Regulatory T Cells: A New Target of Chinese Medicine in Treatment of Atherosclerosis / 中国结合医学杂志

Inflammation and immune disorders are integral to the occurrence and progression of atherosclerosis (AS). With the role of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in immune regulation attracting attention, it has been widely accepted that Treg decrease and dysfunction are involved in AS pathogenesis. Chinese medicine (CM) has the advantages of being dual-directional, multi-targeted, and having minimal side effects in immune regulation. The anti-atherosclerosis effects of CM via Treg modulation have been revealed in clinical and animal studies. Therefore, this article reviews existing research on Tregs, the relationship between Tregs and AS, and the progress of CM for treating and prevention of atherosclerotic cardio-cerebrovascular diseases by regulating Tregs. Although the underlying mechanisms remain to be elucidated, CM treatment targeting Treg cells might provide a promising and novel future approach for prevention and treatment of AS.

Lysobacter cavernae sp. nov., a novel bacterium isolated from a cave sample.

A Gram-staining negative, aerobic, rod-shaped bacterium, designated YIM C01544(T), was isolated from a soil sample collected from Sigangli Cave, Yunnan province, South-West China. The strain was able to grow over a range of temperatures (4-30 °C), pH (6.0-10.0) and NaCl concentration (0-2 %, w/v). Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that strain YIM C01544(T) should be a member of the genus Lysobacter. The strain is closely related to Lysobacter niastensis GH41-7(T) (97.6 %), Lysobacter soli DCY21(T) (97.5 %), Lysobacter enzymogenes DSM 2043(T) (97.3 %), Lysobacter antibioticus DSM 2044(T) (97.1 %) and Lysobacter panacisoli CJ29(T) (97.1 %). The genomic DNA relatedness values (<47 %) as indicated by DNA-DNA hybridization studies were below the threshold limit for characterization of new bacterial species. The chemotaxonomic features of the new isolate include diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, two unidentified phospholipids and two unidentified polar lipids as its characteristic polar lipids and Q-8 as the only quinone. The major fatty acids detected were iso-C15:0 and iso-C17:1 ω9c. The DNA G + C content of the strain was determined to be 64.9 mol %. Based on the data from phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and molecular studies, strain YIM C01544(T) merits recognition as novel species in the genus Lysobacter for which the name Lysobacter cavernae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Lysobacter cavernae is YIM C01544(T) (= KCTC 42875(T) = DSM 101561(T) = CPCC 100816(T)).