BACKGROUND Experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM), a mouse model of post-infectious cardiomyopathy, reflects mechanisms of inflammatory cardiomyopathy in humans. EAM is characterized by an infiltration of inflammatory cells into the myocardium that can be followed by myocyte fibrosis, edema, and necrosis, leading to ventricular wall dysfunction and heart failure. Different data indicate that...

The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential role of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced preterm delivery. Intraperitoneal injection of LPS in the presence or absence of previous TLR4 blockade was performed to establish a murine model of preterm delivery. The incidences of preterm delivery and fetal death were calculated. Flow cytometry was performed...

The detection of tumor-specific T cells in immunized cancer patients usually relies on lengthy and difficult CTL assays; we now report on flow cytometry to detect the intracellular cytokines interleukin 2 (IL-2), IL-4, IFN-gamma, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) produced by CD4+CD69+ and CD8+CD69+ activated T cells after MUC1 antigen stimulation. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells we...

Naive T lymphocytes recirculate through the lymph-vascular system and enter and exit lymphoid organs. Using mice expressing the photoconvertible fluorescence protein Kaede, we demonstrated that naive T cells seek to interact with endogenous Ags after migrating to the lymphoid organs. The interaction with endogenous Ags transiently induces CD69 expression on T cells, which prolongs retention in ...

OBJECTIVES To determine if T cells in skin lesions in systemic sclerosis (SSc) express the early activation antigen CD69 that participates in cell-cell interactions. METHODS Skin biopsy specimens from 17 patients with SSc were analysed by immunohistochemistry using the indirect peroxidase method and monoclonal antibodies for CD3 (T cell marker), CD69 (early T cell activation marker), and CD68...

Latent membrane protein‑1 (LMP-1) of Epstein‑Barr virus (EBV) promotes tumorigenesis. Here, we report that LMP-1 activates the immunoregulatory molecule CD69 gene transcription through a nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB)‑dependent pathway. CD69 expression was upregulated in LMP-1‑expressing EBV-immortalized human B-cell lines and an EBV-positive Burkitt's lymphoma cell line. LMP-1 expression increased ...

The leukocyte activation marker CD69 is a novel regulator of the immune response, modulating the production of cytokines including transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta). We have generated an antimurine CD69 monoclonal antibody (mAb), CD69.2.2, which down-regulates CD69 expression in vivo but does not deplete CD69-expressing cells. Therapeutic administration of CD69.2.2 to wild-type mice in...

EA1 is an abundant, highly antigenic, surface layer protein of Bacillus anthracis vegetative cells. Recent studies indicate that EA1 is also a component of B. anthracis spores and a potential marker for spore detection. We show here that EA1 is not a spore component but a persistent contaminant in spore preparations.

Background and Aim: Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is associated with raised liver enzymes, pruritus elevated fasting total bile acids (TBA) may lead to adverse perinatal outcomes such as preterm birth, meconium-stained liquor, stillbirth, foetal growth restriction etc. The change in inflammatory profile ICP association TBA not known. Methods: Patients (aged >21) confirmed diagnosi...

In spite of an initially proposed role as a costimulatory molecule for CD69, in vivo studies showed it as a regulator of immune responses and lymphocyte egress. We found constitutive CD69 expression by T cell subsets and pDC. We examined a possible effect of CD69 on T cell proliferation using transfer models and in vitro assays. In mice locally expressing or receiving antigen, anti-CD692.2 trea...