Solid-state capture and real-time analysis of individual T cell activation via self-assembly of binding multimeric proteins on functionalized materials surfaces.

Polyfunctional T cell responses are increasingly underpinning new and improved vaccination regimens. Studies of the nature and extent of these T cell responses may be facilitated if specific T cell populations can be assessed from mixed populations by ligand-mediated capture in a solid-state assay format. Accordingly, we report here the development of a novel strategy for the solid-state capture and real-time activation analyses of individual cognate T cells which utilizes a spontaneous self-assembly process for generating multimers of biotinylated class I major histocompatibility-peptide complex (MHCp) directly on the solid-state assay surface while also ensuring stability by covalent interfacial binding.

Innervation of anulus tears: an experimental animal study.

Study Design: A prospective immunohistological study in an animal model.

Objective: To identify and describe the phenotype of neoinnervation in experimental anular tears.

Summary Of Background Data: Controversy surrounds neoinnervation of degenerate discs which has been proposed as the anatomic basis for discogenic pain.

Evaluation of Fluoro-Jade C as a marker of degenerating neurons in the rat retina and optic nerve.

Detection of neuronal death is an essential requirement for researchers investigating retinal degeneration. Fluoro-Jade C (FJC) is a novel, fluorescent dye that has been successfully used to label degenerating neurons in the brain, but its effectiveness in the eye has not been ascertained. In the current study, we determined the efficacy of FJC for detection of neuronal degeneration in the retina and optic nerve in various paradigms of injury.

CpG oligodeoxynucleotide stimulates production of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies in ANCA associated vasculitis.

Background: Wegener's Granulomatosis and Microscopic Polyangiitis are life-threatening systemic necrotizing vasculitides of unknown aetiology. The appearance of circulating antibodies to neutrophil cytoplasmic antigens (ANCA) is strongly associated with the development of the disease. A link between infection and disease has long been suspected, and the appearance of ANCA antibodies has been reported following bacterial and viral infections.

Co-expression of CYP27B1 enzyme with the 1.5kb CYP27B1 promoter-luciferase transgene in the mouse.

The renal enzyme 25-hydroxyvitamin D 1alpha-hydroxylase (CYP27B1), responsible for the synthesis of circulating. 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25D), is also expressed in a number of non-renal tissues. The regulation of CYP27B1 expression by the short flanking promoter outside the kidney is, however, largely unknown.

Severity-dependent expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in traumatic spinal cord injury in the rat.

The post-traumatic inflammatory response in acute spinal cord contusion injury was studied in the rat. Mild and severe spinal cord injury (SCI) was produced by dropping a 10 g weight from 3 and 12 cm at the T12 vertebral level. Increased immunoreactivity of TNF-alpha in mild and severe SCI was detected in neurons at 1 h post-injury, and in neurons and microglia at 6 h post-injury, with a less significant increase in mild SCI.

Early expression and cellular localization of proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-1beta, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in human traumatic spinal cord injury.

Study Design: Post-traumatic inflammatory response was studied in 11 human cases of acute spinal cord contusion injury.

Objectives: To examine the inflammatory cellular response and the immunocytochemical expression and localization of interleukin-1beta, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in human spinal cord after contusion injury.

Summary Of Background Data: : The post-traumatic inflammatory response plays an important role in secondary injury mechanisms after spinal cord injury, and interleukin-1beta, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha are key inflammatory mediators.