Huoxue Tongjiang decoction-resisted reflux esophagitis by activation stem cell factor/c-kit/interstitial cell of cajal pathway and regulating the T-helper 17/regulatory T-cells balance in rats

Background:Huoxue Tongjiang decoction(HXTJD)is an effective prescription for treating reflux esophagitis(RE).We investigated the effects of HXTJD on esophageal motility and mucosal inflammation in a rat RE model.Methods:Chemical composition of HXTJD was analyzed by ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography Q-Orbitrap mass spectrometry(MS).The change rates of mean contraction tension forces,mean amplitudes,and mean frequencies for the lower esophageal sphincter(LES)were recorded using the isolated tissue bath system,mechanical tension transducer,and PowerLab physiological recorder.After weighing the stomach,the phenol red labeling method was used to measure the gastric emptying rate.The LES ultrastructure was observed through transmission electron microscopy.Immunofluorescence and western blotting were used to detect the number of interstitial cells of Cajal(ICC)and the expression levels of c-kit protein,connexin43(Cx43),and stem cell factor(SCF).Flow cytometric analysis and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were conducted to detect the percentages of T helper 17(Th17)cells and regulatory T(Treg)cells and the serum concentrations of interleukin 6(IL-6),interleukin 17(IL-17),and interleukin 10(IL-10)in the rats.Results:We identified 28 chemical constituents in HXTJD.Regarding esophageal motility,we revealed that HXTJD increased the mean contraction tension forces,mean amplitudes,and mean frequency change rate of LES and the gastric emptying rate;decreased stomach weight;and improved the LES ultrastructure.Additionally,HXTJD increased the number of ICC-positive cells,and c-kit,Cx43,and SCF expression levels.Regarding esophageal inflammation,HXTJD significantly decreased the percentage of Th17 cells,and IL-6 and IL-17 concentrations,and increased the percentage of Treg cells and IL-10 concentration.Conclusion:HXTJD was found to be efficacious in the rat RE model.It may promote esophageal motility and alleviate the inflammatory response by activating the SCF/c-kit/ICC pathway and regulating the Th17/Treg cell balance.

Analysis of the Peripheral Blood Helper T-Cell 17- Cell Level and Monocyte/Lymphocyte Ratio for Colorectal Cancer Prognosis Prediction

Objective: To investigate the value of peripheral blood helper T cell 17 cell level and monocyte/lymphocyte ratio to predict the prognosis of colorectal cancer patients. Methods: 74 colorectal cancer patients who attended Hospital 960 from January 2021 to January 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Clinical data of the patients were collected, including gender, age, and histologic type. Immunohistochemical indexes such as Th17 cell level and monocyte/ lymphocyte ratio in the peripheral blood of patients were also collected. The prognosis of patients after treatment, as well as peripheral blood Th17 and MLR levels, were observed and analyzed. Results: After follow-up after treatment, in the final 74 patients, the prognosis was good in 32 patients, accounting for 43.24%, and the prognosis was bad in 42 patients, accounting for 56.76%. There were no significant differences between the average age and tumor diameters of the good prognosis and poor prognosis groups (P > 0.05). However, the TNM staging, intervention taken, differentiation degree, presence of distant metastasis, presence of lymph node metastasis, Th17 level, and MLR level are significantly different between the two groups (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Peripheral blood Th17 and MLR have predictive value for the prognosis of colorectal cancer patients, and high levels of peripheral blood Th17 and MLR imply poor prognosis. The detection of peripheral blood Th17 and MLR levels is simple and convenient and can be used as indicators to provide a reference for the prognostic assessment of colorectal cancer patients.

Treg/Th17 cell balance and phytohaemagglutinin activation of T lymphocytes in peripheral blood of systemic sclerosis patients

