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Lao P, Chen J, Tang L, Zhang J, Chen Y, Fang Y, Fan X. Regulatory T cells in lung disease and transplantation. Biosci Rep 2023; 43:BSR20231331. [PMID: 37795866 PMCID: PMC10611924 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20231331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Pulmonary disease can refer to the disease of the lung itself or the pulmonary manifestations of systemic diseases, which are often connected to the malfunction of the immune system. Regulatory T (Treg) cells have been shown to be important in maintaining immune homeostasis and preventing inflammatory damage, including lung diseases. Given the increasing amount of evidence linking Treg cells to various pulmonary conditions, Treg cells might serve as a therapeutic strategy for the treatment of lung diseases and potentially promote lung transplant tolerance. The most potent and well-defined Treg cells are Foxp3-expressing CD4+ Treg cells, which contribute to the prevention of autoimmune lung diseases and the promotion of lung transplant rejection. The protective mechanisms of Treg cells in lung disease and transplantation involve multiple immune suppression mechanisms. This review summarizes the development, phenotype and function of CD4+Foxp3+ Treg cells. Then, we focus on the therapeutic potential of Treg cells in preventing lung disease and limiting lung transplant rejection. Furthermore, we discussed the possibility of Treg cell utilization in clinical applications. This will provide an overview of current research advances in Treg cells and their relevant application in clinics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peizhen Lao
- Institute of Biological and Food Engineering, Guangdong University of Education, 351 Xingang Middle Road, Guangzhou 510303, PR China
| | - Jingyi Chen
- Institute of Biological and Food Engineering, Guangdong University of Education, 351 Xingang Middle Road, Guangzhou 510303, PR China
| | - Longqian Tang
- Institute of Biological and Food Engineering, Guangdong University of Education, 351 Xingang Middle Road, Guangzhou 510303, PR China
| | - Jiwen Zhang
- Institute of Biological and Food Engineering, Guangdong University of Education, 351 Xingang Middle Road, Guangzhou 510303, PR China
| | - Yuxi Chen
- Institute of Biological and Food Engineering, Guangdong University of Education, 351 Xingang Middle Road, Guangzhou 510303, PR China
| | - Yuyin Fang
- Institute of Biological and Food Engineering, Guangdong University of Education, 351 Xingang Middle Road, Guangzhou 510303, PR China
| | - Xingliang Fan
- Institute of Biological and Food Engineering, Guangdong University of Education, 351 Xingang Middle Road, Guangzhou 510303, PR China
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Chen H, Zha J, Tang R, Chen G. T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin-domain containing-3 (TIM-3): Solving a key puzzle in autoimmune diseases. Int Immunopharmacol 2023; 121:110418. [PMID: 37290326 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.110418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2023] [Revised: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Dysfunctional immune cells participate in the pathogenesis of a variety of autoimmune diseases, although the specific mechanisms remain elusive and effective clinical interventions are lacking. Recent research on immune checkpoint molecules has revealed significant expression of T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing protein 3 (TIM-3) on the surfaces of various immune cells. These include different subsets of T cells, macrophages, dendritic cells, natural killer cells, and mast cells. Further investigation into its protein structure, ligands, and intracellular signaling pathway activation mechanisms has found that TIM-3, by binding with different ligands, is involved in the regulation of crucial biological processes such as proliferation, apoptosis, phenotypic transformation, effector protein synthesis, and cellular interactions of various immune cells. The TIM-3-ligand axis plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of numerous conditions, including autoimmune diseases, infections, cancers, transplant rejection, and chronic inflammation. This article primarily focuses on the research findings of TIM-3 in the field of autoimmune diseases, with a special emphasis on the structure and signaling pathways of TIM-3, its types of ligands, and the potential mechanisms implicated in systemic lupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, as well as other autoimmune diseases and chronic inflammation. The latest research results in the field of immunology suggest that TIM-3 dysfunction affects various immune cells and participates in the pathogenesis of diseases. Monitoring the activity of its receptor-ligand axis can serve as a novel biological marker for disease clinical diagnosis and prognosis evaluation. More importantly, the TIM-3-ligand axis and the downstream signaling pathway molecules may become key targets for targeted intervention treatment of autoimmune-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huihui Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China; Clinical Immunology Research Center of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jie Zha
- Department of Nephrology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China; Hunan Key Laboratory of Kidney Disease and Blood Purification, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Runyan Tang
- Department of Nephrology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China; Hunan Key Laboratory of Kidney Disease and Blood Purification, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Guochun Chen
- Clinical Immunology Research Center of Central South University, Changsha, China; Department of Nephrology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China; Hunan Key Laboratory of Kidney Disease and Blood Purification, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China.
