VKC患儿与正常儿童泪液中细胞因子表达的比较

目的：比较VKC患儿与正常儿童泪液中细胞因子白细胞介素-4（IL-4）,白细胞介素-5（IL-5）和白细胞介素-13（IL-13）的表达量的变化,以及分析两组之间有无统计学差异。方法：收集10例春季角结膜炎（VKC）患儿与16例正常受试者（CT）的泪液;采用液体芯片技术测量两组泪液中IL-4,IL-5,IL-13的浓度,使用U检验来比较两组之间的差异有无统计学意义。结果：VKC组泪液中IL-4的浓度为1.09±0.73 pg/mL,IL-5的浓度为1.68±1.43 pg/mL,IL-13的浓度为1.90±1.59 pg/mL;与正常受试者（CT）相比,明显升高,两组之间比较差异均有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。结论：分析VKC患儿泪液中的细胞因子在了解VKC的发病机制中可能可以起到重要的作用,以及可以提供新的治疗方向。     

妊娠期肝内胆汁淤积症患者外周血中维生素D受体 与Th1/Th2 型细胞因子的变化

目的:研究妊娠期肝内胆汁淤积症患者外周血中维生素D受体的表达与Th1/Th2型细胞因子干扰素-γ/白细胞介素-4(IFN-γ/IL-4)的变化关系,探讨ICP发病机制。方法:选取ICP患者31例(ICP组),孕周相匹配的正常孕妇31例(正常对照组)。采用酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA法),检测两组孕妇血清中Th1型细胞因子(IFN-γ)和Th2型细胞因子(IL-4)的水平;采用实时荧光定量逆转录-多聚酶链反应(qRT-PCR),检测两组孕妇外周血单个核细胞维生素D受体(VDR)mRNA的表达水平,采用3-磷酸甘油醛脱氢酶(GAPDH)为内参,根据相对定量公式:2-△△CT分析VDR mRNA的表达水平。结果:(1)ICP组外周血清中IFN-γ的浓度[(230.93±36.04)pg/ml]明显高于正常对照组[(138.37±25.08)pg/ml],差异有统计学意义(P<0.01)。ICP组血清中IL-4浓度[(9.99±3.19)pg/ml]和正常对照组[(8.58±2.43)pg/ml]比较,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。ICP组IFN-γ/IL-4比值(24.56±6.91)高于正常对照组(17.13±4.84),差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。(2)ICP组外周血单个核细胞维生素D受体mRNA的表达明显低于正常对照组(P<0.01),正常对照组VDR的表达定义为1.0,ICP组的表达量为0.4。(3)ICP组外周血中VDR的表达水平与IFN-γ浓度呈明显负相关(r=-0.833,P<0.01),与IL-4浓度无明显相关(r=-0.109,P>0.05),与IFN-γ/IL-4比值呈负相关,但相关性不强(r=-0.356,P=0.049<0.05)。结论:ICP患者外周血Th1/Th2型细胞因子平衡由Th2向Th1偏移,可能与ICP孕妇外周血单个核细胞VDR的表达减少有关。     

过敏性紫癜患儿血浆白细胞介素9水平变化及意义探讨

目的:探讨儿童过敏性紫癜急性期血浆白细胞介素9(IL-9)水平变化特点及其临床意义。方法:观察组为79例过敏性紫癜(HSP)患儿,分为无肾损害组和有肾损害两组;对照组为28例门诊健康体检儿童。ELISA测定各组儿童血浆IL-9及白细胞介素4(IL-4)水平。结果:HSP患儿血浆IL-9水平为(28.32±6.97)pg/ml,显著高于对照组(23.92±5.91)pg/ml,差异有统计学意义(t=2.98,p0.05);HSP患儿血浆IL-4水平为(93.86±25.35)pg/ml,显著高于对照组(77.75±15.90)pg/ml,差异有统计学意义(t=3.01,p0.05);紫癜有肾损害组及紫癜无肾损害组血清IL-4及IL-9水平较对照组明显升高,差异有统计学意义,p0.05。紫癜有肾损害组血清IL-9水平较紫癜无肾损害组明显升高,差异有统计学意义,p0.05。紫癜有肾损害组血清IL-4水平较紫癜无肾损害组升高不明显,差异无统计学意义,p0.05。直线相关分析结果显示,HSP患儿血浆IL-9水平变化与IL-4水平呈显著正相关(r=0.298,p0.05)。结论:IL-9水平的显著增高在HSP特别是紫癜性肾炎发病机制中有重要作用。     