AIM To investigate T-cell activation, the percentage of peripheral T regulatory cells(Tregs), Th17 cells and the circulating cytokine profile in systemic sclerosis(SSc).METHODS We enrolled a total of 24 SSc patients and 16 healthy controls in the study and divided the patients as having diffuse cutaneous SSc(dc SSc, n = 13) or limited cutaneous SSc(lc SSc, n = 11). We performed a further subdivision of the patients regarding the stage of the disease-early, intermediate or late. Peripheral venous blood samples were collected from all subjects. We performed flow cytometric analysis of the activationcapacity of T-lymphocytes upon stimulation with PHA-M and of the percentage of peripheral Tregs and Th17 cells in both patients and healthy controls. We used ELISA to quantitate serum levels of human interleukin(IL)-6, IL-10, tissue growth factor-β1(TGF-β1), and IL-17 A.RESULTS We identified a decreased percentage of CD3+CD69+ cells in PHA-stimulated samples from SSc patients in comparison with healthy controls(13.35% ± 2.90% vs 37.03% ± 2.33%, P < 0.001). However, we did not establish a correlation between the down-regulated CD3+CD69+ cells and the clinical subset, nor regarding the stage of the disease. The activated CD4+CD25+ peripheral lymphocytes were represented in decreased percentage in patients when compared to controls(6.30% ± 0.68% vs 9.36% ± 1.08%, P = 0.016). Regarding the forms of the disease, dc SSc patients demonstrated lower frequency of CD4+CD25+ T cells against healthy subjects(5.95% ± 0.89% vs 9.36% ± 1.08%, P = 0.025). With regard to Th17 cells, our patients demonstrated increased percentage in comparison with controls(18.13% ± 1.55% vs 13.73% ± 1.21%, P = 0.031). We detected up-regulated Th17 cells within the lc SSc subset against controls(20.46% ± 2.41% vs 13.73% ± 1.21%, P = 0.025), nevertheless no difference was found between dc SSc and lc SSc patients. Flow cytometric analysis revealed an increased percentage of CD4+CD25-Foxp3+ in dc SSc patients compared to controls(10.94% ± 1.65% vs 6.88% ± 0.91, P = 0.032). Regarding the peripheral cytokine profile, we detected raised levels of IL-6 [2.10(1.05-4.60) pg/m L vs 0.00 pg/m L, P < 0.001], TGF-β1(19.94 ± 3.35 ng/m L vs 10.03 ± 2.25 ng/m L, P = 0.02), IL-10(2.83 ± 0.44 pg/m L vs 0.68 ± 0.51 pg/m L, P = 0.008), and IL-17 A [6.30(2.50-15.60) pg/m L vs 0(0.00-0.05) pg/m L, P < 0.001] in patients when compared to healthy controls. Furthermore, we found increased circulating IL-10, TGF-β, IL-6 and IL-17 A in the lc SSc subset vs control subjects, as it follows: IL-10(3.32 ± 0.59 pg/m L vs 0.68 ± 0.51 pg/m L, P = 0.003), TGF-β1(22.82 ± 4.99 ng/m L vs 10.03 ± 2.25 ng/m L, P = 0.031), IL-6 [2.08(1.51-4.69) pg/m L vs 0.00 pg/m L, P < 0.001], and IL-17 A [14.50(8.55-41.65) pg/m L vs 0.00(0.00-0.05) pg/m L, P < 0.001]. Furthermore, circulating IL-17 A was higher in lc SSc as opposed to dc SSc subset(31.99 ± 13.29 pg/m L vs 7.14 ± 3.01 pg/m L, P = 0.008). Within the dc SSc subset, raised levels of IL-17 A and IL-6 were detected vs healthy controls: IL-17 A [2.60(0.45-9.80) pg/m L vs 0.00(0.00-0.05) pg/m L, P < 0.001], IL-6 [2.80(1.03-7.23) pg/m L vs 0.00 pg/m L, P < 0.001]. Regarding the stages of the disease, TGF-β1 serum levels were increased in early stage against late stage, independently from the SSc phenotype(30.03 ± 4.59 ng/m L vs 13.08 ± 4.50 ng/m L, P = 0.017).CONCLUSION It is likely that the altered percentage of Th17 and CD4+CD25-Fox P3+ cells along with the peripheral cytokine profile in patients with SSc may play a key role in the pathogenesis of the disease.

Increase of peripheral Th17 lymphocytes during acute cellular rejection in liver transplant recipients

