Innate immunity and vaccine

Immune adjuvant is an artificial pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMP) for potentiating various immune responses. Vaccine represents one event that is capable of inducing immune response caused by antigen and PAMP stimuli, which act on antigen-presenting dendritic cells (mDCs). Here, we introduce the pathways by which CTL and NK cells are driven through mDC maturation in response to adjuvants.     

Differential activation of host cell signalling pathways through infection with two variants of influenza A/Puerto Rico/8/34 (H1N1) in MDCK cells

In cell culture-based influenza vaccine production, few efforts have been undertaken to characterise virus–host cell interactions in detail. Two influenza virus strains that grew to different virus titres, and differed in virus dynamics, apoptosis induction and proteome changes were observed.     

TLR3对NF-κB信号通路的调控在肿瘤中的意义

核因子κB(Nuclear factor-kappa B,NF-κB)是转录因子Rel蛋白家族成员,在所有细胞中都有表达,参与细胞重要的生理、病理过程,具有复杂的调控机制,而TLR3对NF-κB信号通路的调控作为当前研究的热点,受到广泛的关注。本文对此进行综述,重点阐明其调控的分子机制,总结调控中相关信号分子所介导的宿主免疫反应在肿瘤发生发展中的作用,揭示该调控中的一些关键蛋白作为治疗靶点对于疾病治疗的重大意义,从而对肿瘤组织功能性和多样性有更多的理解。     

Epigenetic modulation of macrophage polarization- perspectives in diabetic wounds

Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder that poses a global burden to healthcare. Increasing incidence of diabetes-related complications in the affected population includes a delay in wound healing that often results in non-traumatic limb amputations. Owing to the intricacies of the healing process and crosstalk between the multitude of participating cells, the identification of hyperglycaemia-induced changes at both cellular and molecular levels poses a challenge. Macrophages are one of the key participants in wound healing and continue to exert functional changes at the wound site since the time of injury. In the present review, we discuss the role of these cells and their aberrant functions in diabetic wounds. We have extensively studied the process of macrophage polarization (MP) and its modulation through epigenetic modifications. Data from both pre-clinical and clinical studies on diabetes have co-related hyperglycaemia induced changes in gene expression to an increased incidence of diabetic complications. Hyperglycaemia and oxidative stress, create an environment prone to changes in the epigenetic code, that is manifested as an altered inflammatory gene expression. Here, we have attempted to understand the different epigenetic modulations that possibly contribute towards dysregulated MP, resulting in delayed wound healing.     

Effects of TLR agonists and viral infection on cytokine and TLR expression in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)

The development of efficient and cheap vaccines against several aquatic viruses is necessary for a sustainable fish farming industry. Toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands have already been used as good adjuvants in human vaccines. With more understanding of TLR expression, function, and ligand specificity in fish, more efficient adjuvants for fish viral vaccines can be developed. In this paper, we examine all known TLRs in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and demonstrate that head kidney and spleen are the main organs expressing TLRs in salmon. We also show that adherent head kidney leucocytes from salmon are able to respond to many of the known agonists for human TLRs, and that viral infection can induce up-regulation of several TLRs. These findings substantiate these receptors’ role in immune responses to pathogens in salmonids making their ligands attractive as vaccine adjuvant candidates.     

Dendritic cells in host response to biologic scaffolds

Tissue regeneration and repair require a highly complex and orchestrated series of events that require inflammation, but can be compromised when inflammation is excessive or becomes chronic. Macrophages are one of the first cells to contact and respond to implanted materials, and mediate the inflammatory response. The series of events following macrophage association with biomaterials has been well-studied. Dendritic cells (DCs) also directly interact with biomaterials, are critical for specific immune responses, and can be activated in response to interactions with biomaterials. Yet, much less is known about the responses by DCs. This review discusses what we know about DC response to biomaterials, the underlying mechanisms involved, and how DCs can be influenced by the macrophage response to biomaterials. Lastly, I will discuss how biomaterials can be manipulated to enhance or suppress DC function to promote a specific desirable immune response – a major goal for implantable biologically active therapeutics.     

人参皂苷Rb1介导TLR3/TRIF信号通路对哮喘大鼠的抗炎作用机制

目的探讨人参皂苷Rb1介导Toll样受体(TLR)3/β干扰素TIR结构域衔接蛋白(TRIF)信号通路对哮喘大鼠模型抗炎作用的影响。方法80只SD大鼠随机分成5组:对照组、模型组、地塞米松组(1 mg/kg)、人参皂苷Rb1低剂量组(100 mg/kg)、人参皂苷Rb1高剂量组(200 mg/kg),每组16只。模型组、地塞米松组、人参皂苷Rb1低、高剂量组建立哮喘大鼠模型,建模成功后地塞米松组、人参皂苷Rb1低、高剂量组给予相应药物灌胃,对照组及模型组给予等量的生理盐水灌胃,每天1次,连续给药14 d。末次给药后24 h,测定大鼠血液淋巴细胞、嗜酸性粒细胞、中性粒细胞、动脉血氧分压(PaO₂)水平,计算大鼠肺/体比值,苏木素-伊红(HE)染色观察肺组织病理学变化,实时荧光定量PCR及蛋白免疫印迹法测定大鼠肺组织中TLR3、TRIF mRNA和蛋白表达水平。结果与对照组比较,模型组大鼠肺/体比值、淋巴细胞、嗜酸性粒细胞、中性粒细胞水平、TLR3、TRIF mRNA和蛋白表达水平明显升高,PaO₂水平明显降低(P<0.05);与模型组比较,地塞米松组、人参皂苷Rb1低、高剂量组大鼠肺/体比值、淋巴细胞、嗜酸性粒细胞、中性粒细胞水平、TLR3、TRIF mRNA和蛋白表达水平降低,PaO₂水平升高(P<0.05);且人参皂苷Rb1高剂量组大鼠肺/体比值、淋巴细胞、嗜酸性粒细胞、中性粒细胞水平、TLR3、TRIF mRNA和蛋白表达水平低于人参皂苷Rb1低剂量组,PaO₂水平高于人参皂苷Rb1低剂量组(P<0.05);与地塞米松组比较,人参皂苷Rb1低剂量组大鼠肺/体比值、淋巴细胞、嗜酸性粒细胞、中性粒细胞水平、TLR3、TRIF mRNA和蛋白表达升高,PaO₂水平降低(P<0.05);人参皂苷Rb1高剂量组与地塞米松组上述指标差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论人参皂苷Rb1能够减轻哮喘模型大鼠肺部炎症反应,其机制可能与人参皂苷Rb1抑制哮喘大鼠肺部TLR3、TRIF mRNA和蛋白表达水平进而抑制TLR3/TRIF信号通路的激活有关。