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Glucocorticoids exert their pharmacological actions by mimicking and amplifying the function of the endogenous glucocorticoid system’s canonical physiological stress response. They ...affect the immune system at the levels of inflammation and adaptive and innate immunity. These effects are the basis for therapeutic use of glucocorticoids. Innate immunity is the body’s first line of defense against disease conditions. It is relatively nonspecific and, among its mediators, natural killer (NK) cells link innate and acquired immunity. NK cell numbers are altered in patients with auto immune diseases, and research suggests that interactions between glucocorticoids and natural killer cells are critical for successful glucocorticoid therapy. The aim of this review is to summarize these interactions while highlighting the latest and most important developments in this field. Production and release in the blood of endogenous glucocorticoids are strictly regulated by the hypothalamus–pituitary adrenal axis. A self-regulatory mechanism prevents excessive plasma levels of these hormones. However, exogenous stimuli such as stress, inflammation, infections, cancer, and autoimmune disease can trigger the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis response and lead to excessive systemic release of glucocorticoids. Thus, stress stimuli, such as sleep deprivation, intense exercise, depression, viral infections, and cancer, can result in release of glucocorticoids and associated immunosuppressant effects. Among these effects are decreases in the numbers and activities of NK cells in inflammatory and autoimmune diseases (e.g., giant cell arteritis, polymyalgia rheumatica, and familial hypogammaglobulinemia).
SUMO proteins: Guardians of immune system Adorisio, Sabrina; Fierabracci, Alessandra; Muscari, Isabella ...
Journal of autoimmunity,
November 2017, 2017-Nov, 2017-11-00, 20171101, Volume:
84
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) proteins belong to the ubiquitin-like family and act to change the function of target proteins through post-translational modifications. Through their ...interactions with innate immune pathways, SUMOs promote an efficient immune response to pathogenic challenge avoiding, at the same time, an excess of immune response that could lead to the development of autoimmune diseases. This report discusses the general functions of SUMO proteins; highlights SUMO involvement in the innate immune response through their role in NF-κB and interferon pathways; the involvement of SUMO proteins in autoimmune diseases; and reviews bacterial, viral, and parasitic interactions with SUMO pathways. In conclusion, we speculate that targeting SUMOs could represent a new therapeutic strategy against infections and autoimmunity.
•A balancing role of SUMOs in avoiding the excess of immune response is proposed.•The mechanism relies on NF-κB and type I interferon pathways.•The importance is highlighted by its role in development of diabetes and other autoimmune diseases.
Abstract Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor-associated periodic syndrome (TRAPS) is an autosomal dominant autoinflammatory disorder characterized by periodic fever episodes, arthralgia, myalgia, ...abdominal pain, serositis, and skin rash. TRAPS is caused by mutations in the gene encoding the TNF Receptor Super Family 1A (TNFRSF1A) on chromosome 12p13. The identification of TNFRSF1A mutations as the genetic cause of TRAPS coincided with the wider use of biological agents in medicine and raised the possibility that blocking TNF could potentially represent the primary therapeutic goal in TRAPS, thus disclosing new treatment choices for this complex disease. Anti-TNF therapy in TRAPS has been based on etanercept, a recombinant human TNFR (p75)-Fc fusion protein comprising two receptors linked by an IgG1 Fc fragment. However a decrease in responsiveness to etanercept over time has been described, and it may be due to a non-specific action of etanercept in TRAPS; its efficacy may reflect ‘generic’ anti-inflammatory properties. Long-term adherence to etanercept is poor and a significant number of patients need to switch to anti-interleukin (IL)-1β therapy. In fact, the IL-1 receptor antagonist anakinra has recently been shown to prevent disease relapses both in the short- and in the long-term, and to induce a prompt and stable disease remission.
Abstract Hereditary periodic fever syndromes (HPFSs) are a group of inherited disorders of the innate immune system caused by mutations of genes involved in the regulation or activation of the ...inflammatory response, which belong to the category of autoinflammatory disorders. Most HPFs typically have an onset in pediatric age, while a limited number of patients experience disease onset during adulthood. The relative rarity and lack of information on adult-onset autoinflammatory diseases make it likely that genetic testing is often inconclusive. Recently, we have identified a set of variables related to the probability of detecting gene mutations in MEFV , responsible for familial Mediterranean fever, and TNFRSF1A , responsible for tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated periodic syndrome. In addition, we have proposed a diagnostic score for identifying those patients at high risk of carrying mutations in these genes. However, before the score can be recommended for application, further evaluation by means of longitudinal studies on different ethnicities and different populations deriving from other geographical areas is needed in order to definitively verify both its sensitivity and its specificity. The present manuscript offers our suggestions on how to establish a differential diagnosis for adult-onset HPFs, as well as a review of the literature, and we also provide a score revision available online.
Bursera microphylla (BM), one of the common elephant trees, is widely distributed in the Sonoran desert in Mexico. The Seri ethnic group in the Sonoran desert uses BM as an anti-inflammatory and ...painkiller drug for the treatment of sore throat, herpes labialis, abscessed tooth, and wound healing. Dried stems and leaves of BM are used in a tea to relieve painful urination and to stimulate bronchial secretion. Furthermore, BM is used for fighting venereal diseases. To investigate the effects of the hexane fraction of resin methanol extract (BM-H) on cell growth, the acute myeloid cell line (OCI-AML3) was treated with 250, 25, or 2.5 µg/mL of BM-H. The first 2 concentrations were able to significantly decrease OCI-AML3 cell number. This reduced cell number was associated with decreased S-phase, blockade of G2/M phase of the cell cycle, and increased cell death. Similar results were obtained on all tested tumor cell lines of different origins. We found that blockade of the cell cycle was a result of upregulation of p21 protein in a p53-independent way. Increase of p21 was possibly a result of upstream upregulation of p-ERK (which stabilizes p21 protein) and downregulation of p-38 (which promotes its degradation). Regarding cell death, activation of caspase-3, but not of caspase-8 or -9, was detectable after BM-H treatment. In conclusion, these data suggest that BM-H inhibited proliferation of cell lines mainly by a p21-dependent, p53-independent mechanism and promoted apoptosis through activation of caspase-3 but not caspase-8 or -9.
