bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Histamine Inhibits Neutrophil NADPH Oxidase Activity Triggered by the Lipoxin A4 Receptor‐Specific Peptide Agonist Trp‐Lys‐Tyr‐Met‐Val‐Met
Authors: Betten Å. , Dahlgren C. , Hermodsson S. , Hellstrand K. 
Published: September 2003

AbstractThe vasoactive amine histamine is found at high concentrations in the immune and inflammatory tissues. Earlier studies have revealed that histamine regulates the nicotinamide‐adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase‐dependent formation of oxygen radicals by phagocytic cells. However, the effects of histamine on intracellular signal transduction mechanisms of relevance to oxidase regulation remain controversial. For this study, we investigated the effects of histamine on NADPH oxidase activity in human neutrophil granulocytes triggered by a lipoxin A4 receptor agonist [the hexapeptide Trp‐Lys‐Tyr‐Met‐Val‐Met (WKYMVM), a formyl peptide receptor (FPR) agonist (the chemotactic tripeptide formylmethionyl‐leucyl‐phenylalanine (fMLF)) and an activator of protein kinase C (phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)]. We report that histamine, acting via H2‐type histamine receptors (H2R), suppresses NADPH oxidase‐dependent formation of oxygen radicals induced by WKYMVM and fMLF but not that induced by PMA. Peptide‐induced mobilization of granule‐localized complement receptor 3 (CR3) was unaffected by histamine suggesting that the inhibition specifically affected NADPH oxidase activation. Our data suggest that histamine downregulates FPRL1‐ and FPR‐induced NADPH oxidase activity upstream of protein kinase C (PKC) and downstream of the separation of the peptide‐induced signal into granule secretion and oxidase activation.
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome – a New Coronavirus from the Chinese Dragon's Lair*
Authors: Knudsen T. B. , Kledal T. N. , Andersen O. , Eugen‐Olsen J. , Kristiansen T. B. 
Published: September 2003

AbstractThe recent identification of a novel clinical entity, the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), the rapid subsequent spread and case fatality rates of 14–15% have prompted a massive international collaborative investigation facilitated by a network of laboratories established by the World Health Organization (WHO). As SARS has the potential of becoming the first pandemic of the new millennium, a global warning by the WHO was issued on 12 March 2003. The disease, which is believed to have its origin in the Chinese Guangdong province, spread from Hong Kong via international airports to its current worldwide distribution. The concerted efforts of a globally united scientific community have led to the independent isolation and identification of a novel coronavirus from SARS patients by several groups. The extraordinarily rapid isolation of a causative agent of this newly emerged infectious disease constitutes an unprecedented scientific achievement. The main scope of the article is to provide the clinician with an overview of the natural history, epidemiology and clinical characteristics of SARS. On the basis of the recently published viral genome and structural features common to the members of the coronavirus family, a model for host cell–virus interaction and possible targets for antiviral drugs are presented. The epidemiological consequences of introducing a novel pathogen in a previously unexposed population and the origin and evolution of a new and more pathogenic strain of coronavirus are discussed.
Enhanced Activation of CD83‐Positive T Cells*
Authors: Wolenski M. , Cramer S. O. , Ehrlich S. , Steeg C. , Fleischer B. , Von Bonin A. 
Published: September 2003

AbstractCD83 is a marker molecule for mature dendritic cells (DCs) but is also substantially expressed on activated T cells in humans and mice. Its function is unknown, but CD83 knockout mice show an impaired thymic maturation of CD4‐positive cells and soluble CD83 inhibits partially antigen‐specific responses in vitro pointing to a role of CD83 in the immune system. Here we show that CD83‐positive T cells produce strongly increased amounts of interferon‐γ and interleukin‐2. In contrast, constitutive expression of CD83 on DCs alters neither the activation of DCs following addition of lipopolysaccharide nor the ability to present antigenic peptides. Thus, the expression of CD83 on T cells has direct functional consequences for tuning the activation threshold.
In Situ Expression of CD40, CD40L (CD154), IL‐12, TNF‐α, IFN‐γ and TGF‐β1 in Murine Lungs during Slowly Progressive Primary Tuberculosis
Authors: Mogga S. J. , Mustafa T. , Sviland L. , Nilsen R. 
Published: September 2003

