Phenotypic and Functional Analysis of HL-60 Cells Used in Opsonophagocytic-Killing Assay for Streptococcus pneumoniae

Differentiated HL-60 is an effector cell widely used for the opsonophagocytic-killing assay (OPKA) to measure efficacy of pneumococcal vaccines. We investigated the correlation between phenotypic expression of immunoreceptors and phagocytic ability of HL-60 cells differentiated with N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), or 1alpha, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (VitD3) for 5 days. Phenotypic change was examined by flow cytometry with specific antibodies to CD11c, CD14, CD18, CD32, and CD64. Apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry using 7-aminoactinomycin D. Function was evaluated by a standard OPKA against serotype 19F and chemiluminescence-based respiratory burst assay. The expression of CD11c and CD14 gradually increased upon exposure to all three agents, while CD14 expression increased abruptly after VitD3. The expression of CD18, CD32, and CD64 increased during differentiation with all three agents. Apoptosis remained less than 10% until day 3 but increased after differentiation by DMF or ATRA. Differentiation with ATRA or VitD3 increased the respiratory burst after day 4. DMF differentiation showed a high OPKA titer at day 1 which sustained thereafter while ATRA or VitD3-differentiated cells gradually increased. Pearson analysis between the phenotypic changes and OPKA titers suggests that CD11c might be a useful differentiation marker for HL-60 cells for use in pneumococcal OPKA.

Phenotypic and Functional Analysis of HL-60 Cells Used in Opsonophagocytic-Killing Assay for Streptococcus pneumoniae

Differentiated HL-60 is an effector cell widely used for the opsonophagocytic-killing assay (OPKA) to measure efficacy of pneumococcal vaccines. We investigated the correlation between phenotypic expression of immunoreceptors and phagocytic ability of HL-60 cells differentiated with N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), or 1alpha, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (VitD3) for 5 days. Phenotypic change was examined by flow cytometry with specific antibodies to CD11c, CD14, CD18, CD32, and CD64. Apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry using 7-aminoactinomycin D. Function was evaluated by a standard OPKA against serotype 19F and chemiluminescence-based respiratory burst assay. The expression of CD11c and CD14 gradually increased upon exposure to all three agents, while CD14 expression increased abruptly after VitD3. The expression of CD18, CD32, and CD64 increased during differentiation with all three agents. Apoptosis remained less than 10% until day 3 but increased after differentiation by DMF or ATRA. Differentiation with ATRA or VitD3 increased the respiratory burst after day 4. DMF differentiation showed a high OPKA titer at day 1 which sustained thereafter while ATRA or VitD3-differentiated cells gradually increased. Pearson analysis between the phenotypic changes and OPKA titers suggests that CD11c might be a useful differentiation marker for HL-60 cells for use in pneumococcal OPKA.

Intratumoral Administration of Secondary Lymphoid Chemokine and Unmethylated Cytosine-phosphorothioate-guanine Oligodeoxynucleotide Synergistically Inhibits Tumor Growth in Vivo

Secondary lymphoid tissue chemokine (SLC), which is expressed in T cell zones of secondary lymphoid organs, including the spleen and lymph nodes, strongly recruits both T lymphocytes and mature dendritic cells. As appropriate interaction of tumor-specific T cells and mature dendritic cells, equipped with tumor antigens, is a prerequisite for effective T cell immunity against established tumors, we mobilized lymphocytes and dendritic cells to tumor sites by intratumoral injection of secondary lymphoid tissue chemokine-Fc (SLC-Fc) fusion protein using the B16F10 murine melanoma model. Activation of dendritic cells, another prerequisite for the effective activation of naive tumor-specific T cells, was achieved by the addition of immunostimulatory cytosine-phosphorothioate-guanine oligodeoxynucleotide (CpG-ODN) into the tumor site. Intratumoral administration of SLC-Fc or CpG-ODN revealed antitumor effects against B16F10 murine melanoma grown in the subcutaneous space. Co-treatment of SLC-Fc and CpG-ODN displayed synergistic effects in reducing the tumor size. The synergistic antitumor effect in co-treatment group was correlated with the synergistic/additive increase in the infiltration of CD4+ T cells and CD11c+ dendritic cells in the tumor mass compared to the single treatment groups. These results suggest that the combined use of chemokines and adjuvant molecules may be a possible strategy in clinical tumor immunotherapy.