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Bailly C, Thuru X, Goossens L, Goossens JF. Soluble TIM-3 as a biomarker of progression and therapeutic response in cancers and other of human diseases. Biochem Pharmacol 2023; 209:115445. [PMID: 36739094 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2023.115445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Revised: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Immune checkpoints inhibition is a privileged approach to combat cancers and other human diseases. The TIM-3 (T cell immunoglobulin and mucin-domain containing-3) inhibitory checkpoint expressed on different types of immune cells is actively investigated as an anticancer target, with a dozen of monoclonal antibodies in (pre)clinical development. A soluble form sTIM-3 can be found in the plasma of patients with cancer and other diseases. This active circulating protein originates from the proteolytic cleavage by two ADAM metalloproteases of the membrane receptor shared by tumor and non-tumor cells, and extracellular vesicles. In most cancers but not all, overexpression of mTIM-3 at the cell surface leads to high level of sTIM-3. Similarly, elevated levels of sTIM-3 have been reported in chronic autoimmune diseases, inflammatory gastro-intestinal diseases, certain viral and parasitic diseases, but also in cases of organ transplantation and in pregnancy-related pathologies. We have analyzed the origin of sTIM-3, its methods of dosage in blood or plasma, its presence in multiple diseases and its potential role as a biomarker to follow disease progression and/or the treatment response. In contrast to sPD-L1 generated by different classes of proteases and by alternative splicing, sTIM-3 is uniquely produced upon ADAM-dependent shedding, providing a more homogenous molecular entity and a possibly more reliable molecular marker. However, the biological functionality of sTIM-3 remains insufficiently characterized. The review shed light on pathologies associated with an altered expression of sTIM-3 in human plasma and the possibility to use sTIM-3 as a diagnostic or therapeutic marker.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Bailly
- OncoWitan, Consulting Scientific Office, Lille (Wasquehal) 59290, France; University of Lille, Faculty of Pharmacy, Institut de Chimie Pharmaceutique Albert Lespagnol (ICPAL), 3 rue du Professeur Laguesse, 59000 Lille, France; University of Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, UMR9020 - UMR1277 - Canther - Cancer Heterogeneity, Plasticity and Resistance to Therapies, 59000 Lille, France.