BACKGROUND: Although many human inflammatory and autoimmune diseases were previously considered to be mediated by T helper type 1 (Th1) cells, the recently described Th17 cells play dominant roles in several of these diseases. We and others speculated that allograft rejection after organ transplantation may also involve Th17 cells. Episodes of acute rejection occur in 30% of liver transplants. This study aimed to determine the frequency of circulating Th17 cells in patients who had received liver transplants for benign end-stage liver disease and to identify any association between acute rejection episodes and levels of Th17 cells in the peripheral blood. METHODS: A prospective study compared Th17 cells from 76 consecutive benign end-stage liver disease patients who had undergone orthotopic liver transplantation from 2007 to 2011 with those from 20 age-matched healthy individuals. Peripheral blood samples were collected at different time points within one year after transplant. Blood samples and liver biopsies were also collected at the diagnosis of acute rejection. Percentages of circulating CD4+ IL-17+ cells were measured by flow cytometry The transplant patients were classified into two groups: a rejection group consisting of 17 patients who had an episode of acute rejection, and a non-rejection group comprising the remaining 59 patients with no acute rejection episodes Percentages of circulating Th17 cells were compared between the two groups and controls. RESULTS: The levels of circulating CD4+ IL-17+ T cells in the rejection group were higher during acute rejection than those in the non-rejection group (2.56±0.43% versus 1.79±0.44% P<0.001). The frequency of CD4+ IL-17+ cells in peripheral blood was positively correlated with the rejection activity index (r=0.79, P=0.0002).CONCLUSION: Circulating Th17 cells may be useful as a surrogate marker for predicting acute rejection in liver transplant recipients.

Effects of early enteral nutrition on Th17/Treg cells and IL-23/IL-17 in septic patients

BACKGROUND The imbalance of Th17/Treg cells and the IL-23/IL-17 axis have been confirmed to be associated with sepsis and various inflammatory diseases. Early enteral nutrition (EEN) can modulate the inflammatory response, improve immune dysfunction, and prevent enterogenic infection in critically ill patients;however, the precise mechanisms remain unclear. Considering the important roles of Th17 and Treg lymphocytes in the development of inflammatory and infectious diseases, we hypothesized that EEN could improve the immune dysfunction in sepsis by maintaining a balanced Th17/Treg cell ratio and by regulating the IL- 23/IL-17 axis. AIM To investigate the effects of EEN on the Th17/Treg cell ratios and the IL-23/IL-17 axis in septic patients. METHODS In this prospective clinical trial, patients were randomly divided into an EEN or delayed enteral nutrition (DEN) group. Enteral feeding was started within 48 h in the EEN group, whereas enteral feeding was started on the 4th day in the DEN group. The Th17 and Treg cell percentages and the interleukin levels were tested on days 1, 3, and 7 after admission. The clinical severity and outcome variables were also recorded. RESULTS Fifty-three patients were enrolled in this trial from October 2017 to June 2018. The Th17 cell percentages, Th17/Treg cell ratios, IL-17, IL-23, and IL-6 levels of the EEN group were lower than those of the DEN group on the 7th day after admission (P < 0.05). The duration of mechanical ventilation and of the intensive care unit stay of the EEN group were shorter than those of the DEN group (P <0.05). However, no difference in the 28-d mortality was found between the two groups (P = 0.728). CONCLUSION EEN could regulate the imbalance of Th17/Treg cell ratios and suppress the IL- 23/IL-17 axis during sepsis. Moreover, EEN could reduce the clinical severity of sepsis but did not reduce the 28-d mortality of septic patients.

Potential role of Th17 cells in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease

The etiopathology of inflammatory bowel disease （IBD） remains elusive. Accumulating evidence suggests that the abnormality of innate and adaptive immunity responses plays an important role in intestinal inflam- mation. IBD including Crohn＇s disease （CD） and ulcerative colitis （UC） is a chronic inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract, which is implicated in an inappropriate and overactive mucosal immune response to luminal flora. Traditionally, CD is regarded as a Thl- mediated inflammatory disorder while UC is regarded as a Th2-1ike disease. Recently, Th17 cells were identified as a new subset of T helper cells unrelated to Thl or Th2 cells, and several cytokines [e.g. interleukin （IL）-21, IL-23] are involved in regulating their activation and differentiation. They not only play an important role in host defense against extracellular pathogens, but are also associated with the development of autoimmunity and inflammatory response such as IBD. The identification of Th17 cells helps us to explain some of the anomalies seen in the Thl/Th2 axis and has broadened our understanding of the immunopathological effects of Th17 cells in the development of IBD.

