In-vessel calibration of the imaging diagnostics for the real-time protection of the JET ITER-like wall.

The in situ absolute calibration of the JET real-time protection imaging system has been performed for the first time by means of radiometric light source placed inside the JET vessel and operated by remote handling. High accuracy of the calibration is confirmed by cross-validation of the near infrared (NIR) cameras against each other, with thermal IR cameras, and with the beryllium evaporator, which lead to successful protection of the JET first wall during the last campaign. The operation temperature ranges of NIR protection cameras for the materials used on JET are Be 650-1600 °C, W coating 600-1320 °C, and W 650-1500 °C.

Recent developments of in-vessel calibration of mid-IR cameras at JET.

Recent improvements in software tools and methodology have allowed us to perform a more comprehensive in-vessel calibration for all mid-infrared camera systems at JET. A comparison of experimental methods to calculate the non-uniformity correction is described as well as the linearity for the different camera systems. Measurements of the temperature are assessed for the different diagnostics.

Adaptive immune contexture at the tumour site and downmodulation of circulating myeloid-derived suppressor cells in the response of solitary fibrous tumour patients to anti-angiogenic therapy.

BACKGROUND: Host immunity is emerging as a key player in the prognosis and response to treatment of cancer patients. However, the impact of the immune system and its modulation by therapies are unknown in rare soft tissue sarcomas such as solitary fibrous tumours (SFTs), whose management in the advanced forms includes anti-angiogenic therapy. Here, we studied the in situ and systemic immune status of advanced SFT patients and the effects of sunitinib malate (SM) in association with the clinical efficacy. METHODS: Immune contexture of SFTs was assessed by immunohistochemistry in lesions from untreated or SM-treated patients. Frequency of circulating myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), regulatory T cells (Tregs) and T-cell functions was assessed ex vivo in SFT patients prior and during anti-angiogenic therapy. Patients with long-term tumour control were included to correlate immune profiles and clinical responses. RESULTS: Anti-angiogenic naïve SFT lesions were heavily infiltrated by CD163(+)CD14(+)CD68(-) and CD163(+)CD14(-)CD68(-) myeloid cells but devoid of T cells. Conversely, post-SM tumours acquired a new subset of CD68(+)CD14(+) myeloid cells and displayed traits of an on-going adaptive immunity, strongly enriched in activated CD8(+) and CD4(+) T cells. These changes at the tumour site paralleled the alleviation of systemic immunosuppression and the drop in the frequency of circulating monocytic MDSCs (mMDSCs) and granulocytic MDSCs (gMDSCs). Rebound in the number of mMDSCs, but not of gMDSCs occurred at disease progression, and a reduced percentages of mMDSCs, comparable to those found in healthy donors (HDs), endured only in the SM-responsive patients. CONCLUSIONS: The immune contexture of SFT patients is heavily involved in anti-angiogenic therapy and it could be exploited to achieve more durable disease control through immune-based combination strategies.

Evidence for a repertoire of functional untolerized CD4+ T cells specific for melanoma-associated antigens.

Active vaccination against melanoma requires tolerance break as melanoma-associated antigens (MAA) used in vaccine formula are mostly self-antigens. While tolerance to MAA in the CD8(+) T cell compartment is well characterized, it is still not the case for the CD4(+) T cell compartment. Here, we analysed CD4(+) T cell tolerance to such antigens in mice genetically engineered to express ovalbumin (OVA) in melanocytes (Tyr-OVA mice). When we crossed Tyr-OVA mice with DO11.10 and OT-II mice transgenic for an OVA-specific TCR restricted by MHC class II, we observed different tolerization levels. Central tolerance was complete for high avidity DO11.10 CD4(+) T cells, but absent for low avidity OT-II CD4(+) T cells. OT-II CD4(+) T cells also ignored OVA in the periphery of Tyr-OVA mice, albeit being potently reactive to vaccination. OVA challenge in single transgenic Tyr-OVA mice confirmed the existence of OVA-reactive CD4(+) T cells with the induction of efficient T helper cells for antibody production and anti-tumour T cell response. In total, our study demonstrates the existence of low avidity MAA-specific CD4(+) T cells escaping by ignorance central and peripheral tolerance, but valuable in the context of vaccination against melanoma.

