PPAR-Gamma Agonist Pioglitazone Reduced CD68+ but Not CD163+ Macrophage Dermal Infiltration in Obese Psoriatic Patients

Desmosterol-driven atypical macrophage polarization regulates podocyte dynamics in diabetic nephropathy

BACKGROUND

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) stands as a leading diabetes complication, with macrophages intricately involved in its evolution. While glucose metabolism's impact on macrophage activity is well-established, cholesterol metabolism's contributions remain less explored. Our study seeks to elucidate this association.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Methods and Results: Gene expression analysis of monocytes from the blood of both normal and diabetic patients was conducted using public databases, showing that cholesterol metabolism pathways, especially Bloch and Kandutsch-Russell, were more altered in diabetic monocytes/macrophages than glucose-responsive pathways. When bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) were subjected to desmosterol, they exhibited an unconventional polarization. These BMDMs displayed heightened levels of both M1-related pro-inflammatory cytokines and M2-linked anti-inflammatory factors. Further, in co-culture, desmosterol-conditioned BMDMs paralleled M2 macrophages in augmenting Ki-67 + podocyte populations while mimicking M1 macrophages in elevating TUNEL + apoptotic podocytes. Comparable outcomes on podocytes were obtained using conditioned media from the respective BMDMs.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data underscores the pivotal role of cholesterol metabolism, particularly via desmosterol, in steering macrophages toward an unconventional polarization marked by both inflammatory and regulatory traits. Such unique macrophage behavior concurrently impacts podocyte proliferation and apoptosis, shedding fresh light on DN pathogenesis and hinting at potential therapeutic interventions.

Prophylaxis of decidual CD68+/CD163+ macrophage disbalance in extracorporeal fertilized women

The demographic crisis that prevailed in Ukraine in recent years, the state of war as a result of the aggression of the Russian Federation, reproductive losses among women of childbearing age are one of the most urgent problems in modern obstetrics and gynecology. One of the most effective methods of correcting impaired reproductive function is in vitro fertilization.

The purpose of this work

is to develop a pharmacological complex for the prevention of imbalance of CD68+/CD163+ decidual macrophages in vitro fertilized women.

Materials and methods

105 pregnant women who were divided into 3 groups took part in the study. The first group included 20 women whose pregnancy occurred and is proceeding physiologically. The second group consisted of 85 women who became pregnant as a result of in vitro fertilization, including 37 pregnant women who refused prophylactic correction of the threat of premature birth, and 48 pregnant women who received prophylactic correction of the threat of premature birth: complex prescription of vitamin D3 2000 IU orally 2 times a day, micronized progesterone 200 mg 2 times a day and l-arginine aspartate 1000 mg 4 times a day, starting from 18 to 20 weeks of pregnancy.

Results

In women who refused prophylactic correction of the threat of premature birth, a local increase in the activity of inducible NO-synthase and concentration of tumor necrosis factor-α, and a decrease in the activity of arginase and in the level of interleukin-10 were observed in the cervical mucus. They have a lower expression of CD163+ on placental decidual macrophages and an increased expression of CD68+, which indicates a shift in the polarization of macrophages from an anti-inflammatory to a pro-inflammatory phenotype. The use of prophylactic treatment brings the studied parameters closer to the results of women in whom pregnancy occurred physiologically.

Conclusions

In women who became pregnant as a result of in vitro fertilization, at 28-30 weeks of pregnancy, changes specific for pro-inflammatory phenotype of decidual macrophages were observed. Complex administration of vitamin D3, micronized progesterone and l-arginine aspartate lead to restoration of anti-inflammatory phenotype of decidual macrophages.

Placenta analysis of Hofbauer cell profile according to the class of antiretroviral therapy used during pregnancy in people living with HIV

INTRODUCTION

The use of antiretroviral therapy drastically reduces vertical transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus. However, recent studies demonstrate associations between ART use during pregnancy and placental inflammation, particularly within protease inhibitor (PI)-based regimens. We sought to characterize placental macrophages, namely Hofbauer cells, according to the class of ART used during pregnancy.

