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Long-term dietary vitamin E retards development of retrovirus-induced disregulation in cytokine production.

A 15-fold increase in dietary vitamin E (160 IU/liter) normalized hepatic and serum levels of vitamin E normally reduced by retrovirus infection. It also significantly retarded development of splenomegaly and hypergammaglobulinemia induced by retrovirus infection, while significantly restoring release of interleukin-2 (IL) and interferon-gamma by splenocytes which are suppressed by retrovirus infection. Retrovirus infection elevated production of IL-4 and IL-6 by splenocytes, but this elevation was inhibited by vitamin E. Increased levels of IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha produced by splenocytes during progression to murine AIDS were also inhibited by vitamin E. Vitamin E supplementation also helped restore retrovirus-suppressed splenocyte proliferation. These data indicate that vitamin E supplementation can help overcome retrovirus-induced reduction in tissue vitamin E, modulate cytokine release, and normalize immune dysfunctions during progression to murine AIDS.

Animals↗

CD95 expression and apoptosis during pediatric HIV infection: early upregulation of CD95 expression.

Pediatric HIV infection is characterized by a progressive decline in CD4 T lymphocytes and faster disease progression than is typically seen in adults. Apoptosis, possibly mediated through the CD95 antigen, has been proposed as a mechanism for cell loss which eventually leads to immune dysfunction. In this study of peripheral blood lymphocytes from HIV-infected children, classified according to CDC immunologic categories, we found that the percentage of CD4 and CD8 T cells expressing CD95 and the percentage of lymphocytes undergoing apoptosis were increased in children with HIV infection and were greater in children from immunologic Category III as compared to those in Category I. Most striking was our observation that an increased percentage of CD95-positive cells appeared as early as 3 months of age, at a time when these children did not have elevated levels of apoptosis. These data demonstrate early upregulation of CD95 expression in HIV-infected infants, an abberation which may have profound implications for the pathogenesis of perinatally acquired HIV disease.

Age Factors↗

Generation of genetically altered mouse models for aging studies.

A number of mouse models have been identified and are being used for aging and age-associated disease research. However, the use of the genetically manipulated mouse model is still a relatively untapped resource for the study of the biology of aging. Genetically altered mice can be powerful tools for biology of aging research because gene expression can be controlled and correlated with established biomarkers. Standard transgene overexpression and gene targeting techniques were modified and used to generate 30 mouse lines during a 4-year period. These lines include models of Werner's syndrome (premature aging or progeria), Alzheimer's disease, other neurodegenerative condition, atherosclerosis, diabetes, immune dysfunction, musculoskeletal disorders, and oxidative stress. These new mouse models are providing additional insights into aging processes and will be useful for developing intervention strategies and collaborative interactions.

Aging↗

Role of IL-10 in the abnormalities of early cell activation events of lymphocytes from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Lymphocytes from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) exhibit abnormalities in early cell activation events as well as increased production of IL-10. We explored the possible role of IL-10 on defective cell activation events of SLE lymphocytes and first studied the in vitro effect of IL-10 on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC) from healthy subjects. After 5 days of culture in the presence of exogenous IL-10, these cells demonstrated abnormal expression of CD69 as well as high intracellular pH and defective activation of the Na+/H+ anti-porter by PMA. We then investigated the effect of IL-10 blockade on PBMNC from SLE patients. SLE PBMNC cultured for 5 days with a blocking anti-IL-10 monoclonal antibody (mAb) partially corrected abnormalities in CD69 expression and intracellular pH; however, in 1/5 patients studied, no significant positive effect was observed. The effect of the anti-IL-10 mAb was apparently not related to protection against activation-induced cell death. We conclude that IL-10 in normal PBMNC induce some of the defects in early cell activation events seen in SLE lymphocytes. Accordingly, the blockade of IL-10 partially corrects these abnormalities in SLE cells. Our data further support the importance of IL-10 in immune dysfunction seen in SLE.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Absence of CD5 dramatically reduces progression of pulmonary inflammatory lesions in SHP-1 protein-tyrosine phosphatase-deficient 'viable motheaten' mice.

