Cholecystokinin knock-down in the basolateral amygdala has anxiolytic and antidepressant-like effects in mice.

Cholecystokinin (CCK) is a neuropeptide widely distributed in the mammalian brain. This peptide regulates many physiological functions and behaviors, such as cardio-respiratory control, thermoregulation, nociception, feeding, memory processes and motivational responses, and plays a prominent role in emotional responses including anxiety and depression. CCK-expressing brain regions involved in these functions remain unclear and their identification represents an important step towards understanding CCK function in the brain. The basolateral amygdala (BLA) is strongly involved in emotional processing and expresses high levels of CCK. In this study we examined the contribution of CCK expressed in this brain region to emotional responses in mice. To knockdown CCK specifically in the BLA, we used stereotaxic delivery of recombinant adeno-associated viral vectors expressing a CCK-targeted shRNA. This procedure efficiently reduced CCK levels locally. shCCK-treated animals showed reduced levels of anxiety in the elevated plus-maze, and lower despair-like behavior in the forced swim test. Our data demonstrate that CCK expressed in the BLA represents a key brain substrate for anxiogenic and depressant effects of the peptide. The study also suggests that elevated amygdalar CCK could contribute to panic and major depressive disorders that have been associated with CCK dysfunction in humans.

In vivo-matured Langerhans cells continue to take up and process native proteins unlike in vitro-matured counterparts.

We have been able to identify the cell subset derived from Langerhans cells in the total dendritic cell population of the peripheral lymph node and hence to follow their trafficking under normal physiological conditions as well as upon skin irritation. As expected, the rapid mobilization of Langerhans cells triggered by inflammatory signals into the draining lymph node correlated with an up-regulation of costimulatory molecules and with an enhanced immunostimulatory capacity. Surprisingly, however, these cells, instead of shutting down, maintain the capacity to capture and process protein Ags during the couple of days they stay alive in stark contrast to in vitro-matured dendritic cells.

Anatomical origin of dendritic cells determines their life span in peripheral lymph nodes.

Dendritic cells (DCs) exhibit considerable heterogeneity in their anatomical location, surface phenotype, and functional properties. In this study, we demonstrate that peripheral lymph nodes contain at least four major, functionally separable, and independently derived, DC subsets, which can be clearly demarcated by their CD11c, CD40, and CD8 expression pattern. Surprisingly, all DCs derived directly from the bone marrow, the myeloid- and the lymphoid-related subsets, turned over fast with t(1/2) of a couple of days. In contrast, DCs exported from the skin, both dermal and epidermal, accumulated 3- to 4-fold slower, turnover that is dramatically increased by cutaneous inflammation.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-induced cutaneous necrosis is mediated by TNF receptor 1.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is a central mediator of immune and inflammatory responses. Its activities have been shown to be mediated by two distinct receptors, TNFR1 (p55) and TNFR2 (p75). The cytoplasmic domains of both TNF receptors are unrelated, suggesting that they link to different intracellular signaling pathways. To determine their role in vivo in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- and TNF-induced skin inflammatory necrosis, TNFR1-, TNFR2-, and TNF lymphotoxin-alpha (LT alpha)-deficient mice were used. Skin abscesses were experimentally induced with local application of TNF or LPS. Large macroscopic ulcerations were observed in TNF-injected wild-type animals and to a slightly lesser extent in TNFR2-deficient mice with tissue destruction in both cases extending deep into the dermis. Tissue destruction was accompanied by an intense immune infiltrate composed mainly of neutrophils, lymphocytes, and macrophages. TNFR1-deficient and TNFR1/TNFR2-double-deficient mice, however, did not exhibit any ulceration and showed only a very mild inflammatory infiltrate. In TNF/LT alpha-double ligand0-deficient animals, a moderate epidermal necrosis was observed with a reduced inflammatory infiltrate compared to wild-type animals. As with TNF injections, subcutaneous injection of LPS induced a comparable pattern of skin necrosis in wild-type and TNF receptor mutant mice, yet a slightly more acute inflammatory level was observed regardless of the type of animal tested. As found for TNF-induced skin necrosis, the extent of LPS-induced skin necrosis was reduced in TNF/LT alpha-deficient mice compared to wild-type animals. The present data strongly suggest that TNFR1, rather than TNFR2, is engaged in LPS- and TNF-induced skin necrosis and highlight the predominant role played by TNF in LPS-induced inflammatory diseases.

Establishment of the role of IL-6 and TNF receptor 1 using gene knockout mice.

Cytokines are known to be key players in host response to infection, immunological disorders, and tissue injury in the attempt of an organism to overcome the insult and restore homeostasis. Another important aspect of cytokines, however, is their normal physiological role during development in the unchallenged organism. The most elegant way to analyze both of these functions is to introduce targeted mutations in embryonic stem cells in order to create new mouse strains deficient for a given cytokine and identify the functions that are consequently impaired or lost. This review summarizes the mutant phenotypes of mice carrying a null mutation in the cytokine IL-6 gene or the tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (Tnfr1) gene. Results for interferon-- and interferon-gamma receptor-deficient mice are included for comparison.

Mice lacking the tumour necrosis factor receptor 1 are resistant to TNF-mediated toxicity but highly susceptible to infection by Listeria monocytogenes.

Tumour necrosis factor (TNF), jointly referring to TNF alpha and TNF beta, is a central mediator of immune and inflammatory responses; its activities are mediated by two distinct receptors, TNFR1 (p55) and TNFR2 (p75) (reviewed in refs 1-3). The cytoplasmic domains of the TNFRs are unrelated, suggesting that they link to different intracellular signalling pathways. Although most TNF responses have been assigned to one or the other of the TNF receptors (mostly TNFR1), there is no generally accepted model for the physiological role of the two receptor types. To investigate the role of TNFR1 in beneficial and detrimental activities of TNF, we generated TNFR1-deficient mice by gene targeting. We report here that mice homozygous for a disrupted Tnfr1 allele (Tnfr1(0)) are resistant to the lethal effect of low doses of lipopolysaccharide after sensitization with D-galactosamine, but remain sensitive to high doses of lipopolysaccharide. The increased susceptibility of Tnfr1(0)/Tnfr1(0) mutant mice to infection with the facultative intracellular bacterium Listeria monocytogenes indicates an essential role of TNF in nonspecific immunity.