Questo lavoro è stato finanziato dal NIH concedere R01AI077610.

Tutte le procedure sono state condotte in conformità con la guida per la cura e l&#39;uso di animali da laboratorio del National Institute of Health (NIH) e sono stati approvati dal Comitato Johns Hopkins University Animal Care e Usa (JHUACUC). Le procedure specifiche sono state eseguite sotto la protocolli ACUC approvato MO13M292 e MO13M370. 1. donatore Harvest pelle <ol><li> Anestetizzare il mouse donatore con isoflurano (vaporizzatore induzione a 4%, manutenzione a 1 - 2% attraverso il cono del mouse). Utilizzare la punta pizzico di ritiro reflex per monitorare la profondità dell&#39;anestesia. </li><li> Usando un rasoio elettrico, radere dorso dell&#39;animale e disinfettare con 10% di iodio povidone (ad esempio, Betadine). </li><li> Utilizzando forbici sterili, guanti e tecnica asettica, pelle di nuovo raccolto donatore dal fianco al collo, con scollamento a livello del tessuto connettivo areolare. </li><li> Eutanasia dell&#39;animale da dislocazione cervicale dopo la raccolta delinnesto di pelle. </li><li> Sotto un microscopio, separare il tessuto connettivo, tessuto adiposo, e pannicolo carnosus dalla pelle indietro con le forbici tenotomy sottili. Il carnosus pannicolo è un sottile, trasparente muscoli responsabili dei movimenti contrazioni della pelle. </li><li> Usando una tecnica strumenti sterili, tagliare innesti 15 mm x 15 mm dalla pelle indietro per un 10 mm x 10 mm per 15 mm letto trapianto x 15 mm. </li><li> Conservare gli innesti su garze imbevute con sterile tampone fosfato salino (PBS) in una capsula di Petri sul ghiaccio. NOTA: 8 - 10 innesti può essere ottenuta da un topo donatore. </li></ol> 2. trapianto di pelle <ol><li> Anestetizzare il mouse destinatario con isoflurano (vaporizzatore induzione a 4%, manutenzione a 1 - 2% attraverso il cono del mouse). Utilizzare la punta pizzico di ritiro reflex per monitorare la profondità dell&#39;anestesia. </li><li> Somministrare 0,02 mg / kg di peso corporeo di buprenorfina per alleviare il dolore post-operatorio. </li><li> Shave lato del dorso dell&#39;animale in cui l&#39;innesto will essere inserito e disinfettare con il 10% di iodio povidone. </li><li> Utilizzando le forbici, tagliare un 10 mm x 10 mm per 15 mm x 15 mm quadrato di pelle. La dimensione difetti dovrebbe essere leggermente più grande (10%) rispetto al trapianto. Tagliare come superficialmente possibile. Fare attenzione a preservare la carnosus pannicolo e vasi. La carnosus pannicolo può essere distinto dal fascia sottostante per la sua mobilità e dei vasi sanguigni che corrono superficiale ad esso. </li><li> Posizionare l&#39;innesto sul letto graft, evitando pieghe lungo i bordi. </li><li> Mettere 8 punti di sutura sugli angoli e sul centro di ciascun bordo. Per ciascuna di sutura, passare l&#39;ago attraverso l&#39;innesto e poi attraverso la carnosus pannicolo dell&#39;innesto letto sotto la pelle del destinatario circostante. </li><li> Rimuovere la maschera anestetico e lasciare che l&#39;animale recupera parzialmente da anestesia prima di applicare il cerotto. </li><li> Avvolgere il mouse destinatario in un bendaggio adesivo con garza piegata sopra l&#39;innesto. Effettuare la benda dalla combinazione di due bende, tagliola parte adesiva di uno e posizionare i due tamponi assorbenti insieme. </li><li> Monitorare il mouse da vicino durante il recupero per garantire che il bendaggio non sta limitando torace escursione e la respirazione. Togliere la benda se la frequenza respiratoria diminuisce o l&#39;animale comincia a boccheggiare o alito superficialmente. </li></ol> 3. Cura postoperatoria <ol><li> Somministrare enrofloxacina 5 mg / kg dopo l&#39;intervento chirurgico per la profilassi delle infezioni. </li><li> Posizionare il mouse trapiantato in una gabbia pulita su una piastra elettrica per microonde fino a quando non recupera completamente dall&#39;anestesia. </li><li> Osservare il mouse per 1 ora dopo l&#39;intervento prima di ritornare alla struttura alloggiativa. </li><li> Sette giorni dopo l&#39;intervento, anestetizzare il mouse come al punto 2.1. Rimuovere il bendaggio tagliando solo attraverso il lato ventrale della benda. </li><li> Osservare e palpare il trapianto il giorno successivo per i segni di formazione di croste, la contrazione, o la durezza. Se presente, l&#39;innesto può non aver raggiunto la corretta vascularizazione e deve essere considerato un guasto tecnico. </li><li> Daily Monitor per i segni di rigetto. Considerare innesti respinto quando ≥90% del tessuto trapianto diventa necrotico. </li><li> Eutanasia gli animali rifiutati e li raccolto per l&#39;analisi. </li></ol>

