A peptide encoded by the human MAGE3 gene and presented by HLA-1344 induces cytolytic T lymphocytes that recognize tumor cells expressing MAGE3

The humanMAGE3 gene is expressed in a significant proportion of tumors of various histological types, but is silent in normal adult tissues other than testis and placenta. Antigens encoded byMAGE3 may therefore be useful targets for specific antitumor immunization. Two antigenic peptides encoded by theMAGE3 gene have been reported previously. One is presented to cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTL) by HLA-A1, the other by HLA-A2 molecules. Here we show that MAGE3 also codes for a peptide that is presented to CTL by HLA-1344.MAGE3 peptides containing the HLA-1344 peptide binding motif were synthesized. Peptide MEVDPIGHLY, which showed the strongest binding to HLA-1344, was used to stimulate blood T lymphocytes from normal HLA-1344 donors. CTL clones were obtained that recognized not only HLA-B44 cells sensitized with the peptide, but also HLA-B44 tumor cell lines expressingMAGE3. The proportion of metastatic melanomas expressing theMAGE3/HLA-1344 antigen should amount to approximately 17% in the Caucasian population, since 24% of individuals carry theHLA-B44 allele and 76% of these tumors express MAGE3.     

Comparison of nodule induction in legume and actinorhizal symbioses: the induction of actinorhizal nodules does not involve ENOD40

Two types of root nodule symbioses are known for higher plants, legume and actinorhizal symbioses. In legume symbioses, bacterial signal factors induce the expression of ENOD40 genes. We isolated an ENOD40 promoter from an actinorhizal plant, Casuarina glauca, and compared its expression pattern in a legume (Lotus japonicus) and an actinorhizal plant (Allocasuarina verticillata) with that of an ENOD40 promoter from the legume soybean (GmENOD40-2). In the actinorhizal Allocasuarina sp., CgENOD40-GUS and GmENOD40-2-GUS showed similar expression patterns in both vegetative and symbiotic development, and neither promoter was active during nodule induction. The nonsymbiotic expression pattern of CgENOD40-GUS in the legume genus Lotus resembled the nonsymbiotic expression patterns of legume ENOD40 genes; however, in contrast to GmENOD40-2-GUS, CgENOD40-GUS was not active during nodule induction. The fact that only legume, not actinorhizal, ENOD40 genes are induced during legume nodule induction can be linked to the phloem unloading mechanisms established in the zones of nodule induction in the roots of both types of host plants.     

Is there a redox reaction between Cu(II) and gallic acid?

Interactions between transition metal ions and polyphenols can result in complexation, redox or polymerization, but the relative importance of these reactions is unclear. The present paper reports results from the reaction of gallic acid (GA) with Cu(II) using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and UV/visible spectroscopy for various relative concentrations and pH values. Reduction of Cu(II) by GA does not occur under strongly acidic or strongly alkaline conditions. Di- or polymerization reactions between Cu(II) and carboxylate groups of GA dominate the results at acidic pH, whereas mononuclear complexes increase in importance at higher pH and GA concentrations. There was no evidence for any redox reaction between Cu(II) and GA and free radical formation from GA at high pH was shown to be the consequence of auto-oxidation, which was inhibited by Cu(II). Serious questions are thus raised about the existence of the frequently assumed redox reactions between Cu(II) and polyphenols.     

Repeated neonatal separation stress alters the composition of neurochemically characterized interneuron subpopulations in the rodent dentate gyrus and basolateral amygdala

Emotional experience during early life has been shown to interfere with the development of excitatory synaptic networks in the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and the amygdala of rodents and primates. The aim of the present study was to investigate a developmental "homoeostatic synaptic plasticity" hypothesis and to test whether stress-induced changes of excitatory synaptic composition are counterbalanced by parallel changes of inhibitory synaptic networks. The impact of repeated early separation stress on the development of two GABAergic neuronal subpopulations was quantitatively analyzed in the brain of the semiprecocial rodent Octodon degus. Assuming that PARV- and CaBP-D28k-expression are negatively correlated to the level of inhibitory activity, the previously described reduced density of excitatory spine synapses in the dentate gyrus of stressed animals appears to be "amplified" by elevated GABAergic inhibition, reflected by reduced PARV- (down to 85%) and CaBP-D28k-immunoreactivity (down to 74%). In opposite direction, the previously observed elevated excitatory spine density in the CA1 region of stressed animals appears to be amplified by reduced inhibition, reflected by elevated CaPB-D28k-immunoreactivity (up to 149%). In the (baso)lateral amygdala, the previously described reduction of excitatory spine synapses appears to be "compensated" by reduced inhibitory activity, reflected by dramatically elevated PARV- (up to 395%) and CaPB-D28k-immunoreactivity (up to 327%). No significant differences were found in the central nucleus of the amygdala, the piriform, and somatosensory cortices and in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus. Thus during stress-evoked neuronal and synaptic reorganization, a homeostatic balance between excitation and inhibition is not maintained in all regions of the juvenile brain.     

rKLO8, a Novel Leishmania donovani – Derived Recombinant Immunodominant Protein for Sensitive Detection of Visceral Leishmaniasis in Sudan

Background

For effective control of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in East Africa, new rapid diagnostic tests are required to replace current tests with low sensitivity. The aim of this study is to improve diagnosis of VL in East Africa by testing a new antigen from an autochthonous L. donovani strain in Sudan.