Pro-inflammatory Cytokine Expression of Spleen Dendritic Cells in Mouse Toxoplasmosis

Dendritic cells have been known as a member of strong innate immune cells against infectious organelles. In this study, we evaluated the cytokine expression of splenic dendritic cells in chronic mouse toxoplasmosis by tissue cyst-forming Me49 strain and demonstrated the distribution of lymphoid dendritic cells by fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS). Pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6, and IL-10 increased rapidly at week 1 post-infection (PI) and peaked at week 3 PI. Serum IL-10 level followed the similar patterns. FACS analysis showed that the number of CD8alpha+/CD11c+ splenic dendritic cells increased at week 1 and peaked at week 3 PI. In conclusion, mouse splenic dendritic cells showed early and rapid cytokine changes and may have important protective roles in early phases of murine toxoplasmosis.

Clinicopathologic study of 15 splenectomy specimens of patients with hairy cell leukemia / 中华病理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the clinicopathologic features, diagnosis, differential diagnosis and the prognosis of hairy cell leukemia (HCL).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifteen splenectomy specimens of HCL patients were investigated retrospectively using HE and immunohistochemistry in correlation with the follow-up information.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) The male to female ratio was 2.75:1, age ranged from 36 to 68 years with a median of 47 years. The most consistent clinical feature at presentation was marked splenomegaly (100%). Other symptoms included anemia (80.0%), thrombocytopenia (60.0%), leucocytosis (53.3%), pancytopenia (20.0%) and the absence of B-symptom. (2) The proportion of hairy cells was (14.6 +/- 7.2)% in periphery blood and (47.3 +/- 23.8)% in bone marrow. The positive rate of TRAP assay was 62.5% in bone marrow; 85.7% for TPA test and the detection rate for RLC was 25% by transmission electric microscopy. The frequency of bone marrow involvement was 100%. (3) The average weight of 15 spleens was (3012 +/- 1974) g. The size of 6 spleens ranged from 16 cm x 10 cm x 5 cm to 32 cm x 20 cm x 14 cm. The white pulp of spleen showed a characteristic atrophy feature or even absent due to leukemic infiltration, predominantly involving the red pulp with some sinusoidal pattern. "Blood pool" change was an infrequent feature (3/15 cases). The nuclei of leukemic cells were round (13 cases) or bean-shaped (2 cases), nucleoli inconspicuous or disappeared. The abundant cytoplasm and prominent cell border resulted in a "fried egg" appearance. By immunohistochemistry, leukemic cells were positive for CD45RA, CD20, PAX-5, CD25, CD11c, Annexin A1 and cyclinD1, but negative for CD3 and CD43. (4) 13 cases (86.7%) have been followed-up and all are alive. Among them, 9 cases are living well more than 5 years and 7 more than 10 years.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Splenomegaly is frequently the first manifestation of patients with HCL and occurred predominantly in the middle to elderly adults. Definite diagnosis of HCL requires a combined histological and immunohistochemical assessment of the splenectomy specimen, bone marrow biopsy and aspirate.</p>

