CD14+ cell-derived IL-29 modulates proinflammatory cytokine production in patients with allergic airway inflammation

BACKGROUND

  Interleukin (IL)-29 is a newly described cytokine that has anti-viral activity, induces tumor cell death and regulates immune function. Whether it plays a role in immune disorders is unclear. This study aims to examine the role of IL-29 in the modulation of immune response under allergic environment.

METHODS

  A group of patients with allergic asthma or/and allergic rhinitis was recruited to this study. Serum samples were collected from the patients in both in-season and out-season; the serum levels of IL-29 were determined by enzyme-linked immunoassay. Cell types of IL-29-producing cells in upper airway mucosa were identified with immune staining and examined by immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry.

RESULTS

  High serum levels of IL-29 were detected in patients with allergic asthma in in-season, but not in out-season. The majority of IL-29(+) cells in upper airway tissue were CD14(+) cells. Exposure to specific antigens triggered the release of IL-4 from antigen-specific CD4(+) T cells; the released IL-4 activated CD14(+) cells to release IL-29; the released IL-29 further triggered the release of IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor from CD4(+) T cells.

CONCLUSIONS

  Interleukin-29 is involved in the pathogenesis of allergic inflammation via modulating immune cells' function to release proinflammatory cytokines.

Characterization of ORF29 of Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus

ORF 29 of Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV ORF29), a conserved gene among all the lepidopteran baculoviruses, was subjected to analysis of sequence and transcription/translation in the insect BmN cells in vitro. His-tagged BmNPV ORF29 fusion protein was expressed in Escherichia coli, purified and used for the production of an antiserum. All the homologs of BmNPV ORF29 in baculoviruses contain a Nudix motif with slight modifications in the N-terminal part. A 654 nts-long transcript of BmNPV ORF29 in BmN cells was detected at 3-48 hrs p.i. indicating the early nature of the gene. In the virus-infected cells, the BmNPV ORF29 protein of 26 K was present in both the cytoplasm and nucleus. In the virions, the protein was present in Budded virus (BV), but not in Occlusion-derived virus (ODV). These results suggest that BmNPV ORF29 is a functional ORF of BmNPV, which encodes a 26 K protein expressed in the early stage of infection cycle.

Feeding-based RNA interference of a trehalose phosphate synthase gene in the brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens

The brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens, is the most devastating rice insect pest to have given rise to an outbreak in recent years. RNA interference (RNAi) is a technological breakthrough that has been developed as a powerful tool for studying gene function and for the highly targeted control of insect pests. Here, we examined the effects of using a feeding-based RNAi technique to target the gene trehalose phosphate synthase (TPS) in N. lugens. The full-length cDNA of N. lugens TPS (NlTPS) is 3235 bp and has an open reading frame of 2424 bp, encoding a protein of 807 amino acids. NlTPS was expressed in the fat body, midgut and ovary. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis revealed that NlTPS mRNA is expressed continuously with little change during the life of the insect. Efficient silencing of the TPS gene through double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) feeding led to rapid and significant reduction levels of TPS mRNA and enzymatic activity. Additionally, the development of N. lugens larvae that had been fed with the dsRNA was disturbed, resulting in lethality, and the cumulative survival rates dropped to 75.56, 64.44, 55.56 and 40.00% after continuous ingestion of 0.5 µg/µl dsRNA for 2, 4, 7 and 10 days, respectively. These values were significantly lower than those of the insects in the control group, suggesting that NlTPS dsRNA may be useful as a means of insect pest control.

Proteomic analysis of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes having a higher cell proliferation rate after treatment with low-molecular-weight silk fibroin peptides

OBJECTIVES

Previous studies have reported that fibroin peptides can be used in a new strategy for development of anti-diabetic peptide drugs. In this study, we separated silk fibroin hydrolysates (SFH) containing silk fibroin peptides into four components according to their molecular weight and tested the effects of these together with three synthetic silk fibroin hexapeptides GAGAGS, GAGAGY, GAGAGA on cell proliferation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. The aim of this study was to investigate protein expression profiles of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and those treated with SFH component Fraction I and the synthetic silk fibroin hexapeptide GAGAGS to be able to elucidate difference in protein expression between the 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and those treated with fibroin peptides Fraction I and GAGAGS.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

SFH was separated by dialysis. MTT assays were performed to test effects of SFH components and synthetic silk fibroin hexapeptides on 3T3-L1 preadipocyte proliferation. We generated proteome maps using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and analysed them by peptide mass fingerprinting.