慢性阻塞性肺疾病大鼠模型中痩素及白介素-8 的表达分析

目的:观察COPD大鼠模型中瘦素(leptin)、白细胞介素8(IL-8)的表达情况,分析其相关性,探讨leptin在COPD发生发展中的作用及意义.方法:36只雄性SD大鼠随机分为①健康对照组;②COPD模型1组:分别于第(1、14)d经气管内注入内毒素200ug,熏5％香烟(第1、14d除外),2h/d,共4周;③COPD模型2组:单纯熏5％香烟2h/d,共12周.观察肺组织病理变化,免疫组化法测定leptin、IL-8在支气管肺组织的表达情况,放免法测定血清leptin及IL-8浓度.结果:细胞因子leptin及炎性因子IL-8在支气管肺组织阳性表达.LPS联合熏烟诱导COPD1组支气管肺组织中leptin(52.67±04.72)和IL-8(59.56± 3.94)表达较单纯熏烟诱导COPD2组leptin(38.89± 2.57)和IL-8(55.22± 3.42)表达明显升高,P＜0.05,两组COPD大鼠模型支气管肺组织中leptin及IL-8表达较正常对照组leptin( 1690± 1.52)和IL-8 (28.00± 4.24)表达均明显增高,P＜0.05,COPD1组血清中leptin(3.26± 0.95)ng/mL和IL-8( 107.51±13.38 )pg/mL-较COPD2组中leptin(2.42± 0.69 )ng/mL和IL-8((94.07± 11.20)pg/mL明显增高,P＜0.05,两组COPD大鼠模型血清中leptin及IL-8浓度较正常对照组leptin(0.95±0.56)ng/mL和IL-8( 39.48± 6.35 )pg/mL浓度显著升高,P＜0.05.血清中Leptin与IL-8表达水平呈显著正相关(r值分别为0.72 0.67 0.84均P＜0.05).经过q检验,两两之间比较均有统计学意义.结论:leptin和IL-8均参与COPD炎症反应过程,并且具有相关性,LPS促进二者的表达.     

胃癌患者外周血调节性T细胞水平与免疫抑制状态及病理特征的关系研究

目的:探讨胃癌患者外周血中CD4~+CD25~+调节性T细胞(Treg)水平与免疫抑制状态和病理特征的关系。方法:选择2016年1月至2017年6月我院收治的胃癌患者73例作为胃癌组,另选同期在本院进行体格检查的健康者41例作为对照组,采用流式细胞仪检测其外周血中CD4~+CD25~+Treg水平,采用酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)检测血清γ-干扰素(IFN-γ)、白细胞介素-2(IL-2)、白细胞介素-4(IL-4)、白细胞介素-10(IL-10)水平,分析CD4~+CD25~+Treg水平与IFN-γ、IL-2、IL-4和IL-10的相关性及与病理特征的关系。结果:胃癌组CD4~+CD25~+Treg比例、IL-4和IL-10水平为(19.43±4.36)%、(9.76±2.41)pg/mL和(22.18±5.26)pg/mL,高于对照组的(10.34±2.16)%、(7.16±2.07)pg/mL和(9.52±3.47)pg/mL,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);胃癌组IFN-γ和IL-2水平为(6.87±2.24)pg/mL和(2.43±0.54)pg/mL,低于对照组的(13.86±3.18)pg/mL和(12.79±2.16)pg/mL,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。CD4~+CD25~+Treg比例与IFN-γ和IL-2呈负相关关系(P0.05),与IL-4和IL-10呈正相关关系(P0.05)。CD4~+CD25~+Treg比例与胃癌患者的TNM分期、淋巴结转移有关(P0.05),与病理类型、肿瘤直径、分化程度和肿瘤位置无关(P0.05)。结论:胃癌患者外周血Treg水平增高,与免疫状态有明显的相关性,其参与了肿瘤的发生与发展过程。     

