We identified primary cilia and centrosomes in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) by antibodies to acetyl-α-tubulin and capillary morphogenesis gene-1 product (CMG-1), a human homologue of the intraflagellar transport (IFT) protein IFT-71 in Chlamydomonas. CMG-1 was present in particles along primary cilia of HUVEC at interphase and around the oldest basal body/centriole at interphase and mitosis. To study the response of primary cilia and centrosomes to mechanical stimuli, we exposed cultured HUVEC to laminar shear stress (LSS). Under LSS, all primary cilia disassembled, and centrosomes were deprived of CMG-1. We conclude that the exposure to LSS ends the IFT in cultured endothelial cells.

Background and Aims The recruitment and activation of inflammatory cells in the liver delineates the transition from hepatic steatosis to steatohepatitis (SH). Approach and Results We found that in SH, γδT cells are recruited to the liver by C‐C chemokine receptor (CCR) 2, CCR5, and nucleotide‐binding oligomerization domain‐containing protein 2 signaling and are skewed toward an interleukin (IL)‐17A+ phenotype in an inducible costimulator (ICOS)/ICOS ligand–dependent manner. γδT cells exhibit a distinct Vγ4+, PD1+, Ly6C+CD44+ phenotype in SH. Moreover, γδT cells up‐regulate both CD1d, which is necessary for lipid‐based antigens presentation, and the free fatty acid receptor, CD36. γδT cells are stimulated to express IL‐17A by palmitic acid and CD1d ligation. Deletion, depletion, and targeted interruption of γδT cell recruitment protects against diet‐induced SH and accelerates disease resolution. Conclusions We demonstrate that hepatic γδT cells exacerbate SH, independent of IL‐17 expression, by mitigating conventional CD4+ T‐cell expansion and modulating their inflammatory program by CD1d‐dependent vascular endothelial growth factor expression.

Concanavalin-A (Con-A) hepatitis is regarded as a T cell-mediated model of acute liver injury. Mincle is a C-type lectin receptor (CLR) that is critical in the immune response to mycobacteria and fungi, but does not have a well-defined role in pre-clinical models of non-pathogen mediated inflammation. Since Mincle can ligate the cell death ligand SAP130, we postulated that Mincle signaling drives intrahepatic inflammation and liver injury in Con-A hepatitis. Acute liver injury was assessed in the murine Con-A hepatitis model using C57BL/6, Mincle−/−, and Dectin-1−/− mice. The role of C/EBPβ and HIF-1α signaling was assessed using selective inhibitors. We found that Mincle was highly expressed in hepatic innate inflammatory cells and endothelial cells in both mice and humans. Furthermore, sterile Mincle ligands and Mincle signaling intermediates were increased in the murine liver in Con-A hepatitis. Most significantly, Mincle deletion or blockade protected against Con-A hepatitis whereas Mincle ligation exacerbated disease. Bone marrow chimeric and adoptive transfer experiments suggested that Mincle signaling in infiltrating myeloid cells dictates disease phenotype. Conversely, signaling via other CLRs did not alter disease course. Mechanistically, we found that Mincle blockade decreased the NF-κβ related signaling intermediates, C/EBPβ and HIF-1α, both of which are necessary in macrophage-mediated inflammatory responses. Accordingly, Mincle deletion lowered production of nitrites in Con-A hepatitis and inhibition of both C/EBPβ and HIF1-α reduced the severity of liver disease. Our work implicates a novel innate immune driver of Con-A hepatitis and, more broadly, suggests a potential role for Mincle in diseases governed by sterile inflammation.

No abstract

Blastomycosis is a fungal infection caused by Blastomyces species. This infection is endemic to North America particularly states bordering the Mississippi, Ohio and St Lawrence Rivers, and the Great Lakes but also occurs worldwide. While the most common site of infection is the lung, it can also manifest in the bones, skin and central nervous system. Blastomycosis is a great masquerader and it can present in a manner difficult to distinguish from bacterial pneumonia, tuberculosis (TB), histoplasmosis or carcinoma. Here, we describe a 36-year-old male with disseminated blactomycosis infection who presented with right arm weakness. Initial diagnostic evaluation was cofounded by a previous concern for TB; however, broncho-alveolar lavage confirmed Blastomyces spp. Pulmonary and brain lesions markedly improved after Amphotericin and Itraconazole.