Activation of human monocytes and granulocytes by monoclonal antibodies to glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored antigens.

The present study investigated possible receptor-like characteristics of glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-linked antigens on human monocytes and granulocytes by measuring cytoplasmic calcium fluxes and the oxidative burst in cells following cross-linking of GPI-linked antigens. Cross-linking of cell-bound anti-CD14, -CDw52 and -CD55 induced cytoplasmic calcium fluxes and oxidative bursts in unprimed human monocytes similar to those observed following Fc gamma R cross-linking. In granulocytes primed with 200 mM N-formyl-Met-Leu-Phe (FMLP), cross-linking of cell-bound anti-CD16, -CD24, -CD59 and -CD67 led to calcium fluxes and activation of the oxidative burst.

Herpes simplex virus infection of human fibroblasts and keratinocytes inhibits recognition by cloned CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes.

CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) clones with specificity for herpes simplex virus (HSV) were derived from two donors with genital HSV-2 infection. These CTL clones specifically lysed HSV-infected autologous B lymphoblastoid cells, but not HSV-infected fibroblasts. Exogenous peptide loading sensitized both cell types to lysis by an HSV-specific CTL clone of known specificity.

Expression and function of B7 on human epidermal Langerhans cells.

The B7 molecule is expressed by APC that can costimulate T cells by binding the T cell surface receptors CD28 and CTLA-4. The human epidermal Langerhans cell (LC) is one of the most potent APC, yet B7 expression by this cell type has not previously been assessed. We used a CTLA4-Ig fusion protein that binds B7 with high avidity to probe cell surface expression of B7 by cultured and noncultured LC.

Human epidermal keratinocyte expression of sialyl-Lewis X.

Cell-surface oligosaccharides can function as ligands for intercellular adhesion receptors, matrix proteins, and growth factors. We report that human neonatal and adult epidermal keratinocytes (KC) express sialyl Lewis X [s-Le(x); SA alpha 2-3Gal beta 1-4(Fuc alpha 1-3)GlcNAc beta 1-3R], a ligand for endothelial and platelet selectins. Freshly isolated or cultured KC bind FH6 monoclonal antibody (MoAb), which is specific for s-Le(x)-containing oligosaccharides.

The relationship of serum IL-6 levels to acute graft-versus-host disease and hepatorenal disease after human bone marrow transplantation.

The potential involvement of cytokines in acute graft-versus-host disease led us to analyze interleukin-6 in serial serum sets from 22 allogeneic marrow recipients who developed either grade 3 or 4 GVHD (n = 10), grade 2 GVHD (n = 6), or grade 1 or no diagnosed GVHD (n = 6). A total of 279 serial serum samples taken three times weekly before day 35 were analyzed. Maximum IL-6 levels were greater than 40 U/ml (range, 40-1536 U/ml), 11-40 U/ml, and less than or equal to 10 U/ml for six, eleven, and five patients, respectively.