We would like to thank Trevor Darby for provision of control C2 non-polarized RNA samples. The authors and their work are supported by SFI grant numbers: 02/CE/B124 and 07/CE/B1368. The authors have ABT-737 clinical trial no conflicting financial interests. Figure S1. Evaluation of PRR expression in non polarised C2, polarised C2 and polarised C2-M epithelia-I, CD302 (a), CD302 (b), NLRP3 (c) NLRP11 (D), NOD1(e), NLRC5 (f), CLEC4A (g) and MYD88 (h) expression was measured by qRT-PCR. Figure S2. Evaluation of PRR expression in non polarised C2, polarised C2 and polarised C2-M epithelia-II, RIPK2 (a), TLR1 (b), TLR2 (c) TLR3 (d), TLR5 (e), TLR6 (f), TLR7 (g) and TLR8 (h) expression was measured by qRT-PCR. Figure S3. Commensal

bacteria induce CCL20 and CLDN4 gene expression in polarised C2 cells. Figure S4. Co-localisation and translocation of commensal bacteria in murine Peyer’s patch M cells. Figure S5. Pathway analysis of gene expression profiles of C2-M cells incubated with commensal bacteria. Figure S6. The effect of commensal bacteria on gene expression of microarray identified gene candidates in polarised C2 cells. Table S1. List of PCR primers and probes used in this study. Table S2. List of PCR primers used in the PRR gene expression screen selleck kinase inhibitor used in this study. Table S3. List of genes present in each data set corresponding to Fig. 2. “
“Surrogate markers for monitoring immuno-virological

discordant responders, in addition to plasma viral load and CD4 cells, are still lacking. We assessed the diagnostic utility of CD38 expression on CD8 T cell assay, alone or in association with lymphocyte proliferation to mycotic antigens, in evaluating antiretroviral response. 28 vertically HIV-infected youths, 21 HAART- and seven 2 nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors-treated, were enrolled in a retrospective study. Responders (57.1%) and non-responders (42.9%) to stable antiretroviral

therapy for a minimum of 6 months, on the basis of viral load and CD4 T cells, comprehensively evaluated by CD38 expression on CD8 T lymphocytes [measured as CD38 antibody bound per CD8 T cell (CD38 ABC) and %CD38+ of total CD8 Selleckchem Lonafarnib T cells (%CD38/CD8)] and lymphocyte proliferation to P. jiroveci, C. albicans, C. neoformans, A. fumigatus at a single time point after treatment, were selected. CD38 expression ≥2401 CD38 ABC and ≥85% CD38/CD8 cut-off points, accurately discriminates responders versus non-responders, both measures resulting in 75.0% (CI 42.8–94.5) sensitivity (identification of non-responder) and 93.8% (CI 69.8–99.8) specificity (identification of responder), when considered as single assays. The association ‘≥2401 CD38 ABC or ≥85% CD38/CD8’ improved sensitivity to 83.3% (CI 51.6–97.9), while the association ‘<2401 CD38ABC (or <85% CD38/CD8) and lymphoproliferative response positive to ≥2 tested organisms’ improved specificity to 100% (CI 79.4–100).

“
“Aim:  The aim of this study is to assess the characteristics of urinary system diseases and the role of the ultrasound screening and urinalysis screening for chronic kidney disease (CKD) in asymptomatic children in China. Methods: 

Between September 2008 and November 2008, 14 256 children excluding those with obvious symptoms and signs were enrolled in our study. All the subjects accepted ultrasound and urinary screening. A case–control study was performed to evaluate the relative risk of having stones in those children exposed to melamine formula. Results:  Of the enrolled children, 6.10% (869 of 14 256) showed abnormalities, of which 409 (2.87%) were established by ultrasound, 572 (4.01%) by urinalysis and 112 (0.79%) Selleckchem Torin 1 by both ultrasound screening and urinalysis. The abnormalities included congenital anomalies of kidney and urinary tract, urinary stones and/or hydronephrosis, leucocyturia GDC0199 and haematuria and/or proteinuria. Children exposed to melamine formula were 5.17 times as likely to have kidney stones as children exposed to no-melamine formula (95% confidence interval, 3.28–8.14; P < 0.001); the probability of kidney stones in melamine-fed infants were 6.28 times

