Involvement of CD40-CD40L and ICOS-ICOSL in the development of chronic rhinosinusitis by targeting eosinophils

Moniezia benedeni infection promoting ICOS+ T cell proliferation in sheep (Ovis aries) small intestine

BACKGROUND

Cellular immunity mechanisms play a crucial role in regulating anti-parasite immunity. ICOS is one of the core factors of multitype T cell subsets involved in the regulation of immune homeostasis. The aim of this experiment was to investigate the distribution patterns of ICOS+ T cells in the small intestine of sheep and determine the impact of Moniezia benedeni (M. benedeni) infection on these cells.

METHODS

In this study, a sheep pET-28a-ICOS recombinant plasmid was constructed, and the recombinant protein was obtained through induced expression in BL21 (DE3) cells. Furthermore, a rabbit polyclonal antibody against sheep ICOS was produced. The expression of ICOS in the sheep small intestine was analyzed using immunofluorescence and ELISA, comparing the results before and after M. benedeni infection.

RESULTS

The findings revealed that the purified recombinant ICOS protein had the anticipated size (14.2 kDa). The rabbit anti-sheep ICOS polyclonal antibody showed good specificity and a titer of 1:128,000. ELISA results indicated a significant increase in ICOS expression in all segments of the small intestine after M. benedeni infection (P < 0.05). The ileum exhibited the most substantial increase in expression (P < 0.001), followed by the jejunum (P < 0.05) and duodenum (P < 0.05). Immunofluorescence analysis demonstrated that ICOS+ T cells are diffusely distributed in the intestinal epithelium and around the intestinal glands in the lamina propria of the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum of sheep. Moreover, after being infected with M. benedeni, the number of ICOS+ T cells in all intestinal segments significantly increases (P < 0.05), with the most significant increase in the intestinal epithelium of the duodenum.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that M. benedeni infection in sheep can stimulate the proliferation of ICOS+ T cells in the small intestine. This lays the foundation for future research on the role of ICOS+ T cells in regulating cellular immunity against parasitic infections in different segments of the small intestine.

Complex gene-dependent and-independent mechanisms control daily rhythms of hematopoietic cells

The abundance and behaviour of all hematopoietic components display daily oscillations, supporting the involvement of circadian clock mechanisms. The daily variations of immune cell functions, such as trafficking between blood and tissues, differentiation, proliferation, and effector capabilities are regulated by complex intrinsic (cell-based) and extrinsic (neuro-hormonal, organism-based) mechanisms. While the role of the transcriptional/translational molecular machinery, driven by a set of well-conserved genes (Clock genes), in nucleated immune cells is increasingly recognized and understood, the presence of non-transcriptional mechanisms remains almost entirely unexplored. Studies on anucleate hematopoietic components, such as red blood cells and platelets, have shown that auto-sustained redox reaction cycles persist and operate in mammals. This opens to the possibility that transcriptional and non-transcriptional circadian mechanisms might coexist in nucleated immune cell populations, potentially complementing each other. It is becoming increasingly clear that disruption of the circadian rhythm at the central level (core clock) is strongly implicated in a plethora of diseases that are associated with maladaptive immune responses. On the other hand, several evidence imply that dysregulated immune activity (e.g. excessive inflammation) may alter/disrupt the proper functioning of peripheral clocks. This knowledge paves the way to the exploitation of chronobiological concepts in clinical practice. A better comprehension of various transcriptional/translational and biochemical mechanisms that maintain rhythmicity in immune system activities, as well as the many factors (host-derived, microbiota-derived, environment) that can alter or disrupt these processes, will facilitate the development of novel chrono-immunotherapeutic approaches.

Regulation of the Function of T Follicular Helper Cells and B Cells in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus by the OX40/OX40L Axis

OBJECTIVE/MAIN OUTCOME

To study the expression of OX40 on T follicular helper (Tfh) cells and the ligand OX40L on antigen-presenting cells (APCs) in peripheral blood of patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and the role of OX40 signaling in promoting Tfh cells to assist B-cell differentiation.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Endocrinology department of a university hospital.

PARTICIPANTS

Twenty-five patients with T1DM and 35 with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) from January 2021 to December 2021 (39 males, 21 females; mean age: 31.0 ± 4.5, range: 19-46 years).

INTERVENTIONS

None.

METHODS

The peripheral blood proportion of CD4+CD25-CD127+CXCR5+PD1+ Tfh cells in patients with T1DM or T2DM and the OX40L expression in CD14+ monocytes and CD19+ B cells were analyzed by flow cytometry. The OX40 signal effect on Tfh-cell function was analyzed by coincubating B cells with Tfh cells under different conditions. Flow cytometry detected the ratio of CD19-CD138+ plasmacytes.

RESULTS

The Tfh cells ratio and intracellular IL-21 expression in peripheral blood was significantly higher in patients with T1DM than with T2DM, and the OX40 expression in peripheral Tfh cells and OX40L expression in APC were significantly higher in T1DM. After adding OX40L protein, the CD19-CD138+-plasmacytes percentage was significantly increased and higher in T1DM. Blocking of anti-OX40L monoclonal antibodies significantly reduced the plasmacytes ratio.

CONCLUSION

The peripheral Tfh cells proportion increased and the OX40 expression in peripheral Tfh cells was upregulated in patients with T1DM vs patients with T2DM. OX40/OX40L signaling enhanced the Tfh-cell function to assist B-cell differentiation, which may contribute to the pathogenesis of T1DM.

Multiple cytokine analyses identify CSF1 as a robust biomarker for predicting postoperative recurrence in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps

OBJECTIVE

Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is a heterogeneous disease with a high rate of postoperative recurrence. This study aimed to discover potential biomarkers by analyzing multiple cytokine profiles in serum to predict postoperative recurrence in CRSwNP and to explore the underlying mechanisms.

METHODS

In this prospective study, we enrolled 18 healthy controls (HC) and 60 CRSwNP patients and analyzed the baseline serum cytokine profiles using the Luminex assay. Patients were followed up for more than 2 years and divided into non-recurrence and Recurrence groups. The differentially expressed cytokines were validated in the serum and tissue samples in a validation cohort, and their predictive values for recurrence were evaluated.

RESULTS

Fifty-four CRSwNP patients completed the follow-up schedule, including 37 patients in the non-Recurrence group and 17 patients in the Recurrence group. Multiple cytokine analyses showed that serum CD40, CD40L, IL-18, IL-8, MCP1, and CSF1 levels were elevated in the CRSwNP group, especially in the Recurrence group, compared to the HC group. Receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC) and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that serum levels of CD40, CD40L, and CSF1 were closely associated with the risk of postoperative recurrence. Further validation results showed that both serum and tissue mRNA levels of CD40, CD40L, and CSF1 were significantly higher in the Recurrence group in comparison with the non-recurrence and HC groups, and tissue CSF1 mRNA expression exhibited a robust value for predicting the CRSwNP recurrence. Immunofluorescence results revealed that CSF1 was enhanced in the recurrent CRSwNP patients, especially in the epithelial cell area, and CSF1 expressions were augmented when patients suffered postoperative recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

Circulating cytokine profiles may affect the risk of postoperative recurrence in CRSwNP patients. Our discovery-validation results suggested that CSF1 might serve as a robust biomarker for predicting CRSwNP recurrence.