<ol>
	<li>Furtmuller, G. J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Orthotopic+Hind+Limb+Transplantation+in+the+Mouse.">Orthotopic Hind Limb Transplantation in the Mouse.</a> J Vis Exp. , (2016).</li><li>Oh, B., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+Novel+Microsurgical+Model+for+Heterotopic,+En+Bloc+Chest+Wall,+Thymus,+and+Heart+Transplantation+in+Mice.">A Novel Microsurgical Model for Heterotopic, En Bloc Chest Wall, Thymus, and Heart Transplantation in Mice.</a> J Vis Exp. , (2016).</li><li>Oberhuber, R., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Murine+cervical+heart+transplantation+model+using+a+modified+cuff+technique.">Murine cervical heart transplantation model using a modified cuff technique.</a> J Vis Exp. , e50753 (2014).</li><li>Jones, T. R., Shirasugi, N., Adams, A. B., Pearson, T. C., Larsen, C. P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Intravital+microscopy+identifies+selectins+that+regulate+T+cell+traffic+into+allografts.">Intravital microscopy identifies selectins that regulate T cell traffic into allografts.</a> J Clin Invest. 112, 1714-1723 (2003).</li><li>Celli, S., Albert, M. L., Bousso, P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Visualizing+the+innate+and+adaptive+immune+responses+underlying+allograft+rejection+by+two-photon+microscopy.">Visualizing the innate and adaptive immune responses underlying allograft rejection by two-photon microscopy.</a> Nat Med. 17, 744-749 (2011).</li><li>Medawar, P. B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+behaviour+and+fate+of+skin+autografts+and+skin+homografts+in+rabbits:+A+report+to+the+War+Wounds+Committee+of+the+Medical+Research+Council.">The behaviour and fate of skin autografts and skin homografts in rabbits: A report to the War Wounds Committee of the Medical Research Council.</a> J Anat. 78, 176-199 (1944).</li><li>Billingham, R. E., Brent, L., Medawar, P. B., Sparrow, E. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Quantitative+studies+on+tissue+transplantation+immunity.+I.+The+survival+times+of+skin+homografts+exchanged+between+members+of+different+inbred+strains+of+mice.">Quantitative studies on tissue transplantation immunity. I. The survival times of skin homografts exchanged between members of different inbred strains of mice.</a> Proc R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 143, 43-58 (1954).</li><li>Garrod, K. R., Cahalan, M. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Murine+skin+transplantation.">Murine skin transplantation.</a> J Vis Exp. , (2008).</li><li>Schmaler, M., Broggi, M. A., Rossi, S. W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Transplantation+of+tail+skin+to+study+allogeneic+CD4+T+cell+responses+in+mice.">Transplantation of tail skin to study allogeneic CD4 T cell responses in mice.</a> J Vis Exp. , e51724 (2014).</li><li>Bergstresser, P. R., Toews, G. B., Gilliam, J. N., Streilein, J. W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Unusual+numbers+and+distribution+of+Langerhans+cells+in+skin+with+unique+immunologic+properties.">Unusual numbers and distribution of Langerhans cells in skin with unique immunologic properties.</a> J Invest Dermatol. 74, 312-314 (1980).</li><li>Chen, H. D., Silvers, W. K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Influence+of+Langerhans+cells+on+the+survival+of+H-Y+incompatible+skin+grafts+in+rats.">Influence of Langerhans cells on the survival of H-Y incompatible skin grafts in rats.</a> J Invest Dermatol. 81, 20-23 (1983).</li><li>Chong, A. S., Alegre, M. L., Miller, M. L., Fairchild, R. 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F., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Preventing+Allograft+Rejection+by+Targeting+Immune+Metabolism.">Preventing Allograft Rejection by Targeting Immune Metabolism.</a> Cell reports. 13, 760-770 (2015).</li><li>Pollizzi, K. N., Powell, J. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Integrating+canonical+and+metabolic+signalling+programmes+in+the+regulation+of+T+cell+responses.">Integrating canonical and metabolic signalling programmes in the regulation of T cell responses.</a> Nat Rev Immunol. 14, 435-446 (2014).</li><li>Pearce, E. L., Poffenberger, M. C., Chang, C. H., Jones, R. 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Gli autori non hanno nulla da rivelare.

