Immune cells in brain infection

Researchers have identified the specific type of immune cell that induces brain inflammation in herpes simplex virus (HSV) encephalitis. Crucially, they have also determined the signaling protein that calls this immune cell into the brain from the bloodstream. Their findings could aid the development of targeted treatments for the brain infection, which is the most common cause of viral encephalitis worldwide. HSV encephalitis takes hold quickly and, despite rapid anti-viral drug treatment, many patients die. Most survivors are left with brain injury due to the inflammation and damage caused by the virus and immune cells gaining access to the brain, breaking down the blood-brain barrier. Determining the roles of specific immune cells and the factors that allow them to cross the protective blood-brain barrier is critical to develop targeted immune-therapies, using a mouse model, the researchers showed that neutrophils (a type of immune cell) made the blood-brain barrier more permeable and contributed to the brain damage associated with HSV encephalitis. They also found that these neutrophils were not needed to control the virus. Meanwhile, monocyte immune cells were found to play a protective role and were needed to control the virus and prevent brain damage. The lead Researcher also identified the exact signaling protein, called CXCL1, that drove the migration of these damaging neutrophils into the brain during HSV infection. By blocking this CXCL1 protein, neutrophils were prevented from crossing the blood-brain barrier and causing inflammation which resulted in less severe disease. The findings make the CXCL1 protein an attractive target for new therapies that can stop the influx of damaging white blood cells without limiting the roles of protective ones. The lead Researcher said that there is currently no licensed treatment for the severe brain swelling which occurs despite antiviral therapy in HSV encephalitis. Sometimes steroids are given, but as these suppress the immune system in a very broad way, there is a risk of uncontrolled viral infection.

Return to top

According to a new study Women who drink two or three cups of coffee a day have been found to have lower total body and abdominal fat than those who drink less. Researchers examined that the relationship between cups of coffee drunk per day and both total body fat percentage and abdominal or 'trunk' fat. They found that women aged 20-44 who drank two or three cups of coffee per day had the lowest levels of adiposity, 3.4% lower than people who did not consume coffee. Among women aged between 45-69, those who drank four or more cups had an adiposity percentage 4.1% lower. Overall, the average total body fat percentage was 2.8% lower among women of all ages who drank two or three cups of coffee per day. The findings were consistent whether the coffee consumed was caffeinated or decaffeinated, and among smokers/non-smokers and those suffering from chronic diseases when compared to those in good health. In men, the relationship was less significant, although men aged 20-44 who drank two or three cups per day had 1.3% less total fat and 1.8% less trunk fat than those who did not consume coffee. The lead researcher suggests that there may be bioactive compounds in coffee other than caffeine that regulate weight and which could potentially be used as anti-obesity compounds. It could be that coffee, or its effective ingredients, could be integrated into a healthy diet strategy to reduce the burden of chronic conditions related to the obesity epidemic. It is important to interpret the findings of this study in light of its limitations. The study was at a specific point in time so trends cannot be established. However, we don't believe that someone's weight is likely to influence their coffee consumption.

Return to top

                              Fatter legs linked to reduced risk of high blood pressure

According to new research Adults with fatter legs, meaning they have a higher percentage of total body fat tissue in their legs, were less likely than those with a lower percentage to have high blood pressure. We noted in this study is a continued discussion of it's not just how much fat you have, but where the fat is located. If you have fat around your legs, it is more than likely not a bad thing and may even be protecting you from hypertension, according to our findings. The researcher examined the rate of three types of high blood pressure in relation to the percentage of fat tissue in the legs of nearly 6,000 adults. Average age of the participants was 37, nearly half were female and 24% had high blood pressure, defined as blood pressure >130/80 mm Hg. Special X-ray scans measured fat tissue in the legs, and these measures were compared to overall body fat tissue. Investigators classified participants as having either a high or low percentage of leg fat, with high fat defined as 34% or more for males, and 39% or more for females. Participants with higher percentages of leg fat were less likely than those with lower levels of fat to have all types of high blood pressure. The analysis found that compared to those with lower percentages of leg fat, participants with higher percentages of leg fat were 61% less likely to have the type of high blood pressure where both numbers are elevated. In addition, risk for participants with higher leg fat was 53% lower for diastolic high blood pressure and 39% lower for systolic high blood pressure. If these results are confirmed by larger, more robust studies, and in studies using easily accessible measurement methods like thigh circumference, there is the potential to affect patient care. Several limitations could have affected the study's results. First, the study could not determine cause and effect, since information on blood pressure and percentage of fat tissue in the legs were measured at the same time. Second, a larger group of participants is needed to yield more information about the effects on high blood pressure of varying degrees of fat tissue in the legs. Finally, all study participants were under the age of 60, so the results may not apply to older adults, who are generally at greater risk for high blood pressure.

Return to top

New Products of SQUARE Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

Return to top