The immune system as a system of relations

Progress in research on the role of fluoride in immune damage

Excessive fluoride intake from residential environments may affect multiple tissues and organs; however, the specific pathogenic mechanisms are unclear. Researchers have recently focused on the damaging effects of fluoride on the immune system. Damage to immune function seriously affects the quality of life of fluoride-exposed populations and increases the incidence of infections and malignant tumors. Probing the mechanism of damage to immune function caused by fluoride helps identify effective drugs and methods to prevent and treat fluorosis and improve people's living standards in fluorosis-affected areas. Here, the recent literature on the effects of fluoride on the immune system is reviewed, and research on fluoride damage to the immune system is summarized in terms of three perspectives: immune organs, immune cells, and immune-active substances. We reviewed that excessive fluoride can damage immune organs, lead to immune cells dysfunction and interfere with the expression of immune-active substances. This review aimed to provide a potential direction for future fluorosis research from the perspective of fluoride-induced immune function impairment. In order to seek the key regulatory indicators of fluoride on immune homeostasis in the future.

Comprehensive insights into potential roles of purinergic P2 receptors on diseases: Signaling pathways involved and potential therapeutics

BACKGROUND

Purinergic P2 receptors, which can be divided into ionotropic P2X receptors and metabotropic P2Y receptors, mediate cellular signal transduction of purine or pyrimidine nucleoside triphosphates and diphosphate. Based on the wide expression of purinergic P2 receptors in tissues and organs, their significance in homeostatic maintenance, metabolism, nociceptive transmission, and other physiological processes is becoming increasingly evident, suggesting that targeting purinergic P2 receptors to regulate biological functions and signal transmission holds significant promise for disease treatment.

AIM OF REVIEW

This review highlights the detailed mechanisms by which purinergic P2 receptors engage in physiological and pathological progress, as well as providing prospective strategies for discovering clinical drug candidates.

KEY SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS OF REVIEW

The purinergic P2 receptors regulate complex signaling and molecular mechanisms in nervous system, digestive system, immune system and as a result, controlling physical health states and disease progression. There has been a significant rise in research and development focused on purinergic P2 receptors, contributing to an increased number of drug candidates in clinical trials. A few influential pioneers have laid the foundation for advancements in the evaluation, development, and of novel purinergic P2 receptors modulators, including agonists, antagonists, pharmaceutical compositions and combination strategies, despite the different scaffolds of these drug candidates. These advancements hold great potential for improving therapeutic outcomes by specifically targeting purinergic P2 receptors.

Validation of new immune and inflammation-related diagnostic biomarkers for RA

BACKGROUND

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, systemic autoimmune disease, whose development is associated with immune cells and persistent inflammation. Exploring the biomarkers of RA holds immense significance in terms of the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of RA.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in RA patients and the control group were screened by limma package. Through DEGs intersection overlapping 200 inflammatory response-related genes and 2498 immune-related genes, differentially expressed immune and inflammation-related genes (DE-IIRGs) were identified. Lasso regression analysis screened RA diagnostic biomarkers and constructed PPI networks. Finally, immune infiltration analysis and drug prediction were performed.

RESULTS

A total of 20 DE-IIRGs were identified by overlapping DEGs with 2498 immune-related genes and 200 inflammatory response-related genes. These DE-IIRGs were primarily enriched in the cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction and other biological processes, and then five biomarker genes (TNFSF10, IL1R1, CXCL9, ACVR1B, and IL15) were identified. It was found that the expression levels of CXCL9, IL15, and TNFSF10 in the disease samples were significantly higher than those in the control group. These biomarker genes have more effective diagnostic potential. The RA samples exhibited significantly higher levels of cell infiltration compared to the control samples. hsa-miR-199a-5p's connections to the ACVR1B and CCR7 genes were identified by creating ceRNA networks from 20 screened DE-IIRGs. There was a connection between CCL5 and AEMA4D and hsa-miR-214-3p.

CONCLUSION

We identified immune- and inflammation-related biomarkers in RA based on bioinformatics analysis and screened TNFSF10, IL1R1, CXCL9, ACVR1B, and IL15 as diagnostic markers for RA. Key Points • TNFSF10, IL1R1, CXCL9, ACVR1B, and IL15 may be new diagnostic biomarkers for RA. • These findings may provide a theoretical basis for early RA diagnosis.

