Decoy receptor 3 analogous supplement protects steatotic rat liver from ischemia-reperfusion injury

Research Progress of DcR3 in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Sepsis

Decoy receptor 3 (DcR3), a soluble glycosylated protein in the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily, plays a role in tumor and inflammatory diseases. Sepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by the dysregulation of the response to infection. Currently, no specific drug that can alleviate or even cure sepsis in a comprehensive and multi-level manner has been found. DcR3 is closely related to sepsis and considerably upregulated in the serum of those patients, and its upregulation is positively correlated with the severity of sepsis and can be a potential biomarker for diagnosis. DcR3 alone or in combination with other markers has shown promising results in the early diagnosis of sepsis. Furthermore, DcR3 is a multipotent immunomodulator that can bind FasL, LIGHT, and TL1A through decoy action, and block downstream apoptosis and inflammatory signaling. It also regulates T-cell and macrophage differentiation and modulates immune status through non-decoy action; therefore, DcR3 could be a potential drug for the treatment of sepsis. The application of DcR3 in the treatment of a mouse model of sepsis also achieved good efficacy. Here, we introduce and discuss the progress in, and suggest novel ideas for, research regarding DcR3 in the diagnosis and treatment of sepsis.

The role of the canonical nf-κb signaling pathway in the development of acute liver failure

As a clinical emergency with a high mortality rate, the treatment of acute liver failure has been paid attention to by society. At present, liver transplantation is the most effective treatment for acute liver failure, but there is still an insufficient supply of liver sources and a poor prognosis. In view of the current therapeutic development of this disease, more researchers have turned their attention to the research of drugs related to the NF-κB pathway. The NF-κB canonical pathway has been proven to play a role in a variety of diseases, regulating inflammation, apoptosis, and other physiological processes. More and more evidence shows that the NF-κB canonical pathway regulates the pathogenesis of acute liver failure. In this review, we will summarize the regulation process of the NF-κB canonical pathway on acute liver failure, and develop a new way to treat acute liver failure by targeting the components of the pathway.

The Role of Decoy Receptor DcR3 in Gastrointestinal Malignancy

Malignancies are among the leading causes of mortality worldwide. Early detection and treatment are the primary targets of clinical and translational research, and may be facilitated by the recognition of novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. Decoy receptor 3 (DcR3) is a soluble receptor of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily of proteins (TNFRSF), which associates with its respective TNF-like ligands, Fas-L, LIGHT, and TL1A. DcR3 has been recognised as a significant anti-apoptotic factor with prominent involvement in various inflammatory and neoplastic conditions. Increased intratumor expression of DcR3 and elevated soluble DcR3 protein content in the sera of patients has been reported for various malignancies. Recent published work has suggested that monitoring of local and systemic DcR3 may provide an attractive biomarker, mainly for defining subgroups of patients with aggressive tumor behaviour and poor prognosis. The aim of the present review is to summarize and critically present existing evidence regarding the potential clinical importance of monitoring DcR3 expression in patients with malignancies of the gastrointestinal tract, as well as liver and pancreatic cancer. We also present a detailed description of the pathophysiological basis that may underlie the involvement of DcR3 in gastrointestinal carcinogenesis. Based on these data, we comment on the potential applicability of DcR3 monitoring in the diagnosis and, most importantly, the prognostic stratification of patients.

T lymphocytes and preeclampsia: The potential role of T-cell subsets and related MicroRNAs in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia

Innate and adaptive immune systems have a crucial role in initiating and progressing some pregnancy disorders such as preeclampsia (PE), which is one of the pregnancy-specific disorders that could result in neonatal and maternal morbidity and mortality. The dysregulation of the spiral artery and inadequate trophoblast invasion lead to PE symptoms through producing various inflammatory cytokines and anti-angiogenic factors from the placenta. T lymphocytes play a special role in the epithelium and stroma of the human endometrium. CD4+ T helper (Th) cells, Th1/Th2, and Th17/T regulatory (Treg) balance mainly contribute to the establishment of a pregnancy-favorable environment. This review examined the dysregulation of some cytokines produced from T cells, the dysregulation of the transcription factors of Th cells, the expression of chemokine receptors on T cells, as well as the effects of some factors including vitamin D on the activity of T cells, and finally, the dysregulation of various miRNAs related to T cells, which could cause PE.

Low plasma levels of decoy receptor 3 (DcR3) in the third trimester of pregnancy with preeclampsia

OBJECTIVE

The pathophysiology of preeclampsia, a major threat during pregnancy characterized by excessive inflammatory status, remains unclear. Decoy receptor 3 (DcR3), a soluble member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) superfamily, is capable of inducing anti-apoptosis via binding with TL1A and anti-inflammation by driving Th2 immune reactions. DcR3 may, therefore, play a role in immune modulation during pregnancy. The purpose of this study is to explore the role of DcR3 in normal and preeclamptic pregnancies.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Plasma samples from 104 normal pregnant women (26, 42, and 36 in the first, second, and third trimester, respectively) and 10 patients with preeclampsia in the third trimester were collected. Plasma DcR3 levels were determined by using commercial ELISA kits. ANOVA and linear regression analysis were performed to analyze the relationship between gestational age and DcR3 levels. After adjusting for gestational days, the levels of plasma DcR3 in preeclamptic and non-preeclamptic women in the third trimester were compared.

RESULTS

The plasma levels of DcR3 gradually decreased as the gestational days increased during pregnancy (p < 0.05). In the third trimester, pregnant women with preeclampsia had significantly lower plasma DcR3 levels compared to non-preeclamptic women (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

We found that plasma DcR3 levels gradually decreased as gestation progressed. The levels of plasma DcR3 in preeclamptic women were significantly lower than those of normal pregnant women, suggesting that a potential involvement of DcR3 in normal pregnancy and decreased levels of DcR3 may be related to preeclampsia.

Expression and Clinical Significance of Decoy Receptor 3 in Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure

AIMS

To explore the expression level and clinical significance of decoy receptor 3 (DcR3) in patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF).

METHODS

Serum DcR3 levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 76 patients with ACLF and 41 non-ACLF patients with chronic liver disease. Blood routine and liver functions were accessed for their correlations with DcR3.

RESULTS

Serum DcR3 in ACLF patients was significantly higher than that in non-ACLF patients. It was positively correlated with neutrophilic granulocyte, aspartate aminotransferase, prothrombin time, and international standardized ratio, but negatively correlated with platelet and serum albumin. At the early stage, the level of DcR3 was not significantly different between the survival and nonsurvival group of ACLF. However, at the late stage, DcR3 increased in nonsurvival and gradually decreased in survivals. The baseline DcR3 could not sufficiently predict the outcome of ACLF, while the change of DcR3 within the first week displayed a better predictive value than model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score.

CONCLUSIONS

DcR3 was highly expressed in patients with ACLF and correlated with several clinical indices. Dynamic change of DcR3 might predict the prognosis of ACLF.