Systemic and local responses of cytokines and tissue histology following intramammary lipopolysaccharide challenge in dairy cows

During bovine mastitis, immune responses include the release of cytokines and the recruitment of leukocytes, resulting in profound structural and functional changes in the mammary gland. Our aims were to delineate systemic and local cytokine responses and to quantify histological changes in the mammary tissue of lactating cows after acute intramammary lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge. Ten multiparous dairy cows were paired to either treatment (TRT) or control (CON) groups. For TRT cows, one side of the udder was randomly assigned to receive treatment with LPS (50 µg in 10 mL of saline, TL) into both the front and rear quarters; the contralateral quarters received saline (10 mL). Udder-halves of CON cows were similarly assigned randomly to receive either saline (10 mL, CS) or no infusion (untreated). Temporal changes in the concentrations of 15 cytokines in the blood (0, 3, 6, 12, and 24 h relative to the LPS infusion) and in mammary tissue (0, 3, and 12 h) were determined, as were concomitant changes in mammary histology. The cytokines IL-6, IL-10, MCP-1, and MIP-1β showed a systemic response as their concentrations were significantly different in the plasma of TRT cows as compared with CON cows after LPS challenge. The cytokines IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-17A, IL-36RA, IP-10, MCP-1, MIP-1α, MIP-1β, TNF-α, and VEGF-A showed a local response in TL glands, and 8 cytokines, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17A, IL-36RA, IP-10, MIP-1β, and VEGF-A showed systemic changes in the nonchallenged mammary glands adjacent to LPS-infused glands. Endotoxin challenge evoked changes in the histology of mammary tissue that included a 5.2- and 7.2-fold increases in the number of neutrophils in alveolar lumens at 3 h and 12 h, respectively. In summary, LPS challenge induced specific local and systemic responses in cytokine induction and elicited neutrophil infiltration in bovine mammary tissue.

Successful Treatment of Vitiligo with Cold Atmospheric Plasma‒Activated Hydrogel

Vitiligo shows insufficient response to current therapies largely owing to T-lymphocyte dysfunction, abnormal inflammatory activation, and excessive oxidative stress in lesions. Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) possesses pleiotropic antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and may offer an improvement to current treatment options. In this study, the efficacy and safety of CAP were investigated in a mouse model of vitiligo and a randomized and controlled trial of patients with active focal vitiligo. Skin biopsies showed that topical treatment of vitiligo-like lesions on mouse dorsal skin by CAP restored the distribution of melanin. In addition, CAP treatment reduced the infiltration of CD11c+ dendritic cells, CD3+ T cells, and CD8+ T cells; inhibited the release of CXCL10 and cytokine IFN-γ; and enhanced cellular resistance to oxidative stress and excessive immune response by enhancing the expression of the transcription factor NRF2 and attenuating the activity of inducible nitric oxide synthase. In a randomized and controlled trial, CAP treatment achieved partial and complete repigmentation in 80% and 20% of vitiligo lesions, respectively, without hyperpigmentation in surrounding areas or other adverse events during the treatment period and its follow-up period. In conclusion, CAP offers a promising option for the management of vitiligo.

The role of CXCL10 in prognosis of patients with colon cancer and tumor microenvironment remodeling

BACKGROUNG

Tumor microenvironment (TME) has gradually emerged as an important research topic in the fight against cancer. The immune system is a major contributing factor in TME, and investigations have revealed that tumors are partially infiltrated with numerous immune cell subsets.

METHOD

We obtained transcriptome RNA-seq data from the the Cancer Genome Atlas databases for 521 patients with colon adenocarcinoma (COAD). ESTIMATE algorithms are then used to estimate the fraction of stromal and immune cells in COAD samples.

RESULT

A total of 1109 stromal-immune score-related differentially expressed genes were identified and used to generate a high-confidence protein-protein interaction network and univariate COX regression analysis. C-X-C motif chemokine 10 (CXCL10) was identified as the core gene by intersection analysis of data from protein-protein interaction network and univariate COX regression analysis. Then, for CXCL10, we performed gene set enrichment analysis, survival analysis and clinical analysis, and we used CIBERSORT algorithms to estimate the proportion of tumor-infiltrating immune cells in COAD samples.

CONCLUSION

We discovered that CXCL10 levels could be effective for predicting the prognosis of COAD patients as well as a clue that the status of TME is transitioning from immunological to metabolic activity, which provided additional information for COAD therapies.

CXCL9, CXCL10, and CXCL11; biomarkers of pulmonary inflammation associated with autoimmunity in patients with collagen vascular diseases-associated interstitial lung disease and interstitial pneumonia with autoimmune features

Introduction

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a heterogeneous group of diseases characterized by varying degrees of lung inflammation and/or fibrosis. We investigated biomarkers to infer whether patients with collagen vascular diseases associated ILD (CVD–ILD) and interstitial pneumonia with autoimmune features (IPAF) benefit from immunosuppressive therapy.

