Objective To explore the characteristics of the inhibitory effect of Evodiamine on the proliferation of activated T cells. Methods Mononuclear cells from peripheral blood (PBMCs) were obtained from healthy donors through density gradient centrifugation, and T cells were subsequently purified by using immunomagnetic bead separation. T cell activation was induced by employing anti-human CD3 and anti-human CD28 antibodies. T cells were treated with different concentrations of EVO (0.37, 1.11, 3.33, and 10)μmol/L. Flow cytometry was applied to evaluate the proliferation index, apoptosis rate, viability, CD25 expression levels, and cell cycle distribution of T cells. The expression levels of cytokines IL-2, IL-17A, IL-4, and IL-10 were quantified by using ELISA. Results 1.11, 3.33 and 10 μmol/L EVO effectively inhibited the proliferation of activated T cells, with an IC₅₀ of (1.5±0.3)μmol/L. EVO did not induce apoptosis in activated T cells and affect the survival rate of resting T cells. EVO did not affect the expression of CD25 and the secretion of IL-2 in activated T cells. EVO arrested the T cell cycle at the G2/M phase, resulting in an increase in G2/M phase cells, and exhibited a concentration-dependent effect. EVO did not affect the secretion of IL-4, IL-10 by activated T cells, but significantly inhibited the secretion of IL-17A. Conclusion EVO did not significantly affect the activation process of T cells but inhibited T cell proliferation by arresting the cell cycle at the G2/M phase and significantly suppressed the secretion of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-17A, which suggests that EVO has the potential to serve as a lead compound for the development of low-toxicity and high-efficiency immunosuppressants and elucidates the mechanisms underlying the anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects of the traditional Chinese medicine Evodia rutaecarpa.
Humans ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects* ; Quinazolines/pharmacology* ; T-Lymphocytes/metabolism* ; Lymphocyte Activation/drug effects* ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Interleukin-4/metabolism* ; Interleukin-10/metabolism* ; Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit/metabolism* ; Interleukin-17/metabolism* ; Interleukin-2/metabolism* ; Cell Cycle/drug effects* ; Cells, Cultured

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the biological activity and antitumor effect of pegylated recombinant human interleukin 2 (PEG-rhIL-2) obtained by site-specific conjugation of polyethylene glycol (PEG) with non-natural amino acids, and to explore its antitumor mechanism. METHODS: The binding activities of PEG-rhIL-2 at three different sites (T41, Y45, and V91) to human interleukin 2 receptors α (IL-2R_α) and β (IL-2R_β) and were detected by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) technology. Western blot was used to detect the levels of the Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (JAK-STAT5) signaling pathway activated by different doses of rhIL-2 and PEG-rhIL-2 in CTTL-2 and YT cells. Blood was collected after a single administration in mice to detect the drug concentration at different time points and evaluate the pharmacokinetic parameters of Y45-PEG-rhIL-2. Mouse hepatoma cell line Hepa1-6, pancreatic cancer cell line Pan-02, and colon cancer cell line MC-38 were selected. Tumor models were constructed in C57BL/6 mice. Different doses of Y45-PEG-rhIL-2 and excipient control were administrated respectively to evaluate the tumor suppression effect of the drug. In the MC-38 colon cancer model, the tumor suppression effect of Y45-PEG-rhIL-2 combined with anti-programmed death-1 (PD-1) monoclonal antibody was evaluated. Hepa1-6 mouse tumor models were constructed and rhIL-2, Y45-rhIL-2 and Y45-PEG-rhIL-2 were administrated respectively. The proportion of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes was analyzed by flow cytometry. RESULTS: The SPR detection results showed that the binding activities of PEG-rhIL-2 to IL-2R_α/IL-2R_β were both reduced. The affinity of Y45-PEG-rhIL-2 to IL-2R_α was reduced to approximately 1/250, and its affinity to IL-2R_β was reduced to 1/3. Western blot results showed that the activity of Y45-PEG-rhIL-2 in stimulating JAK-STAT5 signaling in CTLL-2 cells expressing heterotrimeric IL-2 receptor complex IL-2R_αβγwas reduced to approximately 1/300, while its activity in YT cells expressing heterodimeric IL-2 receptor complex IL-2R_βγwas reduced to approximately 1/3. The pharmacokinetic evaluation after a single dose in the mice showed that the elimination half-life of Y45-PEG-rhIL-2 was 17.7 h. Y45-PEG-rhIL-2 has pharmacokinetic characteristics superior to those of rhIL-2. Y45-PEG-rhIL-2 showed dose-dependent tumor suppression activity, and the combination of Y45-PEG-rhIL-2 and anti-PD-1 antibody had a better tumor-inhibiting effect than the single use of Y45-PEG-rhIL-2 or anti-PD-1 antibody. Flow cytometry analysis demonstrated that 72 h after the administration of Y45-PEG-rhIL-2, the proportion of tumor-infiltrating cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CD8⁺T cells) increased by 86.84%. At 120 h after administration, the ratio of CD8⁺T cells to regulatory T cells (Treg) increased by 75.10%. CONCLUSION Y45-PEG-rhIL-2 obtained by site-specific conjugation via non-natural amino acids changed its receptor binding activity and inhibited tumor growth in dose-dependent manner in multiple tumor models by regulating CD8⁺T cells.
Interleukin-2/pharmacokinetics* ; Animals ; Mice ; Humans ; Recombinant Proteins/pharmacology* ; Polyethylene Glycols/chemistry* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacokinetics* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; STAT5 Transcription Factor/metabolism* ; Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit/metabolism* ; Interleukin-2 Receptor beta Subunit/metabolism*

