Effect of recombinant adeno-associated virus mediated transforming growth factor-beta1 on corneal allograft survival after high-risk penetrating keratoplasty.

Corneal transplantation is one of the most common and successful transplant surgeries performed around the world. However, the high-risk corneal transplantation remains a high level of corneal graft failure. Gene transfer of immunomodulatory molecules is considered as one potential strategy in preventing allograft rejection.

Anti-CCL25 antibody prolongs skin allograft survival by blocking CCR9 expression and impairing splenic T-cell function.

Chemokines, by virtue of their ability to recruit immune cells into allografts, play critical roles in acute transplantation rejection. CCR9 and its ligand, CCL25, is one of the key regulators of thymocyte migration and maturation in normal and inflammatory conditions. Moreover, several studies have revealed that high expression of CCR9 and CCL25 participated in many kinds of diseases.

High dose lipopolysaccharide triggers polarization of mouse thymic Th17 cells in vitro in the presence of mature dendritic cells.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) plays an important role in the activation of innate immune cells, leading to secretion of proinflammatory factors and bridging the adaptive immune system. Exposing total mouse thymic cells culture to LPS induced a unique expression profile of cytokines (IL-17A, IL-17F, and IL-22) and the essential ROR-γt master transcription factor, which suggested a preferential differentiation of thymocytes towards the Th17 cell phenotype. Th17-polarizing molecules (IL-23, IL-23R, IL-6, and TGF-β) and IL-17A(+)CD4(+) thymocytes were also specifically produced by the in vitro LPS-stimulation of thymic cells.

Jα33+ MAIT cells play a protective role in TNBS induced intestinal inflammation.

Background/aims: Mucosa-associated T-lymphocyte (MAIT) cells that are selectively accumulated in the intestinal mucosa may be involved in immune regulation. MAIT cells are determined by their Vα7.2-Jα33 (human)/Vα19-Jα33 (mice) invariant chain.

The invasion of tobacco mosaic virus RNA induces endoplasmic reticulum stress-related autophagy in HeLa cells.

The ability of human cells to defend against viruses originating from distant species has long been ignored. Owing to the pressure of natural evolution and human exploration, some of these viruses may be able to invade human beings. If their 'fresh' host had no defences, the viruses could cause a serious pandemic, as seen with HIV, SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) and avian influenza virus that originated from chimpanzees, the common palm civet and birds, respectively.

Expression profile of human immune-responsive gene 1 and generation and characterization of polyclonal antiserum.

Murine immune-responsive gene 1 (IRG1) plays significant roles in embryonic implantation and neurodegeneration. The expression pattern of the human IRG1 gene, however, has not yet been established, and the predicted gene sequence has been revised several times according to computed expressed sequence tags (ESTs). To determine the human IRG1 gene expression profile, human fetal tissue samples, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from normal healthy subjects, and the human leukemia cell lines THP-1 and K-562 challenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were subjected to RT-PCR using degenerate primers.

Type I natural killer T cells: naturally born for fighting.

Type capital I, Ukrainian natural killer T cells (NKT cells), a subset of CD1d-restricted T cells with invariant Valphabeta TCR, are characterized by prompt production of large amounts of Th1 and/or Th2 cytokines upon primary stimulation through the TCR complex. The rapid release of cytokines implies that type capital I, Ukrainian NKT cells may play a critical role in modulating the upcoming immune responses, such as anti-tumor response, protection against infection, and autoimmunity. As a bridge between innate and adaptive immunity, type capital I, Ukrainian NKT cells differentiate and mature upon stimulations to achieve and maintain a homeostasis.

EBV promotes human CD8 NKT cell development.

The reports on the origin of human CD8(+) Valpha24(+) T-cell receptor (TCR) natural killer T (NKT) cells are controversial. The underlying mechanism that controls human CD4 versus CD8 NKT cell development is not well-characterized. In the present study, we have studied total 177 eligible patients and subjects including 128 healthy latent Epstein-Barr-virus(EBV)-infected subjects, 17 newly-onset acute infectious mononucleosis patients, 16 newly-diagnosed EBV-associated Hodgkin lymphoma patients, and 16 EBV-negative normal control subjects.

Suppressive effects of genomic imprinted gene PEG10 on hydrogen peroxide-induced apoptosis in L02 cells.

The effects of PEG10 on hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced apoptosis in human normal liver cell line L02 were investigated. The PEG10 gene was transfected into L02 cells by lipofectamine, the positive clone was screened by G418 and defined as L02/PEG10, while the cell transfected with empty expression vector (pEGFP-N1) was defined as L02/vector. L02/vector and parental L02 cells served as control.

EBV-induced human CD8(+) NKT cells synergise CD4(+) NKT cells suppressing EBV-associated tumours upon induction of Th1-bias.

CD8(+) natural killer T (NKT) cells from EBV-associated tumour patients are quantitatively and functionally impaired. EBV-induced CD8(+) NKT cells drive syngeneic T cells into a Th1-bias response to suppress EBV-associated malignancies. IL-4-biased CD4(+) NKT cells do not affect either syngeneic T cell cytotoxicity or Th cytokine secretion.

EBV-induced human CD8+ NKT cells suppress tumorigenesis by EBV-associated malignancies.