Dalla sua introduzione da Medawar, prima in studi sull&#39;uomo e poi nei conigli e topi, il trapianto di pelle è stato un modello prezioso per lo studio delle risposte immunitarie allogeniche 6,7. In questo manoscritto, vi presentiamo un modello di grandi dimensioni, non vascolarizzato, il trapianto a tutto spessore della pelle con la pelle posteriore superiore e inferiore. Vari metodi alternativi, tra cui l&#39;uso della pelle coda o la pelle dell&#39;orecchio del mouse come fonte innesto di tessuto, sono ...

Il trapianto di organi è il trattamento di scelta per i pazienti con insufficienza terminale d&#39;organo, ed i risultati hanno migliorato notevolmente con i progressi nelle procedure chirurgiche e protocolli immunosoppressione. Tuttavia, immunosoppressione a lungo termine è associato ad effetti collaterali significativi, e lo sviluppo di nuove strategie che promuovano la tolleranza rimane l&#39;obiettivo della ricerca trapianti moderna. Numerosi modelli animali sono stati sviluppati per la ricerca di base nel trapianto, per studiare i meccanismi di rigetto e per testare immunosoppressione approcci per prevenire il rigetto del trapianto e per promuovere la tolleranza a lungo termine 1-3. modelli di topo sono diventati il ​​cardine della ricerca immunologica grazie alla disponibilità esclusiva e vasta di anticorpi diagnostici e terapeutici e ceppi inbred e transgenici ben definiti. Il trapianto della pelle è una procedura semplice che non richiede particolari competenze di microchirurgia e puòessere facilmente monitorati dopo l&#39;intervento. Nel loro insieme, il trapianto di pelle del mouse è stato uno strumento eccezionale per studiare molti aspetti coinvolti nella risposta alloimmune, tra cui la consegna antigene, il traffico delle cellule, e la distruzione dei tessuti durante rigetto del trapianto 4,5. Qui, vi mostriamo la procedura passo-passo per il trapianto a tutto spessore della pelle utilizzando il modello di topo, e descriviamo i passi importanti necessari per un attecchimento di successo della pelle trapiantata.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="923">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:247px;">Straight micro forceps&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:125px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:136px;">F4017</td>
			<td style="width:415px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:247px;">Curved micro forceps&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:125px;">Aesculap</td>
			<td style="width:136px;">BD333R</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:247px;">Curved Stevens tenotomy scissors&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:125px;">Aesculap</td>
			<td style="width:136px;">BC905R</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:247px;">Mayo dissecting&#160; scissors</td>
			<td style="width:125px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:136px;">S3146</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:247px;">Micro needle holder</td>
			<td style="width:125px;">Aesculap</td>
			<td style="width:136px;">BM563R</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:247px;">Sterile gauze</td>
			<td style="width:125px;">Covidien</td>
			<td style="width:136px;">441218</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:247px;">6-0 Nylon suture&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:125px;">MWI</td>
			<td style="width:136px;">31849</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:247px;">Plastic Strips Band-Aid</td>
			<td style="width:125px;">Johnson &#38; Johnson</td>
			<td style="width:136px;"></td>
			<td>Obtained from pharmacy</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:247px;">10 cm Petri dish</td>
			<td style="width:125px;">Fisherbrand</td>
			<td style="width:136px;">FB0875712</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:247px;">PBS</td>
			<td style="width:125px;">Quality Biological</td>
			<td style="width:136px;">119069131</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:247px;">Buprenorphine</td>
			<td style="width:125px;"></td>
			<td style="width:136px;"></td>
			<td>DEA Number required; Obtained from hospital pharmacy</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:247px;">Enrofloxacin</td>
			<td style="width:125px;">Bayer Health Care</td>
			<td style="width:136px;">186599</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

