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High IFN (high + ifn)
Selected AbstractsStrong HLA-DR antigen expression on cancer cells relates to better prognosis of colorectal cancer patients: Possible involvement of c-myc suppression by interferon-,in situCANCER SCIENCE, Issue 1 2006Kazuyuki Matsushita Strong HLA-DR antigen expression on cancer cells relates to better prognosis of colorectal cancer patients, although the precise mechanism is controversial. From an immunological point of view, HLA-DR antigen, induced by interferon (IFN)-,, is required for tumor-associated antigen recognition by CD4+ T cells. For instance, as reported previously, the expression of HLA-DR antigen in normal colorectal epithelium immediately adjacent to cancer coincided significantly with the existence of IFN-, mRNA in the tissue. From another aspect, IFN-, has been revealed to suppress c-myc expression in vivo through a stat1-dependent mechanism, which is important for cell growth, cell cycle and chromosome instability. In the present study, strong HLA-DR-positive expression on cancer cells was significantly related to better prognosis for colorectal cancer patients. High IFN-, mRNA expression in situ indicated significantly less activation of c-myc mRNA expression. Further, HLA-DR antigen expression in cancer cells, as well as Dukes stages, was an independent factor for better long-term survival by multivariate analysis. Taken together, IFN-,, which induces HLA-DR antigens on the cell surface, also suppresses c-myc expression in situ, and is a possible non-immunological mechanism involved in the better long-term survival of colorectal cancer patients. (Cancer Sci 2006; 97: 57, 63) [source] Rational design of new CpG oligonucleotides that combine B cell activation with high IFN-, induction in plasmacytoid dendritic cellsEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 6 2003Gunther Hartmann Abstract Two different types of CpG motif-containing oligonucleotides (CpG ODN) have been described: CpG-A with high induction of IFN-, in plasmacytoid dendritic cells; and CpG-B with little induction of IFN-,, but potent activation of B cells. In this study, we demonstrate that CpG-A fail to activate B cells unless plasmacytoid dendritic cells are present. We identified a new set of CpG ODN sequences which induces high levels of IFN-, in plasmacytoid dendritic cells but remains capable of directly activating B cells. These new CpG ODN (termed CpG-C) are more potent stimulants of B cells than CpG-B due to their ability of directly and indirectly (via plasmacytoid dendritic cells) activating B cells. The sequence of CpG-C combines structural elements of both CpG-A and CpG-B. The most potent sequence, M362, contains a 5,-end ,TCGTCG-motif' and a ,GTCGTT-motif', both of which are present in CpG-B (ODN,2006); a palindromic sequence characteristic for CpG-A (ODN,2216); but no poly,G motif required for CpG-A. In conclusion, we defined the first CpG-containing sequences that potently activate both TLR9-expressing immune cell subsets in humans, the plasmacytoid dendritic cell and the B cell. CpG-C may allow for improved therapeutic immuno-modulation in vivo. [source] Helicobacter pylori, T cells and cytokines: the "dangerous liaisons"FEMS IMMUNOLOGY & MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 2 2005Mario Milco D'Elios Abstract Helicobacter pylori infection is the major cause of gastroduodenal pathologies, but only a minority of infected patients develop chronic and life threatening diseases, as peptic ulcer, gastric cancer, B-cell lymphoma, or autoimmune gastritis. The type of host immune response against H. pylori is crucial for the outcome of the infection. A predominant H. pylori -specific Th1 response, characterized by high IFN-,, TNF-,, and IL-12 production associates with peptic ulcer, whereas combined secretion of both Th1 and Th2 cytokines are present in uncomplicated gastritis. Gastric T cells from MALT lymphoma exhibit abnormal help for autologous B-cell proliferation and reduced perforin- and Fas,Fas ligand-mediated killing of B cells. In H. pylori -infected patients with autoimmune gastritis cytolytic T cells infiltrating the gastric mucosa cross-recognize different epitopes of H. pylori proteins and H+K+ ATPase autoantigen. These data suggest that peptic ulcer can be regarded as a Th1-driven immunopathological response to some H. pylori antigens, whereas deregulated and exhaustive H. pylori -induced T cell-dependent B-cell activation can support the onset of low-grade B-cell lymphoma. Alternatively, H. pylori infection may lead in some individuals to gastric autoimmunity via molecular mimicry. [source] Effect of triclosan on interferon-, production and major histocompatibility complex class II expression in human gingival fibroblastsJOURNAL OF CLINICAL PERIODONTOLOGY, Issue 10 2000Manal Mustafa Abstract Background, aims: The effect of triclosan (2,4,4,-trichloro-2,-hydroxyl-diphenyl ether) on the production of interferon-, (IFN-,) and the expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II antigen was studied in human gingival fibroblasts isolated from 4 individuals. Methods/Results: AII cell lines demonstrated high IFN-, production in 24-h cultures of human gingival fibroblasts stimulated by phytohemagglutinin (PHA) (5 ,g/ml). Human gingival fibroblasts showed a high expression of MHC class II when stimulated with 500 and 1000 pg/ml rIFN-, in 7-day cultures. Treatment of the cells with triclosan (0.5 ,g/ml) reduced both IFN-, production and MHC class II expression in human gingival fibroblast cultures. Similar inhibitory effects on IFN-, production and MHC class II expression were observed when the anti-inflammatory agent dexamethazone (1 ,M) was used. Conclusion: The present study further supports the view that the agent has an anti-inflammatory effect in addition to its antibacterial capacity. [source] Immunotherapy with live BCG plus heat killed Leishmania induces a T helper 1-like response in American cutaneous leishmaniasis patientsPARASITE IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 2 2000Maira Cabrera Previous work has shown that American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) patients treated with viable BCG plus heat killed promastigotes of Leishmania amazonensis show the same rate of cure as patients receiving conventional chemotherapy. The treatment is safe and economical, but the immunological correlates of cure have not been examined. In the present study, T cell responses have been analysed in 43 ACL patients, including patient groups sampled before and after therapy, and in 10 endemic controls. Lymphocyte proliferation, interferon (IFN)-, and interleukin (IL)-5 responses to crude antigen (L. amazonensis, MEL; Mycobacterium tuberculosis PPD; M. bovis BCG) stimulation, and serum IL-5 levels, were analysed. In endemic volunteers, proliferative responses to BCG were high and IFN-, responses low. In contrast, localized cutaneous (LCL) and mucocutaneous (MCL) patients showed low proliferative and high IFN-, responses to BCG. Treatment enhanced the IFN-, response and further decreased the proliferative response to BCG, especially in MCL patients. LCL and MCL patients showed an increase in proliferative and IFN-, responses to MEL with treatment, but the response was not exaggerated in MCL patients, either before or after treatment, compared to LCL patients. IL-5 production was low in T cell assays, and > 62% of untreated patients had very low serum IL-5 levels. There were no significant changes in serum IL-5 with treatment. Overall results show enhanced antigen-specific IFN-, responses to the two components of the immunotherapy, live M. bovis BCG and heat killed L. amazonensis, which is consistent with a shift in balance of T cell response towards a T helper 1 response and clinical cure mediated by IFN-,. [source] |