Inmunologia (Barcelona, Spain : 1987)最新文献

During human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) infection there are several changes in the frequency, phenotype and function of NK cells, altering their antiviral response. This is correlated with increased viral loads, and AIDS progression. However, studies in individuals with natural resistance to HIV-1 infection have shown that NK cells are very important in controlling viral replication, not only for their antiviral activity, but also because of their effects on the activity of other innate immune cells, such as dendritic cells. NK cells do not have antigen receptors, but it has been recently reported that they can specifically respond to HIV-1 peptides. Although the mechanism is not fully elucidated, this finding open more options in the study of new therapeutic or preventative strategies against HIV-1 infection.

The aim of this work was to investigate the FUT 2 gene, the secretor status and the expression of CD44 protein in epithelial cells obtain from saliva samples from patients with oral lesions (benign, pre-cancerous and cancerous lesions, n = 94). We analyzed polymorphisms of the FUT2 gene by allele specific oligonucleotide–polymerase chain reaction. The FUT2 gene encodes the α(1,2) fucosyltransferase (Se enzyme) that regulates the expression of ABH antigens in secretions. Generally speaking, being a non-secretor has several disadvantages with regard to metabolism and immune function. In this study, we found that oral pre-cancerous and cancerous lesions were increased among individuals with non-secretor status and nonsense mutation 428G→A. Fifty-one percent of the patients with oral pre-malignant and malignant lesions were non-secretors, in contrast with the healthy population (OR = 3.44). We observed a marginal association between secretor status and these lesions. Our study suggests that the lack of wild type FUT2 gene and a non-secretor status appear to be an associated risk marker for the development of oral cancer in patients with oral lesions.

One of the genes involved in tumour processes is CD44, which appears to be one of the most promising candidates as a cancer diagnosis marker. We investigated, using confocal microscopy, the expression of CD44 protein in epithelial cells obtained from saliva samples from patients with oral lesions. The results obtained showed fluorescence corresponding to the presence of CD44 protein in samples from patients diagnosed with cancer and pre-cancer. These findings indicate that overexpression of CD44 molecule analyzed could be considered as a marker of risk in individuals with oral lesions.

B lymphocytes belong to the adaptive immune system and they are responsible for humoral responses. In recent years, it has been demonstrated the existence of B cells with regulatory capacity (Breg) in humans and mouse models. The regulatory function of these B cells is explained by the production of IL-10 and the reduction of IFN-γ, TNF-α and IL-17 secretion by CD4 + T cells; in addition, Breg cells promote the differentiation of T lymphocytes into a regulatory phenotype and induce the remission of autoimmune manifestations in different murine models. In humans, alterations in number and function of Breg cells have been reported in systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, and other autoimmune diseases. Therefore, it has been suggested that Breg cells have an important role in the immunopathology of autoimmune diseases and may be a potential target for future treatments.

The immune system (IS) is an exquisite machine involved in the maintenance of the integrity of the organism, and in the regulation of its own function to adapt its diverse strategies of molecular recognition within a dynamical framework. These strategies are modulated by the nature of the antigenic stimulus, the internal status of its components, and the local microenvironment, which will determine an immune response of immunity or tolerance. Throughout the history of Immunology, the archetypical «self/non-self» axiom of the immune recognition, in direct reference to the identity of the individual, has been consistently used, which should be nevertheless displaced by its numerous exceptions. We present a review of the theoretical models of the IS functioning from its basic property of antigenic recognition. We discuss the need to develop new models that enable to comprehend the IS functioning as an indissoluble integrated system with psychoneurological and endocrine systems.