Hypomethylation of Notch1 DNA is associated with the occurrence of uveitis

Uveitis is a serious intra-ocular inflammatory disease that can lead to visual impairment even blindness worldwide. Notch signaling can regulate the differentiation of naive CD4⁺ T cells, influencing the development of uveitis. DNA methylation is closely related to the autoimmune diseases. In this study, we measured the Notch1 DNA methylation level, determined the Notch1 and related DNA methylases mRNA expression and evaluated the ratio of T helper type 17 regulatory T cell (Th17/T_reg) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from uveitis patients and normal control subjects; we also tested the levels of relevant inflammatory cytokines in serum from the participants. Results indicated that compared with those in normal control individuals, the expression of ten–eleven translocation 2 (TET2) and Notch1 mRNA is elevated in uveitis patients, whereas the methylation level in Notch1 DNA promotor region [−842 ~ −646 base pairs (bp)] is down-regulated, and is unrelated to anatomical location. Moreover, the Th17/T_reg ratio is up-regulated in PBMCs from uveitis patients, accompanied by the elevated levels of proinflammatory cytokines [e.g. interleukin (IL)-2, IL-6, IL-17 and interferon (IFN)-γ] in serum from uveitis patients. These findings suggest that the over-expression of TET2 DNA demethylase may lead to hypomethylation of Notch1, activate the Notch1 signaling, induce naive CD4⁺ T cells to differentiate theTh17 subset and thus disturb the balance of the Th17/T_reg ratio in uveitis patients. Overall, hypomethylation of Notch1 DNA is closely associated with the occurrence of uveitis. Our study preliminarily reveals the underlying mechanism for the occurrence of uveitis related to the hypomethylation of Notch1 DNA, providing a novel therapeutic strategy against uveitis in clinical practice.     

The immune checkpoint receptor associated phosphatases SHP-1 and SHP-2 are not required for γδT17 cell development,activation, or skin inflammation

IL-17-producing gamma delta (γδT17) cells are innate lymphocytes critical for antibacterial protection at barrier surfaces such as the skin but also highly pathogenic during inflammation. It is therefore important to understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms that could counter-balance overt γδT17 cell activation. Immune checkpoint receptors (ICRs) deliver inhibitory signals to activated lymphocytes and have been implicated as negative regulators of mouse γδT17 cells. In this report, we investigated the cytokine signals that induce ICR expression on γδT17 cells and studied the in vivo role of the Src-homology-2 phosphatases 1 and 2 (SHP-1 and SHP-2) in the context of γδT17-induced psoriasis. We found that surface expression of ICRs can be induced by cytokines; however, SHP-1 or SHP-2 could not inhibit γδT17 responses. In this regard, conditional deletion of SHP-1, SHP-2, or both did no impact γδT17 cell development, expansion, cytokine production, or skin pathology.     

Interleukin-33 alleviates psoriatic inflammation by suppressing the T helper type 17 immune response

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease with unclear pathogenesis. Interleukin-33 (IL-33) is highly expressed in patients with psoriasis, but its role in psoriasis is unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible role of IL-33 in the pathogenesis and treatment of psoriasis. IL-33 expression was determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemical staining. CD4⁺ T cells were sorted using magnetic beads and treated with or without IL-33. Imiquimod (IMQ) was used to induce psoriatic inflammation in mice. The frequency of immune cells was determined using flow cytometry. The cytokine level in mouse skin was measured using cytometric bead array. Our results showed that IL-33 was highly expressed in the lesional skin and serum of patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. IL-33 inhibited the expression of IL-17 in CD4⁺ T cells of psoriasis patients. Subcutaneous injection of IL-33 alleviated the IMQ-induced psoriatic inflammation in mice, reduced tumor necrosis factor-α and IL-23 expression, and decreased the proportion of T helper type 17 (Th17) cells in the skin-draining lymph nodes in the mice. Our results suggest that IL-33 plays a protective role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis by suppressing Th17 cell differentiation and function. The potential therapeutic effect of IL-33 in treating psoriasis warrants further investigation.     

