Local therapy with CpG motifs in a murine model of allergic airway inflammation in IFN-β knock-out mice

BACKGROUND: CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG-ODN) are capable of inducing high amounts of type I IFNs with many immunomodulatory properties. Furthermore, type-I IFNs have been proposed to play a key role in mediating effects of CpG-ODN. The precise role of IFN-β in the immunomodulatory effects of CpG-ODN is not known. OBJECTIVE: Here, we aimed to elucidate the role of IFN-β in the anti-allergic effect of CpG motifs. METHODS: We assessed the immune response in OVA-primed/OVA-challenged IFN-β knockout (-/-) mice compared to wild type (WT) control, after intranasal and systemic treatment with synthetic CpG motifs. RESULTS: Vaccination with CpG-ODN reduced the number of cells in airways of OVA-sensitized WT but not IFN-β-/- mice. Although airway eosinophilia was reduced in both treated groups, they were significantly higher in IFN-β(-)/- mice. Other inflammatory cells, such as lymphocytes and macrophages were enhanced in airways by CpG treatment in IFN-β-/- mice. The ratio of IFN-γ/IL-4 cytokines in airways was significantly skewed to a Th1 response in WT compared to IFN-β(-)/- group. In contrast, IL-4 and IgE were reduced with no differences between groups. Ag-specific T-cell proliferation, Th1-cytokines such as IFN-γ, IL-2 and also IL-12 were significantly lower in IFN-β-/- mice. Surprisingly, we discovered that intranasal treatment of mice with CpG-ODN results in mild synovitis particularly in IFN-β-/- mice. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that induction of Th1 response by therapy with CpG-ODN is only slightly and partially dependent on IFN-β, while IFN-β is not an absolute requirement for suppression of airway eosinophilia and IgE. Furthermore, our finding of mild synovitis is a warning for possible negative effects of CpG-ODN vaccination

Modelling the ion exchange process in glass: Phenomenological approaches and perspectives

A great deal of work has been devoted in the last decades to the study of the ion exchange process modelling, in order to tailor the physical properties of the modified layers, e.g. refractive index or stress profiles. The first models were based on simple ionic diffusion equations, while in the last years it became clear that the glass undergoes local restructuring during the ion exchange even at temperatures lower than the glass transition one. The aim of this work is to review the approaches that lead to the introduction of self-diffusion coefficients depending on the concentration of the migrating cations, and to outline a physical approach in selecting a phenomenological expression for the coefficients. In particular, this approach refers to models developed for describing the ionic diffusion in mixed-alkali glasses

Applicability of in vitro models in prediciting the in vivo bioavailability of lycopene and beta-carotene from differently processed soups

Presently, there is no clear consensus on the best approach to estimate carotenoid bioavailability. The best alternative would be to use human studies, but they are labour-intensive and expensive and can only be used to investigate a lim-ited number of samples. Hence, a number of in vitro models have been developed to study pre-absorptive processes and factors affecting bioavailability. The question is, however, how well the results obtained by the various methods correlate to each other and to the in vivo situation. In the present paper, we have compared in vivo data from two human studies on differently processed soups containing carrots, tomato and broccoli, with results obtained by in vitro characterisation of the same soups. In vitro bioaccessibility was estimated by a static in vitro digestion investigating matrix release and micellarization of carotenoids and by uptake studies in a human intestinal cell line (Caco-2). In vivo data was obtained from clinical studies measuring total plasma carotenoid concentrations in human subjects after 4 weeks daily consumption of the soups. Comparison of the in vitro and in vivo results indicate that the combination of a two-step in vitro digestion and Caco-2 cells seems to be a useful tool for estimation of β-carotene bioaccessibility and screening of factors governing the release of β-carotene from this type of food. For lycopene the in vitro and in vivo results were less consistent, suggesting that reliable prediction of lycopene bioavailability might be more problematic

Applicability of in vitro models in prediciting the in vivo bioavailability of lycopene and beta-carotene from differently processed soups

