Common genetic coagulation variants are not associated with ischemic stroke in a case-control study.

Objective: Abnormalities in the coagulation pathway are often included in the diagnostic work-up of stroke patients, especially in young adults with cryptogenic stroke.

Methods: Three common genetic variants within the coagulation cascade were investigated in 500 control subjects and in 167 patients with ischemic stroke defined by TOAST subclassification. Analysed variants were factor V Leiden, prothrombin 20210G-->A and factor XIII Val34Leu.

Comparative evaluation of CD8+CTL responses following gene gun immunization targeting the skin with intracutaneous injection of antigen-transduced dendritic cells.

The skin is an attractive target for antigen-specific vaccination. Particle bombardment of the epidermis with plasmid DNA using the gene gun results in antigen expression in keratinocytes of the epidermis leading to antigen presentation in the draining lymph nodes by migratory dendritic cells (DC). In order to better understand the role of the skin in stimulating antigen-specific CD8+cytotoxic T cells (CTL), we compared gene gun immunization with intracutaneous injections of antigen-transduced DC.

Evaluation of DNA vaccination with recombinant adenoviruses using bioluminescence imaging of antigen expression: impact of application routes and delivery with dendritic cells.

Recombinant DNA vaccines are able to induce strong CD8+ T cell mediated immunity and have become increasingly attractive for the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases and cancer. Dendritic cells (DC), which critically control cellular immune responses, have been transduced with antigen ex vivo and used as 'nature's adjuvant' to enhance vaccine efficacy. The impact of the application route on the in vivo distribution of antigen and the stimulation of CD8+ T cells have been subjects of considerable debate.