Treg expression of CIS suppresses allergic airway inflammation through antagonizing an autonomous TH2 program.

Maintenance of regulatory T (Treg) cells is crucial for the regulatory function of Treg cells in immune homeostasis and self-tolerance; however, the detailed underlying mechanisms remain elusive. In the current study, we found that the cytokine suppressor CIS (cytokine induced SH-2 protein) is required for maintenance of Treg cell identity. Mice with Treg-specific Cis-deficiency displayed aggravated experimental allergic asthma, and in adulthood, developed splenomegaly, lymphadenopathy and spontaneous eosinophilic airway inflammation, accompanied by accumulation of effector memory helper T (TH) cells. Cis-deficiency led to the loss of Foxp3 expression and the decrease in suppressive function of Treg cells. Cis-deficient Treg cells expressed TH2 cell signature genes, Gata3, Irf4 and Il4, and excessive interleukin-4-signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (IL-4-STAT6) signals resulted in repressive chromatin modification in the Foxp3 locus and permissive modification in the Il4 loci. In vitro, blockade of IL-4 restored the expression of Foxp3 and the suppressive function of inducible Treg (iTreg) cells. Thus, we identified a novel feedback loop in stabilization of Treg cells and suppression of TH2-type inflammation in a Treg-intrinsic manner.

Seroprevalence and associated risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii among Manchu pregnant women in northeastern China.

Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular protozoan parasite infecting human and almost all warm-blooded animals. It may cause several severe symptoms if pregnant women infection with T. gondii, including misbirth. A cross-sectional study was conducted containing 313 Manchu pregnant women attending antenatal care from 2016 to 2017 in Jilin province, northeastern China, and were assessed by enzyme-link immunosorbent assay and the study utilized univariate analysis to identify the potential risk factors for T. gondii infection. Of the 313 investigated Manchu pregnant women, 51 (16.29%, 95% CI 12.2-20.4) were tested as T. gondii-seropositive, with 47 (15.02%) seropositive for T. gondii IgG antibodies and 8 (2.56%) IgM positive. The seroprevalence of T. gondii in different age groups varied from 13.50% (8.7-18.3) to 23.90% (13.9-41.9). Pregnant raising cat at home has a significantly higher seroprevalence of T. gondii than no cat at home. Pregnant consuming raw/undercooked meat has a significantly higher T. gondii seroprevalence than individuals did not consuming raw/undercooked meat. This is the first study of T. gondii infection seroprevalence in Manchu pregnant women. Risk factors analysis suggested that seroprevalence of T. gondii in investigated Manchu pregnant women was mainly related to consumption of raw/undercooked meat and raising cat at home. The findings will provide key and baseline data for prevention and control of toxoplasmosis among Manchu pregnant women and other people.

Enterocytozoon bieneusi in Minks (Neovison vison) in Northern China: A Public Health Concern.

Enterocytozoon bieneusi is the most important causative agent of microsporidiosis and can infect almost all vertebrate and invertebrate hosts, including minks (Neovison vison). In the present study, a total of 298 feces samples (including 79 from Heilongjiang province, 31 from Hebei province, 67 from Jilin province, 90 from Liaoning province, and 31 from Shandong province, Northern China) were examined by nested PCR amplification of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the rRNA gene. The overall prevalence of E. bieneusi in minks was 10.1%, with 10.5% in Jilin province, 32.3% in Hebei province, 8.9% in Liaoning province, 0% in Shandong province, and 6.3% in Heilongjiang province. Furthermore, multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that region was only risk factors associated with E. bieneusi infection in the investigated minks. Five E. bieneusi ITS genotypes (three known genotypes, namely D, Peru11, and EbpC; two novel genotypes, namely, NCM-1 and NCM-2) were found in the current study. Importantly, genotypes D, Peru11 and EbpC, previously identified in humans, were also found in minks, which suggested that minks are the potential sources of human microsporidiosis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of E. bieneusi infection in minks worldwide. The results of the present survey have implications for the controlling E. bieneusi infection in minks, other animals and humans.

Molecular detection and genotyping of Toxoplasma gondii in free-ranging pigs in Northeastern China.

Pig is the well-known intermediate host of T. gondii, a ubiquitous and obligate intracellular zoonotic pathogen. However, information about prevalence and genotypes of T. gondii infection in free-ranging pigs is scarce. Therefore a total of 186 hilar lymph nodes specimens were collected from free-ranging pigs from rural regions from Jilin (n = 119) and Liaoning (n = 67) provinces, northeastern China, and were investigated from T. gondii infection by semi-nested PCR of the B1 gene. Positive testing samples were genotyped by using polymerase chain reaction followed by restriction-fragment length polymorphism technology (PCR-RFLP) applied to 11 loci. The overall prevalence of T. gondii in investigated free-ranging pigs was 18.3% (34/186), with 16.4% (11/67) in Liaoning Province and 19.3% (23/119) in Jilin Province. Moreover, two genotypes, namely ToxoDB #9 and ToxoDB #10, were detected in investigated pigs. The present study showed a high T. gondii prevalence in free-ranging compared to farmed pigs as reported in previous studies by others, raising a major public health concern. It is essential to establish efficient strategies to prevent and control T. gondii infection in free-ranging pigs, other animals and humans in investigated regions.

Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Dustmen in Northeastern China: A Case-Control Seroprevalence Study.

BACKGROUND: Toxoplasmosis is caused by an intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii, which can infect many hosts including humans. METHODS: In order to estimate whether dustmen are more susceptible to T. gondii, a case-control study was conducted containing 332 dustmen from Jilin and Heilongjiang in Northeastern China, as well as 332 general populations from the same regions as control subjects. Serum samples were tested IgG and IgM antibodies to T. gondii using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: The overall anti-T. gondii IgG was 15.06% (50/332) in dustmen compared with 9.64% (32/332) in the controls (P = 0.0337). Also, 5 (1.51%) dustmen had anti-T. gondii IgM antibodies compared with 2 (0.60%) control individuals (P = 0.2543). A significant association was only found between dustmen and level of T. gondii IgG in comparison with the control subjects. Seroprevalence of T. gondii IgG antibodies in male dustmen was significant higher than male control subjects (P = 0.0399). Dustmen from Jilin had the significant higher T. gondii IgG rate (P = 0.0143), in comparison with the control subjects from Jilin. Moreover, dustmen raising cat at home had the significant higher T. gondii IgG rate (P = 0.0097), in comparison with the control subjects. Risk factor analysis suggested that raising cat at home and not having habits of washing hand before eating were mainly related to the T. gondii infection in dustmen. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first record of seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in dustmen in Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces in Northeastern China. These findings also suggest that the government departments should pay close attention to the toxoplasmosis in dustmen in Northeastern China.