The Association of Human Leukocyte Antigen and COVID-19 in Southern China.

Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) polymorphism is hypothesized to be associated with diverse immune responses toward infectious diseases. Herein, by comparing against multiple subpopulation groups as control, we confirmed that HLA-B*15:27 and HLA-DRB1*04:06 were associated with coronavirus disease 2019 susceptibility in China. Both alleles were predicted to have weak binding affinities toward viral proteins.

Interleukin-4 Promotes Myogenesis and Boosts Myocyte Insulin Efficacy.

Anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-4 (IL-4) promotes glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity while reduces lipid deposits. However, the effects of IL-4 on energy metabolism in muscle, the largest insulin-targeting organ, remain obscure. The study aimed at addressing the roles of IL-4 in myocyte differentiation (myogenesis) and energy metabolism of muscle cells. Effects of IL-4 on myogenesis, and interaction between IL-4 and insulin on glucose metabolism of C2C12 myoblasts and the terminal differentiated myocytes were analyzed. IL-4 improved GLUT4 translocation and tended to elevate glucose uptake by boosting insulin signaling. In diabetic mice, transient and long-term IL-4 showed differential effects on insulin signaling and efficacy. The study provides evidence to address the roles of IL-4 in mediating whole-body muscle reservoir and glucose metabolism, as well as the interaction between immune responses and energy homeostasis. IL-4 has dual potential to act as an adjuvant therapeutic target for sarcopenia to preserve muscle mass and insulin resistance to improve insulin sensitivity, which implicates the regulation of immune system to the muscle differentiation and exercise performance.

Interleukin-4 Boosts Insulin-Induced Energy Deposits by Enhancing Glucose Uptake and Lipogenesis in Hepatocytes.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), with dysregulated hepatic gluconeogenesis as the major cause of fasting hyperglycemia, is closely associated with chronic inflammation. We previously demonstrated interleukin-4 (IL-4) improves insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance while reducing lipid deposits. The present study examined the in vitro effects of IL-4 on insulin signaling molecules, glucose uptake, and lipid metabolism in hepatocytes, as well as in vivo effects on hepatic adiposity, for elucidating the roles of IL-4 in hepatic energy metabolism. Potential interaction between IL-4 and insulin in regulating hepatic metabolism was also investigated. Our results showed that IL-4 enhanced Akt and GSK-3α/ß phosphorylations, which in turn promoted glycogen synthesis. IL-4 not only potentiated basal glucose uptake by upregulating glucose transporter 2 expression but also promoted insulin-induced glucose uptake. Additionally, IL-4 increased triglyceride contents through facilitating free fatty acid uptake and expression/activity of lipogenic enzymes. The major effects of IL-4 on the liver were to promote energy storage by boosting insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and lipid synthesis. This study provides evidence to implicate the novel roles of IL-4 in mediating hepatic glucose and lipid metabolism, interactions between immune responses and metabolic homeostasis, and the involvement of IL-4 in metabolic abnormalities.

Distribution of Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte-Associated Antigen-4 Promoter Polymorphisms in Taiwanese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with chronic inflammation, suggesting the metabolic abnormalities are originated from or exacerbated by cytokine overproduction. Cytokines and counter-regulatory molecules are crucial in keeping the balance of immune responses and, therefore, are potential candidates involved in T2DM etiology, development and complications. Our previous reports identify several significant associations between the genotypes of cytokine genes and T2DM and/or the clinical lipid parameters, which strongly suggest the participation of immune-regulatory molecules in lipid metabolism. The aim of this study is to determine the distribution of gene encoding cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4), a T-cell negative regulator, in T2DM patients and health subjects. Genomic DNA was extracted from 287 Taiwanese T2DM patients and 278 ethnic- and age- matched healthy subjects, and two CTLA-4 polymorphisms (-318 C/T and +49 A/G) were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Intriguingly, CTLA-4 -318 genotype was associated with circulatory triglycerides in T2DM subjects (P=0.019) although no significant association between CTLA-4 -318 (P=0.119) and +49 (P=0.2) genotypes with T2DM was identified. In addition, CTLA-4 +49 genotype was significantly associated with the ratio between total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein (P=0.004) in control subjects. Our results suggest that CTLA-4 may be involved in lipid metabolism and affect T2DM disease progression and/or the development of diabetic complications although this gene does not represent a major risk factor for T2DM.

