Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Leukocytes Research Articles

Features of baseline and lipopolysaccharide-induced cytokine secretion in mononuclear leukocyte cultures from patients with the erythema migrans form of acute lyme borreliosis based on clinical parameters

Introduction. Features of cytokine production in mononuclear cell cultures from Lyme borreliosis patients based on clinical data remained poorly studied. The study aim was to estimate the patterns of baseline and lipopolysaccharide-induced cytokine-secretory activity of peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes from patients with erythema migrans form of acute Lyme borreliosis based on clinical parameters. Materials and methods. Groups of 22 and 12 patients with the diagnoses of mild or moderate severity of monoinfection and co-infection with tick-borne encephalitis of Lyme borreliosis with erythema migrans were examined twice: on week 1 after disease onset and day 14. The control group included 17 healthy donors. Basal and lipopolysaccharide-induced IL-6, IL-10, and TNFα secretion levels were assessed in mononuclear leukocyte culture supernatants applying enzyme immunoassay. Statistical analysis was performed by using the Mann–Whitney U-test, Wilcoxon test, and Spearman’s rank correlation. Results. The group of moderate severity patients was clinically distinguished by severer fever and intoxication manifestations. At the disease onset, the basal TNFα, IL-6 and IL-10 secretion levels in the moderate severity patient cultures were significantly higher than in those of the other groups. After antibiotics treatment, the baseline TNFα and IL-10 levels tended to decrease. At the onset, lipopolysaccharide-induced cultures from the moderate severity patients showed significantly suppressed TNFα production and increased IL-10 secretion as compared to the other groups. Lipopolysaccharide-induced IL-6 secretion in the moderate vs. mild severity group supernatants was significantly lower. In dynamics, the induced TNFα levels in the moderate severity patients were increased to the magnitude exceeding that in the controls. Positive correlations between the IL-6 and TNFα basal levels and maximum body temperature or the C-reactive protein serum concentrations were revealed in the patients. Induced TNFα levels showed negative correlations with fever levels or with IL-10 secretion. Conclusions. It was demonstrated that basal TNFα, IL-6 and IL-10 secretion levels in the mononuclear cell cultures of acute Lyme borreliosis patients increased with the increasing disease severity. Suppression of lipopolysaccharide-induced TNFα production in the moderate severity patient cultures was presumably associated with the regulatory cytokine IL-10 effects.

P127 Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Receptor Blockade with Etrasimod alters Lymphocyte Trafficking in Crohn's Disease: Insights from High-Dimensional Phenotypic Mapping

Abstract Background The blockade of lymphocyte trafficking from the lymph nodes (LNs) towards the intestinal mucosa is an effective approach for the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC). Etrasimod is an oral, once-daily (QD), selective sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P)1,4,5 receptor (S1PR) modulator, which is currently also under investigation for Crohn’s disease (CD). The therapeutic mechanism of action of S1PR modulators in the context of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is not completely understood. It is hypothesized that both B and T- cell populations are affected by this treatment and are retained in the peripheral LNs, reducing circulating lymphocytes and resulting in fewer immune cells available to traffic in the gastrointestinal tract. Etrasimod has been reported to induce a partial and selective reduction of lymphocyte subsets in the blood of healthy subjects, but the direct effect of S1PR modulators on LN leukocytes has not been evaluated. The aim of this study was to investigate changes in leukocyte subpopulations in peripheral LNs and peripheral blood (PB) in response to S1PR inhibition with etrasimod in patients with CD. Methods CD patients with moderate to severe disease activity, participating in the Phase 2, double-blinded, non-placebo-controlled portion of the CULTIVATE trial, were eligible for this sub-study. At baseline and after 14 weeks of etrasimod induction treatment (2 or 3 mg/day), 10cc of PB and 4 ultrasound guided biopsy samples of an inguinal LN were obtained. The isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and LN leukocyte populations, were analyzed at single cell level via high-dimensional immunophenotyping through mass cytometry (CyTOF) at both timepoints. Results We observed that in the LNs, the numbers/percentages of naïve, central and effector memory T-helper cells, as well as, of CD8+ naïve T-cells were increased after treatment with etrasimod. There was a decrease in the proportion of these cell populations in peripheral blood. Circulating naïve and memory B-cells were reduced, while these subsets where also slightly reduced in the LN compartment. Innate immune cell populations were not significantly altered. Conclusion Etrasimod induction treatment resulted in an increase of both naïve and central memory T-lymphocyte subsets in inguinal LNs, with a corresponding decrease in the periphery. The effect on the frequency of B-cells was not consistent in the LNs and PB, while innate immunotypes and T-regs, were not significantly affected. Despite the limited sample size, these selective effects were consistent with previously published PB immunophenotyping studies with etrasimod. This study was conducted as a collaboration between Amsterdam UMC and Pfizer.

Testosterone and Prolactin Perturbations Possibly Associated with Reduced Levels of β-Arrestin1 in Mononuclear Leukocytes of Women with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder.