| | - Xavier Thuru
- University of Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, UMR9020 - UMR1277 - Canther - Cancer Heterogeneity, Plasticity and Resistance to Therapies, 59000 Lille, France
| | - Laurence Goossens
- University of Lille, Faculty of Pharmacy, Institut de Chimie Pharmaceutique Albert Lespagnol (ICPAL), 3 rue du Professeur Laguesse, 59000 Lille, France; University of Lille, CHU Lille, ULR 7365 - GRITA - Groupe de Recherche sur les formes Injectables et les Technologies Associées, 59000 Lille, France
| | - Jean-François Goossens
- University of Lille, CHU Lille, ULR 7365 - GRITA - Groupe de Recherche sur les formes Injectables et les Technologies Associées, 59000 Lille, France
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Liu Y, Yue L, Song X, Gu C, Shi X, Wang Y. Dysfunction of peripheral regulatory T cells predicts lung injury after cardiopulmonary bypass. Biosci Trends 2021; 15:374-381. [PMID: 34483230 DOI: 10.5582/bst.2021.01157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Lung injury caused by cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) increases the mortality after cardiac surgery. Previous studies have shown that regulatory T cells (Tregs) play a protective role during CPB, but the correlation between Tregs and CPB-induced lung injury remains unclear. Here, we conducted a prospective study about Treg cells in patient receiving CPB. Treg cells were collected from patients before the CPB operation (pre-CPB Tregs), and the effect of pre-CPB Tregs on the occurrence of CPB-induced lung injury was evaluated. Data showed that the baseline level of Treg cells in peripheral blood were lower in patients who developed lung injury after CPB, compared to those who did not develop lung injury after CPB. Function analyses revealed that pre-CPB Tregs from CPB-induced lung injury patients presented decreased ability in suppressing the proliferation and IFN-γ production of CD4 and CD8 T cell. Also, pre-surgery levels of TGF- β and IL-10 were markedly lower in lung injury patients than in non-lung injury patients. In addition, PD-1 and Tim-3 expression on pre-CPB Tregs were significantly lower in CPB-induced lung injury patients than the CPB patients without lung injury. Above all, we found impaired peripheral Treg responses in CPB-induced lung injury patients, indicating a potential role of Treg cells in the early diagnosis of CPB-induced lung injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Shandong Institute of Anesthesia and Respiratory Critical Medicine, Ji'nan, Shandong, China
| | - Longtao Yue
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Shandong Institute of Anesthesia and Respiratory Critical Medicine, Ji'nan, Shandong, China
| | - Xiumei Song
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Shandong Institute of Anesthesia and Respiratory Critical Medicine, Ji'nan, Shandong, China
| | - Changping Gu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Shandong Institute of Anesthesia and Respiratory Critical Medicine, Ji'nan, Shandong, China
| | - Xin Shi
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Shandong Institute of Anesthesia and Respiratory Critical Medicine, Ji'nan, Shandong, China
| | - Yuelan Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Shandong Institute of Anesthesia and Respiratory Critical Medicine, Ji'nan, Shandong, China
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Boehne C, Behrendt AK, Meyer-Bahlburg A, Boettcher M, Drube S, Kamradt T, Hansen G. Tim-3 is dispensable for allergic inflammation and respiratory tolerance in experimental asthma. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0249605. [PMID: 33822811 PMCID: PMC8023500 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0249605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing molecule-3 (Tim-3) has been described as a transmembrane protein, expressed on the surface of various T cells as well as different cells of innate immunity. It has since been associated with Th1 mediated autoimmune diseases and transplantation tolerance studies, thereby indicating a possible role of this receptor in counter-regulation of Th2 immune responses. In the present study we therefore directly examined the role of Tim-3 in allergic inflammation and respiratory tolerance. First, Tim-3-/- mice and wild type controls were immunized and challenged with the model allergen ovalbumin (OVA) to induce an asthma-like phenotype. Analysis of cell numbers and distribution in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid as well as lung histology in H&E stained lung sections demonstrated a comparable degree of eosinophilic inflammation in both mouse strains. Th2 cytokine production in restimulated cell culture supernatants and serum IgE and IgG levels were equally increased in both genotypes. In addition, cell proliferation and the distribution of different T cell subsets were comparable. Moreover, analysis of both mouse strains in our respiratory tolerance model, where mucosal application of the model allergen before immunization, prevents the development of an asthma-like phenotype, revealed no differences in any of the parameters mentioned above. The current study demonstrates that Tim-3 is dispensable not only for the development of allergic inflammation but also for induction of respiratory tolerance in mice in an OVA-based model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolin Boehne