Mice homozygous for the viable motheaten (Hcph(me-v)) mutation are deficient in SHP-1 protein-tyrosine phosphatase, resulting in severe systemic autoimmunity and immune dysfunction. A high percentage of B-cells in viable motheaten mice express the cell surface glycoprotein CD5, in contrast to wild type mice that express CD5 on only a small percentage of B-cells. CD5(+) B-cells have been associated with autoantibody production. To determine the role of CD5 in the development of the inflammatory disease in me(v)/ me(v) mice, we created a stock of CD5(null)me(v)/ me(v) mice. The longevity of CD5(null)me(v)/ me(v) mice was increased 69% in comparison to me(v)/ me(v) mice on a similar (B6;129) background. The increased lifespan was associated with a marked reduction in pulmonary inflammation. Flow cytometry analysis of spleen cells from CD5(null)me(v)/ me(v) mice at 9-12 weeks of age revealed significant decreases in percentages of IgM/B220 double positive B-cells, Mac-1/Gr-1 double positive cells and CD4(+) T-cells compared with me(v)/ me(v) mice. CD5(null)me(v)/ me(v) mice also had significantly lower serum IgM levels in comparison to me(v)/ me(v) mice. Study of CD5(null)me(v)/ me(v) mice may provide further insight into the role of CD5 in cell signaling and may help explain the observed association of CD5(+) B-cells with autoimmune disease.

Animals↗

Sepsis induces increased apoptosis in lamina propria mononuclear cells which is associated with altered cytokine gene expression.

Studies indicate that lymphoid tissue (e.g., thymus, bone marrow, and Peyer's patches) shows evidence of increase apoptosis (Ao, a form of nonnecrotic cell death) during sepsis. However, it is not known if mucosal lymphoid tissue, such as lamina propria (LP), also shows evidence of increased Ao and if so, is this associated with functional changes, i.e., cytokine gene expression in the LP. To examine this, male C3H/HeN mice were subjected to cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) and lamina propria mononuclear cells (LPMC) were harvested at 4 h (early sepsis) or 24 h (late sepsis). Alterations in the cell phenotype as well as Ao (Tunel assay) were determined by three-color flow cytometry. Cytokine gene expression was assessed by multiprobe RNase protection assay. Sham LPMC preparations were found to be 34.4 +/- 2.4% B220(+) (B-cells), while 12.4 +/- 2.1% were CD8(+) (cytotoxic T-cells), 22.0 +/- 0.8% were CD4(+) (helper T-cells), and 6.4 +/- 0.7% were F4/80(+) (macrophages). The frequency of B220(+) (9%* upward arrow) and CD8 (6%* upward arrow) populations increased markedly at 4 h after CLP; however, this increase was not seen at 24 h. The percentage of Ao+ in CD8(+), B220(+), and F4/80(+) cells increased markedly at both 4 and 24 h. CD4(+) cells showed a marked increase in Ao only at 24 h after CLP. When LPMC mRNA expression was examined, a significant increase in IL-2, -10, and -15 gene expression was observed only at 24 h but not 4 h after CLP. Thus, the early phenotypic changes associated with increased Ao may be a reflection of localized immune cell activation in early sepsis contributing to the increased cytokine gene expression seen in late sepsis. This localized activation may contribute to gastrointestinal inflammation and/or immune dysfunction in sepsis.

Animals↗

Bilirubin impairs bactericidal activity of neutrophils through an antioxidant mechanism in vitro.

BACKGROUND: Liver failure accompanied by hyperbilirubinemia after major hepatic resection is profoundly associated with septic complications. Although the immune dysfunction in cholestasis has been intensively investigated, the contribution of increased serum bilirubin to the impaired resistance to bacterial infection remains to be elucidated. Because bilirubin possesses an antioxidant activity, we hypothesized that bilirubin may scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by neutrophils and consequently impair neutrophil bacterial killing. To address this, we evaluated the effects of bilirubin on the bactericidal activity of ROS or of neutrophils in vitro. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The antioxidant activity of bilirubin was determined using an ROS-sensitive fluorophore, dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCFH-DA). Bilirubin concentration in the buffer solution was monitored spectorophotometrically after incubation with ROS. The effect of bilirubin on killing of Escherichia coli by ROS or by isolated human neutrophils was determined by counting the viable E. coli after incubation on nutrient agar. RESULTS: The bilirubin concentration in the buffer solution was decreased by the addition of hydrogen peroxide, especially in the presence of peroxidase or ferrous iron. DCFH-DA oxidation by ROS or activated neutrophils was inhibited by bilirubin in a dose-dependent manner. The bactericidal activity of ROS or of isolated neutrophils was significantly attenuated by bilirubin. CONCLUSIONS: Bilirubin impairs bactericidal activity of neutrophils through scavenging ROS. Increased levels of serum bilirubin may well be responsible for the impaired bacterial clearance in patients with hyperbilirubinemia.