Previously, we reported that a reduction in β-Arrestin1 protein levels in peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes (PBMC) significantly correlated with the severity of depression symptoms in women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). This study aimed to determine whether the reduced premenstrual β-Arrestin1 protein levels were associated with changes in the regulator for late luteal phase progesterone secretion. The study participants (n = 25) were non-pregnant women between 18 and 42 years of age not taking any antidepressants or receiving therapy and experiencing the luteal phase of menstruation. ELISA determined the β-Arrestin1 protein in PBMC; testosterone and prolactin levels from the plasma were determined by radioimmunoassay. Reduced levels of β-Arrestin1 protein in women with Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) scores above 19 were observed alongside significantly higher plasma testosterone and prolactin concentrations. Understanding the mechanism underlying the initiation of PMDD will allow for identification of a key perturbed metabolic enzyme that can serve as a target for drug development to ensure the alleviation of PMDD, which has been suggested earlier as a risk factor for developing major depressive disorders.

Induction of Vesicular Trafficking and JNK-Mediated Apoptotic Signaling in Mononuclear Leukocytes Marks the Immuno-Proteostasis Response to Uremic Proteins

Introduction: Uremic retention solutes have been alleged to induce the apoptotic program of different cell types, including peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes (PBL), which may contribute to uremic leukopenia and immune dysfunction. Methods: The molecular effects of these solutes were investigated in uremic PBL (u-PBL) and mononuclear cell lines (THP-1 and K562) exposed to the high molecular weight fraction of uremic plasma (u-HMW) prepared by in vitro ultrafiltration with 50 kDa cut-off microconcentrators. Results: u-PBL show reduced cell viability and increased apoptotic death compared to healthy control PBL (c-PBL). u-HMW induce apoptosis both in u-PBL and c-PBL, as well as in mononuclear cell lines, also stimulating cellular H2O2 formation and secretion, IRE1-α-mediated endoplasmic reticulum stress signaling, and JNK/cJun pathway activation. Also, u-HMW induce autophagy in THP-1 monocytes. u-PBL were characterized by the presence in their cellular proteome of the main proteins and carbonylation targets of u-HMW, namely albumin, transferrin, and fibrinogen, and by the increased expression of receptor for advanced glycation end-products, a scavenger receptor with promiscuous ligand binding properties involved in leukocyte activation and endocytosis. Conclusions: Large uremic solutes induce abnormal endocytosis and terminal alteration of cellular proteostasis mechanisms in PBL, including UPR/ER stress response and autophagy, ultimately activating the JNK-mediated apoptotic signaling of these cells. These findings describe the suicidal role of immune cells in facing systemic proteostasis alterations of kidney disease patients, a process that we define as the immuno-proteostasis response of uremia.

The Effect of Drugs with α-Glutamyl-Tryptophan for Cytokine Secretion and Level of Surface Molecule ICAM-1 In Vitro.

The study of the molecular mechanisms underlying the action of immunomodulatory drugs is important for substantiating their therapeutic effect. In the present work, spontaneous and TNFα-induced secretion of IL-1α and IL-8 pro-inflammatory cytokines, as well as the level of the ICAM-1 adhesion molecule in EA.hy 926 endothelial cell culture and peripheral blood mononuclear cells of healthy donors, is studied using an in vitro model of inflammation in the presence of α-glutamyl-tryptophan (α-Glu-Trp) and Cytovir-3. The aim was to evaluate cellular mechanisms mediating the immunomodulatory effect of α-Glu-Trp and Cytovir-3 drugs. It was shown that α-Glu-Trp reduced TNFα-induced IL-1α production and increased TNFα-stimulated level of the ICAM-1 surface molecule of endothelial cells. At the same time, thedrug reduced secretion of the IL-8 cytokine induced by TNFα and increased the spontaneous level of ICAM-1 in mononuclear cells. Cytovir-3 had an activating effect on EA.hy 926 endothelial cells and human peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes. In its presence, there was an increase in the spontaneous secretion of IL-8 by endothelial and mononuclear cells. In addition, Cytovir-3 increased the level of TNFα-induced ICAM-1 on endothelial cells and increased the spontaneous level of this surface molecule on mononuclear cells. Suppression of stimulated production of pro-inflammatory cytokines under the action of α-Glu-Trp both separately and as a part of Cytovir-3 may determine its anti-inflammatory properties. However, an increased level of the surface ICAM-1 molecule indicates mechanisms that enhance the functional activity of these cells, which is equally important for the implementation of an effective immune response to infection and repair of damaged tissues during inflammatory response.

Activation of endothelial NO synthase and P2X7 receptor modification mediates the cholinergic control of ATP-induced interleukin-1β release by mononuclear phagocytes.

The pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1β (IL-1β) plays a central role in host defense against infections. High systemic IL-1β levels, however, promote the pathogenesis of inflammatory disorders. Therefore, mechanisms controlling IL-1β release are of substantial clinical interest. Recently, we identified a cholinergic mechanism inhibiting the ATP-mediated IL-1β release by human monocytes via nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subunits α7, α9 and/or α10. We also discovered novel nAChR agonists that trigger this inhibitory function in monocytic cells without eliciting ionotropic functions at conventional nAChRs. Here, we investigate the ion flux-independent signaling pathway that links nAChR activation to the inhibition of the ATP-sensitive P2X7 receptor (P2X7R). Different human and murine mononuclear phagocytes were primed with lipopolysaccharide and stimulated with the P2X7R agonist BzATP in the presence or absence of nAChR agonists, endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) inhibitors, and NO donors. IL-1β was measured in cell culture supernatants. Patch-clamp and intracellular Ca2+ imaging experiments were performed on HEK cells overexpressing human P2X7R or P2X7R with point mutations at cysteine residues in the cytoplasmic C-terminal domain. The inhibitory effect of nAChR agonists on the BzATP-induced IL-1β release was reversed in the presence of eNOS inhibitors (L-NIO, L-NAME) as well as in U937 cells after silencing of eNOS expression. In peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes from eNOS gene-deficient mice, the inhibitory effect of nAChR agonists was absent, suggesting that nAChRs signal via eNOS to inhibit the BzATP-induced IL-1β release. Moreover, NO donors (SNAP, S-nitroso-N-acetyl-DL-penicillamine; SIN-1) inhibited the BzATP-induced IL-1β release by mononuclear phagocytes. The BzATP-induced ionotropic activity of the P2X7R was abolished in the presence of SIN-1 in both, Xenopus laevis oocytes and HEK cells over-expressing the human P2X7R. This inhibitory effect of SIN-1 was absent in HEK cells expressing P2X7R, in which C377 was mutated to alanine, indicating the importance of C377 for the regulation of the P2X7R function by protein modification. We provide first evidence that ion flux-independent, metabotropic signaling of monocytic nAChRs involves eNOS activation and P2X7R modification, resulting in an inhibition of ATP signaling and ATP-mediated IL-1β release. This signaling pathway might be an interesting target for the treatment of inflammatory disorders.

Evaluation of the functional state of mitochondria isolated from mononuclear leukocytes by flow cytometry in patients with chronic heart failure receiving ubidecarenone

Aim. To evaluate the functional state of mitochondria isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes using flow cytometry in patients with chronic heart failure receiving ubidecarenone (coenzyme Q).Materials and methods. The study included 53 patients with chronic heart failure who had experienced myocardial infarction. The patients were divided into two groups: group 1 received optimally chosen standard therapy, while group 2 received optimally chosen standard therapy and ubidecarenone (“Kudevite”). The mitochondrial membrane potential was evaluated by flow cytometry using propidium iodide and 3,3′-dihexyloxacarbocyanine iodide (DiOC6(3)). The levels of coenzyme Q were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet (UV) detection.Results. A direct correlation was established between the coenzyme Q levels in the blood plasma and the percentage of DiOC6(3)-positive cells (R = 0.39; р < 0.05) in the patients with chronic heart failure. In group 1, no significant differences in the coenzyme Q levels and the percentage of DiOC6(3)-positive and DiOC6(3)-negative cells before and after the therapy were observed. In group 2, a significant increase in the proportion of DiOC6(3)-positive cells and a significant decrease in the percentage of DiOC6(3)-negative cells were revealed.Conclusion. The increase in the functional activity of mitochondria in the patients with chronic heart failure receiving ubidecarenone was identified. Flow cytometry can be used to evaluate the functional state of mitochondria and observe the efficiency of the selected therapy.

Comparison of the oxidative respiratory burst and mitogen-induced leukocyte responses of camels, goats, sheep, and cows.

Background and Aim:The reports from the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries suggest that camels suffer less compared to goats, sheep, and cows from a number of common infectious diseases in Oman. However, there is no immunological evidence to substantiate this claim. This present study is, therefore, an attempt to study the immunological responses of camels, goats, sheep, and cows by comparing their oxidative respiratory burst of peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs) as a marker of innate immunity occurring during phagocytosis and the mitogenic responses of their peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes (PBMLs) as a marker of their adaptive immune response.Materials and Methods:Ten female adult animals (n = 10) were selected from each species (goats, sheep, and cows). The goats, sheep, and cows were maintained at the Agricultural Experiment Station, while camels were kept at the Royal Camel Corps (RCC). Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein in 7 mL of heparin and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid vacutainer tubes. The oxidative respiratory burst of PBLs was measured using a chemiluminescence (CL) assay. Reactants consisted of 75 mL of whole blood diluted (1:50), 75 mL of luminol/isoluminol, and 75 mL of zymosan opsonized with non-heat inactivated serum/heat-inactivated serum or non-opsonized zymosan. CL responses were measured as relative light units and expressed as the mean count per minute and peak CL values. The mitogenic response of PBMLs to concanavalin A (Con-A), phytohemagglutinin (PHA), and pokeweed mitogen (PWM) was tested using a WST-8 assay and read spectrophotometrically at 450 nm.Results:The present findings showed that camel PBLs generate significantly higher CL responses, both intracellularly as well as extracellularly, with zymosan opsonized with autologous serum. Camel PBLs demonstrated a significantly higher (p = 0.001) response when stimulated with zymosan opsonized with heat-inactivated serum compared to those of goat, sheep, and cow lymphocytes from camels exhibited significantly higher (p = 0.001) stimulation indices (SI) with Con-A, PHA, and PWM.Conclusion:The present study suggests that camels are capable of mounting both superior innate as well as adaptive immune responses and provide immunological evidence supporting the belief of some authors, who have proposed that camels are less susceptible to a number of common infectious diseases than other domesticated ruminants.

Comparison of the Anti-inflammatory Properties of Two Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Ligands, Phosphocholine and pCF3-diEPP.

