It was

It was CT99021 mouse even believed that elimination of rejecting antibodies and cells was the final answer to rejection and beyond this was tolerance. However, chronic rejection could never be arrested by any of these approaches. Tolerance induction met with limited success when Scandling et al. infused donor HSC in 12 patients who received HLA-matched renal allografts under

a non-myeloablative conditioning.[22] These patients received a conditioning regimen of 10 doses of TLI (80 to 120 cGy) targeted to the lymph nodes, spleen, and thymus, and five doses of rabbit antithymocyte globulin during the first 10 days after kidney transplantation. Donor CD34+ selected cells (5 × 106 to 16 × 106 per kilogram of body weight) and a defined dose of T cells (1 × 106 to 10 × 106 per kilogram) were injected intravenously on day 11 in the outpatient infusion centre. All patients received mycophenolate mofetil (2 g per day after cell infusion) for 1 month and cyclosporine

starting at day 0 for at least 6 months. Cyclosporine was discontinued 6 to 17 months after transplantation as long as chimerism persisted for at least 6 months according to short-tandem-repeat analysis of DNA from blood granulocytes and lymphocytes and there was no evidence of graft-versus-host disease, clinical rejection, or rejection on microscopic assessment of surveillance biopsy specimens at the time of withdrawal. They mention that they succeeded in 8 out of 12 patients and had mean follow-up of 25 months. However, they have observed recurrence of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) in a patient. This conditioning FK506 mouse can prove lethal to

patients especially in the environment of developing countries, where chances of infection are higher. Secondly, immune markers of tolerance have not been mentioned clearly and also regular monitoring is not mentioned. The important feature other than these is that recipient-donor HLA matching is mandatory, which Aurora Kinase may not be clinically feasible all the time. In another study by Leventhal and Ildstadt et al. they tried inducing tolerance in eight kidney transplant recipients by using HSC under a conditioning protocol. Salient features of this study are that patients received HLA-*mismatched kidneys and tolerogenic graft facilitating cells (FC) with HSC under conditioning with fludarabine, 200-centigray total body irradiation, and cyclophosphamide followed by post-transplant immunosuppression with tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil.[23] The absolute neutrophil counts reached a nadir about 1 week after transplant, with recovery by 2 weeks. Multilineage chimerism at 1 month ranged from 6 to 100% in their patients. The conditioning was well tolerated, with outpatient management after postoperative day 2. Two subjects exhibited transient chimerism and were maintained on low-dose tacrolimus monotherapy.

A suitable disinfection procedure for ‘fungal reservoirs’ is very

A suitable disinfection procedure for ‘fungal reservoirs’ is very important in

order to reduce the risk of reinfection of tinea pedum. This study investigates the effect of microwave radiation on various dermatophytes- (Trichophyton rubrum, T. rubrum var. nigricans, T. interdigitale and Microsporum canis infected cork and polyethylene sponge shoe insoles. The contaminated insoles were irradiated with various intensities and durations of microwaves. In each case, 10 colonies on cork and polyethylene sponge insoles were irradiated with https://www.selleckchem.com/products/Trichostatin-A.html the same intensity and duration, and subsequently compared with those of corresponding non-irradiated control groups. Results of three independent experiments were statistically verified using Chi-squared test for significance. We found significant differences between the various dermatophytes on polyethylene sponge insoles and also partly on cork insoles for the same irradiation intensity and duration. We were also able to show that a complete growth inhibition of all four dermatophytes occurs on both types of insoles after a 30 s exposure

at 560 W, including a maximum temperature of 60 °C. “
“Invasive aspergillosis (IA) seems to be an emerging condition in intensive care units (ICUs). However, little attention has been Sorafenib datasheet given to the role of environmental factors that could increase the risk for IA in the ICU. The objective of this study was to determine the concentration of airborne fungi in three SSR128129E Brazilian ICUs, in an attempt to correlate fungal burden with the frequency of Aspergillus spp isolation from clinical samples of patients hospitalised in these units. During a 1-year period we quantitatively evaluated the presence of fungi in the air of three ICUs in Porto Alegre, Brazil. The quantity of fungi was correlated with environmental factors. Only one of the ICUs studied showed equal concentrations of Aspergillus conidia in the indoor air, in comparison with the outdoor environment. All cases of Aspergillus colonisation and IA cases observed during the study occurred in that particular

