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Expression, distribution, and biochemistry of human CD39. Role in activation-associated homotypic adhesion of lymphocytes.

The distribution, biochemical properties, and function of CD39 were characterized with the use of a new mAb termed 400. CD39 is an acidic (isoelectric point, approximately 4.2) glycoprotein of Mr approximately 78,000, containing approximately 24 kDa of N-linked oligosaccharide but no detectable O-linked sugars. CD39 was not expressed by resting blood T, B, or NK cells, neutrophils, or monocytes, but was expressed on activated NK cells, B cells, subsets of T cells, and T cell clones. Furthermore, the pattern of expression of CD39 was distinct from the "classic" activation Ag CD25 and CD71, inasmuch as it was expressed long after expression of CD25 and CD71 had returned to basal levels. CD39 was easily detectable on EBV-transformed B cell lines but was absent from pre-B and non-EBV-transformed B cell lines, most myeloid cell lines, and leukemic T cell lines. In lymphoid tissues, germinal center cells expressed little or no CD39, whereas some paracortical lymphocytes and most macrophages and dendritic cells were positive. CD39 was strongly expressed by endothelium in all tissues examined, including skin, and was present on some, but not all, endothelial cell lines propagated in vitro. Interestingly, mAb binding to certain epitopes on CD39 induced rapid homotypic adhesion that appeared to involve LFA-1 (CD11a/CD18), but was morphologically and kinetically distinct from that induced by PMA. Anti-CD39 mAb also induced homotypic adhesion in an CD11/CD18-EBV-transformed B cell line derived from a patient with severe leukocyte adhesion deficiency. This adhesion was unaffected by EDTA, suggesting that this pathway of anti-CD39-induced homotypic adhesion was not mediated by any of the known integrins. These studies suggest that CD39 is involved in the cellular signaling that regulates adhesion.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

Inhibitory properties of recombinant human monocyte/neutrophil elastase inhibitor.

Human monocyte/neutrophil elastase inhibitor (HEI) is a serpin superfamily protein that rapidly and irreversibly inhibits neutrophil and pancreatic elastase. We generated a recombinant baculovirus that supports production of HEI in insect cells at approximately 400 times the level in monocytes. Recombinant HEI was found to be indistinguishable from monocyte HEI in its physicochemical properties and ability to inhibit neutrophil elastase and pancreatic elastase. The recombinant protein was used to test for additional functions. HEI was shown to inhibit proteinase 3, an important neutrophil inflammatory protease, by the classical serpin mechanism of forming a covalent protease-protease inhibitor complex. Preliminary evidence suggests that HEI also inhibits neutrophil cathepsin G. On the other hand, HEI does not inhibit u-plasminogen activator (urokinase). These findings suggest that HEI functions as a class-specific regulator of the neutrophil serine proteases characteristically found at inflammatory sites.

Animals↗

Autologous rosette formation by human blood monocyte-derived macrophages and lymphocytes.

The formation of rosettes between human blood monocyte-derived macrophages and lymphocytes (MLR) in samples harvested from total leukocyte (TL) cell cultures, was confirmed. Experiments with leukocytes obtained from human blood of healthy individuals (n = 17) and prepared under various conditions, were performed. Cytopreparations of each experiment were used for classical staining procedures or for immunohistochemical methods with monoclonal lymphocyte surface markers. Recently obtained blood leukocytes were unable to form MLR, whereas cultured samples of the same cells started to form MLR 15 hr after culturing. At that time, the number of MLR in pelleted samples was 1.18%, reaching a peak of 15.7% at 120 hr of culturing. In cultured but nonpelleted samples, only a few MLR were formed. With monoclonal antibodies, the lymphocytes forming MLR reacted mainly as CD4 positive and much less as CD8 (the ratio was 18:1). Monocyte-derived macrophages were able to form MLR when they underwent transformation into macrophages. The finding that the lymphocytes involved are T-cells, mainly CD4 positive, suggests that in the cell-cell interaction, macrophages could be presenting antigens to the lymphocytes. Besides, because the highest number of MLR occurred in TL samples, whereas few rosettes were formed in the mononuclear cell samples, the existence of some particular mechanism(s) acting on TL samples is suggested.

Adolescent↗

Interaction of classical swine fever virus with dendritic cells.

