Ann-Sophie Franki

Cutting edge: the chemokine receptor CXCR3 retains invariant NK T cells in the thymus.

The current model used to define T cell export from the thymus suggests that emigrating lymphocytes seed the peripheral organs as functionally mature cells. This model holds true for the majority of T cells exported from the thymus with the exception of invariant NK T (iNKT) cells. iNKT cells undergo lineage expansion after positive selection and acquire NK receptor expression once fully mature; yet, the majority of mature iNKT cells are retained in the thymus by an as of yet unidentified mechanism. In this study we demonstrate that mature iNKT cells are retained in the thymus by the chemokine receptor CXCR3. We propose that the expression of CXCR3 ligands in the thymic medullary epithelium promotes the chemotactic retention of mature iNKT thymocytes and prevents leakage of iNKT cells into the peripheral circulation.

A vasorelaxing factor is released from mouse retinal tissue

The present study aimed to demonstrate the release of a retinal relaxing factor (RRF) from the retina of mice and to investigate the identity of the RRF. Ring segments of a mouse aorta were mounted in a small vessel myograph. The relaxing influence of mouse retinal tissue was assessed by placing a retina in close proximity to the precontracted aorta. This elicited reliable and reproducible relaxations in the aorta. Both the nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor Nω-nitro-L-arginine and the soluble guanylyl cyclase inhibitor 1H-(1,2,4)oxadiazolo(4,3-a)quinoxalin-1-one had no effect on the RRF response. Also the cyclooxygenase inhibitors indomethacin and sodium diclofenac failed to affect the retina-induced relaxations. Acute hypoxia largely enhanced retina-induced relaxations. It is concluded that mouse retinal tissue releases an RRF, that the mouse RRF response is not mediated by NO or prostanoids and that the mouse RRF response is profoundly influenced by hypoxia.

A case of anaphylaxis caused by macrogol 3350 after injection of a corticosteroid.

Conflicts of interest: The authors have declared no conflicts. Macrogols are polymers of ethylene glycol, and are widely used in food and food packaging, and also in cosmetics and pharmaceutical preparations as solvents, softening agents, and lubricants. There are different types of macrogols, according to their molecular weight (e.g. macrogol 400, 3350, 4000, and 6000). There have been reports of anaphylactic reactions to macrogol

In Memoriam, Keith Green, PhD, DSc, 1940–2001

Accessible online at: www.karger.com/journals/ore After passing away we are mourned by family and friends mainly because of our love, care and friendship for them. The scientific community commemorates us for our contributions to the research in which we have been involved and to which we have devoted a great deal of our lives as well as have given the best of our thoughts and expertise. Dr. Keith Green was one of those ‘real’ scientists who did not focus on a narrow field of research only, but had a broad overview, interest and expertise in the whole field of clinical and experimental eye research. His scientific career is summarized by one of his good scientific and personal friends, Dr. Ramesh Tripathy, and his obituary, placed next to this in memoriam, really emphasizes Dr. Green’s dedication to many fields of ophthalmological and eye research during his long scientific career. Since 1988 Dr. Keith Green served as a member of the Editorial Board of Ophthalmic Research. Both the late Dr. Otto Hockwin and myself remember him as one of the most trustful and distinguished reviewers of our journal. He was always prompt in his response even in times when health problems hindered him seriously and life must have been hard. His review reports were always critical but at the same time his comments were constructive and helpful. He was a real mentor for newcomers in the field, whom he advised with carefully phrased suggestions for improvement of their manuscripts and proposals for additional experiments. He specifically realized that, even though English is the dominant language of international science, those who do not master it as their native tongue are at a disadvantage. His careful linguistic supervision, annotations and corrections of grammar and typographical errors were of great help for many, many authors. The only thing which is left us to do now is to thank him sincerely for all his important contributions to ophthalmological research and to recognize him for having been such a dedicated reviewer for Ophthalmic Research. Requiescat in pacem. May he rest in peace.