Intravenous administration of human bone marrow stromal cells (hMSCs) after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo) in rats provides functional benefit. We tested the hypothesis that these functional benefits are derived in part from hMSC production of growth and trophic factors. Quantitative sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) of hMSCs cultured with normal and MCAo brain extracts were performed. hMSCs cultured in supernatant derived from ischemic brain extracts increased production of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), nerve growth factor (NGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF). These neurotrophins and angiogenic growth factors increased in a post-ischemia time-dependent manner. The hMSC capacity to increase expression of growth and trophic factors may be the key to the benefit provided by transplanted hMSCs in the ischemic brain.

Treatment of traumatic brain injury (TBI) with bone marrow stromal cells (MSCs) improves functional outcome in the rat. However, the specific mechanisms by which introduced MSCs provide benefit remain to be elucidated. Currently, the ability of therapeutically transplanted MSCs to replace injured parenchymal CNS tissue appears limited at best. Tissue replacement, however, is not the only possible compensatory avenue in cell transplantation therapy. Various growth factors have been shown to mediate the repair and replacement of damaged tissue, so trophic support provided by transplanted MSCs may play a role in the treatment of damaged tissue. We therefore investigated the temporal profile of various growth factors, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), nerve growth factor (NGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), within cultures of human MSCs (hMSCs) conditioned with cerebral tissue extract from TBI. hMSCs were cultured with TBI extracts of rat brain in vitro and quantitative sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) were performed. TBI-conditioned hMSCs cultures demonstrated a time-dependent increase of BDNF, NGF, VEGF, and HGF, indicating a responsive production of these growth factors by the hMSCs. The ELISA data suggest that transplanted hMSCs may provide therapeutic benefit via a responsive secretion of an array of growth factors that can foster neuroprotection and angiogenesis.

MVA62 was well tolerated and elicited different patterns of T cell and Ab responses when administered alone or in combination with the JS7 DNA vaccine.

Membrane voltages are ubiquitous throughout cell biology. Voltage is most commonly associated with excitable cells such as neurons and cardiomyocytes, although many other cell types and organelles also support electrical signaling. Voltage imaging in vivo would offer unique capabilities in reporting the spatial pattern and temporal dynamics of electrical signaling at the cellular and circuit levels. Voltage is not directly visible, and so a longstanding challenge has been to develop genetically encoded fluorescent voltage indicator proteins. Recent advances have led to a profusion of new voltage indicators, based on different scaffolds and with different tradeoffs between voltage sensitivity, speed, brightness, and spectrum. In this review, we describe recent advances in design and applications of genetically-encoded voltage indicators (GEVIs). We also highlight the protein engineering strategies employed to improve the dynamic range and kinetics of GEVIs and opportunities for future advances.

Bone marrow stromal cells (MSCs) administered intravenously are effective in reducing neurological deficits after stroke in the rodent. These cells appear to selectively migrate and express neural phenotypes in ischemic brain. To elucidate the mechanisms targeting MSC migration into the ischemic brain, we measured, using a microchemotaxis chamber, the effect of select chemotactic factors and cytokines expressed in injured brain, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha (MIP-1alpha) and interleukin-8 (IL-8), on migration of human bone marrow stromal cells (hMSCs). In addition, we investigated whether tissue extracts prepared from rat ischemic brain at various times after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo) induce migration of hMSCs. Our data indicate that MCP-1, MIP-1alpha and IL-8 enhance the migration of hMSCs. Ischemic brain tissue extracts at 24, 48 h and 1 week after ischemia significantly increase hMSC migration across the membrane compared to non-ischemic tissue (p<0.05). These data indicate that hMSCs are targeted by inflammatory chemotactic agents and cytokines and that ischemic brain attracts hMSCs.

Killer cell lectin-like receptor G1 (KLRG1) is one of several inhibitory killer cell lectin-like receptors expressed by NK cells and T lymphocytes, mainly CD8+ effector/memory cells that can secrete cytokines but have poor proliferative capacity. Using multiparameter flow cytometry, we studied KLRG1 expression on CD8+ T cells specific for epitopes of CMV, EBV, influenza, and HIV. Over 92% of CD8+ cells specific for CMV or EBV expressed KLRG1 during the latent stage of these chronic infections. CD8+ T cell cells specific for HIV epitopes were mostly (72–89%) KLRG1+, even though not quite at the level of predominance noted with CMV or EBV. Lower frequency of KLRG1 expression was observed among CD8+ cells specific for influenza (40–73%), a resolved infection without a latent stage. We further observed that CD8+ cells expressing CD57, a marker of replicative senescence, also expressed KLRG1; however, a population of CD57−KLRG1+ cells was also identified. This population may represent a “memory” phenotype, because they also expressed CD27, CD28, CCR7, and CD127. In contrast, CD57+KLRG1+ cells did not express CD27, CD28, and CCR7, and expressed CD127 at a much lower frequency, indicating that they represent effector cells that are truly terminally differentiated. The combination of KLRG1 and CD57 expression might thus aid in refining functional characterization of CD8+ T cell subsets.

Understanding the immune response during acute Zika in humans will aid vaccine design and testing. In 5 acute patients, including 2 pregnant women, viral levels and innate, T-, and B-cell responses against Zika or dengue viruses are described.

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