Effect of Fucoidan on the Mitochondrial Membrane Potential (ΔΨm) of Leukocytes from Patients with Active COVID-19 and Subjects That Recovered from SARS-CoV-2 Infection

Fucoidan is a polysaccharide obtained from marine brown algae, with anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and immune-enhancing properties, thus, fucoidan may be used as an alternative treatment (complementary to prescribed medical therapy) for COVID-19 recovery. This work aimed to determine the ex-vivo effects of treatment with fucoidan (20 µg/mL) on mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm, using a cationic cyanine dye, 3,3'-dihexyloxacarbocyanine iodide (DiOC6(3)) on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (HPBMC) isolated from healthy control (HC) subjects, COVID-19 patients (C-19), and subjects that recently recovered from COVID-19 (R1, 40 ± 13 days after infection). In addition, ex-vivo treatment with fucoidan (20 and 50 µg/mL) was evaluated on ΔΨm loss induced by carbonyl cyanide 3-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP, 150 µM) in HPBMC isolated from healthy subjects (H) and recovered subjects at 11 months post-COVID-19 (R2, 335 ± 20 days after infection). Data indicate that SARS-CoV-2 infection induces HPBMC loss of ΔΨm, even 11 months after infection, however, fucoidan promotes recovery of ΔΨm in PBMCs from COVID-19 recovered subjects. Therefore, fucoidan may be a potential treatment to diminish long-term sequelae from COVID-19, using mitochondria as a therapeutic target for the recovery of cellular homeostasis.

Antimutagenic Effects of the Composition from Green Tea Leaves Extracts and Caucasian Persimmon Fruits

On a culture of human peripheral blood lymphocytes, antimutagenic activity of a composition from extracts of green tea leaves and Caucasian persimmon fruits was established with a modification of the mutation process induced by chemical compounds producing an alkylating effect (nitrosomethylurea and sodium fluoride). A concentration dependence of the antimutagenic efficiency of the studied phytocomposite was shown. The highest antimutagenic efficiency was observed when a combination of green tea extract at a concentration of 0.01 μg/ml and persimmon fruit extract at a concentration of 0.001 μg/ml were used. Moreover, this combination was most effective against mutations induced by both nitrosomethylurea and sodium fluoride: the antimutagen efficiency factor was 0.53 and 0.55, respectively.

Iron-Quercetin Complex Preconditioning of Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells Accelerates Angiogenic and Fibroblast Migration: Implications for Wound Healing

Cell-based therapy is a highly promising treatment paradigm in ischemic disease due to its ability to repair tissue when implanted into a damaged site. These therapeutic effects involve a strong paracrine component resulting from the high levels of bioactive molecules secreted in response to the local microenvironment. Therefore, the secreted therapeutic can be modulated by preconditioning the cells during in vitro culturing. Herein, we investigated the potential use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) probes, the "iron-quercetin complex" or IronQ, for preconditioning peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) to expand proangiogenic cells and enhance their secreted therapeutic factors. PBMCs obtained from healthy donor blood were cultured in the presence of the iron-quercetin complex. Differentiated preconditioning PBMCs were characterized by immunostaining. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was carried out to describe the secreted cytokines. In vitro migration and tubular formation using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were completed to investigate the proangiogenic efficacy. IronQ significantly increased mononuclear progenitor cell proliferation and differentiation into spindle-shape-like cells, expressing both hematopoietic and stromal cell markers. The expansion increased the number of colony-forming units (CFU-Hill). The conditioned medium obtained from IronQ-treated PBMCs contained high levels of interleukin 8 (IL-8), IL-10, urokinase-type-plasminogen-activator (uPA), matrix metalloproteinases-9 (MMP-9), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), as well as augmented migration and capillary network formation of HUVECs and fibroblast cells, in vitro. Our study demonstrated that the IronQ-preconditioning PBMC protocol could enhance the angiogenic and reparative potential of non-mobilized PBMCs. This protocol might be used as an adjunctive strategy to improve the efficacy of cell therapy when using PBMCs for ischemic diseases and chronic wounds. However, in vivo assessment is required for further validation.

Identification of key miRNAs and their targets in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of IgA nephropathy using bioinformatics analysis

BACKGROUND

Currently, renal biopsy is the gold standard for clinical diagnosis and evaluation the degrees of IgA nephropathy. However, renal biopsy is an invasive examination and not suitable for long-term follow-up IgA nephropathy. The activation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) are related to IgA nephropathy, but the key molecular marker and target of PBMCs for evaluating the progression and prognosis of IgA nephropathy is still unclear.

METHODS

We downloaded gene expression omnibus series 25590 (GSE25590) datasets, of which PBMCs from IgA nephrology (IgAN) and healthy patients, from the gene expression omnibus (GEO) database. Differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) between IgAN and healthy patients were identified. The Funrich software was used to predict the differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Gene ontology (GO) and kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) analyzes of overlapping genes were analyzed at the function level on DAVID 6.8. We used search Tool for the retrieval of interacting genes (STRING) online database constructed the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. Then we further analyzed the hub genes by Cytoscape software and the hub miRNA by TargetScan.

RESULTS

We identified 418 DEMs from the GSE25590 datasets. The upstream transcription factors SP1 regulates most DEMs. According to the GO and KEGG results, the DEGs were enriched in the MAPK signaling pathway and small GTPase mediated signal transduction. SYN1, SYT4, RBFOX1, KCNC1, VAMP2, FBXO11, ASB9, SYT9, KLHL5, and KRAS were identified as hub genes. Hsa-miR-532-5p, hsa-miR-92a, hsa-miR-328, hsa-miR-137, hsa-miR-153, hsa-miR-9-5p, hsa-miR-140-5p, hsa-miR-217, hsa-miR-155, and hsa-miR-212 were predicted as hub miRNAs.

CONCLUSIONS

The DEMs and DEGs re-analysis provided potential key genes and hub miRNA of PMBCs, which may help to monitor the happening and prognosis of IgAN.

Direct Measurement of B Lymphocyte Gene Expression Biomarkers in Peripheral Blood Transcriptomics Enables Early Prediction of Vaccine Seroconversion

Peripheral blood transcriptome is a highly promising area for biomarker development. However, transcript abundances (TA) in these cell mixture samples are confounded by proportions of the component leukocyte subpopulations. This poses a challenge to clinical applications, as the cell of origin of any change in TA is not known without prior cell separation procedure. We developed a framework to develop a cell-type informative TA biomarkers which enable determination of TA of a single cell-type (B lymphocytes) directly in cell mixture samples of peripheral blood (e.g., peripheral blood mononuclear cells, PBMC) without the need for subpopulation separation. It is applicable to a panel of genes called B cell informative genes. Then a ratio of two B cell informative genes (a target gene and a stably expressed reference gene) obtained in PBMC was used as a new biomarker to represent the target gene expression in purified B lymphocytes. This approach, which eliminates the tedious procedure of cell separation and directly determines TA of a leukocyte subpopulation in peripheral blood samples, is called the Direct LS-TA method. This method is applied to gene expression datasets collected in influenza vaccination trials as early predictive biomarkers of seroconversion. By using TNFRSF17 or TXNDC5 as the target genes and TNFRSF13C or FCRLA as the reference genes, the Direct LS-TA B cell biomarkers were determined directly in the PBMC transcriptome data and were highly correlated with TA of the corresponding target genes in purified B lymphocytes. Vaccination responders had almost a 2-fold higher Direct LS-TA biomarker level of TNFRSF17 (log 2 SMD = 0.84, 95% CI = 0.47–1.21) on day 7 after vaccination. The sensitivity of these Direct LS-TA biomarkers in the prediction of seroconversion was greater than 0.7 and area-under curves (AUC) were over 0.8 in many datasets. In this paper, we report a straightforward approach to directly estimate B lymphocyte gene expression in PBMC, which could be used in a routine clinical setting. Moreover, the method enables the practice of precision medicine in the prediction of vaccination response. More importantly, seroconversion could now be predicted as early as day 7. As the acquired immunology pathway is common to vaccination against influenza and COVID-19, these biomarkers could also be useful to predict seroconversion for the new COVID-19 vaccines.

Epigenetics in psoriasis: perspective of DNA methylation

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by excessive proliferation of keratinocytes (KCs). Onset of psoriasis is related to genetic, immune and environmental factors. The environment can interact with the genome through epigenetic modifications, including DNA methylation, and this modification is involved in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. In addition to a skin disease, psoriasis is also considered a systemic disease. We reviewed the current literature of psoriatic DNA methylation for studies from several aspects on the DNA methylation distribution patterns in different tissues/cells, single-nucleotide polymorphisms, and candidate disease genes and identified target genes regulated by DNA methylation that have been directly/indirectly validated. This review contributes to a comprehensive understanding of the important a role that DNA methylation plays in psoriasis from a holistic perspective and will promote the implementation of DNA methylation in diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for psoriatic patients.