Activation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) expressed by innate immune cells can attenuate pro-inflammatory responses. Silent nAChR agonists, which down-modulate inflammation but have little or no ionotropic activity, are of outstanding clinical interest for the prevention and therapy of numerous inflammatory diseases. Here, we compare two silent nAChR agonists, phosphocholine, which is known to interact with nAChR subunits α7, α9, and α10, and pCF3-N,N-diethyl-N′-phenyl-piperazine (pCF3-diEPP), a previously identified α7 nAChR silent agonist, regarding their anti-inflammatory properties and their effects on ionotropic nAChR functions. The lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced release of interleukin (IL)-6 by primary murine macrophages was inhibited by pCF3-diEPP, while phosphocholine was ineffective presumably because of instability. In human whole blood cultures pCF3-diEPP inhibited the LPS-induced secretion of IL-6, TNF-α and IL-1β. The ATP-mediated release of IL-1β by LPS-primed human peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes, monocytic THP-1 cells and THP-1-derived M1-like macrophages was reduced by both phosphocholine and femtomolar concentrations of pCF3-diEPP. These effects were sensitive to mecamylamine and to conopeptides RgIA4 and [V11L; V16D]ArIB, suggesting the involvement of nAChR subunits α7, α9 and/or α10. In two-electrode voltage-clamp measurements pCF3-diEPP functioned as a partial agonist and a strong desensitizer of classical human α9 and α9α10 nAChRs. Interestingly, pCF3-diEPP was more effective as an ionotropic agonist at these nAChRs than at α7 nAChR. In conclusion, phosphocholine and pCF3-diEPP are potent agonists at unconventional nAChRs expressed by monocytic and macrophage-like cells. pCF3-diEPP inhibits the LPS-induced release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, while phosphocholine is ineffective. However, both agonists signal via nAChR subunits α7, α9 and/or α10 to efficiently down-modulate the ATP-induced release of IL-1β. Compared to phosphocholine, pCF3-diEPP is expected to have better pharmacological properties. Thus, low concentrations of pCF3-diEPP may be a therapeutic option for the treatment of inflammatory diseases including trauma-induced sterile inflammation.

Omega-3 mechanism of action\xa0in inflammation and endoplasmic reticulum stress in mononuclear cells from overweight non-alcoholic fatty liver disease participants: study protocol for the \u201cBrazilian Omega Study\u201d (BROS)\u2014a randomized controlled trial

The low-grade inflammation is pivotal in obesity and its comorbidities; however, the inflammatory proteins are out of target for traditional drug therapy. Omega-3 (ω3) fatty acids can modulate the downstream signaling of Toll-like receptor (TLR) and tumor necrosis factor-α receptor (TNFα) through GPR120, a G-protein-coupled receptor, a mechanism not yet elucidated in humans. This work aims to investigate if the ω3 supplementation, at a feasible level below the previously recommended level in the literature, is enough to disrupt the inflammation and endoplasmic reticulum stress (ER-stress), and also if in acute treatment (3 h) ω3 can activate the GPR120 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and leukocytes from overweight non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) participants. The R270H variant of the Ffar4 (GPR120 gene) will also be explored about molecular responses and blood lipid profiles. A triple-blind, prospective clinical trial will be conducted in overweight men and women, aged 19–75 years, randomized into placebo or supplemented (2.2 g of ω3 [EPA+DHA]) groups for 28 days. For sample calculation, it was considered the variation of TNFα protein and a 40% dropout rate, obtaining 22 individuals in each group. Volunteers will be recruited among patients with NAFLD diagnosis. Anthropometric parameters, food intake, physical activity, total serum lipids, complete fatty acid blood profile, and glycemia will be evaluated pre- and post-supplementation. In the PBMC and neutrophils, the protein content and gene expression of markers related to inflammation (TNFα, MCP1, IL1β, IL6, IL10, JNK, and TAK1), ER-stress (ATF1, ATF6, IRE1, XBP1, CHOP, eIF2α, eIF4, HSP), and ω3 pathway (GPR120, β-arrestin2, Tab1/2, and TAK1) will be evaluated using Western blot and RT-qPCR. Participants will be genotyped for the R270H (rs116454156) variant using the TaqMan assay. It is hypothesized that attenuation of inflammation and ER-stress signaling pathways in overweight and NAFLD participants will be achieved through ω3 supplementation through binding to the GPR120 receptor.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov #RBR-7x8tbx. Registered on May 10, 2018, with the Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials.

Azithromycin concentrations during long-term regimen, a pilot study in patients with MALT lymphoma

