Expression of IL-23 and IL-17 and effect of IL-23 on IL-17 production in ankylosing spondylitis

The objective of this study was to investigate the expression of IL-23 and IL-17 and the influence of IL-23 on IL-17 production in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients. IL-23 and IL-17 levels in the serum and supernatants of cultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were determined by ELISA. IL-23p19 mRNA expression in PBMCs were analyzed using RT-PCR. The patients with AS at active stage showed elevated levels of IL-23 and IL-17 in the serum and supernatants of cultured PBMCs. A higher expression of IL-23p19 mRNA in PBMCs of AS patients was also observed. A significantly enhanced production of IL-17 in the supernatants of cultured PBMCs was found in the presence of recombinant IL-23 and this effect was more significant in patients with AS. The results suggest that IL-23 and IL-17 may play critical roles in the pathogenesis of AS and IL-23-stimulated production of IL-17 by PBMCs may be responsible for the development of AS.     

Serum IL-4, IL-10 and IL-6 levels in inflammatory arthritis

As the available in vitro and in vivo data suggest that interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-10 have immunosuppressive activity, our hypothesis was that serum IL-4 and IL-10 levels would correlate inversely with parameters of inflammation in patients with inflammatory arthritis. IL-4 was detected in the serum of 12 out of 140 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), which was increased compared to the proportion found with patients with osteoarthritis (OA; P< 0.02). In addition, IL-4 was detected in the serum of 2 of 19 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 2 of 24 patients with psoriatic arthritis and 1 of 5 patients with Behçet's syndrome. No IL-4 was detected in patients with the following conditions: OA (58 patients), gout (17 patients), ankylosing spondylitis (6 patients), Reiter's syndrome (6 patients), polymyalgia rheumatica (6 patients), temporal arteritis (5 patients) and scleroderma (3 patients). No IL-10 was detected in any of the sera tested. We discuss the possible relevance of these results to the regulation of the immune response evident in inflammatory arthritis.     

IL-12及IL-10在桥本甲状腺炎发病机制中作用的研究进展

桥本甲状腺炎是一种常见的慢性自身免疫性疾病,表现为辅助性T细胞(Th)1占优势。 Th1类细胞因子白细胞介素(IL)-12表达增加,在该病的诱发及慢性迁延中起重要作用,Th2类细胞因子IL-10表达的下调也与该病有关,且随病情变化二者表达水平有所不同。因此,这些细胞因子可作为病情变化的监测指标,并且可通过调节细胞因子的表达水平从而使失衡的Th1／Th2细胞趋于平衡。这可能为桥本甲状腺炎的治疗开拓一条新途径。     

白细胞介素10基因转染对小鼠心脏移植排斥反应中细胞因子表达的影响

目的 :探讨白细胞介素 10 (IL 10 )基因转染对小鼠心脏移植排斥反应中IL 12、IL 15、IL 18和IL 4表达的影响。方法 :采用小鼠颈部心脏移植模型 ,随机分为 3组 :对照组、移植组和IL 10组。于术后第 5天取移植心脏 ,用逆转录聚合酶链式反应 (RT PCR)法观察IL 12、IL 15、IL 18、IL 4及IL 10的表达情况。结果 :移植组IL 12、IL 15、IL 18表达与对照组比较明显升高 ,IL 10、IL 4表达显著降低 (均P <0 .0 1)。IL 10组IL 12、IL 15、IL 18表达与移植组比较明显降低 ,而IL 4及IL 10表达显著升高 (均P <0 .0 1)。结论 :IL 10基因转染抑制心脏移植排斥反应主要与其抑制IL 12、IL 15、IL 18等Th1型细胞因子的表达 ,促进Th2型细胞因子IL 4的表达 ,使免疫反应由Th1型向Th2型偏移有关     

Prognostic values of IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 in acute pancreatitis

