Journal of Cellular Immunology

Review Article Open Access

SARS-CoV-2 Infection: The Viral Arms Race and Pattern- Recognition Receptors

Qi Liu, Sensen Chi, Shuai Tan

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARSCoV-2), the causative agent of COVID-19 respiratory disease, was first identified on 7 December 2019, and quickly spread worldwide. The SARS-CoV-2 belongs to Coronaviridea family, enveloped single-stranded RNA viruses. The family is divided into two subfamilies, the Coronavirinae and the Torovirinae, distinguished by the shape of their nucleocapsids . Virions are roughly spherical and are notable for the large spike (S) glycoprotein that mediate viral entry to the host cell. The subfamily Coronavirinae consists of four genera, the alpha-, beta-, gamma-, and delta-coronaviruses. There are seven coronaviruses that can infect people – four of them causing a common cold (229E, NL63, OC43, HKU1), and three are associated with potentially severe respiratory conditions, namely severe syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), and the emerging type of SARS-CoV-2, which has 79% sequence homology with SARS-CoV.

Research Article Open Access

Inulin Supplementation Mitigates Gut Dysbiosis and Brain Impairment Induced by Mild Traumatic Brain Injury during Chronic Phase

Lucille M. Yanckello, Brian Fanelli, Scott McCulloch, Xin Xing, McKenna Sun, Tyler C. Hammond, Rita Colwell, Zezong Gu, Aaron C. Ericsson, Ya-Hsuan Chang, Adam D. Bachstetter, Ai-Ling Lin

Approximately 1.6-3.8 million people sustain a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) in the US annually. This amounts to the hospitalization of 100-300 per 100,000 young adults. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that around 5.3 million people live with a permanent disability after mTBI, and there are currently no known restorative therapies.

Commentary Open Access

Evolution of the RNA Cleavage Subunit C11/RPC10, and Recycling by RNA Polymerase III

Saurabh Mishra, Richard J. Maraia

All cellular RNAs are synthesized by evolutionary related DNAdependent multisubunit RNA polymerases (Pols). Bacteria and archaea each use a single Pol to synthesize all their RNAs whereas a hallmark of eukaryotes is three homologous Pols, I, II and III and the associated Pol-specific transcription factors (TFs) to regulate synthesis of different class RNAs. The Pol III system produces high molar amounts of tRNAs and other small ncRNAs by the efficient reuse of its stable transcription complexes after formation on the promoters of its target genes, and the recycling of Pol III itself.

Commentary Open Access

LncZFAS1 Inhibit MPP+-Induced Neuroinflammation Through TXNIP/MIB1 E3 Ubiquitin Ligase/NLRP3 Axis

Peiling Huang MM, Weijun Gong MD

Recently researchers have focused on the role of neuroinflammation in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, atrophic lateral sclerosis, Huntington’s disease, Multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease (PD). PD is one of the leading neurodegenerative diseases in developed countries and the complete etiological scenario remains unknown. A-synuclein misfolding and aggregation, mitochondrial dysfunction, dysfunctional protein clearance and ubiquitin/proteasome systems, and neuroinflammation have been associated with PD.

Research Article Open Access

BIOMODULINA T® Modulates Lymphocyte Compartments in Institutionalized Cuban Geriatric Patients

Imilla Casado Hernandez, Vianed Marsán Suárez, Elizabeth Hernandez Ramos, Yenisey Triana Marrero, Gabriela Diaz Dominguez, Yaneisy Duarte Pérez, Mary Carmen Reyes Zamora, Sahily Estradé Fernandez, Consuelo Amantini, Luis Felipe Heredia Guerra

Aging is accompanied by numerous changes that affect almost all components of the immune system, collectively called immunosenescence. Immunosenescence has long been considered detrimental because it is often accompanied by the subclinical accumulation of pro-inflammatory factors and inflammation. Together, it is suggested that immunosenescence and inflammation are at the origin of most diseases of the elderly, such as infections, cancer, autoimmune disorders and chronic inflammatory diseases. However, a large number of immunogerontologists have changed this negative interpretation of immunosenescence regarding its significance in age-related alterations of the immune system. Considering these changes from an evolutionary perspective, it is preferable to view it as adaptive or remodeling. Although it is conceivable that global immune changes can lead to various diseases, it is also obvious that these changes are necessary for extended survival or longevity.