National Jewish Health

About: National Jewish Health is a healthcare organization based out in Denver, Colorado, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Asthma & T cell. The organization has 883 authors who have published 833 publications receiving 79201 citations. The organization is also known as: National Jewish Medical and Research Center.

Rejection of kidney allografts by MHC class I-deficient mice.

Abstract: To evaluate the requirement for CD8 + T cells in kidney transplant rejection, we studied class I-deficient (class I - ) mice that had received vascularized renal allografts. Because of the absence of MHC class I expression, these mice are grossly deficient in CD4 - CD8 + αβTCR + cells. Despite the deficiency of CD8 + cells in naive class I - mice, kidney allografts transplanted into class I - recipients developed significant reductions in renal blood flow and glomerular filtration rate to levels comparable to allograft controls. This functional deterioration was associated with histologic changes consistent with cellular rejection. There were no significant differences in the pattern, severity, or phenotypic character of the cellular infiltrate in allografts transplanted into class I - recipients compared to controls. In fact, substantial numbers of CD8 + T cells were present in these allografts, and the intensity and pattern of anti-CD8 staining was not different from controls. Virtually all of the CD8 + cells in the kidney grafts were class I - and CD4 - and co-expressed CD8 α and β chains; the majority were αβTCR + . The CD8 + infiltrating cells were cytotoxic to donor targets but also exhibited activity against class I + cells bearing self-MHC. Despite the marked CD8 + T cell infiltration of grafts, CD8 + T cells could not be detected by flow cytometry in freshly isolated splenocytes from the class I - recipients of allografts. High levels of circulating anti-class I antibodies were present in the serum of class I - recipients of kidney allografts, and these antibodies had unusual specificity in that they appeared to recognize framework epitopes of MHC class I. Thus, class I - mice readily reject kidney allografts. Although the number of CD8 + alloreactive precursors in substantially reduced in class mice, and their specificities are atypical, the pattern and character of the intra-graft CD8 + cellular response is not significantly altered. Thus, factors unrelated to precursor frequency determine the dimension of the intra-graft CD8 + response. Such factors might include cellular and/or biochemical properties of microenvironment within the graft

Activation of MAP2-kinase in B lymphocytes by calcium ionophores.

Abstract: The role of increases in intracellular calcium levels on tyrosine phosphorylation in human B lymphocytes was studied. Stimulation of normal, resting B lymphocytes or B lymphoblastoid cells with the calcium ionophores ionomycin or A23187 induced the tyrosine phosphorylation and the enzymatic activation of microtubule-associated protein-2 kinase (MAP2-K). Treatment of these cells with PMA induced tyrosine phosphorylation of a protein with the identical mobility, as well as the enzymatic activation of MAP2-K. Stimulation of these cells with ionomycin also resulted in increased ribosomal S6 kinase activity. Activation of MAP2-K in B lymphocytes by calcium ionophore was rapid (detectable within 1 min), transient (returning to background levels by 45 min), and dependent on extracellular calcium. These results demonstrate that transmembrane calcium flux induced by calcium ionophore results in the tyrosine phosphorylation and enzymatic activation of MAP2-K in human B cells.

Assaying phospholipase A2 activity.

Abstract: Mammalian cells contain many structurally and functionally diverse phospholipases A2 (PLA2) that catalyze the hydrolysis of sn-2 fatty acid from membrane phospholipid. Assays are described for measuring the activity of Group IVA cytosolic PLA2alpha(cPLAalpha) and for secreted PLA2s (sPLA2) that are suitable for purified enzymes and for measuring activity in crude cell lysates and culture medium. The assay for cPLA2alpha involves measuring the calcium-dependent release of radiolabeled sn-2 arachidonic acid from small unilamellar vesicles of phosphatidylcholine. Methods are described for distinguishing cPLA2alpha activity in cell lysates from other PLA2s. sPLA2 activity is monitored using a fluorimetric assay that measures the continuous calcium-dependent formation of albumin-bound pyrene fatty acid from the sn-2 position of phosphatidylglycerol.

Understanding the informational needs of patients with IPF and their caregivers: ‘You get diagnosed, and you ask this question right away, what does this mean?’

Abstract: Background Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive, incurable lung disease whose intrusive symptoms rob patients of their quality of life Patients with IPF rely on their caregivers for support and assistance in amounts that vary according to patients’ individual circumstances and disease severity Knowledgeable and well-informed patients and caregivers are best suited to deal with life-altering conditions like IPF Methods We conducted two hour-long focus groups with 13 patients with IPF and 4 caregivers of patients with IPF to better understand their informational needs and in what format such information should be delivered Results Patients discussed the challenges IPF creates in their daily lives They wanted information on how to live well despite having IPF, practical information on how they could remain active and travel and how they could preserve their quality of life despite living with a life-threatening disease like IPF Caregivers wanted information on the general aspects of IPF, because it would help them understand what patients were going through They also wanted specific information on how to give care to a patient with IPF, even when physical care may not be needed (as in earlier phases of the disease) Patients and caregivers both needed efficient information delivery from trustworthy sources, including the healthcare team involved in their care They considered both spoken and written information valuable, and ease of access was critical Conclusion This study provides valuable insight regarding the informational needs of IPF patients and their caregivers It is hoped that identifying or creating sources of this information, and insuring that patients and caregivers have access to it, will improve well-being for patients with IPF and their caregivers