Efficacy and safety of low-dose interleukin 2 in the treatment of moderate-to-severe bullous pemphigoid: A single center perspective-controlled trial.

Background: Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are reduced in the peripheral blood and skin lesions of patients with bullous pemphigoid (BP). Low-dose interleukin 2 (IL-2) therapy can stimulate Tregs specifically, suggesting potential for the treatment of BP.

Objective: To evaluate the response to low-dose IL-2 therapy in the treatment of moderate-to-severe BP.

Dynamic pathological analysis reveals a protective role against skin fibrosis for TREM2-dependent macrophages.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a chronic and incurable autoimmune disease with high mortality rates, and skin fibrosis is one of distinguishing hallmarks in the pathogenesis. However, macrophage heterogeneity regulating skin fibrosis remain largely unknown. We established mouse disease model and performed single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) to resolve the dynamic and heterogenous characteristics of macrophages in skin fibrosis, and the role of TREM2-dependent macrophages in the pathological process was investigated using knockout mice and intraperitoneal transferring TREM2 macrophages combining with functional assays.

Corrigendum: JAK1/2 inhibitor baricitinib improves skin fibrosis and digital ulcers in systemic sclerosis.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.

JAK1/2 Inhibitor Baricitinib Improves Skin Fibrosis and Digital Ulcers in Systemic Sclerosis.

Background: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a rare disabling connective tissue disease with few available treatment options. Diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (dcSSc) is associated with high mortality. A previous experiment has shown that JAK2 inhibitor can significantly improve skin fibrosis in bleomycin (BLM)-induced murine model, including reducing dermal thickening and collagen accumulation.

Mesenchymal Stem Cells Activate the MEK/ERK Signaling Pathway and Enhance DNA Methylation via DNMT1 in PBMC from Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

The defective MEK/ERK signaling pathway and downstream hypomethylation pattern of lymphocytes are crucial for the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, the role that the mesenchymal stem cells play in the MEK/ERK signaling pathway and DNA methylation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from SLE patients remains unknown. In this study, we found that the MEK/ERK signaling pathway of PBMC from SLE patients was activated after the coculture with bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSC) compared with that from the control group.

MCP-1 Priming Enhanced the Therapeutic Effects of Human Mesenchymal Stromal Cells on Contact Hypersensitivity Mice by Activating the COX2-PGE2/STAT3 Pathway.

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have become a promising treatment for inflammation-related diseases, and their therapeutic efficacy mainly depends on crosstalk between MSCs and inflammation. However, methods to improve the immunosuppressive efficiency of MSCs in different diseases still need to be developed. In this study, we investigated whether preconditioning MSCs with a disease-related inflammatory cytokine could increase their immunosuppressive properties and improve therapeutic efficacy.

Keratin 14-dependent disulfides regulate epidermal homeostasis and barrier function via 14-3-3σ and YAP1.

The intermediate filament protein keratin 14 (K14) provides vital structural support in basal keratinocytes of epidermis. Recent studies evidenced a role for K14-dependent disulfide bonding in the organization and dynamics of keratin IFs in skin keratinocytes. Here we report that knock-in mice harboring a cysteine-to-alanine substitution at 's codon 373 (C373A) exhibit alterations in disulfide-bonded K14 species and a barrier defect secondary to enhanced proliferation, faster transit time and altered differentiation in epidermis.

Research Techniques Made Simple: Single-Cell RNA Sequencing and its Applications in Dermatology.

RNA sequencing is one of the most highly reliable and reproducible methods of assessing the cell transcriptome. As high-throughput RNA sequencing libraries at the single cell level have recently developed, single cell RNA sequencing has become more feasible and popular in biology research. Single cell RNA sequencing allows investigators to evaluate cell transcriptional profiles at the single cell level.

Formaldehyde Inhibits Sexual Behavior and Expression of Steroidogenic Enzymes in the Testes of Mice.

Background: Formaldehyde, a ubiquitous environmental pollutant, is used extensively and has been proved to impair male reproduction in mammals. However, no trials have explored whether formaldehyde affects sexual function.

Aim: To evaluate the effect of long-term formaldehyde exposure on sexual behavior and to investigate the potential mechanism.

Effects of Saikokaryukotsuboreito on Spermatogenesis and Fertility in Aging Male Mice.

Background: Aspermia caused by exogenous testosterone limit its usage in late-onset hypogonadism (LOH) patients desiring fertility. Saikokaryukotsuboreito (SKRBT) is reported to improve serum testosterone and relieve LOH-related symptoms. However, it is unclear whether SKRBT affects fertility.

Effects of velvet antler polypeptide on sexual behavior and testosterone synthesis in aging male mice.

Twenty-four-month-old male C57BL/6 mice with low serum testosterone levels were used as a late-onset hypogonadism (LOH) animal model for examining the effects of velvet antler polypeptide (VAP) on sexual function and testosterone synthesis. These mice received VAP for 5 consecutive weeks by daily gavage at doses of 100, 200, or 300 mg kg-1 body weight per day (n = 10 mice per dose). Control animals (n = 10) received the same weight-based volume of vehicle.

Mesenchymal stem cell transplantation inhibits abnormal activation of Akt/GSK3β signaling pathway in T cells from systemic lupus erythematosus mice.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by activation and proliferation of autoreactive T cells and B cells. We examined changes in cell cycle progression of T cells from MRL/lpr mice with or without allogenic bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) treatment and analyzed the expression of cell cycle associated proteins. In addition, the Akt/GSK3β protein kinase cascade was studied.