病毒感染激活和抑制炎症小体的研究进展

促炎细胞因子白细胞介素1β(IL-1β)和白细胞介素18(IL-18)主要由巨噬细胞和树突细胞产生,是宿主针对各种侵入病原体产生先天免疫应答的重要介质。这些促炎细胞因子从病毒感染的细胞中分泌,被称为炎症小体的多蛋白复合物严格调控。根据炎症小体识别蛋白的种类,炎症小体主要分为两类,即核苷酸结合寡聚结构域样受体(NOD-like receptors,NLRs)和黑色素瘤缺乏因子2样受体(Absent in melanoma 2,AIM2)炎症小体。与其他宿主防御机制不同,炎症小体活化后,会诱导促炎细胞因子IL-1β、IL-18的成熟及分泌。适量的促炎细胞因子有利于控制病理性感染,但如果过量,则会对机体造成一定免疫损伤。本文主要对近几年有关病毒感染对炎症小体的激活和抑制机制进行了综述,总结分析了炎症小体在参与天然免疫反应及病毒感染致病过程中具有的重要作用。     

SHP-2酪氨酸磷酸酶激活突变促进组织白细胞浸润和器官损伤

目的观察SHP-2^D61G/＋酪氨酸磷酸酶激活突变对组织白细胞浸润、细胞因子分泌及多器官损伤的影响。方法分别以SHP-2^D61G/＋激活突变敲入的模型小鼠和野生型C57BL／6小鼠为研究对象,ELISA法检测小鼠血清和白细胞培养上清液中IL-2及TNF-α浓度;采用常规组织切片和HE染色观察心、肺、脾等组织病理学改变;放射免疫法检测血清中丙氨酸转氨酶和心肌肌钙蛋白Ⅰ的水平。结果SHP-2^D61G/＋激活突变小鼠脾、肺组织中白细胞浸润较野生型对照小鼠明显增加,心肌肥大,出现明显炎症损伤型组织学变化;与野生型对照相比,突变小鼠血清及白细胞培养上清液中IL-2和TNF-α浓度均显著增加（P＜0．01）,血清丙氨酸转氨酶及心肌肌钙蛋白Ⅰ水平亦显著增高（P＜0．01）。结论SHP-2^D61G/＋激活突变增强白细胞分泌炎症因子的能力,促进组织白细胞严重浸润和脾、肺、心等多器官损伤,进而导致多器官功能障碍。     

关于IL-10抗炎机制的研究

IL-10属于细胞因子中的干扰素家族,研究发现内源性和外源性的IL-10均能在转录水平上强烈抑制IL-1、IL-6、IL-8肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)、GM-CSF、G-CSF的合成.近十年来,研究认为IL-10主要是通过抑制IKK的激活或NF-κB的DNA结合能力,从而抑制NF-κB启动相关前炎症因子基因的转录.但同时,国外也报道过IL-10抑制炎症细胞因子如TNF-α的合成可能与NF-κB无关,而与如AP-1,细胞因子信号抑制子-3(SOCS-3)等其他蛋白相关.另一方面,最近随着对NOD家族成员NOD2及其同源异构体的深入研究,有证据表明IL-10对NF-κB的作用可能不仅仅局限在IKK(IκB的激酶)及其下游的水平上,而在上游也会造成影响.     

IL-36信号通路与肺部炎症

白细胞介素(interleukin,IL)-36属于IL-1家族新成员,包括IL-36α、IL-36β、IL-36γ和IL-36受体拮抗剂(IL-36 receptor antagonist,IL-36Ra)。IL-36受体(IL-36 receptor,IL-36R)是由IL-1受体相关蛋白2(IL-1Rrp2)和共受体IL-1受体辅助蛋白(IL-1RAc P)组成的异二聚体。IL-36α、IL-36β、IL-36γ能够通过结合IL-36R激活丝裂原激活蛋白激酶和核因子-κB信号通路,促进炎症细胞因子表达,而IL-36Ra可竞争性结合IL-36R从而阻断其信号转导,抑制炎症细胞因子表达。IL-36细胞因子与肺部炎症性疾病密切相关,这提示IL-36可作为肺部炎症性疾病治疗的新靶点。     

