123 research outputs found
CD44 expression positively correlates with Foxp3 expression and suppressive function of CD4+ Treg cells
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>CD4<sup>+</sup>CD25<sup>+ </sup>regulatory T (T<sub>reg</sub>) cells develop in the thymus and can suppress T cell proliferation, modulated by Foxp3 and cytokines; however, the relevance of CD44 in T<sub>reg </sub>cell development is less clear. To address this issue, we analyzed Foxp3 expression in CD44<sup>+ </sup>T<sub>reg </sub>cells by using multiple parameters, measured the levels of the immunoregulatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-10 in various thymocyte subsets, and determined the suppressor activity in different splenic T<sub>reg </sub>cell populations.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Within mouse thymocytes, we detected T<sub>reg </sub>cells with two novel phenotypes, namely the CD4<sup>+</sup>CD8<sup>-</sup>CD25<sup>+</sup>CD44<sup>+ </sup>and CD4<sup>+</sup>CD8<sup>-</sup>CD25<sup>+</sup>CD44<sup>- </sup>staining features. Additional multi-parameter analyses at the single-cell and molecular levels suggested to us that CD44 expression positively correlated with Foxp3 expression in thymocytes, the production of IL-10, and T<sub>reg </sub>activity in splenic CD4<sup>+</sup>CD25<sup>+ </sup>T cells. This suppressive effect of T<sub>reg </sub>cells on T cell proliferation could be blocked by using anti-IL-10 neutralizing antibodies. In addition, CD4<sup>+</sup>CD25<sup>+</sup>CD44<sup>+ </sup>T<sub>reg </sub>cells expressed higher levels of IL-10 and were more potent in suppressing effector T cell proliferation than were CD4<sup>+</sup>CD25<sup>+</sup>CD44<sup>- </sup>cells.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This study indicates the presence of two novel phenotypes of T<sub>reg </sub>cells in the thymus, the functional relevance of CD44 in defining T<sub>reg </sub>cell subsets, and the role of both IL-10 and Foxp3 in modulating the function of T<sub>reg </sub>cells.</p> <p>Reviewers</p> <p>This article was reviewed by Dr. M. Lenardo, Dr. L. Klein & G. Wirnsberger (nominated by Dr. JC Zungia-Pfluker), and Dr. E.M. Shevach.</p
C2H N=1-0 and N2H+ J=1-0 observations of Planck Galactic cold clumps
A survey of C2H N=1-0 and N2H+ J=1-0 toward Planck Galactic cold clumps
(PGCCs) was performed using the Purple Mountain Observatory's 13.7 m telescope.
C2H and N2H+ were chosen to study the chemical evolutionary states of PGCCs.
Among 121 observed molecular cores associated with PGCCs, 71 and 58 are
detected with C2H N=1-0 and N2H+ J=1-0, respectively. The detected lines of
most sources can be fitted with a single component with compatible Vlsr and
line widths, which confirms that these PGCC cores are very cold (with gas
temperatures 9-21 K) and quiescent while still dominanted by turbulence. The
ratio between the column densities of C2H and N2H+ (N(C2H)/N(N2H+)) is found to
be a good tracer for the evolutionary states of PGCC cores. Gas-grain chemical
model can reproduce the decreasing trend of N(C2H)/N(N2H+) as a function of
time. The cores with the lowest abundances of N2H+ (X[N2H+] < 10^{-10}) are the
youngest, and have nearly constant abundances of C2H. In evolved cores with
X[N2H+] ~ 1E-9, abundances of C2H drop quickly as the exhaustion of carbon
atoms. Although these PGCC cores are in different evolutionary states, they are
all quite young ( N(N2H+). Mapping observations are
carried out toward 20 PGCC cores. The PGCC cores in Cepheus have lower
N(C2H)/N(N2H+) and larger line widths compared with those in Taurus. This
implies that PGCC cores in Taurus are less chemically evolved than those in
Cepheus.Comment: 23 pages, 6 figures, 5 table
A system-level mechanistic investigation of traditional Chinese medicine, Yinlai Decoction, for related diseases