murine full-thickness skin transplantation

Murino di trapianto a tutto spessore della pelle è un modello in vivo consolidata per studiare alloimmune risposta e rigetto del trapianto. Nonostante la sua limitata applicazione per gli esseri umani, il trapianto di pelle nei topi è stato ampiamente impiegato per la ricerca sui trapianti. La procedura è facile da imparare ed eseguire, e non richiede tecniche microchirurgiche delicate né una formazione completa. Inoltre, il rigetto in questo modello si verifica in una reazione immunologica molto riproducibili ed è facilmente monitorato mediante ispezione diretta e palpazione. Inoltre, il trapianto di pelle secondario con innesti donatore corrispondenza o pelle di terze parti può essere eseguita su più modelli di trapianto complessi come un metodo alternativo e semplice per valutare la tolleranza specifici per donatore. Le complicazioni sono bassi e sono in genere limitati a overdose anestesia o distress respiratorio dopo la procedura. fallimento Graft, invece, si verifica comunemente come a causa della scarsa preparazione del gra poppa, errato posizionamento nel letto trapianto, o il posizionamento inadeguato del bendaggio. In questo articolo, vi presentiamo un protocollo per il trapianto di pelle a tutto spessore nei topi e descrivere i passi importanti necessari per una procedura di successo.

Il posizionamento del bendaggio sul mouse destinatario è un importante passo della procedura. L&#39;innesto di pelle è posizionato sul tronco destinatario, tra la spalla, anca e colonna vertebrale (Figura 1). La benda è realizzata con garza piegata e la combinazione di due bende adesive plastica. Il mouse destinatario è posizionato con l&#39;innesto giù sopra la garza sul centro della benda. Utilizzando due micro pinze curve, l&#39;estremità inferiore della benda ?...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Murine Full-thickness Skin Transplantation at JoVE.com

Murine Full-thickness Skin Transplantation

Murino di trapianto a tutto spessore della pelle è un modello consolidato per studiare il rifiuto in un ambiente alloimmune. Qui, mettiamo a disposizione un tutorial di ogni passo coinvolti in esecuzione di un BALB / c -&gt; C57BL / 6 a tutto spessore trapianto di pelle.

Murine tutto spessore trapianto della pelle

Murine full-thickness skin transplantation is a well-established in vivo model to study alloimmune response and graft rejection. Despite its limited ...

murine-full-thickness-skin-transplantation

Research

JoVE Journal

Immunology and Infection

19.9K Views.  Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.  Murino di trapianto a tutto spessore della pelle è un modello consolidato per studiare il rifiuto in un ambiente alloimmune. Qui, mettiamo a disposizione un tutorial di ogni passo coinvolti in esecuzione di un BALB / c -> C57BL / 6 a tutto spessore trapianto di pelle. 

