Mouse model for exoerythrocytic stages of Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasite.

Research on the exoerythrocytic (EE) stages of human malaria parasites has been hindered because of the lack of an easily available suitable animal model. We report here an approach to produce mature EE-stage Plasmodium falciparum parasites by using severe combined immunodeficient (scid) mice with transplanted human hepatocytes. Transplantation of human hepatocytes into scid mice (scid hu-hep), their subsequent intravenous infection with P. falciparum sporozoites, and the development of mature liver-stage merozoites was achieved. Immunofluorescent staining of scid hu-hep kidney tissue sections demonstrated the presence of circumsporozoite protein (early during infection), merozoite surface antigen 1, and liver schizont antigen 1. The scid hu-hep model can serve as a source of human malaria liver-stage parasites, decreasing the need for nonhuman primates. Use of this model will facilitate characterization of EE-stage antigens and the assessment of stage-specific chemotherapeutic agents and candidate vaccines.     

Polyamine oxidase in human retroplacental serum inhibits the growth of Plasmodium falciparum

Human retroplacental serum (RPS) containing polyamine oxidase inhibited the growth of the Camp strain of Plasmodium falciparum in vitro as assayed by the parasite's decreased incorporation of 3H-hypoxanthine. Inhibition was dose-dependent on the concentrations of serum polyamine oxidase and added polyamines. Almost complete inhibition was seen in 96-hr asynchronous cultures containing 10% RPS and in those containing 1.2% RPS plus 50 microM polyamine. Subtle morphologic changes in mature stages and decreased numbers of new rings were associated with inhibition seen in 19-hr synchronous cultures initiated at the trophozoite stage. These incubation times were longer than in previous reports showing inhibition of malaria parasites by bovine polyamine oxidase but not by human polyamine oxidase. Macrophages contain polyamine oxidase, the reaction products of which are known to be similar to those of RPS polyamine oxidase but different from those of bovine polyamine oxidase. It remains to be determined whether human polyamine oxidase, acting upon ubiquitous polyamines, contributes to host defenses against malaria.     

Functional integration of hepatocytes derived from human mesenchymal stem cells into mouse livers

AIMS: At present, clinical success of hepatocyte transplantation as an alternative to whole liver transplantation is hampered by the limited availability of suitable donor organs for the isolation of transplantable hepatocytes. Hence, novel cell sources are required to deliver hepatocytes of adequate quality for clinical use. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from human bone marrow may have the potential to differentiate into hepatocytes in vitro and in vivo. METHODS: Isolated MSCs were selected by density gradient centrifugation and plastic adherence, differentiated in the presence of human hepatocyte growth medium and transplanted in immunodeficient Pfp/Rag2 mice. RESULTS: Here, we demonstrate that human MSCs gain in vitro the characteristic morphology and function of hepatocytes in response to specified growth factors. Specifically, preconditioned MSCs store glycogen, synthesise urea and feature the active hepatocyte-specific gene promoter of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PCK1). After transplantation into livers of immunodeficient mice, preconditioned MSCs engraft predominantly in the periportal portion of the liver lobule. In situ, the cells continue to store glycogen and express PCK1, connexin32, albumin and the human hepatocyte-specific antigen HepPar1, indicating that the transplanted cells retain prominent qualities of hepatocytes after their regional integration. CONCLUSION: MSCs derived from human bone marrow may serve as a novel source for the propagation of hepatocyte-like cells suitable for cell therapy in liver diseases.     

Protracted sterile protection with Plasmodium yoelii pre-erythrocytic genetically attenuated parasite malaria vaccines is independent of significant liver-stage persistence and is mediated by CD8+ T cells

Irradiation-attenuated sporozoite vaccinations confer sterile protection against malaria infection in animal models and humans. Persistent, nonreplicating parasite forms in the liver are presumably necessary for the maintenance of sterile immunity. A novel vaccine approach uses genetically attenuated parasites (GAPs) that undergo arrested development during liver infection. The fate of GAPs after immunization, their persistence in vaccinated animals, and the immune mechanisms that mediate protection are unknown. To examine the developmental defects of genetically attenuated liver stages in vivo, we created deletions of the UIS3 and UIS4 loci in the Plasmodium yoelii rodent malaria model (Pyuis3[-] and Pyuis4[-]). The low 50% infectious dose of P. yoelii in BALB/c mice provides the most sensitive infectivity model. We show that P. yoelii GAPs reach the liver, invade hepatocytes, and develop a parasitophorous vacuole but do not significantly persist 40 h after infection. A single dose of Pyuis4(-) sporozoites conferred complete protection, but full protection by Pyuis3(-) sporozoites required at least 2 immunizations. CD8(+) T cells were essential for protection, but CD4(+) T cells were not. Our results show that genetically distinct GAPs confer different degrees of protective efficacy and that live vaccine persistence in the liver is not necessary to sustain long-lasting protection. These findings have important implications for the development of a P. falciparum GAP malaria vaccine.     

