Objective Rho-kinases (ROCKs) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular and renal disorders. We recently showed that ROCKs could regulate the differentiation of murine TH17 cells and production of IL-17 and IL-21, two cytokines associated with SLE. The goal of this study was to assess ROCK activation in human TH17 cells and evaluate ROCK activity in SLE patients. Methods An ELISA-based ROCK activity assay was employed to evaluate ROCK activity in human cord blood CD4+ T cells differentiated under TH0 or TH17 conditions. We then performed a cross-sectional analysis of 28 SLE patients and 25 healthy matched controls. ROCK activity in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) lysates was assessed by ELISA. Cytokine and chemokine profiles were analyzed via ELISA. Results Human cord blood CD4+ T cells differentiated under TH17 conditions expressed higher levels of ROCK activity than CD4+ T cells stimulated under TH0 conditions. Production of IL-17 and IL-21 was furthermore inhibited by addition of a ROCK inhibitor. SLE PBMCs expressed significantly higher levels of ROCK activity as compared to healthy controls, 1.25 vs. 0.56, respectively (p=0.0015). Sixteen (57%) SLE patients expressed high ROCK levels (OD450>1). Disease duration, lymphocyte count, and azathioprine use were significant independent predictors of ROCK activity in multivariable analyses. Conclusions Consistent with previous results in the murine system, increased ROCK activation was associated with TH17 differentiation. Enhanced ROCK activity was furthermore observed in a subgroup of SLE patients. These data support the concept that the ROCK pathway could represent an important therapeutic target for SLE.

Following antibiotic treatment for Lyme disease, some patients report persistent or relapsing symptoms of pain, fatigue, and/or cognitive deficits. Factors other than active infection, including immune abnormalities, have been suggested, but few clues regarding mechanism have emerged. Furthermore, the effect of antibiotic treatment on immune response in affected individuals remains unknown. In this study, a longitudinal analysis of specific immune markers of interest was carried out in patients with a history of Lyme disease and persistent objective memory impairment, prior to and following treatment with either ceftriaxone or placebo. IFNα activity was measured by detection of serum-induced changes in specific target genes, using a functional cell-based assay and quantitative real-time PCR. Level and pattern of antibody reactivity to brain antigens and to Borrelia burgdorferi proteins were analyzed by ELISA and immunoblotting. Sera from the patient cohort induced significantly higher expression of IFIT1 and IFI44 target genes than those from healthy controls, indicating increased IFNα activity. Antibody reactivity to specific brain and borrelial proteins was significantly elevated in affected patients. IFNα activity and antibody profile did not change significantly in response to ceftriaxone. The heightened antibody response implies enhanced immune stimulation, possibly due to prolonged exposure to the organism prior to the initial diagnosis and antibiotic treatment of Lyme disease. The increase in IFNα activity is suggestive of a mechanism contributing to the ongoing neuropsychiatric symptoms.

This study confirms that personnel and door opening are a major source of particles in the OR air. Controlling traffic is critical for reduction of particles and is likely to be a key preventative strategy in reducing periprosthetic joint infection. LAF is protective against the negative influence of number of people and door openings.

Most immunogenic proteins of Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease, are known or expected to contain multiple B cell epitopes. However, the kinetics of the development of human B cell responses toward the various epitopes of individual proteins during the course of Lyme disease has not been examined. Using the highly immunogenic VlsE as a model Ag, we investigated the evolution of humoral immune responses toward its immunodominant sequences in 90 patients with a range of early to late manifestations of Lyme disease. The results demonstrate the existence of asynchronous, independently developing, Ab responses against the two major immunogenic regions of the VlsE molecule in the human host. Despite their strong immunogenicity, the target epitopes were inaccessible to Abs on intact spirochetes, suggesting a lack of direct immunoprotective effect. These observations document the association of immune reactivity toward specific VlsE sequences with different phases of Lyme disease, demonstrating the potential use of detailed epitope mapping of Ags for staging of the infection, and offer insights regarding the pathogen’s possible immune evasion mechanisms.