Rapamycin ameliorates experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis by inhibiting Th1/Th2/Th17 cells and upregulating CD4+CD25+ Foxp3 regulatory T cells

· AIM: To determine the effects of rapamycin on experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis(EAU) and investigate of role of rapamycin on T cell subsets in the disease.·METHODS: EAU was induced in rats using peptides1169 to 1191 of the interphotoreceptor binding protein(IRBP). Rapamycin(0.2 mg/kg/d) was administrated by intraperitoneal injection for a consecutive 7d after immunization. Th1/Th2/Th17 cytokines, TGF-β1, and IL-6produced by lymphocyteswere measured by ELISA, while Th17 cells and CD4 +CD25 + regulatory T cells(Tregs)from rat spleen were detected by flow cytometry.·RESULTS: Intraperitoneal treatment immediately after immunization dramatically ameliorated the clinical course of EAU. Clinical responses were associated with reduced retinal inflammatory cell infiltration and tissue destruction. Rapamycin induced suppression of Th1/Th2/Th17 cytokines, including IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-17, IL-4, and IL-10 release from T lymphocytes of EAU rats, in vitro.Rapamycin also significantly increased TGF-β1production but had no effect on IL-6 productionof T lymphocytes from EAU rats in vitro. Furthermore,rapamycin decreased the ratio of Th17 cells/CD4 +T cells and upregulated Tregs in EAU, as detected by flow cytometry.·CONCLUSION: Rapamycin effectively interferes with T cell mediated autoimmune uveitis by inhibiting antigen-specific T cell functions and enhancing Tregs in EAU.Rapamycin is a promising new alternative as an adjunct corticosteroid-sparing agent for treating uveitis.

Correlation between microRNA-21 and expression of Th17 and Treg cells in microenvironment of rats with hepatocellular carcinoma

Objective: To study the correlation between mi R-21 and Treg/Th17 ratio in the microenvironment of rats with hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods: Diethylnitrosamine was used to build the hepatocel ular carcinoma model of rats; the content of Treg cells and Th17 cells and the expression of mi R-21 in the peripheral blood of rats with hepatocellular carcinoma were detected. The statistical analysis was performed on the correlation between mi R-21 expression and Treg/Th17 ratio. Results: Hepatocellular carcinoma model of rats was successfully constructed. The proportion of Th17 cells among all CD4+T cells in the peripheral blood of rats with hepatocellular carcinoma was 5.319%, which was higher than the control group; while the proportion of Treg cells was 9.472%, which was higher than the control group. Treg/Th17 ratio in the model group was 1.781, compared with 1.478 in the control group. The expression of mi R-21 was increased in the peripheral blood of rats with hepatocellular carcinoma and it showed a positive correlation with the ratio of Treg/Th17. Conclusions: There is a positive correlation between the expression level of miR-21 and the ratio of Treg/Th17.

Correlation between circulating myeloid-derived suppressor cells and Th17 cells in esophageal cancer

AIM: To perform a comprehensive investigation into the potential correlation between circulating myeloidderived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and Th17 cells in esophageal cancer (ECA). METHODS: A total of 31 patients newly diagnosed with ECA and 26 healthy subjects were included in the current study. The frequencies of MDSCs and Th17 cells in peripheral blood were determined by flow cytometry. The mRNA expression of cytokines, arginase 1 (Arg1) and inducible NO synthase (iNOS) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and plasma Arg1 were assessed by real-time polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. RESULTS: There was an increased prevalence of MDSCs in the peripheral blood from ECA patients (15.21% ± 2.25%) when compared with healthy control (HC) (1.10% ± 0.12%, P < 0.0001). The plasma levels of Arg1 in ECA patients were significantly higher than those in HC (28.28 ± 4.10 ng/mL vs 9.57 ± 1.51 ng/ mL, P=0.0003). iNOS mRNA levels in the peripheral blood of ECA patients also showed a threefold increase compared with HC (P=0.0162). The frequencies of Th17 cells (CD4 + IL-17A + ) were significantly elevated in ECA patients versus HC (3.50% ± 0.33% vs 1.82% ± 0.19%, P=0.0001). Increased mRNA expression of IL-17 and ROR-γt was also observed in ECA patients compared with HC (P=0.0041 and P=0.0004, respectively), while the mRNA expression of IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) showed significant decreases (P=0.0049 and P < 0.0001, respectively). No obvious correlations were found between the frequencies of MDSCs and Th17 cells in the peripheral blood from ECA patients(r=-0.1725, P=0.3534). Arg1 mRNA levels were positively correlated with levels of IL-6 (r=0.6404, P=0.0031) and TNF-α (r=0.7646, P=0.0001). Similarly, iNOS mRNA levels were also positively correlated with levels of IL-6 (r=0.6782, P=0.0007) and TNF-α (r=0.7633, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: This study reveals the relationship between circulating MDSCs and Th17 cells, which may lead to new immunotherapy approaches for ECA based on the associated metabolites and cytokines.

