Role of interferons in diabetic retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy(DR)is one of the major causes of visual impairment and irreversible blindness in developed regions.Aside from abnormal angiogenesis,inflammation is the most specific and might be the initiating factor of DR.As a key participant in inflammation,interferon-gamma(IFN-γ)can be detected in different parts of the eye and is responsible for the breakdown of the blood-retina barrier and activation of inflammatory cells and other cytokines,which accelerate neovascularization and neuroglial degeneration.In addition,IFN-γis involved in other vascular complications of diabetes mellitus and angiogenesis-dependent diseases,such as diabetic nephropathy,cerebral microbleeds,and age-related macular degeneration.Traditional treatments,such as anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agents,vitrectomy,and laser photocoagulation therapy,are more effective for angiogenesis and not tolerable for every patient.Many ongoing clinical trials are exploring effective drugs that target inflammation.For instance,IFN-αacts against viruses and angiogenesis and is commonly used to treat malignant tumors.Moreover,IFN-αhas been shown to contribute to alleviating the progression of DR and other ocular diseases.In this review,we emphasize the roles that IFNs play in the pathogenesis of DR and discuss potential clinical applications of IFNs in DR,such as diagnosis,prognosis,and therapeutic treatment.

Control of hepatitis B virus replication by interferons and Toll-like receptor signaling pathways

Hepatitis B virus(HBV) infection is one of the major causes of liver diseases, affecting more than 350 million people worldwide. The interferon(IFN)-mediated innate immune responses could restrict HBV replication at the different steps of viral life cycle. Indeed, IFN-α has been successfully used for treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis B. However, the role of the innate immune response in HBV replication and the mechanism of the anti-HBV effect of IFN-α are not completely explored. In this review, we summarized the currently available knowledge about the IFN-mediated anti-HBV effect in the HBV life cycle and the possible effectors downstream the IFN signaling pathway. The antiviral effect of Toll-like receptors(TLRs) in HBV replication is briefly discussed. The strategies exploited by HBV to evade the IFN- and TLR-mediated antiviral actions are summarized.

Oral PLGA-based DNA vaccines using interferons as adjuvants remarkably promote the immune protection of grass carp(Ctenopharyngodon idella)against GCRV infection

Grass carp hemorrhagic disease caused by grass carp reovirus(GCRV)results in significant economic losses to the global grass carp aquaculture industry.Oral vaccination is an ideal choice for disease precaution in aquaculture.However,oral vaccine can be degraded in the gut.Therefore,the selection of loading materials is essential.In this study,the S6 and S7 fragments(encoding the outer capsid protein VP4 and fibronectin VP56 of GCRV)and grass carp interferons(IFNs),including IFN1,IFN3,and IFNγ2 were used to create DNA vaccines and adjuvants based on pcDNA3.1,respectively.The oral DNA vaccine was encapsulated in poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)(PLGA)and polyvinyl alcohol(PVA)with IFNs.The PLGA-PVA(PP)nano-microspheres were prepared by double emulsionsolvent evaporation technique.Using transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering assays,it was determined the vaccines had a spherical structure with uniform particle size(643.5±35.3 nm).The nanomicrospheres possessed excellent encapsulation efficiency(81.6±2.6%)and loading rate(0.54±0.02%),and simultaneously exhibited negligible hemolytic activity and cell toxicity.The protection rate and tissue viral loads post-GCRV challenge in grass carp were assessed.The oral PP nano-microsphere with pVP4 t pIFN1(PP41)vaccine increased protection rate by 44%compared with the control group and was correlated with relatively low viral loads in the spleen,head kidney,and hindgut.Further,three crucial serum biochemical indexes,total superoxide dismutase(TSOD),complement C3(C3),and lysozyme(LZM),were also dramatically increased.Furthermore,mRNA expressions of representative immune-related genes(IgM,IFN1,IFNγ2,MHC-I,and CD8α)in the head kidney and spleen were significantly enhanced.In addition,mRNA expression of IgT was significantly boosted in the hindgut.The results indicate that DNA vaccine capsulated with PP is effective against GCRV infection.The present study provides insights into a prospective strategy for oral vaccine development in aquaculture.

