jueves, 27 de febrero de 2014

Inflamación y Depresión

Inflammatory dietary pattern and risk of depression among women.


Lucas M1, Chocano-Bedoya P2, Schulze MB, Mirzaei F2, O'Reilly ÉJ4, Okereke OI5, Hu FB6, Willett WC6, Ascherio A6.

1Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, MA 02115, USA; Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Laval University, Québec G1V 2M2, Canada. Electronic address: mlucas@hsph.harvard.edu.
2Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, MA 02115, USA.
3Department of Molecular Epidemiology, German Institute of Human Nutrition, Nuthetal 14558, Germany.
4Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, MA 02115, USA; Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, MA 02115, USA.
5Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, MA 02115, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, MA 02115, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, MA 02115, USA.
6Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, MA 02115, USA; Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, MA 02115, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, MA 02115, USA.

 

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Inflammation is considered as a mechanism leading to depression, but the association between inflammatory dietary pattern and depression risk is unknown.

METHODS:

Using reduced-rank regression, we identified a dietary pattern that was related to plasma levels of inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor α receptor 2), and we conducted a prospective analysis of the relationship of this pattern and depression risk among participants in the Nurses' Health Study. A total of 43,685 women (aged 50-77) without depression at baseline (1996) were included and followed up until 2008. Diet information was obtained from food frequency questionnaires completed between 1984 through 2002 and computed as cumulative average of dietary intakes with a 2-year latency applied. We used a strict definition of depression that required both self-reported physician-diagnosed depression and use of antidepressants, and a broader definition that included women who reported either clinical diagnosis or antidepressant use.

RESULTS:

During the 12-year follow-up, we documented 2594 incident cases of depression using the stricter definition and 6446 using the broader definition. After adjustment for body mass index and other potential confounders, relative risks comparing extreme quintiles of the inflammatory dietary pattern were 1.41 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.22, 1.63; P-trend<.001) for the strict definition and 1.29 (95% CI, 1.18, 1.41; P-trend<.001) for the broader definition of depression.

CONCLUSIONS:

The inflammatory dietary pattern is associated with a higher depression risk. This finding suggests that chronic inflammation may underlie the association between diet and depression.
Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

KEYWORDS:

C-reactive protein; Cohort; Depression; Diet pattern; Inflammatory markers; Interleukin-6; Reduced-rank regression; Tumor necrosis factor α receptor 2; Women

Brain Behav Immun. 2014 Feb;36:46-53. doi: 10.1016/j.bbi.2013.09.014. Epub 2013 Oct 1.

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0889159113004698

Md. PhD. Patricia Chocano. Ex miembro del GII.  

viernes, 24 de enero de 2014

Dermatología e Inmunología


Las células guardianes residentes de la piel y

su papel en la respuesta inmune. Parte 1



Julio E Valdivia-Silva1,2, Monica Maya-Pasten1, Jackie Peña-Fernández1


1Chemokines Biology Research Laboratory, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, UNAM, México D.F., México.
2 Life Sciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, 94035, California, EE UU.

RESUMEN 

La piel constituye la primera barrera del sistema inmune contra potenciales agentes patógenos y nocivos externos. Evidencia importante sugiere que las células inmunológicas requieren de funciones conjuntas con los queratinocitos, para alertar y ensamblar una respuesta inmune adecuada, que incluye la formación del sistema de alerta denominado inflamosoma.
Adicionalmente, nuevos fenotipos funcionales de células presentadoras de antígenos (CPA) en la piel como las células dendríticas han demostrado tener gran importancia en ensamblar la respuesta inmune, incluso mayor que las células T circulantes.
La primera entrega de este artículo describe la funcionalidad de los queratinocitos y las células dendríticas en la piel, para en la segunda parte discriminar sus roles junto a los linfocitos T y las fallas de la regulación durante las interacciones en la formación del inflamosoma.

Palabras clave. Inmunidad de la piel, Queratinocitos, Células dendríticas, Inflamosoma.

Dermatología Peruana 01/2014; 24(1):19-26. 


Md PhD Julio Valdivia Silva. Fundador del GII

viernes, 27 de diciembre de 2013

EGFR y Cáncer

EGFR-mediated tumor immunoescape: The imbalance between phosphorylated STAT1 and phosphorylated STAT3.


Concha-Benavente F1, Srivastava RM2, Ferrone S3, Ferris RL4.


