Th17 Activation and Th17/Treg Imbalance in Prolonged Anterior Intraocular Inflammation after Ocular Alkali Burn

Effect and mechanism of imbalance via Th9 cells and Th17/Treg cells in inflammatory and fibrotic phases of pulmonary fibrosis in mice

We investigate the role and mechanism of imbalance via Th9 cells and Th17/Treg cells in the inflammatory and fibrotic phases of pulmonary fibrosis in mice. A total of mice were split into normal saline (control group) and inflammation and fibrosis mouse models (study group) randomly, and lung tissues and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were obtained from mice at the inflammatory and fibrotic phases on the 7th and 28th day, respectively. The degenerative changes in the mouse lung tissue were then visible using H&E staining. The expression of CCR6 and IL-9 in the lung tissues of two groups was examined through an immunohistochemistry assay. Fluorescence PCR was used to assess the expression of PU.1 mRNA in BALF, and flow cytometry was performed to identify the expression of Th17 and Treg. (1). The level of pulmonary fibrosis and lung inflammation in the research group was significantly higher than in the control group. (2). The expression of Th17, CCR6, IL-9 and PU.1 mRNA was substantially higher (P<0.05) in the research group at different time points; the expression level of Treg cells was considerably lower (P<0.05) in the research group than in the control group. (3). CCR6, IL-9 and PU.1 mRNA levels were statistically directly associated (P<0.05) with Th17 and inversely correlated 40 with Regulatory T cells (Tregs). CCR6 and Th9 cells may be involved in 45 developing Th17/Treg imbalance in the immune inflammation of pulmonary fibrosis, which promotes fibrocyte proliferation in lung tissue.

Case report: Two-step lamellar keratoplasty for alkali burns

Purpose

To report a case of a patient with ocular surface alkali burn who developed corneal perforation before entering a stable phase. This patient was treated with a custom-designed lamellar graft using a Two-Step lamellar keratoplasty (LK) after 3 months alkali burn.

Methods

This study was a case report.

Results

A 43-year-old male patient who presented with redness, pain, and decreased vision in his left eye following lime exposure. Initial treatment involved amniotic membrane transplantation and anterior chamber irrigation. However, the patient subsequently developed corneal infiltration and progressive thinning. The patient refused the corneal transplantation and ultimately underwent tarsorrhaphy. Twenty days postoperatively, the patient experienced sudden ocular pain and central corneal perforation. Considering the potential complications of conventional corneal transplantation, including stem cell deficiency, graft dissolution, and rejection, a personalized Two-Step LK was devised. Following this procedure, the patient's vision gradually improved to 20/133 (without correction), with a good corneal condition but mild epithelial defects and edema. At the 8-month follow-up, subepithelial corneal haze was observed, but uncorrected visual acuity remained stable at 20/133 and best corrected visual acuity was up to 20/66.

Conclusion

For patients with ocular surface alkali burns who experience persistent disease progression despite early and mid-stage aggressive interventions, this study is the first to report on the use of a Two-Step LK. This approach takes into account both the "soil" factors that may lead to graft dissolution and the "seed" factors related to recipient stem cell deficiency. The results in preventing graft dissolution and maintaining postoperative corneal function are encouraging.

Dysregulated Th17/Treg cell axis is correlated with local and systemic immune response in human intermediate uveitis

Th17/Treg cell balance is essential for immune homeostasis and when disrupted, is associated with the occurrence and development of inflammation in numerous autoimmune diseases. However, its contribution in pathophysiology of uveitis remains unexplored. In this study, we deciphered the role of Th17/Treg cell balance in autoimmune uveitis subjects. Using flow cytometry, we detected the frequencies and absolute count of both Th17 and Treg cells in the aqueous humor and peripheral blood of patients and healthy controls. Our results for the first time reveal a significant increase (p < 0.01 and p < 0.005) in Th17 population alongside a significant decrease (p < 0.001 and p < 0.003) in Treg cell population in both the aqueous humor and PBMCs of uveitis patients. Further we analyzed the expression of Th17-Treg associated genes and cytokines via qPCR and ELISA respectively. These findings align with our flow cytometry results, as evident by a significant (p < 0.002) up-regulation of IL-17 and a concurrent down regulation of IL-10 at transcriptional levels. Moreover, IL-17A cytokine was found to be substantially high (p < 0.001) and IL-10 (p < 0.02) down regulated in serum. Interestingly, we demonstrated a significant correlation of Th17/Treg cells in aqueous humor with those in peripheral blood. Conclusively, our results suggest the pivotal role of Th17/Treg cell axis in the immuno-pathophysiology of human uveitis. Further we propose the therapeutic potential of targeting this novel axis for ameliorating the disease burden associated with uveitis.

