Blocking of costimulatory signals for T cell activation leads to tolerance in several transplantation models, but the underlying mechanisms are incompletely understood. We analyzed the involvement of regulatory T cells (Treg) and deletion of alloreactive cells in the induction and maintenance of tolerance after costimulation blockade in a mouse model of graft-vs-host reaction. Injection of sple...

We have reported that Ganoderma tsugae supplementation alleviates bronchoalveolar inflammation in an airway sensitization and challenge model with female BALB/c mice. However, the effects of G. tsugae supplementation in vivo on serum antibody levels, splenocyte and peritoneal microphage immune responses have not yet been determined. In this study, serum antibody levels, cytokines and splenocyte...

Th1 immune responses in which gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) production predominates are associated with protective immunity against intracellular bacteria. Following infection, interleukin-18 (IL-18) may contribute, in association with IL-12, to optimal IFN-gamma production. In this study, the secretion of IL-18 following intracellular infection with virulent Brucella abortus 2308 in CD-1 cultur...

Genes encoding lipoproteins LipL32, LipL41 and the outer-membrane protein OmpL1 of leptospira were recombined and cloned into a pVAX1 plasmid. BALB/c mice were immunized with LipL32 and recombined LipL32-41-OmpL1 using DNA-DNA, DNA-protein and protein-protein strategies, respectively. Prime immunization was on day 1, boost immunizations were on day 11 and day 21. Sera were collected from each m...

The experiments were conducted to determine effects of a mixture of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) isomers on T cell subpopulations and responsiveness to mitogen of splenocytes in male broiler chicks. In experiment 1, birds (8-d old) were fed basal, CLA-(CLA) and safflower oil-supplemented (SA) diets which were formulated by supplementary 10 g CLA or safflower oil/kg to the basal diet for 14 d....

background and objectives:scrophularia variegata m. beib. (scrophulariaceae) is a medicinal plant, used for various inflammatory diseases in iranian traditional medicine. in the present study, we evaluated the immune modulation and antioxidant effects of the hydroalcoholic extract of s.  variegata. methods: the splenocytes were harvested from the spleen of balb/c mice and were cultured. the spl...

This study was designed to investigate the possible effect of injurious mechanical ventilation on peripheral immune function of healthy rats. Three ventilation strategies were compared: 1) low peak inspiratory pressure (PIP)/positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP); 2) high PIP/PEEP; and 3) high PIP/zero PEEP (ZEEP). As a reference group, healthy, nonventilated, sham-operated, anaesthetised rats...

Studies indicate that administration of the adrenal steroid dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) after trauma-hemorrhage in male mice improved cellular immune functions and reduced mortality rates from subsequent sepsis. There is evidence, however, that DHEA is converted to estrogens in males and that estrogens are immunoprotective after trauma-hemorrhage (TH). In contrast, DHEA in females can be conv...