艾拉莫德联合双醋瑞因对难治性类风湿关节炎患者的疗效及对TH17/Treg细胞因子的影响

目的:研究难治性类风湿关节炎(RRA)治疗中双醋瑞因与艾拉莫德联合疗效及对患者辅助性T细胞17(TH17)/调节性T淋巴细胞(Treg)的影响。方法:回顾性分析2021年1月至2023年12月入院的80例RRA患者,根据不同治法分为单一组(单用艾拉莫德,40例)与联合组(联用艾拉莫德、双醋瑞因,40例);比较两组治疗前后血清学指标[白细胞介素-17(IL-17)、TH17、Treg、TH17/Treg]、血清炎症因子[C-反应蛋白(CRP)、肿瘤坏死因子(TNF-α)、白细胞介素-1β(IL-1β)、白细胞介素-1(IL-1)]、免疫学指标[免疫球蛋白M(IgM)、免疫球蛋白A(IgA)、免疫球蛋白G(IgG)]、实验室指标[人内皮抑素(ES)、类风湿因子(RF)、红细胞沉积率(ESR)]、临床症状改善状况(关节肿胀数量、晨僵时间、关节疼痛(VAS)评分)与治疗后总有效率、不良反应(白细胞减少、恶心呕吐、瘙痒、皮疹)发生率。结果:与单一组比较,联合组治疗后IL-17、TH17、TH17/Treg、CRP、TNF-α、IL-1β、IL-1、IgM、IgA、IgG、RF、ESR与关节肿胀数量、VAS评分更低,Treg、ES更高,晨僵时间更短,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。联合组治疗后总有效率(97.50%)高于单一组(80.00%),差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。两组白细胞减少、恶心呕吐、瘙痒、皮疹发生率差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论:RRA治疗中双醋瑞因与艾拉莫德联合疗效显著,有益于进一步改善患者炎症因子、免疫学指标及实验室指标与减轻症状,还可纠正TH17/Treg失衡,且不良反应少。

Mechanism of Liancao-Xieli capsule in the treatment of ulcerative colitis through the differentiation of Th17 and Treg cells

Objective:To observe the effect of Liancao-Xieli Capsule on STAT signal pathway and T cell differentiation in mouse model of ulcerative colitis;Methods:Forty BALB/c mice were randomly divided into the control group,model group,mesalazine group and Liancao-Xieli capsule group.Except the control group,the other three groups were treated with 3%dextran sodium sulfate free drinking water to construct the model of ulcerative colitis.During the modeling period,each group was given corresponding drugs for intervention,while the control group and the model group were given the same volume of distilled water by gavage as the control.After treatment,HE staining was used to observe the pathological changes of colon tissue,flow cytometry was used to detect the proportion of Th17 and Treg cells in spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes,and ELISA was used to detect TGF-β,IL-6 and IL-17A in colon tissue.Western blot was used to detect the expression levels of related proteins in STAT3/ROR-γt and STAT5/Foxp3 signaling pathways.Results:Compared with the model group,the body weight,colon length and the content of TGF-βin the colon tissue of the mice in the Liancao-Xieli capsule group increased significantly after the experiment,while the DAI score,colon histopathology score,and the contents of IL-6 and IL-17A in the colon tissue were significantly reduced,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.01).At the same time,Liancao-Xieli capsule can reduce the ratio of Th17 cells and the ratio of Th17/Treg in the spleen and mesenteric lymph node tissues of UC mice,and increase the ratio of Treg cells,and the difference is statistically significant when compared with the model group(P<0.01).In addition,compared with the model group,the expression levels of p-STAT3 and RORγt protein in the colon tissue of the Liancao-Xieli capsule group were significantly reduced,and the expression levels of p-STAT5 and Foxp3 protein were significantly increased after treatment,and the differences are statistically significant(P<0.01),while the expression levels of STAT3 and STAT5 proteins in colon tissue did not change significantly,and the difference was not statistically significant(P>0.05);Conclusion:Liancao-Xieli Capsule can regulate the immune balance of Treg/Th17 and improve the intestinal inflammation of UC.Its mechanism of action is mainly through inhibiting STAT3/ROR-γt and promoting the activation of STAT5/Foxp3 signaling pathway.

