Ancient traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) doctrine says "The superior doctor prevents illnesses," pointing out preventative medicine as the ultimate goal for medical care. TCM recognizes that genetic predisposition and environmental and lifestyle influences contribute to diseases. It divides people into eight constitutions in addition to one normal/healthy kind. People with one of the eight subhealth constitutions are prone to develop different kinds of corresponding illnesses. The goal for this type of categorization is to help people take preemptive measures to prevent or delay disease onset. As the peripheral immune system through surveying the body, it can capture information from essentially all organs and reflect anomalies occurring in each organ. Thus, the detailed profiling of the peripheral immune-system function can generally reflect a person's overall heath state. In this study, we performed the single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from individuals with Tanshi (phlegm dampness) constitution. They were prone to develop metabolic disorders including diabetes. scRNA-seq revealed greatly reduced mucosal-associated invariable T cell content and heightened TNFα-NFκB, JAK-STAT, and interferon signaling. These findings indicated heightened chronic inflammation, as well as increased hypoxia/apoptosis responses, likely resulting from frequent sleep apnea that Tanshi individuals experienced. Altogether, this pilot study demonstrated effectiveness in using scRNA-seq to reveal molecular-immunological bases for constitution categorization, thereby substantiating that preventative medicine originated from TCM.
Humans ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear/metabolism* ; Male ; Female ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Single-Cell Analysis ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Transcriptome ; Single-Cell Gene Expression Analysis

BACKGROUND: Leukocyte telomere length (LTL) shortening, a biomarker of telomere attrition, has been linked to multiple diseases. However, the relationship between LTL and digestive diseases remains uncertain. This study aimed to investigate the association between LTL and the risk of digestive diseases. METHODS: A cohort analysis of over 500,000 participants from the UK Biobank (UKB) between 2006 and 2021 was conducted to estimate the associations of LTL with more than 90 common digestive diseases. LTL was quantified using multiplex quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and cases of each disease were determined according to inpatient and primary care data. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to evaluate the associations of LTL with the risk of digestive diseases. Furthermore, such associations were also evaluated after stratification by sex and ethnicity. RESULTS: After a mean follow-up time of 11.8 years, over 20 International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision ( ICD-10 ) codes were showed to be associated with telomere attrition. LTL shortening is associated with an increased risk of several digestive diseases, including gastroesophageal reflux disease (K21: hazard ratio [HR] = 1.30, 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 1.19-1.42), esophageal ulcer (K221: HR = 1.81, 95% CI: 1.22-2.71), Barrett's esophagus (K227: HR = 1.58, 95% CI: 1.14-2.17), gastritis (K29: HR = 1.39, 95% CI: 1.26-1.52), duodenal ulcer (K26: HR = 1.55, 95% CI: 1.14-2.12), functional dyspepsia (K30X: HR = 1.36, 95% CI: 1.06-1.69), non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) (K760: HR = 1.39, 95% CI: 1.09-1.78), liver cirrhosis (K74: HR = 4.73, 95% CI: 3.27-6.85), cholangitis (K830: HR = 2.55, 95% CI: 1.30-5.00), and hernia (K43: HR = 1.50, 95% CI: 1.17-1.94; K44: HR = 1.29, 95% CI: 1.17-1.42). The risk of rectal polyps (K621: HR = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.63-0.92) decreased per unit shortening of LTL. CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that LTL shortening is associated with an increased risk of most digestive diseases except for rectal polyps. These findings may provide some clues for understanding the pathogenesis of digestive diseases.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Cohort Studies ; Leukocytes/metabolism* ; Telomere/genetics* ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Adult ; Digestive System Diseases/genetics* ; Aged ; Risk Factors ; Telomere Shortening

Objective To explore the alterations in macrophage polarization and the expression of decorin (DCN) protein in the decidua of patients with missed abortion (MA), as well as to elucidate the regulatory effect of DCN on macrophage polarization. Methods Flow cytometry was employed to assess the polarization ratio of decidual macrophages in MA, recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) and normal pregnancy (NP); The expression and localization of DCN and hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) in decidua and villi were assessed by immunohistochemistry staining, while their protein levels were measured by Western blot. Primary trophoblasts and peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC)-derived macrophages were isolated and cultured. ELISA was conducted to quantify DCN levels in the culture supernatant of primary trophoblast and PBMC-derived macrophages. Additionally, flow cytometry was applied to evaluate