6-Pentyl-α-Pyrone from Trichoderma gamsii Exert Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Properties in Lipopolysaccharide-Stimulated Mouse Macrophages

Filamentous fungi produce several beneficial secondary metabolites, including bioactive compounds, food additives, and biofuels. Trichoderma, which is a teleomorphic Hypocrea that falls under the taxonomic groups Ascomycota and Dikarya, is an extensively studied fungal genus. In an ongoing study that seeks to discover bioactive natural products, we investigated potential bioactive metabolites from the methanolic extract of cultured Trichoderma gamsii. Using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), one major compound was isolated and structurally identified as 6-pentyl-α-pyrone (6PP) based on nuclear magnetic resonance data and LC-MS analysis. To determine its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, as well as the underlying mechanisms, we treated lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated Raw264.7 mouse macrophages with 6PP. We found that 6PP suppresses LPS-induced increase in the levels of nitric oxide, a mediator of oxidative stress and inflammation, and restores LPS-mediated depletion of total glutathione by stabilizing nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), an antioxidative factor, and elevating heme oxygenase-1 levels. Furthermore, 6PP inhibited LPS-induced production of proinflammatory cytokines, which are, at least in part, regulated by heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). 6PP suppressed proinflammatory responses by inhibiting the nuclear localization of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), as well as by dephosphorylating the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs). These results indicate that 6PP can protect macrophages against oxidative stress and LPS-induced excessive inflammatory responses by activating the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway while inhibiting the proinflammatory, NF-κB, and MAPK pathways.

Elucidating individual differences in chronic pain and whole person health with allostatic load biomarkers

Chronic pain is a stressor that affects whole person functioning. Persistent and prolonged activation of the body's stress systems without adequate recovery can result in measurable physiological and neurobiological dysregulation recognized as allostatic load. We and others have shown chronic pain is associated with measures of allostatic load including clinical biomarker composites, telomere length, and brain structures. Less is known regarding how different measures of allostatic load align. The purpose of the study was to evaluate relationships among two measures of allostatic load: a clinical composite and pain-related brain structures, pain, function, and socioenvironmental measures. Participants were non-Hispanic black and non-Hispanic white community-dwelling adults between 45 and 85 years old with knee pain. Data were from a brain MRI, questionnaires specific to pain, physical and psychosocial function, and a blood draw. Individuals with all measures for the clinical composite were included in the analysis (n = 175). Indicating higher allostatic load, higher levels of the clinical composite were associated with thinner insula cortices with trends for thinner inferior temporal lobes and dorsolateral prefrontal cortices (DLPFC). Higher allostatic load as measured by the clinical composite was associated with greater knee osteoarthritis pathology, pain disability, and lower physical function. Lower allostatic load as indicated by thicker insula cortices was associated with higher income and education, and greater physical functioning. Thicker insula and DLPFC were associated with a lower chronic pain stage. Multiple linear regression models with pain and socioenvironmental measures as the predictors were significant for the clinical composite, insular, and inferior temporal lobes. We replicate our previously reported bilateral temporal lobe group difference pattern and show that individuals with high chronic pain stage and greater socioenvironmental risk have a higher allostatic load as measured by the clinical composite compared to those individuals with high chronic pain stage and greater socioenvironmental buffers. Although brain structure differences are shown in individuals with chronic pain, brain MRIs are not yet clinically applicable. Our findings suggest that a clinical composite measure of allostatic load may help identify individuals with chronic pain who have biological vulnerabilities which increase the risk for poor health outcomes.

Changes in T lymphocyte subsets predict the efficacy of atezolizumab in advanced non-small cell lung cancer: a retrospective study

Background

It has remained unclear how programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitors affect peripheral blood lymphocyte (PBL) subsets in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This study assessed the predictive and prognostic value of PBL subsets in patients with advanced NSCLC who were treated with atezolizumab.

Methods

A total of 30 patients with advanced NSCLC treated with atezolizumab were selected as the observation group, and 30 healthy individuals were chosen as the control group during same period. Flow cytometry was used to detect lymphocyte subsets before and after treatment. The relationship between the changes of lymphocyte subsets and atezolizumab in the treatment of NSCLC was analyzed and calculated.

Results

Before treatment, compared with the control group, the number of CD3+, CD4+ T, and CD4+/CD8+ indexes in the observation group were significantly decreased, whereas the level of CD8+ was significantly increased. The number of CD3+, CD4+ T, and CD4+/CD8+ indexes gradually increased with the process of atezolizumab treatment, whereas the number of CD8+ T gradually decreased. After the 4 cycles, the number of CD3+, CD4+ T, and CD4+/CD8+ indexes were significantly increased, and the number of CD8+ was significantly decreased. In the observation group, 22 patients achieved partial response (PR)/stable disease (SD) and 8 patients achieved progressive disease (PD) after 4 cycles of atezolizumab treatment. Before treatment, there were no significant differences in the level of lymphocyte subsets between those who achieved PR/SD or PD. However, a significant difference in the level of lymphocyte subsets appeared after 4 cycles of atezolizumab treatment. Among the 22 patients who achieved PR/SD, the number of CD3+, CD4+ T, and CD4+/CD8+ indexes were significantly increased, whereas the number of CD8+ T lymphocytes was significantly decreased. Meanwhile, the 8 patients who achieved PD displayed different results. In addition, ROC curve combined detection of CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ T [area under the curve (AUC) =0.9018, P<0.0001] showed good predictive ability for the efficacy of atezolizumab in advanced NSCLC.

