Deep Learning for Histopathological Assessment of Esophageal Adenocarcinoma Precursor Lesions.

Histopathological assessment of esophageal biopsies is a key part in the management of patients with Barrett esophagus (BE) but prone to observer variability and reliable diagnostic methods are needed. Artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging as a powerful tool for aided diagnosis but often relies on abstract test and validation sets while real-world behavior is unknown. In this study, we developed a 2-stage AI system for histopathological assessment of BE-related dysplasia using deep learning to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of the pathology workflow. The AI system was developed and trained on 290 whole-slide images (WSIs) that were annotated at glandular and tissue levels. The system was designed to identify individual glands, grade dysplasia, and assign a WSI-level diagnosis. The proposed method was evaluated by comparing the performance of our AI system with that of a large international and heterogeneous group of 55 gastrointestinal pathologists assessing 55 digitized biopsies spanning the complete spectrum of BE-related dysplasia. The AI system correctly graded 76.4% of the WSIs, surpassing the performance of 53 out of the 55 participating pathologists. Furthermore, the receiver-operating characteristic analysis showed that the system's ability to predict the absence (nondysplastic BE) versus the presence of any dysplasia was with an area under the curve of 0.94 and a sensitivity of 0.92 at a specificity of 0.94. These findings demonstrate that this AI system has the potential to assist pathologists in assessment of BE-related dysplasia. The system's outputs could provide a reliable and consistent secondary diagnosis in challenging cases or be used for triaging low-risk nondysplastic biopsies, thereby reducing the workload of pathologists and increasing throughput.

Atrial epicardial adipose tissue abundantly secretes myeloperoxidase and activates atrial fibroblasts in patients with atrial fibrillation.

BACKGROUND: Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) secretome induces fibrosis. Fibrosis, primarily extracellular matrix (ECM) produced by fibroblasts, creates a substrate for atrial fibrillation (AF). Whether the EAT secretome from patients with AF activates human atrial fibroblasts and through which components, remains unexplored. RESEARCH AIMS: (a) To investigate if the EAT secretome from patients with versus without AF increases ECM production in atrial fibroblasts. (b) To identify profibrotic proteins and processes in the EAT secretome and EAT from patients with, who will develop (future onset), and without AF. METHODS: Atrial EAT was obtainded during thoracoscopic ablation (AF, n = 20), or open-heart surgery (future onset and non-AF, n = 35). ECM gene expression of human atrial fibroblasts exposed to the EAT secretome and the proteomes of EAT secretome and EAT were assessed in patients with and without AF. Myeloperoxidase and neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) were assessed immunohistochemically in patients with paroxysmal, persistent, future onset, and those who remain free of AF (non-AF). RESULTS: The expression of COL1A1 and FN1 in fibroblasts exposed to secretome from patients with AF was 3.7 and 4.7 times higher than in patients without AF (p < 0.05). Myeloperoxidase was the most increased protein in the EAT secretome and EAT from patients with versus without AF (FC 18.07 and 21.57, p < 0.005), as was the gene-set neutrophil degranulation. Immunohistochemically, myeloperoxidase was highest in persistent (FC 13.3, p < 0.0001) and increased in future onset AF (FC 2.4, p = 0.02) versus non-AF. Myeloperoxidase aggregated subepicardially and around fibrofatty infiltrates. NETs were increased in patients with persistent versus non-AF (p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: In AF, the EAT secretome induces ECM gene expression in atrial fibroblasts and contains abundant myeloperoxidase. EAT myeloperoxidase was increased prior to AF onset, and both myeloperoxidase and NETs were highest in persistent AF, highlighting the role of EAT neutrophils in the pathophysiology of AF.

Tumor-immune landscape patterns before and after chemoradiation in resectable esophageal adenocarcinomas.

