Vitamin D Is Associated with Lipid Metabolism: A Sex- and Age-Dependent Analysis of a Large Outpatient Cohort.

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble steroid that influences cardiovascular health by affecting lipid metabolism. Since dyslipidemia is a key risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), our study aimed to explore the relationship between vitamin D levels and lipid parameters, considering the effects of age and gender. : In this cross-sectional study of 47,778 outpatients, we analyzed correlations between two forms of vitamin D-25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)D)-and lipid parameters, including low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and total cholesterol (TC).

Platelet-Rich Fibrin (PRF) Analyzed for Cytokine Profiles - A Misguided Hope for Osteogenesis in Jawbone Defects? Research and Clinical Observational Study.

Background: Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) blood concentrates are used in oral implantology and defect surgery to promote osteoneogenesis in Bone Marrow Defects in Jawbone (BMDJ), according to the morphology of fatty-degenerative osteonecrosis also called FDOJ.

Question: Can the benefit of PRF on alveolar osteoneogenesis be confirmed by cytokine analysis?.

Methods: The cytokine expressions of the PRF samples in 26 patients undergoing BMDJ/FDOJ surgery in the same session were analysed for seven cytokines (RANTES/CCL5; FGF-2; IL-1RA; Il-6; IL-8; MCP-1; TNF-a) by multiplex (Luminex).

Vitamin D status and its association with parathyroid hormone in 23,134 outpatients.

In vitro studies indicate that 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25(OH)D3) and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3) inhibits the synthesis of parathyroid hormone (PTH). The degree of PTH inhibition in humans by circulating 25(OH)D and 1,25(OH)2D may be different. Moreover, age and sex as well as confounding factors like calcium and phosphate may likewise affect the relationship between vitamin D and PTH in humans.

Sex-Dependent Association of Vitamin D With Insulin Resistance in Humans.

Background: Animal studies suggested that vitamin D might decrease insulin resistance. Estrogen increased insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance in rodents. However, sex-specific association of vitamin D with insulin resistance in humans remains unclear.

Reference values for free 25-hydroxy-vitamin D based on established total 25-hydroxy-vitamin D reference values.

Measurements of total 25-hydroxyvitamin D (t25(OH)D) are currently primarily used to assess the vitamin D status. The lipophilic cell membrane can only be passed by the un-bound form of 25-hydroxyvitamin D: free 25-hydroxyvitamin D (f25(OH)D). It is thought that f25(OH)D does reflect its biological actions better than t25(OH)D.

Evaluation of a New Multiparametric Microspot Array for Serodiagnosis of Lyme Borreliosis.

Background: Laboratory diagnosis of Lyme borreliosis follows a two-step algorithm, starting with a screening assay with maximum sensitivity followed by a confirmatory assay of positive results with respect to specificity. Line immunoassays with single recombinant antigen lines are the established confirmatory test method, although result interpretation is not standardized. The present study evaluates suitability of the multiplex test SeraSpot Anti-Borrelia IgG/IgM (SeraSpot) as confirmatory test in serodiagnosis of Lyme disease.

Deficient EBV-specific B- and T-cell response in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has long been discussed as a possible cause or trigger of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). In a subset of patients the disease starts with infectious mononucleosis and both enhanced and diminished EBV-specific antibody titers have been reported. In this study, we comprehensively analyzed the EBV-specific memory B- and T-cell response in patients with CFS.

The lymphocyte transformation test for borrelia detects active lyme borreliosis and verifies effective antibiotic treatment.

Borrelia-specific antibodies are not detectable until several weeks after infection and even if they are present, they are no proof of an active infection. Since the sensitivity of culture and PCR for the diagnosis or exclusion of borreliosis is too low, a method is required that detects an active Borrelia infection as early as possible. For this purpose, a lymphocyte transformation test (LTT) using lysate antigens of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto, Borrelia afzelii and Borrelia garinii and recombinant OspC was developed and validated through investigations of seronegative and seropositive healthy individuals as well as of seropositive patients with clinically manifested borreliosis.

Accumulation and local proliferation of antigen-specific CD4+ T cells in antigen-bearing tissue.

Although activation and subsequent expansion of naive CD4(+) T cells within lymph nodes is well characterized, the fate of T effector cells activated within peripheral tissues during secondary reactions is poorly defined. Therefore, we studied the recruitment, proliferation and egress of antigen-specific Th1 effector cells in comparison with nonspecific Th1 cells throughout a delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction (DTH). Although we observed a high turnover of Th1 effector cells with unspecific high-rate recruitment and CCR7-dependent egress from the inflamed tissue in the early, acute DTH phase, a strong, selective accumulation of antigen-specific T cells occurred during the chronic, late DTH phase.