In view of the antineoplastic effects of the macrolide clarithromycin in mucosa associated lymphatic tissue (MALT)-lymphoma, we performed a pilot study assessing levels of azithromycin in plasma, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) of MALT-lymphoma patients to determine the pharmacokinetics and potential influences of respective concentrations on the therapeutic outcome. In total 16 patients with MALT-lymphoma received 1.5 g of oral azithromycin once-weekly over 6 months. Blood was sampled directly prior to the following dose every 4 weeks during treatment. Drug levels were analysed by high performance liquid chromatography in plasma and intracellularly in PBMC and PMN. They were correlated with patients’ age, weight and body-mass-index and compared between patients responsive or unresponsive to treatment. Mean azithromycin plasma levels of all patients were 58.97 ± 30.48 ng/ml, remaining stable throughout the treatment period. Correlation analysis of plasma azithromycin showed no significance. Intracellular PBMC concentrations were 6648 ± 8479 ng/ml, without any significant difference between responders and non-responders. Mean PMN levels were 39,274 ± 25,659 ng/ml and significantly higher in patients unresponsive to treatment (t = 2.858, p = 0.017). Our drug regime led to continuously high plasma and exceedingly high intracellular concentrations of azithromycin in PBMC and PMN. Age, weight or body-mass-index had no significant influence on plasma levels and thence should not be considered in dosage finding. High AZM levels in PBMC did not lead to a better treatment response, whereas enrichment in PMN suggested a poorer outcome. The threshold for immunomodulatory effects on lymphoma cells might not have been reached. Additionally, the finding of stable plasma and intracellular concentrations over months with high-dose azithromycin administered in intervals might also be important for the further design of azithromycin-based trials against MALT-lymphoma.Trial registration: EudraCT 2016-001521-13, 14/06/2016.

Contribution of pre-existing neoantigen-specific T cells to a durable complete response after tumor-pulsed dendritic cell vaccine plus nivolumab therapy in a patient with metastatic salivary duct carcinoma

ABSTRACT Although immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have emerged as new therapeutic options for refractory cancer, they are only effective in select patients. Tumor antigen-pulsed dendritic cell (DC) vaccine therapy activates tumor-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes, making it an important immunotherapeutic strategy. Salivary ductal carcinoma (SDC) carries a poor prognosis, including poor long-term survival after metastasis or recurrence. In this study, we reported a case of refractory metastatic SDC that was treated with a tumor lysate-pulsed DC vaccine followed by a single injection of low-dose nivolumab, and a durable complete response was achieved. We retrospectively analyzed the immunological factors that contributed to these long-lasting clinical effects. First, we performed neoantigen analysis using resected metastatic tumor specimens obtained before treatment. We found that the tumor had 256 non-synonymous mutations and 669 class I high-affinity binding neoantigen peptides. Using synthetic neoantigen peptides and ELISpot analysis, we found that peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes cryopreserved before treatment contained pre-existing neoantigen-specific T cells, and the cells obtained after treatment exhibited greater reactivity to neoantigens than those obtained before treatment. Our results collectively suggest that the rapid and long-lasting effect of this combination therapy in our patient may have resulted from the presence of pre-existing neoantigen-specific T cells and stimulation and expansion of those cells following tumor lysate-pulsed DC vaccine and ICI therapy.

Relationship of Substance P with the Degree of Atopic Dermatitis Severity.

IntroductionAtopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that starts during childhood with a varied course. Itching or incessant itching in severe cases, sleep disturbance, and infection-prone skin are the typical symptoms of this disease. Substance P is postulated to have an important role in AD. Increasing levels of substance P in AD induce the release of IFN-γ, IL-4, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and IL-10 from peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes, inducing an itching response.MethodsThis study is a cross-sectional study that aims to analyze the relationship between serum substance P levels and AD severity in children using Score of AD (SCORAD), and to determine the mean serum substance P levels and severity of AD in patients with AD. This study also aims to find out the correlation of substance P levels with the SCORAD values.ResultsForty-six children (29 males; 17 females) with a mean age of 10.35 years (standard deviation (SD) = 4.01) were diagnosed with AD. The SCORAD index assessment was conducted to analyze AD (mean value, 23.15; SD = 9.42), and mild AD obtained the highest degree. The level of substance P was also examined (mean value, 300.88; SD = 127.55).DiscussionThis study did not find a significant relationship between substance P levels and AD severity (p-value = 0.880), and there was no significant correlation between substance P levels and SCORAD values (p-value = 0.233; r = −0.179). The limitations of this study include a small number of cases, no control group, and we only found two cases of severe AD. To generalize the results, further studies with wide range population and AD severity might be done in the future.

In vitro effects of nonesterified fatty acids and β-hydroxybutyric acid on inflammatory cytokine expression in bovine peripheral blood leukocytes

Negative energy balance (NEB) occurs in dairy cows during the transition period, during which time the blood concentrations of nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) and metabolic ketones such as β-hydroxybutyric acid (BHBA) are elevated. These increased levels may disrupt immune functions and are regarded as risk factors associated with postparturient inflammatory disorders. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of NEFAs and BHBA on inflammatory cytokine expression in bovine peripheral leukocytes in vitro. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and peripheral polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNLs) were collected from 16 Holstein cows and treated for 4 h with NEFA (0.1, 0.6, and 1.5 mM) or BHBA (5 and 10 mM), alone or combination with lipopolysaccharides (LPS, 1 µg/mL). The expression levels of the inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 were then determined. The results indicated that PBMCs and PMNLs responded to NEFA but tolerated BHBA. NEFA treatment dose-dependently induced the expression of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-8, and IL-10 in PBMCs and that of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 in PMNLs. Combination treatment of LPS with NEFA further increased the levels of IL-10 expression in PBMCs and IL-1β and IL-6 expression in PMNLs. Taken together, these findings suggest that NEFA and BHBA enhance the expression of inflammatory cytokines in PBMCs and PMNLs and may disrupt the immune regulation of peripheral leukocytes, leading to an increased risk of inflammatory disorders. Preventing increases in blood NEFA concentration may thus help to reduce the risk of inflammatory disorders in dairy cows during the transition period. Highlights In cows with NEB, during the transition period, NEFA but not BHBA induced proinflammatory cytokine expression in PBMCs and PMNLs. NEFA enhanced LPS-induced proinflammatory cytokine expression in both PBMCs and PMNLs.

