Studies have been carried out previously to determine whether mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) influence the progression of pulmonary fibrosis. Here, we asked whether MSC (derived from mouse bone marrow and human umbilical cord blood) produce factors that mediate lung fibroblast (LF) growth and matrix production. MSC-conditioned media (CM) were found by ELISA to contain significant amounts of PDGF-AA and transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1). Proliferation was increased in a concentration-dependent manner in LF cell lines and primary cells cultured in MSC-CM, but neither anti-PDGF antibodies nor PDGF receptor-specific antibodies affected proliferation, nor did a number of other antibodies to well-known mitogenic factors. However, proliferation was significantly inhibited by the Wnt signaling antagonist, secreted frizzled related protein-1 (sFRP-1). In addition, anti-Wnt1 and anti-Wnt2 antibodies attenuated MSC-CM-induced proliferation, and increased expression of Wnt7b was identified. As would be expected in cells activated by Wnt, nuclear beta-catenin was increased. The amount of TGF-beta1 in MSC-CM and its biological activity were revealed by activation at acidic pH. The stem cells synthesized and released TGF-beta1 that increased alpha1-procollagen gene expression by LF target cells. Addition of anti-TGF-beta to the MSC-CM blocked upregulation of collagen gene expression. These data demonstrate that MSC from mice and humans produce Wnt proteins and TGF-beta1 that respectively stimulate LF proliferation and matrix production, two hallmarks of fibroproliferative lung disease. It will be essential to determine whether these factors can play a role in attempts to use MSC for therapeutic approaches.

To establish a characterized model of regulatory T cell (Treg) depletion in the cat we assessed the kinetics of depletion and rebound in peripheral and central lymphoid compartments after treatment with anti-CD25 antibody as determined by cell surface markers and FOXP3 mRNA expression. An 82% decrease in circulating CD4+CD25+ Tregs was observed by day 11 after treatment. CD4+CD25+ cells were also reduced in the thymus (69%), secondary lymphoid tissues (66%), and gut (67%). Although CD4+CD25+ cells rebound by day 35 post-treatment, FOXP3 levels remain depressed suggesting anti-CD25 antibody treatment has a sustainable diminutive effect on the Treg population. To determine whether CD25+ Treg depletion strategies also deplete activated CD25+ effector cells, cats were immunized with feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) p24-GST recombinant protein, allowing them to develop a measurable memory response, prior to depletion with anti-CD25 antibody. Anti-FIV p24-GST effector cell activity in peripheral blood after depletion was sustained as determined by antigen-specific T cell proliferation and humoral responses against FIV p24-GST with an ELISA for antigen-specific feline IgG. Furthermore, development of an anti-mouse response in Treg-depleted cats was similar to control levels indicating the retained capacity to respond to a novel antigen. We conclude that despite alterations in CD25+ cell levels during depletion, the feline immune system remains functional. We demonstrate here a model for the study of disease pathogenesis in the context of reduced numbers of immunosuppressive CD4+CD25+ Tregs throughout the feline immune system.

Regulatory T cells (Treg) are increased and directly infected by feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and likely play a role in other feline autoimmune, neoplastic, and infectious diseases. Phenotypically, Treg are best characterized by surface expression of CD4 and CD25 and intranuclear expression of the forkhead transcription factor Foxp3. Our objective was to clone and sequence feline FOXP3 for the purpose of developing assays to enhance studies of feline Treg. We determined the feline FOXP3 is 1293 nucleotides in length and codes for a protein that shares high homology to other species. A splice variant devoid of exon 2 was also identified. A real-time PCR assay was developed and used to show Foxp3 mRNA expression occurs primarily in CD4+CD25+ T cells. Two crossreacting antibodies were identified by immunocytochemical staining of HEK293 cells transfected with feline FOXP3. The antibody labeling confirmed the nuclear localization of the protein. A flow cytometric assay was also validated and used to correlate the phenotypic and functional characteristics of feline Treg induced by treatment of lymph node lymphocytes with flagellin or LPS in combination with mitogen or IL2. Together, these studies provide useful tools to further investigate Foxp3 and Tregs in cats. KeywordsFoxp3; feline; Treg; regulatory T cells; Toll-like receptors ReportRegulatory T cells (Treg) can functionally suppress CD4 and CD8 T cells, B cells, NK cells, NKT cells, monocytes/macrophages, dendritic cells and neutrophils, thereby playing a key role in limiting both innate and adaptive immune responses (Azuma et al., 2003;Fallarino et al., 2003;Lewkowicz et al., 2006;Lim et al., 2005;Piccirillo and Shevach, 2004;Ralainirina et al., 2007;Taams et al., 2005;Wing et al., 2005 Publisher's Disclaimer: This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof before it is published in its final citable form. Please note that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain. The forkhead transcription factor Foxp3 has been identified as essential and sufficient to impart Treg function in mice (Ziegler, 2006). This understanding has come from two lines of study. The first involved determination of the genetic basis of autoimmune diseases observed in the scurfy mouse ) and human X-linked neonatal diabetes mellitus, enteropathy and endocrinopathy (IPEX) (Bennett et al., 2001). In both cases, mutations in the FOXP3 gene were shown to be the sole cause of these diseases that result from a lack of Treg. Second, transfection of FOXP3 into CD4+CD25− cells imparts Treg suppressive function (Fontenot et al., 2003;Hori et al., 2003;Khattri et al., 2003). NIH Public AccessRegulatory T cells have been phenotypically and functionally characterized in the cat ...

