Association of hepatitis B vaccine response to vitamin D supplementation and ultraviolet B (UVB) exposure during different time intervals in experimental animals

The implications of vitamin D deficiency on the immune system have become clearer in recent years, being associated with less immune response following HBV vaccine. We aimed to elucidate the effect of vitamin D supplementation and UVB exposure on short- and long-term performance of hepatitis B vaccine. Forty-five male rabbits were randomly divided into 3 groups that were immunized with recombinant HBsAg. The first group (group I) represented a negative control group, whereas group III rabbits were administered with commercially available 1,25 (OH)2 vitamin D as an alternative for UVB exposure in group II. Results showed that vitamin D concentrations were significantly higher in UVB exposed group compared to both negative control and vitamin D-supplemented groups during short- and long-time intervals. In addition, means of anti-HBsAg isotypes’ levels and anti-HBsAg IgG avidity% were significantly higher in negative control group compared to other groups during short- and long-time intervals. Moreover, vitamin D serum concentration was positively correlated with anti-HBsAg IgG level and avidity % in both negative control and vitamin D-supplemented groups, while it was negatively correlated with anti-HBsAg IgM level in negative control group. It can be concluded from the above results that UVB radiation may have both augmenting and suppressive effects and that circulating serum vitamin D concentration may have a positive association with premium immune modulation following HBV vaccination.

The association of human cytomegalovirus with biomarkers of inflammation and immune activation in breast cancer

BACKGROUND

The presence of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) in breast cancer has been reported, suggesting a potential association between HCMV infection and breast carcinogenesis.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the association between HCMV infection and immune activation and inflammatory markers in breast cancer.

METHODS

HCMV DNA was detected from all patients using real-time PCR, Anti HCMV IgM and IgG antibodies were measured. IL-17 and IL-22 concentrations were detected by ELISA. Assessment of NLR and PLR was done, and cell proliferation was assessed using MTT assay.

RESULTS

The results revealed a significantly increased prevalence of anti-HCMV IgG and HCMV DNA in patients compared to both benign and control groups where positive HCMV prevalence was significantly associated with vascular invasion, proliferation rate, high neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and elevated IL-17 serum level. Furthermore, we demonstrated that increased serum IL-17 in patients was markedly associated with tumor stage, vascular invasion, and high NLR.

CONCLUSION

It can be concluded that HCMV infection may have vital roles in breast cancer pathogenesis. Moreover, altered peripheral blood cells and cytokines may result in disordered immune response in breast cancer patients.

The immunoregulatory axis (programmed death-1/programmed death ligand-1) on CD4+ T cells in lupus nephritis: association with vitamin D and chemokine C-X-C motif ligand 12

Lupus nephritis (LN) is one of the most serious complications of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Multiple immunomodulatory mechanisms contribute to the pathogenesis of LN. A deep understanding of the immunopathogenesis of LN is essential to identify optimal molecular targets, as most immunotherapeutic algorithms are still based on unselective drugs. The study aimed to elucidate the possible association of vitamin D deficiency with the programmed death-1 (PD-1)/programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) axis and inflammatory response in patients with LN, as well as the relationship between the PD-1/PD-L1 axis and chemokine C-X-C motif ligand 12 (CXCL12). Flow cytometry was used to determine the frequencies of CD279 (PD-1) and CD274 (PD-L1) in the peripheral CD3+CD4+ cell population of persons with LN. Furthermore, ELISA was used to detect serum CXCL12 and vitamin D concentrations. A distinct decrease of PD-1 and a significant increase of PD-L1 was demonstrated in patients with LN compared with either SLE patients with no LN or healthy controls. The PD-1/PD-L1 axis was negatively correlated with different disease parameters. Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency were more prevalent in patients with LN than in controls, being significantly associated with disease activity and inversely associated with the PD-1/PD-L1 expression. Moreover, CXCL12 was negatively correlated with the PD-1/PD-L1 axis and vitamin D concentration. The findings suggest an involvement of the PD-1/PD-L1 axis in lupus nephritis, which might serve as a potential highly selective therapeutic target that is more effective but less toxic. In addition, restoring adequate vitamin D levels in lupus nephritis could be a possible simple measure to control inflammatory immune responses.