The Expression of IL-27, Th17 Cells and Treg Cells in Peripheral Blood of Patients with Allergic Rhinitis

Objective: To explore the expression of IL-27, Th17 cells and CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (Treg) as well as its associated cytokines in peripheral blood of patients with allergic rhinitis (AR). Method: From March 2012 to May, the peripheral blood of 24 cases of AR patients (AR group) and 16 cases of healthy volunteers (control group) was collected, and the percentage of Th17 cells and Treg cells in the peripheral blood was detected by flow cytometry (FCM);the levels of IL-27, IL-17 and IL-10 in serum was detected by ELISA. Result: The percentage of Th17 cells in AR group and the control group was 1.76% ± 0.60% and 0.59% ± 0.17%, respectively. It was higher in AR group than in control group, and the difference between two groups was statistically significant (P 0.05). Conclusion: In the peripheral blood of AR patients there was a reduction of IL-27 level and imbalance of Th17/Treg cell function. IL-27 on Th17/Treg cells adjustment may play an important role on the pathogenesis of the AR.

Th17 Cells and Tregs in HTLV-1 Infection

HTLV-1(human T-lymphotropic virus type 1)causes chronic infection ofhuman T lymphocytes.HTLV-1 infection is known to be related to multiple diseases,including neoplastic growth of HTLV-1-infected T cells(ATL)and neoplastic inflammatory conditions,such as HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis(HAM/TSP),Sjogren's syndrome with arthritis,polymyositis uveitis,and bronchoalveolitis.Regulatory T cells(Tregs)regulate inflammatory cells,such as Th17 cells.The purpose of this study was to evaluate Tregs and Th17 cells,as well as the expression of related transcription factors(ROR-γ1 and FOXP3)and cytokines(IL-10,TGF-β,IL-6,and IL-17A)in HTLV-1 infection.

MSC-derived exosomes attenuate hepatic fibrosis in primary sclerosing cholangitis through inhibition of Th17 differentiation

Primary sclerosing cholangitis(PSC)is an autoimmune cholangiopathy characterized by chronic inflammation of the biliary epithelium and periductal fibrosis,with no curative treatment available,and liver transplantation is inevitable for end-stage patients.Human placentalmesenchymal stem cell(hpMSC)-derived exosomes have demonstrated the ability to prevent fibrosis,inhibit collagen production and possess immunomodulatory properties in autoimmune liver disease.Here,we prepared hpMSC-derived exosomes(Exo^(MSC))and further investigated the anti-fibrotic effects and detailed mechanism on PSC based on Mdr2^(−/−)mice and multicellular organoids established from PSC patients.The results showed that Exo^(MSC) ameliorated liver fibrosis in Mdr2^(−/−)mice with significant collagen reduction in the preductal area where Th17 differentiation was inhibited as demonstrated by RNAseq analysis,and the percentage of CD4+IL-17A+T cells was reduced both in Exo^(MSC)-treated Mdr2^(−/−)mice(Mdr2^(−/−)-Exo)in vivo and Exo^(MSC)-treated Th17 differentiation progressed in vitro.Furthermore,Exo^(MSC) improved the hypersecretory phenotype and intercellular interactions in the hepatic Th17 microenvironment by regulating PERK/CHOP signaling as supported by multicellular organoids.Thus,our data demonstrate the antifibrosis effect of Exo^(MSC) in PSC disease by inhibiting Th17 differentiation,and ameliorating the Th17-induced microenvironment,indicating the promising potential therapeutic role of Exo^(MSC) in liver fibrosis of PSC or Th17-related diseases.

