To examine the mechanism of B cell tolerance against natural peripheral self-antigen, we generated transgenic mice expressing IgM specific for desmoglein 3 (Dsg3) from AK7 monoclonal antibody which itself does not induce blisters. Dsg3 is mainly expressed on stratified squamous epithelium and is the target antigen of an autoimmune bullous disease, pemphigus vulgaris. Transgenic B cells reactive...

Rheumatoid factors (RF) have been classically defined as anti-IgG antibodies, usually of the IgM class, found in the sera of people afflicted with rheumatoid arthritis or a number of other autoimmune diseases (1-3). Antibodies with properties similar to these can be found in mice that display no pathology. We have proposed that such immune complex-specific antibodies be termed "enhancing antibo...

To detect its cognate antigen, each B lymphocyte contains up to 120000 B cell antigen receptor (BCR) complexes on its cell surface. How these abundant receptors remain silent on resting B cells and how they can be activated by a molecularly diverse set of ligands is poorly understood. The antigen-specific activation of the BCR is currently explained by the cross-linking model (CLM). This model ...

Several clinical studies done with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg)-treated autoimmune patients as well as several in vitro studies have revealed that IVIg can reduce polyclonal T-cell activation and modify their cytokine secretion pattern. However, their effect on (auto)antigen-specific T-cell responses has never been addressed directly. In the present work, we used an in vivo model of induct...

The distinct properties of allo-reactive T-cell repertoires are not well understood. To investigate whether auto-reactive and encoded properties, we used dextramer enumeration, enrichment, single-cell receptor (TCR) sequencing multiparameter analysis. We found T-cells differed in mean ex vivo frequency which was antigen dependent. Allo-reactive showed clear differences TCR architecture, with en...

background: interleukin-27 is a heterodimeric cytokine belonging to il-12 and il-23 families, secreted  by antigen presenting cells( apcs ) .the il-27 is composed of 2 subunits: epstein-barr virus induced gene 3 (ebi3) and p28. il-27 is an anti-inflammatory cytokine which has an inhibitory effect on th17 population and suppress the il-17 expression. it is suggested that il-27 could be a potent ...

Although bacterial LPS has been used to boost the susceptibility to antibody-induced arthritis, the mechanism of the action of LPS remains to be clarified. We investigated whether signals triggered by Toll-like receptor (TLR)-4 mediate the effects of LPS in the context of anti-type II collagen-induced arthritis. The mice defective in the Tlr-4 gene (Tlr-4(lps-d)) were markedly less susceptible ...

Specificity, antibody isotype distribution and levels of natural antibodies (NAb) may be potential informative parameters for immune mediated natural disease resistance, immune modulation, and maintenance of physiological homeostasis. A large proportion of mammalian NAb have affinity for or are directed against self-antigens; so called natural auto antibodies (N(A)Ab). In the present study we s...

Internet–based personal wireless communications to/from cars would greatly enhance driving. New car– specific services and applications could help drivers and passengers to navigate and to obtain relevant information. This paper discusses some aspects for a future Internet system architecture and protocols that are relevant for this scenario. In particular, we bring up some questions and ideas ...