Establishment of a human hepatocyte line that supports in vitro development of the exo-erythrocytic stages of the malaria parasites Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax

Our understanding of the biology of malaria parasite liver stages is limited because of the lack of efficient in vitro systems that support the exo-erythrocytic (EE) development of the parasite. We report the development of a new hepatocyte line (HC-04) from normal human liver cells. The HC-04 cells have proliferated in hormone-free medium for more than 200 passages. The cells were hyperdiploid, resembled liver parenchymal cells, and synthesized major liver-specific proteins and enzymes. Using Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax sporozoites harvested from salivary glands of infected mosquitoes, we showed that HC-04 cells supported the complete EE development of these two most prevalent human malaria parasites. The EE parasites attained full maturation as shown by their infectivity to human erythrocytes. The infection rates of the liver cells were estimated to be 0.066% and 0.041% for P. falciparum and P. vivax, respectively. As the first human hepatocyte line known to support complete EE development of both P. falciparum and P. vivax, HC-04 will provide an experimental model that can be used for studying the biology of liver stage malaria parasites.     

Rapid hepatic fate specification of adipose-derived stem cells and their therapeutic potential for liver failure

Background and Aim:  Multipotential mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), present in many organs and tissues, represent an attractive tool for the establishment of a successful stem cell-based therapy in the field of regeneration medicine. Adipose tissue mesenchymal stem cells (AT-MSC), known as adipose-derived stem cells (ASC) are especially attractive in the context of future clinical applications because of their high accessibility and minimal invasiveness during the procedure to obtain them. The goal of the present study was to induce human ASC into functional hepatocytes in vitro within a very short period of time and to check their therapeutic potential in vivo .
Methods:  In vitro generated ASC-derived hepatocytes were checked for hepatocyte-specific markers and functions. Afterwards, they were transplanted into nude mice with liver injury. Twenty-four hours after transplantation, biochemical parameters were evaluated in blood serum.
Results:  We have shown here that ASC can be differentiated into hepatocytes within 13 days and can reach the functional properties of primary human hepatocytes. After transplantation into mice with acute liver failure, ASC-derived hepatocytes can restore such liver functions as ammonia and purine metabolism. Markers of liver injury, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, as well as ammonia, were decreased after ASC-derived hepatocyte transplantation.
Conclusions:  Our data highlight the properties of ASC as having a special affinity for hepatocyte differentiation in vitro and liver regeneration in vivo . Thus, ASC may be a superior choice for the establishment of a therapy for injured liver.     

A key role for Pre-B cell colony-enhancing factor in experimental hepatitis

Pre-B cell colony-enhancing factor (PBEF), also known as nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase or visfatin, plays an important role in metabolic, inflammatory, and malignant diseases. Recent evidence suggests that blocking its enzymatic activity using a specific small-molecule inhibitor (FK866) might be beneficial in acute experimental inflammation. We investigated the role of PBEF in human liver disease and experimental hepatitis. PBEF serum levels and hepatic expression were determined in patients with chronic liver diseases. These studies were followed by in vivo experiments using concanavalin A (ConA) and D-galactosamine/lipopolysaccharide (LPS) models of experimental hepatitis. PBEF was either overexpressed by hydrodynamic perfusion or inhibited by FK866. In vivo findings were corroborated studying inflammatory responses of lentivirally PBEF-silenced or control FL83B mouse hepatocytes. Here, we demonstrate that PBEF serum levels were increased in patients with chronic liver diseases irrespective of disease stage and etiology. In particular, we observed enhanced PBEF expression in hepatocytes. Liver-targeted overexpression of PBEF rendered mice more susceptible to ConA- and D-galactosamine/LPS-induced hepatitis compared with control animals. In contrast, inhibition of PBEF using FK866 protected mice from ConA-induced liver damage and apoptosis. Administration of FK866 resulted in depletion of liver nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide+ levels and reduced proinflammatory cytokine expression. Additionally, FK866 protected mice in the D-galactosamine/LPS model of acute hepatitis. In vitro, PBEF-silenced mouse hepatocytes showed decreased responses after stimulation with LPS, lipoteichoic acid, and tumor necrosis factor α. In primary murine Kupffer cells, FK866 suppressed LPS-induced interleukin (IL)-6 production, whereas incubation with recombinant PBEF resulted in increased IL-6 release. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that PBEF is of key importance in experimental hepatitis. Its specific inhibition might be considered a novel treatment option for inflammatory liver diseases.     