GOALS: The prognostic importance of interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-8, and IL-10 in the prediction of acute pancreatitis severity. BACKGROUND: Early assessment of severity in acute pancreatitis could help the patients who are at risk of developing complications. Unfortunately, the used prognostic scoring systems generally are only moderately accurate in assessing disease severity. STUDY: We studied 117 consecutive patients with a diagnosis of acute pancreatitis admitted to our hospital during the past 2 years. Laboratory parameters and cytokines were analyzed from serum taken routinely on admission. Severity criteria were noted for each patient using Ranson, Glasgow, and APACHE II scoring systems. Local and systemic complications, developed during a follow-up period, were classified by Atlanta criteria. RESULTS: IL-6 was the only parameter that statistically significantly predicted complicated acute pancreatitis (P<0.05). IL-8 and IL-10 and the 3 prognostic scoring systems used did not properly assess complicated versus noncomplicated acute pancreatitis. CONCLUSIONS: Our prospective study supported the potential importance of IL-6 in the early assessment of complicated acute pancreatitis, but also suggested that pancreatitis classified as complicated in a large number of patients could not be correctly predicted with the Ranson, Glasgow, and APACHE II scoring systems.     

Whole Tumor Cell Vaccine Adjuvants: Comparing IL-12 to IL-2 and IL-15

Cancer immunotherapy (passive or active) involves treatments which promote the ability of the immune system to fight tumor cells. Several types of immunotherapeutic agents, such as monoclonal antibodies, immune checkpoint inhibitors, non-specific immunomodulatory agents, and cancer vaccines are currently under intensive investigation in preclinical and clinical trials. Cancer vaccines induce permanent activation of the immune system and may be considered the most promising method for cancer treatment, especially in combination with other agents of passive immunotherapy. Among various approaches to cancer vaccines, whole tumor cell vaccines have been attracting attention for several years. Despite their low to moderate clinical effects, these vaccines have numerous advantages. Their ability to generate immune responses against tumor-associated antigens reduces the possibility for tumor cells to escape and facilitates the development of “off-the-shelf” allogeneic tumor vaccines. Understanding the reciprocal interactions between tumor cells and leukocytes is a key to harness the full potential of whole cell vaccination. Cytokines are considered as potent immunomodulatory molecules which behave as adjuvants in whole tumor cell vaccines. Improved mechanistic understanding of key cytokines in tumor immunity will serve as a resource for rational design of whole cell cancer vaccines. Although there are several reports about the use of different immunostimulatory cytokines as adjuvants, interleukin (IL)-12 appears to have superior effects compared to other cytokines. This review describes the effects of IL-12 compared to other immunomodulatory cytokines, such as IL-2 and IL-15, and highlights its application in whole cell tumor vaccination.     

A complex of the IL-1 homologue IL-1F7b and IL-18-binding protein reduces IL-18 activity

IL-1F7 was discovered in expressed sequence tag databases as a member of the increasing family of proteins sharing sequence homology to IL-1alpha/beta, IL-1Ra, and IL-18. In the present study using immunohistochemical staining, IL-1F7 was localized in human peripheral monocytic cells, suggesting its role in immune regulation. Recombinant human IL-1F7b was shown to bind to the IL-18Ralpha but without IL-18 agonistic or antagonistic function. Using chemical cross-linking, we observed that, unlike IL-18, IL-1F7b fails to recruit the IL-18Rbeta chain to form a functionally active, ternary complex with the IL-18Ralpha chain. IL-1F7b shares two conserved amino acids with IL-18 (Glu-35 and Lys-124), which participate in the interaction of IL-18 with the IL-18Ralpha chain as well as the IL-18-binding protein (IL-18BP), a secreted protein that neutralizes IL-18 activity. In testing whether IL-1F7b interacts with IL-18BP, we unexpectedly observed that IL-1F7b enhanced the ability of IL-18BP to inhibit IL-18-induced IFNgamma by 25-30% in a human natural killer cell line. This effect was observed primarily at limiting concentrations of IL-18BP (3.12-12.5 ng/ml) and at a 50- to 100-fold molar excess of IL-1F7b. Similar results were obtained by using isolated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. To study the molecular basis of this effect we performed binding studies of IL-1F7b and IL-18BP. After cross-linking, a high molecular weight complex consisting of IL-1F7b and IL-18BP was observed on SDS/PAGE. We propose that after binding to IL-18BP, IL-1F7b forms a complex with IL-18Rbeta, depriving the beta-chain of forming a functional receptor complex with IL-18Ralpha and thus inhibiting IL-18 activity.     

