To investigate the mechanism by which macrophage inflammatory protein-1α (MIP-1α) affects graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), the expression and function of MIP-1α in 2 murine models of GVHD were evaluated. In irradiated class I and class II disparate recipients, the expression of messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein for MIP-1α was significantly increased in GVHD target organs after transfer of allogeneic lymphocytes compared to syngeneic lymphocytes. When lymphocytes unable to make MIP-1α were transferred, there was a decrease in the production of MIP-1α in the liver, lung, and spleen of bm1 (B6.C-H2bm1/By) and bm12 (B6.C-H2bm12/KhEg) recipients compared to the transfer of wild-type splenocytes. At day 6 there was a 4-fold decrease in the number of transferred CD8+ T cells in the lung and approximately a 2-fold decrease in the number of CD8+ T cells in the liver and spleen in bm1 recipients after transfer of MIP-1α–deficient (MIP-1α−/−) splenocytes compared to wild-type (MIP-1α+/+) splenocytes. These differences persisted for 13 days after splenocyte transfer. In contrast, the number of donor CD4+ T cells found in the liver and lung was significantly increased after the transfer of MIP-1α−/− compared to wild-type splenocytes in bm12 recipients from day 6 through day 10. Thus, the transfer of allogeneic T cells was associated with the enhanced expression of MIP-1α in both a class I and class II mismatch setting. However, the increased expression only led to enhanced recruitment of CD8+, but not CD4+, donor T cells. Production of MIP-1α by donor T cells is important in the occurrence of GVHD and functions in a tissue-dependent fashion.

Zanamivir serum and pulmonary pharmacokinetics were characterized following intravenous (i.v.) or oral inhaled administration. I.v. zanamivir was given as intermittent doses of 100 mg, 200 mg, and 600 mg every 12 h (q12h) for two doses or as a continuous infusion (6-mg loading dose followed by 3 mg/h for 12 h). Oral inhaled zanamivir (two 5-mg inhalations q12h for two doses) was evaluated as well. Each zanamivir regimen was administered to six healthy subjects with serial pharmacokinetic sampling. In addition, a single bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid sample was collected at various time points and used to calculate epithelial lining fluid (ELF) drug concentrations for each subject. For intermittent i.v. administration of 100 mg, 200 mg, and 600 mg zanamivir, the median zanamivir concentrations in ELF collected 12 h after dosing were 74, 146, and 419 ng/ml, respectively, each higher than the historic mean 50% inhibitory concentrations for the neuraminidases of wild-type strains of influenza A and B viruses. Median ELF/serum zanamivir concentration ratios ranged from 55 to 79% for intermittent i.v. administration (when sampled 12 h after the last dose) and 43 to 45% for continuous infusion (when sampled 6 to 12 h after the start of the infusion). For oral inhaled zanamivir, the median zanamivir concentrations in ELF were 891 ng/ml for the first BAL fluid collection and 326 ng/ml for subsequent BAL fluid collections (when sampled 12 h after the last dose); corresponding serum drug concentrations were undetectable. This study demonstrates zanamivir's penetration into the human pulmonary compartment and supports the doses selected for the continuing development of i.v. zanamivir in clinical studies of influenza.

Previous work has shown that dendritic cells (DCs) express specific chemokine receptors that allow for coordinated movement in vivo. To test the in vivo relevance of this, we used a murine melanoma system and knockout mice to investigate the function of the chemokine receptor CCR5 and its ligands, CCR ligand (CCL)3 and CCL5. We found that the lack of CCR5 in the host mouse resulted in delayed tumor growth, but this effect was overcome at a higher tumor load. With the administration of tumor charged DCs, CCR5−/− mice that had previously been injected with tumor were completely protected from tumor. This effect was dependent on the dose of tumor cells and the expression of CCR5 on the DC and its absence in the host. In contrast, the loss of the CCR5 ligand, CCL3, led to an early delay in tumor growth that did not persist, while the absence of the CCR5 ligand, CCL5, had no effect. Blocking the activity of CCR5 in the host may represent a new strategy for enhancing the activity of a therapeutic melanoma DC vaccine.