RESULTS

GAGAGS and peptide mixtures, Fraction I and Fraction II, had significant effect in promoting 3T3-L1 preadipocyte proliferation. In the proteomic analysis, 73 protein spots were successfully identified, including 15 which were differentially expressed.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results show that some silk fibroin peptides of low molecular weight SFH and hexapeptide GAGAGS affected 3T3-L1 preadipocyte proliferation.

The synergistic effect of recombinant human endostatin (YH-16) combined with oxaliplatin on human colorectal carcinoma

This study was designed to investigate the effect of recombinant human endostatin (YH-16) combined with oxaliplatin (L-OHP) on the growth of orthotopically-implanted human colorectal carcinoma in nude mice. Tumour volumes and weights were measured after therapy. Tumour cell morphology was observed by light and electron microscopy. Apoptosis was detected using the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick-end labelling (TUNEL) assay, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression and microvessel density (MVD) were determined by immunohistochemical staining. Tumour volumes in all treatment groups were significantly reduced compared with controls. YH-16 and L-OHP either alone or in combination caused tumour cell apoptosis, except in the YH-16 low-dose group. MVD was strongly inhibited in the treatment groups compared with the controls, although only YH-16 combined with L-OHP or L-OHP alone decreased VEGF expression. No obvious change in side-effects occurred. In conclusion, YH-16 combined with L-OHP inhibited growth and induced apoptosis in orthotopically-transplanted human colorectal carcinoma in nude mice without increasing side-effects.

The Presence of Hepatitis B Surface Antigen in the Ova of Pregnant Women and Its Relationship with Intra-Uterine Infection by Hepatitis B Virus

Vertical transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV) has been proposed to play an important role in mother-to-child transmission, although the extent to which vertical transmission via oocytes contributes to neonatal HBV infection remains unknown. Ovarian biopsies were collected during caesarean sections in 68 clinically asymptomatic pregnant women who were carriers of HBV. The presence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in the ova of pregnant women was determined by immunohistochemistry. Serum markers of HBV infection in pregnant women and their neonates were analysed. It was found that, of 68 women, the ova were positive for HBsAg in only one woman and her neonate was negative for any serum HBV markers 3 days after birth. Of 68 neonates, one was positive for serum HBV markers 3 days after birth and his mother's ova were negative for HBsAg. These findings indicate that vertical transmission via oocytes may not be the major route of HBV intra-uterine infection.

A genome-wide survey on basic helix-loop-helix transcription factors in rat and mouse

The basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) proteins play essential roles in a wide range of developmental processes in higher organisms. bHLH family members have been identified in over 20 organisms, including nematode, fruit fly, and human. Our study identified 114 rat and 14 additional mouse bHLH members in rat and mouse genomes, respectively. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that both rat and mouse had 49, 26, 15, 4, 12, and 4 bHLH members in groups A, B, C, D, E, and F, respectively. Only the rat Mxi1 gene has two copies in the genome. All other rat bHLH genes and all mouse bHLH genes are single-copy genes. The chromosomal distribution pattern of mouse, rat, and human bHLH genes suggests the emergence of some bHLH genes through gene duplication, which probably happened at least before the divergence of vertebrates from invertebrates. The present study provides useful information for future studies using rat as a model animal for mammalian development.

Rheumatic manifestations in HIV-1 infected in-patients and literature review

OBJECTIVE

To report the rate and spectrum of the rheumatic manifestations of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) since the advent of highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART).

METHODS

A retrospective record review of 888 inpatients with HIV for rheumatic manifestations was performed from January 1995 to March 2006. We then searched the 888 records for rheumatic diseases using International Classification Diagnostic (ICD) Codes. The medical records of the cases of HIV with the rheumatic conditions were then reviewed. A computer-assisted search of Medline/Pubmed for the medical literature from January 1981 to August 2007 using the keywords HIV, acquired immune-deficiency syndrome, rheumatic manifestations, combining with text words like systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Only English language literature was included.

