Association of Blastocystis hominis with colorectal cancer: A systematic review of in vitro and in vivo evidences

BACKGROUND

Recently, there have been several findings that showed intestinal colonisation of Blastocystis hominis (Blastocystis) as a risk factor to the worsening of colorectal cancer (CRC). However, studies have shown controversial results in the pathogenicity of Blastocystis.

AIM

To review systematically the evidence available on the association between CRC and Blastocystis and the prevalence of Blastocystis in CRC patients and to investigate cytopathic and immunological effects of Blastocystis in in vitro and in vivo studies.

METHODS

PRISMA guidelines were utilised in conducting this systematic review. Original articles published before February 2, 2020 were included. PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus and Google scholar databases were searched. Manual searching was carried out to find articles missed during the online search.

RESULTS

Out of 12 studies selected for this systematic review, seven studies confirmed the prevalence of Blastocystis and found it to be between 2%-28% in CRC patients, whereby subtype 1 and subtype 3 were predominantly seen. A total of four studies employing in vitro human colorectal carcinoma cell line study models showed significant cytopathic and immunological effects of Blastocystis. In addition, one in vivo experimental animal model study showed that there was a significant effect of infection with Blastocystis on exacerbation of colorectal carcinogenesis.

CONCLUSION

Blastocystis is a commonly identified microorganism in CRC patients. These studies have provided supportive data that Blastocystis could exacerbate existing CRC via alteration in host immune response and increased oxidative damage. Future studies of CRC and Blastocystis should attempt to determine the various stages of CRC that are most likely to be associated with Blastocystis and its relationship with other intestinal bacteria.

How mycobacterium tuberculosis infection could lead to the increasing risks of chronic fatigue syndrome and the potential immunological effects: a population-based retrospective cohort study

Background

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) has been shown to be associated with infections. Tuberculosis (TB) is a highly prevalent infectious disease. Patients with chronic fatigue syndrome and post-tuberculosis experience similar symptoms. Furthermore, chronic fatigue syndrome and tuberculosis share similar plasma immunosignatures. This study aimed to clarify the risk of chronic fatigue syndrome following the diagnosis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection (MTI), by analyzing the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan.

Methods

7666 patients aged 20 years or older with newly diagnosed Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection during 2000–2011 and 30,663 participants without Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection were identified. Both groups were followed up until the diagnoses of chronic fatigue syndrome were made at the end of 2011.

Results

The relationship between Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and the subsequent risk of chronic fatigue syndrome was estimated through Cox proportional hazards regression analysis, with the incidence density rates being 3.04 and 3.69 per 1000 person‐years among the non‐Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection populations, respectively (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] = 1.23, with 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03–1.47). In the stratified analysis, the Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection group were consistently associated with a higher risk of chronic fatigue syndrome in the male sex (HR = 1.27, 95% CI 1.02–1.58) and age group of ≥ 65 years old (HR = 2.50, 95% CI 1.86–3.38).

Conclusions

The data from this population‐based retrospective cohort study revealed that Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection is associated with an elevated risk of subsequent chronic fatigue syndrome.

Immunological effect of irreversible electroporation on hepatocellular carcinoma

Background

This study intends to investigate the immunological effects of tumor ablation with irreversible electroporation (IRE).

Methods

We evaluated the systemic immune response in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after IRE treatment. Furthermore, we analyzed the tumor infiltrating T lymphocytes and the level of serum cytokines in IRE and control groups of tumor-bearing mice.

Results

We observed that IRE induced an increase in WBC, neutrophil and monocyte counts and a decrease in lymphocyte count 1 day post-IRE and returned to baseline values within 7 days in the patients. Meanwhile, circulating CD4⁺ T cell subsets, but not CD8⁺, decreased 1 day post-IRE. The activated T cells and natural killer (NK) cells increased, and regulatory T (Treg) cells decreased. Furthermore, a significant increase in cytotoxic CD8⁺ T cells infiltration was observed on ablative tumors in mice. The level of serum IFN-γ also significantly increased in the IRE group.

Conclusions

Our study demonstrated that IRE upregulated activated T cells and downregulated Tregs in the peripheral blood of patients. Meanwhile, the results from the animal model indicated that IRE could induce antitumor adaptive immunity dominated by the infiltration of cytotoxic CD8⁺ T cells into the tumors, accompanied by reduced Tregs.