Immune signature of CCR7+ central memory T cells associates with disease severity and Immunoglobulin E in bronchial asthma

Summary

Objective. CD4⁺T cell subtypes are the central orchestrators of airway inflammation in bronchialasthma (BA); however, the mechanisms that regulate their accumulation in asthmatic airways are still a challenging subject. In addition, neutrophils play a significant role in the development of airway remodeling and their presence may influence clinical presentation of BA being linked to the development of severe BA. Neutrophils have also been found to acquireantigen presenting functions, enabling them to directly activate T cells. The study aimed to evaluate the possible association of chemokine receptor 7 (CCR7)⁺ memory CD4⁺T cells andCCR4⁺ effector T cells with disease severity and immunoglobulin E (IgE) production as well as to explore the relationship between these cells and neutrophil function in both allergic andnon-allergic asthmatic patients. Methods. Flow cytometry was used to determine the expression of different T cell subset phenotypes (CCR7 memory CD4⁺ and CCR4⁺T cells using anti-human CD3, CD4, CD45RO, CCR4 and CCR7 monoclonal antibodies) utilizing peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) isolated from 78 allergic asthmatic patients, 41 non-allergic asthmatic patients, and 40 healthy individuals. Moreover, neutrophils' phagocytic activity was assessed by ingestion of candida particles. Results. We demonstrated increased percentages of CCR7⁺ memory CD4⁺T cells and CCR4⁺CD4⁺T cells in patients compared to control, where this up regulation was significantly higher in allergic than non-allergic asthmatic patients. Additionally, these cells were negatively correlated with improved pulmonary tests and significantly associated with disease severity scores and IgE levels. The neutrophil phagocytic activity was markedly increased in patients compared to control, showing a significant positive correlation with disease severity. Conclusions. These findings suggest that increased CCR4⁺ CD4⁺ T cells and CCR7⁺ memory CD4⁺ T cells (Tcm) may be associated with BA severity, especially in allergic BA patients and can potentially contribute to the rational design of new therapeutic approaches for asthma in the future.

Study of Toll‑Like Receptor 4 Gene Polymorphisms in Colorectal Cancer: Correlation with Clinicopathological Features

Polymorphisms of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) as a key player in cell proliferation, apoptosis, and angiogenesis have been linked to colorectal cancer (CRC) in different populations. We aimed in this study to determine genetic associations of TLR4 variants with CRC progression in Egyptian patients. Genotype and allelic frequencies of Asp299Gly (rs4986790) and Thr399Ile (rs4986791) were compared between 127 CRC patients and 141 healthy Egyptians using restriction fragment length polymorphism, and were correlated to clinicopathological findings. Results revealed that the variant alleles (G of Asp299Gly) and (T of Thr399Ile) were significantly associated with CRC among Egyptians. Confirmed by haplotype analysis, AT and GT haplotypes were more frequent in CRC patients than controls with increased CRC odds (OR = 3.54 and 3.45, 95% CI = 1.48-8.48 and 1.09-10.83, respectively). In addition, the G allele of Asp299Gly SNP was observed to be significantly associated with progressive CRC, including stage IV (P = .001), grade III (P = .025), N2 lymph nodes (P = .020), and metastasis (P = .001). On the other hand, Thr399Ile variant did not show any association with tumor behavior. Taken together, we conclude a significant association of Asp299Gly and Thr399Ile variants with the risk of development of CRC in Egypt. Asp299Gly variant, but not the Thr399Ile variant, may serve as a biomarker of this disease progression in Egyptian population.

Effect of folate supplementation on immunological and autophagy markers in experimental nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Chronic hepatic inflammation is an important pathogenic mediator of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) that contributes to disease severity. It is commonly suggested that autophagy dysfunction may be an underlying cause of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. However, the exact role of autophagy in lipid metabolism remains controversial. There has been a growing interest in the role of folate supplementation for the treatment and/or prevention of NAFLD. We aimed in this study to investigate the effects of different doses of folate supplementation on several immune markers and autophagy trying to explore the complex role of IL-22 and autophagy in NAFLD.

METHODS

Fifty Wistar rats were randomly separated into experimental (n = 40) and control groups (n = 10), which were fed for eight weeks with a high-fat diet (HFD) containing 40% fats or a standard diet, respectively. The experimental group was further subdivided into four subgroups where the first subgroup was left untreated while the other three were treated with different doses of folate (50, 100, and 150 μg/kg of body weight, respectively). At the end of the experimental period, animals from each group were sacrificed for blood and tissue analyses.

RESULTS

NAFLD rats showed decreased IL-22 serum levels and increased LC3B expression as compared to controls. Folate treatment was significantly associated with improvement in disease parameters, reduced presence of the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and CXCL8 and LC3B expression, and increased IL-22 levels in a dose-dependent manner.

CONCLUSION

These results highlight the capacity of folate to modulate the production of several pro-inflammatory cytokines and autophagy thereby having a favorable impact disease progression.

Th17/Treg cells imbalance and their related cytokines (IL-17, IL-10 and TGF-β) in children with autism spectrum disorder

We aimed in this study to investigate a possible involvement of Th17/Treg cells imbalance in autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Using flowcytometry to determine circulating Th17 and Treg cells percentages, RT- PCR and ELISA for cytokine expression, we demonstrated that Th17/Treg balance in ASD children was significantly skewed toward a Th17 response compared to their control. Th17 cells and the ratio of Th17/Treg cells had a significantly positive correlation with disease severity whereas Treg cells had a negative correlation. The imbalance of Th17, Treg cells and their related cytokines may play a vital role in the progression of the disease.