• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제20권1호
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• pp.2.1-2.19
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• 2020

Acute viral infection or vaccination generates highly functional memory CD8 T cells following the Ag resolution. In contrast, persistent antigenic stimulation in chronic viral infection and cancer leads to a state of T-cell dysfunction termed T-cell exhaustion. We and other have recently identified a novel subset of exhausted CD8 T cells that act as stem cells for maintaining virus-specific CD8 T cells in a mouse model of chronic lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus infection. This stem cell-like CD8 T-cell subset has been also observed in both mouse and human tumor models. Most importantly, in both chronic viral infection and tumor models, the proliferative burst of Ag-specific CD8 T cells driven by PD-1-directed immunotherapy comes exclusively from this stem cell-like CD8 T-cell subset. Therefore, a better understanding of the mechanisms how CD8 T-cell subsets are regulated during chronic viral infection and cancer is required to improve the current immunotherapies that restore the function of exhausted CD8 T cells. In this review, we discuss the differentiation of virus-specific CD8 T cells during chronic viral infection, the characteristics and function of CD8 T-cell subsets, and the therapeutic intervention of PD-1-directed immunotherapy in cancer.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제23권5호
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• pp.41.1-41.21
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• 2023

CD4 and CD8 T cells are key players in the immune response against both pathogenic infections and cancer. CD4 T cells provide help to CD8 T cells via multiple mechanisms, including licensing dendritic cells (DCs), co-stimulation, and cytokine production. During acute infection and vaccination, CD4 T cell help is important for the development of CD8 T cell memory. However, during chronic viral infection and cancer, CD4 helper T cells are critical for the sustained effector CD8 T cell response, through a variety of mechanisms. In this review, we focus on T cell responses in conditions of chronic Ag stimulation, such as chronic viral infection and cancer. In particular, we address the significant role of CD4 T cell help in promoting effector CD8 T cell responses, emerging techniques that can be utilized to further our understanding of how these interactions may take place in the context of tertiary lymphoid structures, and how this key information can be harnessed for therapeutic utility against cancer.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제40권3호
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• pp.119-129
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• 2002

Although there are many reports on the splenic (systemic) T cell response after Toxoptasma gondii infection, little information is available regarding the local T cell responses of peritoneal exudate cells (PEC) and gut intraepithelial Iymphocytes (IEL) following peroral infection with bradyzoites. Mice were infected with 40 cysts of the 76K strain of T. gondii, and then sacrificed at days 0, 1, 4, 7 and 10 postinfection (PI). The cellular composition and T cell responses of PEC and IEL were analyzed. The total number of PEC and IEL per mouse increased after infection, but the ratio of increase was higher in IEL. Lymphocytes were the major component of both PEC and IEL. The relative percentages of PEC macrophages and neutrophils/eosinophils increased signiflcantly at day 1 and 4 PI, whereas those of IEL did not change significantly. The percentage of PEC NK1.1 and ${\gamma\delta}T$ cells peaked at day 4 PI (p < 0.0001), and CD4 and $CD8{\alpha}T$ cells increased continuously after infection. The percentages of IEL $CD8{\alpha}$ and ${\gamma\delta}T$ cells decreased slightly at first, and then increased. CD4 and NK1.1 T cells of IEL did not change significantly after infection. $IFN-{\gamma}-producing$ PEC NK1.1 T cells increased significantly from day 1 PI, but the other T cell subsets produced $IFN-{\gamma}$ abundantly thereafter. The proportion of IEL $IFN-{\gamma}-producing$ $CD8{\alpha}$ and ${\gamma\delta}T$ cells increased significantly after infection, while IEL NK1.1 T cells had similar $IFN-{\gamma}$ production patterns. Taken together, CD4 T cells were the major phenotype and the important $IFN-{\gamma}$ producing T cell subsets in PEC after oral infection with T. gondii whereas $CD8{\alpha}T$ cells had these roles in IEL. These results suggest that PEC and IEL comprise different cell differentials and T cell responses, and according to infection route these factors may contribute to the different cellular immune responses.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제13권5호
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• pp.168-176
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• 2013

