B2: Presence of Immunosuppressive Drugs affect Innate Immune Response and Monocyte Differentiation in Lung Transplant Patients

Lung transplant patients are administered Immunosuppressive Drugs (ISDs) to prevent transplant rejection, but this also puts them at constant risk of infection due to the decreased ability of the immune system to respond to subsequent infections by viruses, bacteria etc. Purpose This paper focuses on the effect of ISDs on the innate immune response. We are using different parts of viruses and bacteria and allowing them to represent the organism as a whole. Methods As representatives of the innate immune system, we are going to be testing monocyte, macrophage, and dendritic cell lineages. We are hypothesizing that the presence of ISDs dampens the immune system response to viruses/bacteria as well as that in the presence of ISDs, there is decreased differentiation of the monocytes into macrophages. We used PCR and Flow cytometry to help interpret the data. PCR allowed us to recognize innate immune transcriptional changes of the cells that were treated with ISDs in comparison to the control. We used the Flow Cytometer to test monocyte differentiation into macrophages. Results The results showed that there were certain innate immune genes that showed increase in expression, some showed decrease, while others showed no change in the presence of ISDs. It was also concluded that the presence of ISDs actually induced differentiation of Monocytes into Macrophages. Conclusion This information can be used to manipulate the immune systems of lung transplant patients to better respond to specific subsequent infections even in the presence of Immunosuppressive Drugs while still maintaining the integrity of the transplant

Hepatitis C Virus Infection Induces Autocrine Interferon Signaling by Human Liver Endothelial Cells and Release of Exosomes, Which Inhibits Viral Replication

Liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) make up a large proportion of the non-parenchymal cells in the liver. LSECs are involved in induction of immune tolerance, but little is known about their functions during hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection

Hepatitis C Virus Infection Induces Autocrine Interferon Signaling by Human Liver Endothelial Cells and Release of Exosomes, Which Inhibits Viral Replication

Liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) make up a large proportion of the non-parenchymal cells in the liver. LSECs are involved in induction of immune tolerance, but little is known about their functions during hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection