bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Genetic diversity in German draught horse breeds compared with a group of primitive, riding and wild horses by means of microsatellite DNA markers
Authors: Aberle K. S. , Hamann H. , Drögemüller C. , Distl O. 
Published: July 2004

SummaryWe compared the genetic diversity and distance among six German draught horse breeds to wild (Przewalski's Horse), primitive (Icelandic Horse, Sorraia Horse, Exmoor Pony) or riding horse breeds (Hanoverian Warmblood, Arabian) by means of genotypic information from 30 microsatellite loci. The draught horse breeds included the South German Coldblood, Rhenish German Draught Horse, Mecklenburg Coldblood, Saxon Thuringa Coldblood, Black Forest Horse and Schleswig Draught Horse. Despite large differences in population sizes, the average observed heterozygosity (Ho) differed little among the heavy horse breeds (0.64–0.71), but was considerably lower than in the Hanoverian Warmblood or Icelandic Horse population. The mean number of alleles (NA) decreased more markedly with declining population sizes of German draught horse breeds (5.2–6.3) but did not reach the values of Hanoverian Warmblood (NA = 6.7). The coefficient of differentiation among the heavy horse breeds showed 11.6% of the diversity between the heavy horse breeds, as opposed to 21.2% between the other horse populations. The differentiation test revealed highly significant genetic differences among all draught horse breeds except the Mecklenburg and Saxon Thuringa Coldbloods. The Schleswig Draught Horse was the most distinct draught horse breed. In conclusion, the study demonstrated a clear distinction among the German draught horse breeds and even among breeds with a very short history of divergence like Rhenish German Draught Horse and its East German subpopulations Mecklenburg and Saxon Thuringa Coldblood.
Association of the heart fatty acid‐binding protein (FABP3) gene with milk traits in Manchega breed sheep
Authors: Calvo J. H. , Marcos S. , Jurado J. J. , Serrano M. 
Published: July 2004

SummaryThe ovine fatty acid‐binding protein type 3 gene has been chosen as a functional candidate gene for milk traits. Two different single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of ovine FABP3 gene have been tested in a daughter design comprising 13 families. No association was found between estimated breeding values for milk yield, protein and fat contents (FC) and genotypes across families using anova and transmission disequilibrium test (TDT). In within‐family analysis, one family showed a significant effect for FC. These results could indicate linkage disequilibrium between the FABP3 gene and a quantitative trait loci (QTL) for FC, with the heterozygous genotype associated with a positive effect in this trait.
HTLV-1 modifies the clinical and immunological response to schistosomiasis
Authors: PORTO A F , SANTOS S B , ALCÂNTARA L , GUERREIRO J B , PASSOS J , GONZALEZ T , NEVA F , GONZALEZ D , HO J L , CARVALHO E M 
Published: July 2004

SUMMARYThe immunological response in HTLV-1 infected individuals is characterized by a prominent Type-1 cytokine response with high production of IFN-γ and TNF-α. In contrast, helminthic infections and in particular chronic schistosomiasis are associated with a predominant production of IL-4, IL-5, IL-10 and IL-13. Liver fibrosis is the main pathological finding in schistosomiasis that occurs after many years of infection. This pathology is T cell dependent but the immune response mechanisms are not completely understood. The North-east region of Brazil is endemic for both HTLV-1 and schistosomiasis. In the present study the immune response, clinical severity, and therapeutic response to praziquantel of patients with schistosomiasis coinfected with HTLV-1 were compared with patients infected only with S. mansoni. Patients with HTLV-1 and S. mansoni had lower levels of IL-5 (P &lt; 0·05) and higher levels of IFN-γ (P &lt; 0·05) in cultures stimulated with S. mansoni antigen and decreased S. mansoni antigen specific IgE levels when compared with patients with schistosomiasis without HTLV-1 coinfection. Liver fibrosis was mild in all HTLV-1 coinfected patients and efficacy of praziquantel was lower in patients dually infected than in patients infected only with S. mansoni.
T cell-derived tumour necrosis factor is essential, but not sufficient, for protection againstMycobacterium tuberculosisinfection
Authors: SAUNDERS B M , BRISCOE H , BRITTON W J 
Published: July 2004

