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At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

Class II-targeted antigen is superior to CD40-targeted antigen at stimulating humoral responses in vivo.

We examined the efficacy of using monoclonal antibodies to target antigen (avidin) to different surface molecules expressed on antigen presenting cells (APC). In particular, we targeted CD40 to test whether the "adjuvant" properties of CD40 signaling combined with targeted antigen would result in enhanced serologic responses. We targeted avidin to class II as a positive control and to CD11c as a negative control. These surface proteins represent an ensemble of surface molecules that signal upon ligation and that are expressed on professional APC, in particular dendritic cells (DC). We observed that targeting class II molecules on APC was superior to targeting CD40, or CD11c. However, CD40 and CD11c could function as targets for antigen bound monoclonal antibodies under certain conditions. Interestingly, inclusion of anti-CD40 mAb with the targeting anti-class II-targeted antigens negatively affects humoral response, suggesting that CD40 signaling under certain conditions may suppress processing and/or presentation of targeted antigen.

Animals↗

The clearance of apoptotic cells: implications for autoimmunity.

Apoptosis has been clearly characterised by the ability to limit the activation of inflammatory responses through the disposal of the apoptotic cell by rapid uptake by phagocytes. The exposure of phosphatidylserine deriving from the loss of plasma lipid asymmetry is the early membrane signal which alerts the phagocyte about the imminent apoptotic death of the cell. Also modifications of membrane carbohydrate groups on apoptotic cells contribute to phagocyte recognition. Soluble proteins such as C1q, mannose-binding lectin, surfactant proteins A and D, C-reactive protein, C3bi, beta2-glycoprotein I and growth arrest specific gene-6 bind to apoptotic cells and act as "opsonins" thus favouring their clearance. A redundant and promiscuous system of receptors including integrins, scavenger receptors, CR3 and CR4, calreticulin, CD14 and Mer receptor ensures an efficient and rapid uptake of apoptotic cells. In animal models and in human pathology, single genetic defects of molecules involved in apoptotic cell clearance seem to be the main determinant in the development of autoimmunity. The uptake of apoptotic cells by phagocytes provides an immunomodulatory effect in that it triggers the release of anti-inflammatory cytokines, inhibits the production of inflammatory cytokines and leads to T cell tolerance. Impaired clearance of apoptotic cells or the presence of 'danger' signals may modify the balance between tolerance induction and activation of T cells leading to an effective autoimmune response.

Animals↗

Induction of immunity to Schistosoma mansoni: interaction of schistosomula with accessory leucocytes in murine skin and draining lymph nodes.

A single exposure to radiation-attenuated cercariae of Schistosoma mansoni induces a high level of protective immunity in C57BL/6 mice, which is mediated by Th1 responses. Events in the skin and/or draining lymph nodes early after exposure are crucial for the induction of protection, and we have investigated the interactions of vaccinating parasites with host leucocytes in these 2 locations. We observed extensive lateral spreading of cercarial secretions along layers of the stratum corneum but not between keratinocytes. There was little direct contact with host leucocytes during the first 1-2 days when the parasites lay at the base of the epidermis, but cells accumulated in the underlying dermis. In contrast to normal parasites, attenuated larvae persisted in the dermis for > 10 days, often surrounded by aggregates of macrophages/dendritic cells. Whilst cells bearing MHC II, CD11b or CD11c markers were present in the lymph nodes, particularly in the periphery and paracortical areas, no obvious redistribution was seen as a result of parasite residence there for 5-15 days. However, ultrastructural observations revealed numerous cells with macrophage/dendritic morphology in the vicinity of parasites, in some instances closely adherent to the tegument. The observations strongly suggest that the tegument is a potent source of the antigens which prime the immune system in the lymph nodes of vaccinated mice for a protective response.

Animals↗

Pentraxin family of proteins interact specifically with phosphorylcholine and/or phosphorylethanolamine.

