Notes

Is the lateral jack-knife position in charge of cases of temporary neurapraxia?
Langerhans cells (LC), the dendritic cells of the epidermis, are distributed in a distinctive regularly spaced array. In the mouse, the LC array is established in the first few days of life from proliferating local precursors, but the regulating signaling pathways are not fully understood. We found that mice lacking the kinase phosphoinositide-dependent kinase 1 selectively lack LC. Deletion of the phosphoinositide-dependent kinase 1 target kinases, ribosomal S6 kinase 1 (Rsk1) and Rsk2, produced a striking perturbation in the LC network LC density was reduced 2-fold, but LC size was increased by the same magnitude. Reduced LC numbers in Rsk1/2(-/-) mice was not due to accelerated emigration from the skin but rather to reduced proliferation at least in adults. Rsk1/2 were required for normal LC patterning in neonates, but not when LC were ablated in adults and replaced by bone marrow-derived cells. Increased LC size was an intrinsic response to reduced LC numbers, reversible on LC emigration, and could be observed in wild type epidermis where LC size also correlated inversely with LC density. Our results identify a key signaling pathway needed to establish a normal LC network and suggest that LC might maintain epidermal surveillance by increasing their "footprint" when their numbers are limited.The proteasome is able to create spliced Ags, in which two distant parts of a protein are excised and ligated together to form a novel peptide, for presentation by MHC class I molecules. These noncontiguous epitopes are generated via a transpeptidation reaction catalyzed by the proteasomal active sites. Transpeptidation reactions in the proteasome follow explicit rules and occur particularly efficiently when the C-terminal ligation partner contains a lysine or arginine residue at the site of ligation. Lysine contains two amino groups that theoretically may both participate in ligation reactions, implying that potentially not only peptide but also isopeptide linkages could be formed. Using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, we demonstrate in the present study that the proteasome can use the ε-amino group of an N-terminal lysine residue in transpeptidation reactions to create a novel type of posttranslationally modified epitopes. We show that the overall efficiency of ε ligation is only 10-fold lower as compared with α ligation, suggesting that the proteasome can produce sufficient isopeptide Ag to evoke a T cell response. Additionally, we show that isopeptides are more stable toward further proteasomal processing than are normal peptides, and we demonstrate that isopeptides can bind to HLA-A2.1 and HLA-A3 with high affinity. These properties likely increase the fraction of ε-ligated peptides presented on the cell surface for CD8(+) T cell surveillance. selleck Finally, we show that isopeptide Ags are immunogenic in vivo. We postulate that ε ligation is a genuine posttranslational modification, suggesting that the proteasome can create a novel type of Ag that is likely to play a role in immunity.
Persistent CD8 T-cell expansion, low CD4/CD8 T-cell ratios, and heightened inflammation persist in antiretroviral therapy (ART)-treated human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and are associated with increased risk of morbid outcomes. We explored the role of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in CD8 lymphocytosis and inflammation in ART-treated HIV infection.

Absolute CD4 and CD8 T-cell counts were abstracted from clinical records and compared among 32 HIV-infected CMV-seronegative subjects, 126 age, CD4 and gender-matched HIV-infected CMV-seropositive subjects, and among 21 HIV-uninfected controls (9 CMV-negative, 12 CMV-positive). Plasma inflammatory indices were measured in a subset by ELISA.

Median CD8 counts/µL were higher in HIV-positive/CMV-positive patients (795) than in HIV-positive/CMV-negative subjects (522, P = .006) or in healthy controls (451, P = .0007), whereas CD8 T-cell counts were similar to controls' levels in HIV-positive/CMV-negative subjects. Higher plasma levels of IP-10 (P = .0011), TNF-RII (P = .0002), and D-dimer (P = .0444) were also found in coinfected patients than in HIV-positive/CMV-negative subjects.

CMV infection is associated with higher CD8 T-cell counts, resultant lower CD4/CD8 ratios, and increased systemic inflammation in ART-treated HIV infection. CMV infection may contribute to risk for morbid outcomes in treated HIV infection.
CMV infection is associated with higher CD8 T-cell counts, resultant lower CD4/CD8 ratios, and increased systemic inflammation in ART-treated HIV infection. CMV infection may contribute to risk for morbid outcomes in treated HIV infection.
Liver diseases progress faster in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-hepatitis C virus (HCV)-coinfected persons than HIV-monoinfected persons. The aim of this study was to compare rates of liver fibrosis progression (measured by the aspartate-to-platelet ratio index [APRI]) among HIV-HCV-coinfected users of modern protease inhibitor (PI)- and nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI)-based regimens with a backbone of tenofovir/emtricitabine (TDF/FTC) or abacavir/lamivudine (ABC/3TC).

Data from a Canadian multicenter cohort study were analyzed, including 315 HCV polymerase chain reaction-positive persons who initiated antiretroviral therapy with a PI or NNRTI and a backbone containing either TDF/FTC or ABC/3TC. Multivariate linear regression analyses with generalized estimating equations were performed after propensity score matching to balance covariates across classes of anchor agent.

