Review
Immunology
Kingston H. G. Mills
Summary: IL-17 cytokines have both protective and pathological functions in the context of infection and autoimmunity. They promote protective immunity against pathogens but can also drive inflammatory pathology. Dysregulated IL-17 responses can contribute to immunopathology, and IL-17 is implicated in various inflammatory diseases.
NATURE REVIEWS IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Hong Ki Min, Sehee Kim, Ji-Yeon Lee, Kyoung-Woon Kim, Sang-Heon Lee, Hae-Rim Kim
Summary: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have higher levels of interleukin-18 (IL-18) and lower levels of IL-18 binding protein (IL-18BP) in their serum and synovial fluid compared to those with osteoarthritis (OA) or healthy controls. In vitro studies show that IL-18BP can correct the Th17/Treg imbalance in CD4(+) T cells of RA patients and reduce IL-17-induced osteoclastogenesis, suggesting therapeutic potential for RA treatment.
JOURNAL OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Jinqiu Jiang, Tao Qin, Liang Zhang, Qiao Liu, Jiabin Wu, Rongxin Dai, Lina Zhou, Qin Zhao, Xiaoyan Luo, Hua Wang, Xiaodong Zhao
Summary: Deficiencies in DOCK8 result in quantitative and qualitative defects in IL-10-producing Breg cells, potentially due to abnormal Dock8(-/-) CD4(+) T cells. The study found that recombinant murine IL-21 can restore Bregs function and reduce inflammatory cell infiltration in the lung in a murine asthma model. This provides new insights into potential therapeutic strategies for allergic diseases, such as asthma associated with DOCK8 deficiency.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Junichi Ishikawa, Akira Suto, Kazuya Abe, Yuki Hayashi, Kensuke Suga, Shigeru Tanaka, Takahiro Kageyama, Arifumi Iwata, Kazumasa Suzuki, Kotaro Suzuki, Hiroshi Nakajima
Summary: Murine IL-17-producing γδT (γδT17) cells consist of natural γδT17 (nγδT17) cells and inducible γδT17 cells. IL-21 is dispensable for the fetal thymic development of nγδT17 cells, but required for the peripheral maintenance of Vδ4(+)nγδT17 cells.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Camila Victoria Sousa Oliveira, Oscar Moreno-Loaiza, Daniel Figueiredo-Vanzan, Isalira Peroba Ramos, Hilton Mata-Santos, Marcelo Torres Bozza, Claudia Neto Paiva, Emiliano Medei
Summary: This study investigated the role of IL-1 beta in chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy (CCC) using a mouse model. The results showed that the absence of functional IL-1 beta/IL-1R signaling did not prevent or reverse the decrease of cardiac function and the incidence of arrhythmias induced by CCC. Therefore, ruling out the IL-1 beta signaling pathway is an important step to discourage further attempts of IL-1 beta blockade as a therapeutic measure for CCC.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Xin Li, Sheng Xiao, Fanling Li, Ke Fang, Jie Wen, Haoli Gong
Summary: This study elucidated the mechanism underlying Th17/Treg imbalance during osteoarthritis progression. The results showed that MXI1 promoted Th17 cell differentiation and restricted Treg cell differentiation, leading to accelerated progression of osteoarthritis.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Thamires Rodrigues de-Sousa, Rodrigo Pessoa, Andrezza Nascimento, Beatriz Oliveira Fagundes, Fabio da Ressureicao Sgnotto, Alberto Jose da Silva Duarte, Sabri Saeed Sanabani, Jefferson Russo Victor
Summary: Maternal OVA immunization was found to inhibit the frequency of IL-17-producing gamma delta T cells in offspring thymus, possibly through an epigenetic mechanism mediated by miRNAs.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Anett Mazlo, Ramona Kovacs, Noemi Miltner, Marta Toth, Zoltan Vereb, Krisztina Szabo, Ildiko Bacskai, Kitti Pazmandi, Agota Apati, Tamas Biro, Krisztian Bene, Eva Rajnavolgyi, Attila Bacsi
Summary: Findings suggest that MSCl cells promote differentiation of CTLA-4 expressing DCs through the production of all-trans retinoic acid, leading to the activation and polarization of allogeneic, naive T cells by semi-matured DCs in a CTLA-4 dependent manner. Understanding the molecular mechanisms behind MSC-mediated modulation of DC differentiation may expand the clinical application of MSCs in cell-free therapies.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Julio Cruz-Chan, Liliana E. Villanueva-Lizama, Leroy Versteeg, Ashish Damania, Maria Jose Villar, Cristina Gonzalez-Lopez, Brian Keegan, Jeroen Pollet, Fabian Gusovsky, Peter J. Hotez, Maria Elena Bottazzi, Kathryn M. Jones
