Interleukin 27 is up-regulated in patients with active inflammatory bowel disease

Protective Role of Selenium-Binding Protein 1 (SELENBP1) in Patients with Ulcerative Colitis

BACKGROUND

The expression of selenium-binding protein 1 (SELENBP1), a molecule responsible for the absorption of selenium in the colon, is crucial for its immunoregulatory effect, but this phenomenon has not been studied in patients with UC. The present study aimed to determine the clinical outcome of SELENBP1 expression in colonic tissue from patients with UC.

METHODS

The relative mRNA expression of SELENBP1 was analyzed in 34 patients with UC and 20 controls. Statistical analyses were performed with SPSS 19.

RESULTS

SELENBP1 gene expression was significantly lower in patients with active UC than those with UC in remission (p = 0.003) and within the controls (p = 0.04). Overexpression of the SELENBP1 gene was associated with a more benign clinical course characterized by initial activity and more than two years of prolonged remission (OR 23.7, p = 0.003) and an intermittent clinical course (OR 47.5, p = 0.001), mild histological activity (OR 0.11; 95% CI: 1.00-1.41, p = 0.05) and severe histological activity (OR 0.08, 95% CI: 0.008-0.866, p = 0.02). SELENBP1-positive cells were found mainly in the submucosa's inflammatory infiltrate and muscular and adventitia's internal layers from patients with active UC compared to those in the control group (p ≤ 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The upregulation of SELENBP1 was associated with a benign clinical course of UC. This is the first report suggesting the immunoregulatory role of SELENBP1 in patients with UC.

Interleukin-27 and Autoimmune Disorders: A Compressive Review of Immunological Functions

Autoimmune disorders (ADs) pose significant health and economic burdens globally, characterized by the body's immune system mistakenly attacking its own tissues. While the precise mechanisms driving their development remain elusive, a combination of genetic predisposition(s) and environmental triggers is implicated. Interleukin-27 (IL-27), among numerous cytokines involved, has emerged as a key regulator, exhibiting dual roles in immune modulation. This review delves into the molecular structure and signaling mechanisms of IL-27, highlighting its diverse effects on various immune cells. Additionally, it explores the involvement of IL-27 in autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), offering insights into its potential therapeutic implications. Moreover, its involvement in autoimmune diseases like type 1 diabetes (T1D), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), myasthenia gravis (MG), Sjögren's syndrome (SS), and Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is multifaceted, with potential diagnostic and therapeutic implications across these conditions. Further research is essential to fully understand IL-27's mechanisms of action and therapeutic potential in autoimmune diseases.

An updated advancement of bifunctional IL-27 in inflammatory autoimmune diseases

Interleukin-27 (IL-27) is a member of the IL-12 family. The gene encoding IL-27 is located at chromosome 16p11. IL-27 is considered as a heterodimeric cytokine, which consists of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-induced gene 3 (Ebi3) and IL-27p28. Based on the function of IL-27, it binds to receptor IL-27rα or gp130 and then regulates downstream cascade. To date, findings show that the expression of IL-27 is abnormal in different inflammatory autoimmune diseases (including systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren syndrome, Behcet's disease, inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis, systemic sclerosis, type 1 diabetes, Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada, and ankylosing spondylitis). Moreover, in vivo and in vitro studies demonstrated that IL-27 is significantly in3volved in the development of these diseases by regulating innate and adaptive immune responses, playing either an anti-inflammatory or a pro-inflammatory role. In this review, we comprehensively summarized information about IL-27 and autoimmunity based on available evidence. It is hoped that targeting IL-27 will hold great promise in the treatment of inflammatory autoimmune disorders in the future.

Research Progress of Interleukin-27 in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can be identified as an inflammatory disorder in the intestine, being characterized by maladjusted immune responses and chronic inflammation of the intestinal tract. However, as the etiology and pathogenesis are still unclear, more effective therapeutic approaches are needed. Recent studies have discovered a new cytokine, interleukin-27 (IL-27), which belongs to the superfamily of IL-6 and IL-12, demonstrating multiple functions in many infectious diseases, autoimmune diseases, and cancers. Interleukin-27 is mainly produced by antigen presentation cells (APCs) such as dendritic cells and mononuclear macrophages, playing a dual regulatory role in immunological response. Therefore, this updated review aims to summarize the new progress of the regulatory role of IL-27 in IBD and focus more on the interaction between IL-27 and immune cells, hoping to provide more evidence for the potential IBD treatment mediated by IL-27.

