White Blood Cell Profiles Research Articles

Behave yourself: effects of exogenous-glucocorticoid exposure on larval amphibian anti-parasite behaviour and physiology.

Parasites represent a ubiquitous threat for most organisms, requiring potential hosts to invest in a range of strategies to defend against infection-these include both behavioural and physiological mechanisms. Avoidance is an essential first line of defence, but this behaviour may show a trade-off with host investment in physiological immunity. Importantly, while environmental stressors can lead to elevated hormones in vertebrates, such as glucocorticoids, that can reduce physiological immunity in certain contexts, behavioural defences may also be compromised. Here, we investigate anti-parasite behaviour and immune responses against a trematode (flatworm) parasite by larval amphibians (tadpoles) exposed or not to a simulated general stressor in the form of exogenous corticosterone. Tadpoles that were highly active in the presence of the trematode infectious stage (cercariae) had lower infection loads, and parasite loads from tadpoles treated only with dechlorinated water were significantly lower than those exposed to corticosterone or the solvent control. However, treatment did not affect immunity as measured through white blood-cell profiles, and there was no relationship between the latter and anti-parasite behaviour. Our results suggest that a broad range of stressors could increase host susceptibility to infection through altered anti-parasite behaviours if they elevate endogenous glucocorticoids, irrespective of physiological immunity effects. How hosts defend themselves against parasitism in the context of multiple challenges represents an important topic for future research, particularly as the risk posed by infectious diseases is predicted to increase in response to ongoing environmental change.

Uncovering the diagnostic value of white blood cell profiles in H1N1 screening

This research sought to evaluate the effectiveness of White Blood Cell (WBC) profiles as a screening method for promptly identifying H1N1 infection in individuals exhibiting symptoms of Influenza-like Illness (ILI) and undergoing throat swab testing for H1N1 through the RT-PCR technique. Seventy patients from a tertiary care hospital were included based on specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. Throat swab tests were conducted using RT-PCR, resulting in 35 positive and 35 negative cases for influenza A H1N1. Complete Blood Count (CBC) profiles, including total WBC counts, differential count, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratios, lymphocyte to monocyte ratios, and absolute monocyte count (AMC), were obtained for all subjects. Analysis of the obtained data revealed that increased symptoms, higher monocyte counts, and an Absolute Monocyte Count (AMC) exceeding 800 cells/mm³ were indicative of a higher likelihood of H1N1 positivity. The study suggests that utilizing WBC profiles, particularly the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratios, lymphocyte to monocyte ratios, and AMC, can serve as a valuable screening measure for the early detection of H1N1 infection. This approach may be especially beneficial in peripheral healthcare settings where the standard RT-PCR diagnostic method is time-consuming, enabling timely and appropriate intervention based on CBC results.

Assessing immune phenotypes using simple proxy measures: promise and limitations.

The study of immune phenotypes in wild animals is beset by numerous methodological challenges, with assessment of detailed aspects of phenotype difficult to impossible. This constrains the ability of disease ecologists and ecoimmunologists to describe immune variation and evaluate hypotheses explaining said variation. The development of simple approaches that allow characterization of immune variation across many populations and species would be a significant advance. Here we explore whether serum protein concentrations and coarse-grained white blood cell profiles, immune quantities that can easily be assayed in many species, can predict, and therefore serve as proxies for, lymphocyte composition properties. We do this in rewilded laboratory mice, which combine the benefits of immune phenotyping of lab mice with the natural context and immune variation found in the wild. We find that easily assayed immune quantities are largely ineffective as predictors of lymphocyte composition, either on their own or with other covariates. Immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentration and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio show the most promise as indicators of other immune traits, but their explanatory power is limited. Our results prescribe caution in inferring immune phenotypes beyond what is directly measured, but they do also highlight some potential paths forward for the development of proxy measures employable by ecoimmunologists.