Functional disruption of dendritic cells (DCs) is an important strategy for viral pathogens to evade host defences. Monocytotropic viruses such as classical swine fever virus (CSFV) could employ such a mechanism, since the virus can suppress immune responses and induce apoptosis without infecting lymphocytes. Here, CSFV was shown to infect and efficiently replicate in monocyte- and in bone marrow-derived DCs. Interestingly, the infected DCs displayed neither modulated MHC nor CD80/86 expression. Stimulation of DCs with IFN-alpha/TNF-alpha or polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (pIC) induced phenotypic maturation with increased MHC and CD80/86 expression, both with mock-treated and infected DCs. In addition, the T cell stimulatory capacity of CSFV-infected DCs was maintained both in a polyclonal T cell stimulation and in specific antigen-presentation assays, requiring antigen uptake and processing. Interestingly, similar to macrophages, CSFV did not induce IFN-alpha responses in these DCs and even suppressed pIC-induced IFN-alpha induction. Other cytokines including interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, IL-12 and TNF-alpha were not modulated. Taken together, these results demonstrated that CSFV can replicate in DCs and control IFN type I responses, without interfering with the immune reactivity. These results are interesting considering that DC infection with RNA viruses usually results in DC activation.

Animals↗

The Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome.

The Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) is a rare X-linked disorder with variable clinical phenotypes that correlate with the type of mutations in the WAS protein (WASP) gene. WASP, a key regulator of actin polymerization in hematopoietic cells, has 5 well-defined domains that are involved in signaling, cell locomotion, and immune synapse formation. WASP facilitates the nuclear translocation of nuclear factor kappaB and was shown to play an important role in lymphoid development and in the maturation and function of myeloid monocytic cells. Mutations of WASP are located throughout the gene and either inhibit or dysregulate normal WASP function. Analysis of a large patient population demonstrates a phenotype-genotype correlation: classic WAS occurs when WASP is absent, X-linked thrombocytopenia when mutated WASP is expressed, and X-linked neutropenia when missense mutations occur in the Cdc42-binding site. The progress made in dissecting the function of WASP has provided new diagnostic possibilities and has propelled our therapeutic strategies from conservative symptomatic treatment to curative hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and toward gene therapy.

Actins↗

Kinetics of cellular infiltration and cytokine production during the efferent phase of a delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction.

Cell-mediated immunity is a primary host resistance mechanism against many infectious organisms and is responsible for leucocyte recruitment to the infection site. Delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reactions are in vivo correlates of cell-mediated immunity and have long been used to assess the level of cell-mediated immune (CMI) responsiveness to specific antigens. It has been difficult to study the kinetics of cellular influx and cytokine composition at the site of an on-going CMI reaction. Consequently, knowledge of the sequential events occurring during the efferent phase of a CMI response is incomplete. Here we report on the use of a gelatin sponge model for evaluating the progression of events during the effector phase of a DTH reaction to antigens of the mycotic organism Cryptococcus neoformans. Previously, we have shown that 24 hr after antigen injection into sponges in infected or immune mice, the leucocyte types infiltrating the sponges are consistent with a classical murine DTH reaction. Through kinetic studies, we show here that neutrophils are the first leucocytes to appear in DTH-reactive sponges, followed by increases in lymphocyte and then monocyte numbers. Tumour necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin-2 (IL-2), interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and IL-5 were elevated in DTH-reactive sponges compared with control sponges, and each cytokine had a relatively unique temporal profile. IL-4 was not detectable in the sponges. Together our data indicate that the expression of a CMI response comprises a well-regulated sequential influx of leucocytes that contribute to the lymphokine composition of the reaction.

Animals↗

Discordant regulation of granzyme H and granzyme B expression in human lymphocytes.

We analyzed the expression of granzyme H in human blood leukocytes, using a novel monoclonal antibody raised against recombinant granzyme H. 33-kDa granzyme H was easily detected in unfractionated peripheral blood mononuclear cells, due to its high constitutive expression in CD3(-)CD56(+) natural killer (NK) cells, whereas granzyme B was less abundant. The NK lymphoma cell lines, YT and Lopez, also expressed high granzyme H levels. Unstimulated CD4(+) and particularly CD8(+) T cells expressed far lower levels of granzyme H than NK cells, and various agents that classically induce T cell activation, proliferation, and enhanced granzyme B expression failed to induce granzyme H expression in T cells. Also, granzyme H was not detected in NK T cells, monocytes, or neutrophils. There was a good correlation between mRNA and protein expression in cells that synthesize both granzymes B and H, suggesting that gzmH gene transcription is regulated similarly to gzmB. Overall, our data indicate that although the gzmB and gzmH genes are tightly linked, expression of the proteins is quite discordant in T and NK cells. The finding that granzyme H is frequently more abundant than granzyme B in NK cells is consistent with a role for granzyme H in complementing the pro-apoptotic function of granzyme B in human NK cells.

