Expression of TRIM22 mRNA in chronic hepatitis C patients treated with direct-acting antiviral drugs

Hepatitis C is a global public health problem, and Pakistan is the second largest country in the globe with highest prevalence rate of hepatitis C virus (HCV). Until 2014, pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) plus ribavirin (RBV) has been the standard therapy for HCV, however, owing to its adverse side effects and very low sustained virologic response (SVR) rates therapeutics trend is shifted toward direct-acting antivirals. Tripartite motif containing 22 (TRIM22) is a dynamic antiviral protein that can inhibit multiple viruses in vivo. Expression of TRIM22 mRNA has been linked to outcome of PEG-IFN and ribavirin therapy, where its higher expression leads to rapid virus clearance. However, in terms of therapy with direct-acting antiviral (DAA) or double DAA, impact of TRIM22 expression is largely unknown. These new drugs show more than 90% of SVR rates and lesser side effects and have proven to be better than IFN therapy. Endogenous IFN system suppresses various pathogens through the induction of antiviral effectors termed as interferon-stimulating genes (ISGs). We have studied the expression levels of one of these antiviral effectors, TRIM22 in response to sofosbuvir (SOF) and daclatasvir (DAC) in combination with RBV, using quantitative PCR in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of HCV-infected patients. We have observed sustained virus clearance in more than 90% of patients treated with DAA and double DAA and have seen the expression of TRIM22 to be higher in patients who attained SVR as compared to the untreated patients. We have also observed downregulation of TRIM22 in patients who failed to attain rapid virus clearance, and upregulation in those who achieved rapid clearance of virus. Genetic factors that determine the lower TRIM22 expression in these patients are needed to be explored that may also play a role in lower response to anti-HCV therapy. Endogenous IFN system and effects of antiviral proteins in response to DAA therapy is needed to be studied in order to better understand the host response toward these drugs to make them more effective.     

Strategies to enhance transductional efficiency of adenoviral-based gene transfer to primary human fibroblasts and keratinocytes as a platform in dermal wounds

Genetically modified keratinocytes and fibroblasts are suitable for delivery of therapeutic genes capable of modifying the wound healing process. However, efficient gene delivery is a prerequisite for successful gene therapy of wounds. Whereas adenoviral vectors (Ads) exhibit superior levels of in vivo gene transfer, their transductional efficiency to cells resident within wounds may nonetheless be suboptimal, due to deficiency of the primary adenovirus receptor, coxsackie-adenovirus receptor (CAR). We explored CAR-independent transduction to fibroblasts and keratinocytes using a panel of CAR-independent fiber-modified Ads to determine enhancement of infectivity. These fiber-modified adenoviral vectors included Ad 3 knob (Ad5/3), canine Ad serotype 2 knob (Ad5CAV-2), RGD (Ad5.RGD), polylysine (Ad5.pK7), or both RGD and polylysine (Ad5.RGD.pK7). To evaluate whether transduction efficiencies of the fiber-modified adenoviral vectors correlated with the expression of their putative receptors on keratinocytes and fibroblasts, we analyzed the mRNA levels of CAR, alpha upsilon integrin, syndecan-1, and glypican-1 using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Analysis of luciferase and green fluorescent protein transgene expression showed superior transduction efficiency of Ad5.pK7 in keratinocytes and Ad5.RGD.pK7 in fibroblasts. mRNA expression of alpha upsilon integrin, syndecan-1 and glypican-1 was significantly higher in primary fibroblasts than CAR. In keratinocytes, syndecan-1 expression was significantly higher than all the other receptors tested. Significant infectivity enhancement was achieved in keratinocytes and fibroblasts using fiber-modified adenoviral vectors. These strategies to enhance infectivity may help to achieve higher clinical efficacy of wound gene therapy.     

