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Biomedical subjects

C Hetzel

Publications and source records attributed to C Hetzel.

13 recordsLinked to original sources

Induction of a type 1 immune response to a recombinant antigen from Mycobacterium tuberculosis expressed in Mycobacterium vaccae.

A 19-kDa lipoprotein from Mycobacterium tuberculosis was expressed as a recombinant antigen in the nonpathogenic mycobacterial host strain M. vaccae. Immunization of mice with the recombinant M. vaccae resulted in induction of a strong type 1 immune response to the 19-kDa antigen, characterized by immunoglobulin G2a (IgG2a) antibodies and gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) production by splenocytes. Immunization with the same antigen in incomplete Freund's adjuvant induced a strong IgG1 response with only low levels of IFN-gamma. Subsequent intravenous and aerosol challenges of immunized mice with virulent M. tuberculosis demonstrated no evidence of protection associated with the response to the 19-kDa antigen; in fact, the presence of the recombinant 19-kDa antigen abrogated the limited protection conferred by M. vaccae (vector control). The recombinant M. vaccae system is a convenient approach to induction of type 1 responses to M. tuberculosis antigens. However, the unexpected reduction in protective efficacy of M. vaccae expressing the 19-kDa antigen highlights the complexity of testing recombinant subunit vaccines and the need for a better understanding of the immune mechanisms required for effective vaccination against tuberculosis.

Administration, Oral

From epitopes to peptides to immunotherapy.

Allergic inflammatory responses are regulated by cytokines [interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, IL-10, and IL-13] produced by CD4+ helper (Th0 and Th2) cells. The activation of these T cells follows engagement of T-cell antigen receptors (TCR) by antigenic peptides complexed with major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules. Under defined conditions presentation of T-cell epitopes as peptides can downregulate immune responses, and here we discuss the potential of peptide-mediated immunotherapy in the regulation of responses to the house dust mite (HDM). Cloning the major allergens of HDM has allowed detailed analysis of the HDM-reactive T-cell repertoire and has revealed that MHC class II restriction is heterogeneous, involving HLA-DP,-DQ, and -DR molecules, and that multiple T-cell epitopes are recognized. There is, however, evidence for a bias in TCR gene usage, which has prompted the analysis of peptide-mediated densitization of human T cells in vitro. CD4+ T cells exposed to high concentrations of HDM peptides become refractory to restimulation and fail to provide B-cell help. This is accompanied by complex changes in the surface phenotype, including the downregulation of TCR and CD28. During the induction of anergy cytokine-specific mRNA levels are enhanced, but when the anergic T cells are restimulated they fail to secrete IL-4 and IL-5, although interferon (IFN)-gamma production may remain unaltered. The ability of peptides to modulate the function of HDM-specific T cells in vivo has been investigated in mice. Following inhalation of peptide containing a major T-cell epitope of Der p 1 (residues 111-139) transient T-cell activation was observed prior to the inhibition of responses in naive and sensitized mice. T cells from the tolerant mice restimulated in vitro produced low levels of cytokines and failed to provide help for B cells.

Adjuvants, Immunologic

The within-host cellular dynamics of bloodstage malaria: theoretical and experimental studies.

The properties of a mathematical model of bloodstage infection with a single strain of malaria were investigated. Analysing the cell population dynamics in the absence of a host immune response we demonstrate a relationship between host and parasite parameters that defines a criterion for the successful invasion and persistence of the parasite. Important parameters are the rates of merozoite production and death and those of erythrocyte production, death and invasion. We present data from experiments designed to evaluate the erythrocyte invasion rate in a rodent malaria system. The model generates patterns of parasitaemia in good qualitative agreement with those seen in Plasmodium berghei infections. The sole force behind the rise and fall in parasitaemia in the model without immunity is the density of susceptible erythrocytes, suggesting that resource availability is an important determinant of the initial pattern of infection in vivo. When we incorporate a simple immune response into the model we find that immunity against the infected cell is much more effective at suppressing parasite abundance than immunity against the merozoite. Simulations reveal oscillating temporal patterns of parasite abundance similar to P. c. chabaudi infection, challenging the concept that antigenic variation is the sole mechanism behind recrudescing patterns of infection.

Animals

Regulation of house dust mite responses by intranasally administered peptide: transient activation of CD4+ T cells precedes the development of tolerance in vivo.

