78 research outputs found
Elevated serum levels of soluble CD154 in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Objective</p> <p>Cytokines play important roles in mediating inflammation in autoimmunity. Several cytokines are elevated in serum and synovial fluid samples from children with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA). Soluble CD154 (sCD154) is elevated in other autoimmune disorders, but has not been characterized in JIA. Our objectives were to determine if sCD154 is elevated in JIA, and to examine correlations between sCD154 and other inflammatory cytokines.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Serum from 77 children with JIA and 81 pediatric controls was analyzed for interleukin (IL)1β, IL2, IL4, IL5, IL6, IL8, IL10, IL12, IL13, sCD154, interferon-γ (IFNγ), soluble IL2 receptor (sIL2R), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα), using the Luminex Multi-Analyte Profiling system. Differences in levels of cytokines between cases and controls were analyzed. Logistic regression was also performed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>sCD154 was significantly elevated in cases compared to controls (p < 0.0001). IL1β, IL5, IL6, IL8, IL13, IFNγ, sIL2R, and TNFα were also significantly elevated in JIA. Levels of sCD154 were highly correlated with IL1β, IL6, IL8, and TNFα (p < 0.0001). Logistic regression analysis suggested that IL6 (odds ratio (OR): 1.4, p < 0.0001), sCD154 (OR: 1.1, p < 0.0001), and TNFα (OR: 1.1, p < 0.005) were positively associated with JIA, while IL10 (OR: 0.5, p < 0.002) was protective. sCD154 was elevated in all JIA subtypes, with highest levels among more severe subtypes. IL1β, IL6, IL8, sIL2R and TNFα were also elevated in several JIA subtypes.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Serum levels of sCD154, IL1β, IL6, IL8, sIL2R and TNFα are elevated in most JIA subtypes, suggesting a major role for sCD154, and these cytokines and cytokine receptors in the pathogenesis of JIA.</p
Pervasiveness of Parasites in Pollinators
Many pollinator populations are declining, with large economic and ecological
implications. Parasites are known to be an important factor in the some of the
population declines of honey bees and bumblebees, but little is known about the
parasites afflicting most other pollinators, or the extent of interspecific
transmission or vectoring of parasites. Here we carry out a preliminary
screening of pollinators (honey bees, five species of bumblebee, three species
of wasp, four species of hoverfly and three genera of other bees) in the UK for
parasites. We used molecular methods to screen for six honey bee viruses,
Ascosphaera fungi, Microsporidia, and
Wolbachia intracellular bacteria. We aimed simply to detect
the presence of the parasites, encompassing vectoring as well as actual
infections. Many pollinators of all types were positive for
Ascosphaera fungi, while Microsporidia were rarer, being
most frequently found in bumblebees. We also detected that most pollinators were
positive for Wolbachia, most probably indicating infection with
this intracellular symbiont, and raising the possibility that it may be an
important factor in influencing host sex ratios or fitness in a diversity of
pollinators. Importantly, we found that about a third of bumblebees
(Bombus pascuorum and Bombus terrestris)
and a third of wasps (Vespula vulgaris), as well as all honey
bees, were positive for deformed wing virus, but that this virus was not present
in other pollinators. Deformed wing virus therefore does not appear to be a
general parasite of pollinators, but does interact significantly with at least
three species of bumblebee and wasp. Further work is needed to establish the
identity of some of the parasites, their spatiotemporal variation, and whether
they are infecting the various pollinator species or being vectored. However,
these results provide a first insight into the diversity, and potential
exchange, of parasites in pollinator communities
Il Molise
La testimonianza diretta di tre autori fondamentali per la vita culturale molisana sulla loro terra di origine e di elezione
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