RESULTS

The demographic data of 888 cases of HIV included men (64%) and women (36%) with a mean age of 41.5+/-10.2 years. Race consisted of Black (70%), White (22.8%), Hispanic (6.5%), and others (1.1%). Rheumatic manifestations were present in 80 (9%) with arthritis/arthralgia 49 (5.5%), septic arthritis 9 (1%), and osteomyelitis 8 (0.9%), connective tissue diseases (CTDs) 6 (0.7%) (SLE 3, rheumatoid arthritis 1, polymyositis 1, and systemic sclerosis 1), avascular necrosis 6 (0.7%) (hips 3, knees 2, and shoulder 1). There were no cases of seronegative spondyloarthritis or Sjögren's syndrome.

CONCLUSIONS

There was an association of HIV with rheumatic conditions in 9%, including CTDs and avascular necrosis. In addition, there were no cases of the seronegative spondyloarthritis subsets. This change in spectrum from prior reports suggests the rheumatic manifestations of HIV have changed, perhaps related to HAART.

A combination of a PPAR-gamma agonist and an angiotensin II receptor blocker attenuates proinflammatory signaling and stimulates expression of Smad7 in human peritoneal mesothelial cells

BACKGROUND

Human peritoneal mesothelial cells (HPMCs) have been shown to regulate the inflammatory response and the subsequent peritoneal extracellular matrix accumulation (ECM) induced by bio-incompatible peritoneal dialysis solutions. Recently, attention has been given to the possible antiinflammatory effect exhibited by angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) or PPAR-gamma agonists in several tissues including glomerular. As no data on the potential role of these commonly used drugs in reducing peritoneal fibrosis exist, we examined the in vitro effects of an ARB (losartan) and a PPAR-gamma agonist (rosiglitazone) on inflammatory and profibrotic pathways in cultured HPMCs subjected to high glucose.

METHODS

HPMCs were incubated for 48 hours with 3 different concentrations of glucose: 5 mM (G5), 50 mM (G50) and 100 mM (G100), as well as G50 with either losartan (5 or 10 microM) and/or rosiglitazone (1 or 10 microM). IL-6, IL-8, VEGF and TGF-beta1 in the supernatants were measured by cytokine multiplex assays or ELISA. Smad7, the inhibitor of the TGF/Smad signaling pathway, was measured using immunocytochemistry.

RESULTS

All the measured cytokines increased in proportion to increased concentration of glucose. Unexpectedly, this effect was not inhibited, but rather further enhanced, by rosiglitazone and losartan separately. However, only the combination of the two drugs had an inhibitory effect on TGF- beta1 and IL-6, while the expression of inhibitory Smad7 was increased.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that high glucose exposure stimulates an inflammatory response in HPMCs in a dose-dependent manner. Rosiglitazone and losartan appear to have synergetic effects which could decrease fibrosis by inhibiting inflammation and regulating the TGF/Smad signaling pathway, but further studies are needed to elucidate the complex pathways modulated by these drugs.

Reverse cholesterol transport and cholesterol efflux in atherosclerosis

Reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) is a pathway by which accumulated cholesterol is transported from the vessel wall to the liver for excretion, thus preventing atherosclerosis. Major constituents of RCT include acceptors such as high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I), and enzymes such as lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT), phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP), hepatic lipase (HL) and cholesterol ester transfer protein (CETP). A critical part of RCT is cholesterol efflux, in which accumulated cholesterol is removed from macrophages in the subintima of the vessel wall by ATP-binding membrane cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) or by other mechanisms, including passive diffusion, scavenger receptor B1 (SR-B1), caveolins and sterol 27-hydroxylase, and collected by HDL and apoA-I. Esterified cholesterol in the HDL is then delivered to the liver for excretion. In patients with mutated ABCA1 genes, RCT and cholesterol efflux are impaired and atherosclerosis is increased. In studies with transgenic mice, disruption of ABCA1 genes can induce atherosclerosis. Levels of HDL are inversely correlated with incidences of cardiovascular disease. Supplementation with HDL or apoA-I can reverse atherosclerosis by accelerating RCT and cholesterol efflux. On the other hand, pro-inflammatory factors such as interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), endotoxin, tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1beta), can be atherogenic by impairing RCT and cholesterol efflux, according to in vitro studies. RCT and cholesterol efflux play a major role in anti-atherogenesis, and modification of these processes may provide new therapeutic approaches to cardiovascular disease. Further research on new modifying factors for RCT and cholesterol efflux is warranted.