Immunogenicity of COVID-19 mRNA Vaccines in Pregnant and Lactating Women

Importance

Pregnant women are at increased risk of morbidity and mortality from COVID-19 but have been excluded from the phase 3 COVID-19 vaccine trials. Data on vaccine safety and immunogenicity in these populations are therefore limited.

Objective

To evaluate the immunogenicity of COVID-19 messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines in pregnant and lactating women, including against emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern.

Design, Setting, and Participants

An exploratory, descriptive, prospective cohort study enrolled 103 women who received a COVID-19 vaccine from December 2020 through March 2021 and 28 women who had confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection from April 2020 through March 2021 (the last follow-up date was March 26, 2021). This study enrolled 30 pregnant, 16 lactating, and 57 neither pregnant nor lactating women who received either the mRNA-1273 (Moderna) or BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) COVID-19 vaccines and 22 pregnant and 6 nonpregnant unvaccinated women with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Main Outcomes and Measures

SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain binding, neutralizing, and functional nonneutralizing antibody responses from pregnant, lactating, and nonpregnant women were assessed following vaccination. Spike-specific T-cell responses were evaluated using IFN-γ enzyme-linked immunospot and multiparameter intracellular cytokine-staining assays. Humoral and cellular immune responses were determined against the original SARS-CoV-2 USA-WA1/2020 strain as well as against the B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 variants.

Results

This study enrolled 103 women aged 18 to 45 years (66% non-Hispanic White) who received a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine. After the second vaccine dose, fever was reported in 4 pregnant women (14%; SD, 6%), 7 lactating women (44%; SD, 12%), and 27 nonpregnant women (52%; SD, 7%). Binding, neutralizing, and functional nonneutralizing antibody responses as well as CD4 and CD8 T-cell responses were present in pregnant, lactating, and nonpregnant women following vaccination. Binding and neutralizing antibodies were also observed in infant cord blood and breast milk. Binding and neutralizing antibody titers against the SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 variants of concern were reduced, but T-cell responses were preserved against viral variants.

Conclusion and Relevance

In this exploratory analysis of a convenience sample, receipt of a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine was immunogenic in pregnant women, and vaccine-elicited antibodies were transported to infant cord blood and breast milk. Pregnant and nonpregnant women who were vaccinated developed cross-reactive antibody responses and T-cell responses against SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern.

Predicting the allergenicity of legume proteins using a PBMC gene expression assay

BACKGROUND

Food proteins differ in their allergenic potential. Currently, there is no predictive and validated bio-assay to evaluate the allergenicity of novel food proteins. The objective of this study was to investigate the potential of a human peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) gene expression assay to identify biomarkers to predict the allergenicity of legume proteins.

RESULTS

PBMCs from healthy donors were exposed to weakly and strongly allergenic legume proteins (2S albumins, and 7S and 11S globulins from white bean, soybean, peanut, pea and lupine) in three experiments. Possible biomarkers for allergenicity were investigated by exposing PBMCs to a protein pair of weakly (white bean) and strongly allergenic (soybean) 7S globulins in a pilot experiment. Gene expression was measured by RNA-sequencing and differentially expressed genes were selected as biomarkers. 153 genes were identified as having significantly different expression levels to the 7S globulin of white bean compared to soybean. Inclusion of multiple protein pairs from 2S albumins (lupine and peanut) and 7S globulins (white bean and soybean) in a larger study, led to the selection of CCL2, CCL7, and RASD2 as biomarkers to distinguish weakly from strongly allergenic proteins. The relevance of these three biomarkers was confirmed by qPCR when PBMCs were exposed to a larger panel of weakly and strongly allergenic legume proteins (2S albumins, and 7S and 11S globulins from white bean, soybean, peanut, pea and lupine).

CONCLUSIONS

The PBMC gene expression assay can potentially distinguish weakly from strongly allergenic legume proteins within a protein family, though it will be challenging to develop a generic method for all protein families from plant and animal sources. Graded responses within a protein family might be of more value in allergenicity prediction instead of a yes or no classification.

Circulating Exosomes From Patients With Graves' Disease Induce an Inflammatory Immune Response

Exosomes are extracellular vesicles that can participate in autoimmune diseases. The purpose of this study was to explore whether circulating exosomes are involved in Graves' disease (GD) pathogenesis. In this study, serum exosomes were extracted from 26 healthy controls (HC-EXO), 26 GD patients (GD-EXO), and 7 Graves' ophthalmopathy patients (GO-EXO). For each group, the total protein content was detected, and thyrotropin receptor, insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R), heat shock protein 60 (HSP60), and cluster of differentiation (CD) 63 expression were analyzed by Western blotting (WB). Healthy volunteer-derived peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and HC-EXO or GD-EXO were cocultured for 24 h, and immunofluorescence was used to observe the locations of the exosomes and toll-like receptor (TLR) 2/3. CD11c+TLR2+ and CD11c+TLR3+ cell percentages were determined by flow cytometry. Myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88), toll/interleukin (IL)-1 receptor domain-containing adaptor inducing interferon-β (TRIF) and p-P65 expression were analyzed by WB. IL-6 and IL-1β supernatant levels were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The results showed that the total protein concentration was similar among GD-EXO, GO-EXO, and HC-EXO. IGF-1R and HSP60 expression was significantly higher in GD-EXO and GO-EXO than in HC-EXO. After coculturing PBMCs with GD-EXO or HC-EXO for 24 h, GD-EXO could bind to TLR2/3. GD-EXO significantly increased CD11c+TLR2+ and CD11c+TLR3+ cell percentages; MyD88, TRIF, and p-P65 protein expression; and IL-6 and IL-1β levels. In conclusion, we first demonstrated that GD-EXO and GO-EXO highly expressed IGF-1R and HSP60. GD-EXO may induce an inflammatory response through the TLR/NF-κB signaling pathway and be involved in the pathogenesis of GD.

Multibatch Cytometry Data Integration for Optimal Immunophenotyping

High-dimensional cytometry is a powerful technique for deciphering the immunopathological factors common to multiple individuals. However, rational comparisons of multiple batches of experiments performed on different occasions or at different sites are challenging because of batch effects. In this study, we describe the integration of multibatch cytometry datasets (iMUBAC), a flexible, scalable, and robust computational framework for unsupervised cell-type identification across multiple batches of high-dimensional cytometry datasets, even without technical replicates. After overlaying cells from multiple healthy controls across batches, iMUBAC learns batch-specific cell-type classification boundaries and identifies aberrant immunophenotypes in patient samples from multiple batches in a unified manner. We illustrate unbiased and streamlined immunophenotyping using both public and in-house mass cytometry and spectral flow cytometry datasets. The method is available as the R package iMUBAC (https://github.com/casanova-lab/iMUBAC).

Fatty acid desaturation in red blood cell membranes of patients with type 2 diabetes is improved by zinc supplementation

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE

Membrane flexibility can be a determining factor in pathophysiological mechanisms of type 2 diabetes (T2D). As a cofactor of delta-5 desaturase (D5D) and delta-6 desaturase (D6D), and gene expression regulator, zinc may play a role modulating membrane flexibility by increasing membrane polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) abundance. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of a 24-month zinc supplementation (30 mg elemental zinc) on membrane fatty acid composition in patients with T2D.

SUBJECTS/METHODS

Sixty patients with T2D were evaluated. Thirty were randomly assigned to the zinc supplemented group and thirty to the placebo group. Fatty acid composition in red blood cell (RBC) membranes was determined by gas chromatography. Expression of gene encoding for D5D (FADS1), and D6D (FADS2) were evaluated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells by real-time polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS

After 24 months of supplementation, a greater abundance of docosapentaenoic acid (C22:5 n-3), arachidonic acid (C20:4 n-6), adrenic acid (C22:4 n-6), and total n-6 PUFA was found (p = 0.001, p = 0.007, p = 0.033, p = 0.048, respectively). The unsaturated fatty acids/saturated fatty acids ratio, and unsaturation index was increased in the zinc supplemented group at month 24 (p = 0.003 and p  = 0.000, respectively). FADS1 gene was upregulated in the zinc group in relation to placebo at month 12 (p = 0.020).

CONCLUSIONS

Supplementation with 30 mg/d elemental zinc during 24 months in patients with T2D had an effect on the composition of RBC membranes increasing PUFA abundance and in turn, improving membrane flexibility. This effect may be mediated by induction of D5D gene expression.

