Innate immunity, macrophage activation, and atherosclerosis

Summary:  Inflammation underpins the development of atherosclerosis. Initiation and progression of vascular inflammation involves a complex cellular network, with macrophages as major contributors. Activated macrophages produce proinflammatory mediators, bridge innate and adaptive immunity, regulate lipid retention, and participate directly in vascular repair and remodeling. Recent efforts to elucidate molecular mechanisms involved in the regulation of vascular inflammation in atherosclerosis have implicated several families of innate immune recognition receptors in inflammatory activation during the course of this disease. This article reviews our current understanding of innate immune recognition receptors, signaling pathways, and putative ligands implicated in activation of macrophages in the disease. In its final section, we propose a model for the role of macrophages in bridging inflammation and atherosclerosis from the perspective of innate immune recognition and activation.     

Postnatal development of somatostatin-containing neurons in the visual cortex of normal and dark-reared rats

Summary The distribution of somatostatin (SRIF)-immunoreactive neurons in the visual cortical areas 17, 18 and 18a of Wistar rats from birth to adulthood was followed in both normal and dark-reared animals. The SRIF neurons show difference in distribution amongst the three cortical areas studied as early as the first postnatal week. Area 17 was distinguished by fewer SRIF cells in the upper layers (I–III), which results in a lower overall density. The SRIF neurons in all areas appeared to increase in numbers up to about 3 weeks and then decline dramatically to adult levels, which were 14–19% of the peak levels. Although this decline was still obvious, it moderated to 25–31% in dark-reared animals. The greatest effect was seen in area 18 where, at 60 days of age, there were twice as many SRIF cells in darkreared as in normal controls. It is suggested that, under conditions of dark rearing, the overall pattern of development of SRIF neurons, being uninfluenced by extrinsic factors, reveals the cells' genetic potential.     

严重烧伤患者血清IL-18、sFas和sFasL水平的变化规律及其相关性研究

目的 :探讨严重烧伤患者血清IL 18、sFas和sFasL水平间的变化及其与病情的关系。方法 :选择烧伤总面积(TBSA)≥ 30 %的严重烧伤患者 30例 ,其中死亡 3例 ;正常对照组 4 5例。采用ELISA法对不同时相点 (伤后 1、3、5、7、14、2 1、2 8和 35天 )患者血中IL 18、sFas和sFasL水平进行检测。结果 :与正常对照组比较 ,患者血清IL 18、sFas和sFasL水平均呈显著性上升 (P <0 0 1～ 0 0 5 ) ,并分别持续至伤后 2 8,2 1和 2 1天 ;感染组患者血清IL 18、sFas和sFasL水平均显著地高于非感染组 (P <0 0 1～ 0 0 5 ) ;死亡组患者血清IL 18水平下降 ,而sFasL水平则升高。患者血清IL 18和sFasL水平与烧伤面积相关 ;患者血清IL 18、sFas和sFasL之间也呈显著正相关 (P <0 0 1)。结论 :患者血清IL 18、sFas和sFasL水平与烧伤严重程度及伤后感染密切相关 ,在烧伤后免疫功能及凋亡调控中可能起一定作用。     

Mild atopic dermatitis lacks systemic inflammation and shows reduced nonlesional skin abnormalities

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IL-1, IL-18, and IL-33 families of cytokines

Summary: The interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-18, and IL-33 families of cytokines are related by mechanism of origin, receptor structure, and signal transduction pathways utilized. All three cytokines are synthesized as precursor molecules and cleaved by the enzyme caspase-1 before or during release from the cell. The NALP-3 inflammasome is of crucial importance in generating active caspase-1. The IL-1 family contains two agonists, IL-1α and IL-1β, a specific inhibitor, IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra), and two receptors, the biologically active type IL-1R and inactive type II IL-1R. Both IL-1RI and IL-33R utilize the same interacting accessory protein (IL-1RAcP). The balance between IL-1 and IL-1Ra is important in preventing disease in various organs, and excess production of IL-1 has been implicated in many human diseases. The IL-18 family also contains a specific inhibitor, the IL-18-binding protein (IL-18BP), which binds IL-18 in the fluid phase. The IL-18 receptor is similar to the IL-1 receptor complex, including a single ligand-binding chain and a different interacting accessory protein. IL-18 provides an important link between the innate and adaptive immune responses. Newly described IL-33 binds to the orphan IL-1 family receptor T1/ST2 and stimulates T-helper 2 responses as well as mast cells.     

胰腺导管腺癌和慢性胰腺炎中18q21杂合性缺失及相关性分析

目的 探讨18q21在人胰腺导管腺癌和慢性胰腺炎中杂合性缺失(LOH)的情况及其相关因素.方法 选择18q21上的位点RP11-729G3和RP11-850A17作为目的 片段,选择接近18号染色体着丝粒的位点RP11-621L6作为参照位点,利用细菌人工染色体(BAC)提取、纯化相应位点的DNA,用切口平移法分别标记生物素和地高辛后制成双色探针,应用荧光原位杂交技术(FISH)检测30例胰腺导管腺癌和10例慢性胰腺炎石蜡包埋组织切片中18q21 LOH情况,并收集、整理相应临床病理资料进行相关性分析.结果 30例胰腺导管腺癌中在RP11-729G3位点有25例(83.3%)有LOH,在RP11-850A17位点26例(86.6%)有LOH,其中25例在RP11-729G3和fuP11-850A17两个位点均有LOH,1例仅在RP11-850A17位点有LOH.10例慢性胰腺炎中均未发现18q21 LOH.经统计学分析发现,18q21 LOH在慢性胰腺炎和胰腺导管腺癌中差异有统计学意义(P<0.01),且RP11-729G3和RP11-850A17两个位点LOH有高度相关性(Phj系数=0.877),但和临床病理各因素间未发现明显相关.结论 18q21 LOH在胰腺导管腺癌中属于高频事件,并且位点RP11-729G3和RP11-850A17的LOH有高度相关性,可能在胰腺导管腺癌发生发展中起重要作用.在临床诊断中18q21LOH也能作为较特异的标记辅助诊断.     