AbstractThe distribution and expression of CD40, its ligand CD40L (154) and related cytokines interleukin‐12 (IL‐12), tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α), interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ) and transforming growth factor‐β1 (TGF‐β1) were studied in the lungs of B6D2F1 hybrid mice during slowly progressive primary tuberculosis (TB) by immunohistochemistry. CD40 and CD40L are implicated in cell‐mediated immunity (CMI) causing activation or apoptosis of infected cells. The phenomenon of apoptosis is associated with Mycobacterium tuberculosis survival. In this study, using frozen lung sections (n = 33), our results showed increased CD40, IL‐12 and TGF‐β1 expression in macrophages with progression of disease. High percentages of mycobacterial antigens (M.Ags), CD40L and IFN‐γ expression were maintained throughout infection, and TNF‐α‐expressing cells were decreased. In lymphocytes, the percentage of IFN‐γ‐positive cells was increased, but CD40L and IL‐12 were maintained with the progression of disease. M.Ags, CD40 and CD40L were expressed in the same areas of the lesions. We conclude that changes in the expression of CD40–CD40L and cytokines associated with M. tuberculosis infection favour the hypothesis that M. tuberculosis causes resistance of host cells to apoptosis causing perpetuation of infection.
The Cholera Toxin B Subunit Directly Costimulates Antigen‐Primed CD4+ T Cells Ex Vivo
Authors: Wang M. , Bregenholt S. , Petersen J. S. 
Published: September 2003

AbstractThe nontoxic B subunit of cholera toxin (CTB) has been used as an adjuvant in experimental systems of mucosal vaccination. However, the mechanisms behind its adjuvant effects remain unclear. Here, we have used an ex vivo system to elucidate these mechanisms in antigen‐specific T cells. Using splenocytes from keyhole limpet haemocyanin (KLH)‐immunized mice, initial experiments showed that recombinant CTB (rCTB) did not affect the KLH‐specific proliferation of splenocytes isolated from mice immunized 2 weeks earlier. However, rCTB strongly enhanced the KLH‐specific proliferation of splenocytes from mice immunized with KLH 4 weeks prior. This adjuvant effect was dose‐dependent, with maximum at 30–300 ng/ml rCTB. At higher doses of CTB this effect declined because of the induction of apoptosis. Using antibody depletion and coculture systems, we show that rCTB directly costimulates KLH‐specific CD4+ and CD8+ T‐cell proliferation but not B cells. Enzyme‐linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assays revealed that rCTB also enhanced the KLH‐specific CD4+ T‐cell‐mediated production of interleukin‐2 (IL‐2), IL‐4 and interferon‐γ(IFN‐γ) by four to fivefold. Characterizing the adjuvant effect of rCTB in vivo confirmed the results above, i.e. rCTB mediated a twofold increase in the ex vivo T‐cell response when used as a classical adjuvant in a secondary, but not in a primary KLH‐immunization regimen. Together these data show that rCTB can act as a strong adjuvant, by directly costimulating antigen‐primed CD4+ and CD8+ T cell in a dose‐dependent manner. This new insight might be valuable in the future rational design of bacterial toxin‐based vaccines.
Selective Response of Dermal Th‐1 Cells to 20–50 kDa Streptococcal Cell‐Wall Proteins in Chronic Plaque Psoriasis
Authors: Baker B. S. , Ovigne J.‐M. , Fischetti V. A. , Powles A. , Fry L. 
Published: September 2003

