BACKGROUND: CC chemokine receptor (CCR) 7 and cognate CCR7 ligands, CCL21 (formerly secondary lymphoid tissue chemokine [SLC]) and CCL19 (formerly Epstein-Barr virus-induced molecule 1 ligand chemokine [ELC]), were known to establish microenvironment for the initiation of immune responses in secondary lymphoid tissue. As described previously, coadministration of DNA vaccine with CCR7 ligand-encoding plasmid DNA elicited enhanced humoral and cellular immunity via increasing the number of dendritic cells (DC) in secondary lymphoid tissue. The author hypothesized here that CCR7 ligand DNA could effectively expand memory CD4+ T cells to protect from viral infection likely via increasing DC number. METHODS: To evaluate the effect of CCR7 ligand DNA on the expansion of memory CD4+ T cells, DO11.10.BALB/c transgenic (Tg)-mice, which have highly frequent ovalbumin (OVA)(323-339) peptide-specific CD4+ T cells, were used. Tg-mice were previously injected with CCR7 ligand DNA, then immunized with OVA(323-339) peptide plus complete Freund's adjuvant. Subsequently, memory CD4+ T cells in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) were analyzed by FACS analysis for memory phenotype (CD44(high) and CD62(Llow)) at memory stage. Memory CD4+ T cells recruited into inflammatory site induced with OVA-expressing virus were also analyzed. Finally, the protective efficacy against viral infection was evaluated. RESULTS: CCR7 ligand DNA-treated Tg-mice showed more expanded CD44(high) memory CD4+ T cells in PBL than control vector-treated animals. The increased number of memory CD4+ T cells recruited into inflammatory site was also observed in CCR7 ligand DNA-treated Tg-mice. Such effectively expanded memory CD4+ T cell population increased the protective immunity against virulent viral infection. CONCLUSION: These results document that CCR7 and its cognate ligands play an important role in intracellular infection through establishing optimal memory T cell. Moreover, CCR7 ligand could be useful as modulator in DNA vaccination against viral infection as well as cancer
Animals ; Chemokine CCL19 ; Chemokine CCL21 ; Dendritic Cells ; DNA ; Freund's Adjuvant ; Immunity, Cellular ; Ligands* ; Lymphocytes ; Lymphoid Tissue ; Memory* ; Ovalbumin ; Phenotype ; Plasmids ; Receptors, CCR ; T-Lymphocytes* ; Vaccination

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the association between oral health status and oral health impact profile (OHIP-14) among patients undergoing treatment in a dental hospital, in order to develop an oral health care method for improving oral health related quality of life (OHRQoL). METHODS: A total of 980 patients aged 7-89 years were selected from a dental hospital between May 2011 and March 2014. Questionnaires on oral health impact profile (OHIP-14K) were distributed to the patients, and their dental records were examined to find out their oral health status. RESULTS: OHIP-14 scores of patients with periodontal pockets over 4 mm and presence of chronic general disease were significantly higher than those without pockets and chronic disease (P<0.05). Factors such as age, gender, having prosthesis or dental implant, regular oral health care over a period of 1 year were not significantly associated with OHIP-14 scores. CONCLUSIONS: Periodontal health status and chronic general disease could be factors associated with OHRQoL. Thus, improving oral symptoms through professional oral care may help improve OHRQoL.
Chronic Disease ; Dental Implants ; Dental Records ; Gwangju ; Humans ; Korea ; Oral Health* ; Periodontal Diseases ; Periodontal Pocket ; Prostheses and Implants ; Quality of Life ; Surveys and Questionnaires

We attempted to investigate molecular mechanisms underlying phenotypic change of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) by determining signaling molecules involved in chemokine production. Treatment of human aortic smooth muscle cells (HAoSMCs) with thrombin resulted not only in elevated transcription of the (C-C motif) ligand 11 (CCL11) gene but also in enhanced secretion of CCL11 protein. Co-treatment of HAoSMCs with GF109230X, an inhibitor of protein kinase C, or GW5074, an inhibitor of Raf-1 kinase, caused inhibition of ERK1/2 phosphorylation and significantly attenuated expression of CCL11 at transcriptional and protein levels induced by thrombin. Both Akt phosphorylation and CCL11 expression induced by thrombin were attenuated in the presence of pertussis toxin (PTX), an inhibitor of Gi protein-coupled receptor, or LY294002, a PI3K inhibitor. In addition, thrombin-induced production of CCL11 was significantly attenuated by pharmacological inhibition of Akt or MEK which phosphorylates ERK1/2. These results indicate that thrombin is likely to promote expression of CCL11 via PKC/Raf-1/ERK1/2 and PTX-sensitive protease-activated receptors/PI3K/Akt pathways in HAoSMCs. We propose that multiple signaling pathways are involved in change of VSMCs to a secretory phenotype.
Humans ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular* ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; Pertussis Toxin ; Phenotype* ; Phosphorylation ; Protein Kinase C ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-raf ; Thrombin