[Influencing factors of antiretroviral therapy and its association with immunological effect among HIV/AIDS patients in Taizhou city, 2006-2019]

Objective: To analyze influencing factors of instant antiretroviral therapy (ART) and explore associution between strategies of ART and immunological effects among HIV/AIDS patients in Taizhou city during 2006-2019. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on HIV/AIDS patients under ART, and a logistic regression model was used to analyze factors of instant ART. The student t-test and chi-square test were used to compare immunological effect of different ART strategies while the Kaplan-Meier method was used to generate a survival curve. Results: A total of 2 971 HIV/AIDS patients were enrolled with 1 786 cases (60.1%) having instant ART strategy. The proportion of instant ART were 77.8% (1 170/1 504) during 2016 to 2019. The treatment success rate of the instant ART group (87.4%, 1 561/1 786) were higher than the delayed ART group (84.4%, 1 000/1 185). The results of multivariate logistic regression model indicated that male (aOR=1.28, 95%CI: 1.03-1.59), married (aOR=1.71, 95%CI: 1.33-2.19) and baseline CD(4)(+)T lymphocyte cells (CD(4)) counts ≤200 cells/μl (aOR=1.60, 95%CI: 1.27-2.02) were factors positively related to instant ART while 31-40 years old (aOR=0.63, 95%CI: 0.48-0.84), infected through heterosexual transmission(aOR=0.60, 95%CI: 0.49-0.74) and diagnosed before 2015 (aOR=0.20, 95%CI: 0.17-0.23) were inversely related to instant ART. The increase of the CD(4)/CD(8) ratio was greater, and the cumulative ART success rate was higher each year in the instant ART group than in the delayed ART group (P<0.05). Conclusions: The instant ART strategy has been well implemented in Taizhou city during 2006-2019, and the immunological effect was better in instant ART group. The proportion of instant ART were more than 60.0% among HIV/AIDS patients. Instant ART strategy needs to be strengthened for those who are 31-40 years old, women, unmarried, and infected through heterosexual transmission in an attempt to further increase treatment level and improve treatment effect.

Antioxidant activity of phenolic extracts from different cultivars of Italian onion (Allium cepa) and relative human immune cell proliferative induction

CONTEXT

The total antioxidant activity (TAC) may vary considerably between onion cultivars. Immunological effects of onion phenolic compounds are still underestimated.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study is to determine the total phenol content (TPC) and the relative TAC of three Allium cepa L. (Liliaceae) onion cultivars cultivated in Cannara (Italy): Rossa di Toscana, Borettana di Rovato, and Dorata di Parma, and to evaluate the phenol extracts ability to induce human immune cell proliferation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

TPC was determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu method, TAC with FRAP, TEAC/ABTS, and DPPH methods. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy human donors were incubated for 24 h at 37 °C with 1 ng/mL of phenolic extract in PBS, immunostained, and then analyzed by 4-color flow cytometry for the phenotypic characterization of T helper cells (CD4+ cells), cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CD8+ cells), T regulatory cells (CD25high CD4+ cells), and natural killer cells/monocytes (CD16+ cells).

RESULTS

Rossa di Toscana displayed the highest TPC (6.61 ± 0.87 mg GA equivalents/g onion bulb DW) and the highest TAC with the experienced methods: FRAP, 9.19 ± 2.54 μmol Trolox equivalents/g onion bulb DW; TEAC/ABTS, 21.31 ± 0.41 μmol Trolox equivalents/g onion bulb DW; DPPH, 22.90 ± 0.01 μmol Trolox equivalents/g onion bulb DW. Incubation with Rossa di Toscana extract determined an increase in the frequency of the antitumor/anti-infection NK CD16+ immune cells (23.0 ± 0.4%).

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

Content of health-promoting phenols and the deriving antioxidant and immunostimulating activity vary considerably among the investigated cultivars. Rossa di Toscana can be considered as a potential functional food.

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.

Novel insights for high mobility group box 1 protein-mediated cellular immune response in sepsis: A systemic review

BACKGROUND

High mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1) is a highly conserved, ubiquitous protein in the nuclei and cytoplasm of nearly all cell types. HMGB1 is secreted into the extracellular milieu and acts as a proinfl ammatory cytokine. In this article we reviewed briefl y the cellular immune response mediated by HMGB1 in infl ammation and sepsis.

METHODS

This systemic review is mainly based on our own work and other related reports.

RESULTS

HMGB1 can actively affect the immune functions of many types of cells including T lymphocytes, regulatory T cells (Tregs), dendritic cells (DCs), macrophages, and natural killer cells (NK cells). Various cellular responses can be mediated by HMGB1 which binds to cell-surface receptors [e.g., the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE), Toll-like receptor (TLR)2, and TLR4]. Anti-HMGB1 treatment, such as anti-HMGB1 polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies, inhibitors (e.g., ethyl pyruvate) and antagonists (e.g., A box), can protect against sepsis lethality and give a wider window for the treatment opportunity.

CONCLUSION

HMGB1 is an attractive target for the development of new therapeutic strategies in the treatment of patients with septic complications.