Processing body markers

The cells are cultured and in vitro restimulated with antigen (here PT) for 12 h to mimic the encounter with the specific antigen in the body. Earlier studies have shown that an in vitro restimulation of mouse spleen lymphocytes with antigen for 4 and 24 h, can be used to study immune response as well as other cellular processes, such as apoptosis, inflammation, and so on (see Chapter 16). Our experiments, however, showed that immune response markers are expressed at later time-points as compared to mouse, and that 12 h of in vitro restimulation is the ideal time-point for the assessment of immune response genes (see Table 17.1) (see Note 1). 

Translocation of the phosphatidylserine from the inner to the outer leaflet of the plasma membrane is an initial event related to the apoptotic process and possibly serves as a signal for the removal of apoptotic bodies by phagocytic cells (Martin et al., 1995). The exposure of this phospholipid has been largely used as a specific apoptosis marker. 

The presented study of metabolites in plasma samples from patients and healthy controls indicates how changes in the concentration of individual metabolites can reflect processes that occur in the body. ALS and Hirayama disease are a significant problem for diagnosis. Therefore, the proposed selected metabolites could be useful as potential markers in diagnosis of these diseases. 

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