Investigation of association between IL-8 serum levels and IL8 polymorphisms in Chinese patients with sepsis

Comprehensive analysis of chemokine gene polymorphisms in Korean children with autoimmune thyroid disease

Chemokines are chemotactic cytokines that can cause directed migration of leukocytes. The aim of this study was to examine differences in single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of chemokine in AITD patients compared to normal controls. A total of 86 Korean pediatric patients were included in the patient group and 183 adults were included in the normal control group. To compare influences of several chemokine gene polymorphisms, 25 SNPs in 16 chemokine genes were analyzed. Genotype frequencies of CCL11(rs3744508)AA(OR = 6.9) and CCR2(rs1799864)AA(OR = 3.8) were higher in the AITD patients than in the controls, whereas CCL17(rs223828)CC was lower in the AITD patients than in the controls(OR = 0.4). In comparison between Graves' disease (GD) patients and controls, genotype frequency of CCL17(rs223828)CC(OR = 0.4) was lower in the GD group, whereas those of CCR2(rs1799864)AA(OR = 4.8) were higher in the GD group. The genotype frequency of CCL11(rs3744508)AA(OR = 11.3) was higher in Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) patients, whereas that of CXCL8(rs2227306)CC(OR = 0.4) was lower in HT patients. Polymorphisms of CCL11(rs3744508), CCL17(rs223828), and CCR2(rs1799864) might be associated with AITD, with CCL17(rs223828), CCR2(rs1799864) and CXCR2(rs2230054, rs1126579) affecting GD and CCL11(rs3744508) and CXCL8(rs2227306) affecting HT in Korean children.

Role of intergenic interactions between cytokine and Toll-like receptor genes in the etiology of congenital heart defects

The incidence of congenital heart defects (CHDs) reaches 1% of all newborns. Of particular importance is the group of heart defects without a family history and chromosomal disorders, which makes up>80% of all CHDs. These heart defects can be designated as sporadic CHDs, and their etiology and pathogenesis continue to be studied.

Aim. To study the association of cytokine and Toll-like receptor (TLR) genes with CHDs in children.

Material and methods. We examined 188 children with sporadic (without family history) CHDs (main group) and 103 healthy children without CHDs (control group). Genotyping was performed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Results. Sporadic CHDs, in general, and septal CHDs, in particular, are formed on similar intergenic associations that determine the dysregulation of the proliferation and differentiation of progenitor cells of the cardiovascular system. Probably, one of the molecular mechanisms for sporadic septal CHDs may be the inefficiency of intracellular signaling pathways for Nuclear Factor kappa B (NF-κB) due to the primary deficiency of membrane heterodimers TLR1/TLR6, TLR2/TLR6, and TLR1/TLR2.

Conclusion. Data on altered proinflammatory potential in the group of sporadic septal CHDs should be taken into account in the postnatal period when conducting cardiac surgery.

The association between interleukin-8 gene-251 A/T polymorphism and sepsis: A protocol for systematic review and meta analysis

BACKGROUND

Emerging evidence has indicated that interleukin-8 (IL-8) gene-251A/T polymorphism may affect individual susceptibility to sepsis. However, the results of published studies are inconclusive. The aim of this meta-analysis was to elucidate the association between this polymorphism and the risk and mortality of sepsis.

METHODS

Relevant publications were searched from PubMed, EmBase, and Web of Science databases up to January 31, 2021, with studies only in English. The reference lists of the retrieved studies were investigated as well. Pooled odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated to figure out the relationship between IL-8-251 A/T polymorphisms and the risk and mortality of sepsis. All of the data were analyzed with Stata 16.0.

RESULTS

The results of this meta-analysis will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal for publication.

CONCLUSION

This meta-analysis will summarize the relationship between IL-8-251 A/T polymorphism and the risk and mortality of sepsis.

