• Refine Query
  • Source
  • Publication year
  • to
  • Language
  • 523
  • 262
  • 195
  • 49
  • 22
  • 20
  • 16
  • 16
  • 11
  • 4
  • 3
  • 3
  • 3
  • 3
  • 3
  • Tagged with
  • 1290
  • 869
  • 325
  • 239
  • 231
  • 219
  • 208
  • 203
  • 190
  • 119
  • 106
  • 96
  • 92
  • 91
  • 74
  • About
  • The Global ETD Search service is a free service for researchers to find electronic theses and dissertations. This service is provided by the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations.
    Our metadata is collected from universities around the world. If you manage a university/consortium/country archive and want to be added, details can be found on the NDLTD website.
1051

The immunosuppressive microenvironment in cancer : local and systemic effects on patients' monocytes / Le microenvironnement immunosuppressive dans le cancer : effets locaux et systémiques sur des monocytes des patients / O microambiente suppressor no câncer : efeitos locais e sistêmicos em monócitos de pacientes

Ramos, Rodrigo Nalio 04 December 2015 (has links)
Chez les patients atteints de cancer, les cellules néoplasiques échappent au contrôle du système immunitaire en raison de leur faible immunogénicité et d'une capacité exacerbée à moduler le micro-environnement. Nous décrivons ici les effets de ce micro-environnement tumoral sur la différenciation locale et systémique des monocytes et l'impact de la présence de Macrophages-Associés aux Tumeurs (TAM) CD163+ sur la survie des patientes atteintes de cancer du sein. Par une analyse de cytométrie en flux, nous décrivons un composition hétérogène des sous-types de TAM CD163low et CD163high, où nous avons observé l'association entre une fréquence élevée de TAM CD163high et une faible infiltration des lymphocytes T CD3+. Par immunohistochimie sur une analyse rétrospective (±12 ans), nous avons démontré une forte corrélation entre la fréquence élevée de TAM CD163+ et un risque accru de progression pour les patientes (log-rank *p<0.05, n=238). In vitro, les monocytes CD14+ conditionnés par le micro-environnement tumoral présentent une différenciation biaisée en faveur des MΦ CD163highCD86lowIL-10high, que non seulement ne stimulent pas la prolifération des lymphocytes T CD4+ naïfs, mais inhibent fortement l'expansion et la production d'IFN-γ et de TNF-α par les lymphocytes T CD4+ préalablement activé. Cette différenciation de MΦ en M2-like (CD163highIL-10high) est associée à des quantités élevées de TGF-β, M-CSF et VEGF dans le micro-environnement tumoral. Par ailleurs, les monocytes circulants des patientes atteintes de cancer du sein présentent un profil cytokinique immunosuppresseur et sont biaisés vers une différenciation en MΦ et Mo-DCs qui présentant des capacités suppressives / In cancer patients, the neoplastic cells escape from the immune control because of their low immunogenicity and their exacerbated capacity to modulate the microenvironment. Here we describe the local and systemic effects of the tumor microenvironment on monocyte differentiation and the impact of the presence of Tmor Associated Macrophages (TAM) CD163+ on the survival of breast