The Role of TNF Family Molecules Light in Cellular Interaction Between Airway Smooth Muscle Cells and T Cells During Chronic Allergic Inflammation

BTLA agonist attenuates Th17-driven inflammation in a mouse model of steroid-resistant asthma

Introduction

Steroid-resistant asthma does not respond adequately to corticosteroid treatment. The underlying mechanisms driving corticosteroid resistance remain poorly understood, partly due to the absence of suitable animal models. Identifying the immunomodulatory pathways and mechanisms driving steroid resistance is crucial for developing effective therapies.

Methods

In this study, we screened 58 murine strains exposed to house dust mite and identified that the BXD75 strain exhibited neutrophil-skewed, steroid-resistant asthma and elevated Th17 cells. RNA sequencing of lung CD4+ T cells from BXD75 was performed to identify immunomodulatory pathways involved in steroid-resistance. The effects of BTLA agonist treatment were assessed on airway hyperreactivity and lung inflammation.

Results

Transcriptomic analysis revealed increased HVEM expression and decreased BTLA expression, both critical immune regulators associated with stimulatory and inhibitory signaling, respectively. These T cells demonstrated enhanced inflammatory signaling through both canonical and non-canonical NF-κB pathways. BTLA agonist treatment in vivo reduced airway hyperreactivity and lung inflammation, while ex vivo treatment of Th17 cells induced inhibitory signaling via SHP-1, suppressed NF-κB signaling, reduced cell numbers, and lowered IL-17 levels.

Discussion

Our findings establish BXD75 mice as a model for steroid-resistant asthma and demonstrate that BTLA agonism attenuates airway hyperreactivity and lung inflammation, highlighting it as a potential therapeutic strategy.

Immunocytes do not mediate food intake and the causal relationship with allergic rhinitis: a comprehensive Mendelian randomization

Background

Observational studies indicate a correlation between food intake and allergic rhinitis. The potential interplay between the immune system and allergic rhinitis might contribute causally to both food intake and allergic rhinitis, providing promising therapeutic avenues. However, elucidating the causal relationship and immune-mediated mechanisms between food intake and allergic rhinitis remains a pending task.

Methods

We utilized a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) methodology to explore the causal relationship between food intake and allergic rhinitis. Furthermore, we investigated the potential causal relationship of immune cell signals with allergic rhinitis, as well as the potential causal relationship between food intake and immune cell signals. Moreover, employing both two-step Mendelian randomization and multivariable Mendelian randomization, we delved into the mediating role of immune cell signals in the causal relationship between food intake and allergic rhinitis. Leveraging publicly accessible genetic datasets, our analysis encompassed 903 traits, comprising 171 food intake features, 731 immune cell features, and one trait related to allergic rhinitis.

Result

We found causal relationships between seven types of food intake and allergic rhinitis, as well as between 30 immune cell phenotypes and allergic rhinitis. Furthermore, our two-step Mendelian randomization analysis and multivariable Mendelian randomization analysis indicate that immune cells do not mediate the causal relationship between food intake and allergic rhinitis.

Conclusion

To the best of our knowledge, we are the first to incorporate a large-scale dataset integrating immune cell features, food intake features, and allergic rhinitis into Mendelian randomization analysis. Our research findings indicate that there are causal relationships between six types of food intake and allergic rhinitis, as well as between 30 immune cell phenotypes and allergic rhinitis. Additionally, immune cells do not mediate these relationships.

Circulating miRNAs act as potential biomarkers for asthma

Background

Identification of new clinical markers contributes to a better understanding of the pathogenesis of asthma. Considering the crucial role of LIGHT in asthma, it may become a potential target for asthma. The aim of current study was to determine if circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) targeting LIGHT may be used as diagnostic biomarkers to distinguish asthma.

Methods

Blood serum from a cohort of 60 subjects, including 20 cases with mild asthma, 20 cases with moderate-to-severe asthma, and 20 healthy controls were included. Serum was analyzed for circulating miRNAs profiles through miRNAs microarray. Real Time PCR was conducted to verify the results of miRNA microarray. Correlations between circulating miRNAs targeting LIGHT and clinical characteristics were investigated.

Results

A total of 365 miRNAs were differentially expressed in asthma patients. Among them, miR-107 and miR-140-5p were found to target LIGHT, and varied in asthmatics. Additionally, miR-107 and miR-140-5p expressions were positively correlated with the absolute value of peripheral eosinophils. Finally, miR-140-5p and miR-107 were demonstrated to have good diagnostic efficacy for asthma (AUC= 0.8667 and 0.9400) with good sensitivity (0.8000 and 0.8667,respectively) and specificity (0.8667 and 0.867). Thus, circulating miRNAs expressed differentially between healthy control and asthma patients.

