Decoy receptor 3 ameliorates experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis by directly counteracting local inflammation and downregulating Th17 cells.

To investigate the therapeutic potential of decoy receptor 3 (DcR3) in multiple sclerosis (MS), we used intrathecal (IT) administration of DcR3 into C57/BL6 mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). DcR3 significantly ameliorated EAE symptoms as shown by a lower clinical score and less inflammation in the spinal cord. The expression of TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, and IL-17 was lower in the spinal cord in IT DcR3-treated mice. Flow cytometry showed a drastic reduction in IL-17-producing CD4 T cells, slightly fewer IFN-gamma producing CD4 T cells and more IL-4-producing CD4 T cells isolated from the central nervous system (CNS) of IT DcR3-treated mice than of controls. Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)-specific T cell proliferation was significantly inhibited in DcR3-treated mice. The IL-17 concentration was lower and the IL-4 concentration higher in the supernatants of MOG-stimulated splenocytes from DcR3-treated mice. An adoptive transfer study showed that splenocytes from DcR3-treated mice retained this disease-inhibiting ability. Our data suggest that DcR3 has potential as a suppressor of CNS inflammation in EAE, which may be attributed to either direct inhibition of CNS inflammation or suppression of encephalitogenic Th17 cells. In conclusion, we demonstrate a therapeutic effect of DcR3 in EAE, suggesting its potential for treating human MS.

Combining capillary electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence detection for the analysis of Escherichia coli lysates.

With the goal of improving water quality control, in this study we combined CE-LIF for the analysis of Escherichia coli lysates under discontinuous conditions. Prior to injecting a large-volume protein sample, a plug of 0.2% w/v SDS was injected into the capillary filled with 2.0 M Tris-borate (TB) solution (pH 10.3). During the courses of the process stacking, proteins migrated against the electroosmotic flow (EOF) and entered a 1.7% w/v poly(ethylene oxide) solution that has been prepared in 200 mM TB (pH 9.0). The stacked proteins were then separated through sieving and then detected at the cathodic end. The use of TB solutions containing 0.01% w/v poly(ethylene oxide) was essential for the preparation of the protein samples and E. coli lysates to minimize the extent of protein adsorption on the capillary wall. Under the optimized CE-LIF conditions, we detected beta-Galactosidase with and without concentration at levels as low as 0.23 and 7.52 nM, respectively. Our approach allowed the detection of 3 x 10(2) E. coli cells based on the characteristic peaks of its lysates; in addition, we could detect the presence of 20 E. coli cells in a 50 mL sample of pond water within 24 h. In terms of the analyte migration time, the relative standard deviation of this CE-LIF method was less than 1.3%. We also extended the practicality of this technique by applying it to the separation of mixtures of E. coli, Enterobacter aerogenes, and Salmonella enterica.