1Department of Immunology; University of Pittsburgh; Pittsburgh, PA USA.
2Department of Otolaryngology; University of Pittsburgh; Pittsburgh, PA USA.
3Department of Surgery; Massachusetts General Hospital; Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA USA.
4Department of Immunology; University of Pittsburgh; Pittsburgh, PA USA ; Department of Otolaryngology; University of Pittsburgh; Pittsburgh, PA USA ; Cancer Immunology Program; University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute; Pittsburgh, PA USA.

 

Abstract

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) supports the escape of malignant cells from immunosurveillance by inhibiting the activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) while promoting that of STAT3. We have recently demonstrated that protein tyrosine phosphatase, non-receptor type 11 (PTNP11, best known as SHP2), a phosphatase that operates downstream of EGFR, is responsible for the dephosphorylation of active STAT1 and for the inhibition of the antigen-processing machinery (APM), hence favoring tumor immunoescape. Thus, EGFR signaling may skew the tumor microenvironment to suppress cellular immune responses.

KEYWORDS:

APM; EGFR; SHP2; immunoescape; immunotherapy; pSTAT1; pSTAT3

Oncoimmunology. 2013 Dec 1;2(12):e27215. Epub 2013 Dec 5.

 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3913673/

Md. PhD. Fernando Concha. Ex-miembro del GII

domingo, 27 de octubre de 2013

Dieta y Depresión

Prospective study on long-term dietary patterns and incident depression in middle-aged and older women.


Chocano-Bedoya PO1, O'Reilly EJ, Lucas M, Mirzaei F, Okereke OI, Fung TT, Hu FB, Ascherio A.

1Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA. pchocano@hsph.harvard.edu

 

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Although individual nutrients have been investigated in relation to depression risk, little is known about the overall role of diet in depression.

OBJECTIVE:

We examined whether long-term dietary patterns derived from a food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ) predict the development of depression in middle-aged and older women.

DESIGN:

We conducted a prospective study in 50,605 participants (age range: 50-77 y) without depression in the Nurses' Health Study at baseline (1996) who were followed until 2008. Long-term diet was assessed by using FFQs every 4 y since 1986. Prudent (high in vegetables) and Western (high in meats) patterns were identified by using a principal component analysis. We used 2 definitions for clinical depression as follows: a strict definition that required both a reported clinical diagnosis and use of antidepressants (3002 incident cases) and a broad definition that further included women who reported either a clinical diagnosis or antidepressant use (7413 incident cases).

RESULTS:

After adjustment for age, body mass index, and other potential confounders, no significant association was shown between the diet patterns and depression risk under the strict definition. Under the broad definition, women with the highest scores for the Western pattern had 15% higher risk of depression (95% CI: 1.04, 1.27; P-trend = 0.01) than did women with the lowest scores, but after additional adjustment for psychological scores at baseline, results were no longer significant (RR: 1.09; 95% CI: 0.99, 1.21; P-trend = 0.08).

CONCLUSION:

Overall, results of this large prospective study do not support a clear association between dietary patterns from factor analysis and depression risk.

Am J Clin Nutr. 2013 Sep;98(3):813-20. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.112.052761. Epub 2013 Jul 24.

http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/98/3/813.long

Md. PhD. Patricia Chocano. Ex miembro del GII.


sábado, 27 de julio de 2013

E. Coli Meningitis

E. coli Meningitis Presenting in a Patient with Disseminated Strongyloides stercoralis.


Gomez JB1, Maque Y, Moquillaza MA, Anicama WE.

1Department of Internal Medicine, Guillermo Almenara Irigoyen National Hospital, Lima, Peru.

 

Abstract

Introduction. Spontaneous Escherichia coli meningitis is an infrequent condition in adults and is associated with some predisposing factors, including severe Strongyloides stercoralis (SS) infections. Case Presentation. A 43-year-old Hispanic man, with history of travelling to the jungle regions of Peru and Brazil two decades ago, and who received prednisone due to Bell's palsy for three weeks before admission, presented to the Emergency Department with diarrhea, fever, and hematochezia. A week after admission he developed drowsiness, meningeal signs, abdominal distension, and constipation. A cerebrospinal fluid culture showed extended spectrum β -lactamase producing E. coli. A colonoscopy was performed and showed pancolitis. Three days after the procedure the patient became unstable and developed peritoneal signs. He underwent a laparotomy, which ended up in a total colectomy and partial proctectomy due to toxic megacolon. Three days later the patient died in the intensive care unit due to septic shock. Autopsy was performed and microscopic examination revealed the presence of multiple Strongyloides larvae throughout the body. Conclusion. Strongyloides stercoralis infection should be excluded in adults with spontaneous E. coli meningitis, especially, if gastrointestinal symptoms and history of travelling to an endemic area are present. Even with a proper diagnosis and management, disseminated strongyloidiasis has a poor prognosis. 