the polarization ratio of PBMC-derived macrophages. Immunofluorescence cytochemical staining was conducted to examine HIF-1α expression in macrophages. Western blot was performed to detect the expression of proteins related to the gene associated with retinoid-IFN-induced mortality 19 (GRIM-19)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3)/HIF-1α signaling pathway in macrophages. Results The polarization ratio of M1 macrophages in the decidua of abortion patients was significantly higher than that of NP, whereas the ratio of M2 macrophages was significantly lower. The expression of DCN and HIF-1α protein were significantly evaluated in abortion patients compared to NP. The supernatant DCN content and HIF-1α protein expression of primary trophoblast and PBMC-derived macrophages cultured under 10 mL/L O₂ for 24 hours were markedly increased compared to cells treated with 210 mL/L O₂. Compared with the PBS group, the proportion of M1 macrophage and GRIM-19 protein expression were significantly reduced in the DCN group, while phosphorylated STAT3 (p-STAT3) and HIF-1α protein expression were significantly increased. Conclusion The expression of DCN in decidua and villi of MA is higher than that of NP. DCN exhibits an inhibitory effect on the M1 polarization of PBMCs-derived macrophages, which is likely mediated through the GRIM-19/STAT3/HIF-1α signaling pathway.
Humans ; Female ; Decidua/metabolism* ; Macrophages/cytology* ; Decorin/genetics* ; Pregnancy ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit/metabolism* ; Adult ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear/cytology* ; Abortion, Missed/genetics* ; STAT3 Transcription Factor/metabolism* ; Cells, Cultured ; Young Adult

Leukocyte-specific protein 1 (LSP1) is an F-actin binding protein expressed in various leukocytes, including lymphocytes, mononuclear macrophages, and neutrophils. LSP1 is highly conserved across different species. Human LSP1 protein contains 339 amino acids, featuring a Ca²⁺ binding site in the acidic NH2-terminal region and multiple F-actin binding domains along with phosphorylatable sites in the basic COOH-terminal region. Under Ca²⁺ regulation, the COOH-terminal domain of LSP1 binds to F-actin to regulate cell movement and signal transduction. Additionally, LSP1 activates the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway through phosphorylation mediated by protein kinase C (PKC) and MAPK-activated protein kinase-2, thereby regulating leukocyte proliferation and chemotaxis. The main effects of LSP1 on leukocytes are as follows: LSP1 plays important roles in neutrophil and macrophage migration, affecting cell adhesion, polarization and movement. LSP1 also functions in endothelial cells to regulate leukocyte transendothelial migration. In addition, LSP1 regulates macrophage phagocytosis through interaction with myosin 1e. Moreover, LSP1 regulates leukocyte proliferation and differentiation and plays significant roles in the development of leukemia and other tumors. In summary, LSP1 regulates leukocyte morphology, movement and function through interactions with cytoskeletal and signaling proteins. This review provides a comprehensive summary of these aspects.
Humans ; Leukocytes/cytology* ; Animals ; Cytoskeleton/metabolism* ; Microfilament Proteins/physiology* ; Cell Movement ; Signal Transduction

Objective To clarify the mechanism that HIV infection mediates mitochondrial damage of CD4⁺ T lymphocytes (CD4⁺ T cells) through mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. Methods From October 1st, 2022 to March 31st, 2023, 47 HIV-infected people who received antiretroviral therapy (ART) for 4 years were recruited, including 22 immune non-responders (INR) and 25 responders (IR); and 26 sex and age-matched control participants (HC) who were negative for HCV, HBV, and HIV infections. The immune parameters were analyzed by flow cytometry. Finally, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from HC or HIV patients were treated with MAPK pathway inhibitor SB203580, and the changes of mitochondrial function of CD4⁺ T cells were observed. Results Compared with HC group, the proportion of CD4⁺ T cells in PBMCs in INR group and IR group was significantly lower, and the proportion of CD4⁺ T cells in PBMCs in INR group was significantly lower than that in IR group. In addition, the proportion of naive (CD45RA⁺CD27⁺)T cells in PBMCs in INR group was significantly lower than that in HC group and IR group. Compared with HC group and IR group, the proportions of CD4⁺PD-1⁺, CD4⁺Av⁺ and CD4⁺MO⁺ in PBMCs in INR group and the proportions of CD45RA⁺CD27⁺PD-1⁺, CD45RA⁺CD27⁺Av⁺, CD45RA⁺CD27⁺MO⁺ in CD4⁺ T cell subsets increased significant. Compared with HC-con group, the basal respiration, maximal respiration and adenosine triphosphate(ATP) production of CD4⁺ T cells in HIV-con group decreased significantly, and JC-1 (green/red) in CD4⁺ T cells increased significantly. Compared with HIV-con group, the basal respiration, maximal respiration, ATP production and respiratory potential of CD4⁺ T cells in HIV-SB203580 group increased significantly, and the JC-1 (green/red) in CD4⁺ T cells decreased significantly. Conclusion Abnormal activation of the MAPK signaling pathway is observed in HIV patients receiving ART treatment, especially in CD4⁺ T cells of INR patients, which may lead to impaired mitochondrial function and abnormal CD4⁺ T cell homeostasis.
