Retroviral Transduction and Reporter Assay: Transcription Factor Cooperation in Th9 Cell Development.

Naïve CD4+ T cells differentiate into different T helper subsets in response to specific cytokine environment and transcription factors. Th9 cells are induced in response to signals from cytokines, TGF-β and IL-4. Transcription factors that are downstream of these cytokines converge to drive the development of Th9 cells.

Ethnomedicinal uses of plants in the treatment of paediatric geohelminth infections in Kalat district of Northern Balochistan, Pakistan.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Infection by intestinal parasitic worms (soil-transmitted helminths or geohelminths) is prevalent in many parts of the world, and poses a particular health risk to children. This paper presents findings from a preliminary study with the primary aim to document indigenous knowledge about the use of herbal medicines in the treatment of intestinal worm infections in children among the local communities of Kalat district of northern Balochistan, Pakistan.

Materials And Methods: Ethnomedicinal data were collected through a triangulation approach, that included participant-observation and rapid appraisal methods.

STAT4 deficiency reduces the development of atherosclerosis in mice.

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory process that leads to plaque formation in large and medium sized vessels. T helper 1 (Th1) cells constitute the majority of plaque infiltrating pro-atherogenic T cells and are induced via IFNγ-dependent activation of T-box (Tbet) and/or IL-12-dependent activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 4 (STAT4). We thus aimed to define a role for STAT4 in atherosclerosis.

PU.1 Expression in T Follicular Helper Cells Limits CD40L-Dependent Germinal Center B Cell Development.

PU.1 is an ETS family transcription factor that is important for the development of multiple hematopoietic cell lineages. Previous work demonstrated a critical role for PU.

The endemic medicinal plants of Northern Balochistan, Pakistan and their uses in traditional medicine.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: The highlands of Northern Balochistan are the hot spots of medicinal and endemic plant in Pakistan. These plants are still commonly used for medicinal purposes by local people in their daily lives. This study first documented the information about the medicinal uses of endemic species of Balochistan-province Pakistan.

Altered STAT4 Isoform Expression in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Background: Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) are the major forms of inflammatory bowel disease, and pathogenesis involves a complex interplay among genetic, environmental, and immunological factors. We evaluated isoform expression of the IL-12-activated transcription factor STAT4 in children with CD and UC.

Methods: We collected biopsy samples from both patients newly diagnosed with CD and with UC.

Ethnobotany of medicinal plants in district Mastung of Balochistan province-Pakistan.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: The aim of this study was to document the medicinal uses of plants in district Mastung of Balochistan province, Pakistan. The ethnobotanical results contain quantitative information on medicinal plants diversity documented for the first time in the area.

Materials And Methods: The information was collected through semi-structured interviews, rapid appraisal approach, open ended questionnaire and personal observations.

Th9 cell development requires a BATF-regulated transcriptional network.

T helper 9 (Th9) cells are specialized for the production of IL-9, promote allergic inflammation in mice, and are associated with allergic disease in humans. It has not been determined whether Th9 cells express a characteristic transcriptional signature. In this study, we performed microarray analysis to identify genes enriched in Th9 cells compared with other Th subsets.

Interleukin-9 is required for allergic airway inflammation mediated by the cytokine TSLP.

Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) is an epithelial cell-derived cytokine important for the initiation and development of T helper (Th2) cell-mediated allergic inflammation. In this study, we identified a positive association between interleukin-9 (IL-9) and TSLP concentration in the serum of infants with atopic dermatitis. In primary cell cultures, the addition of TSLP led to an increase in IL-9 production from human and mouse Th9 cells, and induced an increase in signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (STAT5) activation and binding to the Il9 promoter.

The symphony of the ninth: the development and function of Th9 cells.

CD4+ T helper cells are obligate regulators of inflammatory disease. An expanding cadre of T helper (Th) subsets, specialized for promoting particular types of inflammation, function through the secretion of a restricted set of cytokines. The latest addition to the list of subsets is the Th9 cell that secretes IL-9 as a signature cytokine and contributes to several classes of inflammatory disease.

STAT6-dependent regulation of Th9 development.

Th cell effector subsets develop in response to specific cytokine environments. The development of a particular cytokine-secreting pattern requires an integration of signals that may promote the development of opposing pathways. A recent example of this paradigm is the IL-9-secreting Th9 cell that develops in response to TGF-β and IL-4, cytokines that, in isolation, promote the development of inducible regulatory T cells and Th2 cells, respectively.

The transcription factor PU.1 regulates γδ T cell homeostasis.

Background: T cell development results in the generation of both mature αβ and γδ T cells. While αβ T cells predominate in secondary lymphoid organs, γδ T cells are more abundant in mucosal tissues. PU.

