bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Relevance of differential immunogenicity of human and mouse recombinant desmoglein-3 for the induction ofAcantholyticautoantibodies in mice
Authors: KAITHAMANA S , FAN J-L , MEMAR O , LI K , UITTO J , SEETHARAMAIAH G S , PRABHAKAR B S 
Published: December 2004

SUMMARYPemphigus vulgaris (PV) is an antibody-mediated autoimmune disease of the skin and mucous membranes. Desmoglein-3 (dsg-3) expressed in the suprabasal layer of the skin serves as an autoantigen in PV. Passive transfer of sera, either from patients with PV or from experimental animals immunized with a recombinant human dsg3 (hdsg3) into neonatal BALB/c mice results in blister formation, suggesting strongly that there is significant cross-reactivity between the mouse dsg3 (mdsg3) and the hdsg3. However, efforts to induce disease in adult mice through active immunization using hdsg-3 have not been successful, suggesting that the epitopes required for the induction of pathogenic antibodies in adult mice might not be present in hdsg3. Therefore, in this study, we expressed a full-length mdsg3 in insect cells and compared its serological reactivity with that of the hdsg3 using species specific polyclonal sera and a panel of seven monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) with unique binding specificities to hdsg3. Studies using sera demonstrated a considerable cross-reactivity, while studies using MoAbs exhibited specific epitope differences between the two proteins. Because of these differences, we reasoned that immunization with mdsg3 might induce disease in adult mice. Immunization of four strains of mice (i.e. BALB/c, DBA/1, HRS/J and SJL/J) with mdsg3 resulted in considerable antibody response, but failed to induce lesions. However, sera from immunized BALB/c mice induced acantholysis of neonatal mouse skin in vitro. These studies indicated that our inability to induce lesions in adult mice through active immunization is not due to differences in the ability of mouse and human dsg3 to induce acantholytic antibodies, but due probably to structural differences between adult and neonatal mouse skin. Alternatively, immunization with a combination of dsg3 protein along with other proteins might be necessary to induce pemphigus disease in adult mice. Nevertheless, our current studies show that molecular mechanisms leading to the production of acantholytic antibodies in mice can now be studied using homologous mdsg3.
Predicting death from tumour necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6 in 80-year-old people
Authors: BRUUNSGAARD H , LADELUND S , PEDERSEN A N , SCHROLL M , JØRGENSEN T , PEDERSEN B K 
Published: December 2004

SUMMARYAgeing is associated with low-grade inflammation and markers such as IL-6 possess prognostic value. Tumour necrosis-alpha (TNF-α) initiates the inflammatory cascade and has been linked to several age-associated disorders. It remains, however, unknown if TNF-α is associated with mortality in old populations. The aim of the present study was to investigate if serum levels of TNF-α were associated with all-cause mortality independently of interleukin (IL)-6 in a prospective study of 333 relatively healthy 80-year-old people. A Cox regression model was used to explore effects of TNF-α and IL-6 on survival in the following 6 years. A total of 133 participants died during this follow-up period. TNF-α was associated with mortality in men, but not in women, whereas low-grade elevations in IL-6 were associated strongly with mortality in both sexes. TNF-α explained only 7% of the variability in IL-6 and effects of the two cytokines were independent of each other as well as of other traditional risk factors for death [smoking, blood pressure, physical exercise, total cholesterol, co-morbidity, body mass index (BMI) and intake of anti-inflammatory drugs]. These findings indicate that at least in old populations chronic elevated levels of TNF-α and IL-6 have different biological functions that trigger age-associated pathology and cause mortality.
Calcium signalling is altered in myeloid cells with a deficiency in NADPH oxidase activity
Authors: RADA B K , GEISZT M , VAN BRUGGEN R , NÉMET K , ROOS D , LIGETI E 
Published: December 2004

