Pulmonary and Nonpulmonary Sepsis Differentially Modulate Lung Immunity toward Secondary Bacterial Pneumonia: A Critical Role for Alveolar Macrophages.

Clinical observations suggest that the source of primary infection accounts for a major determinant of further nosocomial pneumonia in critically ill patients with sepsis. Here we addressed the impact of primary nonpulmonary or pulmonary septic insults on lung immunity using relevant double-hit animal models. C57BL/6J mice were first subjected to polymicrobial peritonitis induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) or bacterial pneumonia induced by intratracheal challenge with .

Clinical and histopathologic predictors of therapeutic response to bronchial thermoplasty in severe refractory asthma.

Background: Phenotypes and endotypes predicting optimal response to bronchial thermoplasty (BT) in patients with severe asthma remain elusive.

Objective: Our aim was to compare the clinical characteristics and hallmarks of airway inflammation and remodeling before and after BT in responder and partial responder patients with severe asthma refractory to oral steroids and to omalizumab.

Methods: In all, 23 patients with severe refractory asthma were divided into BT responders (n = 15) and BT partial responders (n = 8), according to the decrease in asthma exacerbations at 12 months after BT.

Effective control of lung infection despite tertiary lymphoid structure disorganisation.

Background: Tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) are triggered by persistent bronchopulmonary infection with , but their roles remain elusive. The present study sought to examine the effects of B- and/or T-cell depletion on infection and TLS development (lymphoid neogenesis) in mice.

Methods: C57Bl/6 mice were pre-treated with 1) an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody (mAb) (B-cell depletion) or 2) an anti-CD4 and/or an anti-CD8 mAb (T-cell depletion) or 3) a combination of anti-CD20, anti-CD4 and anti-CD8 mAbs (combined B- and T-cell depletion) or 4) isotype control mAbs.

Altered generation of ciliated cells in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

In COPD, epithelial changes are prominent features in the airways, such as goblet cell hyperplasia and squamous metaplasia. In contrast, it remains unclear whether ciliated cells are reduced and which pathways dysregulate epithelial differentiation. We hypothesized that bronchial epithelial cell lineage specification is dysregulated in COPD because of an aberrant reprogramming through transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1.

Key role of the epithelium in chronic upper airways diseases.

The respiratory epithelium of the upper airways is a first-line defence against inhaled irritants, pathogens and allergens. It ensures a physical barrier provided by apical junctions and mucociliary clearance to avoid excessive activation of the immune system. The epithelium also forms a chemical and immunological barrier, extensively equipped to protect the airways against external aggressions before the adaptive immune system is required.

Therapeutic Potential of Focal Adhesion Kinase Inhibition in Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) has a poor prognosis. Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is a non-receptor tyrosine kinase regulating cell proliferation, survival, migration, and invasion, which is overexpressed and/or activated in several cancers, including SCLC. We wanted to determine whether FAK contributes to SCLC aggressive behavior.

Bronchial Epithelial IgA Secretion Is Impaired in Asthma. Role of IL-4/IL-13.

Rationale: Asthma is associated with increased lung IgE production, but whether the secretory IgA system is affected in this disease remains unknown.

Objectives: We explored mucosal IgA transport in human asthma and its potential regulation by T-helper cell type 2 inflammation.

Methods: Bronchial biopsies from asthma and control subjects were assayed for bronchial epithelial polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (pIgR) expression and correlated to T-helper cell type 2 biomarkers.

Chronic inflammatory airway diseases: the central role of the epithelium revisited.

The respiratory epithelium plays a critical role for the maintenance of airway integrity and defense against inhaled particles. Physical barrier provided by apical junctions and mucociliary clearance clears inhaled pathogens, allergens or toxics, to prevent continuous stimulation of adaptive immune responses. The "chemical barrier", consisting of several anti-microbial factors such as lysozyme and lactoferrin, constitutes another protective mechanism of the mucosae against external aggressions before adaptive immune response starts.

Imprinting of the COPD airway epithelium for dedifferentiation and mesenchymal transition.

In chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), epithelial changes and subepithelial fibrosis are salient features in conducting airways. Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) has been recently suggested in COPD, but the mechanisms and relationship to peribronchial fibrosis remain unclear. We hypothesised that de-differentiation of the COPD respiratory epithelium through EMT could participate in airway fibrosis and thereby, in airway obstruction.

Increased IgA production by B-cells in COPD via lung epithelial interleukin-6 and TACI pathways.

Despite their relevance to mucosal defense, production of IgA and the function of lung B-cells remain unknown in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We assessed IgA synthesis in the lungs of COPD (n=28) and control (n=21) patients, and regulation of B-cells co-cultured with in vitro-reconstituted airway epithelium. In COPD lung tissue, synthesis of IgA1 was increased, which led to its accumulation in subepithelial areas.

Anti-idiotypic antibodies as cancer vaccines: achievements and future improvements.

Since the discovery of tumor-associated antigens (TAAs), researchers have tried to develop immune-based anti-cancer therapies. Thanks to their specificity, monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) offer the major advantage to induce fewer side effects than those caused by non-specific conventional treatments (e.g.

Intraperitoneal administration of novel doxorubicin loaded polymeric delivery systems against peritoneal carcinomatosis: experimental study in a murine model of ovarian cancer.

Objective: Peritoneal spread is an adverse outcome in ovarian cancer. Despite clinical efficiency, intraperitoneal (i.p.

Vaccination with human anti-trastuzumab anti-idiotype scFv reverses HER2 immunological tolerance and induces tumor immunity in MMTV.f.huHER2(Fo5) mice.

Introduction: Novel adjuvant therapies are needed to prevent metastatic relapses in HER2-expressing breast cancer. Here, we tested whether trastuzumab-selected single-chain Fv (scFv) could be used to develop an anti-idiotype-based vaccine to inhibit growth of HER2-positive tumor cells in vitro and in vivo through induction of long-lasting HER-specific immunity.

Methods: BALB/c mice were immunized with anti-trastuzumab anti-idiotype (anti-Id) scFv (scFv40 and scFv69), which mimic human HER2.

Anti-HER2 vaccines: new prospects for breast cancer therapy.

Each year, breast cancer accounts for more than 400,000 new cancer cases and more than 130,000 cancer deaths in Europe. Prognosis of nonmetastatic breast cancer patients is directly related to the extent of the disease, mainly nodal spreading and tumor size, and to the molecular profile, particularly HER2 over-expression. In patients with HER2-over-expressing tumors, different studies have shown cellular and/or humoral immune responses against HER2 associated with a lower tumor development at early stages of the disease.

A llama single domain anti-idiotypic antibody mimicking HER2 as a vaccine: Immunogenicity and efficacy.

HER2 over-expression in breast cancer correlates with reduced survival. Anti-idiotypic antibodies (Abs) that closely mimic HER2 could play a crucial role in the development of effective therapeutic vaccines. Here, we show that an anti-idiotypic single domain antibody (sdAb) 1HE isolated from a library generated from a Trastuzumab F(ab')(2)-immunized llama, closely mimics HER2.

[Anti-HER2 vaccines: The HER2 immunotargeting future?].

Breast cancer is a widely spread women's disease. In spite of progress in the field of surgery and adjuvant therapies, the risk of breast cancer metastatic relapses remains high especially in those overexpressing HER2. Different studies have shown cellular and/or humoral immune responses against HER2 in patients with HER2-overexpressing tumors.

In vivo therapeutic synergism of anti-epidermal growth factor receptor and anti-HER2 monoclonal antibodies against pancreatic carcinomas.

Purpose: Pancreatic carcinoma is highly resistant to therapy. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and HER2 have been reported to be both dysregulated in this cancer. To evaluate the in vivo effect of binding both EGFR and HER2 with two therapeutic humanized monoclonal antibodies (mAb), we treated human pancreatic carcinoma xenografts, expressing high EGFR and low HER2 levels.