Дифференцировка моноцитов крови и особенности цитокинового статуса у больных туберкулезом легких

In clinical manifestation of pulmonary tuberculosis, alveolar macrophages perform as a reservoir where they accumulate mycobacteria and lose their effector functions due to the pathological conversion of macrophage pro-inflammatory M1 phenotype to the anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype, which provides transition to chronic infection. The study hypothesis suggested that the cytokine status, as evaluated by leukocyte secretion of cytokines in vitro, influences the monocyte polarization in the blood during their migration to the inflammatory focus, thereby determining differentiation and pathways of macrophage activation in tissues.The aim of this work was to assess the immunophenotype of blood monocytes and the in vitro secretion of immunoregulatory cytokines by mononuclear peripheral blood leukocytes from patients with different clinical forms of pulmonary tuberculosis taking into account the pathogen sensitivity to major anti-tuberculosis drugs.Methods. 65 patients with newly diagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis were evaluated. The study material was venous blood and peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes. Monocyte immunophenotype was determined in whole blood by flow cytometry on a Cytoflex flow cytometer (Becman Coulter, USA) with monoclonal antibodies (eBioscience, USA). Results were processed with a CytExpert 2.0 software. The number of cells expressing surface markers, CD14, CD163, CD204 and HLA-DR, was determined. Content of cytokines (IL-2, IL-10, TGFβ) in supernatants of cell cultures was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results of the study were processed with a SPSS v.11.0 standard software package.Results. The study results suggested that with an overall decrease in the number of circulating CD14-positive blood monocytes in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis regardless of its clinical form, high expression of cell activation markers remained both for the pro-inflammatory M1 phenotype (HLA-DR-positive monocytes) and the anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype (CD163-positive monocytes). In disseminated tuberculosis, the number of anti-inflammatory CD204-positive monocytes, M2 macrophage precursors, increases indicating predomination of the immunosuppressive response. In vitro analysis of the cytokine status showed that tuberculosis progression is accompanied by inhibition of effector immune responses and increases in anti-inflammatory cytokine concentrations in vitro. These changes may be equally either a cause or a consequence of deficient IL-2 secretion. We also found that the secretion of mediators with suppressor effects (IL-10, TGFβ) varied depending on both the clinical form of tuberculosis and the pathogen sensitivity to anti-TB drugs; IL-10 hypersecretion was observed in patients with drug-sensitive, infiltrative tuberculosis whereas TGFβ hypersecretion was observed in disseminated, drug-resistant tuberculosis.Conclusion. Features of blood monocyte differentiation in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis allowed us to conclude that monocytes, the macrophage precursors, start expressing markers for different functions of M1 and M2 macrophages with polarization toward the M2 immunophenotype already in the bloodstream. Therefore, in the development of pulmonary tuberculosis, cytokine regulation mechanisms become involved in suppressing the activation of innate immunity, which possibly causes chronic inflammation in the lungs and formation of Mtb-induced immunodeficiency.

Relationship of FoxP3+ T-lymphocyte subpopulations with metabolic parameters in patients with coronary heart disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus

The aim of the present study was to assess the relationships between subpopulations of FoxP3+ T-lymphocytes (Treg) and metabolic parameters of peripheral blood in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD), depending on the presence of diabetes mellitus (DM) type 2.Material and Methods.The study material was mononuclear peripheral blood leukocytes. FoxP3+ Treg numbers and nuclear translocation of FoxP3 were evaluated by imaging flow cytometry.Results and Discussion.An inverse relationships was revealed (r= –0.900;p= 0.037) between the level of LDL cholesterol (low density lipoprotein cholesterol) and the level of FoxP3 translocation in CD4+CD25hiFoxP3+ and CD4+CD25loFoxP3+ lymphocytes in patients with diabetes. In patients without diabetes, a direct relationship was found between the level of FoxP3 nuclear translocation in CD4+CD25loFoxP3+ lymphocytes with high non-HDL cholesterol (total cholesterol without HDL cholesterol) (r= 0.900;p= 0.037). A direct correlation was also observed between the glucose concentration and the number of CD4+CD25loFoxP3 + lymphocytes (r= 0.900;p= 0.037).Conclusion.The level of transcription factor FoxP3 nuclear translocation correlated with the content of LDL cholesterol in patients with coronary artery disease in the presence of type 2 diabetes mellitus. The orientation of bonds was different for the conventional and regulatory subpopulations of T-lymphocytes. The metabolic parameters correlated with the level of transcription factor FoxP3 translocation exclusively in conventional T cells in patients with coronary artery disease in the absence of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Changes in the activity of lysosomal cysteine proteases of plasma mononuclear and polymorphonuclear blood leukocytes in Alzheimer’s disease

