Functional Studies of T Regulatory Lymphocytes in Human Schistosomiasis in Western Kenya.

Immunoregulation is considered a common feature of infections, and elevated levels of T regulatory (Treg) lymphocytes have been reported during chronic human schistosomiasis. We now report that the removal of Treg (CD4+/CD25/CD127 lymphocytes) from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of -infected individuals leads to increased levels of phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated interferon gamma (IFNγ) production and decreased interleukin-10 (IL-10) responses. Exposure to schistosome antigens did not result in measurable IFNγ by either PBMC or Treg-depleted populations.

Notch-dependent expression of the archipelago ubiquitin ligase subunit in the Drosophila eye.

archipelago (ago)/Fbw7 encodes a conserved protein that functions as the substrate-receptor component of a polyubiquitin ligase that suppresses tissue growth in flies and tumorigenesis in vertebrates. Ago/Fbw7 targets multiple proteins for degradation, including the G1-S regulator Cyclin E and the oncoprotein dMyc/c-Myc. Despite prominent roles in growth control, little is known about the signals that regulate Ago/Fbw7 abundance in developing tissues.

The archipelago tumor suppressor gene limits rb/e2f-regulated apoptosis in developing Drosophila tissues.

Background: The Drosophila archipelago gene (ago) encodes the specificity component of a ubiquitin ligase that targets the cyclin E and dMyc proteins for degradation. Its human ortholog, Fbw7, is commonly lost in cancers, suggesting that failure to degrade ago/Fbw7 targets drives excess tissue growth.

Results: We find that ago loss induces hyperplasia of some organs but paradoxically reduces the size of the adult eye.