Chemokines play important roles in asthma. Prostaglandin I(2) (PGI(2)) analogue is recently suggested as a candidate for treating asthma. However, the effects of PGI(2) analogues on the expression of Th1- and Th2-related chemokines are unknown. To this end, we investigated the in vitro effects of PGI(2) analogues on the expression of Th1-related chemokine interferon-γ-inducible protein-10 (IP-10/CXCL10) and Th2-related chemokine macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC/CCL22) in human monocytes. The human monocytes were pretreated with iloprost and treprostinil before lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. IP-10 and MDC were measured by ELISA. Intracellular signaling was investigated by cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) assay, western blot and chromatin immunoprecipitation. PGI(2) analogues enhanced MDC, but suppressed IP-10 expression in LPS-stimulated monocytes. These effects were reversed by the I prostanoid (IP) receptor antagonist (CAY10449), peroxisomal proliferators-activated receptor (PPAR)-α antagonist (GW6741) and PPAR-γ antagonist (GW9662). PGI(2) analogues increased intracellular cAMP levels. Forskolin, an adenyl cyclase activator, conferred similar effects. PGI(2) analogue-enhanced MDC expression was reduced by nuclear factor (NF) κB inhibitor (BAY 117085) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-p38 inhibitor (SB203580). PGI(2) analogues up-regulated phospho-p65 and phospho-p38 but down-regulated phospho-ERK expression. Iloprost enhanced H3 acetylation in MDC promoter area and suppressed H3 acetylation, H3K4, and H3K36 trimethylation in IP-10 promoter area. PGI(2) analogues enhanced MDC expression via the I prostanoid-receptor-cAMP, PPAR-α and PPAR-γ, NFκB-p65, MAPK-p38-ATF2 pathways and increasing histone acetylation, and suppressed IP-10 expression via the IP-receptor-cAMP, PPAR-γ, MAPK-ERK-ELK1 pathways and inhibiting histone acetylation and trimethylation in LPS-stimulated monocytes. PGI(2) analogues may therefore increase Th2 recruitment and inflammation.

Substantial data show that infection with helminth parasites ameliorates colitis; however, oxazolone-induced colitis is exaggerated in mice infected with the tapeworm, Hymenolepis diminuta. We tested the hypothesis that the IL-5 response to helminth infection enhances the severity of oxazolone-induced colitis. Mice were infected with H. diminuta and 8 days later were treated with oxazolone ± anti-IL-5 antibodies. Colitis was assessed 72 hours postoxazolone treatment by disease activity scores, myeloperoxidase activity, and histopathology. Other mice received injections of a replication-deficient adenovirus that carried the IL-5 (Ad.IL-5) gene or a control adenovirus (Ad.delete) ± oxazolone. The effect of H. diminuta+oxazolone in CCL11/CCL22 (eotaxin-1 and 2) knockout (KO) mice was determined. Helminth infection and Ad.IL-5 treatment increased IL-5 and eosinophil numbers. In vivo neutralization of IL-5 significantly reduced the severity of colitis in H. diminuta+oxazolone-treated mice, and H. diminuta did not exaggerate oxazolone-induced colitis in CCL11/CCL22 KO mice. Mice receiving Ad.IL-5 only had no colitis, while oxazolone-induced colitis was more severe in animals cotreated with Ad.IL-5 (Ad.delete + oxazolone was not significantly different from oxazolone only). Thus, while there is much to be gleaned about antiinflammatory mechanisms from rodent-helminth model systems, these data illustrate the caveat that infection with helminth parasites as a therapy could be contraindicated in patients with eosinophilia or elevated IL-5 unless coupled to appropriate measures to block IL-5 and/or eosinophil activity.