Immunotherapy is a new anti-cancer treatment option, showing promising results in clinical trials. To investigate potential immune biomarkers in esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), we explored immune landscape patterns in the tumor microenvironment before and after neoadjuvant chemoradiation (nCRT). Sections from matched pretreatment biopsies and post-nCRT resection specimens (n = 188) were stained for (1) programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1, CD274); (2) programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1, CD279), forkhead box P3 (FOXP3), CD8, pan-cytokeratin multiplex; and (3) an MHC class I, II duplex. The densities of tumor-associated immune cells (TAICs) were calculated using digital image analyses and correlated to histopathological nCRT response [tumor regression grade (TRG)], survival, and post-nCRT immune patterns. PD-L1 positivity defined by a combined positive score of >1 was associated with a better response post-nCRT (TRG 1-3 versus 4, 5, p = 0.010). In addition, high combined mean densities of CD8+ , FOXP3+ , and PD-1+ TAICs in the tumor epithelium and stroma of biopsies were associated with a better response (TRG 1-3 versus 4, 5, p = 0.025 and p = 0.044, respectively). Heterogeneous TAIC density patterns were observed post-nCRT, with significantly higher CD8+ and PD-1+ TAIC mean densities compared with biopsies (both p = 0.000). Three immune landscape patterns were defined post-nCRT: 'inflamed', 'invasive margin', and 'desert', of which 'inflamed' was the most frequent (57%). Compared with matched biopsies, resection specimens with 'inflamed' tumors showed a significantly higher increase in CD8+ density compared with non-inflamed tumors post-nCRT (p = 0.000). In this cohort of EAC patients, higher TAIC densities in pretreatment biopsies were associated with response to nCRT. This warrants future research into the potential of the tumor-immune landscape for patient stratification and novel (immune) therapeutic strategies. © 2021 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd on behalf of The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.

Imaging-based Machine-learning Models to Predict Clinical Outcomes and Identify Biomarkers in Pancreatic Cancer: A Scoping Review.

OBJECTIVE: To perform a scoping review of imaging-based machine-learning models to predict clinical outcomes and identify biomarkers in patients with PDAC. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Patients with PDAC could benefit from better selection for systemic and surgical therapy. Imaging-based machine-learning models may improve treatment selection. METHODS: A scoping review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses-scoping review guidelines in the PubMed and Embase databases (inception-October 2020). The review protocol was prospectively registered (open science framework registration: m4cyx). Included were studies on imaging-based machine-learning models for predicting clinical outcomes and identifying biomarkers for PDAC. The primary outcome was model performance. An area under the curve (AUC) of ≥0.75, or a P-value of ≤0.05, was considered adequate model performance. Methodological study quality was assessed using the modified radiomics quality score. RESULTS: After screening 1619 studies, 25 studies with 2305 patients fulfilled the eligibility criteria. All but 1 study was published in 2019 and 2020. Overall, 23/25 studies created models using radiomics features, 1 study quantified vascular invasion on computed tomography, and one used histopathological data. Nine models predicted clinical outcomes with AUC measures of 0.78-0.95, and C-indices of 0.65-0.76. Seventeen models identified biomarkers with AUC measures of 0.68-0.95. Adequate model performance was reported in 23/25 studies. The methodological quality of the included studies was suboptimal, with a median modified radiomics quality score score of 7/36. CONCLUSIONS: The use of imaging-based machine-learning models to predict clinical outcomes and identify biomarkers in patients with PDAC is increasingly rapidly. Although these models mostly have good performance scores, their methodological quality should be improved.

Automated Detection and Grading of Non-Muscle-Invasive Urothelial Cell Carcinoma of the Bladder.

Accurate grading of non-muscle-invasive urothelial cell carcinoma is of major importance; however, high interobserver variability exists. A fully automated detection and grading network based on deep learning is proposed to enhance reproducibility. A total of 328 transurethral resection specimens from 232 patients were included, and a consensus reading by three specialized pathologists was used. The slides were digitized, and the urothelium was annotated by expert observers. The U-Net-based segmentation network was trained to automatically detect urothelium. This detection was used as input for the classification network. The classification network aimed to grade the tumors according to the World Health Organization grading system adopted in 2004. The automated grading was compared with the consensus and individual grading. The segmentation network resulted in an accurate detection of urothelium. The automated grading shows moderate agreement (κ = 0.48 ± 0.14 SEM) with the consensus reading. The agreement among pathologists ranges between fair (κ = 0.35 ± 0.13 SEM and κ = 0.38 ± 0.11 SEM) and moderate (κ = 0.52 ± 0.13 SEM). The automated classification correctly graded 76% of the low-grade cancers and 71% of the high-grade cancers according to the consensus reading. These results indicate that deep learning can be used for the fully automated detection and grading of urothelial cell carcinoma.