子痫前期患者外周血单核细胞Toll样受体4检测及其意义

目的：通过检测子痫前期（PE）患者外周血Toll样受体4（TLR4）表达及其分泌促炎细胞因子的功能,探讨单核细胞TLR4 在 PE 发病过程中的作用。方法：选取22 例子痫前期患者（PE 组）和23 例正常孕妇（HP 组）作为研究对象。经知情同意后抽取4 mL 静脉血,肝素钠抗凝。流式细胞术（FCM）检测单核细胞TLR4表达;脂多糖（LPS）刺激单核细胞18 小时,Luminex 液相芯片检测培 养上清液中肿瘤坏死因子（TNF）-alpha、白细胞介素（IL）-6、IL-12P70 和IL-10 浓度;并分析PE 患者单核细胞TLR4 阳性频率与外周 血清细胞因子浓度的相关性。结果：与HP 组相比,PE 组单核细胞TLR4 阳性细胞频率（TLR4+：23.2 (18.4-44.3) % vs59.7 (19.8-79.7) %）和平均荧光强度（MFI：32.3(27.6-49.2)vs48.6 (32.4- 93.2）明显升高,差异均有统计学意义（P<0.05）;单核细胞经50 ng/mL LPS 刺激培养18 小时,PE 组上清液TNF-alpha(243.5± 15.2 pg/mLvs123± 81.3 pg/mL)、IL-6(3122.7 ± 534.2 pg/mLvs1380.4± 332 pg/mL)浓度明显高于HP 组,IL-10(84.2 ± 24.9 pg/mL vs164.5 ± 47.1 pg/mL)低于HP 组,差异均有统计学意义（P<0.05）;PE 患 者单核细胞阳性频率与外周血清中细胞因子TNF-alpha、IL-6 具有相关性（r=0.634、r=0.528,P<0.05）。结论：PE 患者外周血单核细胞 TLR4表达明显增加,并处于活化状态,分泌较多的促炎细胞因子IL-6 和TNF-alpha,参与子痫前期的疾病过程。因此,抑制单核细胞 TLR4表达可能是治疗子痫前期的新途经。     

微生态制剂防治希尔施普龙病相关性小肠结肠炎的临床分析

为了探讨微生态制剂(双歧杆菌三联活菌肠溶胶囊)防治希尔施普龙病相关性小肠结肠炎(HAEC)的安全性、有效性及作用机制,本研究将120例在本院行经肛门Soave根治术的希尔施普龙病患儿随机分为试验组60例和对照组60例,对照组术后给予抗感染、补液、扩肛等常规治疗,试验组在常规治疗基础之上口服双歧杆菌三联活菌肠溶胶囊治疗,<1岁0.5粒/次,1～6岁1粒/次,6～13岁2粒/次,2次/d,连用3个月。比较两组患儿术后HAEC的发生率、治疗前后的炎症因子水平,包括白细胞介素-6 (IL-6)、白细胞介素-10 (IL-10)、肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)的变化情况及药物不良反应的发生情况。结果表明:治疗后,试验组和对照组的HAEC发生率分别为6.67%(4/60例)和20.00%(12/60例),差异有统计学意义(p<0.05)。治疗后,试验组和对照组的IL-6分别为(22.50±1.48) pg/mL,(26.33±1.65) pg/m L,IL-10分别为(35.02±2.71) pg/m L,(27.86±2.53) pg/m L,TNF-α分别为(24.31±3.26) pg/mL,(29.15±3.40) pg/m L,差异有统计学意义(p<0.05)。两组在治疗过程之中均无药物不良反应发生。本研究得出初步结论:希尔施普龙病患儿术后服用微生态制剂可有效调节炎症因子水平,纠正肠道菌群紊乱,增强肠黏膜机械防御屏障作用,减少HAEC发生。     

