IL-33 Orchestrated the Interaction and Immunoregulatory Functions of Alternatively Activated Macrophages and Regulatory T Cells In Vitro

Our group has previously demonstrated elevated serum-soluble ST2 in patients with active systemic lupus erythematosus, suggesting a role of IL-33 in the underlying pathogenesis. However, inconsistent results have been reported on the effect of exogenous IL-33 on murine lupus activity, which may be mediated by concerted actions of various immune cells in vivo. This study aimed to examine the function of IL-33 on macrophage polarization and regulatory T cells (Treg) and their interactive effects in the lupus setting by in vitro coculture experiments of macrophages and T cells that were performed in the presence or absence of IL-33-containing medium. Compared to IL-4-polarized bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM) from MRL/MpJ mice, adding IL-33 enhanced mRNA expression of markers of alternatively activated macrophages, including CD206 and Arg1. IL-33 and IL-4 copolarized BMDM produced higher TGF-β but not IL-6 upon inflammatory challenge. These BMDM induced an increase in the Foxp3+CD25+ Treg population in cocultured allogeneic T cells from MRL/MpJ and predisease MRL/lpr mice. These copolarized BMDM also showed an enhanced suppressive effect on T cell proliferation with reduced IFN-γ and IL-17 release but increased TGF-β production. In the presence of TGF-β and IL-2, IL-33 also directly promoted inducible Treg that expressed a high level of CD25 and more sustained Foxp3. Unpolarized BMDM cocultured with these Treg displayed higher phagocytosis. In conclusion, TGF-β was identified as a key cytokine produced by IL-4 and IL-33 copolarized alternatively activated macrophages and the induced Treg, which may contribute to a positive feedback loop potentiating the immunoregulatory functions of IL-33.

Interleukin-33 Ameliorates Murine Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Is Associated with Induction of M2 Macrophage Polarisation and Regulatory T Cells

The innate cytokine IL-33 is increasingly recognised to possess biological effects on various immune cells. We have previously demonstrated elevated serum level of soluble ST2 in patients with active systemic lupus erythematosus suggesting involvement of IL-33 and its receptor in the lupus pathogenesis. This study sought to examine the effect of exogenous IL-33 on disease activity of pre-disease lupus-prone mice and the underlying cellular mechanisms. Recombinant IL-33 was administered to MRL/lpr mice for 6 weeks, whereas control group received phosphate-buffered saline. IL-33-treated mice displayed less proteinuria, renal histological inflammatory changes, and had lower serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines including IL-6 and TNF-α. Renal tissue and splenic CD11b+ extracts showed features of M2 polarisation with elevated mRNA expression of Arg1, FIZZI, and reduced iNOS. These mice also had increased IL-13, ST2, Gata3, and Foxp3 mRNA expression in renal and splenic tissues. Kidneys of these mice displayed less CD11b+ infiltration, had downregulated MCP-1, and increased infiltration of Foxp3-expressing cells. Splenic CD4+ T cells showed increased ST2-expressing CD4+Foxp3+ population and reduced IFN-γ+ population. There were no differences in serum anti-dsDNA antibodies and renal C3 and IgG2a deposit in these mice. Exogenous IL-33 was found to ameliorate disease activity in lupus-prone mice with induction of M2 polarisation, Th2 response, and expansion of regulatory T cells. IL-33 likely orchestrated autoregulation of these cells through upregulation of ST2 expression.

Recommending Inequality? Patterns of US Healthcare Providers' HPV Vaccine Recommendations