cancer patients. By flow cytometry analysis, we describe a heterogeneous composition of CD163low and CD163high TAM subtypes, where we observed the association between high frequency of CD163high TAM infiltration and low CD3+ T lymphocytes presence. By immunohistochemistry on a retrospective analysis (±12 years), we have shown a strong correlation between high frequency CD163+ TAM and an increased risk of progression for patients (log-rank *p<0.05, n= 238). In vitro, CD14+ monocytes conditioned by tumor microenvironment exhibit a biased differentiation towards a CD163highCD86lowIL-10high macrophages (MΦ) phenotype, that not only failed to stimulate the proliferation of naive CD4+ T cells, but strongly inhibited the expansion and the production of IFN-γ and TNF-α by activated-CD4+ T cells. This differentiation into M2-like MΦ (CD163highIL-10high) is associated with high levels of TGF-β, M-CSF and VEGF found in the tumor microenvironment. Furthermore, circulating monocytes of breast cancer patients produced an immunosuppressive cytokine profile and are biased towards the differentiation into MΦ and Mo-DCs that show suppressive capacities / O desenvolvimento do câncer é normalmente associado a desvios no sistema imune, principalmente devido a sua falha em perceber, reconhecer e eliminar células neoplásicas de maneira eficiente. Nesse contexto, duas Células Apresentadoras de Antígenos (APCs), Células Dendríticas (DCs) e Macrófagos (MΦ), têm um papel crucial na identificação de alterações nos tecidos e na estimulação da imunidade adaptativa antitumoral. No entanto, fatores derivados de tumores modulam essas APCs, impedindo a iniciação das respostas imunes e culminando no estabelecimento do câncer. Investigamos aqui como o microambiente tumoral poderia modular a diferenciação de monócitos em APCs in vitro e de modo sistêmico. Nossos dados revelaram que em cânceres de mama e ovário, Macrófagos-Associados a Tumores (TAMs) são a subpopulação mais frequente em leucócitos CD45+MHCII+, e são encontrados em uma frequência variável de TAMs CD163low ou TAMs CD163high. O último, (TAMs CD163high) expressaram maiores níveis de PD-L1 e elevada produção de IL-10 sob a ativação de LPS. Além disso, a análise retrospectiva por imunohistoquímica revelou uma forte correlação entre a presença de TAMs CD163+ e uma baixa taxa de sobrevida em pacientes com câncer de mama. Ainda, a alta frequência de TAMs CD163high foi correlacionada com um baixo infiltrado de células T CD3+. Monócitos saudáveis condicionados por sobrenadantes de tumores de mama tiveram sua diferenciação in vitro direcionada para um fenótipo CD163highIL-10high, células capazes de suprimir a expansão de células T naive CD4+ e a produção de IFN- γ e TNF-α via IL-10. Esse fenótipo adquirido por monócitos condicionados foi associado à presença de altos níveis de CCL22, M-CSF, TGF-β1, TGF-β3, e VEGF no microambiente tumoral. Interessantemente, avaliando os efeitos sistêmicos dos tumores, monócitos circulantes de pacientes com câncer de mama falharam em diferenciar-se em M1- MΦ na presença de GM-CSF/IFN-γ e mantiveram um fenótipo alterado CD163+/-IL-10+TNF-α+
1052