In the last few years major progress has been made in better understanding the role of natural killer (NK) cells in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. This includes multiple pathways by which HCV impairs or limits NK cells activation. Based on current genetic and functional data, a picture is emerging where only a rapid and strong NK cell response early on during infection which results in strong T cell responses and possible subsequent clearance, whereas chronic HCV infection is associated with dysfunctional or biased NK cells phenotypes. The hallmark of this NK cell dysfunction is persistent activation promoting ongoing hepatitis and hepatocyte damage, while being unable to clear HCV due to impaired IFN-${\gamma}$ responses. Furthermore, some data suggests certain chronically activated subsets that are $NKp46^{high}$ may be particularly active against hepatic stellate cells, a key player in hepatic fibrogenesis. Finally, the role of NK cells during HCV therapy, HCV recurrence after liver transplant and hepatocellular carcinoma are discussed.

• Applied Microscopy
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• 제45권2호
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• pp.80-88
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• 2015

The structural change and distribution of mitochondrial enzyme (ATPase, cytochrome-c-oxidase), cell proliferation (proliferating cell nuclear antigen, PCNA), cell death (caspase-3) and cell growth factor (fibroblast growth factor 8, FGF-8) in the Sprague-Dawley rat bile duct during Clonorchis sinensis infection was investigated. Experimental groups were divided into C. sinensis infection, superinfection and reinfection of C. sinensis after 'praziquantel' treatment group. As a result, C. sinensis infected rat bile ducts showed the features of chronic clonorchiasis, i.e., connective tissue thickening, ductal fibrosis and epithelial tissue dilatation. PCNA for cell proliferation increased in the infection group, and decreased after praziquantel treatment. Caspase-3 was distributed in reinfection group only. FGF-8 was distributed in the rat bile duct after praziquantel treatment but not distributed in infection and reinfection group. Overall, C. sinensis infection causes physical and chemical irritations and then brings on the abnormalities of intracellular energy metabolism and cellular growth factors, which hinders bile duct tissue from functioning properly, and resultingly, fibrosis occurs and epithelial cells dilated abnormally. More intense infection makes tissue fibrosis chronical and activates apoptosis factors.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제14권4호
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• pp.207-218
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• 2014

Chronic virus infection leads to the functional impairment of dendritic cells (DCs) as well as T cells, limiting the clinical usefulness of DC-based therapeutic vaccine against chronic virus infection. Meanwhile, B cells have been known to maintain the ability to differentiate plasma cells producing antibodies even during chronic virus infection. Previously, ${\alpha}$-galactosylceramide (${\alpha}GC$) and cognate peptide-loaded B cells were comparable to DCs in priming peptide-specific $CD8^+$ T cells as antigen presenting cells (APCs). Here, we investigated whether B cells activated by ${\alpha}GC$ can improve virus-specific T cell immune responses instead of DCs during chronic virus infection. We found that comparable to B cells isolated from naïve mice, chronic B cells isolated from chronically infected mice with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) clone 13 (CL13) after ${\alpha}GC$-loading could activate CD1d-restricted invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells to produce effector cytokines and upregulate co-stimulatory molecules in both naïve and chronically infected mice. Similar to naïve B cells, chronic B cells efficiently primed LCMV glycoprotein (GP) 33-41-specific P14 $CD8^+$ T cells in vivo, thereby allowing the proliferation of functional $CD8^+$ T cells. Importantly, when ${\alpha}GC$ and cognate epitope-loaded chronic B cells were transferred into chronically infected mice, the mice showed a significant increase in the population of epitope-specific $CD8^+$ T cells and the accelerated control of viremia. Therefore, our studies demonstrate that reciprocal activation between ${\alpha}GC$-loaded chronic B cells and iNKT cells can strengthen virus-specific T cell immune responses, providing an effective regimen of autologous B cell-based therapeutic vaccine to treat chronic virus infection.