ICU. Environmental factors have a direct influence on fungal spore concentration in the air in ICUs, as well as air filtration systems in air conditioners. Fungal contamination of the indoor air may influence the frequency of AI in ICU patients. “
“We present a case of hepatic mucormycosis in a 9-year-old boy with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Despite long-term use of combined liposomal amphotericin B and posaconazole therapy, the lesion persisted and could only be treated by surgical excision. After surgery, antifungal treatment was continued with posaconazole. On follow-up, the patient had two episodes of ascending cholangitis which were responsive to intravenous antibiotics. He is doing well at the moment in remission for 2.5 years.

Nonetheless, there is still no consensus about which type of thes

Nonetheless, there is still no consensus about which type of these flaps should be preferred among various finger pulp reconstructive options. In this article, we attempt to review articles describing finger pulp reconstruction using free flaps from the upper extremity from the literature. We summarize the clinical applications of these free flaps and detail their advantages and drawbacks, respectively. The algorithm of flap selection for finger pulp reconstruction based on our experience and literature review is also discussed. ©

2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microsurgery, 2012. “
“Limb salvage in fungal osteomyelitis of the post-traumatic lower extremity represents a difficult clinical problem requiring Doxorubicin manufacturer aggressive management. We report lower extremity salvage by radical bony debridement, free tissue transfer, distraction osteogenesis with bone-docking, and a novel antifungal regimen

in a clinical setting of infection with Scedosporium inflatum, historically requiring amputation in 100% of cases. We treated Scedosporium inflatum osteomyelitis of the tibia and calcaneus with radical debridement of infected bone, free partial medial rectus abdominis muscle flap coverage, transport distraction osteogenesis, and combination voriconazole/terbinafine chemotherapy, a novel antifungal regimen. We achieved successful control of the infection, limb salvage, and an excellent functional outcome through aggressive debridement Selleck Pirfenidone of infected bone and soft tissue, elimination of dead space within the bony defect, the robust perfusion provided by the free flap, the hypervascular state induced by distraction osteogenesis, and the synergism of the novel antifungal regimen. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microsurgery, 2012. “
“Free tissue transfers performed in patients with hematological diseases represent significant challenges for micro-surgeons. There are rare literatures that address the outcome in these patients.

Therefore, we collected our database, analyzed the outcome, reliability, and related-management new of microsurgical technique in the patients with hematological diseases. A retrospective chart review of 20 patients with hematological disorders who received free tissue transfers during 20-years period in a single microsurgical center was done. Eleven patients who received head and neck reconstruction were found to have hyperfibrinogenemia. Seven patients with reactive thrombocytosis after trauma, and two patients with leukemia had soft tissue defects in the upper and lower extremities. Twenty-six flaps were used for free tissue transfers. Intra-operatively all patients received intravenous 5,000 Ud of heparin post immediate reperfusion. Anti-coagulant medication such as Dextran-40 or prostaglandin-E1 (PGE1) was given postoperatively. Twenty-three of the 26 free flaps survived without vascular compromise.

Boehringer Ingelheim had no

role in study design and anal

Boehringer Ingelheim had no

role in study design and analysis. SHORT AND LONG TERM BIOLOGICAL VARIATION OF HIGH SENSITIVITY TROPONIN T (HS-TNT) AND N-TERMINAL B-TYPE NATRIURETIC PEPTIDE (NT-PROBNP) IN THE STABLE DIALYSIS POPULATION M Fahim, A Hayen, A Coburn, G Dimeski, D Johnson, J Craig, A Rita Horvath, S Campbell, C Hawley MF received unrestricted Everolimus in vitro research support from Roche Diagnostics and Fresenius Medical Care THE DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH OF CKD.QLD: A FOUR YEAR JOURNEY S Krishna Venuthurupalli, A Salisbury, W E Hoy, H G Healy, R G Fassett, A Salisbury SV is completing his PhD via CKD.QLD which is supported by Amgen, NHMRC Australia (Australian Fellowship: Hoy), the Colonial Foundation of Australia, Queensland Health (in kind) and Roche. URINARY CLUSTERIN EPZ015666 in vitro PREDICTS GRAFT RECOVERY WITHIN FOUR HOURS OF KIDNEY TRANSPLANTATION T Pianta, P Peake, N Buckley, M Kelleher, J Pickering, Z Endre TP acknowledges