Purpose: Infrequent provider recommendations continue to be a key barrier to human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination, including among adolescents at higher risk for future HPV cancers. To inform future provider- training programs, our study sought to synthesize the findings of existing studies of disparities in provider recommendation of HPV vaccination among adolescents. Methods: We conducted a systematic review of studies that quantitatively assessed the prevalence of provider recommendation of HPV vaccination among US parents of adolescents aged 9–17. We excluded studies that were not empirical, not peer-reviewed, or collected data before 2012. Following PRISMA guidelines, two independent coders extracted and screened 3,158 unique titles and abstracts from multiple databases. Next, two independent coders reviewed the full text of eligible studies, systematically collecting data using a standardized abstraction form. We resolved coding disagreements via discussion with the whole team. Results: Fifty-four of 252 reviewed studies met eligibility criteria, including 33 studies of parents and 21 studies of providers. Parental report of receiving a provider recommendation for HPV vaccination ranged from 22% to 78%. These studies most often assessed disparities by adolescents' sex, with almost all finding that provider recommendations were less common for boys vs. girls. Most studies of provider reports confirmed disparate recommendations by sex. Fewer studies stratified recommendation disparities by income or race/ethnicity; these studies found that recommendations were less common among lower-income households, but reported mixed findings by race/ethnicity. Geographic assessments found variation across states and urbanicity, with recommendations being lower including in some Southern states and in rural areas. Conclusion: Findings suggest differences in provider recommendation by sex, household income, geography, and possibly race/ethnicity, in spite of national guidelines for routine HPV vaccination. National efforts to improve provider communication about HPV vaccination should focus on improving recommendation consistency, especially for populations such as lower-income and rural adolescents who are at higher risk for future HPV cancers.

The association between serum prolactin levels and interleukin-6 and systemic lupus erythematosus activity

Based on the recent evidence of association between hyperprolactinemia and systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity (SLEDAI), a study was conducted to analyze the association of hyperprolactinemia with lupus nephritis disease activity. In this cross-sectional study, the analysis was conducted on SLE patients who visited the University Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC) Nephrology Clinic from August 2015 till February 2016. The disease activity was measured using the SLEDAI score, with more than 4 indicating active lupus nephritis. Basal resting prolactin level was analyzed in 43 patients with lupus nephritis, in 27.9% of them had raised serum prolactin. The median of serum prolactin level at 0 minutes was 19.91 ng/mL (IQR: 15.95-22.65 ng/ mL) for active lupus nephritis, which was significantly higher compared to the median of serum prolactin level of 14.34 ng/mL (IQR: 11.09-18.70 ng/mL) for patients in remission (p=0.014). The serum prolactin level positively correlated with SLEDAI (rhos: 0.449, p=0.003) and the UPCI level in lupus nephritis patients (rhos: 0.241, p=0.032). The results were reproduced when the serum prolactin was repeated after 30 minutes. However, the serum prolactin levels at 0 minutes were higher than those taken after 30 minutes (p=0.001). An assessment of serum IL-6 levels found that the active lupus nephritis patients had a higher median level of 65.91 pg/ mL (IQR: 21.96-146.14 pg/mL) compared to the in-remission level of 15.84 pg/mL (IQR: 8.38-92.84 pg/mL), (p=0.039). Further correlation analysis revealed that there was no statistical correlation between the interleukin (IL)-6 levels with serum prolactin, SLEDAI and other lupus nephritis parameters. An ROC curve analysis of serum prolactin at 0 minutes and serum prolactin after 30 minutes and IL-6 levels for prediction of SLE disease activity provided the cutoff value of serum prolactin at 0 minutes, which was 14.63 ng/mL with a sensitivity of 91.7% and specificity of 58.1% and AUC of 0.74 (p=0.015). This study concurred with the previous findings that stated that hyperprolactinemia is prevalent in SLE patients and correlated with clinical disease activity and UPCI level. The baseline of the fasting serum prolactin level was found to be a sensitive biomarker for the evaluation of lupus nephritis disease activity.

Fabrication and electrochemical properties of hemisphere structured 3D Li(Li0.2Mn0.54Co0.13Ni0.13)O2 cathode thin film for all-solid-state lithium battery

The Li[Li0.2Mn0.54Ni0.13Co0.13]O2 cathode thin films were deposited on planar, hemisphere, linked hemisphere, and isolated hemisphere structured Pt current collector thin films to investigate the effect of 3-dimensional (3-D) structure for the electrochemical properties of active cathode thin films. The films of linked hemisphere structure shows the highest initial discharge capacity of 140 microA h/cm2-microm which is better than those of planar (62 microA h/cm2-microm), hemisphere (94.6 microA h/cm2-microm), and isolated hemisphere (135 microA h/cm2-microm) films due to increase of surface area for cathode thin films. Linked hemisphere shows the biggest capacity and the best retention rate because 6 nanobridges of each hemisphere bring strong connection.