SUMMARYTumour necrosis factor (TNF) is critical for sustained protective immunity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. To investigate the relative contributions of macrophage- and T cell-derived TNF towards  this immunity T cells from wild-type (WT) or TNF–/– mice were transferred into RAG–/– or TNF–/– mice which were then infected with M. tuberculosis. Infected RAG–/– mice and RAG–/– recipients of TNF deficient T cells developed overwhelming infection, with extensive pulmonary and hepatic necrosis and succumbed with a median of only 16 days infection. By contrast, RAG–/– recipients of WT T cells showed a significant increase in survival with a median of 32 days. Although initial bacterial growth was similar in all groups of RAG–/– mice, the transfer of WT, but not TNF–/–, T cells led to the formation of discrete foci of leucocytes and macrophages and delayed the development of necrotizing pathology. To determine requirements for macrophage-derived TNF, WT or TNF–/– T cells were transferred into TNF–/– mice at the time of M. tuberculosis infection. Transfer of WT T cells significantly prolonged survival and reduced the early tissue necrosis evident in the TNF–/– mice, however, these mice eventually succumbed indicating that T cell-derived TNF alone is insufficient to control the infection. Therefore, both T cell- and macrophage-derived TNF play distinct roles in orchestrating the protective inflammatory response and enhancing survival during M. tuberculosis infection.
Reduction of human anti-tetanus toxoid antibody in hu-PBL-SCID mice by immunodominant peptides of tetanus toxoid
Authors: JACKSON D J , ELSON C J , KUMPEL B M 
Published: July 2004

SUMMARYImmunotherapy of murine autoimmune and allergic diseases by administration of peptides corresponding to the dominant T cell epitope is a reality. However, problems remain in applying this therapy to reduce antibody responses in humans. To overcome these difficulties, a preclinical system was developed to test the effect of immunodominant peptides from a common antigen, tetanus toxoid (TT), on the long-term human anti-TT response. Individuals whose T cells proliferated against dominant TT peptides were identified. Peripheral blood leucocytes (PBL) from these donors were injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) into mice with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) that had been depleted of murine natural killer (NK) cells (hu-PBL-SCID mice). Peptides or PBS were injected i.p. before a further injection of PBL and immunization with TT. The concentration of human IgG and anti-TT in murine plasma was followed for 10 weeks. The total IgG was similar in both groups. By contrast, there was a statistically significant reduction in IgG anti-TT from eight weeks onwards. It is considered that the hu-PBL-SCID model system may provide a means by which the efficacy of peptide immunotherapy for reduction of pathological antibodies in humans can be examined.
CD56+dim and CD56+bright cell activation and apoptosis in hepatitis C virus infection
Authors: LIN A W , GONZALEZ S A , CUNNINGHAM-RUNDLES S , DORANTE G , MARSHALL S , TIGNOR A , HA C , JACOBSON I M , TALAL A H 
Published: July 2004

SUMMARYCD3–CD56+dim natural killer (NK) cells, which are cytotoxic against virally infected cells, may be important in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients who are successfully treated with pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN)-α. We used flow cytometry to enumerate activated (CD69+) and apoptotic (annexin-V+) dim (CD3–CD56+dim) and bright (CD3–CD56+bright) NK cells obtained from HCV-infected patients before treatment (n = 16) and healthy controls (n = 15) in the absence and presence of pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN)-α-2b. A subset of HCV-infected patients, subsequently treated with PEG-IFN-α-2b in vivo, was determined to have a sustained virological response (SVR, n = 6) or to not respond (NR) to treatment (n = 5). In the absence of IFN, activated dim (CD3–CD56+dim CD69+) NK cells were significantly decreased (P = 0·04) while activated apoptotic dim (CD3–CD56+dimCD69+annexin-V+) NK cells tended to be increased (P = 0·07) in SVR patients compared with NR patients. Activated bright (CD3–CD56+brightCD69+) and activated apoptotic bright (CD3–CD56+brightCD69+annexin-V+) NK cells were significantly correlated (P = 0·02 and P = 0·01, respectively) with increasing hepatic inflammation. These findings suggest that in the absence of PEG-IFN, activated dim (CD3–CD56+dimCD69+) NK cell turnover may be enhanced in SVR compared with NR patients and that activated bright (CD3–CD56+brightCD69+) NK cells may play a role in liver inflammation.
Immunomodulation by roquinimex decreases the expression of IL-23 (p19) mRNA in the brains of herpes simplex virus type 1 infected BALB/c mice
Authors: PELTONIEMI J , BROBERG E K , HALENIUS A , SETÄLÄ N , ERÄLINNA J-P , SALMI A A , RÖYTTÄ M , HUKKANEN V 
Published: July 2004