Innate and Adaptive Gene Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms Associated With Susceptibility of Severe Inflammatory Complications in Acanthamoeba Keratitis

Purpose

Over a third of patients with Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK) experience severe inflammatory complications (SICs). This study aimed to determine if some contact lens (CL) wearers with AK were predisposed to SICs due to variations in key immune genes.

Methods

CL wearers with AK who attended Moorfields Eye Hospital were recruited prospectively between April 2013 and October 2014. SICs were defined as scleritis and/or stromal ring infiltrate. Genomic DNA was processed with an Illumina Low Input Custom Amplicon assay of 58 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) targets across 18 genes and tested for association in PLINK.

Results

Genomic DNA was obtained and analyzed for 105 cases of AK, 40 (38%) of whom experienced SICs. SNPs in the CXCL8 gene encoding IL-8 was significantly associated with protection from SICs (chr4: rs1126647, odds ratio [OR] = 0.3, P = 0.005, rs2227543, OR = 0.4, P = 0.007, and rs2227307, OR = 0.4, P = 0.02) after adjusting for age, sex, steroids prediagnosis, and herpes simplex keratitis (HSK) misdiagnosis. Two TLR-4 SNPs were associated with increased risk of SICs (chr9: rs4986791 and rs4986790, both OR = 6.9, P = 0.01). Th-17 associated SNPs (chr1: IL-23R rs11209026, chr2: IL-1β rs16944, and chr12: IL-22 rs1179251) were also associated with SICs.

Conclusions

The current study identifies biologically relevant genetic variants in patients with AK with SICs; IL-8 is associated with a strong neutrophil response in the cornea in AK, TLR-4 is important in early AK disease, and Th-17 genes are associated with adaptive immune responses to AK in animal models. Genetic screening of patients with AK to predict severity is viable and this would be expected to assist disease management.

Associations between Interleukin Gene Polymorphisms and Risks of Developing Extremity Posttraumatic Osteomyelitis in Chinese Han Population

This case-control study aimed to investigate potential associations between interleukin (IL) gene polymorphisms and the risks of developing extremity posttraumatic osteomyelitis (PTOM) in Chinese Han population. Altogether, 189 PTOM patients and 200 healthy controls were genotyped of IL-1α (rs17561, rs1800587), IL-1β (rs16944, rs1143627, rs1143634, rs2853550), IL-1RN (rs4251961, rs419598, rs315951), IL-4 (rs2243248, rs2243250), IL-6 (rs1800795, rs1800796, rs1800797), IL-8 (rs4073, rs2227306, rs2227307), IL-10 (rs3024491, rs3024496, rs1800871, rs1800872, rs1800896), IL-17A (rs2275913), and IL-17F (rs763780) using the SNaPshot genotyping method. Statistical differences were observed regarding the genotype distributions of rs16944 (P = 0.049) and rs4251961 (P = 0.007) between the patients and healthy controls. In addition, significant associations were found between rs16944 and the risk of PTOM development by dominant (OR = 1.854, P = 0.017), homozygous (OR = 1.831, P = 0.041), and heterozygous (OR = 1.869, P = 0.022) models, and of rs1143627 by dominant (OR = 1.735, P = 0.032) and homozygous (OR = 1.839, P = 0.040) models. Moreover, significant links were also identified between rs4251961 and the susceptibility to PTOM by dominant (OR = 0.446, P = 0.005) and heterozygous (OR = 0.409, P = 0.003) models, and of rs1800796 by dominant (OR = 4.184, P = 0.029), homozygous (OR = 4.378, P = 0.026), and heterozygous (OR = 3.834, P = 0.046) models. The present outcomes demonstrated that rs16944, rs1143627, and rs1800796 associate with increased risks, while rs4251961 links to a decreased risk of PTOM development in Chinese Han population.

[Association between interleukin-8 rs4073 polymorphisms and susceptibility to neonatal sepsis]

OBJECTIVE

To study the association between interleukin-8 (IL-8) rs4073 polymorphisms and susceptibility to sepsis in full-term neonates through a prospective study.