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Pediatric Pulmonology, Allergology and Neonatology, Hannover Medical School, Lower Saxony, Germany
| | - Ann-Kathrin Behrendt
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Pediatric Pulmonology, Allergology and Neonatology, Hannover Medical School, Lower Saxony, Germany
| | - Almut Meyer-Bahlburg
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Pediatric Pulmonology, Allergology and Neonatology, Hannover Medical School, Lower Saxony, Germany
- Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Disease Hannover (BREATH), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Hannover Medical School, Lower Saxony, Germany
| | - Martin Boettcher
- Institute of Immunology, University Hospital Jena, Jena, Thuringia, Germany
| | - Sebastian Drube
- Institute of Immunology, University Hospital Jena, Jena, Thuringia, Germany
| | - Thomas Kamradt
- Institute of Immunology, University Hospital Jena, Jena, Thuringia, Germany
| | - Gesine Hansen
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Pediatric Pulmonology, Allergology and Neonatology, Hannover Medical School, Lower Saxony, Germany
- Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Disease Hannover (BREATH), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Hannover Medical School, Lower Saxony, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence RESIST (EXC 2155), Hannover Medical School, Lower Saxony, Germany
- * E-mail:
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Zhang C, Song Y, Wang C, Zhao L, Kang H, Ma X, Wang J, Zhang T, Shumin W, Ma C. The effects of chrysophanol on ovalbumin (OVA)-induced chronic lung toxicology by inhibiting Th17 response. Toxicol Mech Methods 2017; 27:327-334. [PMID: 28399782 DOI: 10.3109/15376516.2015.1053653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Chrysophanol (CH), extracted from plants of Rheum genus, possesses various pharmacological effects including anti-inflammatory activity. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the protective effects and the underlying mechanisms of CH on ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma in mice. Fifty mice were randomly assigned to five experimental groups: control group, model group, dexamethasone (2 mg/kg) group and CH (5 and 10 mg/kg) groups. The number of eosinophil cells and the production of interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-1β, IL-17 A and tumor necrosis factor-α in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were measured. In addition, pulmonary histopathology, airway resistance (Raw), T-helper17 (Th17) cells frequency and RORγt expression were evaluated. Our study demonstrated that CH effectively decreased eosinophil count and inflammatory cytokines production in BALF. In addition, treatment with CH significantly inhibited the Raw, Th17 percentage and RORγt expression in OVA-induced animals compared with those in model group. Histological studies also demonstrated that CH significantly suppressed OVA-induced eosinophilia in lung tissue compared with model group. Our findings supported that CH can prevent allergic asthma in the mouse model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunyan Zhang
- a Department of Cardiology , the Second Affiliated Hospital, Medical School of Xi?an Jiaotong University , Xi'an , P.R. China
| | - Yafan Song
- a Department of Cardiology , the Second Affiliated Hospital, Medical School of Xi?an Jiaotong University , Xi'an , P.R. China
| | - Congxia Wang
- a Department of Cardiology , the Second Affiliated Hospital, Medical School of Xi?an Jiaotong University , Xi'an , P.R. China
| | - Ling Zhao
- a Department of Cardiology , the Second Affiliated Hospital, Medical School of Xi?an Jiaotong University , Xi'an , P.R. China
| | - Huafeng Kang
- b Department of Oncology, the Second Affiliated Hospital , Medical School of Xi'an Jiaotong University , Xi'an , P.R. China
| | - Xiaobin Ma
- b Department of Oncology, the Second Affiliated Hospital , Medical School of Xi'an Jiaotong University , Xi'an , P.R. China
| | - Jing Wang
- c Changchun University of Chinese Medicine , Changchun , P.R. China
| | - Tianzhu Zhang
- c Changchun University of Chinese Medicine , Changchun , P.R. China
| | - Wang Shumin
- c Changchun University of Chinese Medicine , Changchun , P.R. China
| | - Chunhua Ma
- c Changchun University of Chinese Medicine , Changchun , P.R. China