Host-parasite interactions in the dissemination of Toxoplasma gondii

Kanatani, Sachie January 2017 (has links)
Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite that infects virtually all warm-blooded organisms. Systemic dissemination of T. gondii in the organism can cause life-threatening infection that manifests as Toxoplasma encephalitis in immune-compromised patients. In addition, mounting evidence from epidemiological studies indicates a link between chronic Toxoplasma infection and mental disorders. To better understand the pathogenesis of toxoplasmosis, basic knowledge on the host-parasite interactions and the dissemination mechanisms are essential. Previous findings have established that, upon infection with T. gondii, dendritic cells (DCs) and microglia exhibit enhanced migration, which was termed the hypermigratory phenotype. As a result of this enhanced migration, DCs and microglia are used as vehicle cells for dissemination (‘Trojan horse’) which potentiates dissemination of T. gondii in mice. However, the precise mechanisms behind the hypermigratory phenotype remained unknown. In this thesis, we characterized host-parasite interactions upon infection with T. gondii and investigated the basic mechanisms behind the hypermigratory phenotype of T. gondii-infected DCs and microglia. In paper I, we observed that upon infection with T. gondii, DCs underwent rapid morphological changes such as loss of adhesiveness and podosomes, with integrin redistribution. These rapid morphological changes were linked to hypermotility and were induced by active invasion of T. gondii within minutes. T. gondii-infected DCs exhibited up-regulation of the C-C chemokine receptor CCR7 and chemotaxis towards the CCR7 chemotactic cue, CCL19. In paper II, we developed a 3-dimensional migration assay in a collagen matrix, which allowed us to characterize the hypermigratory phenotype in a more in vivo-like environment. The migration of T. gondii-infected DCs exhibited features consistent with integrin-independent amoeboid type of migration. T. gondii-induced hypermigration of DCs was further potentiated in the presence of CCL19 in a 3D migration assay. In paper III, we identified a parasite effector molecule, a Tg14-3-3 protein derived from parasite secretory organelles. Tg14-3-3 was sufficient to induce the hypermigratory phenotype. Transfection with Tg14-3-3-containing fractions or recombinant Tg14-3-3 protein induced the hypermigratory phenotype in primary DCs and in a microglial cell line. In addition, Tg14-3-3 localized in the parasitophorous vacuolar space and host 14-3-3 proteins were rapidly recruited around the parasitophorous vacuole. In paper IV, we found that mouse DCs dominantly express the L-type voltage-dependent calcium channel, Cav1.3. Cav1.3 was linked to the GABAergic signaling-induced hypermigratory phenotype. Pharmacological inhibition of Cav1.3 and knockdown of Cav1.3 abolished the hypermigratory phenotype in T. gondii infected DCs. Blockade of voltage-dependent calcium channels reduced the dissemination of T. gondii in a mouse model. In paper V, we showed that microglia, resident immune cells in the brain, also exhibited rapid morphological changes and hypermotility upon infection with T. gondii. However, an alternative GABA synthesis pathway was shown to be involved in the hypermigratory phenotype in microglia. In summary, this thesis describes novel host-parasite interactions, including host cell migratory responses and key molecular mechanisms that mediate the hypermigratory phenotype. The findings define a novel motility-related signaling axis in DCs. Thus, T. gondii employs GABAergic non-canonical pathways to hijack host cell migration and facilitate dissemination. We believe that these findings represent a significant step forward towards a better understanding of the pathogenesis of T. gondii infection. / <p>At the time of the doctoral defense, the following papers were unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 4: Manuscript. Paper 5: Manuscript.</p>
1053

Persistence of River Populations

Samia, Yasmine January 2016 (has links)
Streams and rivers are examples of vital ecosystems that frequently undergo various environmental and anthropogenic stresses. A core question in population ecology is whether a given population will persist under changing ecological conditions. This thesis consists of three papers and is devoted to the mathematical analysis of responses of river-dwelling species to population persistence threats. The first paper presents a stochastic approach to the 'drift paradox' problem, where the classical reaction-advection-diffusion model is replaced by a birth-death-emigration process. We explore the effects of temporally varying flow on the persistence probability and highlight the importance of the benthic stage for the persistence of stream organisms. The second paper addresses the problem of river network fragmentation through disconnecting structures such as dams. We construct a population matrix model that incorporates the spatial structure of the studied river network and compare structural connectivity to an indicator of population persistence. The third paper adapts the same basic matrix model to examine fish response to disturbances travelling downstream from upstream sites. The study of these three aspects of persistence challenges for river populations contributes to the cumulative effects assessment on river networks.
1054

Immune Dysfunction Associated with Hemodialysis Modalities

Slatculescu, Andreea M. January 2014 (has links)
Infection is a leading cause of death in hemodialysis patients, partly due to dysfunctional immunity. Frequent dialysis therapy improves patient outcomes and quality of life. We hypothesize that extended home hemodialysis (EHHD) also improves immune function compared to conventional in-hospital hemodialysis (CHD); therefore, we designed a prospective matching-cohort clinical study to assess serum inflammatory markers and the functional capacity of monocyte-derived dendritic cells (MDDCs) and T-lymphocytes. Serum CRP was decreased in EHHD patients suggesting that extended dialysis may decrease inflammatory solute/cytokine levels. Compared to controls, MDDCs from hemodialysis patients had similar endocytic capacity, expression of co-stimulatory molecules, and T-cell activation capacity. However, CHD was associated with the highest expression of CD83 and CD40. Activated T-cells in CHD patients also produced significantly more immunosuppressive IL-10 compared to EHHD patients and controls. Therefore, EHHD may improve immune function by decreasing inflammation, MDDC pre-activation, and synthesis of immunosuppressive cytokines.
1055