Prediction value of neutrophil and eosinophil count at risk of COPD exacerbation

Introduction Predicting acute exacerbations (AEs) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is crucial. This study aimed to identify blood biomarkers for predicting COPD exacerbations by inflammatory phenotypes. Materials and methods We analyzed blood cell counts and clinical outcomes in 340 COPD patients aged 20–90 years. Patients were categorized into eosinophilic inflammation (EOCOPD) and non-eosinophilic inflammation (N-EOCOPD) groups. Blood cell counts, eosinophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (ELR), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and neutrophil-to-eosinophil ratio (NER) were calculated. Linear and logistic regression models assessed relationships between health outcomes and blood cell counts. Results EOCOPD patients had distinct characteristics compared to N-EOCOPD patients. Increased neutrophil % and decreased lymphocyte % were associated with reduced pulmonary function, worse quality of life and more exacerbations, but they did not show statistical significance after adjusting by age, sex, BMI, smoking status, FEV1% and patient’s medication. Subgroup analysis revealed a 1.372-fold increase in the OR of AE for every 1 unit increase in NLR in EOCOPD patients (p < .05). In N-EOCOPD patients, every 1% increase in blood eosinophil decreased the risk of exacerbation by 59.6%. Conclusions Our study indicates that distinct white blood cell profiles in COPD patients, with or without eosinophilic inflammation, can help assess the risk of AE in clinical settings.

264 Effects of L-Glutamate and L-Aspartate Supplementation on Growth Performance, Severity of Diarrhea, and Systemic Immunity of Weaned Piglets Challenged with F18 Enterotoxigenic Escherichia Coli

Abstract L-glutamate (Glu) and L-aspartate (Asp) exhibit multifaceted roles in cellular processes and immunological regulation in pigs. This study aimed to investigate the effects of Glu and Asp on growth performance, diarrhea, and systemic immunity of weaned piglets challenged with an enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) F18. A total of forty-nine weaned pigs (8.18 ± 1.54 kg BW) were randomly assigned to one of seven treatments, with seven piglets per treatment. The treatments included negative control (NC) and positive control (PC) that were fed with control diet without or with ETEC challenge, respectively. The other five dietary treatments were supplemented with either 1% or 2% Glu or Asp, or 50 mg/kg of Carbadox, and were challenged with ETEC. All pigs except for NC were challenged with F18 ETEC orally for three consecutive days at the dose of 1010 CFU/dose/day. The study period lasted for three weeks, with a 7-day adaptation period and 14 days post-inoculation (PI). Pig body weights, feed consumption, and fecal score were recorded throughout the experiment. Fecal samples were collected on d 2, 5, 10, and 14 PI to confirm the presence and dynamics of β-hemolytic coliforms. Blood samples were collected on d 0 before ETEC inoculation, and on d 2, 5, and 14 PI to analyze white blood cell profile. All data were analyzed with ANOVA using the PROC MIXED of SAS with pig as the experimental unit. Frequency of diarrhea was analyzed by Chi-Square analysis. Compared with PC, pigs supplemented with 1% Glu, 2% Asp, or Carbadox had greater (P &amp;lt; 0.05) average daily weight gain and gain:feed ratio from d -7 to 5 PI and d 0 to 5 PI. Pigs fed with 1% Glu had reduced (P &amp;lt; 0.05) percentage of β-hemolytic coliforms in feces on d 14 PI than PC. Compared with PC, pigs fed with NC, 1% Asp, 2% Asp, or Carbadox had decreased (P &amp;lt; 0.05) severity of diarrhea (32.47% vs. 16.23 to 24.68%). The counts of white blood cells, neutrophils, lymphocytes, and monocytes were increased (P &amp;lt; 0.05) on d 2 PI and peaked (P &amp;lt; 0.05) on d 5 PI, and were reduced (P &amp;lt; 0.05) on d 14 PI. Pigs fed with 1% Glu had least (P &amp;lt; 0.05) neutrophils:lymphocytes ratio on d 2 PI, while pigs fed with 2% Glu had greatest (P &amp;lt; 0.05) neutrophils:lymphocytes ratio on d 5 PI among all treatments. In conclusion, results of the present study indicate that dietary supplementation of 1% Glu or 2% Asp enhanced growth performance of ETEC challenged weaned pigs at early stage. Supplementation of 1% or 2% Asp also mitigated severity of diarrhea. Both amino acids modulated the systemic immunity of weaned pigs, which needs to be further investigated.