Animals↗

In vitro evaluation of the efficacy and biocompatibility of new, synthetic ABO immunoabsorbents.

Synthetic ABO immunoabsorbents (known as Synsorbs) were in use for several years to specifically eliminate ABO antibodies from the patient's circulation before ABO-incompatible organ or bone marrow transplantation. Because Synsorbs are no longer available, we have developed new ABO immunoabsorbents. These substances, termed BioSorbents A and B, respectively, consist of synthetic A or B trisaccharides covalently coupled to macroporous glass beads via polyacrylamide. Here we report the evaluation of BioSorbents in regard to efficacy, specificity, and biocompatibility. Using a closed-circuit in vitro system, representing a 1:10-1:20 scale as compared with the immunoabsorption procedure with an adult patient, blood group O plasma was run through columns filled with ethylene oxide-sterilized BioSorbent. Hemagglutination was reduced by 4 titer steps after absorption, and anti-A and/or anti-B IgM/G/A, as measured by ABO ELISA, dropped by 85% or more, while no nonspecific absorption of immunoglobulins occurred. No significant changes could be observed for complement (C3, C4, and total hemolytic complement of the classical pathway) or for coagulation parameters (fibrinogen, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time). As monitored by immunoblotting, neither factor XII nor high molecular weight kininogen was cleaved. In addition, a monocyte phagocytosis inhibition test provided evidence that no significant aggregation of IgG had occurred during absorption. We conclude that BioSorbents A and B are efficient, specific, and biocompatible with human plasma.

ABO Blood-Group System↗

Tobacco smoke induces both apoptosis and necrosis in mammalian cells: differential effects of HSP70.

Tobacco smoke (TS) has been implicated as a major risk factor in human pulmonary diseases including cancer. In this study, we used TS as a model of oxidative stress. TS-mediated oxidative stress has been shown to induce protein oxidation, DNA damage, and cell death. Here we investigated, in human and rodent cell lines, whether TS induces cell death by apoptosis or by necrosis. As described for classic oxidants, TS induced apoptosis at low concentrations and necrosis at higher concentrations. We have previously described the induction of heat shock (HS) protein (HSP) (in particular, HSP70) in human monocytes exposed to TS. HSP70 is implicated in the regulation of cell injury and cell death and, in particular, modulates apoptosis, as does the antiapoptotic oncoprotein Bcl-2. At both apoptotic and necrotic concentrations, TS induced a dose-dependent HSP70 expression, whereas Bcl-2 was induced only at necrotic concentrations. TS- or HS-induced HSP had no protective effects either on apoptosis or on necrosis, but HSP70 overexpression prevented TS-induced necrosis and consequently led to increased apoptosis. These results might reconcile the apparently contradictory data previously reported on the effects of HSP on apoptosis.

Animals↗

Immunopathological changes in human cerebral malaria.

Pathogenic mechanisms in human cerebral malaria remain unclear. We reevaluate the role of cell-mediated immune mechanisms in the pathogenesis of this disease based on autopsy findings in a 34-year-old Caucasian male. Histologic examination of brain tissue showed typical features of severe malaria infection (sequestration of Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes in vessels, cerebral oedema, petechial lesions and Dürck granulomas). In addition to these classical changes, we found that leukocytes that stained positively in immunohistochemistry for CD68 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) coexisted with infected erythrocytes in capillaries, whereas in venules the monocyte population outnumbered the erythrocytes. Notable expression of ICAM-1 on endothelial cell surface was detected by immunohistochemistry in vessels with sequestered cells but not in unaffected vessels. These changes are identical to those of the murine model of the disease, in which cell-mediated immune mechanisms and TNF have been implicated. In vitro, ICAM-1 has been shown to be a potential ligand for P. falciparum-infected erythrocytes. In malaria patients, high serum TNF levels, which have been detected in close correlation with disease severity, may thus favor adhesion to endothelial cells of either red or white blood cells via enhanced ICAM-1 expression. The present observations are further evidence for a role of cell-mediated immunity in the pathogenesis of human cerebral malaria.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

Expression of C-reactive protein by alveolar macrophages.

