1.
Expression and Functionality Study of 9 Toll-Like Receptors in 33 Drug-Naïve Non-Affective First Episode Psychosis Individuals: A 3-Month Study.
Juncal-Ruiz, M, Riesco-Davila, L, Vazquez-Bourgon, J, Ortiz-Garcia de la Foz, V, Mayoral-Van Son, J, Ayesa-Arriola, R, Setien-Suero, E, Leza, JC, Lopez-Hoyos, M, Crespo-Facorro, B
International journal of molecular sciences. 2020;(17)
Abstract
Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are a pivotal component of the innate immune system that seem to have a role in the pathogenesis of psychosis. The purpose of this work was to compare the expression and functionality of 9 TLRs in three peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) (monocytes, B cells, and T cells) between 33 drug-naïve first-episode psychosis (FEP) individuals and 26 healthy volunteers, at baseline and after 3-month of antipsychotic treatment. The expression of TLRs 1-9 were assessed by flow cytometry. For the assessment of the TLR functionality, cells collected in sodium heparin tubes were polyclonally stimulated for 18 h, with different agonists for human TLR1-9. The results of our study highlight the role that TLR5 and TLR8 might play in the pathophysiology of psychosis. We found a lower expression of these receptors in FEP individuals, regarding healthy volunteers at baseline and after 3-month of treatment on the three PBMCs subsets. Most TLRs showed a lower functionality (especially reduced intracellular levels of TNF-α) in patients than in healthy volunteers. These results, together with previous evidence, suggest that individuals with psychosis might show a pattern of TLR expression that differs from that of healthy volunteers, which could vary according to the intensity of immune/inflammatory response.
2.
Decrease of Perforin Expressing Lymphocytes after On-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Surgery Irrespective of Carbohydrate Preoperative Oral Feeding.
Sokolic, J, Knezevic, D, Kuharic, J, Medved, I, Sustic, A, Zupan, Z, Laskarin, G, Tadin, T, Sotošek Tokmadžić, V
The heart surgery forum. 2019;(3):E218-E224
Abstract
BACKGROUND Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery continues to be the gold standard for treating the patients with coronary artery disease. CABG surgery can be performed on or off cardiopulmonary bypass, termed as on-pump or off-pump CABG, respectively. It has been shown that CABG surgery, preferably on-pump CABG surgery, leads to the changes of cell immunity during perioperative and early postoperative period. The mechanisms of regulation of the immune response in patients during and early after surgical revascularization are not fully understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of carbohydrate preoperative oral feeding on frequency and perforin expression in peripheral blood lymphocytes in patients after on- or off-pump CABG surgery in early postoperative period. PATIENTS AND METHODS In this prospective clinical study, 80 patients scheduled for CABG surgery were included in the study. The patients were randomly allocated into four groups (20 in each group): patients in Group 1 underwent on-pump CABG and did not receive carbohydrate preoperative oral feeding; patients in Group 2 underwent on-pump CABG and were preoperatively fed; patients in Group 3 underwent off-pump CABG and did not receive carbohydrate preoperative oral feeding; while patients in Group 4 underwent off-pump CABG and received carbohydrate preoperative oral feeding. Blood samples were collected immediately before (T1), 24 (T2) and 72 (T3) hours after the surgery. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated by gradient centrifugation and simultaneously labelled by antigens using fluorochrome-conjugated monoclonal antibodies. Frequency of T lymphocytes, NK and NKT cells, their subsets as well as their perforin expression were detected, and analyzed by flow cytometry. RESULTS There was significant decrease in frequency of CD3+ and CD3+CD4+ cells, as well as perforin expressing CD3+CD8+ cells in patients who underwent on-pump CABG in comparison to patients who underwent off-pump CABG 24 hours after the surgery. Carbohydrate preoperative oral feeding did not effect changes in lymphocytes subpopulations and perforin expression at any time point. CONCLUSION Decreases of CD3+ cells on account of CD3+CD4+ subsets, and perforin expressing cells on account of CD3+CD8+ perforin+ cells were found in patients who had undergone on-pump CABG, but not in patients who had undergone off-pump CABG surgery, irrespectively of carbohydrate preoperative oral feeding.
3.
The effect of retinyl-palmitate on the level of pro and anti-inflammatory cytokines in multiple sclerosis patients: A randomized double blind clinical trial.
Bitarafan, S, Mohammadpour, Z, Jafarirad, S, Harirchian, MH, Yekaninejad, MS, Saboor-Yaraghi, AA
Clinical neurology and neurosurgery. 2019;:101-105
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory and autoimmune disease associated with the imbalance of cytokines secreted from CD4+ T cells. Studies have shown that vitamin A and its active derivatives are able to modulate the immune system in MS patients. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of supplementation of retinyl palmitate (RP), the dietary form of vitamin A, on pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in the plasma and supernatants of cultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of MS patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS Thirty-six relapsing-remitting MS patients were enrolled in this double-blind randomized clinical trial. Participants received one capsule of 25,000 IU RP or a placebo per day for six months. Blood samples were taken before and after intervention. After intervention, the PBMCs were isolated and cultured. The levels of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in the plasma and supernatant of cells stimulated with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein, phytohemagglutinin or vehicle (media) were determined. The sample t-test and Mann Whitney U test were used to compare data between groups. RESULTS The changes in pro-inflammatory cytokine levels (IL-1β, TNF-α, IFN- γ, IL-2, IL-6, and IL-17) in the serum and supernatant of MS patients were not significant (p > 0.05). There were also no significant changes in the levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10, IL-13, IL-4, and TGF-β) (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION Unexpectedly, this study found no significant changes in cytokine levels after six months of RP supplementation in MS patients. The results of other studies by our team have shown significant changes in the gene expression of the cytokines in response to RP supplements. Therefore, we recommend that periodic follow-up of RP supplementation may be needed to reveal changes in the level of the cytokines in the plasma and PBMCs and to clarify the real effect of RP on the immune factor levels in the serum of MS patients.