The phenotype and function of peripheral blood monocytes change after trauma and during sepsis. The aim of the study was to evaluate monocyte expression of human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-DR and Fc receptor III (FcR III) (CD16) in neonates and small children with high risk of sepsis (hospitalized at the intensive care unit). The reduced proportion of CD14 HLA-DR monocytes was observed in all patients at the intensive care unit, while the increase of CD16 expression on monocytes was observed in the course of sepsis. The measurement of CD16 expression on monocytes also proved to be more useful for monitoring patient. The proportion of both CD14 dim CD16 and CD14 high CD16 monocytes increased during sepsis; however, monocytes showed reduced ability to phagocytose Escherichia coli, compromised ability to cooperate with T cells and reduced CD86 expression in parallel to HLA-DR depression. The reduced interleukin (IL)-1 but rather increased IL-10 production was associated with sepsis. The differences between CD14 CD16 monocytes of healthy donors and patients with sepsis are discussed.

3H]thymidine incorporation by antigen-stimulated immune cells and this effect can be abolished by adding anti-TGF-b, but not anti-IL-4 nor anti-IL-10 antibodies. These studies indicate the crucial role of TGF-b in skin induced tolerance due to non-antigen-specific Ts cells and also show that IL-4, IL-10 and TGF-b play an important role in the induction of epicutaneously induced Ts cell suppression.

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Activated platelets adhere to the endothelium and release vasoactive mediators which induce vasoconstriction and remodeling of the vessel wall. The influence of native and ex vivo oxidized lipoproteins enriched with oxidized 1-palmitoyl-2-arachidonoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphorylcholine (ox-PAPC), the major lipid responsible for the biological activity of minimally oxidized LDL (mm-LDL), on platelet adhesion, membrane receptor expression and aggregation was studied. Influence of native and oxidized lipoproteins (5-100 microg protein/ml); ox-PAPC (0.5-50 microg/ml); ADP (1-10 microM) as well as the specific phosphatase 1 and 2A inhibitor okadaic acid (3-10 microM) on platelet adhesion, receptor expression and aggregation was measured. Platelets adhered to all the classes of lipoproteins immobilized in plastic microtiter wells (native lipoproteins: HDL

Angiogenesis is a crucial process in tissue remodeling during growth, both in the embryo and the adult. In our study we concentrated on the direct effect of beta-carotene on human umbilical cord originating from endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs). beta-Carotene uptake by EPCs was measured using a HPLC method. The determination of cell surface antigens was performed by flow cytometry. The effect on cell proliferation was estimated by measuring bromo-deoxyuridine incorporation. The influence on the formation of a tubular-like structure was investigated in a 3D assay in matrigel. Quantitative gene expression was estimated using real-time PCR. We demonstrated that beta-carotene in the physiological range of concentrations found in human blood is a potent activator of EPC chemotaxis, which is accompanied by a change in the expression of genes mediating cell adhesion and homing, but does not activate the final markers of endothelial differentiation. This study points to the prochemotactic and homing activity of beta-carotene in undifferentiated endothelial cell progenitors for the first time, which may suggest a potential role of this carotenoid in progenitor cell therapy aimed at angiogenesis and tissue repair.