Clinical and Experimental ImmunologyThis is an RSS file. You can use it to subscribe to this data in your favourite RSS reader, such as GoogleReader, or to display this data on your own website or blog. Subscribe to this data using MyMedWorm.Subscribe to this data using GoogleReader.Subscribe to this data using Bloglines.Subscribe to this data using MyYahoo.

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Variable effects of cyclophosphamide in rodent models of experimental allergic encephalomyelitisEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In this study, we have evaluated the effects of cyclophosphamide on the development of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) in four EAE rodent models: monophasic EAE in Lewis rats, protracted relapsing (PR)-EAE in DA rats, myelin oligodendrocyte protein (MOG)-induced EAE in C57Bl/6 mice and proteolipid protein (PLP)-induced EAE in Swiss/Jackson Laboratory (SJL) mice. Cyclophosphamide, administered either prophylactically or therapeutically, suppressed most strongly the clinical symptoms of PR-EAE in DA rats. Treated rats in this group also exhibited the lowest degree of inflammatory infiltration of the spinal cord...
Source: Clinical and Experimental Immunology - November 18, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: K. Mangano, A. Nicoletti, F. Patti, M. Donia, L. Malaguarnera, S. Signorelli, G. Magro, V. Muzio, B. Greco, P. Zaratin, P. Meroni, M. Zappia, F. Nicoletti Source Type: journals

Calcineurin inhibitors affect B cell antibody responses indirectly by interfering with T cell helpEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In general, humoral immune responses depend critically upon T cell help. In transplantation, prevention or treatment of humoral rejection therefore require drugs that ideally inhibit both B cell and T helper cell activity. Here, we studied the effects of commonly used immunosuppressive drugs [tacrolimus, cyclosporin, mycophenolic acid (MPA) and rapamycin] on T cell helper activity and on T cell-dependent B cell responses. T cells were activated polyclonally in the presence of immunosuppressive drugs in order to analyse the effect of these drugs on T cell proliferation, co-stimulatory ligand expression and cytokines. The im...
Source: Clinical and Experimental Immunology - November 18, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: S. Heidt, D. L. Roelen, C. Eijsink, M. Eikmans, C. van Kooten, F. H. J. Claas, A. Mulder Source Type: journals

Deficiency in activation-induced cytidine deaminase promotes systemic autoimmunity in lpr mice on a C57BL/6 backgroundEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Activation-induced deaminase (AID) is a prerequisite for immunoglobulin (Ig) class-switch recombination and somatic hypermutation, which is critical for antibody affinity maturation. IgM and IgG autoantibodies are characteristic of the systemic autoimmune disorders such as lupus. However, the relative contributions of hypermutated high-affinity IgG antibodies and germline-encoded IgM antibodies to systemic autoimmunity are not defined fully. The role of AID in autoimmunity is unclear. The current study used AID-deficient mice to investigate the role of AID in the development and pathogenesis of murine lupus. C57BL/6 mice d...
Source: Clinical and Experimental Immunology - November 18, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: L. Chen, L. Guo, J. Tian, B. Zheng, S. Han Source Type: journals

Autoantibody-mediated regulation of B cell responses by functional anti-CD22 autoantibodies in patients with systemic sclerosisEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In this study, we examined the presence and functional property of circulating autoantibodies reacting with CD22 in systemic sclerosis. Serum samples from 10 tight skin (TSK/+) mice and 50 SSc patients were assessed for anti-CD22 autoantibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays using recombinant mouse or human CD22. The association between anti-CD22 antibodies and clinical features was also investigated in SSc patients. Furthermore, the influence of SSc serum including anti-CD22 autoantibodies for CD22 tyrosine phosphorylation was examined by Western blotting using phosphotyrosine-specific antibodies reacting with four...
Source: Clinical and Experimental Immunology - November 17, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: M. Odaka, M. Hasegawa, Y. Hamaguchi, N. Ishiura, S. Kumada, T. Matsushita, K. Komura, S. Sato, K. Takehara, M. Fujimoto Source Type: journals

Anti-transglutaminase antibodies in non-coeliac children suffering from infectious diseasesEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Anti-transglutaminase antibodies are the diagnostic markers of coeliac disease. A role is suggested for infectious agents in the production of anti-transglutaminase antibodies. The aim was to measure positive anti-transglutaminase antibody levels in children with infectious diseases and to compare immunological and biological characteristics of the anti-transglutaminase antibodies derived from these children with that from coeliac patients. Two hundred and twenty-two children suffering from infectious diseases were enrolled prospectively along with seven biopsy-proven coeliacs. Serum samples were tested for anti-transgluta...
Source: Clinical and Experimental Immunology - November 13, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: F. Ferrara, S. Quaglia, I. Caputo, C. Esposito, M. Lepretti, S. Pastore, R. Giorgi, S. Martelossi, G. Dal Molin, N. Di Toro, A. Ventura, T. Not Source Type: journals