Qinhuo Shanggan oral solution resolves acute lung injury by down-regulating TLR4/NF-κB signaling cascade and inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation.

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a common condition, particularly in the COVID-19 pandemic, which is distinguished by sudden onset of respiratory insufficiency with tachypnea, oxygen-refractory cyanosis, reduced lung compliance and diffuse infiltration of pulmonary alveoli. It is well-established that increasing activity of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) signaling axis and the NOD-, LRR- and pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation are associated with the pathogenesis of ALI. Since ALI poses a huge challenge to human health, it is urgent to tackle this affliction with therapeutic intervention. Qinhuo Shanggan oral solution (QHSG), a traditional Chinese herbal formula, is clinically used for effective medication of various lung diseases including ALI, with the action mechanism obscure. In the present study, with the rat model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI, QHSG was unveiled to ameliorate ALI by alleviating the pathological features, reversing the alteration in white blood cell profile and impeding the production of inflammatory cytokines through down-regulation of TLR4/NF-κB signaling cascade and inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome activation. In LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 mouse macrophages, QHSG was discovered to hinder the generation of inflammatory cytokines by lessening TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway activity and weakening NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Taken together, QHSG may resolve acute lung injury, attributed to its anti-inflammation and immunoregulation by attenuation of TLR4/NF-κB signaling cascade and inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Our findings provide a novel insight into the action mechanism of QHSG and lay a mechanistic foundation for therapeutic intervention in acute lung injury with QHSG in clinical practice.

Effects of vitamin E and selenium administration on transportation stress in pregnant dairy heifers

We investigated the effects of road transportation and administration of the vitamin E and selenium (ESe) on circulating cortisol, haptoglobin, blood metabolites, oxidative biomarkers, white blood cell profiles, and behaviors in pregnant dairy heifers. Forty pregnant Holstein heifers were randomly assigned to one of 4 treatments: no transportation and no ESe administration, no transportation and ESe administration, transportation and no administration, and transportation and ESe administration. The ESe (70 IU/kg dry matter feed of dl-α-tocopheryl acetate and 0.3 mg/kg dry matter feed of sodium selenite) was orally delivered once a day from 7 d before transportation to 3 d after transportation. The heifers were transported in trucks designed for cattle transportation. Blood was collected 1 h before transportation, immediately after transportation (IAT), and at 6, 24, and 48 h after transportation. Behaviors were recorded using a video camera for 2 consecutive days after transportation. Transported/non-ESe-administered heifers had greater cortisol at IAT, haptoglobin at 6 and 24 h after transportation, total oxidative status at 6 h after transportation, and nonesterified fatty acid levels, white blood cell numbers, and neutrophil percentages at IAT and 6 h after transportation in the blood than nontransported heifers. Transported/non-ESe-administered heifers had lower total antioxidative status levels at 48 h after transportation and lymphocyte percentages at IAT and 6 h after transportation than nontransported heifers. Lying time was shorter in transported heifers than nontransported/non-ESe-administered heifers. Transported/ESe-administered heifers had lower cortisol, total oxidative status, nonesterified fatty acid levels at IAT, and haptoglobin concentrations at 6 and 24 h after transportation than transported/non-ESe-administered heifers. Transported/ESe-administered heifers had greater total antioxidative status levels at 48 h after transportation than transported/non-ESe-administered heifers. No ESe administration effects were observed for white blood cell number and neutrophil and lymphocyte percentages and lying time. In conclusion, road transportation caused temporary oxidative stress. Administrating ESe partially alleviated the stress, suggesting that ESe administration could be a viable strategy to reduce stress in transported pregnant heifers, providing a novel role of vitamin E and selenium for improving animal welfare.

Association between hyperuricemia and metabolic syndrome: A cross-sectional study in Tibetan adults on the Tibetan plateau.

