Biomedical subjects

Georgina Clark

Publications and source records attributed to Georgina Clark.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

CD molecules 2006--human cell differentiation molecules.

The Human Leucocyte Differentiation Antigens Workshops (HLDA) have since 1984 provided a forum for the characterization and study of leucocyte surface molecules and antibodies against them. HLDA devised the CD nomenclature, which is sanctioned by IUIS. The HLDA Council reviewed and modified the objectives of HLDA in 2004, and changed the name of the organization to Human Cell Differentiation Molecules (HCDM) to reflect the broader objectives. Workshop studies under the HCDM banner proceeded during 2005 and early 2006, culminating in a meeting in May 2006. At that meeting the Council, acting as Nomenclature Committee, approved a number of new CD designations and changes to some pre-existing CD designations, which are summarized in this report.

Antigens, CD↗

PubMed2006

An empirical study of tissue banking in Australia: navigating regulatory and ethical challenges.

Collections of tumour samples can be an invaluable resource for medical research. There are, however, numerous ethical and legal challenges associated with tumour banking. While there has been extensive discussion of these issues in the legal and ethical literature, there are few available empirical data in relation to the activities of tumour banks in Australia, their practices around ethically charged issues, and their success in implementing complex regulatory guidelines. The aim of this study was to gain more information about the activities of tumour banks in New South Wales, Australia, with a particular focus on their management of, and attitudes towards, ethical and regulatory issues. A survey of 27 tumour collection and research facilities was conducted using a 55-item questionnaire. There is significant heterogeneity of research methodologies as well as of methods for gaining consent and ensuring donor privacy, and there is general concern among the research community about ethical and regulatory issues related to tumour banking. Heterogeneity of practice and uncertainty about ethical and regulatory requirements is problematic in its potential to hinder research and its potential to generate the space for unethical practice, whether intentional or unintentional. There is a pressing need to address these issues so that tumour banks can be used in the most ethical and efficient way possible.

Academies and Institutes↗

PubMed2005

Eighth Leucocyte Differentiation Antigen Workshop DC section summary.

Dendritic cells (DC) are specialist antigen presenting cells that play a role in the initiation of innate and adaptive immune response. At the seventh Human Leucocyte Differentiation Antigen workshop, these intriguing cell populations were included as a separate lineage of leucocytes. This paper reports the studies performed in the eighth Human Leucocyte Differentiation Antigen workshop as part of the DC section. Many investigators currently focus on DC that are derived from a number of different leucocyte populations, including those that are differentiated in vitro and cells that are purified ex vivo. The DC section assessed the surface expression of different leucocyte surface molecules on a range of different DC populations. The results summarise the expression of each molecule on dendritic cell populations and differences between different DC preparations. Eleven new CDs were allocated on the basis of monoclonal antibodies and molecular information that identify known cell surface molecules expressed by dendritic cells. This paper gives a brief review of the work that was performed during the HLDA8 and a summary of the CDs represented by submitted mAb.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

PubMed2005

CD molecules 2005: human cell differentiation molecules.

The immune system works through leukocytes interacting with each other, with other cells, with tissue matrices, with infectious agents, and with other antigens. These interactions are mediated by cell-surface glycoproteins and glycolipids. Antibodies against these leukocyte molecules have provided powerful tools for analysis of their structure, function, and distribution. Antibodies have been used widely in hematology, immunology, and pathology, and in research, diagnosis, and therapy. The associated CD nomenclature is commonly used when referring to leukocyte surface molecules and antibodies against them. It provides an essential classification for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. The most recent (8th) Workshop and Conference on Human Leukocyte Differentiation Antigens (HLDA), held in Adelaide, Australia, in December 2004, allocated 95 new CD designations and made radical changes to its aims and future operational strategy in order to maintain its relevance to modern human biology and clinical practice.

Antigens, CD↗

PubMed2005

In vitro depletion of tissue-derived dendritic cells by CMRF-44 antibody and alemtuzumab: implications for the control of Graft-versus-host disease.

Graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), a life-threatening complication of bone marrow transplantation, is initiated by donor T cells reacting to recipient dendritic cells (DC). GvHD can be controlled by attenuating donor T cells, but few strategies exist to target DC, particularly resident tissue DC, despite recent evidence of their importance. In this report, CMRF-44, a mouse monoclonal IgM reactive to human DC, is tested against human Langerhans cells (LC) in vitro. CMRF-44 antigen is expressed at low level on fresh LC but is up-regulated 40-60-fold during migration. CMRF-44 and complement kill more than 97% of migratory LC in vitro and inhibit allostimulation by LC up to 95%. In comparison, alemtuzumab, which binds CD52, reacts weakly with primary LC and fails to induce significant lysis with complement (less than 5%). These results highlight the potential of new therapeutic antibodies active against tissue DC to control graft-versus-host reactions.

Alemtuzumab↗