BACKGROUND It is challenging to distinguish intestinal tuberculosis from Crohn’s disease due to dynamic changes in epidemiology and similar clinical characteristics. Recent studies have shown that polymorphisms in ge...BACKGROUND It is challenging to distinguish intestinal tuberculosis from Crohn’s disease due to dynamic changes in epidemiology and similar clinical characteristics. Recent studies have shown that polymorphisms in genes involved in the interleukin (IL)- 23/IL-17 axis may affect intestinal mucosal immunity by affecting the differentiation of Th17 cells. AIM To investigate the specific single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes involved in the IL-23/IL-17 axis and possible pathways that affect susceptibility to intestinal tuberculosis and Crohn's disease. METHODS We analysed 133 patients with intestinal tuberculosis, 128 with Crohn’s disease, and 500 normal controls. DNA was extracted from paraffin-embedded specimens or whole blood. Four SNPs in the IL23/Th17 axis (IL22 rs2227473, IL1β rs1143627, TGFβ rs4803455, and IL17 rs8193036) were genotyped with TaqMan assays. The transcriptional activity levels of different genotypes of rs2227473 were detected by dual luciferase reporter gene assay. The expression of IL-22R1 in different intestinal diseases was detected by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS The A allele frequency of rs2227473 (P = 0.030, odds ratio = 0.60, 95% confidence interval: 0.37-0.95) showed an abnormal distribution between intestinal tuberculosis and healthy controls. The presence of the A allele was associated with a higher IL-22 transcriptional activity (P < 0.05). In addition, IL-22R1 was expressed in intestinal lymphoid tissues, especially under conditions of intestinal tuberculosis, and highly expressed in macrophage-derived Langhans giant cells. The results of immunohistochemistry showed that the expression of IL-22R1 in patients with Crohn's disease and intestinal tuberculosis was significantly higher than that in patients with intestinal polyps and colon cancer (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION High IL-22 expression seems to be a protective factor for intestinal tuberculosis. IL-22R1 is expressed in Langhans giant cells, suggesting that the IL-22/IL-22R1 system links adaptive and innate immunity.展开更多
V-erb-a erythroblastic leukemia viral oncogene homolog 4(ERBB4) has been reported to be somatically mutated in 19% of melanoma cases.To investigate the prevalence of ERBB4 mutations in melanoma patients from southern ...V-erb-a erythroblastic leukemia viral oncogene homolog 4(ERBB4) has been reported to be somatically mutated in 19% of melanoma cases.To investigate the prevalence of ERBB4 mutations in melanoma patients from southern China,we analyzed 117 formalin-fixed,paraffin-embedded melanoma samples archived in the Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center.A matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry(MALDI-TOF MS) platform was used to screen for mutations.No ERBB4 hotspot mutations were detected.Our results indicate that ERBB4 mutations may play a limited role in melanomas in China;therefore,targeting the ERBB4 mutation in melanoma patients from southern China may not be a promising strategy.展开更多
Objective To explore whether age,disease severity,cytokines and lymphocytes in H1N1 influenza A patients correlate with viral load and clearance.Methods Total of 70 mild and 16 severe patients infected with H1N1 influ...Objective To explore whether age,disease severity,cytokines and lymphocytes in H1N1 influenza A patients correlate with viral load and clearance.Methods Total of 70 mild and 16 severe patients infected with H1N1 influenza A virus were enrolled in this study.Results It was found that the patients under 14 years old and severe patients displayed significantly higher viral loads and prolonged viral shedding periods compared with the patients over 14 years old and mild patients,respectively(P < 0.05).Moreover,the patients under 14 years old and severe patients displayed significantly lower Th17 cell frequency than the patients over 14 years old and mild patients(P < 0.01).The viral shedding period inversely correlated with the frequency of IL-17+IFN-γ-CD4+ T cells.Additionally,the decreased concentration of serum TGF-β correlated with the decreased frequency of IL-17+IFN-γ-CD4+ T cells.Conclusions Both younger and severe patients are associated with higher viral loads and longer viral shedding periods,which may partially be attributed to the impaired Th17 cell response.展开更多
Objective Various immune cells in patients with CHB have been demonstrated to play critical roles in HBV infection.The goal of this study is to observe changes in Thl7,Treg,Thl and B lymphocytes from peripheral blood ...Objective Various immune cells in patients with CHB have been demonstrated to play critical roles in HBV infection.The goal of this study is to observe changes in Thl7,Treg,Thl and B lymphocytes from peripheral blood and to evaluate immune status of CHB patients undergoing antiviral treatment.Methods Total of 49 CHB patients,19 asymptomatic carriers and 29 healthy donors were included in our present study.The frequencies of peripheral Thl7 cells(CD3^+CD4^+IL-17^+Tcells),Treg cells(CD3^+CD4^+CD25^+CD127^- T cells),Th1 cells(CD3^+CD4^+IFN^-γ T cells) and B lymphocytes in chronic hepatitis B(CHB) were analyzed by flow