SUMMARYThe relation of O2.−-production and Ca2+ homeostasis was investigated in PLB-985 cell lines and neutrophilic granulocytes from peripheral blood. In differentiated wild-type PLB-985 cells, a high level of O2.−-production was associated with a significant decrease in the membrane potential and the inhibition of capacitative Ca2+ entry. These correlations were not observed in gp91phox –/– cells or in cells transfected with a non-functional mutant of gp91phox (Thr341Lys). Membrane depolarization and inhibition of Ca2+ entry reappeared in cells transfected with wild-type gp91phox. These experiments demonstrate that inhibition of Ca2+ entry depends on the presence of a functional NADPH oxidase. The Ca2+ signal induced by stimulation of chemotactic receptors also showed remarkable differences: [Ca2+]ic in the sustained phase was higher in gp91phox–/– than in wild-type cells. Alteration of the Ca2+ signal was reproduced by treating peripheral blood neutrophils with the NADPH oxidase inhibitor diphenylene-iodonium. It is concluded that the deficiency in O2.−-production is accompanied by significant alterations of Ca2+ homeostasis in myeloid cells.
Gonadotropin treatment restoresin vitrointerleukin-1β and tumour necrosis factor-α production by stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism
Authors: MUSABAK U , BOLU E , OZATA M , OKTENLI C , SENGUL A , INAL A , YESILOVA Z , KILCILER G , OZDEMIR I C , KOCAR I H 
Published: December 2004

SUMMARYIn the present study, we aimed to investigate the effects of testosterone deficiency and gonadotropin therapy on the in vitro production of tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (IHH) in order to elucidate the modulatory role of androgen in cytokine production. Fifteen male patients with untreated IHH and 15 age-matched healthy male subjects were enrolled in the study. Serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), free testosterone (FT), sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), prolactin, and IL-2 and IL-4 levels were also measured. In unstimulated cultures, IL-1β and TNF-α secretion were not significantly different between patient and control groups. However, after stimulation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), secretion of IL-1β and TNF-α was significantly higher in cultures from untreated patients with IHH than in control subjects. Mean FSH, LH and FT levels were significantly lower, whereas SHBG, IL-2 and IL-4 levels were significantly higher in patients with IHH compared than in controls. In patients with IHH, FT negatively affected the serum levels of IL-4 and in vitro secretion of IL-1β and TNF-α. In addition, IL-2 and IL-4 affected the in vitro secretion of IL-1β in a positive manner. Gonadotropin therapy decreased both TNF-α and IL-1β in PBMCs from patients with IHH. The levels of serum IL-2 and IL-4 were also decreased by therapy. In conclusion, in the present study, gonadotropin treatment restored the in vitro production of IL-1β and TNF-α by PBMCs from patients with IHH, suggesting that androgen modulates proinflammatory cytokine production, at least directly through its effects on PBMCs. It seems probable that this effect plays an important role in the immunosuppressive action of androgens.
Discordant effects of interleukin-2 on viral and immune parameters in human immunodeficiency virus-1-infected monocyte-derived mature dendritic cells
Authors: BAHR G M , DARCISSAC E C A , MOUTON Y 
Published: December 2004

SUMMARYUse of interleukin-2 (IL-2) in the immunotherapy of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has frequently resulted in the restoration of CD4 lymphocyte counts but not of virus-specific responses. We reasoned that the absence of reconstituted functional immune parameters could be related to the inability of IL-2 to correct HIV-induced dysfunctions in antigen-presenting cells. In this study, we used in vitro-differentiated monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) and mature dendritic cells (MDDCs), acutely infected with primary HIV-1 isolates, to analyse the effects of IL-2 on virus replication, co-receptor expression, and cytokine or chemokine release. Stimulation of MDMs with IL-2 had no measurable effect on HIV-1 replication, on cytokine secretion, or on CD4 and CXCR4 gene expression. Moreover, although a significant down-regulation of CCR5 mRNA expression could be repeatedly detected in MDMs, this IL-2-mediated effect was not of substantial magnitude to affect virus replication. On the other hand, IL-2 stimulation of MDDCs dramatically increased HIV-1 replication and this effect was highly evident on low-replicating, CXCR4-dependent isolates. Nevertheless, the HIV-enhancing activity of IL-2 in MDDCs was not accompanied by any measurable change in cytokine or chemokine release, in virus receptor and co-receptor mRNA accumulation, or in the surface expression of a battery of receptors implicated in virus entry, cell activation or costimulatory function. Taken together, these findings point to a role for IL-2 in inducing virus purging from dendritic cell reservoirs but indicate no relevant potential of the cytokine in restoring defective elements of innate immunity in HIV infection.
Normal production of inflammatory cytokines in chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia syndromes determined by intracellular cytokine staining in short-term cultured blood mononuclear cells
Authors: AMEL KASHIPAZ M R , SWINDEN D , TODD I , POWELL R J 
Published: December 2004