NLRP3炎症体与炎症性疾病

炎症体是胱天蛋白酶的活化平台,并促进一些前炎症细胞因子如IL-1β、IL-18和IL-33的成熟,启动机体的先天性免疫防御功能。炎症体的激活和失调与人类先天及后天的炎症性疾病都密切相关。通过对NLRP1、NL-RP3、IPAF和AIM2炎症体调节机制的研究,可为家族性周期性自身炎症反应、痛风、II型糖尿病等的治疗提供新的靶点。主要就NLRP3炎症体的组成、分布和调节机制及与NLRP3炎症体相关的炎症性疾病进行了简要介绍。     

P2X7受体与炎症相关性疾病

P2X7是一种在多种免疫细胞中广泛表达的以ATP为配体的阳离子通道受体,它的激活能引起和加重炎症反应。当细胞处于损伤、缺氧或炎症状态时, P2X7受体可被释放到胞外的大量ATP激活,进而通过活化NLRP3炎症小体、调节基因转录等方式,影响炎症介质(IL-1β、IL-18等)的释放从而参与多种炎症性疾病,如糖尿病肾病、系统性红斑狼疮(systemic lupus erythematosus,SLE)等。近年来,细胞外ATP-P2X7受体信号通路已成为炎症性疾病研究较多的通路之一。大量研究表明, P2X7受体是治疗炎症性疾病的潜在靶点。该文将对P2X7受体及其参与的炎症相关性疾病的关系作一综述。     

白细胞介素22的研究进展

白细胞介素-22（IL-22）起初系在鼠T淋巴细胞中经IL-9诱生而获得的,并因此被命名为IL-TIF（IL-10-related -derived inducible factor);鉴于其与IL-10的结构相似性,其受体是一个巳建立的细胞因子受体家族的新成员,以及其在白细胞内的产物和作用的确认,2000年由Xie等提出将其命名为一个新的人类细胞因子白细胞介素-22（IL-22）。实验证明IL-22上调肝细胞急性期产物,参与炎症反应。借助IL-9或CD3抗体和刀豆蛋白A的激活,T细胞、肥大细胞、胸腺和脑均可表达IL-22,表明这个因子在免疫系统内外可能显示多效的活性,在抗体免疫应答中,其对来自TH2T细胞的IL-4产物有适当的抑制作用,对于哮喘有潜在的治疗作用。在信号转导途径中,IL-22能介导STAT1、STAT3和STAT5的激活。     

炎症小体调控机制的研究进展

炎症小体(Inflammasome)是一种由机体胞浆内模式识别受体(PRRs)参与组成的多蛋白复合体,主要参与天然免疫反应中caspase-1激活,并介导IL-1β、IL-18的前体产生成熟细胞因子以及诱导细胞凋亡。NLRP3、NLRC4、NLRP1、AIM2是目前研究较多的炎症小体,对其结构、组成成分、作用机制等方面已有较为深入的研究,而主要只对炎症小体的活化及负性调控机制的研究进展进行了综述。     

NALP3炎性体与非感染性炎症疾病

在机体非感染性炎症疾病过程中,caspase-1的活化引起IL-1β、IL-18、IL-33等促炎细胞因子的分泌是一个重要的过程.而一个被称为NALP3炎性体的多蛋白复合物在caspase-1的活化过程中起到了重要的调节作用.各种外源或内源的刺激可通过不同的信号通路激活NALP3炎性体来活化caspase-1.本文就NALP3炎性体的结构和分布、活化和信号通路及对2型糖尿病、痛风、阿尔兹海默病和肾脏疾病等非感染性炎症疾病的近期研究作一综述.     

炎性小体在诱导脊髓损伤神经炎症中的作用

脊髓损伤的治疗与康复一直是医学领域的重大难题,尤其是在改善损伤的神经功能方面进展甚微。继发性损伤是造成脊髓损伤后神经功能障碍的主要原因,炎症反应是继发性损伤阶段最重要的病理过程。急性期通过抑制神经炎症来减轻继发性损伤被认为可减轻神经功能损害而达到神经保护作用。炎性小体是一类蛋白质复合体,由模式识别受体中的NLRs家族和PHYIN家族的受体蛋白质作为主要框架组装并命名,常见的炎性小体包括NLRP1、NLRP3、NLRC4(IPAF)、AIM2等。在感染或受到损伤刺激时,炎性小体在细胞质内组装,并激活促炎症蛋白酶胱天蛋白酶1(caspase-1),活化的胱天蛋白酶1一方面促进促炎症细胞因子IL-1β和IL-18的前体成熟和分泌,另一方面介导细胞焦亡。细胞焦亡以细胞肿胀破裂并释放细胞内容物为特征,是在炎症和应激的病理条件下诱导的程序性细胞死亡方式。促炎症细胞因子和焦亡释放的胞内物质都可作为促炎信号引发炎症反应。近期发现,炎性小体通过诱导促炎因子释放以及介导细胞焦亡等途径, 参与激活脊髓损伤后的炎症级联反应,加重继发性神经炎症。靶向抑制炎性小体的激活可减轻炎症反应,促进神经细胞存活,达到神经保护作用。因此,炎性小体有望成为脊髓损伤治疗的新靶点。本文拟从炎性小体的结构及其在脊髓损伤中的作用、激活机制和治疗前景进行综述,以期为后续研究提供思路。     

