Introduction: The lacrimal gland (LG) of the CD25-/- model of Sjögren's syndrome (SS) has high interleukin (IL)-17, IL-13 and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) cytokines. The specific contribution of these cytokines to the onset and severity of dacryoadenitis in the CD25-/- mice has not been evaluated.
Methods: CD25-/-IL-17A-/-, CD25-/-IL-17-/-IFN-γ-/- and CD25-/-IFN-γ-/- were used at 4, 8, 12, 16 weeks (W). Total lymphocytic infiltration was evaluated by histology and characterized by flow cytometry. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) concentration was measured in tears. Immunofluorescent staining evaluated expression of IFN-γ receptor (IFN-γR) and apoptosis. Real-time PCR evaluated inflammatory and T cell-related cytokines expression in LG. Caspase-3, -8, -9 activities was assayed in LG lysates. T helper cytokines were measured in serum by Luminex assay.
Results: The greatest total LG infiltration at 8 W was seen in CD25-/-IL-17A-/- (95%), followed by CD25-/- (71%) and IL-17-/- (12%). Tear EGF concentration was in normal range in CD25-/- at 4 W and in very low levels in both CD25-/- and CD25-/-IL-17A-/-. CD25-/- had high levels of inflammatory cytokines transcripts in LG compared to IL-17-/- mice; however, CD25-/-IL-17A-/- had even higher IL-1β, IFN-γR, caspase-3, -8, -9 mRNA levels, greater immunoreactivity to IFN-γR in LG acini, greater number of apoptotic+ cells and greater caspases activities in the LG at 8 W. CD25-/-IL-17A-/- had lower IL-13 concentration and lower IL-13/IFN-γ ratio compared to CD25-/- in serum. CD25-/-IFN-γ-/- had lower number of apoptotic+ cells and decreased caspase-3 expression in LG. CD25-/-IL-17-/-IFN-γ-/- had lower total lymphocytic cell infiltration at 8 W (48%), CD4+T cell infiltration and expression of IFN-γR and apoptotic+ cells in the LG and increased tear EGF concentration in tears.
Conclusions: IFN-γ is critical for LG destruction and secretory dysfunction in the CD25-/- model of SS. Altered balance between IFN-γ and IL-13 in the CD25-/-IL-17A-/- mice accelerates LG destruction by increasing glandular apoptosis and facilitating apoptosis through increased expression of IFN-γR by glandular epithelium and activation of caspases. Targeting both IFN-γ and IL-17 may be beneficial for treating the LG inflammation in SS.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13075-015-0582-9 | DOI Listing |
BMC Ophthalmol
January 2025
Department of Ophthalmology, Wuhu Eye Hospital, 378 Santan Road, Yijiang District, Anhui Province, Wuhu, 241002, China.
Background: Epiphora and secondary ocular surface damage are increasingly impairing the quality of life of people, particularly elderly women. We aimed to investigate the changes in tear cytokine and lactoferrin levels in postmenopausal women with primary acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction (PANDO) complicated with obstructed meibomian gland dysfunction (OMGD) and preliminary explore the pathological mechanisms of OMGD in patients with PANDO.
Methods: The prospective study involved 43 and 41 postmenopausal women with and without PANDO, respectively.
Reprod Biol
January 2025
Department of Biology, Edge Hill University, L39 4QP, UK. Electronic address:
Mechanisms controlling the process and patterning of blood vessel development in the placenta remain largely unknown. The close physical proximity of early blood vessels observed in the placenta and the cytotrophoblast, as well as the reported production of vasculogenic growth factors by the latter, suggests that signalling between these two niches may be important. Here, we have developed an in vitro model to address the hypothesis that the cytotrophoblast, by the secretion of soluble factors, drives differentiation of resident sub-trophoblastic mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) along a vascular lineage, thereby establishing feto-placental circulation.
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January 2025
Chapman University School of Pharmacy, Irvine, California 92618, United States.
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January 2025
i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, University of Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal.
Glioblastoma presents a significant treatment challenge due to the blood-brain barrier (BBB) hindering drug delivery, and the overexpression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), which promotes tumor invasiveness. This study introduces a novel nanostructured lipid carrier (NLC) system designed for the delivery of batimastat, an MMP inhibitor, across the BBB and into the glioblastoma microenvironment. The NLCs were functionalized with epidermal growth factor (EGF) and a transferrin receptor-targeting construct to enhance BBB penetration and entrapment within the tumor microenvironment.
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