The Role of Cytokines in Health and Disease: 2nd Edition

A special issue of Biomedicines (ISSN 2227-9059). This special issue belongs to the section "Cell Biology and Pathology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2024 | Viewed by 4797

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Neurodegeneration Diagnostics, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-269 Bialystok, Poland
Interests: neurodegenerative diseases; cancer; specific proteins; cytokines; biomarkers; non-invasive diagnosis
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue predominantly covers the usefulness of the determination of cytokines in healthy patients and patients with civilization diseases, with a particular emphasis on neurodegenerative and neoplastic diseases. Despite being non-contagious, civilization diseases are often referred to as the epidemics of the 21st century because they spread globally and lead to over 80% of premature deaths. For many years, it has been observed that society is progressively ageing, which results in an increase in the number of elderly people who are most at risk of developing degenerative diseases of the central nervous system, as well as cancer. As part of this Special Issue, we are looking for new indicators allowing for early detection (even in potentially healthy patients, years before the first symptoms of the emerging disease), and thus a better prognosis of the survival of patients with selected civilization diseases. It is assumed that the introduction of the concentrations of the analyzed proteins to the diagnosis of patients with civilization diseases may facilitate the diagnosis and differentiation of these diseases, and thus enable the early initiation of treatment.

This Special Issue aims to comprehensively study the role of cytokines in health and in various diseases (mainly, but not only, the diseases of civilization, such as cancers or neurodegenerative diseases). Moreover, the aim of this Special Issue is also to understand the involvement of different cytokine groups in diagnosis and/or therapy and to investigate the new potential therapies targeting cytokines. In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome.

Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • Cytokines as prognostic factors of different diseases;
  • Cytokines as novel tumor markers in malignant tumors;
  • Cytokines in neurodegeneration;
  • Cytokines in neuroinflammation;
  • Cytokines in COVID-19;
  • Potential novel role of cytokines in health and disease.

I look forward to receiving your contributions. 

Dr. Monika Zajkowska
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • cytokine
  • chemokine
  • neurodegenerative disease
  • cancer
  • inflammatory mediator
  • diagnosis
  • biomarker

Related Special Issue

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 2238 KiB  
Article
Efficacy of Alkaline Phosphatase in Critically Ill Patients with COVID-19: A Multicentre Investigator-Initiated Double-Blind Randomised Placebo-Controlled Trial
by Anouk Pijpe, Stephan G. Papendorp, Joost W. van der Heijden, Ben Vermin, Iris Ertugrul, Michael W. J. Ritt, Björn Stessel, Ina Callebaut, Albertus Beishuizen, Marcel Vlig, Joost Jimmink, Henk J. Huijgen, Paul P. M. van Zuijlen, Esther Middelkoop and Evelien de Jong
Biomedicines 2024, 12(4), 723; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines12040723 - 25 Mar 2024
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Abstract
Background: Efforts to identify therapies to treat hospitalised patients with COVID-19 are being continued. Alkaline phosphatase (AP) dephosphorylates pro-inflammatory adenosine triphosphate (ATP) into anti-inflammatory adenosine. Methods: In a randomised controlled trial, we investigated the safety and efficacy of AP in patients with SARS-CoV-2 [...] Read more.
Background: Efforts to identify therapies to treat hospitalised patients with COVID-19 are being continued. Alkaline phosphatase (AP) dephosphorylates pro-inflammatory adenosine triphosphate (ATP) into anti-inflammatory adenosine. Methods: In a randomised controlled trial, we investigated the safety and efficacy of AP in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection admitted to the ICU. AP or a placebo was administered for four days following admission to the ICU. The primary outcome was the duration of mechanical ventilation. Mortality in 28 days, acute kidney injury, need for reintubation, safety, and inflammatory markers relevant to the described high cytokine release associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection were the secondary outcomes. Results: Between December 2020 and March 2022, 97 patients (of the intended 132) were included, of which 51 were randomised to AP. The trial was terminated prematurely based on meeting the threshold for futility. Compared to the placebo, AP did not affect the duration of mechanical ventilation (9.0 days vs. 9.3 days, p = 1.0). No safety issues were observed. After 28 days, mortality was 9 (18%) in the AP group versus 6 (13%) in the placebo group (p = 0.531). Additionally, no statistically significant differences between the AP and the placebo were observed for the other secondary outcomes. Conclusions: Alkaline phosphatase (AP) therapy in COVID-19 ICU patients showed no significant benefits in this trial. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Cytokines in Health and Disease: 2nd Edition)
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19 pages, 965 KiB  
Article
The Impact of Cytokines on Health-Related Quality of Life in Adolescents with Allergic Rhinitis
by Ljiljana Krsmanović, Nenad Arsović, Dejan Bokonjić, Vladimir Nešić, Zoran Dudvarski, Dragana Pavlović, Milena Dubravac Tanasković, Siniša Ristić, Nikolina Elez-Burnjaković, Radmila Balaban, Branislava Ćurčić, Radenko Ivanović, Nikolina Vuković, Maja Vuković, Marija Milić and Bojan Joksimović
Biomedicines 2024, 12(2), 428; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines12020428 - 13 Feb 2024
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Abstract
Background: Frequent episodes of nasal symptoms are the usual clinical manifestations (CM) of allergic rhinitis (AR) and have a significant negative impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in adolescents. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to test the hypothesis that cytokines [...] Read more.
Background: Frequent episodes of nasal symptoms are the usual clinical manifestations (CM) of allergic rhinitis (AR) and have a significant negative impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in adolescents. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to test the hypothesis that cytokines in nasal mucus may be associated with HRQoL in adolescents with AR. Methods: European Quality of Life 5 Dimensions 3 Level Version (EQ-5D-3L), “The Adolescent Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire” (AdolRQLQ) and the Total 4 Symptom Score (T4SS) scoring system were administered to 113 adolescents with AR, nonallergic rhinitis (NAR) and to healthy control subjects. Nasal secretions were sampled and tested for 13 cytokines using a multiplex flow cytometric bead assay. Results: The AR group had significantly lower EQ-5D-3L (0.661 ± 0.267 vs. 0.943 ± 0.088; p < 0.001) and higher AdolRQLQ total scores (2.76 ± 1.01 vs. 1.02 ± 0.10; p < 0.001) compared to the control group. The AR group had higher concentrations of IL-1β (p = 0.002), IL-6 (p = 0.031), IL-8 (p < 0.001), IL17-A (p = 0.013) and IL-18 (p = 0.014) compared to the control group, and IL-1β, IL-6, IL17-A and IL-18 were significantly (p < 0.050) increased with disease progression. Cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, as well as severe CM, were identified as significant predictors of lower HRQoL in adolescents with AR. Conclusions: This study identified IL-1β, IL-6, as well as severe CM, as predictors of lower HRQoL in adolescents with AR. However, these results should only serve as a starting point for additional confirmation research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Cytokines in Health and Disease: 2nd Edition)
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Review

