Publications by authors named "Andre J Esgalhado"

IL-15 is a homeostatic cytokine for human T and NK cells. However, whether other cytokines influence the effect of IL-15 is not known. We studied the impact that IL-10, TGF-β, IL-17A, and IFN-γ have on the IL-15-induced proliferation of human T cells and the expression of HLA class I (HLA-I) molecules.

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Antigen-driven human effector-memory CD8+ T cells expressing low levels of the CD8β chain have been previously described. However, little is known on a possible antigen-independent trigger. We have examined the impact that IL-15 has on the expression of CD8β on purified human naïve CD8+ T cells after CFSE labeling and culture with IL-15.

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MHC class I molecules regulate brain development and plasticity in mice and HLA class I molecules are associated with brain disorders in humans. We investigated the relationship between plasma-derived soluble human HLA class I molecules (sHLA class I), HLA class I serotypes and dementia. A cohort of HLA class I serotyped elderly subjects with no dementia/pre-dementia (NpD, n = 28), or with dementia (D, n = 28) was studied.

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The choroid plexus (CP) is part of the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier (BCSFB) and was recently described as an important component of the circadian clock system. It is the principal source of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and responsible for the synthesis and secretion of various neuroprotective peptides including those involved in amyloid-β (Aβ) transport/degradation, contributing to Aβ homeostasis. Inadequate Aβ metabolic clearance and transport across the BCSFB have been associated with circadian dysfunctions in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients.

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Studies carried out during the last few decades have consistently shown that cell surface MHC class I (MHC-I) molecules are endowed with functions unrelated with antigen presentation. These include cis-trans-interactions with inhibitory and activating KIR and LILR, and cis-interactions with receptors for hormones, growth factors, cytokines, and neurotransmitters. The mounting body of evidence indicates that these non-immunological MHC-I functions impact clinical and biomedical settings, including autoimmune responses, tumor escape, transplantation, and neuronal development.

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There is increasing evidence that in humans the adaptive immunological system can influence cognitive functions of the brain. We have undertaken a comprehensive immunological analysis of lymphocyte and monocyte populations as well as of HLA molecules expression in a cohort of elderly volunteers (age range, 64-101) differing in their cognitive status. Hereby, we report on the identification of a novel signature in cognitively impaired elderly characterized by: (1) elevated percentages of CD8+ T effector-memory cells expressing high levels of the CD45RA phosphate receptor (Temra ); (2) high percentages of CD8+ T cells expressing high levels of the CD8β chain (CD8β); (3) augmented production of IFNγ by activated CD4+ T cells.

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Polycythemia vera (PV) is a myeloproliferative neoplasm characterized by overproduction of red blood cells. We have performed a comprehensive characterization of blood immune cells for expression of naïve and memory receptors as well as βm-associated and βm-free MHC class I heavy chains, also known as closed and open conformers, respectively, in PV patients and age-matched controls (CTR). We show that the peripheral CD3CD8 T cell pool in PV patients is clearly divided into two discrete populations, a more granular CD3CD8 T cell population enriched in effector-memory CD45RA T cells (CD8 TEMRA) when compared to CTR (P < 0.

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Understanding the rationale for the generation of a pool of highly differentiated effector memory CD8 T cells displaying a weakened capacity to scrutinize for peptides complexed with major histocompatibility class I molecules their T cell receptor, lacking the "signal 2" CD28 receptor, and yet expressing a highly diverse array of innate receptors, from natural killer receptors, interleukin receptors, and damage-associated molecular pattern receptors, among others, is one of the most challenging issues in contemporary human immunology. The prevalence of these differentiated CD8 T cells, also known as CD8CD28, CD8KIR, NK-like CD8 T cells, or innate CD8 T cells, in non-lymphoid organs and tissues, in peripheral blood of healthy elderly, namely centenarians, but also in stressful and chronic inflammatory conditions suggests that they are not merely end-of-the-line dysfunctional cells. These experienced CD8 T cells are highly diverse and capable of sensing a variety of TCR-independent signals, which enables them to respond and fine-tune tissue homeostasis.

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