AbstractWe have recently described a dermal Th‐1 subset in skin lesions of psoriasis which recognizes cell‐wall extract isolated from group A streptococci (GAS). As a first step in the identification of the streptococcal proteins involved, dermal T‐cell lines (TCL) cultured from the lesional skin of 12 human leucocyte antigen (HLA)‐typed psoriasis patients were stimulated with GAS cell‐wall extract and 14 fractions (MWt approximately 20–100 kDa) separated from the cell‐wall extract by sodium dodecyl sulfate‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS‐PAGE) and electroelution, stained for intracellular interferon‐γ(IFN‐γ) expression and analysed by flow cytometry. All the TCL responded to GAS cell‐wall extract to varying extents (3.5–27.6% IFN‐γ+). This response was consistently directed against 20–50 kDa cell‐wall fractions and inhibited by anti‐HLA‐DR antibody. TCL with higher responses to GAS cell‐wall extract recognized a larger number of fractions within this range than the lower responder TCL. No difference between the level and pattern of response to the fractions was observed for TCL from HLA‐DR7+ (n = 6) and HLA‐DR7– (n = 6) individuals. This preliminary study has shown a selective response to lower MWt proteins expressed on GAS cell wall by skin Th‐1 cells in psoriasis. Further studies are required to identify the proteins involved.
T Helper 2 Immunity to Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Primed by Gene‐Gun‐Mediated DNA Vaccination can be Shifted Towards T helper 1 Immunity by Codelivery of CpG Motif‐Containing Oligodeoxynucleotides
Authors: Zhou X. , Zheng L. , Liu L. , Xiang L. , Yuan Z. 
Published: September 2003

AbstractGene‐gun‐mediated DNA immunization usually induces predominant T helper 2 (Th2) type immune response. As oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN)‐containing unmethylated CpG motifs can activate the innate immune system in a Th1‐biased way, the potential of codelivery of CpG motifs‐containing ODN (CpG‐ODN) with plasmid DNA to switch the gene‐gun‐mediated Th2 immune response was evaluated in this study. Here we show that codelivery of CpG‐ODN with plasmid DNA at certain ratio (10/1) can enhance the Th1 humoral and cell‐mediated immune responses in gene‐gun‐mediated DNA immunization in BALB/c mice, including increasing the hepatitis B surface antigen‐specific total immunoglobulin G (IgG), IgG2a subclass, cytotoxic T‐cell lymphocyte activity as well as interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ) secretion. Taken together, these results demonstrate that codelivery of CpG‐ODN with recombinant plasmid DNA by gene gun can shift the gene‐gun‐mediated DNA immune response from Th2 towards Th1.
Syngeneic Pregnancy Induces Overexpression of Natural Killer T Cells in Maternal Liver
Authors: Mrakovčić‐Šutić I. , Šimin M. , Radić D. , Rukavina D. , Radošević‐Stašić B. 
Published: September 2003

AbstractConditions such as stress, infection, autoimmune disease, etc. elevate the number and function of extrathymic T cells that are generated mainly in the liver. As primitive, self‐reactive clones of T cells that coexpress receptors of the natural killer (NK) lineage, they mediate cytotoxicity against altered self, malignant and infected cells and have the unique potential to rapidly secrete large amount of T helper 1 (Th1) or Th2 cytokines.To elucidate whether some of these changes occur even during the syngeneic pregnancy, we made phenotypic and functional characterization of mononuclear lymphatic cells (MNLCs) isolated from the liver and spleen of pregnant C57BL/6 mice, testing their cytotoxicity against syngeneic thymocytes as well as against NK‐ and lymphokine‐activated killer (LAK)‐sensitive targets. The data have shown that on the sixteenth day of syngeneic pregnancy TCRint, NK1.1+ and IL‐2Rβ+ cells were accumulated in the liver, while the quantities of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and total number classical NK (NK1.1+CD3– or IL‐2Rβ+CD3–) cells were increased in the spleen. Pregnancy‐activated hepatic and splenic MNLCs were more cytotoxic against syngeneic thymocytes, YAC‐1 and P815 targets, suggesting that the maternal liver is a main producer of autoreactive NKT clones, which subsequently augment NK‐ and LAK cell‐mediated cytotoxicity in the liver and spleen.
Fusion of Interleukin‐2 to Subunit Antigens Increase their Antigenicity In Vitro Due to an Interleukin‐2 Receptor β‐Mediated Antigen Uptake Mechanism
Authors: Wales J. , Baird M. , Davies N. , Buchan G. 
Published: September 2003