METHODS

A total of 50 neonates who were diagnosed with sepsis based on positive blood culture from January to December 2017 were enrolled as the sepsis group. Fifty neonates who had clinical symptoms and negative blood culture were enrolled as the clinical sepsis group. Fifty neonates without infection were enrolled as the control group. Sequencing was used to detect the polymorphisms of IL-8 rs4073. The three groups were compared in terms of the frequencies of genotypes and alleles. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the association of IL-8 rs4073 genotypes with sepsis in full-term neonates.

RESULTS

There were significant differences in the frequencies of genotypes and alleles at IL-8 rs4073 among the three groups (P<0.05). The logistic regression analysis showed that a low gestational age and TT genotype at IL-8 rs4073 were risk factors for the pathogenesis of sepsis in neonates (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The full-term neonates with TT genotype at IL-8 rs4073 may be susceptible to sepsis.

Effects of Dietary Inclusion of Shrimp Paste on Growth Performance, Digestive Enzymes Activities, Antioxidant and Immunological Status and Intestinal Morphology of Hybrid Snakehead (Channa maculata ♀ × Channa argus ♂)

A nutritional feeding experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of shrimp paste on feeding attractiveness, growth performance, digestive enzyme activities, immune-related genes and intestinal morphology in hybrid snakehead (Channa maculata ♀ × Channa argus ♂). Two diets were formulated with or without shrimp paste supplementation (D1:0% and D2: 3%) to feed fish for 8 weeks. Results showed that growth performance (FBW, WG and SGR) and feed intake (FI) significantly increased with shrimp paste supplemented (P < 0.05), while FCR and SR of hybrid snakehead fed diets supplemented with shrimp paste or not showed no significant difference (P > 0.05). Gut lipase and amylase activities were significantly higher in diet supplemented with shrimp paste than that in control one (P < 0.05). Hepatic antioxidant statuses of hybrid snakehead fed dietary shrimp paste or not showed no significant differences in total antioxidant capacity, malondialdehyde and superoxide dismutase of fish (P > 0.05). Results showed that fish fed diet with shrimp paste supplemented did not show significant difference in expression of GR, IκB, P65 and IL8 than that in control group (P > 0.05). There are significantly more goblet cells in shrimp paste supplemented diet than that in control diet (P < 0.05). However, villi length and muscle thickness showed no significant difference compared to control diet (P > 0.05). The results indicated that dietary 3% shrimp paste supplementation improved the growth performance of hybrid snakehead by enhancing feed intake (FI) while made no difference to antioxidant capacity and immunity.

Linked CSF reduction of phosphorylated tau and IL-8 in HIV associated neurocognitive disorder

HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND) is a common condition in both developed and developing nations, but its cause is largely unknown. Previous research has inconsistently linked Alzheimer’s disease (AD), viral burden, and inflammation to the onset of HAND in HIV-infected individuals. Here we simultaneously measured cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of established amyloid and tau biomarkers for AD, viral copy numbers, and six key cytokines in 41 HIV-infected individuals off combination anti-retroviral therapy (14 with HAND) who underwent detailed clinical and neuropsychological characterization, and compared their CSF patterns with those from young healthy subjects, older healthy subjects with normal cognition, and older people with AD. HAND was associated with the lowest CSF levels of phosphorylated tau (p-Tau₁₈₁) after accounting for age and race. We also found very high CSF levels of the pro-inflammatory interferon gamma-induced protein 10 (IP-10/CXCL10) in HIV regardless of cognition, but elevated CSF interleukin 8 (IL-8/CXCL8) only in HIV-NC but not HAND. Eleven HIV-infected subjects underwent repeat CSF collection six months later and showed strongly correlated longitudinal changes in p-Tau₁₈₁ and IL-8 levels (R = 0.841). These data suggest reduced IL-8 relative to IP-10 and reduced p-Tau₁₈₁ to characterize HAND.