Summary: Therapeutic treatment with a reduced dose of benznidazole combined with vaccine treatment induces a T(H)17 immune response, enhancing the production of specific cytokines and T lymphocytes, resulting in reduced cardiac inflammation, fibrosis, and parasite burdens, as well as improved survival in acutely infected mice. Low dose treatments show comparable efficacy to high dose treatments, suggesting potential dose sparing effects and bridging the gaps of current drug treatment in Chagasic patients by inducing T(H)17 immune responses through vaccine-linked chemotherapeutic strategies.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Cecile Apert, Ariel O. Galindo-Albarran, Sarah Castan, Claire Detraves, Heloise Michaud, Nicola McJannett, Bart Haegeman, Simon Fillatreau, Bernard Malissen, Georg Hollander, Saulius Zuklys, Jeremy C. Santamaria, Olivier P. Joffre, Paola Romagnoli, Joost P. M. van Meerwijk
Summary: This study reevaluated the role of IL-2 and IL-15 in the development of regulatory T-lymphocytes (Treg) and found that IL-2 and IL-15 play important non-redundant quantitative and qualitative roles in intrathymic Treg development.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Li-jun Du, Yu-xiang Feng, Zhi-xing He, Lin Huang, Qiao Wang, Cheng-ping Wen, Yun Zhang
Summary: Norcantharidin (NCTD) has shown promising therapeutic effects in a mouse model of SLE by decreasing mortality rate, reducing expression of anti-dsDNA IgG antibody, restoring renal structure and function, and inhibiting lymphoproliferation and T cell accumulation in the spleen. Additionally, NCTD specifically targets DN T cell proliferation and Th17 cell differentiation through blocking the STAT3 signaling pathway.
ACTA PHARMACOLOGICA SINICA
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yu Sawada, Ayako Setoyama, Yumiko Sakuragi, Natsuko Saito-Sasaki, Haruna Yoshioka, Motonobu Nakamura
Summary: The skin is exposed to various environmental stimuli, leading to inflammatory immune responses, especially towards cutaneous fungal infections. IL-17 producing cells play a crucial role in anti-fungal action, but their actual impact remains unclear. Research focuses on the role of IL-17-producing cells in cutaneous fungal infections and characteristics of infectious fungi on the skin.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Na Liu, Hui Qin, Yihua Cai, Xia Li, Lanqi Wang, Qiannan Xu, Feng Xue, Lihong Chen, Chuanlin Ding, Xiaoling Hu, David Tieri, Eric C. Rouchka, Jun Yan, Jie Zheng
Summary: Using RNAseq analysis and a mouse model, researchers found that the expression of chemokine and chemokine receptor genes decreased in the skin after glucocorticoid treatment for psoriasis, but increased again in recurrent skin. In the mouse model, pathogenic cells migrated from draining lymph nodes to the skin, leading to severe skin inflammation.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Akimichi Inaba, Zewen Kelvin Tuong, Tian X. X. Zhao, Andrew P. P. Stewart, Rebeccah Mathews, Lucy Truman, Rouchelle Sriranjan, Jane Kennet, Kourosh Saeb-Parsy, Linda Wicker, Frank Waldron-Lynch, Joseph Cheriyan, John A. A. Todd, Ziad Mallat, Menna R. R. Clatworthy
Summary: Activation of B cells expressing CD25 can be enhanced by low-dose recombinant IL-2, leading to increased secretion of IL-10. Administration of low dose IL-2 to patients results in an increase in IL-10-producing B cells. Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals enrichment of regulatory B cell gene signature in plasma cell populations from IL-2-treated patients, with significant down-regulation of the transcriptional repressor BACH2. BACH2 suppression leads to increased B cell IL-10, suggesting its role in promoting an immunoregulatory phenotype in B cells through IL-2 modulation.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Allergy
Sofia Tagkareli, Maria Salagianni, Ioanna-Evdokia Galani, Maria Manioudaki, Eleftherios Pavlos, Kalliopi Thanopoulou, Evangelos Andreakos
Summary: The study identified a novel regulatory T-cell population expressing CD103, which is programmed to prevent excessive type 2 inflammation and maintain homeostasis in the respiratory tract. This has important therapeutic implications for allergic and autoimmune disorders.
