bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Meta-analysis of myeloperoxidase G-463/A polymorphism in anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody-positive vasculitis
Authors: Rajp A , Adu D , Savage C O 
Published: October 2009

SummaryWegener's granulomatosis, microscopic polyangiitis and Churg Strauss syndrome are small-vessel vasculitides associated with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) directed against proteinase 3 (PR3) and myeloperoxidase (MPO). A G to A polymorphism at position 463 in the promoter region of the MPO gene, which leads to the loss of a SP1 transcription binding site in an Alu hormone responsive element, reduces MPO expression. We hypothesized that MPO alleles may play a role in determining disease susceptibility or severity in ANCA-associated vasculitis (AASV). MPO genotypes were determined by restriction fragment length polymorphism polymerase chain reaction (RFLP/PCR) in 134 Caucasian patients (Wegener's granulomatosis, n = 69; microscopic polyangiitis, n = 65; PR3–ANCA n = 91; MPO–ANCA, n = 43) and 150 matched healthy controls. There was no difference in survival to renal failure or death in patients with the different MPO alleles (χ2 = 0·904, P = 0·6362) or in presenting serum creatinine concentration based on MPO genotype (χ2 = 0·389, P = 0·8232). There was no significant difference in genotype frequencies between controls (13AA, 102GG, 35GA) and patients (14AA, 97GG, 23GA: χ2 = 1·75, P = 0·417), patients with Wegener's granulomatosis (5AA, 53GG, 11GA: χ2 = 1·864, P = 0·3938) or patients with microscopic polyangiitis (9AA, 44GG, 12GA: χ2 = 1·682, P = 0·4317). A meta-analysis of our study and two previous studies showed that there was no association between the myeloperoxidase G-463/A polymorphism and the risk of developing ANCA-associated vasculitis; GG versus GA plus AA (odds ratio 1·14; 95% confidence interval 0·86–1·50). The MPO G-463/A polymorphism is not a risk factor for the development or severity of AASV.
The role of CD11c+ hepatic dendritic cells in the induction of innate immune responses
Authors: Shu S-A , Lian Z-X , Chuang Y-H , Yang G-X , Moritoki Y , Comstock S S , Zhong R-Q , Ansari A A , Liu Y-J , Gershwin M E 
Published: October 2009

Summary
The role of the liver in the initiation and maintenance of tolerance is a critical immune function that involves multiple lineages of immune cells. Included within these populations are liver dendritic cells (DCs). Although there has been significant work on the phenotypic and functional roles of splenic and bone marrow dendritic cells, as well as their subsets, comparable studies in liver have often been difficult. To address this issue we have isolated, from C57BL/6 mice, relatively pure populations of DCs and compared phenotype and function to the data from spleen using flow cytometry, cell sorter assisted purification and culture, morphology by cytospin and May–Giemsa staining, cell cycle progression, antigen uptake, cytokine production and allo-activation potential. natural killer (NK)1·1–CD11c+ liver DC subsets (conventional DCs, T cell receptor (TcR)β–NK1·1–CD11c+B220– and plasmacytoid DCs, TcRβ–NK1·1–CD11c+B220+) efficiently endocytose dextran and produce significant levels of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-12 p40 in response to Toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands, with responses higher than splenic DCs. There is also a differential capability of hepatic DCs to respond to innate signals. Indeed, CD11c+ hepatic DCs have a greater capacity to respond to innate stimulation but are less capable of inducing CpG activated-allogeneic T cells. These data suggest that hepatic dendritic cells function as a critical bridge between innate and adaptive immunity and are capable of inducing stronger innate responses with a lower capacity for allo-stimulation than splenic dendritic cells. These properties of liver dendritic cells contribute to their unique role in the induction of tolerance.
Selection of probiotic bacteria for prevention of allergic diseases: immunomodulation of neonatal dendritic cells
Authors: Niers L E M , Hoekstra M O , Timmerman H M , van Uden N O , de Graaf P M A , Smits H H , Kimpen J L L , Rijkers G T 
Published: October 2009

