Interleukin-7 regulates adipose tissue mass and insulin sensitivity in high-fat diet-fed mice through lymphocyte-dependent and independent mechanisms.

Although interleukin (IL)-7 is mostly known as a key regulator of lymphocyte homeostasis, we recently demonstrated that it also contributes to body weight regulation through a hypothalamic control. Previous studies have shown that IL-7 is produced by the human obese white adipose tissue (WAT) yet its potential role on WAT development and function in obesity remains unknown. Here, we first show that transgenic mice overexpressing IL-7 have reduced adipose tissue mass associated with glucose and insulin resistance.

Immune reconstitution following myeloablative allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: the impact of expanding CD28negative CD8+ T cells on relapse.

Allogeneic stem cell transplantation has become standard therapy for hematologic malignancies through the positive immunologic graft-versus-leukemia effect. Initial immune recovery relies on peripheral expansion of infused T cells, which switch to a memory-like phenotype. This study prospectively investigated whether changes in subset composition precedes complications after myeloablative HLA-matched transplantation for hematologic malignancies.

Nerve growth factor is a potential therapeutic target in breast cancer.

We show here that nerve growth factor (NGF), the prototypic neurotrophin, can be targeted in breast cancer to inhibit tumor cell proliferation, survival, and metastasis. Analysis of a series of biopsies revealed widespread expression of NGF in the majority of human breast tumors, with anti-NGF immunoreactivity concentrated in the epithelial cancer cells. Moreover, immunodeficient mice xenografted with human breast cancer cells and treated with either anti-NGF antibodies or small interfering RNA against NGF displayed inhibited tumor growth and metastasis.

Comparative analysis of naïve and memory CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell subsets in bone marrow and G-CSF-mobilized peripheral blood stem cell allografts: impact of donor characteristics.

Objective: Donor T cells expressing lymph node homing receptors are the foremost initiators of acute graft-vs-host disease (aGVHD), and a high proportion of CD4(+)CCR7(+) T cells in human leukocyte antigen-matched allografts has been shown to confer a high risk of aGVHD without interfering in other outcomes.

Methods: Naïve, central memory (T(CM)), effector memory (T(EM)), and terminally differentiated effector memory (T(TD)) subsets, further subdivided by CD28 expression, were compared in 52 bone marrow and 37 granulocyte colony-stimulating factor-mobilized peripheral blood harvests.

Results: CCR7(+) cells (naïve and T(CM)) predominated in the CD4(+) population, whereas CD8(+) memory cells were chiefly CCR7(neg) in the grafts.

Host glucose metabolism mediates T4 and IL-7 action on Schistosoma mansoni development.

Interleukin (IL-)7 and thyroxin (T4) favor Schistosoma mansoni development. Their effect is similar, rather than identical; moreover, cotreatment acts synergistically on parasites. This questioned a common mediator to their action, which we hypothesized was host glucose metabolism.