Cellules dendritiques plasmacytoïdes et immunosurveillance ou échappement immunitaire dans le cancer du sein : impact des signaux activateurs versus inhibiteurs du microenvironnement tumoral / Plasmacytoid dendritic cells and immunosurveillance or immune escape in breast cancer : impact of activators versus inhibitors signals in tumoral microenvironment

Vey, Nelly 20 November 2014 (has links)
Le cancer du sein est une maladie impactant le système immunitaire dont le rôle évolue au cours de la tumorigénèse, allant de la détection et l'élimination des cellules transformées (immunosurveillance) à la promotion du développement tumoral (immunosubversion). Les efforts déployés pour définir de nouvelles stratégies thérapeutiques ont révélé que rétablir l'immunité anti-tumorale chez les patientes permettrait d'améliorer leur pronostic. Durant ma thèse, nous avons mis en évidence l'existence de signaux activateurs et inhibateurs des pDC dans les cancers du sein, qui confèrent aux pDC un rôle dans l'immunosurveillance et dans l'échappement immunitaire du cancer du sein respectivement. Nous avons ainsi montré que le TGF-beta et le TNF-alpha sont impliqués dans l'inhibition fonctionnelle des TApDC en réprimant l'expression et l'activation d'IRF-7. Dans un second temps, nous avons montré i) la présence de complexes [ADN-LL37] produits par les neutrophiles dans les tumeurs et capables d'induire la production d'IFN-alpha par les pDC, ii) l'expression des gènes associés aux IFN-I dans les tumeurs de sein et iii) un rôle majeur de la voie des IFN-I dans l'immunosurveillance des tumeurs mammaires chez la souris. De plus, des données préliminaires chez la souris suggèrent que les pDC participent à l'immunosurveillance anti-tumorale in vivo. Les travaux présentés dans ce manuscrit apportent de nouvelles données sur le rôle des pDC dans l'immunosurveillance des cancers du sein et ouvrent sur de nouvelles stratégies d'immunothérapie anti-tumorale ciblant les pDC / Breast cancer are disease impacting immune system whose play role during tumorigenesis, to detect and eliminate malign cells (immunosurveillance) or promote tumoral development (immunosubversion). Efforts to define new therapeutic strategies revealed that restoring anti-tumor immunity in patients would improve their prognosis. During my thesis, first, we demonstrated the existence of stimulatory and inhibitory signals of pDCs in the breast, which give the pDCs a role in immunosurveillance and immune escape of breast cancer, respectively. We showed that TGF-beta and TNF-alpha are involved in the functional inhibition of TApDC repressing IRF-7 expression and activation. Secondly, we showed i) the presence of [DNA LL37] complex produced by neutrophils in tumors that can induce the production of IFN-alpha by pDCs, ii) the expression of type I IFN associated genes in breast tumors and iii) a major role of IFN-I pathway in immunosurveillance of mammary tumors in mice. In addition, in mice, preliminary data suggest that pDC could play a role in anti-tumor immunosurveillance in vivo. The work presented in this thesis provide new data on the role of pDCs in immunosurveillance of breast cancers, and open new anti-tumor immunotherapy strategies targeting pDCs
1056

Etude des effets immunomodulateurs d’un polysaccharide capsulaire de pneumocoque / Study of the immunomodulatory effects of a pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide

Haffar, Ghina 21 December 2010 (has links)
La réponse humorale aux antigènes (Ag) thymo-indépendants (TI) tels que les polysaccharides (PS) bactériens ne nécessite pas l’intervention des lymphocytes T mais requiert un dialogue entre lymphocytes B et cellules présentatrices d’Ag (APC). La singularité des Ag TI est qu’ils peuvent générer une réponse anticorps (Ac) in vivo en l’absence de signal danger exogène. Nous avons postulé que les PS bactériens sont capables d’induire un état de compétence des APC leur permettant d’exercer leur fonction auxiliaire vis à vis de la différenciation des lymphocytes B induite par les Ag TI. Notre travail a consisté, d’une part, à identifier la nature de l’APC et à documenter l’état de compétence des APC induit par un PS capsulaire d’une souche de pneumocoque (PS3). Nos résultats montrent que les macrophages et les cellules dendritiques peuvent tous deux exercer une fonction auxiliaire vis-à-vis de la réponse Ac aux Ag TI via la sécrétion de deux cytokines, BAFF et APRIL. Nos données montrent également que ce PS bactérien inhibe différentes réponses impliquant les cellules T (réponse humorale à un Ag thymo-dépendant, hypersensibilité retardée induite par un haptène fort). L’analyse phénotypique et fonctionnelle de cellules dendritiques exposées au PS3 nous conduit à proposer que le PS induit la différenciation des cellules dendritiques en cellules tolérogènes. L’ensemble de nos données suggèrent que l’état de compétence des APCs liée à leur fonction auxiliaire dans la réponse Ac aux Ag TI est équivalent à la fonction tolérogène, déjà documentée dans la littérature. Cette dualité des APCs induite par le PS (stimulatrices vis à vis de la réponse Ac, tolérogènes vis à vis des réponses cellulaires) pourrait jouer un rôle physiologique important au niveau de la muqueuse intestinale. / The humoral immune response against thymus-independent (TI) antigens (Ag) such as bacterial capsular polysaccharides (PS) does not require the help from T lymphocytes but needs a dialog between B cells and antigen presenting cells (APC). The particularity of TI Ag is their ability to generate an antibody response in vivo in the absence of exogenous danger signals. We have postulated that bacterial PS induce a competence status of the APC enabling them to act as auxiliary cells towards the B cells differentiation induced by TI Ag. In the present study, we have indentified the nature of the APC and explored the competence status induced by a capsular PS from S. pneumoniae (PS3). Our results show that both macrophages and dendritic cells (DC) can exert an auxiliary function towards the humoral response to TI Ag by secreting two major cytokines, BAFF and APRIL. We have also shown that bacterial PS suppress different responses involving T cells as humoral response to a thymus-dependent Ag and delayed hyper-sensitivity induced by a potent hapten. The phenotypical and functional analysis of DC exposed to PS3 led us to postulate that PS induces the differentiation of DC into tolerogenic cells. Altogether our findings suggest that the APC’s competence status enabling them to provide help to B cells against TI Ag is their tolerogenic function. This double function of the APC induced by PS (stimulatory towards antibody response and tolerogenic towards cellular responses) could be important in the intestinal mucosal sites.
1057

inalização via Akt1 em células dendríticas modula a interação microbiota-hospedeiro e a reabsorção óssea inflamatória /

