Naïve T cells proliferate independently of cognate antigen when introduced into lymphopenic hosts. Lymphopenia-induced proliferation depends on low-affinity MHC/self-peptide complexes and on IL-7. To elucidate the intracellular signals mediating this proliferation, we analyzed changes in gene expression in naive CD8+ T cells at different times after their transfer into a lymphopenic environment...

Immunotherapeutic drugs that mimic sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) disrupt lymphocyte trafficking and cause T helper and T effector cells to be retained in secondary lymphoid tissue and away from sites of inflammation. The prototypical therapeutic agent, 2-alkyl-2-amino-1,3-propanediol (FTY720), stimulates S1P signaling pathways only after it is phosphorylated by one or more unknown kinases. We g...

BACKGROUND The use of proteasome inhibitors like Bortezomib to treat multiple myeloma has been associated with increased rates of opportunistic infections, including Nocardia, especially when lymphopenia is present. The prevalence or association of such infections with newer agents like Carfilzomib is not known. CASE REPORT A 71-year-old man with multiple myeloma presented with a 6-week histo...

We thank the participants of the study for completing the questionnaire and Mrs Sybil Farrell for preparing the manuscript. The Institute of Cancer Research receives support from the Cancer Research Campaign and the Medical Research Council. Dr M C Pike is now at the University of Southern California School of Medicine and is partially supported by grant CA 14089 from the National Institutes of...

Methods Retrospective analysis of an institutional database including all adult comatose patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) after CA from January 2007 to December 2014. Inclusion criteria were as follows: age ≥18, non-traumatic arrest and survival ≥ 24 hours after admission. Demographics, CA-related findings and outcome information were included in the database. We collected dat...

Primary intestinal lymphangiectasia (PIL) is a rare protein-losing gastroenteropathy characterized by dilatation of the lymphatics and loss lymph fluid into gastrointestinal tract, leading to development hypoproteinaemia, oedema, lymphocytopenia, hypogammaglobinaemia, immunologic abnormalities. We report series 4 children from Bangalore, India presenting with anasarca, diarrhoea, hypoproteinaem...

Viruses can cause a severe lymphopenia early in infection and a subsequent, lasting loss of pre-existing CD8(+) memory T cells. We therefore questioned how well virus Ag-specific memory CD8(+) T cells could reconstitute mice rendered lymphopenic as a consequence of genetics, irradiation, or viral or poly(I:C)-induced cytokines. In each case, reconstitution of the CD8(+) compartment was associat...

OBJECTIVE To detail a case of Aspergillus terreus brain abscess in a patient undergoing treatment for malignant glioma. Central nervous system aspergillosis usually occurs in patients with hematopoietic neoplasms or post transplantation, not in those with solid tumors. Most systemic invasive mold infections are attributable to Aspergillus fumigatus or Aspergillus flavus. PATIENT AND METHODS T...