Project description:BackgroundImmune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an immune-mediated disease caused by autoantibodies against platelets membrane glycoproteins GPIIb/IIIa and GPIb/IX. The etiology of ITP remains unclear. This study evaluated the association of polymorphisms in interleukin (IL)-1B-31, IL-1B-511, and IL-1Ra with ITP.MethodsGenotyping of IL-1B-31, IL-1B-511, and IL-1Ra was performed in 118 ITP patients and 100 controls by polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism and detection of variable number tandem repeats.ResultsGenotype differences in IL-1B-31 and IL-1Ra were significantly associated with ITP. Patients showed a higher frequency of the IL-1B-31 variant allele (T) and a 1.52-fold greater risk of susceptibility to ITP (odds ratio [OR]=1.52, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.04-2.22, P=0.034). The frequencies of both homozygous and heterozygous variant genotypes of IL-1B-31 were higher (OR=2.33, 95% CI=1.069-5.09, P=0.033 and OR=2.044, 95% CI=1.068-39, P=0.034) among patients and were significantly associated with ITP susceptibility. Both homozygous and heterozygous variant genotypes of IL-1Ra were also more frequent (OR=4.48, 95% CI=1.17-17.05, P=0.0230 and OR=1.80, 95% CI=1.03-3.14, P=0.0494) among patients and were associated with ITP risk. IL-1B-31 and IL-1Ra also showed significant association with severe ITP. However, IL-1B-511 was not associated with ITP.ConclusionIL-1B-31 and IL-1Ra polymorphisms may significantly impact ITP risk, and they could be associated with disease severity, which may contribute to the pathogenesis of ITP.
Project description:Dendritic cell (DC)-derived IL-1?/? plays a critical role in the induction of T helper type 1 (Th1)-dependent immunity against Leishmania. DCs from susceptible BALB/c mice produce less IL-1?/? when compared with resistant C57BL/6 mice, contributing to aberrant Th2 development and ultimate death of infected mice. We have extended our studies of the role of IL-1 in leishmaniasis using IL-1RA(-/-) BALB/c mice that are characterized by upregulated IL-1 receptor signaling. Unexpectedly, infection of IL-1RA(-/-) mice led to significantly worsened disease outcome with larger lesions, dramatically higher parasite burdens, and decreased IFN-? production by antigen-specific T cells. We determined that IL-1RA(-/-) DCs were more mature already in the steady state, exhibited less phagocytotic capacity, and IL-12 production in response to various stimuli was impaired. Our data suggest that in addition to effects on Th education, IL-1?/? signaling also modulates DC homeostasis with increased signaling, leading to downmodulation of IL-12 synthesis and worsened disease outcome after infection with Leishmania major. Thus, the complex regulation of various members of the IL-1 cytokine family mediated through effects on both DCs and T cells critically contributes to disease outcome against this important human pathogen.
Project description:BACKGROUND:Interleukin 31 (IL-31) is a T helper type 2 effector cytokine that plays an important role in the pathogenesis of atopic and allergic diseases. IL-31 may be involved in promoting allergic inflammation and in inducing airway epithelial responses such as allergic asthma. METHODS:Single-base extension analysis was used to detect the genotypes of IL-31 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), and we compared the genotype and allele frequencies of the IL-31 SNPs between patients with asthma and healthy controls. RESULTS:There were no significant differences in the genotype and allele frequencies of the IL-31 SNPs between patients with asthma and healthy controls. Furthermore we compared the genotype and allele frequencies of IL-31 SNPs between patients with atopic asthma, those with non-atopic asthma and healthy controls. This showed that the SNPs were not associated with the susceptibility to atopic asthma. There were no significant differences in the haplotype frequencies of IL-31 SNPs between patients with asthma and healthy controls. In patients with asthma, the IL-31 SNPs were significantly correlated with total serum levels of IgE (p=0.035). CONCLUSIONS:Our results indicate that, the IL-31 SNPs may be associated with IgE production in patients with asthma.
Project description:Several allergic and immunologic diseases including asthma, food allergy (FA), chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), atopic dermatitis (AD), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), systemic sclerosis (SSc), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and Behçet's disease (BD) are characterized by the involvement of Th2 immunity. Several mediators lead to immunoglobulin (Ig)E production, thus including key cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, and IL-13. Among them, IL-31 and IL-33 have been recently studied as novel biomarkers and future therapeutic targets for allergic and immunological disorders. IL-31 is a proinflammatory cytokine-it regulates cell proliferation and is involved in tissue remodeling. IL-33, acting through its receptor suppression of tumorigenity (ST2L), is an alarmin cytokine from the IL-1 family, whose expression is mediated by tissue damage. The latter has a pleiotropic effect, as it may modulate specific and innate immune cells functions. To date, several researchers have investigated the involvement of IL-31 and IL-33 in several allergic and immune-mediated diseases. Further studies are needed to understand the future applications of these molecules as novel therapeutic agents. This paper aims to give the readers a complete and updated review of IL-31 and IL-33 involvement among the most common autoimmune and allergic disorders.