cytometry.Results The frequency of Th17 cells increased after treatment for 6 months,but there was no statistically significant difference of IL-17 expression between baseline and 6 months after treatment.The frequencies of Treg cells,momory B cells and total CD19^+B cells decreased after antiviral treatment.The frequencies of Thl cells and plasma cells increased after antiviral treatment.Conclusions This study highlights that the reestablishment of immune function during antiviral treatment in CHB patients,which caused by the antiviral drugs or the patients themselves.CHB patients may exhibit varied responses to these antiviral drugs.It is essential to supplement immune therapy during the antiviral treatment,but Th17 may play a limited role in inflammation during antiviral treatment,targeting Th17 therapy may not be useful for CHB treatment.More time and more experiments are critical to explain it.展开更多
Background:The diagnosis of active pulmonary tuberculosis(TB)remains a challenge in clinic,especially for sputum negative pulmonary TB.Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF)has higher sensitivity than sputum for detection...Background:The diagnosis of active pulmonary tuberculosis(TB)remains a challenge in clinic,especially for sputum negative pulmonary TB.Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF)has higher sensitivity than sputum for detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis(Mtb).However,bronchoscopy is invasive and costly,and not suitable for all patients.In order to make TB patients get more benefit from BALF for diagnosis,we explore which indicator might be used to optimize the choice of bronchoscopy.Methods:A total of 1539 sputum-smear-negative pulmonary TB suspects who underwent bronchoscopy were recruited for evaluation.The sensitivity,specificity and accuracy of Mtb detection in sputum and BALF were compared.Odds ratios and 95%confidence intervals were used to assess variables that associated with positive acid-fast bacilli(AFB)smear,Mtb culture and nucleic acid amplification test(NAAT)of BALF in sputum-negative and non-sputum-producing pulmonary TB suspects.Results:BALF has significantly higher sensitivity(63.4%)than sputum(43.5%)for Mtb detection by culture and NAAT.19.7%(122/620)sputum-negative and 40.0%(163/408)non-sputum-producing suspects had positive bacteriological results in BALF.Among sputum-negative and non-sputum-producing pulmonary TB suspects,the positivity of Mtb detection in BALF is associated with a younger age,the presence of pulmonary cavities and a positive result of interferon-gamma release assay(IGRA).Sputum-negative patients under 35 years old with positive IGRA and pulmonary cavity had 84.8%positivity of Mtb in BALF.Conclusions:Our study indicated that combination of age,the presence of pulmonary cavity,and the result of IGRA is useful to predict the positivity of Mtb detection in BALF among sputum-negative and non-sputum producing pulmonary TB suspects.Those who are under 35 years old,positive for the presence of pulmonary cavity and IGRA,should undergo bronchoscopy to collect BAFL for Mtb tests,as they have the highest possibility to get bacteriologically confirmation of TB.展开更多
基金Supported by Key R&D Plan of Science and Technology Department of Jiangxi Province,No.20171BBG70087
文摘BACKGROUND It is challenging to distinguish intestinal tuberculosis from Crohn’s disease due to dynamic changes in epidemiology and similar clinical characteristics. Recent studies have shown that polymorphisms in genes involved in the interleukin (IL)- 23/IL-17 axis may affect intestinal mucosal immunity by affecting the differentiation of Th17 cells. AIM To investigate the specific single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes involved in the IL-23/IL-17 axis and possible pathways that affect susceptibility to intestinal tuberculosis and Crohn's disease. METHODS We analysed 133 patients with intestinal tuberculosis, 128 with Crohn’s disease, and 500 normal controls. DNA was extracted from paraffin-embedded specimens or whole blood. Four SNPs in the IL23/Th17 axis (IL22 rs2227473, IL1β rs1143627, TGFβ rs4803455, and IL17 rs8193036) were genotyped with TaqMan assays. The transcriptional activity levels of different genotypes of rs2227473 were detected by dual luciferase reporter gene assay. The expression of IL-22R1 in different intestinal diseases was detected by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS The A allele frequency of rs2227473 (P = 0.030, odds ratio = 0.60, 95% confidence interval: 0.37-0.95) showed an abnormal distribution between intestinal tuberculosis and healthy controls. The presence of the A allele was associated with a higher IL-22 transcriptional activity (P < 0.05). In addition, IL-22R1 was expressed in intestinal lymphoid tissues, especially under conditions of intestinal tuberculosis, and highly expressed in macrophage-derived Langhans giant cells. The results of immunohistochemistry showed that the expression of IL-22R1 in patients with Crohn's disease and intestinal tuberculosis was significantly higher than that in patients with intestinal polyps and colon cancer (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION High IL-22 expression seems to be a protective factor for intestinal tuberculosis. IL-22R1 is expressed in Langhans giant cells, suggesting that the IL-22/IL-22R1 system links adaptive and innate immunity.
