“三法三穴”推拿手法对坐骨神经损伤大鼠运动功能和转化生长因子β1/Smad2通路蛋白表达的影响

目的 探讨“三法三穴”推拿手法对坐骨神经损伤大鼠后肢运动功能,施万细胞增殖、髓鞘修复以及坐骨神经中转化生长因子β1 (TGF-β1)/Smad2通路蛋白表达的影响。方法 66只雄性Sprague-Dawley大鼠随机分为假手术组(n = 22)、模型组(n = 22)和观察组(n = 22)。模型组和观察组采用夹持法制备坐骨神经损伤模型。造模后第8天,观察组每天以点法、拨法、揉法定性定量刺激大鼠术侧殷门、承山、阳陵泉。分别于干预前和干预21 d测量坐骨神经功能指数(SFI);干预前,干预7 d、14 d、21 d行斜板测试;干预21 d,免疫荧光染色观察S100、TGF-β1、Smad2的表达;干预前,干预7 d、21 d,Western blotting检测TGF-β1、Smad2和p-Smad2蛋白表达。结果 干预前,模型组和观察组SFI和斜板测试角度低于假手术组(P < 0.05);干预21 d,观察组SFI和斜板测试角度均高于模型组( P< 0.05)。免疫荧光染色显示,干预21 d,模型组坐骨神经S100表达明显低于假手术组(P < 0.01),观察组高于模型组( P < 0.05),且与假手术组比较无显著性差异( P > 0.05)。Western blotting显示,干预前和干预7 d,模型组TGF-β1、Smad2和p-Smad2表达较假手术组升高( P < 0.05);干预21 d,三组间各蛋白表达均无显著性差异( P > 0.05)。 结论 “三法三穴”推拿手法能促进施万细胞增殖,促进髓鞘恢复,改善坐骨神经损伤大鼠后肢运动功能,但该作用可能与TGF-β1/Smad2通路无关。     

“三法三穴”推拿手法对大鼠坐骨神经损伤后髓鞘厚度和神经调节蛋白1-人类表皮生长因子受体2表达的影响

目的 探讨“三法三穴”推拿手法对坐骨神经损伤大鼠运动功能恢复、坐骨神经损伤点和L_4-6脊髓中神经调节蛋白(NRG) 1及其受体人类表皮生长因子受体(ErbB) 2表达以及坐骨神经损伤点处髓鞘形态变化的影响。方法 76只雄性Sprague-Dawley大鼠随机分为正常组、假手术组、模型组和推拿组,每组19只。模型组和推拿组夹持右侧坐骨神经造模;假手术组仅分离后暴露坐骨神经,不夹持。术后7 d,推拿组以按摩推拿手法模拟仪模拟点法、拨法、揉法,作用于殷门、承山、阳陵泉,分别于造模前、术后7 d、28 d行斜板测试,于术后3 d、7 d、28 d,采用Western blotting检测坐骨神经损伤点和L_4-6脊髓NRG1、ErbB2蛋白表达,术后28 d透射电镜观察坐骨神经损伤点处髓鞘的变化。结果 术后7 d和28 d,模型组和推拿组斜板测试角度低于正常组和假手术组(P< 0.05);术后28 d,推拿组评分高于模型组(P< 0.05)。坐骨神经损伤点中,术后3 d,模型组和推拿组NRG1、ErbB2表达高于正常组和假手术组(P< 0.05);术后7 d和28 d,各组NRG1表达无显著性差异(P> 0.05);术后28 d,模型组和推拿组ErbB2表达高于正常组和假手术组(P< 0.05)。L_4-6脊髓中,术后3 d,模型组和推拿组NRG1、ErbB2表达高于正常组和假手术组(P< 0.05);术后7 d,模型组和推拿组NRG1表达高于假手术组(P< 0.05),模型组和推拿组ErbB2表达高于正常组和假手术组(P< 0.05);术后28 d,推拿组NRG1表达高于模型组(P< 0.05),ErbB2各组间无显著性差异(P> 0.05)。术后28 d,模型组髓鞘崩脱严重,推拿组神经损伤点超微结构明显改善,神经纤维髓鞘保留较完整;模型组g-ratio值低于假手术组(P< 0.05),推拿组高于模型组(P< 0.05),且与假手术组比较无显著性差异(P> 0.05)。结论 “三法三穴”推拿手法能改善坐骨神经损伤大鼠后肢运动功能。推拿干预周围神经损伤起效机制与维持坐骨神经损伤点和L _4-6脊髓中NRG1和ErbB2蛋白表达,维持正常髓鞘结构有关。     