SUMMARYHerpes simplex virus (HSV) is a common neurotropic virus which infects epithelial cells and subsequently the trigeminal ganglia (TG) and brain tissue. We studied how immunomodulation with roquinimex (Linomide®) affects the course of corneal HSV infection in BALB/c mice. BALB/c mice have also been used in a model for HSV-based vectors in treating an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS). We addressed the questions of how immunomodulation affects the local as well as the systemic immune response and whether roquinimex could facilitate the spread of HSV to the CNS. The cytokine response in the brain and TG was studied using a quantitative rapid real-time RT-PCR method. We were interested in whether immunomodulation affects the expression of the recently described Th1-cytokine IL-23p19 in the brain and TG. The expression of IL-23 mRNA was decreased in brains of roquinimex-treated BALB/c mice. Also the expression of IL-12p35 and IFN-γ mRNAs decreased. No significant changes were seen in IL-4 and IL-10 mRNA expression. The cytokine response was also studied using supernatants of stimulated splenocytes by EIA. Roquinimex treatment suppressed the production of IFN-γ and also the production of IL-10 in HSV-infected BALB/c mice.
Nasal mucosa in natural colds: effects of allergic rhinitis and susceptibility to recurrent sinusitis
Authors: ALHO O-P , KARTTUNEN R , KARTTUNEN T J 
Published: July 2004

SUMMARYThe mechanisms of virus-induced airway hyperresponsiveness in asthma and allergy and the failure of host defence in patients suffering from secondary airway infections are still largely unknown. The aim of this study was to examine whether the presence of allergic rhinitis or susceptibility to recurrent sinusitis affects the structural and cellular changes in nasal mucosa during natural colds and convalescence. We compared the mucosal changes in biopsy samples during acute natural colds (days 2–4 of illness) and convalescence (3 weeks later) in patients with allergic rhinitis (n = 9), patients with susceptibility to sinusitis (n = 19) and healthy controls (n = 20). We saw similarly increased numbers of mucosal T and B lymphocytes and mast cells and increased vascular density during the acute colds compared to convalescence in all the three groups. The allergic subjects had elevated levels of eosinophils in the acute phase (P = 0·03), and the allergic and sinusitis-prone subjects had elevated levels of epithelial T cells (P = 0·04) and low levels of mast cells (P = 0·005) in convalescence compared to the control group. The sinusitis-prone subjects lacked intraepithelial cytotoxic cells in convalescence. In the allergic subjects, the reticular basement membrane was thicker in the acute phase compared to the convalescence (P = 0·05). These results suggest that various cells of the airways, including inflammatory and structural cells, are involved during viral respiratory infections in subjects with allergic rhinitis. The small numbers of mast cells and cytotoxic lymphocytes in the sinusitis-prone subjects may be related to their susceptibility to bacterial complications.
Environmental factors and not genotype influence the plasma level of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist in normal individuals
Authors: CULLUP H , MIDDLETON P G , DUGGAN G , CONN J S , DICKINSON A M 
Published: July 2004

SUMMARYCytokine production may be regulated by both genotypic (single nucleotide or tandem repeat polymorphisms) and non-genotypic factors relating to the environment and inherent biology (i.e. gender). Interleukin (IL)-1 is one of the body's most highly proinflammatory cytokines and is implicated in the pathophysiology of numerous diseases, but also in the maintenance of homeostasis in a number of tissues. The cytokine IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) is the competitive inhibitor of the IL-1 agonists IL-1α and IL-1β. In vivo IL-1Ra was measured in a cohort of 200 + blood donors and the effect of the IL-1 gene polymorphisms, environmental and biological factors assessed. In this study, we observed that possession of particular alleles of 5 IL-1 gene polymorphisms (IL1A-889, IL1Α VNTR, IL1B -511, IL1B +3953 and the IL1RN VNTR) did not correlate with higher plasma IL-1Ra levels. Environmental factors such as smoking and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug ingestion were associated with higher in vivo IL-1Ra levels (P = 0·015 and 0·022, respectively), but biological factors such as gender, age and menstruation status did not have any impact upon in vivo IL-1Ra levels. Genotypic associations of IL-1 gene family polymorphisms with disease features may reflect characteristics of stressed rather than normal control circuits for cytokine production.
Beneficial effects of troglitazone on neutrophil dysfunction in multiple low-dose streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice
Authors: KANNAN Y , TOKUNAGA M , MORIYAMA M , KINOSHITA H , NAKAMURA Y 
Published: July 2004

