This was not explained by altered viral elimination or differences in the magnitude of the overall virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response. However, H-2(d) mice showed a more focused response, with 70% of virus-specific CTL representing V beta 8.2(+) CTL directed against the immunodominant epitope M2-1 82, while in H-2(b) mice only 20% of antiviral CTL were V beta 9(+) CTL specific for the immunodominant epitope BI-D1870 M187. The immunodominant H-2(d)-restricted CTL lysed target cells less efficiently than the immunodominant H-2(b)

CTL, probably contributing to prolonged CTL stimulation and cytokine-mediated immunopathology. Accordingly, reduction of dominance of the M2-1 82-specific CTL population by introduction of an M187 response in the F1 generation of a C57BL/6N x C57BL/6-H-2(d) mating (C57BL/6-H-2(dxb) mice) attenuated disease. Moreover, disease in H-2(d) mice was less pronounced

after infection with an RSV mutant failing to activate M2-1 82-specific CTL or after depletion of V beta 8.2(+) cells. These data illustrate how the MHC-determined diversity and functional avidity of CTL responses contribute to disease susceptibility after viral infection.”
“The forkhead box O (Foxo) family of SRT2104 transcription factors consists of the mammalian orthologs of the Caenorhabditis elegans longevity protein Daf-16, and has an evolutionarily conserved function in the regulation of nutrient sensing and stress responses. Recent studies have shown that Foxo proteins control expression of immune system-specific genes such as II7ra in naive T cells and Foxp3 in regulatory T cells, which are crucial regulators of T cell homeostasis and tolerance. These findings reveal that the ancient Foxo pathway has been co-opted to regulate highly specialized T cell activities.

The Foxo pathway probably enables a diverse and self-tolerant population of T cells in the steady state, 17-DMAG (Alvespimycin) HCl which is an important prerequisite for the establishment of a functional adaptive immune system.”
“Objective: We investigated illness beliefs of recently hospitalized patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and the prospective association between these beliefs and adherence to secondary prevention behaviors. Causal attributions of CAD and their concordance with actual patient risk profiles were also examined. Method: A prospective study of 193 patients was conducted. Data were collected by self-report and from medical records at 3, 6, and 9 months after discharge. Baseline depression was assessed by structured clinical interview. The association between illness beliefs and adherence was tested with hierarchical linear regression controlling for clinical and demographic confounders. Results: Most participants perceived high personal and treatment control and believed CAD to be chronic in duration with severe consequences. A relatively low number of symptoms were endorsed as being part of CAD.