Pentraxins are a family of serum proteins characterized by five identical subunits that are noncovalently linked. The two major types of pentraxins are C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum amyloid P component (SAP). CRP proteins are identified by their calcium-dependent interaction with phosphorylcholine. This study showed that SAP also bound to phosphorylated compounds but had a high specificity for phosphorylethanolamine. Thus, human CRP and SAP show high specificity that is complementary for the related compounds, phosphorylcholine and phosphorylethanolamine, respectively. This relationship suggests a complementary and/or related function for the pentraxins. Pentraxins from other species were also examined. Mouse SAP showed binding interactions and specificity similar to human SAP. Female protein (FP) from hamster and rat CRP showed a hybrid specificity and bound to both phosphorylethanolamine and phosphorylcholine. All of the proteins that bound phosphorylethanolamine also associated with human C4b-binding protein (C4BP). With the exception of human and rat CRP, all the proteins also bound to vesicles containing acidic phospholipids. All of these binding interactions were calcium-dependent and mutually exclusive, suggesting that they involved the same site on the protein. These findings suggest possible ways to examine the function of the pentraxins.

Alpha-Globulins↗

Human umbilical vein endothelial cells express complement receptor 1 (CD35) and complement receptor 4 (CD11c/CD18) in vitro.

We have examined complement receptors on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and found that they express complement receptor 1 (CR1, CD35) and complement receptor 4 (CR4, CD11c/CD18), but not complement receptor 3 (CR3, CD11b/CD18). Binding of monoclonal antibodies against CR1 (CD35) and CR4 (CD11c/CD18) to HUVEC was demonstrated by flow cytometry. The presence of the corresponding mRNAs was confirmed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and sequencing of the amplified cDNA fragments. When HUVEC were treated with inflammatory mediators, chemotactic agents or the secretagogue phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA), no change in reactivity to CR1 (CD35) or CR4 (CD11c/CD18) monoclonal antibodies was detected on the surface of the cells compared with untreated cells. The presence of CR1 (CD35) and CR4 (CD1c/CD18) on HUVEC indicates that endothelial cells (EC) have the potential to bind C3b and iC3b, respectively, which both mediate biological effects in the course of complement activation.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Decline in the expression of C4 binding protein alpha-chain gene during ageing of the rat liver.

It appears that consistent changes in the levels of activity of a small cohort of genes (probably less than 1% of all active genes) occur in all mammalian cells during ageing. We have studied this phenomenon in rat liver using an optimised form of differential display. During this investigation we observed one gene which exhibited a decline in expression in livers from young adult (6 months) to aged adult (24 months) animals. The differential expression of this gene was confirmed by single strand conformational polymorphism (SSCP) gel analysis and Northern blotting. Densitometry of the latter indicated that there was a decline of 35% in its expression with age. Characterisation of the isolated PCR fragment demonstrated it to code for the alpha subchain of the complement 4 binding protein (C4BP). The C4BP is a key regulatory protein of the complement system and this observation therefore indicates that a decline in the efficiency of the complement system may be an important factor in the overall decline in immune function that has been observed during ageing.

Aging↗

Structure and flexibility of the multiple domain proteins that regulate complement activation.

In this review we summarise more than 10 years of biophysical exploration into the structural biology of the regulators of complement activation (RCA). The five human proteins responsible for regulation of the early events of complement are homologous and are composed largely from building blocks called "complement control protein (CCP) modules". Unlike most multiple domain proteins they do not contain any of the other widely occurring module types. This apparent simplicity of RCA structure, however, is belied by their sophistication of function. In fact, the structures of the individual CCP modules exhibit wide variations on a common theme while the extent and nature of intermodular connections is diverse. Some neighbouring modules within a protein stabilise each other and some co-operate to form specific binding surfaces. The degree of true "modularity" of CCPs is open to debate. The study of RCA proteins clearly illustrates the value of combining complementary structural biology techniques. The results could have implications for folding, evolution, flexibility and structure-function relationships of other molecules in the large, diverse and little understood category of multiple domain proteins.