Cabrera Ortega, Adriana Alicia. January 2018 (has links)
Orientador: Morgana Rodrigues Guimarães Stabili / Resumo: Células dendríticas têm papel crucial na patogênese das doenças periodontais por orquestrarem a resposta imune adaptativa e por seu papel como precursoras de osteoclastos. A sinalização via Akt tem importante papel em processos como metabolismo, proliferação, apoptose e também na resposta imune. Evidências indicam que Akt1 tem papel de regulador endógeno negativo da resposta inflamatória; porém pode tanto estimular quanto inibir a osteoclastogênese. Considerando que as células dendríticas participam tanto da inflamação/resposta imune quanto do turnover do tecido ósseo como células precursoras de osteoclastos, propusemos avaliar através de um estudo in vivo o papel da atividade de Akt1 na inflamação associada a interações microbiota-hospedeiro, bem como investigar in vitro os efeitos desta via de sinalização sobre os diferentes eventos biológicos das células dendríticas. Para o estudo in vivo foi utilizado um modelo de doença periodontal experimental induzida por P. gingivalis e Fusobacterium nucleatum, em um modelo de animais transgênicos com deleção gênica condicional. Os desfechos avaliados foram: inflamação (morfometria), reabsorção óssea (μCT), osteoclastogênese (IHC), anticorpos específicos para P.gingivalis e Fusobacterium nucleatum (ELISA). No estudo in vitro foi avaliado o papel da via de sinalização Akt1 sobre as seguintes atividades das células dendríticas: proliferação, apoptose, atividade fagocitária, migração, apresentação de antígeno e osteoclastogênese. Resulta... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Dendritic cells play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of periodontal diseases by orchestrating the adaptive immune response and their role as osteoclasts precursors. Akt signaling plays an important role in processes such as metabolism, proliferation, apoptosis and also in the immune response. Evidence indicates that Akt1 plays a role of negative endogenous regulator of the inflammatory response; but can both stimulate and inhibit osteoclastogenesis. Considering that dendritic cells participate in both inflammation/immune response and turnover of bone tissue as osteoclast precursor cells, we have proposed to evaluate in a vivo study the role of Akt1 activity in inflammation associated with microbiota-host interactions, as well as to evaluate in vitro the role of the Akt1 signaling pathway in dendritic cell biology. In vivo study was employed a model of experimental periodontal disease induced by P. gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum in transgenic animals model with conditional gene deletion. The outcomes evaluated were: inflammation (morphometry), bone resorption (μCT), osteoclastogenesis (IHC), antibodies specific for P.gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum (ELISA). In vitro study was evaluated the role of Akt1 signaling pathway on the following outcomes related to dendritic cell biology: proliferation, apoptosis, phagocytic activity, migration, antigen presentation and osteoclastogenesis The results showed that signaling via Akt1 in dendritic cells seems to play an i... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor
1058

Estudo da participação do inflamassoma NLRP3 na resposta inflamatória induzida pelo fungo dimórfico Paracoccidioides brasiliensis / NLRP3 inflammasome participation in the inflammatory immune response induced by the dimorrphic fungi Paracoccidioides brasiliensis