C-reactive protein (CRP) is well characterized as one of the serum acute phase proteins, the levels of which increase dramatically after infection. CRP has been shown to be involved in multiple immunoregulatory functions. For example, it activates the classical complement cascade, opsonizes bacteria for phagocytosis, and stimulates phagocytic cells. Although CRP is predominantly produced and secreted by hepatocytes, other cells including subsets of lymphocytes, Kupffer cells, and blood monocytes have been shown to synthesize this protein as well. We hypothesized that CRP may be produced in the lung, and therefore it could function directly in pulmonary host defense. Western blot analysis showed that CRP was present in the lung tissue, lung lavage, and alveolar macrophages. This result was further confirmed by immunohistochemical staining of lung sections that showed the localization of CRP in alveolar macrophages. The CRP mRNA was detected subsequently by reverse-transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR), and a single amplified product was obtained from alveolar macrophages as well as from whole lung tissue. Both were the same size as the amplified product obtained from liver mRNA. Furthermore, in situ hybridization with CRP riboprobe demonstrated specific staining of alveolar macrophages both in lung sections and isolated cells. In addition, in situ hybridization showed that CRP mRNA levels in isolated alveolar macrophages were up-regulated by in vitro LPS stimulation. In summary, these results indicate that CRP is produced by alveolar macrophages, and suggest that CRP may be involved in the pulmonary immune response.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

Virus antigen expression and alterations in peripheral blood mononuclear cell subpopulations after classical swine fever virus infection.

Depletion in the number of lymphocytes and viral persistence are thought to be the most important outcomes of classical swine fever virus (CSFV) infection. To define the change in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and virus replication in leukocytes after CSFV infection, 8-week old pigs were infected with the LPC vaccine strain or virulent CSFV (HCV-YL strain). Changes in the relative number of PBMCs were analyzed by flow cytometry. The results showed a significant increase in the relative percentage of monocytes in PBMCs during acute CSFV infection of naive pigs (p < 0.05). Monocyte frequencies were not changed in LPC-vaccinated pigs and control pigs. There was also a significant decrease in the number of IgM+ cells (p < 0.05) and a slight decrease in the number of CD4+ lymphocytes after 5 days of infection. There was no change in the frequency of CD8+ lymphocytes in PBMCs after infection. To define which subpopulation of PBMCs was the target for CSFV infection, PBMC populations from CSFV infected pigs were separated and stained for virus antigen expression. Alveolar macrophages (AM) were also studied. The results showed that CSFV replicated in all PBMC subpopulations: CD4+, CD8+, and IgM+ lymphocytes, and monocytes as well as AMs. However, virus antigen expression was more intense in monocytes and AMs. The infection of lymphocytes may, therefore, contribute to the depletion in their numbers after infection and lead to defective antibody production during virulent CSFV infection.

Animals↗

Mucosal subepithelial binding sites for the bacterial chemotactic peptide, formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP).

BACKGROUND: The bacterial chemotactic peptide N-formyl-methionine-leucine-phenylalanine (FMLP) is produced by enteric flora and is one of the factors implicated in contributing to inflammatory bowel disease. Expression of receptors for FMLP on human phagocytes (polymorphs and monocytes) is well established, but there is conflicting evidence regarding the potential expression of FMLP receptors on other cells within the mucosa, particularly the epithelial cells. AIMS: To map FMLP receptors within intestinal mucosa using several different experimental approaches. METHODS AND RESULTS: Radioligand binding assays with 'H-FMLP' revealed no specific binding to primary cultured colonic enterocytes or to the cell line HT29, whereas neutrophils, as expected, exhibited specific binding with a Kd of 19 nM and approximately 2 x 10(4) receptors per cell. FITC labelled FMLP exhibited specific, displaceable binding on flow cytometry to neutrophils and monocytes but not to 10 gastrointestinal epithelial cell lines. Isolated lamina propria lymphocytes and peripheral blood lymphocytes exhibited no binding. To confirm the absence of receptors on epithelia, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction for mRNA for the classic FMLP receptor was performed. While the presence of message was detected in activated peripheral blood phagocytes, it was not detected in epithelial cell lines. To exclude the possibility of FMLP binding to other receptors such as tachykinin receptors on epithelia, FITC labelled FMLP binding in tissue sections confirmed that the binding is subepithelial--that is, in the lamina propria. CONCLUSION: Receptors for FMLP are subepithelial and map to the lamina propria of the gastrointestinal mucosa.