Article
Dermatology
Andrezza Telles Westin, Luiz Gustavo Gardinassi, Edson Garcia Soares, Joao Santana Da Silva, Eduardo Antonio Donadi, Cacilda Da Silva Souza
Summary: The study found that non-aggressive basal cell carcinoma subtypes exhibit HLA-G expression, with more HLA-G-positive inflammatory cells than tumor cells. Different locations and subtypes of BCC show differences in cytokine expression, consistent with the induction of HLA-G expression.
ARCHIVES OF DERMATOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Fernando Fonseca Franca Ribeiro, Henrique Turin Moreira, Antonio Carlos Leite de Barros-Filho, Denise M. Tanaka, Camila G. Fabricio, Luciano F. L. Oliveira, Cibele M. Prado, Marcus V. Simoes, Andre Schmidt, Benedito C. Maciel, Jose A. Marin-Neto, Minna Moreira Dias Romano
Summary: This study found that in the Syrian hamster model of Chagas disease, speckle tracking echocardiography parameters (GLS and GCS) showed early decrease, while changes in LVEF, LVESD, and GLS were correlated with myocardial inflammation but not with fibrosis.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CARDIOVASCULAR IMAGING
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Isabella Lima Arrais Ribeiro, Wanessa Teixeira Bellissimo-Rodrigues, Mariama Gentil Mussolin, Lara Maria Alencar Ramos Innocentini, Adriano Tadeu Dias Marangoni, Leandro Dorigan Macedo, Francisco Barbosa-Junior, Hayala Cristina Cavenague de Souza, Mayra Goncalves Menegueti, Ana Paula Sulino Pereira, Gilberto Gambero Gaspar, Andre Schmidt, Carlos Henrique Miranda, Wilson Jose Lovato, Marcelo Lourencini Puga, Maria Auxiliadora-Martins, Anibal Basile-Filho, Fernando Bellissimo-Rodrigues
Summary: Providing dental care to critically ill patients may decrease their risk of death in the ICU. The study found that regular oral hygiene and periodontal treatment provided by dentists can improve patient survival rate.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF INFECTION CONTROL
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mauro Cesar Cafundo Morais, Diogo Silva, Matheus Marques Milagre, Maykon Tavares de Oliveira, Thais Pereira, Joao Santana Silva, Luciano da F. Costa, Paola Minoprio, Roberto Marcondes Cesar Junior, Ricardo Gazzinelli, Marta de Lana, Helder Nakaya
Summary: In this study, a machine learning approach based on a random forest algorithm was developed for the detection and counting of T. cruzi trypomastigotes in mobile phone images. The method achieved high precision, sensitivity, and area under the ROC curve when tested on a dataset of blood smear samples captured using a mobile device camera. Automating image analysis acquired with a mobile device can reduce costs and improve efficiency in the use of optical microscopes.