电针对APP/PS1小鼠皮质区磷脂酰肌醇-3激酶/糖原合成酶激酶-3α通路相关蛋白表达和老年斑沉积的影响

目的 观察电针对APP/PS1双转基因小鼠皮质区磷脂酰肌醇-3激酶/糖原合成酶激酶-3α (PI3K/GSK3α)信号通路上相关蛋白的分布表达,以及老年斑沉积的影响。 方法 基因鉴定后,3月龄雄性转基因小鼠随机分为模型组和电针组,野生型C57小鼠为对照组,每组6只。电针组电针百会(GV20)和双侧肾俞(BL23)14 d。治疗后,Western blotting和免疫组化法检测各组小鼠皮质区老年斑数量,PI3K亚单位P85α和P110α,以及GSK3α和pS^21-GSK3α等蛋白的分布和表达。 结果 模型组皮质区老年斑数较对照组显著升高(P < 0.001);电针组老年斑数较模型组显著降低( P < 0.001)。各相关蛋白主要表达于皮质神经元胞质。与对照组相比,模型组pS ^21-GSK3α、P110α和P85α蛋白表达明显降低(P < 0.01),GSK3α蛋白表达升高( P < 0.05);与模型组相比,电针组pS ^21-GSK3α、P110α和P85α的蛋白表达明显升高(P < 0.01),GSK3α蛋白表达降低( P < 0.05)。 结论 电针能调节APP/PS1双转基因小鼠皮质区PI3K/GSK3α通路相关蛋白表达,减少老年斑沉积。     

电针对血管性痴呆大鼠脑白质纤维和学习记忆功能的效果

目的 观察电针百会、神庭对血管性痴呆(VD)大鼠脑白质纤维和学习记忆能力的影响。 方法 Sprague-Dawley大鼠32只分离双侧颈总动脉,假手术组(n = 8)不结扎,其余造模成功后随机分为模型组(n = 8)、非穴组(n = 8)和电针组(n = 8)。电针组电针百会和神庭穴,非穴组刺激腋下非经非穴点,每天1次,共28 d。干预前后采用新物体识别试验进行评定,弥散张量成像观察大鼠脑白质纤维。 结果 干预前,与假手术组相比,模型组、非穴组和电针组新物体偏爱系数降低(P< 0.05),后三组间无显著性差异(P> 0.05);干预后,电针组新物体偏爱系数较模型组增高(P < 0.05)。干预前,与假手术组相比,模型组、非穴组和电针组胼胝体、扣带回、海马白质纤维各向异性分数(FA)降低;干预后,电针组海马、扣带回、胼胝体、外囊白质纤维FA较模型组增加。 结论 电针百会、神庭能改善VD大鼠记忆功能,可能与前额叶皮质、海马等脑区白质纤维修复有关。     

