The thymic microenvironment constitutes a unique cell environment composed of thymic epithelial cells, myoid cells, and bone marrow-derived accessory cells for the differentiation, maturation and selection of T lymphocytes. The histological feature of thymus is markedly dependent on the age of individual and on various negative stimuli. Our study group consisted of fourteen newborns whose thymu...

Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) and IgA deficiency (IgAD) are primary humoral immune deficiencies with a similar genetic background, but clinical and laboratory manifestation of CVID is much more severe than that of IgAD. The aim of this study was to determine whether some abnormalities in T-lymphocyte subsets or function observed in CVID are also present in IgAD patients. T-lymphocyte ...

Three C-C chemokines inhibit human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) entry into macrophages: macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha (MIP-1alpha), MIP-1beta, and regulated-upon activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted (RANTES). We studied the ability of placental cord blood mononuclear cells (CBMC) to secrete these C-C chemokines in comparison to adult blood mononuclear cells (ABMC). CBMC had...

CD8+ T-cells are involved in controlling HIV-1 infection by eliminating infected cells and secreting soluble factors that inhibit viral replication. To investigate the mechanism and significance of infection of CD8+ T-cells by HIV-1 in vitro, we examined the susceptibility of these cells and their subsets to infection. CD8+ T-cells supported greater levels of replication with T-cell tropic stra...

OBJECTIVE To understand the role of apoptosis through Fas/Fas ligand (FasL) interaction in the pathogenesis of silicosis, we examined the expression of Fas antigen, FasL and apoptosis in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid lymphocytes obtained from patients with silicosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS Ten patients with silicosis, and 10 healthy controls were studied. Non-adherent cells were separated and a...

Impaired immune responses in cancer patients have been associated with oxidative stress. Increased levels of reactive oxygen species released from activated, tumor-infiltrating macrophages or granulocytes may therefore constitute a hurdle for effective immunotherapy against cancer. In this study, we investigated functional consequences and molecular events in T cells exposed to low levels of ox...

Immune cell infiltration is a common feature of many human solid tumors. Innate and adaptative immune systems contribute to tumor immunosurveillance. We investigated whether tumors evade immune surveillance by inducing states of tolerance and/or through the inability of some immune subpopulations to effectively penetrate tumor nests. Immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry analysis were used to...

Soluble 60 kDa heat shock protein (HSP60) activates macrophages via TLR4. We now report that soluble HSP60 activates T cells via the innate receptor TLR2. HSP60 activated T cell adhesion to fibronectin to a degree similar to other activators: IL-2, SDF-1alpha, and RANTES. T cell type and state of activation was important; nonactivated CD45RA+ and IL-2-activated CD45RO+ T cells responded optimal...

There is reliable information about how changes in spleen histology are influenced by the relationship among B and T lymphocytes, macrophages, dendritic cells and myofibroblasts. Moreover, if it can be applied in the day-by-day pathology laboratory. This work intends to elucidate morpho-functional aspects of relationships of these cells in the different spleen compartments, how they are influen...

The membrane (M) protein of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) is a major glycoprotein with multiple biological functions. In this study, we found that memory T cells against M protein were persistent in recovered SARS patients by detecting gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) production using ELISA and ELISpot assays. Flow cytometric analysis showed that both CD4+ and CD8+ T cell...