Aim. To study the level of activity of lysosomal cysteine proteases (cathepsins H, B, L) in blood plasma and fractionated leukocytes (polymorphonuclear and mononuclear) in patients with Alzheimer’s disease in comparison with similar indicators in persons without signs of neurodegeneration as a possible marker of Alzheimer’s disease development and diagnosis. Materials and methods. The spectrofluorimetric study of cathepsins B, L, H activity level in plasma and fractionated leukocytes was conducted in 22 patients diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in comparison with the same indicators in 22 patients matched by sex, age and associated diseases with patients of the observation group, but having no signs of neurodegeneration. Results. The activity of all three enzymes, and especially cathepsin H, increased significantly in blood plasma. A significant increase is also noted in the activity of cathepsins H, B, and L in homogenates of fractionated leukocytes. At the same time, in both polymorphonuclear and mononuclear leukocytes the greatest degree of changes is demonstrated by the activity of cathepsin B, and the least is the activity of cathepsin L. Given the available data on an increased cathepsin B activity in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with Alzheimer’s disease, we can assume a correlation between the state of lysosomal proteases activity in the Central nervous system and in the peripheral blood cells. Conclusion. Alzheimer’s disease is associated with increased activity of cysteine cathepsins in plasma, polymorphonuclear and mononuclear leukocytes of peripheral blood, which can be considered as one of the possible markers of development and diagnosis of the disease.

Dietary administered purified \u03b2-glucan of edible mushroom (Pleurotus florida) provides immunostimulation and protection in broiler experimentally challenged with virulent Newcastle disease virus

BackgroundTo study the immunomodulatory and protective role of dietary administered purified β-glucan obtained from edible mushroom (Pleurotus florida) in commercial broiler chicken, experimentally challenged with virulent Newcastle disease virus (NDV) on 7th day post treatment. Mushroom glucan (MG) at 15 mg/kg feed (group A) and MG at 30 mg/kg feed (group B) was administered to broiler birds for 20 days keeping control birds (group C) with a normal diet throughout. After 7 days post treatment, three groups of birds (n = 4, in each case) were challenged with virulent NDV. The immunological parameters were assessed to observe the protective efficacy of MG.ResultsWhen compared to the treatment regime, it was observed that in all the cases, group B birds showed higher immune-cellular and humoral responses in terms of enhanced immune-effector activities of blood leucocytes and intestinal intra-epithelial leucocytes and antibody production besides protection against NDV challenge than the others. After NDV challenge, 100% mortality was observed in control birds within 4 days, whereas in treated birds 50% and 75% protection of challenged birds was observed in group A and group B birds, respectively. The superoxide anion production by blood leucocytes of group A (0.641 ± 0.01) and group B (0.721 ± 0.01) birds were significantly higher than the control birds (0.283 ± 0.04) when assessed on 4th day post challenge. Group A (27.33 ± 1.20 μl and 25.33 ± 2.02 μl) and group B (33.66 ± 0.33 μl and 32.66 ± 0.33 μl) birds showed higher in vitro nitrite production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and intestinal intra-epithelial leucocytes (iIEL), respectively, than the control (14.00 ± 0.57 μl and11 ± 0.57 μl) after challenge with virulent ND virus. In vitro lymphoproliferation (expressed as stimulation index) was significantly high in PBMC and iIEL of group A (0.371 ± 0.02 and 0.295 ± 0.02) and group B (0.428 ± 0.01 and 0.314 ± 0.01), respectively, than control (0.203 ± 0.01 and 0.135 ± 0.01) on 4th day of NDV challenge. The phagocytic activity of iIEL of the treated group birds showed higher values (24% and 32%) than the control group (14%). The haemagglutination inhibition (HI) titre was also observed higher in treated groups (group A, average HI titre 256, and group B, average HI titre 512) than control (HI titre, 32). Both groups (A&B) of birds were produced in vitro IFN-γ by PBMC and iIEL.ConclusionIt is advisable to use 30 mg MG/kg feed in broiler birds to provide immunostimulation and for better output in terms of disease protection at least against ND virus.

Оценка выраженности эндогенной интоксикации при болезни Альцгеймера

The development of neurodegenerative pathologies, among which the leading positions worldwide belong to Alzheimer's disease, is accompanied by the activation of free radical processes in the tissues of the brain and in the patient's body as a whole, which leads to the accumulation of products of oxidative modification of proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, and the formation of a syndrome of endogenous intoxication. An integral indicator reflecting the severity of this syndrome is the level of substances of low and medium molecular weight in various biological media. It is known that changes at the molecular level in Alzheimer's disease occur 5-10 years before the clinical manifestation of pathology. The development of polymodal panels for biochemical screening, diagnostics, monitoring of the course of pathology is underway. The aim of this study was to determine the severity of endogenous intoxication in patients with Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia. The object of the study was the blood plasma of patients, as well as fractionated leukocytes - mononuclear and polymorphonuclear. The choice of biological material for the study is dictated by the need to search for a prognostic marker of the disease available for diagnosis, as well as by the accumulated theoretical material on various metabolic changes in peripheral blood cells in neurodegenerative diseases. According to the results of the study, it was found that in patients with Alzheimer's disease in mononuclear leukocytes of peripheral blood, the level of substances of low and medium molecular weight is higher than in patients with vascular dementia and patients without signs of neurodegeneration. In addition, in this fraction of leukocytes, the concentration of hypoxanthine, inosine, xanthosine and their derivatives is high, which may be a consequence of the oxidative modification of nucleic acids in the cells under study.