A review on the vascular features of the hyperimmunoglobulin E syndromeEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The objective of this review is to characterize the nature and spectrum of vascular abnormalities in HIES patients. Vascular abnormalities in HIES patients were reviewed with Medline and Google Scholar-based searches. In brief, the searches combined terms related to HIES with the terms related to vasculature. Furthermore, reference lists from the original studies and review papers identified were screened. There were vascular abnormalities in 25 patients with HIES. These abnormalities were identified as aneurysms (coronary, aortic, carotid and cerebral), pseudoaneurysms, congenital patent ductus venosus, superior vena cava...
Source: Clinical and Experimental Immunology - November 12, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: H. Yavuz, R. Chee Source Type: journals

A20 is an early responding negative regulator of Toll-like receptor 5 signalling in intestinal epithelial cells during inflammationEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Several negative regulatory mechanisms control Toll-like receptor (TLR)-mediated inflammatory responses and restore immune system balance, including the zinc-finger protein A20, a negative regulator of TLR signalling that inhibits nuclear factor kappa B (NF-[kappa]B) activity. In the present study, we investigated TLR-5-mediated A20 expression and its role in intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) during inflammation. HCT-15 and HT-29 cells were stimulated with flagellin, then the expressions of A20, interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase (IRAK-M) and Tollip were evaluated using RNase protection assay. Furthermore, experimen...
Source: Clinical and Experimental Immunology - November 12, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: N. Oshima, S. Ishihara, M. A. K. Rumi, M. M. Aziz, Y. Mishima, C. Kadota, I. Moriyama, N. Ishimura, Y. Amano, Y. Kinoshita Source Type: journals

Differential effects of glucocorticoids in the establishment and maintenance of endotoxin toleranceEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In this report we demonstrate, using a mouse model, that while the maintenance of tolerance is dependent upon GC, the establishment of tolerance by LPS could be inhibited by dexamethasone (Dex), a synthetic GC. Conversely, we demonstrated that mifepristone (RU486), a known GC receptor antagonist, was capable of inducing a transient and reversible disruption of endotoxin tolerance, also permitting partial restoration of the humoral immune response in LPS tolerant/immunosuppressed mice. These results are encouraging for the management of immunosuppression in sepsis and/or non-infectious shock, and deserve further investigati...
Source: Clinical and Experimental Immunology - November 12, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: B. Rearte, V. Landoni, E. Laborde, G. Fernández, M. Isturiz Source Type: journals

Gene expression profiles for the human pancreas and purified islets in Type 1 diabetes: new findings at clinical onset and in long-standing diabetesEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is caused by the selective destruction of the insulin-producing [beta] cells of the pancreas by an autoimmune response. Due to ethical and practical difficulties, the features of the destructive process are known from a small number of observations, and transcriptomic data are remarkably missing. Here we report whole genome transcript analysis validated by quantitative reverse transcription[ndash]polymerase chain reaction (qRT[ndash]PCR) and correlated with immunohistological observations for four T1D pancreases (collected 5 days, 9 months, 8 and 10 years after diagnosis) and for purified islets from ...
Source: Clinical and Experimental Immunology - November 12, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: R. Planas, J. Carrillo, A. Sanchez, M. C. Ruiz de Villa, F. Nuñez, J. Verdaguer, R. F. L. James, R. Pujol-Borrell, M. Vives-Pi Source Type: journals

Translational Mini-Review Series on Th17 Cells: Function and regulation of human T helper 17 cells in health and diseaseEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
T helper (Th) cell have a central role in modulating immune responses. While Th1 and Th2 cells have long been known to regulate cellular and humoral immunity, Th17 cells have been identified only recently as a Th lineage that regulates inflammation via production of distinct cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-17. There is growing evidence that Th17 cells are pathological in many human diseases, leading to intense interest in defining their origins, functions and developing strategies to block their pathological effects. The cytokines that regulate Th17 differentiation have been the focus of much debate, due primarily to in...
Source: Clinical and Experimental Immunology - November 11, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: S. Q. Crome, A. Y. Wang, M. K. Levings Source Type: journals

Translational Mini-Review Series on Th17 Cells: Induction of interleukin-17 production by regulatory T cellsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Uncommitted (naive) CD4+ T helper cells (Thp) can be induced to differentiate to specific lineages according to the local cytokine milieu, towards T helper type 1 (Th1), Th2, Th17 and regulatory T cell (Treg) phenotypes in a mutually exclusive manner. Each phenotype is characterized by unique signalling pathways and expression of specific transcription factors, notably T-bet for Th1, GATA-3 for Th2, forkhead box P3 (FoxP3) for Tregs and receptor-related orphan receptor (ROR)[alpha] and ROR[gamma]t for Th17 cells. Tregs and Th17 cells have been demonstrated to arise from common precursors in a reciprocal manner based on exp...
Source: Clinical and Experimental Immunology - November 11, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: B. Afzali, P. Mitchell, R. I. Lechler, S. John, G. Lombardi Source Type: journals

