Finally, we found that Foxp3 bound to IL-21P and the CNS-2 enhancer and inhibited c-Maf-induced IL-21 production modestly but significantly in CD4(+) T cells. Taken together,

these results suggest that c-Maf induces IL-21 production directly in CD4(+) T cells selleck products by activating IL-21P and the CNS-2 enhancer and that TGF-beta suppresses c-Maf-induced IL-21 production in CD4(+) T cells. J. Leukoc. Biol. 87: 703-712; 2010.”
“Chemokines and their receptors play a critical role in orchestrating the immune response during experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Expression of CCR4 and its ligand CCL22 has been observed in ongoing disease. Here we describe a role for CCR4 in EAE, illustrating delayed and decreased disease incidence in CCR4(-/-) mice corresponding with diminished CNS infiltrate. Peripheral T cell responses were unaltered in CCR4(-/-) mice; rather, disease reduction was related to reduced CD11b(+)Ly6C(hi) inflammatory macrophage (iW phi) numbers and function. These results provide evidence that CCR4 regulates EAE development and further supports the involvement of CCR4 in iM phi effector function. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.”
“Rationale: Clinical studies show that flexible dosing (maintenance and symptom-driven dose adjustments) of budesonide and formoterol (BUD/FORM) improves control of asthma exacerbations as compared to fixed

maintenance dosing protocols MK-2206 manufacturer (maintenance therapy) even when the latter utilize higher BUD/FORM doses. This BAY 80-6946 cell line suggests that dose-response relationships for certain pathobiologic mechanisms in asthma shift over time. Here, we have conducted animal studies to address this issue.\n\nObjectives: (1) To test in an animal asthma-like model whether it is possible to achieve the same or greater pharmacological

control over bronchoconstriction and airway/lung inflammation, and with less total drug used, by flexible BUD/FORM dosing (upward adjustment of doses) in association with allergen challenges. (2) To determine whether the benefit requires adjustment of both drug components.\n\nMethods: Rats sensitized on days 0 and 7 were challenged intratracheally with ovalbumin on days 14 and 21. On days 13-21, rats were treated intratracheally with fixed maintenance or flexible BUD/FORM combinations. On day 22, rats were challenged with methacholine and lungs were harvested for analysis.\n\nResults: A flexible BUD/FORM dosing regimen (using 3.3 times less total drug than the fixed maintenance high dose regimen), delivered the same or greater reductions of excised lung gas volume (a measure of gas trapped in lung by bronchoconstriction) and lung weight (a measure of inflammatory oedema). When either BUD or FORM alone was increased on days of challenge, the benefit of the flexible dose upward adjustment was lost.