囊尾蚴病患者IL-4、IL-5和IL-10水平检测

目的探讨白细胞介素4(IL-4)、白细胞介素5(IL-5)和白细胞介素10(IL-10)在囊尾蚴病发病中的免疫学作用。方法用双抗体夹心(ELISA)法检测囊尾蚴病患者血清中IL-4、IL-5和IL-10水平。结果囊尾蚴病患者血清中IL-4、IL-5和IL-10水平分别为(152.3±31.2)、(256.4±23.3)和(343.9±20.8)ng/L,正常对照组血清中IL-4、IL-5和IL-10水平分别为(75.0±28.5)、(119.5±17.6)和(106.7±19.6)ng/L,2组比较差异均有统计学意义(t值分别为10.6、27.1和48.4,P<0.001)。结论囊尾蚴感染患者Th2型细胞因子表达水平失常,体液免疫功能升高,说明囊尾蚴感染可致宿主免疫功能紊乱。     

Distinct roles for IL-13 and IL-4 via IL-13 receptor alpha1 and the type II IL-4 receptor in asthma pathogenesis

IL-13 and IL-4 are central T helper 2 (Th2) cytokines in the immune system and potent activators of inflammatory responses and fibrosis during Th2 inflammation. Recent studies using Il13ra1(-/-) mice have demonstrated a critical role for IL-13 receptor (IL-13R) alpha1 in allergen-induced airway responses. However, these observations require further attention especially because IL-4 can induce similar lung pathology to IL-13, independent of IL-13, and is still present in the allergic lung. Thus, we hypothesized that IL-13Ralpha1 regulates IL-4-induced responses in the lung. To dissect the role of IL-13Ralpha1 and the type I and II IL-4Rs in experimental asthma, we examined lung pathology induced by allergen, IL-4, and IL-13 challenge in Il13ra1(-/-) mice. We report that IL-13Ralpha1 is essential for baseline IgE production, but Th2 and IgE responses to T cell-dependent antigens are IL-13Ralpha1-independent. Furthermore, we demonstrate that increased airway resistance, mucus, TGF-beta, and eotaxin(s) production, but not cellular infiltration, are critically dependent on IL-13Ralpha1. Surprisingly, our results identify a CCR3- and IL-13Ralpha1-independent pathway for lung eosinophilia. Global expression profiling of lungs from mice stimulated with allergen or IL-4 demonstrated that marker genes of alternatively activated macrophages are differentially regulated by the type I and type II IL-4R. Taken together, our data provide a comprehensive mechanistic analysis of the critical role by which IL-13Ralpha1 mediates allergic lung pathology and highlight unforeseen roles for the type II IL-4R.     

IL-6, IL-10 and IL-17 Gene Polymorphisms in Iranian Women with Recurrent Miscarriage

Background: Pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines and polymorphisms of their genes have been described to be involved in the pathogenesis of recurrent miscarriage (RM). Objective: To investigate the association between RM and five polymorphisms of cytokine genes, interleukin 10 (IL-10), (-592 A/C, -819 C/T, -1082 A/G), IL-6 (-174 C/G) and IL-17 (-197 G/A) in Iranian women. Method: Polymerase chain reaction -restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) was performed to determine the frequencies of the IL-6, IL-10 and IL-17 gene polymorphisms in 85 women with RM compared with 104 healthy controls. Results: The frequencies of IL- 10 promoter gene polymorphisms (-592 A/C and -819 C/T) were significantly higher in RM women than those in controls (p=0.003). However, no statistically significant differences were observed in the frequencies of IL-6 (-174 C/G), IL-10 (-1082 A/G) and IL-17 (-197 G/A) polymorphisms between RM women and controls. Conclusion: These results suggest that IL-10 gene polymorphism screening might have some relevance in patients with RM, a suggestion which requires further studies.     