Implication of Inherited Genetic Variants Associated with Follicular Lymphoma Susceptibility in the Prognosis of Patients Treated By Immunochemotherapy in PRIMA Study

Introduction: Genome wide-association studies (GWAS) identified specific constitutional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at risk for follicular lymphoma (FL). Top SNP is localized in HLA region (rs12195582). Five genome wide significant loci have been identified outside of HLA region, including 11q23.3 (near CXCR5), 11q24.3 (near ETS1), 3q28 (near LPP), 18q21.33 (near BCL2), and 8q24 (near PVT1) in addition with three suggestive loci at 17q25.3 (near CYBC1), 3q13.33 (CD86), 18q12.3 (SLC14A2) (Skibola, Am J Hum Genet. 2014). We investigated if these nine known FL loci could affect response to immunochemotherapy, histological transformation and outcome of a subgroup of patients treated uniformly in the prospective PRIMA phase III study. Methods: Among the 1.193 patients included in the PRIMA study, 390 patients had genotyping of the nine SNPs associated with FL risk (HLA, rs12195582; CXCR5, rs4938573; ETS1, rs4937362; LPP, rs6444305; BCL2, rs17749561; PVT1, rs13254990; CYBC1, rs3751913; CD86, rs2681416; SLC14A2, rs11082438). DNA was extracted from peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes before any treatment. The genotyping was performed using custom TaqMan genotyping assays as part of the FL GWAS (Skibola, Am J Hum Genet. 2014). Correlations between response to induction treatment, biopsy-proven histological transformation (HT) and progression free survival (PFS) were performed for the each nine SNP individually. We also computed a combined polygenic risk score (PRS) and the number of allele at risk (nbRA) using the 9 SNPs for each individual. The PRS is a weighted average of the number of risk alleles with the weights being the log of the odds-ratio (OR) reported in the FL GWAS (Skibola, Am J Hum Genet. 2014). Survival analyses were stratified on FLIPI score and randomized arm (rituximab maintenance or observation). Piecewise cox models with pre-specified cutoffs at 2 years and 5 years were used to study early and late relapses. This work is supported by the French NCI (INCA, PRT-K16-167). Results: Among the 390 patients who received immunochemotherapy in the PRIMA study, 173 were randomized in rituximab maintenance arm, 166 were observed and 51 were not randomized. Complete response (CR) and unconfirmed CR were achieved in 251 patients (68%) at the end of induction phase. HT was documented in 16 patients (18%) among the 91 patients who had a biopsy with histological documentation at relapse. With a median follow-up of 9.8 years, the 5-year PFS since registration date for the whole cohort was 57% (95%CI, 52-62), 71% (95%CI, 64-78) in the rituximab maintenance arm, 47% (95%CI, 40-56) in the observation arm, and 39% (95%CI, 27-56) for the patients not randomized, thereby confirming the results of the PRIMA study. SNP rs17749561 C>T (CC, n=326; CT+TT, n=61) at 18q21.33 near BCL2 (HRCT/TT: 2.13; 95%CI, 1.20-3.70, P=0.009) and SNP rs3751913 A>G (AA, n=292; AG+GG, n=90) at 17q25.3 near CYBC1 (HRAG/GG: 1.83; 95%CI, 1.12-2.99, P=0.016) influenced the quality of response after induction therapy (CR/CRu versus partial response, stable and progressive disease) after FLIPI stratification but not PRS and nbRA. HT was not influenced by the allele status of the 9 individual SNPs, nor PRS and nbRA with the limitation of the low numbers of events. rs3751913 A>G near CYBC1 influenced PFS with 5-year PFS rates of 55%, 63% and 30% for patients with AA (n=293), AG (n=80) and GG (n=10) (P=0.036), respectively, with the limitation of the low number of patients with GG genotype. No association with PFS was observed for the remaining SNPs and when the 9 alleles were combined in a PRS or nbRA analyzed as continuous variables or per quantiles. We then investigated the susceptibility SNPs could influence early or late relapse. Using Piecewise cox models, we globally did not observe any influence on the risk of relapse in the 2 years after registration, between 2 and 5 years and after 5 years of SNPs analyzed individually by PRS or nbRA. Conclusions: Two susceptibility SNPs for FL identify by GWAS near BCL2 and CYBC1 genes influenced the quality of the response after induction therapy by immunochemotherapy. CYBC1 gene codes for cytochrome b-245 chaperone 1, a member of multi-subunit phagocyte NADPH oxidase. These results require replication in an independent cohort. Overall, susceptibility SNPs for FL are not associated with HT and PFS in this cohort of patients. Disclosures Cartron: Roche, Celgene: Consultancy; Sanofi, Gilead, Janssen, Roche, Celgene: Honoraria. Brice:Millennium Takeda: Research Funding; Takeda France: Consultancy, Honoraria; BMS: Honoraria. Salles:Merck: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Autolus: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Educational events; Novartis, Servier, AbbVie, Karyopharm, Kite, MorphoSys: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Educational events; Amgen: Honoraria, Other: Educational events; BMS: Honoraria; Roche, Janssen, Gilead, Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Educational events; Epizyme: Consultancy, Honoraria.