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Notes: We present a maximum entropy method that allows the simultaneous analysis of different types of experimental data in order to obtain conformational information on flexible molecules in solution. We consider various NMR observables (dipolar, quadrupolar, J-couplings, nuclear Overhauser enhancements), and dielectric and neutron scattering techniques, and we express them using a common formalism in terms of orientational–conformational order parameters. We then show how these observables can be inverted in structural information allowing for continuous or discrete internal degrees of freedom and for any available prior information. We demonstrate the potentialities of the method on simulated 1HNMR, 2HNMR and dielectric data for some terminally halogenated alkyl chains and show the improvement in conformational analysis obtained by simultaneously analyzing different and complementary data sets. © 1998 American Institute of Physics.

Notes: Subjects with Down's syndrome (DS), or trisomy 21, have an increased susceptibility to infections, malignant diseases and autoimmune phenomena. Various arms of the immune system are severely impaired in trisomie patients. We found that the proportion of blood lymphocytes bearing the γ/δ T-cell receptor (TCR) was significantly higher in adults with trisomy 21 than in age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Interestingly, the increase was mainly due to an over-expansion of cells which bear non-covalently bound γ/δ chains on their surface. This contrasts with the normal blood picture, where the great majority of γ/δ T cells express the disulphide-linked form of the TCR. The fact that trisomie γ/δ T cells are both numerically and phenotypically unbalanced provides further evidence that immunological abnormalities are integral features of DS.

Notes: An optimal stimulation of CD4+ cells in an immune response requires not only signals transduced via the TcR/CD3 complex, but also costimulatory signals delivered as a consequence of interactions between T-cell surface-associated costimulatory receptors and their counterparts on antigen-presenting cells ‘APC). The intercellular adhesion molecule-1 ‘ICAM-1, CD54) efficiently costimulates proliferation of resting, but not antigen-specific, T cells. In contrast, CD28 and CD2 support interleukin ‘IL)-2 synthesis and proliferation of antigen-specific T cells more efficiently than those of resting T cells. The molecular basis for this differential costimulation of T cells is poorly understood. Cypress-specific T-cell clones ‘TCC) were generated from four allergic subjects during in vivo seasonal exposure to the allergen. Purified cypress extract was produced directly from fresh collected pollen and incubated with the patients' mononuclear cells. Repeated allergen stimulation was performed in T-cell cultures supplemented with purified extract and autologous APC. The limiting-dilution technique was then adopted to generate allergen-specific TCC, which were also characterized by their cytokine secretion pattern as ThO ‘IL-4 plus interferon-gamma) or Th2 ‘IL-4). Costimulation-induced proliferation or apoptosis was measured by propidium iodide cytofluorometric assay. By cross-linking cypress-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell clones with either anti-CD3 or anti-CD2, anti-CD28, and anti-CD54 monoclonal antibodies, we demonstrated that CD4+ clones ‘with ThO- or Th2-type cytokine production pattern) undergo programmed cell death only after anti-CD3 stimulation, whereas costimulation with either anti-CD54 or anti-CD28 protects target cells from apoptosis. The costimulation-induced protection from apoptotic death was associated with a significant rise in IL-4 secretion in both Th0 and Th2-type clones. In contrast, cypress-specific Th0 CD8+ clones were more susceptible to stimulation-induced apoptosis via either anti-CD3 or anti-CD2, alone or in combination with anti-CD54 or anti-CD28, thus displaying only slight but nonsignificant modifications in the pattern of IL-4 secretion. The death-promoting costimulatory effects were not observed with highly purified normal resting CD4+ or CD8+ lymphocytes. Taken together, these results suggest that TcR engagement by an allergen in the context of functionally active APC induces activation-dependent cell death of some, perhaps less specific, cells, and this may be an important homeostatic mechanism through which functional expansion of allergen-specific T cells is regulated during an ongoing immune response.

