Purpose. To investigate the expression of innate immunity components and cytokines in the gastric mucosa among H. pylori infected and uninfected children. Materials and Methods. Biopsies of the antral gastric mucosa from children with dyspeptic symptoms were evaluated. Gene expressions of innate immunity receptors and cytokines were measured by quantitative real‐time PCR. The protein expression of selected molecules was tested by immunohistochemistry. Results. H. pylori infection did not lead to a significant upregulation of MyD88, TLR2, TLR4, CD14, TREM1, and TREM2 mRNA expression but instead resulted in high mRNA expression of IL-6, IL-10, IFN-γ, TNF-α, and CD163. H. pylori cagA(+) infection was associated with higher IL-6 and IL-10 mRNA expression, as compared to cagA(−) strains. H. pylori infected children showed increased IFN‐γ and TNF‐α protein levels. IFN‐γ mRNA expression correlated with both H. pylori density of colonization and lymphocytic infiltration in the gastric mucosa, whereas TNF‐α protein expression correlated with bacterial density. Conclusion. H. pylori infection in children was characterized by (a) Th1 expression profile, (b) lack of mRNA overexpression of natural immunity receptors, and (c) strong anti‐inflammatory activities in the gastric mucosa, possibly resulting from increased activity of anti‐inflammatory M2 macrophages. This may explain the mildly inflammatory gastric inflammation often observed among H. pylori infected children.

A decrease in IGF-1 is often linked to inflammation. Low systemic and local IGF-1 production and downregulation of IGF-1R expression may precede and predict PH development in children/adolescents. Leukocyte mRNA expression of IGF-1 and its receptor (IGF-1R) and plasma IGF-1 were measured in a group of 39 PH children/adolescents (29 boys and 10 girls) and 35 age-matched normotensive children (19 boys and 16 girls) using the RT-PCR and ELISA tests. The expression of the IGF-1R protein was assessed by flow cytometry. Plasma IGF-1 concentration was evaluated with ELISA. The expression of IGF-1 and IGF-1R and plasma concentrations of IGF-1 did not differ between groups. However, the PH children had a decreased percentage in IGF-1R-bearing lymphocytes (p = 0.02) and monocytes (p = 0.0003), as well as a low density of IGF-R in monocytes (p = 0.02). The IGF-1 expression was negatively correlated with pulse-wave velocity (PWV) (r = −0.49), systolic blood pressure (SBP) (−0.44), and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) (−0.43). The IGF-1R expression was negatively correlated with PWV (r = −0.42) and SBP (r = −0.41). Our results suggest that early subclinical hypertensive arterial injury is associated with lower activity of IGF-1-IGF-1R expression and loss of protective actions.

Pentraxins are inflammatory proteins and markers of acute-phase responses. They are divided into short and long subgroups based on the length of the N-terminal region. The most studied short pentraxin is the C-reactive protein (CRP), which is known to be expressed in various inflammatory conditions, including surgical procedures. On the other hand, much less is known about the kinetics of long pentraxin 3 (PTX3) in surgical patients, especially in the pediatric population. The aim of this prospective study was to determine the early postoperative kinetics of PTX3 in relation to procalcitonin (PCT) and CRP levels in children undergoing congenital heart surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). A total of 21 children (9 boys and 12 girls, mean age 12 months) were included in the study. Blood samples for determination of CRP, PCT, and PTX3 levels were collected before the surgery and then immediately after its completion (postoperative day 0, POD 0) and subsequently at POD 1, 2, and 3. Serum PTX3 concentrations increased significantly between POD 0 and POD 1 (mean values were 12.2 and 72.4 ng/ml, respectively, p<0.001), decreased between POD 1 and POD 2 (mean values were 72.4 and 23.6 ng/ml, respectively, p<0.001), and normalized on POD 3 (the mean value was 1.2 ng/ml). PTX3 concentrations are markedly elevated during the first postoperative day. Under normal circumstances, PTX3 rises and falls quickly, and its second rise in the early postoperative period may be abnormal, however, further studies are necessary.