Methodology and Principle Findings

We cloned, expressed and purified a novel recombinant protein antigen of L. donovani from Sudan, designated rKLO8, that contains putative conserved domains with significant similarity to the immunodominant kinesin proteins of Leishmania. rKLO8 exhibited 93% and 88% amino acid identity with cloned kinesin proteins of L. infantum (synonymous L. chagasi) (K39) and L. donovani (KE16), respectively. We evaluated the diagnostic efficiency of the recombinant protein in ELISA for specific detection of VL patients from Sudan. Data were compared with a rK39 ELISA and two commercial kits, the rK39 strip test and the direct agglutination test (DAT). Of 106 parasitologically confirmed VL sera, 104 (98.1%) were tested positive by rKLO8 as compared to 102 (96.2%) by rK39. Importantly, the patients'' sera showed increased reactivity with rKLO8 than rK39. Specificity was 96.1% and 94.8% for rKLO8- and rK39 ELISAs, respectively. DAT showed 100% specificity and 94.3% sensitivity while rK39 strip test performed with 81.1% sensitivity and 98.7% specificity.

Conclusion

The increased reactivity of Sudanese VL sera with the rKLO8 makes this antigen a potential candidate for diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis in Sudan. However, the suitability at the field level will depend on its performance in a rapid test format.     

Determination of deoxynivalenol in organic and conventional food and feed by sol–gel immunoaffinity chromatography and HPLC–UV detection

The paper describes the determination of deoxynivalenol (DON) in 55 wheat food and feed samples, 26 from conventional and 29 from organic production. Immunoaffinity columns prepared by entrapping anti-DON antibodies by the sol–gel method were used for sample clean-up. DON was quantified by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and ultraviolet (UV) detection. In general, the incidence of DON contamination was rather low. In eight samples (14.5%) the DON concentration was above the LOQ (380 ng/g), in six samples (10.9%) DON was detected but could not be quantified (>LOD (200 ng/g), <LOQ). In seven conventional samples (two pasta, two cookie, two snack and one feed sample) but only in one organic sample (a snack) the DON concentration was >LOQ. The data indicate both a higher incidence of DON contamination and higher DON concentrations in food and feed samples from conventional than in those from organic production.     

EVI1 Inhibits Apoptosis Induced by Antileukemic Drugs via Upregulation of CDKN1A/p21/WAF in Human Myeloid Cells

Overexpression of ecotropic viral integration site 1 (EVI1) is associated with aggressive disease in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Despite of its clinical importance, little is known about the mechanism through which EVI1 confers resistance to antileukemic drugs. Here, we show that a human myeloid cell line constitutively overexpressing EVI1 after infection with a retroviral vector (U937_EVI1) was partially resistant to etoposide and daunorubicin as compared to empty vector infected control cells (U937_vec). Similarly, inducible expression of EVI1 in HL-60 cells decreased their sensitivity to daunorubicin. Gene expression microarray analyses of U937_EVI1 and U937_vec cells cultured in the absence or presence of etoposide showed that 77 and 419 genes were regulated by EVI1 and etoposide, respectively. Notably, mRNA levels of 26 of these genes were altered by both stimuli, indicating that EVI1 regulated genes were strongly enriched among etoposide regulated genes and vice versa. One of the genes that were induced by both EVI1 and etoposide was CDKN1A/p21/WAF, which in addition to its function as a cell cycle regulator plays an important role in conferring chemotherapy resistance in various tumor types. Indeed, overexpression of CDKN1A in U937 cells mimicked the phenotype of EVI1 overexpression, similarly conferring partial resistance to antileukemic drugs.     

T Cell-Derived IL-10 Determines Leishmaniasis Disease Outcome and Is Suppressed by a Dendritic Cell Based Vaccine

In the murine model of Leishmania major infection, resistance or susceptibility to the parasite has been associated with the development of a Th1 or Th2 type of immune response. Recently, however, the immunosuppressive effects of IL-10 have been ascribed a crucial role in the development of the different clinical correlates of Leishmania infection in humans. Since T cells and professional APC are important cellular sources of IL-10, we compared leishmaniasis disease progression in T cell-specific, macrophage/neutrophil-specific and complete IL-10-deficient C57BL/6 as well as T cell-specific and complete IL-10-deficient BALB/c mice. As early as two weeks after infection of these mice with L. major, T cell-specific and complete IL-10-deficient animals showed significantly increased lesion development accompanied by a markedly elevated secretion of IFN-γ or IFN-γ and IL-4 in the lymph nodes draining the lesions of the C57BL/6 or BALB/c mutants, respectively. In contrast, macrophage/neutrophil-specific IL-10-deficient C57BL/6 mice did not show any altered phenotype. During the further course of disease, the T cell-specific as well as the complete IL-10-deficient BALB/c mice were able to control the infection. Furthermore, a dendritic cell-based vaccination against leishmaniasis efficiently suppresses the early secretion of IL-10, thus contributing to the control of parasite spread. Taken together, IL-10 secretion by T cells has an influence on immune activation early after infection and is sufficient to render BALB/c mice susceptible to an uncontrolled Leishmania major infection.