SUMMARYIt has been proposed that cytokines play a role in the pathogenesis of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). However, different studies have reported conflicting results using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay or polymerase chain reaction to detect cytokines in these conditions. In the present study, for the first time, the production of inflammatory [interleukin (IL)-1α, IL-6, and TNF-α] and anti-inflammatory (IL-10) cytokines by CD14+ and CD14– peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) patients and sex- and age-matched normal subjects was investigated at the level of individual cells using the technique of intracellular cytokine staining and flow cytometry. Cultures were carried out in the presence of polymyxin B to inhibit the effect of endotoxins on cytokine production by monocytes. The mean intensity of fluorescence (MIF) and percentage of CD14+ (monocytes) and CD14– (lymphocytes) cytokine-producing mononuclear cells were comparable in patients and controls in either unstimulated or IFN-γ-stimulated conditions. Our study indicates that dysregulation of cytokine production by circulating monocytes or non-monocytic cells (lymphocytes) is not a dominant factor in the pathogenesis of CFS/FMS.
Functional and molecular aspects of transient T cell unresponsiveness: role of selective interleukin-2 deficiency
Authors: KÖLLER M D , KIENER H P , ARINGER M , GRANINGER W B , MEUER S , SAMSTAG Y , SMOLEN J S 
Published: December 2004

SUMMARYDefects of T cell (Tc) proliferation have been demonstrated in several autoimmune diseases. Detailed mechanisms governing activation and proliferation of Tc are still not completely known. Here we show that under certain conditions human peripheral blood lymphocytes, once activated by anti-CD3, fail to respond to a subsequent restimulation via the Tc-receptor. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were preactivated by anti-CD3 for 96 h following restimulation by anti-CD3, interleukin (IL)-2 and other mitogens. In control experiments unstimulated PBMC were incubated in medium alone. Immunophenotypes were analysed by flow cytometry. Cytokine production was determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and intracellular signalling protein contents of Tc were compared by Western blotting. Furthermore, apoptosis was detected by terminal deoxyribose transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick end labelling assay. Unstimulated PBMC proliferate well after subsequent stimulation with anti-CD3, whereas IL-2 induces only limited proliferation. In contrast, preactivated cells respond only minimally to restimulation with anti-CD3, but IL-2 induces a marked proliferation. Both preactivated and unstimulated Tc respond well to restimulation by phytohaemagglutinin (PHA). In contrast, preactivated Tc show only a weak response to concanavalin A. Interestingly, when cells have been allowed to rest for 168 h, the responsiveness of preactivated Tc is restored. Immunoblots reveal that preactivated cells have a higher intracellular content of ζ-chain and p56lck. No differences are found concerning apoptosis after restimulation with anti-CD3 or the expression of ERK 1/2. The unresponsiveness to restimulation is due to an impairment of the transcription of the IL-2 gene and this defect is temporary. Despite the lack of proliferation, preactivated Tc phenotypically maintain an intermediate stage of activation. These data show how the same cell population can change its functional phenotype into a non-responder state.
HIV-gp160 modulates differentially the productionin vitroof IgG, IgA and cytokines by blood and tonsil B lymphocytes from HIV-negative individuals
Authors: COGNASSE F , BÉNIGUEL L , El HABIB R , SABIDO O , CHAVARIN P , GENIN C , GARRAUD O 
Published: December 2004

