Impact of IL-2 and IL-2R SNPs on proliferation and tumor- killing activity of lymphokine-activated killer cells from healthy chinese blood donors

Lack of association between polymorphism of IL-2 -330T/G and pulmonary tuberculosis among Caucasians

This meta-analysis was conducted to assess the consistency and strength of the relationship between polymorphism of IL-2 -330T/G and susceptibility to pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). PubMed, Web of Knowledge and CNKI were searched to find eligible studies about the relationship between IL-2 -330T/G polymorphism and susceptibility to pulmonary TB. A total of eight studies comprising 971 cases and 1519 controls were grouped together for the purpose of elucidating the relationship between polymorphism of IL-2 -330T/G and pulmonary TB susceptibility. The allele model (G vs. T: odds ratio (OR) = 1.34; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.05–1.71, P_het = 0.001) and the recessive model (GG+GT vs. TT: OR = 1.60; 95% CI 1.08–2.38, P_het = 0.0001) showed an increased risk of development of pulmonary TB. However, the homozygous model (GG vs. TT: OR = 1.74; 95% CI 0.98–3.09, P_het = 0.0005) and the dominant model (GG vs. TT + TG: OR = 1.30; 95% CI = 0.80-2.14, P_het =  0.001) failed to show an increased incidence of pulmonary TB. When analysis was stratified by ethnicity, no obvious associations were identified in the Caucasian subgroup under all four genetic models. Additionally, heterogeneity disappeared in the analysis of Caucasian subgroup. Our combined data suggested that there was no association between IL-2 -330T/G polymorphism and pulmonary TB among Caucasians.

Efficacy of Early Enteral Immunonutrition on Immune Function and Clinical Outcome for Postoperative Patients With Gastrointestinal Cancer

BACKGROUND

Nutrition support is crucial for patients with gastrointestinal (GI) cancer after the operation. However, the controversy over the application of parenteral nutrition (PN) and early enteral immunonutrition (EEIN) has no determinate conclusion.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We compared the effects of PN and EEIN on the postoperative nutrition condition, immune status, inflammation level, long-term survival, and quality of life of the patients with GI cancer. Seventy-eight patients were randomly divided into the PN group (n = 44) or EEIN group (n = 34). After an 8-day nutrition treatment, clinical and immunological parameters were evaluated.

RESULTS

The EEIN group had a significantly shorter hospital stay and higher body mass index level on postoperative day 30 than those in the PN group (P < .05). However, total hospital cost and incidences of short-term postoperative complications had no significant difference (P > .05). The percentages of CD4⁺ , natural killer, and natural killer T lymphocyte cells and the ratio of CD4⁺ /CD8⁺ in peripheral blood were significantly increased. Compared with the PN group, the EEIN group had a higher expression of activated cell surface markers such as CD27 and CD28. In addition, the secretion of interleukin (IL)-2 and interferon-γ was significantly higher, and the secretion of tumor necrosis factor-α and IL-10 was lower. Complication-free survival in the EEIN group were longer than those in the PN group (P = .04).

CONCLUSION

EEIN is superior to PN in improving nutrition status, enhancing immune function, and elevating quality of life.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms of IL-2, but not IL-12 and IFN-γ, are associated with increased susceptibility to chronic spontaneous urticaria

BACKGROUND

A clear picture of interaction of Th1/Th2 cytokines in pathogenesis of chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), remains elusive. Impaired IFN-γ production and decreased levels of IL-2 have been reported. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of Th1 cytokines; IL-2, IL-12 and IFN-γ polymorphisms with CSU.

METHODS

90 patients with CSU and 140 age-sex matched subjects were included in this study. DNA samples were evaluated through PCR-SSP assay in order to detect single nucleotide polymorphisms of IL-12 (A/C -1188) or (rs3212227), IFN-γ (A/T UTR5644) or (rs2069717) and IL-2 (G/T -330 and G/T +166) or (rs2069762 and rs2069763).

RESULTS

G allele at -330 at promoter region of IL-2 gene was overrepresented in CSU. Heterozygotes (GT) at this locus and heterozygotes at +166 of IL-2 gene (GT) were more prevalent in CSU group. Additionally, the haplotype GT for loci -330 and +166 of IL-2 gene was powerfully associated with CSU (OR (95%CI)=57.29 (8.43-112.7)).

