Do Fish Thrombocytes Play an Immunological Role? Their Cytoenzymatic Profiles and Function During an Accidental Piscine Candidiasis in Aquarium

Fish (F) thrombocytes (THRs) from healthy trouts were studied in terms of cytoenzyme expression. FTHRs were positive to acid periodic of shiff (PAS) and acid phosphatase (ac. phos.) without tartaric acid (? TA) stainings, as well to alkaline phosphatase. However, when compared with autologous macrophages (MØs), they were negative to naphthol cloroacetate esterase (AS-D), α-naphthyl acetate esterase (Anae), peroxidase (perox) and control ac. phos. with tartaric acid (+ TA) stainings, thus indicating a lack of typical lysosomial enzymes. This evidence supports the notion that FTHRs are not true digesting cells. Quite interestingly, trouts and human MØs were positive for PAS, AS-D, Anae, and perox stainings, thus confirming that cellular cytochemistries are maintained across evolution as their phagocytic functions. Additionally, blood films from trouts, accidentally infected with Candida albicans in aquarium, were morphologically analyzed. Actually, FTHRs interact with erythrocytes, potentiating the formation of rosettes around a central MØ. Polymorph nuclear cells and lymphocytes are present in these cellular aggregates, thus suggesting that FTHRs may represent a link between innate and adaptive immunity.     

Household illness is the strongest predictor of upper respiratory tract symptom risk in elite rugby union players

ObjectivesTo identify periods of increased risk for upper respiratory tract symptom (URTS) episodes, and examine whether biomarkers and/or self-reported lifestyle and wellness data can predict URTS risk in elite rugby union players.DesignProspective, longitudinal and repeated-measures study.MethodsSalivary secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA), salivary cortisol, URTS, internal training load and self-reported lifestyle and wellness data including household illness, stress, mood, fatigue, muscle soreness and sleep quality were repeatedly measured in elite Southern hemisphere rugby union players (n = 28) throughout a season. Univariate frailty model analysis, which included 495 observations, was used to determine predictors of URTS risk.ResultsSurprisingly, the highest incidence of URTS occurred after rest weeks, namely the Christmas break and bye weeks (i.e., no scheduled trainings or matches); whereas URTS risk was reduced during weeks involving international travel (Hazard ratio (HR): 0.43, p < 0.001)). Household illness was the strongest predictor of URTS risk; players were almost three-fold more at risk for an URTS episode when illness in the household was present (HR: 2.90, p = 0.002). A non-significant, but potentially important trend for an inverse association between SIgA concentration and URTS incidence was also observed (HR: 0.99, p = 0.070).ConclusionsRest weeks were identified as periods of increased risk for URTS; while international travel did not appear to increase players risk for URTS. Incidence of household illness and SIgA concentration independently predicted URTS risk, with household illness being the strongest predictor. These findings can assist practitioners monitoring and management of athletes to potentially reduce URTS risk.     

Personality pathways to mortality: Interleukin-6 links conscientiousness to mortality risk

Personality is associated consistently with mortality hazards, but the physiological pathways are not yet clear. Immune system dysregulation may be one such pathway due to its role in age-related morbidity and mortality. In this preregistered study, we tested whether interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP) mediated the associations between personality traits and mortality hazards. The sample included 957 participants (M ± SD = 58.65 ± 11.51 years; range = 35–86 years) from the Midlife in the United States Survey that had 14 years of follow-up. Higher conscientiousness was associated with lower mortality hazards, with each one standard deviation higher conscientiousness associated with a 35% lower mortality risk. IL-6, but not CRP, partially mediated this association, with IL-6 accounting for 18% of this association in the fully adjusted model. While there was initial evidence that the biomarkers mediated both neuroticism and agreeableness and mortality risk, the indirect effects were not significant when controlling for the sociodemographic variables. Taken together, higher conscientiousness may lead to a longer life partially as a result of lower IL-6. This work highlights the importance of biological pathways that link personality to future mortality risk.     

Can exercise-related improvements in immunity influence cancer prevention and prognosis in the elderly?

Cancer incidence increases with advancing age. Over 60% of new cancers and 70% of cancer deaths occur in individuals aged 65 years or older. One factor that may contribute to this is immunosenescence – a canopy term that is used to describe age-related declines in the normal functioning of the immune system. There are multiple age-related deficits in both the innate and adaptive systems that may play a role in the increased incidence of cancer. These include decreased NK-cell function, impaired antigen uptake and presentation by monocytes and dendritic cells, an increase in ‘inflammaging’, a decline in the number of naïve T-cells able to respond to evolving tumor cells, and an increase in functionally exhausted senescent cells. There is consensus that habitual physical exercise can offer protection against certain types of cancer; however the evidence linking immunological mechanisms, exercise, and reduced cancer risk remain tentative. Multiple studies published over the last two decades suggest that exercise can mitigate the deleterious effects of age on immune function, thus increasing anti-cancer immunity. The potential ameliorative effect of exercise on these mechanisms include evidence that physical activity is able to stimulate greater NK-cell activity, enhance antigen-presentation, reduce inflammation, and prevent senescent cell accumulation in the elderly. Here we discuss the role played by the immune system in preventing and controlling cancer and how aging may retard these anti-cancer mechanisms. We also propose a pathway by which exercise-induced alterations in immunosenescence may decrease the incidence of cancer and help improve prognosis in cancer patients.     