METHODS

Using immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry, placentas from 79 pregnant people living with HIV (PPLWH) and 29 HIV-uninfected people were analyzed to quantify the numbers and frequencies of leukocytes (CD45⁺) and Hofbauer cells (CD68⁺ and/or CD163⁺). PPLWH were stratified into three groups based on class of ART: non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI)-based, integrase strand-transfer inhibitor (INSTI)-based, and PI-based regimens.

RESULTS

Placentas of PPLWH contained significantly more leukocytes and Hofbauer cells than controls. Multivariable analyses revealed that this increase in immune cells was associated with a predominantly CD163⁺ profile in all ART subgroups compared to the HIV-negative group. This was characterized by an increase in total CD163⁺ cells in the PI and INSTI subgroups, and a higher frequency of CD163⁺ cells and CD163⁺/CD68⁺ ratio in the NNRTI and PI subgroups.

DISCUSSION

Placentas of PPLWH treated with any ART regimen during their entire pregnancy displayed a selection for CD163⁺ cells compared to the HIV-negative group, regardless of class of ART, suggesting that class of ART does not intrinsically affect selection of CD163+ and CD68⁺ Hofbauer cells. Further investigations into the role of Hofbauer cells in ART-associated placental inflammation are warranted to identify the mechanisms behind their potential involvement in maternal-fetal tolerance maintenance.

Considerations of the Genetic Background of Obesity among Patients with Psoriasis

Psoriasis comorbidities may emerge from pleiotropic mechanisms, including common proinflammatory pathways, cellular mediators or genetic predisposition. Obesity is considered to be an independent risk factor of psoriasis, which may influence the severity of the disease and its early onset, decrease patients’ quality of life, alter response to psoriasis therapies and affect morbidity by reduced life expectancy due to cardiovascular events. Although novel approaches, including genetic techniques, have provided a wide range of new research, there are still scarce studies elaborating on the common genetic background of psoriasis and obesity. The aim of this study was to present and evaluate a possible common genetic background of psoriasis and concomitant increased body mass based on the review of the available literature.

The Role of Transcription Factor PPAR-γ in the Pathogenesis of Psoriasis, Skin Cells, and Immune Cells

The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor PPAR-γ is one of three PPAR nuclear receptors that act as ligand-activated transcription factors. In immune cells, the skin, and other organs, PPAR-γ regulates lipid, glucose, and amino acid metabolism. The receptor translates nutritional, pharmacological, and metabolic stimuli into the changes in gene expression. The activation of PPAR-γ promotes cell differentiation, reduces the proliferation rate, and modulates the immune response. In the skin, PPARs also contribute to the functioning of the skin barrier. Since we know that the route from identification to the registration of drugs is long and expensive, PPAR-γ agonists already approved for other diseases may also represent a high interest for psoriasis. In this review, we discuss the role of PPAR-γ in the activation, differentiation, and proliferation of skin and immune cells affected by psoriasis and in contributing to the pathogenesis of the disease. We also evaluate whether the agonists of PPAR-γ may become one of the therapeutic options to suppress the inflammatory response in lesional psoriatic skin and decrease the influence of comorbidities associated with psoriasis.

Effects of l-arginine and l-ornithine supplementations on the treatment of chronic periodontitis: A preliminary randomized short-term clinical trial

The growing interest in the possibilities of modulating macrophages in inflammatory diseases with therapeutic purpose has prompted the development of new approaches for the treatment of periodontitis. This randomized add-on open preliminary clinical study evaluated the short-term effects of L-arginine or L-ornithine as an adjuvant to scaling and root planing (SRP) in patients with chronic periodontitis.

Materials and methods

Seventy-five periodontitis patients were recruited and monitored clinically and immunologically at baseline (before SRP) and 30 ± 5 days after SRP. All patients were assigned by stratified randomization to SRP (SRP only, n = 25), Arg (SRP + L-arginine, n = 25) or Control (SRP + L-ornithine, n = 25) Group. The medicines were used according to available instructions for 10 and 15 days, respectively. During the study, all patients were on a stable diet, without changing their rations and regiments. As immunological monitoring immunohistochemical study of CD68+ and CD163 + single positive gingival macrophages for 5 patients per group in the same time-point was conducted. The data were statistically analyzed.