SUMMARYPatients with poorly controlled diabetes are at high risk of acquiring bacterial infections. However, conflicting results have been reported on neutrophil function in diabetes. We periodically evaluated neutrophil dysfunction in multiple low-dose streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice, and then evaluated the effects of troglitazone and other thiazolidinediones (TZDs) on the decline of neutrophil function. Zymosan was injected intraperitoneally and neutrophil infiltration and phagocytosis were evaluated. While phagocytosis of zymosan by peritoneal neutrophils was consistently reduced in diabetic mice, neutrophil infiltration was decreased on day 30, but increased on day 40 after STZ injection. The in vitro chemotactic and phagocytic activities of blood neutrophils in mice that did not receive zymosan were consistently reduced in diabetic mice. Phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)-stimulated superoxide production by zymosan-induced peritoneal neutrophils and the levels of zymosan-induced tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-1β in peritoneal exudate fluids were also reduced in the diabetic mice. Treatment of the diabetic mice with troglitazone beginning 2 weeks after STZ injection did not improve hyperglycaemia but did prevent the decline of zymosan-induced neutrophil infiltration on day 30, and additionally promoted the increased infiltration on day 40. Troglitazone also promoted the chemotactic activity of blood neutrophils isolated from normal mice in vitro. Rosiglitazone but not pioglitazone induced a similar effect. Neutrophil phagocytosis was not enhanced by troglitazone either in vivo or in vitro. Taken together, neutrophil function is impaired by STZ-induced diabetes, but inflammatory infiltration does not always vary with the chemotactic disability or cytokine levels. Furthermore, troglitazone and rosiglitazone were suggested to improve at least neutrophil chemotactic activity in these animals.
Osteoprotegerin (OPG) acts as an endogenous decoy receptor in tumour necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)-mediated apoptosis of fibroblast-like synovial cells
Authors: MIYASHITA T , KAWAKAMI A , NAKASHIMA T , YAMASAKI S , TAMAI M , TANAKA F , KAMACHI M , IDA H , MIGITA K , ORIGUCHI T , NAKAO K , EGUCHI K 
Published: July 2004

SUMMARY
We examined the role of osteoprotegerin (OPG) on tumour necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)-induced apoptosis in rheumatoid fibroblast-like synovial cells (FLS). OPG protein concentrations in synovial fluid from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) correlated with those of interleukin (IL)-1β or IL-6. A similar correlation was present between IL-1β and IL-6 concentrations. Rheumatoid FLS in vitro expressed both death domain-containing receptors [death receptor 4 (DR4) and DR5] and decoy receptors [decoy receptor 1 (DcR1) and DcR2]. DR4 expression on FLS was weak compared with the expression of DR5, DcR1 and DcR2. Recombinant TRAIL (rTRAIL) rapidly induced apoptosis of FLS. DR5 as well as DR4 were functional with regard to TRAIL-mediated apoptosis induction in FLS; however, DR5 appeared be more efficient than DR4. In addition to soluble DR5 (sDR5) and sDR4, OPG administration significantly inhibited TRAIL-induced apoptogenic activity. OPG was identified in the culture supernatants of FLS, and its concentration increased significantly by the addition of IL-1β in a time-dependent manner. Neither IL-6 nor tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α increased the production of OPG from FLS. TRAIL-induced apoptogenic activity towards FLS was reduced when rTRAIL was added without exchanging the culture media, and this was particularly noticeable in the IL-1β-stimulated FLS culture; however, the sensitivity of FLS to TRAIL-induced apoptosis itself was not changed by IL-1β. Interestingly, neutralization of endogenous OPG by adding anti-OPG monoclonal antibody (MoAb) to FLS culture restored TRAIL-mediated apoptosis. Our data demonstrate that OPG is an endogenous decoy receptor for TRAIL-induced apoptosis of FLS. In addition, IL-1β seems to promote the growth of rheumatoid synovial tissues through stimulation of OPG production, which interferes with TRAIL death signals in a competitive manner.
Prospective immunological profiling in a case of immune dysregulation, polyendocrinopathy, enteropathy, X-linked syndrome (IPEX)
Authors: BAKKE A C , PURTZER M Z , WILDIN R S 
Published: July 2004

