Echinacea purpurea Alleviates Cyclophosphamide-Induced Immunosuppression in Mice

Echinacea purpurea (EP) has been widely used to treat upper respiratory infections, influenza, and the common cold. It can also exert various pharmacological activities, such as anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects. However, the potential of EP to modulate immune reactions remains unclear. Therefore, we evaluated the immunostimulatory effects of EP in cyclophosphamide (CP)-induced immunosuppressed mice. In this study, EP extract (12.5, 25, or 50 mg/kg) was orally administered to cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppressed BALB/c mice. Then, indexes of immune organs, including the spleen and thymus, were recorded. Splenocyte proliferation and natural killer (NK) cell activities were measured by lactate dehydrogenase assay. Subsets of T cells, such as CD4+ and CD8+, were measured by flow cytometry, and immuno-cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-2, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and interferon (IFN)-γ, were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and real-time polymerase chain reaction. The immunosuppressed mice showed decreased thymus and spleen indexes and immune cell activities. Treatment of EP elevated the indexes of immune organs, splenocyte proliferation, and NK cell activities in CP-induced immunosuppressed mice. Simultaneously, administration of EP reversed the CP-induced decrease in T-lymphocyte subsets (CD4+ and CD8+) and immunocytokines (IL-2, TNF-α, and IFN-γ). Taken together, these findings suggest that EP could be used to enhance health and immunity in immunosuppressed conditions.

Age-dependent normalisation functions for T-lymphocytes in healthy individuals

Lymphocyte numbers naturally change through age. Normalisation functions to account for this are sparse, and mostly disregard measurements from children in which these changes are most prominent. In this study, we analyse cross-sectional numbers of mainly T-lymphocytes (CD3+, CD3+CD4+ and CD3+CD8+) and their subpopulations (naive and memory) from 673 healthy Dutch individuals ranging from infancy to adulthood (0-62 years). We fitted the data by a delayed exponential function and received parameter estimates for each lymphocyte subset. Our modelling approach follows general laboratory measurement procedures in which absolute cell counts of T-lymphocyte subsets are calculated from observed percentages within a reference population that is truly counted (typically the total lymphocyte count). Consequently, we receive one set of parameter estimates per T-cell subset representing both the trajectories of their counts and percentages. We allow for an initial time delay of half a year before the total lymphocyte counts per µl of blood start to change exponentially, and we find that T-lymphocyte trajectories tend to increase during the first half a year of life. Thus, our study provides functions describing the general trajectories of T-lymphocyte counts and percentages of the Dutch population. These functions provide important references to study T-lymphocyte dynamics in disease, and allow one to quantify losses and gains in longitudinal data, such as the CD4+ T-cell decline in HIV-infected children, and/or the rate of T-cell recovery after the onset of treatment.

Reference ranges of T lymphocyte subsets by single-platform among healthy population in southwest China

Background Appropriate reference ranges of T lymphocyte subsets are essential for immune status evaluation of patients with immunological diseases. We aim to establish the age- and sex-related reference intervals of T lymphocyte subsets by single-platform for the southwest China population using the indirect method with the data resulting from 53,822 cases of periodic health examination individuals in the Laboratory Information System (LIS) of West China Hospital from 2018 to 2020. Methods We used the Box-Cox conversion combined with the Tukey method to normalize the data and eliminate the outliers, and the nonparametric method to estimate the 95% distribution reference intervals. Results We initially established the reference ranges of T lymphocyte subsets by single-platform among healthy population in southwest China by indirect method (See text for details). Using the standard normal deviate test (z-test) suggested by Harris and Boyd according to CLSI EP28-A3C, which is more scientific, we found the reference ranges of T lymphocyte subsets should be differentiated by ages and genders since the reference ranges of T lymphocyte subsets by single-platform in different ages and genders are significantly different. Conclusions We further demonstrated the absolute count of CD3 + T cell, CD3 + CD4 + T cell, CD3 + CD8 + T cell decreased with aging, which is more marked in men and CD3 + CD8 + T cell count, and the obtained reference intervals were superior to the reference intervals derived from the reagent specification currently in use.