Castro, Lívia Furquim de, 1990- 27 August 2018 (has links)
Orientador: Ronei Luciano Mamoni / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-27T05:56:25Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Castro_LiviaFurquimde_M.pdf: 5966667 bytes, checksum: bd25c56ae25a8825069884bedd9ca8ce (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015 / Resumo: Diversos estudos demonstram que a resposta inflamatória é de extrema importância para o controle da Paracoccidioidomicose (PCM). Essa resposta inflamatória é iniciada pelo reconhecimento das células fúngicas por receptores expressos por células do sistema imunológico inato. Dentre esses receptores, o NLRP3 foi associado com o reconhecimento de fungos patogênicos em modelos experimentais, atuando em conjunto com o TLR2 e a dectina-1. O NLRP3 atua na formação de um complexo multiproteico denominado inflamassoma, o qual ativa a caspase-1, que é responsável pela produção das formas ativas de duas importantes citocinas inflamatórias: a IL-1? e a IL-18. Esse estudo teve por objetivo investigar o envolvimento do NLRP3 na ativação da resposta inflamatória de macrófagos e células dendríticas humanas (DCs) derivadas de monócitos em resposta ao Paracoccidioides brasiliensis (Pb), além de avaliar a participação do NLRP3 na indução da resposta imunológica adaptativa. Nossos resultados demonstraram que células de lesões de pacientes com PCM (mucosa oral ou linfonodos) apresentam produção de IL-1beta, IL-18 e IL-37 e que macrófagos dessas lesões são positivos para Caspase-1 e NLRP3. Também fomos capazes de demonstrar que o reconhecimento de células leveduriformes por DCs e macrófagos humanos leva à ativação do inflamassoma NLRP3 e consequente produção de IL-1 e IL-18. Esse reconhecimento envolve a participação de receptores de superfície (TLR2 e Dectina-1), sendo que a produção dessas citocinas é dependente da sinalização via dectina-1 e fosforilação da proteína Syk. Além disso, observamos que a ativação do inflamassoma NLRP3, após o reconhecimento do fungo, envolve como principais mecanismos a produção de ROS e o efluxo de K+. Nossos dados também demonstraram que o inflamassoma NLRP3 é essencial para a diferenciação de células Th17 e Th1 e que sua inibição leva à um aumento de células Th2 e Treg. Em conjunto nossos dados indicam que a ativação do NLRP3 desempenha um papel importante, tanto na indução de uma resposta inflamatória inicial, quanto no desenvolvimento de uma resposta adquirida que pode ser associada à resistência à infecção pelo P. brasiliensis / Abstract: Several studies have shown that the inflammatory response is crucial for the control of paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM). This inflammatory response is initiated by the recognition of fungal yeast cells by receptors expressed by cells of the innate immune system. Among these receptors, NLRP3 was associated with the recognition of pathogenic fungi in experimental models, working in conjunction with TLR2 and dectin-1. The NLRP3 acts forming a multiproteic complex called inflammasome, which activates caspase-1, and the production of the active forms of two important cytokines: IL-1? and IL-18. This study aimed to investigate the involvement of NLRP3 activation in the inflammatory response of macrophages and human dendritic cells (DCs) derived from monocytes, in response to Paracoccidioides brasiliensis (Pb), and to evaluate the participation of NLRP3 in the induction of the subsequent adaptive immune response. Our results demonstrated that cells of lesions from PCM patients (oral mucosa and lymph nodes) express IL-1beta, IL-18 and IL-37, and that macrophages in these lesions are positive for caspase-1 and NLRP3. We were also able to demonstrate that the recognition of Pb yeast cells by human macrophages and DCs leads to the NLRP3 inflammasome activation and production of IL-1 and IL-18. This recognition involves the participation of surface receptors (TLR2 and Dectin-1), and the production of these cytokines was dependent on signaling via dectin-1 and phosphorylation of Syk. In addition, we observed that the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, after recognition of the fungus, involves as main mechanisms the ROS production and the K+ efflux. Our data also demonstrate that the NLRP3 inflammasome are essential for the differentiation of Th1 and Th17 cells and its inhibition leads to an increased frequency of Th2 and Treg cells. Taken together our data indicated that activation of NLRP3 present an important role in both the induction of an initial inflammatory response, and in the development of an acquired immune response, which can be associated with the resistance to the P. brasiliensis infection / Mestrado / Ciencias Biomedicas / Mestra em Ciências Médicas
1059

Análise fenotípica de células T reguladoras e células dendríticas na infecção humana por Plasmodium vivax e Plasmodium falciparum / Phenotypic analysis of regulatory T cells and dendritic cells in human infections with P. vivax and P. falciparum.

