We evaluated the effects of cigarette smoke (CS) on lung inflammation and remodeling in a model of ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized and OVA-challenged mice. Male BALB/c mice were divided into 4 groups: non-sensitized and air-exposed (control); non-sensitized and exposed to cigarette smoke (CS), sensitized and air-exposed (OVA) (50 μg+OVA 1% 3 times/week for 3 weeks) and sensitized and cigarette smoke...

The usefulness of pH-sensitive fusogenic polymer-(succinylated poly(glycidol)-(SucPG-) modified liposomes as a vaccine carrier in the induction of immune responses was evaluated. Mice were intraperitoneally immunized with ovalbumin- (OVA-) containing SucPG-modified liposomes. After immunization, significant OVA-specific antibodies were detected in the serum. When sera were analyzed for isotype ...

PURPOSE Advanced-stage cancers are extremely difficult to treat and rarely result in a cure. The application of oncolytic viruses is a potential strategy for controlling advanced-stage cancer because intratumoral (i.t.) injection of an oncolytic virus, such as vaccinia virus, results in tumor cell lysis and subsequent release of tumor antigens into the microenvironment. Furthermore, the viruses...

graphical distribution of connective tissue mast cells (CTMC) and mucosal mast cells (MMC) that may imply regional differences in the release of allergic mediators such as tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a) and eicosanoids. Aim: To evaluate the role of CTMC and MMC for release of TNF-a and eicosanoids after allergenic challenge in distinct segments of rat trachea. Materials and methods: Proximal t...

Rabbit ova were transferred to both sides of synchronous pseudopregnant recipients; on one side the ova were transferred to the ovarian bursa to assess the efficiency of ovum reception, and on the other side were deposited within the Fallopian tube to provide informa¬ tion on ovum transport. The recipients were treated with oestrogens, progesterone, or combinations of these hormones. Ova were a...

Lumazine synthase from Brucella spp. (BLS) is a highly immunogenic decameric protein. It is possible to insert foreign peptides or proteins at its ten-amino acid termini. These chimeras elicit systemic and oral immunity without adjuvants, which are commonly needed in the formulation of subunit-based vaccines. Here, we show that BLS induces the cross presentation of a covalently attached peptide...

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) contributes to asthma exacerbations and development of inhaled corticosteroid insensitivity. Complete resistance to systemic corticosteroids is rare, and most patients lie on a continuum of steroid responsiveness. This study aimed to examine the sensitivity of combined ovalbumin- (Ova) and LPS-induced functional and inflammatory responses to inhaled and systemic cortico...

Allergic asthma is a chronic inflammatory airway disease that is characterized by airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), accumulation of eosinophils and goblet cell hyperplasia. The efficacy of attenuated E. coli (AEC) strain has been reported in various disease. To evaluate the effect of AEC in mice model of Ovalbumin (OVA)-induced AHR. Materials and method: AHR was induced in Female BALB/c mice (1...

The mechanisms that maintain memory in T cells are not completely understood. We have investigated the role of antigen and interleukin (IL)-2 in the growth and maintenance of CD8+ T cells using a cytolytic T cell line specific for ovalbumin (OVA)257-264 presented by H-2Kb. This line does not secrete IL-4 or IL-2; hence, stimulation with the OVA-transfected EL4 line (E.G7-OVA) does not induce pr...

Atopic, obese asthmatics exhibit airway obstruction with variable degrees of eosinophilic airway inflammation. We previously reported that mice obese as a result of a genetic deficiency in either leptin (ob/ob mice) or the long isoform of the leptin receptor (db/db mice) exhibit enhanced airway obstruction in the presence of decreased numbers of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) eosinophils c...