the financial support of the Jacquot Research Entry Scholarship and a University of New South Wales Australian Postgraduate Award. ZE has received research and travel support from Alere and Abbott. “
“Rapid diagnosis and initiation of the treatment on congenital obstructive nephropathy are important for young children to slow down renal injury. The aim of our study was to investigate the role of urinary extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer (Emmprin), matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1) in the long-term from follow-up of children with ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) narrowing on conservative treatment. The study included 40 children with non-obstructed hydronephrosis

due to unilateral UPJ narrowing who were treated conservatively and followed up for 24 months. Voided urine samples were collected at diagnosis and at 3, 9, 15 and 24 months of follow-up, respectively. Three enzymes concentrations were measured in urine. During the follow-up, 25 children showed renal function stabilization (non-obstructed group) and 15 children renal function deterioration (obstructed group). In non-obstructed group, a comparison between urine 3 enzymes levels at the last follow-up and at baseline showed no significant differences (all P>0.05). Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and split renal function (SRF) showed the similar trends. In obstructed group, a comparison between the 3 enzymes levels at diagnosis and at basal condition showed a significant increase (all P<0.01). But GFR and SRF showed a marked reduction at diagnosis (all P<0.001). Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) analyses revealed a better diagnostic profile for uEmmprin, uMMP-9 and uTIMP-1 in identifying children with abnormal SRF (<40%) at 24 months of follow-up [Area under the curve (AUC) 0.877, 0.727 and 0.

The longer the animal survived, the more

The longer the animal survived, the more learn more biofilm can be found within the ETT internal surface. Furthermore, during ineffective antimicrobial therapy, the severity of infection increases, more mucus is produced and, consequently, more biofilm accumulates within the tube. Indeed, in the control group, animals survived less in comparison with animals treated with linezolid (Table 1). However, in the latter group, linezolid achieved better rate of bacterial killing limiting bacterial biofilm development. In contrast, as a result

of the worse penetrability of vancomycin vs. linezolid into the respiratory secretions, pulmonary tissue, or biofilm (Cruciani et al., 1996; Jefferson et al., 2005), higher clumps of bacterial biofilm were found within the vancomycin group (Table 2). Vancomycin group had also the highest mean of total area analyzed as images depended on the amount of information available in each sample (Table 2). Furthermore, sublethal doses of vancomycin have recently been associated with increased biofilm production by Staphylococcus aureus, because of autolysis and eDNA release (Fig. 4; Hsu et al., 2011). Previous results of this animal model are consistent with our CLSM findings and confirm greater antimicrobial IWR-1 purchase efficacy of linezolid likely due to its pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) profile (Martinez-Olondris

et al., 2012). As clearly emphasized by experts on this field, in vivo biofilm models are necessary to better understand the implications of biofilms in human infections (Hall-Stoodley & Stoodley, 2009). As described by our findings, the use of CLSM in vivo provides essential information on the three-dimensional biofilm structure within the ETT internal lumen and potentially the intensity of the immune response. Of note, we observed biofilm clusters adherent and detached to the ETT surface (Figs 3-7). Other authors have previously described non-adherent bacterial aggregates (Lam et al., 1980; Singh et al., 2000; Worlitzsch et al.,

2002; Fux et al., 2004). Indeed, several studies Vasopressin Receptor clearly described biofilm growing inside mucus in patients with cystic fibrosis (Yang et al., 2008; Hassett et al., 2010). Furthermore, the presence of mucus could enhance production of biofilm not necessarily attached to ETT surface (Landry et al., 2006). Thus, although further corroboration is needed, our findings imply greater risks for bacterial translocation into the airways. Additionally, considering that biofilm could develop associated with but not directly adherent to the ETT surface, the efficacy of ETT coated with antimicrobial agents could be reduced. A few potential limitations of this study deserve further clarification. First, although we analyzed a considerable number of images, we only analyzed a small number of ETT samples. Yet, results obtained are consistent with previous findings on this animal model.