Materials and methods

We retrospectively investigated patients with CVD–ILD, IPAF, and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) between June 2013 and May 2017 at our department. First, we assessed differences in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) levels of cytokines between groups. Second, we assessed the associations of patient’s clinical variables with serum and BALF levels of those cytokines that were different between groups. Finally, we assessed the associations of diagnosis and response to immunosuppressive therapy with serum levels of those cytokines that were different between groups.

Results

We included 102 patients (51 with IPF, 35 with IPAF, and 16 with CVD–ILD). Serum and BALF levels of CXCL9, CXCL10, and CXCL11 were significantly elevated in patients with IPAF or CVD–ILD compared with those in patients with IPF. BALF levels of CXCL9 and CXCL10 were correlated with the percentages of lymphocytes and macrophages in BALF. Serum levels of CXCL9 and CXCL10 were correlated with BALF levels. Serum levels of CXCL9, CXCL10, and CXCL11 were correlated C-reactive protein, percent predicted forced vital capacity, alveolar-arterial oxygen difference, and the percentages of lymphocytes and macrophages in BALF. Serum levels of CXCL9, CXCL10, and CXCL11 showed moderate accuracy to distinguish patients with CVD–ILD from those with IPAF and IPF. Pre-treatment serum levels of CXCL9 and CXCL11 showed strong positive correlations with the annual forced vital capacity changes in patients with IPAF and CVD–ILD treated with immunosuppressive drugs.

Conclusions

Serum CXCL9, CXCL10, and CXCL11 are potential biomarkers for autoimmune inflammation and predictors of the immunosuppressive therapy responses in ILD with background autoimmunity.

Identification of candidate host serum and saliva biomarkers for a better diagnosis of active and latent tuberculosis infection

In our work, we aim to identify new candidate host biomarkers to discriminate between active TB patients (n = 28), latent infection (LTBI; n = 27) and uninfected (NoTBI; n = 42) individuals. For that, active TB patients and their contacts were recruited that donated serum and saliva samples. A multiplex assay was performed to study the concentration of different cytokines, chemokines and growth factors. Proteins with significant differences between groups were selected and logistic regression and the area under the ROC curve (AUC) was used to assess the diagnostic accuracy. The best marker combinations that discriminate active TB from NoTBI contacts were [IP-10 + IL-7] in serum and [Fractalkine + IP-10 + IL-1α + VEGF] in saliva. Best discrimination between active TB and LTBI was achieved using [IP-10 + BCA-1] in serum (AUC = 0.83) and IP-10 in saliva (p = 0.0007; AUC = 0.78). The levels of TNFα (p = 0.003; AUC = 0.73) in serum and the combination of [Fractalkine+IL-12p40] (AUC = 0.83) in saliva, were able to differentiate between NoTBI and LTBI contacts. In conclusion, different individual and combined protein markers could help to discriminate between active TB and both uninfected and latently-infected contacts. The most promising ones include [IP-10 + IL-7], [IP-10 + BCA-1] and TNFα in serum and [Fractalkine + IP-10 + IL-1α + VEGF], IP-10 and [Fractalkine+IL-12p40] in saliva.

IP-10 for the diagnosis of tuberculosis in children: Protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Tuberculosis (TB) is a highly contagious and chronic disease. The microbiological examination to confirm children TB disease are limited due to paucibacillary Mycobacterium, specimens and detecting facilities. Considering these limitations in diagnosing children TB, new and reliable methods that detect children TB should be developed. Recently, Interferon gamma-induced protein 10 (IP-10) has been identified as a sensitive parameter in detecting children TB. The present study aims to synthesis and analysis the diagnostic value of IP-10 for children TB.

METHODS

We will search PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Chinese Biological Medical Databases. We will search relevant citations up to May 2019. The quality of individual study will be assessed using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies tool-2 (QUADAS-2). Stata 14.0 software will be used to calculate the pooled sensitivity, pooled specificity, pooled positive likelihood ratio (PLR), pooled negative likelihood ratio (NLR), pooled diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), pre-test probability, post-test probability and the hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic (HSROC) curve.

RESULTS

The results of this study will be published in a peer-reviewed journal.

DISCUSSION

The evidence will indicate that IP-10 test is an alternative immunological test in detecting children TB. This is a protocol of systematic review and meta-analysis, so the ethical approval and patient consent are not required.

PROTOCOL REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42019129743.