Mapping systemic lupus erythematosus heterogeneity at the single-cell level

Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) display a complex blood transcriptome whose cellular origin is poorly resolved. Using single-cell RNA sequencing, we profiled ~276,000 peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 33 children with SLE with different degrees of disease activity and 11 matched controls. Increased expression of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) distinguished cells from children with SLE from healthy control cells. The high ISG expression signature (ISGhi) derived from a small number of transcriptionally defined subpopulations within major cell types, including monocytes, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, natural killer cells, conventional and plasmacytoid dendritic cells, B cells and especially plasma cells. Expansion of unique subpopulations enriched in ISGs and/or in monogenic lupus-associated genes classified patients with the highest disease activity. Profiling of ~82,000 single peripheral blood mononuclear cells from adults with SLE confirmed the expansion of similar subpopulations in patients with the highest disease activity. This study lays the groundwork for resolving the origin of the SLE transcriptional signatures and the disease heterogeneity towards precision medicine applications.

A Novel C1-Esterase Inhibitor Oxygenator Coating Prevents FXII Activation in Human Blood

The limited hemocompatibility of currently used oxygenator membranes prevents long-term use of artificial lungs in patients with lung failure. To improve hemocompatibility, we developed a novel covalent C1-esterase inhibitor (C1-INH) coating. Besides complement inhibition, C1-INH also prevents FXII activation, a very early event of contact phase activation at the crossroads of coagulation and inflammation. Covalently coated heparin, as the current anticoagulation gold standard, served as control. Additionally, a combination of both coatings (C1-INH/heparin) was established. The coatings were tested for their hemocompatibility by dynamic incubation with freshly drawn human whole blood. The analysis of various blood and plasma parameters revealed that C1-INH-containing coatings were able to markedly reduce FXIIa activity compared to heparin coating. Combined C1-INH/heparin coatings yielded similarly low levels of thrombin-antithrombin III complex formation as heparin coating. In particular, adhesion of monocytes and platelets as well as the diminished formation of fibrin networks were observed for combined coatings. We could show for the first time that a covalent coating with complement inhibitor C1-INH was able to ameliorate hemocompatibility. Thus, the early inhibition of the coagulation cascade is likely to have far-reaching consequences for the other cross-reacting plasma protein pathways.

Immunomodulatory and Antioxidant Properties of Wheat Gluten Protein Hydrolysates in Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells

Peptides from several plant food proteins not only maintain the nutritional values of the original protein and decrease the environmental impact of animal agriculture, but also exert biological activities with significant health-beneficial effects. Wheat is the most important food grain source in the world. However, negative attention on wheat-based products has arose due to the role of gluten in celiac disease. A controlled enzymatic hydrolysis could reduce the antigenicity of wheat gluten protein hydrolysates (WGPHs). Therefore, the aims of the present study were to evaluate the effects of the in vitro administration of Alcalase-generated WGPHs on the immunological and antioxidant responses of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 39 healthy subjects. WGPH treatment reduced cell proliferation and the production of the Type 1 T helper (Th1) and Th17 pro-inflammatory cytokines IFN-γ and IL-17, respectively. WPGHs also improved the cellular anti-inflammatory microenvironment, increasing Th2/Th1 and Th2/Th17 balances. Additionally, WGPHs improved global antioxidant capacity, increased levels of the reduced form of glutathione and reduced nitric oxide production. These findings, not previously reported, highlight the beneficial capacity of these vegetable protein hydrolysates, which might represent an effective alternative in functional food generation.

A transcriptome-based approach to identify functional modules within and across primary human immune cells

Genome-wide transcriptomic analyses have provided valuable insight into fundamental biology and disease pathophysiology. Many studies have taken advantage of the correlation in the expression patterns of the transcriptome to infer a potential biologic function of uncharacterized genes, and multiple groups have examined the relationship between co-expression, co-regulation, and gene function on a broader scale. Given the unique characteristics of immune cells circulating in the blood, we were interested in determining whether it was possible to identify functional co-expression modules in human immune cells. Specifically, we sequenced the transcriptome of nine immune cell types from peripheral blood cells of healthy donors and, using a combination of global and targeted analyses of genes within co-expression modules, we were able to determine functions for these modules that were cell lineage-specific or shared among multiple cell lineages. In addition, our analyses identified transcription factors likely important for immune cell lineage commitment and/or maintenance.

The effects of rosmarinic acid on oxidative stress parameters and inflammatory cytokines in lipopolysaccharide-induced peripheral blood mononuclear cells

Rosmarinic acid (RA) is a potential herbal medicine and has received considerable attention due to its strong antioxidant properties. The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of RA on inflammation and oxidative stress induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). PBMCs were pre-treated with various contents of RA (20, 40, 80 µM) for 24 h, then, stimulated with LPS (10 ng/ml) for more 6 h. ELISA and Real-time PCR were done to detect the levels of IL-6, TNF-α, COX-2, IL-1β and IL-10. Western blot was done to investigate the phosphorylated amounts of P65-NF-κB and JNK. Inflammatory cytokines and oxidant-antioxidant parameters were determined by colorimetric and ELISA methods. The results indicated that LPS augmented the protein levels of IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β cytokines as well as the mRNA levels of IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β, COX-2, and IL-10 cytokines in in PBMCs. However, pretreatment with RA could reduce the impact of LPS on inflammatory markers. In addition, RA inhibited P65-NF-κB and JNK phosphorylation. LPS also caused a decrease in antioxidant enzymes, total thiol, and total antioxidant capacity as well as an increment in malondialdehyde and nitric oxide metabolite contents that RA abrogated them. Collectively, our finding demonstrated that RA ameliorates LPS-induced inflammation in PBMCs. RA reduces oxidative stress by preventing lipid peroxidation and nitric oxide production as well as restarting the activity of the GPx and SOD enzymes. Furthermore, our findings indicated that RA was able to protect PBMCs from inflammation via inhibiting the NF-κB and JNK MAPK pathways. This evidence shows a promising therapeutic role for RA in inflammatory status.

Decreased shedding dipeptidyl peptidase 4 from membrane in Hashimoto's thyroiditis

AIMS

This study aimed to determine the concentration and enzymatic activity of dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) in serum and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) and to explore the potential mechanism of the abnormal DPP4 in HT development.

METHODS

A total of 33 newly diagnosed HT patients and 31 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were enrolled. Clinical characteristics and thyroid function data were collected for all participants. Serum DPP4 and kallikrein-related peptidase 5 (KLK5) concentrations were measured by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. DPP4 enzymatic activities in serum and PBMCs were determined by enzymatic assay. DPP4, KLK5 and interferon (IFN)-γ mRNA expression levels in PBMCs were evaluated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS

Serum DPP4 level and activity were significantly lower in the HT group compared with the control group. However, DPP4 mRNA expression was significantly increased and both serum KLK5 concentration and KLK5 mRNA expression in PBMCs were significantly decreased in HT patients. Correlation analyses revealed that DPP4 concentration was positively correlated with DPP4 enzymatic activity in serum. No significant difference in DPP4 activity was found in PBMCs. DPP4 enzymatic activity in PBMCs was negatively correlated with DPP4 enzymatic activity in serum. IFN-γ mRNA expression in PBMCs was significantly increased in HT patients.

CONCLUSIONS

DPP4 is involved in the development and pathological process of HT. Decreased cleavage of membrane-anchored DPP4 by KLK5 may be responsible for the decreased serum DPP4 levels in HT patients.

The SNP rs2298383 Reduces ADORA2A Gene Transcription and Positively Associates with Cytokine Production by Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells in Patients with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity

Systemic inflammation and immune activation are striking features of multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS). The rs2298383 SNP of ADORA2A gene, coding for adenosine receptor type 2A (A2AR), has been involved in aberrant immune activation. Here we aimed to assess the prevalence of this SNP in 279 MCS patients and 238 healthy subjects, and its influence on ADORA2A, IFNG and IL4 transcript amounts in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of randomly selected patients (n = 70) and controls (n = 66) having different ADORA2A genotypes. The ADORA2A rs2298383 TT mutated genotype, significantly more frequent in MCS patients than in controls, was associated with a three-fold increased risk for MCS (O.R. = 2.86; C.I. 95% 1.99–4.12, p < 0.0001), while the CT genotype, highly prevalent among controls, resulted to be protective (O.R. = 0.33; C.I. 95% 0.224–0.475, p < 0.0001). Notably, ADORA2A mRNA levels were significantly lower, while IFNG, but not IL4, mRNA levels were significantly higher in TT MCS patients compared with controls. A significant negative correlation was found between ADORA2A and both IFNG and IL4, while a significant positive correlation was found between IFNG and IL4. These findings suggest that A2AR defective signaling may play a relevant role in PBMC shift towards a pro-inflammatory phenotype in MCS patients.

