Nitric oxide-mediated anxiolytic-like and antidepressant-like effects in animal models of anxiety and depression.

The effects of microinjection of the nitric oxide (NO) precursor l-arginine (l-Arg), the NO synthase (NOS) inhibitors N-methyl-l-arginine (l-NAME) and 7-nitroindazole (7-NI), and the cyclic guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cGMP) analog 8-Br-cGMP into the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) were assessed in rats using the elevated plus maze (EPM) and the forced swim test (FST). l-Arg (100 and 200 nmol) produced an anxiolytic-like effect in the EPM. 8-Br-cGMP (25 and 50 nmol) dose-dependently increased locomotor activity.

Expression of membrane-bound and soluble receptor activator of NF-kappaB ligand (RANKL) in human T cells.

The receptor activator of NF-kappaB ligand (RANKL) and its receptor RANK are critical regulators for immune responses as well as bone remodeling. RANKL is a type II transmembrane protein that has two forms-a membrane-anchored protein and a secreted protein. In this report, we demonstrate for the first time the kinetical expression of two forms of RANKL in human T cells using two monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against human RANKL, which we newly derived.

Costimulation via glucocorticoid-induced TNF receptor in both conventional and CD25+ regulatory CD4+ T cells.

The glucocorticoid-induced TNF receptor (GITR), which is a member of the TNF receptor family, is expressed preferentially at high levels on CD25+CD4+ regulatory T cells and plays a key role in the peripheral tolerance that is mediated by these cells. GITR is also expressed on conventional CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, and its expression is enhanced rapidly after activation. In this report we show that the GITR provides a potent costimulatory signal to both CD25+ and CD25- CD4+ T cells.