Impact of age on the diagnostic yield of four different biomarkers of tuberculous pleural effusion

The diagnostic value of pleural fluid biomarkers in tuberculous pleurisy (TP) is firmly established. However, it is less clear whether patients' age affects the diagnostic accuracy of TP biomarkers. The aim of the study was to assess the impact of age, on the predictive value of ADA, IFN-γ, IP-10 and Fas ligand in patients with pleural effusion. The study included 222 patients, median age 64.5 (54-77) years, 58.6% men, with pleural effusion: TPE (60 patients; 27.0%), malignant PE (90 patients; 40.5%), parapneumonic effusion/pleural empyema (35 patients; 15.8%), pleural transudate (30 patients, 13.5%) and other causes of PE (7 patients; 3.2%). The odds ratio for the diagnosis of TPE significantly decreased with increasing age (OR = 0.62/10 years) and significantly increased with increasing level of all evaluated pleural fluid biomarkers. Age affected the diagnostic accuracy of ADA with a trend towards reduction in OR for TPE in older patients (P = 0.077, 95% CI 0.59-1.03). Younger age and high pleural fluid ADA level are associated with very high probability of TP. This probability significantly decreases not only with decreasing pleural fluid ADA, but also with increasing age. Patient's age does not affect the diagnostic yield of pleural fluid IFN-γ, IP-10 and sFas.

Chronic inflammatory lesions of the placenta are associated with an up-regulation of amniotic fluid CXCR3: A marker of allograft rejection

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study is to determine whether the amniotic fluid (AF) concentration of soluble CXCR3 and its ligands CXCL9 and CXCL10 changes in patients whose placentas show evidence of chronic chorioamnionitis or other placental lesions consistent with maternal anti-fetal rejection.

METHODS

This retrospective case-control study included 425 women with (1) preterm delivery (n=92); (2) term in labor (n=68); and (3) term not in labor (n=265). Amniotic fluid CXCR3, CXCL9 and CXCL10 concentrations were determined by ELISA.

RESULTS

(1) Amniotic fluid concentrations of CXCR3 and its ligands CXCL9 and CXCL10 are higher in patients with preterm labor and maternal anti-fetal rejection lesions than in those without these lesions [CXCR3: preterm labor and delivery with maternal anti-fetal rejection placental lesions (median, 17.24 ng/mL; IQR, 6.79-26.68) vs. preterm labor and delivery without these placental lesions (median 8.79 ng/mL; IQR, 4.98-14.7; P=0.028)]; (2) patients with preterm labor and chronic chorioamnionitis had higher AF concentrations of CXCL9 and CXCL10, but not CXCR3, than those without this lesion [CXCR3: preterm labor with chronic chorioamnionitis (median, 17.02 ng/mL; IQR, 5.57-26.68) vs. preterm labor without chronic chorioamnionitis (median, 10.37 ng/mL; IQR 5.01-17.81; P=0.283)]; (3) patients with preterm labor had a significantly higher AF concentration of CXCR3 than those in labor at term regardless of the presence or absence of placental lesions.

CONCLUSION

Our findings support a role for maternal anti-fetal rejection in a subset of patients with preterm labor.

A novel host-protein assay outperforms routine parameters for distinguishing between bacterial and viral lower respiratory tract infections

Bacterial and viral lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) are often clinically indistinguishable, leading to antibiotic overuse. We compared the diagnostic accuracy of a new assay that combines 3 host-biomarkers (TRAIL, IP-10, CRP) with parameters in routine use to distinguish bacterial from viral LRTIs. Study cohort included 184 potentially eligible pediatric and adult patients. Reference standard diagnosis was based on adjudication by an expert panel following comprehensive clinical and laboratory investigation (including respiratory PCRs). Experts were blinded to assay results and assay performers were blinded to reference standard outcomes. Evaluated cohort included 88 bacterial and 36 viral patients (23 did not fulfill inclusion criteria; 37 had indeterminate reference standard outcome). Assay distinguished bacterial from viral LRTI patients with sensitivity of 0.93±0.06 and specificity of 0.91±0.09, outperforming routine parameters, including WBC, CRP and chest x-ray signs. These findings support the assay's potential to help clinicians avoid missing bacterial LRTIs or overusing antibiotics.

Phosphodiesterase Type 5 Inhibitor Sildenafil Decreases the Proinflammatory Chemokine CXCL10 in Human Cardiomyocytes and in Subjects with Diabetic Cardiomyopathy

T helper 1 (Th1) type cytokines and chemokines are bioactive mediators in inflammation underling several diseases and co-morbid conditions, such as cardiovascular and metabolic disorders. Th1 chemokine CXCL10 participates in heart damage initiation/progression; cardioprotection has been recently associated with sildenafil, a type 5 phosphodiesterase inhibitor. We aimed to evaluate the effect of sildenafil on CXCL10 in inflammatory conditions associated with diabetic cardiomyopathy. We analyzed: CXCL10 gene and protein in human cardiac, endothelial, and immune cells challenged by pro-inflammatory stimuli with and without sildenafil; serum CXCL10 in diabetic subjects at cardiomyopathy onset, before and after 3 months of treatment with sildenafil vs. placebo. Sildenafil significantly decreased CXCL10 protein secretion (IC₅₀ = 2.6 × 10⁻⁷) and gene expression in human cardiomyocytes and significantly decreased circulating CXCL10 in subjects with chemokine basal level ≥ 930 pg/ml, the cut-off value as assessed by ROC analysis. In conclusion, sildenafil could be a pharmacologic tool to control CXCL10-associated inflammation in diabetic cardiomyopathy.