Cytokines of the interleukin-6 family as emerging targets in inflammatory bowel disease

INTRODUCTION

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an umbrella term that includes different chronic inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, most commonly Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. IBD affects more than 6 million people worldwide and constitutes not only a debilitating disease for the patients, but also a significant factor for society due to costs for health care and reduced working capacity. Despite the introduction of biologicals for the treatment of IBD, the identification of novel targets that could lead to novel therapeutics is still needed.

AREAS COVERED

In this review, we summarize current knowledge about the interleukin-6 family of cytokines as potential therapeutic targets for improving the therapy of patients with IBD. We discuss cytokines like IL-6 itself for which therapeutics such as inhibitory monoclonal antibodies have already entered the clinics, but also focus on other family members whose therapeutic potential has not been explored yet.

EXPERT OPINION

The different cytokines of the IL-6 family offer multiple therapeutic targets that can potentially be used to treat patients with inflammatory bowel disease, but unwanted side effects like inhibition of epithelial regeneration have to be considered.

Association between inflammatory bowel disease and interleukins, chemokines: a two-sample bidirectional mendelian randomization study

Background

Mendelian randomization (MR) was used to evaluate the bidirectional causal relationship between inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and interleukins (ILs), chemokines.

Methods

Genetic instruments and summary data of five ILs and six chemokines were obtained from a genome-wide association study database, and instrumental variables related to IBD were obtained from the FinnGen Consortium. Inverse variance weighting (IVW) was used as the main MR analysis method, and several other MR methods including MR-Egger and weighted median were used to confirm the reliability of the results. Sensitivity analyses such as heterogeneity and pleiotropy were also performed.

Results

The IVW method provided evidence to support that genetically predicted IL-16, IL-18, and CXCL10 significantly positively correlated with IBD, while IL-12p70 and CCL23 significantly negatively correlated with IBD. IL-16 and IL-18 had a suggestive association with an increased risk of ulcerative colitis (UC), and CXCL10 had a suggestive association with an increased risk of Crohn's disease (CD). However, there was no evidence to support that IBD and two main subtypes (UC and CD) are associated with changes in the levels of ILs and chemokines. The results of the sensitivity analyses were robust and no evidence of heterogeneity and horizontal pleiotropy was observed.

Conclusions

The present study showed that some ILs and chemokines affect IBD, but IBD and its main subtypes (UC and CD) have no effect on the level changes of ILs and chemokines.

Mucosal interleukin-8 expression as a predictor of subsequent relapse in ulcerative colitis patients with Mayo endoscopic subscore 0

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Complete endoscopic mucosal healing is defined as a Mayo endoscopic subscore of 0. Some patients diagnosed with a Mayo endoscopic subscore 0 may present with subsequent clinical relapse. Here, we aimed to demonstrate mucosal cytokine profile as a predictor of clinical relapse in ulcerative colitis patients with a Mayo endoscopic subscore of 0 as a marker of mucosal healing.

METHODS

We conducted prospective observational pilot study to examine the relationship between mucosal cytokine expression and subsequent relapse of UC patients diagnosed with a Mayo endoscopic subscore of 0. We enrolled 55 patients, and expression of cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α, interferon γ, interleukin-1β, interleukin-2, interleukin-4, interleukin-5, interleukin-6, interleukin-7, interleukin-8, interleukin-9, interleukin-10, interleukin-12, interleukin-13, interleukin-15, interleukin-17A, interleukin-17F, interleukin-18, interleukin-21, interleukin-22, interleukin-23, interleukin-27, and interleukin-33 was measured by quantitative real-time PCR using rectal mucosa biopsy materials. Cytokine expression levels were compared between patients who relapsed between March 1, 2016, and March 30, 2020, of the study period and those who remained in remission.

RESULTS

Ten cytokines, including interleukin-2, interleukin-4, interleukin-8, interleukin-10, interleukin-12, interleukin-15, interleukin-17A, interleukin-21, interleukin-23, and interleukin-33, were significantly elevated in patients with subsequent relapse compared with those who remained in remission. Interleukin-8 expression was the most useful predictor.

