Low-dose interleukin-2 reverses behavioral sensitization in multiple mouse models of headache disorders
PAIN
Authors: Zhang, Jintao; Czerpaniak, Katherine; Huang, Liang; Liu, Xuemei; Cloud, Megan E.; Unsinger, Jacqueline; Hotchkiss, Richard S.; Li, Daizong; Cao, Yu-Qing
Abstract
Headache disorders are highly prevalent and debilitating, with limited treatment options. Previous studies indicate that many proinflammatory immune cells contribute to headache pathophysiology. Given the well-recognized role of regulatory T (Treg) cells in maintaining immune homeostasis, we hypothesized that enhancing Treg function may be effective to treat multiple headache disorders. In a mouse model of chronic migraine, we observed that repeated nitroglycerin (NTG, a reliable trigger of migraine in patients) administration doubled the number of CD3(+) T cells in the trigeminal ganglia without altering the number of Treg cells, suggesting a deficiency in Treg-mediated immune homeostasis. We treated mice with low-dose interleukin-2 (ld-IL2) to preferentially expand and activate endogenous Treg cells. This not only prevented the development of NTG-induced persistent sensitization but also completely reversed the established facial skin hypersensitivity resulting from repeated NTG administration. The effect of ld-IL2 was independent of mouse sex and/or strain. Importantly, ld-IL2 treatment did not alter basal nociceptive responses, and repeated usage did not induce tolerance. The therapeutic effect of ld-IL2 was abolished by Treg depletion and was recapitulated by Treg adoptive transfer. Furthermore, treating mice with ld-IL2 1 to 7 days after mild traumatic brain injury effectively prevented as well as reversed the development of behaviors related to acute and chronic post-traumatic headache. In a model of medication overuse headache, Ld-IL2 completely reversed the cutaneous hypersensitivity induced by repeated administration of sumatriptan. Collectively, this study identifies ld-IL2 as a promising prophylactic for multiple headache disorders with a mechanism distinct from the existing treatment options.
Effect of interface defect density on performance of perovskite solar cell: Correlation of simulation and experiment
MATERIALS LETTERS
Authors: Chouhan, Arun Singh; Jasti, Naga Prathibha; Avasthi, Sushobhan
Abstract
Experimental data from a 17.5% efficient perovskite solar cell has been used to develop a self-consistent device model using Solar Cell Capacitance Simulator (SCAPS). Electronic properties of the individual layers, such as doping density of compact TiO2 (c-TiO2), doping and defect density of perovskite, etc. are extracted from experimental data. The only fitting parameters in the model are the defect densities at spiro-MeOTAD/perovskite interface (IL-1) and perovskite/TiO2 interface (IL-2). The simulated current-voltage (J-V) characteristics and Mott-Schottky plot results match extremely well with the experimentally measured plots, validating the device model. The model was further used to extract insights into the loss mechanism of the high-efficiency perovskite solar cells. Simulations revealed that defect density at IL-1 interface has strong impact on the open-circuit voltage (V-OC), while defect density in the perovskite and IL2 interface has a major impact on short-circuit current density (J(SC)). (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.