T cells as pioneers: antigen-specific T cells condition inflamed sites for high-rate antigen-non-specific effector cell recruitment.

Cellular infiltration is a classic hallmark of inflammation. Whereas the role of T cells in many types of inflammation is well established, the specific impact of antigen recognition on their migration into the site and on the accumulation of other effector cells are still matters of debate. Using a model of an inflammatory effector phase driven by T-cell receptor (TCR) transgenic T cells, we found (i) that antigen-specific T cells play a crucial role as 'pioneer cells' that condition the tissue for enhanced recruitment of further T effector cells and other leucocytes, and (ii) that the infiltration of T cells is not dependent on antigen specificity.

Cellular players and role of selectin ligands in leukocyte recruitment in a T-cell-initiated delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction.

Delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reactions are characterized by a strong cellular infiltrate, including neutrophils, macrophages, and T lymphocytes. In all these cell types, both E- and P-selectin-dependent adhesion pathways play a significant role in recruitment into the inflamed skin. Accordingly, inhibition of selectin-mediated interactions (eg, by antibodies) results in impairment of acute DTH reactions.

Autoregulation of Th1-mediated inflammation by twist1.

The basic helix-loop-helix transcriptional repressor twist1, as an antagonist of nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB)-dependent cytokine expression, is involved in the regulation of inflammation-induced immunopathology. We show that twist1 is expressed by activated T helper (Th) 1 effector memory (EM) cells. Induction of twist1 in Th cells depended on NF-kappaB, nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT), and interleukin (IL)-12 signaling via signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 4.

Modulation of graft arteriosclerosis in a rat carotid transplantation model.

Background: Venous autografts used in cardiovascular surgery tend to deteriorate over time due to arteriosclerotic complications. Cadaveric vascular allografts represent a possible alternative for this application, but donor endothelial cells (ECs) and antigen presenting cells of the graft trigger alloresponses mediated by MHC class I (MHC I) antigen, leading to graft failure. Vascular allograft rejection might be prevented by reducing cell surface expression of MHC I and thereby lowering the immunogenicity of the grafts.

An anti-major histocompatibility complex class I intrabody protects endothelial cells from an attack by immune mediators.

Objective: In vitro endothelialization has significantly improved the overall outcome of artificial prostheses in cardiovascular bypass surgery. A drawback of this tissue-engineering method remains the limited availability of suitable autologous endothelial cells (EC), especially in aged patients. Allogeneic EC with high proliferative capacity represent a potentially valuable alternative to a patient-specific vascular transplant.

Heme oxygenase-1 inhibits rat and human breast cancer cell proliferation: mutual cross inhibition with indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase.

Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is the rate limiting enzyme of heme catabolism whereas indoleamine 2,3 dioxygenase (IDO) catabolizes tryptophan through the kynurenine pathway. We analyzed the expression and biological effects of these enzymes in rat and human breast cancer cell lines. We show that rat (NMU and 13762) but not human cells (MCF-7 and T47D) express HO-1.

MHC class I manipulation on cell surfaces by gene transfer of anti-MHC class I intrabodies--a tool for decreased immunogenicity of allogeneic tissue and cell transplants.

Intrabodies (IB) are suitable tools to down-regulate the expression of cell surface molecules in general. In this work, the appearance of major histocompatibility (MHC) class I molecules on the cell surface could be prevented by the expression of intracellularly localized anti-MHC class I antibodies. The expression of MHC antigens presenting intracellularly synthetised peptides on the cell surface is the predominant reason for immunologic detection and rejection of allogeneic cell and tissue transplants.

Decline of surface MHC I by adenoviral gene transfer of anti-MHC I intrabodies in human endothelial cells-new perspectives for the generation of universal donor cells for tissue transplantation.

Background: The seeding of small-calibre vascular polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) grafts with endothelial cells provides an increase in biocompatibility of the graft surface. The harvest and ex vivo culture of autologous endothelial cells is highly delicate. Allogeneic human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) could be a potential cell source-however, rejection might occur due to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) I mismatches.

Efficient in vitro transduction of epithelial cells and keratinocytes with improved adenoviral gene transfer for the application in skin tissue engineering.

The adenovirus-mediated transfer of therapeutic genes into keratinocytes may be a useful approach to treat several skin diseases or to improve the graft take of in vitro generated skin equivalents used for wound coverage. However, in contrast to many other tissues, keratinocytes are relatively difficult to transduce by adenoviral vectors. To achieve high efficiency of adenoviral transduction into epithelial cells we investigated the effects of the polycation polybrene on the infection process.