坐卧式“六字诀”对卒中后轻中度抑郁患者抑郁及自我效能的影响

目的 探究坐卧式“六字诀”功法锻炼对卒中后轻中度抑郁患者抑郁及自我效能的影响。 方法 选择2019年2月—2020年3月深圳市中医院针灸科卒中后轻中度抑郁住院患者60例,采用随机数字表法分为对照组和观察组,各30例。对照组给予卒中后抑郁常规护理,观察组在对照组基础上给予坐卧式“六字诀”功法锻炼,2次/d,15~20 min/次,干预28 d。分别于干预前、干预28 d末采用汉密尔顿抑郁量表对受试对象进行评价。 结果 干预前,2组卒中后轻中度抑郁患者汉密尔顿抑郁评分和自我效能评分比较,差异均无统计学意义（P>0.05）;干预28 d末,2组卒中后轻中度抑郁患者患者汉密尔顿抑郁评分均低于干预前（P<0.01）,自我效能评分均高于干预前（P<0.01）;干预28 d末,观察组抑郁评分低于对照组（P<0.01）,自我效能评分高于对照组（P<0.05）。 结论 坐卧式“六字诀”功法练习可改善卒中后轻中度患者的抑郁及自我效能。     

肾移植患者基于“互联网+”延续护理的效果观察

目的 探讨“互联网+”延续护理在肾移植患者中的应用效果。方法 选择在我院初次行肾移植术成功的患者80例为研究对象,采用随机数字表法分为观察组和对照组各40例。对照组给予常规出院健康教育方式,观察组采取基于“互联网+”的延续护理健康教育方式。观察比较2组肾移植患者出院时、出院后1个月末、3个月末、6个月末免疫抑制剂服药依从性。结果 观察组肾移植患者出院后1个月末、3个月末、6个月末免疫抑制剂服药依从性得分高于对照组（P<0.05）。结论 “互联网+”延续护理可提高肾移植患者免疫抑制剂服药依从性。     

迷走神经刺激对脑缺血再灌注大鼠磷酸腺苷活化蛋白激酶-沉默信息调节因子2相关酶1自噬通路的影响

目的 探讨迷走神经刺激(VNS)在缺血性脑卒中缺血半影区细胞自噬中的作用。方法 Sprague-Dawley大鼠56只分为正常组(n = 14)、假手术组(n = 14)、模型组(n = 14)和VNS组(n = 14)。模型组和VNS组线栓法建立缺血1 h再灌注模型,VNS组于缺血0.5 h时行左侧VNS。再灌注24 h后,TTC染色法观察脑梗死体积,Longa评分观察大鼠神经损伤程度,Western blotting检测Beclin-1水平和微管相关蛋白1轻链3 (LC3)-Ⅱ/Ⅰ比值,并检测磷酸腺苷活化蛋白激酶(AMPK)磷酸化水平和沉默信息调节因子2相关酶1 (Sirt1)蛋白水平。结果 与假手术组相比,模型组缺血半影区Beclin-1、LC3-Ⅱ/Ⅰ、AMPK磷酸化水平和Sirt1蛋白表达均显著下降(P < 0.001)。与模型组相比,VNS组脑梗死体积显著减小( P < 0.001),Longa评分降低( P < 0.05),缺血半影区Beclin-1水平和LC3-Ⅱ/Ⅰ比值显著上升( P < 0.001),AMPK磷酸化水平和Sirt1蛋白水平显著上升( P < 0.001)。 结论 VNS通过调节AMPK-Sirt1自噬通路,减轻大鼠缺血性脑损伤。     

针康法对脑缺血小鼠神经功能及叉头转录因子3和维甲酸相关孤儿受体γt表达的影响

目的 探索针康法对脑缺血小鼠叉头转录因子3 (Foxp3)和维甲酸相关孤儿受体γt (RORγt)蛋白表达的影响。方法 45只成年雌性C57BL/6小鼠随机分为假手术组、模型组、针刺组、康复组和针康组,每组9只。每组再分为3 d、7 d、14 d 3个亚组。模型组、针刺组、康复组和针康组采用线栓法建立永久性大脑中动脉栓塞模型。假手术组和模型组仅手术不予治疗,针刺组接受头穴丛刺针灸治疗,康复组接受跑台训练,针康组接受头穴丛刺结合跑台治疗。术后各时间点,采用改良神经功能缺损评分(mNSS)评价神经功能,Western blotting法分析缺血侧脑组织Foxp3、RORγt表达。结果 术后各时间点,假手术组mNSS为0分,模型组mNSS均高于假手术组(P < 0.05)。术后3 d,与模型组比较,康复组、针康组mNSS降低(P < 0.05)。术后14 d,与模型组和针刺组比较,针康组mNSS降低(P < 0.05)。术后各时间点,针康组Foxp3蛋白表达均低于模型组(P < 0.05)。术后3 d,针康组RORγt表达量较其他组均增加(P < 0.05)。术后7 d,针康组RORγt表达量较针刺组、假手术组增加(P < 0.05)。结论 针康法可改善脑缺血小鼠组织损伤,促进神经功能恢复,可能通过调节Foxp3、RORγt表达降低炎症的水平,发挥神经保护作用。     

