Regulatory T Cells in Immunologic Self-Tolerance and Autoimmune Disease

Naturally arising CD25⁺CD4⁺ regulatory T cells play key roles in the maintenance of immunologic self-tolerance and negative control of various immune responses. The majority, if not all, of them are produced by the normal thymus as a functionally distinct T-cell subpopulation, and their generation is in part developmentally controlled. Genetic abnormality in the development and function of this population can indeed be a cause of autoimmune disease, immunopathology, and allergy in humans. This regulatory population can be exploited to prevent and treat autoimmune disease by strengthening and reestablishing immunologic self-tolerance.     

Association between PD-1/PD-L1 and T regulate cells in early recurrent miscarriage

In this study, we try to testify the relationship between the programmed cell death receptor-1 (PD-1)/programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) passway and Treg cells in maternal-fetal immune regulation through PD-1 blockade on lymphocytes of normal early pregnancy in vitro and investigation of the PD-1 and PD-L1 changes in early recurrent miscarriage patients. CD4+ CD25+ Treg cells and PD-1 (CD279) positive cell were detected in deciduas in early recurrent miscarriage patients by flow cytometry. And the normal early pregnant women were as controls. Meanwhile the mRNA level of PD-1 and molecular expression of PD-L1 in deciduas of early recurrent miscarriage patients were detected by real time RT-PCR test and Immunohistochemical staining respectively. Also through antibody blocking assay to block PD-1 on lymphocytes of normal early pregnancy in vitro further testify the relationship between PD-1/PD-L1 and Treg cells, the results were analyzed by flow cytometry. CD4+ CD25+ Treg cells decreased both in deciduas in RM (P < 0.05), and for all almost 100% Treg cells (CD4+ CD25+) expressed PD-1, but there was no difference between the PD-1 positive cells in decidual lymphocytes in RM and that in normal pregnancy women (P > 0.05). PD-L1 mRNA in deciduas decreased in RM (P < 0.001), but PD-1 mRNA no difference (P > 0.1). After PD-1 blockade there was no change in CD4+ CD25+ Treg cells percentage, while the CD4+ T cell percentage increased (P < 0.01), as well as the level of IFN-gamma in cells supernatant (P < 0.01). PD-1 blockade has a little influence on the number of Treg cells, and may lead to impaired Treg cells function, the decrease of PD-L1 may closely relates to the occurrence of early recurrent miscarriage and implies that Treg cells may through PD-1/PD-L1 pathway play a role of immunosuppression regulation, and the impairment of Treg cells function in recurrent early abortion cases may be due to PD-L1 decrease in deciduas or trophoblast cells rather than PD-1 change.     

Analysis of serum cytokine levels in children with chronic cough associated with Toxocara canis infection

Toxocara infection is associated with an increased prevalence of airway symptoms and may be a possible aetiologic agent of chronic cough. The occurrence of toxocariasis in Hungary is mild and/or sporadic. The purpose of this study was to investigate the levels of serum cytokines (IL‐1, IL‐2, IL‐4, IL‐5, IL‐6, IL‐10, IL‐13, IFN‐gamma and TNF‐alpha) and total IgE, the blood eosinophil count, the results of skin prick and non‐specific bronchus provocation tests in Toxocara‐seropositive children with chronic cough relative to those in healthy controls. The patients exhibited moderate eosinophilia, significantly elevated levels of serum total IgE, IL‐6, IL‐10, IL‐13 and IFN‐gamma, and higher skin reactivity to common allergens, whereas the bronchial hyperreactivity was similar in the two groups. The protective proinflammatory cytokines (IL‐6, IFN‐gamma and IL‐13) in association with the anti‐inflammatory cytokine (IL‐10) were simultaneously increased in Toxocara‐infected children with chronic cough. During infections, the activation and suppression of immune processes occur simultaneously and cytokines of Th1/Th2 and regulatory T cells contribute to the regulation of the immune response evoked by helminth infections (depending on the parasite load, the timing and duration of the infection and the status of the host immune system).     

基于网络药理学的疏风解毒胶囊抗炎和免疫调节作用机制研究

目的探索疏风解毒胶囊抗炎和免疫调节的网络调控机制。方法选取疏风解毒胶囊中的28个化合物为研究对象,依据反向药效团匹配方法预测化合物的作用靶点,借助MAS 3.0生物分子功能软件及京都基因与基因组百科全书(KEGG)数据库对获得靶点进行基因本体(gene ontology,GO)功能富集分析、信号通路分析,利用Cytoscape软件构建网络药理图。结果 28个化合物可通过127个靶点作用于112条通路,其中41个蛋白靶点和22条通路与抗炎和免疫调节相关,得到疏风解毒胶囊化合物-靶点-通路-病理过程网络图。结论疏风解毒胶囊通过作用于HRAS、MAP2K1、AKT1、MME和PTPN1等关键蛋白,干预了多个与抗炎和免疫调节相关的生物过程,初步揭示了其作用机制。     

