The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of interleukin (IL)-17-producing CD4+ T cells (Th17) and regulatory T (Treg) cells in children with primary nephrotic syndrome. The study cohort consisted of 62 children who were randomly divided into control, primary nephrotic syndrome, and isolated hematuria groups. Flow cytometric analysis revealed the presence of Th17 cells in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of 35 children and Tregs in the PBMCs of all children. In addition, mRNA expression of Th17-related factors [IL-17, -23p19 and retinoid orphan nuclear receptor (RORc)] and the concentration of plasma inflammatory mediators such as IL-6 and IL-1beta were consistently detected in all children. Protein expression of IL-17 and transforming growth factor-beta1 were also detected in renal biopsy tissue and compared between different groups. Patients with PNS were found to have an increased number of Th17 cells and decreased numbers of Tregs in their PBMCs, and there was significant difference in the prevalence of Th17 and Tregs between the patients with PNS and those with isolated hematuria. Our data show that among our study cohort, there was a dynamic equilibrium between Th17 and Treg cells in children with PNS following the development of PNS with apparent renal tubular epithelial cell and interstitium lesions. The dynamic interaction between Th17 and Treg cells may be important in the development of PNS.
<b><i>Background:</i></b> Alport syndrome (AS) is an inherited progressive renal disease caused by mutations in <i>COL4A3</i>, <i>COL4A4</i>, and <i>COL4A5</i>. Although mutation screening in the genes responsible for AS is typically performed, only a small proportion of patients receive genetic testing in China, and the functional consequences of multiple splicing variants in AS patients have not been investigated. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> A family with X-linked AS was diagnosed based on family history and pathological findings from a kidney biopsy. Targeted next-generation sequencing was used to identify the causative mutation, and a minigene assay was performed to test the influence of the mutation on splicing. <b><i>Results:</i></b> A c.834+2T>G in <i>COL4A5</i> was identified and shown to co-segregate with AS in the family. The variant is located in the canonical splicing site and is predicted to induce aberrant splicing. Minigene assay using HEK 293T cells indicated the skipping of exon 14 in <i>COL4A5</i>. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> The novel <i>COL4A5</i> splicing mutation identified in the current study broadened the genetic spectrum of X-linked AS and further deepened our insight of the disease’s molecular mechanism.
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a global public health concern. We aimed to study the cytokine profile during the convalescent phase and its association with liver functions. We performed a retrospective study to investigate the longitudinal dynamic serum cytokine, liver function, and metabolomic profiles, as well as their potential correlations, from the viral replication phase to early convalescence. Our results demonstrated that liver injury was common. Liver injury was significantly associated with higher levels of interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10 (p < 0.05). However, alanine aminotransferase levels decreased during the first week after hospital discharge (p < 0.01). In parallel, T-cell and B-cell immune response-stimulating cytokine IL-4, but not IL-2, was significantly elevated (p < 0.05). Furthermore, interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TFN-α) levels increased, in contrast to the decrease in IL-6 and IL-10 levels; liver function returned to normal. The metabolomic analysis supported active recovery during early convalescence of COVID-19 patients that had distinct metabolic profiles associated with the hepatic tricarboxylic acid cycle, amino acid metabolism, and lipid metabolism. In addition, we identified a metabolomic association of IL-4 with liver repair. Our findings suggest that discharged patients continue to recover from the physiological effects of COVID-19, and the association of IL-4, IL-6, and IL-10 levels with metabolic changes and liver function repair may have important implications for clinical manifestations and treatment of COVID-19.
The Qinhuai River, one of the most economically developed areas in China, is also one of the largest urban agglomerations in the world. Recently, rapid urbanization has caused great changes in the regional natural environment and processes of precipitation. Taking 6 precipitation stations for daily rainfall data from 1961-2006 and using statistical analysis, linear regression, R/S method, concentration ratio and concentration period, focusing on the effects of urbanization on the long term precipitation, comparing the annual precipitation, flood season precipitation, winter precipitation, storm rainfall days and precipitation days, rainfall concentration ratio and concentration period in urban and suburban gauges, this paper probes into the effect of urbanization on local precipitation. The results show that with the development of urbanization, the increasing trend of annual precipitation, flood season precipitation and storm rainfall days in urban areas is more than the suburban areas; the increasing speed of annual precipitation and flood season precipitation in urban area are 25.16 mm/10 a and 12.0 mm/10 a, while the suburb’s are 20.28 mm/10 a and 7.3 mm/10 a respectively. The difference of urban and suburban areas is increasing and the urban rain island effect is evident. The annual precipitation is usually concentrated in June and July, the precipitation concentration ratio is on the decline in urban and suburban areas, and the rate of decrease in suburban areas is slightly more than urban areas, the difference of urban and suburban areas is little.
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