SummaryModification of intestinal microbiota early in life by administration of probiotic bacteria may be a potential approach to prevent allergic disease. To select probiotic bacteria for in vivo purposes, we investigated the capacity of probiotic bacteria to interact with neonatal dendritic cells (DC) and studied the ensuing T cell polarizing effect. Immature DC were generated from cord blood-derived monocytes and maturation was induced by maturation factors (MF), lipopolysaccharide (LPS) plus MF and Bifidobacterium bifidum, B. infantis, Lactobacillus salivarius, Lactococcus lactis alone or combined with MF. After 12 days of co-culture with DC and Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin B (SEB) as antigenic stimulus, cytokine production by autologous T cells was determined by intracellular cytokine staining. Additionally, cells were stimulated with CD3 and CD28 monoclonal antibodies and cytokines were measured in supernatants by multiplex assay. The probiotic strains induced partial maturation of DC. Full maturation of DC was induced for all strains tested when MF was added. The percentage of interleukin (IL)-4 producing T cells was lower in T cell cultures stimulated with B. bifidum matured DC compared to MF and LPS matured DC, which coincided with a higher percentage of interferon (IFN)-γ-producing T cells. Furthermore, T cells stimulated by B. bifidum matured DC produced significantly more IL-10 compared to MF matured DC. Selected species of the Bifidobacterium genus prime in vitro cultured neonatal DC to polarize T cell responses and may therefore be candidates to use in primary prevention of allergic diseases.
Interferon-γ does not break, but promotes the immunosuppressive capacity of adult human mesenchymal stem cells
Authors: Ryan J M , Barry F , Murphy J M , Mahon B P 
Published: October 2009

SummaryThe ability of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) to suppress alloresponsiveness is poorly understood. Herein, an allogeneic mixed lymphocyte response was used as a model to investigate the mechanisms of MSC-mediated immunomodulation. Human MSC are demonstrated to express the immunosuppressive cytokines hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), interleukin (IL)-10 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 at concentrations that suppress alloresponses in vitro. MSC also express cyclooxygenase 1 and 2 and produce prostaglandin E2 constitutively. Blocking studies with indomethacin confirmed that prostaglandins contribute to MSC-mediated allosuppression. The proinflammatory cytokine interferon (IFN)-γ did not ablate MSC inhibition of alloantigen-driven proliferation but up-regulated HGF and TGF-β1. IFN-γ also induced expression of indoleamine 2,3, dioxygenase (IDO), involved in tryptophan catabolism. Use of an antagonist, 1-methyl-L-tryptophan, restored alloresponsiveness and confirmed an IDO contribution to IFN-γ-induced immunomodulation by MSC. Addition of the tryptophan catabolite kynurenine to mixed lymphocyte reactions (MLR), blocked alloproliferation. These findings support a model where IDO exerts its effect through the local accumulation of tryptophan metabolites rather than through tryptophan depletion. Taken together, these data demonstrate that soluble factors, or products derived from MSC, modulate immune responses and suggest that MSC create an immunosuppressive microenvironment capable of modulating alloresponsiveness even in the presence of IFN-γ.
Effects of CD40 binding on ovarian carcinoma cell growth and cytokine productionin vitro
Authors: Toutirais O , Gervais A , Cabillic F , Le Gallo M , Coudrais A , Levêque J , Catros-Quemener V , Genetet N 
Published: October 2009

SummaryThe poor prognosis associated with ovarian carcinoma (OVCA) is linked to the high incidence of local recurrence. There is a pressing need to identify factors that can play a role in OVCA growth and spread. Here, we focused on CD40, a member of the tumour necrosis factor (TNF) receptor superfamily with important functions in immune response. The expression of CD40 has been reported on various types of carcinoma cells, but its biological role is still poorly understood. The aim of the present study was to investigate the expression and function of the CD40 in OVCA cell lines. Detectable CD40 levels ranging from low to very high were found on the cell surface of several OVCA cell lines by flow cytometry analysis. Co-culture with a murine cell line transfected with CD40 ligand (CD40L) inhibited cell growth and up-regulated the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8 and TNF-α in high-level CD40-expressing OVCA cell lines. Similarly, an increase of IL-6 and IL-8 release could be obtained by adding a soluble form of CD40L to the OVCA cultures. These results suggest that CD40–CD40L interaction is an important pathway affecting growth regulation and cytokine production in OVCA.
The expanding family of interleukin-1 cytokines and their role in destructive inflammatory disorders
Authors: Barksby H E , Lea S R , Preshaw P M , Taylor J J 
Published: October 2009

