B Cells Display an Abnormal Distribution and an Impaired Suppressive Function in Patients with Chronic Antibody-Mediated Rejection Scientists showed that patients with chronic antibody-mediated rejection display a unique B-cell phenotype with a reduced ratio of activated to memory B cells associated with an impaired immunosuppressive activity. [Kidney Int] Abstract Vitamin D Controls Murine and Human Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Function The authors demonstrated that plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs) express various proteins of the Vitamin D (VitD) receptor pathway, including the VitD metabolizing enzymes Cyp27B1 and Cyp24A1, and that VitD receptor is transcriptionally active in pDCs. [J Invest Dermatol] Abstract Amyloid Arthropathy Associated with Multiple Myeloma: Polyarthritis without Synovial Infiltration of CD20+ or CD38+ Cells Synovial biopsies from affected joints of two patients with multiple myeloma and amyloid arthropathy were examined with light and electron microscopy, and immunohistochemically for expression of CD3, CD8, CD20, CD38, CD68, Ki-67 and vWF. Results were compared to values from osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and normal synovial membranes. [Amyloid] Abstract Evidence that TNF-Beta (Lymphotoxin Alpha) Can Activate the Inflammatory Environment in Human Chondrocytes While the role of TNF-alpha in rheumatoid arthritis is quite evident, the role of TNF-beta is unclear. Researchers investigated whether TNF-beta and its receptor play a role in chondrocytes in the inflammatory environment. [Arthritis Res Ther] Abstract | Full Article OK-432 Synergizes with IFN-γ to Confer Dendritic Cells with Enhanced Antitumor Immunity Researchers investigated the impact of a newly developed maturation cocktail consisting of OK-432 and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) on the function of human monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DCs). They found that OK-432 plus IFN-γ stimulation could induce significantly stronger expression of surface molecules, production of cytokines, as well as migration of DCs compared with OK-432 stimulation alone. [Immunol Cell Biol] Abstract Inhibition of Increased Circulating Tfh Cell by Anti-CD20 Monoclonal Antibody in Patients with Type 1 Diabetes Scientists investigated the role of follicular helper T (Tfh) cells in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and the effect of anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody (rituximab) on Tfh cells from T1D patients. [PLoS One] Full Article CXCR5+CD4+ Follicular Helper T Cells Accumulate in Resting Human Lymph Nodes and Have Superior B Cell Helper Activity Analyses have been performed on immune cells derived from tonsils, but as this tissue is most often inflamed, generalization of these data is difficult. The authors analyzed the phenotype and function of the human CD4+ T-cell subsets and lineages in paired resting lymph node and peripheral blood samples. [Int Immunol] Abstract Lower Serum Levels of Th2-Related Chemokine CCL22 in Women Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: A Comparison between Patients and Healthy Women Researchers investigated the serum levels of the macrophage-derived chemokine (CCL22) in women and men patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). The difference of the mean serum levels of CCL22 between the newly diagnosed MS men and healthy men was not significant, but in newly diagnosed MS women, the mean serum levels of CCL22 were significantly lower than those in treated MS women and healthy women. [Inflammation] Abstract
|