Direct Immunofluorescence in Dermatomyositis and Lupus Erythematosus: Cross-Sectional Diagnostic Accuracy and Correlation With Serologies and Other Features of Systemic Disease.

This is a retrospective cross-sectional diagnostic test accuracy study of direct immunofluorescence (DIF) performed on a group of potential lupus erythematosus (LE)/dermatomyositis (DM) skin biopsies from 2015 to 2020 at a large, academic medical center. For purposes of this study, which was focused primarily on detection of LE/DM-related interface dermatitis, DIF was considered positive for a LE/DM pattern if it showed granular deposition of immunoglobulin G, with or without C3, at the basement membrane zone on the final pathology report. Blinded clinicopathologic correlation was the reference standard.

Pharmacological stimulation of infralimbic cortex after fear conditioning facilitates subsequent fear extinction.

The infralimbic (IL) division of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is a crucial site for the extinction of conditioned fear memories in rodents. Recent work suggests that neuronal plasticity in the IL that occurs during (or soon after) fear conditioning enables subsequent IL-dependent extinction learning. We therefore hypothesized that pharmacological activation of the IL after fear conditioning would promote the extinction of conditioned fear.

From drosophila to humans: a journey through macrophage development.

Macrophages are fascinating immune cells involved in a variety of processes in both health and disease. Although they were first discovered and characterized by their functions as professional phagocytes and antigen-presenting cells, it is now clear that macrophages have multiple roles within embryonic development, tissue homeostasis, regulation of inflammation, and host response to pathogens and tissue insults. Interestingly, macrophages, or macrophage-like cells, exist in a variety of organisms, from echinoderms to humans, and are present also in species that lack an adaptive immune system or hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs).

A high-throughput lysosome trafficking assay guides ligand selection and elucidates differences in CD22-targeted nanodelivery.

Targeted nanoparticles offer potential to selectively deliver therapeutics to cells; however, their subcellular fate following endocytosis must be understood to properly design mechanisms of drug release. Here we describe a nanoparticle platform and associated cell-based assay to observe lysosome trafficking of targeted nanoparticles in live cells. The nanoparticle platform utilizes two fluorescent dyes loaded onto PEG-poly(glutamic acid) and PEG-poly(Lysine) block co-polymers that also comprise azide reactive handles on PEG termini to attach antibody-based targeting ligands.