Results

Reduction of periodontal pocket depth (PPD) and bleeding on probing (BoP) was observed in all groups, with significant between-group differences for BoP in the Arg Group (p < 0.0001) at 30 days. The SRP and Arg groups demonstrated nonsignificantly increased density of CD68+ and CD163 + cells. The Orn Group showed an increase in the density of CD68+ and CD163 + macrophages at intragroup (p = 0.0066 and p < 0.0001) and between-group levels (p = 0.001 and p < 0.0001), and these changes corresponded to clinical PPD and BoP reduction. In the Arg and Orn groups at 30 days, CD163 + macrophages significantly predominated over CD68+ (p = 0.013, p < 0.0001).

Conclusion

The use of L-arginine and L-ornithine as an adjunct to SRP promotes additional limited immunological benefit in the treatment of periodontitis. Metabolic stimulation with L-ornithine, but not L-arginine, is preferable for CD163+ Mφs subpopulation in periodontitis-affected gingiva.

Analysis of the Potential Genetic Links between Psoriasis and Cardiovascular Risk Factors

Cardiovascular risk factors are one of the most common comorbidities in psoriasis. A higher prevalence of hypertension, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, obesity, metabolic syndrome, depression, as well as cardiovascular disease was confirmed in psoriatic patients in comparison to the general population. Data suggest that psoriasis and systemic inflammatory disorders may originate from the pleiotropic interactions with many genetic pathways. In this review, the authors present the current state of knowledge on the potential genetic links between psoriasis and cardiovascular risk factors. The understanding of the processes linking psoriasis with cardiovascular risk factors can lead to improvement of psoriasis management in the future.

Cellular based immunotherapy for primary liver cancer

Primary liver cancer (PLC) is a common malignancy with high morbidity and mortality. Poor prognosis and easy recurrence on PLC patients calls for optimizations of the current conventional treatments and the exploration of novel therapeutic strategies. For most malignancies, including PLC, immune cells play crucial roles in regulating tumor microenvironments and specifically recognizing tumor cells. Therefore, cellular based immunotherapy has its instinctive advantages in PLC therapy as a novel therapeutic strategy. From the active and passive immune perspectives, we introduced the cellular based immunotherapies for PLC in this review, covering both the lymphoid and myeloid cells. Then we briefly review the combined cellular immunotherapeutic approaches and the existing obstacles for PLC treatment.

The Agonists of Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor-γ for Liver Fibrosis

Liver fibrosis is a common link in the transformation of acute and chronic liver diseases to cirrhosis. It is of great clinical significance to study the factors associated with the induction of liver fibrosis and elucidate the method of reversal. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are a class of nuclear transcription factors that can be activated by peroxisome proliferators. PPARs play an important role in fibrosis of various organs, especially the liver, by regulating downstream targeted pathways, such as TGF-β, MAPKs, and NF-κB p65. In recent years, the development and screening of PPAR-γ ligands have become a focus of research. The PPAR-γ ligands include synthetic hypolipidemic and antidiabetic drugs. In addition, microRNAs, lncRNAs, circRNAs and nano new drugs have attracted research interest. In this paper, the research progress of PPAR-γ in the pathogenesis and treatment of liver fibrosis was discussed based on the relevant literature in recent years.

Bergenin Attenuates Hepatic Fibrosis by Regulating Autophagy Mediated by the PPAR-γ/TGF-β Pathway

Liver fibrosis is a pathological process involving diffuse extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition in the liver. It is typical of many chronic liver diseases, including cirrhosis, and effective drugs are needed. In this study, we explored the protective effect of bergenin on liver fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride and bile duct ligation. A variety of molecular biological methods (qRT-PCR, western blotting, and immunohistochemistry) were employed to confirm the increased degree of hepatocyte injury and ECM formation in the disease model, consistent with autophagy and activation of the TGF-β pathway. Bergenin activated PPAR-γ and inhibited TGF-β and autophagy and decreased liver fibrosis by inhibiting hepatocyte necrosis and ECM formation in a dose-dependent manner. The results suggest that bergenin may be a promising drug candidate for the treatment of liver fibrosis.