Simultaneous detection and quantification of six equine cytokines in plasma using a fluorescent microsphere immunoassay (FMIA)

Liquid biopsy in T-cell lymphoma: biomarker detection techniques and clinical application

T-cell lymphoma is a highly invasive tumor with significant heterogeneity. Invasive tissue biopsy is the gold standard for acquiring molecular data and categorizing lymphoma patients into genetic subtypes. However, surgical intervention is unfeasible for patients who are critically ill, have unresectable tumors, or demonstrate low compliance, making tissue biopsies inaccessible to these patients. A critical need for a minimally invasive approach in T-cell lymphoma is evident, particularly in the areas of early diagnosis, prognostic monitoring, treatment response, and drug resistance. Therefore, the clinical application of liquid biopsy techniques has gained significant attention in T-cell lymphoma. Moreover, liquid biopsy requires fewer samples, exhibits good reproducibility, and enables real-time monitoring at molecular levels, thereby facilitating personalized health care. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the current liquid biopsy biomarkers used for T-cell lymphoma, focusing on circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA), circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), circulating tumor cells (CTCs), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA, antibodies, and cytokines. Additionally, we discuss their clinical application, detection methodologies, ongoing clinical trials, and the challenges faced in the field of liquid biopsy.

The Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutic Evaluation of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs in Adult Horses

This review firstly examines the underlying pathophysiology of pain and inflammation associated with orthopedic disease and endotoxemia. Then, it reviews the clinical pharmacology (pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics) of both conventional and non-conventional NSAIDs in the adult horse, and finally provides an overview of different modalities to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of NSAIDs in research.

The effect of exercise on cytokine concentration in equine autologous conditioned serum

BACKGROUND

Autologous conditioned serum (ACS) is a commonly administered intra-articular treatment for the management of osteoarthritis in athletic horses.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the influence of exercise on the concentration of cytokines in a non-commercial method of ACS production.

STUDY DESIGN

Non-randomised cross over design.

METHODS

Whole blood was obtained from eight healthy Standardbred horses immediately prior to, 1 h and 24 h following a single bout of exhaustive exercise. Blood was processed using a non-commercial method of ACS production. Fluorescent microsphere immunoassay (FMIA) analysis was performed to quantify Interleukin 1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra), Interleukin-10 (IL-10), Interleukin 1β (IL-1β) and tumour necrosis factor α (TNF-α) concentrations at each time point. Mixed effect repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare the pre-exercise and post-exercise cytokine concentrations. Significance was set at P < 0.05.

RESULTS

A reduced concentration of IL-1Ra (median 584.4, IQR 81.9-5098 pg/ml, p = 0.004) and an increased concentration of TNF-α (11.92, 9.28-39.75 pg/ml, P = .05) at 1 h post-exercise were observed when compared with baseline values (IL-Ra 7349, 1272-10 760 pg/ml; TNF TNF-α 11.16, 8.36-32.74 pg/ml). No difference in cytokine concentrations of IL-10 or IL-1β were found between any of the time points.

MAIN LIMITATIONS

The large biological variability and small sample size represents limitations of this study.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that a single bout of intense exercise can reduce the concentration of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-1Ra and increase the concentration of the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α, reducing the 'anti-inflammatory' cytokine composition of ACS. Our findings suggest that collection of blood for ACS production should be performed no sooner than 24 h following a single episode of intense exercise.

Effects of Production Method and Repeated Freeze Thaw Cycles on Cytokine Concentrations and Microbial Contamination in Equine Autologous Conditioned Serum

Autologous conditioned serum (ACS) is a common intra-articular treatment for osteoarthritis in horses. The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of ACS preparation method on product contamination and concentrations of relevant cytokines and the influence of multiple freeze/thaw cycles. Blood was obtained from 10 healthy Thoroughbred horses and processed in parallel using a commercial and a non-commercial method to obtain ACS. Fluorescent microsphere immunoassay (FMIA) analysis was performed to quantify Interleukin 1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra), Interleukin-10 (IL-10), Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) concentrations in ACS obtained by both production methods. Effect of 3, 4 and 5 freeze/thaw cycles on concentrations of IL-1Ra, IL-10, IL-1β and TNF-α were assessed against baseline samples (2 cycles) in commercial ACS products. Standard aerobic and anaerobic culture methods were applied to both ACS products. Mixed effect one-way analyses of variance (ANOVA) were used to compare the two ACS production method for each cytokine. Repeated measures, mixed effect ANOVA were used to assess the effect of freeze/thaw on cytokine concentrations. Significance was set at P < 0.05. There was no difference in cytokine concentration between production methods (IL-1Ra P = 0.067, IL-1β P = 0.752, IL-10 P = 0.211 and TNF-α P = 0.25). Microbial growth was only observed in two samples obtained using the commercial production method. When compared to baseline, IL-1Ra concentration was decreased following the 5th freeze/thaw cycle (P < 0.001). These results suggest that the concentration of important cytokines are not influenced by ACS production method. When storing ACS samples for future use, freeze/thaw cycles associated with standard clinical practice are unlikely to influence cytokine concentrations. However, the lack of outcome measures associated with 1 or 2 freeze/thaw cycles represents a limitation of this study.