Analysis of the functional integrity of cryopreserved human liver cells including xenografting in immunodeficient mice to address suitability for clinical applications.

BACKGROUND: The availability of well-characterized human liver cell populations that can be frozen and thawed will be critical for cell therapy. We addressed whether human hepatocytes can recover after cryopreservation and engraft in immunodeficient mice. METHODS: We isolated cells from discarded human livers and studied the properties of cryopreserved cells. The viability of thawed cells was established with multiple in vitro assays, including analysis of liver gene expression, ureagenesis, cytochrome P450 activity, and growth factor-induced cell proliferation. The fate of transplanted cells was analysed in immunodeficient NOD-SCID mice. RESULTS: After thawing, the viability of human hepatocytes exceeded 60%. Cells attached to culture dishes, proliferated following growth factor stimulation and exhibited liver-specific functions. After transplantation in NOD-SCID mice, cells engrafted in the peritoneal cavity, a heterologous site, as well as the liver itself, retained hepatic function and proliferated in response to liver injury. Transplanted hepatocytes were integrated in the liver parenchyma. Occasionally, transplanted cells were integrated in bile ducts. CONCLUSIONS: Cryopreserved human liver cell showed the ability to retain functional integrity and to reconstitute both hepatic and biliary lineages in mice. These studies offer suitable paradigms aimed at characterizing liver cells prior to transplantation in people.     

Activation of the host response in human Plasmodium falciparum malaria: relation of parasitemia to tumor necrosis factor/cachectin, thrombin-antithrombin III, and protein C levels.

PURPOSE: Hemostatic alterations and elevated tumor necrosis factor/cachectin (TNF alpha) serum levels may contribute to the pathogenesis of organ complications in human Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Therefore, we examined whether altered protein C (PC) and thrombin-antithrombin III (TAT) plasma levels correlated with TNF alpha serum concentrations, parasitemia, and the clinical course of human P. falciparum malaria. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty-seven patients with P. falciparum malaria were evaluated prospectively before and during antiparasitic therapy. TNF alpha serum levels were determined by immunoradiometric assay, PC and TAT plasma antigen by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and PC and PC inhibitor-1 (PCI-1) activity levels by functional tests. Cultured endothelial cells were incubated with serum from four patients with malaria and from healthy control subjects and then assayed for procoagulant activity. Northern blot hybridization was used to detect tissue factor mRNA. RESULTS: In vivo, TNF alpha serum concentrations were elevated (median: 38.6 pg/mL; n = 47) while plasma levels of PC (antigen 55.4%; activity 39.0%; n = 47) and PCI-1 (0.56 U/L) were decreased in almost all patients before antiparasitic treatment. At the same time, TAT concentrations were high. These alterations correlated significantly (p less than 0.01) both with the severity of the disease (as defined by organ impairment) and with the number of circulating parasitized erythrocytes. Low PCI-1 activity correlated with low PC activity (p less than 0.001) and antigen (p less than 0.05) levels. The plasma level of coagulation factor IX, another vitamin K-dependent protein, was not significantly changed. In vitro, incubation of endothelial cells with patient serum (severe P. falciparum malaria) increased both endothelial cell procoagulant activity and cytoplasmic tissue factor mRNA levels. CONCLUSION: Elevated levels of TNF alpha and TAT, decreased plasma levels of anticoagulant PC, and the induction of procoagulant activity in endothelial cells by patient serum indicate a shift in the balance of hemostatic activity towards a procoagulant state in P. falciparum malaria. The alterations in TNF alpha, TAT, and PC levels may be a response to infection, since they correlate with parasitemia and are reversed during antiparasitic treatment.     

Antigenic diversity amongst ten geographic isolates of Plasmodium falciparum defined by merozoite invasion inhibition assay.

