New therapeutic targets for rheumatoid arthritis

Evaluation of copper nanoparticles and copper sulfate effect on immune status, behavior, and productive performance of broilers

Objective:

This study was conducted to compare between the nanoparticles of copper (Cu-NP) and copper sulfate (CuSO₄) effect on immunity, pro-inflammatory cytokine, oxidant/antioxidant balance, different behavioral patterns, growth rate, and weight gain by adding them in drinking water of broilers.

Materials and Methods:

One hundred and fifty broiler chicks of 1-day-old were randomly divided into three groups: the first group was the control, the second group received CuSO₄ in drinking water (10 mg/l), and the third group received Cu-NP in drinking water (10 mg/l) with replicates (n = 25) for 5 weeks of age. Blood samples collected for estimating immunoglobulins (A, G, and M), superoxide dismutase, pro-inflammatory (IL-6), erythrocyte sedimentation rate, heterophil/lymphocyte (H/L) ratio, malondialdehyde (MDA), corticosterone hormone, and lymphoid organs index weight. Moreover, behavioral observations were undertaken from the 2nd week until the 5th week of age for measuring different behavioral patterns (feeding, drinking, crouching, body care, and comfort behaviors). Chicks were individually weighed weekly (gm); also, the weight gain, the intake of food, and the ratio of feed conversion were calculated.

Results:

Cu-NP administration has improved the blood profile, lymphoid organs index weight in Cu-NP treated broilers in relation to control and CuSO₄ treated groups. Conversely, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, H/L ratio, MDA, and corticosterone hormone were reduced by Cu-NP treatment. Moreover, Cu-NP has a positive effect on all behavioral patterns more than other groups which significantly reflect on the weight of the body, gaining of weight, and the intake of food in the Cu-NP treated group of birds.

Conclusion:

The findings in this study stated that when the drinking water of broilers was supplemented with Cu-NP, there might be an improvement in the immunity, behavior, and productive performance more efficiently than CuSO₄.

Redox and Immunological Status of Turkeys Fed Diets with Different Levels and Sources of Copper

This study, performed on turkeys aged 1 to 98 days, aimed to investigate whether different dietary inclusion levels (20, 10, 2 mg kg−1) of copper nanoparticles (Cu-NP) as a substitute for copper sulphate (Cu-SUL) affect redox and immunological status of turkeys’ tissues. No significant differences in the final body weights of turkeys were found across the dietary treatments. A comparison of the physiological effects of Cu-NP and Cu-SUL revealed equivocal metabolic responses including decreased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in the liver, increased SOD and catalase activities in breast muscles, decreased total glutathione concentrations in breast muscles, and decreased plasma IgY concentrations. An analysis of the antioxidant and immune status parameters in the blood, liver and breast meat of turkeys indicates that 10 mg/kg is the optimal inclusion level of additional Cu. Both two-fold higher and five-fold lower Cu supplementation levels have a negative influence on selected parameters of the antioxidant and immune status of birds. Lower supplementation levels of Cu-NP (2 and 10 mg/kg) exert similar physiological effects to Cu-SUL, whereas higher addition of Cu-NP (20 mg/kg) may negatively affect selected redox parameters and stimulate the synthesis of the proinflammatory cytokine IL-6. The results of the present study indicate that further research is needed to establish the actual dietary requirements for Cu in turkeys and the efficacy of nanoparticles as a new additional Cu source in turkey nutrition.

The effect of administration of copper nanoparticles to chickens in their drinking water on the immune and antioxidant status of the blood

The aim of this experiment was to determine what dosage of copper (Cu) nanoparticles, added to a standard dietary supplementation with copper sulfate, would improve antioxidant and immune defense in chickens. The experiment was conducted with 126 broiler chickens assigned to seven treatments with three pens per treatment and six broiler chickens per pen. The basal-diet treatment did not receive Cu nanoparticles (nano-Cu) and as shown by analyses it was Cu-deficient (-29% vs. National Research Council (NRC) recommendations; 5.7 vs. 8 mg/kg). Broiler chickens received nano-Cu (0.5, 1.0 or 1.5 mg/kg body weight per day) via a tube into the crop over three 3-day periods (days 8-10, 22-24 and 36-38) or three 7-day periods (days 8-14, 22-28 and 36-42). As a result, in the nano-Cu-treated broilers the total experimental Cu intake was from -11% to +96% versus NRC recommendations. At the age of 42 days of broilers, their blood indices were determined. The obtained results showed that correction of the deficient basal diet of chickens with nano-Cu to a level of copper exceeding the NRC recommendation by 54% increased the antioxidant potential of the organism and inhibited lipid peroxidation. At the dosage of +96% versus NRC, some symptoms of a deterioration in antioxidant status appeared (a decrease in the level of glutathione plus glutathione disulfide and an increase in superoxide dismutase, catalase and ceruloplasmin activity and in lipid hydroperoxide content). Additionally, +7% versus the recommended Cu dietary level was followed by unfavorable results, indicating a deterioration in red blood cell parameters and stimulation of the immune system (an increase in interleukin-6, immunoglobulin A (IgA), IgM and IgY). To conclude, it was shown that it is possible to simultaneously increase antioxidant and immune defense of chickens by supplementing their diets with nano-Cu - up to 12 mg per bird during 6 weeks of feeding, that is to a level no more than 7% over the NRC recommendation for growing broiler chickens.