Chemokines control the specificity of lymphocyte homing. Numerous chemokines have been identified but the significance of redundancy in chemokine networks is unexplained. Here we investigated the biological significance of distinct chemokines binding to the same receptor. Among CCR4 ligands, skin vessels endothelial cells present C-C chemokine ligand (CCL) 17 but not CCL22 consistent with CCL17 involvement in T lymphocyte arrest on endothelial cells. However, CCL22 is much more powerful than CCL17 in the induction of rapid integrin-dependent T cell adhesion on VCAM-1 under conditions of physiological flow. The dominance of CCL22 over CCL17 extends to other CCR4-mediated phenomena such as receptor desensitization and internalization and correlates with the peculiar kinetics of CCR4 engagement by the two ligands. A similar phenomenological pattern is also shown for CXC chemokine ligand 9 and CXC chemokine ligand 11, which share binding to CXCR3. Our analysis shows how quantitative variations in chemokine receptor expression level and ligand engagement may alter the selectivity of integrin-dependent lymphocyte adhesive responses, suggesting a mechanism by which chemokine networks may either generate or break the specificity of lymphocyte subset recruitment.

Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is characterized by a minority of neoplastic cells, the so-called Reed-Sternberg (RS) cells and a vast majority of reactive cells. RS cells produce chemokines that can attract subsets of peripheral blood cells into HL tissues. To gain insight in the chemokines involved in HL, 16 chemokines were selected based on their ability to recruit different subsets of cells. Five HL, 5 non-HL-derived cell lines, 22 HL, 5 non-HL and 3 control tissues were analyzed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Products for 13 of these 16 chemokines were detected in 1 or more of the cell lines tested. No or only very faint signals were obtained in HL for CXCL12, CCL7 and CCL8, but CXCL10, CCL5, CCL13, CCL17 and CCL22 were highly or differentially expressed in HL cell lines and tissues. Immunohistochemistry was performed with antibodies reactive with the latter 5 chemokines on paraffin sections of 21 cases of HL. CCL17 and CCL22 had the highest signals in RS cells at gene expression and at protein levels. CCL17 was specific for the classic HL subtypes, whereas CCL22 also had low signals in NLP samples, as well as in some non-HL. CXCL10 was expressed in a large proportion of HL cases with a predominant expression in EBV-positive cases. The results indicate that RS cells produce a complex pattern of chemokines that are involved in the recruitment of reactive cells and contribute to the paradox of an extensive but ineffective host immune response.

BACKGROUND

Low lymphocyte count is a prognostic factor in cancer patients including metastatic breast cancer patients (MBC) but the relative role of each lymphocyte subtype is unclear in MBC.

METHODS

The impact of lymphocyte subsets was analysed in two prospective MBC patients' cohorts. Cohort A patients (n=103) were included before the first line of chemotherapy and cohort B patients (n=101) were included after at least one line of chemotherapy. Extensive phenotypic analyses were performed on fresh whole blood. Plasma cytokines levels were measured using commercially available Luminex-based multiplex kits. Prognostic value of lymphocyte subsets and circulating cytokines was analysed.

RESULTS

In both cohorts, severe lymphopaenia (<0.7 Giga/L) correlated with poor overall survival (OS) (median OS: 6.6 months versus 21.7 months in cohort A and 4.5 versus 9 months in cohort B). CD8(+), CD19(+) and CD56(+) T cell counts had no significant prognostic value for OS. After stratification (≤0.2, [0.20-0.45], >0.45 Giga/L), CD4 lymphopaenia appeared to be correlated with poor OS in both cohorts. Furthermore, severe CD4(+) lymphopaenia (≤0.2 Giga/L) was strongly correlated with poor OS in both cohorts (1.2 months versus 24.9 months in cohort A and 5.7 versus 13.1 months in cohort B). In multivariate analysis, after stratification CD4(+) lymphopaenia appeared to be an independent prognostic factor for OS in both cohorts. CD4(+) lymphopaenia correlated with low plasmatic levels of CCL22 that might directly contribute to CD4(+) lymphopaenia.

CONCLUSIONS

CD4(+) lymphopaenia was associated with reduced OS in MBC patients regardless of the chemotherapy line. Decreased levels of plasmatic CCL22 may contribute to CD4(+) lymphopaenia.