Project description:Severe asthma with fungal sensitization (SAFS) defines a subset of human asthmatics with allergy to 1 or more fungal species and difficult-to-control asthma. We have previously reported that human asthmatics sensitized to fungi have worse lung function and a higher degree of atopy, which was associated with higher IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA) levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. IL-1RA further demonstrated a significant negative association with bronchial hyperresponsiveness to methacholine. Here, we show that IL-1α and IL-1β are elevated in both bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and sputum from human asthmatics sensitized to fungi, implicating an association with IL-1α, IL-1β, or IL-1RA in fungal asthma severity. In an experimental model of fungal-associated allergic airway inflammation, we demonstrate that IL-1R1 signaling promotes type 1 (IFN-γ, CXCL9, CXCL10) and type 17 (IL-17A, IL-22) responses that were associated with neutrophilic inflammation and increased airway hyperreactivity. Each of these were exacerbated in the absence of IL-1RA. Administration of human recombinant IL-1RA (Kineret/anakinra) during fungal-associated allergic airway inflammation improved airway hyperreactivity and lowered type 1 and type 17 responses. Taken together, these data suggest that IL-1R1 signaling contributes to fungal asthma severity via immunopathogenic type 1 and type 17 responses and can be targeted for improving allergic asthma severity.
Project description:Interleukins (ILs) are key mediators of the immune response and inflammatory process. Plasma levels of IL-10, IL-1Ra, and IL-6 are associated with metabolic conditions, show large inter-individual variations, and are under strong genetic control. Therefore, elucidation of the genetic variants that influence levels of these ILs provides useful insights into mechanisms of immune response and pathogenesis of diseases. We conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of IL-10, IL-1Ra, and IL-6 levels in 707 non-diabetic African Americans using 5,396,780 imputed and directly genotyped single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with adjustment for gender, age, and body mass index. IL-10 levels showed genome-wide significant associations (p < 5 × 10(-8)) with eight SNPs, the most significant of which was rs5743185 in the PMS1 gene (p = 2.30 × 10(-10)). We tested replication of SNPs that showed genome-wide significance in 425 non-diabetic individuals from West Africa, and successfully replicated rs17365948 in the YWHAZ gene (p = 0.02). IL-1Ra levels showed suggestive associations with two SNPs in the ASB3 gene (p = 2.55 × 10(-7)), ten SNPs in the IL-1 gene family (IL1F5, IL1F8, IL1F10, and IL1Ra, p = 1.04 × 10(-6) to 1.75 × 10(-6)), and 23 SNPs near the IL1A gene (p = 1.22 × 10(-6) to 1.63 × 10(-6)). We also successfully replicated rs4251961 (p = 0.009); this SNP was reported to be associated with IL-1Ra levels in a candidate gene study of Europeans. IL-6 levels showed genome-wide significant association with one SNP (RP11-314E23.1; chr6:133397598; p = 8.63 × 10(-9)). To our knowledge, this is the first GWAS on IL-10, IL-1Ra, and IL-6 levels. Follow-up of these findings may provide valuable insight into the pathobiology of IL actions and dysregulations in inflammation and human diseases.
Project description:Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common neurologic impairment caused by injury on the median nerve in the wrist, characterized by pain and loss of sensory. CTS usually occurs through three factors, such as a mechanical pressure on median nerve, immunologic changes, and oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) I/D polymorphisms on the susceptibility of patients to the CTS. One hundred fifty-eight patients with CTS and 151 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. Each patient was analyzed according to diseases symptoms, such as gender, a positive Tinel's sign, a positive Phalen maneuver, disease sides, EMG findings, and clinical stage. We applied the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to determine the polymorphisms of IL-1Ra and ACE I/D. The statistically significant relation was not found between IL-1Ra, ACE I/D polymorphisms and CTS (respectively, P>.05; P>.05, OR: 1.51, CI: 0.82-1.61). Additionally, in the result of the statistical analysis compared with gene polymorphisms and clinical characteristics, we did not find any correlation (P>.05). Our findings showed that there are no associations of IL-1Ra and ACE I/D polymorphisms with susceptibility of a person for the development of CTS. So, it means that these polymorphisms do not create a risk for the development of CTS. Further studies with larger populations will be required to confirm these findings in different study populations.
