Interleukin-6 in epilepsy and its neuropsychiatric comorbidities: How to bridge the gap

There is growing evidence that interleukin(IL)-6 plays an important role in neurological and psychiatric disorders.This editorial comments on the study published in the recent issue of the World Journal of Psychiatry,which employed Mendelian randomization to identify a causal relationship between IL-6 receptor blockade and decreased epilepsy incidence.The purpose of this editorial is to highlight the dual effects of IL-6 in epilepsy and its related neuropsychiatric comorbidities.IL-6 plays a critical role in the facilitation of epileptogenesis and maintenance of epileptic seizures and is implicated in neuroinflammatory proce-sses associated with epilepsy.Furthermore,IL-6 significantly influences mood regulation and cognitive dysfunction in patients with epilepsy,highlighting its involvement in neuropsychiatric comorbidities.In summary,IL-6 is not only a pivotal factor in the pathogenesis of epilepsy but also significantly contributes to the emergence of epilepsy-related neuropsychiatric complications.Future resear-ch should prioritize elucidating the specific mechanisms by which IL-6 operates across different subtypes,stages and neuropsychiatric comorbidities of epilepsy,with the aim of developing more precise and effective interventions.Furthermore,the potential of IL-6 as a biomarker for the early diagnosis and prognosis of epile-psy warrants further investigation.

Association of interleukin-6 with acute lung injury risk and disease severity in sepsis

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition caused by a dysregulated response of the body in response to an infection that harms its tissues and organs.Interleukin-6(IL-6)is a significant component of the inflammatory response as part of the pa-thogenesis of sepsis.It aids in the development of Acute lung injury and,subse-quently,multiple organ dysfunction syndrome.This letter probes into the corre-lation between plasma IL-6 levels and the risk of developing acute lung injury and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome in critically ill patients with sepsis.While it shows promising results,limitations like its observational study design,a limited sample size,a single center involvement,single-time-point measurement,and a lack of a control group restrain its cogency.The study is a big step in identifying IL-6 as a biomarker to improve patient care.

Analysis of the Role of D-Dimer,Interleukin-6,and Interleukin-18 in Differential Diagnosis of Pediatric Refractory Mycoplasma pneumoniae Pneumonia

Objective:To analyze the value of D-dimer(D-D),interleukin-6(IL-6),and IL-18 in the differential diagnosis of children with refractory Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia(RMPP).Methods:The medical records of 92 children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia(MPP)treated in the hospital were selected for retrospective analysis from January 2023 to January 2024.After comprehensive examinations such as computed tomography examination of the chest,48 children with general Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia(GMPP)were put in the GMPP group and 44 children with RMPP were grouped in the RMPP group.The IL-6,IL-18,and D-D levels were compared between the two groups,and the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves were plotted to analyze their value for differential diagnosis of RMPP.Results:The levels of IL-6,IL-18,and D-D in the RMPP group were higher than those in the GMPP group(P<0.05);the ROC curves showed that the specificity of the differential diagnosis of IL-6,IL-18,and D-D was higher,and their diagnostic value was significant.Conclusion:Determination of IL-6,IL-18,and D-D levels in children with MPP can further diagnose the children’s condition,which can help physicians formulate targeted treatment plans,and is of great significance to the improvement of the children’s condition,which is worthy of attention.

Analyze interleukin-1β,interleukin-6,and tumor necrosis factor-αlevels in dry eye and the therapeutic effect of cyclosporine A