Conclusion

Plasma miR-140-5p and miR-107 can be used as diagnostic biomarkers to distinguish patients with asthma from healthy control, and may take part in asthma pathogenesis by negatively regulating LIGHT. Further research was needed to evaluate their roles as potential biomarkers in the diagnosis of asthma.

A Narrative Review of Cytokine Networks: Pathophysiological and Therapeutic Implications for Inflammatory Bowel Disease Pathogenesis

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a lifelong inflammatory immune mediated disorder, encompassing Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC); however, the cause and specific pathogenesis of IBD is yet incompletely understood. Multiple cytokines produced by different immune cell types results in complex functional networks that constitute a highly regulated messaging network of signaling pathways. Applying biological mechanisms underlying IBD at the single omic level, technologies and genetic engineering enable the quantification of the pattern of released cytokines and new insights into the cytokine landscape of IBD. We focus on the existing literature dealing with the biology of pro- or anti-inflammatory cytokines and interactions that facilitate cell-based modulation of the immune system for IBD inflammation. We summarize the main roles of substantial cytokines in IBD related to homeostatic tissue functions and the remodeling of cytokine networks in IBD, which may be specifically valuable for successful cytokine-targeted therapies via marketed products. Cytokines and their receptors are validated targets for multiple therapeutic areas, we review the current strategies for therapeutic intervention and developing cytokine-targeted therapies. New biologics have shown efficacy in the last few decades for the management of IBD; unfortunately, many patients are nonresponsive or develop therapy resistance over time, creating a need for novel therapeutics. Thus, the treatment options for IBD beyond the immune-modifying anti-TNF agents or combination therapies are expanding rapidly. Further studies are needed to fully understand the immune response, networks of cytokines, and the direct pathogenetic relevance regarding individually tailored, safe and efficient targeted-biotherapeutics.

The Regulatory Role of miR-107-Cdk6-Rb Pathway in Airway Smooth Muscle Cells in Asthma

Purpose

Airway remodeling is a significant pathological change of asthma. This study aimed to detect differentially expressed microRNAs in the serum of asthma patients and airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) of asthmatic mice, exploring their role in the airway remodeling of asthma.

Methods

The differentially expressed microRNAs in the serum of mild and moderate-severe asthma patients compared to healthy subjects were revealed using the "limma" package. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis was used to annotate the functions of microRNA target genes. The relative expressions of miR-107 (miR-107-3p in mice sharing the same sequence) in the primary airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) of the asthma mice model were tested by RT-qPCR. Cyclin-dependent kinases 6 (Cdk6), a target gene of miR-107, was predicted by algorithms and validated by dual-luciferase reporter assay and Western blot. The roles of miR-107, Cdk6, and protein Retinoblastoma (Rb) in ASMCs were examined by transwell assay and EDU KIT in vitro.

Results

The expression of miR-107 was down-regulated in both mild and moderate-severe asthma patients. Intriguingly, the level of miR-107 was also decreased in ASMCs of the asthma mice model. Up-regulating miR-107 suppressed ASMCs' proliferation by targeting Cdk6 and the phosphorylation level of Rb. Increasing the expression of Cdk6 or suppressing Rb activity abrogated the proliferation inhibition effect of ASMCs induced by miR-107. In addition, miR-107 also inhibits ASMC migration by targeting Cdk6.

Conclusion

The expression of miR-107 is down-regulated in serums of asthma patients and ASMCs of asthmatic mice. It plays a critical role in regulating the proliferation and migration of ASMCs via targeting Cdk6.

HES5-mediated repression of LIGHT transcription may contribute to apoptosis in hepatocytes

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is prototypical form of metabolic syndrome and has become a global pandemic. Hepatocytes undergo apoptosis in the pathogenesis of NAFLD. We report that the lymphokine LIGHT/TNFSF14 was upregulated in the murine NAFLD livers and in hepatocytes treated with free fatty acids (palmitate, PA). LIGHT knockdown or neutralization attenuated PA-induced apoptosis of hepatocytes. Similarly, knockdown or blockade of LTβR, the receptor for LIGHT, ameliorated apoptosis in hepatocytes exposed to PA. Ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA) revealed several Notch-related transcription factors as upstream regulators of LIGHT, of which HES5 expression was downregulated paralleling LIGHT induction in the pathogenesis of NAFLD. HES5 knockdown enhanced whereas HES5 over-expression weakened LIGHT induction in hepatocytes. HES5 was found to directly bind to the LIGHT promoter and repress LIGHT transcription. Mechanistically, HES5 interacted with SIRT1 to deacetylate histone H3/H4 on the LIGHT promoter to repress LIGHT transcription. SIRT1 knockdown or inhibition offset the effect of HES5 over-expression on LIGHT transcription and hepatocyte apoptosis. In conclusion, our data unveil a novel mechanism that might contribute to excessive apoptosis in hepatocyte exposed to free fatty acids.

