The peripheral immune cell counts and mouth ulcers: A two-sample Mendelian randomization study

Objective

This study explored the causal association of peripheral immune cell counts with mouth ulcers (MUs) by two-sample Mendelian Randomization.

Design

The counts of 12 circulating immune cell types (leukocytes, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, neutrophils, basophils, CD4+ cells, CD8+ cells, unswitched memory B cells, NK cells, B cells and a derived ratio (CD4+/CD8+)) were determined as the exposure. MUs were the outcome. The analysis was conducted mostly using the inverse-variance weighted (IVW) approach. MR Egger, weighted median, weighted mode and simple mode were used to detect the horizontal pleiotropy.

Results

The IVW results for leukocytes and lymphocyte counts were OR = 0.93, 95 % CI = 0.88-0.98, p = 0.0115 and OR = 0.91, 95 % CI: 0.84-0.98, p = 0.0150, respectively. The Wald ratio result for CD4+ cell and CD8+ cell counts were OR = 0.70, 95 % CI: 0.65-0.75, p = 1.05 × 10-20 and OR = 1.25, 95 % CI: 1.19-1.31, p = 9.99 × 10-21, respectively.

Conclusions

This study supports a causal effect of peripheral immune cell counts on MUs. Higher leukocyte, lymphocyte and CD4+ cell counts can protect against MUs, but higher CD8+ cell counts enhance the risk of MUs. This finding confirms host immune factors play a crucial role in the aetiology of MUs.

Treatment with Methotrexate and Intravenous Cyclophosphamide Pulse Therapy Regulates the P-gp+CD4+ Cell-related Pathogenesis in a Representative Patient with Refractory Proliferative Lupus Nephritis

Diffuse proliferative lupus nephritis (DPLN) is a serious organ complication. Drug resistance correlates with P-glycoprotein (P-gp) expression on activated lymphocytes. We encountered a refractory DPLN patient with expansion of peripheral CD69/CXCR3-co-expressing P-gp⁺CD4⁺ cells producing IL-2 and IL-6. Treatment with high-dose corticosteroid combined with biweekly intravenous cyclophosphamide pulse therapy (IVCY) failed to reduce the population of activated P-gp⁺CD4⁺ cells or control the disease activity. Methotrexate (MTX) with monthly IVCY reduced activated P-gp⁺CD4⁺ cells and improved the clinical symptoms, resulting in long-term remission and tapering of corticosteroids. MTX-IVCY combination therapy, which down-regulates the activated P-gp⁺CD4⁺ cell-mediated disease activity, may be useful for the treatment of refractory DPLN.

The In Ovo Delivery of CpG Oligonucleotides Protects against Infectious Bronchitis with the Recruitment of Immune Cells into the Respiratory Tract of Chickens

The in ovo delivery of cytosine-guanosine (CpG) oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) protects chickens against many bacterial and viral infections, by activating the toll-like receptor (TLR)21 signaling pathway. Although the delivery of CpG ODNs in ovo at embryo day (ED) 18 has been shown to reduce infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) loads in embryonic chicken lungs pre-hatch, whether in ovo delivered CpG ODNs are capable of protecting chickens against a post-hatch challenge is unknown. Thus, our objectives were to determine the protective effect of the in ovo delivery of CpG ODNs at ED 18 against IBV infection encountered post-hatch and, then, to investigate the mechanisms of protection. We found significantly higher survival rates and reduced IBV infection in the chickens following the pre-treatment of the ED 18 eggs with CpG ODNs. At 3 days post infection (dpi), we found an increased recruitment of macrophages, cluster of differentiation (CD)8α+ and CD4+ T lymphocytes, and an up-regulation of interferon (IFN)-γ mRNA in the respiratory tract of the chickens. Overall, it may be inferred that CpG ODNs, when delivered in ovo, provide protection against IBV infection induced morbidity and mortality with an enhanced immune response.

Immunological effect of aqueous extract of Vernonia amygdalina and a known immune booster called immunace(®) and their admixtures on HIV/AIDS clients: a comparative study

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the immunological effect of Vernonia amygdalina (V. amygdalina) leaf extract and immunace(®) on HIV infected patients taking highly active antiretroviral therapy.

METHODS

Fresh V. amygdalina leaves were collected within Nsukka area in Enugu State. The leaves were rinsed with distilled water. Two handful of cleaned fresh leaves were soaked in 200 mL water and squeezed gently by hand to a mixture. Clients were divided into four groups and each group was given different combination. They took the medication for four weeks. The immune effect was tested against marketed immune booster in some retroviral clients.

RESULTS

The mean absolute CD4 count was increased in the client who took the extract or supplement. And the clients who took both the extract and supplement had a greater increase in the CD4 count. The increased CD4 was significant as compared with the control group (P<0.05). The skin rashes were also improved in the entire groups.

CONCLUSIONS

It can be concluded that the aqueous extract of V. amygdalina and immunace or both have immunological effect on HIV infected patients. Therefore, we suggest that the V. amygdalina extract or immunace or both could be used as adjuvant in the management of HIV/AIDS clients.