The beclomethasone anti-inflammatory effect occurs in cell/mediator-dependent manner and is additively enhanced by formoterol: NFkB, p38, PKA analysis

Development and validation of an activated immune model with zebrafish eleutheroembryo based on caudal fin acupuncture

Environmental pollutants are ubiquitous in global aquatic ecosystems and may cause immunotoxicity in aquatic organisms. However, disadvantages remain in the existing in vivo immunotoxicological methods, which make it difficult to meet the increasing demands for screening and for discriminating the immunotoxicity of environmental pollutants. In this study, the immune response in zebrafish eleutheroembryo was activated by acupuncture of the caudal fin at 72 hours post fertilization (hpf), and this immune model was further validated with a well-defined immunosuppressor, beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP). It was shown that acupuncture resulted in no increase in mortality in zebrafish eleutheroembryos. The transcription and protein levels of most immune genes were significantly increased after acupuncture, which indicated that acupuncture can effectively activate the immune response in zebrafish eleutheroembryos. Following exposure to BDP (0.01-1 μmol/L), the suppressive effects on the immune system were more significant in zebrafish that received acupuncture than in zebrafish that did not receive acupuncture. Considering these advantages, including its sensitivity, safety, and simple operation, over existing methods, the established immune model of zebrafish is promising for assessing the immunotoxicity of environmental pollutants.

ICS/formoterol in the management of asthma in the clinical practice of pulmonologists: an international survey on GINA strategy

BACKGROUND

The treatment with short-acting beta-2 agonists (SABA) alone is no longer recommended due to safety issues. Instead, the current Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) Report recommends the use of the combination of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) with the rapid/long-acting beta-2 agonist formoterol, although the use in steps 1 and 2 is still off-label in the EU and in many countries. It is important to understand clinicians' knowledge and opinions on the issue with the ultimate goal to encourage the implementation of the new approach in clinical practice.

METHODS

We performed an international survey, directed to pulmonologists interested in the management of patients with asthma.

RESULTS

Most participants reported that SABA alone should not be used in GINA Step 1 asthma treatment. As-needed low-dose ICS/formoterol combination to patients in step 1, and as-needed low-dose ICS/formoterol as reliever therapy in any step were found to be of current use prescribed in their real-life settings. SABA alone was still prescribed to a proportion of patients, although the pulmonologists' opinion was that it should no longer be used.

CONCLUSIONS

Most specialists are up to date and understand the relevance of the changes in GINA reports from 2019. Nevertheless, dissemination and implementation of GINA novel management strategy is still needed.

Elevated CD54 Expression Renders CD4+ T Cells Susceptible to Natural Killer Cell-Mediated Killing

BACKGROUND

Natural killer (NK) cells are an important type of effector cell in the innate immune response, and also have a role in regulation of the adaptive immune response. Several studies have indicated that NK cells may influence CD4+ T cells during HIV infection.

METHODS

In total, 51 HIV-infected individuals and 15 healthy controls participated in this study. We performed the flow cytometry assays and real-time PCR for the phenotypic analysis and the functional assays of NK cell-mediated deletion of CD4+ T cells, phosphorylation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB/p65) and the intervention of metformin.

RESULTS

Here we detected high CD54 expression on CD4+ T cells in HIV-infected individuals, and demonstrate that upregulated CD54 is associated with disease progression in individuals infected with HIV. We also show that CD54 expression leads to the deletion of CD4+ T cells by NK cells in vitro, and that this is modulated by NF-κB/p65 signaling. Further, we demonstrate that metformin can suppress CD54 expression on CD4+ T cells by inhibiting NF-κB/p65 phosphorylation.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data suggest that further studies to evaluate the potential role of metformin as adjunctive therapy to reconstitute immune function in HIV-infected individuals are warranted.