scholarly journals The position of geochemical variables as causal co-factors of diseases of unknown aetiology

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Theophilus Clavell Davies
Keyword(s):  
Trace Elements ◽  
Immune Responses ◽  
Trace Element ◽  
Unknown Aetiology ◽  
Inborn Errors ◽  
Cellular Immune Responses ◽  
Element Transport ◽  
Toxic Agents ◽  
Cellular Immune ◽  
Geochemical Variables

Abstract The term diseases of unknown aetiology (DUA) or idiopathic diseases refers to diseases that are of uncertain or unknown cause or origin. Among plausible geoenvironmental (co-)factors in causation of DUA, this article focusses on the entry of trace elements, including metals and metalloids into biological systems, and their involvement in humoral and cellular immune responses, representing potentially toxic agents with implications as co-factors for certain DUA. Several trace elements/metals/metalloids (micronutrients) play vital roles as cofactors for essential enzymes and antioxidant molecules, thus, conferring protection against disease. However, inborn errors of trace element/metal/metalloid metabolisms can occur to produce toxicity, such as when there are basic defects in the element transport mechanism. Ultimately, it is the amount of trace element, metal or metalloid that is taken up, its mode of accumulation in human tissues, and related geomedical attributes such as the chemical form and bioavailability that decisively determine whether the exerted effects are toxic or beneficial. Several case descriptions of DUA that are common worldwide are given to illustrate our knowledge so far of how trace element/metal/metalloid interactions in the immune system may engender its dysregulation and be implicated as causal co-factors of DUA.

scholarly journals Relevance of Essential Trace Elements in Nutrition and Drinking Water for Human Health and Autoimmune Disease Risk

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 2074
Author(s):  
Daniela Cannas ◽  
Eleonora Loi ◽  
Matteo Serra ◽  
Davide Firinu ◽  
Paolo Valera ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Trace Elements ◽  
Drinking Water ◽  
Autoimmune Disease ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Cellular Immune Responses ◽  
Toxic Agents ◽  
Essential Trace Elements ◽  
Cellular Immune

Trace elements produce double-edged effects on the lives of animals and particularly of humans. On one hand, these elements represent potentially toxic agents; on the other hand, they are essentially needed to support growth and development and confer protection against disease. Certain trace elements and metals are particularly involved in humoral and cellular immune responses, playing the roles of cofactors for essential enzymes and antioxidant molecules. The amount taken up and the accumulation in human tissues decisively control whether the exerted effects are toxic or beneficial. For these reasons, there is an urgent need to re-consider, harmonize and update current legislative regulations regarding the concentrations of trace elements in food and in drinking water. This review aims to provide information on the interrelation of certain trace elements with risk of autoimmune disease, with a particular focus on type 1 diabetes and multiple sclerosis. In addition, an overview of the current regulations and regulatory gaps is provided in order to highlight the importance of this issue for everyday nutrition and human health.

scholarly journals Induction of Robust and Specific Humoral and Cellular Immune Responses by Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus Virus-Like Particles (BVDV-VLPs) Engineered with Baculovirus Expression Vector System

Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 350
Author(s):  
Zhanhui Wang ◽  
Mengyao Liu ◽  
Haoran Zhao ◽  
Pengpeng Wang ◽  
Wenge Ma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Responses ◽  
Vector System ◽  
Baculovirus Expression Vector System ◽  
Diarrhea Virus ◽  
Viral Diarrhea ◽  
Cellular Immune Responses ◽  
Baculovirus Expression ◽  
Baculovirus Expression Vector ◽  
Cellular Immune ◽  
Viral Diarrhea Virus

Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is an important animal pathogen that affects cattle. Infections caused by the virus have resulted in substantial economic losses and outbreaks of BVDV are reported globally. Virus-like particles (VLPs) are promising vaccine technology largely due to their safety and strong ability to elicit robust immune responses. In this study, we developed a strategy to generate BVDV-VLPs using a baculovirus expression vector system (BEVS). We were able to assemble BVDV-VLPs composed of dimerized viral proteins E2 and Erns, and the VLPs were spherical particles with the diameters of about 50 nm. Mice immunized with 15 μg of VLPs adjuvanted with ISA201 elicited higher levels of E2-specific IgG, IgG1, and IgG2a antibodies as well as higher BVDV-neutralizing activity in comparison with controls. Re-stimulation of the splenocytes collected from mice immunized with VLPs led to significantly increased levels of CD3+CD4+T cells and CD3+CD8+T cells. In addition, the splenocytes showed dramatically enhanced proliferation and the secretion of Th1-associated IFN-γ and Th2-associated IL-4 compared to that of the unstimulated control group. Taken together, our data indicate that BVDV-VLPs efficiently induced BVDV-specific humoral and cellular immune responses in mice, showing a promising potential of developing BVDV-VLP-based vaccines for the prevention of BVDV infections.

scholarly journals Implementation of Adenovirus-Mediated Pulmonary Expression of Human ACE2 in HLA Transgenic Mice Enables Establishment of a COVID-19 Murine Model for Assessment of Immune Responses to SARS-CoV-2 Infection

Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 940
Author(s):  
Theodor Chitlaru ◽  
Erez Bar-Haim ◽  
Liat Bar-On ◽  
Shahar Rotem ◽  
Hila Cohen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transgenic Mice ◽  
Immune Responses ◽  
Post Infection ◽  
High Reproducibility ◽  
Cellular Immune Responses ◽  
Loss Of Weight ◽  
Transient Loss ◽  
Different Strains ◽  
Cellular Immune ◽  
Human Specific

HLA transgenic mice are instrumental for evaluation of human-specific immune responses to viral infection. Mice do not develop COVID-19 upon infection with SARS-CoV-2 due to the strict tropism of the virus to the human ACE2 receptor. The aim of the current study was the implementation of an adenovirus-mediated infection protocol for human ACE2 expression in HLA transgenic mice. Transient pulmonary expression of the human ACE2 receptor in these mice results in their sensitisation to SARS-CoV-2 infection, consequently providing a valuable animal model for COVID-19. Infection results in a transient loss in body weight starting 3 days post-infection, reaching 20–30% loss of weight at day 7 and full recovery at days 11–13 post-infection. The evolution of the disease revealed high reproducibility and very low variability among individual mice. The method was implemented in two different strains of HLA immunized mice. Infected animals developed strong protective humoral and cellular immune responses specific to the viral spike-protein, strictly depending on the adenovirus-mediated human ACE2 expression. Convalescent animals were protected against a subsequent re-infection with SARS-CoV-2, demonstrating that the model may be applied for assessment of efficacy of anti-viral immune responses.

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