Glutamine promotes human CD8 T cells and counteracts imiquimod-induced T cell hyporesponsiveness.

T cells protect tissues from cancer. Although investigations in mice showed that amino acids (AA) critically regulate T cell immunity, this remains poorly understood in humans. Here, we describe the AA composition of interstitial fluids in keratinocyte-derived skin cancers (KDSCs) and study the effect of AA on T cells using models of primary human cells and tissues.

Inhibition of LPS-responses by synthetic peptides derived from LBP associates with the ability of the peptides to block LBP-LPS interaction.

The ability of LPS-binding protein (LBP) to greatly potentiate cell responses to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) may largely contribute to LPS toxicity in sepsis. The study of agents with the capacity to block the interaction between LBP and LPS might improve the understanding of the role of LBP in Gram-negative infections as well as offering new therapeutic tools for septic disorders. Here we confirm the ability of synthetic peptides comprising the human LBP amino acid region 86-108 to interfere with the LBP-LPS interaction.

Interleukin-2 inhibits proliferation of HPV-associated tumor cells and halts tumor growth in vivo.

Previous studies have shown inhibition of cervical cancer cell growth by treatment with high concentrations of IL-2. In the present study, we evaluated the in vitro and in vivo effects of recombinant human IL-2 on HPV-associated tumor cells (3T3-16). Treatment of 3T3-16 cells with rhIL-2 for 72 h inhibited cell growth in a dose-dependent manner and this effect was evidenced at nanomolar concentrations.

Isolation and characterization of modified species of a mutated (Cys125 -Ala) recombinant human interleukin-2.

During purification of recombinant and mutated interleukin-2 (rhIL-2A125) by reversed-phase-high-performance liquid chromatography, more and less hydrophobic fractions named MHF and LHF, respectively are discarded due to the presence of some unidentified forms of rhIL-2Ala125. Using slow and linear gradients of acetonitrile, these fractions were further purified by RP-HPLC, analyzed by automatic Edman degradation, digested with trypsin and analyzed by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. In all fractions, partial processing of the N-terminal Met residue was observed.