淫羊藿治疗类风湿关节炎作用机制的网络药理学分析

目的运用网络药理学方法探讨淫羊藿治疗类风湿关节炎(RA)的作用机制。方法利用中药系统药理学技术平台(TCMSP)数据库收集淫羊藿的主要活性成分及其作用靶点;通过GeneCards、OMIM等数据库获取RA相关疾病靶点。取淫羊藿活性成分靶点与RA疾病靶点的交集基因(共同靶点),作为淫羊藿对RA作用的潜在关键靶点基因。将交集基因上传至String数据库,构建淫羊藿活性成分与RA疾病的共同靶点蛋白互作(PPI)网络,并根据其度值筛选出核心靶点。借助DAVID分析平台对共同靶点进行基因本体(GO)分析和京都基因与基因组百科全书(KEGG)通路富集分析。结果共获得淫羊藿活性成分23个,共同靶蛋白即关键靶标72个。重要活性成分包括槲皮素(Quercetin)、木犀草素(Luteolin)、山萘酚(Kaempferol)等;核心靶点包括白细胞介素6(IL-6)、血管内皮生长因子A(VEGFA)、半胱氨酸蛋白酶3(CASP3)、表皮生长因子受体(EGFR)、丝裂原活化蛋白激酶8(MAPK8)等;KEGG主要通路富集在肿瘤坏死因子(TNF)信号通路、磷脂酰肌醇3激酶/蛋白激酶B(PI3K-Akt)信号通路、促乳素(Prolactin)信号通路、甲状腺激素(Thyroid hormone)信号通路、缺氧诱导因子1(HIF-1)信号通路等。结论淫羊藿可能主要通过多成分、多靶点、多通路,从调节炎症、免疫等多方面发挥对类风湿关节炎的治疗作用。     

The initial phase of graft‐versus‐host disease is associated with a decrease of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells in the peripheral blood of patients after allogeneic stem cell transplantation

The mechanisms that induce and control the alloimmune inflammation of graft‐versus‐host disease (GvHD) after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo‐SCT) are still incompletely understood. In the murine system, GvHD can be suppressed by CD4⁺CD25⁺ regulatory T cells (TREG), which are generally involved in the suppression of inflammatory reactions. A disruption of the homeostasis between TREG and conventional T cells might therefore be associated with the inflammatory reactions of GvHD. We repetitively measured the frequency of TREG in the peripheral blood of 29 patients within the first 71–373 days after allo‐SCT and correlated the results with the clinical course. We demonstrate that the initial phase of GvHD is associated with a significant reduction of TREG in the peripheral blood, while at later stages and during intensified immunosuppressive therapy, increased numbers of TREG appear. These results might indicate a pathogenic role for reduced numbers of TREG in the induction of human GvHD.     

T-cells producing multiple combinations of IFNγ, TNF and IL10 are associated with mild forms of dengue infection

Multifunctional interleukin 10 (IL10)⁺Th1 cells have been implicated in favorable evolution of many infectious diseases, promoting an efficacious immune response while limiting immunopathology. Here, we investigated the presence of multifunctional CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T-cells that expressed interferon gamma (IFNγ), IL10 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF), or its combinations during dengue infection. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from outpatients with dengue (mild dengue forms) and hospitalized patients (or patients with dengue with warning signs and severe dengue) were cultured in the presence of envelope (ENV) or NS3 peptide libraries of DENV during critical (hospitalization period) and convalescence phases. The production of IFNγ, IL10 and TNF by CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T-cells was assessed by flow cytometry. Our data show that patients with mild dengue, when compared with patients with dengue with warning signs and severe dengue, presented higher frequencies of multifunctional T-cells like NS3-specific IFNγ/IL10-producing CD4⁺ T-cells in critical phase and NS3- and ENV-specific CD8⁺ T-cells producing IFNγ/IL10. In addition, NS3-specific CD8⁺ T-cells producing high levels of IFNγ/TNF and IFNγ/TNF/IL10 were also observed in the mild dengue group. We observed that multifunctional T-cells produced higher levels of cytokines as measured by intracellular content when compared with single producer T-cells. Importantly, multifunctional CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T-cells producing IFNγ, TNF and IL10 simultaneously displayed positive correlation with platelet levels, suggesting a protective role of this population. The presence of IL10⁺Th1 and IL10⁺Tc1 multifunctional cells was associated with mild dengue presentation, suggesting that these cells play a role in clinical evolution of dengue infection.