Immune function

Ag2 S quantum dots (QDs) show superior optical properties in the NIR-II region and display significant clinical potential with favorable biocompatibility. However, inherent defects of low targeting and poor solubility necessitate practical modification methods to achieve the theranostics of Ag2 S QDs. Herein, we used rolling circle amplification (RCA) techniques to obtain long single-stranded DNA containing the PD-L1 aptamer and C-rich DNA palindromic sequence. The C-rich DNA palindromic sequences can specifically chelate Ag2+ and thus serve as a template to result in biomimetic mineralization and formation of pApt-Ag2 S QDs...

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb), the causative agent of tuberculosis (TB), is a leading global cause of death from infectious disease. Biofilms are increasingly recognized as a relevant growth form during M. tb infection and may impede treatment by enabling bacterial drug and immune tolerance. M. tb has a complicated regulatory network that has been well-characterized for many relevant disease states, including dormancy and hypoxia. However, despite its importance, our knowledge of the genes and pathways involved in biofilm formation is limited...

BACKGROUND: Although there is evidence that ribonucleotide reductase subunit M2 (RRM2) is associated with numerous cancers, pan-cancer analysis has seldom been conducted. This study aimed to explore the potential carcinogenesis of RRM2 in pan-cancer using datasets from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). METHODS: Data from the UCSC Xena database were analyzed to investigate the differential expression of RRM2 across multiple cancer types. Clinical data such as age, race, sex, tumor stage, and status were acquired to analyze the influence of RRM2 on the clinical characteristics of the patients...

This paper mainly addressed the study of the transmission dynamics of infectious diseases and analysed the effect of two different types of viruses simultaneously that cause immunodeficiency in the host. The two infectious diseases that often spread in the populace are HIV and measles. The interaction between measles and HIV can cause severe illness and even fatal patient cases. The effects of the measles virus on the host with HIV infection are studied using a mathematical model and their dynamics. Analysing the dynamics of infectious diseases in communities requires the use of mathematical models...

Natural killer (NK) cells play a crucial role in immunosurveillance independent of antigen presentation, which is regulated by signal balance via activating and inhibitory receptors. The anti-tumor activity of NK cells is largely dependent on signaling from target recognition to cytolytic degranulation; however, the underlying mechanism remains unclear, and NK cell cytotoxicity is readily impaired by tumor cells. Understanding the activation mechanism is necessary to overcome the immune evasion mechanism, which remains an obstacle in immunotherapy...

Meningococcal disease is a life-threatening invasive infection caused by Neisseria meningitidis. Two quadrivalent (serogroups A, C, W, and Y) meningococcal conjugate vaccines (MenACWY) (MenACWY-CRM [Menveo, GSK] and MenACWY-TT [MenQuadfi, Sanofi Pasteur]) and two serogroup B meningococcal vaccines (MenB) (MenB-4C [Bexsero, GSK] and MenB-FHbp [Trumenba, Pfizer Inc.]), are licensed and available in the United States and have been recommended by CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). On October 20, 2023, the Food and Drug Administration approved the use of a pentavalent meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY-TT/MenB-FHbp [Penbraya, Pfizer Inc...

Transposable elements (TEs) are repetitive sequences representing ~45% of the human and mouse genomes and are highly expressed by medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs). In this study, we investigated the role of TEs on T-cell development in the thymus. We performed multiomic analyses of TEs in human and mouse thymic cells to elucidate their role in T-cell development. We report that TE expression in the human thymus is high and shows extensive age- and cell lineage-related variations. TE expression correlates with multiple transcription factors in all cell types of the human thymus...

INTRODUCTION: Autoimmune encephalitis (AE) is a rare, treatable disease of the central nervous system (CNS) caused by an antibody-related immune response. This study is to investigate the correlation of clinical features, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) characteristics, and prognosis in patients with AE. METHODS: A total of 71 patients diagnosed with antibody-positive AE were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into three groups: anti-NMDAR group, anti-LGI1 group, and other types...

Gallbladder Cancer (GBC) is a lethal malignancy with limited treatment options and poor prognosis. Recent studies have emphasized the role of ferroptosis, a regulated form of cell death, in various cancers, including GBC. We applied bioinformatics methodologies on four GBC datasets to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs). An intersection of DEGs from the four datasets with ferroptosis and GBC-associated genes was done to identify key ferroptosis-related genes in GBC. GSVA pathway enrichment analysis and immune cell infiltration assessment were conducted to explore their functional roles and interactions...

OBJECTIVES: The use of hemoadsorption (HA) has become popular in the treatment of vasoplegic states associated with massive cytokine release, including septic shock. However, this approach does not seem to be based on robust evidence, and it does not follow international guidelines. To understand the pathophysiological rationale and timing of HA, we conducted a large animal septic shock experiment. DESIGN: Prospective randomized large-animal peritoneal septic shock experiment...

