Pro-inflammatory Cytokines IL-6 Research Articles

Cytokine and Microbiome Changes in Adolescents with Anorexia Nervosa at Admission, Discharge, and One-Year Follow-Up

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a severe eating disorder that predominantly affects females and typically manifests during adolescence. There is increasing evidence that serum cytokine levels are altered in individuals with AN. Previous research has largely focused on adult patients, assuming a low-grade pro-inflammatory state. The serum levels of the cytokine tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and IL-15, which are pro-inflammatory, were examined in 63 female adolescents with AN and 41 age-matched healthy controls (HC). We included three time points (admission, discharge, and 1-year follow-up) and investigated the clinical data to assess whether the gut microbiota was associated with cytokine alterations. Relative to the HC group, serum levels of IL-1β and IL-6 were significantly lower during the acute phase (admission) of AN. IL-1β expression was normalised to control levels after weight recovery. TNF-α levels were not significantly different between the AN and HC groups. IL-15 levels were significantly elevated in patients with AN at all time points. We found associations between cytokines and bodyweight, illness duration, depressive symptoms, and the microbiome. In contrast to most findings for adults, we observed lower levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-6 in adolescent patients, whereas the level of IL-15 was consistently increased. Thus, the presence of inflammatory dysregulation suggests a varied rather than uniform pro-inflammatory state.

Amiloride lowers plasma TNF and interleukin-6 but not interleukin-17A in patients with hypertension and type 2 diabetes.

Interleukin-17A (IL-17A) contributes to hypertension in preclinical models. Th-17 and dendritic cells are activated by NaCl which could involve the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC). We hypothesized that the ENaC blocker amiloride reduces plasma IL-17A and related cytokines in patients with hypertension. Concentrations of IL-17A, IFN-γ, TNF, IL-6, IL-1β, and IL-10 were determined by immunoassays in plasma from two patient cohorts before and after amiloride treatment: 1) patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and treatment-resistant hypertension (n=69, amiloride 5-10mg/day for 8weeks); 2) patients with hypertension and T1DM (n=29) on standardized salt intake (amiloride 20-40mg/day, 2 days). Plasma and tissue from ANGII-hypertensive mice with T1DM treated with amiloride (2mg/kg/day, 4 days) were analyzed. The effect of amiloride and benzamil on macrophage cytokines was determined in vitro. Plasma cytokines showed higher concentrations (IL-17A~40-fold) in patients with T2DM compared with T1DM. In patients with T2DM, amiloride had no effect on IL-17A but lowered TNF and IL-6. In patients with T1DM, amiloride had no effect on IL-17A but increased TNF. In both cohorts, blood pressure decline and plasma K+ increase did not relate to plasma cytokine changes. In mice, amiloride exerted no effect on IL-17A in plasma, kidney, aorta, or left cardiac ventricle but increased TNF in cardiac and kidney tissues. In lipopolysaccharide-stimulated human THP-1 macrophages, amiloride and benzamil (from 1 nmol/L) decreased TNF, IL-6, IL-10, and IL-1β. In conclusion, inhibition of ENaC by amiloride reduces proinflammatory cytokines TNF and IL-6, but not IL-17A in vivo, potentially by a direct action on macrophages.

Liquiritin Alleviates Inflammation in Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Human Corneal Epithelial Cells

Purpose This research was designed to elucidate the anti-inflammatory impacts of liquiritin on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs). Methods The Cell Counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay was adopted to assess cell viability. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the secretion levels of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α. Transcriptome analysis was conducted to identify the genes that exhibited differential expression between different treatment. The model group included cells treated with LPS (10 µg/mL), the treatment group comprised cells treated with liquiritin (80 µM) and LPS (10 µg/mL), and the control group consisted of untreated cells. To further validate the expression levels of the selected genes, including CSF2, CXCL1, CXCL2, CXCL8, IL1A, IL1B, IL24, IL6, and LTB, quantitative real-time PCR was performed. The expression of proteins related to the Akt/NF-κB signaling pathway was assessed through western blot analysis. NF-κB nuclear translocation was evaluated through immunofluorescence staining. Results The secretion of IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α in LPS-induced HCECs was significantly downregulated by liquiritin. Based on the transcriptome analysis, the mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, namely IL-6, IL-8, IL-1β, IL-24, TNF-α, and IL-1α was overproduced by LPS stimulation, and suppressed after liquiritin treatment. Furthermore, the Western blot results revealed a remarkable reduction in the phosphorylation degrees of NF-κB p65, IκB, and Akt upon treatment with liquiritin. Additionally, immunofluorescence analysis confirmed liquiritin’s inhibition of LPS-induced p65 nuclear translocation. Conclusions Collectively, these findings imply that liquiritin suppresses the expression of proinflammatory cytokines, and the anti-inflammatory impacts of liquiritin may be caused by its repression of the Akt/NF-κB signaling pathway in LPS-induced HCECs. These data indicate that liquiritin could provide a potential therapeutic application for inflammation-associated corneal diseases.

