Influence of Culture Medium on Production of Nitric Oxide and Expression of Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase by Activated Macrophages In Vitro

Activated macrophage phenotypes were influenced by the culture medium; a murine macrophage-like cell line, J774.1/JA-4, expresses different activated-macrophage phenotypes induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and/or interferon-γ (IFN-γ) when the cells are incubated in either Ham’s F-12 medium (F-12) or Dulbecco’s modified Eagle medium (DMEM).

Among these phenotypes, NO production and iNOS expression are the most remarkably influenced by the medium; the induction of iNOS mRNA and iNOS protein is higher in DMEM than in F-12, but NO production by activated macrophages is less in DMEM than in F-12.

These results suggest that the interpretation of the experimental results requires consideration of the possibility that the differences obtained by different laboratories were caused by the culture medium used.

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Antarctic Fish IgT, a Weird Option of Immunoglobulin Genes

Antarctic fish, most of which belonging to the Perciform Suborder Notothenioidei, have acquired, during their evolution, specific features that allow them to thrive, at present, at cold and stable temperature (-1.86°C).

The morphological evolution and diversification of AntarCtic Notothenioid teleosts into over 120 species is one of the best examples of adaptive radiation in the marine environment triggered by new ecological chances, for instance the extinction of antagonists.

The colonization of vacant niches, or the emergence of key innovative features such as the gain of antifreeze glycoproteins that allow them to live in cold habitats where other species would die.

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Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) and Its Preview

The announcement of human genome in June of 2000 pleasantly sent shock waves throughout the scholarly community and the general world population.

It announced the completion of a draft of human genome, along with the arrival of post-genomic era. In fact, in the post-genomic era, we are focusing on DNA sequences, as these sequences in the human body determine the sphcific trait of an individual.

To fully understand the significanch of these sequences in the human body, we must first truly understand the "single nucleotide polymorphisms" (Single Nucleotide Polymorphism, SNP).

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Towards a Universal Influenza Virus Vaccine Eliciting Broadly Neutralising Haemagglutinin Antibodies

The surface haemagglutinin (HA) glycoprotein is the immunogenic target for most of the influenza virus immune responses and consists of a globular head and a stalk domain.

Recent advances have been made towards the design of a universal influenza virus vaccine to protect against different virus strains based on conserved domains of the HA molecule eliciting broadly neutralising antibodies (bnAb).

Development of a universal vaccine for influenza that induces long-lived cross-protective immunity would displace the need for annual seasonal vaccination; prediction of circulating strains and vaccine reformulation.

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Measurement of Indoleamine 2, 3 Dioxygenase Activity in Colorectal Cancer: A Controlled Group Study

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) is the rate-limiting enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of tryptophan (Trp) to kynurénine (Kyn).

IDO has been implicated in the suppression of the antitumor immune responses trough depletion of Trp and accumulation of Trp metabolites. Several studies have shown that this activation of tryptophan metabolism by IDO suppresses T-cell proliferation and promotes T-cell apoptosis in the tumor tissue.

Consistently, increased IDO activity have been reported in several types of cancers such as skin breast and lung cancer and have even been associated with disease progression and poor prognosis in lung and skin cancer.

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Impacts of Interleukin-17 Neutralization on the Inflammatory Response in a Healing Ligament

In this study, we sought to improve ligament healing by modulating the inflammatory response after acute injury through the neutralization of Interleukin-17 (IL-17), which we hypothesized, would decrease inflammatory cell infiltration and cytokine production. Administration of an Interleukin-17 neutralizing antibody (IL-17 NA) immediately following a rat medial collateral ligament (MCL) transection resulted in alterations in inflammatory cell populations and cytokine expression within the healing ligament, but did not reduce inflammation. Specifically, treatment resulted in a decrease in M2 (anti-inflammatory) macrophages, an increase in T cells, and an increase in the levels of IL-2, IL-6, and IL-12 in the MCL 7 days post injury. IL-17NA treatment, and subsequent immuno modulation, did not result in improved ligament healing, as measured by collagen composition and wound size.

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Limitations of NK Cells in Fighting against the Large and Established Tumors

NK cells are effective in nipping the tumor cells in fringes but they are helpless in fighting with the large and established tumors. The complex immunosuppressive milieu present in the NK cell limits its ability to fight the microenvironment in tumor.

