Resolution of lymphocyte subpopulations derived from rat spleen by polyamine-graft-PHEMA copolymer

The retention behavior of lymphocyte subpopulations, B cell, T cell and null cell, derived from rat spleen to polyamine-graft-poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) copolymer (HA) surface was investigated, focusing on the conformational transition of the polyamine side chain as well as the protonation of amino groups in the polyamine grafts. Furthermore, the availability of HA was discussed as a column adsorbent for separation of lymphocyte subpopulations derived from spleen. The conformational transition of polyamine grafts significantly influenced the mode of retention of lymphocyte subpopulations. When polyamine grafts existed in an aggregated conformation (protonatin degree α < 0.5), the retention of lymphocyte subpopulations was decreased in the order B cell> null cell> T cell. On the other hand, when polyamine existed in an extended conformation into the aqueous interior from the matrix interface (α > 0.5), T cell retention became greater than null cell retention, resulting in a decreased B cell> T cell> null cell order. These results indicate that the differential retention of spleen lymphocyte subpopulations is attributed to their differential responses to the change in matrix interface accompanied by the protonation of amino groups. Furthermore, spleen lymphocytes were compared with lymph node lymphocytes in terms of resolution efficacy by an HA copolymer column.     

Quantitative study on La~(3+) influx mediated by sodium-calcium exchanger in human lymphocytes

Whether La3+ can enter human peripheral blood lymphocytes by the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger or not and the effect of La3+on the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger activity are examined by fura-2 technique. And that whether La3+ is sequestered by intracellular organelles (mainly endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria) is studied by this method. La3+uptake is obviously stimulated by pre-treating the cells with ouabain and by removing extracellular Na+, and intracellular La3+concentration ([La3+]i) is directly proportional to its extracellular concentration ([La3+]o). But when [La3+]o exceeds 0.4 mmol/L, the 340/380 nm ratio of fluorescence is no longer varied and the maximum [La3+], is 1.5×10-12 mol · L-1. The higher concentration of La3+ (0.1 mmol/L) increases Na+/Ca2+ exchange-mediated calcium influx, but lower concentration (10 μmol/L) appears to block calcium influx. The results also suggest that cytosolic La3+ is transported by the ATP-dependent Ca2+ pump. Intracellular Ca2+ stores are depleted by ionomycin, and then ion     

FT-IR analysis of single human normal and leukemic lymphocytes

The infrared spectra of single human normal and leukemic lymphocytes have been obtained by means of the microscope-FT-IR system. Substantial differences between the two kinds of cells have been observed at level of the O-P-O vibrations of the DNA and of the proteic components. This determination opens up the possibility in determining the early stages of leukemia, in following the course of patients under therapy, and in evaluation of the residual neoplastic disease.     

Magnetic bead based immunoassay for enumeration of CD4 T lymphocytes on a microfluidic device

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) diagnostics are urgently needed in resource-scarce settings. Monitoring of HIV-infected patients requires accurate counting of CD4⁺ T lymphocytes. However, the current methods for enumeration of CD4⁺ T lymphocytes are of high cost, technically complex and time-consuming. In this paper, we developed a simple, rapid and inexpensive one-step immunomagnetic method for separating and counting CD4⁺ T lymphocytes on microfluidic devices with enlarged reaction chambers. CD4⁺ T lymphocytes were successfully separated and captured from the cell suspension obtained from mouse thymus. CD4 counts were determined under an optical microscope in a rapid and simple format. In order to acquire the maximum efficiency of cell capture, relative parameters were investigated, including section area of the reaction chamber and injection flow rate of the cell suspension. The enlarged reaction chamber with two symmetrical cone-shaped ends was helpful for cell capture, and the maximum capability of captured CD4⁺ T lymphocytes was about 700 cells μL⁻¹. Our investigations avoided the complex sample pre-treatment, and the entire analysis time was significantly reduced to 15 min. This CD4 counting microdevice had the potential to reduce the cost for HIV diagnosis in resource-limited settings.     

