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In a recent workshop organized by the JDRF focused on the 'Identification and Utilization of Robust Biomarkers in Type1 Diabetes', leaders in the field of type 1 diabetes ( T1D)/autoimmunity and assay technology came together from academia, government and industry to assess the current state of the field, evaluate available resources/technologies and identify gaps that need to be filled for moving the field of T1D research forward. The highlights of this workshop are discussed in this paper, as well as the proposal for a larger, planned consortium effort, incorporating a JDRF Biomarker Core, to foster collaboration and accelerate progress in this critically needed area of T1D research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating inflammatory disorder of the central nervous system (CNS), which involves autoimmune responses to myelin antigens. Studies in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model for MS, have provided convincing evidence that T cells specific for self-antigens mediate pathology in these diseases. Until recently, T helper type 1 (Th1) cells were thought to be the main effector T cells responsible for the autoimmune inflammation. However more recent studies have highlighted an important pathogenic role for CD4+ T cells that secrete interleukin (IL)-17, termed Th17, but also IL-17-secreting γδ T cells in EAE as well as other autoimmune and chronic inflammatory conditions. This has prompted intensive study of the induction, function and regulation of IL-17-producing T cells in MS and EAE. In this paper, we review the contribution of Th1, Th17, γδ, CD8+ and regulatory T cells as well as the possible development of new therapeutic approaches for MS based on manipulating these T cell subtypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In industrialized nations and high-income regions of the world, the decline of infectious diseases is paralleled by an increase in allergic, autoimmune and chronic inflammatory diseases (AACID). Changes in lifestyle in westernized societies, which impact individually and collectively on intestinal microbiota, may – at least in part – account for the AACID pandemic. Many disease genes that contribute to AACID encode pattern recognition and signalling molecules in barrier-associated cells. Interactions between gene products and environmental factors depend highly upon the host's state of maturation, the composition of the skin and gut microflora, and exposure to pollutants, antibiotics and nutrients. Inflammatory stress responses, if regulated appropriately, ensure immunity, health and relative longevity; when they are dysregulated, they can no longer be terminated appropriately and thus precipitate AACID. The 99th Dahlem Conference brought together experts of various disciplines (genetics, evolution biology, molecular biology, structural biology, cell biology, immunology, microbiology, nutrition science, epidemiology and clinical medicine) to discuss the multi-faceted relationships between infection, immunity and inflammation in barrier organs and the development of AACID. In Clinical and Experimental Immunology we are presenting a compilation of background papers that formed the basis of discussions. Controversial viewpoints and gaps in current knowledge were examined and new concepts for prevention and treatment of CID were formulated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetic and acquired abnormalities in complement factor H (CFH) have been associated with two different human renal diseases: haemolytic uraemic syndrome and membrano proliferative glomerulonephritis. The new genetic and pathogenetic findings in these diseases and their clinical implications for the management and cure of patients are reviewed in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Factor H is the major regulatory protein of the alternative pathway of complement activation. Abnormalities in factor H have been associated with renal disease, namely glomerulonephritis with C3 deposition including membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) and the atypical haemolytic uraemic syndrome (aHUS). Furthermore, a common factor H polymorphism has been identified as a risk factor for the development of age-related macular degeneration. These associations suggest that alternative pathway dysregulation is a common feature in the pathogenesis of these conditions. However, with respect to factor H-associated renal disease, it is now clear that distinct molecular defects in the protein underlie the pathogenesis of glomerulonephritis and HUS. In this paper we review the associations between human factor H dysfunction and renal disease and explore how observations in both spontaneous and engineered animal models of factor H dysfunction have contributed to our understanding of the pathogenesis of factor H-related renal disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by an excessive inflammatory response to inhaled particles, mainly tobacco smoking. T lymphocytes are important regulatory cells that secrete several cytokines and participate actively in this inflammatory response. According to the pattern of cytokines secreted, the immune response is classified as cytotoxic or type 1 [interferon (IFN)-γ-, interleukin (IL)-2-dependent] and humoral or type 2 (IL-4-, IL-5-, IL-10- and IL-13-dependent). This paper sought to compare the intracellular profile of cytokine expression determined by flow cytometry in T lymphocytes harvested from bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and peripheral blood in patients with COPD, smokers with normal lung function and never smokers. We found that BAL T lymphocytes from COPD patients had a higher percentage of positive stained cells for most of the cytokines analysed when compared to never smokers or smokers with normal lung function. Differences reached statistical significance for IL-4, IL-10 and IL-13, particularly in CD8+ T cells. Furthermore, the expression of most of these cytokines was related inversely to the degree of airflow obstruction present suggesting local activation and/or selective homing of T lymphocytes to the lungs in COPD patients. These observations were not reproduced in circulating T lymphocytes. These results suggest that BAL T lymphocytes in patients with COPD produce more cytokines than in controls and tend to show a type 2 pattern of intracellular cytokine expression, particularly a Tc-2 profile. This is related inversely to the degree of airflow obstruction present. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents various research papers, published in an earlier issue of the journal "Clinical & Experimental Immunology". One of the abstract talk about functional activities of sera from normal individuals with a range of C4A and C4B concentrations. Human C4 consists of two distinct highly polymorphic proteins C4A and C4B. Pre-eclampaia continues to be one of the most frequently encountered complications of human pregnancy with immune complexes being considered as an aetiological factor. If pre-eclampsia is indeed an immune complex disorder, then it might be expected that as with other "connective tissue" diseases, precipitation of clinical symptoms may be heralded by a reduction of Erythrocyte CRl (ECRl) expression.

