Circulating Th1/17 cells serve as a biomarker of disease severity and a target for early intervention in AChR-MG patients
CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY
Authors: Ma, Qian; Ran, Hao; Li, Yingkai; Lu, Yaru; Liu, Xiaoxi; Huang, Huan; Yang, Wenhao; Yu, Lu; Chen, Pei; Huang, Xin; Qiu, Li; Lin, Zhongqiang; Ou, Changyi; Liu, Weibin
Abstract
Interleukin-17-expressing CD4+ T helper 17 (Th17) cells are considered to be critical regulators of thymic inflammation in AChR-MG patients. However, Th17 cells are functionally heterogeneous and circulating Th17 subsets are incompletely understood in AChR-MG patients. Here, we studied characteristics of Th17 subsets in peripheral blood from treatment-naive AChR-MG patients, patients treated with immunosuppressants, as well as healthy controls. We found increased frequencies of circulating Th1-like Th17 (Th1/17) (IFN-gamma + IL-17 + CD4 + CD3+) cells, which declined earlier than conventional Th17 (IFN-gamma - IL-17 + CD4 + CD3+) cells in patients who respond well to immunosuppression treatment. Additionally, circulating Th1/17 cell frequencies were found to correlate positively with disease severity. Further, compared to conventional Th17 cells, Th1/17 cells showed an elevated expression of IFNG, TBX21, IL23R, CSF2, and a reduced expression of AHR and IL10. Taken together, our results suggest circulating Th1/17 cells may serve as a biomarker of disease severity and provide a strong rationale for early intervention in AChR-MG patients.
Faster and Healthier: Relationship between Telomere and Performance in Master Athletes
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SPORTS MEDICINE
Authors: Sousa, Caio Victor; Aguiar, Samuel Silva; Deus, Lysleine Alves; Barbosa, Lucas Pinheiro; dos Santos, Patrick Anderson; Passos Neves, Rodrigo Vanerson; Maciel, Larissa Alves; Moraes, Milton Rocha; Moreira, Sergio Rodrigues; Grubert Campbell, Carmen Silvia; Andrade, Rosangela Vieira; Rosa, Thiago dos Santos; Simoes, Herbert Gustavo
Abstract
Aging is associated with increased oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, and decreased telomere length (TL). However, the lifestyle of master athletes can lead to a reduced risk of these conditions, and thus attenuates aging and performance deterioration. We aimed to analyze the relationships between TL and relative performance (RP), and their relation to adiposity, oxidative stress, and inflammation in endurance (END) and sprint/power (SPW) master athletes (MAs). Twenty-two world-class MAs visited the laboratory for anamnesis, anthropometrics, and blood sampling. Inflammatory and oxidative stress parameters were assessed using commercial kits. Relative TL was determined in leukocytes through qPCR analyses. A positive association was observed between RP and TL in both groups (SPW: r= 0.641; END: r= 0.685) and the whole sample ( r= 0.594). The IL6/IL10 ratio presented an inverse correlation with RP in the whole sample ( r= -0.580). Body mass index also demonstrated a negative correlation with TL for the END group ( r= -0.690) and the whole sample analysis ( r= -0.455). Moreover, the IL6/IL10 ratio was negatively associated with strength/power training hours ( r =-0.464), whereas the CAT/TBARS ratio was negatively associated with aerobic training hours ( r= -0.482). In conclusion, TL of MAs was associated with RP regardless of the training model (endurance or sprint/power), and inflammation and adiposity were associated with shorter telomeres.