痘苗病毒致炎兔皮提取物对脑缺血再灌注脑损伤大鼠凋亡和神经炎症的影响

目的 探究痘苗病毒致炎兔皮提取物(AGC)对大鼠脑缺血再灌注损伤的保护作用及机制。 方法 Sprague-Dawley大鼠61只分为假手术组(n = 11)、假手术给药组(n = 11)、模型组(n = 20)和模型给药组(n = 19)。模型组和模型给药组线栓法脑缺血1.5 h后恢复灌注。模型组和模型给药组各有2只造模不成功。再灌注3 h后,假手术给药组和模型给药组尾静脉每天注射AGC 20 U/kg,假手术组和模型组尾静脉注射等体积生理盐水。给药48 h后每组取4只大鼠Western blotting方法检测脑组织热休克蛋白(HSP70)、Bcl-2和Bax表达;给药7 d后,行抓握牵引实验;各组取4只大鼠,免疫组化法观察离子钙结合蛋白(Iba1)阳性和胶质纤维酸性蛋白(GFAP)阳性表达。 结果 与模型组相比,模型给药组抓握时间明显延长(P < 0.01),HSP70和Bcl-2表达明显升高( P < 0.01),Iba1阳性和GFAP阳性面积下降( P < 0.05)。 结论 AGC能促进脑缺血再灌注损伤大鼠运动功能恢复,可能与抑制细胞凋亡和神经炎症反应有关。     

单核细胞CX3C趋化因子受体1表达联合PLT对经皮冠状动脉介入治疗后支架内再狭窄的应用

目的探讨单核细胞CX3C趋化因子受体1(CX3CR1)表达联合血小板计数(PLT)对经皮冠状动脉介入治疗(PCI)后支架内再狭窄(ISR)的应用价值。方法 2015年11月至2017年3月在天津泰达国际心血管病医院就诊的经冠状动脉造影(CAG)确认的74例ISR患者和40例不明显病变患者纳入试验研究,对照组为125例无冠状动脉疾病的志愿者,并同期随访首次经PCI治疗的69例患者。用流式细胞术分析单核细胞CX3CR1膜蛋白表达,血液分析仪检测外周血PLT;利用Spearman相关、ROC曲线分析CX3CR1表达及CX3CR1表达联合PLT与ISR的关系;应用Kaplan-Meier模型评估CX3CR1表达及CX3CR1表达联合PLT对ISR的预测价值。结果 ISR组、不明显病变组、对照组CX3CR1表达分别为12.0%(7.5%,17.6%)、9.1%(4.9%,12.5%)、7.2%(5.6%,9.8%),Hc=26.50,P0.001。ISR组CX3CR1表达高于对照组(Z=5.15,P0.001)和不明显病变组(Z=2.65,P=0.008)。ISR组、不明显病变组、对照组PLT分别为(211.65±46.40)×10~9/L、(182.82±39.80)×10~9/L、(241.44±52.33)×10~9/L,F=21.97,P0.001。ISR组PLT高于不明显病变组(t=3.24,P=0.002),低于对照组(t=-3.88,P0.001)。不同Gensini积分间CX3CR1表达(Hc=3.54,P=0.351)及PLT(Hc=2.02,P=0.121)差异均无统计学意义。CX3CR1表达与吸烟(r=0.257,P=0.027)及PLT(r=0.246,P=0.036)呈正相关。CX3CR1表达联合PLT诊断ISR的ROC曲线下面积(AUC~(ROC))为0.816,敏感性为63.0%,特异性为86.2%。Kaplan-Meier分析显示,CX3CR1表达联合PLT预测远期ISR Log-rank χ~2=8.982,P=0.003,阳性预测值(PPV)为21.7%,阴性预测值(NPV)为97.8%,敏感性为83.3%,特异性为71.4%。结论单核细胞CX3CR1及PLT可能是潜在的ISR的辅助诊断指标和远期排除ISR的阴性预测指标。     

