LOCAL CONTROL OF IMMUNE ACTIVITY IN THE BRAIN

描述(申请人摘要)：神经肽可影响白血球 体外和体内的免疫反应。这里的问题是，当地人 神经肽会影响大脑本身的免疫行为吗？这个 研究人员研究了T细胞介导的反应的两个关键特征： T细胞进入，以及向T细胞呈递抗原的MHC蛋白的表达 细胞。他们检测了正常大鼠的MHC表达和T细胞进入，并在 脑瘤生长的部位。研究人员正在研究的神经肽 学习是P物质(SP)。他们研究的地方是脑干。 脑干胶质瘤是一种重要的和破坏性的肿瘤，尤其是在 童年。肿瘤的位置和生长模式使T细胞介导 特别感兴趣的疗法。SP在脑干中含量丰富。在这里，他们 定义它的局部免疫效应。这项工作具有基础性和临床性 利息。假设：(1)正常大脑中的免疫调节是 站点特定。(2)免疫调节仍然是可能的，而且仍然 特定部位，在肿瘤生长的情况下。(3)当地人 神经调节环境有助于部位特异性调节。在……里面 特别是，免疫增强神经肽，P物质(SP)，可以增强 干扰素-g的作用。方法：T细胞进入、MHC表达、T细胞/肿瘤 相互作用被定量研究，使用由 调查人员。方法包括立体定向注射，抗体染色 冷冻切片和计算机辅助图像分析。用的是老鼠。

DESCRIPTION (Applicant's Abstract): Neuropeptides can affect leukocytes in vitro and immune responses in vivo. Here the question asked is, do local neuropeptides affect immune behavior within the brain itself? The investigators study two key features of the T cell-mediated response: T-cell entry, and expression of the MHC proteins that present antigens to T cells. They examine MHC expression and T cell entry in normal rats, and at sites of brain tumor growth. The neuropeptide the investigators are studying is substance P (SP). The local site they study is the brain stem. Brain stem glioma is an important and devastating tumor, particularly in childhood. The tumor's location and growth pattern make T-cell mediated therapy of special interest. SP is abundant in the brain stem. Here they define its local immunologic effects. This work has basic and clinical interest. Hypotheses: (1) Immune regulation in the normal brain is site-specific. (2) Immune regulation is still possible, and still site-specific, in the presence of growing tumor. (3) The local neuro-regulatory environment contributes to site-specific regulation. In particular, the immune-enhancing neuropeptide, substance P (SP), can enhance IFN-g's effects. Methods: T cell entry, MHC expression, T-cell/tumor interactions are studied quantitatively, using the model developed by the investigators. Methods include stereotactic injection, antibody staining of cryostat sections, and computer-assisted image analysis. Rats are used.