Aloe vera affects changes induced in pulmonary tissue of mice caused by cigarette smoke inhalation

This study was undertaken to determine the influence of Aloe vera (AV) on changes induced in pulmonary tissue of cigarette smoke (CS) inhaling mice. CS inhalation for 4 weeks caused pulmonary damage as evident by histoarchitectural alterations and enhanced serum and tissue lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities. CS inhalation also led to increased mucin production as revealed by mucicarmine and Alcian Blue‐Periodic Acid Schiff (AB‐PAS) staining. Studies on bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (balf) of CS exposed animals revealed structural changes in phospholipids and increase in surface tension when compared with control counterparts. These changes were accompanied by enhanced nitric oxide (NO) levels, citrulline levels, peroxidative damage, and differential modulation of antioxidant defense system. AV administration (seven weeks, 500 mg/kg b.w. daily) to CS inhaling mice led to modulation of CS induced pulmonary changes as revealed by lesser degree of histoarchitectural alterations, lesser mucin production, decreased NO levels, citrulline levels, peroxidative damage, and serum LDH activity. AV treatment to CS inhaling mice was associated with varying response to antioxidant defense system, however balf of CS + AV treated animals did not exhibit appreciable changes when compared with that of CS exposed animals. These observations suggest that AV has the potential to modulate CS induced changes in the pulmonary tissue which could have implications in management of CS associated pulmonary diseases, however, further investigations are required to explore its complete mechanism of action. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 30: 999–1013, 2015.     

重症肺结核患者T细胞免疫球蛋白黏蛋白分子的表达及其预后意义

目的 探讨重症肺结核患者T淋巴细胞亚群、T细胞免疫球蛋白黏蛋白分子(TIM-1,TIM-3)的表达及其预后意义。方法 回顾性分析2019年1月至2021年6月在我院收治的1 056例重症肺结核患者为研究对象,并将其定义为重症肺结核组,另选同期在我院进行治疗的1 000名轻症肺结核患者作为轻症肺结核组。比较两组患者TIM-1、TIM-3以及外周血T细胞亚群(CD4⁺、CD8⁺)水平;检测并比较外周血单个核细胞中TIM-1、TIM-3的mRNA水平;分析重症肺结核患者外周血T细胞亚群、TIM-1、TIM-3与患者预后的关系。结果 重症肺结核组CD8⁺、TIM-1和TIM-3水平均高于轻症肺结核组,CD4⁺水平低于轻症肺结核组(均P<0.001)。重症肺结核组TIM-1 mRNA和TIM-3 mRNA水平均高于轻症肺结核组(均P<0.001)。死亡组CD8⁺、TIM-1和TIM-3水平均高于存活组,CD4⁺水平低于存活组(均P<0.001)。相关性分析发现:存活组患者TIM-1、TIM-3与CD4⁺均呈负相关(r值分别为-0.114和-0.211,P<0.05),而与CD8⁺均呈正相关(r值分别为0.571和0.680,P<0.05)。结论 重症肺结核患者免疫功能紊乱可能与其体内外周血T细胞亚群水平异常以及TIM-1、TIM-3 表达水平升高有关。     

TIM family proteins and autoimmunity

Despite their relative novelty, a growing body of literature now demonstrates that T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain (TIM) family proteins are important regulators of immunity. Not surprisingly, these proteins also play prominent roles in the control of auto-reactive immune responses. Thus, modulation of TIM protein function may prove to be a useful strategy to control autoimmune diseases.     

Dietary polyphenols increase fecal mucin and immunoglobulin A and ameliorate the disturbance in gut microbiota caused by a high fat diet

The effects of dietary polyphenols on human health have mainly been discussed in the context of preventing degenerative diseases, particularly cardiovascular diseases and cancer. The antioxidant properties of polyphenols have been widely studied, but it has become clear that the mechanism of action of polyphenols extends beyond the modulation of oxidative stress, as they are poorly absorbed from the digestive tract. The purpose of this study was to clarify the effects of polyphenols on the colonic environment, intestinal barrier function, and gut microbiota. We demonstrated that dietary polyphenols derived from aronia, haskap, and bilberry, markedly elevated the amount of fecal mucin and immunoglobulin A (IgA) as an intestinal barrier function and ameliorated the disturbance in gut microbiota caused by a high fat diet in rats. These results suggest that dietary polyphenols play a significant role in the prevention of degenerative diseases through improvement of the colonic environment without any absorption from the digestive tract.     

