Downregulation of T-bet/GATA-3 ratio induced by IL-11 treatment is responsible for Th1/Th2 balance restoration in human immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)

Roles of IL-11 in the regulation of bone metabolism

Bone metabolism is the basis for maintaining the normal physiological state of bone, and imbalance of bone metabolism can lead to a series of metabolic bone diseases. As a member of the IL-6 family, IL-11 acts primarily through the classical signaling pathway IL-11/Receptors, IL-11 (IL-11R)/Glycoprotein 130 (gp130). The regulatory role of IL-11 in bone metabolism has been found earlier, but mainly focuses on the effects on osteogenesis and osteoclasis. In recent years, more studies have focused on IL-11's roles and related mechanisms in different bone metabolism activities. IL-11 regulates osteoblasts, osteoclasts, BM stromal cells, adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells, and chondrocytes. It's involved in bone homeostasis, including osteogenesis, osteolysis, bone marrow (BM) hematopoiesis, BM adipogenesis, and bone metastasis. This review exams IL-11's role in pathology and bone tissue, the cytokines and pathways that regulate IL-11 expression, and the feedback regulations of these pathways.

T cell responses to SARS-CoV-2

This chapter provides a comprehensive analysis of T cell responses in COVID-19, focusing on T cell differentiation, specificity, and functional characteristics during SARS-CoV-2 infection. The differentiation of T cells in COVID-19 is explored, highlighting the key factors that influence T cell fate and effector functions. The immunology of the spike protein, a critical component of SARS-CoV-2, is discussed in detail, emphasizing its role in driving T-cell responses. The cellular immune responses against SARS-CoV-2 during acute infection are examined, including the specificity, phenotype, and functional attributes of SARS-CoV-2-specific T-cell responses. Furthermore, the chapter explores T-cell cross-recognition against other human coronaviruses (HCoVs) and the mechanisms of immune regulation mediated by spike proteins. This includes the induction of regulation through the innate immune system, the activation of self-spike protein-cross-reactive regulatory T cells, and the impact of self-tolerance on the regulation of spike proteins. The chapter investigates T cell responses to self-spike proteins and their implications in disease. The role of spike proteins as immunological targets in the context of COVID-19 is examined, shedding light on potential therapeutic interventions and clinical trials in autoimmune diseases. In conclusion, this chapter provides a comprehensive understanding of T cell responses in COVID-19, highlighting their differentiation, immune regulation, and clinical implications. This knowledge contributes to the development of targeted immunotherapies, vaccine strategies, and diagnostic approaches for COVID-19 and other related diseases.

Comparison of preventive and therapeutic effects of continuous exercise on acute lung injury induced with methotrexate

Methotrexate (Mtx) is used to treat various diseases, including cancer, arthritis and other rheumatic diseases. However, it induces oxidative stress and pulmonary inflammation by stimulating production of reactive oxygen species and cytokines. Considering the positive effects of physical activity, our goal was to investigate the preventive and therapeutic role of continuous training (CT) on Mtx-induced lung injury in rats. The rats were divided into five groups of 14 animals: a control group (C); a continuous exercise training group (CT; healthy rats that experienced CT); an acute lung injury with Mtx group (ALI); a pretreatment group with CT (the rats experienced CT before ALI induction), and a post-treatment group with CT (the rats experienced CT after ALI induction). One dose of 20 mg/kg Mtx intraperitoneal was administered in the Mtx and training groups. Forty-eight hours after the last exercise session all rats were sacrificed. According to our results, the levels of tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), malondialdehyde (MDA), myeloperoxidase (MPO), GATA binding protein 3 (GATA3) and caspase-3 in the ALI group significantly increased compared to the control group, and the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), interleukin-10 (IL-10), forkhead box protein 3 (FOXP3), and T-bet decreased. In contrast, compared to the acute lung injury group, pretreatment and treatment with CT reduced TNF-α, MDA, MPO, GATA3 and caspase-3 and increased SOD, GPX, TAC, IL-10, FOXP3 and T-bet levels. The effects of CT pretreatment were more significant than the effects of CT post-treatment. Continuous exercise training effectively reduced oxidative stress and inflammatory cytokines and ameliorated Mtx-induced injury, and the effects of CT pretreatment were more significant than the effects of CT post-treatment. NEW FINDINGS: What is the central question of this study? Considering the high prevalence of lung injury in society, does exercise as a non-pharmacological intervention have ameliorating effects on lung injury? What is the main finding and its importance? Exercise can have healing effects on the lung after pulmonary injury through reducing inflammation, oxidative stress and apoptosis. Considering the lower side effects of exercise compared to drug treatments, the results of this study may be useful in the future.

