Induction of innate immunity by Aspergillus fumigatus cell wall polysaccharides is enhanced by the composite presentation of chitin and beta-glucan

Chitin and β-glucan are conserved throughout evolution in the fungal cell wall and are the most common polysaccharides in fungal species. Together, these two polysaccharides form a structural scaffold that is essential for the survival of the fungus. In the present study, we demonstrated that Aspergillus fumigatus alkali-insoluble cell wall fragments (AIF), composed of chitin linked covalently to β-glucan, induced enhanced immune responses when compared with individual cell wall polysaccharides. Intranasal administration of AIF induced eosinophil and neutrophil recruitment, chitinase activity, TNF-α and TSLP production in mice lungs. Selective destruction of chitin or β-glucan from AIF significantly reduced eosinophil and neutrophil recruitment as well as chitinase activity and cytokine expression by macrophages, indicating the synergistic effect of the cell wall polysaccharides when presented together as a composite PAMP. We also showed that these cell wall polysaccharides induced chitin-specific IgM in mouse serum. Our in vivo and in vitro data indicate that chitin and β-glucan play important roles in activating innate immunity when presented as composite cell wall PAMPs.     

Trichothecene mycotoxins activate NLRP3 inflammasome through a P2X7 receptor and Src tyrosine kinase dependent pathway

Inflammasome is an intracellular molecular platform of the innate immunity that is a key mediator of inflammation. The inflammasome complex detects pathogens and different danger signals, and triggers cysteine protease caspase-1-dependent processing of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, and IL-18 in dendritic cells and macrophages. Previously, we have shown that water-damaged building associated trichothecene mycotoxins, including roridin A, trigger IL-1β and IL-18 secretion in human macrophages. However, the molecular basis as well as mechanism behind this trichothecene-induced cytokine secretion has remained uncharacterized. Here, we show that the trichothecene-induced IL-1β secretion is dependent on NLRP3 inflammasome in human primary macrophages. Pharmacological inhibition and small interfering RNA approach showed that the trichothecene-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation is mediated through ATP-gated P2X₇ receptor. Moreover, we show that trichothecene-triggered NLRP3 inflammasome activation is dependent on Src tyrosine kinase activity. In addition, gene silencing of c-Cbl, a negative autophagy-related regulator of c-Src, resulted in enhanced secretion of IL-1β and IL-18 in response to trichothecene mycotoxin stimulation in human macrophages. In conclusion, our results suggest that roridin A, a fungal trichothecene mycotoxin, acts as microbial danger signals that trigger activation of NLRP3 inflammasome through P2X₇R and Src tyrosine kinase signaling dependent pathway in human primary macrophages.     

Can Toll-Like Receptor (TLR) 2 be considered as a new target for immunotherapy against hepatitis B infection?

The current literature describes pivotal mechanisms in which hepatitis B virus (HBV) induces liver diseases including inflammation, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). It appears that differences in genetic and immunological parameters between patients and controls may be responsible for inducing the prolonged forms of the infection. Previous studies demonstrated that Toll-Like Receptors (TLRs) play key roles in viral recognition and inducing appropriate immune responses. Therefore, TLRs can be considered as key sensors for HBV recognition and subsequent induction of immune responses against this virus. It has also been shown that the TLR2 detects several microbial PAMPs either in its homodimer form or in a heterodimer with TLR1 or TLR6 and subsequently activates NF-κB in a MYD88 dependent manner. Therefore, defective TLR2 expression may result in impaired immune responses against HBV which is reported in long-term forms of hepatitis B. This review presents the recent data regarding the status and important roles played by TLR2 in HBV recognition and induction or suppression of immune responses against HBV as well as its roles in the pathogenesis of cirrhosis and HCC in prolonged hepatitis B forms.     

Genetic polymorphisms in the Toll-like receptor signalling pathway in Helicobacter pylori infection and related gastric cancer

Background

Gastric cancer (GC) is a progressive process initiated by Helicobacter pylori-induced inflammation. Initial recognition of H. pylori involves Toll-like receptors (TLRs), central molecules in the host inflammatory response. Here, we investigated the association between novel polymorphisms in genes involved in the TLR signalling pathway, including TLR2, TLR4, LBP, MD-2, CD14 and TIRAP, and risk of H. pylori infection and related GC.

Methods

A case-control study comprising 310 ethnic Chinese individuals (87 non-cardia GC cases and 223 controls with functional dyspepsia) was conducted. Twenty-five polymorphisms were detected by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, PCR, PCR–RFLP and real-time PCR.

Results

Seven polymorphisms showed significant associations with GC (TLR4 rs11536889, TLR4 rs10759931, TLR4 rs1927911, TLR4 rs10116253, TLR4 rs10759932, TLR4 rs2149356 and CD14 −260 C/T). In multivariate analyses, TLR4 rs11536889 remained a risk factor for GC (OR: 3.58, 95% CI: 1.20–10.65). TLR4 rs10759932 decreased the risk of H. pylori infection (OR: 0.59, 95% CI: 0.41–0.86). Statistical analyses assessing the joint effect of H. pylori infection and the selected polymorphisms revealed strong associations with GC (TLR2, TLR4, MD-2, LBP and TIRAP polymorphisms).