Translational Mini-Review Series on Th17 Cells: Are T helper 17 cells really pathogenic in autoimmunity?Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In this review the authors discuss the evidence for T helper type 17 (Th17) cells as pathogenic T cells in autoimmunity. Studies with cytokine-deficient mice or blocking of interleukin (IL)-17, IL-21 and IL-22 have resulted in a conflicting data set. Although in the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis model the role of Th17 cells remains a point of debate, this IL-17-producing T cell in experimental arthritis is clearly contributing to inflammation and destruction. (Source: Clinical and Experimental Immunology)
Source: Clinical and Experimental Immunology - November 11, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: M. I. Koenders, W. B. van den Berg Source Type: journals

Translational Mini-Review Series on Th17 Cells: CD4+ T helper cells: functional plasticity and differential sensitivity to regulatory T cell-mediated regulationEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
CD4+ T cells display considerable flexibility in their effector functions, allowing them to tackle most effectively the range of pathogenic infections with which we are challenged. The classical T helper (Th) 1 and Th2 subsets have been joined recently by the Th17 lineage. If not controlled, the potent effector functions (chiefly cytokine production) of which these different cells are capable can lead to (sometimes fatal) autoimmune and allergic inflammation. The primary cell population tasked with providing this control appears to be CD4+ regulatory T (Treg) cells expressing the forkhead box P3 (FoxP3) transcription facto...
Source: Clinical and Experimental Immunology - November 11, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: R. A. O'Connor, L. S. Taams, S. M. Anderton Source Type: journals

Translational Mini-Review Series on Th17 Cells: Development of mouse and human T helper 17 cellsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
There has been a considerable amount of interest in the immunological community about new phenotypic subsets of CD4+ T cells, particularly cells that produce the cytokine interleukin (IL)-17 [named T helper type 17 (Th17) cells]. While the initial discovery of Th17 cells and the pathways that controlled their development was in the mouse, recent attention has shifted to the existence of these cells and the relevant upstream cytokine signals in humans. While it is clear that CD4+ T cells producing IL-17 exist in vivo, their relevance to disease pathogenesis is only just being understood. In this paper, we review the data re...
Source: Clinical and Experimental Immunology - November 11, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: E. de Jong, T. Suddason, G. M. Lord Source Type: journals

Recipient NOD2/CARD15 status affects cellular infiltrates in human intestinal graft-versus-host diseaseEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain 2/caspase recruitment domain 15 (NOD2/CARD15) polymorphisms have been identified as risk factors of both Crohn's disease and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) following allogeneic stem cell transplantation. However, the role of these receptors of innate immunity in the pathophysiology of gastrointestinal GVHD is still poorly defined. Immunohistological features of intestinal GVHD were analysed in gastrointestinal biopsies from 58 patients obtained at the time of first onset of intestinal symptoms. The observed changes were correlated with concomitant risk factors and the presence of...
Source: Clinical and Experimental Immunology - November 11, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: K. Landfried, F. Bataille, G. Rogler, J. Brenmoehl, K. Kosovac, D. Wolff, I. Hilgendorf, J. Hahn, M. Edinger, P. Hoffmann, F. Obermeier, J. Schoelmerich, R. Andreesen, E. Holler Source Type: journals

Toll-like receptor 4 expression is increased in circulating mononuclear cells of patients with immunoglobulin A nephropathyEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This study shows for the first time an up-regulation of TLR-4 in circulating mononuclear cells of patients with IgAN, particularly in association with proteinuria and heavy microscopic haematuria. (Source: Clinical and Experimental Immunology)
Source: Clinical and Experimental Immunology - November 6, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: R. Coppo, R. Camilla, A. Amore, L. Peruzzi, V. Daprà, E. Loiacono, S. Vatrano, C. Rollino, V. Sepe, T. Rampino, A. D. Canton Source Type: journals

Milder clinical hyperimmunoglobulin E syndrome phenotype is associated with partial interleukin-17 deficiencyEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Mutations in the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) were reported to cause hyperimmunoglobulin E syndrome (HIES). The present study investigates T helper type 17 (Th17) responses triggered by the relevant stimuli Staphylococcus aureus and Candidia albicans in five 'classical' HIES patients, and a family with three patients who all had a milder HIES phenotype. We demonstrate that patients with various forms of HIES have different defects in their Th17 response to S. aureus and C. albicans, and this is in line with the clinical features of the disease. Interestingly, a partial deficiency of interleuki...
Source: Clinical and Experimental Immunology - October 30, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: F. L. van de Veerdonk, R. Marijnissen, L. A. B. Joosten, B. J. Kullberg, J. P. H. Drenth, M. G. Netea, J. W. M. van der Meer Source Type: journals

Functional analysis of dendritic cell–T cell interaction in sarcoidosisEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In this study, we investigate the interaction between monocyte-derived dendritic cells and T cells in patients with sarcoidosis compared to normal controls (n = 8 each) by examining the kinetics of autologous and allogeneic mixed leucocyte reactions over 9[ndash]10 days. We found markedly depressed proliferation kinetics in autologous DC-peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) co-cultures from sarcoid patients compared to normal subjects. In allogeneic experiments PBMCs from patients showed a reduced response to allogeneic DCs from a single donor, but no difference was observed in the ability of patients and control DCs t...
Source: Clinical and Experimental Immunology - October 30, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: N. Kulakova, B. Urban, A. J. McMichael, L.-P. Ho Source Type: journals