BACKGROUND Dry eye is a common eye disease.Artificial tears supplements are widely used for the treatment of dry eyes.However,multiple adverse effects have been observed in patients receiving long-term treatment with artificial tears,which may affect the therapeutic effect.AIM To analyze the characteristics of interleukin-1β(IL-1β),interleukin-6(IL-6),and tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α)levels in patients with dry eye and the therapeutic effect of artificial tears combined with cyclosporine A.METHODS A total of 124 dry eye patients treated at The First People’s Hospital of Xining from April 2020 to April 2022 were selected as the observation group,while 20 healthy individuals served as the control group during the same period.Levels of inflammatory markers,including IL-1β,IL-6,and TNF-α,were analyzed.The observation group was further divided into a study group and a control group,each consisting of 62 patients.The control group received artificial tears,whereas the study group received a combination of artificial tears and cyclosporine A.Inflammatory markers,Schirmer’s test(SIT),tear break-up time(TBUT),corneal fluorescein staining(CFS),National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire-25(NEI-VFQ-25)scores,and adverse events(AEs)were compared between the two groups.RESULTS The observation group exhibited significantly elevated serum levels of IL-1β,IL-6,and TNF-αin comparison to the healthy group.Following treatment,the study group demonstrated substantial reductions in IL-1β,IL-6,and TNF-αlevels relative to the control group.Moreover,after treatment,the study group experienced a marked decrease in CFS scores and significant increases in both SIT and BUT levels when compared to the control group.Additionally,significant improvements were observed in the primary symptom of dry eye and secondary symptoms such as photophobia,foreign body sensation,fatigue,red eye,and burning sensation within the study group.Furthermore,post-treatment NEI-VFQ-25 scores across all dimensions exhibited significant enhancements in the study group compared to the control group(P<0.05).It is noteworthy that significant AEs were reported in both groups throughout the treatment period.CONCLUSION Cyclosporine A combined with artificial tears is effective in treating dry eye,yielding enhanced outcomes by improving SIT and TBUT levels,reducing CFS scores,and ameliorating vision-related quality of life.

Exploring the role of interleukin-6 receptor blockade in epilepsy and associated neuropsychiatric conditions through a mendelian randomization study

BACKGROUND The interplay between inflammation,immune dysregulation,and the onset of neurological disorders,including epilepsy,has become increasingly recognized.Interleukin(IL)-6,a pro-inflammatory cytokine,is suspected to not only mediate traditional inflammatory pathways but also contribute to neuroinflammatory responses that could underpin neuropsychiatric symptoms and broader psychiatric disorders in epilepsy patients.The role of IL-6 receptor(IL6R)blockade presents an intriguing target for therapeutic intervention due to its potential to attenuate these processes.neuropsychiatric conditions due to neuroinflammation.METHODS Mendelian randomization(MR)analysis employing single nucleotide poly-morphisms(SNPs)in the vicinity of the IL6R gene(total individuals=408225)was used to evaluate the putative causal relationship between IL6R blockade and epilepsy(total cases/controls=12891/312803),focal epilepsy(cases/controls=7526/399290),and generalized epilepsy(cases/controls=1413/399287).SNP weights were determined by their effect on C-reactive protein(CRP)levels and integrated using inverse variance-weighted meta-analysis as surrogates for IL6R effects.To address potential outlier and pleiotropic influences,sensitivity analyses were conducted employing a variety of MR methods under different modeling assumptions.RESULTS The genetic simulation targeting IL6R blockade revealed a modest but significant reduction in overall epilepsy risk[inverse variance weighting:Odds ratio(OR):0.827;95%confidence interval(CI):0.685-1.000;P=0.05].Subtype analysis showed variability,with no significant effect observed in generalized,focal,or specific childhood and juvenile epilepsy forms.Beyond the primary inflammatory marker CRP,the findings also suggested potential non-inflammatory pathways mediated by IL-6 signaling contributing to the neurobiological landscape of epilepsy,hinting at possible links to neuroinflammation,psychiatric symptoms,and associated mental disorders.CONCLUSION The investigation underscored a tentative causal relationship between IL6R blockade and decreased epilepsy incidence,likely mediated via complex neuroinflammatory pathways.These results encouraged further in-depth studies involving larger cohorts and multifaceted psychiatric assessments to corroborate these findings and more thoroughly delineate the neuro-psychiatric implications of IL-6 signaling in epilepsy.The exploration of IL6R blockade could herald a novel therapeutic avenue not just for seizure management but also for addressing the broader psychiatric and cognitive disturbances often associated with epilepsy.

