Prolonged and exhausting physical activity causes numerous changes in immunity and sometimes transient increases the risk of upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs). Nutritional supplements as countermeasures to exercise-induced changes have increasingly been studied in the last decade. One of the most promising nutritional supplements is β-glucan, a well-known immunomodulator with positive effects on the function of immunocompetent cells. In this double blind, placebo-controlled study, we investigated the effect of pleuran, an insoluble β-(1,3/1,6) glucan from mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus, on selected cellular immune responses and incidence of URTI symptoms in athletes. Fifty athletes were randomized to pleuran or placebo group, taking pleuran (commercial name Imunoglukan(®)) or placebo supplements during 3 months. Venous whole blood was collected before and after 3 months of supplementation and additionally 3 months after supplementation period was completed. Incidence of URTI symptoms together with characterization of changes in phagocytosis and natural killer (NK) cell count was monitored during the study. We found that pleuran significantly reduced the incidence of URTI symptoms and increased the number of circulating NK cells. In addition, the phagocytosis process remained stable in pleuran group during the study in contrast to placebo group where significant reduction of phagocytosis was observed. These findings indicate that pleuran may serve as an effective nutritional supplement for athletes under heavy physical training. Additional research is needed to determine the mechanisms of pleuran function.
Background and objective: Pulmonary sarcoidosis (PS) is characterized by the formation of granulomas in the lungs and has been associated with infection by microorganisms. Triggering receptor expressed on the surface of myeloid cells (TREM)-1 is overexpressed in response to infection while TREM-2 is involved in granuloma formation. We hypothesized that these receptors are overexpressed in PS and might be useful for diagnostic testing. Methods: Cell surface TREM-1 and TREM-2 expression in cells obtained at bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was measured in individuals with sarcoidosis (n = 26) and compared with that seen in individuals with other interstitial lung diseases (ILD) (n = 27). Results: TREM-1 and TREM-2 expression was significantly increased in sarcoidosis compared with other ILD: total number of TREM-1, P = 0.0039 (23.81 vs 13.50 cells/ml), TREM-2, P < 0.0001 (32.81 vs 7.76 cells/ ml); percentage of TREM-1: P = 0.0002 (41.30% vs 15.70%), TREM-2: P < 0.0001 (34% vs 9.60%); and mean fluorescence of TREM-1: P = 0.0005 (5.43 vs 1.96), TREM-2: P = 0.0011 (6.85 vs 2.77). Increase in both of these receptors seems to be typical for PS. In discriminating sarcoidosis from other ILD, the specificity (96%) and sensitivity (72%) of the combination of TREM-1 and TREM-2 was high. Conclusions: Increased TREM-1 and TREM-2 cell surface expression is observed in sarcoidosis. Evaluation of BAL cell expression of both of these receptors may serve as a diagnostic marker for sarcoidosis.
OBJECTIVES: Sepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction generated due to the dysregulation of the immune response to infection. The aim of this study was to highlight the role of vitamin D in sepsis and non-infectious SIRS (systemic infl ammatory response syndrome) and to fi nd correlation of vitamin D levels with infl ammatory markers, severity of the disease, and association with the 7th and 28th survival rate of patients. METHODS: We investigated 32 patients (21 men, 11 women) admitted to an intensive care unit with both SIRS and sepsis. Blood was taken within 24 hours after admission. Plasma levels of 25(OH)D, sTREM-1, CRP, presepsin and procalcitonin were investigated. RESULTS: Patients with sepsis had lower levels of 25(OH)D (n = 25) than SIRS patients (n = 7; p = 0.0032). Signifi cantly lower levels of 25(OH)D were found also in patients, who did not survive the 7th (p = 0.0076) and 28th day (p = 0.0338) of hospital care compared to 7th, resp. 28th day survivors. We revealed a negative correlation between the levels of 25(OH)D and infl ammatory markers CRP (p = 0.0003), presepsin (p = 0.0032) and sTREM-1 (p = 0.0065) in all SIRS/sepsis patients and clinical condition (SOFA score; p = 0.0385). CONCLUSION: Our results showed that vitamin D defi ciency predisposed to the development of sepsis, negatively correlated with CRP, presepsin, sTREM-1 and SOFA score and their levels associates with both 7th and 28th days survival of patients (Tab. 5, Ref. 64).
TREM-1 and TREM-2 molecules are members of the TREM transmembrane glycoproteins. In our previous study we identified increased expressions of TREM-1 and TREM-2 receptors in pulmonary sarcoidosis (PS). Only a few studies concerning the association between vitamin D and TREM receptor expression can be found. The aim of our current study was to determine the association between the levels of an inactive form of 25(OH)D vitamin and TREM-1 and TREM-2 receptor expressions. We have detected low levels of 25(OH)D vitamin in 79% of PS patients. Only 21% of patients had normal serum level of 25(OH)D vitamin with values clustered within the low-normal range. The most striking findings were the increased TREM-2 expressions on myeloid cells surfaces in BALF of PS patients with normal 25(OH)D vitamin serum levels compared with those with its decreased levels. The total number of TREM-2 positive cells was 5.7 times higher and the percentage of TREM-2 positive cells was also significantly increased in BALF of PS patients with normal compared to PS patients with low 25(OH)D vitamin serum levels. A significant correlation between total TREM-2 expression and vitamin D levels has been detected too. However, we have not detected similar differences in TREM-1expression and 25(OH)D vitamin serum levels.
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