牙周基础治疗对牙周炎伴2型糖尿病患者Treg/Th17细胞平衡及相关细胞因子表达水平的影响

目的探讨牙周基础治疗对牙周炎伴2型糖尿病患者Treg/Th17细胞比例及相关细胞因子表达水平的影响。方法选取2021年1月至2022年6月本院口腔门诊收治的牙周炎伴T2DM患者80例作为研究对象,随机分为A组和B组,每组40例。A组接受牙周基础治疗,B组仅进行口腔卫生宣教。两组患者均接受常规血糖调控治疗。检测比较两组在治疗前、后3个月的牙周临床指数,糖、脂代谢指标,外周血Th17/Treg细胞及血清相关细胞因子表达。结果治疗后3个月,B组患者的牙周状况指标与治疗前相似,而A组患者的牙周状况指标(PI,BI,PD)出现显著下降趋势(P<0.05)。B组患者血清TG、HDL-C、LDL-C、FBG、HbAlc、FINS、HOMA-IR表达水平与治疗前相似,而A组患者血清FBG、TG、HbAlc、FINS、HOMA-IR表达水平明显低于治疗前和B组水平,HDL-C表达水平则明显高于治疗前和B组水平,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。治疗后3个月,A组患者外周血Th17细胞的比例明显下降,Treg细胞比例明显增高,但B组变化不明显,与A组比较,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。治疗后3个月,两组患者血清中TNF-α、IL-17、IL-6表达均呈现下降趋势,A组下降幅度更显著(P<0.05)。结论对T2DM伴牙周炎患者进行牙周基础治疗干预,不仅能明显改善患者糖脂代谢和降低胰岛素抵抗程度,同时能调节Th17/Treg失衡,降低血清中相关炎性因子。

频繁发作慢性阻塞性肺疾病患者Treg/Th17变化及炎症细胞表型特征差异分析

目的探讨频繁发作慢性阻塞性肺疾病(COPD)患者调节性T淋巴细胞(Treg)/T辅助性T细胞17(Th17)变化及炎症细胞表型特征差异。方法选择2021年11月—2024年2月本院收治的80例COPD患者作为研究对象,根据1年内急性加重发作次数将患者分为频繁加重(FE)组(34例)和非频繁发作(iFE)组(46例)两组。比较两组患者临床资料;比较两组患者Treg、Th17细胞百分比和Treg/Th17比值;pearson相关性分析COPD患者Treg、Th17细胞百分比与COPD急性加重频率的关系;比较两组患者炎症细胞表型比例。结果FE组FEV1和FEV1/FVC明显低于iFE组,急性加重频率明显高于iFE组(P<0.05);FE组COPD患者Treg细胞百分比和Treg/Th17比值均明显低于iFE组,Th17细胞百分比则明显高于iFE组(P<0.05);pearson相关性分析,COPD患者Treg细胞百分比和Treg/Th17比值与COPD急性加重频率呈正相关,Th17细胞百分比与COPD急性加重频率呈负相关(P<0.05);FE组COPD患者EC炎症细胞表型比例为44.12%,显著高于iFE组的19.57%(P<0.05)。结论频繁发作COPD患者普遍存在机体Treg和Th17平衡失衡,EC炎症细胞表型患者COPD频繁发作风险更高。

Restoring the Treg cell to Th17 cell ratio may alleviate HBV-related acute-on-chronic liver failure

AIM: To investigate the role of T helper 17 cells (Th17) and regulatory T cells (Treg) in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF).METHODS: We enrolled 79 patients with HBV infection into the study, 50 patients with HBV-related ACLF and 29 patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), from the First Affiliated Hospital of Medical College from January 2009 to June 2012. The ACLF patients were diagnosed according to the criteria recommended by The 19th Conference of the Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver in 2009. Twenty healthy individuals with a similar gender and age structures to the two patient groups were also included as the normal controls (NC). Of the 50 ACLF patients, 28 were subsequently classified as non-survivors: 19 patients died from multiorgan failure, 3 underwent liver transplantation, and 6 discontinued therapy during follow-up because of financial reasons. The remaining 22 ACLF patients whose liver and anticoagulation function recovered to nearly normal levels within the next 6 mo were classified as survivors. The number of circulating Treg and Th17 cells was determined upon diagnosis and during the 8th week of follow-up through flow cytometry. RESULTS: The percentage of circulating Treg cells in the ACLF group was significantly higher than that in the CHB group (5.50% ± 1.15% vs 3.30% ± 1.13%, P < 0.01). The percentages of circulating Th17 cells in the ACLF and the CHB groups were significantly higher than that in the NC group (6.32% ± 2.22% vs 1.56% ± 0.44%, P < 0.01; 3.53% ± 1.65% vs 1.56% ± 0.44%, P < 0.01). No significant difference in Treg cell to Th17 cell ratio was observed between the ACLF group and the CHB group (0.98 ± 0.44 vs 1.12 ± 0.64, P = 0.991), whereas those in the two HBV infection groups were significantly lower than that in the NC group (1.85 ± 1.22; both P < 0.01). The percentage of Treg cells in the survivors during the 8th week of follow-up was significantly lower than that during peak ACLF severity [total bilirubin (TBIL) peak] (3.45% ± 0.97% vs 5.18% ± 1.02%, P < 0.01). The percentage of Th17 cells in survivors during the 8th week of follow-up was significantly lower than that during the peak TBIL (2.89% ±0.60% vs 5.24% ± 1.46%; P < 0.01). The Treg cell to Th17 cell ratio during the 8 th week of follow-up was significantly higher than that during the TBIL peak (1.22 ± 0.36 vs 1.10 ± 0.54; P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Restoring the Treg cell to Th17 cell ratio during the follow-up phase of ACLF could maintain the immune system at a steady state, which favours good prognosis.