Effect of flurbiprofen combined with prednisolone on interleukin-6 in elderly surgery patients

Objective: To determine the effect of flurbiprofen combined with prednisolone on interleukin-6 in elderly surgery patients. Methods: In this double-blind randomized controlled study, patients aged 65 to 80 who were undergoing spinal fusion surgery for disc herniation were administered flurbiprofen 100 mg (P group, flurbiprofen group), prednisolone 0.6 mg/kg (D group, prednisolone group), prednisolone 0.6 mg/kg plus flurbiprofen 100 mg (P + D group, flurbiprofen + prednisolone group) or normal saline (S group, saline group) 15 minutes before the induction of anesthesia. Plasma samples were collected before surgery (T0) and on day 1 (T1), day 2 (T2) and day 3 (T3) following surgery. At the same time, systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) was assessed by SIRS criteria. The levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and C-reactive protein (CRP) for collected samples were measured. Results: Other groups had significantly lower levels of IL-6, CRP and occurrence of SIRS than S group (p < 0.05). Compared to groups P and D, the levels of IL-6 and CRP in P + D group were significantly lower on T1 (p < 0.05). Peak levels of IL-6 in all groups were presented on T1 (p 0.05). The levels of CRP within three days were significantly different but did not show peak levels (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Compared to prednisolone or flurbiprofen, combining flurbiprofen with prednisolone in elderly surgery patients led to an increased suppression of IL-6.

Plasma levels of tumor necrotic factor-alpha and interleukin-6, -8 during orthotopic liver transplantation and their relations to postoperative pulmonary complications

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary complications after orthoto- pic liver transplantation (OLT) include high morbidity and mortality. Experimental data have suggested hepatic ische- mia and reperfusion are induced by pro-inflammatory cyto- kines. The high level of inflammatory cytokines might ad- ditionally influence pulmonary cappillary fluid filtration. The objectives of this study were to measure the concentra- tions of tumor necrotic factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin- 6 (IL-6) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) during OLT and to in- vestigate the relationship between these cytokines and post- operative pulmonary complications. METHODS: Twenty-two patients undergoing OLT were divided into two groups according to whether they had postoperative pulmonary complications: group A consis- ting of 8 patients with postoperative pulmonary complica- tions , and group B consisting of 14 patients without post- operative pulmonary complications. Enzyme-linked im- munoassay (ELISA) was used to determine serum TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-8. Blood samples were taken at the beginning of operation (T0 ), clamping and cross-clamping of the in- ferior cava and portal vein (T1, T2 ), 90 minutes and 3 hours after reperfusion (T3 , T4 ) and 24 hours after opera- tion (T5). RESULTS: The level of PaO2/FiO2 in group A was lower than that in group B ( P <0. 05 ). The concentrations of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-8 in the two groups increased rapidly at T2 , peaked at T3 , decreased rapidly after T3 until 24 hours after operation. The concentrations of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-8 in group A were higher than those in group B at T2, T3, and T4(P<0.05). CONCLUSION: After un-clamping of the inferior cava and portal vein, the serum concentrations of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-8 increased may be related to pulmonary injury after he- patic ischemic reperfusion.

Efficacy of Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy in Treating Patients with Gallstones and Its Effect on Interleukin-6 and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Levels

Objective:To investigate the efficacy of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the treatment of patients with gallstones and its effect on the levels of interleukin-6(IL-6)and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-a).Methods:A total of 82 patients with gallstones admitted from July 2020 to July 2023 were recruited and allocated into control and observation groups using the random number table method,with 41 cases in each group.The patients were treated with laparoscopic cholecystectomy,with the anterior triangle anatomical approach to the gallbladder in the control group and the posterior triangle anatomical approach to the gallbladder in the observation group.The treatment effect and inflammatory factor levels of both groups were observed and compared.Results:When comparing the clinical outcomes of both patient groups,the key parameters evaluated included time to mobilization,duration of surgery,extubation time,and intraoperative bleeding.The observation group exhibited a significant advantage in these parameters compared to the control group(P<0.05).Regarding the levels of inflammatory factors between the two groups before and after treatment,there was no significant difference in values before treatment.However,following treatment,patients in the observation group showed significantly lower levels of IL-6,TNF-α,and C-reactive protein(CRP)compared to the control group(P<0.05).Conclusion:Patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy for gallstones can benefit from the implementation of the posterior triangular anatomical approach to the gallbladder,which not only enhances therapeutic efficacy but also offers significant advantages in reducing levels of IL-6,TNF-α,and CRP.Therefore,it is recommended for the widespread adoption of this treatment approach in clinical practice.