Humans ; HIV Infections/immunology* ; Male ; Mitochondria/drug effects* ; Female ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/metabolism* ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; MAP Kinase Signaling System/drug effects* ; Pyridines/pharmacology* ; Imidazoles/pharmacology* ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear/immunology*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the changes in percentage of GATA3⁺ regulatory T (Treg) cells in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) and mouse models. METHODS: The nasal mucosa specimens were obtained from 6 AR patients and 6 control patients for detection of nasal mucosal inflammation. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were collected from 12 AP patients and 12 control patients to determine the percentages of Treg cells and GATA3⁺ Treg cells. In a C57BL/6 mouse model of AR, the AR symptom score, peripheral blood OVA-sIgE level, and nasal mucosal inflammation were assessed, and the spleen of mice was collected for detecting the percentages of Treg cells and GATA3⁺ Treg cells and the expressions of Th2 cytokines. RESULTS: Compared with the control patients, AR patients showed significantly increased eosinophil infiltration and goblet cell proliferation in the nasal mucosa (P < 0.01) and decreased percentages of Treg cells and GATA3⁺ Treg cells (P < 0.05). The mouse models of AR also had more obvious allergic symptoms, significantly increased OVA-sIgE level in peripheral blood, eosinophil infiltration and goblet cell hyperplasia (P < 0.01), markedly lowered percentages of Treg cells and GATA3⁺ Treg cells in the spleen (P < 0.01), and increased expressions of IL-4, IL-6 and IL-10 (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION The percentage of GATA3⁺ Treg cells is decreased in AR patients and mouse models. GATA3⁺ Treg cells possibly participate in Th2 cell immune response, both of which are involved in the occurrence and progression of AR, suggesting the potential of GATA3⁺ Treg cells as a new therapeutic target for AR.
Animals ; Mice ; Cytokines/metabolism* ; Disease Models, Animal ; GATA3 Transcription Factor ; Inflammation ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear/metabolism* ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Nasal Mucosa/metabolism* ; Ovalbumin ; Rhinitis, Allergic/therapy* ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; Th2 Cells/metabolism* ; Humans

Objective: To investigate the effect of long non-coding RNA urothelial carcinoma-associated 1 (UCA1) gene on the proliferation, migration, apoptosis and immune escape of endometrial cancer cells and its molecular mechanism. Methods: Endometrial cancer tissues and adjacent normal tissues of patients with endometrioid adenocarcinoma who underwent total or partial hysterectomy in Henan Provincial People's Hospital from 2017 to 2019 were collected. The expressions of UCA1 and miR-204-5p were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), and the cell proliferation, migration and apoptosis were detected by cell counting kit 8 (CCK8) method, Transwell method, flow cytometry, and dual-luciferase reporter assay was used to explore the target relationship between UCA1 and miR-204-5p. HEC-1A-sh-NC or HEC-1A-sh-UCA1 cells were co-cultured with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) or cytokine-induced killer cells in vitro to explore the role of UCA1 in immune escape. Results: The expression level of UCA1 in endometrial cancer tissue (17.08±0.84) was higher than that in adjacent normal endometrial tissue (3.00±0.37), and the expression level of miR-204-5p (0.98±0.16) was lower than that in adjacent normal endometrial