Elevated Gene Expression of Interleukin-32 Isoforms Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta in the Peripheral Blood of Chronic Psoriatic Patients

Cytokines in psoriasis: From pathogenesis to targeted therapy

Psoriasis is a multifactorial disease that affects 0.84% of the global population and it can be associated with disabling comorbidities. As patients present with thick scaly lesions, psoriasis was long believed to be a disorder of keratinocytes. Psoriasis is now understood to be the outcome of the interaction between immunological and environmental factors in individuals with genetic predisposition. While it was initially thought to be solely mediated by cytokines of type-1 immunity, namely interferon-γ, interleukin-2, and interleukin-12 because it responds very well to cyclosporine, a reversible IL-2 inhibitor; the discovery of Th-17 cells advanced the understanding of the disease and helped the development of biological therapy. This article aims to provide a comprehensive review of the role of cytokines in psoriasis, highlighting areas of controversy and identifying the connection between cytokine imbalance and disease manifestations. It also presents the approved targeted treatments for psoriasis and those currently under investigation.

Interleukin-32 as a biomarker in rheumatic diseases: A narrative review

Interleukin-32 (IL-32) is an important cytokine involved in the innate and adaptive immune responses. The role of IL-32 has been studied in the context of various diseases. A growing body of research has investigated the role of IL-32 in rheumatic diseases including inflammatory arthritides (rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and psoriatic arthritis) and connective tissue diseases (systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis, granulomatosis and polyangiitis, and giant cell arteritis). IL-32 has been shown to play different roles according to the type of rheumatic diseases. Hence, the putative role of IL-32 as a biomarker is also different in each rheumatic disease: IL-32 could serve as a biomarker for disease activity in some diseases, whereas in other diseases it could be a biomarker for certain disease manifestations. In this narrative review, we summarize the associations between IL-32 and various rheumatic diseases and discuss the putative role of IL-32 as a biomarker in each disease.

Impact of interleukin-32α on T helper cell-related cytokines, transcription factors, and proliferation in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

OBJECTIVE

The ability of interleukin (IL)-32α to induce T helper (Th) 1, Th17, and Treg cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-17, and IL-10, respectively), and transcription factors [(signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 1 and T-box (T-bet) for Th1, STAT3 and retinoid-related orphan receptor (ROR)-γt for Th17, and STAT5 and forkhead box P3 (Foxp3) for Treg)] were investigated in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). IL-32α effects on Th cell proliferation and related factors including IL-2 and NF-κB were also explored.

METHODS

Serum levels of IL-32α in 31 patients and 31 healthy controls (HCs) were determined by ELISA assay. CD4⁺ T cells cultured with polyclonal activators in the presence and absence of recombinant IL-32α (rIL-32α). Gene expressions in cultured Th cells were assessed with real-time PCR. Cytokines in supernatants were measured with ELISA. Proliferation experiments were assessed by flow cytometry.

RESULTS

The patients showed significant increase in IL-32α levels compared with HCs and its levels were positively correlated with fasting plasma glucose and hemoglobin A1c. rIL-32α enhanced IL-17 and IL-2 production, increased ROR-γt and NF-κB expression, and enhanced Th proliferation in both patients and HCs. In patients, IL-17, ROR-γt, NF-κB, and proliferation levels were higher than those in HCs, in cultures with and without rIL-32α (rIL-32α⁺ and rIL-32α^-). IL-2 levels in rIL-32α⁺cultures of patients were significantly higher than the HCs, and it was positively correlated with proliferation rate and NF-κB expression.

CONCLUSIONS

Aberrant IL-32α levels are participated in T2DM pathogenesis. IL-32α potently induces Th17-related factors and amplifies the proliferative function of T cells.

Association between interleukin-32 gene polymorphism and susceptibility to preeclampsia

OBJECTIVE

To determine association between IL-32 gene polymorphism, and serum levels of IL-32 and susceptibility to preeclampsia (PE).