MEK AND p38 MAPK-DEPENDANT PATHWAYS ARE INVOLOVED IN THE POSITIVE EFFECT OF INTERLEUKIN-6 ON HUMAN GROWTH HORMONE GENE EXPRESSION IN RAT MtT/S SOMATOTROPH CELLS

Objective To investigate the effect of interleukin-6(IL-6)on the human growth hormone(hGH)gene expression in a rat somatotropic pituitary cell line MtT/S.Methods The plasmids containing various lengths of hGH gene 5'-promoter fragments were constructed.Stably transfected MtT/S cells were created by cotransfecting the above plasmids and pcDNA3.1(+)with DMRIE-C transfection reagent.After the administration of these cells with IL-6 and/or various inhibitors of signaling transduction pathways,the luciferase activities in MtT/S cells lysis were assayed to demonstrate the effects of IL-6 on hGH gene promoter activity and possibly involved mechanism.Results The 103 U/mL IL-6 stimulated GH secretion and synthesis,and promoted the 5'-promoter activity of GH gene in stably transfected MtT/SGL cells with the action of 1.69 times above the control.Among inhibitors of signaling transduction pathways,mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase(MAPKK/MEK)inhibitor PD98059(40 μmol/L)and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK)inhibitor SB203580(5 μmol/L)completely blocked the stimulatory effect of IL-6.Western blot analysis further confirmed the activation of phosphorylated MEK and p38 MAPK in MtT/SGL cells.Neither over-expression of Pit-1 nor inhibition of Pit-1 expression affected IL-6 induction of hGH promoter activity.A series of deletion constructs of hGH promoter were created to identify the DNA sequence that mediated the effect of IL-6.The results showed that the stimulatory effect of IL-6 was abolished following deletion of the-196 to-132 bp fragment.Conclusions IL-6 promotes GH secretion and synthesis by rat MtT/S somatotroph cells.The stimulatory effect of IL-6 on hGH gene promoter appears to require the activation of MEK and p38 MAPK,and a fragment of promoter sequence that spans the-196 to-132 bp of the gene,but may be unlinked with Pit-1 protein.

Up-regulation interleukin-6 and interleukin-8 by activated protein C in lipopolysaccharide-treated human umbilical vein endothelial cells

Objective: To investigate the effect of activated protein C (APC) on inflammatory responses in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Methods: The second passage of collagenase digested HUVEC was divided into the following groups: serum free medium control group (SFM control), phosphate buffer solution control group (PBS control), LPS group with final concentration of 1 μg/ml (LPS group), APC group with final concentration of 7 μg/ml, Pre-APC group (APC pretreatment for 30 min prior to LPS challenge), and Post-APC group (APC administration 30 min after LPS challenge). Supernatant was harvested at 0, 4, 8, 12 and 24 h after LPS challenge. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and Interleukin-8 (IL-8) levels were analyzed with ELISA. Cells were harvested at 24 h after LPS challenge, and total RNA was extracted. Mes-senger RNA levels for IL-6 and IL-8 were semi-quantitatively determined by RT-PCR. Results: Compared with control group, IL-6 and IL-8 levels steadily increased 4 to 24 h after LPS stimulation. APC treatment could increase LPS-induced IL-6 and IL-8 production. The mRNA levels of IL-6 and IL-8 exhibited a similar change. Conclusion: APC can further increase the level of IL-6 and IL-8 induced by LPS. The effect of these elevated cytokines is still under investigation.