Presently, there is no clear consensus on the best approach to estimate carotenoid bioavailability. The best alternative would be to use human studies, but they are labour-intensive and expensive and can only be used to investigate a lim-ited number of samples. Hence, a number of in vitro models have been developed to study pre-absorptive processes and factors affecting bioavailability. The question is, however, how well the results obtained by the various methods correlate to each other and to the in vivo situation. In the present paper, we have compared in vivo data from two human studies on differently processed soups containing carrots, tomato and broccoli, with results obtained by in vitro characterisation of the same soups. In vitro bioaccessibility was estimated by a static in vitro digestion investigating matrix release and micellarization of carotenoids and by uptake studies in a human intestinal cell line (Caco-2). In vivo data was obtained from clinical studies measuring total plasma carotenoid concentrations in human subjects after 4 weeks daily consumption of the soups. Comparison of the in vitro and in vivo results indicate that the combination of a two-step in vitro digestion and Caco-2 cells seems to be a useful tool for estimation of β-carotene bioaccessibility and screening of factors governing the release of β-carotene from this type of food. For lycopene the in vitro and in vivo results were less consistent, suggesting that reliable prediction of lycopene bioavailability might be more problematic

Thermal pretreatments of carrot pieces using different heating techniques: Effect on quality related aspects

During fruit and vegetable processing, different thermal processes (blanching, pasteurization, sterilization) based on different heating techniques can be used. In this context, it is important to evaluate the impact of blanching on quality related parameters. This paper describes a case study on carrot pieces, studying the effect of thermal pretreatments (high temperature blanching, low temperature blanching and low temperature blanching in combination with Ca 2+ -soaking) on enzyme activity (peroxidase (POD), pectinmethylesterase (PME)), structural properties (degree of methoxylation (DM), texture) and nutritional aspects (β-carotene content). The thermal pretreatments were carried out by conventional heating as well as by microwave heating and ohmic heating, since these new heating methods can become important new technologies in food industry. It has been shown that, depending on the application, selecting the right pretreatment conditions can help to control the enzyme activity. To obtain a firm carrot texture after thermal processing, low temperature blanching seems to be the most appropriate pretreatment condition. This was supported by the micrographs and the analysis of the degree of methoxylation. Furthermore almost no influence of the pretreatments on the β-carotene content of the samples could be noticed. For all quality parameters studied, no unambiguous effect of the heating technique could be detected. Thus, the time/temperature conditions of the thermal pretreatments determine the quality related aspect s, independent of the heating technique used. Industrial relevance: With regard to consumer acceptance, a good quality control of fruit and vegetables is important. Food quality covers a wide range of parameters, including enzyme content, structural properties, nutritional properties, sensorial characteristics etc. This study gives an overview of the effect of blanching, which is a common preprocessing step in food processing, on quality related parameters in carrots. The data deliver integrated information on structural level as well as on nutritional level and on enzyme content. Moreover, novel thermal process technologies (microwave heating, ohmic heating), which gain more and more attention in food industry, are being considered as alternatives for conventional blanching. \ua9 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

The arthritogenic adjuvant squalene does not accumulate in joints, but gives rise to pathogenic cells in both draining and non-draining lymph nodes

A single intradermal injection of the adjuvant-oil squalene induces T cell-mediated arthritis in DA rats. The chain of events leading from non-specific provocation of the immune system to arthritis, with clinical similarities to rheumatoid arthritis, is largely undetermined. Here, we combined in vivo tracking of tritium-labelled squalene with lymph node (LN) cell transfer experiments to determine where critical activation events may take place. The majority of squalene remained at the injection site (79%). The amounts recovered in peripheral joints (<1%) were equal to that recovered in other organs that can be targets in autoimmune diseases. This argues that arthritis does not develop as a consequence of adjuvant accumulation in joints. In contrast, substantial amounts of squalene were recovered in hyperplastic LN draining the injection site (1–13%). The adjuvant was deposited to a larger extent in cells than in extracellular matrix. The draining LN cells could transfer arthritis to naïve irradiated DA rats following in vitro stimulation with conA. Interestingly, non-draining LN were also hyperplastic and harboured arthritogenic cells, although they contained low amounts of squalene (<1%). Consequently, the amount of arthritogenic adjuvant in a particular LN is not closely linked to the development of pathogenic cells. The distribution pattern of squalene was similar in MHC-identical but arthritis-resistant PVG.1AV1 and LEW.1AV1 rats, and it was unaffected by T cell depletion with a monoclonal antibody (R73). Thus, T cells and non-MHC genes do not regulate dissemination of squalene, but rather determine arthritis development at the level of adjuvant response