as likely as those no melamine-fed (95% confidence interval, 3.71–10.65; P < 0.001). Conclusion:  Ultrasonography and urinalysis could complement each other and play important roles in the early diagnosis of anomalies of the urinary system, but urinalysis is a more cost-effective screening tool for CKD in children in China. Exposure to melamine-contaminated formula associated with urinary stones, especially in infants, was significantly higher than the control group. "
“Aim:  The ankle brachial index (ABI) is a marker for peripheral artery disease and can predict mortality in advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) and haemodialysis patients, respectively. However, it is Celecoxib seldom studied in Taiwan, an area with high prevalence of CKD and end-stage renal disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the predictors for mortality by using ABI value in patients with CKD and undergoing haemodialysis in Taiwan. Methods:  One hundred and sixty-nine

patients with CKD stage 3–5 and 231 haemodialysis patients were enrolled in one regional hospital. The mean follow-up period was 23.3 ± 3.3 months. Patients were stratified into three groups according to ABI value (<0.9, ≥0.9 to <1.3, and ≥1.3). The relative mortality risk was analyzed by Cox-regression methods. Results:  In multivariate analysis, an ABI of 1.3 or more (hazard ratio, 3.846; P = 0.043) and coronary artery disease (P = 0.012) were positively associated with overall mortality, and serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level (P = 0.042) was negatively associated with overall mortality. In addition, an ABI of less than 0.9 (P = 0.049), an ABI of 1.3 or more (P = 0.033), coronary artery disease (P = 0.024) and haemodialysis treatment (P = 0.

Those authors hypothesized that a state of unresponsiveness to the endogenous microflora may be apparent only after a transient mucosal immune response has occurred [24]. The response to bacteria and bacterial antigens we observed in our experiment might be elevated due in part to a transient unphysiological high load of bacteria in the axenic mice; however, it might mimic a response that occurs on a frequent basis, albeit less pronounced,

whenever a new bacterial strain is introduced in the intestinal lumen. The changes in the intestinal milieu with regard to cytokine and chemokine secretion as well as expression of cell surface antigens may instigate the generation of immune-regulatory cells. A crucial role for the presence of a microflora in the induction of regulatory T cells has been demonstrated in a murine transfer model of colitis [25]. Protective T cells showed reduced efficacy in preventing colitis development and demonstrated buy 3-MA reduced release of IL-10 and IFN-γ see more when derived from axenic mice as opposed to those derived from conventionally housed mice. While we did not detect a significant increase in systemic T cells with a common

regulatory phenotype, such as CD25-positive T cells, we cannot exclude the generation of a specific population of cells with regulatory function in mucosal tissues and/or systemically. The increased CD11b-positive leucocyte population may be involved in the suppression of activated T cell responses. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells with a CD11b-positive, Gr-1-positive phenotype and immunosuppressive function have been described and have been implicated in Farnesyltransferase the protection of T cell-mediated chronic enterocolitis [26,27]. We have demonstrated previously a similar rapid onset of proinflammatory cytokine and intestinal injury in adult axenic IL-10 gene-deficient mice following colonization with commensal faecal flora [8]. A similar uncontrolled proinflammatory cytokine response to commensal bacterial antigens has also been found to play a crucial role in the human leucocyte antigen-B27 (HLA-B27) transgenic rat

colitis model [28]. Our results demonstrate for the first time that bacterial colonization in wild-type mice initially triggers a similar proinflammatory immune response, causing temporary intestinal inflammation. Endogenous bacterial antigens are treated as ‘foreign’ and stimulate an antigen-specific systemic immune response. However, in contrast to colitis susceptible rodents, wild-type mice are able to down-regulate the initial proinflammatory immune response and establish mucosal as well as systemic tolerance. Acquisition of immunological homeostasis appears to follow a defined inflammatory response pattern when first exposed to faecal bacteria and antigens, which probably plays an important role in the induction of tolerance to the endogenous microflora.

Investigations on the direct involvement of TLRs in Th17 cells are vitally required in the near future. It has long been recognized that TLR ligands play an important indirect role in promoting T cell-mediated responses via their effects on innate immune cells, including up-regulating antigen presentation, co-stimulatory molecule expressions and inflammatory cytokine productions. It has become increasingly clear that TLR ligands can also act directly on T cells, possibly

as co-stimulatory molecules. In general, TLRs enhance effector T responses including cytokine production, proliferation and survival, while expanding the CD4+CD25+ PS-341 purchase Treg cell population with a transient loss of immunosuppressive function.

