Interferon-α Abrogates Tolerance Induction by Human Tolerogenic Dendritic Cells

BACKGROUND: Administration of interferon-α (IFN-α) represents an approved adjuvant therapy as reported for malignancies like melanoma and several viral infections. In malignant diseases, tolerance processes are critically involved in tumor progression. In this study, the effect of IFN-α on tolerance induction by human tolerogenic dendritic cells (DC) was analyzed. We focussed on tolerogenic IL-10-modulated DC (IL-10 DC) that are known to induce anergic regulatory T cells (iTregs). METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: IFN-α promoted an enhanced maturation of IL-10 DC as demonstrated by upregulation of the differentiation marker CD83 as well as costimulatory molecules. IFN-α treatment resulted in an increased capacity of DC to stimulate T cell activation compared to control tolerogenic DC. We observed a strengthened T cell proliferation and increased IFN-γ production of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells stimulated by IFN-α-DC, demonstrating a restoration of the immunogenic capacity of tolerogenic DC in the presence of IFN-α. Notably, restimulation experiments revealed that IFN-α treatment of tolerogenic DC abolished the induction of T cell anergy and suppressor function of iTregs. In contrast, IFN-α neither affected the priming of iTregs nor converted iTregs into effector T cells. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: IFN-α inhibits the induction of T cell tolerance by reversing the tolerogenic function of human DC

Synthesis and properties of nanocrystalline compounds prepared by high-energy milling

Carbides, borides and nitrides of high melting transition metals were synthesized by high energy ball milling of elemental powder mixtures. The obtained hard material phases show a nanocrystalline structure with a saturation value of the crystal sizes between 7-8 nm. The kinetics of the reaction were investigated, and the nanocrystalline powders were densified by HIP

Ostsee-Monitoring. Die Schwermetall-Situation in der Ostsee in den Jahren 1992-1995

In May 1994, samples of Baltic Sea water were taken in 22 monitoring stations and in February 1995 in 16 monitoring stations in order to measure the concentrations of the elements Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn, Hg in water and in suspended particulate matter (also Mn). This report presents a summary discussion of the results and a comparison with the data of 1992 and 1993; the salinity increase of January 1993 and the following secondary salinity increase events are given particular attention in the context of the redox conditions in the Gotland deepwater area. After a 17-year stagnation period with high H_2S concentrations, these events again caused oxidic conditions in the Gotland area. In anoxic conditions (1992), metals like Cd, Cu and Zn were accumulated as insoluble sulfides in the particulate phase and eleiminated from the dissolved phase, low-oxygen conditions (since May 1993) result in solution processes from the sediment or pore water. (orig./SR)Im Mai 1994 wurden an 22 Stationen und im Februar 1995 an 16 Stationen in der Ostsee Proben zur Bestimmung der Elemente Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn, Hg im Wasser und in suspendiertem partikulaeren Material (zusaetzlich Mn) genommen. In diesem Bericht werden die Daten dieser Jahre zusammenfassend mit den Ergebnissen aus den Jahren 1992 und 1993 diskutiert, wobei der Salzwassereinbruch im Januar 1993 und die folgenden kleineren Salzwasserschuebe eine zentrale Stellung im Zusammenhang mit den Redoxbedingungen im Gotlandtief einnehmen. Diese Ereignisse fuehrten nach einer 17jaehrigen Stagnationsperiode mit hohen H_2S-Konzentrationen wieder zu oxischen Verhaeltnissen im Gotlandtief. Waehrend unter anoxischen Bedingungen (1992) Metalle wie Cd, Cu und Zn als schwerloesliche Sulfide in der partikulaeren Phase angereichert und aus der geloesten Phase eliminiert wurde, kommt es unter sauerstoffarmen Bedingungen (ab Mai 1993) zu Loesungsprozessen aus dem Sediment bzw. dem Porenwasser. (orig./SR)Available from TIB Hannover: F95B2448 / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekSIGLEDEGerman

Nachweis gentechnischer Veränderungen in Mais mittels PCR

Ein PCR-Nachweis für gentechnisch veränderten Mais «Event 176» der Fa. Ciba-Geigy wurde etabliert. Der Mais enthält Gene, die Selbstschutz gegen den Maiszünsler (Delta-Endotoxin-Gen ausBacillus thuringiensis) und Toleranz gegen das Herbizid Basta (Phosphinothricin-Resistenz-Gen ausStreptomyces hygroscopicus) vermitteln. Zudem enthält der Mais ein Ampicillin-Resistenz-Gen. Für die Amplifikation von Bereichen aus allen drei Genen wurden PCR-Primer entworfen. Mit Hilfe dieser Primer und mit «Event 176»-Mais-DNA als Template konnten die entsprechenden Genbereiche in der PCR amplifiziert werden. Die PCR-Produkte wurden sequenziert, um ihre Identität zu bestätigen. Mit Hilfe der Delta-Endotoxin-PCR wurden, auch in Gegenwart von 104fachem Überschuß nicht gentechnisch veränderter Mais-DNA, fünf haploide Genome der «Event 176»-DNA nachgewiesen.A PCR-test for the genetically modified maize «Event 176» of Ciba-Geigy was established. The maize contains genes conferring resistance to the European corn borer (delta-endotoxin gene fromBacillus thuringiensis) and tolerance to the herbicide Basta (phosphinothricin resistance gene fromStreptomyces hygroscopicus). The maize contains also an ampicillin resistance gene. Primers were designed and using «Event 176»-maize-DNA as template internal regions of the three genes were amplified with PCR. The PCR products were sequenced to confirm their identity. Using the deltaendotoxin primers in PCR down to 5 haploid genomes of «Event 176»-DNA could be detected, even in the presence of a 104fold excess of DNA from non-modified maize

Netzwerk BioMeT Dresden Schlussbericht

SIGLEAvailable from TIB Hannover: F04B1179 / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekBundesministerium fuer Bildung und Forschung (BMBF), Bonn (Germany)DEGerman