The extent to which human antibodies involved in functional immunity react with antigenic determinants varying between different isolates or strains of human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum will influence the design of vaccine against malaria. In this study, in vitro inhibition of merozoite invasion in erythrocytes by an immune human serum was used to define the antigenic differences in 10 isolates of P. falciparum from three endemic areas, i.e. Africa, South America and Southeast Asia. The serum inhibited the invasion of merozoites of all the strains but the extent of inhibition varied from low to moderate to high degree indicating antigenic differences amongst isolates of P. falciparum. The antigenic differences could not be correlated to the geographic origin of the parasite isolate.     

The squirrel monkey as an experimental model for Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte rosette formation.

Experimental cerebral malaria was recently found to occur in the squirrel monkey Saimiri sciureus when infected with the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. This report is concerned with the existence of spontaneous rosette formation ex vivo (infected blood samples) and in vitro (cultured parasites) between red blood cells (RBC) infected with squirrel monkey-adapted P. falciparum isolates and normal squirrel monkey RBC. Transfer of P. falciparum with high rosette formation tendencies (90-100 R+) from one donor monkey to several recipients gave rise to parasites that varied extensively in their ex vivo rosette formation capacity (4-96% R+). However, all individual parasites readily form rosettes after 24 hr of in vitro culture (60-95% R+). Host factors may be involved in the modulation of rosette formation, although it is found to occur both in splenectomized and spleen-intact animals. Cross-rosette formation is seen between parasitized human RBC and normal squirrel monkey RBC and vice versa, and rosettes formed by RBC of the two hosts are similarly affected by pH, temperature, EDTA, trypsin, as well as squirrel monkey and African human hyperimmune IgG. These characteristics of rosette formation are preserved after long-term in vitro culture in human RBC. Rosettes formed by some isolates are highly sensitive to heparin while others are not, suggesting at least two distinct mechanisms of rosette formation. This idea is also supported by the observation that specific squirrel monkey antisera to heparin-sensitive strains does not dissociate rosettes formed by a heparin-resistant strain. The results suggest that rosettes and anti-rosette formation antibodies formed by squirrel monkeys and humans exhibited similar characteristics, and that the squirrel monkey is therefore a good experimental model to study erythrocyte rosette formation and cerebral malaria.     

Characterization of drug metabolizing activities in pig hepatocytes for use in bioartificial liver devices: comparison with other hepatic cellular models.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The pig is considered the best donor of hepatocytes for bioartificial liver devices, but little is known about the metabolic capability of pig hepatocytes. Therefore, we have evaluated drug metabolizing activities in pig hepatocytes and liver microsomes and compared the results with those of man and other animal hepatic cellular models that are potential sources of cells for bioreactors, such as rat, rabbit and dog hepatocytes and hepatoma cell lines. METHODS: Total cytochrome P450 levels, six phase 1 activities representative of the most relevant cytochrome P450 enzymes (7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase, 7-ethoxy-, 7-methoxy- and 7-benzoxyresorufin O-dealkylases, coumarin 7-hydroxylase and p-nitrophenol hydroxylase), two phase 2 activities (glutathione S-transferase and UDP-glucuronyltransferase) and CYP-dependent regioselective testosterone metabolism were evaluated in in vitro models of different species. RESULTS: The pattern of specific cytochrome P450 activities and the metabolic profile of testosterone in intact hepatocytes were essentially the same as those measured in liver microsomes. Relatively low ethoxy-, methoxy-, and benzoxyresorufin O-dealkylation rates were found in pig liver microsomes and hepatocytes as compared to hepatic in vitro human models. However, in contrast with the other species studied, stereoselective testosterone oxidation profiles were practically identical in human and pig models. Finally, the metabolic capability of hepatoma cell lines was very limited in comparison with that of hepatocytes. CONCLUSIONS: Pig hepatocytes are able to maintain in culture the phase 1 and phase 2 activities found in liver microsomes. The high metabolic similarities found between pig and human hepatocytes lend support to the use of pig hepatocytes in bioartificial liver devices.     