The transcription factor PU.1 is required for the development of IL-9-producing T cells and allergic inflammation.

CD4(+) helper T cells acquire effector phenotypes that promote specialized inflammatory responses. We show that the ETS-family transcription factor PU.1 was required for the development of an interleukin 9 (IL-9)-secreting subset of helper T cells.

Fit-for-purpose evaluation of architect i1000SR immunoassay analyzer.

Background: Last year Abbott Laboratories introduced the Architect i1000SR modular chemiluminescent immunoassay analyzer for laboratories performing <200 test/day. The analyzer has a diverse menu of most routinely tested assays for the low to mid volume hospital laboratory. We evaluated the analytical performance, productivity and efficiency of this system for a 1-y period.

PU.1 regulates TCR expression by modulating GATA-3 activity.

The Ets transcription factor PU.1 is a master regulator for the development of multiple lineages during hematopoiesis. The expression pattern of PU.

Inactivation and modification of superoxide dismutase by glyoxal: prevention by antibodies.

Glyoxal is an endogenous compound, the levels of which are increased in various pathologies associated with hyperglycaemia and other related disorders. It has been reported to inactivate critical cellular enzymes by promoting their cross-linking and perpetuates advanced glycation end-product (AGE) formation. In this study, we used superoxide dismutase (SOD) as a model to investigate the ability of specific anti-enzyme antibodies and monomer Fab fragments to protect against glyoxal-induced deactivation and aggregate formation.

Antibodies and Fab fragments protect Cu,Zn-SOD against methylglyoxal-induced inactivation.

Methyl glyoxal (MG) is a highly reactive alpha-oxoaldehyde that plays an important role in non-enzymatic glycosylation reactions, formation of Advanced Glycation End products (AGEs) and other complications associated with hyperglycemia and related disorders. Unlike sugars, glycation by MG is predominantly arginine directed, which is particularly more damaging since arginine residues have a high-frequency occurrence in ligand and substrate recognition sites in receptor and enzyme active sites. Using bovine erythrocyte Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD) as model enzyme, the potential of anti-enzyme antibodies in imparting protection against MG-induced inactivation was investigated.

Capillary electrophoresis and the clinical laboratory.

Over the past 15 years, CE as an analytical tool has shown great promise in replacing many conventional clinical laboratory methods, such as electrophoresis and HPLC. CE's appeal was that it was fast, used very small amounts of sample and reagents, was extremely versatile, and was able to separate large and small analytes, whether neutral or charged. Because of this versatility, numerous methods have been developed for analytes that are of clinical interest.

Analytical evaluation of HgbA1c, microalbumin, CRP, and RF on Architect ci8200 integrated system and workflow performance evaluation using computer simulation.

Background: Recently, hemoglobin A1c (HgbA1c), microalbumin (MA), C-reactive protein (CRP) and rheumatoid factor (RF) have been introduced on high throughput general chemistry system. We evaluated analytical performance of these assays on an integrated clinical chemistry and immunoassay analyzer and studied the impact of testing these assays on these systems on the overall efficiency of the analyzer, via computer simulation.

Methods: The analytical performance was measured by determining precision, linearity and correlation of patient sample results with in-house testing methodology.

Polyclonal antibodies inhibit the glycation-induced inactivation of bovine Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase.

In vitro incubation of bovine Cu,Zn-SOD (Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase) with glucose, ribose or fructose results in a remarkable inactivation of the enzyme. There was a progressive decrease in enzyme activity on incubation with glucose and, at the end of 7 days, only 26% of the initial activity remained. The inactivation was accompanied by a parallel decrease in the amount of protein detectable on gels after SDS/PAGE.

Prophylactic role of liposomized chloroquine against murine cryptococcosis less susceptible to fluconazole.

Purpose: The prophylactic role of liposomized chloroquine (lip-CQ) has been assessed against less susceptible Cryptococcus neoformans infection in murine model.

Methods: In the current study, we investigated the antifungal activity of lip-CQ against C. neoformans in macrophages cell line (J 774) and murine model.

Enhanced anticryptococcal activity of chloroquine in phosphatidylserine-containing liposomes in a murine model.

Objectives: The anticryptococcal activity of chloroquine was assessed after incorporation in phosphatidylserine (PS)-containing negatively charged liposomes in a murine model.

Methods: In the present study, we investigated the antifungal activity of chloroquine entrapped in PS liposomes against Cryptococcus neoformans in the macrophage cell line J 774 and in a murine model. Mice were treated with free as well as liposomal formulations of chloroquine before and after challenging with C.