Prekallikrein inhibits innate immune signaling in the lung and impairs host defense during pneumosepsis in mice.

Prekallikrein (PKK, also known as Fletcher factor and encoded by the gene KLKB1 in humans) is a component of the contact system. Activation of the contact system has been implicated in lethality in fulminant sepsis models. Pneumonia is the most frequent cause of sepsis. We sought to determine the role of PKK in host defense during pneumosepsis. To this end, mice were infected with the common human pathogen Klebsiella pneumoniae via the airways, causing an initially localized infection of the lungs with subsequent bacterial dissemination and sepsis. Mice were treated with a selective PKK-directed antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) or a scrambled control ASO for 3 weeks prior to infection. Host response readouts were determined at 12 or 36 h post-infection, including genome-wide messenger RNA profiling of lungs, or mice were followed for survival. PKK ASO treatment inhibited constitutive hepatic Klkb1 mRNA expression by >80% and almost completely abolished plasma PKK activity. Klkb1 mRNA could not be detected in lungs. Pneumonia was associated with a progressive decline in PKK expression in mice treated with control ASO. PKK ASO administration was associated with a delayed mortality, reduced bacterial burdens, and diminished distant organ injury. While PKK depletion did not influence lung pathology or neutrophil recruitment, it was associated with an upregulation of multiple innate immune signaling pathways in the lungs already prior to infection. Activation of the contact system could not be detected, either during infection in vivo or at the surface of Klebsiella in vitro. These data suggest that circulating PKK confines pro-inflammatory signaling in the lung by a mechanism that does not involve contact system activation, which in the case of respiratory tract infection may impede early protective innate immunity. © 2019 Authors. Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.

Platelet glycoprotein VI aids in local immunity during pneumonia-derived sepsis caused by gram-negative bacteria.

Platelet collagen receptor glycoprotein VI (GPVI) and podoplanin receptor C-type lectin-like receptor 2 (CLEC2) are receptors implicated in platelet activation that both signal via an immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif. Platelets are necessary for host defense and prevention of hemorrhage during sepsis, but the role of platelet GPVI and CLEC2 herein is unknown. To investigate this, we infected mice depleted of platelet GPVI or CLEC2 by antibody treatment or GPVI-/- mice with the common human sepsis pathogen Klebsiella pneumoniae via the airways to induce pneumonia-derived sepsis. The GPVI ligand collagen and the CLEC2 ligand podoplanin were constitutively present in the lung, whereas the GPVI ligands fibrin and histone were induced during pneumonia. During late-stage infection, both mice depleted of GPVI and GPVI-/- mice showed increased bacterial growth in lungs, and GPVI-/- mice also showed increased bacterial growth in distant body sites. Despite higher bacterial loads, GPVI-depleted mice showed reduced platelet numbers, platelet activation, and platelet-leukocyte complex formation in the bronchoalveolar space. Consistently, in human whole blood, GPVI stimulation of platelets increased platelet-leukocyte complex formation and leukocyte activation, which was accompanied by enhanced phagocytosis of Klebsiella GPVI-depleted mice showed increased lung hemorrhage during infection, but not to the extent observed in platelet-depleted mice, and lung bleeding was not significantly different between GPVI-/- and wild-type mice. CLEC2 depletion did not affect any of the responses during pneumonia. These results suggest that platelet GPVI, but not CLEC2, contributes to local host defense during pneumonia-derived sepsis by enhancing leukocyte function.

Extracellular traps derived from macrophages, mast cells, eosinophils and neutrophils are generated in a time-dependent manner during atherothrombosis.