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24 pages, 2413 KiB  
Review
Pleiotropic Action of TGF-Beta in Physiological and Pathological Liver Conditions
by Michał Jakub Braczkowski, Klaudia Maria Kufel, Julia Kulińska, Daniel Łukasz Czyż, Aleksander Dittmann, Michał Wiertelak, Marcin Sławomir Młodzik, Ryszard Braczkowski and Dariusz Soszyński
Biomedicines 2024, 12(4), 925; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines12040925 - 22 Apr 2024
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Abstract
The aim of this study is to review and analyze the pleiotropic effects of TGF-β in physiological and pathological conditions of the liver, with particular emphasis on its role in immune suppression, wound healing, regulation of cell growth and differentiation, and liver cell [...] Read more.
The aim of this study is to review and analyze the pleiotropic effects of TGF-β in physiological and pathological conditions of the liver, with particular emphasis on its role in immune suppression, wound healing, regulation of cell growth and differentiation, and liver cell apoptosis. A literature review was conducted, including 52 studies, comprising review articles, in vitro and in vivo studies, and meta-analyses. Only studies published in peer-reviewed scientific journals were included in the analysis. TGF-β is a pleiotropic growth factor that is crucial for the liver, both in physiology and pathophysiology. Although its functions are complex and diverse, TGF-β plays a constant role in immune suppression, wound healing, and the regulation of cell growth and differentiation. In concentrations exceeding the norm, it can induce the apoptosis of liver cells. Increased TGF-β levels are observed in many liver diseases, such as fibrosis, inflammation, and steatosis. TGF-β has been shown to play a key role in many physiological and pathological processes of the liver, and its concentration may be a potential diagnostic and prognostic marker in liver diseases. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Cytokines in Health and Disease: 2nd Edition)
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22 pages, 3532 KiB  
Review
The Role of Cytokines and Molecular Pathways in Lung Fibrosis Following SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Physiopathologic (Re)view
by Mihai Lazar, Mihai Sandulescu, Ecaterina Constanta Barbu, Cristina Emilia Chitu-Tisu, Darie Ioan Andreescu, Andreea Nicoleta Anton, Teodora Maria Erculescu, Alexandru Mihai Petre, George Theodor Duca, Vladimir Simion, Isabela Felicia Padiu, Cosmina Georgiana Pacurar, Ruxandra Rosca, Teodor Mihai Simian, Constantin Adrian Oprea and Daniela Adriana Ion
Biomedicines 2024, 12(3), 639; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines12030639 - 13 Mar 2024
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Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 infection is a significant health concern that needs to be addressed not only during the initial phase of infection but also after hospitalization. This is the consequence of the various pathologies associated with long COVID-19, which are still being studied and researched. [...] Read more.
SARS-CoV-2 infection is a significant health concern that needs to be addressed not only during the initial phase of infection but also after hospitalization. This is the consequence of the various pathologies associated with long COVID-19, which are still being studied and researched. Lung fibrosis is an important complication after COVID-19, found in up to 71% of patients after discharge. Our research is based on scientific articles indexed in PubMed; in the selection process, we used the following keywords: “lung fibrosis”, “fibrosis mediators”, “fibrosis predictors”, “COVID-19”, “SARS-CoV-2 infection”, and “long COVID-19”. In this narrative review, we aimed to discuss the current understanding of the mechanisms of initiation and progression of post-COVID-19 lung fibrosis (PC-19-LF) and the risk factors for its occurrence. The pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis involves various mediators such as TGF-β, legumain, osteopontin, IL-4, IL-6, IL-13, IL-17, TNF-α, Gal-1, Gal-3, PDGF, and FGFR-1. The key cellular effectors involved in COVID-19 lung fibrosis are macrophages, epithelial alveolar cells, neutrophils, and fibroblasts. The main fibrosis pathways in SARS-CoV-2 infection include hypoxemia-induced fibrosis, macrophage-induced fibrosis, and viral-fibroblast interaction-induced fibrosis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Cytokines in Health and Disease: 2nd Edition)
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