Association of glutathione S-transferase M1/T1 polymorphisms with susceptibility to vitiligo

Background

Some studies suggested that Glutathione S-transferases M1/T1(GSTM1/T1) null polymorphisms may be associated with the risk of vitiligo.

Aims

The purpose of this study is to further evaluate the association between GSTM1/T1 null polymorphisms and the susceptibility to vitiligo.

Methods

We carried out a retrieval of studies in the databases. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were used to assess the strength of this association. We analyzed the data using Stata 11.0.

Results

Six case–control studies including 1358 cases and 1673 controls were included in this meta-analysis. Our overall results showed the GSTM1 or GSTT1 null polymorphism was associated with vitiligo (GSTM1:OR = 1.59, 95% CI: 1.21–2.08, P = 0.001; GSTT1: OR = 1.30, 95% CI: 1.12–1.51, P = 0.001). In the subgroup analysis, the GSTM1 null polymorphism might be a genetic risk factor to vitiligo in East Asian (OR = 1.71, 95% CI: 1.12–2.63, P = 0.014) but not in the Mediterranean, however individuals with the GSTT1 null polymorphism in the Mediterranean (OR = 1.76, 95% CI: 1.15–2.71, P = 0.010) but not in East Asian have a greater predisposition to vitiligo. In addition there was also a significant trend toward an association with the combination of the GSTM1 null and GSTT1 null in either East Asians or Mediterraneans.

Conclusion

The GSTM1/T1 null polymorphisms may be associated with vitiligo. More studies are needed to confirm this conclusion.     

Interleukin 2 production in iron-deficient children

The relationship between iron status and capacity for IL-2 production by lymphocytes was assessed in 81 children from 6 mo to 3 yr of age selected at random from a population with low socioeconomic status, undergoing free systematic examination in four children's health centers in the Paris area. Iron deficiency was defined by the existence of at least two abnormal values among the three indicators of iron status: serum ferritin level ≤12 μg/L, transferrin saturation <12%, and erythrocyte protoporphyrin concentration >3 μg/g hemoglobin. According to this definition, 53 children were classified as iron deficient and 28 as iron sufficient. No differences were observed between the iron-deficient and iron-sufficient groups in terms of the IL-2 concentration without stimulation by PHA. IL-2 production by lymphocytes stimulated with PHA, as well as the stimulation index (ratio of IL-2 concentration following stimulation by PHA to that of IL-2 concentration without stimulation by PHA) were significantly lower in iron-deficient children. The reduction in IL-2 production by activated lymphocytes observed in our study of iron-deficient children may be responsible for impairments in immunity found by other authors, particularly in cell-mediated immunity.     

Secretion of MIP-1β and MIP-1α by CD8(+) T-lymphocytes correlates with HIV-1 inhibition independent of coreceptor usage

CD8⁺ T-lymphocytes can utilize noncytolytic mechanisms to suppress HIV-1 replication through the secretion of soluble factors. The secretion of MIP-1β, MIP-1α, IP-10, MIG, IL-1α, and interferon gamma correlated most strongly with soluble noncytolytic suppression (p < 0.0001). Since the noncytolytic response is impaired by histone hyperacetylation, we examined the ability of histone hyperacetylation to alter the expression of immune-related genes. MIP-1α and IP-10 were also among the genes that were down-regulated by histone hyperacetylation. We define a multifactorial cytokine profile of CD8⁺ T-lymphocytes capable of mediating noncytolytic suppression of CXCR4-tropic HIV-1 replication.     