Video: Murine Full-thickness Skin Transplantation

Murine Model of CD40-activation of B cells

Research on B cells has shown that CD40 activation improves their antigen presentation capacity. When stimulated with interleukin-4 and CD40 ligand (CD40L), human B cells can be expanded without difficulties from small amounts of peripheral blood within 14 days to very large amounts of highly-pure CD40-B cells (&gt;109 cells per patient) from healthy donors as well as cancer patients1-4. CD40-B cells express important lymph node homing molecules and can attract T cells in vitro5. Furthermore they efficiently take up, process and present antigens to T cells6,7. CD40-B cells were shown to not only prime na&iacute;ve, but also expand memory T cells8,9. Therefore CD40-activated B cells (CD40-B cells) have been studied as an alternative source of immuno-stimulatory antigen-presenting cells (APC) for cell-based immunotherapy1,5,10. In order to further study whether CD40-B cells induce effective T cell responses in vivo and to study the underlying mechanism we established a cell culture system for the generation of murine CD40-activated B cells. Using splenocytes or purified B cells from C57BL/6 mice for CD40-activation, optimal conditions were identified as follows: Starting from splenocytes of C57BL/6 mice (haplotype H-2b) lymphocytes are purified by density gradient centrifugation and co-cultured with HeLa cells expressing recombinant murine CD40 ligand (tmuCD40L HeLa)11. Cells are recultured every 3-4 days and key components such as CD40L, interleukin-4, -Mercaptoethanol and cyclosporin A are replenished. In this protocol we demonstrate how to obtain fully activated murine CD40-B cells (mCD40B) with similar APC-phenotype to human CD40-B cells (Fig 1a,b). CD40-stimulation leads to a rapid outgrowth and expansion of highly pure (&gt;90%) CD19+ B cells within 14 days of cell culture (Fig 1c,d). To avoid contamination with non-transfected cells, expression of the murine CD40 ligand on the transfectants has to be controlled regularly (Fig 2). Murine CD40-activated B cells can be used to study B-cell activation and differentiation as well as to investigate their potential to function as APC in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, they represent a promising tool for establishing therapeutic or preventive vaccination against tumors and will help to answer questions regarding safety and immunogenicity of this approach12.

In this video, we demonstrate the procedure of CD40-activation and expansion of murine B cells from splenocytes of C57BL/6 mice, which can be used as a model antigen-presenting cell (APC) to study induction of immunity.

Modello murino di CD40-attivazione delle cellule B

Research on B cells has shown that CD40 activation improves their antigen presentation capacity. When stimulated with interleukin-4 and CD40 ligand ...

Ricerca

Immunologia e infezioni

Orthotopic Hind-Limb Transplantation in Rats

Composite tissue allotransplantation (CTA) now represents a valid therapeutic option after the loss of a hand, forearm or digits and has become a novel therapeutic entity in reconstructive surgery. However, long term high-dose multi-drug immunosuppressive therapy is required to ensure graft survival, bearing the risk of serious side effects which halters broader application. Further progression in this field may depend on better understanding of basic immunology and ischemia reperfusion injury in composite tissue grafts.
To date, orthotopic hind limb transplantation in rats has been the preferred rodent model for reconstructive transplantation (RT), however, it is an extremely demanding procedure that requires extraordinary microsurgical skills for reattachment of vasculature, bones, muscles and nerves.
We have introduced the vascular cuff anastomosis technique to this model, providing a rapid and reliable approach to rat hind limb transplantation. This technique simplifies and shortens the surgical procedure and enables surgeons with basic microsurgical experience to successfully perform the operation with high survival and low complication rates. The technique seems to be well suited for immunological as well as ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI) studies.

Here we describe the orthotopic rat hind-limb transplantation procedure, which seems to be the gold standard in vivo model for composite tissue allotransplantation research.

Ortotopico Hind-Limb trapianto in topi

Composite tissue allotransplantation (CTA) now represents a valid therapeutic option after the loss of a hand, forearm or digits and has become a novel ...

