Proinflammatory factors in saliva as possible markers for periodontal disease

Studies have indicated that host inflammatory proteins, enzymes and indicators of bone metabolism present in saliva differ in different types of periodontal disease. However, the number of markers analyzed was limited and the effect of edentulousness was not examined. We measured the concentration of host inflammatory proteins: C-reactive protein (CRP), C3 and C4 complement components, alpha-2-macroglobulin (alpha-2M) and tumor-necrosis factor (TNF) in unstimulated saliva of 14 periodontally healthy (PH), 9 edentulous persons (EP), 10 patients with chronic periodontitis (CP) and 18 with aggressive periodontitis (AgP). TNF was below the level of detection in all samples except one. Edentulous persons and patients with CP had significantly reduced concentrations of CRP, C3 and alpha-2M. Edentulous persons and AgP patients had lower C4 concentrations. We can conclude that edentulous persons and CP patients have reduced salivary concentrations of host inflammatory proteins. These findings suggest that a reduction in host responsiveness might play a role in the pathogenesis of CP.     

Treatment of ocular motility disturbances in Graves' disease with botulinum toxin A

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of botulinum toxin-A injections on motility disturbance in patients with dysthyroid eye disease. In 36 patients (52 orbits) with active phase of Grave's ophthalmopathy with motility disturbance, botulinum toxin-A injections were applied. Ocular motility was measured before and after treatment in four main directions (elevation, depression, abduction and adduction) with F?rster perimeter. In all patients 20 units of botulinum toxin-A in one single injection was applied in the projection of the inferior rectus muscle. Statistically, the degree of upgaze increased notably in all three groups, but mostly in the first group where it amounted up to 5.8-6.0 (z = 10.0;p = 0.68). We could not prove notable increase of the motility grade in the adduction in none of the groups of the tested patients. Due to the fact that eyeball motility can be objectively measured, effect of the applied therapy can be clearly evaluated.     

PC12 and HEL cell communication in a reconstituted synapse analyzed with mathematical modeling

A synapse simulating model comprising of the nerve growth factor (NGF)-differentiated PC12 cells releasing neurotransmitter (NT) and sensor 92.1.7.human erythroleukemia (HEL) cells has been used for simulating the connection between neurons and target cells. A Ca(2+) elevation was observed in both cell types when the PC12 cells were challenged with nicotine. The response patterns of individual cell were subsequently analyzed mathematically. The Ca(2+) signals of the PC12 cells were described by an equation representing a simple bi-exponential function. The NT-noradrenaline discharged by the PC12 cells in response to nicotine caused heterogeneous secondary Ca(2+) elevations in the HEL cells after a certain delay. Model fitting of this response disclosed slow "hidden" oscillations and heterogeneous secondary Ca(2+) signals could be grouped on the basis of the oscillation frequency. As determined in control experiments with noradrenaline (NA), the value of oscillation frequency also revealed a good correlation with the NT concentration.     

Construction of Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain FAV20 useful in detection of immunosuppressants produced by soil actinomycetes

The screening of microbial natural products continues to represent an important route to the discovery of novel chemicals for development of new therapeutic agents. The aim of this work was to develop an efficient method for the detection of immunosuppressive compounds produced by soil actinomycetes. Mutant strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, named FAV20, sensitive to FK506 was constructed by disrupting VMA22 gene using the selectable marker kanMX4 which allowed detection of integration events. Actinomycetes were isolated from different soil samples and in a newly developed test with S. cerevisiae FAV20, six strains have been identified that produce bioactive compounds with the same mechanism of action as FK506. S. cerevisiae FAV20 can be easily used as a test strain in drug screening programs based on inhibition of the calcineurin phosphatase dependent signaling pathway in the cell.     

The plant nuclear envelope protein MAF1 has an additional location at the Golgi and binds to a novel Golgi-associated coiled-coil protein

Tomato MAF1 (LeMAF1) is a plant-specific, nuclear envelope (NE)-associated protein. It is the founding member of a group of WPP domain-containing, NE-associated proteins. This group includes the Arabidopsis WPP family, which is involved in cell division, as well as plant RanGAPs. In addition to its NE localization, LeMAF1 accumulates in speckles in the cytoplasm. Here, we show that the LeMAF1-containing speckles are components of the Golgi apparatus. A novel tomato coiled-coil protein was identified that specifically binds to LeMAF1. Tomato WPP domain-associated protein (LeWAP) interacts in yeast and in vitro through its coiled-coil domain with several WPP-domain containing proteins, including AtRanGAP1 and the WPP family (LeMAF, WPP1 and WPP2). Like LeMAF1, LeWAP is localized at the Golgi. Moreover, we present data showing that Arabidopsis WAP is necessary for the existence of a multi-protein complex containing WPP2. Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary material is available for this article at .     