Amino Acid Motifs↗

Characterization of a common precursor population for dendritic cells.

Dendritic cells (DCs) are essential for the establishment of immune responses against pathogens and tumour cells, and thus have great potential as tools for vaccination and cancer immunotherapy trials. Experimental evidence has led to a dual DC differentiation model, which involves the existence of both myeloid- and lymphoid-derived DCs. But this concept has been challenged by recent reports demonstrating that both CD8- and CD8+ DCs, considered in mice as archetypes of myeloid and lymphoid DCs respectively, can be generated from either lymphoid or myeloid progenitors. The issue of DC physiological derivation therefore remains an open question. Here we report the characterization of a DC-committed precursor population, which has the capacity to generate all the DC subpopulations present in mouse lymphoid organs---including CD8- and CD8+ DCs, as well as the B220+ DC subset---but which is devoid of myeloid or lymphoid differentiation potential. These data support an alternative model of DC development, in which there is an independent, common DC differentiation pathway.

Animals↗

Infiltration of mononuclear inflammatory cells into primary colorectal carcinomas: an immunohistological analysis.

Local immunoregulation mediated by mononuclear tumour-infiltrating cells is considered of importance for tumour progression of colorectal cancer, although the balance between immunosuppressor and cytotoxic activities is unclear. Colorectal cancers from 26 patients were investigated using a panel of monoclonal antibodies in order to identify subsets of mononuclear inflammatory cells and to study their pattern of distribution in relation to tumour stage and cytotoxic immune reactivity against the tumour. In all but five tumours, mononuclear cells, lymphocytes or monocytes were present in fairly large numbers, particularly in the stroma. The infiltration of CD4+ mononuclear cells predominated over the CD8+ subset. Infiltration near the tumour cells was found in four cancers only. Stromal infiltration of CD11c+ macrophages was found in all but eight tumours. Small regressive areas, in which the histological architecture of the tumours was broken down, were found in 17 tumours with intense or moderate infiltration by CD4+ lymphocytes or CD11c+ macrophages. Probably this destruction of tumour tissue was caused by cytotoxic activity of the tumour-infiltrating mononuclear cells. In Dukes' class A and B tumours, CD4+ lymphocytes predominated over CD4+ cells with macrophage morphology, but the latter were increasingly found in Dukes' class C and D disease. The occurrence of MHC II-positive macrophages and lymphocytes in different Dukes' classes was similar to that of CD4+ cells. In contrast to this, CD11c+ and CD11a+ cells were more frequent in Dukes' A and B class tumours compared with Dukes' C and D. Four out of nine tumours of the latter stages showed a poor inflammatory reaction. The interpretation of our results is that the subsets of tumour-infiltrating mononuclear cells change with advancing Dukes' class and that the local immune control is gradually broken down in progressive tumour growth, even if some cytotoxic activity is still present.

Aged↗

Correction of defective host response to Mycobacterium bovis BCG infection in TNF-deficient mice by bone marrow transplantation.

Tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) plays a central role in the recruitment and activation of mononuclear cells in mycobacterial infection. In the absence of type 1 TNF receptor, Mycobacterium bovis Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) infection of mice is not contained, leading to fatal disease. Because type 1 TNF receptor binds both TNF and lymphotoxin-a, we used TNF-deficient mice to determine the specific role of TNF in the host resistance to BCG infection. The bacterial burden of the lungs of TNF-deficient mice was substantially increased and the mice succumbed to pneumonia between 8 and 12 weeks with a defective granuloma response. Atypical granulomas developed by 4 weeks expressing low levels of MHC class II, intracellular adhesion molecule (ICAM-1), CD11b and CD11c. Macrophages showed little signs of activation and had low levels of acid phosphatase activity and inducible nitric oxide synthase (INOS) expression. Despite the defective cellular recruitment, the chemokines, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and macrophage inflammatory protein-1 (MIP-1alpha), were increased in broncho-alveolar lavage fluid of TNF-deficient mice. The defective host response was corrected by the transplantation of normal bone marrow cells into irradiated TNF-deficient mice. These results demonstrate that TNF derived from hemopoietic cells rather than from mesenchymal origin are essential for a normal host response to BCG infection. Furthermore, TNF dependent expression of adhesion molecules may be essential for the recruitment of mononuclear cells for the formation of bactericidal BCG granulomas.