Inflammatory macrophages switch to CCL17-expressing phenotype and promote peritoneal fibrosis

Peritoneal fibrosis remains a problem in kidney failure patients treated with peritoneal dialysis. Severe peritoneal fibrosis with encapsulation or encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis is devastating and life-threatening. Although submesothelial fibroblasts as the major precursor of scar-producing myofibroblasts in animal models and M2 macrophage (Mϕ)-derived chemokines in peritoneal effluents of patients before diagnosis of encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis have been identified, attenuation of peritoneal fibrosis is an unmet medical need partly because the mechanism for cross talk between Mϕs and fibroblasts remains unclear. We use a sodium hypochlorite-induced mouse model akin to clinical encapsulated peritoneal sclerosis to study how the peritoneal Mϕs activate fibroblasts and fibrosis. Sodium hypochlorite induces the disappearance of CD11b^highF4/80^high resident Mϕs but accumulation of CD11b^intF4/80^int inflammatory Mϕs (InfMϕs) through recruiting blood monocytes and activating local cell proliferation. InfMϕs switch to express chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 17 (CCL17), CCL22, and arginase-1 from day 2 after hypochlorite injury. More than 75% of InfMϕs undergo genetic recombination by Csf1r-driven Cre recombinase, providing the possibility to reduce myofibroblasts and fibrosis by diphtheria toxin-induced Mϕ ablation from day 2 after injury. Furthermore, administration of antibody against CCL17 can reduce Mϕs, myofibroblasts, fibrosis, and improve peritoneal function after injury. Mechanistically, CCL17 stimulates migration and collagen production of submesothelial fibroblasts in culture. By breeding mice that are induced to express red fluorescent protein in Mϕs and green fluorescence protein (GFP) in Col1a1-expressing cells, we confirmed that Mϕs do not produce collagen in peritoneum before and after injury. However, small numbers of fibrocytes are found in fibrotic peritoneum of chimeric mice with bone marrow from Col1a1-GFP reporter mice, but they do not contribute to myofibroblasts. These data demonstrate that InfMϕs switch to pro-fibrotic phenotype and activate peritoneal fibroblasts through CCL17 after injury. CCL17 blockade in patients with peritoneal fibrosis may provide a novel therapy. © 2019 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Current knowledge on autoantigens and autoantibodies in psoriasis

In the past decades, clinical and experimental evidence has demonstrated that psoriasis is an immune-mediated inflammatory disease of the skin that occurs in genetically susceptible individuals. Psoriasis also shows clear autoimmune pathomechanisms, but specific cellular targets for the onset and maintenance of psoriatic lesions were not established until 2014. Since then, four psoriasis autoantigens were discovered, namely cathelicidin LL-37, melanocytic ADAMTSL5, lipid antigen PLA2G4D and keratin 17. Autoreactive T cells against these autoantigens were found in a number of patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. Moreover, the discovery of autoantibodies against LL-37 and ADAMTSL5 and their strong association with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) suggest a potential role of these autoantibodies in the pathogenesis of PsA. This review discusses the current studies on psoriatic autoantigens and the associated circulating autoantibodies and their mechanisms involved in the development and maintenance of psoriatic plaques. Recent autoimmune evidence fuelled the discussion on psoriasis as an autoimmune skin disorder and has the potential to develop new treatment strategies with protective and therapeutic antigen-targeted methods.     

单纯17q25.3拷贝数重复导致全面性发育迟缓和多发性先天异常一例

目的探讨单纯17q25.3拷贝数重复的临床特征、遗传方式及基因型与表型的关系。方法应用全外显子测序、染色体微阵列、染色体核型分析、荧光原位杂交技术联合对先证者及其家系成员进行分析。结果先证者为一例4岁的多发性先天异常男性患儿,表现为全面性发育迟缓、矮小、智力障碍、脑发育不良、小头、特殊面容、肌张力低下、注意力缺陷多动障碍、共济失调、骨骼和心血管异常等。全外显子测序和染色体微阵列分析鉴定其在染色体17q25.3→qter发生5.7 Mb拷贝数重复,可能为患儿致病的原因。荧光原位杂交证实先证者该拷贝数重复是遗传自携带该片段平衡易位的母亲,其外祖母和舅舅也为该片段平衡易位携带者,而小姨未见异常。结论本研究结果丰富了单纯17q25.3拷贝数重复的临床表型谱,为遗传咨询提供了依据,并初步提示了P4HB、ACTG1、BAIAP2及TBCD基因为17q25.3拷贝数重复候选基因。     