呼出气一氧化氮水平与支气管哮喘患儿病情及炎症因子的关系研究

目的:研究呼出气一氧化氮(FeNO)水平与支气管哮喘患儿病情及炎症因子的关系。方法:选择从2014年9月到2016年9月在我院接受治疗的支气管哮喘患儿115例作为观察组,另选同期来我院体检的健康儿童115例作为对照组,对比两组FeNO及炎症因子的水平,比较观察组不同病情患儿FeNO及炎症因子水平,分析患儿FeNO与病情及炎症因子的相关性。结果:观察组C反应蛋白(CRP)、白细胞介素-6(IL-6)、肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)以及FeNO水平分别为(5.06±1.29)mg/L、(4.32±1.33)pg/mL、(2.37±0.21)pg/mL、(50.82±18.28)ppb,均分别显著高于对照组的(1.33±0.46)mg/L、(1.52±0.48)pg/mL、(0.28±0.11)pg/mL、(18.23±2.46)ppb(均P0.05)。观察组急性发作期患儿CRP、IL-6、TNF-α以及FeNO水平分别为(5.12±1.30)mg/L、(4.49±1.06)pg/mL、(2.48±0.19)pg/mL、(51.27±10.63)ppb,均分别显著高于缓解期的(2.97±0.82)mg/L、(2.39±0.62)pg/mL、(1.52±0.20)pg/mL、(32.41±5.52)ppb(均P0.05)。根据Spearman法相关性分析可知,患儿FeNO与病情及IL-6、CRP、TNF-α均呈正相关(r=0.736、0.684、0.713、0.594;均P0.05)。结论:支气管哮喘患儿的FeNO与炎症因子水平呈高表达,FeNO与病情及炎症因子之间密切相关,临床上可将其纳入监测指标,有助于辅助治疗支气管哮喘患儿。     

EB病毒感染导致单核细胞增多症患儿免疫功能的变化及意义

探究EB病毒感染导致单核细胞增多症(IM)患儿免疫功能的变化及意义,以期为EB病毒感致IM的诊疗提供理论依据。研究对象选取2015年6月至2016年6月期间于我院诊治的80例EB病毒感染导致IM患者以及40例体检正常儿童,将确诊未开始治疗的IM患者设为观察组(40例),处于恢复期的IM患者设为治疗组(40例),将体检正常儿童设为对照组。检测淋T巴细胞亚群CD3~+T细胞、CD4~+T细胞、CD8~+T细胞比例以及CD4~+/CD8~+比值,并比较3组观察对象外周血白细胞介素6(IL-6)、白细胞介素8(IL-8)的水平。研究显示观察组CD3~+与CD8~+分别为(0.75±0.13)、(0.45±0.11),均显著高于对照组((0.53±0.09),(0.26±0.09))、治疗组((0.57±0.10),(0.30±0.10)),观察组CD4~+、CD4~+/CD8~+均显著低于对照组与治疗组,差异具有统计学意义(p0.05),治疗组与对照组各项指标差异均不显著(p0.05);观察组IL-6、IL-8分别为(16.34±4.22)pg/m L、(17.96±4.32)pg/m L,显著高于对照组((9.32±3.21)pg/m L、(10.12±3.10)pg/m L)、治疗组((10.32±3.32)pg/m L、(10.78±3.16)pg/m L),差异具有统计学意义(p0.05),治疗组与对照组各项指标差异均不显著(p0.05)。综上可得EB病毒感染后患儿体内CD3~+与CD8~+显著升高,打破CD4~+/CD8~+平衡,免疫功能失常是IM发病的重要原因,对于探究免疫功能的变化对IM的诊治具有重要意义。     