Polymeric Nanohybrids Engineered by Chitosan Nanoparticles and Antimicrobial Peptides as Novel Antimicrobials in Food Biopreservatives: Risk Assessment and Anti-Foodborne Pathogen Escherichia coli O157:H7 Infection by Immune Regulation

Polymeric nanomaterials (APs) are gaining attention as promising clinical antimicrobials with rapidly increasing antibiotic resistance. Infections by zoonotic enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli are a severe global threat to public health. Chitosan nanoparticles-microcin J25 (CNM), a class of APs engineered by bioactive peptides and chitosan nanoparticles, can be used as a novel antimicrobial agent against bacterial infections. However, the risk assessment of CNM on animal health or its potential immune modulation to treat serotype E. coli O157:H7 infection impacts in vivo are not well understood. Herein, our findings in mouse models uncovered that oral administration of low levels of CNM significantly increased the body weight and made beneficial effects on the lifespan or clinical signs, accompanied by a significant improvement in gut health, including enhancing the intestinal barrier, immune modulation, and changes in gut microbiota compositions or metabolites. However, high concentrations of CNM induced serious adverse effects, negatively improving intestinal health targets. Anti-infective results proved that oral 0.1% CNM enhances host defense against E. coli O157:H7 infection by improving immune functions and modulating the Th1/Th2 balance. In summary, these findings uncover an instrumental link between the dosage and toxicity risk, suggesting that APs need to be comprehensively assessed for risk before application as safe and reliable food preservatives or therapeutic agents. In addition, CNM as a promising AP may markedly enhance host immunity and therapeutic effects by oral administration.

CD4+ T cell phenotypes in the pathogenesis of immune thrombocytopenia

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by low platelet counts due to enhanced platelet clearance and compromised production. Traditionally, ITP was regarded a B cell mediated disorder as anti-platelet antibodies are detected in most patients. The very nature of self-antigens, evident processes of isotype switching and the affinity maturation of anti-platelet antibodies indicate that B cells in order to mount anti-platelet immune response require assistance of auto-reactive CD4⁺ T cells. For a long time, ITP pathogenesis has been exclusively reviewed through the prism of the disturbed balance between Th1 and Th2 subsets of CD4⁺ T cells, however, more recently new subsets of these cells have been described including Th17, Th9, Th22, T follicular helper and regulatory T cells. In this paper, we review the current understanding of the role and immunological mechanisms by which CD4⁺ T cells contribute to the pathogenesis of ITP.

Dysregulated interleukin 11 in primary Sjögren's syndrome contributes to apoptosis of glandular epithelial cells

The purpose of this study was to explore the potential function of interleukin-11 (IL-11) in the pathogenesis of primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) patients. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed to examine IL-11 expression in the labial glands of 30 pSS patients and 30 healthy controls. Immunohistochemistry was conducted to assess the distribution of IL-ll-positive cells in labial glands. The human salivary gland (HSG) cell line was used to study the effects of IL-11 on gland epithelial cells in vitro. Cell viability and cell proliferation were examined by CCK-8 kit and EdU assay, respectively. The population of apoptotic cells was detected in flow cytometry followed by Annexin V/PI and Hoechst staining. We found that the expression levels of IL-11 were remarkably decreased in pSS labial glands and were positively correlated with C-reactive protein levels and negatively correlated with rheumatoid factor levels. Fewer numbers of glandular epithelial cells were observed to be positively stained with IL-11 antibody in labial glands from pSS patients than those in healthy control patients. After IL-11 treatment, the viability and proliferation of HSG cells were significantly higher than those in the control group. The total apoptotic and necrotic rates of HSG cells in the group after IL-11 treatment were significantly lower. In conclusion, the results indicated that IL-11 promoted viability and proliferation and inhibited apoptotic and necrotic rates of glandular epithelial cells. In pSS, downregulated IL-11 might contribute to the apoptosis of salivary gland epithelial cells. However, it might be a potential target to alleviate the pathological atrophy of glandular epithelial cells in pSS patients.