Extracellular traps generated by neutrophils contribute to thrombus progression in coronary atherosclerotic plaques. It is not known whether other inflammatory cell types in coronary atherosclerotic plaque or thrombus also release extracellular traps. We investigated their formation by macrophages, mast cells, and eosinophils in human coronary atherosclerosis, and in relation to the age of thrombus of myocardial infarction patients. Coronary arteries with thrombosed or intact plaques were retrieved from patients who died from myocardial infarction. In addition, thrombectomy specimens from patients with myocardial infarction were classified histologically as fresh, lytic or organised. Neutrophil and macrophage extracellular traps were identified using sequential triple immunostaining of CD68, myeloperoxidase, and citrullinated histone H3. Eosinophil and mast cell extracellular traps were visualised using double immunostaining for eosinophil major basic protein or tryptase, respectively, and citrullinated histone H3. Single- and double-stained immunopositive cells in the plaque, adjacent adventitia, and thrombus were counted. All types of leucocyte-derived extracellular traps were present in all thrombosed plaques, and in all types of the in vivo-derived thrombi, but only to a much lower extent in intact plaques. Neutrophil traps, followed by macrophage traps, were the most prominent types in the autopsy series of atherothrombotic plaques, including the adventitia adjacent to thrombosed plaques. In contrast, macrophage traps were more numerous than neutrophil traps in intact plaques (lipid cores) and organised thrombi. Mast cell and eosinophil extracellular traps were also present, but sparse in all instances. In conclusion, not only neutrophils but also macrophages, eosinophils, and mast cells are sources of etosis involved in evolving coronary thrombosis. Neutrophil traps dominate numerically in early thrombosis and macrophage traps in late (organising) thrombosis, implying that together they span all the stages of thrombus progression and maturation. © 2018 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.

Role of Peptidylarginine Deiminase 4 in Neutrophil Extracellular Trap Formation and Host Defense during Klebsiella pneumoniae-Induced Pneumonia-Derived Sepsis.

Peptidylarginine deiminase 4 (PAD4) catalyzes citrullination of histones, an important step for neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation. We aimed to determine the role of PAD4 during pneumonia. Markers of NET formation were measured in lavage fluid from airways of critically ill patients. NET formation and host defense were studied during pneumonia-derived sepsis caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae in PAD4+/+ and PAD4-/- mice. Patients with pneumosepsis, compared with those with nonpulmonary disease, showed increased citrullinated histone 3 (CitH3) levels in their airways and a trend toward elevated levels of NET markers cell-free DNA and nucleosomes. During murine pneumosepsis, CitH3 levels were increased in the lungs of PAD4+/+ but not of PAD4-/- mice. Combined light and electron microscopy showed NET-like structures surrounding Klebsiella in areas of CitH3 staining in the lung; however, these were also seen in PAD4-/- mice with absent CitH3 lung staining. Moreover, cell-free DNA and nucleosome levels were mostly similar in both groups. Moreover, Klebsiella and LPS could still induce NETosis in PAD4-/- neutrophils. Both groups showed largely similar bacterial growth, lung inflammation, and organ injury. In conclusion, these data argue against a major role for PAD4 in NET formation, host defense, or organ injury during pneumonia-derived sepsis.

Btk inhibitor ibrutinib reduces inflammatory myeloid cell responses in the lung during murine pneumococcal pneumonia.