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between the expression of peripheral blood HLA-DR, CD4CD25 regulatory T cells, IL-17 and IL-27 with liver damage in children with human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection.

METHODSTwenty-one HCMV children with liver damage and twenty-one HCMV children without liver damage were enrolled in this study. The expression of peripheral blood HLA-DR and CD4CD25 regulatory T cells was detected by flow cytometry. Plasma levels of IL-17 and IL-27 were measured using ELISA.

RESULTSThe plasma levels of IL-17 and IL-27 in children with liver damage were significantly higher than in those without liver damage, while the expression of peripheral blood CD4CD25 regulatory T cells was lower than in those without liver damage (P<0.05). Plasma IL-17 and IL-27 levels were negatively correlated with the expression of peripheral blood CD4CD25 regulatory T cells (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSImmune imbalance mediated by CD4CD25 regulatory T cells and over-expression of IL-17 and IL-27 may be involved in the pathogenesis of liver damage in children with HCMV infection.

CD4 Antigens ; immunology ; Cytomegalovirus ; physiology ; Cytomegalovirus Infections ; blood ; complications ; genetics ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; HLA-DR Antigens ; genetics ; immunology ; Humans ; Infant ; Interleukin-17 ; blood ; genetics ; Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit ; immunology ; Interleukins ; blood ; genetics ; Liver ; injuries ; metabolism ; Liver Diseases ; blood ; etiology ; immunology ; Male ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; immunology

Cell Membrane ; metabolism ; Clathrin ; metabolism ; DNA-(Apurinic or Apyrimidinic Site) Lyase ; metabolism ; Endocytosis ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the CD25 expression in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and its significance.

METHODSClinical data of 168 newly diagnosed AML patients (except APL) were collected. The expression of CD25 in AML patients and its clinical characteristics were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTSThe leukemia cells of 29 out of 168 cases (17.26%) expressed CD25 antigen. Most of CD25 positive AML patients were occurred in patients with unfavourable or normal karyotype, higher WBC and Plt count at diagnosis and higher percentage of blasts in peripheral blood and bone marrow. Compared with CD25(-) AML patients, CD25(+) AML patients had lower CR rate (the CR rate of 1 course of treatment were 49.02% and 16.00%, respectively, P < 0.05, the CR rate of 2 courses of treatment were 74.60% and 46.67%, respectively, P < 0.05), and the OS time of CD25(+) AML patients were obviously shorter (P < 0.05). The OS in CD25(+) AML patients with unfavorable karyotype were not significantly different from that in patients with intermediate karyotype (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe CD25(+) AML patients have some typical clinical features, and the expression of CD25 in AML is an risk factor independent of the chromosome karyotype in terms of low complete remission rate and short survival time.

Bone Marrow ; Humans ; Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit ; genetics ; metabolism ; Karyotype ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; genetics ; metabolism ; Prognosis ; Remission Induction ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUNDTraumatic brain injury (TBI) is a life-threatening disease worldwide. Regulatory T cells (Treg cells) were involved in the immunological system in central nervous system. It is defined as a subpopulation of CD4 + cells that express CD25 and transcription factor forkhead box P3. The level of circulating Treg cells increases in a variety of pathologic conditions. The purpose of this study was to uncover the role of circulating Treg cells in TBI.

METHODSA clinical study was conducted in two neurosurgical intensive care units of Tianjin Medical University General Hospital and Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University (Tianjin, China). Forty patients and 30 healthy controls were recruited from August 2013 to November 2013. Circulating Treg cells was detected on the follow-up period of 1, 4, 7, 14, and 21 days after TBI. Blood sample (1 ml) was withdrawn in the morning and processed within 2 h.