Tumour-released exosomes and their implications in cancer immunity.

Tumour cells release vesicular structures, defined as microvesicles or exosomes, carrying a large array of proteins from their originating cell. The expression of antigenic molecules recognized by T cells has originally suggested a role for these organelles as a cell-free antigen source for anticancer vaccines. However, recent evidence shows that tumour exosomes may also exert a broad array of detrimental effects on the immune system, ranging from apoptosis in activated antitumour T cells to impairment of monocyte differentiation into dendritic cells and induction of myeloid suppressive cells. Immunosuppressive exosomes of tumour origin can be found in neoplastic lesions and sera from cancer patients, implying a potential role of this pathway in in vivo tumour progression. Through the expression of molecules involved in angiogenesis promotion, stromal remodelling, delivery of signalling pathways through growth factor/receptor transfer, chemoresistance and genetic intercellular exchange, tumour exosomes could represent a versatile tool for moulding host environment. Hence, their secretion by neoplastic cells may in the future become a novel pathway to target for therapeutic intervention in cancer patients.

The anticancer drug imatinib induces cellular autophagy.

The tyrosine kinase inhibitor imatinib (Gleevec, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation; Basel, Switzerland) is a powerful drug for treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) and other malignancies. It selectively targets various tyrosine kinases, thereby leading to growth arrest of respective cancer cells. Given its wide application, it is of high importance to know all related underlying molecular mechanisms. We had previously found that imatinib increases the cellular clearance of intracellular protein aggregates by targeting the abl pathway and thereby upregulating lysosomal activity. Here, we describe that imatinib dose dependently activates the cellular autophagy machinery in mammalian cells, independently of tissue type, species origin or immortalization status of cells. Autophagy is an archetypical cellular degradation mechanism implicated in many physiological and pathophysiological conditions. Our data link for the first time the process of autophagy with the mode of action of imatinib. Induction of autophagy might represent an additional mechanism of imatinib to induce growth arrest, promote apoptosis in cancer cells and eventually even promote tumour regression.

The dietary supplement ephedrine induces beta-adrenergic mediated exacerbation of systemic lupus erythematosus in NZM391 mice.

The dietary supplement and adrenergic receptor agonist ephedrine has been a controversial topic as its safety has been questioned. Beta-adrenergic receptor (beta-AR) activation causes immunomodulation, which may contribute to promotion of autoimmune pathology. This report investigated the ability of ephedrine to exacerbate processes associated with autoimmune disease in a lupus-prone mouse model. To mimic human supplementation, ephedrine was administered to NZM391 (lupus-prone) and BALB/c (nonlupus prone) mice orally twice a day for three months at a dose of 50 and 100 microg/day. Some ephedrine-treated NZM391 mice also were preadministered the beta-AR antagonist propranolol to investigate beta-AR involvement. Mice were bled monthly, and sera were assayed for a variety of lupus manifestations and immunological measurements. In NZM391 males and females, both doses of ephedrine significantly increased lupus manifestations, including IgG production and organ-directed autoantibody titers, and significantly lowered the ratio of IgG2a/IgG1 compared to controls. Ephedrine significantly decreased female lifespan and significantly increased circulating populations of plasma cells (CD38(hi) CD19(lo) cytoplasmic IgG+) and CD40+ B1a cells, while preventing an age-related decrease in the B1a cell population expressing a high level of CD5. While ephedrine induced gender-specific immunomodulation in BALB/c mice, increases in the lupus manifestations of anti-dsDNA titers and serum urea nitrogen were not detected. Preadministration of propranolol decreased lupus manifestations and serum levels of IgG and IgE in ephedrine-treated mice, but did not block the shift towards IgG1 production. These findings indicate that ephedrine via beta-AR can exacerbate lupus symptoms in NZM391 mice and that blockade of the beta-ARs on B cells, and not T cells, apparently was of greater importance as the inhibition of lupus symptoms corresponded to an inhibition of immunoglobulin levels, not a change of Th1/Th2 balance.

