Mouse anti-Dog CD11c Monoclonal antibody, clone DB22.7B2

Dendritic cells (DC) are specialized antigen-presenting cells, responsible for peripheral immune responses. Recently, resident brain dendritic cells (bDC) were identified and functionally characterized in the young adult Itgax (CD11c) EYFP+ transgenic mouse brain. In the present study, we describe changes in number, phenotype, and source of bDC in the aging mouse brain. Immunohistochemistry and fluorescent activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis revealed an age-related increase in bDC with a concomitant rise in the expression of immune activation markers MHCII, CD80, and CD86. Quantification of immunolabeled bDC in the cortex, corpus callosum, and cerebellum of the aged brain revealed a 2- to 5-fold increase. In contrast, either no change or a decrease in bDC was noted in regions of adult neurogenesis. Chimeras (wild type host/EYFP+ bone marrow) suggest that the increase of EYFP+ cells in the aging brain is in part due to an accumulation of peripherally derived cells. Collectively, the numerical and phenotypic changes in bDC indicate these cells may serve as an important immune component in the functional and anatomic alterations associated with aging. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Whole human genome oligo microarrays were employed to systematically investigate the differential expression characteristics of associated mRNAs, which were found in the signal transduction pathway of 2 integrins in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) between patients with symptomatic pulmonary embolism (PE) and controls. A total of 20 cases of PE patients and twenty gender- and age-matched controls were recruited for the study. Human cDNA microarray analysis was used to detect the differences in mRNA expression between the two groups and a random variance model corrected t-test was used to analyze the statistical data. A total of 80 associated mRNAs were detected. The mRNA expression of chemokines, ligands, inside-out and outside-in signaling pathway-associated proteins were upregulated significantly in the PE group, compared with the controls. In five subunit-associated mRNAs, the mRNA expression of ITGAL, ITGAM, ITGAX and ITGB2, which encode for the subunits of L, M, X and 2, were upregulated in the PE group and the differences, with the exception of ITGB2, were statistically significant (P<0.05). The mRNA expression of ITGAD was downregulated; however, there was no significant difference (P>0.05). The expression of Fgr mRNA was significantly downregulated (P<0.01). Thus, in PE patients, bilateral signal transduction pathways of 2 integrins in neutrophils and monocytes were activated, enhancing innate immunity.