RATIONALE T-bet (TBX21 or T-box 21) is a critical regulator of T-helper 1 lineage commitment and IFN-gamma production. Knockout mice lacking T-bet develop airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) to methacholine, peribronchial eosinophilic and lymphocytic inflammation, and increased type III collagen deposition below the bronchial epithelium basement membrane, reminiscent of both acute and chronic asth...

t cells have been identified as key players in the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes. however, the exact role of t-cell subpopulations in this pathway is presently unknown. the purpose of this study was to assess the expression pattern of two lineage-specifying transcription factors gata - 3 and t - bet , which are important in t helper type 1 (th1) and th2 cell development , respectively. gene e...

Interleukin (IL)-22-producing innate lymphoid cells (ILCs; ILC22) comprise a heterogeneous population of cells that are dependent on the transcription factor retinoid-related orphan γt (RORγt) and are critical for barrier function of the intestinal mucosa. A distinct ILC22 subset expresses the natural cytotoxicity receptor NKp46 (NKp46+ ILC22); however, the factors that contribute to the genera...

A novel approach to reduce the anaphylactic activity of allergens is suggested. The strategy makes use of the presence of conformational immunoglobulin E (IgE) epitopes on one of the most common allergens. The three dimensional structure of the major birch pollen allergen, Bet v 1, was disrupted by expressing two parts of the Bet v 1 cDNA representing amino acids 1-74 and 75-160 in Escherichia ...

Coinhibitory receptor blockade is a promising strategy to boost T-cell immunity against a variety of human cancers. However, many patients still do not benefit from this treatment, and responders often experience immune-related toxicities. These issues highlight the need for advanced mechanistic understanding to improve patient outcomes and uncover clinically relevant biomarkers of treatment ef...

t cells have been identified as key players in the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes. however, the exact role of t-cell subpopulations in this pathway is presently unknown. the purpose of this study was to assess the expression pattern of two lineage-specifying transcription factors gata - 3 and t - bet , which are important in t helper type 1 (th1) and th2 cell development , respectively. gene e...

IL-27 is a novel IL-12 family member that plays a role in the early regulation of Th1 initiation. However, its role in B cells remains unexplored. We here show a role for IL-27 in the induction of T-bet expression and regulation of Ig class switching in B cells. Expression of WSX-1, one subunit of IL-27R, was detected at the mRNA level in primary mouse spleen B cells, and stimulation of these B...

Memory CD8 T cells acquire effector memory cell properties after reinfection and may reach terminally differentiated, senescent states (" Hayflick limit ") after multiple infections. The signals controlling this process are not well understood, but we found that the degree of secondary effector and memory CD8 T cell differentiation was intimately linked to the amount of T-bet expressed upon rea...

Two functionally distinct subsets of B cells that produce Th1- and Th2-like patterns of cytokines have recently been identified. Interleukin-12 (IL-12) is a critical immunoregulatory cytokine that promotes Th1 differentiation through activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 4 (STAT4). IL-12 has been reported to induce interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) production in B cells, but...