AbstractSubunit vaccines, based on one or more epitopes, offer advantages over whole vaccines in terms of safety but are less antigenic. We investigated whether fusion of the cytokine interleukin‐2 (IL‐2) to influenza‐derived subunit antigens could increase their antigenicity. The fusion of IL‐2 to the subunit antigens increased their antigenicity in vitro. Encapsulation of the subunit antigen in liposomes also increased its antigenicity in vitro, yet encapsulation of the subunit IL‐2 fusion did not. The use of anti‐IL‐2 receptor β (IL‐2Rβ) antibody to block the receptor subunit on macrophages suggested that the adjuvancy exerted by IL‐2 in our in vitro system is due to, at least in part, a previously unreported IL‐2Rβ‐mediated antigen uptake mechanism.
Natural Autoantibodies as Tools to Predict the Outcome of Immune Response?
Authors: Kohler H. , Bayry J. , Nicoletti A. , Kaveri S. V. 
Published: September 2003

AbstractNatural autoantibodies (NAbs), produced by B‐1 B‐cells, are directed against autoantigens and pathogens. NAbs can capture and present antigen to T helper cells thereby initiating adaptive immunities. It is proposed that screening for NAbs against pathogens will predict the strength of an antigen‐induced immune response and could be used as a tool for vaccine development.
Hybridomas Expressing γδ T‐Cell Receptors Respond to Cardiolipin and β2‐Glycoprotein 1 (Apolipoprotein H)
Authors: Born W. K. , Vollmer M. , Reardon C. , Matsuura E. , Voelker D. R. , Giclas P. C. , O'Brien R. L. 
Published: September 2003

AbstractHybridomas expressing murine γδ T‐cell receptors were found to produce cytokines in response to cardiolipin (CL) and structurally related anionic phospholipids. This response required serum at concentrations related to the amount of CL in cultures. The purified serum factor, β2‐glycoprotein 1 (β2‐GP1) (apolipoprotein H), supported the CL response alone, whereas several other serum proteins and ovalbumin did not. β2‐GP1 is known to form complexes with anionic phospholipids, particularly CL, which are often recognized by pathological autoantibodies. We speculate that γδ T cells also recognize such complexes and that the hybridoma response reported here reflects this specificity.
Requirement of sense transcription for homology‐dependent virus resistance and trans‐inactivation
Authors: English James J. , Davenport Guy F. , Elmayan Taline , Vaucheret Hervé , Baulcombe David C. 
Published: August 2003

SummaryTransgenic tobacco plants carrying post‐transcriptionally, silenced (L) or conditionally high‐expressing (Hc) cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter:β‐glucuronidase (GUS) transgenes were tested for their ability to support replication of a potato virus X derivative with an inserted GUS coding sequence (PVX.GUS). PVX.GUS accumulated to high levels on non‐transformed tobacco. In contrast, both L and Hc tobacco were resistant to PVX.GUS. Another line, 271, carries a 35S‐driven transgene that can down‐regulate transcription from any other 35S promoter in trans. When the 271 locus was introduced into the L and Hc lines, virus resistance was suppressed. The L tobacco line also trans‐inactivated transient GUS expression from an extra‐chromosomal T‐DNA delivered by Agrobacterium. This trans‐inactivation was not observed when the 271 locus was present. In addition, it was found that the 271 locus suppressed the virus resistance normally conferred by a 35S‐driven transgene derived from the PVX replicase open reading frame. These results indicate that sense transcription is required for a transgene to condition homology‐dependent virus resistance and post‐transcriptional trans‐inactivation.
Immunohistochemical Localization of Substance P, Calcitonin Gene‐related Peptide, Galanin and Calcium‐Binding Proteins in Trigeminal Ganglia of Goat (Capra hircus)
Authors: Shin N. S. , Lee I.‐S , Yoon Y.‐S , Lee H. S. 
Published: September 2003

