The immunohistology of CD40 in human oral epithelium in health and disease

BACKGROUND: CD40 has a role in the regulation of immune responses, cell proliferation and migration, and apoptosis. Little is known of its distribution in oral mucosal pathology. METHODS: Oral keratinocyte lines were tested for CD40 protein by Western blotting. Immunohistochemistry was used to stain paraffin sections of oral mucosa in health and in inflammatory, reactive, dysplastic and malignant disease. RESULTS: Western blotting confirmed the presence of CD40 in oral keratinocytes. CD40 was generally expressed by keratinocytes in the basal layer, with variable parabasal expression. Langerhans cells also stained positively. Expression was lost in nine of 33 (27%) epithelial dysplasias, seven of which were severe. Eighty-one percent of well, 69% of moderately and 50% of poorly differentiated oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC) expressed CD40. Overall, 45 of 65 (69%) OSCC were positive. The pattern of expression was unrelated to tumour differentiation. CONCLUSION: CD40 expression by basal and parabasal oral keratinocytes is physiological. Expression is lost in approximately one-third of oral epithelial dysplasias and OSCC. The significance of such loss remains unknown, but may be related to immunological or other abnormalities of keratinocyte homeostasis.     

CD40-CD40配体与动脉粥样硬化的研究进展

动脉粥样硬化是多种因素导致的慢性疾病,严重威胁人类的健康。炎症介质CD40-CD40L被发现广泛存在于与动脉粥样硬化相关的各种细胞及血小板中,可促进其他炎症因子释放,增加内皮的促凝活性,诱导基质金属蛋白酶表达,与氧化型低密度脂蛋白协同作用促进动脉的粥样硬化和斑块的不稳定,在介导动脉粥样硬化和急性冠状动脉综合征的病理过程中起关键作用。     

具有靶向免疫抑制作用新型重组融合蛋白B7-2-PE40KDEL真核表达载体的构建及其生物效应

目的:构建B7-2-PE40KDEL的真核表达载体,探讨通过体内表达重组融合蛋白,特异性杀伤高表达CD28 T细胞,阻断B7∶CD28/CTLA4共刺激信号途径诱导免疫耐受的可能性.方法:以原核表达载体pRSETA-B7-2-PE40KDEL质粒为模板,采用PCR及酶切连接的方法构建真核表达载体pcDNA3.1/Zeo( )-B7-2-PE40KDEL.利用RT-PCR、Western 印迹及ELISA法从mRNA、蛋白质水平检测了B7-2-PE40KDEL在RPE-CHO真核细胞中的表达情况.采用MTT法对其特异性杀伤高表达CD28 T细胞的生物活性进行测定.结果:成功构建了pcDNA3.1/Zeo( )-B7-2-PE40KDEL真核表达载体,转染入RPE-CHO细胞后可转录翻译为重组融合毒素蛋白,相对分子质量约为71×103,平均106个转染细胞24 h表达0.23 μg/L.活性测定显示真核载体所表达的B7-2-PE40KDEL可特异性地抑制高表达CD28的人T淋巴细胞系,而对CD28阴性的人白血病细胞系的抑制率较低.结论:真核载体表达的B7-2-PE40KDEL具有良好的靶向性免疫抑制活性,为进一步开展其体内特异性防治移植排斥反应及自身免疫性疾病奠定了基础.     

弥漫性大B细胞淋巴瘤中CD40L的表达及意义

目的探讨弥漫性大B细胞淋巴瘤（DLBCL）组织中CD40L表达与DLBCL预后间的关系及意义。方法免疫组织化学法检测27例弥漫性大B细胞淋巴瘤、20例淋巴结反应性增生组织中CD40L的表达。结果（1）DLBCL中CD40L过度阳性率（25．93％）显著低于淋巴结反应性增生（63．64％），P〈0．05。（2）CD40L在Ⅲ、Ⅳ期DLBCL过度阳性率（14．29％）低于Ⅰ、Ⅱ期（38．46％），P〈0．05。CD40L过度阳性率在有结外浸润DLBCL（11．76％）低于无有结外浸润DLBCL（40％），P〈0．05。（3）DLBCL患者CD40L的过度阳性率与远处转移、临床分期均显著相关，P〈0．05。结论（1）CD40L过度阳性率与结外器官浸润及临床分期密切相关，其可能作为判断DLBCL侵袭性及预后的指标。（2）DLBCL中CD40L表达的减少可能是影响其发病的因素之一。     