Tumour necrosis factor-receptor associated periodic syndrome (TRAPS) is a rare autosomal dominant autoinflammatory disorder characterised by recurrent episodes of long-lasting fever and inflammation ...in different regions of the body, as musculo-skeletal system, skin, gastrointestinal tube, serosal membranes and eye. Inflammatory attacks usually start in the pediatric age with initial corticosteroid-responsiveness. Most reported cases of TRAPS involve patients of European ancestry and diagnosis can be formulated by the combination of genetic analysis and a compatible phenotype. Its prognosis is strictly dependent on the appearance of amyloidosis, secondary to uncontrolled relapsing inflammation. Thanks to a better understanding of its pathogenesis, the disease is now managed with anti-interleukin (IL)-1 antagonists, rather than corticosteroids or tumour necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors. The aim of this review is to describe the current understanding and advances of TRAPS genetic basis, pathogenesis and management options by integrating the most recent data in the medical literature.
Bursera microphylla (BM), one of the common elephant trees, is widely distributed in the Sonoran Desert in Mexico. The Seri ethnic group in the Sonoran Desert uses BM as an anti-inflammatory and ...painkiller drug for the treatment of sore throat, herpes labialis, abscessed tooth, and wound healing. Dried stems and leaves of BM are used in a tea to relieve painful urination and to stimulate bronchial secretion. Furthermore, BM is used for fighting venereal diseases. To investigate the effects of the hexane fraction of resin methanol extract (BM-H) on cell growth, the acute myeloid cell line (OCI-AML3) was treated with 250, 25, or 2.5 µg/mL of BM-H. The first 2 concentrations were able to significantly decrease OCI-AML3 cell number. This reduced cell number was associated with decreased S-phase, blockade of the G
/M phase of the cell cycle, and increased cell death. Similar results were obtained on all tested tumor cell lines of different origins. We found that blockade of the cell cycle was due to upregulation of p21 protein in a p53-independent way. Increase of p21 was possibly due to upstream upregulation of p-ERK (which stabilizes p21 protein) and downregulation of p-38 (which promotes its degradation). Regarding cell death, activation of caspase-3, but not of caspase-8 or -9, was detectable after BM-H treatment. In conclusion, these data suggest that the BM's hexane fraction inhibited proliferation of cell lines mainly by a p21-dependent, p53-independent mechanism and promoted apoptosis through activation of caspase-3, but not caspase-8 or -9.
In Vietnam, two types of traditional medicine (TM) are practiced: thuoc nam, medicine of the South, and thuoc bac, medicine of the North, both of which are largely based on herbal drugs used by ...different Vietnamese ethnic groups. This review presents recently published information from various databases regarding TM, especially herbal drugs, and its integration with Western medical practices outside and inside Vietnam. We first discuss the integration of traditional and modern health concepts by Vietnamese immigrants living outside Vietnam. Next, we describe native and emigrated health education and practices of pharmacy students, health professionals, and citizens living in Vietnam. Finally, we report the recent biological validation of medicinal plants and non-herbal therapies emerging from Vietnamese TM and their current and potential medical uses as identified by Western approaches. The main example described here involves utilization of the tree Artocarpus tonkinensis by the ethnic minority of Black Hmong in northern Vietnam, who use a decoction of its leaves to treat arthritis and backache without apparent adverse effects. Our comprehensive review emphasizes that, although Vietnam has a very rich collection of TM practices (particularly the use of herbal drugs), these therapies should be biologically and clinically validated with modern Western methods for optimal integration of Western and traditional medicine in global populations.
Bursera microphylla (BM), one of the common elephant trees, is widely distributed in the Sonoran desert in Mexico. The Seri ethnic group in the Sonoran desert uses BM as an anti-inflammatory and ...painkiller drug for the treatment of sore throat, herpes labialis, abscessed tooth, and wound healing. Dried stems and leaves of BM are used in a tea to relieve painful urination and to stimulate bronchial secretion. Furthermore, BM is used for fighting venereal diseases. To investigate the effects of the hexane fraction of resin methanol extract (BM-H) on cell growth, the acute myeloid cell line (OCI-AML3) was treated with 250, 25, or 2.5 µg/mL of BM-H. The first 2 concentrations were able to significantly decrease OCI-AML3 cell number. This reduced cell number was associated with decreased S-phase, blockade of G 2 /M phase of the cell cycle, and increased cell death. Similar results were obtained on all tested tumor cell lines of different origins. We found that blockade of the cell cycle was a result of upregulation of p21 protein in a p53-independent way. Increase of p21 was possibly a result of upstream upregulation of p-ERK (which stabilizes p21 protein) and downregulation of p-38 (which promotes its degradation). Regarding cell death, activation of caspase-3, but not of caspase-8 or -9, was detectable after BM-H treatment. In conclusion, these data suggest that BM-H inhibited proliferation of cell lines mainly by a p21-dependent, p53-independent mechanism and promoted apoptosis through activation of caspase-3 but not caspase-8 or -9.
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