The underlying mechanism of the protective and suppressive role of NKT cells in human tumor immunosurveillance remains to be fully elucidated. We show that the frequencies of CD8(+) NKT cells in patients with EBV-associated Hodgkin's lymphoma or nasopharyngeal carcinoma are significantly lower than those in healthy EBV carriers. These CD8(+) NKT cells in tumor patients are also functionally impaired.

[Establishment of PEG10 transgenic mouse and effects of PEG10 on growth, metastasis of transplanted tumor in mice].

Objective: To establish PEG10 transgenic mice model and study the effect of PEG10 transgene on tumor growth and metastasis in mice.

Methods: The linearized expression element of pALB-PEG10, which contained mouse albumin promoter, structural gene of PEG10, and polyaenylation signal sequence, was microinjected into 3741 KM mouse fertilized ova. The manipulated embryos were then transplanted into the oviducts of 94 pseudopregnant recipient mice.

Nuclear targeted nanoprobe for single living cell detection by surface-enhanced Raman scattering.

We present a novel nuclear targeting nanoprobe based on peptide functionalized gold nanoparticles and its surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) in living cells. For the first time, we probe an original SERS signal from the living cell nucleus by using high-selectivity functionalized gold nanoparticles. The gold nanoparticles conjugated with SV-40 large T nuclear localization signal (NLS) peptide successfully enter the cell nucleus after the incubation with Hela cells and deliver the spatially localized chemical information of the nucleus, as well as the signature of chemicals that intruded subsequently.

Role of major histocompatibility complex class I-related molecules A*A5.1 allele in ulcerative colitis in Chinese patients.

The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I-related molecules A (MICA) is a stress-inducible cell surface antigen that is recognized by intestinal epithelial Vdelta1 gammadelta T cells, natural killer (NK) cells and CD8(+) T cells with NKG2D receptor participating in the immunological reaction in the intestinal mucosa. The present study aimed to investigate the functions of the MICA*A5.1 allele in the development of ulcerative colitis (UC) in the Chinese population.

CD19+CD5+ B cells in primary IgA nephropathy.

The source of IgA and the mechanism for deposition of IgA in the mesangium remain unknown for primary IgA nephropathy. Because CD19(+)CD5(+) B cells are important producers of IgA and contribute to several autoimmune diseases, they may play an important role in IgA nephropathy. In this study, flow cytometry, quantitative PCR, and confocal microscopy were used to assess the frequency, distribution, Ig production, CD phenotypes, cytokine production, and sensitivity to apoptosis of CD19(+)CD5(+) B cells in the peripheral blood, peritoneal fluid, and kidney biopsies of 36 patients with primary IgA nephropathy.

Necrobiosis lipoidica: a case with histopathological findings revealed asteroid bodies and was successfully treated with dipyridamole plus intralesional triamcinolone.

The significance of necrobiosis lipoidica (NL) includes its relationship with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, its tendency to break down into painful ulcers, an albeit tenuous association with squamous cell carcinoma and, by no means least, its cosmetic impact, occurring as it does on the shins of young and middle-aged women. Necrobiosis (degeneration of collagen) and granulomous inflammation are well-documented histological findings in NL; however, to see an asteroid body in an area of NL is rare. To the best of our knowledge, there is only one such report of NL described so far.

CCL19 and CXCL13 synergistically regulate interaction between B cell acute lymphocytic leukemia CD23+CD5+ B Cells and CD8+ T cells.

Interacting with T cells, cytokine-producing B cells play a critical protective role in autoimmune diseases. However, the interaction between malignant B and T cells remains to be fully elucidated. In a previous study, we have reported that ligation of CCL19-CCR7 and CXCL13-CXCR5 activates paternally expressed gene 10 (PEG10), resulting in an enhancement of apoptotic resistance in B-cell acute lymphocytic leukemia (B-ALL) CD23+CD5+ B cells.

Detection of toxoplasmic lesions in mouse brain by USPIO-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging.

The objective of this study was to examine the feasibility of detecting toxoplasmic brain lesions in a mouse model of cerebral toxoplasmosis by ultrasmall superparamagnetic particles of iron oxide (USPIO)-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Toxoplasmosis encephalitis was induced in Kunming mice by intracerebral injection of Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites. T2- and T2*--weighted MRI was performed 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6 days after infection before USPIO injection; immediately after USPIO injection; and 24 h later.

CXC chemokine ligand 13 and CC chemokine ligand 19 cooperatively render resistance to apoptosis in B cell lineage acute and chronic lymphocytic leukemia CD23+CD5+ B cells.

CXCL13/CXCR5 and CCL19/CCR7 play a quite important role in normal physiological conditions, but the functions of both chemokine/receptor pairs in pathophysiological events are not well-investigated. We have investigated expression and functions of CXCL13/CXCR5 and CCL19/CCR7 in CD23+CD5+ and CD23+CD5- B cells from cord blood (CB) and patients with B cell lineage acute or chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-ALL or B-CLL). CXCR5 and CCR7 are selectively expressed on B-ALL, B-CLL, and CB CD23+CD5+ B cells at high frequency, but not on CD23+CD5- B cells.

All roads lead to Rome: pathways of NKT cells promoting asthma.

NKT cells are the prominent manipulator in asthma development. Asthmatic NKT cells migrate from thymus, spleen, liver and bone marrow into blood vessels, and then concentrate in airway bronchi mucosa. This recruitment is dependent on high expression of CCR9 and engagement of CCL25/CCR9.