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    Caroline Lanigan

    Facets of the immune response early after human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection influence the course of disease. In the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)-rhesus monkey system, a global dysfunction of CD4(+) T cell cytokine... more
    Facets of the immune response early after human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection influence the course of disease. In the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)-rhesus monkey system, a global dysfunction of CD4(+) T cell cytokine secretion was reported to develop early after infection [McKay PF, Barouch DH, Schmitz JE, Veazey RS, Gorgone DA, Lifton MA, Williams KC, and Letvin NL: J Virol 2003;77:4695-4702]. Because differences have been found in SIV pathogenesis depending on the origin of the monkeys, we investigated the correlation between animal background, defined by country of origin (India or China), and circulating T cell cytokine secretion as well as cycling ability within the first 3 mo of SIV infection. An early loss of CD4(+) T cells that produce interferon (IFN)-gamma and interleukin (IL)-2, those that produce IFN-gamma but not tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, as well as those that do not express IFN-gamma but can express IL-2 or TNF-alpha, was observed in animals of Indian, but not of Chinese, origin after SIV infection. After infection CD4(+) T cells in Chinese macaques developed an increased proliferating pool of T cells compared with Indian animals. These data reveal host diversity in the global effects of SIV infection on functional subsets of immune cells, which can add to a better understanding of differences observed in populations from diverse ethnic origins.
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    The technique of random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD), which is simply polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of genomic DNA by a single short oligonucleotide primer, produces complex patterns of anonymous polymorphic DNA... more
    The technique of random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD), which is simply polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of genomic DNA by a single short oligonucleotide primer, produces complex patterns of anonymous polymorphic DNA fragments. The information provided by these banding patterns has proved to be of great utility for mapping and for verification of identity of bacterial strains. Here we consider whether the degree of similarity of the banding patterns can be used to estimate nucleotide diversity and nucleotide divergence. With haploid data, fragments generated by RAPD-PCR can be treated in a fashion very similar to that for restriction-fragment data. Amplification of diploid samples, on the other hand, requires consideration of the fact that presence of a band is dominant to absence of the band. After describing a method for estimating nucleotide divergence on the basis of diploid samples, we summarize the restrictions and criteria that must be met when RAPD data...
    Differentiation and activation of lymphocytes are documented to result in changes in glycosylation associated with biologically important consequences. In this report, we have systematically examined global changes in N-linked... more
    Differentiation and activation of lymphocytes are documented to result in changes in glycosylation associated with biologically important consequences. In this report, we have systematically examined global changes in N-linked glycosylation following activation of murine CD4 T cells, CD8 T cells, and B cells by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry profiling, and investigated the molecular basis for those changes by assessing alterations in
    Facets of the immune response early after human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection influence the course of disease. In the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)-rhesus monkey system, a global dysfunction of CD4(+) T cell cytokine... more
    Facets of the immune response early after human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection influence the course of disease. In the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)-rhesus monkey system, a global dysfunction of CD4(+) T cell cytokine secretion was reported to develop early after infection [McKay PF, Barouch DH, Schmitz JE, Veazey RS, Gorgone DA, Lifton MA, Williams KC, and Letvin NL: J Virol 2003;77:4695-4702]. Because differences have been found in SIV pathogenesis depending on the origin of the monkeys, we investigated the correlation between animal background, defined by country of origin (India or China), and circulating T cell cytokine secretion as well as cycling ability within the first 3 mo of SIV infection. An early loss of CD4(+) T cells that produce interferon (IFN)-gamma and interleukin (IL)-2, those that produce IFN-gamma but not tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, as well as those that do not express IFN-gamma but can express IL-2 or TNF-alpha, was observed in animals of Indian, but not of Chinese, origin after SIV infection. After infection CD4(+) T cells in Chinese macaques developed an increased proliferating pool of T cells compared with Indian animals. These data reveal host diversity in the global effects of SIV infection on functional subsets of immune cells, which can add to a better understanding of differences observed in populations from diverse ethnic origins.