Allergic women show reduced T helper type 1 alloresponses to fetal human leucocyte antigen mismatch during pregnancyEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This study explored the effects of human leucocyte antigen (HLA) mismatch on materno[ndash]fetal interactions detected as cytokine responses and lymphoproliferation in mixed lymphocyte reactions, and whether this was altered in allergic women (n = 62) who have a Th2 propensity compared with non-allergic women (n = 65). HLA-DR[beta]1 mismatch was associated with significantly increased Th1 interferon (IFN)-[gamma], Th2 interleukin (IL)-13 and lymphoproliferative responses by both mothers and fetuses. Allergic women showed significantly lower IFN-[gamma] Th1 production in response to HLA-DR[beta]1 mismatch. The infants of th...
Source: Clinical and Experimental Immunology - October 22, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: S. L. Prescott, L. A. Breckler, C. S. Witt, L. Smith, J. A. Dunstan, F. T. Christiansen Source Type: journals

Complement activation pathways in murine immune complex-induced arthritis and in C3a and C5a generation in vitroEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The alternative pathway (AP) of complement alone is capable of mediating immune complex-induced arthritis in the collagen antibody-induced arthritis (CAIA) model in mice. Whether the classical pathway (CP) or lectin pathway (LP) alone can mediate CAIA is not known. Using mice genetically deficient in different complement components, our results reported herein establish that the CP and LP alone are each incapable of mediating CAIA. A lower level or absence of C3 and/or C5 activation by the CP may be possible explanations for the importance of the AP in CAIA and in many murine models of disease. In addition, other investiga...
Source: Clinical and Experimental Immunology - October 19, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: N. K. Banda, B. Levitt, A. K. Wood, K. Takahashi, G. L. Stahl, V. M. Holers, W. P. Arend Source Type: journals

Activation profile of Toll-like receptors of peripheral blood lymphocytes in patients with systemic lupus erythematosusEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a systemic autoimmune disease associated with aberrant activation of T and B lymphocytes for the production of inflammatory cytokines and autoreactive antibodies. Animal studies of SLE have indicated that Toll-like receptors (TLR) are important in the pathogenesis of murine lupus. In the present clinical study, differential protein expressions of TLR-1[ndash]9 of monocytes and different lymphocyte subsets from patients with SLE and normal control subjects were determined by flow cytometry. Results showed that the expression of intracellular TLRs (TLR-3, -8, -9) and extracellular TLRs (...
Source: Clinical and Experimental Immunology - October 16, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: C. K. Wong, P. T. Y. Wong, L. S. Tam, E. K. Li, D. P. Chen, C. W. K. Lam Source Type: journals

Depletion of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells enhances natural killer T cell-mediated anti-tumour immunity in a murine mammary breast cancer modelEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In this study, we have shown that Tregs regulate NK T cell function negatively in vitro, suggesting a direct interaction between these cell types. In a murine mammary tumour model, we demonstrated that administration of either [alpha]-GalCer or anti-CD25 antibody alone markedly suppressed tumour formation and pulmonary metastasis, and resulted in an increase in the survival rate up to 44% (from a baseline of 0%). When treatments were combined, depletion of Tregs boosted the anti-tumour effect of [alpha]-GalCer, and the survival rate jumped to 85%. Our results imply a potential application of combining Treg cell depletion w...
Source: Clinical and Experimental Immunology - October 9, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: H. Hong, Y. Gu, H. Zhang, A. K. Simon, X. Chen, C. Wu, X.-N. Xu, S. Jiang Source Type: journals

Laser microdissection-based analysis of cytokine balance in the kidneys of patients with lupus nephritisEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
To determine the cytokine balance in patients with lupus nephritis (LN), we analysed kidney-infiltrating T cells. Renal biopsy samples from 15 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients were used. In accordance with the classification of International Society of Nephrology/Renal Pathology Society, they were categorized into Class III, Class III+V (Class III-predominant group, n = 4), Class IV, Class IV+V (Class IV-predominant group, n = 7) and Class V (n = 4) groups. The single-cell samples of both the glomelular and interstitial infiltrating cells were captured by laser-microdissection. The glomerular and interstitial in...
Source: Clinical and Experimental Immunology - October 6, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Y. Wang, S. Ito, Y. Chino, D. Goto, I. Matsumoto, H. Murata, A. Tsutsumi, T. Hayashi, K. Uchida, J. Usui, K. Yamagata, T. Sumida Source Type: journals

Association of the −31C/T functional polymorphism in the interleukin-1β gene with the intractability of Graves' disease and the proportion of T helper type 17 cellsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In conclusion, our data indicated that the T allele of [minus]31C/T polymorphism in the IL1B gene was involved in the intractability of GD, and this involvement may arise through the differentiation and proliferation of Th17 cells. (Source: Clinical and Experimental Immunology)
Source: Clinical and Experimental Immunology - September 30, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: F. Hayashi, M. Watanabe, T. Nanba, N. Inoue, T. Akamizu, Y. Iwatani Source Type: journals