Expression change of interleukin-8 gene in rabbit basilar artery after subarachnoid hemorrhage

Objective To study the expression change of interleukin-8 （IL-8） gene in the basilar artery of rabbit and the effect of IL-8 on the development of cerebral vasospasm induced by experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage （SAH）. Methods Thirty five healthy Japanese White Rabbits were randomly divided into saline-control group and experimental group. The experimental group was subdivided into four groups, representing day 1, 4, 7 and 14 after the first blood injection of SAH. The delayed cerebral vasospasm （DCVS） model was established by double injection of autologous blood into the cisterna magna. The expression change of cytokine IL-8 mRNA in the basilar artery was analyzed by RT- PCR. Results The expression of IL-8 gene increased on day 4-7 after the first blood injection of SAH compared with control （P 〈 0.001）, and decreased to normal on day 14. The expression of IL-8 gene in the SAH groups were positively correlated with the degree of basilar artery stenosis （r = 0.642, P 〈 0.01）. Conclusion The expression level of IL-8 gene in basilar arteries was intimately associated with the degree of cerebral vasospasm, suggesting that IL-8 may play an important role in the DCVS after SAH as an immunological inflammatory factor.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INTERLEUKIN-6,INTERLEUKIN-8 CONCENTRATIONS AND INTRAAMNIO INFECTION AND APGAR SCORES

we d.termlned amniotic fluid and blood IL-6, 8 concentrations or so pregnancy womenwith premature rupture of membrane,(PROM) by ELISA - e^led the fetal membranes by.pathology. The results showed that there were 36 petients with intraamnio infection (IAI) and theirIL-6.IL-8 concentrations were significantly higher than those of the patients without IAI. In 20 ofthe 36 patients their neonates Apgar scores≤7 and their fluid- blood IL-6.IL-8 cooreuthed.were significently higher htat those. of other 16 patients whose Apgar scores≥8.These results ndicated that the bkood and amnioiotic fluid IL-6. IL-8 concentrations of pregnancy wom-en with PROM would help to predict and esimate fetus prognosis

Interleukin-8 associates with adhesion,migration,invasion and chemosensitivity of human gastric cancer cells

AIM： To investigate the relationship between Interleu- kin-8 （IL-8） and proliferation, adhesion, migration, inva- sion and chemosensitivity of gastric cancer （GC） cells.

Genetic association of interleukin-6 polymorphism (-174 G/C) with chronic liver diseases and hepatocellular carcinoma

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a pleiotropic cytokine which is expressed in many inflammatory cells in response to different types of stimuli, regulating a number of biological processes. The IL-6 gene is polymorphic in both the 5' and 3' flanking regions and more than 150 single nucleotide polymorphisms have been identified so far. Genetic polymorphisms of IL-6 may affect the outcomes of several diseases, where the presence of high levels of circulating IL-6 have been correlated to the stage and/or the progression of the disease itself. The -174 G/C polymorphism is a frequent polymorphism, that is located in the upstream regulatory region of the IL-6 gene and affects IL-6 production. However, the data in the literature on the genetic association between the -174 G/C polymorphism and some specific liver diseases characterized by different etiologies are still controversial. In particular, most of the studies are quite unanimous in describing a correlation between the presence of the high-producer genotype and a worse evolution of the chronic liver disease. This is valid for patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis and hepatocellu-lar carcinoma (HCC) whatever the etiology. Studies in hepatitis B virus-related chronic liver diseases are not conclusive, while specific populations like non alcoholic fatty liver disease/non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, autoimmune and human immunodeficiency virus/HCV coinfected patients show a higher prevalence of the lowproducer genotype, probably due to the complexity of these clinical pictures. In this direction, a systematic revision of these data should shed more light on the role of this polymorphism in chronic liver diseases and HCC.