Effect of inhaled anaesthetics gases on cytokines and oxidative stress alterations for the staff health status in hospitals

OBJECTIVES

The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of waste anaesthetic gases on cytokines and oxidative stress of hospital health team members following exposure to waste anaesthetic gases (WAGs).

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

In total, 180 participants took part in this study; 60 of these were healthy male controls and the 120 participants in the intervention group were staff who work in the operating room. This latter group comprises six occupational subgroups (1) surgeons, (2) surgical assistants, (3) anaesthesiologists (4) anaesthesiology assistants, (5) nurses and (6) janitors. The following parameters were assessed: catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSHpx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, plasma fluoride, serum interferon gamma (IFN-γ), serum interleukin 2 (IL2), serum interleukin 4 (IL4) and plasma thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS).

RESULTS

Anaesthesiologists and their assistants exhibited the highest levels of plasma fluoride, serum IFN-γ and IL 2, exceeding the levels in detected in all the other occupational subgroups. Furthermore, the serum levels of IL4 were significantly raised in anaesthesiologists and the difference between this group and other groups was statistically significant. However, compared with the other subgroups, surgeons exhibited elevated plasma TBARS and reduced CAT, GSHpx and SOD; these variances were also statistically significant.

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

The findings of this study indicate that operating room staff exposed to WAGs are vulnerable to experiencing immunotoxicity as the WAGs are considered to initiate oxidative stress and increase the levels of cytokines in serum. Thus, an education programme is warranted to inform staff working in environments where they may be subjected to WAGs on the effects that the gases can have upon their health and how to minimise their exposure to WAGs. An ongoing effort is also needed to ensure anaesthesia safety standards are maintained at all times. The findings of this study may provide a springboard for future research into occupational exposure to WAGs and their wider effect upon health.

Establishing a reference interval for acute phase proteins, cytokines, antioxidants and commonly measured biochemical and hematologic parameters in the northern fur seal (Callorhinus ursinus)

Over the past several decades there has been a precipitous decline of northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus; NFS) at their breeding grounds on the Pribilof Islands in the Bering Sea. The cause of this decline is likely multifactorial and could include changes in environmental parameters, prey abundance and distribution as well as exposure to pathogens and pollutants. Evaluation of inflammatory markers and antioxidant levels of the current population of fur seals in addition to hematologic and biochemical profiles could provide important information regarding health and subclinical or clinical disease in this population. Serum and plasma samples were obtained from clinically healthy adult female NFS and references intervals were determined for multiple parameters that can be altered in response to the presence of disease and environmental stressors. We established a reference interval for cytokines involved in acute inflammation and infection (TNFa, IL1, IL6, IL8, KC, IL10, C-reactive Protein) by utilizing commercially available canine cross-reactive antibodies. Reference intervals were also established for reactive oxygen species (hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde), as well as antioxidant levels (vitamin E and selenium) and acute phase proteins evaluated by serum electrophoresis. To improve the ability to compare and interpret indicators of health and disease in this species, we developed reference intervals for commonly utilized hematologic and biochemical tests in addition to the aforementioned markers of oxidative stress and inflammatory biomarkers. There were several animals identified as outliers indicating that they may have had subclinical illness or inflammation. Further investigation utilizing these tests in clinically ill animals and comparison to animals that exhibit normal behavior and no overt signs of illness could increase our understanding of the utility of measuring these parameters in this species.

Cytokines: From Clinical Significance to Quantification

Cytokines are critical mediators that oversee and regulate immune and inflammatory responses via complex networks and serve as biomarkers for many diseases. Quantification of cytokines has significant value in both clinical medicine and biology as the levels provide insights into physiological and pathological processes and can be used to aid diagnosis and treatment. Cytokines and their clinical significance are introduced from the perspective of their pro- and anti-inflammatory effects. Factors affecting cytokines quantification in biological fluids, native levels in different body fluids, sample processing and storage conditions, sensitivity to freeze-thaw, and soluble cytokine receptors are discussed. In addition, recent advances in in vitro and in vivo assays, biosensors based on different signal outputs and intracellular to extracellular protein expression are summarized. Various quantification platforms for high-sensitivity and reliable measurement of cytokines in different scenarios are discussed, and commercially available cytokine assays are compared. A discussion of challenges in the development and advancement of technologies for cytokine quantification that aim to achieve real-time multiplex cytokine analysis for point-of-care situations applicable for both biomedical research and clinical practice are discussed.

