Choose an application

• Reference Manager
• EndNote
• RefWorks (Direct export to RefWorks)

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) or kala-azar is the most dreadful of all forms of leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania donovani in Old World and Leishmania chagasi and/or Leishmania infantum in New World affecting millions of people worldwide. In active VL, macrophages host the replicating amastigotes in phagolysosomal compartments leading to splenomegaly, hepatomegaly, hyperglobulinemia, anemia, weight-loss, incessant fever and ultimately death if not treated. Treatments available against the disease are limited by increased incidence of resistance, serious side-effects, high cost and long course of treatment. Immuno-chemotherapy is an alternative to overcome the limitations of the drugs against VL. Combination of one or more of immunotherapeutic agents like BCG, Alum, IFN-?, antigen-pulsed dendritic cells (DC), etc. with chemotherapeutic drugs have been tested raising hopes for a suitable immuno-chemotherapy against VL and Post Kala-azar Dermal Leishmaniasis (PKDL). Antagonists of IL-10, TGF-ß, IL-13 have been effectively used with pentavalent antimonials in treatment of experimental VL. Some parasitic antigens and liposomal formulations have also been shown to impart superior therapeutic effectiveness to antileishmanial drugs. For socio-economic reasons prophylaxis is always more desirable than therapy. Although no vaccine against any form of leishmaniasis in humans is available, patients successfully treated show considerable protection from reinfection highlighting the possibility of developing prophylactic measures against the disease. Subsequently a lot of interest has been focused recently towards developing vaccines against VL and many potential vaccine candidates like whole cell (attenuated or heat killed), crude fractions, purified subunits, DNAs, recombinant proteins, fusion proteins, and genetically modified live attenuated parasites etc. have been reported. These vaccine candidates are either activators of CD4+Th1 cells and/or CD8+ T cells or neutralizers of immuno-suppression. Cationic liposomal formulations, nanoparticle and virosome delivery systems, etc. have been used to increase potency and durability of various vaccine candidates. Immuno-modulators like TLR agonists have been shown to be promising adjuvants in enhancing efficacy and overcoming the challenge of human administrable vaccine formulations. Recently role of sand fly salivary gland proteins as immune-modulators also has been explored. Various strategies such as heterologous prime boosting, targeted antigen delivery, adjuvant mediated protection, have been undertaken. Likewise, precise role of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in VL disease progression needs to be investigated and exploited to develop both immuno-therapeutic and prophylactic methods. A breakthrough in immunotherapy and prophylactic strategy would help in eradication of the parasites from the pool of natural reservoirs namely VL and PKDL patients, asymptomatic carrier individuals and infected dogs ensuring success of global VL control programs.

Alternative Medicine --- Medicine --- Health & Biological Sciences --- Immuno modulator --- Th1 response --- Visceral leishmaniasis --- Immunotherapy --- Vaccine

Choose an application

• Reference Manager
• EndNote
• RefWorks (Direct export to RefWorks)

Aging --- CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes --- Immunologic Memory --- Cytokines --- Th1 Cells --- immunology --- physiology

Choose an application

• Reference Manager
• EndNote
• RefWorks (Direct export to RefWorks)

CD4+ T lymphocytes play an essential role in host defense against bacterial, parasitic and viral infections. During infection, under the influence of intrinsic signals received through peptide-MHC/TCR interactions and extrinsic signals provided by pathogen-conditioned dendritic and other accessory cells, CD4+ T cells proliferate and differentiate into specialized T helper (Th) effectors, which produce distinct sets of cytokines tailored to combat a specific class of microbes. The concept of CD4+ T cell multi-functionality was developed after the seminal discovery of Th1 and Th2 cells nearly 30 years ago. Although the Th1/Th2 paradigm has successfully withstood the test of time, in the past decade additional Th subsets (Th17, Tfh, Th22, Th9) have been identified. Similarly, single cell analyses of cytokines and master transcriptional factors have revealed that, at the population level, CD4+ T cell responses are far more heterogeneous than initially anticipated. While some of the checkpoints in Th cell specification have been identified, recent studies of transcriptional and epigenetic regulation have uncovered a significant flexibility during the course CD4+ T lymphocyte polarization. In addition, Th cells expressing cytokines with counteracting functions, as a measure of self-regulation, display yet another level of diversity. Understanding the mechanisms that control the balance between stability vs. plasticity of Th effectors both at the time of initiation of immune response and during development of CD4 T cell memory is critical for the rational design of better vaccines and new immunotherapeutic strategies. This research topic will cover current views on Th cell development, with a focus on the mechanisms that govern differentiation, function and regulation of effector Th cells in the context of microbial infections.