Type I interferons promote the survival and proinflammatory properties of transitional B cells in systemic lupus erythematosus patients

A hallmark of systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE)is the breaking of B-cell tolerance with the generation of high-affinity autoantibodies;however,the antibody-independent features of the B-cell compartment in SLE are less understood.In this study,we performed an extensive examination of B-cell subsets and their proinflammatory properties in a Chinese cohort of new-onset SLE patients.We observed that SLE patients exhibited an increased frequency of transitional B cells compared with healthy donors and rheumatoid arthritis patients.Plasma from SLE patients potently promoted the survival of transitional B cells in a type I IFN-dependent manner,which can be recapitulated by direct IFN-αtreatment.Furthermore,the effect of IFN-αon enhanced survival of transitional B cells was associated with NF-κB pathway activation and reduced expression of the pro-apoptotic molecule Bax.Transitional B cells from SLE patients harbored a higher capacity to produce proinflammatory cytokine IL-6,which was also linked to the overactivated type I IFN pathway.In addition,the frequency of IL-6-producing transitional B cells was positively correlated with disease activity in SLE patients,and these cells were significantly reduced after short-term standard therapies.Thus,the current study provides a direct link between type I IFN pathway overactivation and the abnormally high frequency and proinflammatory properties of transitional B cells in active SLE patients,which contributes to the understanding of the roles of type I IFNs and B cells in the pathogenesis of SLE.

Emerging mechanisms and implications of c GAS-STING signaling in cancer immunotherapy strategies

The intricate interplay between the human immune system and cancer development underscores the central role of immunotherapy in cancer treatment.Within this landscape,the innate immune system,a critical sentinel protecting against tumor incursion,is a key player.The cyclic GMP-AMP synthase(c GAS)and stimulator of interferon genes(STING)pathway has been found to be a linchpin of innate immunity:activation of this signaling pathway orchestrates the production of type I interferon(IFN-α/β),thus fostering the maturation,differentiation,and mobilization of immune effectors in the tumor microenvironment.Furthermore,STING activation facilitates the release and presentation of tumor antigens,and therefore is an attractive target for cancer immunotherapy.Current strategies to activate the STING pathway,including use of pharmacological agonists,have made substantial advancements,particularly when combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors.These approaches have shown promise in preclinical and clinical settings,by enhancing patient survival rates.This review describes the evolving understanding of the c GAS-STING pathway's involvement in tumor biology and therapy.Moreover,this review explores classical and non-classical STING agonists,providing insights into their mechanisms of action and potential for optimizing immunotherapy strategies.Despite challenges and complexities,the c GAS-STING pathway,a promising avenue for enhancing cancer treatment efficacy,has the potential to revolutionize patient outcomes.

Context-dependent role of sirtuin 2 in inflammation

Sirtuin 2 is a member of the sirtuin family nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide(NAD~+)-dependent deacetylases, known for its regulatory role in different processes, including inflammation. In this context, sirtuin 2 has been involved in the modulation of key inflammatory signaling pathways and transcription factors by deacetylating specific targets, such as nuclear factor κB and nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-leucine-rich-repeat and pyrin domain-containing protein 3(NLRP3). However, whether sirtuin 2-mediated pathways induce a pro-or an anti-inflammatory response remains controversial. Sirtuin 2 has been implicated in promoting inflammation in conditions such as asthma and neurodegenerative diseases, suggesting that its inhibition in these conditions could be a potential therapeutic strategy. Conversely, arthritis and type 2 diabetes mellitus studies suggest that sirtuin 2 is essential at the peripheral level and, thus, its inhibition in these pathologies would not be recommended. Overall, the precise role of sirtuin 2 in inflammation appears to be context-dependent, and further investigation is needed to determine the specific molecular mechanisms and downstream targets through which sirtuin 2 influences inflammatory processes in various tissues and pathological conditions. The present review explores the involvement of sirtuin 2 in the inflammation associated with different pathologies to elucidate whether its pharmacological modulation could serve as an effective strategy for treating this prevalent symptom across various diseases.

