Molecular immunology
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Molecular immunology · Jan 2008
IL-17 attenuates the anti-apoptotic effects of GM-CSF in human neutrophils.
Interleukin (IL)-17A is a pleiotropic, pro-inflammatory cytokine that is implicated in chronic inflammatory and degenerative disorders. IL-17 has been demonstrated to link activated T-lymphocyte with the recruitment of neutrophils at sites of inflammation, however whether IL-17 can mediate neutrophil survival and subsequently affect inflammatory responses has not fully been elucidated. In our study, we demonstrate that human peripheral blood and HL-60 differentiated neutrophils express mRNA and cell surface IL-17A receptor. ⋯ These events were associated with reduced myeloid cell lymphoma-1 (Mcl-1) protein levels, increased translocation and aggregation of Bax to mitochondria, decreased mitochondrial transmembrane potential and in an increase in caspase-3/7 activity. These events were independent of increased Fas or soluble Fas ligand expression levels. Taken together, our findings suggest that IL-17 may regulate neutrophil homeostasis and favor the resolution of inflamed tissues by attenuating the delay in neutrophil apoptosis induced by inflammatory cytokines.
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Molecular immunology · Jan 2008
Nodavirus increases the expression of Mx and inflammatory cytokines in fish brain.
Nodavirus has become a serious pathogen for a wide range of cultured marine fish species. In the present work, the expression of genes related to immune and inflammatory responses of sea bream (Sparus aurata L.), considered as non susceptible species, was studied both in vitro and in vivo. No replication of the virus was observed in head kidney macrophages and blood leukocytes. ⋯ In head kidney, the over expression of TNFalpha was only observed 1 day p.i. The expression of Mx, an interferon induced gene, was increased in brain and head kidney of infected sea bream, reaching values of 1300-fold compared to controls in brain three days post-infection. For comparative purposes, we analyzed the expression of the same genes on a susceptible species, such as sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) and, although the same pattern of expression was observed both in brain and kidney, the magnitude was different mainly in the case of brain, the key organ of the infection, where higher expression of TNFalpha and lower expression of Mx compared with control was observed.
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Molecular immunology · Jan 2008
Intranasal immunization with a dominant T-cell epitope peptide of a major allergen of olive pollen prevents mice from sensitization to the whole allergen.
Mucosal tolerance induction with vaccines based on peptides representing T-cell epitopes of allergens is a promising way for treating allergic diseases. Ole e 1 is the main allergen of olive pollen, which is an important cause of allergy in Mediterranean countries. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of the peptide T109-K130 containing a dominant T-cell epitope of Ole e 1, to modulate the allergen-specific immune response in a prophylactic mouse model. ⋯ Similar results were obtained when mice were sensitized 10 weeks after treatment. Our results demonstrate that intranasal administration of a single T-cell peptide protects mice against subsequent sensitization to the allergen, possibly via IFN-gamma and IL-10. This study emphasizes the usefulness of nasal peptide T-based vaccines against allergy.