RNA结合蛋白对大鼠胰岛β细胞株RINm凋亡的保护作用

目的:探讨RNA结合蛋白Tristetraprolin(TTP)对大鼠胰岛β细胞RINm凋亡的影响。方法:取培养增殖期的NR8383巨噬细胞,分别转染不同载体,设为空载体组(pcDNA 3.1组)、TTP过表达载体组(pcDNA 3.1-TTP组)、TTP抑制载体组(si-TTP组)、阴性对照组(si-NC组)和空白对照组(NC组),于转染后12h,更换新鲜培养基,继续培养至36h,取各组巨噬细胞和部分上清,采用RT-qPCR和Western bloting检测其TTP和白细胞介素-6(IL-6)mRNA及其蛋白表达水平。取各组剩余上清液加入体外培养大鼠胰岛β细胞株,形成与前述对应的pcDNA 3.1+RINm组、pcDNA 3.1-TTP+RINm组、si-TTP+RINm组、si-NC+RINm组和NC+RINm组,再培养24h,采用流式细胞术检测各组胰岛RINm细胞凋亡率。结果:(1)pcDNA 3.1-TTP组TTP mRNA和蛋白水平较pcDNA 3.1组明显升高(P<0.01),IL-6 mRNA和蛋白水平较pcDNA 3.1组明显降低(P<0.01);si-TTP组TTP mRNA和蛋白水平较pcDNA 3.1组显著降低(P<0.01),IL-6 mRNA和蛋白水平较pcDNA 3.1组显著升高(P<0.01)。pcDNA 3.1组、si-NC组和NC组间TTP、IL-6 mRNA和蛋白水平比较,差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05)。(2)pcDNA 3.1-TTP+RINm组胰岛RINm细胞凋亡率较pcDNA 3.1+RINm组明显降低(P<0.01);si-TTP+RINm组胰岛RINm细胞凋亡率较pcDNA 3.1+RINm组明显升高(P<0.01)。pcDNA 3.1+RINm组、si-NC+RINm组和NC+RINm组间胰岛RINm细胞凋亡率比较,差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论:过表达TTP可能通过抑制巨噬细胞分泌炎性因子,进而抑制胰岛β细胞凋亡。     

Susceptibility of aging mice to listeriosis: Role of anti-inflammatory responses with enhanced Treg-cell expression of CD39/CD73 and Th-17 cells

Foodborne Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) causes serious illness and death in immunosuppressed hosts, including the elderly population. We investigated Lm susceptibility and inflammatory cytokines in geriatric mice. Young-adult and old mice were gavaged with a Lm strain Lmo-InlA^m. Tissues were assayed for Lm burden and splenocytes were analyzed for Th1/Th2/Th17/Treg responses and expression of CD39 and CD73. Old Lm-infected mice lost body-weight dose-dependently, had higher Lm colonization, and showed higher inflammatory responses than Lm-infected young-adult mice. After infection, IL-17 levels increased significantly in old mice whereas IFN-γ levels were unchanged. Levels of IL-10 and Treg cells were increased in infected old mice as compared to infected young-adult mice. Age-dependent enhanced expression of CD39/CD73 was observed in purified Treg prior to infection, suggesting increased baseline adenosine production in old mice. Lm lysate-treated splenocytes from older mice produced significantly higher levels of IL-10, IL17, and IL-1β, produced less IFN-γ and IL-2, and proliferated less than splenocytes from young-adult mice. Data suggests that older mice maybe more susceptible to Lm infection due to an imbalance of Th cell responses with disproportionate and persistent anti-inflammatory responses. Lm infection enhanced differentiation of proinflammatory Th17 cells, which may also exacerbate pathological responses during listeriosis.     

From genes polymorphisms to mucosal expression of cytokines: evaluating IL-23/IL-17 axis in adult patients with gastritis

