International Immunology 2008 20(8):NP; doi:10.1093/intimm/dxn089
© The Japanese Society for Immunology. 2008. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org
IN THIS ISSUE
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CD83 regulates B cell maturation and survival
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CD83 affects thymic CD4
+ T cell selection and maturation, but
its effects on B cells are less clear. As shown by
Breloer and colleagues (p. 949), CD83 is expressed on B cells, and is important
for B cell maturation and homeostasis. The authors discuss how
CD83 might regulate the strength of BCR-mediated signalling.
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Proinflammatory responses of enteroendocrine cells
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Enteroendocrine cells promote food digestion, but little is
known about their response to pathogens that are present in
the gut. Using microarray analysis and examining protein expression,
Rumio and colleagues (p. 961) show that human enteroendocrine
cells express Toll-like receptors (TLRs). After stimulation
with TLR agonists
in vitro, the cells produce several proinflammatory
molecules; intriguing examples include CXCL1 and IL-32.
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Lymphocyte subsets during progression to connective-tissue disease
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Szodoray et al. (p. 971) measured a range of lymphocyte subsets
over time in a cohort of patients at risk of developing connective-tissue
diseases. The authors describe how a pattern of more IFN-
+ T
h1
cells and IL-10
+ Tr1 regulatory T cells (Tregs) but fewer Foxp3
+ Tregs is associated with increased disease susceptibility and
progression.
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Novel ligands for human NK cells
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Four novel UL16-binding protein 4 (ULBP4) splice variants are
identified by
He and colleagues (p. 981). Expression of the
variants increases target cell susceptibility to NK cell mediated
cytotoxicity, but soluble forms lead to NKG2D downregulation.
The authors discuss the implications for tumour cell susceptibility
to, and escape from, NK cells and T cells.
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Surfactant protein modulates eosinophil function and survival
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Madan and colleagues (p. 993) show that recombinant surfactant
protein D (SP-D) binds to human eosinophils. This enhances both
activation and apoptosis in cells from allergic patients, or
IL-5-primed cells from healthy donors. Apoptotic eosinophils
bind more SP-D than normal cells do and are more susceptible
to phagocytosis. The therapeutic potential of SP-D to reduce
eosinophilia is discussed.
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Distinct roles for IL-21 on naïve CD4+ cells
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Using naïve human CD4
+ cells,
Ferrari-Lacraz et al. (p. 1009) examine the effects of IL-21, in comparison with IL-2
and IL-15, on a range of features: phenotype, migration, activation,
signalling, proliferation and survival. The authors suggest
a role for IL-21 in conserving a pool of naïve cells while
allowing a rapid response when appropriate.
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Further functions for IL-33
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IL-33 has several known effects on mast cells and T
h2 responses.
To extend this knowledge,
Smith and colleagues (p. 1019) examine
IL-33-mediated cytokine production in basophils, NKT cells,
NK cells and antigen-dependent or -independent T
h2 cells. The
implications for IL-33 in human T
h1 and T
h2 responses are detailed.
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Catalytic antibodies that act as RNases and DNases
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Catalytically active antibodies occur in some autoimmune diseases
and viral infections. After immunizing rabbits with RNase–BSA,
Nevinsky et al. (p. 1031) isolated antibody fractions that had
RNase and/or DNase activity. Most are anti-RNase anti-idiotypes;
others might recognise RNase, alone or complexed with nucleic
acids. The authors speculate that similar antibodies occur in
human autoimmunity.
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Human T cell FOXP3 transcription and DNA methylation
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There is controversy about whether human non-regulatory T cells
express forkhead box P3 (FOXP3).
Goldstein and colleagues (p. 1041) show that few CD4
+CD25
–FOXP3
– cells express
FOXP3 after activation, and expression is transient. FOXP3 expression
associates strongly with methylation levels of a CpG island
in
FOXP3. The authors propose a model for FOXP3 expression in
humans.
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A role for DcR3 in SLE
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Molecules in cell-death pathways have known roles in systemic
lupus erythematosus (SLE). Here,
Luo and colleagues (p. 1057) show raised serum levels of death decoy receptor 3 (DcR3) in
patients with SLE. Additionally, SLE-like symptoms develop in
C57BL/6 mice given DcR3-transgenic bone marrow. The authors
discuss DcR3 in SLE pathogenesis, and as a disease marker.
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A new method to identify CTL epitopes
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Using a novel, high-throughput screening method,
Shingler et al. (p. 1067) identify 46 putative CTL epitopes in 5T4, a tumour-associated
antigen used in clinical trials; 3 epitopes are then validated.
The technique measures binding, affinity and stability of complexes.
This method also has the potential to identify CTL epitopes
in other antigens.
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A model of human allergy to shrimps
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Tropomyosin is the major allergen found in many types of seafood.
Di Felice and colleagues (p. 1077) sensitised mice with shrimp
tropomyosin plus cholera toxin adjuvant. All mice show anaphylactic
responses to tropomyosin. The mice show typical allergen-specific
levels of immunoglobulins and T
h2 cytokines, and proliferative
responses, indicating that this is a potentially useful model
of human food allergy.
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Anti-mycobacterial responses and Melan-A cross-reactivity in health
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Melan-A-specific T cells are important in anti-melanoma responses.
Appay and colleagues (p. 1087) characterised a large population
of oligoclonal, memory-phenotype CD8
+ T cells in a healthy donor.
The cells appear to be specific for a mycobacterial antigen,
but to cross-react with Melan-A. Thus a risk of pathology might
accompany protection against cancer.
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Transgenic K14/VEGF mice model psoriasis
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In humans, psoriasis is thought to be driven by T
h1 and/or T
h17
responses. Here,
Kemp and colleagues (p. 1097) applied phorbol
ester to the ears of K14/VEGF-transgenic mice and thoroughly
evaluated the response. A chronic, local, T
h17-like inflammatory
pattern develops, which topical steroids alleviate. This may
prove to be a good model of psoriasis development and treatment.
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CD83 regulates B cell...
Proinflammatory responses of...