Localised interferon-alpha production was investigated in hepatitis C patients entered into a trial of interferon-alpha-2a therapy. Antibodies capable of reacting specifically with interferon-alpha-2, interferon-alpha-4 or with all interferon-alpha subtypes were used as immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence probes to study interferon-alpha production in liver biopsy tissue, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells prior to and after stimulation with Sendai virus. Measurement of cytoplasmic interferon-alpha, specifically interferon-alpha-2 and interferon-alpha-4, in peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated from the hepatitis C patients and of total interferon-alpha secreted into culture supernatants by these cells showed interferon-alpha production similar to that of peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated from normal individuals. Interferon-alpha-positive cells were observed in the infiltrating mononuclear cells of the liver biopsy tissue obtained from 8 of the 14 patients. Lymphocytes, fibroblasts, Kupffer cells, polymorphonuclear cells and monocytes stained positive for interferon-alpha, and specifically interferon-alpha-4, in all of the eight patients. The cytoplasm of hepatocytes also stained weakly positive in three of these patients. Interferon-alpha positive cells showed a good correlation with the degree of histological damage observed in the liver biopsies but not with presence of antibodies towards hepatitis C virus or levels of serum alanine aminotransferase measured prior to interferon-alpha-2a therapy. Interestingly, response to therapy seemed linked to local interferon-alpha production status. Those patients who responded best to therapy displayed no or only low levels of interferon-alpha positive cells in liver biopsy tissue. Thus patients with a lower activation of their endogenous interferon-alpha system may benefit from administration of exogenous interferon-alpha.
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Ir Vet J
January 2025
Animal and Poultry Production Division, Department of Animal and Poultry Breeding, Desert Research Center, Cairo, Egypt.
Brucellosis is a highly contagious zoonotic bacterial disease. It has considerable negative consequences on the animal production industry worldwide. The objective of this study was to investigate the genetic and molecular variations in Shami goat susceptible to Brucella infection.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMol Ther Nucleic Acids
March 2025
Program of Infection and Inflammation, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia.
Currently, no approved antiviral drugs target dengue virus (DENV) infection, leaving treatment reliant on supportive care. DENV vaccine efficacy varies depending on the vaccine type, the circulating serotype, and vaccine coverage. We investigated defective interfering particles (DIPs) and lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) to deliver DI290, an anti-DENV DI RNA.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPhytomedicine
January 2025
General Surgery, Cancer Center, Department of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Surgery and Minimally Invasive Surgery, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou 310014, PR China; Clinical Research Institute, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou 310014, PR China; Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Diagnosis and Individualized Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou 310014, PR China; School of Life Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, PR China. Electronic address:
Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC), an inflammatory disease characterized by intestinal barrier dysfunction, poses significant challenges because of the toxicity and adverse effects commonly associated with conventional therapies. Safer and more efficacious treatment strategies are needed.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to treat UC with Folium Artemisiae Argyi exosome-like nanovesicles (FAELNs) and to explore its related mechanism to provide a safer and more effective means for the treatment of ulcerative colitis.
Middle East J Dig Dis
October 2024
Department of Laboratory Sciences, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Ahvaze Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
Background: is a gram-negative pathogen. The infection caused by this pathogen may result in gastritis and can increase the risk of gastric cancer. This study investigated the relationship between infection as the main risk factor for gastritis and changes in serum inflammatory cytokine levels.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Virol
January 2025
Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
Unlabelled: SARS-CoV-2 infection induces interferon (IFN) response by plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs), but the underlying mechanisms are poorly defined. Here, we show that the bulk of the IFN-I release comes from pDC sensing of infected cells and not cell-free virions. Physical contact (or conjugates) between pDCs and infected cells is mediated through CD54-CD11a engagement, and such conjugate formation is required for efficient IFN-I production.
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