We have previously demonstrated that intranasal (i.n.) administration of an immunodominant peptide (p1-111-139) derived from the house dust mite (HDM) allergen Der p 1 inhibits antigen-specific CD4+ T cell responses in H-2b mice. Here we report that i.n. peptide induced a rapid but transient activation of MHC class II restricted CD4+ T cells that peaked 4 days after peptide treatment and was of similar magnitude to that induced by parenteral immunization with antigen in adjuvant. During the early phase of the response lymph node and splenic T cells secreted a range of lymphokines when re-stimulated in vitro with p1 111-139; however, by day 14 IL-2 and IFN-gamma secretion by T cells were down-regulated. Mice deficient in CD8+ T cells became tolerant by i.n. treatment with peptide, suggesting that CD8+ T cells are not involved in down-regulating the CD4+ T cell response. Rechallenging mice with a single dose of p1 111-139 21 days after the initial treatment elicited a further transient T cell response, which was subsequently down-regulated over time. Although the i.n. peptide induced a strong transient CD4+ T cell response, only low levels of peptide-specific antibodies were detected either after the initial or subsequent i.n. exposures to p1 111-139. Our findings address the mechanisms underlying peripheral T cell tolerance following i.n. administration of a high dose of immunogenic peptide and have implications for understanding the consequences of peptide immunothearapy.

Animals

Induction of T cell responses to the invariant chain derived peptide CLIP in mice immunized with the group 1 allergen of house dust mite.

In this study we demonstrate that immunization of H-2(b) mice with the allergen Der p 1 induces MHC class II restricted T cells that proliferate to residues 15-29 of Der p 1 (p15-29) and to the murine MHC class II-associated invariant chain derived peptide (CLIP). T cells from naive H-2(b) mice and those immunized with murine CLIP fail to respond to either CLIP or p15-29. T cell lines and clones reactive with p15-29 strongly proliferate in response to splenic antigen-presenting cells (APC) from normal H-2(b) mice but show reduced proliferation to APC from invariant chain deficient mice. Furthermore, T cells isolated from Der p 1 primed mice and expanded on H-2(b) spleen cells in the absence of the p15-29 epitope retained specificity for both p15-29 and CLIP, suggesting that naturally presented self components can act as mimetic peptides and may maintain T cell memory to foreign antigens.

Allergens

Specific and nonspecific responses to Plasmodium falciparum blood-stage parasites and observations on the gametocytemia in schoolchildren living in a malaria-endemic area of Mozambique.

We have observed specific and nonspecific reactivities to the asexual states and gametocytes of Plasmodium falciparum and examined the effect of chloroquine and Fansidar (pyrimethamine/sulfadoxine) on the dynamics of gametocytemia. Schoolchildren peripheral blood films positive for P. falciparum gametocytes were identified in a malaria-endemic area of Mozambique. The children were randomly allocated into two groups to receive chloroquine or pyrimethamine/sulfadoxine, and were followed for 28 days after treatment. In patients harboring drug-sensitive parasites, asexual parasitemias were cleared by day 4, but gametocytes persisted for an additional 17 days. The prevalence of the asexual parasites was 67.6% in the chloroquine-treated group at day 0 and 61.1% at day 28, whereas in the pyrimethamine/sulfadoxine treated group, the initial parasite prevalence of 70.7% was reduced to 2.4% at day 28, suggesting a high prevalence of chloroquine-resistant parasites. On day 0, gametocyte prevalence was 59.5% in the chloroquine-treated group and in 68.3% in the pyrimethamine/sulfadoxine-treated group; these values were reduced to 5.6% and 2.4%, respectively, at day 28. Our results suggest strongly that there is no induction of gametocytogenesis by either course of chemotherapy.

Adolescent

The effects of changes at peptide residues contacting MHC class II T-cell receptor on antigen recognition and human Th0 cell effector function.

Cytokines can influence the selection of functional subsets (Th1 or Th2) of CD4+ T cells. However, quantitative changes in affinity of peptide/major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II/T-cell receptor (TCR) interactions may alter antigen density and modulate T-cell effector function. The possibility exists to use peptide analogues to induce a partial signal to dissociate production of interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) by T-helper type-0 (Th0) cells and, consequently, to regulate T-cell function. Based on binding assays and resolution of the crystalline structure of an influenza virus haemagglutinin peptide (HA 306-318) bound to the human MHC class II molecule DRB1*0101, we synthesized HA peptide analogues with amino acid substitutions predicted to modify either MHC class II/peptide density or TCR/peptide interactions. When we examined their antigenicity using cloned human Th0 cells, the analogues, in general, elicited a gradation in potency reflected by a reduction in both proliferation and cytokine production (IL-2, IL-4 and IFN-gamma). Although the analogue HA-R309 diminished IL-2 production, none of the analogues tested could selectively induce only IL-4 or IFN-gamma. Since, in general, the effector functions of the Th0 cells examined here were resistant to selective manipulation by the peptide analogues, this suggests that for some clones of chronically activated T cells modulation of selected functions may be difficult to achieve.