产白介素-17T细胞在肺部细菌感染中的研究进展

目前产白介素-17(IL-17)T细胞主要包括了产IL-17 CD4+T细胞即Th17细胞、产IL-17γδT细胞和产IL-17 CD8+T细胞等。随着对Th17这一系细胞功能研究的不断深入,发现它们能通过产生IL-17和IL-22等细胞因子参与炎症反应。该文将对产IL-17 T细胞在肺部细菌感染中所起作用的最近研究进展进行综述。     

Long-Term Dietary Supplementation of Pomegranates,Figs and Dates Alleviate Neuroinflammation in a Transgenic Mouse Model of Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a devastating age-related neurodegenerative disease with no specific treatment at present. The APPsw/Tg2576 mice exhibit age-related deterioration in memory and learning as well as amyloid-beta (Aβ) accumulation, and this mouse strain is considered an effective model for studying the mechanism of accelerated brain aging and senescence. The present study was aimed to investigate the beneficial effects of dietary supplements pomegranate, figs, or the dates on suppressing inflammatory cytokines in APPsw/Tg2576 mice. Changes in the plasma cytokines and Aβ, ATP, and inflammatory cytokines were investigated in the brain of transgenic mice. Significantly enhanced levels of inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-9, IL-10, TNF-α and Eotaxin activity were decreased by administration of the diet supplements containing pomegranates, figs, or dates. In addition, putative delays in the formation of senile plaques, as indicated by a decreasing tendency of brain Aβ1–40 and Aβ1–42 contents, were observed. Thus, novel results mediated by reducing inflammatory cytokines during aging may represent one mechanism by which these supplements exert their beneficial effects against neurodegenerative diseases such as AD.     

多发性硬化疾病及模型小鼠中疾病相关细胞因子和转录因子研究进展

多发性硬化症（multiple sclerosis,MS）是一种原发于中枢神经系统的炎症性脱髓鞘疾病。实验性自身免疫性脑脊髓炎（experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis,EAE）与MS有相似的临床症状和病理特征,是被广泛应用于人类疾病研究的动物模型。MS确切的发病机制尚不清楚,但普遍认为是在易感基因的基础上,受环境因素触发,由CD4＋T细胞介导的中枢神经系统（centralnervous system,CNS）自身免疫性疾病。初始CD4＋T细胞在T细胞受体介导下活化,继而可分化为至少4个主要亚型,分别为TH1、TH2、TH17和iTreg细胞,参与不同类型的免疫应答。细胞因子和转录因子网络对CD4＋T细胞分化和效应细胞因子产物有重要意义。该文综述了各相关细胞因子和转录因子在CD4＋T细胞向不同亚型分化及MS/EAE发病过程中的相互作用和调控,揭示各因子在这些过程中的作用,有助于进一步研究和治疗MS。     

APOE2 promotes the development and progression of subretinal neovascularization in age-related macular degeneration via MAPKs signaling pathway

BackgroundNeovascular age-related macular degeneration (nvAMD) is one of the main pathological features of wet AMD. Apolipoprotein E2 is involved in the formation of nvAMD but the molecular mechanism has not been reported.MethodsThe APOE alleles in AMD patients were detected by genotyping. Mouse models were divided into 4 groups according to transfection different gene segments and laser-induced treatment. APOE2, VEGF, PDGF-BB, b-FGF and inflammatory cytokines (including p-NF-κB, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6) were tested by ELISA in mice retinal lysate. The formation of nvAMD in the indicated treatment groups at 3rd, 7th and 14th day after laser-induced damage were detected by FFA. Besides, qRT-PCR was used to determine the mRNA levels of p38, JNK and ERK in ARPE-19 cells. Finally, the inflammatory cytokines and MAPK proteins (including P38, p-P38, JNK, p-JNK, ERK and p-ERK) were detected by western blot.ResultsThe statistics of APOE alleles showed that APOE2 allele carriers were more likely to nvAMD. VEGF, PDGF-BB, b-FGF and related inflammatory cytokines were up-regulated significantly after treatment with APOE2, which were reduced after silencing the MAPK family genes, however. Further, the expression levels of neovascular growth factors and inflammatory cytokines were highly consistent between mouse models and ARPE-19 cells. Besides, the phosphorylation levels of p38, JNK and ERK were affected by APOE2.ConclusionnvAMD was affected directly by the overexpression of VEGF, PDGF-BB and b-FGF, which were regulated by APOE2 through activating MAPKs pathway.     