Conclusions

Novel polymorphisms in TLR2, TLR4, MD-2, LBP, CD14 and TIRAP, genes encoding important molecules of the TLR signalling pathway, showed clear associations with H. pylori-related GC in Chinese.     

HCV在中国流行多样性和独特生长史的分析

目的 探讨中国丙型肝炎患者中HCV的基因型分布类型,并进行HCV在中国流行病学历史分析,进而研究HCV在中国的分子流行病学和进化动力学特征.方法 从423例丙型肝炎患者的血清中提取HCV RNA并进行cDNA反转录,扩增E1和NS5B两个基因区的核苷酸序列,排除不合格及不适合分析的病毒株序列,再对合格序列进行系统发育分析（phylogenetic analysis）.运用BEAST软件中的Bayesian MCMC （Markov Chain Monte Carlo）算法来进行Coalescence分析,通过重构BSPs（Bayesian skyline plots）图回溯HCV的流行病学历史.结果 HCV分离株的基因分型如下：共包括6个基因型,12个基因亚型（1b：65.9％,6a：17.1％,2a：7.4％,3a：3.6％,3b：3.3％,6e：0.76％,1a,1c,2b,2f,4d以及5a共占0.25％）,以及2个新基因型6变异体.所产生的5个BSP曲线图均凸显1993年至2000年这一时间段,中国的HCV感染数量呈现指数增长,随后则陡然下降.结论 证实了HUV在中国多样性的流行现状,反映了HCV不断变化的基因型流行模式;1993年至2000年期间由于“单采血浆”事件的影响,HCV在中国的感染数量经历了一段“指数”增长期.     

奥扎格雷钠联合低分子肝素钙对短暂性脑缺血发作的疗效及内皮素和组织因子促凝活性的影响

目的:回顾性分析奥扎格雷钠联合低分子肝素钙对短暂性脑缺血发作(TIA)患者血浆内皮素-1(ET-1)及全血组织因子促凝活性(TF-PCA)的影响。方法:选取108例经临床确诊的TIA患者,按随机数字表法分为奥扎格雷钠联合低分子肝素钙治疗组(观察组,n=54)和低分子肝素钙治疗对照组(治疗组,n=54),两组均给予降压、降脂、控制血糖等常规措施,另选同期体检健康者为对照组(n=56)。1个疗程后(7天)观察两组TIA患者临床疗效及不良反应,并分析治疗前后两组血浆ET-1及全血TF-PCA水平变化。结果:观察组的治愈率和总有效率均明显高于治疗组(70.37%vs 46.30%,94.44%vs 72.22%,P均0.05)。治疗前,两组TIA患者ET-1及TFPCA水平无明显差异,但均显著高于对照组(P0.01);治疗后,两组患者ET-1及TF-PCA均较治疗前明显降低(P0.01),观察组较治疗组降低更明显(P0.05)。治疗期间两组均未发生脑及其它脏器出血。结论:奥扎格雷钠联合低分子肝素钙治疗TIA效果良好,且无不良反应。     

BioAge: Toward a multi-determined,mechanistic account of cognitive aging

The search for reliable early indicators of age-related cognitive decline represents a critical avenue for progress in aging research. Chronological age is a commonly used developmental index; however, it offers little insight into the mechanisms underlying cognitive decline. In contrast, biological age (BioAge), reflecting the vitality of essential biological systems, represents a promising operationalization of developmental time. Current BioAge models have successfully predicted age-related cognitive deficits. Research on aging-related cognitive function indicates that the interaction of multiple risk and protective factors across the human lifespan confers individual risk for late-life cognitive decline, implicating a multi-causal explanation. In this review, we explore current BioAge models, describe three broad yet pathologically relevant biological processes linked to cognitive decline, and propose a novel operationalization of BioAge accounting for both moderating and causal mechanisms of cognitive decline and dementia. We argue that a multivariate and mechanistic BioAge approach will lead to a greater understanding of disease pathology as well as more accurate prediction and early identification of late-life cognitive decline.     

Expression of Leptin and Visfatin in Gingival Tissues of Chronic Periodontitis With and Without Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Study Using Enzyme‐Linked Immunosorbent Assay and Real‐Time Polymerase Chain Reaction

Background: The aim of this study is to investigate the protein and gene expression of leptin and visfatin in gingival tissue from patients with chronic periodontitis (CP), patients with CP and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and healthy individuals. Methods: The study includes 50 individuals: 10 healthy individuals, 20 patients with CP, and 20 patients with CP and T2DM. Plaque index, gingival index, probing depth, and clinical attachment loss were measured, and gingival biopsies were obtained. Leptin and visfatin protein expression in gingival tissues was determined using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay, and messenger RNA (mRNA) expression was measured via real‐time polymerase chain reaction. Results: The highest leptin mRNA and protein expression was observed in the control group and was significantly (P ≤0.05) different from the CP and CP+T2DM groups. Gingival tissues from patients with CP and T2DM had a significant increase in visfatin and a decrease in leptin gene and protein expression (P <0.05) compared with both controls and patients with CP. Conclusion: Expression of leptin and visfatin in the gingival tissues suggests a possible role for these adipokines in the pathogenesis of CP and T2DM.