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been shown to differentiate into a variety of mesenchymal cell types, including fibroblasts, myofibroblasts, osteoblasts, chondroblasts, adipocytes, and myoblasts, as well as epithelial cells. It has been shown that these cells can be recovered from bone marrow as well as umbilical cord blood, and they can be propagated, stored, and administered to animals and patients in clinical trials. It is clear that the cells engraft in the lung, and several laboratories have demonstrated an ameliorating effect in models of acute injury caused by LPS and in chronic lung injury induced by bleomycin and asbestos. However, it is not at all clear under what conditions these cells must be applied to provide an advantage and when using these cells might cause exacerbation of the lung injury. This brief review focuses on the biology of MSCs in vitro, how the cells have been used in some animal models, and the potential for their use in therapeutic strategies for diseases as diverse as lung cancer and interstitial fibrosis.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) reside within tissues such as bone marrow, cord blood, and dental pulp and can differentiate into other mesenchymal cell types. Differentiated MSCs, called circulating fibrocytes, have been demonstrated in human lungs and migrate to injured lung tissue in experimental models. It is likely that MSCs migrate from the bone marrow to sites of injury by following increasing chemokine concentrations. In the present study, we show that primary mouse bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) exhibit directed chemotaxis through transwell inserts toward increasing concentrations of the chemokines complement component 5a, stromal cell-derived factor-1a, and monocyte chemotactic protein-1. Prior research has indicated that myristoylated alaninerich C kinase substrate (MARCKS) protein is critically important for motility in macrophages, neutrophils, and fibroblasts, and here we investigated a possible role for MARCKS in BM-MSC directed chemotaxis. The presence of MARCKS in these cells as well as in human cord blood MSC was verified by Western blotting, and MARCKS was rapidly phosphorylated in these cells after exposure to chemokines. A synthetic peptide that inhibits MARCKS function attenuated, in a concentration-dependent manner, directed chemotaxis of BM-MSCs, while a missense control peptide had no effect. Our results illustrate, for the first time, that MARCKS protein plays an integral role in BM-MSC-directed chemotaxis in vitro.

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The pharmacokinetics of losartan and EXP3174, an active metabolite of losartan, were evaluated in the anesthetized pig after both a single intravenous dose (3 mg/kg) and during constant intravenous infusion. The pharmacodynamic activities of losartan and EXP3174 were determined during constant intravenous infusion as the degree of inhibition of angiotensin II-induced increase in the diastolic pressure. The systemic plasma clearance of losartan was 22.1 +/- 4.4 ml/min/kg (mean +/- SEM) and had an apparent volume of distribution at steady state of 0.56 +/- 0.16 L/kg after a 3-mg/kg intravenous dose. The elimination half-life of losartan was 40 +/- 6 min. Less than 2% of the intravenous losartan doses was estimated to be present as unconjugated EXP3174. The plasma clearance of EXP3174 was approximately 50% that of losartan, 11.8 +/- 1.5 ml/min/kg, and had a smaller steady-state apparent volume of distribution, 0.18 +/- 0.04 L/kg. The elimination half-life for EXP3174 was slightly longer than that of losartan (52 min). The time course of the pharmacodynamic effects of losartan and EXP3174 closely followed their respective plasma concentrations. The apparent dissociation constant of EXP3174 to the angiotensin II receptor was estimated, based on the total plasma concentrations, to be approximately 5 times lower than that for losartan.

The disposition of intravenously (0.5 mg/kg) and orally (5 mg/kg) administered verapamil was studied in six dogs after 3 days' pre-treatment with verapamil alone (5 mg/kg, every 8 h) and during concomitant oral administration of cimetidine (16 mg/kg, every 8 h). Racemic verapamil and norverapamil, an active metabolite of verapamil, were measured by fluorescence high performance liquid chromatography using an achiral phenyl column. The isolated racemic verapamil was rechromatographed on an Ultron-OVM chiral column, which separated the two verapamil enantiomers. Cimetidine co-administration significantly reduced the systemic clearance of racemic verapamil as well as that of its enantiomers by 25-29%. The clearance of racemic verapamil administered orally as well as that of its enantiomers was also reduced by 28% during cimetidine coadministration. The decrease in verapamil metabolism by cimetidine appeared to be non-stereoselective. On the other hand, cimetidine co-administration had no significant effect on the apparent volume of distribution of racemic verapamil and its enantiomers or the plasma protein binding or the blood to plasma concentration ratio of racemic verapamil. In addition, the ratio of the area under the plasma concentration-time curve for norverapamil to that of verapamil was unaffected by cimetidine co-administration.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)