SummaryThe objectives of this study was to provide a quantitative analysis of calcium‐binding proteins, calbindin (CB), parvalbumin (PA), substance P (SP), calcitonin gene‐related peptide (CGRP) and galanin (GAL), in trigeminal ganglia of goats, to establish whether they exhibit coexistence relationships between each other, and to examine possible colocalization with SP, CGRP and GAL, which have been well characterized according to their distributions in an abundance of large and/or small neurones. CB (12.78%), PA (31.91%), SP (24.63%), CGRP (44.44%) and GAL (3.29%) immunoreactive (IR) cells were observed. About 38.37, 8.7 and 0.73% of CGRP‐IR neurones in the trigeminal ganglion were also immunoreacted with SP, GAL and CB, respectively. Almost all SP‐IR cells are labelled with CGRP (approximately 92.52%), whereas only 16.02 and 0.44% of SP‐IR neurones colocalized with GAL and CB. Approximately 4.65 and 1.10% of the CB‐IR cells were found to contain CGRP and SP immunoreactivity, respectively. Conversely, no CB‐IR cell exhibited GAL immunoreactivity. In addition, all the GAL‐IR cells showed CGRP and SP immunoreactivity. The number of CB‐, PA‐, SP‐, CGRP‐ and GAL‐IR neurones in goat trigeminal ganglion are abundant than that of other animals. These results elucidate that the goat differs from other mammalian species in the distribution and localization of neurochemical substances in trigeminal ganglia, and suggest that this difference may be relevant to the morphological characteristics of cerebral vasculatures such as epidural rete mirabile of goat.
Arthroconidial formation in Trichophyton raubitschekii
Authors: Gupta A. K. , Ahmad I. , Porretta M. , Summerbell R. C. 
Published: September 2003

SummaryArthroconidia produced by dermatophytic fungi are considered to be the primary cause of skin and nail infections in humans and animals. Trichophyton rubrum is currently the most common cause of tinea pedis all over the world. The common form of T. rubrum produces a cottony colony in cultures that is characteristically low in conidia formation. The attempts to produce arthroconidia in T. rubrum have shown little success so far. Recently, Trichophyton raubitschekii, an anthropophilic dermatophyte prevalent in Asia, Africa, and the Mediterranean, has been recognized as a variant of T. rubrum. In cultures, T. raubitschekii is characterized by a granular colony form, and an abundance of both micro‐ and macroconidia. The present study reveals a predominance of arthroconidia in two T. raubitschekii cultures isolated from clinical materials. These isolates were able to maintain arthroconidiation in bimonthly subcultures throughout the entire course of this study. The growth parameters for in vitro cultivation of arthroconidia are described here. Arthroconidia prepared from T. raubitschekii cultures showed greater than 95% germination within 21 h of suspension in phosphate‐buffered saline. The availability of arthroconidia in T. raubitschekii cultures appears to offer a practical means of characterizing infective cells in T. rubrum.
An outbreak of candidemia due to Candida tropicalis in a neonatal intensive care unit
Authors: Chowdhary A. , Becker K. , Fegeler W. , Gugnani H. C. , Kapoor L. , Randhawa V. S. , Mehta G. 
Published: September 2003