Resatorvid (TAK-242) Ameliorates Ulcerative Colitis by Modulating Macrophage Polarization and T Helper Cell Balance via TLR4/JAK2/STAT3 Signaling Pathway.

Resatorvid (TAK-242), a specific inhibitor of Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR4), has attracted attention for its anti-inflammatory properties. Despite this, few studies have evaluated its effects on ulcerative colitis (UC). This study aimed to investigate the effects of TAK-242 on macrophage polarization and T helper cell balance and the mechanism by which it alleviates UC. Our findings indicated that TLR4 expression was elevated in patients with UC, a mouse model of UC, and HT29 cells undergoing an inflammatory response. TAK‑242 treatment reduced apoptosis in TNF-α and LPS-stimulated HT29 cells and alleviated symptoms of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)‑induced colitis in vivo. TAK‑242 downregulated TLR4 expression and decreased the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β while enhancing IL-10 production. TAK-242 also reduced M1 macrophage polarization and diminished Th1 and Th17 cell infiltration while increasing Th2 cell infiltration and M2 macrophage polarization both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, TAK-242 inhibited the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway, an important regulator of macrophage polarization and T helper cell balance. Furthermore, the in vivo and in vitro effects of TAK-242 were partially negated by the administration of the JAK2/STAT3 antagonist AG490, suggesting that TAK-242 inhibits the JAK2/STAT3 pathway to exert its biological activities. Taken together, this study underscores TAK-242 as a promising anti-UC agent, functioning by modulating macrophage polarization and T helper cell balance via the TLR4/JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway.

Coaggregated E. faecalis with F. nucleatum regulated environmental stress responses and inflammatory effects

To investigate the cell-cell interactions of intergeneric bacterial species, the study detected the survival of Enterococcus faecalis (Ef) under monospecies or coaggregation state with Fusobacterium nucleatum subsp. polymorphum (Fnp) in environmental stress. Ef and Fnp infected the human macrophages with different forms (Ef and Fnp monospecies, Ef-Fnp coaggregates, Ef + Fnp cocultures) for exploring the immunoregulatory effects and the relevant molecular mechanisms. Meanwhile, the transcriptomic profiles of coaggregated Ef and Fnp were analyzed. Ef was shown to coaggregate with Fnp strongly in CAB within 90 min by forming multiplexes clumps. Coaggregation with Fnp reinforced Ef resistance against unfavorable conditions including alkaline, hypertonic, nutrient-starvation, and antibiotic challenges. Compared with monospecies and coculture species, the coaggregation of Ef and Fnp significantly facilitates both species to invade dTHP-1 cells and aid Ef to survive within the cells. Compared with coculture species, dual-species interaction of Ef and Fnp significantly decreased the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6, TNF-α, and chemokines MCP-1 secreted by dTHP-1 cells and lessened the phosphorylation of p38, JNK, and p65 signaling pathways. The transcriptome sequencing results showed that 111 genes were differentially expressed or Ef-Fnp coaggregated species compared to Ef monospecies; 651 genes were differentially expressed for Fnp when coaggregation with Ef. The analysis of KEGG pathway showed that Ef differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were enriched in quorum sensing and arginine biosynthesis pathway; Fnp DEGs were differentially concentrated in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) biosynthesis, biofilm formation, and lysine degradation pathway compared to monospecies.Key points• Coaggregated with Fnp aids Ef’s survival in environmental stress, especially in root canals after endodontic treatment.• The coaggregation of Ef and Fnp may weaken the pro-inflammatory response and facilitate Ef to evade killed by macrophages.• The coaggregation between Ef and Fnp altered interspecies transcriptional profiles.