16α-Bromoepiandrosterone (HE2000) limits non-productive inflammation and stimulates immunity in lungsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
16[alpha]-Bromoepiandrosterone (HE2000) is a synthetic steroid that limits non-productive inflammation, enhances protective immunity and improves survival in clinical studies of patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), malaria and tuberculosis infections. We now show that HE2000 decreased nitric oxide production by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264·7 cells. Treatment with HE2000 also reduced non-productive inflammation associated with carrageenan-induced pleurisy and LPS-induced lung injury in mice. In the hapten-carrier reporter antigen popliteal lymph node assay, HE2000 increased absolute numbers of ly...
Source: Clinical and Experimental Immunology - September 29, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: F. Nicoletti, D. Conrad, A. Wang, R. Pieters, K. Mangano, A. van Heeckeren, S. K. White, J. Frincke, C. L. Reading, D. L. Auci, D. Stickney Source Type: journals

Mitogen activated protein kinases: a role in inflammatory bowel disease?Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Since their discovery more than 15 years ago, the mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPK) have been implicated in an ever-increasingly diverse array of pathways, including inflammatory signalling cascades. Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, are characterized by the perpetual production of inflammatory mediators. Research into the transduction pathway behind this over-production has highlighted the potential mediating role for the MAPKs and their related signalling components. This review highlights some of the research into the role for the MAPKs and their related signalling...
Source: Clinical and Experimental Immunology - September 29, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: O. J. Broom, B. Widjaya, J. Troelsen, J. Olsen, O. H. Nielsen Source Type: journals

Lower numbers of circulating natural killer T (NK T) cells in individuals with human T lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) associated neurological diseaseEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Human T lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) infects 10[ndash]20 million people worldwide. The majority of infected individuals are asymptomatic; however, approximately 3% develop the debilitating neurological disease HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). There is also currently no cure, vaccine or effective therapy for HTLV-1 infection, and the mechanisms for progression to HAM/TSP remain unclear. NK T cells are an immunoregulatory T cell subset whose frequencies and effector functions are associated critically with immunity against infectious diseases. We hypothesized that NK T cells are asso...
Source: Clinical and Experimental Immunology - September 23, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: L. C. Ndhlovu, J. E. Snyder-Cappione, K. I. Carvalho, F. E. Leal, C. P. Loo, F. R. bruno, A. R. Jha, D. Devita, A. M. Hasenkrug, H. M. R. Barbosa, A. C. Segurado, D. F. Nixon, E. L. Murphy, E. G. Kallas Source Type: journals

Minimal persistent inflammation in allergic rhinitis: implications for current treatment strategiesEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Patients with allergic rhinitis have traditionally been placed into 'seasonal' and 'perennial' categories, which do not account for the subclinical inflammatory state that exists in many patients. In subjects with seasonal and perennial allergic rhinitis, even subthreshold doses of allergen have been found to cause inflammatory cell infiltration in the nasal mucosa, including increases in expression of cellular adhesion molecules, nasal and conjunctival eosinophilia, and other markers of inflammation, which do not result in overt allergy symptoms. This state [ndash] which has been termed 'minimal persistent inflammation'[n...
Source: Clinical and Experimental Immunology - September 16, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: G. W. Canonica, E. Compalati Source Type: journals

The role of T helper type 17 cells in inflammatory arthritisEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
While T cells have been implicated in the pathogenesis of inflammatory arthritis for more than three decades, the focus on the T helper type 17 (Th17) subset of CD4 T cells and their secreted cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-17, is much more recent. Proinflammatory actions of IL-17 were first identified in the 1990s, but the delineation of a distinct Th17 subset in late 2005 has sparked great interest in the role of these cells in a broad range of immune-mediated diseases. This review summarizes current understanding of the role of Th17 cells and their products in both animal models of inflammatory arthritis and human i...
Source: Clinical and Experimental Immunology - September 15, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: S. SARKAR, L. A. COONEY, D. A. FOX Source Type: journals

Calcineurin deficiency decreases inflammatory lesions in transforming growth factor β1-deficient miceEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Transforming growth factor (TGF) [beta]1) is an immunoregulatory cytokine involved in self-tolerance and lymphocyte homeostasis. Tgfb1 knock-out (KO) mice develop severe multi-focal autoimmune inflammatory lesions due to [Ca2+]i deregulation in T cells, and die within 3 weeks after birth. Because the calcineurin inhibitor FK506 inhibits the hyperresponsiveness of Tgfb1[minus]/[minus] thymocytes, and because calcineurin A[beta] (CNA[beta])-deficient mice do not reject allogenic tumours, we have generated Tgfb1[minus]/[minus]Cnab[minus]/[minus] mice to address whether CNA[beta] deficiency prevents T cell activation and infla...
Source: Clinical and Experimental Immunology - September 10, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: R. Bommireddy, O. F. Bueno, J. Martin, I. Ormsby, H. Chen, C. Gard, J. D. Molkentin, G. P. Boivin, G. F. Babcock, T. Doetschman Source Type: journals

