Generation and characterization of function-blocking anti-ectodysplasin A (EDA) monoclonal antibodies that induce ectodermal dysplasia.

Development of ectodermal appendages, such as hair, teeth, sweat glands, sebaceous glands, and mammary glands, requires the action of the TNF family ligand ectodysplasin A (EDA). Mutations of the X-linked EDA gene cause reduction or absence of many ectodermal appendages and have been identified as a cause of ectodermal dysplasia in humans, mice, dogs, and cattle. We have generated blocking antibodies, raised in Eda-deficient mice, against the conserved, receptor-binding domain of EDA. These antibodies recognize epitopes overlapping the receptor-binding site and prevent EDA from binding and activating EDAR at close to stoichiometric ratios in in vitro binding and activity assays. The antibodies block EDA1 and EDA2 of both mammalian and avian origin and, in vivo, suppress the ability of recombinant Fc-EDA1 to rescue ectodermal dysplasia in Eda-deficient Tabby mice. Moreover, administration of EDA blocking antibodies to pregnant wild type mice induced in developing wild type fetuses a marked and permanent ectodermal dysplasia. These function-blocking anti-EDA antibodies with wide cross-species reactivity will enable study of the developmental and postdevelopmental roles of EDA in a variety of organisms and open the route to therapeutic intervention in conditions in which EDA may be implicated.

Stoichiometry of Heteromeric BAFF and APRIL Cytokines Dictates Their Receptor Binding and Signaling Properties.

The closely related TNF family ligands B cell activation factor (BAFF) and a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) serve in the generation and maintenance of mature B-lymphocytes. Both BAFF and APRIL assemble as homotrimers that bind and activate several receptors that they partially share. However, heteromers of BAFF and APRIL that occur in patients with autoimmune diseases are incompletely characterized. The N and C termini of adjacent BAFF or APRIL monomers are spatially close and can be linked to create single-chain homo- or hetero-ligands of defined stoichiometry. Similar to APRIL, heteromers consisting of one BAFF and two APRILs (BAA) bind to the receptors B cell maturation antigen (BCMA), transmembrane activator and CAML interactor (TACI) but not to the BAFF receptor (BAFFR). Heteromers consisting of one APRIL and two BAFF (ABB) bind to TACI and BCMA and weakly to BAFFR in accordance with the analysis of the receptor interaction sites in the crystallographic structure of ABB. Receptor binding correlated with activity in reporter cell line assays specific for BAFFR, TACI, or BCMA. Single-chain BAFF (BBB) and to a lesser extent single-chain ABB, but not APRIL or single-chain BAA, rescued BAFFR-dependent B cell maturation in BAFF-deficient mice. In conclusion, BAFF-APRIL heteromers of different stoichiometries have distinct receptor-binding properties and activities. Based on the observation that heteromers are less active than BAFF, we speculate that their physiological role might be to down-regulate BAFF activity.

Transparency and trust in government (2007-2014): a comparative study

In a 2000 report entitled "Trust in government. Ethics measures in OECD countries," OECD Secretary-General Donald J. Johnston emphasized the fact that public ethics are considered as a keystone of good governance. Moreover, public ethics are a prerequisite to public trust, which is in turn vital not only to any public service, but also to any society in general. At the same time, transparency reforms have flourished over the last few years and have several times been designed as a response to public distrust. Therefore, ethics, transparency and trust are closely linked together in a supposed virtuous circle where transparency works as a factor of better public ethics and leads to more trust in government on the citizens' side. This article explores the links between transparency and levels of trust in 10 countries between 2007 and 2014, using open data indexes and access to information requests as proxies for transparency. A national ranking of transparency, based on requests submitted by citizens to the administration and open data indexes, is then proposed. Key findings show that there is no sharp decline of trust in government in all countries considered in this article, and that transparency and trust in government are not systematically positively associated. Therefore, this article challenges the common assumption, mostly found in the normative literature, about a positive interrelation between the two, where trust in government is conceived as a beneficial effect of administrative transparency.

Netting neutrophils in skin wounds recruit and activate plasmacytoid dentritic cells

