Therapeutic Strategies to Prevent the Recurrence of Nasal Polyps after Surgical Treatment: An Update and In Vitro Study on Growth Inhibition of Fibroblasts.

Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is the most bothersome phenotype of chronic rhinosinusitis, which is typically characterized by a Type 2 inflammatory reaction, comorbidities and high rates of nasal polyp recurrence, causing severe impact on quality of life. Nasal polyp recurrence rates, defined as the number of patients undergoing revision endoscopic sinus surgery, are 20% within a 5 year period after surgery. The cornerstone of CRSwNP management consists of anti-inflammatory treatment with local corticosteroids.

Liposome-based nanoparticles impact on regulatory and effector phenotypes of macrophages and T cells in multiple Sclerosis patients.

Current available treatments of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) reduce neuroinflammation acting on different targets on the immune system, but potentially lead to severe side effects and have a limited efficacy in slowing the progression of the disease. Here, we evaluated in vitro the immunomodulatory potential of a new class of nanoparticles - liposomes, constituted by a double-layer of phosphatidylserine (PSCho/PS), and double-faced, with an outer layer of phosphatidylserine and an inner layer of phosphatidic acid (PSCho/PA), either alone or in the presence of the myelin basic protein (MBP) peptide (residues 85-99) (PSCho/PS-MBP and PSCho/PA-MBP). Results showed that PSCho/PS are equally and efficiently internalized by pro- and anti-inflammatory macrophages (M1 and M2 respectively), while PSCho/PA were internalized better by M2 than M1.

A TLR/CD44 axis regulates T cell trafficking in experimental and human multiple sclerosis.

In the pathogenesis of autoimmune disorders, the modulation of leukocytes' trafficking plays a central role, still poorly understood. Here, we focused on the effect of TLR2 ligands in trafficking of T helper cells through reshuffling of isoforms repertoire. Concurrently, strain background and TLR2 haplotype affected Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and expression of splicing factors.

Human Leukocyte Antigen Class II associations in late-onset Myasthenia Gravis.

Objective: Genetic factors predisposing to late-onset myasthenia gravis (LOMG) have not been clearly defined yet. However, genome-wide association studies identified Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) Class II alleles as a hotspot in this disease subtype. The aim of this study was to analyze the correlations of HLA Class II alleles with clinical data and titin antibodies in this patient subgroup.

Alternative splicing of neurexins 1-3 is modulated by neuroinflammation in the prefrontal cortex of a murine model of multiple sclerosis.

Mounting evidence points to immune-mediated synaptopathy and impaired plasticity as early pathogenic events underlying cognitive decline (CD) in Multiple sclerosis (MS) and in the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) mouse model of the disease. However, knowledge of the neurobiology of synaptic dysfunction is still incomplete. Splicing regulation represents a flexible and powerful mechanism involved in dynamic remodeling of the synapse, which allows the expression of synaptic protein variants that dynamically control the specificity of contacts between neurons.

The S100B Inhibitor Pentamidine Ameliorates Clinical Score and Neuropathology of Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Mouse Model.

S100B is an astrocytic protein acting either as an intracellular regulator or an extracellular signaling molecule. A direct correlation between increased amount of S100B and demyelination and inflammatory processes has been demonstrated. The aim of this study is to investigate the possible role of a small molecule able to bind and inhibit S100B, pentamidine, in the modulation of disease progression in the relapsing-remitting experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis mouse model of multiple sclerosis.

Toll-Like Receptor 2 Mediates In Vivo Pro- and Anti-inflammatory Effects of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis and Modulates Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis.

Mycobacteria display pro- and anti-inflammatory effects in human and experimental pathology. We show here that both effects are mediated by Toll-like receptor 2 (Tlr2), by exploiting a previously characterized Tlr2 variant (Met82Ile). Tlr2 82ile promoted self-specific proinflammatory polarization as well as expansion of ag-specific FoxP3(+) Tregs, while Tlr2 82met impairs the expansion of Tregs and reduces the production of IFN-γ and IL-17 proinflammatory cytokines.

Immunomodulation by gut microbiota: role of Toll-like receptor expressed by T cells.

A close relationship exists between gut microbiota and immune responses. An imbalance of this relationship can determine local and systemic immune diseases. In fact the immune system plays an essential role in maintaining the homeostasis with the microbiota that normally resides in the gut, while, at the same time, the gut microbiota influences the immune system, modulating number and function of effector and regulatory T cells.

M tuberculosis in the adjuvant modulates time of appearance of CNS-specific effector T cells in the spleen through a polymorphic site of TLR2.

DC deliver information regulating trafficking of effector T cells along T-cell priming. However, the role of pathogen-derived motives in the regulation of movement of T cells has not been studied. We hereinafter report that amount of M tuberculosis in the adjuvant modulates relocation of PLP139-151 specific T cells.

What elderly cancer patients want to know? Differences among elderly and young patients.

(1) to evaluate the information needs of Italian elderly cancer patients (age > or =65 years), (2) to compare them with those of young patients (age 18-40 years). Between June 2004 and February 2005 we asked 122 elderly (mean age 72 years) and 52 young (mean age 33 years) cancer patients naïve for treatment to fill in two self-administered questionnaires exploring their needs for information and their psychological distress. The needs for information of elderly patients differed significantly from those of the young patients (p<0.