Subcutaneous challenge of mice with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from gram negative bacteria, produced an intestinal microvascular lesion causing fluid exudation into the lumen of the intestine and diarrhea. The microvascular lesion was characterized by endothelial cell damage and microthrombi in the venules and capillaries of the intestinal lamina propria. Marker organisms, given orally to challen...

The morphological features of the intestinal mucosa and intra-abdominal lymphoid tissues of the platypus were examined. The mucosal surface of the intestine was characterized by the formation of large folds instead of the finger-like villi found in placental mammals. The lamina propria of the mucosal fold was well developed and contained numerous lymphocytes, expressing the lymphoid nature whic...

The intestinal mucosal CD8 T cell response to infection with Listeria monocytogenes was measured using MHC class I tetramers and was compared with the response in peripheral blood, secondary lymphoid tissue, and liver. To assess the vaccination potential of Listeria and to analyze responses in C57BL/6 mouse strains, a recombinant Listeria expressing OVA (rLM-ova) was generated. The response pea...

Sneezing and persistent itching of the nasal mucosa are distressing symptoms of allergic rhinitis (AR). Recent studies have revealed that hyperinnervation of sensory neurons in the nasal turbinate is one of the underlying causes of sneezing and itching. Since Semaphorin-3A (Sema3A) has been previously shown to restrict innervation of sensory neurons, it is presumed that reduced Sema3A expressio...

CD40 ligand (CD40L or CD154), a type II membrane protein with homology to TNF, is transiently expressed on activated T cells and known to be important for B cell Ig production and for activation and differentiation of monocytes and dendritic cells. Both Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are characterized by local production of cytokines such as TNF and by an influx of activated lymphocytes...

OBJECTIVES Most cases of irresolvable hoarseness are due to deficiencies in the pliability and volume of the superficial lamina propria of the phonatory mucosa. By using a US Food and Drug Administration-approved polymer, polyethylene glycol (PEG), we created a novel hydrogel (PEG30) and investigated its effects on multiple vocal fold structural and functional parameters. METHODS We injected ...

We characterized the localization and prevalence of dendritic cells (DC) in guinea pig airways before and after s.c. sensitization and aerosol challenge with ovalbumin (OVA). DC, eosinophils, macrophages, T cells and B cells in lung and trachea were identified and quantified in frozen sections using monoclonal antibodies and computer-assisted image analysis. Airway reactivity of conscious anima...

Infections, microbe sampling and occasional leakage of commensal microbiota and their products across the intestinal epithelial cell layer represent a permanent challenge to the intestinal immune system. The production of reactive oxygen species by NADPH oxidase is thought to be a key element of defense. Patients suffering from chronic granulomatous disease are deficient in one of the subunits ...

We demonstrated recently that transplantation of olfactory ensheathing cells from the nasal olfactory mucosa can promote axonal regeneration after complete transection of the spinal cord in adult rat. Ten weeks after transection and transplantation there was significant recovery of locomotor behaviour and restoration of descending inhibition of spinal cord reflexes, accompanied by growth of axo...

SEM studies on the microvascular architecture of the hard palatine mucosa, especially the transverse palatine plicae, and the morphological relations between the microvasculature and layers of the hard palate mucosa of the rabbit, were carried out by the acryl plastic injection method. The findings were compared with those obtained previously in the cat and Japanese monkey. Morphological differ...