Selenium regulates T cell differentiation in experimental autoimmune thyroiditis in mice

Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element that plays an important role in thyroid physiology. Se supplementation can reduce levels of autoimmune thyroid antibodies, which may be beneficial in Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT). However, the long-term benefits of Se supplementation for HT patients are controversial and there is no clear clinical evidence to support it, so further basic and clinical research is needed. The effect of Se on immune cells, especially T cells, in autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT) has not been elucidated. Here, we replicated a mouse model of experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (EAT) on a high-iodine diet and treated it with Se supplementation. At week 8 of the experiment, Se supplementation reduced the destruction of thyroid follicles and the infiltration rate of lymphocytes in EAT mice, and reversed the disturbance of peripheral blood thyroxine and thyroid autoantibody levels. Further examination revealed that Se had broad effects on T-cell subsets. Its effects include reducing the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines by Th1 cells, inhibiting the differentiation and production of cytokines by Th2 and Th17 cells, and upregulating the differentiation and production of cytokines by Treg cells. These changes help alleviate thyroid follicle damage during EAT. In conclusion, selenium supplementation has the potential to improve the prognosis of AIT by altering the subset differentiation and/or function of CD4+ T cells.

Artesunate targets cellular metabolism to regulate the Th17/Treg cell balance

INTRODUCTION

Metabolic reprogramming is one of the important mechanisms of cell differentiation, and different cells have different preferences for energy sources. During the differentiation of naive CD4 + T cells into Th17 and Treg cells, these cells show specific energy metabolism characteristics. Th17 cells depend on enhanced glycolysis, fatty acid synthesis, and glutaminolysis. In contrast, Treg cells are dependent on oxidative phosphorylation, fatty acid oxidation, and amino acid depletion. As a potent antimalarial drug, artesunate has been shown to modulate the Th17/Treg imbalance and regulate cell metabolism.

METHODOLOGY

Relevant literatures on ART, cellular metabolism, glycolysis, lipid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, CD4 + T cells, Th17 cells, and Treg cells published from January 1, 2010 to now were searched in PubMed database.

CONCLUSION

In this review, we will highlight recent advances in which artesunate can restore the Th17/Treg imbalance in disease states by altering T-cell metabolism to influence differentiation and lineage selection. Data from the current study show that few studies have focused on the effect of ART on cellular metabolism. ART can affect the metabolic characteristics of T cells (glycolysis, lipid metabolism, and amino acid metabolism) and interfere with their differentiation lineage, thereby regulating the balance of Th17/Treg and alleviating the symptoms of the disease.

Leptin receptor antagonist attenuates experimental autoimmune thyroiditis in mice by regulating Treg/Th17 cell differentiation

Leptin has been found to be involved in the development and progression of many autoimmune diseases. As an organ-specific autoimmune disease, the pathogenesis of Hashimoto's thyroiditis has not been fully elucidated. It has been reported that serum leptin level is increased in Hashimoto's thyroiditis, but other studies have not shown any difference. We replicated a mouse model of experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (EAT) with a high-iodine diet and found that injection of the leptin receptor antagonist Allo-aca reduced thyroid follicle destruction and inflammatory cell infiltration in EAT mice, and thyroxine and thyroid autoimmune antibody levels. Further investigation revealed that Allo-aca promotes the differentiation of Treg cells and inhibits the differentiation of Th17 cells. We believe that Allo-aca can alter the differentiation of Treg/Th17 cells by inhibiting the leptin signaling pathway, thereby alleviating thyroid injury in EAT mice. Interfering with the leptin signaling pathway may be a novel new approach to treat treating and ameliorating Hashimoto's thyroiditis.