tissue (2.00±0.20, P<0.05). Pearson correlation analysis showed that the expression of miR-204-5p was negatively correlated with the expression of UCA1 (r=-0.330, P=0.030). The expressions of UCA1 and miR-204-5p were associated with the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage of endometrial cancer, lymph node metastasis and vascular invasion (P<0.05). The relative ratio of absorbance (0.58±0.11) and the number of cell migration [(199.68±18.44)] in the sh-UCA1 group were lower than those in the sh-NC group (1.24±0.17 and 374.76±24.83), respectively. The apoptosis rate of sh-UCA1 group [(28.64±7.80)%] was higher than that of sh-NC group [(14.27±4.38)%, P<0.05]. After different ratios of effector cells and target cells were cultured, the cell survival rate of HEC-1A-sh-UCA1 group was lower than that of HEC-1A-sh-NC group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). UCA1 had a binding site for miR-204-5p. The relative ratio of absorbance (1.74±0.08) and the number of cell migration (426.00±18.00) cells in the UCA1+ anti-miR-204-5p group were higher than those in the control group [1.00±0.03 and (284.00±8.00) cells, respectively]. The apoptosis rate of UCA1+ anti-miR-204-5p group [(5.42±0.93)%] was lower than that of control group [(14.82±1.48)%, P<0.05]. HEC-1A-sh-UCA1 cells could induce higher interferon gamma (IFN-γ) expression when co-cultured with PBMC, and the levels of IFN-γ expression in PHA group and PHA+ pre-miR-204-5p group cells were 2.42±0.49 and 1.88±0.26, which were higher than that in the PHA+ pre-NC group (0.85±0.10, P<0.05). When co-cultured with cytokine-induced killer cells (different ratios) in vitro, the HEC-1A-sh-UCA1 group and the HEC-1A-pre-miR-204-5p group had lower survival rates than that in the HEC-1A-pre-miR-204-5p group. In the HEC-1A-pre-NC group, the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion: UCA1/miR-204-5p may play an important role in human endometrial cancer.
Female ; Humans ; MicroRNAs/metabolism* ; RNA, Long Noncoding/genetics* ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; Carcinoma, Transitional Cell ; Antagomirs ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; Cell Proliferation ; Endometrial Neoplasms/genetics* ; Apoptosis/genetics* ; Cell Movement/genetics* ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic

This study aims to develop a method to detect bovine multi-cytokines based on flow cytometry. Previously we have prepared and screened monoclonal antibodies against bovine cytokines IFN-γ, IL-2, TNF-α, IP-10 and MCP-1. These bovine cytokine monoclonal antibodies were fluorescently labeled, and the combination of antibody and cell surface molecules were used to develop the method for detecting bovine multi-cytokines. Subsequently, the developed method was used to determine the cytokine expression profile of Mycobacterium bovis BCG infected bovine peripheral blood mononuclear cells in vitro, and evaluate the cytokine expression level of peripheral blood CD4⁺ T cells of tuberculosis-positive cattle. The bovine multi-cytokine flow cytometry detection method can effectively determine the cytokine expression of BCG-infected bovine peripheral blood T lymphocytes. Among them, the expression levels of IFN-γ, IL-2, and TNF-α continue to increase after 40 hours of infection, while the expression levels of IP-10 and MCP-1 decreased. The combined detection of IFN-γ, IL-2, and TNF-α on CD4⁺ T lymphocytes in peripheral blood of cattle can effectively distinguish tuberculosis-positive and tuberculosis-negative samples. This method may facilitate evaluating the level of cellular immune response after bovine pathogen infection and vaccine injection.
