Publications by authors named "Amit Kumar Mehta"
Background/objective: To determine the prevalence of visual impairment (VI), uncorrected refractive errors (URE), and effective refractive error coverage among individuals aged 15-50 years in Koshi Province, Nepal.
Methods: A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Koshi Province in which 4800 participants were selected from 80 clusters. The study teams visited the selected households and conducted eye examinations.
Article Synopsis
- Lung fibrosis and tissue remodeling are linked to chronic diseases like asthma and pulmonary fibrosis, but current therapies targeting fibrosis are limited.
- In mouse models, blocking the cytokine TL1A or deleting its receptor DR3 reduced key features of airway remodeling, such as increased smooth muscle mass and collagen accumulation.
- TL1A is found in the airways and on various lung cells, and its interaction with DR3 stimulates lung structural cells to promote fibrosis; thus, disrupting this interaction could lead to new treatments for fibrotic lung diseases.
Article Synopsis
- The gene Orosomucoid like 3 (ORMDL3), found on chromosome 17q21, has been linked to childhood asthma and rhinovirus (RV) infections.
- Research using hORMDL3 mice, which express higher levels of human ORMDL3, showed these mice had lower RV viral loads and less airway inflammation compared to regular mice when infected with RV.
- The study also found that increased ORMDL3 levels enhanced antiviral responses in the lungs, involving pathways such as interferons (IFNs) and RNAse L, suggesting a protective role against RV infection.
Article Synopsis
- Biologics targeting TNF family receptors can be effective for treating immune diseases, with antibodies to 4-1BB (CD137) currently undergoing clinical trials for both cancer and autoimmune conditions.
- Recent research indicates that the action of agonist anti-4-1BB, which helps reduce autoimmune and allergic inflammation, relies heavily on Galectin-9 (Gal-9), a protein that binds directly to 4-1BB.
- Gal-9 enhances 4-1BB’s function by promoting its aggregation and signaling in various immune cells, and its interaction is also conserved in humans, suggesting potential for targeted clinical therapies involving 4-1BB and similar proteins.
Article Synopsis
- Cysteinyl leukotrienes (CysLTs), particularly through the CysLT1 receptor, play a significant role in asthma by activating type 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) to produce cytokines like IL-5 and IL-13.
- The study involved various experiments using different mouse models to examine the presence of CysLT1R on ILC2s and how they respond to leukotriene D₄ (LTD₄), including measuring cytokine levels and ILC2 activity.
- Results showed that LTD₄ effectively stimulates ILC2s to produce cytokines and enhances their proliferation in response to allergens, suggesting that targeting CysLT1R could be
Article Synopsis
- Airway tolerance arises from inhaling harmless antigens and involves mechanisms like T cell deletion and regulatory T cell (iTreg) development, particularly those expressing Foxp3.
- The study highlights that lung-resident macrophages (MØs) can promote the generation of Foxp3(+) iTreg cells by presenting harmless antigens with the help of TGF-β and retinoic acid.
- The research suggests that targeting lung-resident MØs may provide new strategies for preventing or treating allergic asthma, especially since exposure to allergens can impair their ability to generate iTreg cells.
Article Synopsis
- Memory T helper cells (Th cells) are crucial for both fighting infections and contributing to inflammation-related diseases.
- A decoy receptor called LT-βR-Fc effectively blocks certain signals that lead to the buildup of memory Th2 cells, reducing inflammation during immune responses.
- The study also found that T cells lacking the HVEM receptor struggle to survive and maintain their memory after antigen exposure, highlighting the importance of LIGHT-HVEM interactions in T cell longevity.
Article Synopsis
- The study focuses on how purified cockroach allergens, specifically Per a 10, can enhance the safety and effectiveness of immunotherapy in allergic reactions in mice.
- It involved testing different groups of mice with varying treatments, measuring immune responses and lung inflammation after exposure to allergens.
- Results showed that immunotherapy with Per a 10 reduced allergy symptoms and inflammation more effectively than other treatments, with inactive Per a 10 performing the best in suppressing allergic responses.
Article Synopsis
- - Studies indicate choline could be a useful supplement or drug for treating immune inflammatory diseases like asthma, but high oral doses raise concerns about potential side effects.
- - A 28-day toxicity assessment of choline chloride was conducted using different administration methods (intranasal, oral, and intraperitoneal) on Balb/c mice, monitoring body weight, food and water intake, and various blood markers for liver function and immune response.
- - Results showed no significant adverse effects from choline treatment in body weight, consumption, or liver enzyme levels, suggesting that choline administration is safe in the tested mice under the studied conditions.