Twin study identifies early immunological and metabolic dysregulation of CD8 T cells in multiple sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory neurological disease of the central nervous system with a subclinical phase preceding frank neuroinflammation. CD8 T cells are abundant within MS lesions, but their potential role in disease pathology remains unclear. Using high-throughput single-cell RNA sequencing and single-cell T cell receptor analysis, we compared CD8 T cell clones from the blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of monozygotic twin pairs in which the cotwin had either no or subclinical neuroinflammation (SCNI).

Regulation of ICAM-1 in cells of the monocyte/macrophage system in microgravity.

Cells of the immune system are highly sensitive to altered gravity, and the monocyte as well as the macrophage function is proven to be impaired under microgravity conditions. In our study, we investigated the surface expression of ICAM-1 protein and expression of ICAM-1 mRNA in cells of the monocyte/macrophage system in microgravity during clinostat, parabolic flight, sounding rocket, and orbital experiments. In murine BV-2 microglial cells, we detected a downregulation of ICAM-1 expression in clinorotation experiments and a rapid and reversible downregulation in the microgravity phase of parabolic flight experiments.

Uterine contractility data processing system.

A versatile system has been developed for off-line computerized quantitation of uterine contractility. It includes tabulation and display of intensity, frequency, resting tone, uterine activity, cumulative area below the pressure curve, and average intrauterine pressure. Its advantages and drawbacks are compared with the conventional method and with an automated on-line labor surveillance system.