To study a potential IL-12p40-dependent but IL-12p75-independent agonistic activity regulating the immune response against Salmonella Enteritidis, the course of infection in IL-12p35-deficient mice (IL-12p35−/−, capable of producing IL-12p40) was compared with that of IL-12p40−/− mice. Mice lacking IL-12p40 revealed a higher mortality rate and higher bacterial organ burden than mice capable of producing IL-12p40. This phenotype was found in both genetically susceptible (BALB/c, Itys) and resistant mice (129Sv/Ev, Ityr) indicating Ity-independent mechanisms. The more effective control of bacteria in the IL-12p35−/− mice was associated with elevated serum IFN-γ and TNF-α levels. In contrast, IL-12p40−/− mice showed reduced IFN-γ production, which was associated with significantly elevated serum IgE levels. Early during infection (days 3 and 4 postinfection), as well as late (day 20 postinfection), the number of infected phagocytes was strongly increased in the absence of IL-12p40 indicating impaired bactericidal activity when IL-12p40 was missing. Liver histopathology revealed a decreased number of mononuclear granulomas in IL-12p40−/− mice. Depletion of CD4+ or CD8+ T lymphocytes in vivo suggested that both T cell subpopulations contribute to the IL-12p40-dependent protective functions. Analysis of IL-12p40 vs IL-23p19 mRNA expression revealed an up-regulation of only IL-12p40 mRNA during Salmonella infection. Together these data indicate that IL-12p40 can induce protective mechanisms during both the innate and the adaptive type 1 immune response in Salmonella infection. This novel activity of IL-12p40 complements the well described dominant and essential role of IL-12p75 in protective immunity to Salmonella infection.

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Summary Background The precise mapping of multiple antibody epitopes recognized by patients’ sera allows a more detailed and differentiated understanding of immunological diseases. It may lead to the development of novel therapies and diagnostic tools. Objective Mapping soy bean specific epitopes relevant for soy bean allergy patients and persons sensitized to soy bean, and analysis of their IgE/IgG binding spectrum. Methods Identification of epitopes using sera, applying an optimized peptide phage display library followed by next‐generation sequencing, specially designed in silico data analysis and subsequent peptide microarray analysis. Results We were able to identify more than 400 potential epitope motifs in soy bean proteins. More than 60% of them have not yet been described as potential epitopes. Eighty‐three peptides, representing the 42 most frequently found epitope candidates, were validated by microarray analysis using 50 sera from people who have been tested positive in skin prick test (SPT). Of these peptides, 56 were bound by antibodies, 55 by serum IgE, 43 by serum IgG and 30 by both. Person‐specific epitope patterns were found for each individual and protein. Conclusions For individuals with clinical symptoms, epitope resolved analyses reveal a high prevalence of IgE binding to a few soy bean specific epitopes. Evaluation of individual immune profiles of patients with soy bean sensitization allows the identification of peptides that do facilitate studying individual IgE/IgG epitope binding patterns. This enables discrimination of sensitization from disease, such assay test has the potential to replace SPT assays

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Human Thy-1 (CD90) has been shown to mediate adhesion of inflammatory cells to activated microvascular endothelial cells via interaction with Mac-1 (CD11b/CD18) in vitro. Since there are no data showing the physiological relevance of Thy-1 for the recruitment of inflammatory cells in vivo, different inflammation models were investigated in Thy-1-deficient mice and littermate controls. In thioglycollate-induced peritonitis, the number of neutrophils and monocytes was significantly diminished in Thy-1-deficient mice. During acute lung inflammation, the extravasation of eosinophils and monocytes into the lung was significantly reduced in Thy-1-deficient mice. Moreover, during chronic lung inflammation, the influx of eosinophils and monocytes was also strongly decreased. These effects were independent of Thy-1 expression on T cells, as shown by the transplantation of WT BM into the Thy-1-deficient mice. In spite of the strong Thy-1 expression on T cells in the chimeric mice, the extravasation of the inflammatory cells in these mice was significantly diminished, compared to control mice. Finally, the altered number and composition of infiltrating leukocytes in Thy-1-deficient mice modified the chemokine/cytokine and protease expression at the site of inflammation. In conclusion, Thy-1 is involved in the control of inflammatory cell recruitment and, thus, also in conditioning the inflammatory microenvironment.Key words: Extravasation . Inflammation . Thy-1 Supporting Information available online IntroductionThe recruitment of inflammatory cells to sites of inflammation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of several inflammatory diseases. Leukocyte adhesion to endothelial cells (ECs) follows a multistep process, including the capture of free leukocytes out of the blood stream, rolling, firm adhesion, and transendothelial diapedesis. The importance of several adhesion molecules in this series of events has been described previously [1]. In ICAM-1-deficient mice, neutrophil recruitment was significantly reduced, but it was not completely blocked in a chemical peritonitis model or in a lipopolysaccharide 645(LPS)-induced airway inflammation model, indicating the involvement of additional adhesion molecules [2,3]. Furthermore, leukocyte recruitment in experimental colitis was not affected by blocking ICAM-1 or MadCAM, whereas the blocking of VCAM-1 resulted in a significant attenuation of colitis [4]. Thus, under specific inflammatory conditions, certain adhesion molecules mediate adhesion and transmigration of leukocytes into the perivascular tissue.Recently, human Thy-1 expressed on ECs was identified as an adhesion molecule mediating the binding of neutrophils and monocytes to activated microvascular ECs [5]. Thy-1 is a highly glycosylated GPI-anchored surface protein and a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily [6,7,8]. In humans, Thy-1 is expressed on ECs at sites of inflammation or in tumours whereas ECs do not express Thy-1 in healthy tissue [5,9]. Thy-1 is also expressed on fibroblasts, neurons, and a su...