In the present study, we directly evaluated mucosal CD8+ T cell-mediated immunity using ex vivo cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) assay and MHC class I tetramer staining method in iliac lymph node (LN) and vaginal tracts of mice immunized mucosally with several prime-boost protocols after genital infection of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). Ex vivo CTL activity in iliac LN of infected mice was evaluated at 3-day post-infection without in vitro 5-day stimulation. Iliac LN of mice immunized with recombinant viral vaccine-priming and DNA vaccine-boosting protocol showed more potent CTL activity than those of other groups. Such ex vivo CTL activity was consistent with mucosal gB498-505 (SSIEFARL)-specific CD8+ T cell number of vaginal tract determined by MHC class I (H-2b) tetramer containing immunodominant peptide. Furthermore, the number of mucosal SSIEFARL-specific CD8+ T cells recruited into infected genital tracts appeared to decide the protective outcome against genital infection of virulent HSV-1. These results support that mucosal CD8+ T cells are principal mediators for the protection against genital infection of HSV-1.
Animals* ; Cell Count ; DNA ; Herpes Simplex* ; Herpesvirus 1, Human* ; Immunity, Cellular* ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphocytes ; Mice ; Simplexvirus* ; T-Lymphocytes

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of regular oral health care using Watanabe's tooth brushing method on aggressive periodontitis. METHODS: A 14-year-old female visited our clinic with the chief complaint of gingival swelling and teeth mobility in 2008. The present illness on the day of visit was gingivitis with swelling and redness on marginal gingiva, root exposure due to the attachment loss and gingival recession and the degree 3 mobility of #26, 36, 46 with no systemic disease and familial tendency. The panoramic radiograph showed the severe vertical and horizontal alveolar bone loss in the first molars. For the treatment, preventive care including tooth brushing instruction and professional tooth brushing using Watanabe's method and periodontal treatment using scaling and root planing, plaque control and antibiotics prescription were performed from the July, 2008 to September, 2012. RESULTS: The patient could maintain all of her teeth without extraction except for one molar during the treatment period and symptoms of gingivitis decreased all over the oral region. But dental plaque level was not decreased. CONCLUSIONS: The regular oral health care with professional toothbrushing by Watanabe's method was effective in relieving the gingival inflammation of patients with aggressive periodontitis.
Aggressive Periodontitis ; Alveolar Bone Loss ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Dental Plaque ; Female ; Gingiva ; Gingival Recession ; Gingivitis ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Molar ; Oral Health ; Prescriptions ; Root Planing ; Tooth ; Toothbrushing

PURPOSE: Acute traumatic subdural hematoma (SDH) increases after severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) and leads to high mortality. The time to operation is a correctable prognostic factor in TBI, but the timing of hematoma evacuation still remains controversial. We assessed the correlation between operative timing and mortality in traumatic acute SDH. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study over an 8-year period in 163 surgical patients with acute traumatic SDH. Information was obtained about demographic, clinical, and radiological findings, surgical management, and mortality at discharge. RESULTS: Overall, 85 patients (52.1%) died, and 47 patients (28.8%) showed good recovery. The patients who underwent earlier surgery were more likely to have severe head injury. The time to operation in patients that died was shorter than patients with good recovery. The mean time for evacuation [Ed-Is this the same as time to surgery, or is this specifically when the hematoma was removed? Please clarify.] was 351.7+/-220.5 minutes in patients who died and 395.5+/-363.3 minutes in patients with good recovery. Patients undergoing surgery within 4 hours of injury had a mortality rate of 54.4% versus 50.9% receiving surgery after 4 hours. But the risk ratio for time spent to surgery increased until 240 minutes and then decreased. Logistic regression on patients with 240 minutes until surgery showed that the probability of death increased with time to surgery. CONCLUSION: Patients who undergo surgery within 180 minutes after injury have a lower probability of death than those with delayed surgery.
Brain Injuries ; Craniocerebral Trauma ; Hematoma ; Hematoma, Subdural ; Hematoma, Subdural, Acute ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Odds Ratio ; Retrospective Studies