Identification of hemopexin in tear film

Human tear fluid is a complex mixture of aqueous lipids, proteins, enzymes, and other biochemical and cellular elements. By conventional comparative proteomic approaches, we investigated the proteome in human tear fluid and compared the tear protein profile of normal control subjects with that of patients suffering from the ocular inflammatory disease vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC). Collected tear samples were directed to two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis protein separation and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry peptide identification. Six differentially expressed proteins—interleukin 4, phospholipase A2, albumin, lactoferrin, hemopexin, and lipocalin—were displayed. Hemopexin had not been reported previously in tear film. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay confirmed that hemopexin concentrations were significantly higher in VKC tear samples and increased with disease stages. The results implied clinical interest of hemopexin in the tear proteome and eye diseases.     

Subnormal cytokine profile in the tear fluid of keratoconus patients

Keratoconus, historically viewed as a non-inflammatory disease, is an ectatic corneal disorder associated with progressive thinning of the corneal stroma. Recently, a few inflammatory mediators have been reported to be elevated in the tear fluid of keratoconus patients. Consequently, we investigated a wide range of inflammation regulating cytokines in the tears and sera of keratoconus and control subjects. Interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, IL-13, IL-17, interferon (IFN)-γ, chemokine C-C motif ligand 5 (CCL5) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α were tested in tear samples and sera of keratoconus and control individuals by multiplex immuno-bead assays. Selected cytokines were further tested by standard ELISA on pooled tear samples. All cytokines in the sera were generally low, with no significant changes between keratoconus and control subjects. However, in tear fluids, clear differences were detected between the two groups. These differences include increased IL-6, and decreased IL-12, TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-13 and CCL5 in keratoconus compared to control tear fluids. The decreases in IL-12, TNF-α and CCL5 were statistically significant, while the IL-13 decrease was statistically significant in the severe keratoconus group only. IL-17 could not be detected by multiplex immuno-bead assay, but showed an increase in keratoconus by conventional ELISA on a limited number of pooled tear samples. Our findings confirm increased IL-6, but dispute earlier reports of increased TNF-α, and suggest a cytokine imbalance in keratoconus disrupting corneal homeostasis. Moreover, an increase in IL-17 suggests tissue degenerative processes at work, contributing to the thinning and weakening of the corneal connective tissue in keratoconus.     

Anti-inflammatory plasma cytokines in children and adolescents with Down syndrome

Cytokines participate in many physiological processes including the regulation of immune and inflammatory responses. Production of some important cytokines in children with Down syndrome (DS) is depressed or increased. In this study we analysed the selected anti- inflammatory cytokines: interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-10 (IL-10), interleukin-13 (IL-13) in plasma of children and adolescents with DS. The study group consisted of 20 patients with Down syndrome and 33 healthy subjects at the age of 5-17 years. Levels of: IL-4, IL-10 and IL-13 in plasma samples were determined by specific enzyme- linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) techniques according to manufacturer's instructions. IL-4 was detectable in 25% subjects with Down syndrome and in 28.6% healthy subjects. IL-13 was detectable in 15% patients with Down syndrome and in 15.2% healthy subjects, respectively. IL-10 was detectable in 1 of 20 patients with Down syndrome and in 2 of 33 healthy subjects only. No significant correlations between measurable cytokine levels and age and gender were found. No significant increased concentration of selected anti- inflammatory cytokines were detected.     

Alteration pattern of tear cytokines during the course of a day: diurnal rhythm analyzed by multicytokine assay

Our aim was to study the alteration pattern and interaction of inflammatory tear cytokines during the course of a day. Using a prospective, experimental design, tears were collected from 28 healthy volunteers with normal eyes during the period from April 2004 to March 2005. Tears (10 microl) were collected by capillary outflow from each eye at 9:00, 12:00, 16:00, 21:00, and 24:00 h. The concentrations of inflammatory cytokines, IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12p70, and TNF-alpha were measured using cytometric bead arrays. Although the concentration of tear cytokines varied widely among eyes, the amount of cytokine had a specific alteration pattern in each eye during the course of a day. IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12p70, and TNF-alpha showed slight increases in the morning and the late evening. IL-8 remained low throughout the day. The alteration pattern of IL-8 was significantly different from those of TNF-alpha and IL-12p70 (P<0.01). The ratio of each pro-inflammatory cytokine to anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 did not significantly change throughout the day. The amount of tear cytokines changed during daytime with a specific pattern. This diurnal rhythm may influence symptoms of ocular surface diseases during the course of a day.     