CONCLUSIONS

In the rectal mucosa of ulcerative colitis patients with Mayo endoscopic subscore 0, levels of several cytokines were elevated in cases of subsequent relapse. Among these, interleukin-8 expression was the most useful for predicting relapse.

Elevated Levels of IL-27 Are Associated with Disease Activity in Patients with Crohn's Disease

Immune disorders play an important role in the pathogenesis of Crohn's disease (CD). Notably, the increased immune response of Th1 cells and related cytokines is associated with the onset of CD. IL-27 is a newly discovered IL-12-related cytokine, but its expression and clinical significance in CD patients are still controversial. This study is aimed at evaluating the serum levels of IL-27 in CD patients and analyzing their clinical significance. The results indicated that serum levels of IL-27 in CD patients were significantly higher than those in control subjects (median (interquartile range (IQR)): 110.0 (95.0, 145.0) vs. 85.0 (80.0, 95.0) pg/ml, P < 0.001). Furthermore, the IL-27 levels significantly increased in CD patients at the active stage compared with CD patients in remission (CDR) (127.5 (100.0, 150.0) vs. 90 (80.0, 110.0) pg/ml, P < 0.001). However, there was no difference in IL-27 levels between CDR and control subjects. The levels of IL-27 were positively correlated with Crohn's disease activity index (CDAI), C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), fecal calprotectin (FC), and Simple Endoscopic Score for Crohn's Disease (SES-CD) and negatively correlated with hemoglobin (Hb) and serum albumin (ALB). IL-27 combined with CRP favored the prediction of CD activity (area under the curve (AUC): 0.88). Additionally, the proportions of Th17 and Th1 cells in peripheral blood were higher in CD patients than in control subjects. Active CD patients exhibited significantly higher proportions of Th17 and Th1 cells than those in remission. Moreover, correlation analysis indicated that the serum levels of IL-27 were positively associated with the frequency of Th17 cells in CD patients (r = 0.519, P = 0.013) but not associated with the frequency of Th1 cells in CD patients. IL-27 is positively associated with multiple inflammation indicators and may exert a proinflammatory profile by regulating Th17 cell differentiation in the development of Crohn's disease. In the future, IL-27 combined with CRP is expected to become an important biological marker of CD activity.

AKAP12/Gravin is over-expressed in patients with ulcerative colitis

The gene of A-kinase anchor protein 12 (AKAP12) regulates cell cycle progression, cell motility, and morphology through its multiple scaffolding domains. However, the role of AKAP12 expression in ulcerative colitis (UC) patients has not been yet described. The aim of the study was to describe the gene and protein of AKAP12 expression in patients with UC and its association regarding the disease severity. We included a total of 40 patients with confirmed diagnosis of UC and 25 controls without endoscopic evidence of colitis or neoplasia. The relative quantification of the gene expression was performed by real-time PCR for AKAP12. Kruskal-Wallis was used to test differences among groups, and Spearman correlation to assess the relationship between AKAP12 gene and clinical outcomes. The extent of disease was evaluated using total colonoscopy, and biopsies were taken from rectum segments. The AKAP12 gene expression was increased in colonic mucosa from patients with active UC when compared with UC remission and control group. The overexpression of AKAP12 in patients with UC was associated with the presence of extensive colitis (p = 0.04, RM = 12, IC = 1.29-186.37). AKAP12/CD16 double positive cells were higher in submucosa (p = 0.04), muscular (p < 0.001), and cells from serosa (p < 0.001) in patients affected by UC in comparison to controls. The overexpression of AKAP12 was associated with the extent of disease. This is the first report about the role of AKAP12 in patients with UC suggesting that this gene and its protein could be involved in the modulation of the disease.

Intestinal production of secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) in patients with ulcerative colitis

BACKGROUND

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory disease of the intestine. The genetics factors play an important role in the pathogenesis of UC. SPARC exacerbates colonic inflammatory symptoms in dextran sodium sulphate-induced murine colitis. The aim of the study was to measure the gene expression and intestinal production of SPARC in patients with UC and controls as well as, to determine its correlation with histological activity.

