Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hye-Soo Park, Seunga Choi, Yong-Woo Back, Kang-In Lee, Han-Gyu Choi, Hwa-Jung Kim
Summary: The study found that PGE2 produced by RpfE-activated dendritic cells via the MAPK and cyclooxygenase 2 signaling pathways induces Th1 and Th17 cell responses mainly via the EP4 receptor, contributing to defense against Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. Moreover, adding optimal amount of PGE2 to IL-2-IL-6-IL-23p19-IL-1 beta is essential for promoting differentiation into Th1/Th17 cells with strong bactericidal activity.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Fengxiang Huang, Haoran Wang, Ruiping Qiao, Qiang Peng, Chang Zhao, Lijun Miao
Summary: This study evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) and GeneXpert Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) for identifying tuberculous pleurisy and analyzing the microbial profiles of both tuberculous and non-tuberculous pleural effusions. The results showed that both tests had high specificity and positive predictive value for detecting tuberculous pleurisy, along with comparable sensitivity. Additionally, mNGS analysis revealed valuable insights into the microbial profiles of both types of pleural effusions.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Mushtaq A. Ansari, Ahmed Nadeem, Musaad A. Alshammari, Sabry M. Attia, Saleh A. Bakheet, Mohammad R. Khan, Thamer H. Albekairi, Abdullah F. Alasmari, Khaled Alhosaini, Faleh Alqahtani, Haneen A. Al-Mazroua, Sheikh F. Ahmad
Summary: This study investigated the role of Cathepsin B inhibitor CA-074 in the progression of multiple sclerosis (MS). The results showed that CA-074 reduced clinical scores and suppressed the activity of key immune cells in EAE mice. Furthermore, it downregulated the expression of related genes and proteins. These findings suggest that Cathepsin B could be a potential therapeutic candidate for the treatment of MS.
EXPERIMENTAL NEUROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Lei Shi, Zilu Wen, Hongwei Li, Yanzheng Song
Summary: This study aimed to identify important genes related to tuberculous pleurisy and found that these genes are mainly enriched in different biological processes, cellular components, and molecular functions. Additionally, several genes potentially associated with the disease were identified through protein-protein interaction network analysis.
FRONTIERS IN GENETICS
(2021)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Yu Zhu, Yan-Hong Gao, Jia-Ni Zou, Er-Ping Xi
Summary: Tuberculous pleurisy can lead to pleural thickening and calcification, which is rarely reported in clinical cases. This paper presents a unique case of significant pleural thickening and calcification in a patient who first developed tuberculous pleurisy about 20 years ago. The crescent-shaped shadow caused by pleural thickening and calcification in this patient is very rare in medical literature.
RISK MANAGEMENT AND HEALTHCARE POLICY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Stephanie Fischinger, Deniz Cizmeci, Sally Shin, Leela Davies, Patricia S. Grace, Aida Sivro, Nonhlanhla Yende-Zuma, Hendrik Streeck, Sarah M. Fortune, Douglas A. Lauffenburger, Kogieleum Naidoo, Galit Alter
Summary: South Africa has the highest prevalence of HIV and tuberculosis co-infection globally, with HIV infected individuals having a greater likelihood of developing recurrent TB. This study investigated the humoral response in HIV co-infected individuals with and without recurrent TB, finding differences in antibody profiles, particularly decreased Mtb-antigen specific IgG3 titers in individuals with recurrent TB. These findings suggest a potential role for Mtb-specific IgG3 responses as biomarkers or mediators of protective immunity against Mtb recurrence.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Li Wang, Xubin Zheng, Jun Ma, Jin Gu, Wei Sha
Summary: This study used comprehensive proteomics analysis to identify and quantify protein components in plasma exosomes in patients infected with different non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). The results revealed significant enrichment of complement and coagulation in patients with Mycobacterium infection. Additionally, specific proteins were up-regulated in patients with different NTM infections, and certain signaling pathways were associated with specific NTM infections.