On the dielectric relaxation of biological cell suspensions: the effect of the membrane electrical conductivity

Due to the mismatch of the electrical parameters (the permittivity ?' and the electrical conductivity σ) of the membrane of a biological cell with the ones of the cytosol and the extracellular medium, biological cell suspensions are the site, under the influence of an external electric field, of large dielectric relaxations in the radiowave frequency range. However, a point still remains controversial, i.e., whether or not the value of membrane conductivity σ(s) might be extracted from the de-convolution of the dielectric spectra or otherwise if it would be more reasonable to assign to the membrane conductivity a value equal to zero. This point is not to be considered with superficiality since it concerns an a priori choice which ultimately influences the values of the electrical parameters deduced from this technique. As far as this point is concerned, the opinion of the researchers in this field diverges. We believe that, at least within certain limits, the membrane conductivity can be deduced from the shape of the relaxation spectra. We substantiate this thesis with two different examples concerning the first a suspension of human normal erythrocyte cells and the second a suspension of human lymphocyte cells. In both cases, by means of an accurate fitting procedure based on the Levenberg-Marquardt method for complex functions, we can evaluate the membrane conductivity σ(s) with its associated uncertainty. The knowledge of the membrane electrical conductivity will favor the investigation of different ion transport mechanisms across the cell membrane.     

Natural Polyphenols as Immunomodulators to Rescue Immune Response Homeostasis: Quercetin as a Research Model against Severe COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic is caused by SARS-CoV-2 and is leading to the worst health crisis of this century. It emerged in China during late 2019 and rapidly spread all over the world, producing a broad spectrum of clinical disease severity, ranging from asymptomatic infection to death (4.3 million victims so far). Consequently, the scientific research is devoted to investigating the mechanisms of COVID-19 pathogenesis to both identify specific therapeutic drugs and develop vaccines. Although immunological mechanisms driving COVID-19 pathogenesis are still largely unknown, new understanding has emerged about the innate and adaptive immune responses elicited in SARS-CoV-2 infection, which are mainly focused on the dysregulated inflammatory response in severe COVID-19. Polyphenols are naturally occurring products with immunomodulatory activity, playing a relevant role in reducing inflammation and preventing the onset of serious chronic diseases. Mainly based on data collected before the appearance of SARS-CoV-2, polyphenols have been recently suggested as promising agents to fight COVID-19, and some clinical trials have already been approved with polyphenols to treat COVID-19. The aim of this review is to analyze and discuss the in vitro and in vivo research on the immunomodulatory activity of quercetin as a research model of polyphenols, focusing on research that addresses issues related to the dysregulated immune response in severe COVID-19. From this analysis, it emerges that although encouraging data are present, they are still insufficient to recommend polyphenols as potential immunomodulatory agents against COVID-19.     

Resveratrol,EGCG and Vitamins Modulate Activated T Lymphocytes

Vitamins and bioactives, which are constituents of the food chain, modulate T lymphocyte proliferation and differentiation, antibody production, and prevent inflammation and autoimmunity. We investigated the effects of vitamins (vitamin A (VA), D (VD), E (VE)) and bioactives (i.e., resveratrol (Res), epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG)) on the adaptive immune response, as well as their synergistic or antagonistic interactions. Freshly isolated T lymphocytes from healthy individuals were activated with anti-CD3/CD28 antibodies for 4–5 days in the presence of bioactives and were analyzed by cytofluorometry. Interleukins, cytokines, and chemokines were measured by multiple ELISA. Gene expression was measured by quantitative RT-PCR. Res and EGCG increased CD4 surface intensity. EGCG led to an increased proportion of CD8⁺ lymphocytes. Anti-CD3/CD28 activation induced exuberant secretion of interleukins and cytokines by T lymphocyte subsets. VD strongly enhanced T_h2 cytokines (e.g., IL-5, IL-13), whereas Res and EGCG favored secretion of T_h1 cytokines (e.g., IL-2, INF-γ). Res and VD mutually influenced cytokine production, but VD dominated the cytokine secretion pattern. The substances changed gene expression of interleukins and cytokines in a similar way as they did secretion. Collectively, VD strongly modulated cytokine and interleukin production and favored T_h2 functions. Resveratrol and EGCG promoted the T_h1 response. VA and VE had only a marginal effect, but they altered both T_h1 and T_h2 response. In vivo, bioactives might therefore interact with vitamins and support the outcome and extent of the adaptive immune response.     