Keratinocyte-Derived Chemokines Orchestrate T-Cell Positioning in the Epidermis during Vitiligo and May Serve as Biomarkers of Disease

Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease of the skin that results in the destruction of melanocytes and the clinical appearance of white spots. Disease pathogenesis depends on IFN-γ and IFN-γ-induced chemokines to promote T-cell recruitment to the epidermis where melanocytes reside. The skin is a complex organ, with a variety of resident cell types. We sought to better define the microenvironment and distinct cellular contributions during autoimmunity in vitiligo, and we found that the epidermis is a chemokine-high niche in both a mouse model and human vitiligo. Analysis of chemokine expression in mouse skin showed that CXCL9 and CXCL10 expression strongly correlate with disease activity, whereas CXCL10 alone correlates with severity, supporting them as potential biomarkers for following disease progression. Further studies in both our mouse model and human patients showed that keratinocytes were the major chemokine producers throughout the course of disease, and functional studies using a conditional signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)-1 knockout mouse showed that IFN-γ signaling in keratinocytes was critical for disease progression and proper autoreactive T-cell homing to the epidermis. In contrast, epidermal immune cell populations including endogenous T cells, Langerhans cells, and γδ T cells were not required. These results have important clinical implications, because topical therapies that target IFN-γ signaling in keratinocytes could be safe and effective new treatments, and skin expression of these chemokines could be used to monitor disease activity and treatment responses.

Increased Proinflammatory Responses of Monocytes and Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells to Influenza A Virus Infection During Pregnancy

Pregnancy-induced alterations in immunity may contribute to the increased morbidity associated with influenza A virus infection during pregnancy. We characterized the immune response of monocytes and plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) to influenza A virus infection in 21 pregnant and 21 nonpregnant women. In pregnant women, monocytes and pDCs exhibit an exaggerated proinflammatory immune response to 2 strains of influenza A virus, compared with nonpregnant women, characterized by increased expression of major histocompatibility complex class II (approximately 2.0-fold), CD69 (approximately 2.2-fold), interferon γ-induced protein 10 (approximately 2.0-fold), and macrophage inflammatory protein 1β (approximately 1.5-fold). This enhanced innate inflammatory response during pregnancy could contribute to pulmonary inflammation following influenza A virus infection.

Functional reprogramming of human prostate cancer to promote local attraction of effector CD8(+) T cells

BACKGROUND

Local infiltration of CD8(+) T cells (CTLs) in tumor lesions predicts overall clinical outcomes and the clinical benefit of cancer patients from immune checkpoint blockade. In the current study, we evaluated local production of different classes of chemokines in prostate cancer lesions, and the feasibility of their modulation to promote selective entry of CTLs into prostate tumors.

METHODS

Chemokine expression in prostate cancer lesion was analyzed by TaqMan-based quantitative PCR, confocal fluorescence microscopy and ELISA. For ex vivo chemokine modulation analysis, prostate tumor explants from patients undergoing primary prostate cancer resections were cultured for 24 hr, in the absence or presence of the combination of poly-I:C, IFNα, and celecoxib (PAC). The numbers of cells producing defined chemokines in the tissues were analyzed by confocal microscopy. Chemotaxis of effector CD8(+) T cells towards the untreated and PAC-treated tumor explant supernatants were evaluated in a standard in vitro migration assays, using 24 well trans-well plates. The number of effector cells that migrated was enumerated by flow cytometry. Pearson (r) correlation was used for analyzing correlations between chemokines and immune filtrate, while paired two tailed students t-test was used for comparison between treatment groups.

RESULTS

Prostate tumors showed uniformly low levels of CTL/NK/Th1-recruiting chemokines (CCL5, CXCL9, CXCL10) but expressed high levels of chemokines implicated in the attraction of myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSC) and regulatory T cells (Treg ): CCL2, CCL22, and CXCL12. Strong positive correlations were observed between CXCL9 and CXCL10 and local CD8 expression. Tumor expression levels of CCL2, CCL22, and CXCL12 were correlated with intratumoral expression of MDSC/Treg markers: FOXP3, CD33, and NCF2. Treatment with PAC suppressed intratumoral production of the Treg -attractant CCL22 and Treg /MDSC-attractant, CXCL12, while increasing the production of the CTL attractant, CXCL10. These changes in local chemokine production were accompanied by the reduced ability of the ex vivo-treated tumors to attract CD4(+) FOXP3(+) Treg cells, and strongly enhanced attraction of the CD8(+) Granzyme B(+) CTLs.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data demonstrate that the chemokine environment in prostate cancer can be reprogrammed to selectively enhance the attraction of type-1 effector immune cells and reduce local attraction of MDSCs and Tregs . Prostate 76:1095-1105, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Evaluation of the PPAR-γ Agonist Pioglitazone in Mild Asthma: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial

Background

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ) is a nuclear receptor that modulates inflammation in models of asthma. To determine whether pioglitazone improves measures of asthma control and airway inflammation, we performed a single-center randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial.