Granulocyte-dependent Autoantibody-induced Skin Blistering

Autoimmune phenomena occur in healthy individuals, but when self-tolerance fails, the autoimmune response may result in specific pathology. According to Witebsky's postulates, one of the criteria in diagnosing a disease as autoimmune is the reproduction of the disease in experimental animals by the passive transfer of autoantibodies. For epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA), a prototypic organ-specific autoimmune disease of skin and mucous membranes, several experimental models were recently established. In the animal model described in our present work, purified IgG antibodies against a stretch of 200 amino acids (aa 757-967) of collagen VII are injected repeatedly into mice reproducing the blistering phenotype as well as the histo- and immunopathological features characteristic to human EBA 1. Full-blown widespread disease is usually seen 5-6 days after the first injection and the extent of the disease correlates with the dose of the administered collagen VII-specific IgG. The tissue damage (blister formation) in the experimental EBA is depending on the recruitment and activation of granulocytes by tissue-bound autoantibodies 2,-4. Therefore, this model allows for the dissection of the granulocyte-dependent inflammatory pathway involved in the autoimmune tissue damage, as the model reproduces only the T cell-independent phase of the efferent autoimmune response. Furthermore, its value is underlined by a number of studies demonstrating the blister-inducing potential of autoantibodies in vivo and investigating the mechanism of the blister formation in EBA 1,3,-6. Finally, this model will greatly facilitate the development of new anti-inflammatory therapies in autoantibody-induced diseases. Overall, the passive transfer animal model of EBA is an accessible and instructive disease model and will help researchers to analyze not only EBA pathogenesis but to answer fundamental biologically and clinically essential autoimmunity questions.

In the animal model described in our present work, purified IgG antibodies against a stretch of 200 amino acids (aa 757-967) of collagen VII are injected repeatedly into mice reproducing the blistering phenotype as well as the histo- and immunopathological features characteristic to human epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA)1.

Granulociti-dipendente indotta da autoanticorpi pelle vescicole

Autoimmune phenomena occur in healthy individuals, but when self-tolerance fails, the autoimmune response may result in specific pathology. According to ...

Transplantation of Tail Skin to Study Allogeneic CD4 T Cell Responses in Mice

The study of T cell responses and their consequences during allo-antigen recognition requires a model that enables one to distinguish between donor and host T cells, to easily monitor the graft, and to adapt the system in order to answer different immunological questions. Medawar and colleagues established allogeneic tail-skin transplantation in mice in 1955. Since then, the skin transplantation model has been continuously modified and adapted to answer specific questions. The use of tail-skin renders this model easy to score for graft rejection, requires neither extensive preparation nor deep anesthesia, is applicable to animals of all genetic background, discourages ischemic necrosis, and permits chemical and biological intervention. 
In general, both CD4+ and CD8+ allogeneic T cells are responsible for the rejection of allografts since they recognize mismatched major histocompatibility antigens from different mouse strains. Several models have been described for activating allogeneic T cells in skin-transplanted mice. The identification of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and II molecules in different mouse strains including C57BL/6 mice was an important step toward understanding and studying T cell-mediated alloresponses. In the tail-skin transplantation model described here, a three-point mutation (I-Abm12) in the antigen-presenting groove of the MHC-class II (I-Ab) molecule is sufficient to induce strong allogeneic CD4+ T cell activation in C57BL/6 mice. Skin grafts from I-Abm12 mice on C57BL/6 mice are rejected within 12-15 days, while syngeneic grafts are accepted for up to 100 days. The absence of T cells (CD3-/- and Rag2-/- mice) allows skin graft acceptance up to 100 days, which can be overcome by transferring 2 x 104 wild type or transgenic T cells. Adoptively transferred T cells proliferate and produce IFN-&#947; in I-Abm12-transplanted Rag2-/- mice.

Tail-skin transplantation is a powerful model for studying T cell-dependent rejection and tolerance induction during allogeneic immune responses in mice. The advantages of this protocol are minor invasive surgery, and ease of monitoring with no need to sacrifice the recipient mouse.

Il trapianto di coda della pelle per studiare allogenico di cellule T CD4 risposte in topi

The study of T cell responses and their consequences during allo-antigen recognition requires a model that enables one to distinguish between donor and ...

Isolation and Transplantation of Different Aged Murine Thymic Grafts.

The mechanisms that regulate the efficacy of thymic selection remain ill-defined. The method presented here allows in vivo analyses of the development and selection of T cells specific for self and foreign antigens. The approach entails implantation of thymic grafts derived from various aged mice into immunodeficient scid recipients. Over a relatively short period of time the recipients are fully reconstituted with T cells derived from the implanted thymus graft. Only thymocytes seeding the thymus at the time of isolation undergo selection and develop into mature T cells. As such, changes in the nature and specificity of the engrafted T cells as a function of age-dependent thymic events can be assessed. Although technical expertise is required for successful thymic transplantation, this method provides a unique strategy to study in vivo a wide range of pathologies that are due to or a result of aberrant thymic function and/or homeostasis.