Expression of Tim-3 in gastric cancer tissue and its relationship with prognosis

As a negative regulatory molecule, T-cell immunoglobulin–and mucin domain-3 (Tim-3) plays a crucial role in the tumor immunological tolerance. In the present study, we aimed to determine the Tim-3 expression in gastric cancer tissue and its relationship with clinicopathological parameters and prognosis. The Tim-3 expression was assessed in 52 gastric cancer specimens and 15 gastritis tissues by flow cytometry, and gastritis tissues served as the control. As a result, we found that the Tim-3 expressions on CD4⁺T cells and CD8⁺T cells in gastric cancer tissue was significantly higher than those in gastritis tissue (P=0.022, P=0.047, respectively). The median expression level of Tim-3 on CD4⁺T cells were significantly correlated with clinicopathological parameters, such as tumor size, lymph node metastasis, the depth of tumor invasion and TNM staging (P=0.042, P=0.026, P=0.001, P=0.003, respectively), while it was not correlated with sex, age and histological subtype (all P>0.05). In CD8⁺T cells, the Tim-3 expression was relevant to tumor invasion and TNM staging (P=0.035, P=0.017, respectively), while it was irrelevant to other clinicopathological parameters (all P>0.05). Additionally, Kaplan-Meier survival curves showed that the median overall survival time of patients with lower Tim-3 expression was greater than that of patients with higher Tim-3 expression in CD4⁺T cells and CD8⁺T cells (χ²=18.036, P<0.001 and χ²=18.036, P<0.001, respectively). Moreover, the multivariate analysis revealed that the Tim-3 expression and TNM stage were independent prognostic factors for gastric cancer patients (P=0.029, P=0.043 and P=0.003, respectively). These results suggest that Tim-3 played an important role in the development and progression of gastric cancer, and it could be used as an independent prognostic factor for gastric cancer patients.     

Functional Anatomy of the Syrinx of the Chukar Partridge (Galliformes: Alectoris chukar) as a Model for Phonation Research

The phonation process of vertebrates is influenced by the material characteristics of the participating structures, ranging from molecular to macroscopic dimensions. Good animal models for phonation research are still lacking. Due to easy availability and relatively simple structure, the syrinx of birds might serve as a good animal model for this purpose. Our aim was therefore to determine structural features of the syrinx and obtain insights into its mucus layer characteristics. Epithelium and glands were analyzed using histological, histochemical, and immunohistochemical methods and conclusions were drawn on the use of the syrinx as a model for phonation research by comparing the epithelium and its mucus characteristics to human laryngeal secretions. Ten adult partridges were analyzed. The tympanum of the syrinx developed from the last two tracheal cartilages, whereas the caudal part of the syrinx was formed from eight pieces of bronchial cartilages. The tracheal and bronchial epithelia and the pessulus of the syrinx were lined by pseudo‐stratified columnar epithelium in which goblet cells and intraepithelial glands were localized. Collagen fibers were distributed in the lamina propria of all parts of the syringeal mucosa. Elastic fibers in the membranes of the syrinx showed evident distribution. All glandular epithelial cells and goblet cells were positive for neutral, acidic and carboxylated mucins were dominant in particular. Epithelium and glands revealed positive reactivity with antibodies to the mucins MUC1, MUC2, and MUC5AC. Of these, MUC2 and MUC5AC were dominant. The syrinx of partridge can serve as a good ex vivo model for phonation research. Anat Rec, 298:602–617, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Interaction of microbes with mucus and mucins

Due to the recent rapid expansion in our understanding of the composition of the gut microflora and the consequences of altering that composition the question of how bacteria colonise mucus layers and interact with components of mucus, such as mucin, is now receiving widespread attention. Using a combination of mucus secreting cells, and a novel mucin microarray platform containing purified native mucins from different sources we recently demonstrated that two gastrointestinal pathogens, Helicobacter pylori and Campylobacter jejuni, colonise mucus by different mechanisms. This result emphasizes the potential for even closely related bacteria to interact with mucus in divergent ways to establish successful infection. Expanding the use of the mucin arrays described in the study to other microorganisms, both pathogenic and commensal, should lead to the discovery of biologically important motifs in bacterial-host interactions and complement the use of novel in vitro cell models, such as mucus secreting cell lines.