METHODS

We included 40 patients with confirmed diagnosis of UC, and 20 controls without endoscopic evidence of any type of colitis or neoplasia. The relative quantification of the gene expression was performed by real time PCR. GAPDH was used as housekeeping gene for normalization purposes and quality controls. Protein expression was determined by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

The gene expression of SPARC was increased in patients with active UC vs in remission UC and vs. controls (P = 0.005). There was no significant difference between patients with remission UC and controls. The overexpression of SPARC in patients with active UC correlated significantly with mild histological activity (P = 0.06, OR = 7.77, IC = 0.77-77.9) moderate (P = 0.06, OR = 8.1, IC 95%=0.79-82.73), and severe (P = 0.03, OR = 6.5, IC 95%=1.09-38.6). Double positive SPARC+/CD16+ cells were localized mainly in submucosa, muscular layer, and adventitia, and in perivascular inflammatory infiltrates in patients with active UC.

CONCLUSION

The gene and protein expression of SPARC is increased in active UC. SPARC could be a marker of intestinal inflammation and its expression correlates with histological activity.

More fuel to the fire: some patients with non-celiac self-reported wheat sensitivity exhibit adaptive immunological responses in duodenal mucosa

BACKGROUND

In contrast to the well-characterized Celiac Disease (CD), the clinical scenarios encompassed by the non-celiac self-reported wheat sensitivity (NCSRWS) might be related to different antigens that trigger distinct immune-inflammatory reactions. Although an increased number of intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes is observed at the inception of both diseases, the subsequent immunopathogenic pathways seem to be different. We aimed to describe the cytokine profile observed in the duodenal mucosa of patients with NCSRWS.

METHODS

In a blind, cross-sectional study, we included duodenal biopsies from 15 consecutive untreated patients with active CD, 9 individuals with NCSRWS and 10 subjects with dyspepsia without CD and food intolerances. Immunohistochemistry and flow-cytometry were used to determine the presence of pro-inflammatory cytokine expressing monocytes and monocyte-derived dendritic cells involved in innate immune activation, cytokine-driven polarization and maintenance of Th1 and Th17/Th 22, and anti-inflammatory/profibrogenic cytokines.

RESULTS

The percentage of cells expressing all tested cytokines in the lamina propria and the epithelium was higher in CD patients than in the control group. Cytokines that induce and maintain Th1 and Th17 polarization were higher in CD than in NCSRWS and controls, also were higher in NCSRWS compared to controls. Similar differences were detected in the expression of IL-4 and TGF-1, while IL-10-expressing cells were lower in NCSRWS patients than in controls and CD subjects.

CONCLUSIONS

NCSRWS patients exhibit components of both, innate and adaptive immune mechanisms but to a lesser extent compared to CD.

Enhanced STAT3 phosphorylation and PD-L1 expression in myeloid dendritic cells indicate impaired IL-27Ralpha signaling in type 1 diabetes

Interleukin 27 (IL-27), a member of the IL-12 family, is important for T cell differentiation; however, little is known about its effect on dendritic cells (DCs). IL-27 can activate multiple signaling cascades, including the JAK/STAT pathway, and depending on the setting it can both promote and antagonize inflammatory responses. An anti-inflammatory function of IL-27 has been reported in several autoimmune diseases; however, in type 1 diabetes (T1D), an autoimmune disease where autoreactive cytotoxic T cells attack insulin-producing beta cells, IL-27 has been shown to have a dual role and contradictory effects. Here, we show impaired IL-27 signaling in a large cohort of T1D patients (n = 51) compared to age- and gender-matched healthy donors. Increased expression of the IL-27 receptor subunit IL-27Ralpha mRNA in purified myeloid DCs (mDCs), detected by gene expression microarrays was mirrored by enhanced signal transduction in T1D mDCs in response to IL-27 stimulation. Higher STAT phosphorylation in T1D patients was also accompanied by elevated expression of the inhibitory molecules PD-L1, PD-L2 and PD-1, which may suggest not only immunomodulatory mechanisms of IL-27 in T1D but also a compensatory effort of T1D dendritic cells against the ongoing inflammation.

