Mice deficient in IFN-gamma had decreased CSF levels of CCL3, CCL5, and CXCL10 (IP-10), and decreased activation of both resident CNS and infiltrating antigen-presenting cells (APCs). The effects of IFN-gamma signaling on macrophage lineage cells was assessed using transgenic mice, called “”macrophages insensitive to interferon gamma”" (MIIG) mice, that express a dominant-negative IFN-gamma receptor under the control of the CD68 promoter. MIIG mice had decreased levels of CCL2, CCL3, CCL5, and CXCL10 compared to controls despite having normal numbers of LCMV-specific CD4(+) SB431542 order T cells in the CNS. MIIG mice also had decreased recruitment of infiltrating

macrophages and decreased activation of both resident www.selleckchem.com/products/E7080.html CNS and infiltrating APCs. Finally, MIIG mice were significantly protected from LCMV-induced anorexia and weight loss. Thus, these data suggest that CD4(+) T-cell production of IFN-gamma promotes signaling in macrophage lineage cells, which control (i) the production of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines, (ii) the recruitment of macrophages to the CNS, (iii) the activation of resident CNS and infiltrating APC populations, and (iv) anorexic weight loss.”
“Genetic invalidation of CCK2 receptors abolishes chronic constriction injury (CCI) induced mechanical hypersensitivity in mice. However, housing in environmentally enriched conditions significantly

alters the phenotype of CCK2 receptor deficient

mice in all major behavioral domains. Furthermore, environmental enrichment itself has been reported to have protective effects in several rodent models of neurological diseases (brain and spinal trauma, ischemic stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, etc.). In the present study we reproduced the earlier finding that mice, lacking CCK2 receptors (-/-) are resistant to CCI-induced hypersensitivity. On the other hand, environmental enrichment substantially reduced CCI-induced mechanical hypersensitivity in wild type (+/+) mice. Nevertheless, Levetiracetam the phenotypic differences between wild-type (+/+) and mutant (-/-) mice in mechanical sensitivity before and after CCI-surgery were not eliminated by alternative housing conditions. These observations suggest that environmental enrichment has beneficial effects in neuropathic conditions and reinforce the causal link between CCK2 receptors, mechanical sensitivity and the development of CCI-induced hypersensitivity. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Expression of HLA-B57 is associated with restricted replication of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), but the mechanism for its protective effect remains unknown. If this advantage depends upon CD8 T-cell recognition of B57-restricted epitopes, mother-to-child transmission of escape mutations within these epitopes could nullify its protective effect.