Biomedical subjects

Victoria Watt

Publications and source records attributed to Victoria Watt.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Nuclear factor of activated T (NFAT) cells activity within CD4+ T cells is influenced by activation status and tissue localisation.

Nuclear factor of activated T (NFAT) cells is a family of transcription factors important for the regulation of cytokine expression by CD4+ T cells. Whilst a number of studies have examined NFAT activity of in vitro generated CD4+ T helper (Th)1 and Th2 cells, regulation of NFAT during in vivo immune responses has yet to be elucidated. We show that NFAT activity in CD4+ T cells peaked at early time-points in the draining mediastinal lymph node of mice infected with influenza A (Flu) or Nippostrongylus brasiliensis (Nb). In contrast, low NFAT transcriptional activity was detected in CD4+ T cells isolated from the lung of either Flu or Nb infected mice, despite a greater proportion of cytokine-producing cells being present at this site. These findings indicate that the activation status and tissue microenvironment of effector CD4+ T cells can determine their requirement for NFAT-mediated transcription.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Prospective monitoring of tumor necrosis factor alpha and interferon gamma to predict the onset of acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease after allogeneic stem cell transplantation.

Peripheral blood T cells were isolated from 19 allogeneic and 4 autologous stem cell transplant (SCT) recipients and assessed for tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interferon (IFN)-gamma transcription by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Levels were compared with resting donor T-cell transcription levels. Increased production of TNF-alpha predicted for the onset of severe (grade II-IV) graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) (P = .001). Increased TNF-alpha (P = .025) and IFN-gamma (P = .001) transcription also independently predicted for the eventual onset of extensive chronic GVHD. Increased TNF-alpha or IFN-gamma transcription was not seen in either a syngeneic SCT recipient or 4 autologous SCT controls. These findings provide a means by which GVHD can be predicted before it is clinically evident, thus allowing for accurate diagnosis and monitoring of GVHD and possibly more cost-effective management of post-SCT immunosuppression.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed2002

Differential T cell function and fate in lymph node and nonlymphoid tissues.

The functions and fate of antigen-experienced T cells isolated from lymph node or nonlymphoid tissues were analyzed in a system involving adoptive transfer of in vitro-activated T cells into mice. Activated T cells present in the lymph nodes could be stimulated by antigen to divide, produce effector cytokines, and migrate to peripheral tissues. By contrast, activated T cells that had migrated into nonlymphoid tissues (lung and airway) produced substantial effector cytokines upon antigen challenge, but were completely unable to divide or migrate back to the lymph nodes. Therefore, activated T cells can undergo clonal expansion in the lymph node, but are recruited and retained as nondividing cells in nonlymphoid tissues. These distinct regulatory events in lymph node and nonlymphoid tissues reveal simple key mechanisms for both inducing and limiting T cell immunity.

Adoptive Transfer↗