Modulation of regulatory T cell-Th17 balance by plasmacytoid dendritic cells.

Tregs represent an interesting therapeutic tool to modulate immune responses that could be deleterious in autoimmune diseases and in transplantation. However, phenotype and functions of Tregs do not seem to be stable, and recent data suggest that FoxP3-expressing Tregs can be driven to produce IL-17. In this study, we have analyzed the role of pDCs versus cDCs on Treg responses and underlined that pDCs have an intrinsic, unique capacity to induce IL-17 secretion from T cells.

Mechanism and localization of CD8 regulatory T cells in a heart transplant model of tolerance.

Despite accumulating evidence for the importance of allospecific CD8(+) regulatory T cells (Tregs) in tolerant rodents and free immunosuppression transplant recipients, mechanisms underlying CD8(+) Treg-mediated tolerance remain unclear. By using a model of transplantation tolerance mediated by CD8(+) Tregs following CD40Ig treatment in rats, in this study, we show that the accumulation of tolerogenic CD8(+) Tregs and plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) in allograft and spleen but not lymph nodes was associated with tolerance induction in vascularized allograft recipients. pDCs preferentially induced tolerogenic CD8(+) Tregs to suppress CD4(+) effector cells responses to first-donor Ags in vitro.

Toward MSC in solid organ transplantation: 2008 position paper of the MISOT study group.

The following position paper summarizes the recommendations for early clinical trials and ongoing basic research in the field of mesenchymal stem cell-induced solid organ graft acceptance--agreed upon on the first meeting of the Mesenchymal Stem Cells In Solid Organ Transplantation (MISOT) study group in late 2008.

Differential control of T regulatory cell proliferation and suppressive activity by mature plasmacytoid versus conventional spleen dendritic cells.

Anergy and suppression are cardinal features of CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) T cells (T regulatory cells (Treg)) which have been shown to be tightly controlled by the maturation state of dendritic cells (DC). However, whether lymphoid organ DC subsets exhibit different capacities to control Treg is unclear. In this study, we have analyzed, in the rat, the role of splenic CD4(+) and CD4(-) conventional DC and plasmacytoid DC (pDC) in allogeneic Treg proliferation and suppression in vitro.

A role for heme oxygenase-1 in the immunosuppressive effect of adult rat and human mesenchymal stem cells.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) display immunomodulatory properties mediated by various factors, including inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Since heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is a potent immunosuppressive enzyme, we tested the hypothesis that HO-1 could mediate the immunosuppressive effects of MSCs. We generated adult rat MSCs that inhibited T-cell proliferation in vitro.

Photopheresis affects the course of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis in Lewis rat.

Background/purpose: The mechanism responsible for the beneficial effects of extracorporeal photochemotherapy (ECP) remains unknown. In the rat model of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE), the transfer of encephalitogenic cells (EAE cells) induces transient passive EAE, followed by resistance to subsequent disease induction through immunization with central nervous system antigens (active EAE).

Methods: We tested whether ECP exerts its therapeutic effect by inducing an immune response targeted on circulating pathogenic T-lymphocytes, which results from their increased immunogenicity.

Extracorporeal photochemotherapy for secondary chronic progressive multiple sclerosis: a pilot study.

Background/purpose: Extracorporeal photochemotherapy (ECP) has been proposed for the treatment of various auto- and allo-immune reactions. However, a standard ECP regimen did not significantly alter the course of chronic progressive multiple sclerosis (MS). We tested whether an intensive ECP treatment can affect the course of secondary chronic progressive form of MS.

Mice disrupted for the KvLQT1 potassium channel regulator IsK gene accumulate mature T cells.

The IsK protein associates with KvLQT1 potassium channels to generate the slow component of the outward rectifying K(+) current involved in human cardiac repolarization. Mutations in either KCNE1 (encoding IsK) or KCNQ1 (encoding KvLQT1) genes have been associated with the long QT syndrome, a genetic disorder leading to prolonged cardiac repolarization and sudden death. We now report that the IsK protein is also involved in mature T cell homeostasis.

Dynamic analysis of the QT interval in long QT1 syndrome patients with a normal phenotype.

Aims: In families with the long QT syndrome penetrance may be low: up to 70% of gene carriers may have a normal QTc interval. These patients require therapy, similar to that in those with longer QTc intervals, but identifying them, using molecular analysis, is difficult to apply on a large scale. A large French family affected by the long QT1 syndrome was followed-up over a 25-year period.

Treatment of graft-versus-host disease by extracorporeal photochemotherapy: a pilot study.

Background: Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a major complication after bone marrow transplantation, which may be refractory to immunosuppressive drugs. As preliminary case reports suggested that extracorporeal photochemotherapy (ECP) using a Therakos device might be beneficial, we conducted a pilot study to assess the efficacy and safety of a new ECP method that does not require administration of 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) to the patient.

Methods: ECP was performed three times a week for 3 weeks and then tapered according to the patient's course.

