Lancet
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The mechanism responsible for left ventricular dysfunction after cardiac surgery is only partly understood. In isolated rat hearts subjected to an ischaemia-reperfusion protocol, left ventricular dysfunction was associated with uncoupling of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity secondary to oxidation of the NOS cofactor, tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4). Here we investigated the effect of cardiopulmonary bypass and reperfusion on myocardial nitroso-redox balance in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. ⋯ British Heart Foundation.
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Uniquely, alloantigen is recognised by two pathways: as intact antigen on the surface of donor antigen-presenting cells (direct) and as self-restricted processed allopeptide (indirect). The indirect pathway is believed to be longlasting, and is generally considered to be a single entity. Here we address how indirect responses against different alloantigens differ in their strength and longevity, and how this knowledge could be used to direct immunoregulatory therapy with antigen-specific regulatory T cells (Tregs). ⋯ Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Training Fellowship.
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Innate immune cells are major targets of glucocorticoids as anti-inflammatory therapies. Glucocorticoids are metabolic hormones that provide natural feedback regulation of immune function. They are widely prescribed, but use is restricted by side-effects. Much of our knowledge about how glucocorticoids work comes from studies in mice. However, since mice are imperfect models of human macrophage biology, for example in inflammation, whether this knowledge can be directly translated to man is uncertain. We aimed to address this uncertainty. ⋯ Wellcome Trust.
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Survival for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) has not improved substantially in recent years. Since radiotherapy is a cornerstone of treatment, it is crucial to identify ways to augment its efficacy, for which tumour metabolism is an attractive target. p53 is a metabolic mediator, and TP53 mutations are common in this disorder. We sought to investigate metabolic changes in SCCHN, to elucidate any correlation with TP53 status, and to determine whether targeted metabolic therapy might be used to potentiate the effects of radiation. ⋯ Cancer Research UK, Royal College of Surgeons of England.
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Nearly all anti-tumour antibodies are of a single class-namely, IgG. Efficacy might be improved by development of tumour-specific IgE antibodies, which have higher affinities for effector cell receptors and perform potent immune functions. MOv18IgE, which targets folate receptor α (FRα), is a novel system to model this hypothesis. Human chimeric MOv18 IgE has shown superior efficacy in two murine xenograft models compared with MOv18 IgG1. Our aim was to examine the potential of this antibody class to activate monocytes. ⋯ Academy of Medical Sciences Starter Grant, Cancer Research UK New Agents Committee Grant.