Fc receptor-mediated phagocytosis makes a significant contribution to clearance of influenza virus infections.

Fc receptors for IgG expressed on macrophages and NK cells are important mediators of opsonophagocytosis and Ab-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Phagocyte-mediated opsonophagocytosis is pivotal for protection against bacteria, but its importance in recovery from infection with intracellular pathogens is unclear. We have now investigated the role of opsonophagocytosis in protection against lethal influenza virus infection by using FcR gamma(-/-) mice. Absence of the FcR gamma-chain did not affect the expression of IFN-gamma and IL-10 in the lungs and spleens after intranasal immunization with an influenza subunit vaccine. Titers of serum and respiratory Abs of the IgM, IgG1, IgG2a, and IgA isotypes in FcR gamma(-/-) mice were similar to levels seen in FcR gamma(+/+) mice. Nevertheless, FcR gamma(-/-) mice were highly susceptible to influenza infection, even in the presence of anti-influenza Abs from immune FcR gamma(+/+) mice. NK cells were not necessary for the observed Ab-mediated viral clearance, but macrophages were found to be capable of actively ingesting opsonized virus particles. We conclude that Fc receptor-mediated phagocytosis plays a pivotal role in clearance of respiratory virus infections.

Effect of Helicobacter pylori eradication on cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression during gastric adaptation to aspirin (ASA) in humans.

Gastric adaptation to aspirin is impaired in Helicobacter pylori infection, but the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon are unclear. In this study, we compared gastric mucosal expression of iNOS and COX-2 during 14 days of aspirin ingestion in the same subjects before and 3 months after eradication of H. pylori. Compared to non-infected controls, mucosal expression of COX-2 and iNOS was enhanced before and 3 months after eradication of H. pylori. During aspirin ingestion, mucosal expression of COX-2 remained unchanged before eradication of H. pylori, but increased gradually after successful antimicrobial treatment. Independent of H. pylori status, expression of iNOS increased at the beginning of aspirin intake, but then returned to initial values. We conclude that COX-2 but not iNOS might be involved in gastric adaptation to aspirin in humans and that this mechanism appears to be impaired in H. pylori infection.

Heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) in gastric adaptation to aspirin in Helicobacter pylori infection.

We have recently shown that adaptation of gastric mucosa to aspirin (ASA) is disturbed in Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)-infected human stomach, but can be restored by eradication of the bacterium. The aim of this study was 1) to evaluate the influence of H. pylori on expression of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) during ASA ingestion in these subjects and in mice model and 2) to evaluate, whether altered HSP70 expression might be associated with different adaptation to ASA in H. pylori-positive and eradicated subjects. The gastric mucosal HSP 70 gene expression was determined by quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot and immunohistochemistry during 14 days of ASA ingestion (1 g bid) in the same 8 subjects before and 3 months after successful eradication of H. pylori. In addition, HSP70 mRNA and protein expression were examined in 30 mice without and with H. pylori infection and eradication. During 14 days of ASA treatment, human H. pylori-infected mucosa revealed a decrease of HSP70 expression, while after eradication a higher expression and further increase of HSP70 expression during ASA ingestion were observed. Mice inoculated with H. pylori also exhibited decreased gastric mucosal HSP70 mRNA expression that was restored after eradication therapy. Decreased basal and ASA-induced expression of HSP70 may partly be responsible for impaired gastric adaptation to ASA in H. pylori-positive subjects. We conclude that 1. The HSP70 gene and protein expression is reduced during infection with H. pylori in men and mice and that gastric adaptation to ASA in H. pylori eradicated subjects is accompanied by increased HSP70 expression; 2. It is reasonable to assume that decreased HSP70 expression might contribute to disturbed gastric adaptation in H. pylori infection in humans and 3. The expression of HSP70 plays an important role in the mechanism of gastric adaptation to ASA and that H. pylori infection interferes with this adaptation due to decrease of HSP70 expression in gastric mucosal cells.