SummaryUnderstanding cytokine immunobiology is central to the development of rational therapies for destructive inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and periodontitis. The classical interleukin-1 (IL-1) family cytokines, IL-1α and IL-1β, as well as IL-18, play key roles in inflammation. Recently, other members of the IL-1 family have been identified. These include six cytokines whose genes are located downstream of the genes for IL-1α and IL-1β on chromosome 2 (IL-1F5-10) and also IL-33, which is the ligand for ST2, a member of the IL-1R/Toll-like receptor (TLR) receptor superfamily. IL-1F6, IL-1F8 and Il−1F9 are agonists and, along with their receptor IL-1Rrp2, are highly expressed in epithelial cells suggesting a role in immune defence in the skin and the gastrointestinal (GI) tract including the mouth. Synovial fibroblasts and articular chondrocytes also express IL-1Rrp2 and respond to IL-1F8, indicating a possible role in RA. IL-33 is associated with endothelial cells in the inflamed tissues of patients with RA and Crohn's disease, where it is a nuclear factor which regulates transcription. IL-33 is also an extracellular cytokine: it induces the expression of T helper 2 (Th2) cytokines in vitro and in vivo as well as histopathological changes in the lungs and GI tract of mice. Therapeutic agents which modify IL-1 cytokines (e.g. recombinant IL-1Ra) have been used clinically and others are at various stages of development (e.g. anti-IL-18 antibodies). This review highlights the emerging data on these novel IL-1 cytokines and assesses their possible role in the pathogenesis and therapy of destructive inflammatory disorders such as RA and periodontitis.
Translational Mini-Review Series on Infectious Disease:&#x2028;Congenital cytomegalovirus infection: 50 years on
Authors: Hassan J , Connell J 
Published: October 2009

SummaryCytomegalovirus (CMV) is the leading cause of congenital viral infection, with an incidence of 0·5–3% of live births worldwide. Clinical evidence has shown hearing and vision loss, mental retardation and sometimes death in affected newborns. Primary maternal CMV infection during gestation poses a 40% risk of intrauterine transmission in contrast to recurrent infection. European laboratories have made significant progress in the last decade in solving diagnostic problems linked to infection in pregnancy. With the advances in CMV serology, such as detection of anti-CMV IgM by enzyme immunoassays (EIA), confirmed by Western blot, together with seroconversion and anti-CMV IgG avidity evaluation in pregnant mothers, can help to identify recent infection. Preventative measures such as screening for CMV in the routine serological work-up of pregnant women have been introduced in countries such as Spain and Italy. The development of specific T cell-mediated immune responses in mothers, fetus and neonates is now emerging with regard to antigen-specific CD4 and CD8 T cells, differentiation status, proliferative and cytokine responses. A protective vaccine against CMV is a major public health priority and the study of vaccines in animal model systems has identified potential strategies for interrupting transmission and preventing disease in newborns. Congenital CMV infection has a variable outcome and therefore novel diagnostic methods are required to identify those at risk and therapeutic interventions are needed to improve the long-term prognosis of those infected. CMV was first isolated in 1957. We are now 50 years on, so procrastination is not an option.
Resource partitioning and niche hyper‐volume overlap in free‐living Pygoscelid penguins
Authors: Wilson Rory P. 
Published: October 2009

