Editorial Clinical and Experimental Immunomodulation 2014downloads.hindawi.com/journals/jir/2015/758328.pdf · 2019-07-31 · Editorial Clinical and Experimental Immunomodulation

EditorialClinical and Experimental Immunomodulation 2014

Lenin Pavón,1 Oscar Bottasso,2 Hugo Besedosky,3

Roger Loria,4 and Marco A. Velasco-Velázquez5

1Department of Psychoimmunology, National Institute of Psychiatry “Ramon de la Fuente”, Calzada Mexico-Xochimilco 101,Colonia San Lorenzo Huipulco, Tlalpan, 14370 Mexico City, DF, Mexico2Instituto de Inmunologıa, Facultad de CienciasMedicas, UniversidadNacional de Rosario, Santa Fe 3100 CP, 2000 Rosario, Argentina3Research Group Immunophysiology, Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Philipps University, 35037 Marburg, Germany4Department of Microbiology, Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1101 E. Marshal Street, Richmond,VA 232980678, USA5School ofMedicine,NationalAutonomousUniversity ofMexico, AvenidaUniversidad 3000, Coyoacan, 04510MexicoCity,DF,Mexico

Correspondence should be addressed to Lenin Pavon; [email protected]

Received 11 March 2015; Accepted 11 March 2015

Copyright © 2015 Lenin Pavon et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License,which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

The proper function of cells, receptors, and solublemediatorsinvolved in the immune response is associated with anindividual’s health. However, hyper- or hyporeactive immuneresponses are associated with a broad spectrum of diseases,such as chronic inflammatory diseases, infections, allergies,autoimmune diseases, and immunodeficiencies. Several fac-tors could contribute to the deregulation of the immuneresponse, some of them involving genetic and environmen-tal factors as well as an individual’s perception. In recentyears, immunomodulatory effects of apparently unrelatedmolecules such as hormones and neurotransmitters havebeen reported and their potential therapeutic applicationshave been identified.Thus, the investigation ofmolecules andcompounds with immunomodulatory properties holds thepromise of the development of new therapeutic approachesfor a wide range of ailments. This journal has inauguratedan annual issue to emphasize the leverage that knowledge onclinical and experimental immunomodulation has come toattain. This special issue is the second volume of such series.

In this issue, the reader will find thirteen experimentalapproaches analyzing several aspects of immunomodulation.Four of them focus on the immunomodulatory effects ofmicroorganisms. For example, the work of L. Chen et al.shows modulatory effects of Lactobacillus acidophilus on theIL-23/Th17 immune axis in a murine experimental colitismodel. Their results show that the administration of L.acidophilus suppressed Th17 cell-mediated secretion of theproinflammatory cytokine IL-17 through downregulation of

IL-23 and TGF-𝛽1 expression and downstream phospho-rylation of STAT3. In this same sense, C. C. Squaiella-Baptistao et al. analyzed the mechanisms accounting for theTh2 response elicited by inactivated P. acnes or its solublepolysaccharide in an ovalbumin immediate hypersensitivitymodel, showing that the potentiating or suppressing effectson Th2 response seem to be related to the expression ofcostimulatory molecules or toll-like receptors (TLRs), onantigen presenting cells. The study by T. F. de C. Fraga-Silvaet al. provides evidence of the aggravating role of a priorCandida albicans infection on the course of an experimentallyinduced autoimmune encephalomyelitis in female C57BL/6mice. Manipulated animals display not only a higher clinicalscore but also a more noticeable expansion of peripheralCD4+ T lymphocytes together with an increased productionof TNF-𝛼, IFN-𝛾, IL-6, and IL-17 either in the spleen or inCNS. The work by B. Franz et al. compares the features ofthe experimental infection by Francisella tularensis (Ft) inwild-type and Fc gamma receptor IIB (Fc𝛾RIIB) knockoutmice vaccinated with inactivated Ft (iFt), to study the roleof Fc𝛾RIIB in downregulation of the immune response afterthe interaction of Fc𝛾RIIB with immune complexes. Whileshowing no survival differences, iFt-immunized Fc𝛾RIIB KOmice display a better response compared to their wild-typecounterparts in terms of specific IgA levels and synthesis ofcytokines involved in the inflammatory reaction.

A different set of studies assessed drugs with immunomo-dulatory effects. The work of M. P. Miranda-Hernandez et al.

Hindawi Publishing CorporationJournal of Immunology ResearchVolume 2015, Article ID 758328, 2 pageshttp://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/758328