New insights into the dichotomous role of innate cytokines in gut homeostasis and inflammation

In addition to their well-known role in acute injury and chronic inflammation, "innate" cytokines play an important role in health and the maintenance of normal immune homeostasis. This group includes the prototypic cytokines IL-1 and TNFα, as well as several other members belonging to the IL-1 and TNF family, such as IL-18, IL-33, IL-36-38, and TL1A. The dichotomous role of these cytokines has been best characterized in the intestine where innate cytokines may play both a protective and a pro-inflammatory role, depending upon the immmunological status of the host or the type and phase of the inflammatory process. This new information has produced novel pathogenetic hypotheses that have important translational implications both in regard to the prevention and treatment of chronic intestinal inflammation, including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, the two major forms of inflammatory bowel disease. This review will discuss and summarize current data regarding the role of IL-1, TNFα, and their family members in regulating gut mucosal homeostasis and chronic intestinal inflammation.     

Synergy of IL-23 and Th17 Cytokines: New Light on Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, involve an interplay between host genetics and environmental factors including intestinal microbiota. Animal models of IBD have indicated that chronic inflammation can result from over-production of inflammatory responses or deficiencies in key negative regulatory pathways. Recent research advances in both T-helper 1 (Th1) and T-helper 17 (Th17) effect responses have offered new insights on the induction and regulation of mucosal immunity which is linked to the development of IBD. Th17 cytokines, such as IL-17 and IL-22, in combination with IL-23, play crucial roles in intestinal protection and homeostasis. IL-23 is expressed in gut mucosa and tends to orchestrate T-cell-independent pathways of intestinal inflammation as well as T cell dependent pathways mediated by cytokines produced by Th1 and Th17 cells. Th17 cells, generally found to be proinflammatory, have specific functions in host defense against infection by recruiting neutrophils and macrophages to infected tissues. Here we will review emerging data on those cytokines and their related regulatory networks that appear to govern the complex development of chronic intestinal inflammation; we will focus on how IL-23 and Th17 cytokines act coordinately to influence the balance between tolerance and immunity in the intestine.     

Interleukin-4 induction of the CC chemokine TARC (CCL17) in murine macrophages is mediated by multiple STAT6 sites in the TARC gene promoter

Background  

Macrophages (Mθ) play a central role in the innate immune response and in the pathology of chronic inflammatory diseases. Macrophages treated with Th2-type cytokines such as Interleukin-4 (IL-4) and Interleukin-13 (IL-13) exhibit an altered phenotype and such alternatively activated macrophages are important in the pathology of diseases characterised by allergic inflammation including asthma and atopic dermatitis. The CC chemokine Thymus and Activation-Regulated Chemokine (TARC/CCL17) and its murine homologue (mTARC/ABCD-2) bind to the chemokine receptor CCR4, and direct T-cell and macrophage recruitment into areas of allergic inflammation. Delineating the molecular mechanisms responsible for the IL-4 induction of TARC expression will be important for a better understanding of the role of Th2 cytokines in allergic disease.     

Role of type 2 innate lymphoid cell and its related cytokines in tumor immunity

Type 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) have multiple functions that can respond to allergic diseases, parasite infection, metabolic homeostasis, tissue repair, and adipose metabolism homeostasis. In these diseases, ILC2s can be activated by various inflammatory cytokines released by damaged cells. Activated ILC2s produce different type 2 cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, IL-9, and IL-13, which involved in the pathogenesis of many diseases. In recent years, the relationship between ILC2s and tumor diseases has attracted more and more attention. The role of ILC2s in tumor immunity depends on its surface molecules and cytokine context. This review aims to conclude tumorigenic and antitumorigenic roles of ILC2s, and the characters of ILC2s-related cytokines in tumor diseases to provide a comprehensive overview of the impact of ILC2s in tumor immunity.