BACKGROUND: Streptococcus pneumoniae is a major causative agent in community-acquired pneumonia and sepsis. Overwhelming lung inflammation during pneumococcal pneumonia may hamper lung function. Ibrutinib is an irreversible inhibitor of Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk), a key signaling protein controlling the activation of various immune cells, including macrophages and neutrophils. The aim of this study was to determine whether ibrutinib treatment ameliorates acute lung inflammation during pneumococcal pneumonia. METHODS: Mice were treated orally with ibrutinib and the effect on acute pulmonary inflammation elicited by the gram-positive bacterial cell wall component lipoteichoic acid (LTA) and during ceftriaxone-treated pneumococcal pneumonia was assessed. RESULTS: Treatment with ibrutinib prior to and after intranasal LTA instillation reduced alveolar macrophage activation, neutrophil influx, cytokine release and plasma leakage into the lung. Postponed treatment with ibrutinib supplementing antibiotic therapy during ongoing pneumococcal pneumonia did not impair bacterial killing in lung, blood and spleen. In this setting, ibrutinib reduced alveolar macrophage and systemic neutrophil activation and substantially diminished further monocyte and neutrophil influx in the lung. In vitro, ibrutinib inhibited macrophage TNF secretion and neutrophil activation upon LTA and pneumococcal stimulation. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, these data indicate that the Btk inhibitor ibrutinib reduces inflammatory myeloid cell responses during acute pulmonary inflammation evoked by LTA and antibiotic-treated pneumococcal pneumonia and suggest that ibrutinib has the potential to inhibit ongoing lung inflammation in an acute infectious setting.

ASC and NLRP3 impair host defense during lethal pneumonia caused by serotype 3 Streptococcus pneumoniae in mice.

Streptococcus (S.) pneumoniae is the most common cause of community-acquired pneumonia. The Nod-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome, consisting of NLRP3, ASC (the adaptor apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD) and caspase-1, has been implicated in protective immunity during pneumonia induced by high doses of S. pneumoniae serotype 2. Here we investigated the role of the NLRP3 inflammasome in the host response during lethal airway infection with a low dose of serotype 3 S. pneumoniae. Mice were euthanized at predefined endpoints for analysis or observed in survival studies. In additional studies, Tlr2-/- /Tlr4-/- mice and Myd88-/- mice incapable of Toll-like receptor signaling were studied. In stark contrast with existing literature, both Nlrp3-/- and Asc-/- mice showed a strongly improved host defense, as reflected by a markedly reduced mortality rate accompanied by diminished bacterial growth and dissemination. Host defense was unaltered in Tlr2-/- /Tlr4-/- mice and Myd88-/- mice. These results show that the NLRP3 inflammasome impairs host defense during lethal pneumonia caused by serotype 3 S. pneumoniae. Our findings challenge the current paradigm that proximal innate detection systems are indispensable for an adequate host immune response against bacteria.

The change in circulating galectin-3 predicts absence of atrial fibrillation after thoracoscopic surgical ablation.

Aims: Galectin-3 (Gal-3) is an important mediator of cardiac fibrosis, particularly in heart failure. Increased Gal-3 concentration (Gal-3), associated with increased risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AF), may reflect atrial fibrotic remodelling underlying AF progression. We aimed to investigate whether the change in serum Gal-3 reflects alterations of the arrhythmogenic atrial substrate following thoracoscopic AF surgery, and predicts absence of AF. Methods and results: Consecutive patients undergoing thoracoscopic AF surgery were included. Left atrial appendages (LAAs) and serum were collected during surgery and serum again 6 months thereafter. Gal-3 was determined in tissue and serum. Interstitial collagen in the LAA was quantified using Picrosirius red staining. Ninety-eight patients (76% male, mean age 60 ± 9 years) underwent thoracoscopic surgery for advanced AF. Patients with increased Gal-3 after ablation compared to baseline had a higher recurrence rate compared to patients with decreased or unchanged Gal-3 (HR 2.91, P = 0.014). These patients more frequently had persistent AF, longer AF duration and thick atrial collagen strands (P = 0.049). At baseline, Gal-3 was similar between patients with and without AF recurrence: 14.8 ± 3.9 µg/L vs. 13.7 ± 3.7 µg/L, respectively in serum (P = 0.16); 94.5 ± 19.4 µg/L vs. 93.3 ± 30.8µg/L, respectively in atrial myocardium (P = 0.83). There was no correlation between serum Gal-3 and left atrial Gal-3 (P = 0.20), nor between serum Gal-3 and the percentage of fibrosis in LAA (P = 0.18). Conclusion: The change of circulating Gal-3, rather than its baseline value, predicts AF recurrence after thoracoscopic ablation. Patients in whom Gal-3 increases after ablation have a high recurrence rate reflecting ongoing profibrotic signalling, irrespective of arrhythmia continuation.