Modulating the crosstalk between macrophage and Th17: potential mechanism of natural products on acute lung injury

Sepsis is a life-threatening multiple organ dysfunction syndrome caused by the imbalance of the immune response to infection,featuring complex and variable conditions,and is one of the leading causes of mortality in ICU patients.Lung injury is a common organ damage observed in sepsis patients.Macrophages and Th17 cells,as crucial components of innate and adaptive immunity,play pivotal roles in the development of sepsis-induced acute lung injury(ALI).This review summarizes the alterations and mechanisms of macrophages and Th17 cells in sepsis-induced ALI.By focusing on the“cross-talk”between macrophages and Th17 cells,this review aims to provide a solid theoretical foundation for further exploring the therapeutic targets of traditional Chinese medicine formulas in the treatment of sepsis complicated with ALI,thereby offering insights and guidance for the clinical application of traditional Chinese medicine in managing sepsis-associated ALI.

Faecalibacterium prausnitzii supernatant ameliorates dextran sulfate sodium induced colitis by regulating Th17 cell differentiation

AIM: To explore the preventive and therapeutic effects of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii(F. prausnitzii) supernatant on dextran sulfate sodium(DSS) induced colitis in mice.METHODS: Forty C57BL/6J male mice were randomlydivided into four groups: control group, model group, treatment group, and prevention group. Mice were weighed daily. On day 10, the colon length was measured, the colorectal histopathologic damage score(HDS) was assessed, and plasma interleukin(IL)-17 A, IL-6, and IL-4 levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The expression of transcription factor retinoic acid-related orphan receptor-γt(RORγt) and IL-17 A in colon inflammatory mucosa tissue were determined by immunohistochemical assay, and the expression levels of RORγt m RNA, IL-17 A m RNA, and IL-6 m RNA were detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(PCR). The proportion of Th17 in mononuclear cells in spleen was assayed by fluorescence activated cell sorter. RESULTS: When compared with the model group, the colon length(P < 0.05) and body weight(P < 0.01) in the treatment and prevention groups were significantly increased, and the colon HDS was decreased(P < 0.05 and P < 0.01). There was no statistical difference between the treatment group and prevention group. After treatment with F. prausnitzii supernatant, the plasma levels of IL-17 A and IL-6(P < 0.05), the protein and m RNA expression of IL-17 A and RORγt, and the Th17 cell ratio of spleen cells(P < 0.01) were significantly decreased compared to the model group. Plasma IL-4 level in the prevention group was significantly higher than that in the model group(P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference between these two groups in the expression of IL-6 in both the plasma and colon mucosa tissues.CONCLUSION: F. prausnitzii supernatant exerts protective and therapeutic effects on DSS-induced colitis in mice, probably via inhibition of Th17 differentiation and IL- 17A secretion in the plasma and colon mucosa tissues. It can also improve colitis in mice by downregulating IL-6 and prevent colitis by upregulating IL-4.

Silencing of <i>ERK2</i>with Small Interference RNA Regulates the Expression of CXCL1 in Th17 Cell

Patients with steroid-resistant asthma had their monocyte-derived TH17 cells collected. The expression levels of ERK2 in the TH17 were silenced and inhibited using ERK2 specific small interfering RNA (siRNA). By screening of CXCL1 and IL-17A in the TH17 culture supernatant, the expression levels of ERK2 and CXCL1 were determined. Using targeted siRNA to inhibit ERK2, the expression of ERK2 in the TH17 was reduced. Furthermore, inhibiting ERK2 hindered CXCL1 expression and decreased CXCL1 and IL-17A production. These findings suggest that ERK2 is involved in the synthesis of CXCL1 and IL-17A, two proteins that play a key role in the pathogenesis of hormone-resistant asthma.