Follicular dendritic cell-secreted protein (FDC-SP) is a small secretory protein having structural similarities to statherin, a protein in saliva thought to play a role in calcium retention in saliva. In contrast, FDC-SP is thought to play a role in the immune system associated with germinal centers. We report here the very specific expression of FDC-SP in junctional epithelium at the gingival ...

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to assess the cost-effectiveness of other long-acting muscarinic antagonist + long-acting β2 agonist combinations in comparison with Spiolto® Respimat® (tiotropium + olodaterol fixed-dose combination [FDC]) for maintenance treatment to relieve symptoms in adult patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. METHODS A previously published individual-lev...

OBJECTIVE To localise and characterise follicular dendritic cells (FDC) present in autoimmune lesions of primary Sjögren syndrome. METHODS Cryostat sections of labial salivary glands from 15 patients with primary Sjögren syndrome were examined by an indirect immunoperoxidase technique and monoclonal antibodies to a panel of dendritic cell markers. Tonsils from two controls were also examined ...

Lymphocyte-vascular adhesion protein-2 was recently identified as CD73. The CD73 molecule, otherwise known as ecto-5'-nucleotidase, is a lymphocyte maturation marker that is involved in intracellular signaling, and lymphocyte proliferation and activation. We now show that CD73, in addition to mediating lymphocyte binding to endothelial cells, also mediates adhesion between B cells and follicula...

Follicular dendritic cells (FDCs) periodically arrange membrane-bound immune complexes (ICs) of T-dependent Ags 200-500A apart, and in addition to Ag, they provide B cells with costimulatory signals. This prompted the hypothesis that Ag in FDC-ICs can simultaneously cross-link multiple BCRs and induce T cell-independent (TI) B cell activation. TI responses are characterized by rapid IgM product...

877 VOLUME 46__OCTOBER 17, 2009 Anti-tuberculosis therapy (ATT) with multiple antimicrobials, administered individually or as fixed dose combinations (FDC) is the key to control of tuberculosis. Arguments in favour of FDC include better patient compliance, simplification of prescriptions, easier management of drug supply, reduced programmatic cost, and less chances of developing drug resistance...

PURPOSE To compare outcomes of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients initiating therapy with FDC vs. those with loose-dose combination (LDC) or step therapy (ST) in a managed care population. DESIGN A retrospective claims database analysis. METHODOLOGY Treatment-naive T2DM patients who were continuously enrolled in a health plan during 2006-2009 were studied. Eligible patients were assig...

Differences in murine follicular dendritic cells (FDC)-CD23 expression under Th1 vs Th2 conditions prompted the hypothesis that T cells help regulate the phenotype of FDCs. FDCs express CD40, suggesting that T cell-CD40L and lymphokines may be involved in regulating FDC-CD23. To test this, highly enriched FDCs were incubated with CD40L trimer or anti-CD40 to mimic T cell signaling in the presen...