Inflammation in health and disease: a balancing act (information about the 16th World Congress on Inflammation (WCI2024)).

The following provides a summary of the 16th World Congress on Inflammation (WCI 2024), which took place in Québec City (Canada) from July 21 to 24, 2024. At the meeting, researchers from around the world presented their latest findings which transcended fundamental and clinical science in the field of inflammation. Participants shared original work which covered a multitude of topics and discussed practical aspects of their research including the application of new diagnostic strategies and medical therapeutic technologies.

[The relationship between neuropsychological indicators and neuroimaging changes according to MRI morphometry in patients with Alzheimer's disease and glaucoma].

Objective: Study of neuroimaging changes according to MRI morphometry and their comparison with the structure and severity of cognitive impairment (CI) in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG).

Material And Methods: The study involved 90 patients who were divided into two equal groups of 45 people and who early had diagnosis of AD (group 1; median age - 71 [66; 77] years) and POAG (group 2; median age - 68 [64; 77] years). 71] years).

The Antigen-Specific Response of NK Cells to SARS-CoV-2 Correlates With KIR2DS4 Expression.

Natural killer (NK) cells play a pivotal role in the immune response against viral infections, including SARS-CoV-2. However, our understanding of memory NK cell responses in the context of SARS-CoV-2 remains limited. To address this, we investigated the memory-like response of NK cells to SARS-CoV-2 peptides, presented by autologous cells.

Three-Dimensional Model Analysis Revealed Differential Cytotoxic Effects of the NK-92 Cell Line and Primary NK Cells on Breast and Ovarian Carcinoma Cell Lines Mediated by Variations in Receptor-Ligand Interactions and Soluble Factor Profiles.

The functional activity of a certain tumor determines the effectiveness of primary NK cells and NK-92 cell line-based cancer therapy; their therapeutic effectiveness against different tumors can vary. This work provides a direct simultaneous comparison of the cytotoxic effects of in vitro-activated peripheral NK (pNK) cells and NK-92 cells in spheroid models of BT-474, MCF7 and SKOV-3 carcinomas and uncovers the reasons for the differential effectiveness of NK cells against tumors. Tumor spheroids of similar size and shape, obtained from agarose molds, were incubated with NK-92 or pNK cells for 24 h.

Measurement of Angular Coefficients of B[over ¯]→D^{*}ℓν[over ¯]_{ℓ}: Implications for |V_{cb}| and Tests of Lepton Flavor Universality.

We measure the complete set of angular coefficients J_{i} for exclusive B[over ¯]→D^{*}ℓν[over ¯]_{ℓ} decays (ℓ=e, μ). Our analysis uses the full 711  fb^{-1} Belle dataset with hadronic tag-side reconstruction. The results allow us to extract the form factors describing the B[over ¯]→D^{*} transition and the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix element |V_{cb}|.

GWAS and polygenic risk score of severe COVID-19 in Eastern Europe.

Background: COVID-19 disease has infected more than 772 million people, leading to 7 million deaths. Although the severe course of COVID-19 can be prevented using appropriate treatments, effective interventions require a thorough research of the genetic factors involved in its pathogenesis.

Methods: We conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) on 7,124 individuals (comprising 6,400 controls who had mild to moderate COVID-19 and 724 cases with severe COVID-19).

Search for Rare b→dℓ^{+}ℓ^{-} Transitions at Belle.

We present the results of a search for the b→dℓ^{+}ℓ^{-} flavor-changing neutral-current rare decays B^{+,0}→(η,ω,π^{+,0},ρ^{+,0})e^{+}e^{-} and B^{+,0}→(η,ω,π^{0},ρ^{+})μ^{+}μ^{-} using a 711  fb^{-1} data sample that contains 772×10^{6}  BB[over ¯] events. The data were collected at the ϒ(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e^{+}e^{-} collider. We find no evidence for signal and set upper limits on branching fractions at the 90% confidence level in the range (3.

Measurements of the Branching Fraction, Polarization, and CP Asymmetry for the Decay B^{0}→ωω.

We present a comprehensive study of B^{0}→ωω decays using 772×10^{6}  BB[over ¯] pairs collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB e^{+}e^{-} collider. This process is a suppressed charmless decay into two vector mesons and can exhibit interesting polarization and CP violation. The decay is observed for the first time with a significance of 7.