Acid Phosphatase↗

Sex steroids influence pancreatic islet hypertrophy and subsequent autoimmune infiltration in nonobese diabetic (NOD) and NODscid mice.

Female nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice more frequently develop autoimmune diabetes than NOD males. Orchidectomy of the latter aggravates insulitis and diabetes. Because clear differences in immune function have not been observed between prediabetic females and males, before or after castration, we hypothesized that sex-related differences in diabetes incidence are related to target organ-specific actions of sex steroids. Previously, we showed that prediabetic NOD females develop hyperinsulinemia and subsequently mega-islets. Infiltration of the first inflammatory leukocytes is predominantly associated with these mega-islets. Here, we determined the relationship between sex hormones, mega-islet formation, and infiltrating cells in NOD and nonobese diabetic/severe combined immune-deficient (NODscid) mice. Mega-islet formation was reduced in NOD males compared with NOD females, and orchidectomy increased it, indicating a relationship between androgen levels and mega-islet formation. Moreover, enhanced mega-islet formation in castrated NOD males was associated with increased numbers of infiltrating leukocytes. Castrated NODscid males also exhibited increased mega-islet formation and dendritic cell infiltration, indicating that lymphocytes are not required for castration-induced effects. In conclusion, we show that androgens influence pancreatic islets and autoimmune infiltration in NOD and NODscid mice. This suggests that the gender difference in diabetes incidence in NOD mice is related to target organ-specific androgen effects.

Animals↗

Bezafibrate as differentiating factor of human myeloid leukemia cells.

Bezafibrate belongs to the class of fibric acid derivatives usually used as antihyperlipidemia agents. From the biochemical point of view, these drugs show intriguing properties which leads one to think they may promote a differentiation process in tumour cells. This new pharmacological activity of fibrates could partially depend on the induction of an oxidative stress. To test this hypothesis, the effect of bezafibrate, as well as of clofibric acid and gemfibrozil, on growth, functional and cytochemical characteristics of human leukaemia-derived cell lines HL-60, U-937 and K-562 has been studied in some details. The results show that bezafibrate, gemfibrozil and clofibric acid, do induce differentiation in human myeloid leukaemia cell lines as indicated by several differentiation markers. Moreover fibrates, in dose dependent manner, significantly alter the cell cycle distributions, mainly leading to G0/G1 phase increment and G2/M phase reduction. The differentiating activity of fibrates could have significant implications both for the pharmacotoxicological profile of this class of compounds and for the pathophysiology of neoplastic disease.

Acetylcysteine↗

Spontaneous leukocyte activation and oxygen-free radical generation in end-stage renal disease.

Oxidative stress and inflammation are common features and major mediators of atherosclerosis in end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Available evidence for oxidative stress in ESRD is indirect and based on accumulation of byproducts of interactions of reactive oxygen species (ROS) with various molecules. Inflammation is a major cause of oxidative stress. To explore the direct link between oxidative stress and inflammation in ESRD, we studied leukocyte integrin expression and ROS production in 18 ESRD patients and 18 controls. ESRD patients showed elevated plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) and increased superoxide and hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) production by granulocytes and monocytes before dialysis. Hemodialysis resulted in a further rise in plasma MDA and H(2)O(2) production by granulocytes and monocytes. Surface expression of Mac-1 (CD11b and CD18) on granulocytes and monocytes was significantly increased (denoting cell activation) in ESRD patients. Granularity of granulocytes was significantly reduced before dialysis and declined further after dialysis. The magnitude of ROS production by granulocytes and monocytes was directly related with CD11b expression as well as plasma ferritin and parathyroid hormone levels and was inversely related to protein catabolic rate. Thus, this study provides direct evidence of spontaneous leukocyte activation and increased ROS generation (hence the link between oxidative stress and inflammation) in ESRD patients.