Objectives: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are calcium-dependent zinc-containing endo-peptidases engaged in many biological processes including adipogenesis, angiogenesis, and tissue remodeling. Fat tissue infiltration by peripheral leukocytes plays an important role in transition of fat tissue residual, non-inflammatory status into the pro-inflammatory one, resulting in fat tissue inflammation and expansion as well as production of many mediators like adipokines and cytokines. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of MMPs, their endogenous tissue inhibitors (TIMPs), and selected inflammatory mediators in leukocytes and plasma of children with simple obesity to find their associations with obesity-related phenotypes. Material and methods: Twenty-six overweight/obese children and twenty-three healthy volunteers participated in the study. The leukocyte mRNA expression levels of MMP-2, -9, -12 -14, TIMP-1, -2, and IL-6 were analyzed by the real time quantitative PCR. Plasma MMP-9/TIMP-1 and MMP-2/TIMP-2 ratios as well as the concentrations of MMP-9, TIMP-1, IL-1 beta, IL-6, TNF- alpha, leptin and resistin were tested by ELISA assays. Gelatin zymography was used to assess the activity of the leukocyte MMPs proteins. Results: The obese children showed the following: a) increased expression of leukocyte TIMP-1 and slight elevation (close to statistical significance) of leukocyte MMP-9 (p = 0.054), the decline in MMP-2, b) elevation of plasma MMP-9, leptin, and MMP9/TIMP1 ratio, c) reduced expression of plasma TNF-alpha and MMP-2/TIMP-2 ratio. Several negative correlations were found: TIMP2 vs. ALT (r = −0.536), AST (r = −0.645) and TTG (r = −0.438), IL-6 vs. GGTP (r = −0.815), and MMP12 vs. TTG (r = −0.488), leptin vs. ALT (r = −0.569), MMP-9 vs. total cholesterol (r = −0.556). The only positive correlation was that of plasma leptin level vs. GGTP (r = 0.964). Conclusions: At the beginning of obesity development (children), possibly compensatory reactions prevail, reflected here by an increase in the expression of leukocyte MMPs inhibitor TIMP-1, decrease in the level of leukocyte MMP-2 and plasma MMP-2, MMP2/TIMP-2 ratio, low plasma TNF-alpha and negative correlations between the expression of TIMP-2 and liver (AST, ALT) or fat (TTG) inflammatory markers.

Background: Vitamin D plays an important immunomodulatory role, and vitamin D deficiency has been associated with an increased risk of infections and autoimmune disorders. Although patients with some primary immunodeficiency disorders (PID) exhibit higher rates of vitamin deficiency, there are currently no evidence-based recommendations regarding whether children with PIDs require higher vitamin D supplementation than healthy peers. This study aimed to evaluate the nutritional status of vitamin D and vitamin D supplementation in children with PIDs. Methods: The study included 132 children diagnosed with PIDs according to the 2024 update of the phenotypic classification by the International Union of Immunological Societies (IUIS). The following variables were evaluated: body mass index (BMI), 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), calcium, phosphorus, immunoglobulins G, A and M, and number of neutrophils and lymphocytes in the blood. Results: Vitamin D deficiency occurred in 13% of all tested children, and in 22 and 33% of children with predominantly antibody deficiencies and complement deficiencies, respectively, with the median vitamin D supplementation of 1000 IU. The median serum 25(OH)D concentration was 30.75 ng/mL (32.7 ng/mL in girls and 30 ng/mL in boys). The multiple linear regression model showed that the concentration of serum phosphorus level (b = 0.312; p = 0.0497) and immunoglobulin G level (b = 0.433; p = 0.0009) had the greatest influence on the concentration of 25(OH)D. No statistically significant differences in 25(OH)D concentrations were observed among the different IUIS diagnostic groups or between children with normal and low IgG levels. Conclusions: In this retrospective cross-sectional study, children reportedly receiving median 1000 IU supplementation had median 25(OH)D of 30.75 ng/mL with 13% deficiency prevalence; however, causal attribution requires prospective evaluation.

MRI and Biomarkers in Early Detection of Pulmonary Changes in Ataxia-Telangiectasia - Article abstract #946570