A backbone of TDF/FTC was received by 67% of PI users and 69% of NNRTI users. Both PI and NNRTI use was associated with increases in APRI over time when paired with a backbone of ABC/3TC 16% per 5 years (95% confidence interval [CI], 4%, 29%) and 11% per 5 years (95% CI, 2%, 20%), respectively. With TDF/FTC use, no clear association was found among PI users (8% per 5 years, 95% CI, -3%, 19%) or NNRTI users (3% per 5 years, 95% CI, -7%, 12%).

Liver fibrosis progression was more influenced by the backbone than by the class of anchor agent in HIV-HCV-coinfected persons. Only ABC/3TC-containing regimens were associated with an increase of APRI score over time, regardless of the class of anchor agent used.
Liver fibrosis progression was more influenced by the backbone than by the class of anchor agent in HIV-HCV-coinfected persons. Only ABC/3TC-containing regimens were associated with an increase of APRI score over time, regardless of the class of anchor agent used.Measles remains a risk for travelers, with 94 measles diagnoses reported to the GeoSentinel network from 2000 to 2014, two-thirds since 2010. Asia was the most common exposure region, then Africa and Europe. Efforts to reduce travel-associated measles should target all vaccine-eligible travelers, including catch-up vaccination of susceptible adults.
Live oral rotavirus (RV) vaccines have shown modest efficacy among children in African countries for reasons that are not completely understood. We examined the possible inhibitory effect of preexisting antirotavirus antibodies on immunogenicity of monovalent RV vaccine (RV1).

Mother-infant pairs were enrolled at presentation for their routine immunization visit in Soweto, South Africa, when infants were aged 5-8 weeks. Infant serum samples were obtained before the first and second doses of RV1 and 1 month after the second dose. Maternal serum and breast milk samples were obtained prior to administration of each dose of RV1 to infants. RV-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG), IgA, and neutralizing activity in sera of infants and serum or breast milk samples of mothers were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays or a microneutralization test.

Of the 107 serum pairs from infants who were seronegative for RV IgA at enrollment, we observed a strong positive association between IgG titers in pre-dose 1 sera of infants and mothers and significant negative associations between IgG titers in pre-dose 1 sera of infants and seroconversion to RV1 post-dose 1. Similarly, mothers whose infants' IgA seroconverted after RV1 had significantly lower pre-dose 1 IgG titers in sera than those whose infants did not seroconvert.

High levels of preexisting serum IgG, including transplacentally acquired maternal IgG, appeared to have an inhibitory effect on the immunogenicity of RV1 among infants and may, in part, contribute to lower efficacy of RV vaccines in this and other low-income settings.
High levels of preexisting serum IgG, including transplacentally acquired maternal IgG, appeared to have an inhibitory effect on the immunogenicity of RV1 among infants and may, in part, contribute to lower efficacy of RV vaccines in this and other low-income settings.The DELLA protein REPRESSOR OF ga1-3-LIKE2 (RGL2) plays an important role in seed germination under different conditions through a number of transcription factors. However, the functions of the structural genes associated with RGL2-regulated germination are less defined. Here, we report the role of an Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) cell wall-localized protein, Gibberellic Acid-Stimulated Arabidopsis6 (AtGASA6), in functionally linking RGL2 and a cell wall loosening expansin protein (Arabidopsis expansin A1 [AtEXPA1]), resulting in the control of embryonic axis elongation and seed germination. AtGASA6-overexpressing seeds showed precocious germination, whereas transfer DNA and RNA interference mutant seeds displayed delayed seed germination under abscisic acid, paclobutrazol, and glucose (Glc) stress conditions. The differences in germination rates resulted from corresponding variation in cell elongation in the hypocotyl-radicle transition region of the embryonic axis. AtGASA6 was down-regulated by RGL2, GLUCOSE INSENSITIVE2, and ABSCISIC ACID-INSENSITIVE5 genes, and loss of AtGASA6 expression in the gasa6 mutant reversed the insensitivity shown by the rgl2 mutant to paclobutrazol and the gin2 mutant to Glc-induced stress, suggesting that it is involved in regulating both the gibberellin and Glc signaling pathways. Furthermore, it was found that the promotion of seed germination and length of embryonic axis by AtGASA6 resulted from a promotion of cell elongation at the embryonic axis mediated by AtEXPA1. Taken together, the data indicate that AtGASA6 links RGL2 and AtEXPA1 functions and plays a role as an integrator of gibberellin, abscisic acid, and Glc signaling, resulting in the regulation of seed germination through a promotion of cell elongation.Store-operated calcium channels (SOCs) are a major pathway for calcium signaling in virtually all metozoan cells and serve a wide variety of functions ranging from gene expression, motility, and secretion to tissue and organ development and the immune response. SOCs are activated by the depletion of Ca(2+) from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), triggered physiologically through stimulation of a diverse set of surface receptors. Over 15 years after the first characterization of SOCs through electrophysiology, the identification of the STIM proteins as ER Ca(2+) sensors and the Orai proteins as store-operated channels has enabled rapid progress in understanding the unique mechanism of store-operate calcium entry (SOCE). Depletion of Ca(2+) from the ER causes STIM to accumulate at ER-plasma membrane (PM) junctions where it traps and activates Orai channels diffusing in the closely apposed PM. Mutagenesis studies combined with recent structural insights about STIM and Orai proteins are now beginning to reveal the molecular underpinnings of these choreographic events.
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