Summary 1. Species potentially competing for the same resource are considered to be able to co‐exist if they occupy different niches. In an apparent example of this, Adélie, Chinstrap and Gentoo penguins all feed predominantly on krill Euphausea superba at certain sites of sympatry in Antarctica and are proposed to exploit different niche hyper‐volumes via differential area and depth utilization. 2. Patterns of foraging for 49 of these penguins breeding in sympatry were assessed using dead‐reckoning loggers to examine foraging niche overlap. 3. Area use overlaps were 0·29 for Adélie ∩ Chinstrap, 0·44 for Adélie ∩ Gentoo, and 0·40 for Chinstrap ∩ Adélie and depth use overlaps were 0·69 for Adélie ∩ Chinstrap, 0·48 for Adélie ∩ Gentoo, and 0·52 for Chinstrap ∩ Gentoo Penguins. 4. Foraging efficiency was greatest for Adélie Penguins diving near surface waters (0–15 m) while Chinstraps were most efficient at medium depths (15–60 m) and Gentoo Penguins most efficient at deeper depths (> 60 m). There appear to be physiological reasons for this. Penguins primarily exploited those depths where they were most efficient. 5. The overlap for foraging periods was 0·47 for Adélie ∩ Chinstrap, 0·26 for Adélie ∩ Gentoo, and 0·40 for Chinstrap ∩ Gentoo Penguins. Chinstraps foraged primarily at night, Gentoos during the morning and Adélies in the afternoon. Temporal differences in foraging may result in the three species exploiting krill at those depths where it is best adapted to pursue it, this being mediated by the diel vertical migration of krill. 6. Integration of all measured parameters together gives minimal overlap between species with total overlaps of 0·09 for Adélie ∩ Chinstrap, 0·05 for Adélie ∩ Gentoo, and 0·08 for Chinstrap ∩ Gentoo Penguins so it appears that these penguins conform to conventional theory in avoiding competition in areas of sympatry. However, a model incorporating prey movement between hyper‐volumes indicates that penguins may still compete, even in the virtual absence of hyper‐volume overlap. 7. This study shows that Pygoscelid penguin do indeed exploit different hypervolumes in areas of sympatry but that such exploitation of different niches by sympatric species feeding on a common resource does not necessarily result in reduced competition if the mobility of prey is high.
Above‐ and below‐ground competition between barley, wheat, lupin and vetch in a cereal and legume intercropping system
Authors: Mariotti M. , Masoni A. , Ercoli L. , Arduini I. 
Published: October 2009

AbstractThe effects of intercropping on dry weight (DW) of herbage and nitrogen (N) nutrition of plants of two winter cereals, barley and wheat, and two legumes, white lupin and common vetch, were investigated, and above‐ and below‐ground competition were separated in a fully factorial additive design. Intercropping increased DW compared with the sole species and the increase was higher for the cereals and lupin than for cereals and vetch intercropping systems. Above‐ground competition for light reduced DW of cereals and lupin while it did not influence the DW of vetch. Processes involved in below‐ground competition increased shoot growth of cereals and reduced shoot growth of legumes. N nutrition of cereals was enhanced by below‐ground competition with legumes and N nutrition of vetch was enhanced by above‐ground competition with cereals. Cereals had a higher competitive ability than legumes as a result of their below‐ground competitive ability. The interaction between above‐ and below‐competition is not predictable: negative, positive and no interaction (additivity) between different types of competition were found. In low‐input intercropping systems, when a N‐fixing species is present, the mixture of the roots of components is important for the utilization of the soil resources and, when a climbing species is also present, the mixture of shoots can result in an increased utilization of light.
Effects of intercropping and fertilizer application on the yield and nutritive value of maize and amaranth forages in Nigeria
Authors: Olorunnisomo O. A. , Ayodele O. J. 
Published: October 2009