Solid tumour and leukemic cells expressing chemokine receptors, metastasize to chemokine-secreting organs. Chemokines indirectly affect tumour development by attracting immunocompetent cells with pro- or anti-tumoral activities. Various membrane-associated and soluble proteases selectively cleave specific chemokines. Precursor plasma chemokines (CXCL7, CCL14) need to be proteolytically processed to obtain receptor affinity. Angiogenic CXC chemokines (CXCL1, CXCL8) have increased CXCR1/CXCR2 affinity after limited NH2-terminal processing, whereas truncated angiostatic chemokines (CXCL10) show lower CXCR3 affinity without loss of angiostatic potential. NH2-terminally cleaved monocyte chemotactic proteins (CCL2, CCL7, CCL8) have impaired capacity to attract tumour-associated macrophages and function as receptor antagonists for intact CC chemokines. Migration of Th1/CCR5+ and Th2/CCR4+ effector lymphocytes toward CCR5 (CCL5, CCL3L1) and CCR4 (CCL22) ligands is affected by cleavage. Although proteolytical processing of chemokines is well studied in vitro, the direct or indirect effects on tumour invasion and metastasis are only poorly evaluated.

BACKGROUND

Airborne contact dermatitis to cedar pollen is a recently identified disease that generally affects individuals with cedar pollinosis of the nasal and/or ocular symptoms, as well as some patients with atopic dermatitis.

OBJECTIVE

To elucidate the pathological mechanisms of cedar pollen dermatitis.

METHODS

We established a mouse model of cedar pollen dermatitis by epicutaneous sensitization with Japanese cedar pollen antigen (Ag).

RESULTS

Histologically, there was marked dermal cellular infiltrate, including eosinophils and mast cells, with epidermal thickening. The induction of dermatitis was accompanied by production of cedar pollen-specific IgE. In the lesional skin, IL-13, IL-18, eotaxin/chemokine (C-C motif) ligand (CCL) 11, regulated upon activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted/CCL5, macrophage-derived chemokine/CCL22 and thymus and activation-regulated chemokine/CCL17, but not IL-4 and IFN-gamma, were produced. Mast cell-deficient WBB6F1-W/W(v) mice failed to develop cedar pollen dermatitis, although regional lymph node cells proliferated in response to Cryptomeria japonica (Cry j) 1 and Cry j2 Ags in vitro. Surprisingly, the induction of dermatitis was independent of STAT6/IgE. In contrast, mice deficient in CRTH2, a receptor for prostaglandin D2 (PGD2), showed diminished inflammation. Consistent with this, ramatroban, a CRTH2 antagonist, significantly inhibited inflammatory cell infiltration.

CONCLUSIONS

These data suggest that PGD2-CRTH2 signalling contributes to inflammation in cedar pollen dermatitis, and unlike cedar pollinosis of the nasal mucosa, STAT6 is not a therapeutic target for treatment.

Increasing evidences suggest a correlation between gut and type 1 diabetes (T1D).

The objective of this study is to evaluate the gut inflammatory profile and microbiota in patients with T1D compared with healthy control (CTRL) subjects and patients with celiac disease (CD) as gut inflammatory disease controls.

The inflammatory status and microbiome composition were evaluated in biopsies of the duodenal mucosa of patients with T1D (n = 19), in patients with CD (n = 19), and CTRL subjects (n = 16) recruited at San Raffaele Scientific Institute, in Milan, Italy, between 2009 and 2015.

Inflammation was evaluated by gene expression study and immunohistochemistry. Microbiome composition was analyzed by 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing.

An increased expression of CCL13, CCL19, CCL22, CCR2, COX2, IL4R, CD68, PTX3, TNFα, and VEGFA was observed in patients with T1D compared with CTRL subjects and patients with CD. Immunohistochemical analysis confirmed T1D-specific inflammatory status compared with healthy and CD control tissues, mainly characterized by the increase of the monocyte/macrophage lineage infiltration. The T1D duodenal mucosal microbiome results were different from the other groups, with an increase in Firmicutes and Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio and a reduction in Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes. The expression of genes specific for T1D inflammation was associated with the abundance of specific bacteria in the duodenum.

This study shows that duodenal mucosa in T1D presents disease-specific abnormalities in the inflammatory profile and microbiota. Understanding the mechanisms underlying these features is critical to disentangle the complex pathogenesis of T1D and to gain new perspectives for future therapies targeting the intestine.

