Lymphoid Neogenesis in Murine Cardiac Allografts Undergoing Chronic Rejection

Lymphoid neogenesis is the process by which ectopic lymphoid accumulations that resemble lymph nodes arise in nonlymphoid tissues. Such lymphoid accumulations, known as tertiary lymphoid organs (TLO), are observed in chronic autoimmunity and they propagate immune pathology by setting up local antigen presenting sites. Whether lymphoid neogenesis occurs in transplanted organs and contributes to rejection is not well understood. To begin to address this question, we retrospectively analyzed 319 murine cardiac allografts for microscopic evidence of lymph-node-like structures. We found 78 allografts that had either classical TLO, characterized by discrete T- and B-cell zones and high endothelial venules (HEV) expressing peripheral node addressin (PNAd) (n = 34), or PNAd(+) HEV without organized lymphoid accumulations (n = 44). These changes were present in both short- and long-lived allografts and were invariably associated with rejection. Importantly, they occurred in 78% of allografts undergoing chronic rejection (n = 85) but in only 7% of allografts undergoing primarily acute rejection (n = 184). These findings indicate that, like autoimmunity, alloimmunity is associated with lymphoid neogenesis in the target organ and suggest a role for local T-cell activation in chronic allograft rejection.     

Serum transforming growth factor-β1 level reflects disease status in patients with esophageal carcinoma after radiotherapy

AIM: To evaluate the relationship between changes in serum transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) level and curative effect of radiotherapy (RT) in patients with esophageal carcinoma.METHODS: Ninety patients with histologically confirmed esophageal carcinoma were enrolled. Serum samples for TGFβ1 analysis were obtained before and at the end of RT. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure serum TGFβ1 level. Multivariate analysis was performed to investigate the relationship between disease status and changes in serum TGFβ1 level.RESULTS: Serum TGFβ1 level in patients with esophageal carcinoma before RT was significantly higher than that in healthy controls (P ＜ 0.001). At the end of RT, serum TGFβ1 level was decreased in 67.82% (59/87) of the patients. The overall survival rate at 1,3 and 5 years was 48.28% (42/87), 19.54% (17/87)and 12.64% (11/87), respectively. Main causes of death were local failure and regional lymph node metastasis.In patients whose serum TGFβ1 level decreased after RT,the survival rate at 1, 3 and 5 years was 61.02% (36/59),28.81% (17/59) and 18.64% (11/59), respectively. The survival rate at 1 year was 17.86% (5/28) in patients whose serum TGFβ1 level increased after RT, and all died within 18 mo (P ＜ 0.01).CONCLUSION: Serum TGFβ1 level may be a useful marker for monitoring disease status after RT in patients with esophageal carcinoma.     

Discussing options between patients and health care professionals in genetic diagnosis: ethical and legal criteria

The specific characteristics of genetic data lead to ethical-legal conflicts in the framework of genetic diagnosis. Several international organisations, including UNESCO and the Council of Europe, have enacted rules referring to the use of genetic information. This paper discusses possible legal and ethical criteria that could be used in genetic testing.     

A Spanish version of the Family Assessment Device

Introduction  

This paper presents the results of a study on the psychometric properties of an authorized Spanish version of the McMaster Family Assessment Device, a self-report measure of family functioning.     

The genetic and epigenetic basis of ependymoma

Introduction  

Although ependymoma is the third most common pediatric brain tumor, we know little about the genetic/epigenetic basis of its initiation, maintenance, or progression. This is due in part to the heterogeneity of the disease, as well as the small sample size of the cohorts analyzed in most studies.