BACKGROUND: Yersinia pestis, the causative agent of plague, showed a temperature-dependent change in lipid A composition, with a reduced degree of acylation when bacteria were grown at 37 degrees C (tetraacylated) versus ambient temperature (hexaacylated). METHODS: Human monocytes and monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DCs) were exposed to Y. pestis grown at 26 degrees C or 37 degrees C, to their corresponding lipopolysaccharides (LPS-26 degrees C or LPS-37 degrees C), and to ligands of different Toll-like receptors (TLRs), such as LPS from Escherichia coli (TLR4), lipoprotein (TLR2), polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly-IC) (TLR9), and their combinations. Production of cytokines was measured, along with expression of surface markers of DC maturation. RESULTS: Y. pestis grown at 37 degrees C or LPS-37 degrees C induced much lower production of cytokines (such as tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukins 1beta, 10, and 12) by DCs than did Y. pestis grown at 26 degrees C or LPS-26 degrees C. Expression of the surface markers HLA-DR, CD86, and CD40 by DCs was also reduced in response to treatment with LPS-37 degrees C compared with LPS-26 degrees C. Pretreatment of DCs with LPS-37 degrees C inhibited subsequent stimulation with LPS-26 degrees C, control LPS from E. coli, lipoprotein, or poly-IC. CONCLUSIONS: LPS-37 degrees C can inhibit stimulation of DCs not only via TLR4 signaling but also via TLR2 and TLR3. [corrected]
J Infect Dis. 2009 Dec 1;200(11):1694-702. Erratum in: J Infect Dis. 2010 Jan 15;201(2):314. doi: 10.1086/647986

The aim of the research is to investigate specific antitumor immunotherapy on the basis of autologous dendritic cells in the complex treatment of patients with malignant cerebral gliomas of supratentorial localization. 55 patients with malignant gliomas (41 with glioblastomas, 14 with anaplastic astrocytomas) have been analysed who had received complex treatment with specific immunotherapy. All the patients were hospitalized at complicated disease stages and with tumors over 5 cm in diameter. Specific antitumor immunotherapy was conducted according to the original methodology and included autologous dendritic cells with tumor antigens and tumor cells lysate. Treatment course consisted of autologous dendritic cells introduction on the 10-12th day after the operation. It was performed every 2-3 months. Follow-up results of specific antitumor immunotherapy with autologous dendritic cells were analised. It was noted that lifetime of patients with malignant supratentorial gliomas became longer in comparison with average statistical results. In conclusion it is of importance to point out that specific antitumor immunotherapy included into complex treatment of malignant gliomas allowing to increase disease remission and quality of life
S.P. Bazhanov Complex treatment of patients with malignant cerebral gliomas of supratentorial localization: follow -up results // Saratov Journal of Medical Scientific Research, Vol. 6, Issue 1, 2010, pp. 189-194