Variations in IL-1R1 Gene Influence Risk for Hepatitis B Virus Infection of Children in a Han Chinese population

A chromatin-regulated biphasic circuit coordinates IL-1β-mediated inflammation

Inflammation is characterized by a biphasic cycle consisting initially of a proinflammatory phase that is subsequently resolved by anti-inflammatory processes. Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) is a master regulator of proinflammation and is encoded within the same topologically associating domain (TAD) as IL-37, which is an anti-inflammatory cytokine that opposes the function of IL-1β. Within this TAD, we identified a long noncoding RNA called AMANZI, which negatively regulates IL-1β expression and trained immunity through the induction of IL37 transcription. We found that the activation of IL37 occurs through the formation of a dynamic long-range chromatin contact that leads to the temporal delay of anti-inflammatory responses. The common variant rs16944 present in AMANZI augments this regulatory circuit, predisposing individuals to enhanced proinflammation or immunosuppression. Our work illuminates a chromatin-mediated biphasic circuit coordinating expression of IL-1β and IL-37, thereby regulating two functionally opposed states of inflammation from within a single TAD.

Overcoming immunosuppression and pro-tumor inflammation in lung cancer with combined IL-1β and PD-1 inhibition

Inflammation in the tumor microenvironment is a complicit and known carcinogenesis driver. Inhibition of IL-1β, one of the most abundant and influential cytokines in the tumor microenvironment, may enhance the efficacy of PD-1. In a post-hoc analysis of phase III cardiovascular CANTOS trial, canakinumab, a monoclonal anti-IL-1β antibody, significantly reduced lung cancer incidence. Immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI) is the standard of care in non-small-cell lung cancer. However, ICI efficacy is heavily impacted by programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) status. Most patients with non-small-cell lung cancer have low PD-L1 expression levels. Thus, combinational strategies are needed to improve ICI efficacy and expand its use. Here, we describe the preclinical and clinical evidence to support the combination of IL-1β and PD-1 under investigation in the CANOPY program. The perioperative use of canakinumab with or without PD-1 inhibition in the CANOPY-N trial is described as a potential chemotherapy-free immunotherapy strategy.

Transcriptome analysis of liver elucidates key immune-related pathways in Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus following infection with tilapia lake virus

Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) is one of the most important aquaculture species farmed worldwide. However, the recent emergence of tilapia lake virus (TiLV) disease, also known as syncytial hepatitis of tilapia, has threatened the global tilapia industry. To gain more insight regarding the host response against the disease, the transcriptional profiles of liver in experimentally-infected and control tilapia were compared. Analysis of RNA-Seq data identified 4640 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), which were involved among others in antigen processing and presentation, MAPK, apoptosis, necroptosis, chemokine signaling, interferon, NF-kB, acute phase response and JAK-STAT pathways. Enhanced expression of most of the DEGs in the above pathways suggests an attempt by tilapia to resist TiLV infection. However, upregulation of some of the key genes such as BCL2L1 in apoptosis pathway; NFKBIA in NF-kB pathway; TRFC in acute phase response; and SOCS, EPOR, PI3K and AKT in JAK-STAT pathway and downregulation of the genes, namely MAP3K7 in MAPK pathway; IFIT1 in interferon; and TRIM25 in NF-kB pathway suggested that TiLV was able to subvert the host immune response to successfully establish the infection. The study offers novel insights into the cellular functions that are affected following TiLV infection and will serve as a valuable genomic resource towards our understanding of susceptibility of tilapia to TiLV infection.

Relationships between IL-1β, TNF-α genetic polymorphisms and HBV infection: A meta-analytical study

BACKGROUND

IL-1β and TNF-α have been demonstrated as pro-inflammatory cytokines to participate in the innate immune response and suppression of HBV infection. However, the exact relationship between IL-1β, TNF-α gene polymorphisms and HBV infection remains unknown. Our study aims to assess the associations between IL-1β, TNF-α gene polymorphisms and HBV infection.

METHODS

A systematic literature search of PubMed and Embase databases was conducted through February 2020, and studies that were included in the present meta-analysis should fulfil the following conditions: (1) case-control studies focusing on the associations between IL-1β, TNF-α polymorphisms and HBV infection; (2) patients in the case group should be tested positive for the HBsAg and/or HBV-DNA without liver cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma; (3) the control group including healthy population or HBV spontaneous clearance population; (4) odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) could be calculated based on the allele and genotype frequencies provided in articles. The quality of included studies was assessed according to the Newcastle-Ottawa scale (NOS) assessment system. Pooled ORs and 95% CIs were used to analyze the strength of associations. Subgroup analysis was performed according to ethnicity and control type.

RESULTS

In the present meta-analysis, 49 articles including 10,218 cases and 9,557 controls were enrolled and seven polymorphisms (IL-1β rs16944, rs1143634, TNF-α rs1799724, rs1799964, rs1800629, rs1800630, rs361525) were studied. In overall meta-analysis, significant associations were found in IL-1β rs1143634, TNF-α rs1799724 and TNF-α rs1799964. For subgroup analysis under ethnicity, TNF-α rs1799724 and rs1800630 were markedly related to HBV infection in both Asian and Caucasian populations. In terms of control type subgroup, TNF-α rs1799724, rs1799964, rs1800630 were significantly associated with HBV persistence in HBV spontaneous clearance group.