This study aimed to assess the relationship of serum uric acid with metabolic syndrome and its components in Tibetan adults on the Tibetan plateau. A total of 307 participants were enrolled in this study and biochemical parameters including serum uric acid, fasting plasma glucose, white blood cell, lymphocyte count, mononuclear cells, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, creatinine, and lipid profile were analyzed using standard methods. The IDF criteria were applied to define metabolic syndrome. The association of serum uric acid with metabolic syndrome and its components was evaluated by multivariable logistic regression models. The overall prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 17.3% (53/307) with 19.6% (31/158) in females and 14.8% (22/149) in male participants. The prevalence of hyperuricemia was 40.7% (125/307) with significant differences between the male (53.7%,80/149) and female (28.5%,45/158) groups. In regression analysis, we observed that the risk of MetS was higher in participants in the hyperuricemia group (adjusted OR, 4.01; 95% CI, 2.02~7.99) compared with those in the normouricemia group. After adjusting for all confounding factors, a 9% higher risk of MetS could be shown in participants with SUA increased per 10umol/L (adjusted OR, 1.09; 95% CI, 1.04~1.14). These relationships were not affected by sex or age (p >0.05). After adjusting for the confounding factors, hyperuricemia is positively associated with abdominal obesity (adjusted OR, 2.53; 95% CI, 1.41~4.53), elevated blood pressure (adjusted OR, 2.61; 95% CI, 1.37~4.97), and elevated triglycerides(adjusted OR, 2.47; 95% CI, 1.09~5.57). In our study, hyperuricemia is significantly associated with the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and part of its components, and these relationships are not affected by sex or age. Given the high prevalence of MetS and hyperuricemia among Tibetan adults, more studies are required to explore the role of SUA in the pathogenesis of MetS.

The leucocyte profile in controlled and uncontrolled diabetes.

Objective: To compare the white blood cell profile in controlled and uncontrolled diabetes. Study Design: Cross Sectional. Setting: Creek General Hospital, Karachi. Period: June to December 2021. Material &amp; Methods: Conducted on 156 diabetic patients selected by convenient sampling technique. Inclusion Criteria was Type 2 diabetic adults. Exclusion Criteria is patients with other chronic diagnosed diseases, Type 1 Diabetes, age less than 30 years and recently diagnosed diabetes. Patients were divided in two groups according to glycemic control criteria: controlled diabetes was HbA1c less than 7.5% or RBS &lt; 180mg/dl or FBS 70-100mg/dl in last two weeks and vice versa for uncontrolled diabetes. WBC parameters included total leukocyte count (TLC), Neutrophil, Lymphocyte, Eosinophil, Basophil and Monocyte differential. Results: Among the 156 patients, the leucocyte count was increased in 41(26%), normal in 109 (70%) and decreased in 6(3%). The neutrophils was raised in 62(39.7%), normal in 85(54.4%) and decreased in 9(5.7%). In controlled group the mean TLC value is 9047/L, mean neutrophil is 70.26%, mean lymphocyte is 26.96%, mean monocyte is 2.01%. In uncontrolled group the mean TLC value is 9270.5/L, neutrophil value is 69.7%, lymphocyte value is 26.4%, monocyte value is 1.82%. In both the controlled and uncontrolled groups: one fourth of the patients had increased TLC, more than one third of patients had raised neutrophils, and a significant percentage had decreased lymphocyte and monocytes. In uncontrolled group percentage of patients with raised TLC was equally high in both the genders and also higher in the elderly age group. In controlled group it was raised more in females and middle age group. In uncontrolled group the neutrophils was raised more in males and equally in both the genders in controlled group. In both the groups the neutrophils were higher in the elderly age bracket. In uncontrolled group the percentage of raised lymphocyte was higher in female while in the controlled group it was higher in males. In both the groups a significant percentage of elderly had decreased lymphocyte count. Monocyte count in the controlled group was decreased equally in both genders and in the middle age group. In uncontrolled group females, middle and elderly group had decreased monocyte count. Conclusion: There was a higher percentage of diabetics with elevated leucocyte and neutrophil count but a decreased lymphocyte and monocyte count in uncontrolled diabetes compared to controlled diabetes.