SummaryAn outbreak of candidemia due to Candida tropicalis involving 16 neonates (gestational age 28–36 weeks) is reported. All infants had received hyperalimentation and at least one course of antibiotics. The commonest clinical manifestations included episodes of acute respiratory distress and lack of response to antibacterial antibiotic therapy. Candida tropicalis was recovered from blood in all the 16 infants and urine cultures were positive in 14 infants. Environmental sampling yielded C. tropicalis from one each of the blankets and mattresses used for neonates. Four of five urinary tract isolates and both environmental isolates genotyped by arbitrarily primed‐PCR with several random primers were shown to belong to the same genotype.
Intrabronchial lesion due to Cladosporium sphaerospermum in a healthy, non‐asthmatic woman
Authors: Yano S. , Koyabashi K. , Kato K. 
Published: September 2003

SummaryAn intrabronchial lesion caused by to Cladosporium sphaerospermum in a healthy and non‐asthmatic 59‐year‐old woman is reported. Intrabronchial infusion of amphotericin B was repeated three times followed by oral administration of prednisolone and itraconazole. The findings on chest radiographs subsequently improved. The possibility of intrabronchial lesions caused by C. sphaerosporum even in a healthy and non‐asthmatic person is remarkable.
Deep mycosis caused by Trichophyton mentagrophytes in a diabetic patient
Authors: Hohaus K. , Vennewald I. , Wollina U. 
Published: September 2003

SummaryWe report on a 65‐year‐old diabetic patient, who developed a deep fungal infection in the beard region after initial therapy with systemic antibiotics and topical corticosteroids. We were able to isolate Trichophyton mentagrophytes and treated him successfully with terbinafine 250 mg day−1 orally in combination with topical ciclopirox and polyhexanide. In follicular inflammation in diabetics, deep mycosis has to be considered and mycologic diagnostics should be performed before starting any other treatment.
Surgical treatment of tinea capitis in childhood
Authors: Thoma‐Greber E. , Zenker S. , Röcken M. , Wolff H. , Korting H. C. 
Published: September 2003

SummaryFungal infections of the scalp can cause kerion, pus‐filled swellings, that may look like bacterial abscesses. We report on two children who underwent incision and drainage of their kerions under local and general anesthesia. This treatment was inappropriate: it carried the risk associated with general anesthesia and surgery without providing the therapeutic chance linked to adequate antimicrobial chemotherapy. We recommend that children who are present at emergency departments with pus‐filled swellings on the scalp should be referred to a dermatology unit where appropriate clinical and laboratory investigations and antifungal treatment can be provided, if considered adequate.
Presence of dermatophytes on the nails of tinea capitis patients. Prospective study in the area of Sfax (Tunisia)
Authors: Cheikhrouhou F. , Makni F. , Sellami H. , Besbes M. , Ayadi A. 
Published: September 2003

SummaryBetween January 1995 and December 2000, 512 cases with mycologically confirmed tinea capitis have been diagnosed in our laboratory. In addition, finger nail samples have been taken from 211 patients out of 512. The culture of the nail samples taken was positive for 80 patients (38%). The isolated dermatophytes were the same in the nails and the scalp. Microsporum canis was isolated in 82% of nail samples. Trichophyton violaceum grew only in 18% and Trichophyton quinckeanum in one case. A T. violaceumonychomycosis was found in two patients with tinea capitis. Twenty‐one cases of tinea were resistant to 6 weeks treatment with griseofulvin. Thirty per cent of them have had fungal elements in nails. Dermatophyte colonization of the nails in tinea patients could be a factor of tinea capitis transmission and could explain some recurrent tinea capitis cases and therapy resistance.
Favus due toTrichophyton mentagrophytesvar.quinckeanum
Authors: Besbes M. , Cheikhrouhou F. , Sellami H. , Makni F. , Bouassida S. , Ayadi A. 
Published: September 2003

SummaryA case of inflammatory tinea capitis caused byTrichophyton mentagrophytesvar.quinckeanumin a 3‐year‐old Tunisian girl is presented. The disease healed after treatment with griseofulvin for 6 weeks and topical application of econazole.