High-Dose Dexamethasone Alters the Increase in Interleukin-16 Level in Adult Immune Thrombocytopenia

Adult primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an autoimmune-mediated haemorrhagic disorder. Interleukin-16 (IL-16) can directly affect cellular or humoural immunity by mediating the cellular cross-talk among T cells, B cells and dendritic cells. Several studies have focused on IL-16 as an immunomodulatory cytokine that takes part in Th1 polarization in autoimmune diseases. In this study, we investigated IL-16 expression in the bone marrow supernatant and plasma of ITP patients and healthy controls. What's more, we detected IL-16 expression in ITP patients with the single-agent 4-day high-dose dexamethasone (HD-DXM) therapy. In patients with active ITP, bone marrow supernatant and plasma IL-16 levels increased (P < 0.05) compared with those of healthy controls. In the meantime, the mRNA expression in BMMCs (pro-IL-16, caspase-3) and PBMCs (pro-IL-16, caspase-3 and T-bet) of ITP patients was increased (P < 0.05) relative to those of healthy controls. In patients who responded to HD-DXM therapy, both plasma IL-16 levels and gene expression in PBMCs (pro-IL-16, caspase-3, and T-bet) were decreased (P < 0.05). In summary, the abnormal level of IL-16 plays important roles in the pathogenesis of ITP. Regulating Th1 polarization associated with IL-16 by HD-DXM therapy may provide a novel insight for immune modulation in ITP.

Thrombocytopenia in solid tumors: Prognostic significance

Solid tumors are a heterogeneous group of malignancies that result from out-of-control proliferation of cells. Thrombocytopenia is a common complication among patients with solid tumors that predispose them to bleeding disorders. The aim of this review article is to investigate the underlying mechanisms of the risk and incidence of thrombocytopenia in solid tumors. It can be argued that thrombocytopenia is a poor prognostic factor in solid tumors that can result from several factors such as polymorphism and mutation in some transcription factors and cytokines involved in megakaryocytic maturation or from the adverse effects of treatment. Therefore, an understanding of the exact mechanism of thrombocytopenia pathogenesis in each stage of solid tumors can help in developing therapeutic strategies to decrease bleeding complications in these malignancies.

Integrated Network Pharmacology and Metabolomics Analysis of the Therapeutic Effects of Zi Dian Fang on Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura

Current hormone-based treatments for immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) are associated with potentially serious adverse reactions. Zi Dian Fang (ZDF) is a multi-target Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) used to treat both the symptoms and root causes of ITP, with fewer side effects than hormone-based treatments. This study analysis of the therapeutic effects of ZDF on ITP from three aspects: platelet proliferation, immunoregulation, and inflammation. After detection of 52 chemical constituents of ZDF by UPLC-Q-TOF/MS, The main targets and pathways affected by ZDF were screened by network pharmacology and verified by Western blot and ELISA. Meanwhile, metabolomics analysis were applied to a mouse model of ITP to identify and screen endogenous terminal metabolites differentially regulated by ZDF. Integrated network pharmacology and metabolomics analysis of the therapeutic effects of ZDF on ITP may be as follows: ZDF counteracts ITP symptoms mainly by inhibiting Ras/MAPKs (Ras/Mitogen-activated protein kinases) pathway, and the expression of upstream protein (Ras) and downstream protein (p-ERK, p-JNK, p-p38) were inhibited, which affects the content of effect index associated with proliferation (Thrombopoietin, TPO; Granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor, GM-CSF), inflammation (Tumor necrosis factor-α, TNF-α; Interleukin-6, IL-6), immune (Interleukin-2, IL-2; Interferon-gamma, IFN-γ; Interleukin-4, IL-4), so that the body’s arginine, Δ¹²-prostaglandin j2 (Δ¹²-PGJ2), 9-cis-Retinoic Acid, sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), oleic acid amide and other 12 endogenous metabolites significantly changes. Considering the established safety profile, the present study suggests ZDF may be a useful alternative to hormone-based therapies for the treatment of ITP.

