Lactobacillus delbrueckii UFV-H2b20 increases IFN-γ production and CD39+CD73+ Treg cell numbers in lungs,and protects mice against experimental allergic asthma

Asthma is a disorder characterized by airflow obstruction, inflammation, declining airway function, bronchial hyperresponsiveness and tissue remodelling. Probiotics are defined as “live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host”. The use of probiotics is becoming increasingly studied and recent evidence has suggested that it may provide therapeutic benefits in asthma and other diseases. Lactobacillus delbrueckii UFV-H2b20 fulfils all the requirements to be classified as probiotic. Previous studies have already shown the ability of L. delbrueckii UFV-H2b20 to stimulate the immune system. Our objective was to evaluate the protective effects of L. delbrueckii UFV-H2b20 in experimental allergic asthma. We used a murine model of ovalbumin-induced allergic airway inflammation to mimic allergic asthma. Oral treatment with L. delbrueckii UFV-H2b20 improves respiratory parameters and inhibits the inflammatory response in the lungs by decreasing the numbers of inflammatory monocytes, eosinophils and alveolar macrophages, as well as IgE levels. Treatment increased the IFN-γ/IL-4 cytokine ratio. Levels of IL-10 in the lungs were also increased in treated animals. Our results also showed that the probiotic administration increases the number of CD39⁺CD73⁺ T regulatory lymphocytes in the lung, suggesting a role for purinergic signals in the regulation of inflammation promoted by the treatment. Understanding the mechanisms of modulation of the immune system by probiotics could allow the development of probiotic preparations that are safe and have a direct action. Our results suggest that oral administration of L. delbrueckii UFV-H2b20 could be helpful to treat chronic inflammatory airway diseases, such as asthma.     

Evidence that preimmunization with a heat-killed preparation of Mycobacterium vaccae reduces corticotropin-releasing hormone mRNA expression in the extended amygdala in a fear-potentiated startle paradigm

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a trauma and stressor-related disorder that is characterized by dysregulation of glucocorticoid signaling, chronic low-grade inflammation, and impairment in the ability to extinguish learned fear. Corticotropin-releasing hormone (Crh) is a stress- and immune-responsive neuropeptide secreted from the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) to stimulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis; however, extra-hypothalamic sources of Crh from the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) govern specific fear- and anxiety-related defensive behavioral responses. We previously reported that preimmunization with a heat-killed preparation of the immunoregulatory environmental bacterium Mycobacterium vaccae NCTC 11659 enhances fear extinction in a fear-potentiated startle (FPS) paradigm. In this follow-up study, we utilized an in situ hybridization histochemistry technique to investigate Crh, Crhr1, and Crhr2 mRNA expression in the CeA, BNST, and PVN of the same rats from the original study [Fox et al., 2017, Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 66: 70–84]. Here, we demonstrate that preimmunization with M. vaccae NCTC 11659 decreases Crh mRNA expression in the CeA and BNST of rats exposed to the FPS paradigm, and, further, that Crh mRNA expression in these regions is correlated with fear behavior during extinction training. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that M. vaccae promotes stress-resilience by attenuating Crh production in fear- and anxiety-related circuits. These data suggest that immunization with M. vaccae may be an effective strategy for prevention of fear- and anxiety-related disorders.     

Immunomodulatory and immunoregulatory nanomedicines for autoimmunity

Autoimmune diseases, caused by cellularly and molecularly complex immune responses against self-antigens, are largely treated with broad-acting, non-disease-specific anti-inflammatory drugs. These compounds can attenuate autoimmune inflammation, but tend to impair normal immunity against infection and cancer, cannot restore normal immune homeostasis and are not curative. Nanoparticle (NP)- and microparticle (MP)-based delivery of immunotherapeutic agents affords a unique opportunity to not only increase the specificity and potency of broad-acting immunomodulators, but also to elicit the formation of organ-specific immunoregulatory cell networks capable of inducing bystander immunoregulation. Here, we review the various NP/MP-based strategies that have so far been tested in models of experimental and/or spontaneous autoimmunity, with a focus on mechanisms of action.     

脓毒症的干细胞治疗前景

脓毒症是机体过度炎症反应导致的一组综合征,是临床常见的危重症,病情进展快,病死率高.干细胞具有抗炎、免疫调节、减轻组织损伤、修复受伤组织的能力,可能为脓毒症治疗带来崭新的前景.     

烧伤感染对血清中补体C3 和IL-10 水平的影响

目的　分析烧伤感染对血清中补体C3 和IL-10 水平的影响, 旨在根据其变化水平及时给予合适的免疫调节治疗, 预防感染的发生。方法　分别采集患者烧伤后第3、7、14 天的创面分泌物和外周血, 对分泌物做细菌培养, 用酶联免疫吸附测定法(Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, ELISA) 检测血清中的补体C3 和IL-10水平, 病情严重疑有脓毒血症者及时进行血培养。结果　烧伤后创面感染率不断上升, 脓毒血症发生率达16.4%, 对补体C3 水平的影响无统计学意义(P >0.05), 但烧伤后第14 天脓毒血症患者血清中IL-10 水平是创面感染患者的2 倍, 相比有统计学意义(P <0.05)。结论　补体C3 水平升高有利于提高机体抵抗力, 但不能反映机体的感染情况; IL-10 水平过度升高对感染加重有一定的预警作用, 在临床判断过程中辅助监测血清中IL-10水平有助于发现感染加重的趋势, 以便及时给予免疫调节治疗。     

白细胞介素-21在疾病中作用的研究进展

白细胞介素-21(IL-21)是一种新近发现的细胞因子,具有广泛生物学活性,能够调节B细胞的分化及免疫球蛋白类别转换,促进T细胞、NK细胞的增殖、分化,提高NK细胞杀伤活性,是多种自身免疫性疾病、感染性疾病、变态反应性疾病和肿瘤的重要致病因素,在疾病的发生发展中举足轻重,具有潜在临床研究价值,可能成为多种疾病治疗的新靶标.作为新的免疫系统调节因子,IL-21在免疫性疾病中的作用越来越受到关注,已成为近年来研究的热点.     