SUMMARYHIV1-gp160 holds promises in anti-HIV vaccinal strategies. However, this molecule has been described to exhibit superantigenic activities. The present study aimed at examining the effect(s) of HIV1-gp160 on human B cells and in particular on B cells originating from HIV– donors. We purified human B cells of various origins, i.e. from blood and from tonsils (representing a mucosal-type origin), and we tested these cells (stimulated with a polyclonal B cell activator, interleukin (IL)-2 and IL-10 as cytokines, and recombinant HIV1-gp160) for the production of IgG and IgA in an in vitro model. Gp160 induced significantly less total IgG by blood − but not tonsil-originating − B cells and did not affect total IgA production. Further, HIV1-gp160 up-regulated IL-2-, IL-4- and IL-10-mRNA levels in stimulated blood B cells (these cytokines are known to be active on B cell activation and differentiation). Interestingly, HIV1-gp160 also up-regulated IL-1β-, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β-, interferon (IFN)-γ- and IL-12-mRNA levels in stimulated mucosal-type, tonsil-originating, B cells. As these latter cytokines are involved in proinflammatory activities, HIV-gp160 delivery at the mucosal sites would be compatible with an adjuvant activity.
CCR4 is an up-regulated chemokine receptor of peripheral blood memory CD4+ T cells in Crohn's disease
Authors: JO Y , MATSUMOTO T , YADA S , FUJISAWA K , ESAKI M , ONAI N , MATSUSHIMA K , IIDA M 
Published: December 2004

SUMMARYSeveral chemokine receptors are expressed selectively on the surface of T cells depending on their polarization. The aim of this study was to characterize chemokine receptor expression in peripheral blood memory T cells in Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), and to correlate the expression with disease activity. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were obtained from 24 patients with CD, 30 patients with UC, 24 normal controls and 10 disease controls. PBMCs were stained by anti-CCR3, CCR4, CCR5, CXCR3, CD4, CD8, CD45RO and β 7 integrin, and the expression of the chemokine receptors were determined by flow cytometry. CCR4 expression on memory T cells was significantly lower in UC than in CD or normal controls, and that of memory CD4+ T and β 7high memory CD4+ T cells was significantly higher in CD than in UC or normal controls. CCR4 expression on memory CD4+ T cells exhibited significant positive correlation with disease activity in CD, and this decreased significantly after treatment. Such a decrease was not found in the disease controls. CCR5 and CXCR3 expression on memory CD8+ T cells was significantly lower in CD than in normal controls. CXCR3 expression on β 7high memory CD4+ T and CXCR3 expression on memory CD8+ T cells were lower in UC than in normal controls. These findings suggest that in peripheral blood memory T cells, chemokine receptor expression is different between CD and UC. Enhancement of CCR4 and suppression of CCR5 and CXCR3 seem to be the characteristic chemokine receptor profile in peripheral blood memory T cells of CD.
Dendritic cells, T cell tolerance and therapy of adverse immune reactions
Authors: MOREL P A , FEILI-HARIRI M , COATES P T , THOMSON A W 
Published: December 2004

SUMMARYDendritic cells (DC) are uniquely able to either induce immune responses or to maintain the state of self tolerance. Recent evidence has shown that the ability of DC to induce tolerance in the steady state is critical to the prevention of the autoimmune response. Likewise, DC have been shown to induce several type of regulatory T cells including Th2, Tr1, Ts and NKT cells, depending on the maturation state of the DC and the local microenvironment. DC have been shown to have therapeutic value in models of allograft rejection and autoimmunity, although no success has been reported in allergy. Several strategies, including the use of specific DC subsets, genetic modification of DC and the use of DC at various maturation stages for the treatment of allograft rejection and autoimmune disease are discussed. The challenge for the future use of DC therapy in human disease is to identify the appropriate DC for the proposed therapy; a task made more daunting by the extreme plasticity of DC that has recently been demonstrated. However, the progress achieved to date suggests that these are not insurmountable obstacles and that DC may become a useful therapeutic tool in transplantation and autoimmune disease.
Evaluation of amastigote reactive cells in human cutaneous leishmaniasis caused byLeishmania aethiopica
Authors: MAASHO K , MCMAHON-PRATT D , RAITA J , RAUD M , BRITTON S , SOONG L , AKUFFO H 
Published: December 2004