Prenatal diagnosis and characterization of an unbalanced whole arm translocation resulting in monosomy for 18p

Monosomy for the short arm of chromosome 18 is one of the most frequent autosomal deletions observed. While most cases result from terminal deletion of 18p, 16% of cases reported were as a result of an unbalanced whole arm translocation resulting in monosomy 18p. The origin and structure of these derivative chromosomes were reported in only a few cases. We report the prenatal diagnosis and characterization of a new case of monosomy 18p as a result of an unbalanced whole arm translocation. Amniocentesis was performed at 15 weeks of gestation on a 34-year-old woman initially referred for advanced maternal age. Holoprosencephaly was identified by ultrasound at the time of amniocentesis. Karyotype analysis showed an unbalanced whole arm translocation between the long arm of one chromosome 18 and the long arm of one chromosome 22, 45,XX,der(18;22)(q10;q10), in all metaphases. In effect, the fetus had monosomy for 18p. Parental karyotypes were normal, suggesting a de novo origin for the der(18;22). Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis was performed with alpha-satellite probes D18Z1 and D14Z1/D22Z1 to identify the origin of the centromere on the der(18;22). Signal was observed with both probes, indicating that the centromere was composed of alpha-satellite DNA from both constituent chromosomes. Genotyping of the fetus and her parents with chromosome 18p STS marker D18S391 showed only the paternal 187 bp allele was present in the fetus, indicating that it was the maternal chromosome 18 involved in the der(18;22). This case and previous reports show that de novo unbalanced whole arm translocations are more likely to retain alpha-satellite sequences from the two chromosomes involved.     

Expression of interleukin-18 by nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells: a factor that possibly initiates the massive leukocyte infiltration

Interleukin-18 (IL-18) is a single-chain cytokine that is produced by various cells. With interleukin-12 (IL-12), it synergistically stimulates activated T cells and natural killer (NK) cells to produce interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma). Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is the most common form of nasal and nasopharyngeal malignancy, and in NPC tumor tissues there is an intense leukocyte infiltration comprising predominantly T cells and macrophages. We previously showed an increased expression of IFN-gamma in the infiltrating T cells. To identify the cells that provide IL-12 and IL-18 for stimulating the expression of IFN-gamma in activated T cells, NPC cell lines CNE-2 and HK-1, as well as biopsies obtained from NPC and control individuals, were examined. CNE-2 and HK-1 cells were found to express messenger RNA encoding IL-18, but not IL-12. Secreted IL-18 was detected in the culture supernatant. Addition of a caspase-1 inhibitor decreased the secretion level, indicating that this IL-18 secretion was caspase-1 dependent. Moreover, the in vitro IL-18 production in NPC cell lines correlated with the NPC tumor cells in situ. NPC tumor cells in the biopsies produced IL-18, as detected by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescent double staining. In contrast, IL-18 expression was not observed in the control biopsies. We suggest that IL-18 secreted by NPC tumor cells plays a role in initiating the leukocyte infiltration process. IL-18 stimulates T cells and NK cells to produce IFN-gamma, which consequently activates macrophages and other immune cells to secrete chemokines to start a leukocyte recruitment cascade.     

Induction of B cell costimulatory function by recombinant murine CD40 ligand

T cell-dependent regulation of B cell growth and differentiation involves an interaction between CD40, a B cell surface molecule, and the CD40 ligand (CD40L) which is expressed on activated CD4⁺ T cells. In the current study, we show that recombinant membrane-bound murine CD40L induces B cells to express costimulatory function for the proliferation of CD4⁺ Tcells. CD40L- or lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated, but not control-cultured B cells were strong costimulators of anti-CD3 or alloantigen-dependent T cell responses. The molecular interactions responsible for the increased costimulatory functions were examined by analyzing the activated B cells for changes in the expression of two costimulatory molecules, B7 and heat-stable antigen (HSA), as well as by the use of antagonists of B7 and HSA (CTLA4.Fc and 20C9, respectively). The expression of both B7 and HSA was enhanced on B cells activated with LPS. As observed in previous studies, the costimulatory activity of the LPS-activated B cells was dependent on both B7 and HSA and was completely inhibited in the presence of a combination of CTLA4.Fc and 20C9. In contrast, activation of B cells with CD40L induced the expression of B7 but did not enhance the expression of HSA. In addition the costimulatory activity of the CD40L-activated B cells was partially, but not completely, inhibited by the combination of CTLA4.Fc and 20C9. These results demonstrate that CD40L regulates costimulatory function of B cells in part by inducing the expression of B7 and suggest that CD40L-activated B cells express an additional costimulatory activity that is not associated with LPS-activated B cells.