Inhibitory effects of enhanced expression of CD40L in ovarian cancer OVHM cells on the liver metastases in mice / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To examine the in vivo anti-metastatic effect of enhanced expression of CD40L cDNA in murine ovarian cancer OVHM cells (CD40L-OVHM) injected into the spleen on liver metastasis in mice.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>OVHM cells were inoculated into the spleen of 6 to 8 week-old female B6C3F1 (C57BL/6N x C3H/He) mice. The established liver metastasis was identified by histopathology (HE staining). OVHM cells, DNA-pMKITneo-OVHM cells or CD40L-OVHM cells were inoculated into the spleen of female B6C3F1 mice and the expressions of CD11c in splenic cells were detected by flow cytometry. The specific cytotoxicity of splenic cells was detected by MTT assay, and the serum cytokines of IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, IL-12, IL-4 and IL-10 of the mice were measured by enzyme linked immunoabsorbent assay. The liver metastases and the survival time of the mice were also recorded.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mouse models with liver metastasis by injecting tumor cells into the spleen of mice were established. The expression of CD11c and the specific killing rate in CD40L-OVHM cells group was significantly higher than that in the OVHM cells group and DNA-pMKITneo-OVHM cells group. The expressions of IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha and IL-12 in the CD40L-OVHM cells group were much more increased than OVHM cells group and DNA-pMKITneo-OVHM cells group, but the expressions of IL-4 and IL-10 in the CD40L-OVHM cells group were decreased significantly (p < 0.05). The average weights of livers and spleens of mice in CD40L-OVHM cells group were significantly lower than those of DNA-pMKITneo-OVHM cells group and OVHM cells group. The survival time of mice in CD40L-OVHM cells group was also significantly longer than that in the OVHM cells group and DNA-pMKITneo-OVHM cells group (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The data directly demonstrate that the expression of CD40L in ovarian cancer cells (CD40L-OVHM) can enhance the proliferation and differentiation of dendritic cells in the spleen and induce specific cytotoxic effect of T cells in the spleen, and may regulate the immune function of peripheral blood cells and the immune balance between Th1 cells and Th2 cells, which maybe the possible mechanism induced by CD40L in mice inhibiting the development of liver metastasis.</p>

In vitro study of the effects of CDA-II combined with cAMP on apoptosis induction in retinoic acid resistant acute promyelocytic leukemia cells / 中华血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of CDA-II alone or combined with cAMP on the retinoic acid (RA)-resistant acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The RA-resistant cell line NB4-R2 was used as an in vitro model and treated with CDA-II alone or in combination with cAMP. Cell apoptosis was assessed by morphology observation, distribution of cellular DNA contents and sub-G1 cell population. The level of Bcl-2 was detected by flow cytometry, DNA "ladder" was detected by agarose-electrophoresis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>CDA-II could induce NB4-R2 cell apoptosis through decreasing the level of cellular anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2. cAMP could significantly enhance the role of CDA-II. Bcl-2 positive cell rates decreased to (15.1 +/- 4.8)% and (7.3 +/- 2.9)% in NB4-R2 cells treated with 1 mg/ml CDA-II plus 100 micromol/L cAMP for 48 h and 72 h, respectively. While 100 micromol/L of cAMP could decrease Bcl-2 positive NB4-R2 cells from (92.0 +/- 0.6)% to (75.3 +/- 2.0)%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>CDA-II combined with cAMP could exert potent apoptotic effect on RA-resistant APL cells.</p>

Surface markers and functions of human dendritic cells exposed to mobile phone 1800 MHz electromagnetic fields / 浙江大学学报·医学版

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of mobile phone 1800 MHz electromagnetic fields (EMF) on the surface markers and the functions of human dendritic cells (DC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Human DCs were exposed to intermittent 5 min on/10 min off EMF with specific absorption rates (SAR) 4 W/kg for 0 h, 1 h, 12 h or 24 h, respectively. FACS analysis was used to detect the positive percentage of DC surface markers including HLA-DR and co-stimulatory molecules such as CD80, CD86, CD40 and CD11c. CCK-8 kit was adopted to examine the function of allo-mixed lymphocyte reaction (allo-MLR) of DC, and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to identify the levels of IL-12p70 and TNF-alpha secreted by DC.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Compared with the sham radiation group, after exposure to the electromagnetic fields for 1 h, 12 h, or 24 h, HLA-DR, CD80,CD86 and CD40 were all declined except CD11c. The ability of DC allo-MLR in each exposure group was decreased significantly (P<0.05), especially in the 24 h exposure group. However, the secreted levels of IL-12p70 and TNF-alpha of DC in each exposure group remained no changed.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The study showed that EMF exposure could down-regulate the surface molecules and stimulation ability of human DC.</p>

