The predominance of a naive T helper cell subset in the immune response of experimental acute pancreatitis.

Introduction: In necrotizing acute pancreatitis (NAP), systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and the compensatory anti-inflammatory response syndrome (CARS) decide overall outcome and mortality. In patients, low lymphocyte counts were found, but T-helper cells seemed to conversely increase. Our aim was to further categorize T-helper cells within the context of NAP induced SIRS and CARS.

Inducing a humoral immune response to pancreatic cancer antigen.

Background: Patients with pancreatic carcinoma have a grim prognosis. Here, we examine the induction of an in vitro antibody response of human B cells to pancreatic carcinoma antigens.

Material And Methods: Cells of five cultured pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma lines were lysed and their plasma membrane fragments isolated in an aqueous two-phase-system.

Organ-specific monocyte activation in necrotizing pancreatitis in mice.

Background: Acute necrotizing pancreatitis (NAP) induces a systemic inflammatory response syndrome. We investigated the underlying changes of monocytes using different activation markers.

Materials And Methods: A retrograde injection of 2 mL/kg bodyweight of sodium taurocholate into the common bile duct of BALB/c mice induced NAP, whereas sham-operated animals (SOP) were treated with saline.

Cytokine expression in colon carcinoma.

Background: Cytokines reflect the activity of the immune system. We analyzed the local expression of characteristic cytokines indicating the level of activity of unspecific inflammatory cells, Th1-cells and Th2-cells in colon cancer.

Materials And Methods: In 25 tumor/ mucosa pairs, IL-1alpha, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-15, TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma were measured by real-time PCR.

Influence of antiseptic agents on interleukin-8 release and transmigration of polymorphonuclear neutrophils in a human in vitro model of peritonitis.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of taurolidine (TAU) and polyhexanid (POLY) on basic inflammatory reactions during peritonitis by using an in vitro model of human peritoneum.

Materials And Methods: Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and human peritoneal mesothelial cells (HPMC; concentration: 2x10(5)/cm2) were brought on a collagen-coated filter insert with 3-microm pore size (HUVEC on the bottom, HPMC on the top), thus resulting in a two-chamber peritoneal model. After 5 days, confluence of the cells was reached, and HPMC were stimulated with 0.

Severe deficiency of switched memory B cells (CD27(+)IgM(-)IgD(-)) in subgroups of patients with common variable immunodeficiency: a new approach to classify a heterogeneous disease.

Hypogammaglobulinemia is the hallmark of common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) syndrome, a heterogeneous disorder predisposing patients to recurrent bacterial infections. In this study, we investigated the peripheral B-cell compartment of 30 well-characterized CVID patients in comparison to 22 healthy controls. Flow cytometric analysis of peripheral blood lymphocytes revealed a reduction of class-switched CD27(+)IgM(-)IgD(-) memory B cells below 0.

Primary hepatocytes of Tupaia belangeri as a potential model for hepatitis C virus infection.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of chronic hepatitis worldwide, but the study of HCV infection has been hampered by the lack of an in vitro or in vivo small animal model. The tree shrew Tupaia belangeri is susceptible to infection with a variety of human viruses in vivo, including hepatitis viruses. We show that primary Tupaia hepatocytes can be infected with serum- or plasma-derived HCV from infected humans, as measured by de novo synthesis of HCV RNA, analysis of viral quasispecies evolution, and detection of viral proteins.