CC chemokines, a subfamily of 27 chemotactic cytokines, are a component of intercellular communication, which is crucial for the functioning of the tumor microenvironment. Although many individual chemokines have been well researched, there has been no comprehensive review presenting the role of all known human CC chemokines in the hallmarks of cancer, and this paper aims at filling this gap. The first part of this review discusses the importance of CCL1, CCL3, CCL4, CCL5, CCL18, CCL19, CCL20, CCL21, CCL25, CCL27, and CCL28 in cancer. Here, we discuss the significance of CCL2 (MCP-1), CCL7, CCL8, CCL11, CCL13, CCL14, CCL15, CCL16, CCL17, CCL22, CCL23, CCL24, and CCL26. The presentation of each chemokine includes its physiological function and then the role in tumor, including proliferation, drug resistance, migration, invasion, and organ-specific metastasis of tumor cells, as well as the effects on angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis. We also discuss the effects of each CC chemokine on the recruitment of cancer-associated cells to the tumor niche (eosinophils, myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC), tumor-associated macrophages (TAM), tumor-associated neutrophils (TAN), regulatory T cells (T_reg)). On the other hand, we also present the anti-cancer properties of CC chemokines, consisting in the recruitment of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL).

Keywords: CC chemokine; MCP-1; angiogenesis; anti-cancer therapy; cancer; chemokine; lymphangiogenesis; organ-specific metastasis; tumor; tumor microenvironment.

Small sputum macrophages represent highly active cells that increase in the airways of patients with inflammatory diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It has been reported often that levels of cytokines, chemokines and pro-teases are increased in sputum supernatants of these patients. In COPD, the small sputum macrophages may contribute to these supernatant proteins and recruit additional cells via specific chemokine expression patterns. We therefore investigated the expression profile of chemokines in sputum macrophages obtained from COPD patients in comparison to cells from healthy donors and cells isolated after inhalation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). We used the minimally invasive procedure of sputum induction and have purified macrophages with the RosetteSep technology. Using macrophage purification and flow cytometry we show that in COPD small sputum macrophages account for 85.9% ± 8.3% compared with 12.9% ± 7.1% of total macrophages in control donors. When looking at chemokine expression we found, for the small macrophages in COPD, increased transcript and protein levels for CCL2, CCL7, CCL13 and CCL22 with a more than 100-fold increase for CCL13 mRNA (P < 0.001). Looking at active smokers without COPD, there is a substantial increase of small macrophages to 60% ± 15% and, here, chemokine expression is increased as well. In a model of airway inflammation healthy volunteers inhaled 20 μg of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which resulted in an increase of small sputum macrophages from 18% ± 19% to 64% ± 25%. The pattern of chemokine expression was, however, different with an upregulation for CCL2 and CCL7, while CCL13 was downregulated three-fold in the LPS-induced small macrophages. These data demonstrate that sputum macrophages in COPD show induction of a specific set of CCL chemokines, which is distinct from what can be induced by LPS.

Previous studies have found that tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) promote cancer progression. We previously reported that TAMs promote prostate cancer metastasis via activation of the CCL2-CCR2 axis. The CCR4 (receptor of CCL17 and CCL22) expression level in breast cancer was reported to be associated with lung metastasis. The aim of this study was to elucidate the role of CCR2 and CCR4 in prostate cancer progression. CCR2 and CCR4 were expressed in human prostate cancer cell lines and prostate cancer tissues. In vitro co-culture of prostate cancer cells and macrophages resulted in increased CCL2 and CCR2 levels in prostate cancer cells. The addition of CCL2 induced CCL22 and CCR4 production in prostate cancer cells. The migration and invasion of prostate cancer cells via enhanced phosphorylation of Akt were promoted by CCL17 and CCL22. CCR4 may be a potential candidate for molecular-targeted therapy.

Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (TREM-1) expression is increased during pulmonary fungal infection suggesting that this receptor might be involved in anti-fungal immune responses. To address the role of TREM-1 in a murine model of fungal allergic airway disease, A. fumigatus-sensitized CBA/J mice received by intratracheal injection a mixture of live A. fumigatus conidia and one of a control adenovirus vector (Ad70), an adenovirus containing a gene encoding for the extracellular domain of mouse TREM-1 and the F(c) portion of human IgG (AdTREM-1Ig; a soluble inhibitor of TREM-1 function), or an adenovirus containing mouse DAP12 (AdDAP12; DAP12 is an intracellular adaptor protein required for TREM-1 signaling), and examined at various days after challenge. Whole lung TREM-1 levels peaked at day 3 whereas circulating TREM-1 levels peaked at day 30 in this fungal asthma model. AdTREM-1Ig-treated mice exhibited significantly higher airway hyperresponsiveness following methacholine challenge compared with Ad70- and AdDAP12-treated mice. Whole lung analysis of AdTREM-1Ig treated mice revealed markedly higher amounts of fungal material compared with the other groups. ELISA analysis of whole lung and bronchoalveolar lavage samples indicated that several pro-allergic cytokine and chemokines including CCL17 and CCL22 were significantly increased in the AdTREM-1Ig group compared with the other groups. Finally, Pam3Cys and soluble Aspergillus antigens induced TREM-1 transcript expression in macrophages in a TLR2 dependent manner. In conclusion, TREM-1 modulates the immune response directed against A. fumigatus during experimental fungal asthma.

Inflammation is an obligatory attempt of the immune system to protect the host from infections. However, unregulated synthesis of proinflammatory products can have detrimental effects. Although mechanisms that lead to inflammation are well appreciated, those that restrain it are not adequately understood. Creating macrophage-specific L13a-knockout mice, we report that depletion of ribosomal protein L13a abrogates the endogenous translation control of several chemokines in macrophages. Upon LPS-induced endotoxemia, these animals displayed symptoms of severe inflammation caused by widespread infiltration of macrophages in major organs causing tissue injury and reduced survival rates. Macrophages from these knockout animals show unregulated expression of several chemokines (e.g., CXCL13, CCL22, CCL8, and CCR3). These macrophages failed to show L13a-dependent RNA binding complex formation on target mRNAs. In addition, increased polyribosomal abundance of these mRNAs shows a defect in translation control in the macrophages. Thus, to our knowledge, our studies provide the first evidence of an essential extraribosomal function of ribosomal protein L13a in resolving physiological inflammation in a mammalian host.

IL-31 is a T cell-derived cytokine that signals via a heterodimeric receptor composed of IL-31Rα and oncostatin M receptor β. Although several studies have aimed to investigate IL-31-mediated effects, the biological functions of this cytokine are currently not well understood. IL-31 expression correlates with the expression of IL-4 and IL-13 and is associated with atopic dermatitis in humans, indicating that IL-31 is involved in Th2-mediated skin inflammation. Because dendritic cells are the main activators of Th cell responses, we posed the question of whether dendritic cells express the IL-31R complex and govern immune responses triggered by IL-31. In the current study, we report that primary human CD1c(+) as well as monocyte-derived dendritic cells significantly upregulate the IL-31Rα receptor chain upon stimulation with IFN-γ. EMSAs, chromatin immunoprecipitation assays, and small interfering RNA-based silencing assays revealed that STAT1 is the main transcription factor involved in IFN-γ-dependent IL-31Rα expression. Subsequent IL-31 stimulation resulted in a dose-dependent release of proinflammatory mediators, including TNF-α, IL-6, CXCL8, CCL2, CCL5, and CCL22. Because these cytokines are crucially involved in skin inflammation, we hypothesize that IL-31-specific activation of dendritic cells may be part of a positive feedback loop driving the progression of inflammatory skin diseases.