R534C mutation in hERG causes a trafficking defect in iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes from patients with type 2 long QT syndrome

Patient-specific cardiomyocytes obtained from induced pluripotent stem cells (CM-iPSC) offer unprecedented mechanistic insights in the study of inherited cardiac diseases. The objective of this work was to study a type 2 long QT syndrome (LQTS2)-associated mutation (c.1600C > T in KCNH2, p.R534C in hERG) in CM-iPSC. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated from two patients with the R534C mutation and iPSCs were generated. In addition, the same mutation was inserted in a control iPSC line by genome editing using CRISPR/Cas9. Cells expressed pluripotency markers and showed spontaneous differentiation into the three embryonic germ layers. Electrophysiology demonstrated that action potential duration (APD) of LQTS2 CM-iPSC was significantly longer than that of the control line, as well as the triangulation of the action potentials (AP), implying a longer duration of phase 3. Treatment with the I_Kr inhibitor E4031 only caused APD prolongation in the control line. Patch clamp showed a reduction of I_Kr on LQTS2 CM-iPSC compared to control, but channel activation was not significantly affected. Immunofluorescence for hERG demonstrated perinuclear staining in LQTS2 CM-iPSC. In conclusion, CM-iPSC recapitulated the LQTS2 phenotype and our findings suggest that the R534C mutation in KCNH2 leads to a channel trafficking defect to the plasma membrane.

Peripheral blood mononuclear cell transcriptomes reveal an over-representation of down-regulated genes associated with immunity in HIV-exposed uninfected infants

HIV-exposed uninfected (HEU) infants are disproportionately at a higher risk of morbidity and mortality, as compared to HIV-unexposed uninfected (HUU) infants. Here, we used transcriptional profiling of peripheral blood mononuclear cells to determine immunological signatures of in utero HIV exposure. We identified 262 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in HEU compared to HUU infants. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) identified six modules that had significant associations with clinical traits. Functional enrichment analysis on both DEGs and the six significantly associated modules revealed an enrichment of G-protein coupled receptors and the immune system, specifically affecting neutrophil function and antibacterial responses. Additionally, malaria pathogenicity genes (thrombospondin 1-(THBS 1), interleukin 6 (IL6), and arginine decarboxylase 2 (ADC2)) were down-regulated. Of interest, the down-regulated immunity genes were positively correlated to the expression of epigenetic factors of the histone family and high-mobility group protein B2 (HMGB2), suggesting their role in the dysregulation of the HEU transcriptional landscape. Overall, we show that genes primarily associated with neutrophil mediated immunity were repressed in the HEU infants. Our results suggest that this could be a contributing factor to the increased susceptibility to bacterial infections associated with higher morbidity and mortality commonly reported in HEU infants.

Single-Cell Sequencing Reveals the Relationship between Phenotypes and Genotypes of Klinefelter Syndrome

Klinefelter syndrome (KS) is one of the most common congenital disorders of male infertility. Given its high heterogeneity in clinical and genetic presentation, the relationship between transcriptome, clinical phenotype, and associated co-morbidities seen in KS has not been fully clarified. Here, we report a 47,XXY Chinese male with infertility and analyzed the differences in gene expression patterns of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) with regard to a Chinese male and a female control with normal karyotype by single-cell sequencing. A total of 24,439 cells were analyzed and divided into 5 immune cell types (including B cells, T cells, macrophage cells, dendritic cells, and natural killer cells) according to marker genes. Using unsupervised dimensionality reduction and clustering algorithms, we identified molecularly distinct subpopulations of cells between the KS patient and both controls. Gene ontology enrichment analyses yielded terms associated with well-known comorbidities seen in KS as well as an affected immune system and type I diabetes mellitus. Based on our data, we identified several candidate genes which may be implicated in regulating the phenotype of KS. Overall, this analysis provides a comprehensive map of the cell types of PBMCs in a KS patient at the single-cell level, which will contribute to the prevention of comorbidity and improvement of the life quality of KS patients.

PBMCs transcriptome profiles identified breed-specific transcriptome signatures for PRRSV vaccination in German Landrace and Pietrain pigs

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is a devastating viral disease affecting the swine industry worldwide. Genetic variation in host immunity has been considered as one of the potential determinants to improve the immunocompetence, thereby resistance to PRRS. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the breed difference in innate immune response to PRRSV vaccination between German Landrace (DL) and Pietrain (Pi) pigs. We analyzed microarray-based transcriptome profiles of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) collected before (0 h) and 24 h after PRRSV vaccination from purebred DL and Pi pigs with three biological replicates. In total 4,269 transcripts were identified to be differentially expressed in PBMCs in at least any of four tested contrast pairs (i.e. DL-24h vs. DL-0h, Pi-24h vs. Pi-0h, DL-0h vs. Pi-0h and DL-24h vs. Pi-24h). The number of vaccine-induced differentially expressed genes (DEGs) was much higher (2,459) in DL pigs than that of Pi pigs (291). After 24 h of PRRSV vaccination, 1,046 genes were differentially expressed in PMBCs of DL pigs compared to that of Pi (DL-24h vs. Pi-24h), indicating the breed differences in vaccine responsiveness. The top biological pathways significantly affected by DEGs of both breeds were linked to immune response functions. The network enrichment analysis identified ADAM17, STAT1, MMS19, RPA2, BAD, UCHL5 and APC as potential regulatory genes for the functional network of PRRSV vaccine response specific for DL; while FOXO3, IRF2, ADRBK1, FHL3, PPP2CB and NCOA6 were found to be the most potential hubs of Pi specific transcriptome network. In conclusion, our data provided insights of breed-specific host transcriptome responses to PRRSV vaccination which might contribute in better understanding of PPRS resistance in pigs.

Effect of ginger extract on expression of GATA3, T-bet and ROR-γt in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with Allergic Asthma

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

Allergic asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways. Th1, Th2 and Th17 cells are the main cells involved in the pathophysiology of asthma. The function of these cells is affected by T-bet, GATA3 and RORγt transcription factors (respectively). Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of ginger (officinal Roscoe) extract on the expression of T-bet, GATA-3 and ROR-γ in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of asthmatic patients, in comparison with healthy volunteers as controls.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this case-control study, a total of 50 individuals including 25 patients with severe, moderate and mild allergic asthma and 25 unrelated healthy controls were involved. The PBMCs were isolated and divided into four groups: negative control, two positive controls (Budesonide and PHA) and ginger-extract treated group. After cell treatment and incubation for 48h, PBMCs were isolated and cDNA was synthesized. Gene expressions of T-bet, GATA3 and ROR-γt were evaluated by Real-time PCR.

RESULTS

According to the results of this study, hydroalcoholic extract of ginger could reduce the expression of GATA-3, ROR-γt, and T-bet in PBMCs of asthmatic patients in comparison with untreated PBMCs (P values=0.001, 0.001, and 0.002, respectively). It was also shown that the ginger extract could affect T-bet/GATA-3, T-bet/ROR-γt, and ROR-γt/GATA-3 expression ratios.

CONCLUSIONS

This study showed that the use of ginger extract could control asthma and decrease the severity of this disease by affecting the main cells involving the symptoms of asthma in the airways.

Synergistic effect of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus allergens and dexamethasone on the expression of CD163 by peripheral blood mononuclear cells

BACKGROUND

The CD163 is a marker of monocyte/macrophage anti-inflammatory function. Its soluble form (sCD163) also exert anti-inflammatory activities including inhibition of T cell proliferation.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effect of dexamethasone (Dx) and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Dp) on ex vivo production of sCD163 by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).

METHODS

PBMCs from 26 allergic asthma patients (AAs) and 12 non-atopic healthy controls (HCs) were cultured with Dp, Dx, Dp + Dx or without any stimulation for up to 144 h (T₁₄₄). Concentration of sCD163, interleukin (IL) -6 and IL-10 in PMBC culture supernatants was evaluated using ELISA. The mRNA expression of CD163 by PBMCs was estimated using quantitative PCR (qPCR).

RESULTS

At T₁₄₄ the median concentration of CD163 in unstimulated PBMC cultures of AAs was greater than that in HCs (p = 0.008). Concomitant application of Dp and Dx resulted in a synergistic effect reflected by a dramatic increase of sCD163 concentration both in HCs (p = 0.0002) and AAs (p < 0.0001). Also a synergistic effect of Dp and Dx on CD163 mRNA expression was seen at T₂₄ and T₄₈ but not at T₆ or T₁₂. Among asthmatic patients the effect of Dx on sCD163 production was attenuated in severe in comparison to mild-to-moderate AAs (p = 0.0007). Moreover, Dp-induced production of IL-6 but not IL-10 was inhibited by Dx (p < 0.0001). Inhibition of IL-10 decreased sCD163 concentration by more than 50%.

CONCLUSIONS

Dx-triggered upregulation of anti-inflammatory CD163 expression by monocytes is synergistic with endogenous mechanisms involved in the resolution of Dp-induced inflammation. This effect is impaired in severe asthma patients.