文摘V-erb-a erythroblastic leukemia viral oncogene homolog 4(ERBB4) has been reported to be somatically mutated in 19% of melanoma cases.To investigate the prevalence of ERBB4 mutations in melanoma patients from southern China,we analyzed 117 formalin-fixed,paraffin-embedded melanoma samples archived in the Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center.A matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry(MALDI-TOF MS) platform was used to screen for mutations.No ERBB4 hotspot mutations were detected.Our results indicate that ERBB4 mutations may play a limited role in melanomas in China;therefore,targeting the ERBB4 mutation in melanoma patients from southern China may not be a promising strategy.
文摘Objective To explore whether age,disease severity,cytokines and lymphocytes in H1N1 influenza A patients correlate with viral load and clearance.Methods Total of 70 mild and 16 severe patients infected with H1N1 influenza A virus were enrolled in this study.Results It was found that the patients under 14 years old and severe patients displayed significantly higher viral loads and prolonged viral shedding periods compared with the patients over 14 years old and mild patients,respectively(P < 0.05).Moreover,the patients under 14 years old and severe patients displayed significantly lower Th17 cell frequency than the patients over 14 years old and mild patients(P < 0.01).The viral shedding period inversely correlated with the frequency of IL-17+IFN-γ-CD4+ T cells.Additionally,the decreased concentration of serum TGF-β correlated with the decreased frequency of IL-17+IFN-γ-CD4+ T cells.Conclusions Both younger and severe patients are associated with higher viral loads and longer viral shedding periods,which may partially be attributed to the impaired Th17 cell response.
基金funded in full by Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant number:30872238)
文摘Objective Various immune cells in patients with CHB have been demonstrated to play critical roles in HBV infection.The goal of this study is to observe changes in Thl7,Treg,Thl and B lymphocytes from peripheral blood and to evaluate immune status of CHB patients undergoing antiviral treatment.Methods Total of 49 CHB patients,19 asymptomatic carriers and 29 healthy donors were included in our present study.The frequencies of peripheral Thl7 cells(CD3^+CD4^+IL-17^+Tcells),Treg cells(CD3^+CD4^+CD25^+CD127^- T cells),Th1 cells(CD3^+CD4^+IFN^-γ T cells) and B lymphocytes in chronic hepatitis B(CHB) were analyzed by flow cytometry.Results The frequency of Th17 cells increased after treatment for 6 months,but there was no statistically significant difference of IL-17 expression between baseline and 6 months after treatment.The frequencies of Treg cells,momory B cells and total CD19^+B cells decreased after antiviral treatment.The frequencies of Thl cells and plasma cells increased after antiviral treatment.Conclusions This study highlights that the reestablishment of immune function during antiviral treatment in CHB patients,which caused by the antiviral drugs or the patients themselves.CHB patients may exhibit varied responses to these antiviral drugs.It is essential to supplement immune therapy during the antiviral treatment,but Th17 may play a limited role in inflammation during antiviral treatment,targeting Th17 therapy may not be useful for CHB treatment.More time and more experiments are critical to explain it.
基金This study was supported by National Nature Science Foundation of China(81525016,81772145,81770013)Shenzhen Science&Technology Grant(JSGG20160427104724699,JCYJ20170412101048337,JCYJ20170412151620658)Sanming Project of Medicine in Shenzhen(GCZX2015043015340574).
文摘Background:The diagnosis of active pulmonary tuberculosis(TB)remains a challenge in clinic,especially for sputum negative pulmonary TB.Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF)has higher sensitivity than sputum for detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis(Mtb).However,bronchoscopy is invasive and costly,and not suitable for all patients.In order to make TB patients get more benefit from BALF for diagnosis,we explore which indicator might be used to optimize the choice of bronchoscopy.Methods:A total of 1539 sputum-smear-negative pulmonary TB suspects who underwent bronchoscopy were recruited for evaluation.The sensitivity,specificity and accuracy of Mtb detection in sputum and BALF were compared.Odds ratios and 95%confidence intervals were used to assess variables that associated with positive acid-fast bacilli(AFB)smear,Mtb culture and nucleic acid amplification test(NAAT)of BALF in sputum-negative and non-sputum-producing pulmonary TB suspects.Results:BALF has significantly higher sensitivity(63.4%)than sputum(43.5%)for Mtb detection by culture and NAAT.19.7%(122/620)sputum-negative and 40.0%(163/408)non-sputum-producing suspects had positive bacteriological results in BALF.Among sputum-negative and non-sputum-producing pulmonary TB suspects,the positivity of Mtb detection in BALF is associated with a younger age,the presence of pulmonary cavities and a positive result of interferon-gamma release assay(IGRA).Sputum-negative patients under 35 years old with positive IGRA and pulmonary cavity had 84.8%positivity of Mtb in BALF.Conclusions:Our study indicated that combination of age,the presence of pulmonary cavity,and the result of IGRA is useful to predict the positivity of Mtb detection in BALF among sputum-negative and non-sputum producing pulmonary TB suspects.Those who are under 35 years old,positive for the presence of pulmonary cavity and IGRA,should undergo bronchoscopy to collect BAFL for Mtb tests,as they have the highest possibility to get bacteriologically confirmation of TB.