Local and systemic consequences of acute,low-dose ultraviolet B radiation are mediated by different immune regulatory mechanisms

Acute, low-dose ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation alters the local skin site such that epicutaneous application of hapten fails to induce contact hypersensitivity (CH), but induces tolerance in UVB-susceptible mice. Although the inability of irradiated skin to support CH induction may be a strictly local effect, there may also be systemic immune consequences of UVB radiation delivered in this manner. To examine this matter, abdominal skin of C57BL/6 mice was exposed to acute, low-dose UVB radiation. Dinitrofluorobenzene was immediately painted directly on the irradiated site, or at a distant (unirradiated) site. In separate experiments, epicutaneous application of the hapten on a distant site was delayed for 1–3 days. The mice were tested for acquisition of CH, and for tolerance, i.e. the capacity to become sensitized when exposed subsequently to hapten via normal body wall skin. It was found that, immediately after completion of the UVB regimen, CH was inducible via unirradiated, but not via irradiated, skin. At 3 days post-UVB exposure, CH was no longer inducible even through unirradiated skin. Mice that first encountered hapten via UVB-exposed skin developed tolerance, as did mice that first encountered hapten via unirradiated skin of UVB-treated mice. Neutralizing anti-tumor necrosis factor-α TNF-α antibodies failed (a) to restore the ability of unirradiated skin to support induction of CH, and (b) to interfere with tolerance induction, whether hapten was first painted on irradiated or unirradiates skin. The data indicate that the acute, low-dose regimen of UVB radiation produces effects on the immune system that are manifest locally as well as systemically. By demonstrating that the disruption of CH induction following UVB radiation is TNF-α dependent, whereas locally and systemically induced tolerance is not, our findings encourage further search for other UVB-related modulators of systemic immunity and tolerance.     

Ultrastructural identification of the splenic follicular dendritic cells in the chicken

Background: There is a need to identify the follicular dendritic cells (FDC) of the chicken spleen at the ultrastructural level during a secondary immune response. Methods: The cells were identified after intravenous priming BSA and boosting with biotinylated BSA conjugated to colloidal gold particles. Monoclonal antibodies raised specifically either to chicken IgG or IgM were used to characterize these immune complex-trapping cells. Results: The FDC had an irregular morphology which varied through time, supporting the existence of two types of FDC in the chicken spleen, one showing filiform cell processes, the other provided with beaded dendrites. When the filiform dendrites were observed, the FDC bound the antigen on their surfaces. These dendrites showed an intrincate convoluted configuration, forming tightly wrapped networks near the cell body. The networks had the same features as those described in mammals as antigen retaining reticulum (ARR). In chickens, the ARR, which represents sites of antigen localization on FDC, reached maximum development on day 5 after the second injection of BSA and had disappeared by day 8. At this time FDC had beaded dendrites. Conclusions: Antigen is retained on FDC in the chicken spleen for long periods of time. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

细胞间粘附分子—1^125I标记及其纯度、免疫活性的鉴定

目的：建立细胞间粘附分子－1（intracellular adhesion molecule-1 ICAM-1)^125I标记方法及鉴定其纯度和免疫活性。方法：用氯胺－T法标记ICAM－1,用Sephadex G-50柱层析分离,用纸层析法鉴定^125I-ICAM-1的纯度,放免法检测其免疫活性,结果：^125I-ICAM-1比活度为77．84uCi/ug蛋白,标记率为65．54％,^125I-Na的放化纯度为97．27％,^125I-ICAM-1能够与ICAM－1－Ab的最大结合为88．64％,并且随ICAM－1－Ab滴度的降低而增高。结论：成功建立^125I标记ICAM－1的方法,并且^125I-ICAM-1具有一定的免疫活性。     