32 and Jain et

32 and Jain et selleck products al. 33, who showed that inactivation of Myc overexpression in Myc-transgenic mice for short periods of

time allowed further cellular differentiation of previously malignant T cells, acute myeloid leukemia cells, and osteogenic sarcoma tumors, thereby inducing a loss of transformation of these cells. Hence, upon reactivation of Myc overexpression, the differentiated, previously transformed cells were resistant to further malignant proliferation and survival. Since Myc is known to be involved in the generation of mouse plasmacytomas 34 and other mature neoplasms of mice 35 and humans (such as Burkitt’s Lymphoma), it should be able to contribute to the transformation of at least some of the compartments of mature B cells. Our findings that Myc together with Pim1 does not induce long-term proliferation of mature B cells ex vivo or in vivo suggests that different combinations of proto-oncogenes might be active in B-lineage cells at different stages of their development. If the cell cycle promoting activity of Myc also functions in mature B cells, then the inhibition of apoptosis Napabucasin chemical structure supplied by another cooperating oncogene with activity in mature B cells

may be required for transformation to uncontrolled proliferation. Interesting partner candidates for Myc in mature B-cell stages are Bcl2 36, as well as BclXL 37 and Bcl6. The latter two together have recently been shown to induce proliferation of human Ribonucleotide reductase germinal center B cells ex vivo in the presence of CD40 signaling and interleukin

IL21 38. Our Pim1- and Myc-transduced inducible cell lines should be useful tools to search for additional genes with cooperating functions in the transformation of normal pre-B cells, and they also enable to screen for cooperating oncogenes active on their ways to fully malignant stages in mature B cells, memory cells and plasma cells. For the retroviral vector expressing the reverse transactivator rtTA-M2, the plasmid pSuperRetroPuro (OligoEngine, Seattle WA, USA) was cut with XhoI and ClaI (all from New England Biolabs, Ipswich MA, USA) to remove all unnecessary elements, and a linker element containing an MCS was inserted instead (=pSR-L). The phosphoglycerate kinase promoter (pgk, from pSuperRetroPuro), the rtTA gene preceded by the Kozak sequence CACC(ATG), an IRES sequence taken from pIRES (Clontech, Mountain View CA, USA), and the HistidinolR gene (from the pSV2-HIS vector) were inserted at different restriction sites in the linker (Supporting Information Fig. 1B). For the doxycycline-inducible expression vectors driving expression of Pim1, Myc, and EGFP, the puromycin resistance gene (pSuperRetroPuro) or the hygromycin resistance gene (pLHCX, Clontech) under the control of the pgk promoter were cloned into the vector pSR-L.

Direct allorecognition

Direct allorecognition

U0126 clinical trial is a vigorous reaction due to the high precursor frequency of alloreactive T cells; in this regard it is generally accepted that deletion of a substantial proportion of direct pathway alloreactive T cells will be required to ‘tip the balance’ from reactivity to regulation [12, 13]. In addition, in order to suppress the surviving alloreactive T cells by regulation one would need sufficient numbers of Tregs in the right place, at the right time, in an environment that favours regulation. Therefore, the specificity of the Tregs chosen for cellular therapy may play an important role (discussed in later sections). The main focus of this review is the clinical

application of Tregs in the setting of transplantation and the journey from bench to bedside. We will discuss the challenges that we still face in the laboratory from the isolation to the ex-vivo expansion of these cells for immunotherapy and outline the questions that still remain with regard to the clinical protocols. Moreover, human Tregs are currently less well-characterized AZD2014 solubility dmso and understood compared to mouse Tregs; we will, therefore, review briefly their biology before discussion of their clinical application. Aside from the expression of CD25 [14] and FoxP3 (outlined above), human Tregs also express Leukocyte receptor tyrosine kinase CD27 [15], CD45RA [16], CD39 [17], CD122, cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4 or CD152) and the glucocorticoid-induced tumour necrosis factor receptor (GITR) family-related gene [18, 19]. However, most of these cell surface markers are not exclusive to Tregs, with some of these markers also expressed by non-regulatory CD4+ T cells, posing a challenge during the isolation process. As an example, data support the key role of FoxP3 in the development, maintenance and function of Tregs with supporting evidence that point mutations in the FoxP3 gene leads to a functional Treg deficit that is evident in patients with IPEX (immune dysregulation,

