The Effect of Butyrate-Supplemented Parenteral Nutrition on Intestinal Defence Mechanisms and the Parenteral Nutrition-Induced Shift in the Gut Microbiota in the Rat Model.

Butyrate produced by the intestinal microbiota is essential for proper functioning of the intestinal immune system. Total dependence on parenteral nutrition (PN) is associated with numerous adverse effects, including severe microbial dysbiosis and loss of important butyrate producers. We hypothesised that a lack of butyrate produced by the gut microbiota may be compensated by its supplementation in PN mixtures.

Steroid free immunosuppression is associated with enhanced Th1 transcripts in kidney transplantation.

Background: Steroid avoidance in immunosuppression in kidney transplantation offers several metabolic advantages, however it is associated with higher early acute rejection rate. Cellular and molecular mechanisms of this phenomenon remain poorly understood.

Methods: In this single center observational study, low-risk kidney transplant recipients randomized into large multicenter prospective ADVANCE trial with steroid avoidance/early withdrawal and center standard of care treated patients were monitored for 12months.

An Alteration of Lymphocytes Subpopulations and Immunoglobulins Levels in Patients with Diabetic Foot Ulcers Infected Particularly by Resistant Pathogens.

The of our study was to analyse immune abnormalities in patients with chronic infected diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) especially those infected by resistant microorganisms. . 68 patients treated in our foot clinic for infected chronic DFUs with 34 matched diabetic controls were studied.

Characterisation and comparison of adipose tissue macrophages from human subcutaneous, visceral and perivascular adipose tissue.

Background And Aims: Macrophages play important roles in adipose tissue inflammation and its consequences. Unfortunately, a detailed description of the macrophage phenotypes in different human adipose tissues is not available.

Subjects And Methods: Subcutaneous, visceral and perivascular adipose tissues were obtained from 52 living kidney donors during live donor nephrectomy.

Biphasic response in number of stem cells and endothelial progenitor cells after left ventricular assist device implantation: A 6month follow-up.

Background: Continuous blood flow could have deleterious effects on endothelium and vascular health. This could have serious consequences in patients with heart failure treated with continuous flow left ventricular assist devices (LVAD). Therefore, we studied effect of LVAD on three circulating vascular biomarkers: stem cells (SC), endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) and microparticles (MP).

Dynamic changes of B-cell compartments in kidney transplantation: lack of transitional B cells is associated with allograft rejection.

B cells play an important role in the immune responses which affect the outcomes of kidney allografts. Dynamic changes of B-cell compartments in clinical kidney transplantation are still poorly understood. B-cell subsets were prospectively monitored using flow cytometry for 1 year in 98 kidney transplant recipients.

Manumycin A downregulates release of proinflammatory cytokines from TNF alpha stimulated human monocytes.

Macrolide antibiotics such as azithromycin or clarithromycin are known to have potent anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects but these properties cannot be widely used due to a risk of bacterial resistance. We studied another polyketide antibiotic, structurally related manumycin A known as a streptomycete derived farnesyltransferase inhibitor with limited antibacterial effects, with respect to its potential regulation of mRNA expression of several genes associated with proinflammatory responses. Downregulation of mRNA for IL-6, TLR-8, IL-1 beta and IL-10 was found in THP-1 cells after 4h stimulation with TNF alpha in the presence of manumycin A and downregulated TLR-8 and EGR-1 genes were observed after 8h.

Smoking impairs and circulating stem cells favour the protective effect of the T allele of the connexin37 gene in ischemic heart disease--A multinational study.

Background: The connexin 37 (Cx37) gene is considered to be a candidate gene for ischemic heart disease (IHD). We analyzed the association between the C1019 > T (Pro319 > Ser) variant of the Cx37 gene and IHD in patients in the Czech Republic, Croatia, Hungary and Romania with regard to the presence/absence of selected cardiovascular risk factors (RF). In a complementary study, we analyzed the association between the Cx37 gene and circulating stem and endothelial progenitor cells in healthy women.

High Prevalence of Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Autoantibodies in Infants with Food Protein-Induced Proctitis/Proctocolitis: Autoimmunity Involvement?

Background. Food protein-induced proctitis/proctocolitis (FPIP) is the most common noninfectious colitis in children in the first year of life. Along with the overall clinical symptoms, diarrhoea and rectal bleeding are the main manifestations of the disease.

Effect of induction therapy on the expression of molecular markers associated with rejection and tolerance.

Background: Induction therapy can improve kidney transplantation (KTx) outcomes, but little is known about the mechanisms underlying its effects.