Notes: A phenotypical analysis carried out by two-colour flow cytometry showed that the proportion of circulating CD4+ T lymphocytes co-expressing the membrane-associated ectoenzyme dipeptidyl peptidase IV (CD26 antigen), a functional collagen receptor involved in T-cell triggering through its interaction with the CD45 protein tyrosine phosphatase, was significantly lower in 28 children with non-translocated trisomy 21 (Down's syndrome) (DS) than that calculated in the bloodstream of 27 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Agonist anti-CD26 monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs), such as anti-lF7, not only modulate the surface expression of this molecule, but also enhance the proliferative activity of normal human T cells via the CD3- and CD2-mediated activation pathways. T-lymphocyte proliferation induced by antigen or polyclonal T-cell activators, including anti-CD3 or -CD2 MoAbs, is severely impaired in DS. Although the physiological ligand of CD26 surface structure is unknown, the fact that CD4+ T lymphocytes found in the blood of trisomic subjects are mostly CD26− (anti-lF7−) suggests that their faulty mitogenic response may be due to phenotypical and, perhaps, strictly correlated functional abnormalities.

Notes: Chemokines, which include interleukin (IL)-8, are a family of pro-inflammatory molecules with potent chemoattractant activity on neutrophils, as well as other cell types. IL-8 can be recovered from many inflammatory sites. To test the hypothesis that Th2-type allergen-specific T cells, known to be the main cell type governing the allergic inflammation, are a source of IL-8 and to investigate whether IL-8 release is influenced by the nature of the in vitro mitogenic or co-mitogenic stimulation, cypress-specific T-cell clones (TCC) were generated from five allergic subjects during in vitro seasonal exposure to the allergen. Purified cypress extract was produced directly from freshly collected pollen and used for in vitro stimulation of PBMC bulk cultures. After 5 days priming and a further 7 day period of IL-2-driven cell expansion, monoclonal antibodies to CD3, CD2 and CD28 were adopted for in vitro restimulation of allergen-specific cell lines or, subsequently, secondary established TCC. The induction of apoptosis was detected by propidium iodide (PI) cytofluorimetric assay. Basal and co-stimulation-induced IL-8 production was measured by an ELISA method. Both cypress-specific T-cell lines and TCC secreted appreciable amounts of IL-8. By cross-linking T-cell lines or Th2 CD4+ TCC with CD3, CD2 or CD28 MoAbs, the authors observed a great stimulation-induced IL-8 secretion, preferentially after CD2 or combined CD2/CD28 stimulation. In addition, CD4+ clones released large amounts of IL-8 into culture supernatants after CD2 stimulation while undergoing programmed cell death (30–40% hypodiploid DNA profile of PI-stained cells). In contrast, CD3 crosslinking was unable to determine the release of IL-8 or the induction of apoptosis. Taken together, these results suggest that incomplete TcR engagement by allergen may lead to the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines with a contemporary induction of apoptosis in a significant number of target cells. This phenomenon may represent an additional way for local recruitment of neutrophils and basophils.

Notes: Various surface molecules are expressed by activated T cells. Among them, the CD30 antigen has been proposed as a reproducible marker that identifies a subset of differentiated and/or activated T lymphocytes that produce T helper (Th)-2-type cytokines, i.e. interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-5. However, because CD30 has mainly been detected on established T-cell clones, it is still unclear whether a priming allergen and/or cytokine can induce its membrane expression on naive T cells, perhaps in parallel with the up-regulation of other relevant activation markers, such as CD25, HLA-DR and L-selectin. It is also unknown whether proper allergen stimulation affects the cytokine secretion pattern by CD30+ T-cell clones derived from antigen-unprimed (naive) T lymphocytes. More information on these questions was sought by adopting a model that used cord blood as a source of virgin T cells and exposing them to native cypress allergen or cytokine (IL-2 or IL-4) stimulation, as well as to conventional polyclonal activators such as PHA or anti-CD3. Peripheral blood MC from four adult cypress-sensitive patients was also assayed and used as controls for all culture experiments. Freshly isolated cord and adult T cells did not express the CD30 antigen on their membrane. Many of the stimulating agents tested were able to up-regulate the expression of CD30. However, despite high expression of this molecule, cloned allergen-specific cord CD4+ T lymphocytes were unable to produce IFN-γ and/or IL-4. In contrast, they retained the capability to produce IL-2. Thus, expression of the CD30 antigen on virgin T cells does not correlate with a polarized model of T helper (Th)-1 or Th-2 cytokine-producing cells, suggesting that these types of lymphokine-secreting lymphocytes are not a paradigmatic example of T-cell subpopulations that display stable phenotypical features.

