IKKβ in recipient myeloid cells promotes lung allograft acceptance and prevents the accumulation of intragraft IL-17+ CD4+ T cells (169.33)

Background Mechanisms linking acute solid organ injury to rejection are poorly understood. We previously reported maintenance of IKKβ activity in recipient myeloid cells protects lung grafts from acute injury. We now ask if recipient myeloid cell IKKβ activity regulates lung allograft survival. Methods Balb/c lungs were transplanted into B6 recipients carrying A) Myeloid-specific IKKβ deletion (IKKβΔMye) or B) floxed IKKβ alleles (IKKβfl/fl). Post-surgery, recipients were immunosuppressed (IS) with MR1/anti-CD40L and CTLA4-Ig. In a second cohort, IS-IKKβΔMye and IS-IKKβfl/fl recipients were also treated with control Ig, IL-23p19 or IL-17-specific Abs. Lung allografts were analyzed on POD7 for histopathology and accumulation of IFNγ+ and IL-17+ T cells by FACS analysis. Results Acute rejection occurred in IS-IKKβΔMye, but not IS-IKKβfl/fl recipients. Moreover, IS-IKKβΔMye recipients developed marked intragraft accumulation of IFNγ+CD4+, IFNγ+CD8+ and IL-17+CD4+ T cells. IS-IKKβΔMye recipients treated with IL-23p19 Abs accepted their lungs and had fewer intragraft IL-17+CD4+ T cells with little change in IFNγ+CD4+ and IFNγ+CD8+ T cell abundance. By contrast, IL-17 Ab treatment depleted intragraft IL17+CD4+ T cells, but led to expansion of intragraft Th1 cells and did not prevent rejection. Conclusions IKKβ-regulated signals in recipient myeloid cells couple acute lung graft injury to alloimmunity by preventing Th17-mediated rejection in a IL-23p19-dependent manner.

Segregation in social networks based on acquaintanceship and trust

Using 2006 General Social Survey data, the authors compare levels of segregation by race and along other dimensions of potential social cleavage in the contemporary United States. Americans are not as isolated as the most extreme recent estimates suggest. However, hopes that "bridging" social capital is more common in broader acquaintanceship networks than in core networks are not supported. Instead, the entire acquaintanceship network is perceived by Americans to be about as segregated as the much smaller network of close ties. People do not always know the religiosity, political ideology, family behaviors, or socioeconomic status of their acquaintances, but perceived social divisions on these dimensions are high, sometimes rivaling racial segregation in acquaintanceship networks. The major challenge to social integration today comes from the tendency of many Americans to isolate themselves from others who differ on race, political ideology, level of religiosity, and other salient aspects of social identity.

Scaling regression inputs by dividing by two standard deviations

Interpretation of regression coefficients is sensitive to the scale of the inputs. One method often used to place input variables on a common scale is to divide each numeric variable by its standard deviation. Here we propose dividing each numeric variable by two times its standard deviation, so that the generic comparison is with inputs equal to the mean +/-1 standard deviation. The resulting coefficients are then directly comparable for untransformed binary predictors. We have implemented the procedure as a function in R. We illustrate the method with two simple analyses that are typical of applied modeling: a linear regression of data from the National Election Study and a multilevel logistic regression of data on the prevalence of rodents in New York City apartments. We recommend our rescaling as a default option--an improvement upon the usual approach of including variables in whatever way they are coded in the data file--so that the magnitudes of coefficients can be directly compared as a matter of routine statistical practice.

Scaling regression inputs by dividing by two standard deviations

Interpretation of regression coefficients is sensitive to the scale of the inputs. One method often used to place input variables on a common scale is to divide each numeric variable by its standard deviation. Here we propose dividing each numeric variable by two times its standard deviation, so that the generic comparison is with inputs equal to the mean +/-1 standard deviation. The resulting coefficients are then directly comparable for untransformed binary predictors. We have implemented the procedure as a function in R. We illustrate the method with two simple analyses that are typical of applied modeling: a linear regression of data from the National Election Study and a multilevel logistic regression of data on the prevalence of rodents in New York City apartments. We recommend our rescaling as a default option--an improvement upon the usual approach of including variables in whatever way they are coded in the data file--so that the magnitudes of coefficients can be directly compared as a matter of routine statistical practice.

The New York City Puerto Rican asthma project: study design, methods, and baseline results

OBJECTIVE

We examined asthma risk factors among 274 Puerto Rican children born in New York to atopic mothers.

METHODS

We prospectively followed the cohort to measure aeroallergens in their homes and assess allergic sensitization. Baseline data are presented.

RESULTS

Maternal smoking was significantly higher among women born on the continental United States (25%) vs. those born elsewhere (11%). Cat ownership was more frequent among mainland-born women (15%) compared with those born in Puerto Rico (4%). While some aeroallergens were prevalent, few dust samples contained detectable dust mite allergens.

CONCLUSIONS

By following this cohort, we hope to identify the roles that socio-cultural factors play in the process of allergic sensitization.