This study examined the role of antigen-presenting dendritic cells (DC) in restoration of host immunity. Circulating DC were isolated from peripheral blood of 23 patients with CHB before and 1, 3, and 12 months after starting lamivudine therapy. The non-antigen-specific proliferation of DC was assessed in allogenic

mixed leucocyte reaction. Dendritic cells were cultured with hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) to prepare HBsAg-pulsed DC. Proliferative capacity and production of interleukin (IL)-12 and interferon (IFN)-gamma of HBsAg-pulsed GSI-IX cell line DC were evaluated. Circulating unpulsed DC and HBsAg-pulsed DC showed

significantly higher levels of T-cell proliferation capacities 1 month after lamivudine therapy compared to proliferation levels before therapy (P < 0.05). HBsAg-pulsed DC also produced significantly higher levels of IL-12 SHP099 research buy and IFN-gamma with lamivudine therapy compared to levels before therapy (P < 0.05). HBsAg-pulsed DC from lamivudine-treated patients induced proliferation of T cells of patients with CHB in an antigen-specific manner (P < 0.05). However, T-cell stimulatory capacity of DC did not increase significantly 3 and 12 months after lamivudine therapy compared to 1 month after lamivudine therapy. Immune restoration as a result of lamivudine therapy is regulated at least in part by activation of DC. However, progressive activation of DC was not seen as treatment duration progressed,

indicating the limitations of this mechanism of viral clearance.”
“A rich thermal magnetic phase diagram has been determined by magneto-optical Kerr magnetometry and microscopy in a He+ ion irradiated selleck products ultrathin Pt/Co(0.5 nm)/Pt film. The components of the net magnetization and the evolution and disappearance of the ribbonlike magnetic domain pattern have been studied in the perpendicular to in-plane spin reorientation transition temperature region. As observed in a dipolar frustrated ferromagnet, the ribbon pattern blurs progressively with increasing the temperature as due to efficient spatial fluctuations. We emphasize the limitation of present theories for interpreting such a type of dynamic transition. (C) 2010 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.