Association between vitamin D levels and inflammatory activity in brain death: A prospective study

BACKGROUND

Vitamin D insufficiency is linked to several common inflammatory disorders. Brain death (BD) causes a massive catecholamine release, leading to intense inflammatory activity. We aimed to evaluate vitamin D serum levels in brain-dead individuals in comparison to critically ill patients without BD to assess the correlation between vitamin D and cytokine levels.

METHODS

Sixteen brain-dead patients and 32 critically ill controls were prospectively enrolled. Blood samples from 25 brain-dead patients from a previous study were also used for vitamin D quantification. Plasma TNF, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IFN-γ and serum vitamin D levels were compared using Student's t-test or one-way ANOVA. Spearman's test was used to assess the correlation between vitamin D and cytokine levels.

RESULTS

Mean vitamin D levels were 16.4 ± 7.9 ng/mL, with 52 patients (71.2%) classified as vitamin D deficient (serum levels < 20 ng/mL). Vitamin D levels were similar in 41 brain-dead patients as compared to control subjects (15.6 ± 6.9 ng/mL vs 17.4 ± 9.0 ng/mL; p = 0.383). Moderate direct correlations were observed between vitamin D and IL-8, IL-10, and IFN-γ in the prospective group of 16 brain-dead patients (IL-8: r = 0.5, p = 0.049; IL-10 r = 0.67, p = 0.005; IFN-γ r = 0.6, p = 0.015). Vitamin D was inversely correlated with IL-6 (r = -0.36, p = 0.044) in critically ill controls.

CONCLUSIONS

Vitamin D serum levels were similarly low in brain-dead and critically ill patients. In brain-dead patients, vitamin D serum levels correlated with plasma IL-8, IL-10 and IFN-γ.

Whole Blood Cytokine Response to Local Traffic-Related Particulate Matter in Peruvian Children With and Without Asthma

This study sought to investigate if acute phase immune responses of whole blood from Peruvian children with controlled and uncontrolled asthma differed from children without asthma, following exposure to traffic-related particulate matter (TRPM). TRPM, including particulate matter from diesel combustion, has been shown to stimulate acute airway inflammation in individuals with and without asthma. For this study, a whole blood assay (WBA) was used to test peripheral whole blood samples from 27 children with asthma, and 12 without asthma. Participant blood samples were stimulated, ex vivo, for 24-h with an aqueous extract of TRPM that was collected near study area highways in Lima, Peru. All participant blood samples were tested against the same TRPM extract, in addition to purified bacterial endotoxin and pyrogen-free water, which served as positive and negative WBA controls, respectively. The innate and adaptive cytokine responses were evaluated in cell-free supernatants of the whole blood incubations. Comparatively similar levels were recorded for nine out of the 10 cytokines measured [e.g., – Interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-10], regardless of study participant asthma status. However, IL-8 levels in TRPM-stimulated blood from children with uncontrolled asthma were diminished, compared to subjects without asthma (633 pg/ml vs. 1,023 pg/ml, respectively; p < 0.01); IL-8 responses for subjects with controlled asthma were also reduced, but to a lesser degree (799 pg/ml vs. 1,023 pg/ml, respectively; p = 0.10). These relationships were present before, and after, adjusting for age, sex, obesity/overweight status, C-reactive protein levels, and residential proximity to the study area’s major roadway. For tests conducted with endotoxin, there were no discernible differences in cytokine response between groups, for all cytokines measured. The WBA testing conducted for this study highlighted the capacity of the TRPM extract to potently elicit the release of IL-8 from the human whole blood system. Although the small sample size of the study limits the capacity to draw definitive conclusions, the IL-8 responses suggest that that asthma control may be associated with the regulation of a key mediator in neutrophil chemotaxis, at a systemic level, following exposure to PM derived from traffic-related sources.