Case Rep Infect Dis. 2013;2013:424362. doi: 10.1155/2013/424362. Epub 2013 Nov 13.

http://www.hindawi.com/journals/criid/2013/424362/

Md. MSc. Yvan Maque. Ex-miembro del GII.

Chlamydia trachomatis e Inmunidad

Human female genital tract infection by the obligate intracellular bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis elicits robust Type 2 immunity.


Vicetti Miguel RD1, Harvey SA, LaFramboise WA, Reighard SD, Matthews DB, Cherpes TL.

1Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.

 

Abstract

While Chlamydia trachomatis infections are frequently asymptomatic, mechanisms that regulate host response to this intracellular Gram-negative bacterium remain undefined. This investigation thus used peripheral blood mononuclear cells and endometrial tissue from women with or without Chlamydia genital tract infection to better define this response. Initial genome-wide microarray analysis revealed highly elevated expression of matrix metalloproteinase 10 and other molecules characteristic of Type 2 immunity (e.g., fibrosis and wound repair) in Chlamydia-infected tissue. This result was corroborated in flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry studies that showed extant upper genital tract Chlamydia infection was associated with increased co-expression of CD200 receptor and CD206 (markers of alternative macrophage activation) by endometrial macrophages as well as increased expression of GATA-3 (the transcription factor regulating TH2 differentiation) by endometrial CD4(+) T cells. Also among women with genital tract Chlamydia infection, peripheral CD3(+) CD4(+) and CD3(+) CD4(-) cells that proliferated in response to ex vivo stimulation with inactivated chlamydial antigen secreted significantly more interleukin (IL)-4 than tumor necrosis factor, interferon-γ, or IL-17; findings that repeated in T cells isolated from these same women 1 and 4 months after infection had been eradicated. Our results thus newly reveal that genital infection by an obligate intracellular bacterium induces polarization towards Type 2 immunity, including Chlamydia-specific TH2 development. Based on these findings, we now speculate that Type 2 immunity was selected by evolution as the host response to C. trachomatis in the human female genital tract to control infection and minimize immunopathological damage to vital reproductive structures.

PLoS One. 2013;8(3):e58565. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0058565. Epub 2013 Mar 13.

http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0058565

Md. Rodolfo Vicetti. Ex-miembro del GII.

miércoles, 24 de julio de 2013

Dermatología e Inmunología


Melanocitos en vitíligo y melanoma: una lección
entre autoinmunidad e inmunidad tumoral

  Julio E Valdivia-Silva1, Claudia Ramírez1

1Chemokines Biology Research Laboratory, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, UNAM, México D.F., México.

ABSTRACT 

Classically, vitiligo has been deined as a skin disease in which melanocytes (MC) are eradicated from lesional epidermis by MC-reactive T cells, as well as other non-immune and immune components, resulting in disiguring loss of pigment. Moreover, the absence or damage on MC has frequently been associated to a major risk to develop skin cancer including melanoma. However, patients with vitiligo have also shown 'non-pigmented' MC in epidermis similar to individuals with albinism, and these cells are apparently conferring resistance of developing melanoma. These seemingly contradictory facts are further complicated because, the MC antigens which are immunologically recognized are shared for both diseases producing fairly different results. An analysis of the similarities and differences between the autoimmunity observed in vitiligo and the tumour immunity observed in melanoma might lead to a better understanding of the MC' roles and the development of new therapies for both diseases. 

Dermatol PerU 2013; vol 23 (3)



Md PhD Julio Valdivia Silva. Fundador del GII

lunes, 27 de mayo de 2013

Inmunoterapia y Cáncer

Efficacy of DNA vaccines forming e7 recombinant retroviral virus-like particles for the treatment of human papillomavirus-induced cancers.


Lescaille G1, Pitoiset F, Macedo R, Baillou C, Huret C, Klatzmann D, Tartour E, Lemoine FM, Bellier B.

1Research Unit UMR CNRS 7211/INSERM 959, 75013 Paris, France.