Effects of yougui pill on phenotype change of thymic dendritic cells induced by glucocorticoid in mice / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the influence of glucocorticoid on phenotype of thymic dendritic cells in mice and to investigate the protective effect of Yougui Pill (YGP) on it.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>BALB/c mice allocated in the group A and B were treated respectively with 10 mg/kg hydrocortisone, alone and combined with 20.81 g/kg YGP. The control mice were treated with normal saline. The changes before and after treatment of I-A(d) and H-2K(d) antigen presentation molecules expression in CD11c(+) and CD45(+) thymic dendritic cells of mice were analyzed by flow cytometry assay, and the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and leukocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) mRNA in thymocytes were determined by RT-PCR as well.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The percentage of I-A(d+) and H-2K(d+) in CD11c(+) in Group A after treatment was 46.77 +/- 4.32% and 64.34 +/- 7.69% respectively, as compared with those in the control group (65.81 +/- 7.69% and 31.88 +/- 5.01%), the percentage of I-A(d+) was lower and that of H-2K(d+) was higher significantly (all P <0.01). Meantime, the expression of ICAM-1 and LFA-1 in thymocyte in Group A (30.11 +/- 2.51% and 30.40 +/- 3.77%) was significantly lower than that in the control group (46.35 +/- 3.34% and 47.28 +/- 2.91%) respectively (P <0.01). Changes in Group B showed that treated by hydrocortisone in combination with YGP, the above-mentioned hydrocortisone-induced changes could be obviously reversed, the outcome of CD11c(+) I-A(d+) was 54.19 +/- 5.08%, ICAM-1 33.97 +/- 2.04% and LFA-1 34.80 +/- 2.92%, the difference between the two treated groups in these indexes all showed statistical significance (P <0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Glucocorticoidcan inhibit the expression of major histocompatibility complex class II antigen molecule, but promote the expression of major histocompatibility complex class I in CD11c(+) and CD45(+) dendritic cells, down-regulate ICAM-1 and LFA-1 transcription, while the tonifying yang recipe, YGP, has a dominant protective effect against the above actions of glucocorticoid.</p>

[Cytology and immunophenotype features of hairy cell leukeamia: about 6 cases]

Hairy cell leukemia is a rare lymphoproliferative disorder. With cytological and immunophenotypic features. We report 6 cases of hairy cell leukemia diagnosed in the Biological Department of Hematology at the Aziza Othmana Hospital of Tunis. Hairy cells was observed in blood smears of 5 cases. Flow cytometry analysis shown a monoclonal population B while gatinting on the expression of the CD19 and SSC signal. The positivity of the CD 103 is noted in 5 cases and the CD11c signal is intense in all the cases. Immunophenotype is of great interest in the diagnosis of hairy cell leukemia

Implications of lung interstitial dendritic cells of mice in multiple organ dysfunction syndrome / 中华病理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the role of lung interstitial dendritic cells in immunodissonance and organ injury in multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Animal model of MODS was established by injecting zymosan into the peritoneal cavity of C57BL/6 mice. The mice were randomly divided into groups of normal, 3 - 6 hours, 12 - 48 hours, 5 - 7 days, 10 - 12 days post injection. Pathological changes of lung and interstitial dendritic cells were studied by light and transmission electron microscope. Immunohistochemistry, RT-PCR and flow cytometry analyses were used to document status of biomarkers, including specific surface markers (CD205 and CD11c), costimulatory molecules (CD80 and CD86), SLC and its receptor CCR7 in lung, CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocyte subtypes in peripheral blood.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>At early stage of injury, interstitial dendritic cells showed an increase in proliferation with expression of low level of CD80 and CD86. In contrast, the expression of SLC and its receptor CCR7 in lung were increased. The ratio of CD4+/CD8+ declined in peripheral blood. At the stage of SIRS, interstitial dendritic cells continued to proliferate with high expressions of CD80 and CD86. SLC and CCR7 in lung also increased. The ratio of CD4+/CD8+ declined markedly in peripheral blood. At the MODS stage, interstitial dendritic cells further proliferated, but the expression of CD80 and CD86 declined to a very low level. Although the level of SLC increased consistently, the level of CCR7 continued to decrease, along with a markedly decreased CD4+/CD8+ ratio in peripheral blood.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Alterations of lung interstitial dendritic cells are likely to influence the course of immunological dysfunction of MODS. The level of CCR7 may serve as an indicator of the migration activity of interstitial dendritic cells and systemic immune response.</p>