Methods

Sixty-eight participants with mild asthma were randomized to 12 weeks pioglitazone (30 mg for 4 weeks, then 45 mg for 8 weeks) or placebo. The primary outcome was the adjusted mean forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁) at 12 weeks. The secondary outcomes were mean peak expiratory flow (PEF), scores on the Juniper Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ) and Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ), fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), bronchial hyperresponsiveness (PD₂₀), induced sputum counts, and sputum supernatant interferon gamma-inducible protein-10 (IP-10), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) levels. Study recruitment was closed early after considering the European Medicines Agency’s reports of a potential increased risk of bladder cancer with pioglitazone treatment. Fifty-five cases were included in the full analysis (FA) and 52 in the per-protocol (PP) analysis.

Results

There was no difference in the adjusted FEV₁ at 12 weeks (-0.014 L, 95% confidence interval [CI] -0.15 to 0.12, p = 0.84) or in any of the secondary outcomes in the FA. The PP analysis replicated the FA, with the exception of a lower evening PEF in the pioglitazone group (-21 L/min, 95% CI -39 to -4, p = 0.02).

Conclusions

We found no evidence that treatment with 12 weeks of pioglitazone improved asthma control or airway inflammation in mild asthma.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01134835

Gremlin-1 Overexpression in Mouse Lung Reduces Silica-Induced Lymphocyte Recruitment - A Link to Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis through Negative Correlation with CXCL10 Chemokine

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is characterized by activation and injury of epithelial cells, the accumulation of connective tissue and changes in the inflammatory microenvironment. The bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) inhibitor protein gremlin-1 is associated with the progression of fibrosis both in human and mouse lung. We generated a transgenic mouse model expressing gremlin-1 in type II lung epithelial cells using the surfactant protein C (SPC) promoter and the Cre-LoxP system. Gremlin-1 protein expression was detected specifically in the lung after birth and did not result in any signs of respiratory insufficiency. Exposure to silicon dioxide resulted in reduced amounts of lymphocyte aggregates in transgenic lungs while no alteration in the fibrotic response was observed. Microarray gene expression profiling and analyses of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid cytokines indicated a reduced lymphocytic response and a downregulation of interferon-induced gene program. Consistent with reduced Th1 response, there was a downregulation of the mRNA and protein expression of the anti-fibrotic chemokine CXCL10, which has been linked to IPF. In human IPF patient samples we also established a strong negative correlation in the mRNA expression levels of gremlin-1 and CXCL10. Our results suggest that in addition to regulation of epithelial-mesenchymal crosstalk during tissue injury, gremlin-1 modulates inflammatory cell recruitment and anti-fibrotic chemokine production in the lung.

A point of care test for the determination of amniotic fluid interleukin-6 and the chemokine CXCL-10/IP-10

OBJECTIVE

Intra-amniotic inflammation is a mechanism of disease implicated in preterm labor, preterm prelabor rupture of membrane, cervical insufficiency, a short cervix, and idiopathic vaginal bleeding. Determination of interleukin (IL)-6 with immunoassays has been proven for more than two decades to be an excellent method for the detection of intra-amniotic inflammation. However, assessment of IL-6 for this indication has been based on immunoassays which are not clinically available, and this has been an obstacle for the implementation of this test in clinical practice. It is now possible to obtain results within 20 min with a point of care (POC) test which requires minimal laboratory support. This test is based on lateral flow-based immunoassay. The objective of this study was to compare amniotic fluid (AF) IL-6 and interferon-γ - inducible protein 10 (IP-10 or CXCL-10) concentrations determined using lateral flow-based immunoassay or POC test and standard enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) techniques.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

AF samples were collected from patients with singleton gestations and symptoms of preterm labor (n = 20). AF IL-6 and IP-10 concentrations were determined by lateral flow-based immunoassay and ELISA. Intra-amniotic inflammation was defined as AF IL-6 ≥ 2.6 ng/ml. AF IL-6 and IP-10 concentrations between two assays were compared.

RESULTS

(1) Lateral flow-based immunoassay POC AF IL-6 and IP-10 test results were strongly correlated with concentrations of this cytokine/chemokine determined by ELISA (Spearman's ρ = 0.92 and 0.83, respectively, both p < 0.0001); (2) AF IL-6 concentrations determined by the lateral flow-based immunoassay test were, on average, 30% lower than those determined by ELISA, and the median difference was statistically significant (p < 0.0001); and (3) in contrast, AF IP-10 concentrations determined by the lateral flow-based immunoassay test were, on average, only 7% lower than those determined by ELISA, and the median difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.81).

CONCLUSION

AF IL-6 and IP-10 concentrations determined using a lateral flow-based immunoassay POC are strongly correlated with concentrations determined by conventional ELISA. This justifies further studies about the diagnostic indices and predictive values of this POC test.

