Search Results (6)

In this retrospective study, we investigated the potential application of serum stem cell growth factor beta (SCGF-β) as a biomarker for predicting the therapeutic response and prognosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) undergoing atezolizumab and bevacizumab (Atz/Bev) combination therapy. Pre- and post-treatment serum SCGF-β levels were measured and analyzed in relation to treatment outcomes and overall survival (OS). Pretreatment SCGF-β levels were associated with treatment response. Patients with SCGF-β levels exceeding the 163,295 pg/mL cutoff experienced significantly reduced OS, with a median OS of 12.03 months, compared to 28.87 months in those with SCGF-β levels at or below this threshold. These findings suggest that SCGF-β can serve as a predictive marker for clinical outcomes in HCC treatment, highlighting the need for prospective studies to further validate these results and clarify the mechanisms underlying SCGF-β-related therapeutic resistance. Full article

Endometrial receptivity (ER) is a key factor required for the successful implantation of the embryo. However, the evaluation of ER is challenging, as a nondisruptive sampling of endometrial biomaterial by conventional methods is only possible outside of the embryo transfer (ET) cycle. We propose a novel approach for the assessment of ER—microbiological and cytokine profiling of menstrual blood aspirated directly from the uterine cavity at the beginning of the cryo-ET cycle. The aim of the pilot study was to evaluate its prognostic potential regarding the outcome of the in vitro fertilization procedure. Samples collected from a cohort of 42 patients undergoing cryo-ET were analyzed by a multiplex immunoassay (48 various cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors) and a real-time PCR assay (28 relevant microbial taxa and 3 members of the Herpesviridae family). Significant differences between groups of patients who achieved and did not achieve pregnancy were observed for G-CSF, GRO-α, IL-6, IL-9, MCP-1, M-CSF, SDF-1α, TNF-β, TRAIL, SCF, IP-10, and MIG (p < 0.05), whereas microbial profiles were not associated with the outcome of cryo-ET. It appeared that levels of IP-10 and SCGF-β were significantly lower (p < 0.05), in patients with endometriosis. Menstrual blood may provide great opportunities to noninvasively investigate various parameters of the endometrium. Full article

Background: The current gold standard to diagnose T-cell-mediated acute rejection (TCMR) requires liver histology. Using data from the ChilSFree study on immune response after paediatric liver transplantation (pLT), we aimed to assess whether soluble cytokines can serve as an alternative diagnostic tool in children suspected to have TCMR. Methods: A total of n = 53 blood samples obtained on the day of or up to 3 days before liver biopsy performed for suspected TCMR at median 18 days (range 7–427) after pLT in n = 50 children (38% female, age at pLT 1.8 (0.5–17.5) years) were analysed for circulating cytokine levels using Luminex-based Multiplex technology. Diagnostic accuracy of cytokine concentrations was assessed using a multivariable model based on elastic net regression and gradient boosting machine analysis. Results: TCMR was present in 68% of biopsies. There was strong evidence that patients with TCMR had increased levels of soluble CXCL8, CXCL9, CXCL10, IL-16, IL-18, HGF, CCL4, MIF, SCGF-β, and HGF before biopsy. There was some evidence for increased levels of sCD25, ICAM-1, IL-6, IL-3, and CCL11. Diagnostic value of both single cytokine levels and a combination of cytokines and clinical markers was poor, with AUROCs not exceeding 0.7. Conclusion: Patients with TCMR showed raised levels of cytokines and chemokines reflective of T-cell activation and chemotaxis. Despite giving insight into the mechanisms of TCMR, the diagnostic value of soluble cytokines for the confirmation of TCMR in a clinical scenario of suspected TCMR is poor. Full article