Purpose: To systemically explore the pharmacological mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine, Yinlai Decoction (YD), used in the clinical management of pediatric diseases such as pneumonia and recurrent respiratory tract infections.Methods: An ingredient-target-disease database of YD was constructed using Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP). First, the molecular targets related to lung and stomach diseases were searched and screened to avoid duplication. Second, the associations between these molecular targets were evaluated via Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins (STRING) and Gene Ontology (GO) and Pathway enrichment analysis in STRING.Results: A total of 627 chemical ingredients and 654 protein targets in YD were obtained. After further screening, 38 molecular targets linked to respiratory diseases, inflammatory responses and various infections were identified. Finally, 576 GO terms and 75 KEGG pathway terms were obtained by analyzing gene functional annotation clusters and abundance value of these targets. Most of these terms were closely related to the inflammatory response.Conclusion: Based on these in silico findings, the use of YD for treating respiratory diseases, inflammation and various infections, most probably via the suppression of inflammation, has been established. The approach adopted in this study can serve as a model methodology to develop an innovative TCM candidate drug at a network pharmacology level.Keywords: Yinlai Decoction, Network (System) pharmacology, Inflammation, Interacting genes/proteins, Gene ocntology, Pathway enrichment analysi
Gas emissions in Planck cold dust clumps---A Survey of the J=1-0 Transitions of CO, CO, and CO
A survey toward 674 Planck cold clumps of the Early Cold Core Catalogue (ECC)
in the J=1-0 transitions of CO, CO and CO has been carried
out using the PMO 13.7 m telescope. 673 clumps were detected with the CO
and CO, and 68% of the samples have CO emission. Additional
velocity components were also identified.A close consistency of the three line
peak velocities was revealed for the first time. Kinematic distances are given
out for all the velocity components and half of the clumps are located within
0.5 and 1.5 kpc. Excitation temperatures range from 4 to 27 K, slightly larger
than those of . Line width analysis shows that the majority of ECC clumps
are low mass clumps. Column densities N span from 10 to
4.5 cm with an average value of
(4.43.6) cm. N cumulative fraction
distribution deviates from the lognormal distribution, which is attributed to
optical depth. The average abundance ratio of the CO to CO in
these clumps is 7.03.8, higher than the terrestrial value. Dust and gas
are well coupled in 95% of the clumps. Blue profile, red profile and line
asymmetry in total was found in less than 10% of the clumps, generally
indicating star formation is not developed yet. Ten clumps were mapped. Twelve
velocity components and 22 cores were obtained. Their morphologies include
extended diffuse, dense isolated, cometary and filament, of which the last is
the majority. 20 cores are starless.Only 7 cores seem to be in gravitationally
bound state. Planck cold clumps are the most quiescent among the samples of
weak-red IRAS, infrared dark clouds, UC H{\sc ii} region candidates, EGOs and
methanol maser sources, suggesting that Planck cold clumps have expanded the
horizon of cold Astronomy.Comment: Accepted to Ap
A simulation study on the measurement of D0-D0bar mixing parameter y at BES-III
We established a method on measuring the \dzdzb mixing parameter for
BESIII experiment at the BEPCII collider. In this method, the doubly
tagged events, with one decays to
CP-eigenstates and the other decays semileptonically, are used to
reconstruct the signals. Since this analysis requires good separation,
a likelihood approach, which combines the , time of flight and the
electromagnetic shower detectors information, is used for particle
identification. We estimate the sensitivity of the measurement of to be
0.007 based on a fully simulated MC sample.Comment: 6 pages, 7 figure
Food Markets with Live Birds as Source of Avian Influenza
A patient may have been infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N1 in Guangzhou, People's Republic of China, at a food market that had live birds. Virus genes were detected in 1 of 79 wire cages for birds at 9 markets. One of 110 persons in the poultry business at markets had neutralizing antibody against H5N1.link_to_subscribed_fulltex
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