SUMMARYIPEX syndrome is a genetic autoimmune disease characterized by immune-mediated polyendocrinopathy, enteropathy, and X-linked inheritance. We describe a case of IPEX in which lymphocyte phenotypes were assessed at birth, before initiation of Cyclosporin A therapy, and at frequent intervals to 18 months of age. We performed flow cytometry for lymphocyte subtypes and for activation markers (HLA-DR, CD25, and CD69 or CD71). The ratios of both T to B cells and CD4+ to CD8+ cells were elevated at birth, but CD4+ cells were not activated. HLA-DR+ and CD25+ activated T-cells increased in association with two episodes of clinical deterioration: colitis and the onset of type I diabetes mellitus. These results indicate that measures of activation, particularly HLA-DR+ and CD25+ frequency, correlate well with the development of early active disease and may presage clinical episodes. Continuous maintenance of immunosuppression, once started, appears critical for prevention of permanent tissue damage.
Multiple antigenic peptides facilitate generation of anti-prion antibodies
Authors: Bainbridge J , Jones N , Walker B 
Published: July 2004

Summary
Recent reports have demonstrated the ability of anti-prion antibodies to inhibit PrPSc propagation. Due to the relatively poor immunogenic properties of both PrPC and PrPSc, the generation of anti-prion antibodies still causes a significant problem in the development of immunotherapeutic strategies. This study examines the potential of multiple antigenic peptides (MAPs) to raise an antibody response to prion derived sequences in mice. The MAP was constructed of a four spiked ring. Two spikes containing human or mouse derived prion amino acid sequences and two spikes containing the universally promiscuous tetanus toxoid sequence (aa 830–844) which was used to assist T-cell-dependent B-cell antibody production. Following vaccinations with the MAP or MAP plus adjuvant, sera were taken and antibody titres assessed. The MAP containing only the mouse sequence failed to elicit a significant antibody response. MAPs containing human prion sequences elicited antibody production to the corresponding prion sequence. Further analysis also demonstrated that these peptides were able to generate antibody responses that recognize conserved human and mouse sequences. These homologous sequences contain the heralded PrPSc specific sequence ‘Tyr-Tyr-Arg’ and therefore these MAPs may have some therapeutic potential.
Prevention of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in DA rats by grafting primary skin fibroblasts engineered to express transforming growth factor-β1
Authors: Zargarova T , Kulakova O , Prassolov V , Zharmukhamedova T , Tsyganova V , Turobov V , Ivanov D , Parfenov M , Sudomoina M , Chernajovsky Y , Favorova O 
Published: July 2004

SummaryTo determine whether primary fibroblasts producing latent transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) are capable of down-regulating experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a retroviral vector TGF-β1-pBabe-neo (−5′UTR) was used for efficient gene transfer into primary skin fibroblasts of DA rats. After heat activation, conditioned medium from the transduced fibroblasts was found to inhibit significantly in vitro proliferation of lymphocytes from lymph nodes of DA rats with EAE. Intraperitoneal administration of TGF-β1-transduced fibroblasts into DA rats during the priming phase of EAE resulted in a significant reduction in mortality and in the mean clinical and EAE scores versus the control immunized animals treated with non-transduced fibroblasts.
Escherichia coliup-regulates proinflammatory cytokine expression in granulocyte/macrophage lineages of CD34+ stem cells via p50 homodimeric NF-κB
Authors: KIM J M , OH Y-K , KIM Y-J , YOUN J , AHN M-J 
Published: July 2004

SUMMARYUmbilical cord blood has emerged as an alternative source of haematopoietic CD34+ cells for allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Although bacteraemia induced by Escherichia coli is considered one of the complications of transplantation, expression of proinflammatory cytokines is poorly understood. In this study, we report the altered expression of proinflammatory cytokines in CD34+ cells and their in vitro cultured cells following E. coli infection. CD34+ stem cells and their cultured cells up-regulated expression of proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1α, IL-6, IL-8 and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α after infection with E. coli. Expression of the proinflammatory cytokines was generated mainly by the granulocyte-macrophage lineages. E. coli infection activated the signals of p50/p50 nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) homodimers and IκB kinase. Furthermore, inhibition of NF-κB activation lowered the up-regulated expression of the proinflammatory cytokines. These results suggest that CD34+ cells and their cultured cells infected with E. coli induce the expression of proinflammatory cytokines via the NF-κB pathway.