Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Interleukin (Il)-18 Binding Protein Deficiency Disrupts Natural Killer Cell Maturation And Diminishes Circulating Il-18., Robert Z. Harms, Austin J. Creer, Kristina M. Lorenzo-Arteaga, Katie R. Ostlund, Nora Sarvetnick

Journal Articles: Surgery

The cytokine interleukin (IL)-18 is a crucial amplifier of natural killer (NK) cell function. IL-18 signaling is regulated by the inhibitory effects of IL-18 binding protein (IL-18BP). Using mice deficient in IL-18BP (IL-18BPKO), we investigated the impact of mismanaged IL-18 signaling on NK cells. We found an overall reduced abundance of splenic NK cells in the absence of IL-18BP. Closer examination of NK cell subsets in spleen and bone marrow using CD27 and CD11b expression revealed that immature NK cells were increased in abundance, while the mature population of NK cells was reduced. Also, NK cells were polarized to greater …

A Role For B Cells In Organic Dust Induced Lung Inflammation, Jill A. Poole, Ted R. Mikuls, Michael J. Duryee, Kristi J. Warren, Todd A. Wyatt, Amy J. Nelson, Debra J. Romberger, William W. West, Geoffrey M. Thiele

Journal Articles: Internal Medicine

BACKGROUND: Agriculture organic dust exposures induce lung disease with lymphoid aggregates comprised of both T and B cells. The precise role of B cells in mediating lung inflammation is unknown, yet might be relevant given the emerging role of B cells in obstructive pulmonary disease and associated autoimmunity.

METHODS: Using an established animal model, C57BL/6 wild-type (WT) and B-cell receptor (BCR) knock-out (KO) mice were repetitively treated with intranasal inhalation of swine confinement organic dust extract (ODE) daily for 3 weeks and lavage fluid, lung tissues, and serum were collected.

RESULTS: ODE-induced neutrophil influx in lavage fluid was not reduced …