Up-regulation of interleukin-17 expression by human papillomavirus type 16 E6 in nonsmall cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Human papillomavirus (HPV) 16/18 infection is associated with nonsmoking lung cancer. In this study, the authors investigated a putative correlation between interleukin (IL)-17 expression and HPV infection in clinical nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tissues and examined the effects of HPV infection on a human NSCLC cell line. METHODS: IL-17 expression was investigated in 79 NSCLC tumor tissues by immunohistochemistry. Growth rate, IL-17 mRNA, and secreting protein levels were also examined in HPV 16/18 E6-transfected H1299 human NSCLC cells. RESULTS: Immunohistochemical data showed that 48.1% of lung tumors had IL-17 staining, which was significantly associated with patients' sex (P = .03), HPV infection (P = .002), and tumor stage (P = .03). Significant correlations of IL-17 with IL-6 (P < .001) and IL-17 with Mcl-1 (P < .001) expression were also observed. Cell growth rate was increased, and IL-17/Mcl-1 expression levels were elevated in HPV 16 E6-transfected H1299 cells. The transfected E6 oncoproteins can significantly up-regulate expression levels of IL-17 and antiapoptotic protein Mcl-1. CONCLUSIONS: The study suggests that HPV infection-induced IL-17 levels can stimulate Mcl-1 expression through the PI3K pathway and promote lung tumor cell progression through a p53- and IL-6-independent pathway.

Association of interleukin-4 promoter polymorphisms in Taiwanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Many factors have been implicated in the onset of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Recently, immune response and inflammation were suggested to play certain roles in the development and complications of T2DM. The aim of this study is to investigate the putative correlation between the promoter polymorphisms of interleukin-4 (IL-4), one of the immune-regulatory type 2 helper T-cell cytokines, and T2DM. Genomic DNA from 425 Taiwanese T2DM patients and 148 nondiabetic control study subjects were extracted, and their IL-4 promoter polymorphisms were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Both of the distribution of IL-4 C-589T (P = .013) and C-34T (P = .05) genotypes were significantly different between T2DM patients and control subjects. Significant association between IL-4 C-589T alleles (P = .002) and T2DM, as well as C-34T alleles and T2DM (P =.024), was also identified. In addition, a statistically significant association between homologous IL-4 -589 C/C genotype and lower circulatory high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels was observed. Our results suggested that IL-4 promoter polymorphisms are associated with T2DM. A significant association between IL-4 -589 C/C genotype and lower circulatory high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level was observed as well. The above results suggested that IL-4 may participate in lipid metabolism and diabetic susceptibility.

Elevated circulatory MMP-2 and MMP-9 levels and activities in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus.

OBJECTIVES: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are suggested to play important roles in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This study is to examine the MMPs expressions and activities in Taiwanese RA and SLE patients. DESIGN AND METHODS: Levels and activities of plasma MMP-2 and MMP-9 were investigated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and zymography, respectively. RESULTS: MMP-2 levels in control subjects, RA and SLE patients were 146.1+/-34.2, 194.0+/-24.2 and 208.9+/-75.9 ng/mL respectively, and for MMP-9 were 51.4+/-57.1, 567.7+/-313.1 and 208.7+/-105.5 ng/mL respectively. Both MMP-2 and MMP-9 levels and activities from all patients were significantly higher than that from control subjects. CONCLUSIONS: MMP-2 levels in both patients groups were approximately 1.3-1.4 folds higher than that in control subjects, notably, MMP-9 levels were 11- and 4-folds significantly higher, respectively, in RA and SLE patients. The results which MMP-2 and MMP-9 levels and activities are significantly elevated support the involvement of MMPs proteins in these autoimmune disorders.