Cattle ; Animals ; Cytokines ; BCG Vaccine/metabolism* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism* ; Interleukin-2 ; Flow Cytometry/methods* ; Chemokine CXCL10/metabolism* ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/metabolism* ; Tuberculosis ; Antibodies, Monoclonal/metabolism*

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) with ectopic high OCT4 expression on T-cell proliferation, activation and secretion in vitro. METHODS: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated from healthy children. Anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 monoclonal antibodies were used to activate T lymphocytes, which were stimulated by interleukin (IL)-2 for one week in vitro. Then MSCs with ectopic high OCT4 expression (MSC-OCT4) were co-cultured with activated T lymphocytes. After one week of co-culture, the supernatant was collected and the levels of Th1/Th2 cytokines [IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interferon (IFN)-γ] were determined by flow cytometry. The lymphocytes after one week of co-culture were collected and counted by Countstar software. After the proportions of activated/inactivated T cell subsets were determined by flow cytometry, the absolute lymphocyte counts were calculated and expressed as mean ± standard deviation. RESULTS: Compared with control T cell alone culture group, the proliferation of CD3⁺ T cells, CD3⁺CD4⁺ T cells, and CD3⁺CD8⁺ T cells were significantly inhibited in MSC group and MSC-OCT4 group. Compared with MSC, MSC-OCT4 could inhibit CD3⁺CD8⁺ T cell proliferation better (P =0.049), and mainly inhibited early T cell activation. Compared with control T cell alone culture group, the levels of IL-2 and INF-γ were significantly down-regulated both in MSC group and MSC-OCT4 group.After co-culture with T cells for one week, the level of IL-6 significantly increased in MSC group and MSC-OCT4 group compared with that before co-culture. Compared with control MSC group, MSC-OCT4 group had higher viable cell numbers after 1 week of co-culture (P =0.019), and could resist the inhibition of proliferation by higher concentration of mitomycin C. CONCLUSION Both MSC and MSC-OCT4 can inhibit the proliferation and activation of IL-2-stimulated T cells in vitro. After overexpression of OCT4, MSC has better proliferation ability in vitro and can inhibit the proliferation of CD3⁺CD8⁺ T cells more effectively, which may have a better and more lasting immunosuppressive ability to regulate the balance of Th1/Th2.
Child ; Humans ; Bone Marrow Cells ; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/metabolism* ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Interleukin-2 ; Interleukin-6/metabolism* ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear/metabolism* ; Lymphocyte Activation ; Mesenchymal Stem Cells ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of miR-125b on T cell activation in patients with aplastic anemia (AA) and its molecular mechanism. METHODS: A total of 30 AA patients were enrolled in department of hematology, Binzhou Medical University Hospital from January 2018 to October 2021, as well as 15 healthy individuals as healthy control (HC) group. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated, in which the levels of miR-125b and B7-H4 mRNA were detected by RT-qPCR. Immunomagnetic beads were used to separate naive T cells and non-naive T cells from AA patients and healthy people to detect the levels of miR-125b and B7-H4 mRNA. Lentivirus LV-NC inhibitor and LV-miR-125b inhibitor were transfected into cells, and T cell activation was detected by flow cytometry. The dual-luciferase reporter gene assay was used to detect the targetting relationship between miR-125b and B7-H4. RT-qPCR and Western blot were used to detect the levels of miR-125b, CD40L, ICOS, IL-10 mRNA and B7-H4 protein. RESULTS: Compared with HC group, the expression of miR-125b was up-regulated but B7-H4 mRNA was down-regulated in PBMCs of AA patients (P <0.05), and the proportions of CD4⁺CD69⁺ T cells and CD8⁺CD69⁺ T cells in PBMCs of AA patients were higher (P <0.05). The expression of miR-125b was significantly up-regulated but B7-H4 mRNA was down-regulated in both naive T cells and non-naive T cells of AA patients (P <0.05), and non-naive T cells was more significant than naive T cells (P <0.05). Compared with NC inhibitor group, the expression of miR-125b was significantly decreased, the expression level of CD69 on CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells in PBMCs was also significantly decreased, while the luciferase activity was significantly increased after co-transfection of miR-125b inhibitor and B7-H4-3'UTR-WT in the miR-125b inhibitor group (P <0.05). Compared with NC inhibitor group, the mRNA and protein levels of B7-H4 were significantly increased in the miR-125b inhibitor group (P <0.05). Compared with miR-125b inhibitor+shRNA group, the expression levels of CD69 on CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells were significantly increased, and the levels of CD40L, ICOS and IL-10 mRNA were also significantly increased in the miR-125b inhibitor+sh-B7-H4 group (P <0.05). CONCLUSION MiR-125b may promote T cell activation by targetting B7-H4 in AA patients.
Humans ; Anemia, Aplastic/genetics* ; CD40 Ligand/metabolism* ; Interleukin-10 ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear/metabolism* ; Luciferases ; MicroRNAs/genetics* ; RNA, Messenger/metabolism* ; Lymphocyte Activation ; T-Lymphocytes/metabolism*