This report provides a detailed description of transplanting murine thymi from different aged donor mice under the kidney capsule of immunodeficient mouse recipients. The goal of this approach is to model T cell development and thymic selection events in vivo.

Isolamento e Trapianto di diversi invecchiato murini del timo innesti.

The mechanisms that regulate the efficacy of thymic selection remain ill-defined. The method presented here allows in vivo analyses of the development and ...

In Vitro and In Vivo Assessment of T, B and Myeloid Cells Suppressive Activity and Humoral Responses from Transplant Recipients

The main concern in transplantation is to achieve specific tolerance through induction of regulatory cells. The understanding of tolerance mechanisms requires reliable models. Here, we describe models of tolerance to cardiac allograft in rat, induced by blockade of costimulation signals or by upregulation of immunoregulatory molecules through gene transfer. Each of these models allowed in vivo generation of regulatory cells such as regulatory T cells (Tregs), regulatory B cells (Bregs) or regulatory myeloid cells (RegMCs). In this manuscript, we describe two complementary protocols that have been used to identify and define in vitro and in vivo regulatory cell activity to determine their responsibility in tolerance induction and maintenance. First, an in vitro suppressive assay allowed rapid identification of cells with suppressive capacity on effector immune responses in a dose dependent manner, and can be used for further analysis such as cytokine measurement or cytotoxicity. Second, the adoptive transfer of cells from a tolerant treated recipient to a newly irradiated grafted recipient, highlighted the tolerogenic properties of these cells in controlling graft directed immune responses and/or converting new regulatory cells (termed infectious tolerance). These methods are not restricted to cells with known phenotypic markers and can be extended to any cell population. Furthermore, donor directed allospecificity of regulatory cells (an important goal in the field) can be assessed by using third party donor cells or graft either in vitro or in vivo. Finally, to determine the specific tolerogenic capacity of these regulatory cells, we provide protocols to assess the humoral anti-donor antibody responses and the capacity of the recipient to develop humoral responses against new or former known antigens. The models of tolerance described can be used to further characterize regulatory cells, to identify new biomarkers, and immunoregulatory molecules, and are adaptable to other transplantation models or autoimmune diseases in rodent or human.

In Vitro and In Vivo Assessment of T, B and Myeloid Cells Suppressive Activity and Humoral Responses from Transplant Recipients

Here, we present a protocol to induce tolerance in transplantation, and assess in vitro and in vivo the suppressive capacity of distinct cell subsets from the recipient and the immune status of the recipient toward donor or exogenous antigens.

In Vitro e In Vivo valutazione della attività soppressiva T, B e cellule mieloidi e risposte umorali dai destinatari del trapianto

The main concern in transplantation is to achieve specific tolerance through induction of regulatory cells. The understanding of tolerance mechanisms ...

Using Robotic Systems to Process and Embed Colonic Murine Samples for Histological Analyses

The understanding of human diseases has been greatly expanded thanks to the study of animal models. Nonetheless, histopathological evaluation of experimental models needs to be as rigorous as that applied for human samples. Indeed, drawing reliable and accurate conclusions is critically influenced by the quality of tissue section preparation. Here, we describe a protocol for histopathological analysis of murine tissues that implements several automated steps during the procedure, from the initial preparation to the paraffin embedding of the murine samples. The reduction of methodological variables through rigorous protocol standardization from automated procedures contributes to increased overall reliability of murine pathological analysis. Specifically, this protocol describes the utilization of automated processing and embedding robotic systems, routinely used for the tissue processing and paraffin embedding of human samples, to process murine specimens of intestinal inflammation. We conclude that the reliability of histopathological examination of murine tissues is significantly increased upon introduction of standardized and automated techniques.

Lack of standardization for murine tissue processing reduces the quality of murine histopathological analysis as compared to human specimens. Here, we present a protocol to perform histopathological examination of murine inflamed and uninflamed colonic tissues to show the feasibility of robotic systems routinely used for processing and embedding&#160;human samples.