Intracerebroventricular infusion of secretoneurin inhibits neuronal NLRP3-Apoptosis pathway and preserves learning and memory after cerebral ischemia

Transient global cerebral ischemia (GCI) results in delayed neuronal death, primarily apoptosis, in the hippocampal CA1 subregion, which leads to severe cognitive deficits. While therapeutic hypothermia is an approved treatment for patients following cardiac arrest, it is associated with various adverse effects. Secretoneurin (SN) is an evolutionarily conserved neuropeptide generated in the brain, adrenal medulla and other endocrine tissues. In this study, SN was infused into the rat brain by intracerebroventricular injection 1 day after GCI, and we demonstrated that SN could significantly preserve spatial learning and memory in the Barnes maze tasks examined on days 14–17 after GCI. To further investigate underlying pathways involved, we demonstrated that, on day 5 after GCI, SN could significantly inhibit GCI-induced expression levels of Apoptosis Inducing Factor (AIF) and cleaved-PARP1, as well as neuronal apoptosis and synaptic loss in the hippocampal CA1 region. Additionally, SN could attenuate GCI-induced activation of both caspase-1 and caspase-3, and the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-18 in the CA1 region. Mechanically, we observed that treatment with SN effectively inhibited NLRP3 protein elevation and the bindings of NLRP3-ASC and ASC-caspase-1 in hippocampal neurons after GCI. In summary, our data indicate that SN could effectively attenuate NLRP3 inflammasome formation, as well as the activation of caspase-1 and -3, the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and ultimately the neuronal apoptotic loss induced by GCI. Potential neuronal pyroptosis, or caspase-1-dependent cell death, could also be involved in ischemic neuronal death, which needs further investigation.

House dust mite allergen Der f 2 drives IL-6 and GM–CSF expression in airway epithelial cells via p38 MAPK/NF-κB signaling

Objective Der f 2, a major allergen derived from Dermatophagoides farinae, is a leading cause of allergic asthma. IL-6 and GM–CSF play essential roles in the exacerbation of asthma. However, the mechanical act by which Der f 2 mediates the expression of IL-6, IL-8, and GM–CSF in airway epithelial cells remains incompletely elucidated. Herein, we aimed to explore the effect of Der f 2 on IL-6 and GM–CSF expression in the human airway epithelial cell BEAS-2B and A549. Methods Recombinant Der f 2 (rDf2) was acquired using Pichia pastoris. BEAS-2B and A549 cells were used as cell model. The expression of genes and proteins and the involvement of the signaling cascade were assessed using RT–PCR, quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR), Western blotting, and ELISA, respectively. Results Our findings showed that rDf2 significantly induced mRNA expression and protein production of IL-6 and GM-CSF in BEAS-2B and A549 cells. In contrast, rDf2 did not influence IL-8 expression or production in both cells. Mechanistic studies revealed that rDf2 triggered activation of the p38 MAPK and JNK. Inhibition of p38, but not JNK, significantly attenuated rDf2-induced IL-6 and GM–CSF expression and production. Conclusion This study demonstrates that Der f 2 promotes the expression and production of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and GM–CSF in airway epithelial cells via activation of the p38 signaling pathway. These findings provide insights into the molecular mechanisms that Der f 2 may exacerbate airway inflammation.

Pro-inflammatory cytokine alterations in recent onset anorexia nervosa adolescent female patients before and after 6 months of integrated therapy: A case-control study.

