Significance: Despite improved understanding of cellular and molecular events mediating type 2 immune responses in the gut, how these changes facilitate worm expulsion remains largely unknown. We identified pyroptosis-effector gasdermin C genes ( Gsdmc s) as type 2 cytokine-regulated target genes in intestinal epithelial cells. Furthermore, we showed that overexpression of Gsdmc2 triggered pyroptosis. Organoid cultures and in vivo mouse models were used to show that activating type 2 immunity leads to lytic cell death in gut epithelium and cleavage of Gsdmcs. We thus revealed a role of gasdermin-mediated lytic cell death in worm-induced type 2 immunity. Parasitic infection often leads to malnutrition and retarded growth; since this may involve villus atrophy, gasdermin activity may provide a pharmaceutical target for treatment.
9 May 2019 in International Journal of Oral Science
Tooth decay is prevalent, and secondary caries causes restoration failures, both of which are related to demineralization. There is an urgent need to develop new therapeutic materials with remineralization functions. This article represents the first review on the cutting edge research of poly(amido amine) (PAMAM) in combination with nanoparticles of amorphous calcium phosphate (NACP). PAMAM was excellent nucleation template, and could absorb calcium (Ca) and phosphate (P) ions via its functional groups to activate remineralization. NACP composite and adhesive showed acid-neutralization and Ca and P ion release capabilities. PAMAM+NACP together showed synergistic effects and produced triple benefits: excellent nucleation templates, superior acid-neutralization, and ions release. Therefore, the PAMAM+NACP strategy possessed much greater remineralization capacity than using PAMAM or NACP alone. PAMAM+NACP achieved dentin remineralization even in an acidic solution without any initial Ca and P ions. Besides, the long-term remineralization capability of PAMAM+NACP was established. After prolonged fluid challenge, the immersed PAMAM with the recharged NACP still induced effective dentin mineral regeneration. Furthermore, the hardness of pre-demineralized dentin was increased back to that of healthy dentin, indicating a complete remineralization. Therefore, the novel PAMAM+NACP approach is promising to provide long-term therapeutic effects including tooth remineralization, hardness increase, and caries-inhibition capabilities.
Macrophages play an important role in the immune microenvironment during bone healing, and sequential macrophage phenotypic transition could achieve superior osteogenic outcomes. Microcrystalline bioactive glasses (MCBGs) with osteoimmunomodulatory effects show potential in bone tissue regeneration. Zinc (Zn) has been approved to coordinate innate and adaptive immunity. Therefore, in this study, different amounts of ZnO were incorporated into microcrystalline bioactive glass to improve its immunomodulatory ability. The effect of Zn-MCBG ionic extracts on macrophage transition was studied, and the 5Zn-MCBG extracts could orchestrate sequential M1-to-M2 macrophage transition and promote the expression of proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory genes and cytokine expression to induce human bone marrow stromal cells (hBMSCs) osteogenic differentiation in vitro. Macroporous Zn-MCBG scaffolds containing mesopores were fabricated and showed good cell adhesion and feasible apatite formation when immersed in SBF in vitro. Furthermore, a rat calvarial defect model was used to confirm that the Zn-MCBG scaffold could modulate macrophage phenotypic transition and create a desirable osteogenic microenvironment to promote osteogenesis in vivo.