Les mécanismes qui régulent le processus de guérison de la peau lésée ne sont pas entièrement compris. Nous avons précédemment montré que les cellules dendritiques plasmocytoïdes (pDCs) sont normalement absentes de la peau saine mais infiltrent rapidement la peau humaine ainsi que celle des souris après une blessure cutanée. Après avoir infiltré la peau, ces pDCs sont capables de détecter les acides nucléiques par l'expression des récepteurs de type Toll 7 et 9 ce qui les active à produire de 1' interféron (IFN) de type I. Ce processus est primordial pour la re- épithélisation des blessures cutanées. Cependant, les mécanismes conduisant à l'infiltration et à 1'activation des pDCs restent inconnus. Dans notre projet, nous montrons que la chimiokine CxcllO est responsable de l'infiltration des pDCs. De façon importante, nous démontrons que les neutrophiles qui infiltrent également la peau lésée sont la source majeure de cette chimiokine. La déplétion des neutrophiles abolit d'ailleurs le recrutement des pDCs confirmant ainsi que CxcllO produit par les neutrophiles est responsable de l'infiltration des pDCs dans la peau endommagée. De façon intéressante, nous avons trouvé que CxcllO en plus de son activité chimiotactique, est capable de former des complexes avec l'ADN et d'activer ainsi les pDCs à produire de l'IFN de type I. De plus, nous avons observé que les neutrophiles qui infiltrent la peau forment des Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETs). Ces NETs sont constitués de filaments extracellulaires d'ADN recouverts par de nombreuses protéines principalement d'origine granulaire. D'une manière frappante, le blocage de la NETose ou l'utilisation de souris déficientes pour la formation de NETs altère le recrutement et l'activation des pDCs ainsi que la réponse inflammatoire qui en découle ainsi que le processus de re-epithélisation qui s'ensuit. En prenant en compte toutes ces données, nos résultats démontrent que suite à une blessure de la peau, les neutrophiles par la production de CxcllO contrôlent l'infiltration des pDCs dans la peau lésée et par la formation de NETs, promeuvent l'activation des pDCs. Notre étude fournit donc de nouvelles informations sur les mécanismes de guérison de la peau et ouvre de nouvelles perspectives thérapeutiques quant à la réparation tissulaire de la peau soit dans le but de l'amplifier ou de l'inhiber. -- The mechanisms that regulate healing of the injured skin are not well understood. We have previously shown that plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) are normally absent from the healthy skin, but rapidly infiltrate both murine and human skin upon injury. Upon skin infiltration, pDCs sense nucleic acids via TLR7/TLR9 and are activated to produce type I interferon (IFN), a process that is crucial for re-epithelialisation of skin wounds. However, the mechanisms that drive pDCs recruitment and activation in injured skin remain unclear. We show that CxcllO is responsible for pDCs infiltration. Importantly, we demonstrate that skin infiltrating neutrophils are the major source of this chemokine. Neutrophils depletion completely abrogated pDCs recruitment confirming that CxcllO- driven pDCs recruitment is controlled by neutrophils. Interestingly, CxcllO was also found to form complexes with DNA and to activate pDCs to produce Type I IFN in addition to its chemotactic activity. Moreover, we observed that infiltrating neutrophils release Neutrophils Extracellular Traps (NETs) composed of DNA filaments decorated with neutrophils-derived proteins. Strikingly, blocking NETosis or using mice deficient for NETs production impaired pDCs recruitment and activation as well as the subsequent inflammatory response and the re-epithelialisation process. Altogether, these data demonstrate that upon skin injury, neutrophils control pDCs infiltration into the injured skin by the release of CxcllO and via the production of NETs, they allow complex formation between CxcllO and NET-DNA leading to pDCs activation. Our findings provide new insights into the mechanisms of wound healing and open new avenues for potential therapeutic interventions to boost or inhibit wound repair in the skin.

Atrial assist device, a new alternative to lifelong anticoagulation?

OBJECTIVE: Atrial fibrillation is a very common heart arrhythmia, associated with a five-fold increase in the risk of embolic strokes. Treatment strategies encompass palliative drugs or surgical procedures all of which can restore sinus rhythm. Unfortunately, atria often fail to recover their mechanical function and patients therefore require lifelong anticoagulation therapy. A motorless volume displacing device (Atripump) based on artificial muscle technology, positioned on the external surface of atrium could avoid the need of oral anticoagulation and its haemorrhagic complications. An animal study was conducted in order to assess the haemodynamic effects that such a pump could provide. METHODS: Atripump is a dome-shape siliconecoated nitinol actuator sewn on the external surface of the atrium. It is driven by a pacemaker-like control unit. Five non-anticoagulated sheep were selected for this experiment. The right atrium was surgically exposed, the device sutured and connected. Haemodynamic parameters and intracardiac ultrasound (ICUS) data were recorded in each animal and under three conditions; baseline; atrial fibrillation (AF); atripump assisted AF (aaAF). RESULTS: In two animals, after 20 min of AF, small thrombi appeared in the right atrial appendix and were washed out once the pump was turned on. Assistance also enhanced atrial ejection fraction. 31% baseline; 5% during AF; 20% under aaAF. Right atrial systolic surfaces (cm2) were; 5.2 +/- 0.3 baseline; 6.2 +/- 0.1 AF; 5.4 +/- 0.3 aaAF. CONCLUSION: This compact and reliable pump seems to restore the atrial "kick" and prevents embolic events. It could avoid long-term anticoagulation therapy and open new hopes in the care of end-stage heart failure.