Article
Immunology
Sandra Regina Maruyama, Carlos Alessandro Fuzo, Antonio Edson R. Oliveira, Luana Aparecida Rogerio, Nayore Tamie Takamiya, Gabriela Pessenda, Enaldo Vieira de Melo, Angela Maria da Silva, Amelia Ribeiro Jesus, Vanessa Carregaro, Helder I. Nakaya, Roque Pacheco Almeida, Joao Santana da Silva
Summary: In this study, mRNA sequencing was used to analyze peripheral blood samples from patients with visceral leishmaniasis, revealing thousands of differentially expressed genes and identifying important signaling pathways and cell types involved in the immunopathological processes of the disease. Additionally, lncRNA expression analysis was performed for the first time in visceral leishmaniasis, uncovering the significant role of lncRNAs in the disease's development.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Immunology
Juliana C. Costa-Madeira, Gabrielly B. Trindade, Paulo H. P. Almeida, Joao S. Silva, Vanessa Carregaro
Summary: A key aspect of immunity against Leishmania parasites is the development of an optimal T cell response, which can be compromised during chronic infection, leading to T cell exhaustion. Multiple factors, including parasite load, infection duration, and host immunity, contribute to T cell exhaustion. This can result in disease progression and acquired resistance to conventional drugs.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Luiz Eduardo Virgilio Silva, Henrique Turin Moreira, Marina Madureira de Oliveira, Lorena Sayore Suzumura Cintra, Helio Cesar Salgado, Rubens Fazan, Renato Tinos, Anis Rassi, Andre Schmidt, J. Antonio Marin-Neto
Summary: This study investigated the role of heart rate variability (HRV) in risk stratification for Chronic Chagas Cardiomyopathy (CCC) and compared HRV alterations between isolated CCC and mixed CCC with digestive involvement. The results showed that the mixed form of CCC exhibited decreased slow HRV components, while increased heart rate fragmentation was associated with worse prognosis in CCC. The combination of HRV indices improved the accuracy of risk stratification.
BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING ONLINE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Aline Cavalcanti de Queiroz, Gisele Barbosa, Victoria Regina Thomaz de Oliveira, Helio de Mattos Alves, Marina Amaral Alves, Vanessa Carregaro, Joao Santana da Silva, Eliezer Jesus Barreiro, Magna Suzana Alexandre-Moreira, Lidia Moreira Lima
Summary: Leishmaniasis is a neglected disease and current treatment methods have limitations. LASSBio-1491, a potential drug candidate, showed promising pharmacokinetic properties and demonstrated effective treatment against leishmaniasis in vitro and in vivo.
Article
Rheumatology
Leonardo Pippa Gadioli, Karla Costa-Pereira, Juliana B. E. Dias, Daniela A. Moraes, Julio C. Crescencio, Pedro Schwartzmann, Lourenco Gallo, Andre Schmidt, Maria Carolina Oliveira
Summary: This study aimed to assess the cardiopulmonary function outcomes of SSc patients after Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (AHSCT). The results showed significant improvements in peak VO2, percentage of predicted peak VO2, and 6-minute walk test distance after AHSCT. The improvements in peak VO2 were positively correlated with improvements in 6-minute walk test distance and negatively correlated with resting heart rate decrease. All patients showed improved VO2 values after AHSCT, regardless of baseline diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) levels. The increase in VO2 levels after AHSCT was positively correlated with increases in the physical component scores of the Short Form-36 quality of life questionnaire.
Article
Immunology
Pauline Brochet, Barbara Ianni, Joao P. S. Nunes, Amanda F. Frade, Priscila C. Teixeira, Charles Mady, Ludmila R. P. Ferreira, Andreia Kuramoto, Cristina W. Pissetti, Bruno Saba, Darlan D. S. Candido, Fabricio Dias, Marcelo Sampaio, Jose A. Marin-Neto, Abilio Fragata, Ricardo C. F. Zaniratto, Sergio Siqueira, Giselle D. L. Peixoto, Vagner O. C. Rigaud, Paula Buck, Rafael R. Almeida, Hui Tzu Lin-Wang, Andre Schmidt, Martino Martinelli, Mario H. Hirata, Eduardo Donadi, Virmondes Rodrigues Junior, Alexandre C. Pereira, Jorge Kalil, Lionel Spinelli, Edecio Cunha-Neto, Christophe Chevillard