Expression of autophagy-modulating genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from familial clustering patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection

We previously found that genetic factors are associated with a familial predisposition for developing liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma during chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Autophagy has been shown to play a role in HBV replication and the course of disease. More than 190 host genes have been identified that modify the process of autophagy, but which of these genes are involved in chronicity of HBV infection and how this occurs remains unclear. Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients were recruited to investigate the expression of autophagy-modulating genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). mRNA prepared from PBMCs from members of two families with clustering HBV infection, including 11 CHB patients and nine healthy spouses, was hybridized to high-density oligonucleotide arrays. Immunoblot analysis was used to determine the level of autophagy. Of the 192 autophagy-modulating genes, 18 were found to be differently expressed. Of these, 11 displayed decreased expression in CHB patients, while seven displayed increased expression compared to those in healthy controls. Functional analysis showed that these genes are closely involved in initiation, nucleation, elongation of phagophores, formation of autophagosomes, transportation to lysosomes, and the process of degradation. Western blot analysis revealed inhibited autophagy in PBMCs based on decreased lipidation of LC3II. A differential expression profile of autophagy-modulating genes was observed, and decreased autophagy in PBMCs could be closely associated with chronicity of HBV infection, suggesting a novel strategy for the treatment of patients with chronic HBV infection.

miR-140-5p induces cell apoptosis and decreases Warburg effect in chronic myeloid leukemia by targeting SIX1

microRNAs (miRNA), as tumor suppressors or oncogenes, are involved in modulating cancer cell behavior, including cell proliferation and apoptosis. The miR-140-5p acts as a tumor suppressor in several tumors, but the role of miR-140-5p in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) remains unclear. Here, we investigated the suppression of miR-140-5p in CML patients and CML cell lines using quantitative PCR (qPCR) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Overexpression miR-140-5p in CML cells significantly inhibited cell proliferation as revealed by the CCK-8 assay and promoted cell apoptosis as revealed by flow cytometry. Moreover, the sine oculis homeobox 1 (SIX1) gene had been confirmed as a direct target of miR-140-5p using bioinformatics analysis and luciferase reporter assays. Overexpression of miR-140-5p decreased the SIX1 protein level in CML cells. SIX1 mRNA and protein levels were significantly up-regulated in CML patients and CML cell lines. Knockdown of SIX1 expression significantly inhibited CML cell proliferation and promoted cell apoptosis. Furthermore, SIX1 as a transcriptional factor positively regulated pyruvate kinase isozyme type M2 (PKM2) expression and played an important role in the Warburg effect. In addition, these findings indicated that miR-140-5p functions as a tumor suppressor and plays a critical role in CML cell apoptosis and metabolism by targeting SIX1. Moreover, the miR-140-5p/SIX1 axis may be a potential therapeutic target in CML.

Altered expression of the CSMD1 gene in the peripheral blood of schizophrenia patients

BACKGROUND

Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a heritable, refractory, and devastating psychiatric disorder. Previous studies have shown that the variants of CUB and sushi multiple domains 1 (CSMD1) demonstrate significant genome-wide association with SCZ. However, few studies have been conducted on the effect of antipsychotics on the expression levels of CSMD1. This study explored whether a change occurs in the expression of the CSMD1 gene before and after antipsychotic treatment in SCZ patients.

METHODS

The study population comprised Han Chinese patients from eastern China, including 32 SCZ patients and 48 healthy controls. The expression of CSMD1 before and after treatment in the SCZ group and between the two groups was analyzed using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR).

RESULTS

The expression levels of the CSMD1 gene in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of SCZ patients were lower than those in the healthy controls. The expression levels of the CSMD1 gene in the PBMCs of the SCZ patients after antipsychotic treatment were higher than those in the baseline SCZ patients (all P <  0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results showed that the expression levels of CSMD1 are correlated with the development and treatment of SCZ, providing further evidence for the involvement of CSMD1 in SCZ.

Circulating Osteogenic Progenitor Cells in Mild, Moderate, and Severe Aortic Valve Stenosis

The aim of this study was to characterize endothelial progenitor cells with osteoblastic phenotype (EPC-OCNs) and their role in individuals with varying degrees of aortic stenosis (AS). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells retrieved from blood samples of individuals with mild (n=40), moderate (n=35), or severe (n=103) AS from September 16, 2008, through March 30, 2015, were analyzed by flow cytometry for the EPC surface markers CD34, CD133, and kinase insert domain receptor (KDR) and the osteoblastic cell surface marker OCN. Levels of EPC-OCNs were correlated with AS severity and calcifications. Patients with severe AS had significantly elevated numbers of total circulating EPC-OCNs, including the EPC-OCN subtypes CD133⁺/OCN⁺, CD34⁺/CD133⁺/OCN⁺, and CD133⁺/KDR⁺/OCN⁺, compared with those with mild AS. Individuals with moderate AS also had significantly increased numbers of the circulating progenitor cell CD133⁺/OCN⁺ compared with patients with mild AS. There was a significant association between total circulating EPC-OCN levels and aortic valve (AV) calcification, AV mean gradient, and AV area measured by echocardiography. In summary, this study found the presence of circulating EPC-OCNs in patients with progressive AV stenosis. These findings might support the potential role for EPC-OCNs in the progression of AV stenosis and calcification.

Treatment with mononuclear cell populations improves post-infarction cardiac function but does not reduce arrhythmia susceptibility

Background

Clinical and experimental data give evidence that transplantation of stem and progenitor cells in myocardial infarction could be beneficial, although the underlying mechanism has remained elusive. Ventricular tachyarrhythmia is the most frequent and potentially lethal complication of myocardial infarction, but the impact of mono nuclear cells on the incidence of ventricular arrhythmia is still not clear.

Objective

We aimed to characterize the influence of splenic mononuclear cell populations on ventricular arrhythmia after myocardial infarction.

Methods

We assessed electrical vulnerability in vivo in mice with left ventricular cryoinfarction 14 days after injury and intramyocardial injection of specific subpopulations of mononuclear cells (MNCs) (CD11b-positive cells, Sca-1-positive cells, early endothelial progenitor cells (eEPCs)). As positive control group we used embryonic cardiomyocytes (eCMs). Epicardial mapping was performed for analysing conduction velocities in the border zone. Left ventricular function was quantified by echocardiography and left heart catheterization.

Results

In vivo pacing protocols induced ventricular tachycardia (VT) in 30% of non-infarcted mice. In contrast, monomorphic or polymorphic VT could be evoked in 94% of infarcted and vehicle-injected mice (p<0.01). Only transplantation of eCMs prevented post-infarction VT and improved conduction velocities in the border zone in accordance to increased expression of connexin 43. Cryoinfarction resulted in a broad aggravation of left ventricular function. All transplanted cell types augmented left ventricular function to a similar extent.

Conclusions

Transplantation of different MNC populations after myocardial infarction improves left ventricular function similar to effects of eCMs. Prevention of inducible ventricular arrhythmia is only seen after transplantation of eCMs.

Regeneration-associated cell transplantation contributes to tissue recovery in mice with acute ischemic stroke

Various cell-based therapeutic strategies have been investigated for vascular and tissue regeneration after ischemic stroke. We have developed a novel cell population, called regeneration-associated cells (RACs), by quality- and quantity-controlled culture of unfractionated mononuclear cells. RACs were trans-arterially injected into 10-week-old syngeneic male mice at 1, 3, 5 or 7 days after permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) to determine the optimal timing for administration in terms of outcome at day 21. Next, we examined the effects of RACs injection at day 1 after MCAO on neurological deficits, infarct volume, and mediators of vascular regeneration and anti-inflammation at days 7 and 21. Infarct volume at day 21 was significantly reduced by transplantation of RACs at day 1 or 3. RACs injected at day 1 reduced the infarct volume at day 7 and 21. Angiogenesis and anti-inflammatory mediators, VEGF and IL-10, were increased at day 7, and VEGF was still upregulated at day 21. We also observed significantly enhanced ink perfusion in vivo, tube formation in vitro, and definitive endothelial progenitor cell colonies in colony assay. These results suggest that RAC transplantation in MCAO models promoted significant recovery of neural tissues through intensified anti-inflammatory and angiogenic effects.