Methods: The mRNA levels of T cell-related genes associated with tolerance or rejection (CD247, GZMB, PRF1, FOXP3, MAN1A1, TCAIM, and TLR5) and lymphocyte subpopulations were monitored prospectively in the peripheral blood of 60 kidney transplant recipients before and 7, 14, 21, 28, 60, 90 days, 6 months, and 12 months after KTx. Patients were treated with calcineurin inhibitor-based triple immunosuppression and induction with rabbit anti-thymocyte globulin (rATG, n = 24), basiliximab (n = 17), or without induction (no-induction, n = 19).

Macrophage subsets in the adipose tissue could be modified by sex and the reproductive age of women.

The presence of proinflammatory monocytes/macrophages (CD14+CD16+) has been documented in conditions of inflammation, such as atherosclerosis. We analysed the proportion of proinflammatory monocytes/macrophages in perirenal and perivascular fat in healthy living kidney donors with regard to sex and age reflecting reproductive status in women; therefore, women were further divided to younger and older group (younger and older than 51 years) reflecting potential age of menopause. Monocyte/macrophages were identified as CD14+ mononuclear cells and divided into subpopulations based on the co-expression of CD16.

CD14+CD16+ and CD14+CD163+ monocyte subpopulations in kidney allograft transplantation.

Background: Monocytes represent a heterogeneous population of cells subdivided according to the expression level of membrane antigens. A pro-inflammatory (intermediate/nonclassical) subpopulation of monocytes is defined by expression of CD16. CD163 seems to be characteristically preferentially expressed by immunosuppressive monocytes.

Cytokine networking of innate immunity cells: a potential target of therapy.

Innate immune cells, particularly macrophages and epithelial cells, play a key role in multiple layers of immune responses. Alarmins and pro-inflammatory cytokines from the IL (interleukin)-1 and TNF (tumour necrosis factor) families initiate the cascade of events by inducing chemokine release from bystander cells and by the up-regulation of adhesion molecules required for transendothelial trafficking of immune cells. Furthermore, innate cytokines produced by dendritic cells, macrophages, epithelial cells and innate lymphoid cells seem to play a critical role in polarization of helper T-cell cytokine profiles into specific subsets of Th1/Th2/Th17 effector cells or regulatory T-cells.

B-cell-related biomarkers of tolerance are up-regulated in rejection-free kidney transplant recipients.

Background: Molecular signatures have recently been identified in operationally tolerant long-term kidney transplant patients; however, their expression in patients on immunosuppression remains unclear.

Methods: In this prospective study, the gene expression profiles of eight selected tolerance-associated genes (MS4A1, CD79B, TCL1A, TMEM176B, FOXP3, TOAG-1, MAN1A1, and TLR5) in the peripheral blood of 67 kidney transplant recipients at days 0, 7, 14, 21, 28, 60, 90, and at 6 and 12 months, and in graft biopsies were measured. Similarly, using flow cytometry, CD45CD19CD3 B-cell counts were evaluated in the follow-up.

Menopausal transition enhances the atherogenic risk of smoking in middle aged women.

Background: The presence of cardiovascular risk factors during the menopausal transition could be critical in the development of atherosclerosis. In the present study, we evaluated whether the menopausal transition has impact on traditional and newly discussed risk factors.

Methods: Six hundred ninety nine women from population-based study underwent ultrasound measurement of the intima-media thickness of the common carotid arteries (CIMT) - Prague Pre and Postmenopausal Females study (3PMFs).

Cytokine gene expression profile in monocytic cells after a co-culture with epithelial cells.

Epithelial cells represent an important source of cytokines that may modulate the influx and functions of mononuclear phagocytes. The aim of our study was to characterize changes in the gene expression of selected cytokines in human macrophages co-cultured with respiratory epithelial cells. The A549 alveolar type II-like cell line was co-cultured with THP-1 cells (monocyte/macrophage cell line) in filter-separated mode to avoid their cell-cell contact.

Detection of Phl p 1, Phl p 5, Phl p 7 and Phl p 12 specific IgE antibodies in the sera of children and adult patients allergic to Phleum pollen.

Background: Grasses belong to major sources of inhaled allergens. The knowledge of particular molecules responsible for hypersensitivity is of crucial importance for better understanding of individual differences among single allergic subjects and allergic populations living in various world-areas.

Methods: Specific-IgE-antibodies against Phl p 1, Phl p 5, Phl p 7, Phl p 12 were detected in a group of 130 Phleum-allergic-subjects (82 children, 48 adults).

Regulatory T cells in kidney transplant recipients: the effect of induction immunosuppression therapy.

Background: Regulatory T cells have been suggested to down-regulate the alloimmune response. The aim of this prospective open study was to evaluate the effects of different inductive agents on peripheral blood regulatory T cells in kidney transplant patients and to analyse their association with short-term graft outcome.

Methods: Regulatory and effector T cell numbers in peripheral blood were determined by flow cytometry in 71 prospectively followed kidney transplant recipients at postoperative day 0, 7, 14, 21, 28, 60 and 90.