Synthesis of alpha-substituted beta-amino acids using pseudoephedrine as a chiral auxiliary.

[reaction: see text] beta-Amino acids are becoming increasingly attractive as intermediates in the synthesis of a variety of molecular structures. However, few methods are available for the synthesis of alpha-substituted beta-amino acids that are both readily scalable and highly stereoselective. Herein we report a new method for synthesizing alpha-substituted beta-amino acids that satisfies both of these requirements using enantiomerically pure pseudoephedrine as a chiral auxiliary.

Expression of constitutive nitric oxide synthase in rat and human gastrointestinal tract.

The aim of this study was to determine the expression of constitutive NO synthases (ecNOS and bNOS) at the protein level in rat and human gastrointestinal tract. We established a quantitative Western blotting method for detection and quantification of ecNOS and bNOS in both species. Human gastric fundus was further analyzed by immunohistochemistry. EcNOS expression at the protein level could be quantified in different organs of the rat gastrointestinal tract and in human gastric mucosal biopsies. Immunohistochemistry of gastric fundus revealed that immunoreactivity for ecNOS was localized mainly in the endothelium of small vessels. In rats, expression of bNOS at the protein level was highest in esophagus. By means of immunohistochemistry of human gastric fundus, immunoreactivity was detected mainly in the plexus of Auerbach. We conclude that isoforms of constitutive nitric oxide synthase can be identified and quantified at the protein level both in rat and human gastrointestinal tract. The presence of bNOS in nerve tissue supports previous observations that NO serves as a transmitter in non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic nerves in human esophagus and stomach. The observation that ecNOS has been found mainly in endothelial cells suggests the involvement of NO in the regulation of mucosal blood flow.

Expression of endothelial cell-derived nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) is increased during gastric adaptation to chronic aspirin intake in humans.

BACKGROUND: Gastric adaptation to aspirin is well-documented. However, the mechanisms underlying the reduction of aspirin-induced mucosal damage despite continued ingestion of the drug remain poorly understood. METHODS: Eight healthy volunteers who received aspirin 1 g b.d. for 14 days were compared with eight placebo-dosed controls. Gastroscopy with mucosal biopsy was performed, and gastric mucosal blood flow was measured before and following 3, 7 and 14 days of aspirin treatment. At the same time points, tissue concentration and the content of prostaglandin E2 in the gastric juice were determined and expression of endothelial cell-derived nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in mucosal biopsies was measured using Western blot analysis. RESULTS: Aspirin-induced mucosal damage that reached a maximum on day 3, declining significantly by day 14. Concomitantly, mucosal blood flow significantly increased on day 3 and returned to initial values on day 14. Aspirin intake led to a significant decrease in prostaglandin E2 concentration in the gastric mucosa and in gastric juice during the whole period of aspirin consumption. eNOS expression started to increase on day 7 in oxyntic mucosa and on day 3 in antral mucosa, reaching its highest values at the end of the consumption of aspirin. CONCLUSIONS: The human gastric mucosa adapts to prolonged aspirin intake, and this is accompanied by an increase in mucosal blood flow and reduced prostaglandin synthesis. Increase of mucosal eNOS expression might compensate for reduced prostaglandin synthesis and be responsible for gastric adaptation to chronic aspirin intake in humans.

Identification of Toxoplasma gondii antigens involved in the IgM and IgG indirect hemagglutination tests for the diagnosis of toxoplamosis

Extratos brutos de Toxoplasma gondii constituem materia prima antigenica para o preparo de reagentes empregados em diferentes testes sorologicos para o diagnóstico da toxoplasmose, incluindo entre estes as reaçöes de hemaglutinaçäo indireta para a detecçäo de anticorpos IgM (HA IgM) e IgG (HA IgG). Até o presente momento, moleculas antigenicas do parasita que realmente estäo envolvidas na interaçäo com anticorpos aglutinantes, anti-T. gondii, näo säo ainda bem conhecidas. O processo de absorçäo de soros de pacientes com toxoplasmose, utilizando o reagente de HA IgG (HA-toxo-G), possibilitou a demonstraçäo de que hemacias deste reagente estavam sensibilizadas com antigeno do parasita associado as bandas de massa molecular relativa de 39, 35, 30, 27, 22 e 14 kDa...

