Flow Cytometric Analysis of Macrophages and Cytokines Profile in the Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid in Patients with Lung Cancer

Macrophages play an important role in the suppression and activation of immune anti-cancer response, but little is known about dominant macrophage phenotype in the lung cancer environment, evaluated by bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). The aim of this study was to characterize macrophages in BALF from a lung affected by cancer (cBALF) and a healthy lung (hBALF) of the same patient regarding their individual macrophage polarization and selected cytokines profile. A total of 36 patients with confirmed lung cancer were investigated. Macrophages markers: CD206 CD163 CD80 CD86 CD40 CD45, Arginase-1, and CD68 were evaluated by flow cytometry. Cytokines (IL-1 RA, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-12, IL-23, and TGF-β) profile was analyzed. There was higher median proportion of macrophages in Cbalf than in Hbalf. The population of macrophages presented immunophenotype: Ccd68+bright CD206+bright CD163+bright CD80+ CD86+ CD40+bright CD45+ cArginase+. We observed some trends in the expression of the analyzed antigens in clBALF and hlBLAF. The highest concentrations of IL-1RA and IL-6 were in Cbalf and Hbalf supernatant. There were the correlations between pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. The findings showed that macrophages include a diverse and plastic group with the presence of different antigens and cytokines, and determining the target phenotype is a complex and variable process.

C-reactive protein/albumin ratio and IL-6 are associated with disease activity in patients with ulcerative colitis

BACKGROUND

Cytokines are key mediators of the inflammation in ulcerative colitis (UC); there are inconsistent data on cytokines profile in patients with UC. C-reactive protein/albumin ratio (CRP/ALB) has also been found as an inflammatory indicator. However, the role of CRP/ALB in UC remains unclear. We aimed to evaluate the CRP/ALB ratio and cytokines profile in patients with UC. We further explore the association between CRP/ALB and inflammatory markers, such as erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), fecal calprotectin (FC) and cytokines.

METHODS

One hundred thirty UC patients and 65 controls were included in the study. Clinical and laboratory findings were retrospectively reviewed; differences in variables between two groups were examined using the Mann-Whitney U-test. The association between CRP/ALB, cytokines, and clinical parameters was determined by Spearman's correlation test.

RESULTS

CRP/ALB levels were significantly elevated in active UC patients. The optimal cutoff level of the CRP/ALB was 0.083. The patients with active UC had a median interleukin-6 (IL-6) level of 7.715 pg/ml (interquartile ranges, IQR 3.475-14.63), which was significantly higher than those in remission (2.95 pg/ml, IQR 2.17-5.44) (p < 0.001). Positive correlations between CRP/ALB and inflammatory markers were also observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that CRP/ALB and IL-6 could be potential biomarkers for assessment of clinical activity in Chinese patients with UC.

Cationic and Biocompatible Polymer/Lipid Nanoparticles as Immunoadjuvants

Nanostructures have been of paramount importance for developing immunoadjuvants. They must be cationic and non-cytotoxic, easily assembling with usually oppositely charged antigens such as proteins, haptens or nucleic acids for use in vaccines. We obtained optimal hybrid nanoparticles (NPs) from the biocompatible polymer poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and the cationic lipid dioctadecyl dimethyl ammonium bromide (DODAB) by emulsion polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) in the presence of DODAB. NPs adsorbed ovalbumin (OVA) as a model antigen and we determined their adjuvant properties. Interestingly, they elicited high double immune responses of the cellular and humoral types overcoming the poor biocompatibility of DODAB-based adjuvants of the bilayer type. The results suggested that the novel adjuvant would be possibly of use in a variety of vaccines.

Differential impacts of trail and ultra-trail running on cytokine profiles: An observational study

BACKGROUND

Endurance running events are known to cause inflammation and result in increased cytokine production. However, the effects of ultramarathons on cytokine profiles are not well characterized.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to describe and compare the effects of a trail (40 km) race and an ultra-trail (171 km) race on leukocyte concentrations and cytokine profiles.

METHODS

The study was conducted during the Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc® ultra-marathon running event, and included 11 runners who completed the 40 km trail run and 12 runners who completed the 171 km ultra-trail. Blood samples were taken before and after the races.

RESULTS

Leukocyte concentrations significantly increased after both races. Circulating levels of IL-6, IL-1β, MCP-1, and IFN-γ were significantly higher after the longer race compared to the shorter race. Furthermore, while both races resulted in significant increases in IL-6 and IL-8, only the longer race resulted in significant increases in MIP-1β, IL-7, IL-17a, and IL-4.

CONCLUSIONS

These results illustrate that a 171 km ultra-trail race results in greater modulations in cytokine profiles than a traditional trail race.

Sputum Inflammatory Mediators Are Increased in Aspergillus fumigatus Culture-Positive Asthmatics

Aspergillus fumigatus sensitization and culture in asthma are associated with disease severity and lung function impairment, but their relationship with airway inflammation is poorly understood. We investigated the profile of 24 sputum inflammatory mediators in A. fumigatus culture-positive or-negative moderate-to-severe asthmatics. Fifty-two subjects were recruited from a single center. A. fumigatus was cultured from 19 asthmatics. Asthma control, symptom score, lung function, and sputum cell count were not significantly different between the asthmatics with and without a positive A. fumigatus culture. All of the sputum mediators were numerically increased in subjects with a positive versus negative sputum A. fumigatus culture. Sputum TNF-R2 was significantly elevated (P=0.03) and the mediator that best distinguished A. fumigatus culture-positive from culture-negative subjects (receiver-operator characteristic area under the curve 0.66 [95% CI: 0.51 to 0.82, P=0.045]). A. fumigates-positive culture in moderate-to-severe asthma is associated with increased inflammatory sputum mediators.