CONCLUSION

In the present study, we identified that three polymorphisms (IL-1β rs1143634, TNF-α rs1799724, rs1799964) might serve as potential genetic biomarkers in HBV infection.

Interleukin IL-1B gene polymorphism in Tunisian patients with chronic hepatitis B infection: Association with replication levels

Approaches based on association studies have proven useful in identifying genetic predictors for many diseases, including susceptibility to chronic hepatitis B. In this study we were interested by the IL-1B genetic variants that have been involved in the immune response and we analyzed their role in the susceptibility to develop chronic hepatitis B in the Tunisian population. IL-1B is a potent proinflammatory cytokine that plays an important role in inflammation of the liver. Polymorphic gene IL-1 (-511, +3954) was analyzed in a total of 476 individuals: 236 patients with chronic hepatitis B from different cities of Tunisia recruited in Pasteur Institute between January 2017 and December 2018 and 240 controls. Genomic DNA was obtained using the standard salting-out method and genotyping was performed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-restriction fragment length polymorphism. For -511C>T polymorphism a significant association was found between patients and controls when comparing the genotypic (P = 0.007; χ²  = 9.74 and odds ratio [OR] = 0.60; confidence interval [CI] = 0.41-0.89) and allelic (P = 0.001; χ²  = 10.60) frequencies. When the viral load was taken into account a highly significant difference was found (P = 9 × 10^-4 ; χ²  = 10.89). For +3954C>T polymorphism a significant association was found between patients and controls when comparing genotypic (P = 0.0058; χ²  = 7.60 and OR = 1.67; CI = 1.14-2.46) and allelic (P = 0.0029; χ²  = 8.81) frequencies. T allele can be used as a strong marker for hepatitis B virus disease for both polymorphisms.

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.

Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in IFN-γ Signaling Pathway Associated with Risk of Hepatitis B Virus Infection in Chinese Children

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a challenging public health problem in China and worldwide. Mother-to-child transmission is one of the main transmission routes of HBV in highly endemic regions. However, the mechanisms of HBV perinatal transmission in children have not been clearly defined. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the association between single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in IFN-γ signaling pathway and HBV infection or breakthrough infection in children. Two hundred and seventy-four HBV-infected children defined as test positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and 353 controls defined as negative for HBsAg in China were recruited from October 2013 to May 2015. SNPs in IFN-γ signaling pathway including IFNG, IFNGR1, IFNGR2, and IL12B were genotyped. Rs2234711 in IFNGR1 was significantly associated with HBV infection in children (OR = 0.641, 95% CI: 0.450–0.913). In addition, rs2234711 was also significantly associated with HBV breakthrough infection in children born to HBsAg-positive mothers (OR = 0.452, 95% CI: 0.205–0.998). Our study confirmed that genetic variants in IFN-γ signaling pathway have significant associations with HBV infection, especially with HBV breakthrough in children. This study provides insight into HBV infection in children and could be used to help design effective strategies for reducing immunoprophylaxis failure.

Inflammasomes and their roles in the pathogenesis of viral hepatitis and their related complications: An updated systematic review

Inflammasomes are a set of innate receptors which are the responsible molecules for activation of pro-interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18 and induction of inflammation. Due to the key roles of the inflammasomes in the induction of inflammation, it has been hypothesized that the molecules may be the main parts of immune responses against viral infections and the tissue damage. Because some cases of viral hepatitis infections, including hepatitis B and C, are diagnosed as chronic and may be associated with various complications such as liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), several studies focused on the roles played by the inflammation on the pathogenesis of viral hepatitis. Based on the roles played by inflammasomes in induction of inflammation, it has been hypothesized that inflammasomes may be the main parts of the puzzle of the viral hepatitis complications. This article reviews the roles of the inflammasomes in the pathogenesis of hepatitis B and C viral infections and their complications, liver cirrhosis, and HCC.

The family of the interleukin-1 receptors

The extracellular forms of the IL-1 cytokines are active through binding to specific receptors on the surface of target cells. IL-1 ligands bind to the extracellular portion of their ligand-binding receptor chain. For signaling to take place, a non-binding accessory chain is recruited into a heterotrimeric complex. The intracellular approximation of the Toll-IL-1-receptor (TIR) domains of the 2 receptor chains is the event that initiates signaling. The family of IL-1 receptors (IL-1R) includes 10 structurally related members, and the distantly related soluble protein IL-18BP that acts as inhibitor of the cytokine IL-18. Over the years the receptors of the IL-1 family have been known with many different names, with significant confusion. Thus, we will use here a recently proposed unifying nomenclature. The family includes several ligand-binding chains (IL-1R1, IL-1R2, IL-1R4, IL-1R5, and IL-1R6), 2 types of accessory chains (IL-1R3, IL-1R7), molecules that act as inhibitors of signaling (IL-1R2, IL-1R8, IL-18BP), and 2 orphan receptors (IL-1R9, IL-1R10). In this review, we will examine how the receptors of the IL-1 family regulate the inflammatory and anti-inflammatory functions of the IL-1 cytokines and are, more at large, involved in modulating defensive and pathological innate immunity and inflammation. Regulation of the IL-1/IL-1R system in the brain will be also described, as an example of the peculiarities of organ-specific modulation of inflammation.