Rho kinase inhibition in severe malaria: thwarting parasite-induced collateral damage to endothelia

Acute clinical manifestations of falciparum malaria, such as multiorgan failure and cerebral malaria, occur unpredictably and lead to coma and death within hours if left untreated. Despite the emergency administration of effective antimalarial drugs, 15%-20% of patients die. Other therapeutic approaches are therefore urgently needed. There is increasing evidence that endothelial changes play a key role in the pathogenesis of severe malaria. We therefore used coculture models to study interactions between infected erythrocytes and endothelium. We found that adhesion of Plasmodium falciparum to endothelial cells in vitro activated the Rho kinase signaling pathway, which is strongly involved in various vascular diseases. When added concomitantly with parasites, the Rho kinase inhibitor fasudil (HA-1077), a drug already in clinical use, decreased both NF-kappaB activation and endothelial cell apoptosis. Fasudil also helped to restore endothelial barrier integrity after P. falciparum adhesion. Rho kinase inhibition thus appears to be a promising adjunctive therapeutic approach to the management of severe human malaria.     

Prevalence and significance of hepatitis B virus (HBV) pre-S mutants in serum and liver at different replicative stages of chronic HBV infection

Several types of naturally occurring pre-S mutants in sera or liver tissues in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection have been identified. To clarify the prevalence and significance of emergence of pre-S mutants, 140 sera and 18 resected livers from patients with HBV were studied. Replicative status was designated as high, intermediate, and low based on the HBV-DNA levels in serum or the expression of HBV antigens in liver. In vitro transfection and Western blot analysis were performed to characterize expression and secretion of HBsAg by the mutant constructs. Five major types (I to V) of pre-S deletion mutants in serum and liver and 2 types (VI and VII) in liver were identified. Pre-S mutant was 6.4% at high replicative phase, 13% at intermediate, and 37.5% at low or nonreplicative phases in serum. In livers, the same tendency existed: pre-S2 deletion mutants emerged and prevailed at a low replicative phase in hepatocytes that expressed a novel marginal pattern of HBsAg and usually clustered in groups. The deletion sequence of pre-S2 region coincides with human leukocyte antigen-restricted T- and B-cell epitopes. In vitro HBsAg was retained in the hepatocytes and synthesis and secretion of major surface antigen decreased for most of the pre-S mutants. Pre-S mutants prevailed with evolution of chronic HBV, probably under immune pressure. Emergence of pre-S mutants may account for the life-long persistence and discrepancy of HBsAg in serum and liver in HBV and may confer growth advantage in view of the clustering proliferation of hepatocytes harboring pre-S2 mutant.     

恶性疟原虫重组质粒DNA接种诱导BALB/c小鼠的免疫应答

目的：观察重组质粒DNA直接免疫接种诱导BALB／c小鼠的免疫应答水平，为恶性疟原虫DNA疫苗在动物和人体的应用提供依据。方法：构建编码多价保护性抗原的重组质粒pcDNA3－Pf8，PCR法检测免疫鼠的肌肉、肝脏、肾脏、心脏、脾脏和肺组织中pcDNA3－Pf 8，ELISA、T淋巴细胞转化试验、体外抑制试验观察其诱导的体液免疫及细胞免疫水平。结果：用PCR法从上述组织中均检测到pcDNA3－Pf8，ELISA法测得免疫鼠血清的特异性抗体滴度达12560，淋巴细胞转化试验显示恶性疟原虫可溶性抗原能特异性地剌激免疫鼠脾细胞增殖，免疫血清在体外还能抑制恶性疟红内期疟原虫的生长、发育。结论：编码恶性疟原虫多价保护性抗原的重组质粒pcDNA 3-Pf 8 直接免疫接种, 能特异性地剌激BALB/c 小鼠产生体液免疫和细胞免疫应答, 其免疫血清在体外对疟原虫生长发育具有明显抑制作用。     

Iron chelators: in vitro inhibitory effect on the liver stage of rodent and human malaria

The activity of desferrioxamine (Desferal) and desferrithiocin (a newly developed oral iron chelator) was evaluated against the liver stage of Plasmodium yoelii and P. falciparum in the rodent and the human hepatocyte in vitro culture system. The two iron chelators were found to inhibit the liver schizogony of both the rodent and the human Plasmodium species at concentrations achievable in vivo. P. falciparum proved to be more sensitive (ic 95% below 20 micromol/l than P. yoelii (ic 95% 50-100 micromol/l). As assessed by electron microscopy, drug administration was associated with focal clarification of the cytoplasm thought to be reversible. As desferrioxamine and desferrithiocin are known to be equally active on the blood stage of rodent and human plasmodia, iron chelators are deserving of further investigation as potential alternative candidates to existing drugs for radical cure of malaria.     