SUMMARYLymphoproliferative responses to three affinity chromatography purified amastigote antigens of Leishmania pifanoi, P-2, P-4 and P-8, were evaluated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from patients with Ethiopian cutaneous leishmaniasis. Antigen-stimulated cells were analysed for the percentage of CD4+, CD8+ and CD16/56+ cells and the expressed levels of gamma interferon (IFNγ) and interleukin (IL)-10 were determined in culture supernatants. The amastigote antigens induced cellular responses in leishmaniasis patients with heterologous Leishmania parasite infection. These responses were compared to those of freeze-thawed L. aethiopica promastigote antigen stimulation. The membrane protein (P-8), and to a lesser extent the megasomal/cytoplasmic cysteine proteinase(P-2), induced proliferation with high levels of IFNγ and IL-10 production in cells from patients with active L. aethiopica lesions. CD16/56+ NK cells were the main cell types induced to proliferate in response to P-8 and P-2 stimulation, followed by CD8+ cell populations. P-4 had no such effect. This contrasts from previous studies of New World human leishmaniasis where P-4 and P-8 were stimulatory. The success of a particular molecule in the induction of a response with a protective phenotype may be dependent on the infecting Leishmania spp. To our knowledge, there are no studies that directly compare the New versus Old World cutaneous leishmaniasis in respect of NK cell and IL-10 responses. Our studies indicate that some leishmanial molecules are recognized across the species, while others are apparently more species specific.
Up-regulation of ICAM-1, CD11a/CD18 and CD11c/CD18 on human THP-1 monocytes stimulated byStreptococcus suisserotype 2
Authors: Al-NUMANI D , SEGURA M , DORÉ M , GOTTSCHALK M 
Published: December 2004

SUMMARYStreptococcus suis serotype 2 is known to be a major pathogen of swine, causing mainly meningitis. It is also a zoonotic agent leading predominantly to meningitis in humans working in close contact with pigs. In this study, we investigated the ability of S. suis to up-regulate the expression of adhesion molecules involved in inflammation, using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. S. suis serotype 2 stimulated the up-regulation of the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1, CD54), CD11a/CD18 and CD11c/CD18 on human THP-1 monocytes, but did not change that of ICAM-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1, CD106) and E-selectin (CD62E) on human endothelial cells. The up-regulation of adhesion molecules was time- and bacterial concentration-dependent, and cell wall components were largely responsible for such stimulation. To a lesser extent, purified haemolysin of S. suis also stimulated adhesion molecule expression. Stimulation of monocytes with strains of different origin showed that there was no clear tendency for human strains to induce a higher expression of adhesion molecules than strains from diseased pigs. Finally, monocytes stimulated with S. suis also showed an increase in adherence to endothelial cells. Hence, S. suis is capable of up-regulating important adhesion molecules involved in inflammation, which may result in an increased leucocyte recruitment into sites of infection, thus providing a possible mechanism for some of the inflammatory features of meningitis caused by this pathogen.
Validation of the interleukin-10 knockout mouse model of colitis: antitumour necrosis factor-antibodies suppress the progression of colitis
Authors: SCHEININ T , BUTLER D M , SALWAY F , SCALLON B , FELDMANN M 
Published: December 2004

SUMMARYAdvances in understanding pathogenesis and developing new therapies are hastened by the use of effective animal models of disease. In inflammatory bowel disease, such as Crohn's disease, a variety of models have been used, including the IL-10 knockout mouse. However, in order to be truly valuable, the models need to respond to existing therapy in a way which resembles the human disease. In the light of recent developments, in which refractory Crohn's disease responds well to anti-TNF antibody therapy, we set out to validate the IL-10 knockout model of Crohn's disease by examining its response to anti-TNF therapy. We developed a new scoring system for IL-10 knockout mice, similar to the Crohn's Disease Activity Index in humans, analysed stool samples for cytokines and compared the findings with histology. We found that anti-TNF antibody therapy starting at 4 weeks markedly ameliorated the disease, as judged by the clinical score or by histological analysis of the gut. Furthermore, analysis of stool samples for cytokines revealed a marked diminution of inflammatory cytokines, adding a further accurate measure of the improvement. This model may thus be useful for evaluating other therapeutic modalities of relevance to Crohn's disease.