The human CD40 gene lies within chromosome 20q deletions associated with myeloid malignancies

Deletions of chromosome 20q are associated with myeloid malignancies and have been previously shown to arise in a multipotent progenitor of both myeloid and B cells. However, B-cell differentiation from the abnormal progenitor was impaired. The CD40 antigen is a surface glycoprotein which is expressed in B cells and haemopoietic stem cells and is important for B-cell growth and development. Following the recent mapping of CD40 to chromosome 20q we sought to determine its position relative to 20q deletions. Analysis of lymphoblastoid cell lines carrying 20q deletions placed CD40 within a 19–21 cM interval which is almost coincidental with the common deleted region defined by previous analysis of patient samples. Our results raise the possibility that genetic alteration of this locus may contribute to the pathogenesis of myeloid disorders associated with 20q deletions.     

Relationship between expression of CD40-CD40 ligand system and serum cholesterol levels in patients with hypercholesterolemia

Hypercholesterolemia is associated with the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Enhanced levels of thrombin, fibrinogen and factor Ⅶc directly correlate with cholesterol levels.1 Activated platelets adhere to the intact endothelium and induce inflammatory responses in the endothelium, which substantially contribute to the early phase of atherosclerosis. Emerging lines of evidence support the role of CD40-CD40L interactions in atherosclerosis, thrombosis and inflammation.2 In atherosclerosis, inhibition of the CD40-CD40L interaction in LDL receptors or ApoE-deficient mice prevents the initiation of atherosclerosis and the evolvement of established atherosclerotic lesions to more advanced lesions.     

IL-10-driven immunoglobulin production by B lymphocytes from IgA-deficient individuals correlates to infection proneness

In search for a possible explanation of the phenotypic heterogeneity in IgA deficiency, we studied the function of B cells from IgA-deficient (IgAd) individuals. Two groups of IgAd individuals, one frequently infected and one clinically apparently healthy, as well as normal controls, were studied. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and B cells from IgAd individuals and controls were cultured with Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I strain and with anti-CD40 MoAb presented on the CD32-transfected fibroblast cell line in the presence of IL-10. In this experimental system PBMC and B cells from the infection-prone IgAd individuals produced only minute amounts of IgA. In contrast, PBMC and B cells from healthy IgAd subjects secreted significantly more IgA1 and IgA2 in comparison with infection-prone IgAd patients (P < 0.05). These data suggest that the abnormalities of B cell differentiation in IgAd could be of heterogeneous origin. Thus, whereas in healthy IgAd subjects IgA production may be efficiently up-regulated in vitro by addition of IL-10 to CD40-activated B cell culture, the corresponding B cell differentiation does not occur in infection-prone IgAd patients. These observations provide a conceptual framework for phenotypic heterogeneity in IgAd subjects.     

CD40 ligand-independent B cell activation revealed by CD40 ligand-deficient T cell clones: evidence for distinct activation requirements for antibody formation and B cell proliferation

We report the capacity of CD40 ligand (CD40L)-negative T cell clones to activate human B cells. CD40L-negative T cells induce a level of B cell proliferation 10–20% of that seen with normal T cells. The signal provided by the negative clones is synergistic with that derived from a CD40L transfectant, and restores B cell proliferation to normal levels, showing that CD40L-negative T cell clones are not inherently inhibitory for B cells. Although their capacity to induce proliferation was much reduced, CD40L-negative T cell clones were still strong inducers of B cell differentiation to plasma cells. This differentiation to plasma cells was inhibited by a CD40L transfectant. The data are discussed with regard to the normal in vivo mechanism for maintaining B cell memory and memory antibody responses to T-dependent antigens.