Celiac Immunogenic Potential of α-Gliadin Epitope Variants from Triticum and Aegilops Species

The high global demand of wheat and its subsequent consumption arise from the physicochemical properties of bread dough and its contribution to the protein intake in the human diet. Gluten is the main structural complex of wheat proteins and subjects affected by celiac disease (CD) cannot tolerate gluten protein. Within gluten proteins, α-gliadins constitute the most immunogenic fraction since they contain the main T-cell stimulating epitopes (DQ2.5-glia-α1, DQ2.5-glia-α2, and DQ2.5-glia-α3). In this work, the celiac immunotoxic potential of α-gliadins was studied within Triticeae: diploid, tetraploid, and hexaploid species. The abundance and immunostimulatory capacity of CD canonical epitopes and variants (with one or two mismatches) in all α-gliadin sequences were determined. The results showed that the canonical epitopes DQ2.5-glia-α1 and DQ2.5-glia-α3 were more frequent than DQ2.5-glia-α2. A higher abundance of canonical DQ2.5-glia-α1 epitope was found to be associated with genomes of the BBAADD, AA, and DD types; however, the abundance of DQ2.5-glia-α3 epitope variants was very high in BBAADD and BBAA wheat despite their low abundance in the canonical epitope. The most abundant substitution was that of proline to serine, which was disposed mainly on the three canonical DQ2.5 domains on position 8. Interestingly, our results demonstrated that the natural introduction of Q to H at any position eliminates the toxicity of the three T-cell epitopes in the α-gliadins. The results provided a rational approach for the introduction of natural amino acid substitutions to eliminate the toxicity of three T-cell epitopes, while maintaining the technological properties of commercial wheats.

Identification and characterization of the interferon-γ-inducible lysosomal thiol reductase gene in Chinese soft-shelled turtle, Pelodiscus sinensis

The reduction of disulfide bonds of exogenous antigens is crucial to the MHC-II class antigen processing and presenting pathway and is catalysed by interferon-γ-inducible lysosomal thiol reductase (GILT). In this study, a reptile GILT gene from Chinese soft-shelled turtle, Pelodiscus sinensis (PsGILT), was identified. The full-length cDNA of PsGILT is 1631 nucleotides (nt), including a 5'-untranslated region (UTR) of 3 nt, a 3'-UTR of 860 nt and an open reading frame (ORF) of 768 nt encoding 255 amino acids (aa). The conserved features in known GILTs, such as signal peptide, CXXC motif, GILT signature sequence, N-glycosylation site and conserved cysteines, were all found in the putative PsGILT protein. Genomic analysis revealed that PsGILT kept the "7 exons and 6 introns" structure of vertebrate GILT genes. PsGILT was expressed in all examined organs/tissues and was mainly expressed in spleen and blood. Increased mRNA expression levels of PsIFN-γ and PsGILT in PBLs were observed after induction with LPS, PolyI:C and recombinant IFN-γ (rIFN-γ). We also tested the reductase activity of rGILT in vitro and found that it could reduce intact human IgG into H chains and L chains. These above results implied that PsGILT may play an important role in resisting bacterial and viral infections, like other vertebrate GILTs.

NK and trophoblast cells interaction: cytotoxic activity on recurrent pregnancy loss

The trial objective was to determine the peripheral blood NK cells cytotoxic activity effect on trophoblast cells at recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). The investigation involved non-pregnant women with PRL in proliferating and secretory menstrual cycle phases (PMCPh and SMCPh, respectively); women of 6-7 weeks pregnancy with RPL in past medical history; healthy fertile non-pregnant women in PMCPh and SMCPh, women of 6-7 weeks physiological pregnancy, nulliparity healthy women with regular menstrual function in PMCPh and SMCPh. NK cells cytotoxic activity was determined using peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The target cells were JEG-3 line trophoblasts. It has been established that NK cells cytotoxic activity effect on trophoblasts is lower in SMCPh than in PMCPh in non-pregnant fertile women. The NK cells cytotoxic activity was higher in SMCPh than in PMCPh in non-pregnant women with PRL and also higher than the same value in SMCPh in non-pregnant fertile women. The increased NK cells cytotoxic activity values in SMCPh in women with RPL may be the reason for miscarriage.

Impaired Homocysteine Metabolism Associated with High Plasma Interleukin-17A Levels, a Pro-Atherogenic Marker, in an Endogamous Population of North India

Background

Impaired homocysteine metabolism (IHM; hyperhomocysteinemia) has been linked with many complex disorders like cardiovascular diseases and immunological disturbances. However, studies understanding IHM in light of pro- and anti- atherogeneic markers like Interleukin-17A & -10 (IL-17A & IL-10) and Forkhead box p3 (Foxp3, a master transcription factor) are scarce.

Aim

In our present study, we aimed to understand the relation of IHM with plasma IL-17A and IL-10 levels and Foxp3 mRNA expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from an endogamous population (Jats of Haryana, North India) with high prevalence of IHM without the concurrence of significant adverse cardiovascular outcomes.

Methods

Forty (40) clinically healthy individuals, unrelated up to first cousins, were recruited and were subjected to demographic, physiological and anthropometric profiling, followed by intravenous blood sample collection (fasting) and lipid profiling. Plasma homocysteine levels were estimated and individuals with homocysteine levels ≥ 15umol/L and <15umol/L were categorized as the impaired homocysteine metabolism group (IHM, n=30) and normal homocysteine metabolism group (NHM, n=10) respectively. Plasma folate and vitamin B12 and MTHFR C677T (methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase) polymorphism were detected. Relative mRNA expression of Foxp3 in PBMCs (normalized to 18S) was quantitated using SyBR green technology. Plasma IL-10 & 17 levels were estimated by ELISA assays.

Results and Conclusions

None of the physiological, anthropometric and lipid variables were different between the two groups. Foxp3 mRNA expression levels were relatively lower, and plasma IL-10 levels were found to be comparable among IHM and NHM group. However, significantly higher IL-17A levels and relatively high LDL cholesterol levels were present in the IHM group as compared with NHM. Our findings suggest that the Jats of Haryana, North India, exhibiting high levels of homocysteine, might also carry the high IL-17A -pro-atherogenic marker, suggesting an increasing burden of pre-morbid condition. This apparently does not reach to significant mortality/morbidity attributed to the counter action or balancing act of IL-10 (an anti-atherogenic marker). This further suggests environment-influenced epigenetic control mechanisms of the targeted genes in the present population.

Varicella-Zoster Virus and the Enteric Nervous System

Varicella zoster virus (VZV) infects and becomes latent in sensory, enteric, and other autonomic neurons during the viremia of varicella. Reactivation of VZV in neurons that project to the skin causes the rash of zoster; however, reactivation of VZV in enteric neurons can cause a painful gastrointestinal disorder ("enteric zoster") without cutaneous manifestations. Detection of VZV DNA in saliva of patients with gastrointestinal symptoms may suggest enteric zoster. This diagnosis is reinforced by observing a response to antiviral therapy and can be confirmed by detecting VZV gene products in intestinal mucosal biopsies. We developed an in vivo guinea pig model that may be useful in studies of VZV latency and reactivation. VZV-infected lymphocytes are used to induce latent infection in sensory and enteric neurons; evidence suggests that exosomes and stimulator of interferon genes (STING) may, by preventing proliferation play roles in the establishment of neuronal latency.

In Vitro Blood-Brain Barrier Modeling adapted for Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cell Transmigration from HIV-Positive Patients for Clinical Research on Therapeutic Drug Intervention

OBJECTIVE

HIV-associated cognitive impairment (HACI) continues to persist for HIV-seropositive individuals who are on antiretroviral therapy (ART). HACI develops in part when HIV-infected monocytes (MOs) transmigrate through the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and secrete pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, which leads to neuronal damage. In vitro BBB models are important tools that can elucidate mechanisms of MO transmigration. Previously described in vitro BBB models relied on pathology specimens, resulting in potentially variable and inconsistent results. This project reports on a reliable and consistent alternative in vitro BBB model that has the potential to be used in clinical research intervention studies analyzing the effects of ART on the BBB and on MO transmigration.

METHODS

A bilayer BBB model was established with commercially available astrocytes and endothelial cells on a 3μm PET membrane insert to allow the contact of astrocytic foot processes with endothelial cells. Inserts were cultured in growth medium for 7 days before exposure to HIV- or HIV+ peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). PBMCs were allowed to transmigrate across the BBB for 24 hours.

RESULTS

Confluency and integrity measurements by trans-endothelial electrical resistance (TEER) (136.7 ± 18.3Ω/cm2) and permeability (5.64 ± 2.20%) verified the integrity of the in vitro BBB model. Transmigrated MOs and non-MOs were collected and counted (6.0x104 MOs; 1.1x105 non-MOs). Markers indicative of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), von Willebrand factor (vWF), and p-glycoprotein (Pgp) were revealed in immunofluorescence staining (IF), indicating BBB phenotype and functionality.

CONCLUSION

Potential applications for this model include assessing the HIV DNA copy numbers of transmigrated cells (pre- and post-targeted ART) and understanding the role of oxidative stress related to HIV DNA and HACI.