Increased frequencies of T helper type 17 cells in the peripheral blood of patients with acute myeloid leukaemiaEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In this study, we investigated Th17 cell frequency and secretion of related cytokines in patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). First, we found that Th17 cell frequencies were increased significantly in peripheral blood samples from untreated patients with AML, compared with those from healthy volunteers. Moreover, increased interleukin (IL)-17 concentrations accompanied the increased Th17 cell frequencies in these patients. These results suggest that Th17 cells may play a role in the pathogenesis of AML. Secondly, we found that the increased Th17 cell frequencies were reduced when patients achieved complete remissio...
Source: Clinical and Experimental Immunology - September 7, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: C. Wu, S. Wang, F. Wang, Q. Chen, S. Peng, Y. Zhang, J. Qian, J. Jin, H. Xu Source Type: journals

Anti-epidermal growth factor receptor monoclonal antibodies in cancer therapyEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a transmembrane tyrosine kinase receptor involved in the proliferation and survival of cancer cells. EGFR is the first molecular target against which monoclonal antibodies (mAb) have been developed for cancer therapy. Here we review the mechanisms underlying the effects of EGFR-specific mAb in cancer therapy. The efficacy of EGFR-specific mAb in cancer occurs thanks to inhibition of EGFR-generated signalling; furthermore, the effects of antibodies on the immune system seem to play an important role in determining the overall anti-tumour response. In this review, attention is f...
Source: Clinical and Experimental Immunology - September 3, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: E. Martinelli, R. De Palma, M. Orditura, F. De Vita, F. Ciardiello Tags: Review Articles Source Type: journals

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids ameliorate the severity of ileitis in the senescence accelerated mice (SAM)P1/Yit mice modelEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Clinical studies using omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids ([omega]3-PUFA) to Crohn's disease (CD) are conflicting. Beneficial effects of dietary [omega]3-PUFA intake in various experimental inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) models have been reported. However, animal models of large intestinal inflammation have been used in all previous studies, and the effect of [omega]3 fat in an animal model of small intestinal inflammation has not been reported. We hypothesized that the effects of [omega]3 fat are different between large and small intestine. The aim of this study was to determine whether the direct effect of [omega]3 fa...
Source: Clinical and Experimental Immunology - September 1, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: H. Matsunaga, R. Hokari, C. Kurihara, Y. Okada, K. Takebayashi, K. Okudaira, C. Watanabe, S. Komoto, M. Nakamura, Y. Tsuzuki, A. Kawaguchi, S. Nagao, S. Miura Source Type: journals

Alpha versus beta: are we on the way to resolve the mystery as to which is the endogenous ligand for natural killer T cells?Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Natural killer T (NKT) lymphocytes are a unique subset of cells that play a role in regulating the immune system. For the past decade, studies have focused upon attempts to define these cells and to determine the ligand(s) that are required for their development and peripheral activation. Many research groups have focused upon determining the mechanisms for activating or inhibiting NKT cells in an attempt to control immune-mediated disorders as well as infectious and malignant conditions by using different ligand structures. Alpha-anomeric glycolipids and phospholipids derived from mammalian, bacterial, protozoan and plant...
Source: Clinical and Experimental Immunology - September 1, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Y. Ilan Source Type: journals

Plasmodium falciparum infection of the placenta impacts on the T helper type 1 (Th1)/Th2 balance of neonatal T cells through CD4+CD25+ forkhead box P3+ regulatory T cells and interleukin-10Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Placental malaria infection affects the T helper type 1 (Th1)/Th2 balance in neonatal children. We investigated a potential role of regulatory T cells in this balance by comparing T cell responses of cord blood mononuclear cells (CBMC) from parasitized and non-parasitized placenta of Gambian women. CBMC were depleted of CD4+CD25+ forkhead box P3 (FoxP3)+ regulatory T cells and analysed in vitro for their ability to produce interferon (IFN)-[gamma], sCD30 and interleukin (IL)-10 in response to phytohaemagglutinin (PHA), live Plasmodium falciparum, schizont extracts and the recombinant P. falciparum blood stage antigen meroz...
Source: Clinical and Experimental Immunology - August 16, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: C. Bisseye, M. van der Sande, W. D. Morgan, A. A. Holder, M. Pinder, J. Ismaili Source Type: journals

Chemokines and common variable immunodeficiency; possible contribution of CCL19, CCL21 and CCR7 to immune dysregulationEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is a heterogeneous syndrome characterized by defective immunoglobulin production and high frequency of bacterial infections, autoimmunity and manifestations of chronic inflammation. The homeostatic chemokines CCL19 and CCL21 and their receptor CCR7 are associated with modulation of inflammatory responses. CVID patients have decreased proportions of CCR7+ T cells in peripheral blood and we hypothesized a further dysregulation of CCL19/CCL21/CCR7 in CVID. Serum levels of CCL19 and CCL21 were compared in CVID patients and controls. T cell expression of CCR7 was related to clinical chara...
Source: Clinical and Experimental Immunology - August 11, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: B. Fevang, A. Yndestad, J. K. Damås, B. Halvorsen, A. M. Holm, K. Beiske, P. Aukrust, S. S. Frøland Source Type: journals