Chromatographic detection of residual cellular DNA on short monolithic columns

Analysis of crude samples from biotechnological processes is often required to demonstrate that residual host cell impurities are reduced or eliminated during purification. Current knowledge suggests that a continuous-cell-line DNA can be considered a cellular contaminant rather than a significant risk factor requiring removal to extremely low levels. Anion-exchange chromatography is one of the most important methods used in the downstream processing and analysis of different biomolecules. In this article, an application using Convective Interaction Media monolithic columns to improve the detection of residual cellular DNA is described.     

Long-term control of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection is mediated by dynamic immune responses

The primary goal of this study was to determine how chronic exposure to Ag influences the functionality of Mycobacterium tuberculosis-specific T cell responses. The frequency of IFN-gamma-producing effector CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells dynamically changed during persistent M. tuberculosis infection. CD8(+) T cells used differential effector functions during acute and chronic phases of the immune response, where CD8(+) T cells produced negligible amounts of IFN-gamma early in infection, but switched to cytokine production during the chronic stage of infection. Using limiting dilution analysis, CD8(+) T cells isolated during the initial phase of infection demonstrated lytic potential, but this waned in the chronic stage. The apparent loss of cytotoxic activity was not associated with the lack of perforin. Ag dose could potentially govern the functional program of CD8(+) T cells. Collectively, these results depict a host immune response mounted against M. tuberculosis of a significantly more dynamic nature than previously recognized.     

Cutting edge: the ontogeny and function of Va14Ja18 natural T lymphocytes require signal processing by protein kinase C theta and NF-kappa B

The rapid and robust immunoregulatory cytokine response of Va14Ja18 natural T (iNKT) cells to glycolipid Ags determines their diverse functions. Unlike conventional T cells, iNKT lymphocyte ontogeny absolutely requires NF-kappa B signaling. However, the precise role of NF-kappa B in iNKT cell function and the identity of upstream signals that activate NF-kappa B in this T cell subset remain unknown. Using mice in which iNKT cell ontogeny has been rescued despite inhibition of NF-kappa B signaling, we demonstrate that iNKT cell function requires NF-kappa B in a lymphocyte-intrinsic manner. Furthermore, the ontogeny of functional iNKT cells requires signaling through protein kinase C theta, which is dispensable for conventional T lymphocyte development. The unique requirement of protein kinase C theta implies that signals emanating from the TCR activate NF-kappa B during iNKT cell development and function. Thus, we conclude that NF-kappa B signaling plays a crucial role at distinct levels of iNKT cell biology.     

The role of rat Crry, a complement regulatory protein, in proliferation of thymocytes

In our previous work we showed that 3F10 monoclonal antibody (mAb), which recognizes the rat complement receptor 1-related/gene protein y (Crry), induces homotipic aggregation of thymocytes. In this work we studied the effect of 3F10 mAb on proliferation of rat thymocytes stimulated with concanavalin A (ConA) or by cross-linking the T cell receptor (TCR) by anti-alphabetaTCR mAb (R73), in vitro, and the mechanisms involved in the process. Our results show that 3F10 mAb stimulates proliferation of total thymocytes triggered by suboptimal concentrations of ConA or TCR cross-linking, in a dose-dependent manner. Maximal stimulation was observed using 10 microg/ml and 20 microg/ml of 3F10 mAb, respectively. The 3F10-induced stimulation of thymocytes proliferation in the presence of ConA, that was followed by increased production of interleukin-2 (IL-2), up-regulation of the expression of IL-2 receptor alpha (IL-2Ralpha) and was inhibited by anti-CD11a and anti-CD18 mAbs. Purified thymocytes did not respond by proliferation to 3F10 mAb, either alone or in combination with R73 mAb or ConA. Proliferation of these cells was achieved only in the presence of OX-6+ antigen-presenting cells (APC) and additional signals transmitted by TCR or ConA. These results suggest that Crry is involved in the LFA-1 dependent proliferation of thymocytes, a phenomenon that has not been recognized so far.