Antioxidants↗

Interactive regulation of Ah and glucocorticoid receptors in the synergistic induction of cleft palate by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin and hydrocortisone.

2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) is a wide-spread environmental contaminant that produces adverse biological effects including carcinogenesis, reproductive toxicity, immune dysfunction, hyperkeratosis, hepatotoxicity, thymic involution and teratogenesis. In the mouse embryo, TCDD induces cleft palate and hydronephrosis. Glucocorticoids are endogenous steroid compounds that have an important role in development, but are teratogenic at pharmacological doses. The synthetic glycocorticoid, hydrocortisone (HC), induces cleft plate and a potent, synergistic interaction has been observed between TCDD and HC. Both TCDD and HC act through receptor-mediated mechanisms and each compound has its own receptor, the Ah receptor (AhR) and the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), respectively. The morphology and etiology of TCDD- and HC-induced clefts are distinctly different, as HC clefting is due to formation of small palatal shelves, while TCDD-treated shelves fail to fuse due to effects on epithelial cell proliferation and differentiation. The present study examines the expression of AhR and GR in the embryonic palate following exposure to TCDD, HC, and HC + TCDD. C57BL/6N pregnant mice were treated with HC (25 or 100 mg/kg/day GD10-13, sc), TCDD (3 micrograms/kg/day GD10-13, or 24 micrograms/kg GD10, orally), or HC + TCDD (25 mg/kg/day sc and 3 micrograms/kg/day orally, GD10-13). Craniofacial tissues were collected from the embryos on GD14 and examined for AhR and GR expression using in situ hybridization. Northern blots, and immunohistochemistry. We found that in the embryonic palate exposed to TCDD, the AhR was downregulated and the GR expression increased. Conversely, following HC exposure, the GR was downregulated and AhR levels were elevated. HC + TCDD produced increased expression of both receptors. Effects on AhR appeared to be regulated at the transcriptional level, as both protein and mRNA were altered in similar directions. The observed cross-regulation of the receptors is believed to be important in the synergistic interaction between TCDD and HC for the induction of cleft palate.

Animals↗

Antiretroviral therapy in primary HIV.

Initiation of antiretroviral therapy during primary HIV-1 infection may well redefine the course of the disease by controlling the burst of viral replication and subsequent immune dysfunction. At present, treatment of acute primary HIV-1 should remain largely in the domain of clinical investigation. There are significant problems in providing constant vigilance to medication and subsequent viral suppression. Only clinical trials can define the relative benefit of initiating antiretrovirals during this stage of infection.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Clonal deletion of some V beta+ T cells in peripheral lymphocytes from C57BL/6 mice infected with MHV3.

Mouse hepatitis virus type 3 infection is generally accompanied by a severe immune dysfunction involving thymic or splenic T cell subpopulations. We postulate that the peripheral lymphoid cell depletions were caused by a selective deletion of some V beta subsets of mature T cells, as observed with superantigens. We have examined the expression of V beta 6, V beta 8 and V beta 14 in T cell subpopulations from the spleen and lymph nodes of pathogenic L2-MHV3-infected C57BL/6 mice. Cytofluorometric study showed decreases in splenic V beta 8+, V beta 6+, and V beta 14+ T cell subpopulations at 72 hrs post-infection. Single positive CD4+ T cells were diminushed but not the CD8+ cells. In contrast, the various V beta splenic cell populations were not modified in mice infected with a non- pathogenic YAC-MHV3 variant. However, the V beta 8/CD4 ratio increased in splenic cells but decreased in lymphocytes from lymph nodes. The V beta 14/CD4 ratio decreased only in splenic cells while V beta 6/CD4 ratios were not modified. These results suggest that alterations in V beta cell populations may play a role in the L2-MHV3-induced immunodeficiency.