Tear cytokines and chemokines in patients with Demodex blepharitis

PurposeThe purpose of the study is to evaluate the causes of inflammation in Demodex-induced blepharitis by analyzing cytokine levels in lacrimal fluid.MethodsFifteen Demodex blepharitis patients were selected for assessment of tear cytokine concentrations. Fifteen Demodex-free blepharitis patients and 15 subjects with no ocular symptoms were selected as control groups. Minimally stimulated tear samples (20 μl) were collected from each eye and analyzed using a Luminex® 200? Total System for detection of IL-1β, IL-5, IL-7, IL-12, IL-13, IL-17, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), and macrophage inflammatory protein-1 beta (MIP-1β).ResultsThe concentration of IL-17 in tears was significantly higher in the Demodex blepharitis group than in the Demodex-free blepharitis group. Tear IL-7 and IL-12 levels show serial increases for these three groups (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the other cytokines levels between both blepharitis groups. We confirmed that elevated cytokines normalized after treatments.ConclusionsInfestation of Demodex mites induces change of tear cytokine levels, IL-17 especially, which cause inflammation of the lid margin and ocular surface. These findings might increase our understanding of the mechanism of ocular discomfort and telangiectasias frequently found in Demodex blepharitis patients.     

Cytokine production by peripheral lymphocytes in melanoma

BACKGROUND: The differentiation of T cells towards a T helper 1 (Th1) or Th2 phenotype based on their profile of cytokine production, is of great relevance in the regulation of immune responses. We have determined by flow cytometry, the expression of selected Th1 and Th2 cytokines by activated T cells in whole blood samples (WB) from normal donors and from patients with different clinical stages of melanoma in different clinical stages. METHODS: WB samples from 6 normal donors and 19 patients with melanoma were activated over 4 hours with PMA + ionomycin in presence or absence of a protein secretion inhibitor. Following surface staining (CD3-Cy5+CD8-FITC), fixation and permeabilization, cells were stained with PE-labelled antibodies against Th1 cytokines (IL-2, IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha) and Th2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-10). RESULTS: The most relevant results were related to IFN-gamma and IL-10 production. The percentage of IFN-gamma producer cells was significantly lower in melanoma patients, independent of the stage, than in controls. IL-10 production was significantly increased in melanoma patients with respect to normal donors. CONCLUSIONS: Our data support the notion that the pattern of cytokines produced by lymphocytes from melanoma patients may help to explain the impairment in their T cell immune response. More extensive studies regarding the pattern of cytokines, not only in peripheral blood, but also in tumour tissue and sentinel lymph nodes, are needed to confirm these data.     

Serum levels of interleukin-13 and interferon-gamma from adult patients with asthma in Mysore