The Effect of Janus Kinase Inhibitors and Phosphodiesterase-4 Inhibitors on Skin and Plasma Cytokine Levels in Patients with Psoriasis

In patients with moderate-to-severe and severe psoriasis and high efficacy of therapy (PASI≥75) with signaling pathway inhibitors (apremilast, tofacitinib), cytokine spectra in the skin and blood plasma were studied using xMAP technology at baseline and on weeks 14 and 26 of treatment. Comparison of cytokine levels in psoriatic lesional skin and plasma samples of patients treated with apremilast or tofacitinib revealed statistical difference only for IFNγ level (р<0.05) at week 26.

New mAbs facilitate quantification of secreted equine TNF-α and flow cytometric analysis in monocytes and T cells

Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is a pleiotropic cytokine, that is involved in acute inflammation and is employed as a biomarker of inflammatory diseases in several species for which reliable quantification is available. We aimed to develop suitable tools to quantify TNF-α in equine samples. We generated two new mAbs against equine TNF-α (clones 48 and 292), evaluated their specificity for this cytokine, and confirmed detection of native TNF-α in stimulated equine PBMC. The TNF-α mAbs were paired in a fluorescent bead-based assay for quantification of equine TNF-α. The TNF-α assay had a wide quantification range of 12 pg/mL - 38.4 ng/mL. In addition, TNF-α mAb 48 was used for a detailed analysis of TNF-α production in PBMC by intracellular staining and flow cytometry. TNF-α was expressed by CD14⁺ monocytes after LPS stimulation and by monocytes and lymphocytes after polyclonal stimulation with PMA and ionomycin in vitro. TNF-α expressing lymphocytes consisted mainly of CD4⁺ T cells. CD8⁺ T cells and other lymphocytes also expressed TNF-α. The new mAbs evaluated here for soluble and intracellular TNF-α will enable the detailed analysis of this important pro-inflammatory cytokine during equine immune responses and inflammatory diseases of the horse.

The effect of apremilast therapy on skin cytokine levels in patients with psoriasis

Objective — Assessment of phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor (apremilast) therapy’s influence on skin cytokine levels in patients with moderate-to-severe and severe psoriasis. Material and Methods — An open, uncontrolled study was conducted. 16 patients with plaque psoriasis (13 men, 3 women; mean ± standard deviation (SD) age 35.1±9.7 years, range 21-60) were enrolled. The mean Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) was 20.7±8.93 (range 10-47). All patients were prescribed apremilast 30 milligrams (mg) per os (PO) Bis In Die (BID). The efficacy of therapy was evaluated by PASI at 14 and 26 weeks of therapy. Lesional skin samples were collected at baseline and weeks 14 and 26. Levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17A, IL-17F, IL-21, IL-22, IL-23, IL-25, IL-31, IL -33, interferon (INF)-γ, Soluble CD40-ligand (sCD40L), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α were measured by microsphere-based suspension array technology (Luminex® xMAP™ system). Results — Levels of cytokines (except IL-4 and IL-33) in lesional skin samples were found to have decreased at week 14 compared with those at baseline. Similar decreases were seen for IL-23, IL-25, IL-31, sCD40L at week 26. In contrast, the levels of other cytokines increased again at week 26, in comparison with baseline. Levels of IL-4 and IL-33 rose throughout the follow-up period. Cytokine levels in lesional skin samples were compared with those of healthy controls both at baseline and during therapy. Conclusion — The results of our study show that administering apremilast therapy to patients with psoriasis can bring the levels of cytokines involved in the IL-23/IL-17 axis in the lesional skin to the level of cytokine in non-lesional skin and to the levels in the skin of healthy individuals.

Development and validation of a multiplex fluorescent microsphere immunoassay assay for detection of porcine cytokines

Cytokines are cell signalling proteins that mediate a number of different physiological responses. The accurate measurement of cytokine profiles is important for a variety of diagnostic and prognostic scenarios in relation to animal health and welfare. Simultaneous quantification of cytokine profiles in a single sample is now possible using fluorescent microsphere immunoassays (FMIA). We describe the development and validation of a novel multiplex assay using the Bio-Plex® 200 system to quantify cytokines in five different porcine tissues (brain, placenta, synovial tissue and fluid, plasma). The cytokine profiles are both tissue, and research hypothesis, -dependent but include Interleukin-1beta (IL-1β), Interleukin-4 (IL-4), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), Interleukin-8 (IL-8), Interleukin-10 (IL-10) and Tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α).

This methods paper is reported in two parts: the development of a FMIA for porcine tissues and validation of pre-treatment for optimal cytokine recovery in porcine brain, placenta, synovial tissue and plasma. Validation steps are critical in ensuring an assay is suitable for novel sample types.