The evaluations of concentrations IL-5 and IL-6 in toxoplasmosis

The immune system, its cellular and humoral response, is engaged by the host organism to fight against parasitic invasions. The group examined consisted of 38 women aged 19-39 years infected with Toxoplasma gondii. The diagnosis was established basing on serologic examination. Blood for analysis was collected before antiparasitic treatment. Control group consisted of 40 healthy women aged 18-46 years. The concentrations of IgM, IgG and IgE were assayed using a set of VIDAS (bioMerieux) according to the ELFA method. The concentrations of IL-5, IL-6 were assayed using a set of Quantikine human (R&D Systems) according to the immunoenzymatic methods with labeled antibodies. The present study revealed that in toxoplasmosis the concentration of IgE, IL-5 and IL-6 contents in blood serum was 2-times higher, than in healthy controls.     

Differential regulation of T-cell growth by IL-2 and IL-15

Although interleukin 2 (IL-2) and IL-15 signal through the common gamma chain (gammac) and through IL-2 receptor beta-chain (CD122) subunits, they direct distinct physiologic and immunotherapeutic responses in T cells. The present study provides some insight into why IL-2 and IL-15 differentially regulate T-cell function by revealing that these cytokines are strikingly distinct in their ability to control protein synthesis and T-cell mass. IL-2 and IL-15 are shown to be equivalent mitogens for antigen-stimulated CD8(+) T cells but not for equivalent growth factors. Antigen-primed T cells cannot autonomously maintain amino acid incorporation or de novo protein synthesis without exogenous cytokine stimulation. Both IL-2 and IL-15 induce amino acid uptake and protein synthesis in antigen-activated T cells; however, the IL-2 response is strikingly more potent than the IL-15 response. The differential action of IL-2 and IL-15 on amino acid uptake and protein synthesis is explained by temporal differences in signaling induced by these 2 cytokines. Hence, the present results show that cytokines that are equivalent mitogens can have different potency in terms of regulating protein synthesis and cell growth.     

The evaluation of concentrations IL-5 and IL-6 in echinococcosis

The immune system, its cellular and humoral response, is engaged by the host organism to fight against parasitic invasions. The group examined consisted of 24 patients (19 women and 5 men) aged 26-69 years infected with Echinococcus granulosus. The diagnosis was established basing on serological examination. Blood for analysis was collected before antiparasitic treatment. Control group consisted of 40 healthy people (22 women and 18 men) aged 20-45 years. The concentration of IgE were assayed using a set of VIDAS (the ELFA method). The concentration of IL-5, IL-6 were assayed using a set of Quantikine human (R&D Systems). The study demonstrated that in echinococcosis the concentrations of IgE, IL-5 and IL-6 contents in blood serum was higher 10-, 2- and 3-times, respectively than in healthy controls.     

IL-6 and IL-10 Closely Correlate with Bacterial Bloodstream Infection

Background: Given the high mortality of bacterial bloodstream infections (BSI), blood culture results do not meet clinical needs timely due to being time-consuming and having low positive rate. Whether we can identify the severity and type of bacterial infections by cytokines is a controversial issue. Objective: To investigate the dynamic change of cytokines in BSI. Methods: 55 patients with Gram-positive (GP) BSI, 64 patients with Gram-negative (GN) BSI and 52 healthy controls were enrolled. We quantitatively detected the cytokines interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) by flow cytometry in the sera. The levels of procalcitonin, C-reactive protein, leukocytes and neutrophils were also detected simultaneously. Results: There were significantly up-regulated IL-6 and IL-10 expression in BSI patients, particularly in the GN-BSI, for instance Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae infections; following the treatment, IL-6 and IL-10 decreased by 10-23 and 4-27 times, respectively. Additionally, IL-2, TNF-α and IFN-γ expression increased slightly in BSI patients and IFN-γ expression declined as GN-BSI progressed. Conclusion: IL-6 and IL-10 are closely associated with the severity and treatment efficacy of BSI, and can help to distinguish between GP-BSI and GN-BSI at an early stage.