Identification of Toxoplasma gondii antigens involved in the IgM and IgG indirect hemagglutination tests for the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis.

Crude Toxoplasma gondii antigens represent raw material used to prepare reagents to be employed in different serologic tests for the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis, including the IgM and IgG indirect hemagglutination (IgG-HA and IgM-HA) tests. So far, the actual antigenic molecules of the parasite involved in the interaction with agglutinating anti-T. gondii antibodies in these tests are unknown. The absorption process of serum samples from toxoplasmosis patients with the IgG-HA reagent (G-toxo-HA) demonstrated that red cells from this reagent were coated with T. gondii antigens with Mr of 39, 35, 30, 27, 22 and 14 kDa. The immune-absorption process with the IgM-HA reagent (M-toxo-HA), in turn, provided antibody eluates which recognized antigenic bands of the parasite corresponding to Mr of 54, 35 and 30 kDa, implying that these antigens are coating red cells from this reagent. The identification of most relevant antigens for each type of HA reagent seems to be useful for the inspection of the raw antigenic material, as well as of reagent batches routinely produced. Moreover the present findings can be used to modify these reagents in order to improve the performance of HA tests for the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis.

Situational moderators of leader reward and punishment behaviors: fact or fiction?

One assumption shared by many contemporary models of leadership is that situational variables moderate the relationships between leader behaviors and subordinate responses. Recently, however, R. J. House and J. L. Baetz (1979 in B. Staw & L. Cummings, Eds., Research in Organizational Behavior (Vol. 1), Greenwich, Connecticut, JAI Press) have suggested that the effects of some leader traits and behaviors may be relatively invariant; that is, have the same effects in a variety of situations. One possible class of leader behaviors which may have relatively consistent effects across situations are those known as leader reward and punishment behaviors. The first goal of the research reported here was to increase our understanding of the relationships between leader contingent and noncontingent reward and punishment behaviors and subordinate responses. Contingent reward behavior was found to have the most pronounced relationships with subordinate performance and satisfaction, followed by noncontingent punishment behavior. Neither leader noncontingent reward nor contingent punishment behavior were found to be related to either subordinate performance or satisfaction, with the exception that noncontingent reward behavior was negatively related to subordinates' satisfaction with work. The second goal of the research was to examine the effects of a variety of potential moderators on the relationships between leader reward and punishment behaviors and subordinate responses. The results of this study suggest that the relationships between leader reward and punishment behaviors and subordinates' performance are relatively free of moderating effects.

[Determination of autohemolysin formation using the plaque test. Demonstration of autoimmune phenomena following vaccinations and infections].

A simple and sensitive modification of the plaque assay for the evaluation of autohaemolysin-producing cells (APC) in the peripheral blood is described: Very small chambers, (volume less than or equal to 0.03 cc) made out of glass slides (75 X 25 mm), are filled with a diluted (1:7) blood cell suspension. After incubation for 26 hours the haemolytic plaques produced by APC in the thin monolayer of blood cells can be counted under the microcope at a magnification up to 320-fold. The number of APC in guinea pigs immunized with cholera vaccine and in monkeys infected with variola-virus was evaluated by means of this method. Cholera vaccination significantly raised the APC up to 7 days after immunization. In monkeys these cells increased markedly between 4 and 7 days after infection with variola-virus. The increase was less pronounced in animals partially protected by prior vaccination with attenuated vaccinia-virus (MVA-strain) and showing a mild course of variola. Autoimmune mechanisms may exist in apparently normal organisms. They may rise after tissue destruction or cell alteration by infectious or other exogenous agents. The method described might be useful to determine the degree of reactogenicity of bacterial and viral vaccines.