Role of amiodarone on the systemic inflammatory response induced by cardiac surgery: proinflammatory actions

PURPOSE: Amiodarone (AMIO), a widely used anti-arrhythmic drug, has been shown to reduce the incidence of atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery and also to exert immunomodulatory actions in vitro and proinflammatory effects in vivo. The present study investigated the immunomodulatory properties of AMIO in the inflammatory response induced by cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). METHODS: In this double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 20 patients undergoing elective coronary artery bypass graft were randomized to receive placebo or AMIO 600 mg day(-1) orally for seven days before surgery and 45 mg hr(-1) intravenously for 48 hr postoperatively. Plasma levels of the proinflammatory markers C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen (FBG), tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-6 and monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, and the antiinflammatory marker IL-10, were compared before and after surgery. RESULTS: Ninety-six hours after start of surgery, plasma levels of FBG had more than doubled (2.2 +/- 0.5-fold increase, P < 0.0001). Overall, FBG formation was significantly increased in the AMIO group (P = 0.048). Monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 secretion transiently increased four hours after start of surgery (6.6 +/- 4.5-fold increase) but rapidly declined thereafter, (P < 0.0001). There was a trend toward higher MCP-1 plasma concentrations in the AMIO group (P = 0.13). The plasma levels of CRP, TNF-alpha, IL-6 and Il-10 changed significantly over time, but were not altered by AMIO treatment. CONCLUSION: In the inflammatory response induced by cardiac surgery with CPB, our data suggest that AMIO treatment is associated with a selective trend toward proinflammatory actions.     

Airway responsiveness to beta-adrenergic agonist (salbutamol) in asthma.

Despite the controversy of airway responsiveness to beta2-agonist drugs in asthma, in a previous study we showed increased responsiveness of asthmatic airways to isoprenaline. Therefore, in the present study of airway sensitivity to other beta2-agonists, salbutamol and its relationship to histamine responsiveness was reexamined. The threshold bronchodilator concentrations of inhaled salbutamol required for a 20% increase in forced expiratory flow in 1 sec (FEV1), (PC20) was measured in 20 normal and 19 asthmatic adults. Airway responsiveness to histamine, as the concentration that caused a 20% decrease in FEV1, was also measured in 11 normal and 12 asthmatic subjects; and the correlation between PC20 salbutamol and PC20 histamine was evaluated. Sensitivity to salbutamol was greater in asthmatics (PC20 = 7.24 mg/L) than in non-asthmatics (PC20 = 124.25 mg/L, p < 0.001). Airway responsiveness to histamine in asthmatics (PC20 = 0.18 g/L) was also significantly greater than in normal subjects (PC20 = 19.46 g/L, p < 0.001). There was a significant correlation between PC20 salbutamol and histamine (Rs = 0.6052, p < 0.005). Maximum response to both salbutamol and histamine and slope of concentration-response curves of both agents were significantly greater in patients with asthma than in normal subjects (p < 0.001 and p < 0.005 for maximum response and slope, respectively). The increased sensitivity of asthmatics to inhaled salbutamol suggests that they also may be more sensitive to their endogenous adrenaline, which may thus dilate and stabilize their airways.     

Mycobacteria and human autoimmune disease: direct evidence of cross-reactivity between human lactoferrin and the 65-kilodalton protein of tubercle and leprosy bacilli.

We document here by Western immunoblotting and immunogold ultracytochemistry that polyclonal antibodies against human lactoferrin (Lf) bind to tubercle and leprosy bacilli. In situ immunogold labeling of Mycobacterium leprae (present in armadillo liver and in human skin) and of Mycobacterium tuberculosis indicated that receptors for anti-Lf antibodies were present both on the cytoplasm and on the envelope of the bacilli. We found by immunoblotting that the 65-kDa heat shock protein is the major component of M. leprae and M. tuberculosis that is responsible for the binding of the anti-Lf probe. Furthermore, we show that anti-Lf immunoglobulin G eluted from the nitrocellulose-transferred mycobacterial 65-kDa protein band did bind back to Lf. Ultracytochemistry of biopsy samples of human lepromas showed that dead or severely damaged M. leprae was strongly marked by the anti-Lf antibodies; a similar pattern of immunogold marking was observed on M. leprae when antibodies against the 65-kDa mycobacterial protein were used. Our results offer direct evidence that the 65-kDa protein of leprosy and tubercle bacilli is recognized with specificity by antibodies against the human protein Lf. The Lf-65-kDa protein antigenic cross-reactivity may contribute to the formation of autoantibodies and immune complexes as well as to other autoimmune events that are frequent in tuberculosis and leprosy. Our immunocytochemical data also suggest that the cross-reactivity may persist for some time after the death of mycobacteria in infected hosts.     

