Hepatic expression of metallothionein I/II, glycoprotein 96, IL-6, and TGF- β in rat strains with different susceptibilities to experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Metallothionein 1: A New Spotlight on Inflammatory Diseases

MT1 has been demonstrated to be an essential stress protein in maintaining physiological balance and regulating immune homeostasis. While the immunological involvement of MT1 in central nervous system disorders and cancer has been extensively investigated, mounting evidence suggests that MT1 has a broader role in inflammatory diseases and can shape innate and adaptive immunity. In this review, we will first summarize the biological features of MT1 and the regulators that influence MT1 expression, emphasizing metal, inflammation, and immunosuppressive factors. We will then focus on the immunoregulatory function of MT1 on diverse immune cells and the signaling pathways regulated by MT1. Finally, we will discuss recent advances in our knowledge of the biological role of MT1 in several inflammatory diseases to develop novel therapeutic strategies.

Dermatotoxicity of oral cadmium is strain-dependent and related to differences in skin stress response and inflammatory/immune activity

Adverse effects of non-occupational exposure to cadmium (Cd) are increasingly acknowledged. Since our previous study has showed that orally acquired Cd affects skin, the contribution of genetic background to dermatotoxicity of oral cadmium was examined in two rat strains, Albino Oxford (AO) and Dark Agouti (DA), which differed in response to chemicals. While similar accumulation of Cd in the skin of both strains was noted, the skin response to the metal differed. DA rat individuals mounted antioxidant enzyme defense in the skin already at lower Cd dose, in contrast to AO rats which reacted to higher metal dose solely (and less pronounced), implying higher susceptibility of DA strain to Cd dermatotoxicity. Epidermal cells from both strains developed stress response, but higher intensity of antioxidant response in AO rats implied this strain`s better ability to defend against Cd insult. Cd induced epidermal cells' proinflammatory cytokine response only in DA rats. Increased IL-10 seems responsible for the lack of response in AO rats. Differences in the pattern of skin/epidermal cell responsiveness to cadmium give a new insight into repercussion of genetic variability to dermatotoxicity of orally acquired cadmium, bearing relevance for variations in the link between dietary cadmium and inflammation-based skin pathologies.

Exploring the feasibility of a mild and short 4-week combined upper limb and breathing exercise program as a possible home base program to decrease fatigue and improve quality of life in ambulatory and non-ambulatory multiple sclerosis individuals

PURPOSE

To evaluate the feasibility of a combined upper limb and breathing exercise for a home-based program and to explore its effect on primary fatigue and quality of life in ambulatory and non-ambulatory individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) in a short time.

METHOD

Nineteen individuals with MS were assigned into semi-controlled pre-post feasibility study based on Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) status and divided into two groups: exercise (five ambulatory, five non-ambulatory; EDSS 1.0-8.0) and related control with no exercise (four ambulatory, five non-ambulatory; EDSS 1.0-7.5). Exercise group performed combined upper limb and breathing exercise in a controlled group (2 days/week, 60 min/session) accompanied by independent home exercise (3 days/week, ≥ 20 min/session). Participants underwent measures of fatigue impact (Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS) and quality of life (RAND Medical outcomes study 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36)) before and after a 4-week period.

RESULTS

The MFIS (physical, psychosocial, total) showed statistically significant group-by-time interaction in ambulatory (p = 0.033, d = 1.60; p = 0.039, d = 1.59; p = 0.033, d = 1.62) and non-ambulatory individuals (p = 0.009, d = 2.42; p = 0.018, d = 1.96; p = 0.0008, d = 3.92). Physical functioning (SF-36) showed statistically significant group-by-time interaction in ambulatory (p = 0.014, d = 2.14) but no significance in non-ambulatory (p = 0.368, d = 0.68) individuals. Despite the absent statistical significance, there were large intervention effects on MFIS cognitive scores for ambulatory (d = 1.28) and non-ambulatory (d = 1.47), and on other SF-36 scores for ambulatory (general health: d = 1.76 and pain: d = 1.02) and non-ambulatory (physical limitation: d = 1.03 and emotional well-being: d = 0.94) individuals.

CONCLUSION

Our 4-week program reduced some aspects of fatigue and improved some aspects of quality of life in a small group of ambulatory and non-ambulatory individuals with MS. Good feasibility and significant positive changes from baseline warrant further exploratory work.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Name of the registry: The Impact of Exercise Training on Living Quality in Multiple Sclerosis. Registration: The study was registered at www.clinicaltrial.gov on July 14, 2017. First participant enrollment: August 28, 2017. URL: 602-01/17-01-147; Trial registration ID: NTC03222596.

Chronic iron overload induces gender-dependent changes in iron homeostasis, lipid peroxidation and clinical course of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

To analyze iron- and gender-dependent mechanisms possibly involved in pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS) in this study we evaluated the effects of iron overload (IO) on iron status and lipid peroxidation processes (LPO) in tissues of female and male DA rats during chronic relapsing experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, a well-established MS animal model. Rats were treated by iron sucrose (75mg/kg bw/day) or with saline solution during two weeks before the sensitization with bovine brain homogenate in complete Freund's adjuvant. Clinical signs of EAE were monitored during 29 days. Serum and tissues of CNS and liver were sampled before immunization and at day 13th post immunization (during acute phase of EAE). The determination of ferritin, iron, malondialdehyde (MDA) and 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) and evaluation of histopathology were performed by ELISA, ICP spectrometry and immunohistochemistry. Results showed that IO in female EAE rats accelerated the onset of disease. In contrast, in male rats it accelerated the progression of disease and increased the mortality rate. During acute phase of EAE female IO rats sequestered more Fe in the liver, spinal cord and in the brain and produced more ferritin than male EAE rats. Male rats, however, reacted on IO by higher production of MDA or 4-HNE in the neural tissues and showed greater signs of plaque formation and gliosis in spinal cord. The data point to sexual dimorphism in mechanisms that regulate peripheral and brain iron homeostasis and imply that men and women during MS might be differentially vulnerable to exogenous iron overload.