 

Abstract

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is involved in the development of anogenital tumors and also in the development of oropharyngeal head and neck carcinomas, where HPV-16, expressing the E6 and E7 oncoproteins, is the most frequent serotype. Although vaccines encoding L1 and L2 capsid HPV proteins are efficient for the prevention of HPV infection, they are inadequate for treating established tumors. Hence, development of innovative vaccine therapies targeting E6/E7 is important for controlling HPV-induced cancers. We have engineered a nononcogenic mutated E7-specific plasmo-retroVLP vaccine (pVLP-E7), consisting of plasmid DNA, that is able to form recombinant retrovirus-based virus-like particles (VLPs) that display E7 antigen into murine leukemia virus Gag proteins pseudotyped with vesicular stomatitis virus envelope glycoprotein (VSV-G). pVLP-E7 vaccinations were studied for their ability to generate specific immune responses and for induction of protective immunity against tumor cell challenge in preventive and therapeutic models. The produced VLPs induce the maturation of human dendritic cells in vitro and mount specific E7 T cell responses. Intradermic vaccinations of mice with pVLP-E7 show their efficacy to generate antigen-specific T cell responses, to prevent and protect animals from early TC-1 tumor development compared with standard DNA or VLP immunizations. The vaccine efficacy was also evaluated for advanced tumors in mice vaccinated at various time after the injection of TC-1 cells. Data show that pVLP-E7 vaccination can cure mice with already established tumors only when combined with Toll-like receptor-7 (TLR7) and TLR9 agonists. Our findings provide evidence that pVLPs, combining the advantages of DNA and VLP vaccines, appear to be a promising strategy for the treatment of HPV-induced cancers.

Hum Gene Ther. 2013 May;24(5):533-44. doi: 10.1089/hum.2012.037. Epub 2013 May 6.

http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/hum.2012.037 

Md. PhD. Rodney Macedo. Past-president del GII.

Dieta y Sindrome Premenstrual

Intake of selected minerals and risk of premenstrual syndrome.


Chocano-Bedoya PO1, Manson JE, Hankinson SE, Johnson SR, Chasan-Taber L, Ronnenberg AG, Bigelow C, Bertone-Johnson ER.

1Department of Public Health, School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA.

 

Abstract

Iron, potassium, zinc, and other minerals might impact the development of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) through multiple mechanisms, but few studies have evaluated these relations. We conducted a case-control study nested within the prospective Nurses' Health Study II (1991-2001). Participants were free from PMS at baseline. After 10 years, 1,057 women were confirmed as PMS cases and 1,968 as controls. Mineral intake was assessed using food frequency questionnaires completed in 1991, 1995, and 1999. After adjustment for calcium intake and other factors, women in the highest quintile of nonheme iron intake had a relative risk of PMS of 0.64 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.44, 0.92; P for trend = 0.04) compared with women in the lowest quintile. Women in the highest quintile of potassium intake had a relative risk of 1.46 (95% CI: 0.99, 2.15; P for trend = 0.04) compared with women in the lowest quintile. High intake of zinc from supplements was marginally associated with PMS (for intake of ≥25 mg/day vs. none, relative risk = 0.69, 95% CI: 0.46, 1.02; P for trend = 0.05). Intakes of sodium, magnesium, and manganese were unrelated to PMS risk. These findings suggest that dietary minerals may be useful in preventing PMS. Additional studies are needed to confirm these relations.

KEYWORDS:

dietary iron; minerals; premenstrual syndrome

Am J Epidemiol. 2013 May 15;177(10):1118-27. doi: 10.1093/aje/kws363. Epub 2013 Feb 26.

http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/content/177/10/1118.long

Md. PhD. Patricia Chocano. Ex miembro del GII.

jueves, 27 de diciembre de 2012

Chlamydia trachomatis e Inmunidad

Transient detection of Chlamydial-specific Th1 memory cells in the peripheral circulation of women with history of Chlamydia trachomatis genital tract infection.


Vicetti Miguel RD1, Reighard SD, Chavez JM, Rabe LK, Maryak SA, Wiesenfeld HC, Cherpes TL.

1Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA.

 

Abstract

PROBLEM:

Development of safe and effective Chlamydia trachomatis vaccines requires better understanding of the host immune responses elicited by natural infection.

METHOD OF STUDY:

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated from women with or without history of genital tract chlamydial infection were stimulated with inactivated C. trachomatis elementary bodies (EB) in ELISPOT assays that enumerated frequencies of cells producing interferon (IFN)-γ or interleukin (IL)-17.