氧化苦参碱对小鼠免疫性肝纤维化作用机制的研究

目的 研究氧化苦参碱对小鼠免疫性肝纤维化的作用机制。方法 将BABL/c 小鼠随机分成正常对照组、阳性对照组、氧化苦参碱小剂量、大剂量治疗组,阳性对照组和氧化苦参碱治疗组每周静脉注射1次刀豆蛋白A,共20周。氧化苦参碱治疗组分别腹腔注射氧化苦参碱30mg/kg、60mg/kg。共20周。分别于注射刀豆蛋白A后5、12和20周取血低温保存;并每次处死一批小鼠取肝脏组织液氮低温保存、常规HE染色、Van Gieson胶原纤维染色,冰冻切片CD4,CD8T淋巴细胞染色。图像分析系统定量分析肝纤维组织含量。结果 氧化苦参碱治疗组血清ALT含量及肝组织内炎症活动度、纤维含量均低于阳性对照组,而且呈剂量依赖性。结论 氧化苦参碱有减轻小鼠肝脏炎症活动度及抗小鼠免疫性肝纤维化的作用。     

补中益气汤调控JAK2/STAT3信号通路对气虚发热证大鼠肠道菌群、免疫功能及神经功能的影响

目的:分析补中益气汤调控Janus激酶2(JAK2)/信号传导与活化转录因子3(STAT3)/STAT3信号通路对气虚发热证大鼠肠道菌群、免疫功能及神经功能的影响。方法:将30只大鼠随机分为正常组、气虚发热模型组、补中益气汤组,每组10只。气虚发热模型组、补中益气汤组大鼠用于建立气虚发热模型,第18天开始,补中益气汤组给予补中益气汤灌胃治疗5 d,气虚发热模型组给予等体积蒸馏水。16SrRNA基因序列分析技术检测大鼠肠道菌群;ELISA法检测CD4⁺、CD8⁺、补体C3水平、免疫球蛋白G(IgG)、免疫球蛋白M(IgM)水平;放免法测定乙酰胆碱(Ach)、环磷酸腺苷(cAMP)和环磷酸鸟苷(cGMP)水平;蛋白质印迹法(Western blot)检测p-JAK2、p-STAT3蛋白表达水平。结果:补中益气汤可改善气虚发热所致的疣微菌门、互养菌门菌落减少,螺旋体门、埃普西隆杆菌门菌落增多情况(P<0.05)。补中益气汤可改善气虚发热所致的血清CD4⁺、C3、IgM、IgG水平及淋巴细胞转化率降低,血清CD8^...     

IMXQB-80: A Quillaja brasiliensis saponin-based nanoadjuvant enhances Zika virus specific immune responses in mice

Vaccine adjuvants are compounds that enhance/prolong the immune response to a co-administered antigen. Saponins have been widely used as adjuvants for many years in several vaccines – especially for intracellular pathogens – including the recent and somewhat revolutionary malaria and shingles vaccines. In view of the immunoadjuvant potential of Q. brasiliensis saponins, the present study aimed to characterize the QB-80 saponin-rich fraction and a nanoadjuvant prepared with QB-80 and lipids (IMXQB-80). In addition, the performance of such adjuvants was examined in experimental inactivated vaccines against Zika virus (ZIKV). Analysis of QB-80 by DI-ESI-ToF by negative ion electrospray revealed over 29 saponins that could be assigned to known structures existing in their congener Q. saponaria, including the well-studied QS-21 and QS-7. The QB-80 saponins were a micrOTOF able to self-assembly with lipids in ISCOM-like nanoparticles with diameters of approximately 43 nm, here named IMXQB-80. Toxicity assays revealed that QB-80 saponins did present some haemolytical and cytotoxic potentials; however, these were abrogated in IMXQB-80 nanoparticles. Regarding the adjuvant activity, QB-80 and IMXQB-80 significantly enhanced serum levels of anti-Zika virus IgG and subtypes (IgG1, IgG2b, IgG2c) as well as neutralized antibodies when compared to an unadjuvanted vaccine. Furthermore, the nanoadjuvant IMXQB-80 was as effective as QB-80 in stimulating immune responses, yet requiring fourfold less saponins to induce the equivalent stimuli, and with less toxicity. These findings reveal that the saponin fraction QB-80, and particularly the IMXQB-80 nanoadjuvant, are safe and capable of potentializing immune responses when used as adjuvants in experimental ZIKV vaccines.     

