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Studying immune system using MHC II/ EGFP knock-in mouse
Zadražil, Zdeněk ; Černý, Jan (advisor) ; Tlaskalová - Hogenová, Helena (referee)
The immune system is essential for keeping the integrity of multicellular organisms. We were able to make a step forward in studying the complex immune reactions in mammals in vivo and/ or in situ using the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II/ enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) knock-in mouse model. Due to the EGFP visualization of MHC II expressing cells we were able to observe antigen presenting cells, which are essential for the onset of immune responses, in their natural environment. Thus, we report some original features of the immune system. We have identified MHC II+ cell clusters with unknown, probably unique function, in the intestine. We have also described MHC II+ cell migration to the lactating mammary gland and tested few hypotheses about the role of this phenomenon for the development of the mammary gland, milk secretion or infant immune system establishment. Lastly, we observed residential macrophages in the cornea. The presence of APCs in the cornea is a very contradictory issue due to the fact that cornea is an immunologically privileged tissue and therefore harbors special immune features. key words: antigen presenting cells (APC), major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC II), enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP), immune system, knock-in mouse model
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Comparison of Immune System of Newborns and Adults
Dusilová, Adéla ; Hrdý, Jiří (advisor) ; Zajícová, Alena (referee)
In general, it is possible to characterize neonatal immune system (IS) as immature in comparison to adult IS. From a clinical point of view, newborns show an increased susceptibility to infections. Breastfeeding can contribute to the descent incidence of illnesses, because it supplies the intestinal mucosal system with antibodies of the mother`s origin, important nutrients and other immunoregulatory components. Breast milk compensates decreased newborn's capacity to produce immunoglobulins- especially IgA, that concentration reaches adult levels in two years, but even later (to the pubescent period). Other classes of antibodies are found in cord blood only sporadically except IgG, which is transferred transplacentary. Reduced ability of B lymphocytes to produce antibodies is caused by insufficient expression of surface costimulatory signals of Th2 cells. T lymphocytes are not able to react properly to low doses of stimulators (polyclonal activators - phytoid lectins: ConA or PHA), which bind to T cell receptors in complex with CD3 and proliferate in a response to anti-CD3 monoclonal antibodies. Most of the cord blood T lymphocytes display "naive" phenotype CD45RA. During intrauterine development, neonatal IS is in contact with mother IS and because a pro-inflammatory Th1 response could lead to...
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Impact of pattern and functional properties of tumor-infiltrating immune cells for clinical outcome of head and neck cancer
Hladíková, Kamila ; Špíšek, Radek (advisor) ; Plzák, Jan (referee) ; Reiniš, Milan (referee)
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma encompasses a complex and heterogeneous group of malignant diseases. Originally, this tumor type was associated with tobacco and alcohol consumption. However, a significantly expanding subset of tumors associated with oncogenic human papillomavirus infection arising in deep tonsillar crypts was identified within the last decades. Due to the essential role of the immune system in antiviral and anticancer immune response, the prognosis of patients is significantly influenced by the volume, composition and functional capacity of the immune infiltrate. The immunosuppressive landscape of head and neck cancer leads to unfavorable outcome of patients and decreased efficacy of immunotherapy. The response rate to standard treatment is high, however, standard therapy is accompanied by considerable toxicity influencing the quality of life. In 2016, the first immunotherapeutics for the treatment of patients with recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck were approved - the anti-PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitors nivolumab and pembrolizumab. This type of therapy, based on mitigation of immunosuppression, shows strong efficacy and less toxicity in combination with other therapies. Therefore, anti-PD-1 immunotherapy was recently approved in the first-line...
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Tumor microenvironment and the importance of anti-tumor immunity for clinical course of human cancers
Partlová, Simona ; Špíšek, Radek (advisor) ; Drbal, Karel (referee) ; Kovář, Marek (referee)
Cancer development and progression vary depending on tumor type, localization, invasion, immunogenicity and the ability of immune system to become activated. There are frequent interactions between tumor cells and immune cells, occuring locally at the site of primary tumor or distally through paracrine signalling of various mediators and cytokines. The main subject of this PhD thesis is to study key factors and aspects of immune response in cancer patients. In the first part, we analyzed immune cells infiltrating tumor tissues of ovarian cancer patients at different stages of disease. We focused on the dynamics of immune response, primarily on frequency of individual T lymphocyte populations in peripheral blood and tumor infiltrating T lymphocytes in tumors of early and advanced stages of ovarian cancer. We found that during disease progression there is a gradual decrease of proinflammatory Th17 and Th1 immune responses and a specific recruitment of regulatory T cells to the tumor site, which results in a significant immune suppression in the tumor microenvironment. In the second part, we demonstrated that the character of immune response in HPV-positive head and neck cancer patients is very different from the patients with tumors not associated with HPV infection. In HPV-positive patients, significantly...
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Human nutrition, Bacteroides fragilis and the immune system
Veigertová, Tereza ; Hrdý, Jiří (advisor) ; Podzimek, Štěpán (referee)
The presence of bacteria in the human body is a crucial factor for immune system development and its appropriate functioning. This bachelor thesis focuses on the beneficial effects of Bacteroides fragilis and explores the possibility of altering its abundance in the colon by dietary intervention. Both Czech and foreign literature was reviewed and the practical part was carried out using a questionnaire survey. The research indicates that it is possible to affect the proportional representation of Bacteroides fragilis in the colon with specific nutrients and dietary habits. Additionally, the theoretical part describes the benefits of this bacterial species on the human immune system. Bacteroides fragilis produces short-chain fatty acids, antimicrobial substances and polysaccharide A, which are the principal components that influence the host. The practical part builds upon the findings of the theoretical part. It investigates the knowledge of a random sample of Czech citizens about the effect of diet on microbiota composition. It also explores people's view on probiotics and their acquaintance with food composition. The conclusion of the thesis is a correlation between the theoretical and practical part. The intestinal microbiota is a relatively compact unit with complex interactions. Diet can not...