The article presents various research papers related to complement deficiencies, published in an earlier issue of the journal "Clinical & Experimental Immunology". One of the abstracts talk about acquired deficiency in C1-inhibitor associated with an undifferentiated gastric adenocarcinoma. Acquired deficiency in C1-inhibitor (C1-INH) clinically manifests similar to hereditary angioedema and is usually associated with a B cell malignancy or is sometimes characterized by an autoantibody towards the C1-INH molecule.

Lymphocytes bearing complement receptors were separated from lymphocyte suspensions using C3-reacted Sepharose columns as solid phase immunoabsorbents. The retained CR + lymphocytes were recovered by elution of the column with IgG fraction purified from a rabbit antiserum to human C3. This paper describes the method, its specificity and the yields of cells obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the application of parallel bioassay to the measurement of lymphocyte mitogenic, inflammatory and macrophage migration inhibitory activities present in guinea-pig lymphokine preparations. Seven lymphokine preparations were made under similar conditions by antigen activation of sensitized guinea-pig peritoneal exudate cells; and one of these was prepared in sufficient quantity as a 'working standard' for the repeated assay of the three lymphokine activities in the other six 'test' preparations. Mean potency ratios of the separate lymphokine activities were calculated for the test preparations by reference to those of the standard preparation (designated as unity). Although the seven preparations were made under operationally similar circumstances, χ² analysis of the assay results revealed that the three separate lymphokine activities occurred in different absolute amounts and relative proportions in the different preparations. This demonstration by parallel bioassay of heterogeneity and dissociation of lymphokine activities implies that these biological activities cannot be ascribed to a single substance. This type of analysis has general application in the characterization and separation of biologically active substances present in preparations exhibiting multiple activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a list of words used in several papers published in the December 1974 issue of the periodical "Clinical and Experimental Immunology." Some of the words are agglutinins, allogenic cells, antibodies, cold, cross idiotypic specificity, heterophilic, malarial infection, antigens, smooth muscles, hepatitis B, hyposensitization of mast cells, lymphokines, peripheral blood, T-cells, B-Cells, hookworms, immune response, immunity, cystic fibrosis, immunofluorescence, leprosy, leucocytes migration and leukemia,

The article presents various research papers related to clinical assay and bioincompatibility, published in an earlier issue of the journal "Clinical & Experimental Immunology". A flow cytometric assay has been developed to measure complement receptor 1 (CR1) and the complement fragments C3d and C4d on erythrocytes. It is possible to measure these parameters accurately with intra and interest coefficient of variation of 2.0 percent and 6.5 percent respectively. The method discriminates between low and high levels of erythrocyte CR1, C3d and C4d. Another abstract talks about activity of recombinant soluble decay accelerating factor. Decay Accelerating Factor is normally a membrane-bound glycoprotein anchored to the cell surface by a glycophospholipid membrane anchor.