1,25 Dihydroxyvitamin D3 exerts regional effects in the central nervous system during experimental allergic encephalomyelitis.

1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25-D3) is already known to prevent clinical signs of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis when animals are treated during the immunization phase. In the present work we have evaluated the ability of 1,25-D3 to inhibit chronic relapsing experimental allergic encephalomylitis (EAE) of the Lewis rat, when administered after the beginning of clinical signs. We observed a significant clinical improvement in 1,25-D3-treated rats.

Immunoregulation and drug treatment in chronic relapsing experimental allergic encephalomyelitis in the Lewis rat.

Chronic relapsing experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (CR.EAE) was induced by immunizing Lewis rats with total guinea-pig spinal cord (GPSC) tissue emulsified in enriched complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA). The proliferative responses of draining inguinal and popliteal lymph node cells to GP.

HILDA/LIF, G.CSF, IL-1 beta, IL-6, and TNF alpha production during acute rejection of human kidney allografts.

HILDA/LIF, a recently described glycoprotein, has been characterized from supernatants of alloreactive T cell clones (CD4 and CD8) extracted from a human rejected kidney graft. This suggests a possible role for HILDA/LIF in the rejection process. In order to further investigate this possible role and the role of other cytokines in allograft rejection, we tested HILDA/LIF, G.

Pentoxifylline inhibits experimental allergic encephalomyelitis.

Pentoxifylline, a widely used methylxanthine, has been proven to inhibit the production and action of the cytokine TNF alpha. Since it has been suggested that TNF alpha is the major cytokine involved in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis, we tested pentoxifylline for its capacity to prevent experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE). 26 Lewis rats with acute EAE were treated with either pentoxifylline or saline.

Peripheral tolerance of an allograft in adult rats--characterization by low interleukin-2 and interferon-gamma mRNA levels and by strong accumulation of major histocompatibility complex transcripts in the graft.

Congenic LEW.1W(RT1.u) heart grafts in LEW.

SRI 62-834, a cyclic ether analogue of the phospholipid ET-18-OCH3, displays long-lasting beneficial effect in chronic relapsing experimental allergic encephalomyelitis in the Lewis rat. Comparison with cyclosporin and (Val2)-dihydrocyclosporin effects in clinical, functional and histological studies.

The therapeutic effect of the ether phospholipid SRI 62-834, which lacks the characteristics of an immunosuppressive agent, was compared with those of two immunosuppressive drugs, cyclosporin and valine2-dihydrocyclosporin, in a rat model of chronic relapsing experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (CR-EAE). Drug treatment was initiated at the beginning of the first spontaneous remission on day 15 and was discontinued on day 31. Whereas the untreated rats experienced two paralytic relapses around days 21 and 31, the progression of CR-EAE was prevented during the period of drug administration.

Suppressor cells of popliteal lymph node origin are involved in the in vivo and in vitro control of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis effector cells in the Lewis rat.

Lewis rats immunized in the hind footpads with total guinea pig spinal cord tissue in mycobacteria-enriched complete Freund's adjuvant develop chronic relapsing experimental allergic encephalomyelitis. It was previously shown that popliteal lymph node cells (LNC) isolated at the time of the first recovery (day 16) and transferred into naive syngeneic recipients protect from active induction of the disease. On the other hand, inguinal LNC taken at the onset of the disease (day 11) induce under similar conditions an acceleration of the appearance of the clinical symptoms.

Assessment of immunosuppression by serum inhibition of alloreaction and measurement of cyclosporin A (CyA) serum levels in kidney graft recipients under CyA.

The immunosuppressive effect of kidney graft recipient sera was studied on T-lymphocyte alloreactive line (4H) proliferation and compared to native cyclosporin A (CyA) and CyA metabolite concentrations determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA) using specific or nonspecific monoclonal antibodies. Three clinical groups were studied: (1) patients experiencing acute renal rejection episodes (CyA-R), (2) patients experiencing CyA-dependent nephrotoxicity episodes (CyA-TOX) and (3) patients in a clinically steady state (CyA-ST), according to their therapeutic regimen i.e.

Effect of cyclosporine on interleukin 2 receptor expression in a human alloreactive T cell clone.

The effect of CsA on antigen-induced IL-2 receptor expression was studied on a human T lymphocyte clone (4AS) obtained from cells infiltrating a rejected human kidney. Stimulation of 4AS clone cells with specific antigen (D.BLCL) was strongly inhibited by CsA (50% inhibition of tritiated thymidine uptake at about 12.

Effect of cyclosporine, cyclosporine metabolite 17, and other cyclosporine-related compounds on T lymphocyte clones derived from rejected human kidney grafts. I. Inhibition of proliferation.

The effect of cyclosporine and metabolite 17 (M17) as well as other CsA-related compounds (CsG, dihydro-CsC, dihydro-CsD, CsH, B5.49, and H7.94) was tested on T lymphocyte clone proliferation.