Project description:BACKGROUND This study aimed to analyze and explore the relationship between the cytokines IL-4 and IL-10 in relation to gene polymorphism and their respective effects on the susceptibility to virus-induced encephalitis. MATERIAL AND METHODS From January 2012 to June 2013, 112 patients with virus-induced encephalitis (the case group and 109 healthy individuals (the control group) were recruited for the purposes of this study. The functional variations that IL-4 and IL-10 genes exhibit were detected through the use of a function analysis and selection tool for single-nucleotide polymorphisms (FASTSNP). The genotypes of IL-4 were rs2227283 and IL-4 rs2227288, and the genotypes of IL-10 were rs1800871 and IL-10 rs1800872. These genotypes were respectively assessed using direct sequencing. RESULTS IL-4 rs2227283 and IL-10 rs1800871 have no correlation in with risk of virus-induced encephalitis (both P>0.05) GA and AA genotypes were related to IL-4 rs2227288 and GT, while TT and GT + TT genotypes were related to IL-10 rs1800872. These were highlighted as being risk factors in virus-induced encephalitis (all P<0.05). However, the duration of fever, white blood cell (WBC) count, C-reactive protein (CRP), neutrophils, and lymphocytes and monocytes of virus-induced encephalitis patients with IL-4 rs2227288 and IL-10 rs1800872 all displayed significant differences (all P<0.05). Frequencies of GAGT and CAGT haplotypes were evaluated and deemed to be of statistical significance and subsequently were highlighted as being risk factors in virus-induced encephalitis (all P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS IL-4 rs2227288 and IL-10 rs1800872 may contribute to an increased risk for virus-induced encephalitis. Through use of direct sequencing, we showed that genotypes of IL-4 rs2227288 and IL-10 rs1800872 may have particular host susceptibility to virus-induced encephalitis.
Project description:The mouse strain BALB/c deficient in IL-1 receptor antagonist protein (Il-1ra) develops spontaneous arthritis disease (SAD) while the strain DBA/1 IL1rn (-/-) with the same deficiency does not. Previously, we mapped a QTL on chromosome 1 for SAD and then developed a congenic mouse strain BALB.D1-1(-/-) that contains the QTL genomic fragment associated with resistance from DBA/1(-/-) on a BALB/c(-/-) background. The congenic strain was relatively resistant to spontaneous arthritis and had delayed onset and reduced severity of disease. We obtained whole genome expression profiles from the spleen of the congenic strain BALB.D1-1(-/-) and four other strains, the wild type BALB/c, DBA/1 and the deficient DBA/1 IL1rn (-/-) and the BALB/c IL1rn (-/-). We then compared the similarities and differences between the congenic strain and the four parental strains. Here we report the selected potential causal genes based on differential expression levels as well as function of genes.There is a considerable number of genes that are differentially expressed between the congenic strain and the three parental strains, BALB/c, DBA/1, and DBA/1(-/-). However there only a few differentially expressed genes were identified by comparing the congenic strain and the BALB/c(-/-)strain. These differentially expressed genes are mainly from T-cell receptor beta chain (Tcrb) and interferon-activatable protein (Ifi) genes. These genes are also differentially expressed between congenic strain and BALB/c strains. However, their expression levels in the congenic strain are similar to that in DBA/1 and DBA/1(-/-). The expression level of Tcrb-j gene is positively associated with two genes of Ifi gene 200 cluster.Decreased expression levels of Ifi genes is associated to the increased resistance to spontaneous arthritis disease and with down regulation of expressions of Tcrb genes in the mouse congenic strain. Ifi genes may play an important role in the susceptibility to SAD in mice.
Project description:Interleukin-31, produced mainly by activated CD4(+) T cells, is a newly discovered member of the gp130/IL-6 cytokine family. Unlike all the other family members, IL-31 does not engage gp130. Its receptor heterodimer consists of a unique gp130-like receptor chain IL-31RA, and the receptor subunit OSMRbeta that is shared with another family member oncostatin M (OSM). Binding of IL-31 to its receptor activates Jak/STAT, PI3K/AKT and MAPK pathways. IL-31 acts on a broad range of immune- and non-immune cells and therefore possesses potential pleiotropic physiological functions, including regulating hematopoiesis and immune response, causing inflammatory bowel disease, airway hypersensitivity and dermatitis. This review summarizes the recent findings on the biological characterization and physiological roles of IL-31 and its receptors.