Composition of the cellular infiltrate in patients with simple and complex appendicitis.

BACKGROUND: It is now well established that there are two types of appendicitis: simple (nonperforating) and complex (perforating). This study evaluates differences in the composition of the immune cellular infiltrate in children with simple and complex appendicitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 47 consecutive children undergoing appendectomy for acute appendicitis between January 2011 and December 2012 were included. Intraoperative criteria were used to identify patients with either simple or complex appendicitis and were confirmed histopathologically. Immune histochemical techniques were used to identify immune cell markers in the appendiceal specimens. Digital imaging analysis was performed using Image J. RESULTS: In the specimens of patients with complex appendicitis, significantly more myeloperoxidase positive cells (neutrophils) (8.7% versus 1.2%, P < 0.001) were detected compared to patients with a simple appendicitis. In contrast, fewer CD8+ T cells (0.4% versus 1.3%, P = 0.016), CD20 + cells (2.9% versus 9.0%, P = 0.027), and CD21 + cells (0.2% versus 0.6%, P = 0.028) were present in tissue from patients with complex compared to simple appendicitis. CONCLUSIONS: The increase in proinflammatory innate cells and decrease of adaptive cells in patients with complex appendicitis suggest potential aggravating processes in complex appendicitis. Further research into the underlying mechanisms may identify novel biomarkers to be able to differentiate simple and complex appendicitis.

Neutrophil extracellular traps cause airway obstruction during respiratory syncytial virus disease.

Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most important cause of severe lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) in young children worldwide. Extensive neutrophil accumulation in the lungs and occlusion of small airways by DNA-rich mucus plugs are characteristic features of severe RSV-LRTD. Activated neutrophils can release neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), extracellular networks of DNA covered with antimicrobial proteins, as part of the first-line defence against pathogens. NETs can trap and eliminate microbes; however, abundant NET formation may also contribute to airway occlusion. In this study, we investigated whether NETs are induced by RSV and explored their potential anti-viral effect in vitro. Second, we studied NET formation in vivo during severe RSV-LRTD in infants and bovine RSV-LRTD in calves, by examining bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and lung tissue sections, respectively. NETs were visualized in lung cytology and tissue samples by DNA and immunostaining, using antibodies against citrullinated histone H3, elastase and myeloperoxidase. RSV was able to induce NET formation by human neutrophils in vitro. Furthermore, NETs were able to capture RSV, thereby precluding binding of viral particles to target cells and preventing infection. Evidence for the formation of NETs in the airways and lungs was confirmed in children with severe RSV-LRTD. Detailed histopathological examination of calves with RSV-LRTD showed extensive NET formation in dense plugs occluding the airways, either with or without captured viral antigen. Together, these results suggest that, although NETs trap viral particles, their exaggerated formation during severe RSV-LRTD contributes to airway obstruction.

Intragraft Blood Dendritic Cell Antigen-1-Positive Myeloid Dendritic Cells Increase during BK Polyomavirus-Associated Nephropathy.

Although both polyomavirus infection and T cell-mediated rejection (TCMR) are characterized by tubulointerstitial inflammation in the renal allograft, these conditions are treated with opposing therapeutic regimens. To gain more insight into the differences between antiviral and alloimmune responses, we performed a case-control study, in which we immunophenotyped the inflammatory infiltrates in renal biopsy specimens with BK polyomavirus-associated nephropathy (BKPyVAN) and specimens with TCMR. Compared with TCMR, BKPyVAN was diagnosed later after transplantation; therefore, BKPyVAN specimens showed more chronic damage than TCMR specimens showed. However, TCMR and BKPyVAN specimens had comparable levels of tubulointerstitial inflammation. Adjustment for confounders in various multivariable models revealed more blood dendritic cell antigen-1(+) (BDCA-1(+)) myeloid dendritic cells (mDCs) present during BKPyVAN (odds ratio, 2.31; 95% confidence interval, 1.03 to 5.16; P=0.04) than during TCMR. Double immunostaining for SV40 and BDCA-1 showed that, during BKPyVAN, BDCA-1(+) mDCs localized in proximity to the polyomavirus-infected tubular epithelial cells. We ensured that time of biopsy after transplantation was not a confounding factor by including additional specimens with late TCMR and protocol biopsy specimens matched for biopsy time. These additional specimens showed amounts of BDCA-1(+) mDCs comparable with amounts in the early TCMR specimens. These results suggest that BDCA-1(+) mDCs, known to be involved in the antiviral immune response during various viral infections, might have a pivotal role during BKPyVAN infection in the grafted kidney.