RESULTS:

IFN-γ-positive cells were highest among women sampled 30-60 days after diagnosis of C. trachomatis infection and treatment initiation, while the numbers of IFN-γ-positive cells were equally low among uninfected women and women sampled <30 or >60 days after diagnosis of infection. Conversely, IL-17-positive cell numbers were uniformly low among all participants.

CONCLUSION:

Dramatically reduced numbers of Chlamydia-specific Th1 memory cells in the peripheral circulation of study participants sampled more than 2 months after diagnosis, and initiation of treatment provides new insight into the results from C. trachomatis vaccine trials, in which immunization with EB provided only short-lived protection. Our results also suggest that an effective vaccine against this weakly antigenic intracellular pathogen will need to generate immunological memory more durable than that elicited by natural infection.
© 2012 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

Am J Reprod Immunol. 2012 Dec;68(6):499-506. doi: 10.1111/aji.12008. Epub 2012 Aug 31.

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/aji.12008/abstract;jsessionid=B95D7E5E29926F60FB0D65C3E2DB60D8.f02t01

Md. Rodolfo Vicetti. Ex-miembro del GII. 

Chlamydia trachomatis e Inmunidad

Hypothesis: Chlamydia trachomatis infection of the female genital tract is controlled by Type 2 immunity.


Vicetti Miguel RD1, Cherpes TL.

1Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.

 

Abstract

Chlamydia trachomatis is an obligate intracellular bacterium sexually transmitted to more than 90 million individuals each year. As this level of infectivity implies, C. trachomatis is a successful human parasite; a success facilitated by its ability to cause asymptomatic infection. Host defense against C. trachomatis in the female genital tract is not well defined, but current dogma suggests infection is controlled largely by T(H)1 immunity. Conversely, it is well established that T(H)2 immunity controls allergens, helminths, and other extracellular pathogens that cause repetitive or persistent T cell stimulation but do not induce the exuberant inflammation that drives T(H)1 and T(H)17 immunity. As C. trachomatis persists in female genital tract epithelial cells but does not elicit over tissue inflammation, we now posit that defense is maintained by Type 2 immune responses that control bacterial growth but minimize immunopathological damage to vital reproductive tract anatomy. Evaluation of this hypothesis may uncover novel mechanisms by which Type 2 immunity can control growth of C. trachomatis and other intracellular pathogens, while confirmation that T(H)2 immunity was selected by evolution to control C. trachomatis infection in the female genital tract will transform current research, now focused on developing vaccines that elicit strong, and therefore potentially tissue destructive, Chlamydia-specific T(H)1 immunity.
Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Med Hypotheses. 2012 Dec;79(6):713-6. doi: 10.1016/j.mehy.2012.07.032. Epub 2012 Sep 15.

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306987712003568

Md. Rodolfo Vicetti. Ex-miembro del GII.

sábado, 27 de octubre de 2012

Chlamydia trachomatis e Inmunidad

Brefeldin A, but not monensin, enables flow cytometric detection of interleukin-4 within peripheral T cells responding to ex vivo stimulation with Chlamydia trachomatis.


Vicetti Miguel RD1, Maryak SA, Cherpes TL.

1Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA. rdv4@pitt.edu

 

Abstract

Intracellular cytokine staining (ICS) assay optimization should include selection of suitable cytokine secretion inhibitors. Here, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from women with proven history of C. trachomatis genital tract infection were used to compare the ability of brefeldin A (BFA) and monensin (MN) to concurrently trap interferon-γ (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin (IL)-4, and IL-17 within T cells responding to ex vivo stimulation with chlamydial antigen. While flow cytometric analyses showed similar intracellular levels of TNF, IFN-γ, and IL-17 among T cells treated with BFA or both BFA and MN, markedly more IL-4 was found inside T cells treated with BFA compared to those that received MN or BFA and MN. The latter findings oppose current ICS recommendations informing that ICS results are unaffected by concomitant use of BFA and MN, and also suggests that MN may be an unsuitable cytokine secretion inhibitor for ICS assays designed to measure intracellular IL-4 accumulation.
Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

J Immunol Methods. 2012 Oct 31;384(1-2):191-5. doi: 10.1016/j.jim.2012.07.018. Epub 2012 Jul 29.

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022175912002293

Md. Rodolfo Vicetti. Ex-miembro del GII.

Célula Dendríticas y Medroxyprogesterona

Dendritic cell activation and memory cell development are impaired among mice administered medroxyprogesterone acetate prior to mucosal herpes simplex virus type 1 infection.