The molecular mechanisms for the TLR-mediated function in T cells and the direct effect of TLRs on Th17 cells need to be addressed in the future. More attention should be paid to the significance of the direct role of TLRs in T cells as, significantly, it will help us to understand fully the biological function of so-called innate receptors and develop more powerful adjuvants for controlling cellular immunity on purpose. The authors wish to thank Dr Zeqing Niu for his kind review of the manuscript. This work was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China for Key Programs (C30630060 to Y. Z.), the National Natural Science Foundation Crizotinib concentration of China for General Program (C30972685 to G. L.), the grant from the Ministry of Science and Technology of China (2010CB945300) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China for Young Scientists (C30600567 to G. L.). The authors have no financial conflict of interest. “
“Myeloid-derived suppressor

cells (MDSCs) are present in most cancer patients and experimental animals where they exert a profound immune suppression and are a significant obstacle to immunotherapy. IFN-γ and IL-4 receptor alpha (IL-4Rα) have been implicated as essential molecules for MDSC development Adenosine triphosphate and immunosuppressive function. If IFN-γ and IL-4Rα are critical regulators of MDSCs, then they are potential targets for preventing MDSC accumulation or inhibiting MDSC function. Because data supporting a role for IFN-γ and IL-4Rα are not definitive, we have examined MDSCs induced in IFN-γ-deficient, IFN-γR-deficient, and IL-4Rα-deficient mice carrying three C57BL/6-derived (B16 melanoma, MC38 colon carcinoma, and 3LL lung adenocarcinoma), and three BALB/c-derived (4T1 and TS/A mammary carcinomas, and CT26 colon carcinoma) tumors. We report that although MDSCs express functional IFN-γR and IL-4Rα, and have the potential to signal through the STAT1 and STAT6 pathways, respectively, neither IFN-γ nor IL-4Rα impacts the phenotype, accumulation, or T-cell suppressive potency of MDSCs, although IFN-γ and IL-4Rα modestly alter MDSC-macrophage IL-10 crosstalk.

2E,F). In INIBD, ubiquitin-positive nuclear inclusions were found in both neurons

and glial cells. FIG4 immunoreactivity was present in nuclear inclusions in neurons (Fig. 2G), but not in glial cells. In aged normal controls and patients with neurodegenerative diseases, Marinesco bodies were observed in the nuclei of substantia nigra pigmented neurons, and were strongly positive for FIG4 (Fig. 2H). In addition, Hirano bodies in the hippocampus were FIG4 positive (Fig. 2I). There was no apparent difference in the staining intensity of neuronal cytoplasms with and without inclusions between patients with neurodegenerative diseases and normal controls. Double immunofluorescence Osimertinib clinical trial analysis check details revealed co-localization of FIG4 and phosphorylated tau in Pick bodies (Fig. 3A–C) and neuropil threads (Fig. 3D–F) in Pick’s disease, the latter corresponding to small Pick bodies in the neurites.[27, 28] The average proportion of FIG4-positive Pick bodies relative to the total number of inclusions was

88.7%. In both brainstem-type and cortical Lewy bodies, FIG4 immunoreactivity was concentrated in the central portion and α-synuclein immunoreactivity was more intense in the peripheral portion (Fig. 3G–L). The average proportion of FIG4-positive brainstem-type and cortical Lewy bodies relative to the total number of inclusions was 88.9% and 45.3%, respectively. Co-localization of FIG4 with polyglutamine or ubiquitin was demonstrated in NNIs Resveratrol in DRPLA (Fig. 3M–O), SCA3 (Fig. 3P–R) and INIBD (Fig. 3S–U). The FIG4 positivity rate of NNIs in DRPLA, SCA3 and INIBD was 19.5%, 19.7% and 28.6%, respectively. Almost all Marinesco bodies (99.8%) were positive for FIG4. In rodents, FIG4 is abundantly expressed in neurons and myelin-forming cells in the central and peripheral nervous systems during neural development, and is markedly diminished in neurons of the adult CNS.[4] In the present study, we demonstrated that FIG4 immunoreactivity was present

in neuronal cytoplasm in the brain, spinal cord and peripheral ganglia of adult humans. Schwann cells in the peripheral nervous system were also strongly immunolabeled with anti-FIG4, whereas oligodendrocytes and astrocytes in the CNS were weakly positive. These findings suggest that FIG4 is widely expressed in neurons and glial cells throughout the adult human nervous system. In the present study, no FIG4 immunoreactivity was found in a variety of neuronal and glial inclusions in sporadic TDP-43 proteinopathy (ALS and FTLD-TDP type B). Although TDP-43-positive neuronal and glial cytoplasmic inclusions have been found in a previous case of SCA2,[13] no FIG4-immunoreactive inclusions were noted in that case. Our data indicate that FIG4 is not incorporated into TDP-43 inclusions. We further demonstrated that the majority of Pick bodies were immunopositive for FIG4.