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a complex disorder affecting mainly, but not only, teenagers. Researchers agree that AN is deeply associated with a pro-inflammatory state following an impaired immune system, resulting from altered levels of cytokines such as IL-1β and TNF-α, also impacted by the frequent depressive states. Thus, this case-control study aimed to evaluate the relationship between patients suffering from AN undergoing specialized eating disorder treatment for AN and pro-inflammatory cytokines. To reach our purpose, we assessed eating-related psychopathology and depressive symptoms and measured serum concentration of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α before and after 6 months of integrated therapy (which included psychopharmacotherapy, psychotherapy, and nutritional treatment), to define whether selected pro-inflammatory cytokines could be considered a pathophysiological marker of the disorder. A sample of 16 young female patients with early diagnosis of AN, and without any previous treatment, and 22 healthy controls matched by age, sex, and socioeconomic status were enrolled. After 6 months of integrated therapy, a significant decrease of all selected pro-inflammatory cytokines was detected. In addition, an improvement in the anxiety-depressant aspects was also noted. In conclusion, the results obtained suggest that pro-inflammatory cytokines are indeed related to the pathophysiology of AN. However, further investigations, involving larger samples of patients with distinct subtypes of AN, are essential to confirm the current findings.

Mechanistic Characterization of Cancer Associated Fibroblast Depletion via an Antibody-Drug Conjugate Targeting Fibroblast Activation Protein.

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are a prominent cell type within the tumor microenvironment where they are known to promote cancer cell growth and survival, angiogenesis, drug resistance, and immunosuppression. The transmembrane prolyl protease Fibroblast Activation Protein (FAP) is expressed on the surface of highly pro-tumorigenic CAFs found in the stroma of nearly every cancer of epithelial origin. The widespread expression of FAP has made it an attractive therapeutic target based on the underlying hypothesis that eliminating pro-tumorigenic CAFs will disrupt the crosstalk between components of TME resulting in cancer cell death and immune infiltration. This hypothesis, however, has never been directly proven. To eliminate FAP-expressing CAFs, we developed an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) using our anti-FAP antibody, huB12, coupled to a monomethyl auristatin E (huB12-MMAE) payload. After determining that huB12 was an effective targeting vector, we found that huB12-MMAE potently eliminated FAP-expressing cells as monocultures in vitro and significantly prolonged survival in vivo using a xenograft engineered to overexpress FAP. We investigated the effects of selectively eliminating CAFs using a layered, open microfluidic cell co-culture platform, known as the Stacks. Analysis of mRNA and protein expression found that treatment with huB12-MMAE resulted in the increased secretion of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL6 and IL8 by CAFs and an associated increase in expression of pro-inflammatory genes in cancer cells. We also detected increased secretion of CSF1, a cytokine involved in myeloid recruitment and differentiation. Our findings suggest that the mechanism of FAP-targeted therapies are through effects on the immune microenvironment and anti-tumor immune response.

Impact of Cuminaldehyde and Indomethacin Co-Administration on Inflammatory Responses in MIA-Induced Osteoarthritis in Rats.

Osteoarthritis (OA) remains a chronic incurable condition, presenting substantial challenges in treatment. This study explores a novel strategy by investigating the concurrent use of cuminaldehyde, a natural compound, with indomethacin in animal models of MIA-induced OA. Our results demonstrate that the co-administration of cuminaldehyde and indomethacin does indeed produce a superior effect when compared to these compounds individually, significantly enhancing therapeutic outcomes. This effect is evidenced by a marked reduction in pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IFN-γ, alongside a significant increase in the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, compared to treatments with each compound alone. Radiographic analyses further confirm the preservation of joint integrity and a reduction in osteoarthritic damage, highlighting the association's efficacy in cartilage-reducing damage. These findings suggests that the association of cuminaldehyde and indomethacin not only slows OA progression but also offers enhanced cartilage-reducing damage and fosters the production of protective cytokines. This study underscores the potential benefits of integrating natural products with pharmaceuticals in OA management and stresses the importance of further research to fully understand the mechanisms underlying the observed potentiated effects.

Deciphering infected cell types, hub gene networks and cell-cell communication in infectious bronchitis virus via single-cell RNA sequencing.

Infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) is a coronavirus that infects chickens, which exhibits a broad tropism for epithelial cells, infecting the tracheal mucosal epithelium, intestinal mucosal epithelium, and renal tubular epithelial cells. Utilizing single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), we systematically examined cells in renal, bursal, and tracheal tissues following IBV infection and identified tissue-specific molecular markers expressed in distinct cell types. We evaluated the expression of viral RNA in diverse cellular populations and subsequently ascertained that distal tubules and collecting ducts within the kidney, bursal mucosal epithelial cells, and follicle-associated epithelial cells exhibit susceptibility to IBV infection through immunofluorescence. Furthermore, our findings revealed an upregulation in the transcription of proinflammatory cytokines IL18 and IL1B in renal macrophages as well as increased expression of apoptosis-related gene STAT in distal tubules and collecting duct cells upon IBV infection leading to renal damage. Cell-to-cell communication unveiled potential interactions between diverse cell types, as well as upregulated signaling pathways and key sender-receiver cell populations after IBV infection. Integrating single-cell data from all tissues, we applied weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) to identify gene modules that are specifically expressed in different cell populations. Based on the WGCNA results, we identified seven immune-related gene modules and determined the differential expression pattern of module genes, as well as the hub genes within these modules. Our comprehensive data provides valuable insights into the pathogenesis of IBV as well as avian antiviral immunology.

Lipopolysaccharide Stimulation of Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells of Indigenous Pigs Causes Enhanced Expression of Pro-inflammatory Cytokines Over Exotic Pigs

Background: Selective breeding in pigs based on a higher potential of disease resistance can be achieved by studying the association between immune responsiveness and susceptibility to infectious diseases. The early immune responsiveness of pigs assessed in a quantifiable scale for different determinant cytokine genes’ expression involved in regulation of immune response can be a major determinant for evaluating the immune responsiveness. Methods: In this study, we carried out the quantitative relative expression of candidate cytokine genes [Interleukin-1 beta-(IL1b), IL6, IL10 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFa) and toll-like receptor-4 (TLR4) gene expression in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of Zovawk (indigenous) and Large White Yorkshire (LWY-exotic) pig breeds using real-time PCR to understand the differences in swift immune responsiveness against gram-negative bacteria. Results: Zovawk PBMCs’ pro-inflammatory cytokines IL1b and IL6 expression increased rapidly with LPS stimulation up to 12 h, being significantly higher as early as 4 h compared to that of the LWY PBMCs. In Zovawk pigs, the pro-inflammatory cytokine genes’ expression was found to be quick and high; whereas, in LWY pigs the response was slow and low. Interestingly, the expression of IL10 was not detected in LPS-stimulated PBMCs of Zovawk pigs indicating that the remarkably higher expressions of IL6 and IL1b in response to LPS are within the threshold of the Zovawk pigs which have evolved through generations. Our findings clearly indicate the sturdy and early immune responsiveness of indigenous pigs against gram-negative bacteria over the exotic pigs.

Restraint Stress-Induced Neutrophil Inflammation Contributes to Concurrent Gastrointestinal Injury in Mice.

Psychological stress increases risk of gastrointestinal tract diseases. However, the mechanism behind stress-induced gastrointestinal injury is not well understood. The objective of our study is to elucidate the putative mechanism of stress-induced gastrointestinal injury and develop an intervention strategy. To achieve this, we employed the restraint stress mouse model, a well-established method to study the pathophysiological changes associated with psychological stress in mice. By orally administering gut-nonabsorbable Evans blue dye and monitoring its plasma levels, we were able to track the progression of gastrointestinal injury in live mice. Additionally, flow cytometry was utilized to assess the viability, death, and inflammatory status of splenic leukocytes, providing insights into the stress-induced impact on the innate immune system associated with stress-induced gastrointestinal injury. Our findings reveal that neutrophils represent the primary innate immune leukocyte lineage responsible for stress-induced inflammation. Splenic neutrophils exhibited elevated expression levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1, cellular reactive oxygen species, mitochondrial burden, and cell death following stress challenge compared to other innate immune cells such as macrophages, monocytes, and dendritic cells. Regulated cell death analysis indicated that NETosis is the predominant stress-induced cell death response among other analyzed regulated cell death pathways. NETosis culminates in the formation and release of neutrophil extracellular traps, which play a crucial role in modulating inflammation by binding to pathogens. Treatment with the NETosis inhibitor GSK484 rescued stress-induced neutrophil extracellular trap release and gastrointestinal injury, highlighting the involvement of neutrophil extracellular traps in stress-induced gastrointestinal inflammation. Our results suggest that neutrophil NETosis could serve as a promising drug target for managing psychological stress-induced gastrointestinal injuries.