Increased levels of serum IL-17 and induced sputum neutrophil percentage are associated with severe early-onset asthma in adults

BACKGROUND

Differences between adult patients with severe early-onset and late-onset asthma have not been well studied.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the phenotypic distinction regarding age at onset in patients with severe asthma.

METHODS

The present study enrolled thirty-two patients with severe early-onset (onset age < 12 years) asthma and thirty-two patients with severe late-onset (onset age > 12 years) asthma. Severe asthma was defined according to Global Initiative for Asthma criteria. The clinical, spirometric, and laboratory parameters were collected for group comparisons.

RESULTS

Among the 64 patients included (mean age, 46.22 ± 13.90 years; 53.1% male), the mean percent of predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) was 68.43 ± 20.55%. Patients with severe early-onset asthma had a younger age, longer duration of asthma, higher rate of family history, and better small-airway function (MEF25% and MMEF75/25%) compared with severe late-onset asthma. Furthermore, levels of serum IL-17 and sputum neutrophil percentage were significantly higher for patients with severe early-onset asthma (P = 0.016, 0.033, respectively). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that increased serum IL-17 (odds ratio = 1.065, P = 0.016) was independently associated with severe early-onset asthma. The combination of serum IL-17 and sputum neutrophil percentage yielded a sensitivity of 80.0% and a specificity of 86.7% for identifying patients with severe early-onset asthma.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with severe early-onset asthma exhibit elevated levels of serum IL-17 and sputum neutrophil percentage, suggesting a potential role in the pathogenesis of severe early-onset phenotype.

Increased level of LIGHT/TNFSF14 is associated with survival in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage

OBJECTIVES

Multiple cytokines have been implicated in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH), but tumor necrosis factor superfamily 14 (LIGHT/TNFSF14) and oncostatin-M (OSM) have not been previously explored.

AIMS OF THE STUDY

The primary objective of this study was to examine the relationship between TNFSF14 and OSM levels and survival. Our secondary goal was to investigate a potential association between these markers and the incidence of delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI).

MATERIALS & METHODS

We consecutively recruited 60 patients with a clinical diagnosis of aSAH. LIGHT/TNFSF14 and OSM serum concentrations were determined by ELISA. The primary endpoint was survival at Day 30, while development of DCI was assessed as secondary outcome.

RESULTS

Patients had significantly higher levels of both markers than the control group (median of LIGHT: 18.1 pg/ml vs. 7 pg/ml; p = 0.01; median of OSM: 10.3 pg/ml vs. 2.8 pg/ml, p < 0.001). Significantly lower serum level of LIGHT/TNFSF14 was found in nonsurviving patients (n = 9) compared with survivors (n = 51; p = 0.011). Based on ROC analysis, serum LIGHT/TNFSF14 with a cutoff value of >7.95 pg/ml predicted 30-day survival with a sensitivity of 71% and specificity of 78% (Area: 0.763; 95% CI: 0.604-0.921, p = 0.013). In addition, it was also a predictor of DCI with a sensitivity of 72.7% and a specificity of 62.5% (AUC: 0.702; 95% CI: 0.555-0.849, p = 0.018). Based on binary logistic regression analysis, LIGHT/TNFSF14 was found to be independently associated with 30-day mortality, but not with DCI.

CONCLUSION

In this cohort, a higher serum level of LIGHT/TNFSF14 was associated with increased survival of patients with aSAH.

A novel whole blood gene expression signature for asthma, dermatitis, and rhinitis multimorbidity in children and adolescents

BACKGROUND

Allergic diseases often occur in combination (multimorbidity). Human blood transcriptome studies have not addressed multimorbidity. Large-scale gene expression data were combined to retrieve biomarkers and signaling pathways to disentangle allergic multimorbidity phenotypes.

METHODS

Integrated transcriptomic analysis was conducted in 1233 participants with a discovery phase using gene expression data (Human Transcriptome Array 2.0) from whole blood of 786 children from three European birth cohorts (MeDALL), and a replication phase using RNA Sequencing data from an independent cohort (EVA-PR, n = 447). Allergic diseases (asthma, atopic dermatitis, rhinitis) were considered as single disease or multimorbidity (at least two diseases), and compared with no disease.