One of the pathologic hallmarks of obesity is macrophage infiltration of adipose tissue that has been confirmed as source of multipotent adult stem cells. Stem cell growth factor-beta (SCGF-β) shows activity on granulocyte/macrophage progenitor cells in combination with granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF). Obesity-associated inflammation induces insulin resistance (IR), which is central to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) or hepatic steatosis (HS). We searched for relationship between levels of SCGF-β and those of C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-β (TNF-β), interleukin-12p40 (IL-12p40), interleukin-10 (IL-10), ferritin, GM-CSF and M-CSF and between SCGF-β concentrations and IR in obese patients with HS. Eighty obese patients were retrospectively studied. Serum cytokines levels were appreciated by magnetic bead-based multiplex immunoassays. IR was evaluated by homeostatic model assessment (HOMA), HOMA-derived β-cell function (HOMA-B%), quantitative insulin sensitivity check Index (QUICKI) and single point insulin sensitivity estimator (SPISE). HS and spleen volume were assessed by ultrasonography (US). SCGF-β and IL-6 levels predicted HOMA values (p = 0.032 and 0.041, respectively) only in males. In male patients, CRP and IL-6 levels (p = 0.007) predicted SCGF-β concentrations (p = 0.03 and 0.007, respectively), which in turn predicted HS at US, p = 0.037. SCGF-β levels were linked to IR and HS severity with the mediation role of CRP. IL-10 levels negatively predicted SCGF-β concentrations (p = 0.033). M-CSF levels predicted serum concentration of both TNF-β and IL-12p40 (p = 0.00), but did not predict serum IL-10 (p = 0.30). Prediction of HOMA values by SCGF-β levels, likely mediated by markers of inflammation, characterizes this study, shedding some light on mechanisms inducing/worsening IR of male patients with obesity-related NAFLD. Full article

The aim of this study was to identify inflammatory mediators of potential clinical relevance in synovial fluid (SF) samples of patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). Therefore, radiographic OA severity, knee pain and function of 34 OA patients undergoing unicompartmental (UC) and bicompartmental (BC) knee arthroplasty were assessed prior to surgery and SF samples were analyzed for a broad variety of inflammatory mediators, including interleukins (ILs), interferons (IFNs), C-X-C motif ligand chemokines (CXCLs), and growth factors (nerve growth factor; NGF, vascular endothelial growth factor; VEGF, and stem cell growth factor β; SCGF-β) using multiplex assay. Significant differences were observed between the SF levels of different inflammatory markers. When compared to UC OA, significantly higher concentrations of IL-7, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, IL-13, IFN-γ, VEGF and CXCL1 were detected in BC OA. Correlation analyses revealed significant associations between OA severity and IL-6, IL-8, IFN-γ, SCGF-β, VEGF, CXCL1. Interestingly, increases in both anti- (IL-10, IL-13) and pro-inflammatory (IL-7, IL-12, IFN-γ) cytokines, as well as growth factors (SCGF-β, VEGF), correlated significantly with the level of knee pain. Poorer knee function was associated with higher IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, IL-13, IL-18, βNGF, SCGF-β, VEGF and CXCL9 levels. In conclusion, this study provides an extensive profile of synovial inflammatory mediators in knee OA and identifies cytokines of potential clinical relevance. In fact, five of the mediators examined (IL-10, IL-12, IL-13, SCGF-β, VEGF) significantly correlate with both knee pain and function. Full article

Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) is endemic in Tatarstan, where thousands of cases are registered annually. Puumala orthohantavirus is commonly detected in human case samples as well as in captured bank voles, the rodent hosts. The pathogenesis of HFRS is still not well described, although the cytokine storm hypothesis is largely accepted. In this study, we present a comprehensive analysis of a fatal HFRS case compared with twenty four non-fatal cases where activation of the humoral and cellular immune responses, pro-inflammatory cytokines and disturbed blood coagulation were detected using immunological, histological, genetic and clinical approaches. Multiple organ failure combined with disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome and acute renal failure was the cause of death. Decreased Interleukin (IL)-7 and increased IL-18, chemokine (C-C motif) ligand (CCL)-5, stem cell growth factor (SCGF)-b and tumor necrosis factor-beta (TNF-β) serum levels were found, supporting the cytokine storm hypothesis of hantavirus pathogenesis. Full article