Antioxidant and Anticarcinogenic Potentials of Propolis for Dimethylhydrazine-Induced Colorectal Cancer in Wistar Rats.

Propolis is a natural compound with anticarcinogenic properties. The present study aimed to compare the inhibitory effect of ethanolic extract of propolis (EEP) and vitamin E on dimethylhydrazine-induced colon lesions in rats. In this study, 60 rats were randomly categorized into six 10-member groups. After 13 weeks, blood and colon tissue were sampled to examine some factors. The parameters included red (RBC) and white (WBC) blood cell profile, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), C-reactive protein (CRP), total protein (TP), creatine kinase (CPK), and albumin, as well as the extent of colon histological lesions, protein expression (adenomatous polyposis coli (APC), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)), and oxidative stress markers (total antioxidant capacity (TAC), malondialdehyde (MDA), and superoxide dismutase (SOD)) in colon tissue. A significant decrease was observed in congestion, mitotic index, inflammation, and cell destruction in colon tissue in dimethylhydrazine group in comparison with the control group (P < 0.05). The EEP exposed rats exhibited a significant lower oxidative stress than the DMH group (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the extract significantly affected TAC level (P < 0.05). While the expression level of APC rose substantially in the EEP-treated group compared to the DMH group, the level of PCNA, CEA, and PDGF proteins significantly reduced. It seems that the EEP can efficiently prevent DMH-induced colonic lesions. Furthermore, its effectiveness is more than the vitamin E, which is a strong antioxidant.

IMMUNOSTIMULANT POTENTIAL OF OYSTER MUSHROOM NUGGET (Pleourotus ostreatus)

Oyster mushrooms are widely known as having high beta glucan content. Beta glucan is a water insoluble fiber that indicates an immunomodulator with increasing the activity of NK cells in the bloodstream which provides immune effect. Oyster mushroom nuggets are processed oyster mushrooms that can be proven containing the highest beta glucans. This study aims to observe the immunostimulant potential of oyster mushroom nuggets in BALB/c mice by analyzing its white blood cell profile, spleen and liver histopathology. The research method is conducted through orbital sinus of the rat's eye using a microhematocrit to count total leukocytes, lymphocytes, and granulocytes with the Delayed Type Hypersensitivity test. The 18mg/kg body weight oyster mushroom nugget can increase lymphocytes cells 7.2 ± 1.22 103/µl. It is significantly different from control group. Immunostimulatory activity also was proven with the widening of the white pulp of the spleen with the growth of young lymphocytes after being given oyster mushroom nuggets of 18 mg/kg body weight.

Effects of Alchemilla vulgaris on haematology and antioxidant status of heatstressed quails during the late laying period

The effects of Alchemilla vulgaris (AV) on haematology and serum, liver, and ovarian antioxidant status of heat-stressed quail in the late laying period were observed in this study. A 2×3 factorial design was used with 0, 1 and 3% AV fed in thermoneutral (TN) and heat stress (HS) conditions. A total of 150 quails were randomly assigned to six groups. The quails were located in temperature controlled rooms. The mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), and platelet distribution width (PDW) obtained in quail fed 1% AV were higher than in 3% AV under both TN and HS conditions. Comparing 3% AV to 1% AV, the concentration of MCH obtained for 1% AV was higher in HS and lower in TN conditions. Besides, quails fed for 1% AV had a lower procalcitonin (PCT) value in HS than 3% AV but this PCT value was the same in TN. The serum malondialdehyde (MDA) was lower in 1% AV than 3% AV in both HS and TN. The ovarian MDA was lower in TN than HS. In both TN and HS conditions, the ovarian MDA value was determined higher for 1% AV than for 3% AV. The liver glutathione (GSH) value was higher in 1% AV than 3% AV in both TN and HS conditions. The Total Oxidant Capacity (TOS) value was found higher for 3% AV in TN and 1% AV in HS. The serum GSH, TOS, and oxidative stress index (OSI) values were lower for 3% AV compared to 1% AV for both TN and HS conditions, whereas for MDA value this was the opposite. The ovarium MDA and TOS values were lower for 3% AV than for 1% AV in both TN and HS. Also, the liver MDA, GSH, and Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAS) values were lower for 3% AV than for 1% AV in both TN and HS conditions. Finally, dietary AV has been shown to have a partial antioxidative effect on the defense system and also has effect on red blood cell profiles and platelet counts rather than white blood cell profiles.