单核细胞CX3CR1膜蛋白表达与PCI术后再狭窄的关系

摘要：目的：探讨单核细胞CX3C趋化因子受体1（CX3CR1）表达联合血小板计数（PLT）对经皮冠状动脉介入治疗（PCI）后支架内再狭窄（ISR）的应用价值。 方法：2015年11月至2017年3月在天津泰达国际心血管病医院就诊的经冠状动脉造影（CAG）确认的74例ISR患者和40例不明显病变患者纳入试验研究，对照组为125例无冠状动脉疾病的志愿者，并同期随访首次经PCI治疗的69例患者。用流式细胞术分析单核细胞CX3CR1膜蛋白表达，血液分析仪检测外周血PLT；利用Spearman相关、ROC曲线分析CX3CR1表达及CX3CR1表达联合PLT与ISR的关系；应用Kaplan-Meier模型评估CX3CR1表达及CX3CR1表达联合PLT对ISR的预测价值。 结果：ISR组、不明显病变组、对照组CX3CR1表达分别为12.0%(7.5%，17.6%)、9.1%(4.9%，12.5%)、7.2%(5.6%，9.8%)，Hc=26.50，P＜0.001。ISR组CX3CR1表达高于对照组（Z=5.15，P＜0.001）和不明显病变组（Z=2.65，P=0.008）。ISR组、不明显病变组、对照组PLT分别为（211.65±46.40）×10⁹/L、（182.82±39.80）×10⁹/L、（241.44±52.33）×10⁹/L，F=21.97，P＜0.001。ISR组PLT高于不明显病变组（t=3.24，P=0.002），低于对照组（t=-3.88，P＜0.001）。不同Gensini积分间CX3CR1表达（Hc=3.54，P=0.351）及PLT（Hc=2.02，P=0.121）差异均无统计学意义。CX3CR1表达与吸烟（r=0.257，P=0.027）及PLT（r=0.246，P=0.036）呈正相关。CX3CR1表达联合PLT诊断ISR的ROC曲线下面积（AUCROC）为0.816，敏感性为63.0%，特异性为86.2%。Kaplan-Meier分析显示，CX3CR1表达联合PLT预测远期ISR Log-rank χ²=8.982，P=0.003，阳性预测值（PPV）为21.7%，阴性预测值（NPV）为97.8%，敏感性为83.3%，特异性为71.4%。 结论：单核细胞CX3CR1及PLT可能是潜在的ISR的辅助诊断指标和远期排除ISR的阴性预测指标。     

Interleukin‐6 induces microglial CX3CR1 expression in the spinal cord after peripheral nerve injury through the activation of p38 MAPK

Peripheral nerve injury leading to neuropathic pain induces the upregulation of interleukin (IL)‐6 and microglial CX3CR1 expression, and activation of p38 mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) in the spinal cord. Here, we investigated whether IL‐6 regulates CX3CR1 expression through p38 MAPK activation in the spinal cord in rats with chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerve. Similar temporal changes in the expression of IL‐6, phosphorylated p38 MAPK and CX3CR1 were observed following CCI. The increases in CX3CR1 expression, p38 MAPK activation and pain behavior after CCI were suppressed by blocking IL‐6 action with a neutralizing antibody, while they were enhanced by supplying exogenous recombinant rat IL‐6 (rrIL‐6). rrIL‐6 also induced increases in spinal CX3CR1 expression, p38 MAPK activation and pain behavior in naïve rats without nerve injury. Furthermore, treatment with the p38 MAPK‐specific inhibitor, SB203580, suppressed the increase in CX3CR1 expression induced by CCI or rrIL‐6 treatment. Finally, blocking CX3CR1 or p38 MAPK activation prevented the development of mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia induced by CCI or rrIL‐6 treatment. These results suggest a new mechanism of neuropathic pain, in which IL‐6 induces microglial CX3CR1 expression in the spinal cord through p38 MAPK activation, enhancing the responsiveness of microglia to fractalkine in the spinal cord, thus playing an important role in neuropathic pain after peripheral nerve injury.     

