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Display Features (display + feature)
Selected AbstractsExpression and functional characterization of FOXP3+CD4+ regulatory T cells in ulcerative colitis,INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASES, Issue 2 2007Qi T. Yu BS Abstract Background: CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (TR) can prevent or treat experimental murine colitis but little is known about their potential role in human inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). FOXP3 is a transcription factor that plays a critical role in the development and function of CD4+CD25+ TR. The aim of this study was to examine the presence and functional characteristics of TR cells in colonic lymphoid tissues in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). Methods: FOXP3 expression was assessed by flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry, and reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Functional characterization of CD4+CD25+ cells was analyzed by suppression of proliferation and secretion of cytokines by cocultured effector CD4+CD25, T cells. Results: FOXP3+CD4+ T cells are increased in the lamina propria (LP) of inflamed and noninflamed areas of UC colon compared to normal colon. CD4+CD25+ T cells in UC mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) express FOXP3 mRNA and protein and suppress the proliferation of autologous MLN CD4+CD25, T cells. The suppressor activity of MLN CD4+CD25+ T cells is cell contact-dependent but cytokine-independent. In addition, CD4+CD25+ T cells potently suppress the production of both Th1 (IFN-,, IL-2) and Th2 (IL-5, IL-13) cytokines by cocultured CD4+CD25, T cells. FOXP3+ cells localized in the T-cell-rich areas of MLN and occasionally present in the follicles. Conclusions: There is an expansion of FOXP3+CD4+ T cells in mucosal lymphoid tissues in UC. CD4+CD25+ isolated from UC MLN express FOXP3 and display features of TR cells in spite of active mucosal inflammation. These data suggest that their suppressor activity may be abrogated in vivo or they are unable to counterbalance the chronic mucosal inflammation in UC. (Inflamm Bowel Dis 2007) [source] Perceiving patterns in dynamic action sequences: Investigating the processes underpinning stimulus recognition and anticipation skillAPPLIED COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 6 2009Jamie S. North We examined whether skilled and less-skilled participants process dynamic sequences comprised of numerous elements using relational information or specific display features. Moreover, the processes underpinning anticipation and recognition judgments were compared. Participants viewed dynamic film sequences showing multiple display features and anticipated what would happen next. New and previously viewed action sequences were then presented in film or point-light display format. Participants attempted to recognize previously viewed sequences. Skilled participants demonstrated superior anticipation skill and were more sensitive in discriminating previously viewed and novel clips than their less-skilled counterparts. Skilled participants fixated more locations than less-skilled participants, implying that they process dynamic scenes as a series of relations between display features. The patterns of eye fixation measures differed between the anticipation and recognition tasks suggesting that different processes underpin these two types of judgments. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Analysis of DEFB1 regulatory SNPs in cystic fibrosis patients from North-Eastern ItalyINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF IMMUNOGENETICS, Issue 3 2010L. Segat Summary Cystic fibrosis (CF) transmembrane regulator protein (CFTR) gene is undoubtedly the main genetic factor involved in the modulation of CF phenotype. However, other factors such as human defensins and the genes encoding for these antimicrobial peptides have been hypothesized as possible modifiers influencing airways infection in CF patients, but their role in the pathogenesis of lung disease is still debated. Since DEFB1 gene encoding for human beta-defensin 1 displays features such as antimicrobial or chemotactic activity playing a role in inflammation, it has been considered as a possible candidate CF modifier gene. We analysed three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the 5,-untranslated region of the DEFB1 gene (namely g-52G>A, g-44C>G and g-20G>A) in a group of 62 CF patients from North Eastern Italy, and in 130 healthy controls, with the aim of verifying the possible association of these functional SNPs with the pulmonary phenotype of CF patients. DEFB1 SNPs have been genotyped by using Taqman allele-specific fluorescent probes and a real-time PCR platform. No significant differences were found for allele, genotype and haplotype frequencies of DEFB1 g-52G>A, g-44C>G and g-20G>A SNPs in CF patients stratified for Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection, as well as in patients with a severe and mild clinical phenotype or in patients stratified for CFTR genotypes. DEFB1 allele, genotype and haplotype frequencies of CF patients globally considered were similar to those of healthy controls. Our findings are discordant with respect to another recent study performed on CF patients coming from Southern Italy, probably due to different ethnicity of the patients. [source] | ||||||||||