Vicetti Miguel RD1, Hendricks RL, Aguirre AJ, Melan MA, Harvey SA, Terry-Allison T, St Leger AJ, Thomson AW, Cherpes TL.

1Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA.

 

Abstract

Epidemiological studies indicate that the exogenous sex steroid medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) can impair cell-mediated immunity, but mechanisms responsible for this observation are not well defined. In this study, MPA administered to mice 1 wk prior to HSV type 1 (HSV-1) infection of their corneal mucosa impaired initial expansion of viral-specific effector and memory precursor T cells and reduced the number of viral-specific memory T cells found in latently infected mice. MPA treatment also dampened expression of the costimulatory molecules CD40, CD70, and CD80 by dendritic cells (DC) in lymph nodes draining acute infection, whereas coculture of such DC with T cells from uninfected mice dramatically impaired ex vivo T cell proliferation compared with the use of DC from mice that did not receive MPA prior to HSV-1 infection. In addition, T cell expansion was comparable to that seen in untreated controls if MPA-treated mice were administered recombinant soluble CD154 (CD40L) concomitant with their mucosal infection. In contrast, the immunomodulatory effects of MPA were infection site dependent, because MPA-treated mice exhibited normal expansion of virus-specific T cells when infection was systemic rather than mucosal. Taken together, our results reveal that the administration of MPA prior to viral infection of mucosal tissue impairs DC activation, virus-specific T cell expansion, and development of virus-specific immunological memory.

J Immunol. 2012 Oct 1;189(7):3449-61. Epub 2012 Aug 31.

http://www.jimmunol.org/content/189/7/3449.long


Md. Rodolfo Vicetti. Ex-miembro del GII.

martes, 24 de julio de 2012

Dermatología e Inmunología

Mastocitos y basófilos y sus nuevas funciones en inmunología
 Julio E Valdivia-Silva 
1Chemokines Biology Research Laboratory, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, UNAM, México D.F., México.

ABSTRACT 
Mast cells and basophils have demonstrated to have both beneficial and detrimental functions for the immune system. Additionally to their classic role in pro-inflammatory responses to allergens, they are also involved directly in immunity against different pathogens. Because there are few animals models developed to investigate these cells in vivo, their functions during health and disease remain poorly understood. This review gives a short glance in the development and functional status of mast cells and basophils focusing on immunology concepts necessary to get a major understanding of the mechanisms of disease in different pathological states. 
DERMATOL PERU 2012; VOL 23
http://sisbib.unmsm.edu.pe/bvrevistas/dermatologia/v23_n2/pdf/a04v23n2.pdf
Md PhD Julio Valdivia Silva. Fundador del GII
 
 

viernes, 27 de enero de 2012

HSV-2 y Vaginosis Bacterial

Recalcitrance of bacterial vaginosis among herpes-simplex-virus-type-2-seropositive women.


Stoner KA1, Reighard SD, Vicetti Miguel RD, Landsittel D, Cosentino LA, Kant JA, Cherpes TL.

1Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences Pediatrics Medicine Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.

 

Abstract

AIM:

The multifactorial etiology of bacterial vaginosis (BV) impedes development of effective treatment and prevention strategies. Herein, we evaluated the effects of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), a suspected BV risk factor, on vaginal flora composition.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

  Correlations between HSV-2 infection and BV were prospectively explored among 12 HSV-2-seropositive women with asymptomatic BV who were asked to collect daily vaginal swab specimens for Gram stain analysis of vaginal flora and determination of HSV-2 shedding frequencies during the 1month before and after metronidazole therapy.

RESULTS:

Unlike prior longitudinal studies that reported rapid fluctuations in vaginal flora composition and frequent episodes of spontaneously resolving BV, we found that 99.4% (310/312) of vaginal smears collected before initiation of metronidazole were consistent with a diagnosis of BV. Effectiveness of metronidazole therapy was also much lower than previously reported in studies not restricting enrollment to HSV-2-seropositive women; we observed a BV recurrence rate of 89% in the first month after completion of therapy while the median time to this recurrence occurred only 14days after treatment.

CONCLUSIONS:

Our study demonstrates BV recalcitrance among HSV-2-infected women and provides additional evidence for a linkage between this chronic viral infection and abnormal vaginal flora. Additional work will be needed to define mechanisms responsible for this correlation and to determine if vaginal flora health of HSV-2-infected women is improved by medications that suppress HSV-2 shedding.
© 2011 The Authors. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research © 2011 Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

J Obstet Gynaecol Res. 2012 Jan;38(1):77-83. doi: 10.1111/j.1447-0756.2011.01697.x. Epub 2011 Dec 5.

