several features of pluripotent stem cells, encouraged us to investigate if similar population of cells could be also isolated from the human umbilical cord blood (UCB). Here our approach to purify VSEL from human UCB is described by employing a two step isolation strategy based on i) hypotonic lysis of erythrocytes followed ii) by multi-parameter FACS sorting. Accordingly, first, erythrocytes are removed from the UCB samples by hypotonic ammonium chloride solution and next, the UCB mononuclear cells (UCB MNC) are stained with monoclonal antibodies against all hematopoietic lineages including the common leukocyte antigen CD45. The cells carrying these markers (lin+CD45+) are eliminated from the sort by electronic gating. At the same time the antibodies against CXCR4, CD34 and CD133 are employed as positive markers to enrich the UCB MNC for VSEL. This combined two step approach enables to purify VSEL stem cells, which are small and express mRNA for pluripotent stem cells (PSC) (Oct-4 and Nanog) and tissue-committed stem cells (TCSC) (Nkx2.5/Csx, VE-cadherin and GFAP) similarly to those isolated from the adult BM (3-5 microm cells with large nuclei).

The association between cytokine gene polymorphisms and kidney allograft survival.

BACKGROUND: Cytokines regulate cellular and humoral immune responses. One determinant of the variable cytokine production observed among individuals is genetic polymorphism in cytokine genes. These polymorphisms represent normal allelic variations in the cytokine genes; usually single base changes. Homozygous genotypes for high producer alleles are generally associated with high cytokine production, heterozygotes with intermediate production, and homozygotes for the low producer alleles with low cytokine production. Cytokines have been implicated in the regulation of acute and chronic rejection of allografts. The aim of the study was to evaluate the promoter polymorphism of TNF-alpha gene (-308 promoter polymorphism), IL-2 gene (-330 promoter polymorphism), IL-4 gene (-590 promoter polymorphism), and IL-6 gene (-174 promoter polymorphism) in renal transplant recipients with allograft duration under and over 10 years to establish whether aforementioned polymorphism are involved in kidney allograft survival. MATERIAL/METHODS: The study included 197 renal transplant recipients with well-functioning grafts for 2 to 18 years. The patients were divided into two subgroups: recipients with allograft duration under 10 years and recipients with allograft duration over 10 years. RESULTS: Among renal transplant recipients with allograft duration over 10 years we observed the prevalence of subjects with the T1T1 genotype of TNF alpha (low expression of TNF alpha) and GG of IL-6 (high expression of IL-6). There was no difference in relation to IL-2 and IL-4 promoter polymorphism. CONCLUSIONS: The results of present study suggest that the TNF-alpha -308 and the IL-6 -174 promoter polymorphisms may be the genetic factors influencing the renal allograft survival.

Is there an association between angiotensin-converting enzyme gene polymorphism and functional activation of monocytes and macrophage in young patients with essential hypertension?

BACKGROUND: This study was undertaken to determine whether the phenotype of monocytes and monocyte-derived macrophages is more proatherogenic in young persons with arterial hypertension and whether this phenotype is affected by smoking or polymorphism of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene. METHODS: We enrolled 40 young patients (24.1 +/- 4.7 years) with previously untreated arterial hypertension and 40 age-matched healthy controls. There were 20 smokers and 20 non-smokers in each group. RESULTS: In the hypertensive group, we found enhanced monocyte expression of CD11a (P < 0.001), reduced expression of CD49d (P < 0.001) and CD62L (P < 0.005), greater oxidative stress in resting and phorbol-12-mistrate-13-acetate-stimulated monocytes (P < 0.001), enhanced adhesion of monocytes to endothelial cells (P < 0.001), greater expression of CD36 on monocyte-derived macrophages (P < 0.001), and enhanced production of reactive oxygen species by resting and phorbol-12-mistrate-13-acetate-stimulated macrophages (P < 0.001). Cigarette smoking by hypertensive patients was associated with enhanced (P < 0.002) CD11a expression. There were no associations of ACE gene polymorphism with cellular expression or reactive oxygen species production studied among hypertensive patients. Only CD62L expression in DD homozygote participants was higher (P < 0.039) than in II homozygote participants. CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that arterial hypertension affects the function of monocytes/macrophages in young persons. Polymorphism of the ACE gene is without effect on the functional activation of monocytes and macrophages.

[Bronchial asthma infectious exacerbations]. / Infekcyjne zaostrzenia astmy oskrzelowej.

Bronchial asthma and asthma-like form of COPD often undergo exacerbations with symptoms of infection. Currently, there is a general agreement, that most of these infections that exacerbate asthma especially in children are caused by viruses. Several "common cold" viruses are known to cause these exacerbations (RSV, parainfluenza virus, rhinoviruses). To date, there is no certainty, if viruses exacerbate asthma alone or in combination with allergen. It is also unknown, whether they can induce primary asthma symptoms. There is a growing support for the opinion, that in infectious exacerbations of asthma also bacteria can play an important role. These include both typical as well as atypical bacterial strains (Chlamydia pneumoniae). The effectiveness of antibiotics and bacterial immunotherapy with vaccines seems to support the role of bacteria in asthma exacerbations. Another very important problem is related to the role of infectious agents in prevention of atopy. Many facts have been gathered supporting the so called "hygienic theory".

[Significance of immunotherapy in treatment of bronchial asthma]. / Znaczenie immunoterapii w leczeniu astmy oskrzelowej.

When first used, immunotherapy was applied to treatment of infectious diseases. Its high effectiveness gave an impulse to introduce this method in the treatment of allergic diseases, including bronchial asthma. In contrast to pharmacological treatment which treats only the symptoms in allergies, immunotherapy is presently considered to be the only causative treatment. Several conditions have to be fulfilled to obtain the effect of such treatment. Appropriate patients selection, use of the etiologically correct vaccine and continuing the treatment throughout several seasons are the conditions for the therapeutic success. In nonatopic intrinsic asthma or in atopic asthma complicated by bacterial infections the use of autologic or polyvalent (standard) bacterial vaccine should be considered. Because immunotherapy brings a risk of serious side effects such as anaphylactic reaction, only allergy specialist should be entitled to decide of the introduction of such treatment and to supervise its course.