Monocytes expressing CX3CR1 orchestrate the development of vincristine-induced pain

A major dose-limiting side effect associated with cancer-treating antineoplastic drugs is the development of neuropathic pain, which is not readily relieved by available analgesics. A better understanding of the mechanisms that underlie pain generation has potential to provide targets for prophylactic management of chemotherapy pain. Here, we delineate a pathway for pain that is induced by the chemotherapeutic drug vincristine sulfate (VCR). In a murine model of chemotherapy-induced allodynia, VCR treatment induced upregulation of endothelial cell adhesion properties, resulting in the infiltration of circulating CX3CR1⁺ monocytes into the sciatic nerve. At the endothelial-nerve interface, CX3CR1⁺ monocytes were activated by the chemokine CX3CL1 (also known as fractalkine [FKN]), which promoted production of reactive oxygen species that in turn activated the receptor TRPA1 in sensory neurons and evoked the pain response. Furthermore, mice lacking CX3CR1 exhibited a delay in the development of allodynia following VCR administration. Together, our data suggest that CX3CR1 antagonists and inhibition of FKN proteolytic shedding, possibly by targeting ADAM10/17 and/or cathepsin S, have potential as peripheral approaches for the prophylactic treatment of chemotherapy-induced pain.     

Resveratrol attenuates bone cancer pain through the inhibition of spinal glial activation and CX3CR1 upregulation

The present study examined the effects of intrathecal use of resveratrol on pain hypersensitivities, spinal glia activation, and CX3CR1 expression in the model of bone cancer pain (BCP). The BCP model was established through intrathecally injecting Walker 256 mammary gland carcinoma cells to Sprague‐Dawley rats. We found that spinal CX3CR1 expression and glial activation aggravated after inoculation. Resveratrol (i.t.) attenuated bone cancer‐induced pain hypersensitivities, decreased CX3CR1 expression and glial activation in the spine in a BCP model. Resveratrol (i.t.) also attenuated mechanical allodynia resulting from intrathecally injecting fractalkine in rats. Inhibition of spinal glial activation and CX3CR1 upregulation may involve in resveratrol's analgesic effects. These findings demonstrated that resveratrol attenuated pain facilitation through inhibiting spinal glial activation and CX3CR1 upregulation in a BCP model.     

FKN/CX3CR1 axis facilitates migraine-Like behaviour by activating thalamic-cortical network microglia in status epilepticus model rats