Immune response of HBsAg gene-modified dendritic cell-based vaccine in HepG2. 2. 15 hepatocellular carcinoma cells / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response induced by dendritic cells (DC) transduced with recombinant adenovirus vector bearing hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) gene in hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2. 2. 15 cells in vitro.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Full length HBsAg cDNAs were subcloned into pIND vector, followed by being cloned into pShuttle vector. The HBsAg gene fragments resulted from the pShuttle-S digested with PI-Sce and I-Ceu were linked to the linear adeno-X virus DNA. After packaged with HEK293 cells, the adenovirus expression vector was obtained. Then the recombinant adenovirus expression plasmid AdVHBsAg was transfected into human monocyte-derived dendritic cells, to construct AdVHBsAg hepatocarcinoma tumor vaccine. The effectiveness of transfection was detected by Western blot. Surface molecules of AdVHBsAg-DC were detected by FACS. Autologous T cell proliferation stimulated by AdVHBsAg-DC was detected by 3H-TdR assay. Cytotoxic CTL activity induced by AdVHBsAg-DC in vitro was detected by LDH assay.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>HBsAg gene in the inserted DNA of AdVHBsAg was confirmed by PCR, and predictive fragments proved by restriction enzyme digestion analysis were exhibited. Cell pathological changes appear after 10 days HEK293 cells transfected AdVHBsAg. Western blot analysis showed that HBV surface antigen gene was expressed in transfected DC, indicating that the transfection was effective. AdVHBsAg-DC was able to upregulate CD1a, CD11c, CD80, CD86 and HLA-DR. Autologus T cell proliferation induced by AdVHBsAg-DCs was significantly higher than that in DC control group and LacZ-DC group (P < 0.05). AdVHBsAg-DC activated CTL presented the specific killer ability to the hepatocellular carcinoma cells expressing HBsAg.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>DC transduced with recombinant adenovirus HBsAg can express HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma antigen (HBsAg), and AdVHBsAg-DC can induce potent immune response against HBsAg-positive hepatocellular carcinoma cells in vitro.</p>

Stimulation by Lycium bararum polysaccharides of the maturation of dendritic cells in murine bone marrow / 浙江大学学报·医学版

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of Lycium bararum polysaccharides (LBPs) stimulation on the maturation of murine bone marrow derived dendritic cells (BMDCs).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Murine bone marrow cells were cultured in GM-CSF and IL-4 for 5 days, then were purified with a MACS column. Respectively, BMDCs were stimulated with LBPs, LPS and RPMI1640 for 2 days. Cell phenotypes and antigens uptake by BMDCs were analyzed by flow cytometry. Cytokines released by BMDCs were detected. The antigen presenting by BMDCs was evaluated by mixed lymphocyte responses.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Compared with to the BMDCs that only subjected to RPMI 1640, the expression of I-A/I-E, CD11c and secretion of IL-12 by BMDCs stimulated with LBPs were increased, the phagocytosis of FITC-dextran by BMDCs stimulated with LBPs was impaired but the activation of proliferation of allogenic lymphocytes by BMDCs was strengthened.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>LBPs promote not only the maturation of cultured murine BMDCs in vitro, but also the immune response initiation induced by BMDCs.</p>

Hairy cell leukemia-variant--a case report.

Hairy-cell leukemia-variant (HCL-V) is a rare B-cell disorder which accountsfor 10% of HCL cases. The main features are splenomegaly, lymphocytosis and cytopenias without monocytopenia. The circulating cells have a morphology intermediate between prolymphocytes and hairy cells. The immunophenotype shows a mature B-cell phenotype with expression of B-cell antigens CD11c and CD103 but unlike typical hairy cell the cells are negative for CD25. The histology of bone marrow and spleen shows a pattern of infiltration similar to that in HCL. We present a case of HCL-V in a 66-year-old male. The bone marrow findings, immunophenotypic profile and electron microscopic features are described. The patient underwent splenectomy which also revealed infiltration by leukemia. Patients are resistant to alkylating agents and alpha-interferon (á-IFN). Splenectomy may be beneficial for long-lasting partial responses in some of the patients and is a good palliative treatment.