A novel population of human CD56+ human leucocyte antigen D-related (HLA-DR+) colonic lamina propria cells is associated with inflammation in ulcerative colitisEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Ulcerative colitis (UC) involves inappropriate mucosal immune responses to intestinal microbiota. Gut dendritic cells (DC) are central immunoregulators of the response to commensal bacteria, and the subset of CD11c+ cells within the human leucocyte antigen D-related (HLA-DR+) lineage (lin)[ndash]/dim population are activated in inflammatory bowel disease. We hypothesized that CD11c- cells within this population may also be involved in intestinal inflammation. HLA-DR+ lin[ndash]/dim cells were identified in freshly isolated lamina propria mononuclear cells by multi-colour flow cytometry in 54 UC patients and 22 controls. Pr...
Source: Clinical and Experimental Immunology - August 11, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: S. C. Ng, S. Plamondon, H. O. Al-Hassi, N. English, N. Gellatly, M. A. Kamm, S. C. Knight, A. J. Stagg Source Type: journals

Reduced incidence and severity of experimental autoimmune arthritis in mice expressing catalytically inactive A disintegrin and metalloproteinase 8 (ADAM8)Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
A disintegrin and metalloproteinase 8 (ADAM8), a catalytically active member of the ADAMs family of enzymes, is expressed primarily on immune cells and thus probably involved in inflammatory responses. ADAM8 is also produced by chondrocytes, and recombinant ADAM8 can induce cartilage catabolism. We therefore decided to test the role of ADAM8 in autoimmune inflammatory arthritis using transgenic mice expressing catalytically inactive ADAM8. Transgenic DBA/1J mice expressing an inactivating point mutation in the ADAM8 gene to change Glu330 to Gln330 (ADAM8EQ) were generated to evaluate the proteolytic function of ADAM8 in an...
Source: Clinical and Experimental Immunology - August 5, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: M. D. Zack, M. A. Melton, J. L. Stock, C. E. Storer, R. A. Barve, J. C. Minnerly, D. J. Weiss, J. A. Stejskal, M. D. Tortorella, J. R. Turk, K. M. Shevlin, A.-M. Malfait Source Type: journals

Mechanisms and clinical implications of glucocorticosteroids in the treatment of allergic rhinitisEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Allergic rhinitis is a common airway disease characterized by hypersensitivity, exudation, hypersecretion, inflammatory cell infiltration and remodelling. Intranasal glucocorticosteroids are the most effective drugs for controlling the inflammation caused by allergic rhinitis. Glucocorticosteroids exert anti-inflammatory effects through at least two pathways: the transactivation pathway and the transrepression pathway. Glucocorticosteroids also exert regulatory functions by inducing regulatory cytokines and forkhead box P3 (FoxP3+) regulatory T cells. Evidence suggests that intranasal glucocorticosteroids control not only ...
Source: Clinical and Experimental Immunology - August 5, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: M. Okano Source Type: journals

Increased levels of T cell granzyme b in bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome are not suppressed adequately by current immunosuppressive regimensEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) is characterized by persistent alloreactive, infective and non-specific epithelial injury, loss of epithelial integrity and dysregulated repair. We have reported increased apoptosis of epithelial cells collected from the large airway in lung transplant recipients. As part of the alloreactive response, T cells induce apoptosis of target epithelial cells by secreting granzyme b. We hypothesized that granzyme b would be increased in lung transplant patients with acute rejection and BOS and that commonly used immunosuppressive agents would fail to suppress this serine protease adequately...
Source: Clinical and Experimental Immunology - August 2, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: S. Hodge, G. Hodge, J. Ahern, C.-L. Liew, P. Hopkins, D. C. Chambers, P. N. Reynolds, M. Holmes Source Type: journals

Human papillomavirus 16-specific T cell responses in classic HPV-related vulvar intra-epithelial neoplasia. Determination of strongly immunogenic regions from E6 and E7 proteinsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Cell-mediated immunity directed against human papillomavirus 16 (HPV-16) antigens was studied in 16 patients affected with classic vulvar intra-epithelial neoplasia (VIN), also known as bowenoid papulosis (BP). Ten patients had blood lymphocyte proliferative T cell responses directed against E6/2 (14[ndash]34) and/or E6/4 (45[ndash]68) peptides, which were identified in the present study as immunodominant among HPV-16 E6 and E7 large peptides. Ex vivo enzyme-linked immunospot[ndash]interferon (IFN)-[gamma] assay was positive in three patients who had proliferative responses. Twelve months later, proliferative T cell respon...
Source: Clinical and Experimental Immunology - July 29, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: I. Bourgault Villada, M. Moyal Barracco, S. Berville, M. L. Bafounta, C. Longvert, V. Prémel, P. Villefroy, E. Jullian, T. Clerici, B. Paniel, B. Maillère, J. Choppin, J. G. Guillet Source Type: journals

