Islet cell tumors.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Alexander L Shifrin.
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BACKGROUND: The objective of these studies is to determine the effects of macrophage ablation on the course of acute viral pancreatitis. Macrophages secrete proinflammatory cytokines triggering local pancreatic and systemic inflammation in the acute phase of virus-induced pancreatitis. We hypothesized that ablation of macrophages should attenuate the host inflammatory response in a mouse model of adenovirus-induced pancreatitis. METHODS: Liposome-encapsulated dichloromethylene-diphosphonate, a macrophage-depleting agent, was used before direct pancreatic injection of a recombinant adenovirus expressing a marker gene in C57Bl/6 and IL-6 knockout (KO) mice. RESULTS: C57Bl/6 mice depleted of macrophages had diminished pancreatic inflammation in the first 24 hours after vector administration. IL-6 KO mice depleted of macrophages had more severe inflammation than similarly treated C57Bl/6 mice. C57Bl/6 mice depleted of macrophages, and IL-6 KO mice had prolonged transgene expression and diminished cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses to adenoviral vector. Mortality was highest in IL-6 KO mice depleted of macrophages. Depletion of macrophages also prevented detectable serum IL-6, IL-10, or IL-12 levels in C57Bl/6 mice. CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest that macrophages play a role in the acute inflammatory response to viral vector-induced pancreatitis and that IL-6 may be protective. Understanding of the mechanisms that initiate the host immune cascade will allow more effective use of adenoviral vector-based pancreatic gene delivery.
OBJECTIVES: The role of innate immunity in the development of acute viral pancreatitis is not well understood. The aim of the study was to characterize the role of the innate immune system, especially macrophages, natural killer (NK), and NK T (NKT) cells, in the generation of immune responses to intrapancreatic delivery of recombinant adenoviral vector. METHODS: Adenoviral vectors expressing beta-galactosidase or green fluorescent protein genes with viral capsid conjugated covalently with carbocyanine dye were directly injected into the pancreas of C57Bl/6 mice. RESULTS: Fluorescent microscopy of the pancreas showed that 30 minutes after vector administration, adenoviral particles localized to cell membranes, internalized, and localized to the nucleus by 4 hours, and transgene expression began at 24 hours. Immunohistochemical staining showed macrophages entering the pancreas shortly after vector administration, with maximal infiltration at day 4, and then disappearing as antigen-expressing cells were eliminated. Intrapancreatic macrophages appeared to deliver viral capsid proteins to the spleen. Flow cytometry showed that NK and NKT cells migrate to the pancreas and persist. Serum cytokines IL-6, IL-10, and IL-12 were all elevated. CONCLUSION: Macrophages and NK and NKT cells play a major role in the development of acute adenovirus-mediated pancreatitis.