A novel Flt3-deficient HIS mouse model with selective enhancement of human DC development.

Humanized mice harboring human immune systems (HIS) represent a platform to study immune responses against pathogens and to screen vaccine candidates and novel immunotherapeutics. Innate and adaptive immune responses are suboptimal in HIS mice, possibly due to poor reconstitution of human antigen-presenting cells, including dendritic cells (DCs). DC homeostasis is regulated by cytokine availability, and Flt3-ligand (Flt3L) is one factor that conditions this process.

IL-15 transpresentation promotes both human T-cell reconstitution and T-cell-dependent antibody responses in vivo.

Cytokine immunotherapies targeting T lymphocytes are attractive clinical interventions against viruses and tumors. In the mouse, the homeostasis of memory α/β CD8(+) T cells and natural killer (NK) cells is significantly improved with increased IL-15 bioavailability. In contrast, the role of "transpresented" IL-15 on human T-cell development and homeostasis in vivo is unknown.

[Early home abortion and immediate contraception with Evra® patch].

Aim: To propose a new home safe abortion protocol and effective immediate contraception.

Patients And Methods: Four hundred women undergoing home safe abortion with RU 486. Hundred accepted to start contraception with Evra® patch.

Skint-1 is a highly specific, unique selecting component for epidermal T cells.

αβ T-cell repertoire selection is mediated by peptide-MHC complexes presented by thymic epithelial or myeloid cells, and by lipid-CD1 complexes expressed by thymocytes. γδ T-cell repertoire selection, by contrast, is largely unresolved. Mice mutant for Skint-1, a unique Ig superfamily gene, do not develop canonical Vγ5Vδ1(+) dendritic epidermal T cells.

Cutting Edge: a thymocyte-thymic epithelial cell cross-talk dynamically regulates intrathymic IL-7 expression in vivo.

Thymic epithelial cells (TECs) are the predominant intrathymic source of the essential thymopoietin IL-7. Whether thymocyte-TEC interactions have a role in the regulation of IL-7 expression is not known. By exploiting IL-7 reporter mice in which yellow fluorescent protein expression identifies TECs expressing high levels of IL-7 (Il7(+) TECs), we show that Il7(+) TECs segregate from emerging medullary TECs during thymic organogenesis.

Humanized mice for modeling human infectious disease: challenges, progress, and outlook.

Over 800 million people worldwide are infected with hepatitis viruses, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and malaria, resulting in more than 5 million deaths annually. Here we discuss the potential and challenges of humanized mouse models for developing effective and affordable therapies and vaccines, which are desperately needed to combat these diseases.

Microbial flora drives interleukin 22 production in intestinal NKp46+ cells that provide innate mucosal immune defense.

Natural killer (NK) cells are innate lymphocytes with spontaneous antitumor activity, and they produce interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) that primes immune responses. Whereas T helper cell subsets differentiate from naive T cells via specific transcription factors, evidence for NK cell diversification is limited. In this report, we characterized intestinal lymphocytes expressing the NK cell natural cytotoxicity receptor NKp46.

Assessment of Chlamydia trachomatis infection by Cobas Amplicor PCR and in-house LightCycler assays using PreservCyt and 2-SP media in voluntary legal abortions.

Chlamydial infection of the upper genital tract after abortion is well recognized, but routine screening for infection before termination is rare, and few centres are aware of the prevalence of post-abortion complications in their patient population. Knowledge of the patient population is the best guide for developing screening strategies. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of chlamydial infection in patients presenting for legal termination of pregnancy, and to assess the presence of Chlamydia trachomatis by PCR on specimens collected in either PreservCyt (ThinPrep) or 2-sucrose phosphate (2-SP) transport medium.

Inhibition of TGF-beta signaling by IL-15: a new role for IL-15 in the loss of immune homeostasis in celiac disease.

Background And Aims: Interleukin (IL)-15 delivers signals that drive chronic inflammation in several diseases, including celiac disease. Smad3-transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) signaling is instrumental to counteract proinflammatory signals and maintain immune homeostasis. Our goal has been to investigate why the proinflammatory effects of IL-15 cannot be efficiently controlled by TGF-beta in celiac disease.

Familial NK cell deficiency associated with impaired IL-2- and IL-15-dependent survival of lymphocytes.

We previously reported the clinical phenotype of two siblings with a novel inherited developmental and immunodeficiency syndrome consisting of severe intrauterine growth retardation and the impaired development of specific lymphoid lineages, including transient CD8 alphabeta T lymphopenia and a persistent lack of blood NK cells. We describe here the elucidation of a plausible underlying pathogenic mechanism, with a cellular phenotype of impaired survival of both fresh and herpesvirus saimiri-transformed T cells, in the surviving child. Clearly, NK cells could not be studied.

