T-Cell Dysfunction and Inhibitory Receptors in Hepatitis C Virus Infection

Dysfunction of the virus-specific T cells is a cardinal feature in chronic persistent viral infections such as one caused by hepatitis C virus (HCV). In chronic HCV infection, virus-specific dysfunctional CD8 T cells often overexpress various inhibitory receptors. Programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) was the first among these inhibitory receptors that were identified to be overexpressed in functionally impaired T cells. The roles of other inhibitory receptors such as cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) and T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing molecule 3 (Tim-3) have also been demonstrated in T-cell dysfunctions that occur in chronic HCV patients. Blocking these inhibitory receptors in vitro restores the functions of HCV-specific CD8 T cells and allows enhanced proliferation, cytolytic activity and cytokine production. Therefore, the blockade of the inhibitory receptors is considered as a novel strategy for the treatment of chronic HCV infection.

A case of minimal change nephrotic syndrome associated with systemic lupus erythematosus / 대한내과학회지

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease characterized by the overprocuctionofautoantibodiesandthedepositionofimmune complexes in various organs. Unusual case of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) associated with minimal change nephrotic syndrome(MCNS) is described. A 30-year-old woman who has been diagnosed as SLE and treated with prednisolone presented symptoms of nephrotic syndrome. Renal biopsy revealed minor glomerular abnormalities without deposition of immune complexes. The initial heavy proteinuria promptly decreased after the prednisolone dosage was increased and disappeared 10 weeks later. She developed proteinuria again 3 years after the initial episode. Repeated renal biopsy revealed membranous nephropathy. T-cell dysfunction, which is present both in SLE and MCNS, might have triggered MCNS during the course of SLE.

Studies on the relationship between physical training and immunity. (I). Effect of acute physical exercise on immunity of untrained subjects / 体力科学

In order to clarify the relationship between acute physical exercise and immunity, the numbers of overall leucocytes, lymphocytes and neutrophils, the concentrations of immunoglo-bulins and complements, the ratios of lymphocyte subsets (OKT 3, 4, 8, Leu 7, OKIa 1) and the levels of lymphocyte transformation response to PHA were measured in nine untrained male subjects (18-22 years old) before, immediately after, along with 24 and 72 hours after acute physical exercise at 50% of VO<SUB>2</SUB>max for 2 hours. Before exercise all components were within normal range. Exercise produced a significant rise in the number of leucocytes and neutrophils overall. The response of lymphocytes to PHA immediately after exercise was significantly lower than before, or 24 hours or 72 hours after exercise.<BR>There was no change in the number of lymphocytes, or in the concentration of immunoglo-bulins and complements before and after exercise. Likewise the ratios of lymphocyte subsets also remained unchanged.<BR>From these results, it can be concluded that acute physical exercise by untrained subjects is one kind of physical stressor and can contribute to T cell dysfunction.