An interferon-related signature characterizes the whole blood transcriptome profile of insulin-resistant individuals\u2014the CODAM study

BackgroundWorldwide, the prevalence of obesity and insulin resistance has grown dramatically. Gene expression profiling in blood represents a powerful means to explore disease pathogenesis, but the potential impact of inter-individual differences in a cell-type profile is not always taken into account. The objective of this project was to investigate the whole blood transcriptome profile of insulin-resistant as compared to insulin-sensitive individuals independent of inter-individual differences in white blood cell profile.ResultsWe report a 3% higher relative amount of monocytes in the insulin-resistant individuals. Furthermore, independent of their white blood cell profile, insulin-resistant participants had (i) higher expression of interferon-stimulated genes and (ii) lower expression of genes involved in cellular differentiation and remodeling of the actin cytoskeleton.ConclusionsWe present an approach to investigate the whole blood transcriptome of insulin-resistant individuals, independent of their DNA methylation-derived white blood cell profile. An interferon-related signature characterizes the whole blood transcriptome profile of the insulin-resistant individuals, independent of their white blood cell profile. The observed signature indicates increased systemic inflammation possibly due to an innate immune response and whole-body insulin resistance, which can be a cause or a consequence of insulin resistance. Altered gene expression in specific organs may be reflected in whole blood; hence, our results may reflect obesity and/or insulin resistance-related organ dysfunction in the insulin-resistant individuals.

White Blood Cell Profile among Different Clinical Stages of COVID-19 Patients

Coronavirus is affecting millions of people world-wide. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is declared a pandemic by WHO. Severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2(SARS-CoV-2) is the causative agent. The clinical presentations of SARS-CoV-2 infection range from febrile illness to pneumonia, ARDS and multi organ failures. Increasing scientific evidences have shown that abnormalities in routine laboratory test, particularly haematological parameters influence the outcome of the disease. Here variations in WBC profile in several clinical forms of COVID-19 patients are observed, The clinical course of the disease may change with haematological parameters such as lower total count of WBC, lymphocyte, higher neutrophil count, eosinophil count etc. By investigating haematological parameters of different clinical stage of RT-PCR positive 100 COVID-19 patients, statistically significant association (p value 0.001) of lymphocyte count with disease severity was found. It is also found that higher level of total count WBC, neutrophil count in severe group in comparison to mild and moderate groups but failed to reach any statistical significance. Moreover total count WBC and neutrophil count showed positive correlations but lymphocyte count, eosinophil count and monocyte count showed negative correlation with severity of disease. So, complete analysis of the haematological parameters will be very much helpful for early detection of complications &amp; better control of the disease.

Endotoxin-induced cytokine, chemokine and white blood cell profiles of variable stress-responding sheep

Individual variation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis response to stress could contribute to variable stress resiliency of livestock. During stress events, the innate immune system can also become activated and work in concert with the neuroendocrine system to restore homeostasis, while minimizing tissue damage. The purpose of this study was to assess immune function in variable stress-responding sheep in response to bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) endotoxin immune-challenge. High (HSR, n = 12), middle (MSR, n = 12), and low-stress responders (LSR, n = 12) were selected from a population of 112 female lambs and classified based on serum cortisol concentration after receiving an intravenous bolus of LPS (400 ng/kg). Blood was collected from the jugular vein at 0 and 4 hrs post-LPS challenge to monitor changes in serum pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, and white blood cell populations. Rectal temperature was recorded hourly to monitor fever. HSR had the greatest increase in rectal temperature and strongest pro-inflammatory IL-6 and IFN-γ cytokine responses compared to MSR and LSR. HSR and MSR had stronger anti-inflammatory IL-10 cytokine and CCL2 chemokine responses than LSR. White blood cell counts changed between 0 and 4 h; however, no differences were detected among the variable stress response groups. The distinct inflammatory response in variable stress responding sheep could contribute to individual differences in stress resiliency and this warrants investigation in the context of other types of stress.