RESULTSThere was no significant difference in the level of circulating Treg cells between TBI patients and normal controls during follow-up. TBI patients exhibited higher circulating Treg level than normal controls on the 1 st day after TBI. Treg level was decreased on the 4 th day, climbed up on the 7 th day and peaked on 14 th day after TBI. Treg cells declined to the normal level on 21 th day after TBI. The level of circulating Treg cells was significantly higher in survival TBI patients when compared to nonsurvival TBI patients. TBI patients with improved conditions exhibited significantly higher circulating Treg level when compared to those with deteriorated conditions. The circulating Treg level was correlated with neurologic recovery after TBI. A better neural recovery and lower hospital mortality were found in TBI patients with circulating Treg cells more than 4.91% in total CD4 + mononuclear cells as compared to those with circulating Treg cells less than 4.91% in total CD4 + mononuclear cells in the first 14 days.

CONCLUSIONSThe level of circulating Treg cells is positively correlated with clinical outcome of TBI. The level of Treg cells predicts the progress for TBI patients and may be a target in TBI treatment.

Adult ; Brain Injuries ; immunology ; CD4 Antigens ; metabolism ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Forkhead Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; Humans ; Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDSystemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease that has three major components: inflammation, fibrosis, and vasculopathy. T-helper 17 cell (Th17) and regulatory T cell (Treg) are considered to be critical for autoimmune disease pathogenesis. The role of Th17 and Treg in SSc is still unclear. The aim of this study was to detect the presence of Th17s and CD4(+)CD25(+) Tregs in peripheral blood samples from SSc patients and to investigate the possible roles of these two T cell subsets in SSc pathogenesis.

METHODSTh17s (CD4 and IL-17 positive) and CD4(+)CD25(+) Tregs (CD4, CD25 and Foxp3 positive) in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 53 SSc patients and 27 healthy controls were counted by flow cytometry. The differences between SSc and control patients were analyzed. Clinical parameters, including disease duration, duration of the second symptoms, Modified Rodnan Skin Score (MRSS), anti-topoisomerase I antibody, anti-U1 ribonucleoprotein (RNP) antibody, systemic involvements, pulmonary function test (PFT) and high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) score were prospectively collected following EUSTAR (EULAR scleroderma trial and research group) protocols. The correlations between the experimental and clinical data were investigated.

RESULTSThe ratio of Th17 in SSc patients was significantly elevated compared to healthy controls (8.74% vs. 4.41%, P < 0.001). The amount of Th17 was positively correlated with disease duration (R = 0.531, P = 0.013) and duration of the second symptoms (R = 0.505, P = 0.023). The ratio of CD4(+)CD25(+) Treg in SSc patients also significantly differed from the healthy controls (3.04% vs. 2.24%, P = 0.018). Elevated Tregs were more frequently observed in patients with a high interstitial lung disease (ILD) score on computed tomography (24/36) compared with patients with normal ILD scores (4/12, P = 0.043). Elevated Tregs were also more often observed in patients with low carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (DLCO) (24/34) compared with patients with normal DLCO (4/11, P = 0.042).

CONCLUSIONST cell abnormalities are remarkable in systemic sclerosis. Th17s proliferate and their numbers increase with lengthened disease duration. Th17s might participate in both inflammation and fibrosis by secreting IL-17. CD4(+)CD25(+) Tregs also proliferate in SSc and may play important roles in promoting fibrosis.

CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit ; metabolism ; Scleroderma, Systemic ; immunology ; metabolism ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; immunology ; metabolism ; Th17 Cells ; metabolism

This study was purposed to investigate the relation of CD25 with the acute B cell lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) and its clinical significance. A totol of 88 newly diagnosed B-ALL patients were enrolled in this study. The immunophenotype of leukemic myeloblasts were detected by flow cytometry, including interleukin 2 receptor &alpha; chain (CD25), β chain (CD122), γ chain (CD132), CD19, CD20, CD10, CD34, CDIgM, CD79a, CD22 and CDTDT. The expression of BCR/ABL fusion gene was detected by qualitative PCR. The expression of IL2RA (CD25 gene) was detected by real-time qualitative RT-PCR. The results showed that there was no significant statistical difference in WBC count, Hb level, PLT count, marrow blast rate, peripheral blast rate, hepato-lienal infiltration, lymph node infiltration, levels of CD10, CD20, CD22, CD34, CD79a, CDTDT, CDIgM expression between B-ALL patients with CD25(+) and B-ALL patients with CD25(-), while the CD19 expression level in B-ALL patients with CD25(+) was higher than that in B-ALL patients with CD25(-). Out of 88 B-ALL patients, 21 patients showed BCR/ABL(+)(21/88) and their CD25(+) expression level was 66.7% (14/21); 67 patients showed BCR/ABL(-) and their CD25(+) expression level was 4.5% (3/67), there was statistical difference between these two groups (P < 0.05), but the expression level of IL2RA mRNA was not statistical different between CD25(+) and CD25(-) groups (P > 0.05). Among 21 BCR/ABL(+) B-ALL patients the remission rate and relapsed rate were not statistical different between CD25(+) an CD25(-) groups.In BCR/ABL(+) B-ALL patients 8 patients relapsed, the relapsed rate was 38.1% (8/21). In BCR/ABL(-) B-ALL patients 9 patients relapsed, the relapse rate was 13.4% (9/67), there was statistical difference between BCR/ABL(+) and BCR/ABL(-) two groups (P < 0.05). In BCR/ABL(+) group the RFS (relapse free survival) was 21 months, in BCR/ABL(+) CD25(+) patients the RFS was 15 months, while in BCR/ABL(+) CD25(-) patients the RFS was 21 months, in BCR/ABL(-) CD25(-) patients, the RFS was 24 months. It is concluded that the CD25 expresses at high level in B-ALL patients with BCR/ABL(+), which may serve as a predictive marker for the presence of BCR/ABL fusion gene, and relates with relapse, CD25(+) may serve as a adjuvant indicator for poor prognosis.
Acute Disease ; Bone Marrow Cells ; metabolism ; pathology ; Flow Cytometry ; Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl ; metabolism ; Humans ; Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit ; metabolism ; Leukemia, B-Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics

This study investigated the effect of arctigenin (Arc) on the cell activation, cytokines expression, proliferation, and cell-cycle distribution of mouse T lymphocytes. Mouse lymphocytes were prepared from lymph node and treated with Phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA)/Ionimycin (Ion) and/or Arc. CD69, CD25, cytokines, proliferation and cell cycle were assayed by flow cytometry. The results showed that, at concentrations of less than 1.00 micromol x L(-1), Arc expressed non-obvious cell damage to cultured lymphocytes, however, it could significantly down-regulate the expression of CD69 and CD25, as well as TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6 and IL-10 on PMA/Ion stimulated lymphocytes. At the same time, Arc could also inhibit the proliferation of PMA/Ion-activated lymphocytes and exhibited lymphocyte G 0/G1 phase cycle arrest. These results suggest that Arc possesses significant anti-inflammatory effects that may be mediated through the regulation of cell activation, cytokines expression and cell proliferation.
Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Antigens, CD ; metabolism ; Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte ; metabolism ; Arctium ; chemistry ; Cell Cycle Checkpoints ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Female ; Furans ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Interferon-gamma ; metabolism ; Interleukin-10 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-2 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit ; metabolism ; Interleukin-4 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-6 ; metabolism ; Ionomycin ; pharmacology ; Lectins, C-Type ; metabolism ; Lignans ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Lymphocyte Activation ; drug effects ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; T-Lymphocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; immunology ; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate ; pharmacology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of TLR2, TLR9, CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells (Treg) and transcription factor FoxP3 in the pathogenesis of children with infectious mononucleosis (IM). Thirty-five acute IM patients admitted in our hospital from April 2010 to January 2011 were enrolled in this study. Thirty-five healthy subjects were taken as control. The thirty-five patients before treatment were considered as patients in acute stage, after treatment and without clinical symptom they were thought as patients in recovery stage. The expression levels of TLR2, TLR9 and FoxP3 mRNA were detected by real time PCR using SYBR Green I. The expression of T lymphocyte subset CD4(+)CD25(+) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells was detected by flow cytometry. The results showed that the relative levels of TLR2 mRNA (4.03 ± 0.56), TLR9 mRNA (8.88 ± 1.56) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of IM patients in acute stage were significantly higher than those of the controls [TLR2 mRNA (2.22 ± 0.57), TLR9 mRNA (3.63 ± 1.30)] and IM patients in recovery stage [TLR2 mRNA (2.76 ± 0.83), TLR9 mRNA (5.34 ± 1.60)] (P < 0.01). The result of CD4(+)CD25(+) (2.38 ± 1.32%) and relative level of FoxP3 mRNA(2.82 ± 0.90) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of IM patients in acute stage were lower than those of the control [CD4(+)CD25(+) (7.85 ± 1.97%), FoxP3 mRNA (4.65 ± 1.23) ] (P < 0.01). There was no significant difference in CD4(+)CD25(+) (6.81 ± 1.84%), FoxP3 mRNA(4.11 ± 1.37) levels between IM patients in recovery stage and the controls (P > 0.05). It is concluded that the expression of CD4(+)CD25(+)regulatory T cells is reduced, and its special transcription factor FoxP3 mRNA is down-regulated, but expression levels of TLR2 mRNA, TLR9 mRNA are up-regulated in IM patients of acute stage.
Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Forkhead Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; Humans ; Infectious Mononucleosis ; diagnosis ; immunology ; metabolism ; Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit ; metabolism ; Male ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; immunology ; metabolism ; Toll-Like Receptor 2 ; metabolism ; Toll-Like Receptor 9 ; metabolism