Clinical efficacy of Yingliu mixture combined with metimazole for treating diffuse goitre with hyperthyroidism and its impact on related cytokines

CONTEXT

Yingliu mixture was developed in 1990s by Affiliated Longhua Hospital of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, for treating diffuse goitre with hyperthyroidism (Graves' disease, GD). Former studies have shown Yingliu mixture combined with methimazole (Y-M) can effectively improve thyroid function and decrease thyrotropin-receptor antibody level. Furthermore, we researched its impact on related cytokines to prove that Y-M improve patients' immunity status.

OBJECTIVE

To observe the clinical efficacy of Y-M for treating GD.

METHODS

A total of 120 GD patients were randomly divided into two groups, the treatment and the control groups (n = 60). The treatment group's patients were treated with Y-M. The control group's patients were treated with methimazole alone. Yingliu mixture was orally administered, 25 mL three times daily. Methimazole was administered at 5-25 mg/day. After 12 weeks of the treatment, the cytokines, antibodies related to thyroid function, and Chinese medical syndromes were evaluated.

RESULTS

After the treatment, the free triiodothyronine and thyroxine levels in both groups decreased. The thyroid-stimulating hormone level increased in the treatment group. The thyrotropin-receptor antibody levels and TNF-α levels decreased in both groups. In the control group, IL-6 and IFN-γ levels were lower than that before the treatment. In the treatment group, CD4⁺ and CD25⁺ levels were higher than pretreatment levels, but IL-10 levels were reduced.

CLINICAL SYMPTOMS

the total CMS scores for both groups decreased.

CONCLUSIONS

The Y-M combination can improve thyroid function, and decrease autoantibodies, cytokines, and clinical symptoms, so its efficacy may surpass that of methimazole alone.

Analysis of clinical effects and mechanism of recombinant human interleukin-11 with glucocorticoids for treatment of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of recombinant human interleukin-11 (IL-11) with glucocorticoids for treatment of adult idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) and the regulatory effect on immune mechanisms. A total of 80 patients with initial diagnosis of ITP admitted to our hospital were selected. Patients were randomly divided into the control group and observation group, with 40 cases each. The control group received glucocorticoids treatment, and the observation group received IL-11 and glucocorticoids. The treatment effects were compared. The total effective rate and effective degree of the observation group was higher than in the control group and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05); comparing the incidence of complications of the two groups, there was no statistical difference (P>0.05). In the observation group, onset time was reduced, platelet recovery level increased and platelet antibody positive rate decreased, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). The total treatment course was shorter and recurrence rate was lower in the observation group compared with the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). The percentage of CD4⁺CD25⁺ regulatory T cells decreased in the two groups after treatment, and was more pronounced in the observation group. The difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). In conclusion, IL-11 with glucocorticoids for the treatment of adult ITP is safe and effective, and may be associated with decreased percentage of CD4⁺CD25⁺ regulatory T cells.

Effects of Lactobacillus plantarum NCU116 on Intestine Mucosal Immunity in Immunosuppressed Mice

The effects of Lactobacillus plantarum (L. plantarum) NCU116 isolated from pickled vegetables on intestine mucosal immunity in cyclophosphamide treated mice were investigated. Animals were divided into six groups: normal group (NIM), immunosuppression group (IM), immunosuppression plus L. plantarum NCU116 groups with three different doses (NCU-H, NCU-M, and NCU-L), and plus Bifidobacterium BB12 as positive control group (BB12). Results showed that the thymus indexes of the four treatment groups were significantly higher than that of the IM group (2.02 ± 0.16) (p < 0.05) and close to the index of the NIM group (2.61 ± 0.37) at 10 days. The level of immune factor IL-2 notably increased (IM, 121 ± 9.0) (p < 0.05) and was close to 65% of NIM group's level (230 ± 10.7). The levels of other immune factors (IFN-γ, IL-10, IL-12p70, and sIgA), the gene expression levels of IL-2 and IFN-γ, and the number of IgA-secreting cells showed similar patterns (p < 0.05). However, the level of immune factor IL-4 remarkably decreased (IM, 128 ± 10.2) (p < 0.05) and was only approximately 50% of the NIM group (154 ± 18.2). The levels of other immune factors (IL-6 and IgE) and the gene expression level of IL-6 at 10 days exhibited similar changes (p < 0.05) but showed a slight recovery at 20 days, accompanied by the altered protein expression levels of T-bet and GATA-3 in the small intestine. These findings suggest that L. plantarum NCU116 enhanced the immunity of the small intestine in the immunosuppressed mice.