polyendocrinopathy, enteropathy, X-linked syndrome) [20]. Despite this, FoxP3 is not a sufficient marker for the isolation of Tregs, as many activated effector T cells also express FoxP3 without having a regulatory phenotype [21]. Moreover, being an intracellular protein, this marker cannot be used to isolate Tregs. What complicates the story even further is that human Tregs are heterogeneous. In contrast with mice, the combination of the marker CD45RA and the level of expression of FoxP3 delineates the human Treg compartment into naive or resting Tregs (CD45RA+FoxP3low), effector Tregs (CD45RA–FoxP3high), both of which are suppressive in vitro, and the non-suppressive, cytokine secreting non-Tregs (CD45RA–FoxP3low) [22, 23].

In this case–control

study, we present novel data from a

In this case–control

study, we present novel data from a large group of CF patients with bacterial sinus colonizations treated with EIGSS combined with an intensive peri- and postoperative treatment regimen intending to eradicate the bacteria and prevent recolonization. We found significantly lower levels of IgA and IgG BPI-ANCA after surgery both compared with the individual values before surgery and compared with CF patients selleck inhibitor without EIGSS and LTX. We also confirmed the previous finding [5] of decreased IgA and IgG BPI-ANCA levels following double LTX. The decrease in the level of BPI-ANCA following LTX was more pronounced than after EIGSS. This could be ascribed to the immunosuppressive treatment given to

buy BIBW2992 the LTX patients as well as the lungs being larger organs with more infected tissue than the sinuses. Our results strongly suggest that the surgical procedure of EIGSS and LTX with removal of the chronically infected tissue results in decreased BPI-ANCA levels. Our findings of unchanged antibody levels in the EIGSS group indicate that the BPI-ANCA decrease is not caused by a general decrease in immune response. As the CF treatment protocol basically has been unchanged throughout the period of observation, the pre- and postoperative treatment is not expected to influence the results [15]. However, the intensive postoperative local antibiotic treatment regimen in the EIGSS group is presumed to play a role in preventing

recolonization. There is limited knowledge regarding the mechanisms that determine the levels of BPI-ANCA in patients with CF. As BPI-ANCA is strongly correlated with colonization by P. aeruginosa and lung damage in patients with CF [5, 8], and as BPI-ANCA may be produced due to costimulation of the immune system with a complex of BPI and P. aeruginosa surface antigens, this could explain our findings and supports the theory that BPI-ANCA may be a useful surrogate marker of the Gram-negative bacterial load in patients with CF. Our findings in the 14 patients cultured from the sinuses during and Benzatropine after EIGSS, showing that the sinus bacterial load in the majority of cases was eradicated or reduced postoperatively, further support this theory. Apart from reducing/eliminating the bacterial load in the nose and sinuses, it is also possible that our observation, that EIGSS can reduce the frequencies of not only upper but also lower airway cultures positive for Gram-negative bacteria in intermittently colonized patients [16], will contribute to decreasing BPI-ANCA due to the reduction in the bacterial load in the lungs, because intermittent colonization also stimulates an inflammatory response in patients with CF [17, 18].


“Axin, a negative regulator of the Wnt signaling pathway,


“Axin, a negative regulator of the Wnt signaling pathway, plays a critical role in various cellular events including cell proliferation and cell death. Axin-regulated cell death affects multiple processes, including viral replication. For example, axin expression suppresses herpes simplex virus (HSV)-induced necrotic cell death and enhances viral replication. Based on these observations, this study investigated the involvement of autophagy in LY294002 regulation of HSV replication and found axin expression inhibits autophagy-mediated suppression of viral replication in L929 cells. HSV infection induced autophagy

in a time- and viral dose-dependent manner in control L929 cells (L-EV), whereas virus-induced autophagy was delayed in axin-expressing L929 cells (L-axin). Subsequent analysis showed that induction of autophagy by rapamycin reduced HSV replication, and that inhibiting autophagy by 3-methyladenine (3MA) and beclin-1 knockdown facilitated