A discrete population of IFN λ-expressing BDCA3hi dendritic cells is present in human thymus

Human thymus contains two major subpopulations of dendritic cells (DCs), conventional DCs (cDCs) and plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs), which are mainly involved in central tolerance and also in protecting the thymus against infections. In blood and peripheral organs cDCs include the subpopulation of BDCA3(hi) DCs, considered as equivalents to mouse CD8α(+) DCs. In this study we describe in human thymus the presence of a discrete population of BDCA3(hi) DCs that, like their peripheral counterparts, express CD13, low-intermediate levels of CD11c, CLEC9A, high levels of XCR1, IRF8 and TLR3, and mostly lack the expression of CD11b, CD14 and TLR7. Thymic BDCA3(hi) DCs display immature features with a low expression of costimulatory molecules and HLA-DR, and a low allostimulatory capacity. Also, BDCA3(hi) DCs exhibit a strong response to TLR3 stimulation, producing high levels of interferon (IFN)-λ1 and CXCL10, which indicates that, similarly to thymic pDCs, BDCA3(hi) DCs can have an important role in thymus protection against viral infections.

Viremic and Virologically Suppressed HIV Infection Increases Age-Related Changes to Monocyte Activation Equivalent to 12 and 4 Years of Aging, Respectively

BACKGROUND

Chronic inflammation and immune activation occur in both HIV infection and normal aging and are associated with inflammatory disease. However, the degree to which HIV influences age-related innate immune changes, and the biomarkers which best reflect them, remains unclear.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We measured established innate immune aging biomarkers in 309 individuals including 88 virologically suppressed (VS) and 52 viremic (viral load ≤ and >50 copies per milliliter, respectively) HIV-positive individuals. Levels of soluble (ie, CXCL10, soluble CD163, neopterin) and cellular (ie, proportions of inflammatory CD16 monocytes) biomarkers of monocyte activation were increased in HIV-positive individuals and were only partially ameliorated by viral suppression. Viremic and VS HIV-positive individuals show levels of age-related monocyte activation biomarkers that are similar to uninfected controls aged 12 and 4 years older, respectively. Viremic HIV infection was associated with an accelerated rate of change of some monocyte activation markers (eg, neopterin) with age, whereas in VS individuals, subsequent age-related changes occurred at a similar rate as in controls, albeit at a higher absolute level. We further identified CXCL10 as a robust soluble biomarker of monocyte activation, highlighting the potential utility of this chemokine as a prognostic marker.

IMPLICATIONS

These findings may partially explain the increased prevalence of inflammatory age-related diseases in HIV-positive individuals and potentially indicate the pathological mechanisms underlying these diseases, which persist despite viral suppression.

Comparison of Levels of Salivary Cytokines in Diabetic and Nondiabetic Puerto Rican Children: A Case-control Pilot Study

PURPOSE

The oral health status of children with type 1 diabetes and its relationship to salivary cytokines have been researched in only one known study. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the association between levels of salivary cytokines and gingival disease in diabetic and nondiabetic Puerto Rican children.

METHODS

A matched case-control study with a convenience sample of 25 children with type 1 diabetes (cases) and 25 nondiabetic children (controls) were evaluated by a calibrated dentist for oral health indices. A five-ml stimulated saliva sample was taken from each subject and analyzed to determine cytokine levels (IL-6, IL-17, IP-10, TNF-alpha, MMP-2, MMP-9, CRP). Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and t tests were used.

RESULTS

Diabetic children are observed to have more plaque than control children (P=.007), more calculus (P=.06), and more bleeding on probing (P=.001). Only the level of the mediator IL-17 (P=.002) was higher in diabetic children than in nondiabetic children, but no significant differences were observed in the levels of other cytokines between the two groups. However, for each salivary mediator evaluated, diabetic children had higher levels of the respective mediator.

CONCLUSION

Salivary cytokines levels were higher in diabetic type 1 children than in nondiabetic children.

Detection of IP-10 protein marker in undiluted blood serum via an electrochemical E-DNA scaffold sensor

We describe an electrochemical analog of fluorescence polarization that supports the quantitative measurement of a specific protein, the chemokine IP-10, directly in undiluted blood serum. The sensor is label-free, wash-free, and electronic, suggesting it could support point-of-care detection of diagnostic proteins in largely unprocessed clinical samples.

