Human rhinoviruses enter and induce proliferation of B lymphocytes.

BACKGROUND: Human rhinoviruses (HRVs) are one of the main causes of virus-induced asthma exacerbations. Infiltration of B lymphocytes into the subepithelial tissue of the lungs has been demonstrated during rhinovirus infection in allergic individuals. However, the mechanisms through which HRVs modulate the immune responses of monocytes and lymphocytes are not yet well described. OBJECTIVE: To study the dynamics of virus uptake by monocytes and lymphocytes, and the ability of HRVs to induce the activation of in vitro-cultured human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. METHODS: Flow cytometry was used for the enumeration and characterization of lymphocytes. Proliferation was estimated using 3 H-thymidine or CFSE labeling and ICAM-1 blocking. We used bead-based multiplex assays and quantitative PCR for cytokine quantification. HRV accumulation and replication inside the B lymphocytes was detected by a combination of in situ hybridization (ISH), immunofluorescence, and PCR for positive-strand and negative-strand viral RNA. Cell images were acquired with imaging flow cytometry. RESULTS: By means of imaging flow cytometry, we demonstrate a strong and quick binding of HRV types 16 and 1B to monocytes, and slower interaction of these HRVs with CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, and CD19+ B cells. Importantly, we show that HRVs induce the proliferation of B cells, while the addition of anti-ICAM-1 antibody partially reduces this proliferation for HRV16. We prove with ISH that HRVs can enter B cells, form their viral replication centers, and the newly formed virions are able to infect HeLa cells. In addition, we demonstrate that similar to epithelial cells, HRVs induce the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in PBMCs. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate for the first time that HRVs enter and form viral replication centers in B lymphocytes and induce the proliferation of B cells. Newly formed virions have the capacity to infect other cells (HeLa). These findings indicate that the regulation of human rhinovirus-induced B-cell responses could be a novel approach to develop therapeutics to treat the virus-induced exacerbation of asthma.

Immune regulation by intralymphatic immunotherapy with modular allergen translocation MAT vaccine.

BACKGROUND: Allergen-specific immunotherapy (SIT) faces problems related to side effects and limited efficacy. Direct administration of allergen extracts into lymph nodes induces increased specific IgG production and T-cell responses using significantly lower allergen doses. METHODS: In this study, mechanisms of immune regulation by MAT vaccines in vitro and in allergen-SIT of cat-allergic rhinitis patients, who received 3 inguinal intra-lymph node injections of MAT-Fel d 1 vaccine, were investigated in PBMC and cell cultures for specific T-cell proliferation, Fel d 1-tetramer-specific responses, and multiple immune regulatory molecules. RESULTS: MAT-Fel d 1 vaccine was efficiently internalized by antigen-presenting cells. This was followed by precaspase 1 cleavage to caspase 1 and secretion of IL-1ß, indicating inflammasome activation. Mat-Fel d 1 induced specific T-cell proliferation and an IL-10- and IFN-γ-dominated T-cell responses with decreased Th2 cytokines at 100 times lower doses than Fel d 1. Induction of immune tolerance by MAT-Fel d 1-ILIT involved multiple mechanisms of immune suppression. Early Fel d 1-specific T-cell activation was followed by full T-cell unresponsiveness to allergen after 1 year in the MAT-Fel d 1 group, characterized by increased allergen-specific T regulatory cells, decreased circulating Fel d 1 tetramer-positive cells, increased IL-10 and FOXP3 expression, and change in the HR2/HR1 ratio toward HR2. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the induction of allergen tolerance after 3 intra-lymph node injections of MAT-Fel d 1 vaccine, mediated by increased cellular internalization of the allergen, activation of inflammasome, and generation of allergen-specific peripheral T-cell tolerance.

Mitochondrial myopathy (complex I deficiency) associated with chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction.

We report a patient presenting with severe muscular impairment and chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIP) at the age of eight months. Due to the aggravated symptoms, assisted ventilation, an ileostomy and total parenteral nutrition were required. Later on, the patient developed a locked-in syndrome (Leigh's subacute necrotising encephalomyelopathy) and finally died due to recurrent pneumonia and chronic renal failure. The assessment of muscle biopsies revealed a moderate single-fibre type II atrophy, a variation of muscle fibre calibre with focal fatty degeneration and a decreased reactivity of cytochrome-c oxidase. Although ragged red fibres had not been found, mitochondrial enzyme activities were markedly decreased with the lowest residual activity detected for NADH:Q1 oxidoreductase and NADH:O2 oxidoreductase (complex I deficiency), thereby confirming the diagnosis of mitochondrial myopathy. A molecular genetic analysis could not identify known mutations of mitochondrial DNA. Gastrointestinal full-thickness biopsies revealed myenteric hypoganglionosis of the colon and stomach and hyperplasia of the submucosal plexus of the ileum. Some of the intestinal smooth muscle cells displayed bulbous protrusions filled with lateralised mitochondria. Mitochondrial myopathies are known to be associated with a variety of clinical syndromes including CIP. However, in contrast to previous reports in which CIP has been attributed to visceral intestinal myopathies, the present case is characterised by neuronal intestinal malformations. Therefore, a mitochondrial myopathy associated with CIP requires a subtle assessment of both the intestinal smooth muscle and the enteric nervous system to identify the underlying pathology.

Flavin-dependent quinone reductases.

Quinones are abundant cyclic organic compounds present in the environment as well as in pro- and eukaryotic cells. Several species have been shown to possess enzymes that afford the two-electron reduction to the hydroquinone form in an attempt to avoid the generation of one-electron reduced semiquinone known to cause oxidative stress. These enzymes utilize a flavin cofactor, either FMN or FAD, to transfer a hydride from an electron donor, such as NAD(P)H, to a quinone substrate. This family of flavin-dependent quinone reductases shares a flavodoxin-like structure and reaction mechanism pointing towards a common evolutionary origin. Recent studies of their physiological functions in eukaryotes suggest a role beyond detoxication of quinones and involvement in the oxygen stress response. Accordingly, mammalian quinone reductases emerge as central molecular switches that control the lifespan of transcription factors, such as p53, and hence participate in the development of apoptosis and cell transformation.