Lung epithelial MyD88 drives early pulmonary clearance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa by a flagellin dependent mechanism.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a flagellated pathogen frequently causing pneumonia in hospitalized patients and sufferers of chronic lung disease. Here we investigated the role of the common Toll-like receptor (TLR) adaptor myeloid differentiation factor (MyD)88 in myeloid vs. lung epithelial cells in clearance of P. aeruginosa from the airways. Mice deficient for MyD88 in lung epithelial cells (Sftpccre-MyD88-lox mice) or myeloid cells (LysMcre-MyD88-lox mice) and bone marrow chimeric mice deficient for TLR5 (the receptor recognizing Pseudomonas flagellin) in either parenchymal or hematopoietic cells were infected with P. aeruginosa via the airways. Sftpccre-MyD88-lox mice demonstrated a reduced influx of neutrophils into the bronchoalveolar space and an impaired early antibacterial defense after infection with P. aeruginosa, whereas the response of LysMcre-MyD88-lox mice did not differ from control mice. The immune-enhancing role of epithelial MyD88 was dependent on recognition of pathogen-derived flagellin by epithelial TLR5, as demonstrated by an unaltered clearance of mutant P. aeruginosa lacking flagellin from the lungs of Sftpccre-MyD88-lox mice and an impaired bacterial clearance in bone marrow chimeric mice lacking TLR5 in parenchymal cells. These data indicate that early clearance of P. aeruginosa from the airways is dependent on flagellin-TLR5-MyD88-dependent signaling in respiratory epithelial cells.

Reduced acute myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury in IL-6-deficient mice employing a closed-chest model.

OBJECTIVE AND DESIGN: We examined the role of IL-6 in the temporal development of cardiac ischemia-reperfusion injury employing a closed-chest I/R model. MATERIALS/METHODS: Infarction, local and systemic inflammation, neutrophil infiltration, coagulation and ST elevation/resolution were compared between wild-type (WT) and IL-6-deficient (IL-6(-/-)) mice after 1 h ischemia and 0, ½, 3, and 24 h reperfusion. RESULTS: IL-6 deficiency reduced infarct size at 3 h reperfusion (28.8 ± 4.5 % WT vs 17.6 ± 2.5 % IL-6(-/-)), which reduction persisted and remained similar at 24 h reperfusion (25.1 ± 3.0 % WT vs 14.6 ± 4.4 % IL-6(-/-)). Serum Amyloid A was reduced at 24 h reperfusion only (57.5 ± 4.9 WT vs 24.8 ± 5.6 ug/ml IL-6(-/-) mice). Cardiac cytokines (IL-6, IL-1ß and TNFα) peaked at 3 h reperfusion, but IL-1ß and TNFα levels were unaffected by IL-6 deficiency. Significant neutrophil influx was only detected at 24 h reperfusion and was similar for WT and IL-6(-/-). Tissue factor peaked at 24 h reperfusion, whereas fibrin/fibrinogen peaked at 3 h reperfusion and was completely resolved at 24 h reperfusion; both coagulation factors were unaltered by IL-6 deficiency. Prolonged ST elevation was observed during ischemia that completely resolved for both genotypes at early reperfusion. CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest that, in the absence of major surgical intervention, IL-6 contributes to the development of infarct size in the early phase of reperfusion; this contribution did not depend on neutrophil influx, IL-1ß and TNFα, tissue factor and fibrin.

Myeloid-related protein-14 deficiency promotes inflammation in staphylococcal pneumonia.

