Follicular development in pregnant cows after the administration of equine Chorionic Gonadotropin (eCG): a new insight

The follicular development in the cow occurs in a wave-like pattern, and it takes place also during pregnancy. In the cow, Equine Chorionic Gonadotropin (eCG) is used for superovulation, but a decrease in total fertility has been reported, likely because of its immunogenic properties in species other than equine. In this regard, immune response has been implicated in follicular growth, ovulation, and placental development. So, aims of our study are to test the safety of eCG administered during pregnancy and characterize the ovarian activity, the quality of oocytes, the hormonal status, and interleukin levels in eCG-treated pregnant cows

Increased production of interleukin-2 and IL-2 receptor in primary IgA nephropathy

Increased production of interleukin-2 and IL-2 receptor in primary IgA nephropathy. The production of interleukin-2 (IL-2) by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in 13 patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN) and 9 patients with chronic glomerulonephritis was investigated. Moreover, the distribution of IL-2 receptor (IL-2R) expression was studied in the purified T cell population versus the non-T cell population of IgAN patients. The results show a spontaneous significant production of IL-2 in cultures of PBMC from patients with IgAN (P < 0.025) that increased after PHA stimulation. IgAN patients also had a significantly higher expression of IL-2R on the surface of PBMC than did patients with chronic glomerulonephritis (P < 0.05). IL-2R was usually detected on unstimulated purified T cells that expressed the activation DR antigen. Moreover, a high number of DR helper T cells was associated to a reduced number of suppressor T cells (OKT8+M1+). These findings suggest that the increased production of IL-2 in patients with IgAN may be responsible for the increased activity of helper T cells. The high number of IL-2R expressed by freshly separated PBMC implies an in vivo continuous stimulation of these cells, and this finding is in agreement with the demonstrated spontaneous hyperproduction of IL-2. Moreover, the low number of suppressor T cells may contribute to the overactivity of helper T cells bearing IL-2R in IgAN patients

Mechanisms of immunosenescence

On April 7,8, 2009 a Symposium entitled "Pathophysiology of Successful and Unsuccessful Ageing" took place in Palermo, Italy. Here, the lectures of G. Pawelec, D. Dunn-Walters and. G. Colonna-Romano on T and B immunosenescence are summarized. In the elderly, many alterations of both innate and acquired immunity have been described. Alterations to the immune system in the older person are generally viewed as a deterioration of immunity, leading to the use of the catch-all term immunosenescence. Indeed, many immunological parameters are often markedly different in elderly compared to young people, and some, mostly circumstantial, evidence suggests that retained function of both innate and acquired immunity in the elderly is correlated with health status. What is often not clear from studies is how far immune dysfunction is a cause or an effect. A better understanding of immunosenescence and mechanisms responsible for proven deleterious changes is needed to maintain a healthy state in later life and to design possible therapeutic interventions

Microbial Translocation Is Associated with Increased Monocyte Activation and Dementia in AIDS Patients

Elevated plasma lipopolysaccharide (LPS), an indicator of microbial translocation from the gut, is a likely cause of systemic immune activation in chronic HIV infection. LPS induces monocyte activation and trafficking into brain, which are key mechanisms in the pathogenesis of HIV-associated dementia (HAD). To determine whether high LPS levels are associated with increased monocyte activation and HAD, we obtained peripheral blood samples from AIDS patients and examined plasma LPS by Limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) assay, peripheral blood monocytes by FACS, and soluble markers of monocyte activation by ELISA. Purified monocytes were isolated by FACS sorting, and HIV DNA and RNA levels were quantified by real time PCR. Circulating monocytes expressed high levels of the activation markers CD69 and HLA-DR, and harbored low levels of HIV compared to CD4+ T-cells. High plasma LPS levels were associated with increased plasma sCD14 and LPS-binding protein (LBP) levels, and low endotoxin core antibody levels. LPS levels were higher in HAD patients compared to control groups, and were associated with HAD independently of plasma viral load and CD4 counts. LPS levels were higher in AIDS patients using intravenous heroin and/or ethanol, or with Hepatitis C virus (HCV) co-infection, compared to control groups. These results suggest a role for elevated LPS levels in driving monocyte activation in AIDS, thereby contributing to the pathogenesis of HAD, and provide evidence that cofactors linked to substance abuse and HCV co-infection influence these processes

Risk sharing arrangements for pharmaceuticals: potential considerations and recommendations for European payers