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Specifics of the use of opioids as important immunomodulators in the treatment of pain
Švubová, Veronika ; Hejnová, Lucie (advisor) ; Vašek, Daniel (referee)
This work deals with the specifics associated with the use of opioid analgesics in pain relief. In terms of antinociceptive effects, opioids have not yet been surpassed by other available drugs. However the use of these analgesics is quite problematic in many respects. For over 30 years, studies have shown that opioids can adversely affect components of the immune system (IS) and thus the overall condition of the patient. To understand the relationship between opioids and IS, it is necessary to know the mechanisms leading to immunomodulatory processes. Contact with opioids occurs at the cellular interface through interactions with opioid receptors (ORs). Within IS, we encounter all three basic types of OR - μ (MOR), δ (DOR), κ (KOR) and non-classical nociceptin receptors (NOP). Stimulation of these receptors induces activation of signaling cascades in target cells which can lead to dysregulation of cellular processes, thus modulating the immune response. However, the effect of opioids on IS cells may not be exclusively direct. More complex regulatory pathways have been found, involving parts of the central nervous system (CNS), the sympathetic nervous system (SNS), and endocrine-active tissues. Activation of these pathways then affects the activity of whole lymphoid organs. Each cell type within an...
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The effect of cold stress on the immune system in the presence of infection
Kratochvílová, Anna ; Krulová, Magdaléna (advisor) ; Filipp, Dominik (referee)
Although the relationship between the effects of cold and infection has been studied for a long time, the mechanisms contributing to this phenomenon have not yet been discovered. While short-term exposure to cold triggers a stress response and the production of proinflammatory cytokines, long-term cold exposure induces adaptation and anti- inflammatory shift. The role of cold adaptation in the development and the process of the organism's response to infection remains an unresolved issue. In this diploma thesis, we focused on determining the effect of cold stress or cold adaptation on the immune system of rats which was stimulated by ligands of Toll-like receptors (TLRs). The obtained results showed the importance of γδT lymphocytes and their cytokine production in the process of cold adaptation. To determine how cold adaptation affects the response to infectious agents, we studied changes in the proportion of different immune cell populations in rats treated with the TLR2/6 ligand Pam2CSK4. We determined significant changes in the activation of myeloid cells and B lymphocytes, but also in the population of γδT lymphocytes. Our obtained results suggested the importance of γδT lymphocytes and the protective effect of cold adaptation. Key words: immune system, cold stress, cold adaptation, infection,...
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Psychoneuroimmunology of alexithymia
Uher, Tomáš ; Bob, Petr (advisor) ; Boleloucký, Zdeněk (referee) ; Smolík, Petr (referee)
Alexithymia represents a deficit in identifying and expressing emotions, paucity of fantasies, and an externally oriented cognitive style. Currently, numerous studies document that alexithymia and several mental and somatic disorders are significantly related. Several findings also indicate that this association might be caused by alexithymia related dysregulation of neuroendocrine and immune functions. Together these findings indicate that stressors related to alexithymia could underlie the process of neuroendocrine and immune dysregulation that likely may present a significant risk, sustaining and mediating pathogenesis of several disorders and particulary psychosomatic illnesses. In this context, it is also known that several proinflammatory cytokines may play a role in pain generation and that alexithymia is significantly associated with pain symptoms in several pain disorders. Following these findings this study includes several new data developing current state of the art and showing some alexithymia specific changes in patients with neurological disorders. Main finding of this study shows that alexithymia and anxiety in their specific interactions are linked to increased levels of interleukine-8 (IL-8) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the group of patients with non-inflammatory neurological...
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Sexual dimorphism of rat gut microbiota composition and intestinal immunity
Kalousová, Pavla ; Kovařík, Miroslav (advisor) ; Jílek, Petr (referee)
Charles University Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové Department of Biological and Medical Sciences Candidate: Pavla Kalousová Supervisor: PharmDr. Miroslav Kovařík, Ph.D. Title: Sexual dimorphism of rat gut microbiota composition and intestinal immunity Background and Aim: Many factors can influence the composition of gut microbiota and the immune system. It is well-known that one of those factors is sex. This sexual dimorphism can lead to a specifically adjusted treatment of diseases for different gender and nutritional interventions. This study focuses on analysing sexual differences in gut microbiota and intestinal immunity in adult rats. Methods: Caecal content from 12-week-old female and male Wistar rats were collected and analysed by DNA-sequencing technique to characterize microbiota composition. ELISA test was performed to quantify the concentration of IgA in faeces and gut wash. Flow cytometry determined the concentration of IgA-coating bacteria in faecal samples. Results: Metagenomic analysis revealed that female gender presents 1 phylum, 4 families, 13 genera, and 13 species which are not present in male rats. Only one male-specific colonization was observed at the species level. Quantitative analysis showed a higher proportion of Firmicutes phylum in males which was associated with...
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