Clinical Immunology --- Medicine --- Health & Biological Sciences --- Infection --- Dendritic Cells --- Cytokines --- Immunoregulation --- CD4 lymphocytes --- Memory --- long noncoding RNA --- Macrophages --- Metabolism --- Th1 Th2

Choose an application

• Reference Manager
• EndNote
• RefWorks (Direct export to RefWorks)

“About 25 years ago, Mosmann & Coffman introduced the TH1 / TH2 paradigm of T helper cell differentiation which helped explain many aspects of adaptive immunity from eliminating intracellular versus extracellular pathogens to induction of different types of tissue inflammation.   However, TH1 / TH2 paradigm could not adequately explain development of certain inflammatory responses which provided impetus for the discovery of a new subset of T cells called TH17 cells. After the discovery of differentiation and transcription factors for TH17 cells, it was clear that TH17 cells represent an independent subset of T cells with specific functions in eliminating certain extracellular pathogens, presumably not adequately handled by TH1 or TH2 cells. The major role of TH17 cells has been described in inducing auto-immune tissue inflammation.   The discovery of TH17 cells has expanded the TH1 / TH2 paradigm, and the integration of TH17 cells with TH1 and TH2 effector T cells is beginning to explain the underlying mechanisms of tissue inflammation in a number of infections and auto-immune disease settings.”   - From Chapter One by Vijay K. Kuchroo, Harvard University, USA       “The recently identified Interleukin 17 (IL-17) cytokine family contributes to immunity to infectious diseases and chronic inflammatory diseases. Further studies on the regulation and function of this important cytokine family may provide better understanding on the roles of the IL-17 family in immune-mediated diseases; such knowledge may lead to the development of immunotherapeutic strategies for treatment of several inflammatory diseases.”   - From Chapter Two by Chen Dong, University of Texas and MD Anderson Cancer Center, USA.

Allergy. --- Diseases. --- Health. --- Immunity. --- Immunology. --- T cells --- Cellular control mechanisms --- Immune response --- Inflammation --- Interleukins --- T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer --- Pathologic Processes --- Diseases --- CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes --- Cytokines --- Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms --- Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins --- T-Lymphocytes --- Lymphocytes --- Biological Factors --- Peptides --- Proteins --- Amino Acids, Peptides, and Proteins --- Chemicals and Drugs --- Leukocytes, Mononuclear --- Leukocytes --- Blood Cells --- Immune System --- Blood --- Cells --- Hemic and Immune Systems --- Anatomy --- Immune System Diseases --- Interleukin-17 --- Th17 Cells --- Biology --- Health & Biological Sciences --- Microbiology & Immunology --- Regulation --- Immunological aspects --- Th1 cells --- T cells. --- T lymphocytes --- Thymus-dependent cells --- Thymus-dependent lymphocytes --- Thymus-derived cells --- Th1 helper cells --- Th1 helper lymphocytes --- Th1 lymphocytes --- Th17 cells --- Th17 cells. --- T helper 17 cells --- T helper 17 lymphocytes --- Th-17 cells --- Th17 lymphocytes --- Type 17 helper T cells --- Medicine. --- Pharmaceutical technology. --- Infectious diseases. --- Cell biology. --- Biomedicine. --- Infectious Diseases. --- Cell Biology. --- Medicine/Public Health, general. --- Pharmaceutical Sciences/Technology. --- Emerging infectious diseases. --- Cytology. --- Pharmaceutical laboratory techniques --- Pharmaceutical laboratory technology --- Technology, Pharmaceutical --- Technology --- Clinical sciences --- Medical profession --- Human biology --- Life sciences --- Medical sciences --- Pathology --- Physicians --- Cell biology --- Cellular biology --- Cytologists --- Emerging infections --- New infectious diseases --- Re-emerging infectious diseases --- Reemerging infectious diseases --- Communicable diseases --- Immunobiology --- Serology --- Health Workforce

Choose an application

• Reference Manager
• EndNote
• RefWorks (Direct export to RefWorks)

Supporting initiation, development and resolution of appropriate immune responses is key to survival. Many nutrients and dietary components have been purported to have a role in supporting optimal immune function. This is vital throughout the life course, from the development and programming of the immune system in early life, to supporting immunity and reducing chronic inflammation in older people. In this special issue of Nutrients, we examine the evidence for the role of diet and dietary components in promoting protective immunity.

immunonutrition --- supplementation --- superoxide dismutase (SOD) --- fermented milk --- selenocysteine --- dendritic cells --- lipoxygenase (LOX) --- chronic inflammatory conditions --- formulation --- immune system --- cytokines --- skeletal muscle --- zinc --- non-digestible carbohydrates --- Toll-like receptor --- carbohydrates --- fiber --- lymphocytes --- antibody --- infants --- liver --- macrophage --- inflammatory process --- probiotic --- plant --- older people --- gut barrier --- infection --- amino acids --- gut --- T helper 1 (Th1) --- immunity --- T cells --- bioactive peptide --- inhibitor of kappa kinase (IKK) --- inflammation --- adhesion molecules --- leukocytes --- human milk oligosaccharides --- vitamin D --- food structure --- vitamin E --- mitogen-activated protein Kinase (MAPK) --- gut microbiota --- weaning --- homeostasis --- intestinal immune system --- extra-cellular signal regulated kinases (ERK) --- cyclooxygenase (COX) --- oxidative stress --- life course --- polyphenols --- oligosaccharides --- micronutrients --- Th17 --- obesity --- tolerance --- arachidonic acid --- growth factors --- anti-inflammation --- age-related immunity --- prebiotic --- biomarker --- microbiome --- functional foods --- immunosenescence --- nutrition --- molecular mechanisms --- metabolism --- macronutrients --- toll-like receptor 4 --- sepsis --- nutrition guidelines --- microbiota --- immunomodulation --- inflammatory markers --- elderly --- Th1/Th17 response --- adults --- reactive oxygen species (ROS) --- anorexia nervosa --- macrophages --- autoimmune diseases --- fatty acids --- T cell --- Treg --- breast milk --- nitric oxide synthase (NOS) --- chemokines --- anti-tumorigenic --- metabolites --- deficiency --- protein hydrolysate --- nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-?B) --- cancer