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>There has been an increase in 'risk sharing' schemes for pharmaceuticals between healthcare institutions and pharmaceutical companies in Europe in recent years as an additional approach to provide continued comprehensive and equitable healthcare. There is though confusion surrounding the terminology as well as concerns with existing schemes.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Aliterature review was undertaken to identify existing schemes supplemented with additional internal documents or web-based references known to the authors. This was combined with the extensive knowledge of health authority personnel from 14 different countries and locations involved with these schemes.</p> <p>Results and discussion</p> <p>A large number of 'risk sharing' schemes with pharmaceuticals are in existence incorporating both financial-based models and performance-based/outcomes-based models. In view of this, a new logical definition is proposed. This is "<it>risk sharing' schemes should be considered as agreements concluded by payers and pharmaceutical companies to diminish the impact on payers' budgets for new and existing schemes brought about by uncertainty and/or the need to work within finite budgets</it>". There are a number of concerns with existing schemes. These include potentially high administration costs, lack of transparency, conflicts of interest, and whether health authorities will end up funding an appreciable proportion of a new drug's development costs. In addition, there is a paucity of published evaluations of existing schemes with pharmaceuticals.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We believe there are only a limited number of situations where 'risk sharing' schemes should be considered as well as factors that should be considered by payers in advance of implementation. This includes their objective, appropriateness, the availability of competent staff to fully evaluate proposed schemes as well as access to IT support. This also includes whether systematic evaluations have been built into proposed schemes.</p

Donkey's and goat's milk consumption and benefits to human health with special reference to the inflammatory status.

The environmental impact as well as malnutrition are responsible for an increased incidence of inflammatory diseases with a consequential loss of immune homeostasis. Therefore, administration of nutraceuticals is aimed at reconstituting the immune balance in terms of the so-called immune nutrition. Among many known nutraceuticals, more recently, donkey's and goat's milks have been used as good alternatives to human and bovine milk in various clinical conditions such as allergy, atopy and inflammatory diseases. In fact, both milks possess immunomodulating capacities and release nitric oxide, a potent vasodilator endowed with anti-atherogenic properties. In this review, emphasis will be placed on the consumption of fermented milk and, in particular, on its ability to modulate the aged immune system, even including the intestinal mucosal immune response in elderly. Therefore, for their specific properties donkey's and goat's milk administration to aged people should be encouraged

Restoration of host–microbiota homeostasis for attaining healthy aging: the role of milk and fermented milk

Intestinal microbiota and gut-associated lymphoreticular tissue are in a dynamic equilibrium, the rupture of which causes a condition of dysbiosis in the host. Among many natural foods, milk, because of its composition, is able to influence the host–microbiota relationship. Donkey’s and goat’s milk represents a good alternative to human milk. Healthy effects of both kinds of milk have been reported in either in vitro or in vivo experiments. When administered to elderly subjects, donkey’s milk increased the release of interleukins 6 and 8, while goat’s milk exerted opposite effects. With special reference to fermented cow’s milk, a symbiotic (Gorbach and Goldin) when administered to another group of elderly people, behaved as donkey’s milk upregulating interleukins 6, 8 and also 1. In conclusion, the ability of milk and fermented milk to modulate the altered immune response in senescence needs to be exploited more for maintaining healthy aging

Lymphoreticular system in fish: erythrocyte-mediated immunomodulation of macrophages contributes to the formation of melanomacrophage centers

In fish, melanomacrophage centers (MMC) represent the equivalent of germinal centers of birds and mammals. They consist of aggregates of macrophages filled with fragments of cells, mainly erythrocytes, and various pigments such as haemosiderin, lipofuscin and melanin. The kidney, the spleen and the liver contain many MMC either moving freely or encapsulated in the context of the lymphoreticular tissue. Here, we have demonstrated for the first time that MMC exist in the kidney, spleen and liver of the rainbow trout Salmo gairdneri Richardson by using traditional stainings and cytoenzymatic methods: Periodic Acid-Shiff, α-Naphthyl Acetate Esterase and Peroxidase. Finally, in the view of the already described peripheral interaction between fish erythrocytes (FE) and macrophages (MØ), it will be postulated that these cellular aggregates (rosettes) travel to distant organs, thus contributing to the formation of MMC in the kidney, in the spleen and in the liver

Anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic properties of donkey's and goat's milk.

Nowadays, donkey's and goat's milk consumption has been reevaluated for its potential benefits to human health. For example, in infants with intolerance to cow's milk, donkey's milk represents a good alternative due to its chemical characteristics similar to those of human milk. On the other hand, goat's milk in virtue of its higher content in short chain, medium chain, mono and polyunsaturated fatty acids than that of cow's milk, is more digestible than the bovine counterpart. From an immunological point of view, donkey's milk is able to induce release of inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines from normal human peripheral blood lymphomononuclear cells, thus maintaining a condition of immune homeostasis. Similarly, goat's milk has been shown to trigger innate and adaptive immune responses in an in vitro human system, also inhibiting the endotoxin-induced activation of monocytes. Finally, in these milks the presence of their own microbiota may normalize the human intestinal microbiota with a cascade of protective effects at intestinal mucosal sites, even including triggering of intestinal T regulatory cells. In the light of the above considerations, donkey's and goat's milk should be recommended as a dietary supplement in individuals with inflammatory and allergic conditions, even including elderly people