Single-cell immune landscape of human atherosclerotic plaques.

Atherosclerosis is driven by multifaceted contributions of the immune system within the circulation and at vascular focal sites. However, specific characteristics of dysregulated immune cells within atherosclerotic lesions that lead to clinical events such as ischemic stroke or myocardial infarction are poorly understood. Here, using single-cell proteomic and transcriptomic analyses, we uncovered distinct features of both T cells and macrophages in carotid artery plaques of patients with clinically symptomatic disease (recent stroke or transient ischemic attack) compared to asymptomatic disease (no recent stroke).

Alveolar macrophages are critical for broadly-reactive antibody-mediated protection against influenza A virus in mice.

The aim of candidate universal influenza vaccines is to provide broad protection against influenza A and B viruses. Studies have demonstrated that broadly reactive antibodies require Fc-Fc gamma receptor interactions for optimal protection; however, the innate effector cells responsible for mediating this protection remain largely unknown. Here, we examine the roles of alveolar macrophages, natural killer cells, and neutrophils in antibody-mediated protection.

Aging Impairs Alveolar Macrophage Phagocytosis and Increases Influenza-Induced Mortality in Mice.

Influenza viral infections often lead to increased mortality in older people. However, the mechanisms by which aging impacts immunity to influenza lung infection remain unclear. We employed a murine model of influenza infection to identify these mechanisms.

Haptoglobin enhances cardiac transplant rejection.

Rationale: Early graft inflammation enhances both acute and chronic rejection of heart transplants, but it is unclear how this inflammation is initiated.

Objective: To identify specific inflammatory modulators and determine their underlying molecular mechanisms after cardiac transplantation.

Methods And Results: We used a murine heterotopic cardiac transplant model to identify inflammatory modulators of early graft inflammation.

Impact of land disturbance on the fate of arsenical pesticides.

Increasing development of historic farmlands raises questions regarding the fate of pesticides applied when these land were in cultivation. We quantified As and Pb budgets in field soils in two orchards where arsenical pesticides were applied in the early 20th century and a third uncontaminated control field. Sequential extractions and X-ray analyses also were used to determine mineral phases.