Transmembrane TNF is sufficient to initiate cell migration and granuloma formation and provide acute, but not long-term, control of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection

TNF is critical for immunity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection; however, the relative contributions of the soluble and transmembrane forms of TNF in this immunity are unknown. Using memTNF mice, which express only the transmembrane form of TNF, we have addressed this question. Wild-type (WT), TNF-/-, and transmembrane TNF (memTNF) mice were infected with M. tuberculosis by aerosol. TNF-/- mice developed overwhelming infection with extensive pulmonary necrosis and died after only 33 days. memTNF mice, like WT mice, contained bacterial growth for over 16 wk, developed an Ag-specific T cell response, and initially displayed compact granulomas, comprised of both lymphocytes and macrophages. Expression of mRNA for the chemokines CXCL10, CCL3, CCL5, and CCL7 was comparable in both WT and memTNF mice. As the infection progressed, however, the pulmonary lesions in memTNF mice became larger and more diffuse, with increased neutrophil accumulation and necrosis. This was accompanied by increased influx of activated memory T cells into the lungs of memTNF mice. Eventually, these mice succumbed to infection with a mean time to death of 170 days. The expression of memTNF on T cells is functionally important because the transfer of T cells from memTNF, but not TNF-/- mice, into either RAG-/- or TNF-/- mice conferred the same survival advantage on the M. tuberculosis-infected recipient mice, as the transfer of WT T cells. Therefore, memTNF, in the absence of soluble TNF, is sufficient to control acute, but not chronic, M. tuberculosis infection, in part through its expression on T cells.

Madimadi, Korean folk medicine, blocks TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-8 production by activated human immune cells

Madimadi, a Korean folk medicine, has been applied to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, its mechanisms of action have not been examined. The involvement of inflammatory cytokines, particularly TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, and IL-8, resulting in local inflammation in the pathogenesis of RA is now widely accepted. Madimadi dose-dependently inhibited TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, and IL-8 production from activated human mast cells (HMC-1). RT-PCR revealed inhibition of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta transcription in activated HMC-1. In addition, we confirmed potent inhibition of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta production by Madimadi using purified human blood PBMC from an active RA group, but not from healthy or disease control groups. These novel insights into the immunosuppressive action of Madimadi are likely to impact the clinical use of this agent.

The Oriental Medicine 'Cool-Cool (Cool-X-A)' Inhibits Inflammatory Cytokine Production and Migration in Mast Cells

Plant medications have been applied to treat pains from various types of arthritis in Korea. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is well known to be a chronic autoimmune/inflammatory disease that leads to progressive joint damage and cartilage destruction. Accumulation and activation of mast cells have been demonstrated in rheumatoid synovial tissue. Because infiltrated mast cells and their mediators may contribute to the initiation and progression of the inflammatory process and matrix degradation of RA, we tested the inhibitory effects of "Cool-Cool" (CC, Cool-X-A), an Oriental medication, on the production and migration of major inflammatory cytokines in mast cells. CC was treated in vitro before activation of human mast cell line (HMC-1) with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, and the cytotoxicity of CC was assessed by 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazoliumbromide assay. CC had no cytotoxic effects on HMC-1 cell viability. The inhibitory effects on cytokine production were monitored by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). CC inhibited not only the secretion but also the expression of TNF-alpha and IL-8 in HMC-1 cells. CC also suppressed migration of mast cells induced by stem cell factor. These findings may help in understanding the mechanism of action of this herbal medication, leading to the control of mast cells in inflammatory conditions like RA.

Vasoactive intestinal peptide prevents experimental arthritis by downregulating both autoimmune and inflammatory components of the disease

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic and debilitating autoimmune disease of unknown etiology, characterized by chronic inflammation in the joints and subsequent destruction of the cartilage and bone. We describe here a new strategy for the treatment of arthritis: administration of the neuropeptide vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP). Treatment with VIP significantly reduced incidence and severity of arthritis in an experimental model, completely abrogating joint swelling and destruction of cartilage and bone. The therapeutic effect of VIP was associated with downregulation of both inflammatory and autoimmune components of the disease. Our data indicate VIP as a viable candidate for the development of treatments for RA.