Am J Reprod Immunol 2010; 64: 93–96 Problem  Does addition of enoxaparin to sildenafil and etanercept immunotherapy improve IVF outcome? Methods  Report of a striking case with 15 IVF failures. Result  When enoxaparin was added, the 16th IVF cycle generated a healthy male baby. Conclusions  Combination therapy that includes a heparin may allow successful IVF outcome and this issue merits further study. “
“The enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assay is a widely used tool for enumeration of antigen-specific memory B cells in several disciplines, such as

vaccination, cancer immunotherapy and transplantation. For the accurate estimation of antigen-specific memory B cell frequencies, a well-defined B cell activation protocol is pivotal. BMS-777607 In this study, we aimed to characterize a polyclonal B cell activation protocol to facilitate optimal monitoring of antigen-specific memory B cell frequencies. Total, naive and memory B cells were activated polyclonally with an α-CD40 monoclonal antibody, cytosine–phosphate–guanine (CPG) oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) 2006, interleukin (IL)-2, IL-10 and IL-21. Polyclonal activation of B cells resulted in equal cell death ratios in naive and memory B cells. When tested in an antigen-specific

system, immunoglobulin (Ig)G AZD1208 price spots were detected only in the memory fraction. There was no change in B cell polyclonality due to in-vitro Liothyronine Sodium activation. Our data show that the current polyclonal activation protocol may be used reliably to estimate the frequency of memory B cells in ELISPOT assays. “
“Cerebral malaria is a severe complication of Plasmodium falciparum infection. Although T-cell activation and type II IFN-γ are required for Plasmodium berghei ANKA (PbA)-induced murine experimental cerebral malaria (ECM), the role of type I IFN-α/β in ECM development remains unclear. Here, we address the role of the IFN-α/β pathway in ECM devel-opment in response to hepatic or blood-stage PbA infection, using mice deficient

for types I or II IFN receptors. While IFN-γR1−/− mice were fully resistant, IFNAR1−/− mice showed delayed and partial protection to ECM after PbA infection. ECM resistance in IFN-γR1−/− mice correlated with unaltered cerebral microcirculation and absence of ischemia, while WT and IFNAR1−/− mice developed distinct microvascular pathologies. ECM resistance appeared to be independent of parasitemia. Instead, key mediators of ECM were attenuated in the absence of IFNAR1, including PbA-induced brain sequestration of CXCR3+-activated CD8+ T cells. This was associated with reduced expression of Granzyme B, IFN-γ, IL-12Rβ2, and T-cell-attracting chemokines CXCL9 and CXCL10 in IFNAR1−/− mice, more so in the absence of IFN-γR1.

An alternative approach consists of Ab-mediated targeting of antigens to endocytic receptors expressed by DC in vivo3, 4. In mice, this method can elicit powerful cellular and humoral responses, beneficial in models of cancer or infection 5–11. Conversely, it can also lead to antigen-specific tolerance, mTOR inhibitor useful for

limiting autoimmune diseases or allograft rejection 5, 8, 12–14. Whether antigen targeting to DC results in tolerance or immunity depends on the nature of the targeting Ab, antigen dose, co-administered adjuvants, immunological readout used to measure response, and importantly, the receptor used for targeting 3, 4. Ideally, the latter should be restricted in expression to DC to allow for focused antigen delivery, and should additionally AZD1152-HQPA ic50 be capable of mediating endocytosis of bound Ab–antigen conjugates and delivering these to antigen processing pathways. In addition, a versatile receptor for antigen targeting should be “neutral” in that its targeting by antibodies should not result in overwhelming

delivery of signals that instruct DC to prime particular types of immune responses. Antigen targeting to such “neutral” receptors can then be combined with defined immunomodulators to favor specific immune outcomes, ranging from immunological tolerance to different kinds of immunity. DC comprise multiple subsets that may be specialized to perform distinct and, sometimes, opposing functions 15, 16. Thus, another consideration in targeting approaches is whether it might be preferable to direct antigens to a single DC subset or to multiple subtypes. Of the large panel of endocytic surface molecules tested as targeting receptors to date, many are expressed by multiple DC subsets and by other populations of