Article
Respiratory System
Georgina R. Nyawo, Charissa C. Naidoo, Benjamin Wu, Imran Sulaiman, Jose C. Clemente, Yonghua Li, Stephanie Minnies, Byron W. P. Reeve, Suventha Moodley, Cornelia Rautenbach, Colleen Wright, Shivani Singh, Andrew Whitelaw, Pawel Schubert, Robin Warren, Leopoldo Segal, Grant Theron
Summary: This study investigated the lymph node microbiome in tuberculosis lymphadenitis (TBL) patients and found that the microbiome in TBL lymph nodes is diverse. Different microbial communities are associated with different clinical features and immunomodulatory potentials. These findings lay the groundwork for studying the role of the microbiome in lymphatic TB.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Monica M. Van Acker, Rebekah R. Schwartz, Kelly Andrews, Kristina Seiffert-Sinha, Animesh A. Sinha
Summary: This study found that blood relatives of AA patients show similar elevation of Th1 and Th17 pathway cytokines, suggesting a genetic basis for Th1 and Th17 dysregulation in AA. The elevation of Th17-related cytokines in an unrelated control individual may suggest predictive value.
Article
Immunology
Ying Luo, Ying Xue, Yimin Cai, Qun Lin, Guoxing Tang, Huijuan Song, Wei Liu, Liyan Mao, Xu Yuan, Yu Zhou, Weiyong Liu, Shiji Wu, Ziyong Sun, Feng Wang
Summary: Inadequate tuberculosis diagnostics, especially in discriminating between active TB and latent TB infection, are major obstacles in disease burden reduction. The study investigated the role of lymphocyte non-specific function detection for TB diagnosis. Results show that CD4(+) T cell non-specific function has the potential for differentiating T-SPOT results, and the three-index diagnostic model is a potent tool for identifying different events in TB infection.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Robert Krause, Christian M. Warren, Joshua D. Simmons, Peter F. Rebeiro, Fernanda Maruri, Farina Karim, Timothy R. Sterling, John R. Koethe, Al Leslie, Yuri F. van der Heijden
Summary: Patients with stable/increased HbA1c during TB treatment exhibited an increased pro-inflammatory state and elevated T cell activity. These changes were associated with unresolved dysglycemia and may indicate failure to fully resolve infection.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Carmen Molina-Torres, Carlos Pedraza-Rodriguez, Lucio Vera-Cabrera, Jorge Ocampo-Candiani, Catalina Rivas-Morales, Ezequiel Viveros-Valdez
Summary: Tuberculosis (TB) is still a major global health problem, with antibiotic-resistant strains posing the greatest challenge to its treatment. Additionally, the prevalence of non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) in humans has significantly increased in recent years. This study aims to investigate the antimycobacterial effects of extracts and major compounds from Hedeoma drummondii on both clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and NTM strains. The methanolic extract exhibited the best activity against M. tuberculosis, inhibiting 10 out of 12 strains at a concentration < 2500 mu g/mL, while the hexanic extract showed the best activity against NTM, inhibiting 8 out of 10 strains at <= 625 mu g/mL. Furthermore, there was a strong positive correlation between the antimycobacterial activity of pulegone and the hexanic extract against NTM strains, suggesting its potential as a predictive marker for these microorganisms.
Article
Oncology
Zhiguo Peng, Xinyue Dong, Miao He, Yajing Zhao, Yujia Liu, Mo Li, Guosheng Li, Xiuwen Wang, Li Li, Yu Hu
Summary: This study found that the expression levels of Th22, Th17, Th1, and Th2 cell subsets were significantly increased in breast cancer patients. Th22 cells were found to be associated with molecular classification and clinical outcomes of breast cancer. These cell subsets may play a critical role in the development of breast cancer and have the potential to be used as clinical markers.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Huaxin Chen, Jingyu Zhou, Xinguo Zhao, Qianqian Liu, Lingyun Shao, Yehan Zhu, Qinfang Ou
Summary: This study assessed the levels of soluble immune checkpoints (sICs) in Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and found their associations with laboratory test markers and treatment responses in tuberculosis patients, suggesting that certain sICs may serve as potential biomarkers for disease surveillance and prognosis of tuberculosis.
BMC INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Mohau S. Makatsa, F. Millicent A. Omondi, Rubina Bunjun, Robert J. Wilkinson, Catherine Riou, Wendy A. Burgers
Summary: Th22 cells may play a role in the protective immune response to tuberculosis, and depletion of these cells during HIV coinfection may increase the risk of tuberculosis.
JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)