The chemokines CXCL10/IP-10, CCL2/MCP-1, and CCL4/MIP-1β, mainly targeting the T-helper (Th)1 immune response, decreased after treatment with anti-TNF, suggesting a more pronounced effect on Th1 activity than on Th2-mediated response. Several chemokine receptors on blood T cells were elevated in RA patients, suggesting that they may be involved in the recruitment of T lymphocytes from the blood to affected tissues.

Since tumour progression is dependent on the ability of malignant cells to interact with the extracellular matrix (ECM), we have investigated the significance of beta1 and beta3 integrins for migration of lung cancer cells to components of the ECM. In an in vitro hapto- and chemotactic assay system, five cell lines representing the major types of lung cancer were examined: adenocarcinoma (WART); squamous cell carcinoma (U-1752); small cell lung cancer (SCLC) (U-1906, 054 A) and large cell lung cancer (LCLC) (U-1810). Flow cytometric analyses were performed to characterize their integrin expression. U-1906, 054 A, WART and U-1752 all expressed beta1 integrins whereas U-1810 did not. However, U-1810 and U-1752 expressed beta3 integrins. All cell lines except U-1810 and U-1752 showed hapto- and chemotactic motility to fibronectin, laminin and type IV collagen and this motility was beta1 integrin-dependent except in the case of U-1810. However, the hapto- and chemotactic responses differed markedly between the separate cell lines and there was no distinct pattern to separate non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) from SCLC. No or very little migration was seen in control experiments with bovine serum albumin (BSA) or serum-free medium alone, indicating that the migration of the lung cancer cells require adhesion molecules, soluble or substratum bound. We have found the involvement of beta1 integrins in lung cancer cell migration in vitro towards fibronectin, laminin and type IV collagen except in the case of U-1810. The U-1810 cell line clearly differed from the rest of the cell lines by lacking expression of beta1 integrins.

The possible implications of cell membrane dynamics in the host--parasite relationship has been studied. Entamoeba histolytica rapidly redistributed and internalized antibodies and Con A bound to its surface. The process was dependent on temperature, cell metabolism and changes of pH in the environment. Phagocytizing amoebae displayed a higher rate of membrane perturbations, which were similarly affected by temperature, cell metabolism and pH variations. Cytochalasin B partially inhibited the redistribution whereas colchicine did not. Colchicine in combination with Cytochalasin B augmented the inhibitory effect of Cytochalasin B alone. The expression of antigens at the surface of the amoeba showed cyclic fluctuations during cell growth.

No abstract

The present results suggest that prestorage WBC filtration may be more efficient in reducing the cytokine content of RBCs compared to filtration at the the end of the storage period. The clinical impact of passive transfer of components of the cytokine network via RBCs, e.g., in critically ill patients, is however unclear and needs further investigations.

No abstract

Binding to the surface of living E. histolytica trophozoites of 125I-labelled anti-amoeba antibodies or of such antibodies and antiglobulin resulted in a rapid disappearance of the antibody into the medium. This disappearance consisted of a rapid temperature-independent and a subsequent slow temperature-dependent phase. The disappearance of antibody from fixed trophozoites merely consisted of a temperature-independent rapid phase whereas no slow phase was observed. The magnitude of the rapid phase of antibody disappearance was virtually the same in living and fixed cells. During culture of living trophozoites for 4 h the amount of iodine-labelled material sedimenting lighter than monomeric IgG increased from 2% to 14% of all labelled material in the case of the single antibody layer. The corresponding values for the double layer were 2% and 32%. Of the material lighter than IgG, 10% of that in the single layer and 26% of that in the double layer were detected in the medium. Thus, during the 4-h culture period 25% of the originally amoeba-bound single layer of antibody probably disappeared from the cells not complexed with antigen, 27% disappeared as complexes heavier than IgG, 10% disappeared as material lighter than IgG, and 38% persisted on or within the cells. The corresponding values for the double layer of antibody were 10%, 30%, 26% and 34%.

With immunofluorescence technique by using specific antibodies, polymerized actin (F-actin) was found to be present in the peripheral parts of the cells in all layers of epidermis from lesional skin taken from twelve psoriatics, whereas normal epidermis from the same individuals showed no such reactivity. This finding might have some bearing on the induction of these lesions.