RESULTS

Fifty genes were differentially expressed in allergic diseases. Thirty-two were not previously described in allergy. Eight genes were consistently overexpressed in all types of multimorbidity for asthma, dermatitis, and rhinitis (CLC, EMR4P, IL5RA, FRRS1, HRH4, SLC29A1, SIGLEC8, IL1RL1). All genes were replicated the in EVA-PR cohort. RT-qPCR validated the overexpression of selected genes. In MeDALL, 27 genes were differentially expressed in rhinitis alone, but none was significant for asthma or dermatitis alone. The multimorbidity signature was enriched in eosinophil-associated immune response and signal transduction. Protein-protein interaction network analysis identified IL5/JAK/STAT and IL33/ST2/IRAK/TRAF as key signaling pathways in multimorbid diseases. Synergistic effect of multimorbidity on gene expression levels was found.

CONCLUSION

A signature of eight genes identifies multimorbidity for asthma, rhinitis, and dermatitis. Our results have clinical and mechanistic implications, and suggest that multimorbidity should be considered differently than allergic diseases occurring alone.

Expression of herpesvirus entry mediator gene as a potential biomarker for disease severity in patients with persistent asthma

Objectives: Herpes virus entry mediator (HVEM) is a costimulatory molecule, and has been proved to play an important role in airway inflammatory and remodeling processes of asthma. We aimed to investigate the expression of HVEM gene in patients with asthma as a means of assessing disease severity.Methods: This study was carried out on 59 subjects, 16 patients with mild persistent asthma, 11 patients with moderate persistent asthma, 13 patients with severe persistent asthma, and 19 age and gender matched healthy controls. The HVEM mRNA expressions of all subjects were determined by real time PCR. Correlations between HVEM mRNA expression and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), pulmonary function test values, total blood white cell count and differential, total immunoglobulin E (IgE) level, and Asthma Control Test (ACT) score were analyzed, respectively. The discrimination abilities of HVEM mRNA between different groups were tested using receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analyses.Results: This study showed the expressions of HVEM mRNA were significantly higher in the patients with severe and moderate persistent asthma than in patients with mild persistent asthma and healthy subjects (2.97 ± 1.23 vs. 1.17 ± 0.42 vs. 0.62 ± 0.38 vs. 0.46 ± 0.18/NAPDH, p < 0.001), but there was no significant difference between patients with mild persistent asthma and health controls (0.62 ± 0.38 vs. 0.46 ± 0.18/NAPDH, p = 0.557). HVEM mRNA expression at cut off point [1.01/NAPDH, area under the ROC curve (AUC) = 0.99] is sufficient to discriminate severe patients from mild-to-moderate patients, and at cut off point (0.93/NAPDH, AUC = 0.91) for discrimination of moderate-to-severe patients from mild ones, while at cut off point (0.76/NAPDH, AUC = 0.75) for discrimination of asthmatic patients from controls. Furthermore, HVEM mRNA expression was positively correlated with FeNO level (r = 0.524, p = 0.015), and total lymphocyte count (r = 0.426, p = 0.017) in patients with persistent asthma.Conclusions: HVEM gene expressions can be used as a potential biomarker for evaluating the severity of patients with persistent asthma.

Protective Effects of Foam Rolling against Inflammation and Notexin Induced Muscle Damage in Rats

It is known that high-intensity exercise can cause inflammation and damage in muscle tissue, and in recent years, physical therapists and fitness professionals have begun to use foam rolling as a recovery method to improve performance. Despite the lack of basic science studies to support or refute the efficacy of foam rolling, the technique is very widely used in the sports world. In this respect, we investigated whether foam rolling could attenuate muscle damage and inflammation. Female Wistar rats were assigned to control (C), foam rolling (FR), notexin without foam rolling (N) and notexin with foam rolling (NFR) groups. A 4.5 x 2 cm foam roller was used to massage their hind legs (two 60-second repetitions twice a day for 3 days). Motor function tests (Balance Beam Test and Grip strength) were used. We detected an increase in time and foot faults when crossing a beam in the N group compared to C and FR rats. In contrast, a significant decrease was detected in both tests in NFR compared to N rats. Muscle power was measured with a grip strength test and better performance was detected in NFR rats compared to N rats. Furthermore, an increase of pro-inflammatory proteins was noted in the N group, while there was a decrease in the NFR group. On the contrary, an increase in PPAR-γ (anti-inflammatory protein) in the NFR group compared to the N group demonstrates the anti-inflammatory properties of the foam rolling technique. In summary, applying foam rolling after damage has benefits such as an increase in anti-inflammatory proteins and a reduction of pro-inflammatory proteins, resulting in muscle recovery and better performance.