Association of single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the IL27 gene with autoimmune thyroid diseases

Background Accumulating data have shown that interleukin-27 (IL27) polymorphisms are linked to the susceptibility of some autoimmune diseases. We assessed whether there was an association between three single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of IL27 gene and autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITDs). Methods Three SNPs (rs153109, rs17855750 and rs181206) of IL27 gene were genotyped by Hi-SNP high-throughput genotyping in 843 patients with AITDs (516 Graves' disease (GD) and 327 Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT)) and 677 healthy controls in Chinese Han population. Results Compared with controls, rs153109 displayed significant associations with GD in allele and genotype frequencies (P = 0.002 and P = 0.008, respectively) and rs17855750 displayed significant associations with HT in allele frequencies (P = 0.02), whereas no differences in genotype or allele frequencies were found between AITD patients and controls at rs181206. Conclusion Our study, for the first time, showed the significant association of the IL27 gene SNPs with AITD.

Faecalibacterium prausnitzii Skews Human DC to Prime IL10-Producing T Cells Through TLR2/6/JNK Signaling and IL-10, IL-27, CD39, and IDO-1 Induction

The human colonic mucosa contains regulatory type 1-like (Tr1-like, i.e., IL-10-secreting and Foxp3-negative) T cells specific for the gut Clostridium Faecalibacterium prausnitzii (F. prausnitzii), which are both decreased in Crohn's disease patients. These data, together with the demonstration, in mice, that colonic regulatory T cells (Treg) induced by Clostridium bacteria are key players in colon homeostasis, support a similar role for F. prausnitzii-specific Treg in the human colon. Here we assessed the mechanisms whereby F. prausnitzii induces human colonic Treg. We demonstrated that F. prausnitzii, but not related Clostridia, skewed human dendritic cells to prime IL-10-secreting T cells. Accordingly, F. prausnitzii induced dendritic cells to express a unique array of potent Tr1/Treg polarizing molecules: IL-10, IL-27, CD39, IDO-1, and PDL-1 and, following TLR4 stimulation, inhibited their up-regulation of costimulation molecules as well as their production of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-12 (p35 and p40) and TNFα. We further showed that these potent tolerogenic effects relied on F. prausnitzii-induced TLR2/6 triggering, JNK signaling and CD39 ectonucleotidase activity, which was induced by IDO-1 and IL-27. These data, together with the presence of F. prausnitzii-specific Tr1-like Treg in the human colon, point out to dendritic cells polarization by F. prausnitzii as the first described cellular mechanism whereby the microbiota composition may affect human colon homeostasis. Identification of F. prausnitzii-induced mediators involved in Tr1-like Treg induction by dendritic cells opens therapeutic avenues for the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases.

Can We Target Endogenous Anti-inflammatory Responses as a Therapeutic Strategy for Inflammatory Bowel Disease?

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) describes chronic relapsing remitting inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract including ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. The prevalence of IBD is rising across the globe. Despite a growing therapeutic arsenal, current medical treatments are not universally effective, do not induce lasting remission in all, or are accompanied by short- and long-term adverse effects. Therefore, there is a clinical need for novel therapeutic strategies for IBD. Current treatments for IBD mainly manipulate the immune system for therapeutic gain by inhibiting pro-inflammatory activity. There is a robust endogenous immunoregulatory capacity within the repertoire of both innate and adaptive immune responses. An alternative treatment strategy for IBD is to hijack and bolster this endogenous capability for therapeutic gain. This review explores this hypothesis and presents current evidence for this therapeutic direction in immune cell function, cytokine biology, and alternative mechanisms of immunoregulation such as microRNA, oligonucleotides, and the endocannabinoid system.

Recent Advances: The Imbalance of Cytokines in the Pathogenesis of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Cytokines play an important role in the immunopathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, where they drive and regulate multiple aspects of intestinal inflammation. The imbalance between proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines that occurs in IBD results in disease progression and tissue damage and limits the resolution of inflammation. Targeting cytokines have been novel strategies in the treatment of IBD. Recent studies show the beneficial effects of anticytokine treatments to IBD patients, and multiple novel cytokines are found to be involved in the pathogenesis of IBD. In this review, we will discuss the recent advances of novel biologics in clinics and clinical trials, and novel proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines found in IBD with focusing on IL-12 family and IL-1 family members as well as their relevance to the potential therapy of IBD.