Animals↗

Transactivation of cellular genes by human retroviruses.

We have focused this chapter on interactions with two of the best characterized transregulatory genes, tax for HTLV-I/II and Tat for HIV-1. Both genes illustrate the complex interplay between retroviral regulatory genes and cellular gene regulation. In both instances a viral gene of relatively straightforward function in the viral context appears to cause extensive dysregulation of cellular genes, either directly or as a consequence of altered cellular differentiation. Understanding this viral/cellular gene cross-talk may elucidate mechanisms leading to malignant transformation autoimmune disease and to neurologic and paraneoplastic complications such as hypercalcemia for HTLV-I/II, as well as the pathogenesis of immune dysfunction and opportunistic malignancy in HIV-I/II-infected individuals. An understanding of functional mechanisms of these transregulatory viral genes will undoubtedly afford better explanations for the myriad manifestations of retroviral infection.

Animals↗

HTLV-1-mediated immunopathological CNS disease.

HAM/TSP is a chronic inflammatory disease of the spinal cord. It is rather rare in HTLV-1-infected individuals. Immunogenetic factors of the HLA complex have been identified that support or prevent the development of the disease. In HAM/TSP patients a characteristic constellation of high proviral loads and increased cellular and humoral immune responses have been established. Immune dysfunction in HAM/TSP patients might be partly explained by HTLV-1 tax p40 transactivation of cellular genes in infected CD4+ T lymphocytes. The oligoclonal expansion of infected T lymphocytes, the variation of tax p40 within HTLV-1 carriers, and the regulation of proviral gene expression are possible determinants for disease development and need to be clarified in future studies.

CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes↗

The epidemiology of HTLV-I infection.

It has been 10 years since the discovery of the human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I), the first human retrovirus. During the past decade, significant progress has been made in understanding the transmission of the virus and defining its geographic distribution. It has been shown conclusively that HTLV-I is a causal factor in the induction of both adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma and HTLV-I-associated myelopathy. However, the pathogenesis of each of these conditions is not clear, and in the light of the evidence of immune dysfunction seen among carriers of the infection, it is likely that other associated diseases will be identified. The challenge in the next decade will be to develop and implement therapeutic interventions among carriers to prevent such diseases as well as to curtail transmission within endemic populations.

HTLV-I Infections↗

Monocyte functional studies in asymptomatic, human immunodeficiency disease virus (HIV)-infected individuals.

Various aspects of monocyte-associated function were evaluated in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of male homosexuals who were infected with the human immunodeficiency disease virus (HIV). The functional assessments included indomethacin-sensitive regulation of blastogenesis and lymphokine-activated killer (LAK)-cell induction, chemiluminescent responses of mononuclear leukocytes to opsonized zymosan, and the expression of HLA-DR antigen on CD-14-positive monocytes. The results obtained demonstrate that each of these functions is abnormal in asymptomatic individuals who have HIV core antigen (p24) in their circulation. These results suggest that monocyte abnormalities which could contribute to immune dysfunction in HIV-infected patients can be detected early during the course of HIV infection and are associated with the expression of serum HIV antigen.

HIV Core Protein p24↗

Carbohydrate specificity of IgM autoantibodies to CD45 in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Patients with SLE develop IgM autoantibodies to different isoforms of CD45, the major surface membrane protein tyrosine phosphatase on lymphocytes and other nucleated hemopoietic cells. Because such autoantibodies could have a potential role in the development of immune dysfunction in this disorder, we performed a series of experiments to characterize their antigenic specificity further. Blots of recombinant E. coli fusion proteins encoded by exons 3-7 of the p220 and p180 isoforms were uniformly non-reactive with SLE IgM, suggesting that anti-CD45 autoantibodies in SLE are directed against conformational and/or carbohydrate epitopes, rather than linear polypeptide epitopes. This issue was examined further using chemically and enzymatically modified CD45 purified from T cells by lectin affinity chromatography as substrates. Treatment of CD45 with 25 mM sodium-m-periodate, sufficient to abrogate binding to various lectins, abolished the reactivity with SLE anti-CD45 autoantibodies. On the other hand, digestion of CD45 with neuraminidase enhanced the binding of anti-CD45 autoantibodies from some of the SLE sera. This result probably reflects decreased steric hindrance or charge repulsion because the binding of mouse monoclonal antibodies directed against linear polypeptide epitopes of CD45 was similarly enhanced. Digestion of CD45 with N-glycosidase F had no effect on autoantibody staining. Taken together, these data suggest that IgM anti-CD45 autoantibodies in SLE recognize non-sialylated carbohydrate determinants in the highly O-glycosylated polymorphic domains of CD45.