BackgroundThe incidence of migraines is higher among individuals with epilepsy than in healthy individuals, and these two diseases are thought to shared pathophysiological mechanisms. Excitation/inhibition imbalance plays an essential role in the comorbidity of epilepsy and migraine. Microglial activation is crucial for abnormal neuronal signal transmission. However, it remains unclear whether and how microglia are activated and their role in comorbidities after being activated. This study aimed to explore the characteristics and mechanism of microglial activation after seizures and their effect on migraine.MethodsModel rats of status epilepticus (SE) induced by intraperitoneal injection of lithium chloride (LiCl)-pilocarpine and migraine induced by repeated dural injections of inflammatory soup (IS) were generated, and molecular and histopathologic evidence of the microglial activation targets of fractalkine (FKN) signalling were examined. HT22-BV2 transwell coculture assays were used to explore the interaction between neurons and microglia. LPS (a microglial agonist) and FKN stimulation of BV2 microglial cells were used to evaluate changes in BDNF levels after microglial activation.ResultsMicroglia were specifically hyperplastic and activated in the temporal lobe cortex, thalamus, and spinal trigeminal nucleus caudalis (sp5c), accompanied by the upregulation of FKN and CX3CR1 four days after seizures. Moreover, SE-induced increases in nociceptive behaviour and FKN/CX3CR1 axis expression in migraine model rats. AZD8797 (a CX3CR1 inhibitor) prevented the worsening of hyperalgesia and microglial activation in migraine model rats after seizures, while FKN infusion in migraine model rats exacerbated hyperalgesia and microglial activation associated with BDNF-Trkb signalling. Furthermore, in neuron-microglia cocultures, microglial activation and FKN/CX3CR1/BDNF/iba1 expression were increased compared with those in microglial cultures alone. Activating microglia with LPS and FKN increased BDNF synthesis in BV2 microglia.ConclusionsOur results indicated that epilepsy facilitated migraine through FKN/CX3CR1 axis-mediated microglial activation in the cortex/thalamus/sp5c, which was accompanied by BDNF release. Blocking the FKN/CX3CR1 axis and microglial activation are potential therapeutic strategies for preventing and treating migraine in patients with epilepsy.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s10194-022-01416-w.     

CX3CR1 regulates intestinal macrophage homeostasis, bacterial translocation, and colitogenic Th17 responses in mice

The two most common forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, affect approximately 1 million people in the United States. Uncontrolled APC reactivity toward commensal bacteria is implicated in the pathogenesis of the disease. A number of functionally distinct APC populations exist in the mucosal lamina propria (LP) below the intestinal epithelium, but their relative contributions to inflammation remain unclear. Here, we demonstrate in mice important roles for the chemokine receptor CX3CR1 in maintaining LP macrophage populations, preventing translocation of commensal bacteria to mesenteric lymph nodes (mLNs), and limiting colitogenic Th17 responses. CX3CR1 was found to be expressed in resident LP macrophages (defined as CD11b(+)F4/80(+)) but not DCs (defined as CD11c(+)CD103(+)). LP macrophage frequency and number were decreased in two strains of CX3CR1-knockout mice and in mice deficient in the CX3CR1 ligand CX3CL1. All these knockout strains displayed markedly increased translocation of commensal bacteria to mLNs. Additionally, the severity of DSS-induced colitis was dramatically enhanced in the knockout mice as compared with controls. Disease severity could be limited by either administration of neutralizing IL-17A antibodies or transfer of CX3CR1-sufficient macrophages. Our data thus suggest key roles for the CX3CR1/CX3CL1 axis in the intestinal mucosa; further clarification of CX3CR1 function will likely direct efforts toward therapeutic intervention for mucosal inflammatory disorders such as IBD.     

Common CX3CR1 alleles are associated with a reduced risk of headaches

Objectives.— The aim of this study was to investigate the role of the chemokine receptor CX3CR1 in headaches and migraine.
Methods.— Distribution of 2 polymorphisms of the chemokine receptor CX3CR1 (V249I and T280M) was determined in a population-based sample of 1179 elderly individuals.
Results.— Heterozygotes for both CX3CR1 polymorphisms had a reduced risk of recurrent headaches, with an odds ratio (OR) of 0.64 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.46-0.90) for the I249 allele and 0.55 (95% CI = 0.38-0.81) for the M280 allele. Haplotype analysis showed that carriers of the rarer CX3CR1 I249-M280 haplotype had a reduced risk of recurrent headaches, with an OR of 0.57 (95% CI = 0.41-0.80, P = .001). This association was seen for both nonmigraine headaches (OR = 0.47, 95% CI = 0.28-0.79, P = .004) and migraine (OR = 0.65, 95% CI = 0.43-0.98, P = .041).
Conclusions.— These results need to be replicated but suggest that the chemokine receptor CX3CR1 may play a role in recurrent headaches.