• BMB Reports
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• 제48권10호
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• pp.565-570
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• 2015

In several reports, the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was identified as an oncolytic virus in cancer cells (e.g., lung and prostate cancer). However, the effects of RSV in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells have not yet been investigated. Here, we observed the inhibitory effects of RSV infection in HCC cell-lines. Cell growth was significantly decreased by RSV infection in BNL-HCC, Hep3B, Huh-7 and SNU-739 cells. After RSV infection, plaque formation and syncytial formation were observed in affected Hep3B and Huh-7 cells. RSV protein-expression was also detected in Hep3B and Huh-7 cells; however, only Huh-7 cells showed apoptosis after RSV infection. Furthermore, inhibition of cell migration by RSV infection was observed in BNL-HCC, Hep3B, Huh-7 and SNU-739 cells. Therefore, further investigation is required to clarify the molecular mechanism of RSV-mediated inhibition of HCC cell growth, and to develop potential RSV oncolytic viro-therapeutics.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제31권8호
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• pp.1175-1182
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• 2021

We investigated the effect of bovine lactoferricin (Lfcin-B), a peptide derived from bovine lactoferrin, on activation of intestinal epithelial cells in IEC-6 intestinal cell, and protection against in vivo rotavirus (RV) infection. Treatment with Lfcin-B significantly enhanced the growth of IEC-6 cells and increased their capacity for attachment and spreading in culture plates. Also, Lfcin-B synergistically augmented the binding of IEC-6 cells to laminin, a component of the extracellular matrix (ECM). In the analysis of the intracellular mechanism related to Lfcin-B-induced activation of IEC-6 cells, this peptide upregulated tyrosine-dependent phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and paxillin, which are intracellular proteins associated with cell adhesion, spreading, and signal transduction during cell activation. An experiment using synthetic peptides with various sequences of amino acids revealed that a sequence of 9 amino acids (FKCRRWQWR) corresponding to 17-25 of the N-terminus of Lfcin-B is responsible for the epithelial cell activation. In an in vivo experiment, treatment with Lfcin-B one day before RV infection effectively prevented RV-induced diarrhea and significantly reduced RV titers in the bowels of infected mice. These results suggest that Lfcin-B plays meaningful roles in the maintenance and repair of intestinal mucosal tissues, as well as in protecting against intestinal infection by RV. Collectively, Lfcin-B is a promising candidate with potential applications in drugs or functional foods beneficial for intestinal health and mucosal immunity.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제11권5호
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• pp.853-857
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• 2001

The effect of silkworm hemolymph on the inhibition of baculovirus-induced insect cell apoptosis was quantitatively investigated using a flow cytometric analysis. Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf9) cell and Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrous virus (AcNPV) were used as a model for insect cell and baculovirus in this study, respectively. Compared with a mammalian cell cycle, the fraction of G1 cells was relatively small in the Sf9 cell cycle. Silkworm hemolymph did not affect the Sf9 cell-cycle distribution before the baculovirus infection. However, the fraction of cells which are not in the sub-G1 phase remained at a high level for 3 days after the infection in the medium without silkworm hemolymph, while it remained at a high level for 7 days after the infection in the medium supplemented with silkworm hemolymph. The fractions of apoptotic cells in the sub-G1 phase were $4.7\%$, and 4 days after infection, $22.7\%$, in the media with and without silkworm hemolymph, respectively.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• 제15권2호
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• pp.127-130
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• 1999

Cytological changes of cowpea root at the early stage of root nodule formation (within 5 days after inoculation) were viewed by light and electron microscopy. The root region affected by the rhizobial infection, which was composed of a redial array of cortical cells, had prominent cell divisions, mostly anticlinal in the inner cortical cells and in addition oblique and periclinal in the outer cells. An infected root hair cell (or root hair-producing epidermal cell) had numerous infection threads and degenerated cytoplasm. Module meristem was formed adjacent to the infected root hair cell, and characterized by dense cytoplasm, prominent nucleus, numerous small vacuoles, and increased plastids, containing infection threads as well. Bacterial cells were dividing inside the infection thread, the wall materials of which appeared to be dissolved ad accumulated in small vacuoles. inner cortical cells contiguous to the nodule meristem appeared to be actively dividing and dedifferentiating; however, they were not infected by the rhizobia. These structural characteristics are similar to those in the Bradyrhizobium-soybean association previously reported, and may reflect the similar cytological process in cowpea in the early nodule formation.