AbstractMaize and amaranth forages, produced during the wet season, have the potential to bridge the gap in forage supply to ruminants during the dry season in Nigeria. In two growing seasons (2006 and 2007), effects of intercropping and fertilizer application on dry matter (DM) yield and chemical composition of forages, and land use efficiency, were studied in two experiments. The digestibility of sun‐dried or ensiled maize, amaranth or maize–amaranth mixtures was measured using West African dwarf sheep in a third experiment. Maize showed a higher response to fertilizer application than amaranth or maize–amaranth mixtures. With fertilizer application, DM yield varied significantly (P < 0·05) between species and intercropped mixtures. Dry matter yield ranged from 7·1 (amaranth) to 12·6 t ha−1 (maize) in 2006 and 6·9 (amaranth) to 11·3 t ha−1 (70:30 maize–amaranth population mixture) in 2007. Crude protein (CP) concentration of whole plants ranged from 99·0 (maize) to 227·0 g kg−1 DM (amaranth). Dry matter digestibility values of sun‐dried maize, sun‐dried maize:amaranth 50:50 mixture, sun‐dried amaranth, ensiled maize, ensiled maize:amaranth 50:50 mixture and ensiled amaranth were 0·718, 0·607, 0·573, 0·737, 0·553 and 0·526 respectively. Intercropping increased forage yield and land use efficiency compared to amaranth but had no yield advantage over maize. Although DM digestibility of maize was higher than that of amaranth or the maize:amaranth mixture, digestible CP yield ha−1 was higher with amaranth in the cropping mixture, showing that amaranth could complement maize in systems where CP is the limiting factor to livestock production.
Remembering and repeating childhood dental treatment experiences: parents, their children, and barriers to dental care
Authors: SMITH PATRICIA ANNE , FREEMAN RUTH 
Published: October 2009

Background.  Despite improvements over the past two decades, caries and its treatment remain a problem for Scottish children.Aim.  To investigate how the reported childhood dental care experiences of a group of Scottish parents impacted upon the dental treatment they accessed for their children.Study design.  In‐depth, semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 19 parents of varied age and social background whose children were referred to Dundee Dental Hospital for the assessment of dental extractions. Parents were encouraged to discuss their own and their child’s experiences of dental care. The interview data were systematically coded using key theme headings, and summary charts constructed to facilitate the analysis.Results.  A sense of ‘uneasiness’ pervaded the parents’ comments and perceptions of the dental care provided for their children. This was conceptualized as parents ‘remembering in words’ and ‘repeating through actions’ their own childhood dental experiences. They remembered and repeated their childhood experiences by delaying dental treatment for themselves and their children.Conclusions.  Acknowledging the influence of parental dental experience would help ensure that parents of young children access routine care for their children and themselves.
Phylogenetic signatures of facilitation and competition in successional communities
Authors: Verdú Miguel , Rey Pedro J. , Alcántara Julio M. , Siles Gemma , Valiente‐Banuet Alfonso 
Published: October 2009

Summary 1. The balance between facilitation and competition through time is at the core of models for successional dynamics. However, since the 1980s, the studies of facilitation have shifted away from successional processes. In a return to the traditional roots of the study of facilitation, we assessed the phylogenetic signatures of competition and facilitation in Mediterranean successional communities and compared them with those recently quantified in non‐successional communities of the Mexican desert. 2. Based on previous work, we hypothesized that facilitation between distantly related lineages is an important driver of successional dynamics, as has been shown in non‐successional systems. However, we also predicted that the balance between facilitation and competition will be different in successional systems because many species disappear from communities during the process of succession, which does not occur in non‐successional systems. 3. We sampled plant species composition over a chronosequence of post‐fire succession and predicted phylogenetic clustering in communities at the early stages caused by species that reproduce by seed (‘seeders’, belonging to a few specific families) being favoured by fire; overdispersion in intermediate stages driven by facilitation interactions among distantly related species; and randomness in the final stage caused by the competitive exclusion of pioneer species belonging to a few families and the survival of species in many other families. 4. In the pioneer stage, we found a random phylogenetic pattern because seeders and many resprouter species were present at this stage, indicating that autosuccession was also occurring. In intermediate phases, once pioneers had recruited into open spaces and facilitated late‐successional species, most of which were ancient taxa originating during the Tertiary, phylogenetic overdispersion predominated. Finally, in the later stages competitive exclusion of pioneer species reduced phylogenetic diversity, leading to a random phylogenetic structure. 5.
Synthesis. As previously found for non‐successional communities, facilitation among distantly related lineages appeared to drive successional dynamics. However, subsequent competition reduced phylogenetic diversity during succession in this Mediterranean system, and some species disappeared from the community.