A Selective Neutraligand for CXCL12/SDF-1α With Beneficial Regulatory Functions in MRL/Lpr Lupus Prone Mice

Dysregulation of CXCL12/SDF-1-CXCR4/CD184 signaling is associated with inflammatory diseases and notably with systemic lupus erythematosus. Issued from the lead molecule chalcone-4, the first neutraligand of the CXCL12 chemokine, LIT-927 was recently described as a potent analogue with improved solubility and stability. We aimed to investigate the capacity of LIT-927 to correct immune alterations in lupus-prone MRL/lpr mice and to explore the mechanism of action implemented by this small molecule in this model. We found that in contrast to AMD3100, an antagonist of CXCR4 and agonist of CXCR7, LIT-927 reduces the excessive number of several B/T lymphocyte subsets occurring in the blood of sick MRL/lpr mice (including CD3+/CD4-/CD8-/B220+ double negative T cells). In vitro, LIT-927 downregulated the overexpression of several activation markers on splenic MRL/lpr lymphocytes. It exerted effects on the CXCR4 pathway in MRL/lpr CD4+ T spleen cells. The results underline the importance of the CXCL12/CXCR4 axis in lupus pathophysiology. They indicate that neutralizing CXCL12 by the neutraligand LIT-927 can attenuate hyperactive lymphocytes in lupus. This mode of intervention might represent a novel strategy to control a common pathophysiological mechanism occurring in inflammatory diseases.

Effect of Rapid Rehabilitation Concepts on Quality of Life and Pain in Patients Undergoing Radical Breast Cancer Surgery in Perioperative Period

To study the effect of rapid rehabilitation nursing on patients’ quality of life and pain level during the perioperative period of radical breast cancer surgery. Methods: 126 patients who were hospitalized in our hospital from January 2018 to February 2020 and underwent radical breast cancer surgery were divided into control group and rapid rehabilitation group according to the perioperative period intervention method. Routine nursing intervention and rapid rehabilitation nursing intervention were used respectively. The general conditions of the two groups were recorded, and the differences of T cell subsets before operation and 3 days after operation were detected. Visual analogue pain (VAS) score was used to evaluate the changes of pain degree at 1 day, 3 days and 5 days after operation and on the day of discharge. Postoperative complications and satisfaction were compared between the two groups. Quality of life (QOL) was assessed at 1 month and 3 months after operation using the CARES-SF score. Results: Anesthesia waking time (26.12 ± 5.77) min, off-bed activity time (14.25 ± 2.87) h and hospital stay (7.82 ± 2.15) d in the rapid rehabilitation group were shorter than those in the control group (P < 0.05). The operation time (92.02 ± 14.78) min and intraoperative blood loss (57.96 ± 13.96) mL in the rapid rehabilitation group were not significantly different from those in the control group (P > 0.05). In the control group, 3d after operation, T lymphocyte subsets were decreased gradually than that before operation (P < 0.05), CD3+ was decreased 3d after operation than that before operation in the rapid rehabilitation group (P < 0.05), but CD4+, CD8+, CD4+ / CD8 + 3d after operation had no significant difference than that before operation (P > 0.05). In rapid rehabilitation group, T lymphocyte subsets at 3d after operation were higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05). The postoperative complication rate of the rapid rehabilitation group was lower than that of the control group, and the satisfaction degree was higher than that of the control group, with significant difference (P < 0.05). After follow-up, it was found that the scores of qualities of life, such as physiology, psychosocial, marriage, sexual life and relationship with medical staff in the rapid rehabilitation group were lower than those in the control group at 1 month and 3 months after operation (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The concept of rapid rehabilitation nursing can stabilize the immune function of patients after radical breast cancer surgery, promote the postoperative rehabilitation and improve the quality of life after operation.

Intraspinal Block Anesthesia on Vaginal Delivery Parturients and Its Effect on Postpartum Pelvic Floor Muscle Strength and Immune Function

