Normal neonatal TREC and KREC levels in early onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Objective: Dysregulated central tolerance predisposes to autoimmune diseases. Reduced thymic output as well as compromised central B cell tolerance checkpoints have been proposed in the pathogenesis of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). The aim of this study was to investigate neonatal levels of T-cell receptor excision circles (TRECs) and kappa-deleting element excision circles (KRECs), as markers of T- and B-cell output at birth, in patients with early onset JIA.

Androgen Receptors in Epithelial Cells Regulate Thymopoiesis and Recent Thymic Emigrants in Male Mice.

Androgens have profound effects on T cell homeostasis, including regulation of thymic T lymphopoiesis (thymopoiesis) and production of recent thymic emigrants (RTEs), i. e., immature T cells that derive from the thymus and continue their maturation to mature naïve T cells in secondary lymphoid organs.

Testosterone Protects Against Atherosclerosis in Male Mice by Targeting Thymic Epithelial Cells-Brief Report.

Objective: Androgen deprivation therapy has been associated with increased cardiovascular risk in men. Experimental studies support that testosterone protects against atherosclerosis, but the target cell remains unclear. T cells are important modulators of atherosclerosis, and deficiency of testosterone or its receptor, the AR (androgen receptor), induces a prominent increase in thymus size.

Thymic exosomes promote the final maturation of thymocytes.

Extensive knowledge has been gained the last years concerning mechanisms underlying the selection of single positive thymocytes in the thymic medulla. Less is known regarding other important processes in the thymic medulla such as the regulation of late stage thymocyte maturation. We have previously reported that exosomes are abundant in the thymus with a phenotype that indicates an epithelial cell origin and immunoregulatory properties.

Human thymic epithelial primary cells produce exosomes carrying tissue-restricted antigens.

Exosomes are nano-sized vesicles released by cells into the extracellular space and have been shown to be present in thymic tissue both in mice and in humans. The source of thymic exosomes is however still an enigma and hence it is not known whether thymic epithelial cells (TECs) are able to produce exosomes. In this work, we have cultured human TECs and isolated exosomes.

Altered expression of autoimmune regulator in infant down syndrome thymus, a possible contributor to an autoimmune phenotype.

Down syndrome (DS), caused by trisomy of chromosome 21, is associated with immunological dysfunctions such as increased frequency of infections and autoimmune diseases. Patients with DS share clinical features, such as autoimmune manifestations and specific autoantibodies, with patients affected by autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type 1. Autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type 1 is caused by mutations in the autoimmune regulator (AIRE) gene, located on chromosome 21, which regulates the expression of tissue-restricted Ags (TRAs) in thymic epithelial cells.

Evaluation of a new vaccination program for infants born to HBsAg-positive mothers in Stockholm County.

To overcome previous shortcomings in the routines for prophylaxis to newborns of hepatitis B infected pregnant women, we established a new program in 2005. This program combined monovalent hepatitis B vaccine at birth and at one month with three doses of hexavalent vaccine, including a hepatitis B vaccine component, at 3, 5 and 12 months, respectively. The hexavalent vaccine and follow-up serologies were administered at the well baby clinics.

Prophylaxis and treatment of HIV-1 infection in pregnancy: Swedish recommendations 2010.

Prophylaxis and treatment with antiretroviral drugs and the use of elective caesarean section have resulted in a very low mother-to-child transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) during recent years. The availability of new antiretroviral drugs, updated general treatment guidelines and increasing knowledge of the importance of drug resistance, have necessitated regular revisions of the "Prophylaxis and treatment of HIV-1 infection in pregnancy" recommendations. For these reasons, The Swedish Reference Group for Antiviral Therapy (RAV) updated the 2007 recommendations at an expert meeting that took place on 25 March 2010.

Prophylaxis and treatment of HIV-1 infection in pregnancy: Swedish Recommendations 2007.

Prophylaxis and treatment with antiretroviral drugs, a consequent low viral load, and the use of elective Caesarean section, are factors that radically decrease the risk of HIV transmission from mother to child during pregnancy and delivery. The availability of new antiretroviral drugs, updated general treatment guidelines and increasing knowledge of the importance of drug resistance, have necessitated recurrent revisions of the recommendations for 'Prophylaxis and treatment of HIV-1 infection in pregnancy'. For these reasons, The Swedish Reference Group for Antiviral Therapy (RAV) has, at an expert meeting on May 4, 2007, once more updated the treatment recommendations of 1999, 2002 and 2005, which were defined in cooperation with the Swedish Medical Products Agency (Läkemedelsverket).

Children born to HIV-1-infected women in Sweden in 1982-2003: trends in epidemiology and vertical transmission.

To describe the HIV-1 epidemic among childbearing women and their children in Sweden, a population-based analysis of data on all known mother-child pairs in Sweden with perinatal exposure to HIV-1 1982-2003 was conducted. The mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) rate in children prospectively followed from birth decreased from 24.7% in 1985-1993 to 5.

Serum ALT levels as a surrogate marker for serum HBV DNA levels in HBeAg-negative pregnant women.

In Stockholm, Sweden, the majority of pregnant women positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) are hepatitis Be antigen (HBeAg) negative. Newborns to HBeAg positive mothers receive vaccination and hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIg). Newborns to HBeAg negative mothers receive vaccine and HBIg only if the mothers have elevated ALT levels.

CD4 T cell activation by myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein is suppressed by adult but not cord blood CD25+ T cells.

Regulatory T cells expressing CD25 have been shown to protect rodents from organ-specific autoimmune diseases. Similar CD25+ cells with a memory phenotype exerting suppressive function after polyclonal or allogeneic stimulation are also present in adult human blood. We demonstrate that adult human CD25+ cells regulate the response to myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG), as depletion of CD25(+) cells increases responses of PBMC and the addition of purified CD25+ cells suppresses MOG-specific proliferation and IFN-gamma production of CD4(+)CD25(-) T cells.

Link between the X4 phenotype in human immunodeficiency virus type 1-infected mothers and their children, despite the early presence of R5 in the child.

Coreceptor use was determined for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) isolates of various subtypes from 11 women during pregnancy and their infected children. Isolates from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (n=79) and from plasma (n=59) were available. The clinical and immunological stages of HIV-1 infection were recorded.