The Immune System – Multimedia

We discovered that in vitro high dose of Progesterone (P) together with FGFa, EGF, VEGF, LPS had dual effect on Liver tissue cells: increased multiplication of Hepatocytes and suppressed all non-parenchymal (NP) liver tissue cells and created immune tolerance between two allogeneic mice Liver tissue

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most frequent cause of cancer deaths in Australia. Even after resection up to 50% of patients relapse. In an attempt to prevent recurrences chemotherapy is administered to high risk patients. However, as few as 10-20% patients genuinely benefit because the clinical course for individuals with CRC remains difficult to predict, largely due to prognostically heterogeneous groups within same-stage tumour categories.

Interferon-regulatory factor-8 is essential for differentiation and function of dendritic cells and thus for the induction of competent immune responses. Here, we investigated the role of IRF-8 in affecting immune response against melanoma. Our results reveal a critical role of IRF-8 in controlling melanoma growth and suggest that IRF-8-mediated antitumor activity is the result of a coordinated action between DC-mediated immune response and the tumor suppressor function of IRF-8.

An important event in the inflammation response is the expression of cell-surface antigens that facilitate binding of immune cells to blood vessels. The ability to monitor up-regulation of these molecules, such as VCAM, E-selectin, and HLADR on endothelial cells provides an important physiological read-out for cell-based models of inflammation.

The evidence for an association between autoimmune diseases and chronic HCV infection has been clearly established. To this aim, a protein array was employed to analyze serum samples of HCV patients w/wo autoimmune complications, of patients with autoimmune hepatitis but not infected with HCV and of healthy donors as controls. A panel of autoantigens able to discriminate among the three groups of patients was identified for potential use as biomarkers.

To evaluate the clinical efficacy of iPSc directed to interfere T-cell activation to cure patients with psoriasis. Twenty subjects were enrolled. Each patient was administered iv with syngenic iPS. Those showing lower PASI score were considered cured. The study states that induced iPSCs are safe and impart significant clinical efficacy to cure patients with psoriasis.

Our project is partially focused on insulin affecting four proteins associated with lung surfactant. Small and hydrophobic SP-B and S-PC help to spread and stabilize the surfactant layer while large and hydrophilic SP-A and SP-D participate in immune responses. A549 and H441 cell lines were used. It was observed using RealTime PCR that higher doses of insulin lead to decreased transcription of SP-B, SP-C, SP-D, and both isoforms of SP-A.

Gene regulatory networks were used to identify novel regulatory hubs genes involved in the inflammatory response in human umbilical endothelial cells (HUVECs). To assess the potential role of these genes a leukocyte adhesion assay was utilized to screen for potential inflammatory markers. The FLUOstar OPTIMA microplate reader from BMG LABTECH was used for cell based bottom optic measurements and well scanning. The results show good reproducibility and can be adapted to e.g. primary neutrophils.

The design and fabrication process of a micro PCR module is presented. The final system will be integrated in an innovative Lab on a Chip (LOC) to provide a technological platform able to detect autoimmune genetic diseases.

Kinase inhibitors (KIs) represent a new class of rationally designed drugs. The success of Imatinib has prompted the development of other KIs for the treatment of various cancers and inflammation. Although more successful than conventional therapies, myelotoxicity and cardiotoxicity are often major side effects of KIs. In order to predict if newly developed molecules demonstrated significant myelotoxicity or cardiotoxicity, we assessed a number of TKIs using in vitro models.