淋巴细胞膜上Na+/Ca2+交换操纵的Eu3+内流的荧光法研究

利用Fura-2荧光浓度指示剂法、通过检测360nm激发荧光强度的变化,研究了Eu³⁺能否利用人外周血淋巴细胞膜上的Na⁺/Ca²⁺交换进入细胞。结果表明:用ouabain预处理细胞无Na⁺介质中测试,当加入Eu³⁺时,360nm荧光强度发生猝灭,且随着胞外加入的Eu³⁺浓度的增大而猝灭增强。表明在实验条件下Eu³⁺可以进入细胞。电压依赖性Ca     

Creating a Biomimetic Microenvironment for the Ex Vivo Expansion of Primary Human T Lymphocytes

The ex vivo expansion of primary human T cells is of considerable interest. Current protocols call for the addition of massive amounts of stimuli. This study presents as alternative the expansion of such cells in semipermeable sodium cellulose sulfate/poly(diallyldimethyl) ammonium chloride (SCS/PDADMAC) polyelectrolyte microcapsules, which supports at least six cell divisions and results in >40 × 10⁶ cells mL_capsule⁻¹ within less than 10 d. Inside the microcapsules, the T cells are suspended in a viscous SCS‐solution. The low molecular weight cut off (<10 000 Da) of the surrounding polyelectrolyte membrane assures that typical signaling molecules produced by the cells are retained, while nutrients and metabolites can pass. Expensive additives, such as interleukin‐2 (IL‐2), can be coencapsulated. Expansion then no longer requires specialized T‐cell media. Moreover, these results suggest that an SCS with a low degree of sulfation has biomimetic properties, representing an artificial extracellular matrix mimicking heparin sulfate.     

Selective addition of CXCR3+CCR4-CD4+ Th1 cells enhances generation of cytotoxic T cells by dendritic cells in vitro

Increasing importance is being given to the stimulation of Th1 response in cancer immunotherapy because its presence can shift the direction of adaptive immune responses toward protective immunity. Based on chemokine receptor expression, CXCR3⁺CCR4^-CD4⁺ T cells as Th1-type cells were investigated its capacity in monocyte-derived dendritic cell (DC) maturation and polarization, and induction of antigen specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) in vitro. The levels of IL-4, IL-5 and IL-10 were decreased to the basal level compared with high production of IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-2 in CXCR3⁺CCR4^-CD4⁺ T cells stimulated with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 antibodies. Co-incubation of activated CD4⁺ or CXCR3⁺CCR4^-CD4⁺ T cells with DC (CD4⁺/DC or CXCR3⁺CD4⁺/DC, respectively) particularly up-regulated IL-12 and CD80 expression compared with DC matured with TNF-α and LPS (mDC). Although there was no significant difference between the effects of the CXCR3⁺CCR4^-CD4⁺ and CD4⁺ T cells on DC phenotype expression, CXCR3⁺CD4⁺/DC in CTL culture were able to expand number of CD8⁺ T cells and increased frequencies of IFN-γ secreting cells and overall cytolytic activity against tumor antigen WT-1. These results demonstrated that the selective addition of CXCR3⁺CCR4^-CD4⁺ T cells to CTL cultures could enhance the induction of CTLs by DC in vitro, and implicated on a novel strategy for adoptive T cell therapy.