Interleukin-6 and its soluble receptor in patients with liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM： To evaluate the immunohistochemical localization of interleukin-6 （IL-6） and IL-6 receptor （IL-6R） on tumor tissue specimens from patients with hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC） and the serum levels of IL-6 and sIL-6R in a group of patients with HCC as well as liver cirrhosis （LC） in a group of patients with LC alone and in a control group. METHODS： Three groups of subjects were studied： group Ⅰ （n =83） suffering from HCC and LC, group Ⅱ （n = 72） suffering from LC alone and group Ⅲ （n =42） as healthy controls. All patients had hepatitis C virus infection. Serum IL-6 and IL-6R levels were determined using a commercially available ELISA kit. Immunohistochemistry was performed using the streptavidin-biotin complex and rabbit polyclonal antibodies against IL-6 and IL-6R. RESULTS： Immunohistochemistry analysis showed a medium to strong cytoplasmic and membrane reactivity for IL-6 and IL-6R respectively, in at least 40% of cases of HCC, whereas liver cirrhosis patients and controls were negative for IL-6 or showed a very mild and focal dot-like cytoplasmic reaction for IL-6R. Serum IL-6 levels in HCC group were significantly higher than those in LC and control groups （P〈 0.0001）. There was no significant difference in sIL-6R concentrations among 3 groups. When the patients with HCC were divided into groups according to Okuda＇s classification, a significant serum increase of IL-6 and slL-6R level was observed from stage Ⅰ to stage Ⅲ （P〈0.02, P〈0.0005）. When HCC and LC patients were divided into 3 classes of cirrhosis severity according to Child-Pugh, values in HCC patients were significantly higher than those in LC patients for each corresponding class （P〈 0.01）. CONCLUSION： IL-6 serum levels in HCC patients are higher than those in LC patients and controls, suggesting an increased production of this cytokine by neoplastic cells, sIL-6R values are similar in all groups, increasing only in stage III HCC patients. These data suggest that they have a closer relationship with the neoplastic mass rather than with the residual functioning hepatic mass.

Helicobacter pylori and interleukin-8 in gastric cancer

Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori)is a major etiological factor in the development of gastric cancer.Large-scale epidemiological studies have confirmed the strong association between H.pylori infection and both cancer development and progression.Interleukin-8(IL-8)is overexpressed in gastric mucosa exposed to H.pylori.The expression of IL-8 directly correlates with a poor prognosis in gastric cancer.IL-8 is multifunctional.In addition to its potent chemotactic activity,it can induce proliferation and migration of cancer cells.In this review,we focus on recent insights into the mechanisms of IL-8 signaling associated with gastric cancer.The relationship between IL-8 and H.pylori is discussed.We also summarize the current therapeutics against IL-8 in gastric cancer.

Elevated serum interleukin-38 level at baseline predicts virological response in telbivudine-treated patients with chronic hepatitis B

AIM: To investigate serum interleukin(IL)-38 level and its clinical role in predicting virological response(VR) to telbivudine(Ld T) in patients with chronic hepatitis B(CHB).METHODS: The study participants were divided into two groups; one group consisted of 43 healthy controls(HCs) and the other group consisted of 46 patients with hepatitis B e antigen-positive CHB. All patients were administered 600 mg of oral Ld T daily for 52 wk, and they visited physicians every 12 wk for physical examination and laboratory tests. Serum IL-38 levels were determined using ELISA. The concentrations of serum Th1- and Th2-type cytokines were measured using the cytometric bead array(CBA) method. RESULTS: Serum levels of IL-38 at baseline in all patients were higher than those in HCs [306.97(123.26-492.79) pg/m L vs 184.50(135.56-292.16) pg/m L, P = 0.019]; the levels returned to normal after the first 12 wk of treatment with Ld T [175.51(103.90-331.91) pg/m L vs 184.50(135.56-292.16) pg/m L, P > 0.05]. Serum IL-38 levels at baseline were positively associated with serum aspartate aminotransferase levels in patients with CHB(r = 0.311, P = 0.036). Higher levels of serum IL-38 at baseline were associated with a greater probability of VR to Ld T treatment at 24 wk(48.15% vs 15.79%, P = 0.023) and 52 wk(66.67% vs 36.84%, P = 0.044). The levels of serum IL-38 in patients with primary nonresponse at week 12 after treatment initiation were lower than those in patients with primary response [64.44(49.85-172.08) pg/m L vs 190.54(121.35-355.28) pg/m L, P = 0.036]. Serum IL-38 levels were correlated with serum IL-6 and IL-12 levels in patients with CHB during treatment with Ld T. CONCLUSION: Elevated serum IL-38 levels in untreated CHB patients reflect ongoing liver injury. Higher serum IL-38 levels before treatment indicate a greater probability of VR to Ld T treatment.