Different inhibitory receptors also try to control the functioning of the NK cell. The specific ligands expressed on the tumor cell surface or de novo induced/up-regulated immunostimulatory factors released during the active phases of the immune responses  exert an unwonted side effect called “tumor adaptive immune resistance” limits the efficiency of NK cells.

When DNA extraction and sequencing for the region of the arylsulfatase B by ABI PRISM® 3100 Genetic Analyzer was performed

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The Role of Microparticles in Rheumatic Diseases and their Potentials as Therapeutic Tools

Microparticles (MPs, also known as microvesicules or ectosomes) are heterogeneous subcellular vesicular particles (0.1-1.0 nm in diameter) released constitutively from cells and platelets undergoing cell activation or cell death by blebbing or shedding.

Platelet MPs are usually the most abundant type in blood. The presence of basal levels of MPs is common in healthy individuals, and is estimated, in peripheral blood, to range between 5 and 50 g/ml (105-106 MPs/ml).

Numerous types of MPs have been characterized with important physiologic effects by the detection of different cell surface antigens reflecting their origin and activation method.

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“Barriers Breached”: Pancreaticorenal Fistula Complicating Acute Pancreatitis– A Case Report

Pancreatitis could be acute or chronic with both the forms causing spectrum of complications. Walled off necrosis or pseudocysts complicating pancreatitis can form at variable number of locations.

Pseudocyst occurring at perinephric space is a rare complication. It can cause variety of symptoms like hematuria and renal compression.

Authors present two such cases of pancreaticorenal fistula complicating acute pancreatitis which were successfully treated with percutaneous drainage

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Plasmapheresis in Neurological Disorders

During the history of medicine, the specialty of Neurology was, sometimes, stigmatized or labelled as a science of brilliant diagnoses, but reserved prognosis and limited treatments.

Today, it is known that the technological development has changed this scenario, largely, due to spectacular advances in studies of molecular medicine, with excellent methods of diagnostic through imaging, molecular biology, muscle biopsy with electron microscopy, single fiber electromyography, digital electroencephalogram, video-electroencephalogram and more recently with the large number of antibodies.

Due to a large number of neurological syndromes associated with antibodies with increasing identification, it's been observed new potential therapeutic targets for neurological diseases.

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Chondrocyte Apoptosis in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Is Preventive Therapy Possible?

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic, chronic autoimmune disease of unknown etiology. At the tissue and organ level, respectively, RA is associated with sustained synovial joint inflammation which may also go on to affect other peripheral organs.

At the cellular level, RA is characterized by defective innate and adaptive immune responses.

Thus, experimental studies designed to dissect out the progression of RA changes have noted the extensive presence of activated T-lymphocytes with associated B-cell hyperactivity, as well as heightened migration, adhesion and retention of activated macrophages, dendritic cells and neutrophils emanating from the peripheral circulation and reaching synovial tissue.

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Impacts of Interleukin-17 Neutralization on the Inflammatory Response in a Healing Ligament

In this study, we sought to improve ligament healing by modulating the inflammatory response after acute injury through the neutralization of Interleukin-17 (IL-17), which we hypothesized, would decrease inflammatory cell infiltration and cytokine production. Administration of an Interleukin-17 neutralizing antibody (IL-17 NA) immediately following a rat medial collateral ligament (MCL) transection resulted in alterations in inflammatory cell populations and cytokine expression within the healing ligament, but did not reduce inflammation. Specifically, treatment resulted in a decrease in M2 (anti-inflammatory) macrophages, an increase in T cells, and an increase in the levels of IL-2, IL-6, and IL-12 in the MCL 7 days post injury. IL-17NA treatment, and subsequent immunomodulation, did not result in improved ligament healing, as measured by collagen composition and wound size.

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Immunogenetherapy of Cancer Using Recombinant Adenovirus Expressing Type III interferon IL-28A or IL-29

The discovery that type I interferon’s (IFNs) (IFN-α and IFN-β) have antitumor actions, including promotion of innate and acquired antitumor immune responses, suppression of proliferation and induction of apoptosis of tumor cells.

In addition to their well-known ability to inhibit virus replication, was initially welcomed with great excitement.

