The absence of HLA class I expression in non-small cell lung cancer correlates with the tumor tissue structure and the pattern of T cell infiltration.

We wanted to analyze whether tumor HLA class I (HLA-I) expression influences the pattern of the immune cell infiltration and stromal cell reaction in the tumor microenvironment. Tumor tissues obtained from 57 patients diagnosed with lung carcinomas were analyzed for HLA expression and leukocyte infiltration. 28 patients out of the 57 were completely negative for HLA-I expression (49.

Neuronal activity controls Bdnf expression via Polycomb de-repression and CREB/CBP/JMJD3 activation in mature neurons.

It has been recently described that in embryonic stem cells, the expression of some important developmentally regulated genes is repressed, but poised for fast activation under the appropriate stimuli. In this work we show that Bdnf promoters are repressed by Polycomb Complex 2 in mature hippocampal neurons, and basal expression is guaranteed by the coexistence with activating histone marks. Neuronal stimulation triggered by N-methyl-D-aspartate application induces the transcription of these promoters by H3K27Me3 demethylation and H3K27Me3 phosphorylation at Serine 28 leading to displacement of EZH2, the catalytic subunit of Polycomb Repressor Complex 2.

Immune escape of cancer cells with beta2-microglobulin loss over the course of metastatic melanoma.

Cancer cells escape T-cell-mediated destruction by losing human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I expression via various mechanisms, including loss of beta2-microglobulin (β2m). Our study illustrates the immune escape of HLA class I-negative tumor cells and chronological sequence of appearance of tumor β2m gene mutation in successive lesions obtained from a patient with metastatic melanoma. We observed a gradual decrease in HLA expression in consecutive lesions with few HLA-negative nodules in the primary tumor and the emergence of a totally negative lesion at later stages of the disease.

Performance of sludge treatment wetlands using different plant species and porous media.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the dewatering and mineralisation efficiency of three sludge treatment wetlands (STW) configurations differing on plant species (Phragmites australis and Typha sp.) and filter medium (gravel and wood shavings). Sludge dewatering and mineralisation were monitored in three pilots STW for 2 years.