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1447-0756.2011.01697.x/abstract;jsessionid=54A78C4B43F9813B882574F362F23AC8.f04t03

Md. Rodolfo Vicetti. Ex-miembro del GII.

sábado, 24 de diciembre de 2011

Microbiología y RT-PCR

Determination of low bacterial concentrations in hyperarid Atacama soils: comparison of biochemical and microscopy methods with real-time quantitative PCR.


Fletcher LE1, Conley CA, Valdivia-Silva JE, Perez-Montaño S, Condori-Apaza R, Kovacs GT, Glavin DP, McKay CP.

1Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Planetary Physics, Clarendon Laboratory, University of Oxford, UK. Lauren@atm.ox.ac.uk

 

Abstract

Hyperarid Atacama soils are reported to contain significantly reduced numbers of microbes per gram of soil relative to soils from other environments. Molecular methods have been used to evaluate microbial populations in hyperarid Atacama soils; however, conflicting results across the various studies, possibly caused by this low number of microorganisms and consequent biomass, suggest that knowledge of expected DNA concentrations in these soils becomes important to interpreting data from any method regarding microbial concentrations and diversity. In this paper we compare the number of bacteria per gram of Atacama Desert soils determined by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction with the number of bacteria estimated by the standard methods of phospholipids fatty acid analysis, adenine composition (determined by liquid chromatography - time-of-flight mass spectrometry), and SYBR-green microscopy. The number determined by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction as implemented in this study was several orders of magnitude lower than that determined by the other three methods and probably underestimates the concentrations of soil bacteria, most likely because of soil binding during the DNA extraction methods. However, the other methods very possibly overestimate the bacteria concentrations owing to desiccated, intact organisms, which would stain positive in microscopy and preserve both adenine and phospholipid fatty acid for the other methods.

Can J Microbiol. 2011 Nov;57(11):953-63. doi: 10.1139/w11-091.

http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/abs/10.1139/w11-091?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori%3Arid%3Acrossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub%3Dpubmed&#.VbJdMkWdMnU

Md PhD Julio Valdivia Silva. Fundador del GII

domingo, 27 de noviembre de 2011

Enfermedad Inflamatoria Pélvica

Limitations of the criteria used to diagnose histologic endometritis in epidemiologic pelvic inflammatory disease research.



Vicetti Miguel RD1, Chivukula M, Krishnamurti U, Amortegui AJ, Kant JA, Sweet RL, Wiesenfeld HC, Phillips JM, Cherpes TL.


1University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, PA 15224, USA.

 

Abstract

While endometrial neutrophils and plasma cells are criteria used to diagnose histologic endometritis in epidemiologic pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) research, plasma cell misidentification and nonspecificity may limit the accuracy of these criteria. Herein, we examined: (1) the identification of endometrial plasma cells with conventional methyl green pyronin-based methodology versus plasma cell-specific (CD138) immunostaining, (2) the prevalence of endometrial plasma cells among women at low risk for PID, and (3) endometrial leukocyte subpopulations among women diagnosed with acute or chronic histologic endometritis by conventional criteria. We observed an absence of CD138+ cells in 25% of endometrial biopsies in which plasma cells had been identified by conventional methodology, while additional immunohistochemical analyses revealed indistinguishable inflammatory infiltrates among women diagnosed with acute or chronic endometritis by conventional criteria. Among women considered at lower risk for PID development, flow cytometric analyses detected plasma cells in 30% of endometrial biopsy specimens, suggesting that these cells, even when accurately identified, only nonspecifically identify upper genital tract inflammatory processes. Combined, our findings underscore the limitations of the criteria used to diagnose histologic endometritis in PID-related research and suggest that satisfactory understanding of PID pathogenesis, treatment, and prevention is hindered by continued use of these criteria.
Copyright © 2011 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Pathol Res Pract. 2011 Nov 15;207(11):680-5. doi: 10.1016/j.prp.2011.08.007. Epub 2011 Oct 13.

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0344033811002044

Md. Rodolfo Vicetti. Ex-miembro del GII.

Chlamydia trachomatis e Inmunidad

Chlamydia trachomatis infection control programs: lessons learned and implications for vaccine development.


Chavez JM1, Vicetti Miguel RD, Cherpes TL.

1Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Rangos Research Center, Room 9123, 4401 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA.

 

Abstract

Chlamydia trachomatis control efforts that enhance detection and treatment of infected women may paradoxically increase susceptibility of the population to infection. Conversely, these surveillance programs lower incidences of adverse sequelae elicited by genital tract infection (e.g., pelvic inflammatory disease and ectopic pregnancy), suggesting enhanced identification and eradication of C. trachomatis simultaneously reduces pathogen-induced upper genital tract damage and abrogates formation of protective immune responses. In this paper, we detail findings from C. trachomatis infection control programs that increase our understanding of chlamydial immunoepidemiology and discuss their implications for prophylactic vaccine design.

Infect Dis Obstet Gynecol. 2011;2011:754060. doi: 10.1155/2011/754060. Epub 2011 Nov 14.

http://www.hindawi.com/journals/idog/2011/754060/

Md. Rodolfo Vicetti. Ex-miembro del GII.

jueves, 27 de octubre de 2011

Infecciones del Tracto Genital

Endometrial leukocyte subpopulations associated with Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and Trichomonas vaginalis genital tract infection.


Reighard SD1, Sweet RL, Vicetti Miguel C, Vicetti Miguel RD, Chivukula M, Krishnamurti U, Cherpes TL.

1Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA.

 

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

The objective of the study was to characterize endometrial inflammation associated with common genital tract pathogens.

STUDY DESIGN:

The design of the study was the immunohistochemical characterization of the endometrial leukocyte subpopulations from 37 controls and 45 women infected with Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, or Trichomonas vaginalis.

RESULTS:

Compared with uninfected women, endocervical infection with C trachomatis, N gonorrhoeae, or T vaginalis was associated with significant increases in endometrial T cells, B cells, plasma cells, and polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Even more substantial increases in T cell, B cell, and plasma cell numbers were detected among women infected endocervically and endometrially with C trachomatis.

CONCLUSION:

Because lower genital tract C trachomatis, N gonorrhoeae, or T vaginalis infections were associated with comparable increases in the same endometrial leukocyte subpopulations, our results suggest the underappreciated involvement of T vaginalis in upper genital tract inflammatory processes. The more robust inflammatory infiltrate associated with C trachomatis endometrial ascension may offer insight into host inflammatory responses associated with pelvic inflammatory disease development.
Copyright © 2011 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2011 Oct;205(4):324.e1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2011.05.031. Epub 2011 May 20.

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002937811006594

Md. Rodolfo Vicetti. Ex-miembro del GII.

viernes, 27 de mayo de 2011

Dieta y Sindrome Premenstrual

Dietary B vitamin intake and incident premenstrual syndrome.


Chocano-Bedoya PO1, Manson JE, Hankinson SE, Willett WC, Johnson SR, Chasan-Taber L, Ronnenberg AG, Bigelow C, Bertone-Johnson ER.

1Department of Public Health, School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003-9304, USA.

 

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B-6, folate, and vitamin B-12 are required to synthesize neurotransmitters that are potentially involved in the pathophysiology of premenstrual syndrome (PMS).

OBJECTIVE:

The objective was to evaluate whether B vitamin intake from food sources and supplements is associated with the initial development of PMS.

DESIGN:

We conducted a case-control study nested within the Nurses' Health Study II cohort. Participants were free of PMS at baseline (1991). After 10 y of follow up, 1057 women were confirmed as cases and 1968 were confirmed as controls. Dietary information was collected in 1991, 1995, and 1999 by using food-frequency questionnaires.

RESULTS:

Intakes of thiamine and riboflavin from food sources were each inversely associated with incident PMS. For example, women in the highest quintile of riboflavin intake 2-4 y before the diagnosis year had a 35% lower risk of developing PMS than did those in the lowest quintile (relative risk: 0.65; 95% CI: 0.45, 0.92; P for trend = 0.02). No significant associations between incident PMS and dietary intakes of niacin, vitamin B-6, folate, and vitamin B-12 were observed. Intake of B vitamins from supplements was not associated with a lower risk of PMS.

CONCLUSIONS:

We observed a significantly lower risk of PMS in women with high intakes of thiamine and riboflavin from food sources only. Further research is needed to evaluate the effects of B vitamins in the development of premenstrual syndrome.

Am J Clin Nutr. 2011 May;93(5):1080-6. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.110.009530. Epub 2011 Feb 23.

http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/93/5/1080.long

Md. PhD. Patricia Chocano. Ex miembro del GII.