CONCLUSIONS

SNP at position -330 and +166 of IL-2 gene are differently expressed in CSU. The haplotype GT of IL-2 at -330 and +166 might confer vulnerability to a number of immunological disorders in Iranian region.

Polymorphisms and haplotypes of the interleukin 2 gene are associated with an increased risk of gastric cancer. The possible involvement of Helicobacter pylori

Interleukin 2 (IL-2) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that is mainly synthesized by immunoregulatory T helper cells and which plays an important role in antitumor immunity. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a gram-negative bacterium that colonizes the gastric mucosa and induces the production of IL-2. This process increases the magnitude of inflammation and may influence the development of gastric pathologies. In light of the possible involvement of IL-2 and the presence of H. pylori in gastric diseases, this study investigated possible associations between the IL-2 polymorphisms +114 T>G (rs2069763) and -330 T>G (rs2069762) and the development of gastric cancer; these associations were then correlated with the presence of H. pylori. Gastric biopsies were obtained from 294 dyspeptic patients (173♀/123♂). Of these samples, 181 were chronic gastritis samples (102♀/79), 62 were samples of intact gastric mucosa (47♀/15♂), and 51 were samples of gastric cancer (22♀/29♂). PCR-RFLP was used to characterize the +114 T>G and -330 T>G polymorphisms. Considering the genetic characteristics of the study population and based on the codominant model, a high risk of gastric cancer among patients with normal gastric tissue and patients with gastric cancer was found in subjects with the IL-2-330 GG genotype (OR=6.43, 95% CI: 1.47-28.10, p=0.044). The data was adjusted for the presence of H. pylori. Among patients with gastritis and patients with gastric cancer, a high risk was found among subjects with the IL-2-330 GG genotype (OR=4.47, 95% CI: 1.84-10.84, p=0.0022). When the IL-2 +114 polymorphism was analyzed, similar results were found. Among the patients with normal gastric tissue and the patients with gastric cancer, subjects carrying the +114 TT genotype were found to be at a high risk of gastric cancer (OR=5.97, 95% CI: 1.60-22.27, p=0.013). This data was also adjusted for the presence of H. pylori. Among patients with gastritis and patients with gastric cancer, a high risk was found in subjects carrying the +114 TT genotype (OR=6.36, 95% CI: 2.66-15.21, p<0.0001). The haplotype was also analyzed. The -330G/+114T haplotype was found to be significantly associated with gastric cancer. Therefore, our results show that, among patients with H. pylori infection, the -330 GG and +114 TT genotypes are significantly associated with a high risk of developing gastric cancer, as is the -330G/+114T haplotype.

Adoptive Cellular Therapy (ACT) for Cancer Treatment

Adoptive cellular therapy (ACT) with various lymphocytes or antigen-presenting cells is one stone in the pillar of cancer immunotherapy, which relies on the tumor-specific T cell. The transfusion of bulk T-cell population into patients is an effective treatment for regression of cancer. In this chapter, we summarize the development of various strategies in ACT for cancer immunotherapy and discuss some of the latest progress and obstacles in technical, safety, and even regulatory aspects to translate these technologies to the clinic. ACT is becoming a potentially powerful approach to cancer treatment. Further experiments and clinical trials are needed to optimize this strategy.

Antitumor effect of a polysaccharide isolated from Phellinus pullus as an immunostimulant

The antitumor function of fungal polysaccharides is a popular area of interest in the research field due to their high efficiency and low side effects. The main mechanism of fungal polysaccharides is immune enhancement. The polysaccharose (APS-3) was extracted from the fruit body of Phellinus pullus. The proliferation inhibition to mouse sarcoma 180 (S180) tumor cells was studied by the MTT method. Mice models of transplanted S180 tumor were established and treated with APS-3 to verify the antitumor activity in vivo. Natural killer (NK) and lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cytotoxicities of the mice were evaluated by the lactate dehydrogenase method. APS-3 can significantly inhibit the proliferation of the S180 cells. Cells could be completely inhibited by 1.6 mg/ml APS-3 after 24 h treatment. After 18 days of treatment, the antitumor rate of the high-dose group was 85.47%. Histopathology detection showed that for the APS-3-treated mice, the tumor cells dissolved, and exhibited a large range of structureless necrotic areas. NK and LAK cytotoxicities of the APS-3 treated mice increased by 61.85 and 56.16%, respectively, compared with the normal control mice. APS-3 can be used as an antitumor agent by way of immune enhancement.