Search for Baryon-Number-Violating Processes in B^{-} Decays to the Ξ[over ¯]_{c}^{0}Λ[over ¯]_{c}^{-} Final State.

We report the results of the first search for B^{-} decays to the Ξ[over ¯]_{c}^{0}Λ[over ¯]_{c}^{-} final state using 711  fb^{-1} of data collected at the ϒ(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e^{+}e^{-} collider. The results are interpreted in terms of both direct baryon-number-violating B^{-} decay and Ξ_{c}^{0}-Ξ[over ¯]_{c}^{0} oscillations which follow the standard model decay B^{-}→Ξ_{c}^{0}Λ[over ¯]_{c}^{-}. We observe no evidence for baryon number violation and set the 95% confidence-level upper limits on the ratio of baryon-number-violating and standard model branching fractions B(B^{-}→Ξ[over ¯]_{c}^{0}Λ[over ¯]_{c}^{-})/B(B^{-}→Ξ_{c}^{0}Λ[over ¯]_{c}^{-}) to be <2.

Methodological Approaches for Increasing the Retroviral Transduction Efficiency of Primary NK Cells.

Background: The growing attention to NK cells for cancer cell therapy is associated with the need to establish highly efficient protocols for their genetic modification, particularly by retroviral transduction.

Objective: In this work, we have optimized several stages of the retroviral-based modification process, and determined the distribution of the amino acid transporter ASCT2 between NK cell subsets.

Methods: Retroviral particles were produced using the Phoenix Ampho cell line transfected with the calcium phosphate method .

Genetic Associations of Anhedonia: Insights into Overlap of Mental and Somatic Disorders.

Background: Anhedonia is characterized by a reduced ability to anticipate, experience, and/or learn about pleasure. This phenomenon has a transdiagnostic nature and is one of the key symptoms of mood disorders, schizophrenia, addictions, and somatic conditions.

Aim: To evaluate the genetic architecture of anhedonia and its overlap with other mental disorders and somatic conditions.

EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF THE EFFECT OF MINERAL WATERS ON THE GASTRIC MUCOSA OF WISTAR RATS.

Acid-related diseases (ARD) are the most common among digestive diseases. The main goals of therapy of ARD are to reduce the influence of aggression factors (production of HCl, pepsin) and increase the protective properties of the mucous membrane of the upper digestive tract. Also currently in medicine, one of the therapeutic and preventive methods is the use of chloride-hydrocarbonate sodium boron mineral waters.

First Measurement of R(X_{τ/ℓ}) as an Inclusive Test of the b→cτν Anomaly.

We measure the tau-to-light-lepton ratio of inclusive B-meson branching fractions R(X_{τ/ℓ})≡B(B→Xτν)/B(B→Xℓν), where ℓ indicates an electron or muon, and thereby test the universality of charged-current weak interactions. We select events that have one fully reconstructed B meson and a charged lepton candidate from 189  fb^{-1} of electron-positron collision data collected with the Belle II detector. We find R(X_{τ/ℓ})=0.

EVALUATION OF THE EFFECT OF REBAMIPIDE ON THE PROGRESSION OF ULCERATIVE COLITIS IN RATS IN THE EXPERIMENT.

Rebamipide contributes to the improvement of blood supply of the GI mucosa, activates its barrier function, activates alkaline secretion of the stomach, increases proliferation and metabolism of epithelial cells of the GI tract, cleanses the mucosa from hydroxyl radicals and suppresses superoxides, produced by polymorphonuclear leukocytes and neutrophils in the presence of Helicobacter pylori, protects the GI mucosa from bacterial invasion and the damaging effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) on the mucosa. Rebamipide, originally developed as a treatment for gastric ulcers, has attracted the attention of researchers as a potential drug for the treatment of UC due to its ability to stimulate mucus production, reduce oxidative stress, and decrease inflammation. Due to the presence of these properties, it is hypothesized that rebamipide may have a protective effect on the intestinal mucosa during prolonged inflammation, making it a promising candidate for inclusion in therapeutic strategies for ulcerative colitis.

HLA-DR Expression in Natural Killer Cells Marks Distinct Functional States, Depending on Cell Differentiation Stage.

HLA-DR-positive NK cells, found in both healthy individuals and patients with different inflammatory diseases, are characterized as activated cells. However, data on their capacity for IFNγ production or cytotoxic response vary between studies. Thus, more precise investigation is needed of the mechanisms related to the induction of HLA-DR expression in NK cells, their associations with NK cell differentiation stage, and functional or metabolic state.