This technique advances traditional ELISAs by:

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FMIA provides insight into the profiles of multiple porcine cytokines in certain situations (e.g. disease, parturition).

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Use of the Bio-Plex® 200 system to investigate novel sample types, including brain, placenta and synovial tissue.

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Multiplexing utilises a fraction of the sample volume compared with multiple ELISAs.

Periparturient Behavior and Physiology: Further Insight Into the Farrowing Process for Primiparous and Multiparous Sows

Giving birth is a critical time for many species and is often the most painful event ever experienced by females. In domestic species, like the pig, pain associated with parturition represents a potential welfare concern, and the consequences of pain can cause economic losses (e.g., by indirectly contributing to piglet mortality as pain could slow post-farrowing recovery, reduce food and water intake, reducing milk let-down). This study investigated pain assessment and its management in primiparous (gilts) and multiparous (sows) breeding pigs, including the provision of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) post-parturition. Individuals were randomly allocated to receive the NSAID ketoprofen (3 mg/kg bodyweight) (n = 11 gilts, 16 sows) or the equivalent volume of saline (n = 13 gilts, 16 sows) by intramuscular injection 1.5 h after the birth of the last piglet. Data collected included putative behavioral indicators of pain (back leg forward, tremble, back arch), salivary cortisol concentrations pre-farrowing and up to 7 days post-injection. In addition, post-partum biomarkers of inflammation, including the acute phase protein C-reactive protein (CRP) and 3 porcine cytokines [interleukin-1 β (IL1 β), interleukin-6 (IL6), and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF α)] were measured in plasma collected 6 h following the injection. Behaviors were analyzed using generalized linear mixed models, and physiological variables with linear mixed models. No difference in putative pain behaviors, salivary cortisol, CRP, or cytokines were found between individuals treated with ketoprofen or those administered the saline control. However, there were some differences between gilts and sows, as sows exhibited more putative pain behavior than gilts, had higher salivary cortisol on the day of farrowing and had higher plasma TNF α. Conversely, gilts had higher salivary cortisol than sows on day 3 post-farrowing and had higher CRP. This indicates that, like human females, multiparous sows experience more pain from uterine activity following birth than primiparas. This study provides useful information for developing management practices relating to post-farrowing care for breeding pigs.

Effect of intra-articular administration of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) for MRI assessment of the cartilage barrier in a large animal model

Early diagnosis of cartilage disease at a time when changes are limited to depletion of extracellular matrix components represents an important diagnostic target to reduce patient morbidity. This report is to present proof of concept for nanoparticle dependent cartilage barrier imaging in a large animal model including the use of clinical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Conditioned (following matrix depletion) and unconditioned porcine metacarpophalangeal cartilage was evaluated on the basis of fluorophore conjugated 30 nm and 80 nm spherical gold nanoparticle permeation and multiphoton laser scanning and bright field microscopy after autometallographic particle enhancement. Consequently, conditioned and unconditioned joints underwent MRI pre- and post-injection with 12 nm superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) to evaluate particle permeation in the context of matrix depletion and use of a clinical 1.5 Tesla MRI scanner. To gauge the potential pro-inflammatory effect of intra-articular nanoparticle delivery co-cultures of equine synovium and cartilage tissue were exposed to an escalating dose of SPIONs and IL-6, IL-10, IFN-γ and PGE₂ were assessed in culture media. The chemotactic potential of growth media samples was subsequently assessed in transwell migration assays on isolated equine neutrophils. Results demonstrate an increase in MRI signal following conditioning of porcine joints which suggests that nanoparticle dependent compositional cartilage imaging is feasible. Tissue culture and neutrophil migration assays highlight a dose dependent inflammatory response following SPION exposure which at the imaging dose investigated was not different from controls. The preliminary safety and imaging data support the continued investigation of nanoparticle dependent compositional cartilage imaging. To our knowledge, this is the first report in using SPIONs as intra-articular MRI contrast agent for studying cartilage barrier function, which could potentially lead to a new diagnostic technique for early detection of cartilage disease.

Recent advances in cytokine detection by immunosensing

The detection of cytokines in body fluids, cells, tissues and organisms continues to attract considerable attention due to the importance of these key cell signaling molecules in biology and medicine. In this review, we describe recent advances in cytokine detection in the course of ongoing pursuit of new analytical approaches for these trace analytes with specific focus on immunosensing. We discuss recent elegant designs of sensing interface with improved performance with respect to sensitivity, selectivity, stability, simplicity, and the absence of sample matrix effects. Various immunosensing approaches based on multifunctional nanomaterials open novel opportunities for ultrasensitive detection of cytokines in body fluids in vitro and in vivo. Methodologies such as suspension arrays also known as bead assays together with optical fiber-based sensors, on their own or in combination with microfluidic devices will continue to have an important role to address the grand challenge of real-time in vivo multiplex cytokine detection.