BAFF: a local and systemic target in autoimmune diseasesEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
BAFF (B lymphocyte activating factor of the tumour necrosis factor family) is a vital homeostatic cytokine for B cells that helps regulate both innate and adaptive immune responses. Increased serum levels of BAFF are found in a number of different autoimmune diseases, and BAFF is found in inflammatory sites in which there is lymphoid neogenesis. BAFF antagonism has been used in several autoimmune disease models, resulting in B cell depletion, decreased activation of T cells and dendritic cells (DC) and a reduction in the overall inflammatory burden. BAFF, through its interaction with BAFF-R, is required for survival of lat...
Source: Clinical and Experimental Immunology - July 29, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: I. Moisini, A. Davidson Source Type: journals

Activating and inhibitory killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) in haploidentical haemopoietic stem cell transplantation to cure high-risk leukaemiasEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
A number of experimental studies have shown that natural killer (NK) cells can eliminate cancer cells and the mechanisms involved in this effect have been uncovered during the last two decades. Clinical data from haploidentical haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (haplo-HSCT) revealed that NK cells were responsible for remarkably favourable effects in both adult and paediatric high-risk leukaemias. NK receptors specific for major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules, including killer immunoglobulin (Ig)-like receptors (KIR) and CD94/NKG2A, play a major role in the anti-leukaemia effect (mediating either ...
Source: Clinical and Experimental Immunology - July 28, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: A. Moretta, D. Pende, F. Locatelli, L. Moretta Tags: Review Article Source Type: journals

CorrigendumEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
(Source: Clinical and Experimental Immunology)
Source: Clinical and Experimental Immunology - July 26, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Tags: Corrigendum Source Type: journals

Chronic antigenic stimuli as a possible explanation for the immunodepression caused by liver cirrhosisEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In conclusion, patients with liver cirrhosis showed an intensive activation state with a higher percentage of cells committed to activation-induced death, even in non-advanced stages. It is possible that bacterial permeability and endotoxaemia contribute to the expansion of those lymphocyte populations implicated in the prevention of a more severe antigen-induced immunopathology. (Source: Clinical and Experimental Immunology)
Source: Clinical and Experimental Immunology - July 22, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: M. Márquez, C. Fernández-Gutiérrez, M. Montes-de-Oca, M. J. Blanco, F. Brun, C. Rodríguez-Ramos, J. A. Girón-González Source Type: journals

Increased immunoglobulin A in alcoholic liver cirrhosis: exploring the response of B cells to Toll-like receptor 9 activationEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Alcoholic liver cirrhosis (ALC) is characterized by increased circulating levels of immunoglobulins (Igs). ALC patients undergo bacterial translocation evidenced by the presence of bacterial DNA in peripheral blood. Bacterial pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS), peptidoglycan (PGN) and unmethylated cytosine-guanine dinucleotide (CpG) DNA are ligands of Toll-like receptor (TLR)-4, TLR-2 and TLR-9, respectively. Although TLR activation results generally in the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines, activation of B cells through TLR-7 or TLR-9 is involved in their maturation and I...
Source: Clinical and Experimental Immunology - July 19, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: B. Massonnet, A. Delwail, J.-M. Ayrault, C. Chagneau-Derrode, J.-C. Lecron, C. Silvain Tags: Translational Studies Source Type: journals

The Tat-conjugated N-terminal region of mucin antigen 1 (MUC1) induces protective immunity against MUC1-expressing tumoursEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Mucin antigen 1 (MUC1) is overexpressed on various human adenocarcinomas and haematological malignancies and has long been used as a target antigen for cancer immunotherapy. Most of the preclinical and clinical studies using MUC1 have used the tandem repeat region of MUC1, which could be presented by only a limited set of major histocompatibility complex haplotypes. Here, we evaluated N-terminal region (2[ndash]147 amino acids) of MUC1 (MUC1-N) for dendritic cell (DC)-based cancer immunotherapy. We used Esherichia coli-derived MUC1-N that was fused to the protein transduction domain of human immunodeficiency virus Tat prot...
Source: Clinical and Experimental Immunology - July 16, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: H. Yang, N.-H. Cho, S.-Y. Seong Source Type: journals

Prolonging microtubule dysruption enhances the immunogenicity of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia cellsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Cytotoxic chemotherapies do not usually mediate the expression of an immunogenic gene programme in tumours, despite activating many of the signalling pathways employed by highly immunogenic cells. Concomitant use of agents that modulate and complement stress-signalling pathways activated by chemotherapeutic agents may then enhance the immunogenicity of cancer cells, increase their susceptibility to T cell-mediated controls and lead to higher clinical remission rates. Consistent with this hypothesis, the microtubule inhibitor, vincristine, caused chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) cells to die rapidly, without increasing t...
Source: Clinical and Experimental Immunology - July 16, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: S. P. Shaha, J. Tomic, Y. Shi, T. Pham, P. Mero, D. White, L. He, J. L. Baryza, P. A. Wender, J. W. Booth, D. E. Spaner Source Type: journals