Soluble ST2 regulation by rhinovirus and 25(OH)-vitamin D3 in the blood of asthmatic children

Paediatric asthma exacerbations are often caused by rhinovirus (RV). Moreover, 25(OH)-vitamin D3 (VitD3) deficiency during infancy was found associated with asthma. Here, we investigated the innate immune responses to RV and their possible modulation by 25(OH)-VitD3 serum levels in a preschool cohort of children with and without asthma. The innate lymphoid cell type 2 (ILC2)-associated marker, ST2, was found up-regulated in the blood cells of asthmatic children with low serum levels of 25(OH)-VitD3 in the absence of RV in their airways. Furthermore, in blood cells from control and asthmatic children with RV in their airways, soluble (s) ST2 (sST2) protein was found reduced. Asthmatic children with low 25(OH)-VitD3 in serum and with RV in vivo in their airways at the time of the analysis had the lowest sST2 protein levels in the peripheral blood compared to control children without RV and high levels of 25(OH)-VitD3. Amphiregulin (AREG), another ILC2-associated marker, was found induced in the control children with RV in their airways and low serum levels of 25(OH)-VitD3. In conclusion, the anti-inflammatory soluble form of ST2, also known as sST2, in serum correlated directly with interleukin (IL)-33 in the airways of asthmatic children. Furthermore, RV colonization in the airways and low serum levels of 25(OH)-VitD3 were found to be associated with down-regulation of sST2 in serum in paediatric asthma. These data indicate a counter-regulatory role of 25(OH)-VitD3 on RV-induced down-regulation of serum sST2 in paediatric asthma, which is relevant for the therapy of this disease.

Sex-associated differences in mitochondrial function in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and brain

BACKGROUND

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, and it affects more women than men. Mitochondrial dysfunction (MD) plays a key role in AD, and it is detectable at an early stage of the degenerative process in peripheral tissues, such as peripheral mononuclear blood cells (PBMCs). However, whether these changes are also reflected in cerebral energy metabolism and whether sex-specific differences in mitochondrial function occur are not clear. Therefore, we estimated the correlation between mitochondrial function in PBMCs and brain energy metabolites and examined sex-specific differences in healthy participants to elucidate these issues.

METHODS

The current pilot study included 9 male and 15 female healthy adults (mean age 30.8 ± 7.1 years). Respiration and activity of mitochondrial respiratory complexes were measured using a Clarke-electrode (Oxygraph-2k system), and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels were determined using a bioluminescence-based assay in isolated PBMCs. Citrate synthase activity as a mitochondrial marker was measured using a photometric assay. Concentrations of brain energy metabolites were quantified in the same individuals using 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS).

RESULTS

We detected sex-associated differences in mitochondrial function. Mitochondrial complexes I, I+II, and IV and uncoupled respiration and electron transport system (ETS) capacity in PBMCs isolated from blood samples of females were significantly (p < 0.05; p < 0.01) higher compared to males. ATP levels in the PBMCs of female participants were approximately 10% higher compared to males. Citrate synthase (CS) activity, a marker of mitochondrial content, was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in females compared to males. Sex-associated differences were also found for brain metabolites. The N-acetylaspartate (NAA) concentration was significantly higher in female participants compared to males in targeted regions. This difference was observed in white matter (WM) and an area with a high percentage (> 50%) of gray matter (GM) (p < 0.05; p < 0.01). The effect sizes indicated a strong influence of sex on these parameters. Sex-associated differences were found in PBMCs and brain, but the determined parameters were not significantly correlated.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study revealed sex-associated differences in mitochondrial function in healthy participants. The underlying mechanisms must be elucidated in more detail, but our study suggests that mitochondrial function in PBMCs is a feasible surrogate marker to detect differences in mitochondrial function and energy metabolism in humans and it underscores the necessity of sex-specific approaches in therapies that target mitochondrial dysfunction.

Anti-inflammatory terpenoids from Cyperus rotundus rhizomes

Phytochemical investigation of the methanolic extract of Cyperus rotundus L. (Cyperaceae) rhizomes afforded a new norterpenoid with an unprecedented carbon skeleton, namely cyperalin A (1) and sugetriol triacetate (2). Their structures were identified by using advanced spectroscopic technique such as UV, IR, 1D (1H and 13C), 2D (1H-1HCOSY, HSQC, HMBC, and NOESY) NMR, and HRESIMS as well as comparison with literature data. The isolated compounds were evaluated for their anti-inflammatory activity. Compound 1 displayed the highest inhibitory activity of PGE2, COX-2, and LOX-5 with IC50s 0.22, 1.03, and 1.37 µM, respectively compared to indomethacin (IC_50s 0.15, 0.69, and 0.81 μM, respectively). Moreover, 2 demonstrated significant activity with IC_50s 0.57 (PGE2), 1.74 (COX-2) and 2.03 (LOX-5) μM.

The first report of siglec-3/CD33 gene in a teleost (rock bream, Oplegnathus fasciatus): An analysis of its spatial expression during stimulation to red seabream iridovirus (RSIV) and two bacterial pathogens

Siglec-3/CD33 is a myeloid-specific inhibitory receptor that is expressed on cells of the immune system, where it is believed to play a regulatory role, modulating the inflammatory and immune responses. We characterized CD33 (RbCD33) in rock bream which is a transmembrane protein with two IG-like domains and a cytoplasmic tail. It has a deduced amino acid sequence of 390 residues and has tyrosine-based signaling motifs in the cytoplasmic tail. The RbCD33 mRNA was highly expressed in peripheral blood leukocytes and was also detected in the muscle, spleen, skin, head kidney, gills, trunk kidney, heart, stomach, brain, intestine and liver by quantitative real-time PCR. A temporal variation in expression of RbCD33 was observed in different tissues after stimulating with E. tarda, S. iniae and red seabream iridovirus (RSIV). In the head kidney tissue, E. tarda and S. iniae induced RbCD33, while a down regulation was observed with RSIV. In addition, in spleen tissue, S. iniae caused a very high induction of RbCD33 in comparison with an E. tarda and RSIV challenge. In the liver and gill tissues, all three pathogens induced a high expression of RbCD33. The expression pattern in various tissues and its high induction after pathogen stimulation suggests that RbCD33 plays an important role in initiating the immune response via the inhibition of signal transduction of the myeloid lineage cells.

Diurnal Variation in PDK4 Expression Is Associated With Plasma Free Fatty Acid Availability in People

CONTEXT

Many biological pathways involved in regulating substrate metabolism display rhythmic oscillation patterns. In rodents, clock genes regulate circadian rhythms of metabolic genes and substrate metabolism. However, the interrelationships among substrate metabolism, metabolic genes, and clock genes have not been fully explored in people.

OBJECTIVE

We tested the hypothesis that the diurnal expression pattern of pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4 (PDK4), a key metabolic enzyme involved in fuel switching between glucose and free fatty acids (FFAs), is associated with plasma FFA concentration and clock genes.

DESIGN AND METHODS

We analyzed peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), subcutaneous adipose tissue, and plasma samples obtained serially during 24 hours from metabolically healthy women (n = 10) and evaluated the interrelationships among PDK4, plasma FFA, and clock genes. We also determined the potential mechanisms responsible for PDK4 transcriptional regulation by using primary human PBMCs and adipocytes.

RESULTS

We found that PDK4 diurnal expression patterns were similar in PBMCs and adipose tissue (ρ = 0.84, P < 0.001). The diurnal variation in PBMC PDK4 expression correlated more strongly with plasma FFA and insulin (ρ = 0.86 and 0.63, respectively, both P < 0.001) concentrations than clock genes. Data obtained from primary culture experiments demonstrated that FFAs directly induced PDK4 gene expression, at least in part through activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that plasma FFA availability is an important regulator of diurnal expression patterns of PDK4, and we identify a novel interaction between plasma FFA and cellular diurnal rhythms in regulating substrate metabolism.

Characterization of a teleost membrane-associated protein that is involved in the regulation of complement activation and bacterial infection

In mammals, membrane-associated complement regulatory proteins (MCRP) can protect host cells from the damaging of the activated complement. In teleost, few studies on the function of MCRP have been documented. In the present report, we identified a MCRP (named CsMCRP) from the teleost fish tongue sole Cynoglossus semilaevis and examined its immune function. CsMCRP shares moderate sequence identities with fish DAF-like molecules. CsMCRP was predicted to be a transmembrane protein with three short consensus repeats located in the extracellular region. CsMCRP expression occurred in nine different tissues, especially blood, and in peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL). Recombinant CsMCRP inhibited complement activation and interacted with bacterial pathogen, the latter in a highly selective manner. Antibody blocking the CsMCRP on PBL significantly inhibited bacterial infection of PBL. These results indicate that teleost CsMCRP is both a regulator of complement activation and a cellular receptor involved in bacterial invasion.

Comparison of Specific Adsorbents for Tumor Necrosis Factor-α and Therapeutic Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Antibodies: An in Vitro Sepsis Model

Background

Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), as a key mediator, represents a major point of attack in sepsis. Since it has been shown that systemic anti-TNF-α antibodies do not improve the situation of septic patients, the use of specific adsorption technology in the treatment of sepsis could have beneficial effects.