Experimental Murine Fascioliasis Derives Early Immune Suppression with Increased Levels of TGF-�� and IL-4

In fascioliasis, T-helper 2 (Th2) responses predominate, while little is known regarding early immune phenomenon. We herein analyzed early immunophenotype changes of BALB/c, C57BL/6, and C3H/He mice experimentally infected with 5 Fasciola hepatica metacercariae. A remarkable expansion of CD19⁺ B cells was observed as early as week 1 post-infection while CD4⁺/CD8⁺ T cells were down-regulated. Accumulation of Mac1⁺ cells with time after infection correlated well with splenomegaly of all mice strains tested. The expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α mRNA in splenocytes significantly decreased while that of IL-4 up-regulated. IL-1β expression was down-modulated in BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice, but not in C3H/He. Serum levels of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β were considerably elevated in all mice during 3 weeks of infection period. These collective results suggest that experimental murine fascioliasis might derive immune suppression with elevated levels of TGF-β and IL-4 during the early stages of infection.     

In vivo dynamics of pulmonary lymphoid cell subpopulations generated against pulmonary metastasis: evaluation by broncho alveolar lavage fluid

The dynamics of lymphoid cell subpopulations in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and the systemic lymphoid organs of mice after intravenous injection of B16 melanoma cells were examined with a fluorescence-activated cell sorter. The lymphoid cell subpopulations of BALF and mediastinal lymph nodes showed significant changes in numbers and proportions, while those of other lymphoid organs including inguinal lymph nodes, thymus and spleen, showed little change. In week 1, the cells with a Thy-1.2⁺, Lyt-1⁺, L3T4⁻, Lyt-2⁻ phenotype and asialo-Gm1⁺ cells in BALF significantly increased and L3T4⁺ cells slightly increased in number. By week 3, the numbers of Lyt-2⁺ cells in BALF markedly increased in number (by about 90 times) compared with controls. The number of Thy1.2⁺ cells in mediastinal lymph nodes also increased significantly by week 3. Mice that had been pretreated with an immunosuppressive dose of cyclophosphamide were also inoculated intravenously with B16 melanoma cells. In these mice, a significantly increased number of pleural tumors developed and the number of Thy-1.2⁺ cells in BALF was markedly reduced from week 1 to 3. The results indicate that L3T4 and Lyt-2 double negative T-cells and natural killer (NK) cells may be generated and/or mobilized to the lung in an early phase of experimental metastasis of B16 melanoma cells and that at a later stage, when multiple metastases develop, T-cells with a Lyt-2⁺ phenotype markedly increase, probably as an expression of a host reaction against proliferating metastatic tumor cells.     

Therapeutic gene modified cell based cancer vaccines

History of cancer immunotherapy lasts for more than 120 years. In 1891 William B. Coley injected bacteria into inoperable cancer (bone sarcoma) and observed tumor shrinkage. He is recognized as the "'"Father of Immunotherapy"'". Cancer immunotherapy is based on the ability of the immune system to recognize cancer cells and to affect their growth and expansion. Beside the fact that, tumor cells are genetically distinct from their normal counterparts, and should be recognized and eliminated by immune system, the tumor associated antigens (TAAs) are often poorly immunogenic due to immunoediting. This process allows tumor to evolve during continuous interactions with the host immune system, and eventually escape from immune surveillance. Furthermore, tumor microenvironment consists of immunosuppressive cells that release immunosuppressive factors including IL-6, IL-10, IDO, TGFβ or VEGF. Interactions between cancer and stroma cells create network of immunosuppressive pathways, while activation of immune defense is inhibited. A key to successful immunotherapy is to overcome the local immunosuppression within tumor microenvironment and activate mechanisms that lead to tumor eradication. There are two clinical approaches of immunotherapy: active and passive. Active immunotherapy involves stimulation of immune response to tumor associated antigens (TAAs), either non-specifically via immunomodulating agents or specifically employing cancer vaccines. This review presents the progress and breakthroughs in design, development and clinical application of selected cell-based tumor vaccines achieved due to the generation and development of gene transfer technologies.     