[The changes of right ventricular function in the course of COPD induced cor pulmonale]

A study on pulmonary hemodynamics, radionuclide right ventricular ejection fraction and blood gas analysis in 62 cases of COPD induced cor pulmonale at different stages showed the following results: 1. In early stage of cor pulmonale, stroke volume could not increase after exercise, it proved that cardiac reserve has been reduced; 2. With the progression of the disease, cardiac stroke volume reduced but cardiac output increased gradually, it could be considered as the evolutionary characteristic of cardiac function in chronic cor pulmonale; 3. The right ventricular stroke work was normal and could increase with the rise of after-load, reflecting the relatively effective functional compensation; 4. In acute exacerbation of cor pulmonale, the cardiac failure should be attributed to hyperdynamic type with hypervolemia; 5. Correlation analyses suggested that cardiac output decreased along with the increase of right ventricular afterload only in acute exacerbation of late cor pulmonale; PaO2 and PaCO2 have only slight influence on right ventricular function.

Appearance of exogenous epidermal growth factor in liver, bile, and intestinal lumen of suckling rats

This study was performed to investigate the distribution and the degradation of IV administered [125I]rat epidermal growth factor (rEGF) in the liver and gastrointestinal tract of suckling rats. The bile duct of anesthetized rats was cannulated, and [125I]rEGF was injected (with or without 2500-fold excess unlabeled rEGF) into the femoral vein. After 5, 30, 60, and 120 minutes, the radioactivity in the liver, stomach, small intestine, blood, kidney, bile, and luminal contents of the stomach and small intestine was measured. The extracted radioactivity was then analyzed by immunoaffinity chromatography and binding to EGF-specific receptors. High levels of radioactivity were found in the liver (57% of total administered) and small intestine (10%) at 5 minutes, which gradually decreased. On the contrary, radioactivity secreted in the bile and luminal contents of the small intestine increased with time. The radioactivity in the bile represented 2.4% and 4.5% of the total administered at 60 and 120 minutes, respectively. During the first 60 minutes, more than 90% of the radioactivity in the liver, small intestine, bile, and intestinal contents was immunoreactive. Thirty-four to seventy percent of the radio-activity in the bile and liver and 20%-41% of radioactivity in the small intestinal wall and contents were capable of binding to EGF-specific receptors. Radioactivity detected in the liver, bile, small intestine, and intestinal contents was profoundly reduced by the coinjection excess of unlabeled EGF. These studies show that IV administered [125I]rEGF is rapidly taken up by the liver and the gastrointestinal tract and secreted into the bile and intestinal luminal contents of suckling rats in form(s) capable of binding to anti-EGF antibody and EGF-specific receptors. The uptake and secretion by the liver and the small intestine appear to be receptor mediated.

Trenbolone alters the responsiveness of skeletal muscle satellite cells to fibroblast growth factor and insulin-like growth factor I

The potential role of satellite cells in mediating the effect of trenbolone [17 beta-hydroxyestra-4,9-11-trien-3-one (TBOH)] on skeletal muscle hypertrophy was examined. Young female Sprague-Dawley rats received TBOH injections daily for 2 weeks; growth, body composition, and the composition of selected muscles were assessed. Treated rats grew more rapidly and deposited less body lipid and more protein. The semimembranosus muscle from treated rats was larger and had approximately 60% more DNA per muscle than muscles from control rats. The addition of trenbolone directly to the medium of cultured satellite cells did not stimulate cell proliferation, nor did it augment the stimulatory response of these cells to fibroblast growth factor (FGF) or insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I). In contrast, satellite cells cultured from TBOH-treated rats exhibited greater proliferative responses to FGF and IGF-I than satellite cells from control rats. In addition, serum from TBOH-treated rats stimulated greater cell proliferation in satellite cell cultures than serum from control rats. These experiments suggest that one possible mechanism responsible for the ability of TBOH to stimulate skeletal muscle hypertrophy may be through enhanced proliferation and differentiation of satellite cells as a result of the increased sensitivity of these cells to IGF-I and FGF.