Thesis (M.Sc.)--University of Alberta, 2009. / A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Experimental Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alberta. Title from pdf file main screen (viewed on July 28, 2009). Includes bibliographical references.

No description available.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2006. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Chicago, Committee on Pathology. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the Internet.

No description available.

T cells are believed to be important in the control of varicella zoster virus (VZV) replication but little is known of T cell epitopes and the relationships between T cell responses, viral load and clinical disease during primary infection. I initially set to investigate the immune responses to two of the main VZV glycoproteins (gE and gI) using ex vivo and cultured IFNγ ELISpot assays. I identified several novel CD4+ T cell epitopes within gE and gI and characterized the phenotype of gE DRB1*1501 tetramer specific responses in healthy immune donors. I then set out to investigate the function and phenotype of VZV specific T cells in primary infection and their relationship to viral loads and clinical disease severity by using glycoprotein E/DRB1*1501 specific MHC class II tetramers, ex vivo IFNγ ELISpot assays and quantitative real time PCR assays. I compared the frequency and phenotype of specific T cells with virological and clinical outcomes in 32 adult individuals with primary VZV infection. In healthy immune donors, the gE specific T cells showed a early intermediate stage of differentiation with evidence of recent activation. Patients with acute primary infection had higher VZV/DRB1*1501 tetramer specific T cell responses and expressed markers of activation and effector differentiation. Viral loads were found to be significantly higher in patients with moderate to severe infection compared to those with mild infection (p<0.001). A significant inverse correlation was seen between the viral loads and the ex vivo IFNγ ELISpot responses of the patients (p<0.05, r=-0.64). These data would be compatible with a role for gE and gl-specific T cells in the control of viral replication during both primary infection and re-activation.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Western Sydney, Nepean, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 203-235).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Chicago, Faculty of the Division of the Biological Sciences and the Pritzker School of Medicine, Commitee on Immunology, June 2001. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the Internet.

Early growth response (Egr) gene 2 and 3 are genes encoding transcription factors important for maintaining immune homeostasis. Here we define a fundamental role of Egr2 and 3 to control T cell proliferation and differentiation of effector T cells. Egr2 and Egr3 deficiency in T cells resulted in impaired T cell proliferation, but hyper-activation and excessive differentiation of T cells in response to viral infection, while, conversely, sustained Egr2 expression enhanced proliferation, but severely impaired effector differentiation in to T helper (Th) subsets, such as, Th1 and Th17 subtypes. T-bet is important for differentiation of effector T cells in response to pathogen and in particular it is a master regulator for modulating the T helper 1 lineage specific differentiation programme. Although T-bet has been extensively studied in T cells, the regulation of T-bet function is less well known. We have now discovered that Egr2 and 3 are potent inhibitors for Tbet function in CD4 and CD8 effector T cells. Together with Egr2 and 3, T-bet is induced in naïve T cells by antigen stimulation, but the expression was reciprocally regulated by IFNγ, which inhibited Egr2 and 3, but promoted Tbet expression. The expression of Egr2 and 3 in CD4 T cells under TH2 and TH17 condition was essential to suppress TH1 differentiation in vitro. In response to viral infection, sustained Egr2 expression in T cells profoundly inhibited differentiation of effector cells, while Egr2 and 3 deficient T cells produced excessive levels of IFNγ. We found that both Egr2 and 3 can directly interact with the Tbox domain of T-bet, block its DNA binding and inhibit T-bet mediated production of IFNγ. Thus, Egr2 and 3 are antagonists for T-bet function in effector T cells and essential for the control of T cell differentiation and immune pathology.

Orientadores: Vitor Baranauskas, Leonilda Maria Barbosa dos Santos / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Eletrica e de Computação / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-13T15:52:46Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Grecco_AnaCarolinaPimenta_M.pdf: 4028722 bytes, checksum: 6c6aa22381786380372d5a804c0a2fe1 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009 / Resumo: Os nanotubos de carbono estão sob intenso estudo diante da possibilidade de serem utilizados em aplicações biomédicas. Estudos prévios descreveram que a inalação de nanopartículas de carbono induz resposta inflamatória no tecido pulmonar; entretanto o efeito dessas partículas na resposta imune adaptativa não está completamente entendido. Assim, três diferentes preparações de nanotubos de carbono (NT1, NT4, NT5) foram testadas in vivo na resposta de linfócitos T e B de camundongos C57Bl/6. Os nanotubos de paredes múltiplas NT1 e NT4 foram produzidos em nosso laboratório e seu efeito na resposta imune adaptativa foi comparado com uma preparação comercial de nanotubos (NT5). A preparação (NT4) demonstrou alguns efeitos citotóxicos, sendo inadequada para uso in vivo. As outras preparações não mostraram toxicidade quando administradas sistemicamente. Os nanotubos NT1 e NT5 induziram a uma significativa ativação de linfócitos T e B. A administração sistêmica dessas estruturas resultou no aumento da resposta proliferativa de linfócitos ao mitógeno inespecífico Con A, no aumento da expressão de mRNA de citocinas como TNFa, IL-6, IL-10 e significativa redução do TGFß. As nanoestruturas induziram significativo aumento da produção de anticorpos específicos para ovalbumina. Esses resultados enfatizam a importância de estudar a resposta imune induzida pelas nanopartículas antes funcionalizá-las com proteínas, DNA ou utilizá-las na oferta de fármacos. / Abstract: Carbon nanotubes are currently under scrutiny as new tools for biomedical applications. Previous studies have shown that inhalation of carbon nanoparticles elicited an inflammatory response in the lung tissue; however the effect of these particles in the adaptive arm of the immune response deserves more attention. Thus, three different preparations of carbon nanotubes (NT1, NT4, NT5) were tested on in vivo T and B lymphocytes response of C57Bl/6 mice. The multi-walled carbon nanotubes NT1 and NT4 were produced in our facilities and their effect on adaptive immune response was compared to commercial carbon nanotubes (NT5). The preparation (NT4) has demonstrated some cytotoxic effects and was inappropriate for use in vivo. No cytotoxicity was observed in the other preparations when administered systematically in vivo. Carbon nanotubes NT1 and NT5 lead to a significant activation of the T and B lymphocytes. The systemic administration of these structures resulted in increased proliferative response oflymphocytes to nonspecific mitogen ConA, augmented the mRNA cytokines expression such as TNFa, IL-6, IL-10 and significant decrease of TGFß. Nanostructures induced significant increase in the production of antibody to a specific antigen (OVA). These results emphasize the importance of studying the immune response induced by the nanoparticles before functionalizing them with proteins, DNA or for drug delivery purpose. / Mestrado / Eletrônica, Microeletrônica e Optoeletrônica / Mestre em Engenharia Elétrica