Relationship between Phenotypic Changes of Dendritic Cell Subsets and the Onset of Plateau Phase during Intermittent Interferon Therapy in Patients with CHB

Objective This study aimed to evaluate whether the onset of the plateau phase of slow hepatitis B surface antigen decline in patients with chronic hepatitis B treated with intermittent interferon therapy is related to the frequency of dendritic cell subsets and expression of the costimulatory molecules CD40,CD80,CD83,and CD86.Method This was a cross-sectional study in which patients were divided into a natural history group(namely NH group),a long-term oral nucleoside analogs treatment group(namely NA group),and a plateau-arriving group(namely P group).The percentage of plasmacytoid dendritic cell and myeloid dendritic cell subsets in peripheral blood lymphocytes and monocytes and the mean fluorescence intensity of their surface costimulatory molecules were detected using a flow cytometer.Results In total,143 patients were enrolled(NH group,n=49;NA group,n=47;P group,n=47).The results demonstrated that CD141/CD1c double negative myeloid dendritic cell(DNmDC)/lymphocytes and monocytes(%)in P group(0.041[0.024,0.069])was significantly lower than that in NH group(0.270[0.135,0.407])and NA group(0.273[0.150,0.443]),and CD86 mean fluorescence intensity of DNmDCs in P group(1832.0[1484.0,2793.0])was significantly lower than that in NH group(4316.0[2958.0,5169.0])and NA group(3299.0[2534.0,4371.0]),Adjusted P all<0.001.Conclusion Reduced DNmDCs and impaired maturation may be associated with the onset of the plateau phase during intermittent interferon therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Oligodendrocytes in central nervous system diseases:the effect of cytokine regulation

Cytokines including tumor necrosis factor, interleukins, interferons, and chemokines are abundantly produced in various diseases. As pleiotropic factors, cytokines are involved in nearly every aspect of cellular functions such as migration, survival, proliferation, and differentiation. Oligodendrocytes are the myelin-forming cells in the central nervous system and play critical roles in the conduction of action potentials, supply of metabolic components for axons, and other functions. Emerging evidence suggests that both oligodendrocytes and oligodendrocyte precursor cells are vulnerable to cytokines released under pathological conditions. This review mainly summarizes the effects of cytokines on oligodendrocyte lineage cells in central nervous system diseases. A comprehensive understanding of the effects of cytokines on oligodendrocyte lineage cells contributes to our understanding of central nervous system diseases and offers insights into treatment strategies.

Expanding indications for chronic hepatitis B treatment: Is it really desirable to treat everyone?

Chronic viral hepatitis causes an increased risk of progressive liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma.On the wave of the World Health Organization’s goal to reduce new cases and deaths from hepatitis B and C by 2030,there is an increasing call to expand the indications for treatment of chronic hepatitis B.Currently,the main goal of treatment is to achieve a functional cure due to the inability of current drugs to completely eradicate the virus.There are still many discrepancies between available guidelines in terms of eligibility for treatment as well as an uncertainty about the appropriate treatment duration.This editorial addresses key questions about the topic and whether indications for treatment should be expanded.

Low interleukin-10 level indicates a good prognosis in Salmonella enterica serovar typhimurium-induced pediatric hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis:A case report

BACKGROUND Secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis(sHLH)triggered by Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium is rare in pediatric patients.There is no consensus on how to treat S.typhimurium-triggered sHLH.CASE SUMMARY A 9-year-old boy with intermittent fever for 3 d presented to our hospital with positive results for S.typhimurium,human rhinovirus,and Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections.At the time of admission to our institution,the patient’s T helper 1/T helper 2 cytokine levels were 326 pg/mL for interleukin 6(IL-6),9.1 pg/mL for IL-10,and 246.7 pg/mL for interferon-gamma(IFN-γ),for which the ratio of IL-10 to IFN-γwas 0.04.In this study,the patient received meropenem,linezolid,and cefoperazone/sulbactam in combination with high-dose methylprednisolone therapy(10 mg/kg/d for 3 d)and antishock supportive treatment twice.After careful evaluation,this patient did not receive HLH chemotherapy and recovered well.CONCLUSION S.Typhimurium infection-triggered sHLH patient had a ratio of IL-10 to IFN-γ≤1.33,an IL-10 concentration≤10.0 pg/mL,and/or an IFN-γconcentration≤225 pg/mL at admission.Early antimicrobial and supportive treatment was sufficient,and the HLH-94/2004 protocol was not necessary under these conditions.