Immune non-interference and safety study of Vi-DT typhoid conjugate vaccine with a measles,mumps and rubella containing vaccine in 9–15 months old Nepalese infants

BackgroundTyphoid fever is a common disease in developing countries especially in the Indian subcontinent and Africa. The available typhoid conjugate vaccines (TCV) have been found to be highly immunogenic in infants and children less than 2 years of age. Many countries are planning to adopt TCV in their routine EPI programs around 9 months of age when measles containing vaccines are given. Therefore, Vi-DT TCV was tested in 9–15 months aged healthy infants in Nepal to demonstrate non-interference with a measles containing vaccine.MethodsThis was a randomized, open label, phase III study to assess the immune non-interference, safety, and reactogenicity of Vi-DT typhoid conjugate vaccine when given concomitantly with measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. A total of 360 participants aged 9–15 months were enrolled and randomized equally into Vi-DT + MMR (180 participants) or MMR alone (180 participants) group and were evaluated for immunogenicity and safety 28 days post vaccination.ResultsUsing the immunogenicity set, difference between proportions (95% CI) of the Vi-DT + MMR group vs MMR alone group were ?2.73% (-8.85, 3.38), ?3.19% (-11.25, 4.88) and 2.91% (-3.36, 9.18) for sero-positivity rate of anti-measles, anti-mumps and anti- rubella, respectively. Only the lower bound of the range in difference of the proportions for sero-positivity rate of anti-mumps did not satisfy the non-inferiority criteria as it was above the ?10% limit, which may not be of clinical significance. These results were confirmed in the per protocol set. There were no safety concerns reported from the study and both Vi-DT + MMR and MMR alone groups were comparable in terms of solicited and unsolicited adverse events .ConclusionsResults indicated that there is non-interference of MMR vaccine with Vi-DT and Vi-DT conjugate vaccine could be considered as an addition to the EPI schedule among children at risk of contracting typhoid.     

Fugetaxis: active movement of leukocytes away from a chemokinetic agent

Chemotaxis or active movement of leukocytes toward a stimulus has been shown to occur in response to chemokinetic agents including members of the recently identified superfamily of proteins called chemokines. Leukocyte chemotaxis is thought to play a central role in a wide range of physiological and pathological processes including the homing of immune cells to lymph nodes and the accumulation of these cells at sites of tissue injury and pathogen or antigen challenge. We have recently identified a novel biological mechanism, which we term fugetaxis (fugere, to flee from; taxis, movement) or chemorepulsion, which describes the active movement of leukocytes away from chemokinetic agents including the chemokine, stromal cell derived factor-1, and the HIV-1 envelope protein, gp120. In this article, we review the evidence that supports the observation that leukocyte fugetaxis occurs in vitro and in vivo and suggestions that this novel mechanism can be exploited to modulate the immune response. We propose that leukocyte fugetaxis plays a critical role in both physiological and pathological processes in which leukocytes are either excluded or actively repelled from specific sites in vivo including thymic emigration, the establishment of immune privileged sites and immune evasion by viruses and cancer. We believe that current data support the thesis that a greater understanding of leukocyte fugetaxis will lead to the development of novel therapeutic approaches for a wide range of human diseases.     

受体选择与B细胞自身免疫耐受

基因重组机制的存在使得B细胞抗原受体呈现高度的多态性,这其中包括大量的自身反应性抗原受体;而免疫细胞在发育过程中对自身抗原耐受状态的形成正是为了避免对机体自身的攻击。传统认为这主要缘于自身反应性细胞或克隆的死亡性清除,即细胞选择;近年来随基因操作技术特别是转基因及基因靶导技术的成熟运用,发现这些被“清除”的细胞并非全部死亡,其中大部分是通过重新启动基因重组机制以一种“受体选择”(Receptor selection)的方式,以重组的新的非自身反应性受体替代了原自身反应性受体;同时受体选择尚参与成熟B特异性的调整,以使正参与免疫反应B细胞受体更加多样化从而适应当前免疫应答的需要。     

儿童臀肌挛缩症免疫发病机理的研究

本文对４１例儿童臀肌挛缩症患者外周血及３２例儿童臀肌挛缩症臀肌进行了系统的免疫学研究。结果表明：儿童臀肌挛缩症患者免疫调节功能紊乱，红细胞免疫功能低下，臀肌组织免疫复合物沉积，臀肌小血管数目减少及管壁损伤。由此认为免疫病理因素是儿童臀肌挛缩症的主要发病机理。