Background and ObjectiveChronic inflammation is the typical sign of gastritis that may shift into gastric cancer. IL-17A and IL-17F as a novel inflammatory cytokines subset of CD4+Th play the main role in inflammation. A key cytokine receptor in the inflammatory IL-17/IL-23 axis, the interleukin 23 receptor (IL23R), may be related to gastritis. We evaluated the correspondence between IL-17A G197A, IL-17F A7488G and IL23R+2199 A/C polymorphisms with TGF-β1, IL-6, IL-17, IL-21 and IL-23 mucosal mRNAs expression in uninfected H. Pylori (HP) chronic gastritis patients.Materials and MethodsTotal RNA and genomic DNA were separated from gastric biopsies of 44 patients with gastritis. Subsequently, mucosal mRNAs expression of TGF-β1, IL-6, IL-17, IL-21 and IL-23 were assessed by real-time PCR. To polymorphisms determination of IL-17A G197A, IL-17F A7488G and IL-23R +2199A/C the PCR-RFLP was used in gastric biopsies.ResultsResults point that IL-17A G197A, IL-17F A7488G and IL23R +2199A/C polymorphisms did not influence the mucosal expression of TGF-β1, IL-6, IL-17 and IL-21 (p> 0.05). In an opposite result, we don''t find a correspondence between IL-17A G197A, IL-17F A7488G polymorphisms and mucosal expression of IL-23 (p> 0.05). In a contrary, we found a correlation between IL23R +2199A/C polymorphism and mucosal expression of IL-23 in patients with chronic gastritis (p< 0.05).ConclusionThese findings propose that IL23R +2199A/C polymorphism may change the mucosal expression of IL-23 pattern in patients with gastritis disease in the absence of HP, but to support the conclusion, more research may be required.     

新短肽P17-骨形态发生蛋白2/胶原基质矿化磷灰石材料生物活性的评价

文题释义：胶原基质矿化磷灰石：具有良好的生物相容性,不产生排斥反应,降解速度与成骨的速度相适应,其降解不会影响周围环境的pH值。该材料在微米尺度上具有互联孔洞结构,孔隙尺寸为100-500 µm,孔隙率为70%-90%,结构和成分与自体骨相似,能够更好的诱导自体骨生长,具有良好的骨修复作用,其机械耐受性、可塑性、强度接近松质骨。 新短肽P17-骨形态发生蛋白2：通过FMOC/tBu固相多肽合成法合成的具有17个氨基酸的新型活性短肽中包含磷酸化的丝氨酸及天冬氨酸,能够极好地模拟天然骨基质的促发及指导矿化的功能,在局部形成偏酸环境,促进局部的钙磷沉积、成核和生物自组装矿化。短链多肽活性位点能充分暴露并与细胞表面受体结合,生物活性更强。 背景：胶原基质矿化磷灰石材料具有仿生的化学组成及良好的生物学性能,已被用于某些骨缺损修复;新短肽P17-骨形态发生蛋白2具有良好的生物相容性和成骨诱导生物活性,因此将新短肽P17-骨形态发生蛋白2与胶原基质矿化磷灰石材料制备成复合支架材料可望提升骨修复效率和效果。 目的：探讨新型P17-骨形态发生蛋白2/胶原基质矿化磷灰石复合材料的生物活性。 方法：将兔骨髓间充质干细胞分别接种于新型P17-骨形态发生蛋白2/胶原基质矿化磷灰石复合材料与胶原基质矿化磷灰石材料上,培养3,7 d后,利用RT-PCR检测细胞碱性磷酸酶 mRNA相对表达。将新型P17-骨形态发生蛋白2/胶原基质矿化磷灰石复合材料(实验组)与胶原基质矿化磷灰石材料(对照组)分别埋置于SD大鼠皮下,植入12,35 d后进行Masson染色后组织学分析。将新型P17-骨形态发生蛋白2/胶原基质矿化磷灰石复合材料(实验组)与胶原基质矿化磷灰石材料(对照组)分别植入日本大耳白兔下颌骨箱状缺损处,植入5,15周后进行大体与X射线检查。实验经中国医科大学附属口腔医院伦理委员会批准。 结果与结论：①复合材料组培养7 d的碱性磷酸酶mRNA表达高于胶原基质矿化磷灰石组(P < 0.05);②皮下埋植实验显示两组材料和组织界面均未引起明显的急性炎症反应,植入后35 d实验组可见更多的纤维细胞与材料嵌合;③骨缺损修复实验中,大体观察显示两种材料均具有良好的骨修复能力,植入5周时缺损区已有缩小趋势,植入15周缺损表面比较平整;X射线检查显示与对照组相比,实验组缺损区缩小趋势更明显;④结果表明,新型P17-骨形态发生蛋白2/胶原基质矿化磷灰石复合支架材料具有比胶原基质矿化磷灰石更为优良的生物活性与骨缺损修复能力。 ORCID: 0000-0002-1196-5954(张雪) 中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点：生物材料;骨生物材料; 口腔生物材料; 纳米材料; 缓释材料; 材料相容性;组织工程