Notes: The mechanisms by which glucocorticoids suppress immune responses have not yet been clearly defined. In steroid-sensitive pathological conditions, an increase in γδ T cells can occur in certain untreated systemic autoimmune disorders and seems to be a persistent feature in most cases of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Our previously published data demonstrated that immunosuppressive therapy normalized this expanded SLE T cell subset in parallel with clinical remission of the symptoms. To establish how corticosteroid treatment determines the disappearance of peripheral blood γδ T lymphocytes, circulating αβ and γδ T lymphocytes from seven SLE subjects with active disease and seven healthy individuals were cultured in the presence or absence of 10-7M Dexamethasone (DEX). Cell suspensions were then analysed for DNA fragmentation, characteristic of apoptotic cell death, by a new cytofluorimetric method. Conventional agarose-gel electrophoresis on the same T cell populations was carried out for comparison. Regular follow-ups for 6 months revealed in vivo steroid treatment determined a dramatic fall in SLE blood γδ T cells, and in vitro experiments seem to indicate that DEX-triggered apoptotic signals are confined to the double negative (CD4- CD8-) γδ T cell subpopulation which disappears after in vivo immunosuppressive therapy. Clinical and pathological remission of some autoimmune diseases is often obtained by corticosteroids. Our results offer new insights on the mechanisms through these hormones exert their potent inhibitory activities on immune system cells postulated to play a role in the generation of autoimmune responses.

Notes: Background Montelukast (MNT), a cysteinyl-leukotriene receptor (Cys-LTR) antagonist, has anti-inflammatory activity in the treatment of allergic diseases. If this effect is due only to blocking leukotrienes or also owing to inhibiting proliferation and survival of inflammatory cells, is actually unknown.Objective Testing the hypothesis that MNT could influence T lymphocyte functional behaviour in vitro.Methods Normal T lymphocytes were analysed for surface expression of Cys-LTR1 and Cys-LTR2 by means of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), in the resting state and after activation with T helper type 2 cytokine or T cell receptor (TcR) stimulation. Proliferative activity, as well as IL-4 andIFN-γ production, were simultaneously determined in samples exposed to molar concentrations of MNT from 10−8 to 10−5. Programmed cell death in cultured samples was evaluated by means of propidium iodide and fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated anti-Annexin V mAb staining. The complementary DNA microarray technique was adopted to identify gene products involved in apoptosis induction.Results Resting T cells expressed low levels of Cys-LTR. Upon anti-CD3 mAb activation, a progressive increase in Cys-LTR1 and -LTR2 expression was observed. Exposure to MNT reduced proliferative response to TcR engagement, increased IFN-γ production and led to apoptosis at minimal concentrations of 10−6 m. A progressive loss in BAD and B cell lymphoma/leukaemia-2 activities, and an increase in the expression of CD27, TRAF3, TRAIL, p53 and Fas genes were also observed.Conclusions Biological effects of MNT delineate a complex picture of gene activation and repression, probably induced by Cys-LTR blockade. The induction of apoptosis in allergen-specific T cell population, as a final result, appears fundamental in the treatment of asthma.

Notes: Background Larvae of insects and worms, used as live fish bait (LFB), are a common source of allergy in anglers and occupationally exposed workers, but the prevalence and predictors have not yet been investigated.Objective This study assessed the prevalence and associated factors of occupational allergy in workers exposed to LFB.Methods We assessed the prevalence of sensitization to LFB and work-related symptoms (WRS) in 76 workers occupationally exposed to it. All workers completed a case history questionnaire and underwent skin prick tests (SPT) for common aeroallergens and bluebottle (Calliphora vomitoria), bee moth (Galleria mellonella), mealworm (Tenebrio molitor), and gusano rojo (Cilecomadia moorei). Specific IgE were tested in 64 subjects. Two-thirds of the workers had a high level of LFB exposure.Results Sensitization to LFB was found in 24 workers (31.6%). Seven subjects (9.2%) reported WRS (asthma in 3, rhinoconjunctivitis in 5, and contact urticaria in 1), and 5 were positive for SPT and serum IgE to one or more LFB extracts. One was also exposed to LFB while fishing. Sensitization to LFB extracts and WRS were strongly associated (Odds Ratio = 6.6, P 〈 0.05). The 7 subjects with WRS had been exposed longer than asymptomatic subjects with positive skin tests to LFB (P 〈 0.05). No differences in sex, age, smoking habit, duration or level of exposure, and atopy were detected in symptomatic or in sensitized subjects, compared with normal workers.Conclusion Sensitization to LFB and WRS are relatively frequent in occupationally exposed workers. No associated factors of occupational allergy to LFB could be detected.