Interleukin-8, a promising predictor for prognosis of pancreatic cancer

AIM: To investigate the value of interleukin-8 (IL-8), a pro-inflammatory chemokine, in predicting the prognosis of pancreatic cancer. METHODS: Expression of IL-8 and its receptor CXCR1 was assessed by immunohistochemistry in pancreatic cancer and chronic pancreatitis samples. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the serum IL-8 levels in pancreatic cancer patients. Human pancreatic cancer tissues were heterotopically transplanted to the immune-deficiency mice to evaluate the effect of serum IL-8 on the tumorigenesis of the cancer samples.RESULTS: IL-8 and CXCR1 proteins were both overexpressed in pancreatic adenocarcinoma samples (55.6% and 65.4%, respectively) compared with the matched para-cancer tissues (25.9% and 12.3%, P < 0.01), or chronic pancreatitis (0% and 25%, P < 0.05). Serum IL-8 levels in pancreatic cancer patients (271.1 ± 187.7 ng/mL) were higher than in other digestive system tumors, such as gastric cancer (41.77 ± 9.11 ng/mL, P = 0.025), colorectal carcinoma (78.72 ± 80.60 ng/mL, P = 0.032) and hepatocellular carcinoma (59.60 ± 19.80 ng/mL, P = 0.016). In vivo tumorigenesis analysis further proved that tumor tissues from patients with higher serum IL-8 levels grew faster than those with lower IL-8 levels. CONCLUSION: IL-8 can be a fine serum marker for predicting the prognosis pancreatic cancer.

Xiaotan Sanjie decoction inhibits interleukin-8-induced metastatic potency in gastric cancer

AIM:To investigate the interaction between Xiaotan Sanjie(XTSJ) decoction and interleukin-8(IL-8) and its effect on adhesion,migration and invasion of SGC-7901 gastric cancer cells.METHODS:SGC-7901 gastric cancer cells were exposed to serum containing XTSJ decoction and/orIL-8(1 ng/m L).SGC-7901 cell adhesion to fibronectin,an extracellular matrix component,was detected using the Cell Counting Kit-8.Migration and invasion abilities of SGC-7901 cells were detected by scratch wound and Transwell chamber assays.Then,protein(immunofluorescence and Western blot) and m RNA levels(quantitative polymerase chain reaction) of cluster of differentiation 44(CD44),a cell adhesion molecule,were measured in 72-h-cultured SGC-7901 cells.RESULTS:Cell adhesion was promoted by IL-8(P = 0.001),but was inhibited by XTSJ decoction(P = 0.0001).Similarly,IL-8 promoted SGC-7901 cell invasion(P = 0.003),and XTSJ decoction inhibited cell invasion(P = 0.001).IL-8 induced SGC-7901 cell migration,but this was inhibited by XTSJ decoction.IL-8 up-regulated CD44 protein(P = 0.028) and m RNA expression(P = 0.002),whereas XTSJ decoction inhibited CD44 protein expression(P = 0.0001),but not m RNA expression(P = 0.275).An interaction between XTSJ decoction and IL-8 was confirmed in the invasion(P = 0.001) and CD44 m RNA expression of SGC-7901 cells(P = 0.010),but not in cell adhesion(P = 0.051).CONCLUSION:XTSJ decoction may inhibit adhesion,migration and invasion of gastric cancer cells,which is partly associated with down-regulation of IL-8.

Lactobacillus plantarum inhibits epithelial barrier dysfunction and interleukin-8 secretion induced by tumor necrosis factor-a

AIM： To determine whether Lactobacillus plantarum can modify the deleterious effects of tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） on intestinal epithelial cells. METHODS： Caco-2 cells were incubated with TNF-α alone or in the presence of L. plantarum. Transepithelial electrical resistance was used to measure epithelial barrier function. Interleukin 8 （IL-8） secretion by intestinal epithelial cells was measured using an ELISA. Cellular lysate proteins were immunoblotted using the anti-extracellular regulated kinase （ERK）, anti-phospho- ERK and anti-IκB-α. RESULTS： A TNF-α-induced decrease in transepithelial electrical resistance was inhibited by L. plantarum. TNF- α-induced IL-8 secretion was reduced by L. plantarum. L. plantarum inhibited the activation of ERK and the degradation of IκB-α in TNF-a-treated Caco-2 cells. CONCLUSION： Induction of epithelial barrier dysfunction and IL-8 secretion by TNF-α is inhibited byL. plantarum. Probiotics may preserve epithelial barrier function and inhibit the inflammatory response by altering the signal transduction pathway.