Alveolar Epithelial Type II Cells Activate Alveolar Macrophages and Mitigate P. Aeruginosa Infection

Although alveolar epithelial type II cells (AECII) perform substantial roles in the maintenance of alveolar integrity, the extent of their contributions to immune defense is poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that AECII activates alveolar macrophages (AM) functions, such as phagocytosis using a conditioned medium from AECII infected by P. aeruginosa. AECII-derived chemokine MCP-1, a monocyte chemoattractant protein, was identified as a main factor in enhancing AM function. We proposed that the enhanced immune potency of AECII may play a critical role in alleviation of bacterial propagation and pneumonia. The ability of phagocytosis and superoxide release by AM was reduced by MCP-1 neutralizing antibodies. Furthermore, MCP-1−/− mice showed an increased bacterial burden under PAO1 and PAK infection vs. wt littermates. AM from MCP-1−/− mice also demonstrated less superoxide and impaired phagocytosis over the controls. In addition, AECII conditioned medium increased the host defense of airway in MCP-1−/− mice through the activation of AM function. Mechanistically, we found that Lyn mediated NFκB activation led to increased gene expression and secretion of MCP-1. Consequently Lyn−/− mice had reduced MCP-1 secretion and resulted in a decrease in superoxide and phagocytosis by AM. Collectively, our data indicate that AECII may serve as an immune booster for fighting bacterial infections, particularly in severe immunocompromised conditions

Correlation of Glacier ELA/Snowlines & Temperature Station data with ERA5 Temperature and Wind Speed, 1979 to 2017

This dataset contains the gridded correlation results from a study that sought to better understand the climatic footprint monitored by antipodal mid-latitude glacier populations. Understanding the links between glaciers and climate is critical for accurately interpreting contemporary cryosphere changes, and interrogating the causes of past glacier behavior. However, work is still needed to refine the extent to which they capture regional to hemisphere-scale atmospheric processes. A Pearson's correlation was performed between yearly summer seasonal data from the ERA5 gridded reconstructions of global temperature and wind changes on each available ERA5 pressure level and yearly glacier snowline/ELA elevations in the Southern Alps of New Zealand and in the European Alps. December-Febuary austral summer data was correlated with the Southern Alps records and June-August Northern Hemisphere summer data was correlated with the European Alps. The ERA5 input dataset was regridded onto a new monthly axis representing the true month lengths. Then the weighted seasonal average (December-February and June-August) was calculated. Individuals glaciers with Equilibrium Line Altitude (ELA; European Alps) and End of Summer Snowlines (EOSS; Southern Alps) were selected with respective records covering at least 80% of the 1979-2017/15 analysis period. The records from each glacier were then standardized and an EOF analysis was performed to obtain each location's First Principle Component for input into the Pearson's Correlation. A nearly identical set of analyses was performed using weather stations temperature data instead of glacier ELA/snowlines. The New Zealand station equivalent is from the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) New Zealand seven-station (NZ7S) series. The European Alps equivalent is from the HistAlp regional weather station syntheses. This companion analysis allows the glacier's ability to record the climate to be compared to that of meteorological instruments

Relationship between HIV stigma and self-isolation among people living with HIV in Tennessee.

HIV stigma is a contributing factor to poor patient outcomes. Although HIV stigma has been documented, its impact on patient well-being in the southern US is not well understood.Thirty-two adults participated in cognitive interviews after completing the Berger HIV or the Van Rie stigma scale. Participant responses were probed to ensure the scales accurately measured stigma and to assess the impact stigma had on behavior.Three main themes emerged regarding HIV stigma: (1) negative attitudes, fear of contagion, and misperceptions about transmission; (2) acts of discrimination by families, friends, health care providers, and within the workplace; and (3) participants' use of self-isolation as a coping mechanism. Overwhelming reluctance to disclose a person's HIV status made identifying enacted stigma with a quantitative scale difficult.Fear of discrimination resulted in participants isolating themselves from friends or experiences to avoid disclosure. Participant unwillingness to disclose their HIV status to friends and family could lead to an underestimation of enacted HIV stigma in quantitative scales

Re-validation of the Van Rie HIV/AIDS-related stigma scale for use with people living with HIV in the United States.

There is little consensus about which of the many validated human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) stigma scales should be regularly used, with few being re-validated in different contexts or evaluated for how they compare to other, existing HIV stigma scales. The purpose of this exploratory study was to re-validate the Van Rie HIV/AIDS-Related Stigma Scale, originally validated in Thailand and using a third-person wording structure, for use with people living with HIV in the United States. Adult HIV clinic patients completed a survey including the Berger and Van Rie scales, and measures of social support and depression. Eighty-five of 211 (40%) eligible participants provided data for both stigma scales. Exploratory factor analyses identified three factors to the Van Rie scale: Loss of Social Relationships (new subscale), Managing HIV Concealment (new subscale), and Perceived Community Stigma (original subscale). These subscales were moderately inter-related (r = 0.51 to 0.58) with acceptable to excellent reliability (Cronbach's alpha = 0.69 to 0.90). The Van Rie subscales were also moderately inter-correlated with the Berger subscales (r = 0.44 to 0.76), had similar construct validity, and tended to have higher mean stigma scores when compared with Berger subscales that were conceptually most similar. The revised Van Rie HIV-related Stigma Scale demonstrates good validity and internal consistency, offering a valid measure of HIV stigma with a three-factor structure. The third-person wording may be particularly suitable for measuring stigmatizing attitudes during an individual's transition from at-risk and undergoing HIV testing to newly diagnosed, a time when experiences of discrimination and processing issues of disclosure have not yet occurred. The stigma mechanisms for individuals making this transition have not been well explored. These scenarios, combined with the observed non-response to the Berger Enacted Stigma subscale items (a surprise finding), highlight gaps in our understanding of HIV stigma and how best to measure it

Correlation coefficients between HIV stigma scale and subscale scores (n = 85)^a.

<p>^a The correlation coefficient for the total stigma scores (all items) between the Van Rie and Berger scales was r = 0.80; All p≤0.002.</p><p>Correlation coefficients between HIV stigma scale and subscale scores (n = 85)<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0118836#t006fn001" target="_blank">^a</a>.</p

Correlation coefficients between HIV stigma scores and related constructs (n = 85)^a.

<p>^a Bolded correlations have p<0.05.</p><p>Correlation coefficients between HIV stigma scores and related constructs (n = 85)<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0118836#t007fn001" target="_blank">^a</a>.</p

Distribution of missing responses to individual items among all study participants prior to exploratory factor analysis (n = 85).

<p>^a item excluded from revised set of items following exploratory factor analysis.</p><p>^b The original version of this sub-scale contained 10 items and has was termed the “Patient perspective” or “Felt/Experienced stigma” sub-scale.</p><p>^c item excluded a priori before exploratory factor analysis (see <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0118836#sec002" target="_blank">Methods</a>).</p><p>Distribution of missing responses to individual items among all study participants prior to exploratory factor analysis (n = 85).</p

Socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of study participants (n = 85).

<p>^a MSM, men who have sex with men; IDU, injection drug user.</p><p>Socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of study participants (n = 85).</p