Raquel Müller Gonçalves 05 April 2010 (has links)
Neste estudo são comparados os níveis de citocinas plasmáticas circulantes e as populações periféricas de células Treg CD4+CD25+, com base na expressão de FOXP3 e CTLA-4, e de células dendríticas (DCs) em indivíduos infectados por P. falciparum, P.vivax ou co-infectados por ambas as espécies e em controles saudáveis, porém expostos à malária, provenientes de uma área de transmissão instável na Amazônia brasileira. Amostras sangüineas de 76 pacientes infectados e de 18 controles expostos foram coletadas e processadas para a obtenção de células mononucleares. As populações celulares foram avaliadas por citometria de fluxo e os níveis de citocinas circulantes, pela técnica de ELISA de captura. A infecção aguda induziu aumento no percentual de células CD4+CD25+FOXP3+CTLA-4+ (p=0,0029; teste de Kruskal-Wallis) e redução no número absoluto de DCs (p=0,0008; teste de Kruskal-Wallis); mas esses efeitos ocorreram independente da espécie do parasito infectante. Entre os pacientes com malária vivax, 35-40% apresentaram baixa proporção de DCs que expressam a molécula co-estimulatória CD86. A única variável associada à baixa proporção de DCs CD86+ foi a proporção de células CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ que expressam CTLA-4. Em relação aos níveis de citocinas circulantes observou-se aumento nos níveis de IFN-<font face=\"Symbol\">&#947 na infecção por P. falciparum (p=0,0050; teste de Kruskal-Wallis). Apesar da concentração de IL-10 estar elevada em todos os indivíduos infectados em relação aos controles expostos (p<0,0001; teste de Kruskal-Wallis) esses níveis foram bem mais expressivos em indivíduos com malária vivax. Plasmodium falciparum e P. vivax parecem estimular diferentes padrões de resposta imune no hospedeiro, mesmo quando a comparação envolve somente indivíduos com malária não-complicada expostos a níveis semelhantes de transmissão de malária. / This study compares levels of circulating cytokines and peripheral-blood populations of CD4+CD25+ Treg cells, based on the expression of FOXP3 and CTLA-4, and dendritic cells (DCs) in individuals infected with P. falciparum, P. vivax or co-infected with both species and in healthy controls living in an area of unstable transmission of malaria in the Brazilian Amazon. Blood samples from 76 malaria patients and 18 malaria-exposed but non-infected controls were collected and processed to obtain mononuclear cells. Cell populations were characterized by flow cytometry and levels of circulating cytokines were measured by capture ELISA. Acute infection induced an increase in the proportion of CD4+CD25+FOXP3+CTLA-4+ cells (p= 0.0029, Kruskal-Wallis) and a decrease in the absolute number of DCs (p= 0.0008, Kruskal-Wallis), being both effects independent of the infecting parasite species. 35-40% of the P. vivax-infected subjects (but none in the other groups of subjects) had few circulating DCs expressing the co-stimulatory molecule CD86, a putative marker of DC activation. The only variable associated with a low proportion of CD86+ DCs was the proportion of CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ expressing CTLA-4. Analysis of circulating cytokine levels revealed increased levels of IFN- <font face=\"Symbol\">&#947 in P. falciparum infection (p= 0.0050, Kruskal-Wallis); although IL-10 levels were high in all infected individuals, compared with exposed controls (p<0.0001, Kruskal-Wallis), the increase was much more pronounced in vivax malaria. Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax</i. appear to stimulate different patterns of immune response in humans, even when comparisons are limited to individuals with uncomplicated malaria exposed to similar levels of malaria transmission.
1060

Internalisation of antigen-adjuvant conjugate in human dendritic cells : An assay development for using live cell imaging

Gustafsson, Linnéa January 2021 (has links)
Introduction: Cancer vaccines are a therapeutic approach to initiate an antigen specific cytotoxic immune responses against tumors. Cancer vaccines are composed by an antigen (tumor peptide) and adjuvant. A peptide in combination with adjuvants effectively activate dendritic cells (DCs), the most efficient antigen presenting cells in our immune system. DCs prime and activate CD8+ cytotoxic T cells which generates an antigen specific response.Aim: Developing an assay to study the internalisation rout of an antigen-adjuvant conjugate in human dendritic cells by using live cell imaging. Method: Immobilisation of cells is necessary for the ability to perform live cell imaging for several hours. The immobilisation ability of three coatings, collagen type I, fibronectin and matrigel, at different concentrations were evaluated by using live cell imaging in a fluorescence microscope. The potential induction of activation of the cells were evaluated by using flow cytometry and ELISA. Results: Immature DCs internalise antigen-adjuvant conjugate more efficiently than mature and activated DCs. Therefore, it is important that the coating do not induce activation. Cells must also be immobilised for the possibility of long term detection. Collagen type I immobilised cells and induced activation in all investigated concentrations. Fibronectin and matrigel had concentration-dependent abilities to immobilise the cells. Matrigel did not activate the cells whilst fibronectin was concentration dependent. Conclusion: Matrigel immobilise the cells which enables long term single cell imaging without activation.

Page generated in 0.0681 seconds