2 Journal of Immunology Research

presents a physicochemical and biological characterization,followed by pharmacodynamic and immunogenicity studiesin two rituximab containing products, which behaved in asimilar manner both physicochemically and functionally. Inanother work, N. Salinas-Jazmın et al. evaluated the activityof multiple batches of a human dialyzable leukocyte extract(hDLE), a mixture of low-molecular weight peptides releasedfrom lysed peripheral blood leukocytes, in a standardizedand validated mouse model of cutaneous HSV-1 infection.The activity of all batches of hDLE improved survival fromHSV-1 infection, in presence of increased levels of IFN-𝛾 andreduced amounts of IL-6 andTNF-𝛼 inmice sera.Q.Qiu et al.analyze the effectiveness of a short bromocriptine treatmentfor the prevention of postpartum relapse in systemic lupuserythematosus (SLE) patients. Bromocriptine effectively pre-vents postpartum hyperprolactinemia and hyperestrogene-mia in the first two months after delivery and lowers therelapse rate, showing that bromocriptine may be beneficialfor a subset of SLE patients. P. Schafer et al. assess the role ofsystemic inflammatory biomarkers in the previously reportedeffect of apremilast in psoriatic arthritis. They found that, ina first phase of treatment, apremilast reduced plasma levels ofseveral Th1 proinflammatory cytokines, especially TNF-𝛼. Incontrast, longer treatment times reduced the concentration ofTh17 cytokines and increased anti-inflammatory mediators.The results show that apremilast induces a new balance inTh1 and Th17 cytokines that partially explain its therapeuticeffects.

Two more papers analyze the role of physiological medi-ators in immune response. S. Munoz-Cruz et al. demonstratethat histamine release by mast cells following stimulationwith IgE or substance P is influenced by sex hormones in adose- and gender-dependent manner, with female rats beingmore susceptible to the hormonal influence. E. Carbajal-Franco et al. explore the role of inhibins and activins inthe thymic stromal cell differentiation and function. Theirfindings demonstrate that inhibins modify the relation-ship between cortical and medullary thymic epithelial cells,further influencing thymocyte selection and generation ofnatural Treg cells.

This issue also includes experimental approaches foranalyzing immune changes during disease. R. Masetti et al.present a retrospective study of a cytokine SNPs panel intransplanted children with acute graft-versus-host disease(aGvHD). Results reveal that SNPs on IL-10, FAS, andTLR4 in donors and IL-18 in recipients are associated withan increased risk of developing aGvHD. F. Morandi et al.evaluated the contribution of tumor cells to the immunosup-pression observed in patients withmetastatic neuroblastoma.Although they found increased IL-10, ARG1, and CD163plasma concentration and increased Treg cells inNB patients,the changes were independent of the clinical outcome andtherefore cannot be used as prognostic factors. In addition,A. Diaz et al. studied Treg frequency as well as plasma con-centrations of cytokines and steroid hormones in tuberculosis(TB) patients.They show that the increased Treg frequency inTB patients compared to healthy controls is further increasedby TB-specific therapy. After four months of treatment,patients also display reduced levels of the proinflammatory

cytokine IFN-𝛾.These results partially support the hypothesisthat Treg cells play a role in counterbalancing an excessiveinflammatory response in TB patients.

There are also in this issue eight interesting reviews aboutagents with immunomodulatory properties. R. Arreola etal. present a wide review about the mechanisms involvedin 5-HT-induced immunomodulation and their effects inspecific pathologies such as major depression, fibromyal-gia, Alzheimer’s disease, psoriasis, arthritis, allergies, andasthma. K. J. G. Dıaz-Resendiz et al. comment on severallines of evidence pointing out to an affectation of theimmune response following exposure to organophosphoruspesticides. The evidence presented suggests that, amongthe potential mechanisms involved, these pesticides affectneuroimmune communication, particularly the cholinergicbranch and the immune system. P. S. de Araujo-Souza et al.reviewed the chromatin status of the IFN-𝛾 gene promoterin T CD8+ cells and the potential influences of epigeneticmodifications and conserved noncoding sequences in theregulation of IFN-𝛾 synthesis by these cells. C. Pacheco-Tenaand S. A. Gonzalez-Chavez provide an appealing view onthe pathogenesis of several rheumatic diseases. In essence,they point out tissue dysfunction as a critical prerequisitefor chronic autoimmunity. Z. Mohammed-Ali et al. presentthe accumulated evidence about the cross talk between theunfolded protein response (UPR) and NF-𝜅B pathways inchronic kidney disease. They also discuss alternative toolsto study this phenomenon as well as the potential thera-peutic candidates that are emerging to regulate the UPR.R. Arreola et al. review the stimulating effects of garlicon several immunocompetent cells including macrophages,lymphocytes, NK cells, DCs, and eosinophils. Moreover, thiswork examines potential avenues for garlic-based modula-tion strategies in several diseases with an immunologicalcomponent in its pathogenesis. M. E. Castro-Manrreza andJ. J. Montesinos review the effects elicited by mesenchymalstem cells (MSCs) on immune cells, with particular focus onthe mechanisms involved, and discuss the potential clinicalapplication of MSCs in immune disorders. Finally, M. Vestitaet al. present an extensive review of the literature of the roleof vitaminD in atopic dermatitis (AD).The evidence suggeststhat vitaminD supplementationmay elicit a therapeutic effectin AD; however, at present, its administration is only justifiedin very rare therapy resistant cases.

We hope that our readers will find this special issueenticing and enjoy reading the contributions by all authors,as we have done.

Lenin PavonOscar BottassoHugo Besedosky

Roger LoriaMarco A. Velasco-Velazquez

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Editorial Clinical and Experimental Immunomodulation 2014downloads.hindawi.com/journals/jir/2015/758328.pdf · 2019-07-31 · Editorial Clinical and Experimental Immunomodulation

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