Search results for "IMMUNOLOGY"

2016

Immunologically, active visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is characterised by profound immunosuppression, severe systemic inflammatory responses and an impaired capacity to control parasite replication. Neutrophils are highly versatile cells, which play a crucial role in the induction as well as the resolution of inflammation, the control of pathogen replication and the regulation of immune responses. Neutrophil functions have been investigated in human cutaneous leishmaniasis, however, their role in human visceral leishmaniasis is poorly understood. In the present study we evaluated the activation status and effector functions of neutrophils in patients with active VL and after successful anti-l…

9-Phenanthrol enhances the generation of an CD8 + T cell response following transcutaneous immunization with imiquimod in mice

2017

Abstract Background Transcutaneous immunization (TCI) is a non-invasive vaccination strategy targeting the skin-associated lymphoid tissue. Topical application of the TLR7 agonist imiquimod as adjuvant in combination with peptide antigens activates the innate immune system and mounts cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses. Objective Based on the commercial 5% imiquimod-containing drug Aldara we aimed to develop an improved formulation with superior vaccination efficiencies. The primary target was the enhancement of mast cell activation as important key for the function of the innate immune system. Methods We investigated the effects of 9-phenanthrol (9-phe) on the activation of mast cells i…

Proangiogenic TF-FVIIa-PAR2 Signaling Requires Matriptase-Independent Integrin Interaction

2016

Abstract The close link between coagulation activation and cancer progression is supported by clinical and experimental studies. A central molecular pathways by which tumor cells interact with the hemostatic system is through the expression of the cell surface receptor tissue factor (TF) that in complex with coagulation factor VIIa (FVIIa) triggers the extrinsic pathway of blood coagulation, contributes to cancer associated thrombosis, and promotes direct tumor cell signaling through protease-activated receptors (PARs). Genetic and pharmacological evidence shows that epithelial and tumor cell TF-FVIIa signaling induces a diverse set of proangiogenic and immune modulatory cytokines, chemokin…

How to best manage cytomegalovirus infection in the allogeneic stem cell transplant setting: future prospects

2016

Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia: Approaches to Pharmacological Resistance

2017

Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is a clonal myeloproliferative disorder characterized by the reciprocal t (9:22) chromosomal translocation. This rearrangement produces the socalled Philadelphia chromosome carrying the chimeric Bcr-Abl oncoprotein, p210, responsible of disease progression [1]. Because of its critical role in pathogenesis, the scientific community had focused on targeting Bcr–Abl for treatment of CML. For many years Imatinib (IM), as selective inhibitor of the Tyr-Kinase activity of the oncoprotein, was used to treat CML patients [2]. From 2000 some data relative to IM resistance were available. There are many mechanisms responsible of IM resistance, more often point mutat…

Harnessing TH9 cells in cancer immunotherapy

2021

CD4 T cell effector subsets not only profoundly affect cancer progression, but recent evidence also underscores their critical contribution to the anticancer efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors. In 2012, the two seminal studies suggested the superior antimelanoma activity of TH9 cells over other T cell subsets upon adoptive T cell transfer. While these findings provided great impetus to investigate further the unique functions of TH9 cells and explore their relevance in cancer immunotherapy, the following questions still remain outstanding: are TH9 cell anticancer functions restricted to melanoma? What are the factors favouring TH9 cell effector functions? What is the contribution of T…

Expanding role of cytomegalovirus as a human pathogen

2016

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) continues to be a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in transplant recipients, despite major advancements in preventative strategies. Antiviral prophylaxis and pre-emptive antiviral therapeutic regimens are associated with a high incidence of late-onset end-organ disease and cause drug-related toxicity when overused. Therefore, the identification of risk factors for CMV replication is required. Genetic and immunological factors that predispose individuals to CMV-related clinical complications have been identified and may be instrumental for optimizing CMV treatment in the future. Evidence suggests a causal pathogenetic link between CMV-related complications and i…

Monitoring of Chemically Induced Colitis

2017

Inflammation is a common symptom of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Actually, many experimental models of colitis exist and try to mimic the human situation in order to understand the pathogenesis of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. These experimental models of inflammation can be characterized by specific parameters, which illustrate the proceeding inflammatory process. By use of these models potentially new reagents for improved therapeutic approaches can be analyzed. Here, we describe the TNBS-mediated colitis model and specify different parameters for the detailed characterization of the inflammatory process in experimental colitis models.

2017

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is the only curative treatment option for several hematological malignancies and immune deficiency syndromes. Nevertheless, the development of a graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) after transplantation is a high risk and a severe complication with high morbidity and mortality causing therapeutic challenges. Current pharmacological therapies of GvHD lead to generalized immunosuppression followed by severe adverse side effects including infections and relapse of leukemia. Several novel cell-based immunomodulatory strategies for treatment or prevention of GvHD have been developed. Herein, thymus-derived regulatory T cells (tTreg), essential for …

Accumulation of Circulating CCR7+ Natural Killer Cells Marks Melanoma Evolution and Reveals a CCL19-Dependent Metastatic Pathway

2019

Abstract Immune checkpoint blockade therapy has changed prognoses for many melanoma patients. However, immune responses that correlate with clinical progression of the disease are still poorly understood. To identify immune responses correlating with melanoma clinical evolution, we analyzed serum cytokines as well as circulating NK and T-cell subpopulations from melanoma patients. The patients' immune profiles suggested that melanoma progression leads to changes in peripheral blood NK and T-cell subsets. Stage IV melanoma was characterized by an increased frequency of CCR7+CD56bright NK cells as well as high serum concentrations of the CCR7 ligand CCL19. CCR7 expression and CCL19 secretion …