Cytokine production by leukocytes of Papillon-Lefèvre syndrome patients in whole blood cultures

Papillon-Lefèvre syndrome (PLS) is characterised by aggressively progressive periodontitis combined with palmo-plantar hyperkeratosis. It is caused by "loss of function" mutations in the cathepsin C gene. The hypothesis behind this study is that PLS patients' polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) produce more proinflammatory cytokines to compensate for their reduced capacity to neutralize leukotoxin and to eliminate Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans. Production of more interleukin (IL)-8 would result in the attraction of more PMNs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cytokine profile in PLS patients' blood cultures. Blood was sampled from eight PLS patients (one female) from six families (antiinfective therapy completed: six; edentulous: two) with confirmed cathepsin C mutations and deficient enzyme activity. Nine healthy males served as controls. Whole blood cultures were stimulated with highly pure lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Escherichia coli R515 and IL-1β plus tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. Thereafter, release of IL-1β (stimulation: LPS and LPS plus adenosine triphosphate), IL-6, IL-8, interferon-inducible protein (IP)-10, and interferon (IFN)-γ (stimulation: LPS, IL-1β/TNFα) were detected by ELISA. Medians of cytokine release were, with the exception of IP-10, slightly higher for PLS than for controls' cultures. None of these differences reached statistical significance. Increased production of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IP-10, or IFNγ as a significant means to compensate for diminished activity and stability of polymorphonuclear leukocyte-derived proteases could not be confirmed in this study. Cytokine profiles in blood cultures may not be used to identify PLS patients.

Response prediction in chronic hepatitis C by assessment of IP-10 and IL28B-related single nucleotide polymorphisms

BACKGROUND

High baseline levels of IP-10 predict a slower first phase decline in HCV RNA and a poor outcome following interferon/ribavirin therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Several recent studies report that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) adjacent to IL28B predict spontaneous resolution of HCV infection and outcome of treatment among HCV genotype 1 infected patients.

METHODS AND FINDINGS

In the present study, we correlated the occurrence of variants at three such SNPs (rs12979860, rs12980275, and rs8099917) with pretreatment plasma IP-10 and HCV RNA throughout therapy within a phase III treatment trial (HCV-DITTO) involving 253 Caucasian patients. The favorable SNP variants (CC, AA, and TT, respectively) were associated with lower baseline IP-10 (P = 0.02, P = 0.01, P = 0.04) and were less common among HCV genotype 1 infected patients than genotype 2/3 (P<0.0001, P<0.0001, and P = 0.01). Patients carrying favorable SNP genotypes had higher baseline viral load than those carrying unfavorable variants (P = 0.0013, P = 0.029, P = 0.0004 respectively). Among HCV genotype 1 infected carriers of the favorable C, A, or T alleles, IP-10 below 150 pg/mL significantly predicted a more pronounced reduction of HCV RNA from day 0 to 4 (first phase decline), which translated into increased rates of RVR (62%, 53%, and 39%) and SVR (85%, 76%, and 75% respectively) among homozygous carriers with baseline IP-10 below 150 pg/mL. In multivariate analyses of genotype 1-infected patients, baseline IP-10 and C genotype at rs12979860 independently predicted the first phase viral decline and RVR, which in turn independently predicted SVR.

CONCLUSIONS

Concomitant assessment of pretreatment IP-10 and IL28B-related SNPs augments the prediction of the first phase decline in HCV RNA, RVR, and final therapeutic outcome.

Low serum and peritoneal fluid concentration of interferon-gamma-induced protein-10 (CXCL10) in women with endometriosis

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate serum and peritoneal fluid concentrations of interferon-gamma-inducible protein-10 (CXCL10), a chemokine involved in local immune function, in women with endometriosis.

DESIGN

Prospective study.

SETTING

Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Siena.

PATIENT(S)

A total of 147 women were divided in two groups: women with (n = 77) and without (n = 70) endometriosis.

INTERVENTION(S)

Serum and peritoneal fluid were collected from all patients undergoing laparoscopy.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

CXCL10 concentrations were measured by a specific ELISA.

RESULT(S)

Serum CXCL10 concentrations in women with endometriosis were significantly lower than in those without endometriosis. No statistically significant difference between women with early endometriosis and those with advanced endometriosis was found. CXCL10 concentrations in peritoneal fluid of women with advanced endometriosis were significantly lower than in that of women with an early stage of, or without, endometriosis.

CONCLUSION(S)

The decreased concentrations of CXCL10 in serum and peritoneal fluid of women with endometriosis indicate an impaired immune activity in women with endometriosis.

Regulated expression of the interferon-β gene in mice

A single plasmid regulated expression vector based upon a mifepristone-inducible two plasmid system, termed pBRES, has been constructed and tested in mice using murine interferon-b (mIFNb) as the transgene. The expression of mIFNb in the circulation was followed by measuring the systemic induction of IP-10, a validated biomarker for mIFNb in mice. Long-term, inducible expression of mIFNb was demonstrated following a single intramuscular (i.m.) injection of the pBRES mIFNb plasmid vector into the hind limb of mice. Induction of mIFNb expression was achieved by administration of the small molecule inducer, mifepristone (MFP). Plasmid DNA and mIFNb mRNA levels in the injected muscles correlated with mIFNb expression as monitored by IP-10 over a 3-month time period. Renewable transgene expression was achieved following repeat administration of the plasmid at 3 months following the first plasmid injection. A dose-dependent increase in expression was demonstrated by varying the amount of injected plasmid or the amount of the inducer administered to the mice. Finally, the pBRES plasmid expressing mIFNb under control of the inducer, MFP, was shown to be efficacious in a murine model of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis, supporting the feasibility of gene-based therapeutic approaches for treating diseases such as multiple sclerosis.