Changes of subsets of DC1 in the bone marrow of severe aplastic anemia patients / 中华血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To measure the subsets of dendritic cells 1 (DC1) in the bone marrow of severe aplastic anemia (SAA) patients and evaluate the relationships between the CD11c+CD83+ cells and Th1 cells, CD3+CD8+ cells or hematopoietic function and explore the role of DC1 in the pathogenesis of SAA.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>By FACS, the quantities and ratios of CD11c+CD1a+ cells, CD11c+CD83+ cells, Th1 cells, and CD3+CD8+ cells in the bone marrow of SAA patients and normal controls were detected respectively. The relationships between CD3+CD8+ cells and reticulocyte absolute value (Ret) or neutrophil absolute value (ANC), between Th1 cells and CD3+CD8+ cells, Ret or ANC, between CD11c+CD83+ cells, and Th1 cells, CD3+CD8+ cells, Ret or ANC were evaluated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In normal controls' bone marrow, the percentages of Th1 cells, CD11c+CD1a+ cells, CD11c+CD83+ cells and the ratio of CD11c+CD83+/CD11c+CD1a+ were (0.42 +/- 0.30)%, (0.38 +/- 0.29)%, (0.37 +/- 0.32)% and 1.07 +/- 0.10, respectively. In untreated SAA patients, they were (4.87 +/- 0.54)%, (1.73 +/- 0.24)%, (3.38 +/- 0.56)% and 2.21 +/- 0.32 respectively, which were higher than that in normal controls (P < 0.01). In recovering SAA patients, the percentages of Th1 cells, CD11c+CD1a+ cells and CD11c+CD83+ cells decreased significantly to (0.53 +/- 0.22)%, (0.61 +/- 0.23)%, (0.65 +/- 0.22)%, respectively (P < 0.01). The ratio of CD11c+CD83+/CD11c+ CD1a+ in recovering SAA patients decreased to 1.37 +/- 0.25, which was similar to that in normal controls (P > 0.05). The percentage of CD3+CD8+ cells in untreated SAA patients was (32.32 +/- 10.22)%, and in recovering SAA patients decreased to (13.67 +/- 5.24)% (P < 0.01). The percentage of CD3+CD8+ cells in SAA patients was negatively correlated with their Ret and ANC (P < 0.05), while their Th1 cell percentages were positively correlated with their CD3+CD8+ cells (P < 0.01), and negatively correlated with their Ret and ANC (P < 0.01). SAA patient's CD11c+CD83+ cell percentages were positively correlated with their Th1 cell and CD3+CD8 cells (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), but negatively with their Ret and ANC (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Both immature DC1 and activated DC1 increased in the bone marrow of SAA patients, and the balance of DC1 subsets shifted from stable form to active one, which might promote Th0 cells to polarize to Th1 cells, and cause the over-function of T lymphocytes and hematopoiesis failure in SAA.</p>

Predominant Th2-type response during normal pregnancy of rats / 生理学报

The immunological parameters were analyzed during pregnancy of Lewis rats by the methods of flow cytometry, thymidine incorporation and enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT). MHC II of spleen mononuclear cells (MNCs) and CD11c of periphery blood MNCs was apparently downregulated in late pregnancy, while the costimulatory molecules B7-1 and B7-2 showed no difference. Increased expression of Th2 cytokines (IL-10, IL-4) and TGFbeta was detected in the spleen and peripheral blood MNCs in the third trimester by flow cytometry. No suppression of Th1 cytokine represented by IFNgamma was found. Furthermore, antigen specific proliferation of spleen and peripheral blood MNCs was unchanged, but higher proliferation of MNCs from mesenteric lymph nodes was shown in late pregnancy. There was an inhibition of antigen specific antibody production in pregnancy examined by ELISPOT. These data indicate the immunomodulatory effects of sex-hormones in pregnancy, which may be related to the remission of T cell-mediated autoimmune diseases during pregnancy.