Amino Acid Sequence

[Subjective well-being in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome before and after nCPAP therapy].

18 obstructive sleep apnea patients (mean time of nCPAP-treatment: 412 nights) were asked about their subjective well-being before therapy and under treatment with nCPAP. Also their wifes were asked to give an outer appraisal. Both groups reported a clear reduction of general well-being before therapy and significant improvements in excessive daytime sleepiness, depression, physical and psychical complaints and the rate of patients accidents under nCPAP. In context with a good compliance of therapy these results indicate that the nCPAP-treatment was subjectively experienced as effective.

Adult

CD4+ T cell-targeted immunomodulation and the therapy of allergic disease.

In recent years there have been considerable advances in our knowledge of the cellular and molecular events following ligation of the T cell receptor. The quantitative and qualitative characteristics of the signal(s) received by a naive or memory T cell largely determine whether receptor ligation results in cell activation, cell death, or the induction of a state of antigen-specific nonresponsiveness. Furthermore, microenvironmental conditions, including the presence of secreted cytokines or the structure of the peptide antigen, strongly influence the differentiation of CD4+ helper cells into functionally distinct subsets. The interregulation of these functional subsets appears pivotal to the development of many immune-mediated disorders, including allergic disease. We suggest that the selective manipulation of the immune response to specific antigens may be an effective strategy for the therapy of such disorders and we review recent studies which support this concept.

Adjuvants, Immunologic

The detection of IgE-secreting cells in the peripheral blood of patients with atopic dermatitis.

We report, for the first time, the identification of IgE-secreting cells in human peripheral blood with an ELISA plaque assay that detects the fingerprint of individual IgE-secreting cells. No IgE-secreting cells could be detected in the blood of normal individuals (IgE, less than 100 IU/ml) or atopic patients (IgE, less than 1000 IU/ml), but in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) whose IgE was greater than 2000 IU/ml, there was an average of 49 +/- 9 IgE-secreting cells per 10(6) peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNCs). The rate of IgE production per cell per day from the PBMNCs of patients with AD varied from 0.051 to 0.628 IU/ml, and the number of IgE-secreting cells was positively correlated with the serum-IgE levels of these subjects (r = 0.74; p less than 0.001) and the amount of IgE detected in the culture supernatant (r = 0.085; p less than 0.02). Secretion of IgE by these cells could be completely inhibited (96.2% +/- 3%) by the addition of 75 micrograms of cyclohexamide to the cultures. Preformed intracellular IgE comprised 10% of the IgE detected in the supernatants of 7-day cultures. PBMNCs from patients with AD depleted of monocytes by adherence and T cells by E rosetting, all contained some detectable IgE-secreting cells, whereas isolated T cells and monocytes did not, supporting the view that cells secreting IgE that were detected were indeed B cells.

Antibody-Producing Cells

Vaccination and treatment trials against murine leishmaniasis with semi-purified Leishmania antigens.

Antigens with molecular weight ranges of 94-67 kDa (LiF2), 30-20 kDa (LiF5), or below 20 kDa (LiF6), isolated from lysates of Leishmania infantum promastigotes by electroelution from polyacrylamide gels were injected into mice which were genetically either partially resistant (C57BL/6) or susceptible (BALB/c) to Leishmania infection. One month after the completion of the intravenous (C57BL/6) or subcutaneous (BALB/c) schedules, the mice were challenged with 1 x 10(3) L. major promastigotes. All mice immunized with LiF2, LiF5 and LiF6 were completely resistant. Furthermore, the C57BL/6 mice immunized with LiF2 resisted a second challenge with 1 x 10(4) L. major amastigotes. 5 months later, LiF2 antigen was used for immunotherapy of L. major leishmaniasis; parasites disappeared from the treated skin lesions, although ensuing systemic infection could not be averted.

Animals

Peptide-mediated immunoregulation.

Quantitative and qualitative characteristics of the signals received by a T cell determine whether receptor ligation results in cell activation, cell death, or the induction of antigen-specific non-responsiveness. Environmental factors such as the nature of costimulation, antigen-presenting cell type, peptide structure and cytokine levels also influence the differentiation of CD4+ helper T cells into functionally distinct subsets, which now appear pivotal in many immune-mediated disorders, including autoimmunity and allergy. Selective manipulation of the immune response, such as the functional inactivation or deviation of the cytokine secretion patterns of specific T cells, may be an effective strategy for immunotherapy.

Allergens