Encapsulation of a CpG oligonucleotide in cationic liposomes enhances its local antitumor activity following pulmonary delivery in a murine model of metastatic lung cancer.

Immunotherapy brings new hope to the fight against lung cancer. General immunostimulatory agents represent an immunotherapy strategy that has demonstrated efficacy with limited toxicity when delivered intratumorally. The goal of this study was to enhance the antitumor efficacy of unmethylated oligodeoxynucleotides containing CpG motifs (CpG) and polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly I:C) double-stranded RNA following their local delivery in lung cancer by encapsulating them in liposomes.

IL-9 exerts biological function on antigen-experienced murine T cells and exacerbates colitis induced by adoptive transfer.

IL-9 is involved in various T cell-dependent inflammatory models including colitis, encepahlitis, and asthma. However, the regulation and specificity of IL-9 responsiveness by T cells during immune responses remains poorly understood. Here, we addressed this question using two different models: experimental colitis induced by transfer of naive CD4 CD45RB T cells into immunodeficient mice, and OVA-specific T cell activation.

Can serum cytokine profile discriminate irritant-induced and allergen-induced symptoms? A cross-sectional study in workers mostly exposed to laboratory animals.

Background: In workers exposed mostly to laboratory animals (LA), symptoms may be due to irritants or allergens. Correct aetiological diagnosis is important for health surveillance.

Objectives: This study aims to test whether work-related (WR) allergen-induced symptoms are associated with a cytokine profile distinct from that due to irritants.

AhR modulates the IL-22-producing cell proliferation/recruitment in imiquimod-induced psoriasis mouse model.

IL-22 has a detrimental role in skin inflammatory processes, for example in psoriasis. As transcription factor, AhR controls the IL-22 production by several cell types (i.e.

Mucosal and systemic immune responses to Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigen 85A following its co-delivery with CpG, MPLA or LTB to the lungs in mice.

Pulmonary vaccination is a promising route for immunization against tuberculosis because the lung is the natural site of infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Yet, adjuvants with a suitable safety profile need to be found to enhance mucosal immunity to recombinant antigens. The aim of this study was to evaluate the immunogenicity, the safety and the protective efficacy of a subunit vaccine composed of the immunodominant mycolyl-transferase antigen 85A (Ag85A) and one of three powerful mucosal adjuvants: the oligodeoxynucleotide containing unmethylated cytosine-phosphate-guanine motifs (CpG), the monophosphoryl lipid A of Salmonella minnesota (MPLA) or the B subunit of heat-labile enterotoxin of Escherichia coli (LTB).

IL-22 is required for imiquimod-induced psoriasiform skin inflammation in mice.

Psoriasis is a common chronic autoimmune skin disease of unknown cause that involves dysregulated interplay between immune cells and keratinocytes. IL-22 is a cytokine produced by the TH1, TH17, and TH22 subsets that are functionally implicated in the psoriatic pathology. We assessed the role of IL-22 in a mouse model where psoriasiform skin inflammation is triggered by topical application of the TLR7/8 agonist imiquimod.

Dual TCR expression biases lung inflammation in DO11.10 transgenic mice and promotes neutrophilia via microbiota-induced Th17 differentiation.

A commonly used mouse model of asthma is based on i.p. sensitization to OVA together with aluminum hydroxide (alum).

Induction of autoantibodies against mouse soluble proteins after immunization with living cells presenting the autoantigen at the cell surface in fusion with a human type 2 transmembrane protein.

Induction of autoantibodies towards immune regulatory proteins, such as cytokines or their receptors, is a powerful strategy for functional studies on the role of these factors in vivo. Here we describe a new procedure to elicit autoantibodies by taking advantage of tumor cells as a vaccine against peptides presented at their surface in fusion with the human CD134L transmembrane protein. P1.

IL-9 promotes IL-13-dependent paneth cell hyperplasia and up-regulation of innate immunity mediators in intestinal mucosa.

IL-9 contributes to lung inflammatory processes such as asthma, by promoting mast cell differentiation, B cell activation, eosinophilia, and mucus production by lung epithelial cells. The observation that IL-9 overexpressing mice show increased mast cell numbers in the intestinal mucosa suggests that this cytokine might also play a role in intestinal inflammation. In colons from IL-9 transgenic mice, the expression of Muc2, a major intestinal mucin gene, was up-regulated, together with that of CLCA3 chloride channel and resistin like alpha, which are goblet cell-associated genes.

Crystal structure of a soluble decoy receptor IL-22BP bound to interleukin-22.

Interleukin-22 (IL-22) plays an important role in the regulation of immune and inflammatory responses in mammals. The IL-22 binding protein (IL-22BP), a soluble receptor that specifically binds IL-22, prevents the IL-22/interleukin-22 receptor 1 (IL-22R1)/interleukin-10 receptor 2 (IL-10R2) complex assembly and blocks IL-22 biological activity. Here we present the crystal structure of the IL-22/IL-22BP complex at 2.

Routine practice HCV infection screening with saliva samples: multicentric study in an intravenous drug user population.

Objective: The purpose of this randomized multicentric study was to evaluate the diagnostic contribution of screening for HCV infection on saliva samples in day-to-day practice in the intravenous drug-user (IVDU) population.

Methods: Between January and May 2004, 274 presumably HCV-negative IVDU were screened for HCV infection in 15 centers in France (median age 29 years). After centralized randomization, screening tests were performed on blood samples (arm A) or saliva samples (arm B).

The cuff leak test to predict failure of tracheal extubation for laryngeal edema.

Objective: Laryngeal edema secondary to endotracheal intubation may require early re-intubation. Prior to extubation the absence of leak around an endotracheal tube may predict laryngeal edema after extubation. We evaluated the usefulness of a quantitative assessment of such a leak to identify the patients who will require early re-intubation for laryngeal edema.