Elevated tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin-6 serum levels as markers for complicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria

PURPOSE: Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) has been implicated in the pathology of experimental malaria. To establish its relevance to human malaria, we studied serum levels of two monocyte-derived cytokines, TNF-alpha and interleukin-6 (IL-6), as well as of the lymphocyte-derived mediator interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) in patients with malaria before and during antiparasitic treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred twenty serum samples of 40 patients with malaria (Plasmodium falciparum [n = 32], Plasmodium vivax [n = 8]) were analyzed. IL-6 was measured by a highly sensitive and specific bioassay, TNF-alpha by immunoradiometric assay, and IFN-gamma by radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: Elevated cytokine levels could be detected in the majority of patients with P. falciparum malaria before treatment (31 of 32, 21 of 32, and 21 of 32 for TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IFN-gamma, respectively), but only in some patients with P. vivax malaria (four of eight, one of eight, and zero of eight for TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IFN-gamma, respectively). Serum concentrations of the monokines TNF-alpha and IL-6 correlated significantly with parasitic density (p less than 0.001). No such correlation was obtained with the circulating IFN-gamma concentration. The levels of monokines TNF-alpha and IL-6 were markedly elevated in 18 P. falciparum-infected patients with complicated clinical courses (median values for TNF-alpha 172 pg/mL, for IL-6 16 U/mL, peak values: 896 pg/mL and 1,000 U/mL, respectively). The correlation between TNF-alpha and IL-6 concentrations in serum (n = 40, r = 0.56, p = 0.0002) suggests co-ordinate production of those mediators. CONCLUSION: Organ impairment in human malaria was found to be correlated with the amount of circulating cytokine levels of TNF-alpha and IL-6. Thus, imbalances of the cytokine network in untreated P. falciparum infection serve as markers of severity of disease. Modulation of cytokine response could represent a novel approach to the treatment of severe organ dysfunctions in human malaria.     

Repopulation of mouse liver with human hepatocytes and in vivo infection with hepatitis B virus

Mice containing livers repopulated with human hepatocytes would provide excellent in vivo models for studies on human liver diseases and hepatotropic viruses, for which no permissive cell lines exist. Here, we report partial repopulation of the liver of immunodeficient urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA)/recombinant activation gene-2 (RAG-2) mice with normal human hepatocytes isolated from the adult liver. In the transplanted mice, the production of human albumin was demonstrated, indicating that human hepatocytes remained functional in the mouse liver for at least 2 months after transplantation. Inoculation of transplanted mice with human hepatitis B virus (HBV) led to the establishment of productive HBV infection. According to human-specific genomic DNA analysis and immunostaining of cryostat liver sections, human hepatocytes were estimated to constitute up to 15% of the uPA/RAG-2 mouse liver. This is proof that normal human hepatocytes can integrate into the mouse hepatic parenchyma, undergo multiple cell divisions, and remain permissive for a human hepatotropic virus in a xenogenic liver. This system will provide new opportunities for studies on etiology and therapy of viral and nonviral human liver diseases, as well as on hepatocyte biology and hepatocellular transplantation.     

Human cytotoxic T lymphocytes against the Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein.

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) against the circumsporozoite (CS) protein of malaria sporozoites protect against malaria in rodents. Although there is interest in developing human vaccines that induce CTL against the Plasmodium falciparum CS protein, humans have never been shown to produce CTL against any Plasmodium species protein or other parasite protein. We report that when peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from three of four volunteers immunized with irradiated P. falciparum sporozoites were stimulated in vitro with a recombinant vaccinia virus expressing the P. falciparum CS protein or a peptide including only amino acids 368-390 of the P. falciparum CS protein [CS-(368-390)], the PBMC lysed autologous Epstein-Barr virus-transformed B cells transfected with the P. falciparum CS protein gene or incubated with CS-(368-390) tricosapeptide. Activity was antigen specific, genetically restricted, and dependent on CD8+ T cells. In one volunteer, seven peptides reflecting amino acids 311-400 were tested, and, as in B10.BR mice, CTL activity was only associated with the CS-(368-390) peptide. Development of an assay for studying human CTL against the CS and other malaria proteins and a method for constructing target cells by direct gene transfection provide a foundation for studying the role of CTL in protection against malaria.