Dendritic cells (DC) are potent antigen - presenting cells that can orientate the immune response towards a Th1 or a Th2 type. DC produce chemokines that are involved in the recruitment of either Th1 cells, such as IP10 (CXCL10), Th2 cells such as TARC (CCL17) and MDC (CCL22), or non-polarized T cells such as RANTES (CCL5) and MIP-lalpha (CCL3). We investigated whether monocyte-derived DC (MD-DC) generated from healthy donors or from patients sensitive to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Dpt) and exposed to the cysteine-protease Der p 1(allergen of Dpt), could upregulate the expression of chemokines involved in type 1 or type 2 T cell recruitment. MD-DC were pulsed with either Der p 1 or with LPS as the control and the chemokines produced were evaluated using ELISA and chemotaxis assays. Der p 1-pulsed DC from allergic patients showed increased TARC (CCL17) and MDC (CCL22) production without modifying IP-10 (CXCL10) release. Der p 1-pulsed DC from healthy donors showed only increased IP-10 (CXCL10) secretion. RANTES (CCL5) and MIP-lalpha (CCL3) production were similarly increased when DC were from healthy or allergic donors. The selective Th2 clone recruitment activity of supernatants from Der p 1-pulsed DC of allergic patients was inhibited by anti-TARC (CCL17) and anti-MDC (CCL22) neutralizing Abs. By using anti-IP10 (CXCL10) blocking Abs, supernatants of Der p 1-pulsed DC from healthy donors were shown to be involved in the recruitment of Th1 cells. These results suggest that in allergic patients exposed to house dust mites, DC may favour the exacerbation of the Th2 response via the increase in type 2 chemokine production.

BACKGROUND

Dendritic cells orchestrate pivotal immunological processes mediated by the production of cytokines and chemokines.

OBJECTIVE

To assess whether neutralisation of tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) during maturation of dendritic cells affects their phenotype and behaviour, which might explain the beneficial effects of TNF alpha neutralisation in rheumatoid arthritis.

METHODS

Immature and fully matured dendritic cells were cultured from blood monocytes from patients with rheumatoid arthritis and healthy controls following standardised protocols. TNF alpha was neutralised by addition of the p55 soluble TNF alpha receptor, PEGsTNFRI. The effect of TNF alpha neutralisation on the phenotype (CD14, CD16, CD32, CD64, CD80, CD83, CD86, and MHC) of dendritic cells was investigated by flow cytometry. Expression of chemokines (CCL17, CCL18, CCL19, CCL22, CCL3, and CXCL8) and production of IL1 beta and IL6 during dendritic cell differentiation and maturation were examined.

RESULTS

Neutralisation of TNF alpha during the differentiation and maturation of dendritic cells did not result in an altered dendritic cell phenotype in the rheumatoid patients or the healthy controls. In contrast, the expression of CCL17, CCL18, CCL19, CCL22, CCL3, and CXCL8 by dendritic cells was significantly reduced when TNF alpha activity was inhibited during lipopolysaccharide triggered dendritic cell maturation. The production of IL1 beta and IL6 by mature dendritic cells was inhibited by PEGsTNFRI.

CONCLUSIONS

Inhibition of TNF alpha activity during dendritic cell maturation leads to the development of semi-mature cells. These data suggest a novel pathway by which the neutralisation of TNF alpha might exert its therapeutic effects.

In immune-induced inflammation, leukocytes are key mediators of tissue damage. Since A(2A) adenosine receptors (A(2A)Rs) are endogenous suppressors of inflammation, we examined cellular and molecular mechanisms of kidney damage to determine if selective activation of A(2A)R would suppress inflammation in a rat model of glomerulonephritis. Activation of A(2A)R reduced the degree of kidney injury in both the acute inflammatory phase and the progressive phase of glomerulonephritis. This protection against acute and chronic inflammation was associated with suppression of the glomerular expression of the MDC/CCL22 chemokine and down-regulation of MIP-1alpha/CCL3, RANTES/CCL5, MIP-1beta/CCL4, and MCP-1/CCL2 chemokines. The expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines, interluekin (IL)-4 and IL-10, also increased. The mechanism for these anti-inflammatory responses to the A(2A)R agonist was suppression of macrophages function. A(2A)R expression was increased in macrophages, macrophage-derived chemokines were reduced in response to the A(2A)R agonist, and chemokines not expressed in macrophages did not respond to A(2A)R activation. Thus, activation of the A(2A)R on macrophages inhibits immune-associated inflammation. In glomerulonephritis, A(2A)R activation modulates inflammation and tissue damage even in the progressive phase of glomerulonephritis. Accordingly, pharmacological activation of A(2A)R could be developed into a novel treatment for glomerulonephritis and other macrophage-related inflammatory diseases.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been investigated in the treatment of numerous autoimmune diseases. However, the immune properties of MSCs on the development of asthma have remained to be fully elucidated. Airway dendritic cells (DCs) have an important role in the pathogenesis of allergic asthma, and disrupting their function may be a novel therapeutic approach. The present study used a mouse model of asthma to demonstrate that transplantation of MSCs suppressed features of asthma by targeting the function of lung myeloid DCs. MSCs suppressed the maturation and migration of lung DCs to the mediastinal lymph nodes, and thereby reducing the allergen-specific T helper type 2 (Th2) response in the nodes. In addition, MSC-treated DCs were less potent in activating naive and effector Th2 cells and the capacity of producing chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 17 (CCL17) and CCL22, which are chemokines attracting Th2 cells, to the airways was reduced. These results supported that MSCs may be used as a potential treatment for asthma.

CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells (Tregs) have been implicated in the suppression of pathogenic responses to both self- and non-self-antigens in the intestine. However, their precise properties and functions in the gut, as well as the molecular basis of their recruitment to the gut, are poorly understood. Here, we found that most of the CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells in the small intestinal lamina propria (LP) express Foxp3 and exhibit an 'effector/memory' phenotype, CD44(hi)CD45RB(lo)CD62L(-), whereas only a minority of the Foxp3(+)CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells in the spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes showed this phenotype. The Tregs in the small intestinal LP (LP-Tregs) expressed higher levels of CCR4 and CCR9 and a substantially lower level of CCR7 than the Tregs in the spleen. In vitro, the LP-Tregs showed chemotaxis to CCL25/thymus-expressed chemokine. In addition, they showed efficient chemotaxis to the CCR4 ligands, CCL17/thymus and activation-regulated chemokine and CCL22/macrophage-derived chemokine, which are abundantly expressed by dendritic cells (DCs) in the small intestinal LP. In vivo, approximately 50% of the LP-Tregs were closely associated or in direct contact with LP-DCs. These findings demonstrate that LP-Tregs are phenotypically and functionally unique and raise the possibility that they are retained in the small intestinal LP through the action of CCL17 and CCL22, which are locally produced by LP-DCs.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the recurring DNA copy number alterations (CNA) in classical Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) by microarray-based comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) using laser capture microdissected CD30(+) Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg (HRS) cells.

METHODS

Archived tissues from 27 CD30(+) HL plus control samples were analyzed by DNA microarrays. The HL molecular karyotypes were compared with the genomic profiles of germinal center B cells and treatment outcome (chemotherapy responsive vs. primary refractory disease).

RESULTS

Gains and losses observed in more than 35% of HL samples were localized to 22 and 12 chromosomal regions, respectively. Frequent gains (>65%) were associated with growth and proliferation, NF-κB activation, cell-cycle control, apoptosis, and immune and lymphoid development. Frequent losses (>40%) observed encompassed tumor suppressor genes (SPRY1, NELL1, and ID4, inhibitor of DNA binding 4), transcriptional repressors (TXNIP, thioredoxin interacting protein), SKP2 (S-phase kinase-associated protein 2; ubiquitin ligase component), and an antagonist of NF-κB activation (PPARGC1A). In comparison to the germinal center profiles, the most frequent imbalances in HL were losses in 5p13 (AMACR, GDNF, and SKP2), and gains in 7q36 (SHH, sonic hedgehog homolog) and 9q34 (ABL1, CDK9, LCN2, and PTGES). Gains (>35%) in the HL chemoresponsive patients housed genes known to regulate T-cell trafficking or NF-κB activation (CCL22, CX3CL1, CCL17, DOK4, and IL10), whereas the refractory samples showed frequent loss of 4q27 (interleukin; IL21/IL2) and 17p12, and gain of 19q13.3 (BCL3/RELB).

CONCLUSIONS

We identified nonrandom CNAs in the molecular karyotypes of classical HL. Several recurring genetic lesions correlated with disease outcome. These findings may be useful prognostic markers in the counseling and management of patients and for the development of novel therapeutic approaches in primary refractory HL.