The IRE1α/XBP1 pathway sustains cytokine responses of group 3 innate lymphoid cells in inflammatory bowel disease.

Group 3 innate lymphoid cells (ILC3s) are key players in intestinal homeostasis. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is linked to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Herein, we used cell culture, mouse models, and human specimens to examine if ER stress in ILC3s impacts IBD pathophysiology. We show that mouse intestinal ILC3s exhibited a 24h-rhythmic expression pattern of the master ER stress response regulator, IRE1α/XBP1. Proinflammatory cytokine IL-23 selectively stimulated IRE1α/XBP1 in mouse ILC3s through mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS). IRE1α/XBP1 was activated in ILC3s of mice exposed to experimental colitis and in inflamed human IBD specimens. Mice with Ire1α deletion in ILC3s (Ire1αΔRorc) showed reduced expression of ER stress response and cytokine genes including Il22 in ILC3s and were highly vulnerable to infections and colitis. Administration of IL-22 counteracted their colitis susceptibility. In human ILC3s, IRE1 inhibitors suppressed cytokine production, which was upregulated by an IRE1 activator. Moreover, the frequencies of intestinal XBP1s+ ILC3s in Crohn's disease patients before administration of ustekinumab, an anti-IL-12/IL-23 antibody, positively correlated with response to treatment. We demonstrate that a non-canonical mtROS-IRE1α/XBP1 pathway augments cytokine production by ILC3s and identify XBP1s+ ILC3s as a potential biomarker for predicting response to anti-IL-23 therapies in IBD.

Association of the C3953T (rs1143634) variant of the interleukin 1 beta gene with the features of a complicated course of COVID-19-associated pneumonia.

The pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1 plays an important role in severe COVID-19. A change in IL-1 production may be associated with a mutation in the IL1Β gene. Our study analyzed the impact of the IL1Β gene variants (rs1143634) on disease progression in patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia, taking into account treatment strategies. The study enrolled 117 patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia. The IL1Β gene variants were identified using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method. In the group of patients, the following genotype frequencies were found based on the investigated rs1143634 variant of the IL1Β gene: CC-65.8%, CT-28.2%, and TT-6.0%. Our results showed that the group of patients with the T allele of the IL1Β gene had higher leukocyte counts (p = 0.040) and more pronounced lymphopenia (p = 0.007). It was determined that patients carrying the T allele stayed on ventilators significantly longer (p = 0.049) and required longer treatment with corticosteroids (p = 0.045). Identifying variants of the IL1Β gene can be used as a predictive tool for assessing the severity of COVID-19 pneumonia and tailoring personalized treatment strategies. Further research with a larger patient cohort is required to validate these findings.

Tert-Butylhydroquinone Mitigates T-2-Toxin-Induced Testicular Dysfunction by Targeting Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Apoptosis in Rats.

Tert-butylhydroquinone (tBHQ) has emerged as a promising candidate for mitigating the adverse effects of T-2-induced reproductive toxicity. The protective effects of tBHQ on rat sperm quality, testicular injury, apoptosis, and inflammation induced by T-2 toxin exposure were investigated. Histopathological examination of testicular tissues revealed severe damage in the T-2-treated group, characterized by disorganized germ cell arrangement, thinning of the convoluted seminiferous tubule walls, and significant cellular necrosis. However, tBHQ administration, either as a preventive or therapeutic measure, mitigated this structural damage. Image analysis confirmed an increase in the cross-sectional area and height of the convoluted seminiferous tubules in the tBHQ-treated groups compared to the T-2-treated group (p < 0.05), indicating tBHQ's efficacy in alleviating testicular damage. Additionally, tBHQ treatment significantly inhibited T-2-induced apoptosis of testicular tissue cells, as evidenced by the results showing reduced apoptotic cell counts and downregulation of the BAX/BCL2 ratio and caspase-3 expression (p < 0.05). tBHQ significantly increased the concentrations of the antioxidant factors SOD, CAT, TAC, and GSH-PX. Furthermore, tBHQ attenuated the inflammatory response induced by T-2 exposure, as indicated by the decreased mRNA expression of the proinflammatory cytokines Tnf, Il1, and Il10 in testicular tissue (p < 0.05). Additionally, tBHQ treatment alleviated the decline in serum testosterone induced by the T-2 and promoted testosterone synthesis gene expression, including for the genes 17β-HSD and Cyp11a1, in rat testes (p < 0.05). These findings underscore tBHQ's role as a therapeutic agent combatting T-2-induced reproductive toxicity, highlighting its antioxidative, anti-apoptotic, and anti-inflammatory properties. Further elucidation of tBHQ's mechanisms of action may offer novel strategies for preventing and treating reproductive disorders induced by environmental toxins.