hematopoietic and/or non-hematopoietic cells 3, 4. In search for receptors restricted in expression to specific DC Oxalosuccinic acid subsets, we identified a novel endocytic C-type lectin receptor that we named DC NK lectin group receptor-1 (DNGR-1) 9, 17, 18. In mice, DNGR-1 (also known as CLEC9A) is expressed at high level by the CD8α+ subset and at low level by plasmacytoid DC (pDC) 9, 17, 18. In our studies, mouse DNGR-1 was not detected on other leukocytes, although others have reported low levels of expression on a subset of B cells 17. Interestingly, DNGR-1 expression is also very restricted to DC in human PBMC as it is detected almost exclusively on lineage-negative BDCA-3+ cells 9, 17, 18, a subtype of DC proposed to constitute the functionally equivalent of the mouse CD8α+ DC population 19. DNGR-1 binds to an unidentified ligand(s) exposed in necrotic cells and is involved in crosspresentation of dead-cell-associated antigens 20. In line with this role, we found that antigens targeted to mouse DNGR-1 via antibodies were efficiently crosspresented by CD8α+ DC to CD8+ T cells 9, 17.

Benefits Selleck Alpelisib of MSC administration in models of autoimmunity and allotransplantation indicate corresponding in vivo effects 2, 4, 14, 32, 33. Nonetheless, some basic issues regarding MSC/T-cell interactions remain incompletely elucidated including the relative potency of MSC suppression of primary compared with secondary T-cell activation, MSC influence on individual T-cell effector programmes, the relative importance of the wide diversity of mediators that have been linked with

T-cell inhibition and the balance between direct T-cell effects and indirect inhibition mediated via APCs. In the current study we have addressed such issues with a focus on the Th17 differentiation pathway – a pro-inflammatory Th cell effector phenotype with pathogenic potential in a range of immune-mediated diseases 28, 29. We demonstrate that low numbers of MSCs are capable of suppressing de novo Th17 differentiation through a mechanism that is initiated most potently by MSC/T-cell contact but is subsequently mediated by PGE2 acting via the EP4 receptor. In contrast

to other reported T-cell inhibitory phenomena 17, 19, we find that IFN-γ-mediated triggering of MSCs was not necessary for Th17 suppression. Furthermore, we demonstrate suppression by MSCs of Th17 differentiation from both naïve- and memory-phenotype precursors as well AG14699 as inhibition of IL-17A production by naturally occurring effector-memory Th17 cells in a model of acute tissue inflammation. Our initial observations of MSC effects on in vitro-generated Th17 cells from mouse both confirm and extend results recently reported by Ghannam et al. for human cells 9. In agreement with this study, we observed that mouse MSCs inhibited the primary differentiation of Th17 cells from naïve precursors and that MSC co-culture resulted in reduced IL-17A production by T cells during MSC-free re-stimulation 9. Regarding the question of whether MSC suppressive effects are exerted directly upon CD4+ T cells undergoing Th17

differentiation, experiments in an APC-culture system effectively rule out an intermediary role for DCs, macrophages or other accessory cells. As only a fraction of the CD4+ T cells within primary cultures were IL-17A+ by intracellular staining at a given time, we cannot definitively Protirelin rule out a role for an additional T-cell population in suppressing the Th17 differentiation programme. Nonetheless, cross-regulation by Th1 or Th2 effectors during primary Th17 induction cultures is highly unlikely given the continuous blockade of IFN-γ and IL-4. Furthermore, and in contrast to the findings of Ghannam et al. 9, we did not detect induction of FOXP3+ or IL-10+ T cells in experiments carried out using FACS-purified, naïve-phenotype CD4+ T cells co-cultured with MSCs under Th17-skewing conditions (data not shown).

Each experimental group included five animals unless otherwise stated. Control mice (mock infection) received 100 μL of RPMI-1640. Metacestode vesicles were obtained by an in vitro system as described elsewhere (16). Vesicles were maintained in RPMI-1640 alone for 48 h. Subsequently, the supernatant containing Everolimus datasheet the excreted and secreted compounds (E/S) was collected, concentrated to 500 μg protein per mL and stored in aliquots at −80°C until use. The vesicular fluid (VF), containing 950 μg protein per mL, was aspirated with a needle (0·4 × 19 mm) mounted on a syringe, from individual

metacestode vesicles (cysts). VF antigen was stored in aliquots at −80°C until use. Peritoneal exudate cells from naive and infected mice, sacrificed after 6 weeks at the early stage and 12–16 weeks at the late stage of infection, were collected by peritoneal rinsing with 10 mL RPMI-1640. Cells were subsequently washed twice with HBSS and resuspended in RPMI-1640. Pe-DCs and CD4+ pe-T cells were enriched from the peritoneal