The expression of genes encoding for Th1, Th2 and Th17 cytokines has been extensively evaluated in differentiated skin cells of psoriatic patients. The microenvironment exerts a control on the phenotype of resident mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into the skin of psoriasis patients. Aim of the study was to extensively evaluate the relative expression of 43 genes encoding for Th1, Th2 and Th17 cytokines in MSCs isolated from skin of psoriasis patients. MSCs resident into psoriatic skin were isolated, characterized and profiled by PCR array for the relative expression of genes encoding for cytokines involved in Th1, Th2 and Th17 pathways. MSCs isolated from the skin of healthy subjects were used as control. The MSCs isolated from skin of psoriasis patients showed a greater relative expression of the most part of the analyzed genes encoding for Th1 and Th17 cytokines: INF-γ, CCR5, CXCL9, CXCL10, IL6, IL8, TNF-α, IL23A, CCL2, CCL20, CXCL2, CXCL5, IL17C, IL17F, IL17RA, IL21, TLR2 than healthy subjects. On the contrary, the relative expression of genes encoding for Th2 cytokines: CCL1, CCL22, CXCL12, IL2, IL3, IL4, IL13B, IL 22, IL 27, TGF-β1, was similar between the MSCs isolated from psoriasis and healthy subjects. In conclusion, the MSCs isolated from psoriasis show an imbalance between the Th1-Th17 and Th2 pathways, which reflects the well-known abnormal balance observed in differentiated skin cells. This evidence could strengthen the hypothesis of an early involvement of resident MSCs in the pathogenesis of psoriasis.

BACKGROUND

Natural killer (NK) cells have both cytolytic and immunoregulatory functions. We recently described that these cells release the inflammatory cytokines IL-17 and IFN-γ. However, the precise identity of the NK cell subset(s) that secrete these cytokines is not known.

RESULTS

To isolate the cells secreting IL-17 and IFN-γ, we took advantage of the findings that Th17/Th1 cells express chemokine receptors. Therefore, CD56(+)NK cells were stained with antibodies against various chemokine receptors and intracellularly with antibodies toward IL-17 and IFN-γ. Consequently, we identified previously unrecognized subset of NK cells generated from normal human peripheral blood after activation with IL-2 but not PMA plus ionomycin. The cells are characterized by the expression of CD56(+) and CCR4(+), produce IL-17 and IFN-γ and are consequently named NK17/NK1 cells. They also express CD161, NKp30, NKp44, NKp46, NKG2D, CD158, CCL22, IL-2Rβ and the common γ chain but not CD127 or IL-23R. Further, they possess T-bet and RORγt transcription factors. Antibodies to IL-1β, IL-6, IL-21, or TGF-β1 do not inhibit IL-2-induced generation of NK17/NK1 cells, suggesting that IL-2 has the capacity to polarize these cells. Notably, NK17/NK1 cells are abundant in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) without activation, and are generated from the peripheral blood of these patients after activation with IL-2.

CONCLUSIONS

NK17/NK1 cells identified here have not been previously described in healthy or MS patients.

Dendritic cells (DCs) are considered to be the most powerful antigen-presenting cells (APCs). DCs are thought to be associated with Th1 or Th2 polarization and with polarization-induced disease such as atopic dermatitis, asthma and allergic rhinitis, but its mechanism is not well known. In this study, we analyzed the mRNA expression of DCs between birch pollen allergic rhinitis and healthy controls by using cDNA array. We found that the expressions of CCL22/macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC) differed significantly. We also revealed that CCL22/MDC production was higher in patients than in healthy donors. By chemotaxis assay, CCL22/MDC can enhance the migration of patient's T cells rather than those of healthy controls. Surface marker analysis of migrated cells revealed that the most of migrated cells expressed CCR4, which were considered to be Th2 cells. Furthermore, CD1a(+) CD83(+) cells located in the nasal mucosa expressed CCL22/MDC in vivo. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report clearly indicating the role of CCL22/MDC in allergic rhinitis.