FcγRI plays a critical role in patients with ulcerative colitis relapse

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a disease that frequently relapses and affects more than 0.1% general population; the underlying mechanism is poorly understood. Published data show that polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) contribute to the pathogenesis of UC. This study aims to identify antigen (Ag)-specific PMNs and investigate their role in UC relapse. In this study, the correlation between PMN activities and UC relapse was assessed in a group of UC patients. A UC mouse model was developed to expand the findings of UC patient study. The results showed that a positive correlation was detected between the high PMN activities and the food Ag-specific IgG amounts in colon biopsies of UC patients. UC patient-derived Ag-specific PMNs could be activated upon exposure to food specific Ag. The Ag/FcγRI complexes were detected on the surface of PMNs in UC patients. Re-exposure of sensitized PMNs to specific Ag triggered PMN activation and induced UC-like inflammation in the mouse colon. We conclude that FcγRI plays a critical role in UC relapse. Inhibition of FcγRI can efficiently inhibits experimental UC.     

人博卡病毒VP2病毒样颗粒诱导特异性细胞免疫反应的研究

目的 探讨酶联免疫斑点试验(ELISPOT)检测人博卡病毒(HBoV) VP2病毒样颗粒(VLPs)诱导特异性细胞免疫反应的最佳条件.方法 HBoV VP2 VLPs免疫小鼠后,用ELISPOT方法检测小鼠的特异性细胞免疫反应,观察不同多肽刺激、不同细胞培养时间、不同细胞浓度以及不同浓度特异性刺激多肽条件下ELISPOT结果.结果 多肽P3(GYIPIENEL)及P5(LYQMPFFLL)刺激HBoV1 VLPs免疫小鼠脾脏淋巴细胞产生斑点数分别为233个/10(6)和157个/10(6)细胞,P8(GYIPVIHEL)刺激HBoV2 VLPs免疫小鼠脾脏淋巴细胞产生斑点数为113个/10(6)细胞;培养时间以24 h为最佳,此时HBoV1与HBoV2实验组特异性分泌IFN-(ｒ)的比率分别为232个/10(6)和119个/10(6)细胞;小鼠脾脏淋巴细胞浓度以5×10(5)为最佳,此时HBoV1与HBoV2实验组特异性分泌IFN-(γ)的比率分别为232个/10(6)和108个/10(6)细胞;刺激物浓度10μg/ml为最佳,HBoV1与HBoV2实验组特异性分泌IFN-(γ)的比率分别为233个/10(6)和96个/10(6)细胞.结论 HBoV1与HBoV2特异性BABL/c小鼠T细胞表位多肽分别为HBoV1:P3;HBoV2:P8.检测人博卡病毒VP2病毒样颗粒诱导特异性细胞免疫反应ELISPOT方法最佳实验条件为:培养时间24 h,细胞浓度5×10(5)细胞/孔,刺激多肽终浓度10 μg/ml,可用于HBoV在小鼠上的细胞免疫研究.     

槐杞黄颗粒治疗儿童原发性肾病综合征的前瞻性随机对照临床研究

目的观察槐杞黄颗粒对儿童原发性肾病综合征的治疗作用。方法采用前瞻性研究法,2009年7月至2011年12月住院并初诊为原发性肾病综合征的患儿随机分为糖皮质激素联用槐杞黄颗粒治疗组(观察组,n=23)和单用糖皮质激素治疗组(对照组,n=19),比较两组患儿浮肿消退时间、尿蛋白阴转时间、感染发生率、复发率、糖皮质激素用量及细胞、体液免疫功能。结果观察组与对照组浮肿消退时间、尿蛋白阴转时间、复发率差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。观察组感染发生率低于对照组(P0.05),6个月时每日糖皮质激素用量小于对照组(P0.05)。两组体液、细胞免疫学指标检测差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。未观察到槐杞黄相关不良反应的发生。结论槐杞黄可减少肾病综合征患儿糖皮质激素用量及感染合并症的发生,且显示了其治疗的安全性。     

Intra-tumoral tertiary lymphoid structures are associated with a low risk of early recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma

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