Amidohydrolases↗

[Disorders of B cell activation in splenectomized patients].

Using a reverse hemolytic plaque assay as the effector system, we studied in vitro B-lymphocyte function in 12 patients after posttraumatic splenectomy as well as in 25 normal individuals. The time interval between the splenectomy and the immunological studies varied between 2 days and 7 years. Compared to normal individuals, the splenectomized patients had markedly elevated numbers of spontaneous immunoglobulin-secreting cells and severely decreased responses to the polyclonal activator pokeweed mitogen, indicating an in vivo polyclonal B-cell activation. A tendency towards normalization of these abnormalities, especially the high spontaneous ISC levels, could be observed during the time interval extending up to 7 years after splenectomy. In order to characterize the mechanism responsible for the altered immune response in splenectomized patients, in vitro experiments were performed with separated lymphocytes. These revealed an impaired T-helper cell capacity as well as an intrinsic B-cell defect. Marker analysis with monoclonal antibodies revealed normal proportions with the exception of OKT 4 positive and B 1 positive cells that identify T-helper/inducer and peripheral B-cells, respectively. We conclude that immune dysfunction in peripheral blood lymphocytes of splenectomized patients involves mainly the OKT 4 positive cell population.

Adult↗

Cytofluorimetric analysis of mitogen-activated peripheral blood lymphocytes of non-leukemic lymphoma patients reveals an abnormal disease-related expression pattern of activation antigens.

The purpose of this study was to examine patterns of peripheral T-cell-activation antigen expression after polyclonal in vitro stimulation in early stages of lymphoproliferative diseases. With 18 patients afflicted with recently diagnosed, non-leukemic stages of B and T cell lymphoma cytofluorimetric analysis was performed with peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) after 72 h in culture with and without phytohemagglutinin, using antibodies against the differentiation antigens CD3, CD8, CD4, CD16, CD19, CDw14, and the activation antigens interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R, CD25), HLA-DR (DR), CD56 and transferrin receptor (TR). Compared to healthy controls and patients with other diseases, a very significant reduction of large T cells bearing activation markers was found in all lymphoma cases. Furthermore, a pronounced inhibition in the expression of the activation markers IL-2R and TR, but not of DR, was detected on CD3+ cells in phytohemagglutinin-stimulated PBL of all lymphoma cells independently of DNA synthesis, as measured by [3H]thymidine uptake. Determination of the natural-killer-cell-(NK)-associated antigens CD16 and CD56, available for our studies in a CD16 + CD56 combination kit, revealed, after phytohemagglutinin stimulation, significantly increased expression values in 8 lymphoma patients so far investigated, as compared to 12 healthy controls. Thus, polyclonal activation combined with cytofluorimetric screening of activation antigens seems to give useful information on the functional defect(s) of PBL in an early state of lymphoma, and may therefore be of considerable diagnostic value. The observed pattern of T cell activation antigen expression after phytohemagglutinin stimulation may give further clues to the understanding of immune dysfunction(s) associated with lymphoma.

Adolescent↗

[Adenosine deaminase activity in blood cells; influence of cytostatic therapy in patients with acute leukemia and with renal transplants (author's transl)].

A causal relation between the enzyme, adenosine deaminase (ADA), and immune dysfunction is well known: patients with congenital inactivity of ADA invariably suffer of severe combined immunodeficiency. In contrast, we found in patients treated with immunosuppressive drugs increased ADA enzyme activity. Previous findings on ADA activity in acute leukemias are until now controversial. We found normal to increased ADA activity in children with acute lymphatic leukemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in remission as long as they were treated with cytostatic drugs. In the group of cured leukemics (in continuous remission after suspension of the therapeutic regimen) the ADA activities were normal. These findings do not exclude a heterogeneity within the leukemia group. They do not explain the signs of cellular immunodeficiencies well known in patients with acute leukemias.

Adenosine Deaminase↗