[Features of the clinical and neuroimaging picture in patients with early-onset Alzheimer's disease].

The most common cause of severe cognitive impairment in adults is Alzheimer's disease (AD). Depending on the age of onset, AD is divided into early (<65 years) and late (≥65 years) forms. Early-onset AD (EOAD) is significantly less common than later-onset AD (LOAD) and accounts for only about 5-10% of cases.

The hTERT and iCasp9 Transgenes Affect EOMES and T-BET Levels in NK Cells and the Introduction of Both Genes Improves NK Cell Proliferation in Response to IL2 and IL15 Stimulation.

The NK cell exhaustion state evolving during extensive and prolonged cultivation is still one of the limitations of NK cell approaches. In this research, we transduced NK cells with the and genes. hTERT overexpression can prevent the functional exhaustion of NK cells during long-term cultivation, but, still, the therapeutic use of such cells is unsafe without irradiation.

Emerging Trends in Pathophysiology: Insights from the 9th International Congress of the International Society for Pathophysiology (ISP 2023).

This article provides a summary of the 9th International Congress of the International Society for Pathophysiology (ISP 2023) which took place in Belgrade, Serbia, from 4 to 6 July 2023. It describes the main trends and the most promising areas of research in current pathophysiology, including investigations of new pathogenic pathways, and the identification of cellular and molecular mechanisms, target molecules, genetic mechanisms, and new therapeutic strategies. The present article also highlights the research conducted by leading scientific teams and national pathophysiological societies from various countries that adds to our understanding of the pathogenesis of diseases and pathological processes.

Autologous T-Cell-Free Antigen Presentation System Unveils hCMV-Specific NK Cell Response.

NK cells play a decisive role in controlling hCMV infection by combining innate and adaptive-like immune reactions. The hCMV-derived VMAPRTLFL (LFL) peptide is a potent activator of NKG2C NK cells. Proposed here is an autologous system of LFL stimulation without T lymphocytes and exogenous cytokines that allows us to evaluate NK-cell hCMV-specific responses in more native settings.

[The relationship between the development of post-stroke cognitive impairment and changes in the coagulation component of hemostasis].

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between the severity of post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) and coagulation parameters assessed using the dynamic thrombophotometry.

Material And Methods: Thirty-five patients with hemispheric ischemic stroke (IS) with moderate neurological deficit at admission were included. All patients underwent a comprehensive clinical and instrumental assessment according to the current guidelines.

Targeted Delivery of HSP70 to Tumor Cells via Supramolecular Complex Based on HER2-Specific DARPin9_29 and the Barnase:Barstar Pair.

(1) Background: We have previously shown that the use of an artificial supramolecular two-component system based on chimeric recombinant proteins 4D5scFv-barnase and barstar-heat shock protein 70 KDa (HSP70) allows targeted delivery of HSP70 to the surface of tumor cells bearing HER2/neu antigen. In this work, we studied the possibility to using DARPin9_29-barnase as the first targeting module recognizing HER2/neu-antigen in the HSP70 delivery system. (2) Methods: The effect of the developed systems for HSP70 delivery to human carcinomas SK-BR-3 and BT474 cells hyperexpressing HER2/neu on the activation of cytotoxic effectors of the immune cells was studied in vitro.

Obtaining Gene-Modified HLA-E-Expressing Feeder Cells for Stimulation of Natural Killer Cells.

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV)-specific adaptive NK cells are capable of recognizing viral peptides presented by HLA-E on infected cells via the NKG2C receptor. Using retroviral transduction, we have generated a K562-cell-based line expressing HLA-E in the presence of the HLA-E-stabilizing peptide, which has previously shown the capacity to enhance adaptive NK cell response. The obtained K562-21E cell line was employed to investigate proliferative responses of the CD57 NK cell subset of HCMV-seropositive and seronegative donors.

Evaluation of the Immunosafety of Cucurbit[n]uril In Vivo.

Cucurbiturils are a family of macrocyclic oligomers capable of forming host-guest complexes with various molecules. Due to noncovalent binding to drug molecules and low toxicity, cucurbiturils has been extensively investigated as potential carriers for drug delivery. However, the immune system's interactions with different drug carriers, including cucurbiturils, are still under investigation.