Utilizzo di sistemi robotici per elaborare e incorporare colici murini campioni per le analisi istologiche

The understanding of human diseases has been greatly expanded thanks to the study of animal models. Nonetheless, histopathological evaluation of ...

Renal Subcapsular Transplantation of 2'-Deoxyguanosine-Treated Murine Embryonic Thymus in Nude Mice

The thymus is an important central immune organ, which plays an essential role in the development and differentiation of T cells. Thymus transplantation is an important method for investigating thymic epithelial cell function and T cells maturation in vivo. Here we will describe the experimental methods used within our laboratory to transplant 2&#8217;-deoxyguanosine (to deplete donor&#8217;s lymphocytes) treated embryonic thymus into the renal capsule of an athymic nude mouse. This method is both simple and efficient and does not require special skills or devices. The results obtained via this simple method showed that transplanted thymus can effectively support the recipient&#8217;s T cells production. Additionally, several key points with regards to the protocol will be further elucidated.

We provide a simple and efficient method to transplant 2&#8217;-deoxyguanosine treated E18.5 thymus into the renal capsule of a nude mouse. This method should aide in the study of both thymic epithelial cells function and T cells maturation.

Trapianto di subcapsulare renale di 2'-Deoxyguanosine-Treated Murine Embryonic Thymus in Topi Nudi

The thymus is an important central immune organ, which plays an essential role in the development and differentiation of T cells. Thymus transplantation ...

Isolation of Lamina Propria Mononuclear Cells from Murine Colon Using Collagenase E

The intestine is the home to the largest number of immune cells in the body. The small and large intestinal immune systems police exposure to exogenous antigens and modulate responses to potent microbially derived immune stimuli. For this reason, the intestine is a major target site of immune dysregulation and inflammation in many diseases including but, not limited to inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn&#8217;s disease and ulcerative colitis, graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after bone marrow transplantation (BMT), and many allergic and infectious conditions. Murine models of gastrointestinal inflammation and colitis are heavily used to study GI complications and to pre-clinically optimize strategies for prevention and treatment. Data gleaned from these models via isolation and phenotypic analysis of immune cells from the intestine is critical to further immune understanding that can be applied to ameliorate gastrointestinal and systemic inflammatory disorders. This report describes a highly effective protocol for the isolation of mononuclear cells (MNC) from the colon using a mixed silica-based density gradient interface. This method reproducibly isolates a significant number of viable leukocytes while minimizing contaminating debris, allowing subsequent immune phenotyping by flow cytometry or other methods.

The goal of this protocol is to isolate mononuclear cells that reside in the lamina propria of the colon by enzymatic digestion of the tissue using collagenase. This protocol allows for the efficient isolation of mononuclear cells resulting in a single cell suspension which in turn can be used for robust immunophenotyping.

Isolamento delle cellule mononucleari Di Lamina propria dal colon Murine utilizzando Collagenase E

The intestine is the home to the largest number of immune cells in the body. The small and large intestinal immune systems police exposure to exogenous ...

Optimization of the Cuff Technique for Murine Heart Transplantation

Murine cardiac transplantation has been performed for more than 40 years. With advancements in microsurgery, certain new techniques have been used to improve surgical efficiency. In our lab, we have optimized the cuff technique with two major steps. First, we used the inner tube technique to insert a temporary inner tube into the external jugular vein and carotid artery blood vessel to facilitate eversion of the vessel over the cuff. Second, we performed complete heterotopic cardiac transplantation through the collaboration of two experienced surgeons. These modifications effectively reduced the operation time to 25 minutes, with a success rate of 95%. In this report, we describe these procedures in detail and provide a supplemental video. We believe that this report on the improved cuff technique will offer practical guidance for murine heterotopic heart transplantation and will enhance the utility of this mouse model for basic research.

We introduce an inner tube approach to the cuff technique for mouse cervical heterotopic heart transplantation to help evert the vessel over the cuff. We found that cooperation between two experienced surgeons markedly shortens the operation time.

Ottimizzazione della tecnica del bracciale per il trapianto di cuore di Murine

Murine cardiac transplantation has been performed for more than 40 years. With advancements in microsurgery, certain new techniques have been used to ...