Backtracing persistent biomarker shifts to the age of onset: A novel procedure applied to men’s and women’s white blood cell counts in post-traumatic stress disorder

• Some biomarkers in mental disorders retain shifted levels long time after the onset. • A backtrace procedure for persistent shifts in cross-sectional data is presented. • It is demonstrated on leukocyte counts in post-traumatic stress disorder. • Neutrophil, lymphocyte and eosinophil counts showed the most impressive results. • The procedure opens new avenues for biomarker research in large epidemiological studies. Traumatic experiences tend to be preserved in altered biomarker profiles. These profiles can be traced back from cross-sectional data regarding the age of exposure. Consequently, the change across developmental stages, e.g. from childhood to adulthood, can also be reconstructed. This study introduces a backtrace procedure that is illustrated using white blood cell (WBC) counts in full / partial post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The procedure was applied separately on men's and women's data to provide a replication of the analysis based on different subsamples. The analysis was carried out with data from the CoLaus|PsyCoLaus study (N = 5111, 2370 men and 2741 women, age range 35–88 years). It was restricted to traumatic experiences that occurred until the age of 35, i.e., the lower age limit of the sample. The WBC counts from up to two assessments were standardized, pooled and assigned to the reported age of trauma exposure. This resulted in age series for each marker, whereas the reference values were based on subjects who did not experience any trauma exposure. The backtrace procedure ascertained the peaks and troughs of the age series and determined the best-fitting critical age range surrounding each peak or trough based on the best p-value from simple t-tests. In CoLaus|PsyCoLaus, 750 participants reported trauma exposure until the age of 35, and 86 (out of 329) men and 187 (out of 421) women thereof were coded with a full or partial PTSD. Full / partial PTSD after trauma exposure in childhood was characterized by increased WBC counts (lymphocytes, eosinophils – in women also neutrophils). This pattern was partly retained during adolescence, in men due to eosinophils counts and in women due to lymphocyte counts. For exposure in young adulthood, the deviations were in the negative direction – in men with decreased basophils, in women with decreased lymphocytes and monocytes. Summarizing, the backtrace approach revealed WBC profiles in PTSD that were specific to particular developmental age stages. The strongest persistent upregulation of the immune system related to trauma exposure was traceable to childhood / early adolescence both in men and in women. Further research will show which biomarkers are similarly suitable for backtracing as WBC counts. As in PTSD, the backtrace approach could also be applied to identifying persistent biomarker profiles in other mental disorders, as well as autoimmune and other chronic diseases.

Trematodes coupled with neonicotinoids: effects on blood cell profiles of a model amphibian.

Habitat loss, climate change, environmental contaminants, and parasites and pathogens are among the main factors thought to act singly or together in causing amphibian declines. We tested for combined effects of neonicotinoid pesticides and parasites (versus parasites-only) on mortality, growth, and white blood cell profiles of a model amphibian: the northern leopard frog (Rana pipiens). We first exposed infectious stages of frog trematodes (cercariae of Echinostoma spp.) to low and high concentrations of thiamethoxam or clothianidin versus water-only controls. There were no differences in survival of trematode cercariae between treatments. For the main experiment, we exposed tadpoles to clean water versus high concentrations of clothianidin or thiamethoxam for 2 weeks and added trematode cercariae to all tanks after 1 week. Exposure of tadpoles and parasites to high concentrations of thiamethoxam or clothianidin did not affect parasite infection success. Tadpole survival was not different between treatments before or after parasite addition and there were no significant differences in tadpole snout-to-vent lengths or developmental stages between treatments. Tadpoles exposed to thiamethoxam + parasites had smaller widths than parasite-only tadpoles, whereas tadpoles exposed to clothianidin + parasites had higher eosinophil to leukocyte ratios compared to parasite-only tadpoles. Tadpoles of both neonicotinoid + parasite treatments had significantly lower monocyte to leukocyte ratios relative to parasite-only tadpoles. High concentrations of neonicotinoid combined with parasites appear to influence tadpole immune function important for further defense against parasites and pathogens. This work highlights the need for more holistic approaches to ecotoxicity studies, using multiple stressors.

