Holocentromeres can consist of merely a few megabase-sized satellite arrays.

The centromere is the chromosome region where microtubules attach during cell division. In contrast to monocentric chromosomes with one centromere, holocentric species usually distribute hundreds of centromere units along the entire chromatid. We assembled the chromosome-scale reference genome and analyzed the holocentromere and (epi)genome organization of the lilioid Chionographis japonica.

DC-Derived IL-10 Modulates Pro-inflammatory Cytokine Production and Promotes Induction of CD4IL-10 Regulatory T Cells during Infection.

The cytokine IL-10 plays a crucial role during malaria infection by counteracting the pro-inflammatory immune response. We and others demonstrated that infection results in enhanced IL-10 production in CD4 T cells accompanied by the induction of an immunosuppressive phenotype. However, it is unclear whether this is a direct effect caused by the parasite or an indirect consequence due to T cell activation by IL-10-producing antigen-presenting cells.

Plasmodium yoelii infection of BALB/c mice results in expansion rather than induction of CD4(+) Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells.

Recently, we demonstrated elevated numbers of CD4(+) Foxp3(+) regulatory T (Treg) cells in Plasmodium yoelii-infected mice contributing to the regulation of anti-malarial immune response. However, it remains unclear whether this increase in Treg cells is due to thymus-derived Treg cell expansion or induction of Treg cells in the periphery. Here, we show that the frequency of Foxp3(+) Treg cells expressing neuropilin-1 (Nrp-1) decreased at early time-points during P.

Regulatory T cells and T-cell-derived IL-10 interfere with effective anti-cytomegalovirus immune response.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) establishes lifelong chronic infection in its host with mostly asymptomatic or only mild disease, but under immunosuppressive conditions the virus can reactivate and infection can cause life-threatening disease. CMV has evolved several mechanisms to escape from host's immunity, allowing persistence of the virus. Until now, it remains elusive whether regulatory T cells (Tregs) have an impact on insufficient host immune response against the virus in this context.

Neuropilin 1 deficiency on CD4+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells impairs mouse melanoma growth.

Infiltration of Foxp3(+) regulatory T (T reg) cells is considered to be a critical step during tumor development and progression. T reg cells supposedly suppress locally an effective anti-tumor immune response within tumor tissues, although the precise mechanism by which T reg cells infiltrate the tumor is still unclear. We provide evidence that Neuropilin 1 (Nrp-1), highly expressed by Foxp3(+) T reg cells, regulates the immunological anti-tumor control by guiding T reg cells into the tumor in response to tumor-derived vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).

Strong impact of CD4+ Foxp3+ regulatory T cells and limited effect of T cell-derived IL-10 on pathogen clearance during Plasmodium yoelii infection.

It is well established that CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells (Tregs) play a crucial role in the course of different infectious diseases. However, contradictory results have been published regarding to malaria infection. In this study, we report that specific ablation of Foxp3(+) Tregs in Plasmodium yoelii-infected DEREG-BALB/c mice leads to an increase in T cell activation accompanied by a significant decrease in parasitemia.

Memory impairment correlates with increased S100B serum concentrations in patients with chronic schizophrenia.

Astrocyte activation indicated by increased S100B is considered a potential pathogenic factor for schizophrenia. To investigate the relationship between astrocyte activation and cognitive performance, S100B serum concentration, memory performance, and psychopathology were assessed in 40 first-episode and 35 chronic schizophrenia patients upon admission and after four weeks of treatment. Chronic schizophrenia patients with high S100B were impaired concerning verbal memory performance (AVLT, Auditory Verbal Learning Test) compared to chronic and first-episode patients with low S100B levels.

Glial cell activation in a subgroup of patients with schizophrenia indicated by increased S100B serum concentrations and elevated myo-inositol.

Post-mortem and in-vivo studies support the hypothesis that astrocytes might be involved in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. To further substantiate this hypothesis two markers of astroglial activation (myo-inositol, S100B) acquired with independent methods ((1)H-MRS, quantitative immunoassay) were concomitantly measured in schizophrenic patients. Patients with increased S100B levels showed elevated myo-inositol concentrations.