Serum protein analysis for noninvasive quantification of airway inflammation in asthma is a promising research tool in the field of lung diseases. Cytokines are believed to have major role in inflammatory process of the airways of the lung. There is an imbalance between T-helper (Th)-2 cells, which secrete interleukin (IL)-4 and interleukin (IL)-13, and Th1 cells, which secrete interferon (IFN)-gamma in asthma. To test the hypothesis that serum IL-13 and IL-4 levels may be elevated whereas IFN-gamma would be decreased in this cohort of patients, a property that could make them possible candidate biomarkers in determining asthma occurrence and severity, we measured concentrations of IL-4, IL-13 and IFN-gamma in serum samples of 88 subjects (44 normal, 12 with mild asthma, 16 with moderate asthma, and 16 with severe asthma). Serum Levels of IL-4, IL-13, and IFN-gamma were determined by an enzyme-linked immune-sorbent assay (ELISA). Median serum level of IFN-gamma in asthmatic patients was 8.0pg/ml, while it was 11.4pg/ml in healthy controls. However, the difference was not significant. Among the different age groups in whom IFN-gamma was assessed, the highest median value in both cases and controls was observed in the age group of 31-40years. The median serum level of IL-13 was 40.0pg/ml in asthmatic patients and 58.25pg/ml in healthy controls. The difference was not significant. On subgroup analysis, no significant difference of IFN-gamma and IL-13 between asthma of different severities was observed. The study also revealed nonsignificant difference of serum cytokines with the duration of asthma, number of allergens, and severity of sensitization. Normal serum levels of IFN-gamma and IL-13 in asthmatic patients suggest their neutral role in the inflammatory process; however, more studies are required to establish the effect of these cytokines in adulthood asthma in different ethnic populations.     

Detection of IL-1β, VEGF and IL-4 with their novel genetic variations in breast cancer patients

Interleukin-1β (IL-1β), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and IL-4 serum levels and new genetic mutations in breast cancer (BC) patients were assessed in the current study. The serum levels of the examined cytokines in 40 BC patients and 40 control subjects were assessed using the ELISA technique. In order to identify genotype variants of the IL-1β, IL-4, and VEGF genes in 40 Formalin Fixed Paraffin Embedded (FFPE) samples with BC and 10 FFPE samples from healthy women's breast tissue, Sanger sequencing was used. According to this study, BC patients had significantly lower serum concentrations of IL-4 and significantly higher quantities of the tumor markers, CA15-3, IL-1β, and VEGF. In terms of genotype alterations, a total of 21 mutations in three trialed genes (eight in IL-1β, 10 in IL-4, and three in VEGF) were found in BC patients. The results of the current investigation suggested that angiogenesis and the development of BC may be significantly influenced by the genetic differences and higher levels of the examined cytokines.     

Plasma concentrations of transforming growth factor beta 1 in non-progressive HIV-1 infection correlates with markers of disease progression

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection shows variable rate of disease progression. The underlying biological and molecular mechanisms involved in determining progression of HIV infection are not fully understood. The aims of this study were to determine plasma concentrations of active TGF β 1, Th1 and Th2 cytokines in patients with non-progressive and those with progressive HIV-1 infection, as well as to determine if there is an association of these cytokines to disease progression. In a cross-sectional study of 61 HIV-1 infected individuals categorized according to disease progression as having non-progressive HIV-1 infection (n = 14) and progressive infection (n = 47), plasma levels of active TGF β 1, INF-γ, TNF-α, IL-10, IL-1β, IL-12p70 and IL-13 were compared with HIV uninfected healthy controls (n = 12). Plasma concentration of these cytokines was measured using a highly sensitive luminex200 XMAP assay. Pearson correlation test was used to assess the correlation of cytokines with CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, CD4:CD8 ratio and plasma HIV-1 RNA in the different study groups. Plasma concentrations of TGF β 1 and IL-10 were significantly decreased while IL-1β, IL-12p70 and TNF-α were increased in patients with non-progressive HIV-1 infection compared to patients with progressive infection. Plasma levels of TGF β 1 and IL-10 showed an inverse correlation with CD8+ T cell counts and CD4:CD8 ratios in patients with non-progressive HIV-1 infection, while plasma HIV-1 RNA positively correlated with CD4+ T cell counts. Plasma levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-12p70 and IL-13 positively correlated with CD4+ T cell counts and inversely correlated with plasma HIV-1 RNA, CD8+ T cell count and CD4:CD8 ratio in patients with non-progressive infection. The correlation of cytokines to the state of T-lymphocyte and plasma HIV-1 RNA found in this study may provide insight into the role of cytokines in both progressive and non-progressive HIV-1 infection. Additionally, these findings may have implications for systemic cytokine-based therapies in HIV-1 infection.