PURPOSE: Pancreatic cancer is a lethal malignancy with a grim prognosis. Previous studies have proven that Leucine Rich Repeat of Flightless-1 Interacting Protein 1 (LRRFIP1) plays a pivotal role in cell biological processes, while its clinical significance and function in pancreatic cancer remain to be elucidated. Hence, we aimed to explore the roles and mechanisms of LRRFIP1 in pancreatic cancer. METHODS: The expression of LRRFIP1 in pancreatic cancer tissues and its clinical significance for pancreatic cancer were analyzed by immunohistochemistry assay and bioinformatic analysis...

PURPOSE: This study aimed to examine changes in salivary immunoglobulin A (s-IgA) secretion at different intensities or durations of acute exercise. METHODS: Twelve healthy untrained young males were included in randomized crossover trials in Experiment 1 (cycling exercise for 30 min at a work rate equivalent to 35%, 55%, and 75% maximal oxygen uptake [ <mml:math xmlns:mml="https://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mml:mover><mml:mtext>V</mml:mtext> <mml:mo>˙</mml:mo></mml:mover> </mml:math> O2max ]) and Experiment 2 (cycling exercise at 55% <mml:math xmlns:mml="https://www...

Calcium-binding S100A8 and S100A9 proteins play a significant role in various disorders due to their pro-inflammatory functions. Substantially, they are also relevant in neurodegenerative disorders via the delivery of signals for the immune response. However, at the same time, they can aggregate and accelerate the progression of diseases. Natively, S100A8 and S100A9 exist as homo- and heterodimers, but upon aggregation, they form amyloid-like oligomers, fibrils, or amorphous aggregates. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the aggregation propensities of S100A8, S100A9, and their heterodimer calprotectin by investigating aggregation kinetics, secondary structures, and morphologies of the aggregates...

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) can provide survival benefits to cancer patients; however, they sometimes result in the development of renal immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Tubulointerstitial nephritis (TIN) is the most representative pathological feature of renal irAEs. However, the clinicopathological entity and underlying pathogenesis of ICI-induced TIN are unclear. Therefore, we compared the clinical and histological features of this condition with those of non-ICI drug-induced TIN. Age and C-reactive protein levels were significantly higher in ICI-induced TIN, but there were no significant differences in renal function...

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is an immune-mediated inflammatory skin disorder with a multifaceted pathogenesis. Immune dysregulation and immune cell dysfunction are among the mechanisms involved. TEA domain family member 4 (TEAD4) is suggested to play a role in psoriasis development. TEAD4 expression in keratinocytes may have a chemotactic effect and could disturb the function of FOXP3-positive T lymphocytes. This study aimed to evaluate the expressions of TEAD4 and FOXP3 in lesional, nonlesional psoriatic, and healthy skin and assess the clinical impact of their expression...

BACKGROUND: Glioblastoma (GBM) is an extremely aggressive form of brain tumor with low survival rates. Current treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery are problematic due to tumor growth, invasion, and tumor microenvironment. GBM cells are resistant to these standard treatments, and the heterogeneity of the tumor makes it difficult to find a universal approach. Progression of GBM and acquisition of resistance to therapy are due to the complex interplay between tumor cells and the TME...

Allergic asthma is characterized by the polarization of Th2 cells and impaired immune regulation. Macrophages occupy the largest proportion of airway immune cells. This study aims to discover the mechanism that hinders the immune regulatory functions of airway macrophages. In this study, macrophages were isolated from cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (BALF) collected from asthma patients and normal control (NC) subjects. The results indicated that macrophages occupied the largest portion of the cellular components in BALF...

Apoptosis releases numerous apoptotic vesicles that regulate processes such as cell proliferation, immunity, and tissue regeneration and repair. Now, it has also emerged as an attractive candidate for biotherapeutics. However, apoptotic vesicles encompass a diverse range of subtypes, and it remains unclear which specific subtypes play a pivotal role. In this study, we successfully isolated different apoptotic vesicle subtypes based on their sizes and characterized them using NTA and TEM techniques, respectively...

BACKGROUND: Alzheimer's disease (AD) prevalence increases with age, yet a small fraction of the population reaches ages > 100 years without cognitive decline. We studied the genetic factors associated with such resilience against AD. METHODS: Genome-wide association studies identified 86 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with AD risk. We estimated SNP frequency in 2281 AD cases, 3165 age-matched controls, and 346 cognitively healthy centenarians...

Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) signaling is essential for a balanced immune response by mediating the development and function of regulatory T cells (Tregs) and suppressing autoreactive T cells. Disruption of this balance can result in autoimmune diseases, including multiple sclerosis (MS). MicroRNAs (miRNAs) targeting TGF-β signaling have been shown to be upregulated in naïve CD4 T cells in MS patients, resulting in a limited in vitro generation of human Tregs. Utilizing the murine model experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, we show that perinatal administration of miRNAs, which target the TGF-β signaling pathway, enhanced susceptibility to central nervous system (CNS) autoimmunity...