cell suspension of each group of naive and AE-infected mice after incubation of cells in 5 mL RPMI-1640 + 20% FCS in a Petri dish for 2h at 37°C, with an atmosphere containing 5% CO2. Nonadherent cells separated from macrophage-enriched adherent cells were subsequently divided into two parts; EPZ015666 concentration the first part was used for the positive selection of pe-DCs using the mouse CD11c easySep kit (STEMCELL Technologies SA, Grenoble, France). The second part was employed for the selection of CD4+ pe-T from cells using

the mouse CD4+ T-cell enrichment easySep kit (StemCell). With both kits, the selected cells were retained from the original cell population using a magnetic cell separation (MACS) system according to manufacturer’s instructions. Highly enriched (>90% purity) pe-DCs as well as CD4+ pe-T cells were washed and suspended in complete RPMI-1640. To quantify the amount of peritoneal DCs following the intraperitoneal secondary infection with E. multilocularis metacestodes, peritoneal cells from naive and AE-infected mice were prepared in HBSS, washed and resuspended in staining buffer (PBS, 0·05% NaN3 and 0·5% BSA). Aliquots of 106 cells per 50 μL per well were incubated each with 1 μg of anti-CD16/CD32 for 20 min in the dark, to block nonspecific binding of antibodies to the FcγIII and FcγII receptors, and subsequently incubated for 30 min with 1μg of phycoerythrin (PE)-labelled anti-CD11c antibody. To analyse whether the expression of adhesive and co-stimulatory molecules on DCs of AE-infected mice was modified, these cells were isolated from the peritoneal cavity of AE-infected mice taken at the early and late stages of infection and from mock-infected naive mice (as control) separately, all cell preparations were resuspended in staining buffer.

2d). However, the number of T lymphocytes was not significantly different learn more in these wells (data not shown). The above results indicate that AZM inhibits not only the maturation but also the functions of DCs. NF-κB was reported to be required for the maturation of DCs [7,8]. We therefore examined the effects of AZM on NF-κB p65 activation in DCs. EMSA was performed on nuclear extracts prepared from im-DCs pretreated with 50 or 75 µg/ml of AZM for varying periods of time and then incubated further with and without LPS for 2 h. In this DNA binding reaction, unlabelled wild-type and mutant competitor oligonucleotides were used in a 100-fold molar excess over

labelled NF-κB probe. AZM decreased nuclear

NF-κB DNA-binding activity significantly in im-DCs stimulated with LPS in a dose- and time-dependent manner (Fig. 3a,b). We found that AZM, a macrolide antibiotic and NF-κB inhibitor, suppresses maturation and allogeneic responses of murine BM-derived Selleck RO4929097 DCs in vitro. AZM is a 15-membered ring macrolide that is used widely for treatment of bacterial infections caused by both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. AZM is concentrated in lysosomes to an unusual degree because of its dibasic characteristics [31]. Lysosomes in DCs play an important role in antigen presentation: DEC-205, the DC receptor for endocytosis, can recycle and enhance antigen presentation via MHC class II-positive lysosomal compartments [32]. AZM is concentrated inside cells at ratios exceeding 200 : 1. It is highly concentrated in a number of cell types, including polymorphonuclear neutrophils, monocytes and macrophages, which can retain, deliver and, potentially, release AZM at sites of infection [31]. Moreover, Khan et al. reported that AZM inhibited production of IL-1α and TNF-α by LPS-stimulated human monocytes [33]. These functional

activities may be important, as in the infected host excessive or unrestricted overproduction of proinflammatory cytokines 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase can be detrimental, as in septic shock [33]. However, little is known with regard to DCs. Recently, Sugiyama et al. reported that macrolide antibiotics, including AZM, act as anti-inflammatory agents by modulating the functions of murine BM-derived DCs [22]. However, in surface marker analysis by flow cytometry, they found that AZM did not inhibit maturation of murine BM-derived immature DCs after LPS stimulation, which contradicts our results (Fig. 1). We think that this discrepancy may be due to a difference in the method of DC pretreatment with AZM, including the higher concentration (10 µg/ml versus 50 or 75 µg/ml) and/or longer incubation time (days 8 and 10 in 11-day culture versus days 0, 3 and 6 or day 6 in 7-day culture) in our study. IL-10 is well known as a key regulator of anti-inflammatory responses.