Mitophagy-regulated Necroptosis plays a vital role in the nephrotoxicity of Fumonisin B1 in vivo and in vitro

Fumonisin B1 (FB1), one of the most widely distributed mycotoxins found in grains and feeds as contaminants, affects many organs including the kidney once ingested. However, the nephrotoxicity of FB1 remains to be further uncovered. The connection between necroptosis and nephrotoxicity of FB1 has been investigated in this study. The results showed that mice exposed to high doses of FB1 (2.25 mg/kg b.w.) developed kidney damage, with significant increases in proinflammatory cytokines (Il-6, Il-1β), kidney injury-related markers (Ngal, Ntn-1), and gene expressions linked to necroptosis (Ripk1, Ripk3, Mlkl). The concentration-dependent damage effects of FB1 on PK-15 cells contain cytotoxicity, cellular inflammatory response, and necroptosis. These FB1-induced effects can be neutralized by pretreatment with the necroptosis inhibitor Nec-1. Additionally, FB1 caused mitochondrial damage and mitophagy in vivo and in vitro, whereas Mdivi-1, a mitophagy inhibitor, prevented these effects on PK-15 cells as well as, more crucially, necroptosis. In conclusion, the RIPK1/RIPK3/MLKL signal route of necroptosis, which may be controlled by mitophagy, mediated nephrotoxicity of FB1. Our findings clarify the underlying molecular pathways of FB1-induced nephrotoxicity.

Medium-short chain fatty acids cannot spare the essential fatty acids of low marine diets in golden pompano (Trachinotus ovatus)

Based on the essential fatty acids (EFA) precision nutrition, a blend oil (BO) of fish oil and terrestrial oils was developed, and applied successfully to the low marine diets of golden pompano (Trachinotus ovatus). To evaluate whether medium- and short-chain fatty acids (MCFA and SCFA), efficient energy supplements for animals, can spare the dietary EFA, four iso-proteic (48%) and iso-lipidic (11%) low fishmeal (FM) diets (D1-D4, contained 6% FM) were formulated and fed T. ovatus juveniles (initial weight ∼8.50 g) for 9 weeks in sea cages. Control diets (D1) contained 8% BO, while the BO of diets D2-D4 were replaced 50% with coconut oil, coconut oil + sodium butyrate, and coconut oil + n-3 LC-PUFA enriched oil, respectively. The results showed that compared to the D1 group, the growth performance of D2 and D3 were significantly lower, while a comparable growth was detected in the D4 group. The muscle and hepatic n-3 PUFA levels in the D2 and D3 groups were significantly low, and these fatty acid contents were modified in the D4 group. Meanwhile, the muscle textural firmness of the D2-D4 groups was decreased. Regarding the health index of fish, compared to the D1 group, high serum triglyceride (TG) contents and low HDL/LDL ratio were detected in the D2-D4 groups, and high ACP, AST, and ALT activities were observed in these groups. Meanwhile, high HSI and low hepatic enzymatic activities of CAT and ALT were measured in the D2-D3 groups. Additionally, the mRNA levels of hepatic fatty acid synthesis-related genes (fas, acc, and pparγ) were significantly increased in D2-D4 groups, and the expression levels of lipid catabolism genes (cpt-1 and lpl) showed an upward trend. Moreover, the D2 group exhibited the lowest intestinal wall thickness, the mRNA levels of intestine anti-inflammatory cytokines (il-10) were up-regulated in the D2-D4 groups, and the highest mRNA levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (il-8) were detected in the D2 group. In conclusion, the EFA deficiency leads to a decline in the growth and muscle quality of T. ovatus fed low marine diets, which cannot be mitigated by the addition of medium-short chain fatty acids. The results indicated that MCFA and SCFA cannot spare the EFA of low marine diets in T. ovatus.

Proinflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α in infective endocarditis

Aim. To study the features of macrophages in the tissues of resected valves in operated patients with infective endocarditis (IE), their significance and interaction with inflammatory markers to improve the effectiveness of IE diagnosis. Materials and methods. Prospectively the research included 25 adult patients with active IE (Duke criteria 2015) and 24 patients with heart defects without IE, hospitalized in a cardiosurgical hospital in Moscow (2021–2022). A standard laboratory and instrumental examination was carried out for the diagnosis of IE, including etiological diagnosis with microbiological and molecular biological methods, and echocardiographic examination of heart. Additionally, the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) was calculated. The study of macrophages was carried out in the tissues of resected valves with the determination of the expression of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine genes, macrophage markers (CD 68+) using real-time PCR. Results. Increased expression of proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-6 was revealed in the group of operated patients with IE with significant differences in IL-1β (CI [IQR] 0.00367 [0.00047–0.01553] vs 0.00018 [0.00012–0.00262]; p0.05) and IL-6 (CI [IQR] 0.00367 [0.00047–0.01553] vs 0.00018 [0.00012–0.00262]; p0.05) and IL-6 (CI [IQR] 0.00338 [0.00066–0.01674] vs 0.00054 [0.00044–0.00378]; p0.05). The expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines in valve tissues prevailed in the control group without significant differences from patients with IE. The macrophage marker CD 68+ was revealed in all examined patients with a significant quantitative predominance in the group of patients with IE. There were no differences in the expression of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines depending on the presence of embolic events, intracardiac complications, etiological affiliation to S. aureus, as well as hospital mortality and combined endpoint (death from all causes or recurrence of IE 6 months after surgery) in patients with IE with or without events. Cytokines IL-1β and IL-6 positively correlated with each other, with leukocytes and NLR. ROC analysis determined that IL-1β and NLR had the most favorable features for the diagnosis of IE [IL-1β AUC 0.816 (p=0.02), NLR AUC 0.807 (p=0.03)]. IL-6 did not show a diagnostic value in IE. The threshold value for IL-1β was 0.00029 (sensitivity 86.4%, specificity 60.0%, prognostic value of negative result 75.0% and positive 76.0%, AUC 0.761; p=0.008). Conclusion. The valve macrophages of patients with IE express elevated levels of proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-6, regardless of etiological affiliation or complicated course of IE. IL-1β has a high diagnostic value for determining the inflammatory activity in IE.

Rv2231c, a unique histidinol phosphate aminotransferase from Mycobacterium tuberculosis, supports virulence by inhibiting host-directed defense

Nitrogen metabolism of M. tuberculosis is critical for its survival in infected host cells. M. tuberculosis has evolved sophisticated strategies to switch between de novo synthesis and uptake of various amino acids from host cells for metabolic demands. Pyridoxal phosphate-dependent histidinol phosphate aminotransferase-HspAT enzyme is critically required for histidine biosynthesis. HspAT is involved in metabolic synthesis of histidine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, tryptophan, and novobiocin. We showed that M. tuberculosis Rv2231c is a conserved enzyme with HspAT activity. Rv2231c is a monomeric globular protein that contains α-helices and β-sheets. It is a secretory and cell wall-localized protein that regulates critical pathogenic attributes. Rv2231c enhances the survival and virulence of recombinant M. smegmatis in infected RAW264.7 macrophage cells. Rv2231c is recognized by the TLR4 innate immune receptor and modulates the host immune response by suppressing the secretion of the antibacterial pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF, IL-12, and IL-6. It also inhibits the expression of co-stimulatory molecules CD80 and CD86 along with antigen presenting molecule MHC-I on macrophage and suppresses reactive nitrogen species formation, thereby promoting M2 macrophage polarization. Recombinant M. smegmatis expressing Rv2231c inhibited apoptosis in macrophages, promoting efficient bacterial survival and proliferation, thereby increasing virulence. Our results indicate that Rv2231c is a moonlighting protein that regulates multiple functions of M. tuberculosis pathophysiology to increase its virulence. These mechanistic insights can be used to better understand the pathogenesis of M. tuberculosis and to design strategies for tuberculosis mitigation.