Human miscarriage is associated with increased number of CD26 decidual lymphocytes.

Dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV, CD26), a serine protease with broad distribution in mammalian tissues and known activity in serum, participates in T-cell activation and promotes a Th1-like cytokine response. Previous data on murine abortion indicate that DPP-IV may play a critical role in pregnancy failure by inducing a Th1 local response. Here, we investigated the possible participation of DPP-IV in the onset of human spontaneous abortion (SA).

Upregulation of decidual P-selectin expression is associated with an increased number of Th1 cell populations in patients suffering from spontaneous abortions.

A multicascade of leukocyte-endothelial cell interactions is involved in the trafficking of inflammatory lymphocytes into tissue. The primary contact between leukocytes and endothelium is mediated by selectins. Ligands for P-Selectin are preferentially expressed on Th1 cells and thereby allow migration of these inflammatory cells through the vessel wall.

Role of nitric oxide in the ethylcholine aziridinium model of delayed apoptotic neurodegeneration in vivo and in vitro.

The involvement of nitric oxide in neurodegenerative processes still remains incompletely characterized. Although nitric oxide has been reported to be an important mediator in neuronal degeneration in different models of cell death involving NMDA-receptor activation, increasing evidence for protective mechanisms has been obtained. In this study the role of nitric oxide was investigated in a model of NMDA-independent, delayed apoptotic cell death, induced by the neurotoxin ethylcholine aziridinium ethylcholine aziridinium both in vivo and in vitro.