Objective: At present, intramural block anesthesia is mostly used clinically for vaginal delivery, but it is unclear whether intraocular block anesthesia has an effect on postpartum pelvic floor muscles and immune function after vaginal delivery. Therefore, this study investigated the effect of intraspinal block anesthesia on vaginal delivery parturients and its effect on postpartum pelvic floor muscle strength and immune function.Patients and Methods:A total of 182 parturients with vaginal delivery were selected as the study subjects. They were admitted in our hospital from March 2015 to January 2017. Among them, 92 parturients receiving intraspinal block anesthesia were enrolled in the study group and 90 parturients without intraspinal block anesthesia in the control group. The pelvic floor muscle damage and muscle strength recovery in the two groups were measured 3 months after delivery. The peripheral blood T lymphocyte subsets of parturients at different time points in the two groups was detected to investigate the effect of intraspinal block anesthesia on pelvic floor muscle strength and immune function after vaginal delivery. Results: The pain degree during delivery in the study group was significantly lower than that in the control group (p<0.05). The pelvic floor muscle damage, pelvic organ prolapse, pelvic floor function damage and stress urinary incontinence in the study group were all lower than those in the control group (p<0.05). The recovery of postpartum pelvic floor muscle strength in the study group was significantly better than that in the control group(p< 0.05). Both the first and second labor durations in the study group were significantly lower than those in the control group (p<0.05).Conclusion:lntraspinal block anesthesia has a better analgesic effect on the vaginal delivery parturients,can effectively shorten the labor. It also has a certain improvement effect on the recovery of postpartum pelvic floor muscle and immune function of parturients.

Relationship between Ag-NORs and T Lymphocyte Subsets in Children with Epilepsy

With the acceleration of the pace of life, the number of children with epilepsy is increasing. This study was to investigate the relationship between Ag-NORs and T lymphocyte subsets in children with epilepsy. In the morning, 3ml of elbow vein blood was collected from epileptic children on an empty stomach. After standing at room temperature for 0.3-1 hour, the serum was centrifuged (2000 rpm, 4 minutes). 3 ml of mixed venous blood was collected in EDTA-K2 vacuum container. The sample was taken out within 5 hours after staining. 30 n I of Itcite reagentand 30 n I of anticoagulant were put into TruCount tube and mixed evenly. Then flow cytometry was used for detection, and facscomp software was used for automatic inspection and calibration. In the same way, the automatic analysis software muitiset was used to obtain 20000 white blood cells, count 8000-10000 lymphocytes automatically, and calculate CD4 + T lymphocytes, CD8 + T lymphocytes and CD4 + / CD8 + ratio. Ag-NORs detection: under aseptic conditions, 0.5ml anticoagulant blood was added into the medium flask containing rpm-1640 and incubated in the incubator at 37°C for 72 hours. After mixing the cell suspension at room temperature, put it into a 10ml glass tube, heat it and dry it. Wait until the temperature of the water solution tank rises to 80-90 °C, and then put aluminum plate on it. The staining was placed under the microscope on the stage, and the image was adjusted to make the image analysis program effective. The ratio of nuclear area to nuclear silver staining area of 30 lymphocytes was counted. This ratio reflects the content of Ag-NORs in the nucleolar forming region of T lymphocytes. The ratio of Ag-NORs area to nuclear area was 0.32 ± 0.03, 0.38 ± 0.03 and 0.46 ± 0.03, respectively. This study is helpful to provide guidance for the treatment of epilepsy in children.

Resveratrol, EGCG and Vitamins Modulate Activated T Lymphocytes

Vitamins and bioactives, which are constituents of the food chain, modulate T lymphocyte proliferation and differentiation, antibody production, and prevent inflammation and autoimmunity. We investigated the effects of vitamins (vitamin A (VA), D (VD), E (VE)) and bioactives (i.e., resveratrol (Res), epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG)) on the adaptive immune response, as well as their synergistic or antagonistic interactions. Freshly isolated T lymphocytes from healthy individuals were activated with anti-CD3/CD28 antibodies for 4–5 days in the presence of bioactives and were analyzed by cytofluorometry. Interleukins, cytokines, and chemokines were measured by multiple ELISA. Gene expression was measured by quantitative RT-PCR. Res and EGCG increased CD4 surface intensity. EGCG led to an increased proportion of CD8+ lymphocytes. Anti-CD3/CD28 activation induced exuberant secretion of interleukins and cytokines by T lymphocyte subsets. VD strongly enhanced Th2 cytokines (e.g., IL-5, IL-13), whereas Res and EGCG favored secretion of Th1 cytokines (e.g., IL-2, INF-γ). Res and VD mutually influenced cytokine production, but VD dominated the cytokine secretion pattern. The substances changed gene expression of interleukins and cytokines in a similar way as they did secretion. Collectively, VD strongly modulated cytokine and interleukin production and favored Th2 functions. Resveratrol and EGCG promoted the Th1 response. VA and VE had only a marginal effect, but they altered both Th1 and Th2 response. In vivo, bioactives might therefore interact with vitamins and support the outcome and extent of the adaptive immune response.