viral replication in L-EV cells. In addition, preventing autophagy with 3MA suppressed virus-induced cytotoxicity see more in L-EV cells. In contrast, HSV replication in L-axin cells was resistant to changes in autophagy. These results suggest that axin expression may render L929 cells resistant to HSV-infection induced autophagy, leading to enhanced viral replication. “
“NK cells are rapid IFN-γ responders to Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes (PfRBC) in vitro and are involved in controlling early parasitaemia in murine models, yet little is known about their contribution to immune responses following malaria infection in humans. Here, we studied the dynamics of and requirements for in vitro NK responses to PfRBC in malaria-naïve volunteers undergoing a single experimental malaria infection under highly

controlled circumstances, and in naturally exposed individuals. NK-specific IFN-γ responses to PfRBC following exposure resembled an immunological recall pattern and were tightly correlated with T-cell responses. However, although very PBMC depleted of CD56+ cells retained 20–55% of their total IFN-γ response to PfRBC, depletion of CD3+ cells completely abrogated the ability of remaining PBMC, including NK cells, to produce IFN-γ. Although NK responses to PfRBC were partially dependent on endogenous IL-2 signaling and could be augmented by exogenous IL-2 in whole PBMC populations, this factor alone was insufficient to rescue NK responses in the absence of T cells. Thus, NK cells make a significant contribution to total IFN-γ production in response to PfRBC as a consequence of their dependency on (memory) T-cell help, with likely positive implications for malaria vaccine development. NK cells are lymphocytes belonging to the innate immune system whose hallmark is their potent activity against altered self-cells, such as tumor cells and virus-infected cells 1, but are also capable of responding against extracellular protozoan pathogens 2, 3, including Plasmodia.

TPH1 is present mainly in peripheral organs such as the intestine

TPH1 is present mainly in peripheral organs such as the intestine and spleen, while TPH2 predominates in the brain stem [19,20]. Thus 5-HT seems to be synthesized independently in peripheral tissues and neurones by two different rate-limiting

TPH isoenzymes. The synthesis of 5-HT by EC cells begins by conversion of dietary tryptophan to 5-hyroxytryptophan (5-HTP) by the rate-limiting TPH1. 5-HTP is then converted to 5-HT by the enzyme l-amino acid decarboxylase. Newly produced 5-HT is packaged into granules/vesicles by the vesicular monoamine transporter 1. 5-HT is released mainly from the granules stored near the basal border of the EC cell, but studies have also identified granules near the apical membrane where release may also take place [21]. Once released, 5-HT is transported into surrounding epithelial cells by the serotonin reuptake transporter (SERT) FK506 supplier and degraded to 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid by monoamine oxidase A. 5-HT is released from EC cells into the blood, into the surrounding tissue and into the gut

lumen and participates in various gut functions [22]. Secretion of 5-HT by EC cells can be enhanced or attenuated by the action of signalling molecules released from surrounding cells, and alteration of 5-HT release may contribute to intestinal pathophysiology. Our recent work has shown an important immunoendocrine axis in the gut, where secretory products from CD4+ T cells interact with EC cells or their precursors CP-690550 mouse to enhance 5-HT production in the gut via T helper type (Th2)-based mechanisms [23]. Recently we have observed that EC cell and 5-HT responses to the same enteric infectious agent are influenced by Th1 or Th2 cytokine predominance, suggesting the importance of the immunological profile of the inflammatory response in the regulation of EC cell biology [24]. The role of the host’s immune response underlying changes in EC cells and 5-HT has also been demonstrated Nintedanib (BIBF 1120) in a number of GI infection-induced

gut inflammations, which include infections with Salmonella typhimurium, rotavirus, Citrobacter rodentium, Trichuris muris, Nippostrongylus brasiliensis and Trichinella spiralis[10–12,23–26]. Thus the close proximity between EC cells and immune cells in the gut mucosa, and the recent knowledge showing that cytokines from immune cells can activate EC cell secretion, suggest that interaction between gut endocrine and immune systems may be responsible for aspects of pathophysiology in GI inflammation. 5-HT exerts a confounding range of effects in the gut, due largely to the presence of multiple receptor subtypes which are present on smooth muscle, enteric neurones and enterocytes [27,28]. Seven types of 5-HT receptors are now identified and among these, 5-HT3 and 5-HT4 receptors are shown to play important roles in GI physiology, including motor and secretory function.