[Prepubic TVT: a prospective study of 164 female patients treated for stress urinary incontinence].

Objective: A prospective open study was conducted to evaluate the prepubic (TPP) route of TVT.

Patients And Methods: 164 patients suffering from stress or mixed urinary incontinence were operated by prepubic route mainly under spinal anaesthesia. The incision is more proximal and para-uretral dissection directed more lateral to reach ischiopubic bone.

A direct role for NKG2D/MICA interaction in villous atrophy during celiac disease.

MICA molecules interact with the NKG2D-activating receptor on human NK and CD8 T cells. We investigated the participation of the MICA/NKG2D pathway in the destruction of intestinal epithelium by intraepithelial T lymphocytes (IEL) in Celiac disease and its premalignant complication, refractory sprue. We show that MICA is strongly expressed at epithelial cell surface in patients with active disease and is induced by gliadin or its p31-49 derived peptide upon in vitro challenge, an effect relayed by IL-15.

Interleukin 15: a key to disrupted intraepithelial lymphocyte homeostasis and lymphomagenesis in celiac disease.

Background & Aims: The mechanism of intraepithelial lymphocyte hyperplasia, a hallmark of celiac disease, is unknown. We have investigated the role of epithelium-derived interleukin (IL)-15 in the alterations of epithelial homeostasis in refractory celiac sprue, a privileged situation to study the first step of lymphoid transformation and the contribution of intraepithelial lymphocytes to villous atrophy in celiac disease.

Methods: IL-15 expression was assessed in biopsy specimens and isolated enterocytes by combining immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction.

Recurrent partial trisomy 1q22-q44 in clonal intraepithelial lymphocytes in refractory celiac sprue.

Background & Aims: Refractory celiac sprue, a low-grade intraepithelial lymphoma characterized by expansion of clonal intraepithelial lymphocytes with intracellular CD3 epsilon but no surface CD3-T-cell receptor complexes, can be an intermediary step between celiac disease and overt T-cell lymphoma. To gain insight into the mechanisms of lymphomagenesis in celiac disease, we have performed the first cytogenetic study in refractory celiac sprue.

Methods: Karyotypes were performed on: (1) 7 cell lines derived from clonal intraepithelial lymphocytes of patients with refractory celiac sprue; (2) 14 control T-cell lines, either from 4 of 7 patients with refractory celiac sprue or from 10 patients with uncomplicated celiac disease; and (3) bone marrow and peripheral blood lymphocytes in 1 of 7 patients with refractory celiac sprue.

Cross-reactivity between Chlamydia trachomatis heat shock protein 10 and early pregnancy factor.

Chlamydia trachomatis heat shock protein 10 (Chsp10) is associated with chronic genital tract infection with C. trachomatis. Chsp10 is homologous to human chaperonin 10 (Cpn10) and early pregnancy factor (EPF), a form of human Cpn10 that is specifically secreted at the start of pregnancy.

[Systematic screening for Chlamydia trachomatis with the molecular biological AMP-CT test in urine samples from young women].

Objective: We report the results of a systematic direct detection screening protocol for Chlamydia trachomatis in urine samples from young women.

Material And Method: The study included 1026 patients aged 13 to 30 years. Urine samples were tested with a molecular biology assay: AMP-CT.

[Role of misoprostol in the delivery outcome].

Objectives: Delivery-induced hemorrhage is defined as a blood loss greater than 500 ml within the first 24 hours after delivery. Loss of more than 1000 ml is a sign of gravity. For certain authors, 40% of these hemorrhages could be avoided with systematic preventive measures using uterotonic agents to control the third phase of labor.

[Removal or conservation of ovaries during hysterectomy for benign lesions].

At the time of hysterectomy, the aging ovary presents a dilemma. We conducted a prospective study to assess the feasibility of systematic oophorectomy in women 50 years or older and a retrospective study of hysterectomy history in patients who developed cancer of the ovary. Our finding and data in the literature point out the requirement for careful assessment of two aspects of the problem, one technical (feasibility of adnexectomy) and the other functional (ovary function and risk of cancer on the retained ovary).

[Impact of Chlamydia trachomatis on pregnant women in Gabon].

During two years 3,312 pregnant women has been screened for C. trachomatis. In spite of an improvement of the way of life and program of information on STD the rate of C.

[The levels of apolipoprotein A in liquor in normal and pathological pregnancies (author's transl)].

As liquor contains only HDL (High Density Lipoprotein) as a lipoprotein we have studied the changes in the levels of apolipoprotein A, which is the major component of HDL according to the duration of the pregnancy. The study has been carried out in normal and pathological pregnancies. It has been found that the level of apolipoprotein A rises from the 16th week of amenorrhoea of pregnancy to the 26th week and then gradually drops to term.