乙肝解毒汤对小鼠免疫功能的影响

目的：观察乙肝解毒汤对免疫功能的双向调节作用。方法：将50只小白鼠随机分为5组，每组10只，分别用硫唑嘌呤诱导免疫超常模型，用环磷酰胺诱导免疫低下模型。结果：乙肝解毒汤对免疫超常小白鼠的免疫功能有抑制作用；对免疫低下小白鼠的免疫功能有促进作用。结论：乙肝解毒汤对小白鼠的免疫功能有双向调节作用。     

益气活血通络方治疗冠心病疗效及其对血管内皮功能和免疫调节的影响

【目的】探讨益气活血通络法治疗冠心病的疗效以及对血管内皮功能、免疫调节的影响。【方法】将82例冠心病患者随机分为治疗组和对照组各41例,对照组给予常规西药治疗,治疗组在对照组基础上加服益气活血通络方,比较2组心绞痛疗效、心电图疗效和临床症状疗效,观察2组治疗前后血浆血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)、内皮素-1(ET-1)及超敏C反应蛋白(hs-CRP)、白细胞介素-1β(IL-1β)等指标的变化情况。【结果】(1)治疗后,2组心绞痛疗效及心电图疗效比较,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);临床症状疗效方面,治疗组优于对照组(P<0.05)。(2)治疗后,治疗组VEGF含量显著升高,ET-1含量显著下降(P<0.01);对照组治疗前后VEGF、ET-1含量比较,差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05);治疗组在改善VEGF、ET-1含量方面均显著优于对照组(P<0.01)。(3)治疗后,治疗组hs-CRP、IL-1β含量均显著下降(P<0.01);对照组hs-CRP、IL-1β含量均有下降趋势,但差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05);治疗组在改善hs-CRP、IL-1β含量方面均显著优于对照组(P<0.01)。【结论】对冠心病心绞痛患者,在常规西药治疗的基础上加用益气活血通络法治疗,能更好地达到缓解心绞痛、改善临床症状的目的,这可能与其改善血管内皮功能和免疫调节功能等有关。     

金刚藤口服液基于免疫调节对大鼠慢性盆腔炎的治疗作用研究

目的：从免疫调节角度研究金刚藤口服液对大鼠慢性盆腔炎的治疗作用。方法：选择未交配的 SPF 级雌性 SD 大鼠60只,随机分为空白组、模型组、阳性（金刚藤胶囊）组、金刚藤口服液低、中、高剂量组。实验第1天,除空白组外,其余各组大鼠用戊巴比妥麻醉,采用双侧输卵管注入30%苯酚胶浆生理盐水溶液,制作大鼠盆腔炎模型。造模后正常组和模型组 ig 给予纯净水,其余各组 ig 给予药物,其中阳性组日给药量为540 mg·kg-1,金刚藤口服液低、中、高剂量组日给药量分别为：15 mg·kg-1、30 mg·kg-1、60 mg·kg-1,每天1次,共 ig 治疗20天。第21天断颈处死动物,ELISA 法测定各实验组大鼠血浆 IgA、IgM 和 IgG 含量;剖取子宫,称重后做病理形态分析。结果：与正常组比较,模型组大鼠子宫重量系数[（11.7±1.92） mg·g-1]极显著增大（P<0.01）,血浆IgA[（27.99±5.49）μg·mL-1]、IgM[（21.94±1.98）μg·mL-1]和 IgG[（4.85±1.97）μg·mL-1]含量均有极显著减少（P<0.01）;子宫炎症性病变显著加重;与模型组比较,金刚藤口服液组可显著减小大鼠子宫重量系数（P<0.05）,增加血浆 IgA、IgM 和 IgG 含量（P<0.05）,且能减轻子宫炎症性病变。结论：金刚藤口服液可通过调节大鼠血浆免疫球蛋白浓度而对慢性盆腔炎产生治疗作用。     

Regulatory T cells in viral hepatitis

The pathogenesis and outcome of viral infections are significantly influenced by the host immune response. The immune system is able to eliminate many viruses in the acute phase of infection. However, some viruses, like hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV), can evade the host immune responses and establish a persistent infection. HCV and HBV persistence is caused by various mechanisms, like subversion of innate immune responses by viral factors, the emergence of T cell escape mutations, or T cell dysfunction and suppression. Recently, it has become evident that regulatory T cells may contribute to the pathogenesis and outcome of viral infections by suppressing antiviral immune responses. Indeed, the control of HCV and HBV specific immune responses mediated by regulatory T cells may be one mechanism that favors viral persistence, but it may also prevent the host from overwhelming T cell activity and liver damage. This review will focus on the role of regulatory T cells in viral hepatitis.