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The activating Natural killer group 2 member D (NKG2D) receptor is typically expressed on NK cells, CD8 T lymphocytes, γδ T cells and small subsets of CD4 T lymphocytes. During the course of an extensive flow cytometry phenotyping of immune cells in the peripheral blood of patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) we noticed an unexpected expression of NKG2D receptor on granulocytes using the phycoerythrin (PE)‐conjugated clone 149810 antibody. Peripheral blood samples from 35 patients with GBM and 22 age‐matched healthy control (HC) donors were analyzed using flow cytometry, imaging cytometry and real‐time quantitative reverse transcription PCR to validate the observed expression of NKG2D receptor on myeloid cells. Reactivity with PE‐149810 was mostly observed on granulocytes from GBM patients on dexamethasone treatment where it correlated with inferior survival rates. Surprisingly, such NKG2D expression on granulocytes was not observed using the allophycocyanin (APC)‐conjugate of the same clone 149810 antibody or an indirect staining procedure with unconjugated clone 149810 antibody. Moreover, the PE‐conjugate of a different anti‐NKG2D clone (1D11) also did not stain granulocytes. Imaging cytometry indicated cell surface and intracellular localization of PE‐149810 but not of PE‐1D11 in granulocytes. Our results uncover an erroneous and false positive reactivity of PE‐labeled (but not of APC‐labeled or unconjugated) anti‐NKG2D antibody 149810 on granulocytes from dexamethasone‐treated GBM patients and raise a note of caution for studies of NKG2D expression on non‐lymphoid cells.

The aim of this study was to determine if micro-(mi-)RNAs are involved in the previously reported inverse correlation between the antileukoproteinase SLPI, HPV, and smoking habit of head and neck squamous cells carcinoma (HNSCC) patients.

Activation of the hypothalamus–pituitary–interrenal (HPI) axis is characteristic of stress responses, which may result from a variety of environmental challenges. To investigate whether the stress response, and in particular the HPI axis, in tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) is compromised by short-term exposure to PCB 126, fish of both sexes were fed diets containing PCB 126 (50 μg/kg fish·day) for 5 days. In the first approach, which was performed twice, fish were acutely stressed for periods varying between 1 and 30 min at the end of the exposure period; in the second approach fish were sampled at the end of the exposure period either at rest or after 2 h of stress (confinement). After 5 days, the body weights in all experiments were significantly lower in PCB-fed fish than in control fish. There were no changes in basal plasma glucose levels, plasma ion concentrations, or branchial, renal, and intestinal Na,K-ATPase activity following PCB exposure. In the first experimental approach, in which fish experienced acute sampling stress, plasma cortisol levels reached lower levels in PCB-fed fish than in controls. This suggests an impaired ability to acutely activate interrenal steroidogenesis in PCB-treated tilapia. Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)- and cAMP-stimulatedin vitrocortisol release from superfused head kidneys was lower in tissues from tilapia exposed to PCB 126 than in tissues from control animals. This effect persisted after 24 hin vitro,which, together with the high PCB 126 concentrations measured in the head kidneys of PCB-fed fish, may indicate direct toxic effects on the interrenal cells. The second experimental approach demonstrated that basal plasma cortisol and ACTH levels were not influenced by PCB treatment, but that the basal ACTH content of the rostral pars distalis (RPD) of the pituitary gland of PCB-fed fish was lower than that of control fish. After 2 h confinement, plasma cortisol levels and ACTH content of the RPD rose to similar values in both groups, whereas plasma ACTH levels were higher in confined PCB-fed fish than in confined controls. PCB-fed fish showed a lower hyperglycemic response to confinement than control fish. Confinement resulted in similarly elevated renal and intestinal Na,K-ATPase activities in both PCB-fed and control fish; branchial enzyme activities were not affected. Since PCB did not affect Na,K-ATPase activities and plasma ion concentrations, it is concluded that the effects of PCB 126 on the HPI axis in tilapia are not secondary to ionoregulatory dysfunction.

•Fist study analysing tissue, brushes and sputum for all patients also for viral mRNA.•HPV detection performed in brushes/sputum inconsistently reflect tissue HPV status.•In terms of virus activity, p16 seems insufficient to predict tissue HPV status.•E6-mRNA analysis detects active HPV infection in non-neoplastic tonsillar tissues.•Data gives rise to the question whether tonsillectomy might prevent TSCC.

HPV-infection in patients with HNSCC is reportedly correlated with sexual behavior, age, and tobacco/alcohol-consumption. HPV-infections of the oral cavity are regarded as sexually transmitted. Comparable data of patient populations outside the U.S. are sparse or missing.

ABSTRACTDespite aggressive treatment regimens based on surgery and radiochemotherapy, the prognosis of patients with grade IV glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) remains extremely poor, calling for alternative options such as immunotherapy. Immunological mechanisms including the Natural Killer Group 2 member D (NKG2D) receptor-ligand system play an important role in tumor immune surveillance and targeting the NKG2D system might be beneficial. However, before considering any kind of immunotherapy, a precise characterization of the immune system is important, particularly in GBM patients where conventional therapies with impact on the immune system are frequently co-administered. Here we performed an in-depth immunophenotyping of GBM patients and age-matched healthy controls and analyzed NKG2D ligand expression on primary GBM cells ex vivo. We report that GBM patients have a compromised innate immune system irrespective of steroid (dexamethasone) medication. However, dexamethasone drastically reduced the number of immune cells in the blood of GBM patients. Moreover, higher counts of immune cells influenced by dexamethasone like CD45+lymphocytes and non-Vδ2 γδ T cells were associated with better overall survival. Higher levels of NKG2D ligands on primary GBM tumor cells were observed in patients who received radiochemotherapy, pointing towards increased immunogenic potential of GBM cells following standard radiochemotherapy. This study sheds light on how steroids and radiochemotherapy affect immune cell parameters of GBM patients, a pre-requisite for the development of new therapeutic strategies targeting the immune system in these patients.