Animals↗

Endothelin-2 is a macrophage chemoattractant: implications for macrophage distribution in tumors.

Endothelins (ET-1, ET-2 and ET-3) are 21-amino acid vasoactive peptides that bind to G-protein-linked transmembrane receptors, ET-RA and ET-RB. As well as modulating vasoconstriction, endothelins regulate growth in several cell types and may also affect differentiation, inflammation and angiogenesis. Both macrophages and endothelins are found in areas of hypoxia in solid tumors and ET-2 expression may be modulated by hypoxia in some tumors. As the peptide structure of mature endothelins is similar to that of CXC chemokines, we asked if endothelins contribute to control of macrophage distribution in tumors. We found that ET-2 is a chemoattractant for macrophages and THP-1 monocytic cells, but not for freshly isolated monocytes. The chemotactic response to ET-2 shows a typical bell-shaped response curve. Experiments with endothelin receptor antagonists showed that migration to ET-2 is mediated via the ET-RB receptor. Moreover, monocytes do not express ET-RB. Chemotaxis towards ET-2 is via the MAPK pathway: p44 and p42 are phosphorylated when THP-1 cells are stimulated with ET-2, and the MAPKK inhibitor PD98059 stops chemotaxis. As with 'classical' chemokines, migration toET-2 is also inhibited by hypoxia and by pertussis toxin. As well as its chemotactic properties, ET-2 leads to activation of macrophages. In human breast tumors that express ET-2, endothelins and ET-RB expressing macrophages often co-localized. While shorter than 'classical' chemokines, ET-2 shares a similar peptide sequence with chemokines and may signal via a similar receptor and MAPK-mediated pathway. Furthermore, ET-2 expression by tumors may modulate the behavior of macrophages such that activated cells accumulate in areas of hypoxia.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Binding of histamine and histamine analogs to lymphocyte subsets analyzed by flow cytometry.

The binding of histamine, 4-methylhistamine (a histamine type 2 receptor agonist), cimetidine (a histamine type 2 receptor antagonist), and telemethylhistamine (an inactive analog) to human peripheral blood mononuclear cell subsets was investigated by flow cytometry by using conjugates of these ligands coupled to fluorescein-labeled human serum albumin. Our results indicate that binding of fluorescent protein conjugates of histamine and its analogs does not selectively identify a lymphocyte subset(s) that mediates the immunomodulatory effects of histaminergic ligands. Conjugates with both low (2.5 to 2.8:1) and high (28 to 57:1) ligand to protein coupling ratios were used. No binding above background could be detected for the low mole ratio reagents. The high mole ratio reagents were bound by 95 to 99% of all lymphocytes when used at ligand concentrations of 50 microM or greater. At lower ligand concentrations, the number of lymphocytes exceeding a set fluorescence threshold was decreased, but fluorescence distributions remained unimodal at all concentrations used (1 to 500 microM). Monocytes also bound the high mole ratio reagents and gave rise to a second high-intensity peak in the fluorescence distribution unless they were excluded by other means. Levels of conjugate binding detected by flow cytometry did not parallel ligand potencies at classical histamine type 2 receptors; at equivalent ligand concentrations, approximately equal amounts of histamine or 4-methylhistamine conjugate were bound per lymphocyte, and only 30% less telemethylhistamine conjugate was bound. Competition with free ligands (10(2)- to 10(4)-fold excess histamine, 4-methylhistamine, cimetidine, or telemethylhistamine) did not significantly decrease the level of binding observed for the high mole ratio reagents at bound ligand concentrations of 1 to 25 microM. Dual staining with fluorescein-labeled conjugate and phycoerythrin-labeled monoclonal antibodies Leu-3ab (anti-helper T), Leu-2a (anti-suppressor T), Leu-M3 (anti-monocyte), or anti-HLA-DR (B cells and monocytes) was also carried out. The extent of conjugate binding to helper and suppressor cells was identical for each of the ligands used, but higher levels of conjugate binding were seen for monocytes and B cells than for T cells in every case. Our data do not exclude the possibility of enhanced conjugate binding to small numbers of activated (HLA-DR positive) T cells that might be involved in mediation of histamine effects.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Binding Sites↗

Effects of classical swine fever virus infection on the porcine leukocyte subsets.

