Serum Levels Of Chemokine Ligand Research Articles

Oxidative Biomarkers Associated with the Pulmonary Manifestation of Post-COVID-19 Complications.

The role of mitochondria in post coronavirus disease 2019 (post-COVID-19) complications is unclear, especially in the long-term pulmonary complications. This study aims to investigate the association between post-COVID-19 pulmonary complications and mitochondrial regulatory proteins in the context of oxidative stress. Patients who had recovered from COVID-19 were enrolled. According to the evidence of persistent interstitial lung lesions on computed tomography (CT), patients were divided into a long-term pulmonary complications group (P(+)) and a control group without long-term pulmonary complications (P(-)). We randomly selected 80 patients for investigation (40 subjects for each group). Biomarkers levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The serum concentrations of mitochondrial regulatory proteins were significantly higher in the P(+) group, including PTEN-induced kinase 1 (PINK1): 1.62 [1.02-2.29] ng/mL vs. 1.34 [0.94-1.74] ng/mL (p = 0.046); Dynamin-1-like protein (DNM1L): 1.6 [0.9-2.4] ng/mL IQR vs. 0.9 [0.5-1.6] ng/mL (p = 0.004); and Mitofusin-2 (MFN2): 0.3 [0.2-0.5] ng/mL vs. 0.2 [0.1-0.3] ng/mL IQR (p = 0.001). Patients from the P(+) group also had higher serum levels of chemokine ligand 18 (PARC, CCL18), IL-6, and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) cytokines than the P(-) group. The concentration of interferon alpha (IFN-α) was decreased in the P(+) group. Furthermore, we observed statistically significant correlations between the advanced glycation end product (sRAGE) and TNF-α (Pearson's factor R = 0.637; p < 0.001) and between serum levels of DNM1L and IFN-α (Pearson's factor R = 0.501; p = 0.002) in P(+) patients. Elevated concentrations of mitochondrial biomarkers in post-COVID-19 patients with long-term pulmonary complications indicate their possible role in the pathobiology of COVID-19 pulmonary sequelae. Oxidative stress is associated with the immune response and inflammation after COVID-19. TNF-α could be a promising biomarker for predicting pulmonary complications and may be a potential target for therapeutic intervention in patients with post-COVID-19 complications.

Altered Cytokine and BDNF Levels in Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Previous studies have shown that immunological factors are involved in the pathogenesis of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). The present study examined whether immunological abnormalities are associated with cognitive and behavioral deficits in children with ASD and whether children with ASD show different immunological biomarkers and brain-derived neurotrophic factor BDNF levels than typically developing (TD) children. Sixteen children with TD and 18 children with ASD, aged 6–18 years, voluntarily participated in the study. Participants’ executive functions were measured using neuropsychological tests, and behavioral measures were measured using parent ratings. Immunological measures were assessed by measuring the participants’ blood serum levels of chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2) and chemokine ligand 5 (CCL5). Children with ASD showed greater deficits in cognitive functions as well as altered levels of immunological measures when compared to TD children, and their cognitive functions and behavioral deficits were significantly associated with increased CCL5 levels and decreased BDNF levels. These results provide evidence to support the notion that altered immune functions and neurotrophin deficiency are involved in the pathogenesis of ASD.

Contrasting effects of cyclophosphamide on anti-CTL-associated protein 4 blockade therapy in two mouse tumor models.

Immune checkpoint blockade is a promising anticancer therapy, but must be used in combination with other anticancer therapies to increase its therapeutic efficacy. Cyclophosphamide (CP) is a chemotherapeutic drug that shows immune‐modulating effects. In this study, we examined the effect of CP on anti‐CTL‐associated protein 4 (CTLA‐4) blockade therapy in two mouse tumor models. Drastic tumor regression was observed in the CT26 colon carcinoma model after i.p. injection of CP (100 mg/kg) followed by anti‐CTLA‐4 antibody. However, administration in the reverse order increased apoptosis in tumor‐specific CD8+ T cells. In the RENCA renal carcinoma model, the antitumor effect of combination therapy was marginal and the tumor‐bearing state reduced body weight with an increased serum level of interleukin‐6. Interestingly, although CP monotherapy increased myeloid‐derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) in the spleens of both models, subsequent anti‐CTLA‐4 therapy increased MDSCs only in RENCA‐bearing mice. Additionally, the serum levels of chemokine ligand 2 and C‐X‐C motif chemokine 10 were increased by the combination therapy only in RENCA‐bearing mice and in vivo depletion of Gr‐1+ cells augmented the antitumor effect to some degree. These results reveal a contrasting effect of CP on anti‐CTLA‐4 therapy between the two mouse tumor models. Cyclophosphamide augments the antitumor effect of anti‐CTLA‐4 therapy in CT26‐bearing hosts, whereas CP after anti‐CTLA‐4 therapy attenuates this effect through induction of apoptosis in tumor‐reactive T cells. Alternatively, CP‐induced MDSCs can be increased by anti‐CTLA‐4 therapy only in RENCA‐bearing hosts with an elevated level of interleukin‐6.

Blockage of TNF-α by Infliximab Reduces CCL2 and CCR2 Levels in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis

ObjectivesTo investigate the mechanism in vivo for the regulation of inflammation of patients with RA by infliximab, we measured serum levels of chemokine ligand (CCL) 2, CCL3, CXCL8, and expression...