A large panel of human CD4+ T helper (Th) cell clones with established Th1, Th2, or Th0 profiles of cytokine secretion were examined for the expression of CD30, a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily. Th1 clones expressed poor or no CD30 mRNA, and showed low or undetectable expression of both membrane and soluble CD30 (sCD30) protein, whereas Th2 clones showed both CD30 mRNA and membrane CD30 and released substantial amounts of sCD30, Th0 clones exhibited an intermediate pattern of CD30 expression and release. When T cells from the same donor were stimulated with three different antigens (purified protein derivative, PPD; Toxocara canis excretory/secretory antigen, TES; Lalium perenne group I, Lol p I), production of high concentrations of IFN‐γ, but not expression of CD30 or production of IL‐4 and IL‐5, were observed at any time after stimulation with PPD. In contrast, both CD30 expression and production of IL‐4 and IL‐5. but not of IFN‐γ, were concomitantly detectable in TES‐ and Lol p I‐reactive T cells, suggesting a temporal relationship between CD30 expression and beginning of Th2‐typc cytokine production. Finally, CD4+CD30+ T cells specific for Lol p I and inducible to production of Th2‐type cytokines were sorted out from the circulation of grass‐sensitive patients in concomitance with the onset of allergic symptoms during the seasonal exposure to grass pollen. Thus, CD30 expression appears to be associated with the differentiation/activation pathway of human T cells producing Th2‐type cytokines.—Del Prete, G., De Carli, M., Almerigogna, F., Daniel, C. K., D'Elios, M. M., Zancuoghi, G., Virante, F., Pizzolo, G., Romagnani, S. Preferential expression of CD30 by human CD4+ T cells producing Th2‐type cytokines, FASEB J. 9, 81‐86 (1995)

SummaryA protein family associated with the development of freezing tolerance in wheat has been identified. This protein family is Gramineae-specific and coordinately regulated by low temperature. Antibodies directed against the 50 kDa (WCS120) protein recognize at least 5 members of this family. Using these antibodies, the cellular content and location of this protein family was determined in coldacclimated wheat seedlings. Western analyses of subcellular fractions indicated the presence of all members of the family in the cytosolic and purified nuclear fractions. These proteins accumulated to 0.9% of soluble proteins after 21 days of cold acclimation in winter wheat. This represents a cellular concentration of 1.34 pM. Imlhunohistochemical localization showed that these proteins are highly expressed in the vascular transition zone. No detectable expression was found in mature xylem, in the shoot apical meristem or lateral root primordia. This differential tissue expression suggests that the sensitive cells near the regions where water tends to freeze first require a higher amount of these proteins. This observation is consistent with the fact that regrowth after freezing stress is highly dependent on the viability of this region of the crown. Electron microscopy analysis using immunogold labelling showed that these proteins are present in the cytoplasm and in the nucleoplasm. They are not found in cell walls or other organelles. In vitro cryoprotective assays indicated that the WCS120 protein (PDs0 of 10 I~g ml'l or 0.2 IdVl) are as effective as BSA and sucrose (at 250 raM) against freezing denaturation of lactate dehydrogenese. These results suggest that this protein family may be involved in a general mechanism of protection in the soluble fraction of the cell. Their presence in the nucleoplesm may also suggest a possible protective function of the transcriptional machinery. The high hydrophilicity, the abundance and stability of these proteins to boiling suggest that they may provide a particular micro-environment needed for

No abstract

No abstract

Adult and juvenile rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, were exposed for 30 days to CdCl2 in water (10 and 25 micrograms Cd/L for adults, and 1 and 5 micrograms Cd/L for juveniles) to investigate effects of subchronic exposures to Cd on the hypothalamo-pituitary-interrenal and the hypothalamo-pituitary-thyroid axis, and on metabolic status. liver size and glycogen content and body mass gain were significantly reduced in the exposed adult fish and similar changes were detected in the juveniles. Plasma cortisol levels increased after exposure to the lower dose but decreased at the higher dose. Plasma T3 and T4 tended to decrease in the exposed adult fish. No significant differences in plasma glucose or cholesterol levels were detected between the controls and the exposed fish, plasma calcium levels were lower in the exposed fish. The results indicate that long-term exposures to Cd at sublethal doses have adverse effects on the physiological status of the fish and that these effects are mediated partly through alterations of endocrine function.