Hepatitis B cure:Current situation and prospects

Achievement of a‘clinical cure’in chronic hepatitis B(CHB)implies sustained virological suppression and immunological control over the infection,which is the ideal treatment goal according to domestic and international CHB management guidelines.Clinical practice has shown encouraging results for specific patient cohorts using tailored treatment regimens.These regimens incorporate either nucleos(t)ide analogs,immunomodulatory agents such as pegylated interferonα,or a strategic combination of both,sequentially or concurrently administered.Despite these advancements in the clinical handling of hepatitis B,achieving a clinical cure remains elusive for a considerable subset of patients due to the number of challenges that preclude the realization of optimal treatment outcomes.These include,but are not limited to,the emergence of antiviral resistance,incomplete immune recovery,and the persistence of covalently closed circular DNA.Moreover,the variance in response to interferon therapy and the lack of definitive biomarkers for treatment cessation also contribute to the complexity of achieving a clinical cure.This article briefly overviews the current research progress and existing issues in pursuing a clinical cure for hepatitis B.

Eyelid Kaposi Sarcoma in HIV-Negative Patient

Introduction: Kaposi sarcoma disease is a proliferative and multifocal disorder with dual components, vascular and fibroblastic cellular, cutaneous and visceral expression. Kaposi Sarcoma can affect the ocular surface and adnexa and can masquerade as other entities, delaying prompt diagnosis can lead to diagnostic wandering delaying treatment. Our aim is to describe a case of KS of the eyelid in an HIV seronegative patient. Case Presentation: A seventy-year-old man developed a bilateral growing tumoral reddish purple vascular mass on both the lower and upper eyelid involving rapidly for 6 months. Both feet and the two shanks show the presence of a brown-violet tumor-shaped formation. The patient was negative for HIV. Histology examination showed a nodular tumor-like mass with a fibro hemangioma-epitheliomatous. Polymerase chain reaction was positive for human herpes virus 8. Initial chemotherapy followed by surgery was proposed to the patient. Unfortunately, the patient rejected treatment and was lost to follow-up. Conclusion: This case reports the difficulty of managing KS in developing countries.

Evaluation of Interferon-Gamma Release Assay Testing and Tuberculin Skin Test for Early Diagnosis of Tuberculosis in Children and Adolescents

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of interferon-γ release assay (IGRA), a sensitive microbiological diagnostic method, in children and adolescents with suspected tuberculosis in a country with a high burden of tuberculosis. Method: This study included 581 children and adolescents aged 4 - 19 years who were suspected of having tuberculosis, were latently infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and had received at least one dose of BCG vaccine between April 17, 2019, and February 24, 2021. The study evaluated the TST results of 106 patients who had a positive Quantiferon test and were suspected of having tuberculosis. Results: The study included 581 patients aged between 4 and 19 years. Of these, 106 patients tested positive for the Quantiferon test, while 19 were indeterminate and 456 were negative. The Quantiferon test positivity rate was 18.24%. Among the 106 QFT-Plus-positive cases, 23 patients also tested positive for TST. The difference in distribution was found to be statistically significant. Conclusion: The QFT-Plus test is considered an alternative to TST and other microbiological diagnostic methods for early tuberculosis diagnosis, particularly in children and adolescents.

Interferons command Trim22 to fight against viruses

The mammalian innate immune system provides the first line of defensive mechanisms to protect the host against invading pathogens.These defensive responses are initiated by recognition of microbial pathogen-associated molecular patterns(PAMPs).

Pegylated interferons in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C

Purpose To review the efficacy and safety of pegylated interferons (peginterferons) in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C Data sources An English language literature search (MEDLINE 1988-2001) was performed and a total of 19 original articles related to the issue were selected Data extraction After careful review of the selected papers, the meaningful results and conclusions were extracted using scientific criteria The papers reviewed pertained mainly to the efficacy and safety profiles of peginterferons in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C Results Peginterferon can effectively prolong the half-life of interferon and can be effectively administered conveniently as a once-a-week dose The antiviral effect using peginterferon was enhanced compared with that of standard interferon, but the frequency and severity of adverse events were typical of those associated with interferon-α Conclusions Based on its efficacy, safety and convenient dosing, peginterferon is more favorable than standard interferon in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C

INTERFERONS INHIBITION OF MULTIPLICATION OF SIMIAN VIRUS 40 DNA

It is well known that interferons are potential antivirus proteins and possess anticancer capability. In the Thirty-fifth Symposium of the Society for General Microbiology on Interferons held in 1983, Hans Strander reported that interferons had been successfully applied in the treatment of juvenile laryngeal papilloma, papilloma accuminatum, malignant mydomatosis, osteosarcoma, breast cancer, cancer of the colon, non-Hodgkin lymphoma,

