Human resting CD4+ T cells are constitutively inhibited by TGF beta under steady-state conditions.

Based on studies in knockout mice, several inhibitory factors such as TGFbeta, IL-10, or CTLA-4 have been implicated as gate keepers of adaptive immune responses. Lack of these inhibitory molecules leads to massive inflammatory responses mainly mediated by activated T cells. In humans, the integration of these inhibitory signals for keeping T cells at a resting state is less well understood.

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase-expressing dendritic cells form suppurative granulomas following Listeria monocytogenes infection.

Control of pathogens by formation of abscesses and granulomas is a major strategy of the innate immune system, especially when effector mechanisms of adaptive immunity are insufficient. We show in human listeriosis that DCs expressing indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), together with macrophages, are major cellular components of suppurative granulomas in vivo. Induction of IDO by DCs is a cell-autonomous response to Listeria monocytogenes infection and was also observed in other granulomatous infections with intracellular bacteria, such as Bartonella henselae.

Salicylic acid-independent ENHANCED DISEASE SUSCEPTIBILITY1 signaling in Arabidopsis immunity and cell death is regulated by the monooxygenase FMO1 and the Nudix hydrolase NUDT7.

Arabidopsis thaliana ENHANCED DISEASE SUSCEPTIBILITY1 (EDS1) controls defense activation and programmed cell death conditioned by intracellular Toll-related immune receptors that recognize specific pathogen effectors. EDS1 is also needed for basal resistance to invasive pathogens by restricting the progression of disease. In both responses, EDS1, assisted by its interacting partner, PHYTOALEXIN-DEFICIENT4 (PAD4), regulates accumulation of the phenolic defense molecule salicylic acid (SA) and other as yet unidentified signal intermediates.

CD25 and indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase are up-regulated by prostaglandin E2 and expressed by tumor-associated dendritic cells in vivo: additional mechanisms of T-cell inhibition.

Immune tolerance is a central mechanism counteracting tumor-specific immunity and preventing effective anticancer immunotherapy. Induction of tolerance requires a specific environment in which tolerogenic dendritic cells (DCs) play an essential role deviating the immune response away from effective immunity. It was recently shown that maturation of DCs in the presence of PGE2 results in upregulation of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) providing a potential mechanism for the development of DC-mediated Tcell tolerance.

Prostaglandin E2 impairs CD4+ T cell activation by inhibition of lck: implications in Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Many tumors, including Hodgkin's lymphoma, are associated with decreased cellular immunity and elevated levels of prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)), a known inhibitor of CD4+ T cell activation, suggested to be involved in immune deviation in cancer. To address the molecular mechanisms tumor-derived PGE(2) might have on primary human CD4+ T cells, we used a whole genome-based transcriptional approach and show that PGE(2) severely limited changes of gene expression induced by signaling through the T cell receptor and CD28. This data suggests an interference of PGE(2) at an early step of T cell receptor signaling: indeed, PGE(2) stimulation of T cells leads to inactivation of lck and reduced phosphorylation of ZAP70.

A highly standardized, robust, and cost-effective method for genome-wide transcriptome analysis of peripheral blood applicable to large-scale clinical trials.

The use of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) for transcriptome analysis has already been proven valuable for assessing disease-associated and drug-response-related gene signatures. While these proof-of-principle studies have been critically important, the instability of RNA within PBMC prohibits their use in large-scale multicenter trials for which samples have to be transported for a prolonged time prior to RNA isolation. Therefore, a prerequisite for transcriptome analysis of peripheral blood in clinical trials will be a standardized and valid method to stabilize the RNA profile immediately after blood withdrawal.

CD40-activated B cells express full lymph node homing triad and induce T-cell chemotaxis: potential as cellular adjuvants.

CD40-activated B cells (CD40-B cells) have previously been introduced as an alternative source of antigen-presenting cells for immunotherapy. CD40-B cells can prime naive and expand memory T cells, and they can be generated in large numbers from very small amounts of peripheral blood derived from healthy individuals or cancer patients alike. Administration of CD40-B cells as a cellular adjuvant would require these cells to migrate toward secondary lymphoid organs and attract T cells in situ, processes guided by specific chemokines and chemokine receptors.

Reduced frequencies and suppressive function of CD4+CD25hi regulatory T cells in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia after therapy with fludarabine.

Globally suppressed T-cell function has been described in many patients with cancer to be a major hurdle for the development of clinically efficient cancer immunotherapy. Inhibition of antitumor immune responses has been mainly linked to inhibitory factors present in cancer patients. More recently, increased frequencies of CD4+CD25hi regulatory T cells (Treg cells) have been described as an additional mechanism reducing immunity.

Gene expression profile of the Gs-coupled prostacyclin receptor in human vascular smooth muscle cells.

Migration and proliferation of medial smooth muscle cells (SMC) in the arterial intima contributes to the development of atherosclerotic plaques and restenotic processes after coronary angioplasty. Prostacyclin (PGI2)-mediated stimulation of cyclic adenosine 3'5'-monophosphate (cAMP) signaling is believed to be important for maintaining SMC in a quiescent state. In order to identify new cellular targets of PGI2/cAMP action, we have used microarray screening to examine changes in the transcriptional profile in human vascular SMC in response to exposure to the stable PGI2 mimetic iloprost.

Iloprost down-regulates the expression of the growth regulatory gene Cyr61 in human vascular smooth muscle cells.

Prostacyclin and its mimetics have repeatedly been shown to act antiatherogenic and to inhibit neointima formation in several animal models of vascular injury. Treatment of human vascular smooth muscle cells with the prostacyclin mimetic iloprost (100 nm) drastically reduces expression of Cyr61, encoding the growth-regulatory cystein-rich angiogenic protein, without affecting the degradation rate of Cyr61 mRNA. Thrombin-induced Cyr61 expression was inhibited completely in the presence of iloprost.

Regulation of cyclooxygenase-2 expression by iloprost in human vascular smooth muscle cells. Role of transcription factors CREB and ICER.

Prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase-2 (PGH-synthase) or cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is inducible by a variety of stimuli, e.g. inflammatory mediators, growth factors and hormones and is believed to be responsible for the majority of inflammatory prostanoid production.