Dendritic cells (DC) of the CD11c(+) myeloid phenotype have been implicated in the spread of scrapie in the host. Previously, we have shown that CD11c(+) DC can cause a rapid degradation of proteinase K-resistant prion proteins (PrP(Sc)) in vitro, indicating a possible role of these cells in the clearance of PrP(Sc). To determine the mechanisms of PrP(Sc) degradation, CD11c(+) DC that had been ...

Changes in the number and function of dendritic cells (DCs) have been reported to play an important role in endotoxin tolerance. It has been reported that expansion of splenic CD11c(low)CD45RB(+) DCs occurs in mice injected with sublethal doses of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). However, the function of endotoxic shock-expanded CD11c(low)CD45RB(+) DCs has not been examined. In this work, we show that...

Distinct subsets of dendritic cells (DCs) are present in blood, probably "en route" to different tissues. We have investigated the chemokines and adhesion molecules involved in the migration of myeloid (CD11c(+)) and plasmacytoid (CD123(+)) human peripheral blood DCs across vascular endothelium. Among blood DCs, the CD11c(+) subset vigorously migrated across endothelium in the absence of any ch...

UVB irradiation of the shaved dorsal skin of mice can cause both local and systemic suppression of contact hypersensitivity responses; the former demonstrated by administration of the sensitizing Ag/hapten to the irradiated site and the latter by its administration at least 72 h later to distal unirradiated sites. The immunological basis of systemic immunomodulation is not clear. When haptens (...

Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by subepithelial T-cell infiltration. Recent studies reported that specific T helper (Th) subsets, especially Th2 cells, are involved in the pathogenesis of OLP. Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) is mainly secreted by epithelial cells and potently activates myeloid dendritic cells (mDCs) to induce Th2-mediated inflammati...

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can lead to an increased risk of developing colorectal cancer (CRC). The aim of this study was to establish a model for combined bone marrow transplantation (BMT) and colitis-associated colorectal cancer (CAC) and to define the contribution of BM-derived cells during the inflammation associated with carcinogenesis. We established a model for BMT using green fluo...

Unraveling the mechanisms of hematopoiesis regulated by multiple cytokines remains a challenge in hematology. IL-3 is an allergic cytokine with the multilineage potential, while CSF-1 is produced in the steady state with restricted lineage coverage. Here, we uncovered an instructive role of CSF-1 in IL-3-mediated hematopoiesis. CSF-1 significantly promoted IL-3-driven CD11c+ cell expansion and ...

Lievens and colleagues report an important finding that helps to elucidate the role of transforming growth factor b (TGFb)b in atherosclerotic plaque formation. TGFb is a widely expressed cytokine produced by smooth muscle cells, endothelial cells, monocytes, macrophages, and T cells. Clinical studies suggest that TGFb is antiatherosclerotic, citing a negative correlation between plasma TGFb co...

INTRODUCTION Adipose tissue insulin action is impaired in obesity and is associated with inflammation, macrophage infiltration, and polarization toward a proinflammatory phenotype. Acute exercise can reduce markers of adipose inflammation, including interleukin (IL) 6, in parallel with improvements in insulin action; however, others have provided evidence that IL-6 has anti-inflammatory propert...

We have previously reported that during mycobacterial infection, naïve CD4(+) T-cell activation is enhanced in the lungs. We investigated the role of chemokine receptor CCR7 and its ligands in the ability of CD11c(+) lung dendritic cells (DCs) to activate naïve CD4(+) T cells during pulmonary infection with Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG). BCG infection resulted in the accumu...