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Li JG, DU YM, Yan ZD, Yan J, Zhuansun YX, Chen R, Zhang W, Feng SL, Ran PX. CD80 and CD86 knockdown in dendritic cells regulates Th1/Th2 cytokine production in asthmatic mice. Exp Ther Med 2016; 11:878-884. [PMID: 26998006 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2016.2989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2014] [Accepted: 12/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Dendritic cells (DCs) are associated with the activation and differentiation of T helper (Th) cells. Cluster of differentiation (CD)80 and CD86, the co-stimulatory molecules highly expressed in DCs, have are prominent in promoting the differentiation of Th cells toward Th2 cells. However, little is known about the effect of CD80 and CD86 knockdown on Th1/Th2 cytokine production in mature DCs (mDCs). The aim of the present study was to investigate whether small-interfering RNA (siRNA) could suppress the surface expression of CD80 and CD86 in mDCs. The effects of CD80 and CD86 knockdown in mDCs on Th1/Th2 cytokine expression were examined using an asthmatic murine model. DCs were isolated, separated and cultured in vitro. Flow cytometry was used to examine the expression of CD11c, CD80 and CD86 on the DCs. The DCs were transfected with CD80- and CD86-specific siRNA, while non-siRNA and negative siRNA controls were also designed. Then, the mRNA and protein expression levels of CD80 and CD86 were determined by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and flow cytometry, respectively. The levels of interferon (IFN)-γ and interleukin (IL)-4 produced by T cells co-cultured with mDCs were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Substantial downregulation of CD80 and CD86 mRNA and protein levels were observed in the mDCs following transfection with siRNA. The level of IFN-γ produced by T cells co-cultured with mDCs was significantly increased in the siRNA group, while IL-4 production was significantly decreased. These results show that specific targeting of CD80 and CD86 with siRNA is able to suppress CD80/CD86 expression and consequently regulate Th1/Th2 cytokine levels by increasing IFN-γ production and decreasing IL-4 levels in an asthmatic murine model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian-Guo Li
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510120, P.R. China
| | - Yu-Mo DU
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510120, P.R. China
| | - Zhi-Dong Yan
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510120, P.R. China
| | - Jia Yan
- Department of Intensive Care Unit, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, P.R. China
| | - Yong-Xun Zhuansun
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510120, P.R. China
| | - Rui Chen
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510120, P.R. China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510120, P.R. China
| | - Su-Ling Feng
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510120, P.R. China
| | - Pi-Xin Ran
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical College, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510120, P.R. China
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TIM-3 Genetic Variations Affect Susceptibility to Osteoarthritis by Interfering with Interferon Gamma in CD4+ T Cells. Inflammation 2015; 38:1857-63. [DOI: 10.1007/s10753-015-0164-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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Regulatory T Cells Contribute to the Recovery of Acute Lung Injury by Upregulating Tim-3. Inflammation 2014; 38:1267-72. [DOI: 10.1007/s10753-014-0096-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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siRNA Treatment: "A Sword-in-the-Stone" for Acute Brain Injuries. Genes (Basel) 2013; 4:435-56. [PMID: 24705212 PMCID: PMC3924829 DOI: 10.3390/genes4030435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2013] [Revised: 08/17/2013] [Accepted: 08/22/2013] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Ever since the discovery of small interfering ribonucleic acid (siRNA) a little over a decade ago, it has been highly sought after for its potential as a therapeutic agent for many diseases. In this review, we discuss the promising possibility of siRNA to be used as a drug to treat acute brain injuries such as stroke and traumatic brain injury. First, we will give a brief and basic overview of the principle of RNA interference as an effective mechanism to decrease specific protein expression. Then, we will review recent in vivo studies describing siRNA research experiments/treatment options for acute brain diseases. Lastly, we will discuss the future of siRNA as a clinical therapeutic strategy against brain diseases and injuries, while addressing the current obstacles to effective brain delivery.
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