Female↗

Expression of endothelial cell-associated molecules in AML cells.

Recently, it has been clarified that interaction between hematopoietic cells and endothelial cells is important in normal hematopoiesis and leukemogenesis. In this study, we examined the relationship between AML cells and endothelial cells by analyzing the expression profile of angiogenic factors, angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1), Ang-2, Tie-2 (a receptor for angiopoietins) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Our results demonstrated that CD7(+)AML expressed Ang-2 mRNA frequently and integrin-family adhesion molecules (CD11c and CD18) intensively, suggesting the close correlation with endothelial cells. On the other hand, in t(8;21) AML cells, expression of Ang-2 was infrequent and expression of integrin-family adhesion molecules (CD11b, CD11c and CD18) was weak, suggesting the sparse association with endothelial cells. As for CD7(+)AML cells, despite the frequent and intense expression of endothelial cell-associated molecules (such as Ang-2, CD11c and CD18), intensity of Tie-2 expression was quite low (P < 0.05). Ang-2 expressed in CD7(+)AML cells is not considered to act in an autocrine fashion, but to work on endothelial cells to "feed" leukemic cells. Although Ang-2 is recognized as a natural antagonist for Tie-2, our data presented here suggested the alternative role of Ang-2 in the relationship between endothelial cells and leukemia cells, at least in a subset of leukemia such as CD7(+)AML. These results were supported by the study using AML cell lines, KG-1 (CD7 negative) and its subline KG-1a (CD7 positive); KG-1 had mRNA expression profile of Ang-1(+)Ang-2(-)Tie-2(+), while KG-1a showed Ang-1(+)Ang-2(+)Tie-2(-). These difference in the expression profile of angiogenic factors between CD7(+)AML and t(8;21)AML may explain the characteristic morphological features of these leukemias (CD7(+)AML as blastic type and t(8;21)AML as differentiative type).

Acute Disease↗

Constitutive expression of the Wilms' tumor gene (WT1) in the leukemic cell line U937 blocks parts of the differentiation program.

The Wilms tumor gene, WT1, encodes a zinc-finger DNA binding protein which is thought to function as a tissue specific transcription factor, regulating cell growth and differentiation. High expression of WT1 has been detected in a range of acute leukemias. To elucidate a role for WT1 in leukemogenesis, we transfected the monoblastic cell line U937, which lacks detectable levels of endogenous WT1, with two isoforms of WT1. We showed that, in contrast to U937 control cells, cells constitutively expressing either of the isoforms, WT1(-KTS) or WT1(+KTS), did not respond to differentiation induction by retinoic acid or vitamin D3, as judged by the capacity to reduce nitro blue tetrazolium and morphology. Although U937 cells expressing WT1 were hampered in their ability to differentiate on incubation with retinoic acid and vitamin D3, the induced G1/G0-accumulation was similar to differentiating control cells treated with inducers. Furthermore, distinct effects on the maturation process were indicated by downregulation of the myeloid cell surface makers CD13 and CD15, while the upregulation of CD14 and CD11c on WT1 transfected cells was similar to control cells upon incubation with retinoic acid and vitamin D3. Taken together our results demonstrate that a constitutive expression of WT1 in the leukemic cell line U937 leads to impairment of differentiation responses, indicating that a high expression of WT1 can contribute to the differentiation block of acute leukemia.

Cell Cycle↗