Adhesion of human leukocytes to biomaterials: an in vitro study using alkanethiolate monolayers with different chemically functionalized surfaces

The adhesion of human leukocytes to self-assembled monolayers of well-defined surface chemistry was investigated in vitro. Polymorphonuclear (PMN) and mononuclear leukocytes were isolated from human blood by centrifugation techniques. The effect on adhesion of cell activation produced by pre-incubation of leukocytes with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) was also studied. Gold substrates were modified by treatment with alkanethiols with three different terminal chemical groups: COOH, OH, and CH(3). After incubation with the two subpopulations of leukocytes, the monolayers were washed, treated with fixative, stained with a Giemsa method, and observed by light microscopy to quantify the number of attached leukocytes. Comparative quantification of the density of leukocyte adhesion to the three types of self-assembled monolayers was determined. The hydrophobic surface expressing CH(3) was found to be the one that induced the highest adhesion density of leukocytes, both of PMN and mononuclear cells. In vitro activation of both mononuclear and PMN leukocytes further increased cell adhesion to the chemically defined monolayers that were used. This enhancement was higher for PHA-activated than for PMA-stimulated mononuclear cells, whereas PMA treatment of neutrophils resulted in a higher rate of adhesion of these cells than PHA stimulation.     

Inflammatory responses and cell adhesion to self-assembled monolayers of alkanethiolates on gold

The acute inflammatory response and the adhesion of cells to self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of well-defined surface chemistry was studied in vivo using a rodent air-pouch model of inflammation. SAMs with three different terminal functional groups (OH, COOH and CH3) were implanted in subcutaneous air pouches induced in BALB/c mice. After 24 h, inflammatory cells were recovered from the air pouches and the implants were removed and prepared for observation by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The implants coated with OH and CH3, were found to cause the highest recruitment of inflammatory cells into the subcutaneous pouches. Polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) leukocytes predominated over mononuclear cells in inflammatory exudates of SAMs-coated implants, the opposite being found in uncoated implants (controls). CH3-coated implants induced the highest number of inflammatory cells and also the largest percentage of PMNs seen in the subcutaneous pouches. Control and OH-covered implants presented the higher densities of attached inflammatory cells detected by SEM. In contrast, the CH3-coated implants showed a very low density of cells adherent to the implant surface. We conclude that the chemical nature and the degree of hydrophobicity of the surface of implants modulate both the local acute inflammatory reaction and the adhesion of leukocytes.     

Epitope mapping and characterization of a novel CD4-induced human monoclonal antibody capable of neutralizing primary HIV-1 strains

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) enters target cells by binding its gp120 exterior envelope glycoprotein to CD4 and one of the chemokine receptors, CCR5 or CXCR4. CD4-induced (CD4i) antibodies bind gp120 more efficiently after CD4 binding and block the interaction with the chemokine receptor. Examples of CD4i antibodies are limited, and the prototypes of the CD4i antibodies exhibit only weak neutralizing activity against primary, clinical HIV-1 isolates. Here we report the identification of a novel antibody, E51, that exhibits CD4-induced binding to gp120 and neutralizes primary HIV-1 more efficiently than the prototypic CD4i antibodies. The E51 antibody blocks the interaction of gp120-CD4 complexes with CCR5 and binds to a highly conserved, basic gp120 element composed of the beta 19-strand and surrounding structures. Thus, on primary HIV-1 isolates, this gp120 region, which has been previously implicated in chemokine receptor binding, is accessible to a subset of CD4i antibodies.