144 research outputs found
Un résumé des lignes de force du systÚme monétaire international actuel
In this paper the author outlines the forces underlying the present international monetary system. Since creation, in Bretton Woods, of the International Monetary Fund, two important amendments have been brought to the statutes of this institution. First, in July 1969, a Special Drawing mechanism was created; second, following the April 1978 amendment, the Special Drawing Right system is no longer based on gold. The fundamental reasons for this evolution and the problems raised by the present situation are emphasized
Pattern of DAP12 Expression in Leukocytes from Both Healthy and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients
DAP12 is an ITAM-bearing transmembrane adaptor originally identified on the surface of Natural Killer cells. A broad expression among other immune cells was later found in myeloid and lymphoid cells. However, data on DAP12 expression pattern rely only on immunoblot and microarray analysis. Here, we describe the generation and the characterization of an anti-DAP12 monoclonal antibody. Using this novel reagent, we show that DAP12 expression is restricted to innate immune cells in basal condition. Since a decreased expression of DAP12 has been suggested in NK cells of systemic lupus erythematosus patients, we have further investigated the NK cell receptor repertoire and leukocyte expression of DAP12 in these patients and no major changes were detectable when compared to controls
Pathologies Associated with Serum IgG4 Elevation
Statement of Purpose. IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is usually associated to an increase of serum IgG4 levels. However other conditions have also been associated to high serum IgG4 levels. Methods. All IgG subclasses analyses performed in our hospital over a one-year period were analyzed. When IgG4 level were over 1.35âg/L, the patientâs clinical observation was analyzed and both final diagnosis and reason leading to IgG subclasses analysis were recorded. Only polyclonal increases of IgG4 were considered. Summary of the Results. On 646 IgG subclass analysis performed, 59 patients had serum IgG4 over 1.35âg/L. The final diagnosis associated to serum IgG4 increase was very variable. Most patients (25%) presented with repeated infections, 13.5% with autoimmune diseases, and 10% with IgG4-RD. Other patients presented with cancer, primary immune deficiencies, idiopathic interstitial lung disease, cystic fibrosis, histiocytosis, or systemic vasculitis and 13.5% presented with various pathologies or no diagnosis. Mean IgG4 levels and IgG4/IgG ratio were higher in IgG4-RD than in other pathologies associated to elevated IgG4 levels. Conclusions. Our study confirms that elevation of serum IgG4 is not specific to IgG4-RD. Before retaining IgG4-RD diagnosis in cases of serum IgG4 above 1.35âg/L, several other pathological conditions should be excluded
Subset- and tissue-defined STAT5 thresholds control homeostasis and function of innate lymphoid cells
Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) patrol environmental interfaces to defend against infection and protect barrier integrity. Using a genetic tuning model, we demonstrate that the signal-dependent transcription factor (TF) STAT5 is critical for accumulation of all known ILC subsets in mice and reveal a hierarchy of STAT5 dependency for populating lymphoid and nonlymphoid tissues. We apply transcriptome and genomic distribution analyses to define a STAT5 gene signature in natural killer (NK) cells, the prototypical ILC subset, and provide a systems-based molecular rationale for its key functions downstream of IL-15. We also uncover surprising features of STAT5 behavior, most notably the wholesale redistribution that occurs when NK cells shift from tonic signaling to acute cytokine-driven signaling, and genome-wide coordination with T-bet, another key TF in ILC biology. Collectively, our data position STAT5 as a central node in the TF network that instructs ILC development, homeostasis, and function and provide mechanistic insights on how it works at cellular and molecular levels
Post-transcriptional Regulation of NK Cell Activation
Natural killer (NK) cells play key roles in innate and adaptive immune defenses. NK cell responses are mediated by two major mechanisms: the direct cytolysis of target cells, and immune regulation by production of various cytokines. Many previous reports show that the complex NK cell activation process requires de novo gene expression regulated at both transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. Specialized un-translated regions (UTR) of mRNAs are the main mechanisms of post-transcriptional regulation. Analysis of post-transcriptional regulation is needed to clearly understand NK cell biology and, furthermore, harness the power of NK cells for therapeutic aims. This review summarizes the current understanding of mRNA metabolism during NK cell activation, focusing primarily on post-transcriptional regulation
Prevalence of malaria parasitemia and accuracy of microscopic diagnosis in Haiti, October 1995
Human Macrophages and Dendritic Cells Can Equally Present MART-1 Antigen to CD8+ T Cells after Phagocytosis of Gamma-Irradiated Melanoma Cells
Dendritic cells (DC) can achieve cross-presentation of naturally-occurring
tumor-associated antigens after phagocytosis and processing of dying tumor
cells. They have been used in different clinical settings to vaccinate cancer
patients. We have previously used gamma-irradiated MART-1 expressing melanoma
cells as a source of antigens to vaccinate melanoma patients by injecting
irradiated cells with BCG and GM-CSF or to load immature DC and use them as
a vaccine. Other clinical trials have used IFN-gamma activated macrophage
killer cells (MAK) to treat cancer patients. However, the clinical use of
MAK has been based on their direct tumoricidal activity rather than on their
ability to act as antigen-presenting cells to stimulate an adaptive antitumor
response. Thus, in the present work, we compared the fate of MART-1 after
phagocytosis of gamma-irradiated cells by clinical grade DC or MAK as well
as the ability of these cells to cross present MART-1 to CD8+
T cells. Using a high affinity antibody against MART-1, 2A9, which specifically
stains melanoma tumors, melanoma cell lines and normal melanocytes, the expression
level of MART-1 in melanoma cell lines could be related to their ability to
stimulate IFN-gamma production by a MART-1 specific HLA-A*0201-restricted
CD8+ T cell clone. Confocal microscopy with Alexa FluorÂź647-labelled
2A9 also showed that MART-1 could be detected in tumor cells attached and/or
fused to phagocytes and even inside these cells as early as 1 h and up to
24 h or 48 h after initiation of co-cultures between gamma-irradiated melanoma
cells and MAK or DC, respectively. Interestingly, MART-1 was cross-presented
to MART-1 specific T cells by both MAK and DC co-cultured with melanoma gamma-irradiated
cells for different time-points. Thus, naturally occurring MART-1 melanoma
antigen can be taken-up from dying melanoma cells into DC or MAK and both
cell types can induce specific CD8+ T cell cross-presentation
thereafter
Pemphigus is associated withKIR3DL2expression levels and provides evidence that KIR3DL2 may bind HLA-A3 and A11 in vivo
Although HLAâA3 and A11 have been reported to be ligands for KIR3DL2, evidence for any in vivo relevance of this interaction is still missing. To explore the functional importance of KIR3DL2 allelic variation, we analyzed the autoimmune disease pemphigus foliaceus, previously associated (lower risk) with activating KIR genes. KIR3DL2*001 was increased in patients (odds ratio (OR) = 2.04; p = 0.007). The risk was higher for the presence of both KIR3DL2*001 and HLAâA3 or A11 (OR = 3.76, p = 0.013), providing the first evidence that HLAâA3 and A11 may interact with KIR3DL2 in vivo. The nonsynonymous single nucleotide polymorphism 1190T (rs3745902) was associated with protection (OR = 0.52, p = 0.018). This SNP results in a threonineâtoâmethionine substitution. Individuals who have methionine in this position exhibit a lower percentage of KIR3DL2âpositive natural killer (NK) cells and also lower intensity of KIR3DL2 on expressing natural killer cells; additionally, we show that the expression of KIR3DL2 is independent of other killer cell immunoglobulinâlike receptors. Pemphigus foliaceus is a very unique complex disease strongly associated with immuneârelated genes. It is the only autoimmune disease known to be endemic, showing a strong correlation with environmental factors. Our data demonstrate that this relatively unknown autoimmune disease may facilitate understanding of the molecular mechanisms of KIR3DL2 ligand recognition
The Inositol Polyphosphate 5-Phosphatase Ship Is a Crucial Negative Regulator of B Cell Antigen Receptor Signaling
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