METHODS

The frequency of IL-32 rs9927163 and rs4786370 polymorphisms was determined by PCR-RFLP. Also ELISA was used to determine the levels of serum IL-32.

RESULTS

Regarding rs4786370 C/T SNPs, the frequencies of CT, TT genotypes, and T allele were shown to be higher in the PE patients. IL-32 serum level significantly increased in the PE patients.

CONCLUSION

Variety of allele and genotype IL32 rs4786370 as well as a rise in serum level of IL-32 can be regarded as a risk factor for PE.

Increased levels of interleukin-32 isoforms alpha, beta, gamma, and delta in the gingival crevicular fluid and plasma of the patients with periodontitis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Interleukin (IL)-32, which has been recently reported to be associated with periodontitis, has been suggested to have pleiotropic effect due to its 9 different isoforms. The aim of this study was to investigate the levels of IL-32α, IL-32β, IL-32γ, IL-32δ isoforms in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and plasma before and after non-surgical periodontal treatment in patients with periodontitis (P).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty-seven P and 27 periodontally healthy controls (C) were recruited in this study. Non-surgical periodontal treatment was performed to periodontitis patients. GCF and plasma sampling and clinical periodontal parameters were evaluated before and 1 month after treatment. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to analyze the levels of IL-32α, IL-32β, IL-32γ, IL-32δ isoforms in GCF and plasma samples.

RESULTS

The levels of IL-32α, IL-32β, IL-32γ, and IL-32δ in plasma and GCF were significantly higher in patients with periodontitis than healthy controls (P < .001). In P group, plasma and GCF IL-32α, IL-32β, IL-32γ, and IL-32δ levels after non-surgical periodontal treatment were lower when compared to baseline (P < .001). Moreover, there was a positive correlation between GCF and plasma IL-32α, IL-32β, IL-32γ, and IL-32δ levels in all groups at baseline and after treatment (P < .05).

CONCLUSION

The study supported that there was a relationship between elevated levels of IL-32 isoforms and periodontitis. Also, our novel findings suggest that the pro-inflammatory role of IL-32 in the periodontitis may be originated from IL-32α, IL-32β, IL-32γ, and IL-32δ isoforms.

Hemophilia A Inhibitor Subjects Show Unique PBMC Gene Expression Profiles That Include Up-Regulated Innate Immune Modulators

Formation of pathological anti-FVIII antibodies, or "inhibitors," is the most serious complication of therapeutic FVIII infusions, affecting up to 1/3 of severe Hemophilia A (HA) patients. Inhibitor formation is a classical T-cell dependent adaptive immune response. As such, it requires help from the innate immune system. However, the roles of innate immune cells and mechanisms of inhibitor development vs. immune tolerance, achieved with or without Immune Tolerance Induction (ITI) therapy, are not well-understood. To address these questions, temporal transcriptomics profiling of FVIII-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was carried out for HA subjects with and without a current or historic inhibitor using RNA-Seq. PBMCs were isolated from 40 subjects in the following groups: HA with an inhibitor that resolved either following ITI or spontaneously; HA with a current inhibitor; HA with no inhibitor history and non-HA controls. PBMCs were stimulated with 5 nM FVIII and RNA was isolated 4, 16, 24, and 48 h following stimulation. Time-series differential expression analysis was performed and distinct transcriptional signatures were identified for each group, providing clues as to cellular mechanisms leading to or accompanying their disparate anti-FVIII antibody responses. Subjects with a current inhibitor showed differential expression of 56 genes and a clustering analysis identified three major temporal profiles. Interestingly, gene ontology enrichments featured innate immune modulators, including NLRP3, TLR8, IL32, CLEC10A, and COLEC12. NLRP3 and TLR8 are associated with enhanced secretion of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and TNFα, while IL32, which has several isoforms, has been associated with both inflammatory and regulatory immune processes. RNA-Seq results were validated by RT-qPCR, ELISAs, multiplex cytokine analysis, and flow cytometry. The inflammatory status of HA patients suffering from an ongoing inhibitor includes up-regulated innate immune modulators, which may act as ongoing danger signals that influence the responses to, and eventual outcomes of, ITI therapy.

Genetic variation in Interleukin-32 influence the immune response against New World Leishmania species and susceptibility to American Tegumentary Leishmaniasis

Interleukin-32 is a novel inflammatory mediator that has been described to be important in the immunopathogenesis and control of infections caused by Leishmania parasites. By performing experiments with primary human cells in vitro, we demonstrate that the expression of IL-32 isoforms is dependent on the time exposed to L. amazonensis and L. braziliensis antigens. Moreover, for the first time we show the functional consequences of three different genetic variations in the IL32 (rs4786370, rs4349147, rs1555001) modulating IL-32γ expression, influencing innate and adaptive cytokine production after Leishmania exposure. Using a Brazilian cohort of 107 American Tegumentary Leishmaniasis patients and a control cohort of 245 healthy individuals, the IL32 rs4786370 genetic variant was associated with protection against ATL, whereas the IL32 rs4349147 was associated with susceptibility to the development of localized cutaneous and mucosal leishmaniasis. These novel insights may help improve therapeutic strategies and lead to benefits for patients suffering from Leishmania infections.

In this study, we described how IL-32 isoforms are crucial to host defense against new world Leishmania species infections. Furthermore, by accessing the genotype frequency of genetic variations in IL32 in a cohort of Brazilian patients with American Tegumentary Leishmaniasis (ATL) and controls, we have obtained indications that IL-32 is associated with disease susceptibility and the development of different clinical manifestations. Thus, this study provides us an extra evidence that the isoforms of IL-32 shape the immune response favoring the development of different cytokines produced by peripheral blood mononuclear cells that might contribute to skin/mucosal inflammation and host defense.

Gene Therapy Today and Tomorrow

In the wake of a breakthrough in biotechnology providing realistic application of recombinant expressed proteins as drugs in the 1990s, gene therapy emerged as the potential approach for providing medicines of the future [...].

Increased Human Interleukin-32 Expression Is Related to Disease Activity of Graves' Disease

Recently, abnormal expression of interleukin-32 (IL-32) has been involved in various inflammatory or autoimmune diseases, but the level of IL-32 expression in Graves' disease (GD) is still unknown. This study is aimed to explore the human IL-32 expression in GD and the association of IL-32 expression with the disease activity of GD. A total of 125 GD patients and 97 normal controls (NC) were recruited in this study. We examined IL-32 mRNA level in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of 43 GD patients and 41 controls using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Serum IL-32 level of 40 GD patients and 34 controls was measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In another cohort including 42 GD patients and 22 controls, we detected the percentages of IL-32α⁺ cells, CD4⁺IL-32α⁺T cells, and CD4^-IL-32α⁺ cells in PBMCs by flow cytometry. In GD patients, IL-32 mRNA expression was dramatically higher than that in controls (P < 0.001) and positively associated with FT3 (P = 0.036, r = 0.321). Subgroup analysis revealed that IL-32 mRNA level was elevated in both newly onset GD and refractory GD group (P < 0.01, P < 0.001, respectively) compared with controls. Furthermore, in refractory GD group, the IL-32 mRNA expression also positively correlated with FT3 (P = 0.019, r = 0.560). In addition, serum IL-32 level was notably higher in GD patients than that of controls (P < 0.01). Subgroup analysis also indicated that serum IL-32 level in both newly onset GD and refractory GD group was higher in comparison with controls (P = 0.015, P = 0.023, respectively) and serum IL-32 level in refractory GD patients positively correlated with TRAb (P = 0.043, r = 0.481). The percentages of IL-32α⁺ cells, CD4⁺IL-32α⁺ T cells, and CD4^-IL-32α⁺ cells were all significantly enhanced in GD patients compared with controls (P = 0.005, P = 0.017, P = 0.016, respectively). IL-32 and IL-32α⁺ cells may be associated with the pathogenesis of GD. IL-32 may become a promising target for the treatment of GD.