Methods

Magnetic beads coated with polyclonal or with monoclonal anti-TNF-α antibodies were investigated in vitro in order to analyze their ability to prevent TNF-α induced adhesion of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) at human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Additionally, therapeutical monoclonal anti-TNF-α antibodies were proofed for inhibitory effects of TNF-α mediated activation of HUVECs.

Results

We have shown, in vitro, that beads coated with polyclonal or monoclonal anti-TNF-α antibodies were able to significantly reduce monocyte adhesion. It was possible to decrease monocyte adhesion from nearly 9% to 3% within 2 hours and from 18% to 2% within 6 hours of TNF-α treatment by the simultaneous use of beads coated with polyclonal anti-TNF-α antibodies. Beads coated with monoclonal anti-TNF-α antibodies could even prevent monocyte adhesion within the first 2 hours, and reduced monocyte adhesion to 2% during 6 hours of incubation with TNF-α. On the other hand, application of therapeutic anti-TNF-α antibodies showed no significant difference compared to the measured monocyte adhesion values of activated endothelial cells.

Conclusion

Adsorption techniques using specific adsorbents, possibly used in MDS (Microspheres-Based Detoxification System), are efficient in specific reduction of TNF-α and pathophysiological consequences, since monocyte adhesion at activated HUVECs was shown to be reduced. (Int J Artif Organs 2006; 29: 1140–7)

Identification and characterization of a rabbit novel IFN-α unlocated in genome

The multigene family of rabbit IFN-α (RbIFN-α) is located on chromosome 1, which shows seven functional genes in type I IFN locus. A novel RbIFN-α that remains unlocated in the rabbit genome was amplified and designated as the first novel rabbit IFN-α (RbIFN-αNov1), which possesses the typical molecular characteristics of type I IFNs and could be induced in RK-13 cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells. After the mature peptide of RbIFN-αNov1 was expressed, its antiviral activity, physicochemical characteristics, and cytotoxicity were determined in vitro. Results indicated that RbIFN-αNov1 exerted a high specific antiviral activity against VSV and a low cytotoxic effect on RK-13 cells. RbIFN-αNov1 showed high sensitivity to trypsin and remained relatively stable after acid, alkali, or heat treatment. RbIFN-αNov1 could induce Mx1 expression on RK-13 cells and activate the NF-κB, ISRE and BoIFN-β promoter activities on bovine testicular cells. Overall, our research on RbIFN-αNov1 not only enriches the knowledge about rabbit IFNs but also makes RbIFN-αNov1 have the potential to be used as an effective therapeutic agent for rabbit viral diseases.

Evaluation of the miRNA-146a and miRNA-155 Expression Levels in Patients with Oral Lichen Planus

BACKGROUND

Oral Lichen Planus (OLP) is a chronic autoimmune disease that could be considered as a potential premalignant status.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the miRNA-146a and miRNA-155 expression levels in patients with oral Lichen planus lesions compared to healthy subjects with normal oral mucosa.

METHODS

Forty patients with oral lichen planus and 18 healthy age and gender-matched controls were recruited in this case-control study. Oral lichen planus was diagnosed clinically and pathologically. The expression levels of two miRNAs in peripheral blood samples were determined using commercial TaqMan MicroRNA Assays. Relative quantification of gene expression was calculated by the 2-ΔΔct method.

RESULTS

The expression levels of miRNA-146a and miRNA-155 in patients with oral Lichen planus were significantly higher than those of healthy controls. Also, a direct but insignificant correlation was found between miRNA-155 and miRNA-146a expression levels among the patient group.

CONCLUSION

Our findings indicate that miRNA-146a and miRNA-155 could be potential biomarkers for the immunopathogenesis of oral lichen planus.

Programmed cell death-1, PD-1, is dysregulated in T cells from children with new onset type 1 diabetes

BACKGROUND

Programmed death cell 1 (PD-1) is an inhibitor of T cell activation and is also functionally linked to glycolysis. We hypothesized that PD-1 expression is defective in activated T cells from children with type 1 diabetes (T1D), resulting in abnormal T cell glucose metabolism.

METHODS

In this pilot study, we enrolled children with new onset T1D within 2 weeks of diagnosis (T1D), unaffected siblings of T1D (SIBS), unaffected, unrelated children (CTRL), children with new onset, and untreated Crohn disease (CD). We repeated the assays 4-6 months post-diagnosis in T1D (T1D follow up). We analyzed anti-CD3/-CD28-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) subsets for PD-1 expression by flow cytometry at baseline and after 24 h in culture. We measured cytokines in the culture medium by multiplex ELISA and glycolytic capacity with a flux analyzer.

RESULTS

We enrolled 37 children. T cells derived from subjects with T1D had decreased PD-1 expression compared to the other study groups. However, in T1D follow-up T cells expressed PD-1 similarly to controls, but had no differences in PBMC cytokine production. Nonetheless, T1D follow up PBMCs had enhanced glycolytic capacity compared to T1D.

CONCLUSIONS

Activated T cells from T1D fail to upregulate PD-1 upon T-cell receptor stimulation, which may contribute to the pathogenesis of T1D. T1D follow up PBMC expression of PD-1 normalizes, together with a significant increase in glycolysis compared to T1D. Thus, insulin therapy in T1D children is associated with normal PD1 expression and heightened glycolytic capacity in PBMC.

Immunosenescence Induced by Plasma from Individuals with Obesity Caused Cell Signaling Dysfunction and Inflammation

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the consequences of plasma from individuals with obesity on parameters associated with immunosenescence in unrelated healthy peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC).

METHODS

Freshly isolated PBMC were incubated in media supplemented with 10% of plasma from individuals with obesity or control subjects for the first 4 hours of 24 to 120 hours of culture.

RESULTS

Plasma from individuals with obesity modulated the phenotype of healthy PBMC, leading to a higher rate of apoptosis, lower amounts of phospho-γH2AX and -p53, and mitochondrial dysfunction. After 120 hours, there was a higher secretion of inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-8. CD8⁺ T lymphocytes presented decreased expression of CD28, which is associated with the immunosenescent phenotype. CD14⁺ macrophages showed increased expression of CD80 and CD206, suggesting a modulation in the activation of macrophages.

CONCLUSIONS

These results demonstrate that chronic systemic inflammation observed in obesity induces dysfunctional features in PBMC that are consistent with premature immunosenescence.

miR-34a and miR-9 are overexpressed and SIRT genes are downregulated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of aging humans

Increased expression of sirtuins lowers the risk of age-related diseases, while their role in the regulation of longevity is not firmly established. Since aging is associated with immunosenescence, we tested whether sirtuin expression was modified in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in an age-related manner and whether this might result from altered expression of the selected miRNAs. The expression of seven SIRT genes and of SIRT1 mRNA-interacting miR-9, miR-34a, miR-132, and miR-199a-5p was evaluated by real-time PCR in PBMC originating from young (Y, n = 57, mean age 27 ± 4.3 years), elderly (E, n = 52, 65 ± 3.4 years), and long-lived (L, n = 56, 94 ± 3.5 years) individuals. Older age was associated with a decreased expression of the majority of the SIRT genes. Most severely affected were median expressions of SIRT1 ( P = 0.000001 for the whole studied group, Y vs. E: P < 0.000001, Y vs. L: P < 0.000001), and of SIRT3 ( P = 0.000001, Y vs. E: P = 0.000004, Y vs. L: P = 0.000028). Older age was also associated with the increased median expression of miR-34a ( P = 0.000001, Y vs. E: P = 0.001, Y vs. L: P = 0.000004) and of miR-9 ( P = 0.05, Y vs. L: P = 0.054). In functional studies, miR-9 interacted with the 3'UTR of SIRT1 mRNA. The SIRT1 mRNA level negatively correlated with the expression of miR-34a ( r = -0.234, P = 0.003). In conclusion, age-related decrease of SIRT1 expression in PBMC might in part result from overexpression of miR-34a and miR-9. In addition, the sustained expression of the SIRT genes in PBMC is not a prerequisite to longevity in humans but might be one of the reasons for the immune system dysfunction in the elderly. Impact statement High expression of sirtuins, particularly SIRT1, lowers the risk of age-related diseases and probably slows down the rate of aging; therefore, their sustained expression should be one of the features of longevity. However, in this work we show that in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of long-lived individuals, expression of majority of the SIRT genes is significantly lower than in cells of young study subjects. In long-lived individuals, downregulation of SIRT1 coexists with upregulation of SIRT1 mRNA-interacting miR-34a and miR-9, indicating the role of epigenetic drift in age-dependent deregulation of SIRT1 expression. Such constellation of SIRT1, miR-34a, and miR-9 expression in PBMC of successfully aging long-lived individuals indicates that, at least in these individuals, it is not a risk factor for morbidity and mortality. It might however affect the function of the immune system and, therefore, aging individuals can profit from interventions increasing the level of SIRT1.