T-Bet Protein Tackles Hepatitis

[The_PS]

Scientists reveal that high levels of the protein T-bet are prevalent in patients who successfully fight off the hepatitis virus (pictured).

A single protein may tip the balance between ridding the body of a dangerous virus and enduring life-long chronic infection, according to a report appearing in the Journal of Experimental Medicine.

Hepatitis B and C viruses cause chronic infections in roughly three-quarters of infected people, putting these individuals at risk for developing liver diseases including cirrhosis and cancer. A few patients successfully eliminate infection, thanks primarily to virus-fighting immune cells called CD8+ T cells. The protective effects of CD8+ T cells depend on a cellular protein called T-bet, which is needed for the production of antiviral molecules like interferon.

Scientists in Munich, Germany, have now found that high levels of T-bet in CD8+ T cells are prevalent in individuals who successfully fight off hepatitis infections but are virtually undetectable in those who don’t. The presence of T-bet went hand in hand with the production of interferon and the ability of CD8+ T cells to multiply in response to the virus. Whether boosting levels of T-bet in newly infected patients will help eliminate the virus remains to be seen.

Reference: Kurktschiev PD, et al. 2014. J. Exp. Med. doi:10.1084/jem.20131333

Source: Journal of Experimental Medicine (JEM), The Rockefeller University Press

Link: http://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/news/2014/09/tbet-protein-tackles-hepatitis.aspx

[veteranB]

L-arginine (L-Arg), the precursor of nitric oxide (NO), plays multiple important roles in nutrient metabolism and immune regulation. L-Arg supplement serves as a potential adjunctive therapy for severe malaria, because it improves NO bioavailability and reverses endothelial dysfunction in severe malaria patients. In this study, we investigated the effect of dietary L-Arg supplement on host immune responses during subsequent malaria infection using the Plasmodium yoelii 17XL - BALB/c mouse model. We have shown that pretreatment of mice with L-Arg significantly decreased parasitemia and prolonged the survival time of mice after infection. L-Arg supplement led to significant increases in activated CD4(+)T-bet(+)IFN-γ(+) T cells and F4/80(+)CD36(+) macrophages during early-stage infection, which were accompanied by enhanced synthesis of IFN-γ, TNF-α and NO by spleen cells. Moreover, L-Arg-pretreated mice developed more splenic myeloid and plasmacytoid dendritic cells with up-regulated expression of MHC II, CD86 and TLR9. In comparison, L-Arg treatment did not change the number of regulatory T cells and the level of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. Taken together, our results showed that L-Arg pretreatment could improve the protective immune response in experimental malaria infection in mice, which underlines potential importance of L-Arg supplement in malaria-endemic human populations.

[veteranB]

very interesting!

What foods or supplements are high on T-bet ? Did they mention?