Induction of mucosal tolerance by inhalation of soluble peptides with
defined T cell epitopes is receiving much attention as a means of
specifically down-regulating pathogenic T cell reactivities in autoimmune
and allergic disorders. Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE)
induced in the Lewis rat by immunization with myelin basic protein (MBP)
and Freund's adjuvant (CFA) is mediated by CD4+ T cells specific for the
MBP amino acid sequences 68-86 and 87-99. To further define the principles
of nasal tolerance induction, we generated three different MBP peptides
(MBP 68-86, 87-99 and the non- encephalitogenic peptide 110-128), and
evaluated whether their nasal administration on day -11, -10, -9, -8 and -7
prior to immunization with guinea pig MBP (gp-MBP) + CFA confers protection
to Lewis rat EAE. Protection was achieved with the encephalitogenic
peptides MBP 68-86 and 87-99, MBP 68-86 being more potent, but not with MBP
110-128. Neither MBP 68-86 nor 87-99 at doses used conferred complete
protection to gp-MBP-induced EAE. In contrast, nasal administration of a
mixture of MBP 68-86 and 87-99 completely blocked gp-MBP-induced EAE even
at lower dosage compared to that being used for individual peptides. Rats
tolerized with MBP 68-86 + 87-99 nasally showed decreased T cell responses
to MBP reflected by lymphocyte proliferation and IFN-gamma ELISPOT assays.
Rats tolerized with MBP 68-86 + 87-99 also had abrogated MBP-reactive
IFN-gamma and tumor necrosis factor-alpha mRNA expression in lymph node
cells compared to rats receiving MBP 110-128 nasally, while similar low
levels of MBP-reactive transforming growth factor-beta and IL-4 mRNA
expressing cells were observed in the two groups. Nasal administration of
MBP 68-86 + 87-99 only slightly inhibited guinea pig spinal cord
homogenate-induced EAE, and passive transfer of spleen mononuclear cells
from MBP 68-86 + 87-99-tolerized rats did not protect naive rats from EAE.
Finally, we show that nasal administration of MBP 68-86 + 87-99 can reverse
ongoing EAE induced with gp-MBP, although higher doses are required
compared to the dosage needed for prevention. In conclusion, nasal
administration of encephalitogenic MBP peptides can induce antigen-specific
T cell tolerance and confer incomplete protection to gp-MBP-induced EAE,
and MBP 68-86 and 87-99 have synergistic effects. Non-regulatory mechanisms
are proposed to be responsible for tolerance development after nasal
peptide administration.
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It has previously been shown that, in the heterozygous state, mutations in
the SOX9 gene cause campomelic dysplasia (CD) and the often associated
autosomal XY sex reversal. In 12 CD patients, 10 novel mutations and one
recurrent mutation were characterized in one SOX9 allele each, and in one
case, no mutation was found. Four missense mutations are all located within
the high mobility group (HMG) domain. They either reduce or abolish the
DNA-binding ability of the mutant SOX9 proteins. Among the five nonsense
and three frameshift mutations identified, two leave the C-terminal
transactivation (TA) domain encompassing residues 402-509 of SOX9 partly or
almost completely intact. When tested in cell transfection experiments, the
recurrent nonsense mutation Y440X, found in two patients who survived for
four and more than 9 years, respectively, exhibits some residual
transactivation ability. In contrast, a frameshift mutation extending the
protein by 70 residues at codon 507, found in a patient who died shortly
after birth, showed no transactivation. This is apparently due to
instability of the mutant SOX9 protein as demonstrated by Western blotting.
Amino acid substitutions and nonsense mutations are found in patients with
and without XY sex reversal, indicating that sex reversal in CD is subject
to variable penetrance. Finally, none of 18 female patients with XY gonadal
dysgenesis (Swyer syndrome) showed an altered SOX9 banding pattern in SSCP
assays, providing evidence that SOX9 mutations do not usually result in XY
sex reversal without skeletal malformations.
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Nonpharmaceutical interventions, such as contact tracing and quarantine, have been the primary means of controlling the spread of SARS-CoV-2; however, it remains uncertain which interventions are most effective at reducing transmission at the population level. Using serial interval data from before and after the rollout of nonpharmaceutical interventions in China, we estimate that the relative frequency of presymptomatic transmission increased from 34% before the rollout to 71% afterward. The shift toward earlier transmission indicates a disproportionate reduction in transmission post-symptom onset. We estimate that, following the rollout of nonpharmaceutical interventions, transmission post-symptom onset was reduced by 82% whereas presymptomatic transmission decreased by only 16%. The observation that only one-third of transmission was presymptomatic at baseline, combined with the finding that NPIs reduced presymptomatic transmission by less than 20%, suggests that the overall impact of NPIs was driven in large part by reductions in transmission following symptom onset. This implies that interventions which limit opportunities for transmission in the later stages of infection, such as contact tracing and isolation, are particularly important for control of SARS-CoV-2. Interventions which specifically reduce opportunities for presymptomatic transmission, such as quarantine of asymptomatic contacts, are likely to have smaller, but non-negligible, effects on overall transmission.