Staphylococcus aureus has evolved as an important cause of pneumonia in both hospital and community settings. Staphylococcal lung infection can lead to overwhelming pulmonary inflammation. During infection, neutrophils release complexes of myeloid-related protein (MRP)8 and MRP14 (MRP8/14). MRP8/14 has been shown to exert pro-inflammatory and chemotactic activity, and to assist in the killing of S. aureus. In the current study we sought to determine the role of MRP8/14 in the host response during S. aureus pneumonia.Pneumonia was induced in wildtype and MRP14-deficient mice (mice unable to form MRP8/14) by intranasal inoculation of 1×10(7) CFU of S. aureus USA300. Mice were sacrificed at 6, 24, 48 or 72 h after infection for analyses.S. aureus pneumonia was associated with a strong rise in MRP8/14 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and lung tissue. Surprisingly, MRP14 deficiency had a limited effect on bacterial clearance and was associated with increased cytokine levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and aggravated lung histopathology. MRP14 deficiency in addition was associated with a diminished transmigration of neutrophils into bronchoalveolar lavage fluid at late time-points after infection together with reduced release of nucleosomes.MRP8/14 serves in an unexpected protective role for the lung in staphylococcal pneumonia.

Mast cells impair host defense during murine Streptococcus pneumoniae pneumonia.

BACKGROUND: Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most common causative pathogen in community-acquired pneumonia. Mast cells (MCs) are located mainly at the host-environment interface where they function as sentinels. OBJECTIVE: Our goal was to study the role of MCs during pneumonia caused by S. pneumoniae. METHODS: Lung tissue of patients who had died from pneumococcal pneumonia or a nonpulmonary cause was stained for MCs and tryptase. Wild-type (WT) and MC-deficient (Kit(W-sh/W-sh)) mice were observed or sacrificed after induction of pneumonia by intranasal inoculation of S. pneumoniae. In separate experiments, WT mice were treated with doxantrazole or cromoglycate, which are MC stabilizing agents. RESULTS: The constitutive presence of tryptase-positive MCs was reduced in affected lungs from pneumonia patients. Kit(W-sh/W-sh) mice showed a prolonged survival during the first few days after median lethal dose (LD)100 and LD50 infection, while overall mortality did not differ from that in WT mice. Relative to WT mice, Kit(W-sh/W-sh) mice showed reduced bacterial counts with less bacterial dissemination to distant organs and less inflammation. Neither doxantrazole nor cromoglycate influenced antibacterial defense or inflammatory responses after airway infection with S. pneumoniae. CONCLUSIONS: MCs exhibit an unfavorable role in host defense during pneumococcal pneumonia by a mechanism independent of degranulation.

Protease activated receptor-1 deficiency diminishes bleomycin-induced skin fibrosis.

Accumulating evidence shows that protease-activated receptor-1 (PAR-1) plays an important role in the development of fibrosis, including lung fibrosis. However, whether PAR-1 also plays a role in the development of skin fibrosis remains elusive. The aim of this study was to determine the role of PAR-1 in the development of skin fibrosis. To explore possible mechanisms by which PAR-1 could play a role, human dermal fibroblasts and keratinocytes were stimulated with specific PAR-1 agonists or antagonists. To investigate the role of PAR-1 in skin fibrosis, we subjected wild-type and PAR-1-deficient mice to a model of bleomycin-induced skin fibrosis. PAR-1 activation leads to increased proliferation and extra cellular matrix (ECM) production, but not migration of human dermal fibroblasts (HDF) in vitro. Moreover, transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß production was increased in keratinocytes upon PAR-1 activation, but not in HDF. The loss of PAR-1 in vivo significantly attenuated bleomycin-induced skin fibrosis. The bleomycin-induced increase in dermal thickness and ECM production was reduced significantly in PAR-1-deficient mice compared with wild-type mice. Moreover, TGF-ß expression and the number of proliferating fibroblasts were reduced in PAR-1-deficient mice although the difference did not reach statistical significance. This study demonstrates that PAR-1 contributes to the development of skin fibrosis and we suggest that PAR-1 potentiates the fibrotic response mainly by inducing fibroblast proliferation and ECM production.