Project description:We investigated the entity of IL-7Rα low effector memory (EM) CD8+ T cells in healthy individuals and finally uncovered that they were unable to proliferate and produce IL-2 in response to TCR stimulation
Project description:We investigated the entity of IL-7Rα low effector memory (EM) CD8+ T cells in healthy individuals and finally uncovered that they were unable to proliferate and produce IL-2 in response to TCR stimulation
Project description:compare gene expression profiles between normal and anergic T cells and identify upregulated genes in anergic T cells Experiment Overall Design: RNA from normal Th1 T cell clone and anergic Th1 T cell clone made anergic by plate-bound anti-CD3 antibody were isolated and amplified for microarray analysis
Project description:Anergic T cells are unable to respond to antigen though their TCR is specific for it. Chronic infections and cancer can induce a dsyfunctional immune response which cannot clear the cause of disease. We asked in how far anergic T cells are similar to antigen-exhausted ones.
Project description:Up to now the role of tumor-specific pTregs and anergic cells during tumor development is not fully understood. Here we used a genetically-induced tumor expressing a MHC-II restricted DBY model antigen to characterize the tumor-induced pTregs and anergic cells that arise early during tumor development.
Project description:Schistosomiasis increases the risk of HIV acquisition in women, by mechanisms that are incompletely defined. Our objective was to determine how the cervical environment is impacted by Schistosoma haematobium or S. mansoni infection using mucosal gene expression and cervicovaginal lavage cytokine levels. We recruited women with/without S. haematobium and with/without S. mansoni infections from separate villages in rural Tanzania, as determined by urine and stool microscopy and serum circulating anodic antigen. RNA was extracted from cervical cytobrush samples for transcriptome analysis. Cytokine levels were measured by magnetic bead immunoassay. In the S. haematobium village, 110 genes were differentially expressed in the cervical mucosa of women with (n=18) versus without (n=39) S. haematobium. Among the 27 cytokines analyzed in cervicovaginal lavage fluids, interleukin 15 (IL-15) was lower in women with S. haematobium (62.8 versus 102.9 pg/mL, adjusted p=0.0013). Differences were not observed in the S. mansoni setting between women with (n=11) or without (n=29) S. mansoni. We demonstrate altered cervical mucosal gene expression and lower IL-15 levels in women with S. haematobium but not S. mansoni, which may impact HIV acquisition and cancer risks. Studies to determine effects of anti-schistosome treatment on these mucosal alterations are needed.
Project description:We analyzed non-atherosclerotic repair arteries gathered at coronary by-pass operations from 30 patients with type 2 diabetes, as well as from 30 age- and gender-matched non-diabetic individuals. Quantitative proteome analysis was done by iTRAQ-labelling and LC-MS/MS analysis on individual arterial samples. The amounts of the basement membrane (BM) components, alpha-1- and alpha-2- type IV collagen, gamma-1- and beta-2-laminin were significantly increased in patients with diabetes. Moreover, the expressions of basement membrane components and other vascular proteins were significantly lower among metformin users, as compared to non-users. Patients treated with or without metformin had similar levels of HbA1c, cholesterol and blood pressure. In addition, quantitative histomorphometry showed increased area fractions of collagen-stainable material in tunica intima and media among patients with diabetes.