The role of Hoxa-13 in postnatal morphogenesis of the male accessory sex organs was assessed by correlating the Hoxa-13 expression domain with phenotypic abnormalities in heterozygous Hypodactyly mutants. Hypodactyly is a naturally occurring semi-dominant mutation that results from a 50-base pair deletion in exon one of the Hoxa-13 allele. We demonstrate that Hoxa-13 is broadly expressed in the developing lower genitourinary tract and that the Hypodactyly mutation results in a specific phenotype characterized by decreased size and branching of the dorsolateral and ventral prostate and abnormal seminal vesicle morphology. This phenotype partially overlaps the genitourinary phenotype observed in Hoxd-13 deficient mice and comparison showed similar domains of Hoxa-13 and Hoxd-13 expression in the lower genitourinary tract. The similarity in expression and overlap in phenotype resulting from mutation is consistent with additive function and partial functional redundancy of Hoxa-13 and Hoxd-13 in male accessory sex organ development. 相似文献
OBJECTIVE: To determine nosocomial transmission of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in Canadian pediatric hospitals, outcomes associated with nosocomial disease, and infection control practices. DESIGN: A prospective cohort study in the 1992 to 1994 winter respiratory seasons. SETTING: Nine Canadian pediatric university-affiliated hospitals. PARTICIPANTS: Hospitalized children with symptoms of lower respiratory tract infection (at least one of cough, wheezing, dyspnea, tachypnea, and apnea) and RSV antigen identified in a nasopharyngeal aspirate. RESULTS: Of 1516 children, 91 (6%) had nosocomial RSV (NRSV), defined as symptoms of lower respiratory tract infection and RSV antigen beginning >72 hours after admission. The nosocomial ratio (NRSV/[com-munity-acquired RSV {CARSV})] + NRSV) varied by site from 2.8% to 13%. The median length of stay attributable to RSV for community-acquired illness was 5 days, but 10 days for nosocomial illness. Four children with NRSV (4. 4%) died within 2 weeks of infection, compared with 6 (0.42%) with CARSV (relative risk = 10.4, 95% confidence interval: 3.0, 36.4). All sites isolated RSV-positive patients in single rooms or cohorted them. In a multivariate model, no particular isolation policy was associated with decreased nosocomial ratio, but gowning to enter the room was associated with increased risk of RSV transmission (incidence rate ratio 2.81; confidence interval: 1.65, 4.77). CONCLUSIONS: RSV transmission risk in Canadian pediatric hospitals is generally low. Although use of barrier methods varies, all sites cohort or isolate RSV-positive patients in single rooms. Children with risk factors for severe disease who acquire infection nosocomially have prolonged stays and excess mortality. 相似文献
The prevalence of osteopenia in children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is unknown. The effect of nutritional state, disease activity, and steroid therapy on bone mineral content (BMC) of whole body, lumbar spine, and left femoral neck measured by dual energy x ray absorptiometry in 32 children with IBD was assessed by comparison with 58 healthy local school children. Using the control data, a predicted BMC was calculated taking into account bone area, age, height, weight, and pubertal stage. The measured BMC in children with IBD was expressed as a percentage of this predicted value (% BMC). Mean (SD) % BMC was significantly reduced for the whole body and left femoral neck in the children with IBD (97.0 (4.5)% and 93.1 (12.0)% respectively, p < 0.05). Of the children with IBD, 41% had a % BMC less than 1 SD below the mean for the whole body and 47% at the femoral neck. Reduction in % BMC was associated with steroid usage but not with the magnitude of steroid dose, disease activity, or biochemical markers of bone metabolism. In conclusion, osteopenia is relatively common in childhood IBD and may be partly related to the previous use of steroids. 相似文献
Background: Women are underrepresented in the current substance abuse research; however, women are a particularly vulnerable population when it comes to opioid use and abuse. Pregnant women are even more so, because of the potential that exists for in utero exposure (IUE) to substances. Objectives: To identify trends in IUE to opioids in order to ensure that resources are allocated effectively to address the current opioid epidemic and to assist the populations most affected by it. Methods: This study draws on 15 years' worth of clinical assessment data collected from 3598 child welfare-involved mothers to assess for trends in IUE to substances over time. Data from the last 5 year period (N = 852) are then analyzed to identify recent demographic correlates associated with IUE to opioid substances. Results: A substantial increase in the rates of IUE to opioids over the past 15 years is observed among child welfare-involved mothers. Moreover, we find that race is a significant correlate of IUE to opioids. Conclusion: Study findings are consistent with other recent research that demonstrates racial differences in the populations that are most affected by the opioid epidemic; however, more research is needed to determine how these racial differences in rates of IUE to opioids affect child welfare outcomes. 相似文献
The neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine both have a critical role in the underlying neurobiology of different behaviors. With focus on the interplay between dopamine and serotonin, it has been proposed that dopamine biases behavior towards habitual responding, and with serotonin offsetting this phenomenon and directing the balance toward more flexible, goal-directed responding. The present focus paper stands in close relationship to the publication by Worbe et al. (2015), which deals with the effects of acute tryptophan depletion, a neurodietary physiological method to decrease central nervous serotonin synthesis in humans for a short period of time, on the balance between hypothetical goal-directed and habitual systems. In that research, acute tryptophan depletion challenge administration and a following short-term reduction in central nervous serotonin synthesis were associated with a shift of behavioral performance towards habitual responding, providing further evidence that central nervous serotonin function modulates the balance between goal-directed and stimulus-response habitual systems of behavioral control. In the present focus paper, we discuss the findings by Worbe and colleagues in light of animal experiments as well as clinical implications and discuss potential future avenues for related research. 相似文献