The effects of classical swine fever (CSF) virus infection on the porcine leukocyte subsets were investigated by flow cytometry in acute, chronic and convalescent forms of the disease. The virus antigen could be first detected in the monocytes on postinfection (p.i.) day 10 while in the lymphocytes on p.i. day 13. It could be established that the ratio of CD6+ cells decreased until p.i. day 6, but afterwards it started to increase and reached different values. The CD4+CD8+, the CD8+ and the CD6- cells were obviously higher virus positive than the CD4+ and the CD4-CD8-subsets, but essentially all subsets could be infected. The ratio of CD8+ cells increased during the disease, while the number of double positive cells decreased, and that of the CD4+ cells was variable. The viral antigen could be detected in a lower percentage of the CD4+CD8+, CD8+, CD6+ and CD6- cells of the pigs affected with the chronic form of the disease than in those with the acute form. During the experiments no viral antigen could be detected in the leukocytes of the pig that became convalescent, though the changes in its leukocyte subsets were very similar to those seen in pigs in which the viral antigen could be detected. The studies have revealed that essentially all leukocyte subsets can be infected with the CSF virus, but in very different amounts.

Acute Disease↗

Release of IL-1 from mononuclear phagocytes.

IL-1 alpha and -beta are 31- and 34-kDa cytokines produced by stimulated monocytes, macrophages, and a variety of other cells. These proteins are thought to function primarily as intercellular mediators and can be detected in plasma and the supernatants of cultured cells; however, IL-1 alpha and -beta contain no identifiable signal peptides and are not secreted via the classical secretory pathway. To understand the mechanism of IL-1 release, we have analyzed IL-1 production by LPS-stimulated mononuclear cells. IL-1 was quantified by bioassay, immunoprecipitation, and ELISA. Of these techniques, only immunoprecipitation permitted the quantitative detection of intracellular pro-IL-1. Both the full-length pro-forms and proteolytically processed mature forms of IL-1 were detected in culture supernatants; however, for macrophages the released material represented less than 5% of the total IL-1 alpha and -beta synthesized. Freshly isolated human monocytes released a higher fraction of their total IL-1 (up to 22%): however, monocytes cultured in vitro for 24 h showed very little fractional release, similar to macrophages. Nonspecific release of intracellular contents was determined by measurement of release of lactate dehydrogenase activity and was found to parallel IL-1 release. In fact the higher release of IL-1 from freshly cultured human monocytes correlated also with an increase in the release of lactate dehydrogenase. We conclude that, in cultured LPS-stimulated monocytic cells, IL-1 is not released via a novel secretory pathway, but exits the cell via a nonspecific pathway, most likely as a consequence of cellular injury.

Animals↗

[Immunomodulation in sepsis].

INTRODUCTION: The systemic inflammatory response syndrome is induced by a strong inflammatory reaction which is called sepsis when it is caused by an infection. However, anti-inflammatory therapeutic strategies in septic patients were not successful, indicating a more complex system. It is now clear that systemic hyper-inflammation induces systemic anti- or hypo-inflammation which can lead to total paralysis of the immune system ("immunoparalysis"). METHODS: Several studies were performed to evaluate parameters for describing the patient's immunocompetence. Based on these parameters, pilot trials were initiated to test immunomodulating therapies depending on the patient's immunocompetence. RESULTS: The measurement of monocytic HLA-DR expression, as well as the measurement of ex vivo LPS-induced TNF-a secretion, are suitable to describe the patient's immunocompetence. In addition to classical inflammation markers, the characterization of the inflammatory and infection status is completed by measurement of the plasma cytokines, LBP and PCT. IFN-g or GM-CSF application as well as the removal of inhibitory plasma mediators by hemofiltration/plasmapheresis can reconstitute the immune function in patients with "immunoparalysis". CONCLUSIONS: Immunomodulating therapeutic strategies in septic patients have to orientate on the patient's immunocompetence and inflammatory as well as infectious status: a patient in a hyper-inflammatory phase may need anti-inflammatory therapy whereas a patient in "immunoparalysis" needs immunoreconstitution/immunostimulating therapy.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