High intake of vegetables is linked to lower white blood cell profile and the effect is mediated by the gut microbiome

BackgroundChronic inflammation, which can be modulated by diet, is linked to high white blood cell counts and correlates with higher cardiometabolic risk and risk of more severe infections, as in the case of COVID-19.MethodsHere, we assessed the association between white blood cell profile (lymphocytes, basophils, eosinophils, neutrophils, monocytes and total white blood cells) as markers of chronic inflammation, habitual diet and gut microbiome composition (determined by sequencing of the 16S RNA) in 986 healthy individuals from the PREDICT-1 nutritional intervention study. We then investigated whether the gut microbiome mediates part of the benefits of vegetable intake on lymphocyte counts.ResultsHigher levels of white blood cells, lymphocytes and basophils were all significantly correlated with lower habitual intake of vegetables, with vegetable intake explaining between 3.59 and 6.58% of variation in white blood cells after adjusting for covariates and multiple testing using false discovery rate (q < 0.1). No such association was seen with fruit intake. A mediation analysis found that 20.00% of the effect of vegetable intake on lymphocyte counts was mediated by one bacterial genus, Collinsella, known to increase with the intake of processed foods and previously associated with fatty liver disease. We further correlated white blood cells to other inflammatory markers including IL6 and GlycA, fasting and post-prandial glucose levels and found a significant relationship between inflammation and diet.ConclusionA habitual diet high in vegetables, but not fruits, is linked to a lower inflammatory profile for white blood cells, and a fifth of the effect is mediated by the genus Collinsella.Trial registrationThe ClinicalTrials.gov registration identifier is NCT03479866.

64P Pre-treatment absolute white blood cell profile count as metastatic predictive factors in invasive ductal carcinoma breast cancer

64P Pre-treatment absolute white blood cell profile count as metastatic predictive factors in invasive ductal carcinoma breast cancer

Immunotoxicological effects of dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls extracted from Zhanjiang Bay sediments in zebrafish.

Dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DLPCBs) are ubiquitous environmental contaminants spread all over the world. They can cause disorders in the reproductive, nervous, gut, and immune systems. We investigated the effects of DL-PCB extracted from Zhanjiang (Guangdong Province, China) offshore area on the immune functions of adult zebrafish. Zebrafish were exposed to different levels of DL-PCBs, i.e., control, positive control (PCB77 at 16.0μg/L), low (LD; PCB81 + PCB118 at 0.32μg/L), and high-dose (HD; PCB81 + PCB118 at 16.0μg/L) groups for 28days. Compared with the control group, positive control and HD group showed a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in the number of red blood cells (RBC) on day 7 and the same decrease was observed in the LD group (P < 0.05) on day 21. The results of white blood cell (WBC) profiles were opposite to that of RBCs. Moreover, the serum lysozyme activity was significantly lower in positive control and HD group (P < 0.05) on day 21 but no significant effect was observed in the LD group. The mucus lysozyme activity and immunoglobulin concentration in positive control and HD group decreased significantly (P < 0.05) from day 14. A similar effect was observed in the LD group but was significant (P < 0.05) only on day 28. Additionally, histopathological examination showed accumulation of hemosiderin in the spleen of experimental animals, which was significant in positive control and HD group. Further, renal tubular epithelial cells of head kidney were swollen in the positive control and HD group while the expansion of lumen and renal interstitial edema was observed in the LD group on day 21 and with significant presence on 28days. Therefore, these findings suggest that the exposure of zebrafish to DL-PCBs at > 16.0μg/L can impair their immune functions.