Immune-cell BDNF expression in treatment-naïve relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients and following one year of immunomodulation therapy

Although neurons are the main source of neurotrophins in the healthy brain, neurotrophins can also be expressed in the immune system. We have previously shown that in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) lower immune-cell neurotrophin levels are associated with brain atrophy and cognitive impairment. The aim of the present study was to assess if immune-cell neurotrophin expression is impaired in MS as compared with the healthy controls, and to describe if these levels change in treatment-naïve RRMS patients, following one year of immunomodulation. Fifty treatment-naïve RRMS patients were assessed at baseline and after one year of immunomodulation (beta-interferons/glatiramer acetate). The control group included 39 healthy subjects matched according to age and gender. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from heparinized blood using Ficoll-Histopaque gradient. The levels of brain-derived-neurotrophic-factor (BDNF), beta-nerve-growth-factor (beta-NGF), neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) and neurotrophin-4/5 (NT-4/5) were measured in PBMC lysates with ELISA. BDNF levels were significantly lower in MS than in the healthy controls (median 613 vs. 1657pg/mg protein, p<0.001). After one year of immunomodulation, BDNF expression did not change significantly (p=0.06) on the group level. In 70% of patients there was no increase in BDNF level, and in 30% it increased. We observed no differences between treatment groups. Other neurotrophins were detected in a minority of MS samples (as opposed to the controls). To conclude, we have shown that immune-cell production of neurotrophins is impaired in MS patients. In our MS cohort standard immunomodulation failed to restore normal BDNF levels in PBMCs within one year of therapy

Different blood-brain-barrier disruption profiles in multiple sclerosis, neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders, and neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus

Aim of the study. To assess differences in BBB damage profiles by measuring serum levels of soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1), soluble platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (sPECAM-1), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), and S100 calcium-binding protein B (S100B) in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOsd), and neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE) patients.Clinical rationale for the study. Blood-brain-barrier (BBB) disruption is one of the key pathological processes involved in various demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) and is associated with shedding of cell adhesion molecules and S100B into the serum compartment. Therefore, making an assessment of serum levels of the above-mentioned molecules could provide information about disease pathogenesis, severity of BBB disruption, and disease activity.Material and methods. We recruited 42 RRMS, 19 NMOsd and 35 NPSLE patients. Subjects were treated with beta-interferons or glatiramer acetate (RRMS), oral steroids and/or azathioprine (NMOsd, NPSLE), other immunosuppressants (NPSLE), or antimalarials (NPSLE). The clinical condition of the patients was assessed using the Kurtzke Expanded Disability Status Scale for MS and NMOsd, and the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index for NPSLE. Serum levels of sVCAM-1, sPECAM-1, sICAM-1 and S100B were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Results. We found the lowest levels of sPECAM-1, sICAM-1 and S100B in sera from NMOsd patients. The highest levels of sPECAM-1 and sICAM-1 were observed in NPSLE, and in NPSLE and MS, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences in sVCAM-1 levels between the examined groups. In MS and NMOsd, there was a negative correlation between the EDSS score and the following molecules: sPECAM-1, sICAM-1 and S100B.Conclusions and clinical implications. We conclude that there is a different profile of blood-brain-barrier disruption reflected by cell adhesion molecules shedding in the spectrum of autoimmune CNS disorders with disseminated white matter lesions. These molecules could become new biomarkers to be used in CNS demyelinating diseases differential diagnoses and monitoring disease activity, but further studies on larger groups of patients are necessary

Postrzeganie Internetu Rzeczy w zastosowaniach konsumenckich w kontekście różnic międzypokoleniowych

Celem artykułu była próba ustalenia, jak przedstawiciele różnych pokoleń postrzegają Internet Rzeczy (IoT) w zastosowaniach konsumenckich oraz czy pomimo wzrostu popularności aplikacji IoT różnice międzypokoleniowe w zakresie percepcji technologii i urządzeń Internetu Rzeczy są istotne. Międzypokoleniową analizę komparatywną przeprowadzono na podstawie własnego badania, zrealizowanego za pomocą ankiety internetowej (CAWI), na próbie 241 respondentów. W świetle uzyskanych wyników nie potwierdzono hipotezy zakładającej, iż przedstawiciele poszczególnych generacji różnią się istotnie w zakresie postrzegania użyteczności urządzeń Internetu Rzeczy w zastosowaniach konsumenckich. Nie potwierdzono także wpływu wieku jako zmiennej różnicującej postrzeganie możliwości zastosowania Internetu Rzeczy w różnych sektorach gospodarki

Multiplexed Immunobead-Based Cytokine Profiling in patients with ovarian cancer

Due to late diagnosis, ovarian cancer is the most deadly gynecologic malignancy. Inflammation is one of the risk factors of ovarian cancer and the inflammatory response implicates all stages of tumorigenesis. The purpose of this study was to analyze the concentration of molecules, which can take part in malignant processes. We analyzed patients with ovarian cancer, with endometriosis and healthy controls. Thirty-seven analytes were measured in serum using BioPlex Pro Human Inflammation Panel. We were able to detect 28 of the proteins among the studied groups. We found a significant increase in 22 of the tested molecules (BAFF, Chitinase3-like 1, IFN-alpha2, IFN-beta, IFN-gamma, IFN-lambda2, IFN-lambda1, gp130, IL-2, IL-12 (p40), IL-11, IL-32, IL-35, MMP3, Osteocalcin, Pantraxin-3, sCD163, TNFRSF8, sIL-6Ralpha, STNF-R1, STNF-R2, and TSLP) in the ovarian cancer group in comparison to the healthy controls. Two of them (IL-20, MMP1) did not show significant differences between groups. Moreover, we identified decreased concentrations of APRIL and osteopontin in ovarian cancer vs. healthy controls. While this study is a preliminary report, we hope this will encourage a further use of multiplex analysis in ovarian cancer biomarker research