Summary: This study proposes two sets of DNA methylation biomarkers that can predict the occurrence and stage of Chagas disease cardiomyopathy. Using machine learning algorithms, predictions in a test cohort achieved an accuracy of over 95%. These biomarkers are also associated with immune response, nervous system, ion transport, and ATP synthesis pathways.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Pauline Brochet, Barbara Maria Ianni, Laurie Laugier, Amanda Farage Frade, Joao Paulo Silva Nunes, Priscila Camillo Teixeira, Charles Mady, Ludmila Rodrigues Pinto Ferreira, Quentin Ferre, Ronaldo Honorato Barros Santos, Andreia Kuramoto, Sandrine Cabantous, Samuel Steffen, Antonio Noedir Stolf, Pablo Pomerantzeff, Alfredo Inacio Fiorelli, Edimar Alcides Bocchi, Cristina Wide Pissetti, Bruno Saba, Darlan da Silva Candido, Fabricio C. Dias, Marcelo Ferraz Sampaio, Fabio Antonio Gaiotto, Jose Antonio Marin-Neto, Abilio Fragata, Ricardo Costa Fernandes Zaniratto, Sergio Siqueira, Giselle De Lima Peixoto, Vagner Oliveira-Carvalho Rigaud, Fernando Bacal, Paula Buck, Rafael Ribeiro Almeida, Hui Tzu Lin-Wang, Andre Schmidt, Martino Martinelli, Mario Hiroyuki Hirata, Eduardo Antonio Donadi, Alexandre Costa Pereira, Virmondes Rodrigues Junior, Denis Puthier, Jorge Kalil, Lionel Spinelli, Edecio Cunha-Neto, Christophe Chevillard
Summary: In this study, the genetic and epigenetic deregulations associated with moderate and severe stages of Chagas disease were investigated using bulk RNA-seq and DNA methylation analysis. The results revealed differentially expressed transcripts and regulatory differentially methylated regions in the heart tissue of CCC patients. Transcription factors binding sites affected by DNA methylation were also identified. The study identified biological processes affected by severe CCC and highlighted the importance of ion transport and the nervous system in the development of the disease.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Shamir R. Mehta, Jia Wang, David A. Wood, John A. Spertus, David J. Cohen, Roxana Mehran, Robert F. Storey, Philippe Gabriel Steg, Natalia Pinilla-Echeverri, Tej Sheth, Kevin R. Bainey, Sripal Bangalore, Warren J. Cantor, David P. Faxon, Laurent J. Feldman, Sanjit S. Jolly, Vijay Kunadian, Shahar Lavi, Jose Lopez-Sendon, Mina Madan, Raul Moreno, Sunil Rao, Josep Rodes-Cabau, Goran Stankovic, Shrikant Bangdiwala, John A. Cairns
Summary: Complete revascularization in patients with STEMi and multivessel CAD leads to a slightly higher proportion of angina-free patients compared to culprit lesion-only strategy.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jonas Carneiro Cruz, Carolina Kakiuthi Martins, Albert Katchborian Neto, Cristiano Miranda de Araujo, Renata Dellalibera-Joviliano, Fernando Barbosa Jr
Summary: The aim of this study was to identify the risk factors for mortality attributed to COVID-19 among Brazilians. A retrospective cohort study was conducted using a database of 1,804,151 individuals. The study found that age, gender, and comorbidities such as cardiac diseases and diabetes were associated with a higher risk of death. The findings provide valuable insights for decision-making during the COVID-19 outbreak.
JOURNAL OF TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH-PART A-CURRENT ISSUES
(2023)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Reinaldo B. Bestetti, Renata Dellalibera-Joviliano, Ellen Rizzi, Giselle F. Bonacio, Milton Faria-Jr, Rosemeire Furlan-Daniel, Suzeley Castro-Franca
Summary: This study evaluated the levels of MMP 2 and MMP9 in patients with chronic Chagas heart disease (CCHD) and systemic arterial hypertension (SAH), and their correlation with the profibrogenic cytokine TGF-beta. The results showed that MMP-2 and MMP-9 may play a role in the extracellular matrix remodeling process in CCHD-SAH patients, and TGF-Beta may counteract the MMP effect on the ECM remodeling process in these patients.
CARDIOLOGY RESEARCH AND PRACTICE
(2023)
Article
Virology
Wallace Pitanga Bezerra, Amanda Costa Ayres Salmeron, Anna Claudia Calvielli Castelo Branco, Ingryd Camara Morais, Valeria Soraya de Farias Sales, Paula Renata Lima Machado, Janeusa Trindade Souto, Joselio Maria Galvao de Araujo, Paulo Marcos da Matta Guedes, Maria Notomi Sato, Manuela Sales Lima Nascimento
Summary: This study investigated the peripheral dysregulation of immune mediators in children with microcephaly due to Congenital Zika Syndrome (CZS). The results showed decreased levels of CCL2 and CXCL8, and increased levels of IgE in the serum of these children, along with a high prevalence of allergies. These findings suggest a persistent systemic inflammation in children with microcephaly due to CZS, and possible impairment in leukocyte migration caused by low production of CCL2 and CXCL8.