Actually, type I IFNs represent the cytokines exhibiting the longest record of use in the treatment of certain hematological malignancies such as hairy cell leukemia and chronic myeloid leukemia.

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Mate Choice Optimizes Offspring MHC Genetics and Drives Sexual Reproduction

Sexual reproduction can be maintained only in an ever-changing world of diseases generating a never-ending coevolutionary arms race between infectious diseases and their hosts.

The polymorphic Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) allows vertebrates including humans to track changing parasites through olfactory mate choice for the partner that offers the currently optimal complementary set of MHC alleles.

The extremely high standing variation with more than 1000 different MHC alleles present also in human populations offers ample opportunity for choice.

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How Phospholipase C Regulates Stress Tolerance and Development in Plants?

How Phospholipase C Regulates Stress Tolerance and Development in Plants?

Lipid signaling pathways regulate many cellular processes in eukaryotes. PLCs are the major players in lipid signaling, triggered by numerous environmental cues in plants.

After hydrolysis, DAG remains attached to the membrane and activates protein kinase C (PKC) while IP3 moves to the cytoplasm to bind ligand gated Ca2+ channels (IP3 receptors) resulting in the release of Ca2+ from the intracellular reservoirs.

This model doesn’t hold completely true and still debatable in plant system, as the level of PI P2 in plant membrane is very low, and no IP3 receptors, and equivalents of animal PKC have not been identified till date in plants.

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Airway Hyperresponsiveness in Asthma: A Better Understanding Yet to Yield Clinical Benefit

Seminal and ongoing research has made it clear that the molecular signature of asthma is not unique.

The molecular abnormalities that have been described in asthma are rather heterogeneous, and those that lead to asthma symptoms also differ between affected individuals.

This is not surprising, owing to the plethora of environmental factors that can trigger asthma. More than 500 individual triggers have been identified, including allergens, viruses, bacteria, pollutants, exercise, as well as occupational irritants and sensitizers.

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Association of Severity of Osteoarthritis and Carotid Atherosclerosis in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome

Increasing evidence in the literature suggests a link between osteoarthritis and atherosclerosis represented by the pro-inflammatory state, independently by concurrent factors such as the joint overload caused by obesity.

In this study we examined the role of metabolic syndrome, a cluster of cardiovascular risk factors with a significant pro-inflammatory background, on the severity of both carotid atherosclerosis and osteoarthritis.

We evaluated 68 patients (14 males, 54 females) with (mean±standard error) age and body mass index of 76.99±1.01 years and 27.63±0.62, respectively. The subjects were divided in two groups by the presence of metabolic syndrome (according to Adult Treatment Panel III criteria).

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Development and Evaluation of CmeC Subunit Vaccine against Campylobacter jejuni

Campylobacter jejuni is the leading bacterial cause of human enteritis in many industrialized countries. There is no commercial vaccine against C.

jejuni available to date. CmeC is an essential outer membrane component of CmeABC multidrug efflux pump that plays a critical role in antibiotic resistance and in vivo colonization of C. jejuni.

CmeC is prevalent in C. jejuni strains and is dramatically induced and immunogenic in vivo.

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Evaluation of Infiltration of Immunological Cells (Tissue Eosinophil and Mast Cell) in Odontogenic Cysts by Using Special Stains

Cells of immune system comprised of lymphoid series and myeloid progenitor series cells. Mast cells and tissue eosinophils both are granulocytes which come under myeloid progenitor series of immune cells system.

The presence of mast cells in odontogenic cyst could contribute to their pathogenesis in several ways. Mast cells liberate ECF (Eosinophils chemoattractant factor) and histamine, which attract eosinophils in tissue.

Mast cells and eosinophils both have also been implicated in stimulating the production of prostaglandins, important in bone resorption for odontogenic cyst growth.

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Genetic Regulation of Gelsolin in Lung in Mouse Model and its Potential Broad Spectrum of Biological Functions

Considerable studies have been done on the potential biological function of gelsolin and its connection to human immune system, diseases and other disorders.

The objective of our study was to identify genetic factors that regulate gelsolin in mouse lung and analyze its function immune system using well defined recombinant inbred strains.

For this purpose we chose the BXD recombinant inbred (RI) strains derived from progeny of the C57BL/6J (B6) and DBA/2J (D2) progenitor strains. Whole genome gene expression in lung was used for the eQTL mapping.

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