Loss of T-bet confers survival advantage to influenza-bacterial superinfection.
AuthorsEr JZ, Koean RAG, Ding JL
JournalEMBO J
PubMed ID30322895
'The transcription factor, T-bet, regulates type 1 inflammatory responses against a range of infections. Here, we demonstrate a previously unaddressed role of T-bet, to influenza virus and bacterial superinfection. Interestingly, we found that T-bet deficiency did not adversely affect the efficacy of viral clearance or recovery compared to wild-type hosts. ... More
Safety Assessment of Bacteroides uniformis CECT 7771 Isolated from Stools of Healthy Breast-Fed Infants.
AuthorsFernández-Murga ML, Sanz Y
JournalPLoS One
PubMed ID26784747
Bacteroides uniformis CECT 7771 is a potential probiotic strain, originally isolated from the stools of healthy breast-feed infants. The strain showed pre-clinical efficacy in a mouse obesity model. The objective of this study was to evaluate its potential toxicity and translocation ability after acute oral administration to mice. ... More
Treatment with Anti-HMGB1 Monoclonal Antibody Does Not Affect Lupus Nephritis in MRL/lpr Mice.
AuthorsSchaper F, van Timmeren MM, Petersen A, Horst G, Bijl M, Limburg PC, Westra J, Heeringa P
JournalMol Med
PubMed ID26837069
High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is a nuclear DNA binding protein that acts as an alarmin when secreted. HMGB1 is increased in systemic lupus erythematosus and might represent a potential therapeutic target. We investigated whether treatment with an anti-HMGB1 antibody affects the development of lupus nephritis in MRL/lpr mice. ... More
Pregnancy-Related Immune Adaptation Promotes the Emergence of Highly Virulent H1N1 Influenza Virus Strains in Allogenically Pregnant Mice.
AuthorsEngels G, Hierweger AM, Hoffmann J, Thieme R, Thiele S, Bertram S, Dreier C, Resa-Infante P, Jacobsen H, Thiele K, Alawi M, Indenbirken D, Grundhoff A, Siebels S, Fischer N, Stojanovska V, Muzzio D, Jensen F, Karimi K, Mittrücker HW, Arck PC, Gabriel G
JournalCell Host Microbe
PubMed ID28279344
Pregnant women are at high risk for severe influenza disease outcomes, yet insights into the underlying mechanisms are limited. Here, we present models of H1N1 infection in syngenic and allogenic pregnant mice; infection in the latter mirrors the severe course of 2009 pandemic influenza in pregnant women. We found that ... More
Gelatinase B/matrix metalloproteinase-9 is a phase-specific effector molecule, independent from Fas, in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.
AuthorsUgarte-Berzal E, Berghmans N, Boon L, Martens E, Vandooren J, Cauwe B, Thijs G, Proost P, Van Damme J, Opdenakker G
JournalPLoS One
PubMed ID30273366
Gelatinase B/matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) triggers multiple sclerosis (MS) and the animal model of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) by the breakdown of the blood-brain barrier. Interestingly, MMP-9 is beneficial in systemic autoimmunity caused by Fas-deficiency. Fas-deficient (faslpr) and Fas-ligand-deficient mice are protected against EAE. We here investigated the interaction between Fas ... More
IFN-? stimulates CpG-induced IL-10 production in B cells via p38 and JNK signalling pathways.
AuthorsImbrechts M, De Samblancx K, Fierens K, Brisse E, Vandenhaute J, Mitera T, Libert C, Smets I, Goris A, Wouters C, Matthys P
JournalEur J Immunol
PubMed ID30004580
The production of IL-10, a potent immunosuppressive cytokine, must be strictly regulated to ensure a balanced immune response. IFN-?, a key cytokine in multiple immune processes and pathologies, is known as an inhibitor of IL-10 production by monocytes and macrophages, but also has some regulatory functions. In the present study, ... More
Hyperthermic treatment at 56?°C induces tumour-specific immune protection in a mouse model of prostate cancer in both prophylactic and therapeutic immunization regimens.
AuthorsDe Sanctis F, Sandri S, Martini M, Mazzocco M, Fiore A, Trovato R, Garetto S, Brusa D, Ugel S, Sartoris S
JournalVaccine
PubMed ID29752021
Most active cancer immunotherapies able to induce a long-lasting protection against tumours are based on the activation of tumour-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). Cell death by hyperthermia induces apoptosis followed by secondary necrosis, with the production of factors named "danger associated molecular pattern" (DAMP) molecules (DAMPs), that activate dendritic cells ... More