Influence of human T lymphotrophic virus type I on diffuse pan-bronchiolitis

Human T lymphotrophic virus type-I (HTLV-I), a human retrovirus, infects CD4(+) lymphocytes and is thought to modify their function and a possible association with pulmonary diseases has also been suggested. However, little is known about the influence of HTLV-I on diffuse pan-bronchiolitis (DPB), a chronic inflammatory lung disease with infiltration of lymphocytes and hyperplasia of the bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue. In this study, 35 DPB patients with and without HTLV-I infection were examined. HTLV-I positive DPB patients were likely to have a larger affected area with lower FEV(1). The CD3(+)/CD25(+) lymphocyte percentage was significantly higher in the BALF of HTLV-I positive patients than in negative patients. MIP-1 alpha, IP-10 and levels in BALF were also significantly higher in HTLV-I positive patients than in negative patients. The levels of MCP-1 and IL-8 were not significantly different. In HTLV-I positive patients, the MIP-1 alpha and IP-10 levels showed a significant positive correlation with the percentage of CD3(+)/CD25 lymphocytes. BALF cells of all HTLV-I positive DPB patients showed expression of p40(tax) mRNA. We suggest that HTLV-I infection may modify DPB pathogenesis via activation of T cells. We also found that the frequency of ATL development in HTLV-I positive DPB patients was significantly higher than in all HTLV-I positive patients (OR = 8.22, 95% CI = 2.61-25.9, P < 0.01). The levels of TGF-beta in patients who developed ATL were significantly lower than in patients who did not develop ATL. Sensitivity and specificity were 80% and 85.7%, respectively (cut-off = 20 pg/ml). We also propose that these features should be taken into consideration in the treatment of DPB in HTLV-I infected individuals.

IP-10 and MCP-1 levels in CSF and serum from multiple sclerosis patients with different clinical subtypes of the disease

Interferon-gamma-inducible Protein-10 (IP-10) and Monocyte Chemotactic Protein-1 (MCP-1) levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in the CSF and in the serum from 74 patients affected by different clinical forms of Multiple Sclerosis (MS), including 39 patients with Relapsing Remitting (RR) MS in an active phase, 14 patients in a stable phase of the disease, 12 patients with Secondary Progressive (SP) MS and 9 patients with Primary Progressive (PP) MS. IP-10 and MCP-1 levels were also determined in 19 subjects with no neurological diseases or major systemic disorders, 18 patients with non-inflammatory neurological diseases, as well as in 15 patients with other inflammatory neurological diseases.IP-10 levels were significantly elevated in CSF and serum from RR and SP, but not PP-MS patients. On the contrary, MCP-1 levels were decreased in CSF and serum of all MS patients. CSF concentrations of IP-10 and MCP-1 did not significantly correlate neither with each other, nor with CSF mononuclear cell count, albumin quotient or CSF IgG index. No correlation between disease duration, clinical course or EDSS score and chemokine levels was found.IP-10 and MCP-1 undergo modifications in different subtypes of the disease: IP-10 levels in CSF and serum samples are markedly increased when inflammation is prominent, and not in PP--MS patients, where inflammation is less evident. MCP-1 decrease in CSF and serum from MS patients could be related to the regulation of T-cell polarization.

Sequential expression of chemokines in experimental autoimmune neuritis

Recruitment of inflammatory cells is of critical importance in the pathogenesis of immune-mediated demyelinating diseases in the peripheral nervous system (PNS). Evidence is increasing that chemokines might play a key role in this process, since they promote leukocyte entry into the nervous system during immune-mediated inflammation. In the present study we report the expression pattern of the chemokines interferon-gamma-inducible protein (IP)-10, monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1alpha, MIP-1beta, and regulated upon activation normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES) in sciatic nerves from animals with myelin-induced experimental autoimmune neuritis, using a semiquantitative reverse transcriptase-PCR dot-blot hybridization assay. The mRNAs for MIP-1alpha and MIP-1beta were found to be upregulated with peak values at day 13 post-immunization (p.i.), preceding maximum disease severity. In contrast, mRNAs for MCP-1, RANTES, and IP-10 exhibited peak levels coincident with peak of the disease at day 15 p.i. Increased mRNA expression was associated with enhanced protein levels, as demonstrated by immunoblotting for each chemokine investigated. Immunohistochemistry for IP-10 protein revealed immunoreactivity associated with perineurial endothelial cells. RANTES protein was localized immunohistologically to invading T lymphocytes. Our findings suggest that chemokines, which act towards T cells and mononuclear phagocytes, are sequentially upregulated during the clinical course of EAN and thus may contribute to the pathogenesis of inflammatory demyelinating diseases of the PNS.