Type I and II interferons enhance dendritic cell maturation and migration capacity by regulating CD38 and CD74 that have synergistic effects with TLR agonists

The major limitation for the maturation of dendritic cells(DCs)using Toll-like receptor(TLR)agonists is their decreased ability to migrate into lymph nodes compared with conventional DCs.CD38 can be used as a multifunctional marker to modulate migration,survival and Th1 responses of DCs.CD74 has been shown to negatively regulate DC migration.The goal of this study was to investigate the combinations of TLR agonists and interferons(IFNs)that most effectively regulate CD38 and CD74 expression on DCs.Synergistic TLR agonist stimulation in combination with IFN-a and IFN-c was the best method for regulating CD38 and CD74 expression and inducing the highest secretion of IL-12p70.An in vitro migration assay showed that DCs treated with this combination had significantly enhanced migratory ability,similar to that observed in cells expressing CD38,CD74 and CCR7.The results of this study suggest that an alternative maturation protocol in which two TLR ligands are combined with type I and II IFNs generates potent DCs that have both a high migratory capacity and high IL-12p70 production.

Decade of optimizing therapy with direct-acting antiviral drugs and the changing profile of patients with chronic hepatitis C

Chronic infection with the hepatitis C virus(HCV)remains a major health problem affecting approximately 58 million people worldwide.In the era of interferon(IFN)-based regimens,patients particularly infected with genotypes 1 and 4 achieved a low response rate.The implementation of direct-acting antivirals changed the landscape of HCV treatment.The increase in effectiveness provided us with the hope of eliminating HCV as a significant public threat by 2030.In the following years,there was an observed improvement in the treatment of HCV with genotype-specific regimens and highly effective pangenotypic options that are the most recent stage of the revolution.The optimization of therapy was accompanied by changes in the patient profile from the beginning of the IFN-free era over time.Patients treated with antiviral therapies were younger in successive periods,less burdened with comorbidities and comedications,more frequently treatment-naïve and had less advanced liver disease.Before the IFN-free era,specific subpopulations such as patients with HCV/HIV coinfection,those with a history of previous treatment,patients with renal impairment or with cirrhosis had lower chances for a virologic response.Currently,these populations should no longer be considered difficult to treat.Despite the high effectiveness of HCV therapy,there is a small percentage of patients with treatment failure.However,they can be effectively retreated with pangenotypic rescue regimens.

Involvement of 2'-5'oligoadenylate synthetase-like proteinin the survivalof Mycobacterium tuberculosis avirulent strain in macrophages

Mycobacterium tuberculosis(M.tuberculosis)can replicate in the macrophage by interfering with many host protein functions.While it is far from known these host proteins for controlling M.tuberculosis infection.Herein,we infected macrophages including THP-1 and Raw264.7 cells with M.tuberculosis and identified the differentially expressed genes(DEGs)in the interferon signaling pathway.Among them,2'-5'oligoadenylate synthetase-like(OASL)underwent the greatest upregulation in M.tuberculosis-infected macrophages.Knockdown of the expression of OASL attenuated M.tuberculosis survival in macrophages.Further,bioinformatics analysis revealed the potential interaction axis of OASL-TAB3-RvO127,which was further validated by the yeast-two-hybrid(Y2H)assay and Co-IP.This interaction axis might regulate the M.tuberculosis survival and proliferation in macrophages.The study reveals a possible role of OASL during M.tuberculosis infection as a target to control its propagation.

Verapamil: a promising therapeutic option in diabetes mellitus type 1?

Type 1A diabetes mellitus(DMT1 in the following text)is caused by the autoimmune destruction of the insulin-producing beta cells in the islets of Langerhans[1,2].This destruction is determined by genetic susceptibility,such as the presence of HLA-DQalpha,HLA-DQbeta,HLA-DR,preproinsulin,PTPN22 gene,CTLA-4,interferon-induced helicase,IL2 receptor(CD25),lectin-like gene(KIAA0035),and ERBB3e[3–8].It is usually triggered by environmental agents,such as perinatal factors(maternal age over 25 years,preeclampsia,neonatal respiratory disease,and jaundice),viruses(Coxsackie virus,enteroviruses),dietary factors(cow’s milk),exposure to nitrates,and treatment with checkpoint inhibitors[9–14].