    Epidermal T cells have been shown to play unique roles in tissue homeostasis and repair in mice through local secretion of distinct growth factors in the skin. Human epidermis contains both αβ+ and γδ+ T cells whose functional... more
    Epidermal T cells have been shown to play unique roles in tissue homeostasis and repair in mice through local secretion of distinct growth factors in the skin. Human epidermis contains both αβ+ and γδ+ T cells whose functional capabilities are not understood. We demonstrate that human epidermal T cells are able to produce insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) upon activation and promote wound healing in a skin organ culture model. Moreover, an analysis of the functional capabilities of T cells isolated from acute versus chronic wounds revealed a striking difference. Both αβ+ and Vδ1+ T cells isolated from acute wounds actively produced IGF-1, demonstrating that they are activated during tissue damage to participate in wound repair. In contrast, IGF-1 production could not be detected in T cells isolated from chronic wounds. In fact, skin T cells isolated from chronic wounds were refractory to further stimulation, suggesting an unresponsive state. Collectively, these results define a n...
    Junctional epidermolysis bullosa (JEB) is an autosomal recessive skin blistering disease with both lethal and nonlethal forms, with most patients shown to have defects in laminin-5. We analyzed the location of mutations, gene expression... more
    Junctional epidermolysis bullosa (JEB) is an autosomal recessive skin blistering disease with both lethal and nonlethal forms, with most patients shown to have defects in laminin-5. We analyzed the location of mutations, gene expression levels, and protein chain assembly of the laminin-5 heterotrimer in six JEB patients to determine how the type of genetic lesion influences the pathophysiology of JEB. Mutations within laminin-5 genes were diversely located, with the most severe forms of JEB correlating best with premature termination codons, rather than mapping to any particular protein domain. In all six JEB patients, the laminin-5 assembly intermediates we observed were as predicted by our previous work indicating that the α3β3γ2 heterotrimer assembles intracellularly via a β3γ2 heterodimer intermediate. Since assembly precedes secretion, mutations that disrupt protein–protein interactions needed for assembly are predicted to limit the secretion of laminin-5, and likely to interfe...
    We performed a randomized prospective trial comparing calcineurin inhibitor (CNI)-free to CNI-based immunosuppression to determine the impact on renal function, structure and gene expression. Sixty-one kidney recipients treated with... more
    We performed a randomized prospective trial comparing calcineurin inhibitor (CNI)-free to CNI-based immunosuppression to determine the impact on renal function, structure and gene expression. Sixty-one kidney recipients treated with basiliximab mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and prednisone (P) were randomly assigned to concentration-controlled sirolimus or cyclosporine. Two years post-transplant 55 patients underwent renal function studies, 48 (87%) underwent transplant biopsies; all classified by Banff scoring and 41 by DNA microarrays. Comparing sirolimus/MMF/P to cyclosporine/MMF/P there was a significantly lower serum creatinine (1.35 vs. 1.81 mg/dL; p = 0.008), higher Cockroft-Gault glomerular filtration rate (GFR) (80.4 vs. 63.4 mL/min; p = 0.008), iothalamate GFR (60.6 vs. 49.2 mL/min; p = 0.018) and Banff 0 (normal) biopsies (66.6 vs. 20.8%; p = 0.013). Regression analysis of calculated GFRs from 1 to 36 months yielded a positive slope for sirolimus of 3.36 mL/min/year, and a negative slope for cyclosporine of -1.58 mL/min/year (p = 0.008). Gene expression profiles from kidneys with higher Banff chronic allograft nephropathy (CAN) scores confirmed significant up-regulation of genes responsible for immune/inflammation and fibrosis/tissue remodeling. At 2 years the sirolimus-treated recipients have better renal function, a diminished prevalence of CAN and down-regulated expression of genes responsible for progression of CAN. All may provide for an alternative natural history with improved graft survival.
    The use of China-derived monkeys in AIDS research has been limited by reports of reduced susceptibility to SIV. We performed a serial passage of SIV in Chinese macaques, which resulted in a viral stock capable of inducing simian AIDS and... more
    The use of China-derived monkeys in AIDS research has been limited by reports of reduced susceptibility to SIV. We performed a serial passage of SIV in Chinese macaques, which resulted in a viral stock capable of inducing simian AIDS and high levels of replication in these animals. Similar to HIV in humans, SIV pathogenesis in non-human primates is not limited by geographical origin. Chinese macaques are useful in pathogenesis, vaccine, and therapeutic studies in AIDS.