CCL28-Deficient Mice Have Reduced IgA Antibody-Secreting Cells and an Altered Microbiota in the Colon.

CCL28 induces the migration of IgA Ab-secreting cells (ASCs) via CCR10 and also displays a potent antimicrobial activity in vitro. To explore the role of CCL28 in vivo, we generated CCL28-deficient mice. The mice exhibited a significant reduction and abnormal distribution of IgA ASCs in the lamina propria of the colon.

c-Maf suppresses human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 Tax by competing for CREB-binding protein.

Latent infection of human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is considered to be preferentially associated with CCR4(+) CD4(+) T cells. Here we report that c-Maf, one of the critical transcription factors for Th2 differentiation, suppresses the transcriptional activity of HTLV-1 Tax by competing for CREB-binding protein. Notably, c-maf expression is selectively induced in a fraction of CCR4(+) CD4(+) T cells upon activation.

Eotaxin-3/CC chemokine ligand 26 is a functional ligand for CX3CR1.

Eotaxin-3/CCL26 is a functional ligand for CCR3 and abundantly produced by IL-4-/IL-13-stimulated vascular endothelial cells. CCL26 also functions as a natural antagonist for CCR1, CCR2, and CCR5. In this study, we report that CCL26 is yet a functional ligand for CX3CR1, the receptor for fractalkine/CX3CL1, which is expressed by CD16(+) NK cells, cytotoxic effector CD8(+) T cells, and CD14(low)CD16(high) monocytes.

CXCR7 is inducible by HTLV-1 Tax and promotes growth and survival of HTLV-1-infected T cells.

Human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1), the etiological agent of adult T-cell leukemia (ATL), encodes the potent transcriptional activator Tax, which is required for HTLV-1-induced immortalization of T cells. CXCR7 is an atypical chemokine receptor frequently expressed by tumor cells and known to promote cell growth and survival. We found that HTLV-1-immortalized T cells expressing Tax consistently expressed CXCR7.

An L-selectin ligand distinct from P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 is expressed on endothelial cells and promotes neutrophil rolling in inflammation.

Neutrophils recruited from the blood are key players in the innate immune response. Selectins play critical roles in neutrophil recruitment by mediating their tethering and rolling in inflamed venules. While the roles of P- and E-selectin in this process are well established, the mechanisms of L-selectin-mediated neutrophil recruitment remain elusive.

CD43 plays both antiadhesive and proadhesive roles in neutrophil rolling in a context-dependent manner.

As the first step in the recruitment of neutrophils into tissues, the cells become tethered to and roll on the vessel wall. These processes are mediated by interactions between the P- and E-selectins, expressed on the endothelial cells of the vessel wall, and their ligands, expressed on the neutrophils. Recently, we reported that CD43 on activated T cells functions as an E-selectin ligand and thereby mediates T cell migration to inflamed sites, in collaboration with P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1), a major P- and E-selectin ligand.

CD43 collaborates with P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 to mediate E-selectin-dependent T cell migration into inflamed skin.

Activated T cell migration into nonlymphoid tissues is initiated by the interactions of P- and E-selectin expressed on endothelial cells and their ligands on T cells. P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1) has been the only E-selectin ligand demonstrated to function during the in vivo migration of activated T cells. We show in this study that CD43-deficient Th1 cells, like PSGL-1-deficient cells, exhibited reduced E-selectin-binding activity compared with wild-type cells.

P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 mediates L-selectin-independent leukocyte rolling in high endothelial venules of peripheral lymph nodes.

Lymphocyte homing to peripheral lymph nodes (LNs) requires L-selectin. Previous studies, however, suggest that there are L-selectin-independent mechanisms of lymphocyte homing. P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1) is a major ligand for P-selectin expressed in a selectin-binding form on myeloid cells and subsets of lymphoid cells.

CD43 functions as a ligand for E-Selectin on activated T cells.

E-selectin, an inducible cell adhesion molecule expressed on endothelial cells, mediates the rolling on endothelium of leukocytes expressing E-selectin ligands, such as neutrophils and activated T cells. Although previous studies using mice lacking P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1) have indicated that PSGL-1 on Th1 cells functions as an E-selectin ligand, the molecular nature of E-selectin ligands other than PSGL-1 remains unknown. In this study, we show that a 130-kDa glycoprotein was precipitated by an E-selectin-IgG chimera from mouse Th1 cells.

Genomic organization of the chicken T-cell receptor beta chain D-J-C region.

We examined overlapping genomic clones containing the chicken T cell receptor (TCR) Dbeta-Jbeta-Cbeta complex, which contains a single diversity segment, four joining segments and four exons that encode the constant region. This sequence comprised 18.3 kb.

A monoclonal antibody against chicken thrombocytes reacts with the cells of thrombocyte lineage.

A new mouse monoclonal antibody (mAb), HUKT was raised against chicken peripheral blood thrombocytes. The mAb HUKT appeared to detect a specific marker on the surface of chicken thrombocytes. Flow cytometry (FCM) analysis revealed that it did not react with cells from the normal thymus, bursa of Fabricius, six kinds of chicken cell lines, chicken erythrocytes or human platelets.

Chicken peripheral blood CD3+CD4-CD8- cells are regulated by endocrine and nerve systems.

The existence of CD3(+)CD4(-)CD8(-) T cells in thymus and spleen has already been known. However, because of the presence of large amounts of thrombocytes in peripheral blood (PB), the proportion of CD3(+)CD4(-)CD8(-) T cells in PB has yet to be investigated. Therefore, the proportion of peripheral T cell-subsets was investigated in 6-week-old chickens.

Flow cytometric analysis of chicken NK activity and its use on the effect of restraint stress.

Immune system is organized by the influence of both neural and endocrine systems. NK activity plays an important role in the innate immunity. In this study, we observed the effects of restraint stress on chicken peripheral blood NK activity.

Development of Peyer's patch and cecal tonsil in gut-associated lymphoid tissues in the chicken embryo.

It is well known that chicken B cells develop in the bursa of Fabricius (BF), which is categorized as gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT). Chicken GALT also includes Peyer's patch (PP) and cecal tonsil (CT). The relationship between these tissues in GALT during B cell development is currently unknown.

Epidemiological correlation between chromium content in gallstones and cholesterol in blood.

The authors measured the chromium in gallstones and bile from patients in three areas (Kawasaki (a city adjacent to Tokyo) in Japan, Chiang Mai and Bangkok in Thailand) by means of neutron activation analysis. The chromium in three types of gallstones (cholesterol, pigment, and rare stones) and bile from patients living in Bangkok were evidently larger than those from patients living in Kawasaki and Chiang Mai. The high chromium intake by Bangkok patients continued from the start of gallstone formation until the time the stones were removed.