Brain peptide reverses effect of morphine on human lymphocytes

E-rosette formation by human lymphocytes incubated with sheep red blood cells (sRBC) is inhibited by morphine. We studied the ability of the opiate antagonists naloxone and Tyr-MIF-1 (Tyr-Pro-Leu-Gly-NH₂) to block this action. Active E-rosette formation by lymphocytes incubated with morphine was reduced from the control of 35.7±1.7% to 23.7±1.5% (p<0.001). Similarly, total E-rosette formation was reduced by morphine from the control of 65.8±1.3% to 53.2±2.9% (p<0.001). These effects were blocked by co-incubation of the lymphocytes with either Tyr-MIF-1 or naloxone (p<0.05). Tyr-MIF-1 was active (p<0.05) at concentrations as dilute as 10⁻¹³M. These results indicate that the neuropeptide Tyr-MIF-1 exerts an antiopiate effect at the human T-lymphocyte.     

Comparative study of mitogenic responses in man and Japanese monkeys (Macaca fuscata): responses of T-cell subsets, accessory cell dependency, and interleukin-2 receptor expression

Responses of peripheral blood mononuclear cells to phytohemagglutinin-P (PHA-P), concanavalin-A (ConA), and pokeweed mitogen (PWM) were compared in man and Japanese monkeys. Both CD8+ and CD8- T subsets showed greater responses to ConA than to PHA-P in the Japanese monkey. Addition of macrophages to each T subset produced more effective augmentation of ConA response in the Japanese monkey than in man, and ConA induced more interleukin-2-receptor-positive blast cells than PHA-P did in Japanese monkeys.     

Therapeutic efficacy of ipilimumab,an anti-CTLA-4 monoclonal antibody,in patients with metastatic melanoma unresponsive to prior systemic treatments: clinical and immunological evidence from three patient cases

The management of unresectable metastatic melanoma is a major clinical challenge because of the lack of reliably effective systemic therapies. Blocking cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) has recently been proposed as a strategy to enhance cell-mediated immune responses to cancer, and clinical trials have demonstrated that anti-CTLA-4 therapy can produce durable outcomes with different response patterns than cytotoxic chemotherapy. We enrolled eight out of 155 patients with advanced melanoma in a multicentre phase II trial that evaluated the activity and tolerability of ipilimumab, a fully human, anti-CTLA-4 monoclonal antibody (; NCT00289627; CA184-008). Here we report our experience with three of these patients, who experienced progressive disease after a variety of previous therapies, including prior immunotherapies, and who achieved good outcomes with ipilimumab. One patient had a partial response ongoing at 17+ months on ipilimumab despite failure with four prior therapies, and the other two patients showed durable stable disease, both still ongoing at 17+ and 20+ months, respectively. The patient achieving a partial response experienced no side effects while receiving ipilimumab. The other two patients developed immune-related adverse events (irAEs) including rash (one case; grade 2) and diarrhoea (both cases; grades 1 and 2, respectively); the histopathology of colon biopsy samples from both was suggestive of colitis, with an abundant CD8+ T-cell infiltrate. Nausea, vomiting and acute pancreatitis were also observed in one patient. In addition, immunohistochemical findings of a dense CD8+, TIA1+ and granzyme B+ lymphoid infiltrate within a biopsied lesion provide indirect evidence of functional T-cell activation induced by treatment. These case reports highlight the potential for anti-CTLA-4-based therapy in previously treated patients with advanced melanoma. Moreover, because the patterns of response to ipilimumab differ from chemotherapy, we need to understand how and when patients may respond to treatment so that appropriate clinical decisions can be made.     

Effects of mitogenic agents upon glucocorticoid action in human tonsillar T-lymphocytes

The treatment of human tonsillar T-lymphocytes with 4-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), resulted in about two fold increase in glucocorticoid receptor (GR) number, without any significant change in the receptor affinity. This increase disappeared in the presence of cycloheximide.Alone, PMA and calcium inophore A23187 did not affect, but together stimulated, like phytohaemagglutinin (PHA), leucine and, in particular, thymidine incorporation. PMA enhanced slightly the stimulatory effect of PHA. Alone, these agents failed to alter the suppressive effect of dexamethasone on thymidine and leucine incorporation; however, PMA-A23187 and PMA-PHA combinations appeared to antagonize the supression by dexamethasone.