Conclusions

Atezolizumab may alter the level of lymphocyte subsets in patients with advanced NSCLC, and the changes in lymphocyte subsets may predict the efficacy of atezolizumab for these patients.

Integrated analysis of a miRNA-mRNA network related to immunity and autophagy in Macrobrachium rosenbergii infected with Aeromonas hydrophila

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a group of RNAs that regulate gene expression in the post-transcriptionally. miRNAs can regulate numerous processes, such as the immune response, due to their dynamic expression patterns. The giant freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii is a major freshwater aquaculture prawn that is attacked by various bacteria, including Aeromonas hydrophila. For this study, we performed an analysis of the miRNA and mRNA transcriptome analysis of M. rosenbergii which was infected with A. hydrophila. We identified 56 differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) and 1542 differentially expressed mRNAs. Furthermore, an integrated analysis of miRNA-mRNA expression led to the identification of 729 differentially predicted target genes (DETGs) of the DEMs. Multiple functional categories related to immunity, apoptosis, and autophagy were found to be enriched in the DETGs. During the infection of M. rosenbergii by A. hydrophila, an elaborate regulatory network involving Toll and immune deficiency (IMD) signaling, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling, lysosome, and cell apoptosis was formed by a complex interplay of 40 crucial DEMs and 22 DETGs, all associated with the immune and autophagy pathway. The findings suggest that infection with A. hydrophila triggers intricate responses in both miRNA and mRNA, significantly impacting immune and autophagy processes in M. rosenbergii.

The Characterization of the Th1/Th2 Ratio in Moderate-Severe Alzheimer's Disease Patients and Its Response to an Aloe Polymannose-Based Dietary Supplement

BACKGROUND

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a leading killer of Americans, imparting a tremendous societal toll. Relationships between immune function and inflammation with cognition are well-established in AD, but the Th1/Th2 ratio of immune function is unknown. Describing the Th1/Th2 ratio and its relationship with cognition may shed light on the disease's clinical context. How the Th1/Th2 ratio responds to dietary supplementation is another unknown question in this population.

OBJECTIVE

The objectives of the study were to: 1) characterize the Th1/Th2 ratio according to IL-2/IL-10, IFN-γ/IL-10, IL-2/IL-4, IFN-γ/IL-4, IL-2/TNF-α, and IFN-γ/TNF-α in subjects with moderate-to-severe AD and in comparison to healthy adults; 2) investigate the effect of an aloe polymannose multinutrient complex (APMC) dietary supplement on the Th1/Th2 ratios over 12 months; and 3) compare the changes in the Th1/Th2 ratios with the changes in cognition from baseline to 12 months.

METHODS

Subjects consumed 2.5 g of the APMC four times per day for 12 months, and they were assessed on cognition and cytokines at baseline and 12 months.

RESULTS

The Th1/Th2 ratios in AD patients were significantly higher than the healthy controls, and five of the six ratios decreased from baseline to 12 months follow-up (other than IL-2/TNF-α). Several significant relationships were noted between the changes in Th1/Th2 ratios with cognitive assessments.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results showed an overall rebalancing of the Th1/Th2 ratio in response to APMC, these changes were related to improved cognition in subjects with moderate-to-severe AD, and the APMC supplement was safely tolerated.

Droplets microfluidics platform-A tool for single cell research

Cells are the most basic structural and functional units of living organisms. Studies of cell growth, differentiation, apoptosis, and cell-cell interactions can help scientists understand the mysteries of living systems. However, there is considerable heterogeneity among cells. Great differences between individuals can be found even within the same cell cluster. Cell heterogeneity can only be clearly expressed and distinguished at the level of single cells. The development of droplet microfluidics technology opens up a new chapter for single-cell analysis. Microfluidic chips can produce many nanoscale monodisperse droplets, which can be used as small isolated micro-laboratories for various high-throughput, precise single-cell analyses. Moreover, gel droplets with good biocompatibility can be used in single-cell cultures and coupled with biomolecules for various downstream analyses of cellular metabolites. The droplets are also maneuverable; through physical and chemical forces, droplets can be divided, fused, and sorted to realize single-cell screening and other related studies. This review describes the channel design, droplet generation, and control technology of droplet microfluidics and gives a detailed overview of the application of droplet microfluidics in single-cell culture, single-cell screening, single-cell detection, and other aspects. Moreover, we provide a recent review of the application of droplet microfluidics in tumor single-cell immunoassays, describe in detail the advantages of microfluidics in tumor research, and predict the development of droplet microfluidics at the single-cell level.