The article presents some subject related terms that appear in the papers presented in the June 1988 issue of the journal "Clinical & Experimental Immunology." Some of the terms in the list include: actinomycin, activation markers, activity antiidiotypic, AIDS, predictors of progression to, alcoholic cirrhosis, anaesthetic, angiotensin-converting enzyme, bacteria, bioassay, biotin avidin ELISA, blood transfusion, bone marrow, bronchoalveolar lavage, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, cartilage crossreactivity to.

The article presents a list of words that have been used in various papers published in the December 1986 issue of the periodical "Clinical and Experimental Immunology." Some of the words are acute phase reactants, adenine nucleotide translocator, adenosine uptake, ageing, AIDS, allergic-untreated, antitrypsin, interferon, amyloidosis, amyloid P component, anomalous killer function, antibodies, endotoxin, eosinophil activation, eosinophils, epithelial-HLA-DR expression, exercise training, extracellular cationic streptococcal products and facteur thymique serique.

The article presents an announcement by the editors, editorial board and publishers of "Clinical and Experimental Immunology" regarding a change in the style of reference citations in the Journal, in issues published after January 1992. The present Harvard system of reference citation will be superseded by the Vancouver system. The article states that only papers related to the authors' work should be referred to in the paper, and that exhaustive lists are to be avoided. It has also been noted that all manuscripts submitted to the Journal must be submitted with references in the new style.

This article presents information on the contributions of editor Jonn L. Turk to the journal "Clinical and Experimental Immunology." Turk took the Journal over at short notice and under less than ideal circumstances. He worked energetically to build up its reputation for publishing first-rate papers both on medical immunology and on the more basic and experimental aspects. John's quiet but forceful style and his friendly persuasiveness with his scientific colleagues, attracted good papers for the journal and minimized publication problems and delays.

This article presents information on research papers related to immunology. In the paper "Modulatory Effects of Oestrogen on Immunological Responsiveness. Suppression of Tumour-Associated Immunity in Patients With Prostatic Cancer," the authors wish to point out that retrospective evaluation of the patients in this study has disclosed an effect of hormonal therapy, i.e. orchiectomy and or oestrogen on tumour-associated immunity independent of the effect of in vitro preincubation of patients' leucocytes with DES-P. While in "Migration of Sensitized Mouse Spleen Cells by Cell-Associated Transplantation Antigens: Effect of Method of Antigen Presentation," the authors wish to point out that they have been unable to repeat the MIF assay technique.

The article presents various research papers related to complement and killing of pathogens, published in an earlier issue of the journal "Clinical & Experimental Immunology". One of the abstract talks about immune lysis of Trypanosoma congolense (T. congolense). Organisms of T. congolense, variant antigenic type (VAT) TC13, were incubated with fresh bovine serum in the presence or absence of specific antibody to VAT TC13. In the presence of specific antibody, two forms of variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) were found in the supernatant fluid of the incubation mixture, first free soluble VSG and second a soluble complex of VSG covalently bound to bovine complement component C3b.

This article reports that the EORTC Symposium on the Immunopharmacological Effects of Radiotherapy will be held during March 13-15, 1980 in Montpelier, France. The program will include invited and proffered papers and is designed to promote discussion on the following topics: Effects of ionizing radiation on the immune response, clinical and experimental aspects; Immediate, secondary and long-term incidences of radiotherapy on the immune response and on the host-tumor relationship in cancer patients and Correction or modulation of the changes induced by radiotherapy.