3). In summary, results show that the primary infection by Pneumocystis may play a role in up-regulating airway mucus-related responses in non-immunosuppressed infants through induction of an hCLCA1-related

pathway. These type of responses may affect lung function, as shown in rodents, therefore suggesting that up-regulated airway epithelium innate responses may be clinically Z-VAD-FMK clinical trial relevant to infants and the general population in different clinical scenarios where Pneumocystis is common. Further research to elucidate hCLCA1-related pathways associated with Pneumocystis infection in humans, and to assess the potential impact of Pneumocystis asymptomatic infection in respiratory disease of the immunocompetent host, is warranted. Funding: This work was supported by Fondo Nacional de Desarrollo Científico y Tecnológico (FONDECYT) Chile (Grant 1100225 (SLV), Postdoctoral Fellow Grant 3140391 (DAR)) and by the Chilean Doctoral Scholarship Fund (FJP and PAI). Conflict of interest: The authors state that they do not have commercial or other association that might pose a conflict

of interest. FJP, CAP, and DAR share first authorship. Meetings: Presented in part at the XIII International Congress on Pediatric Pulmonology (CIPP XIII), June 26–29, 2014, Bruges, Belgium. Abstract number: 144. “
“Extracellular ATP exerts OSI-906 price a variety of biological actions by activating purinergic P2 receptors. Two types of P2 receptors, ligand-gated P2X ion channels and G protein-coupled P2Y receptors, have been identified [1] and [2]. The P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) is a member of the P2X subfamily, and its activation by ATP opens cation channels that are permeable to several cations such as K+, Na+, and Ca2+. Although ATP is considered to be a selective endogenous ligand of P2X7R, P2X7R has low affinity for ATP, and thus, high concentrations of ATP (in the mM range) are necessary to induce P2X7R-dependent cellular responses in vitro [3]. Since P2X7R is abundantly expressed in monocyte/macrophage-lineage

cells, its functions are implicated in the regulation of PRKD3 the innate immune system [4]. In particular, P2X7R plays a key role in the activation of the inflammasome and the subsequent production and release of the bioactive form of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), a potent inflammatory cytokine [5]. Functional expression of P2X7R has been detected in monocytes/macrophages obtained from various animal species including humans [6], rodents [3], dogs [7], and bovines [8], but so far it has not been detected in swine (Sus scrofa). A previous study showed the functional expression of P2X7R in swine ovarian theca cells [9]. In this study, to understand the role of P2X7R in the innate immune defense of swine, we aim to study the expression and function of P2X7R in swine macrophages, which were obtained from mixed primary cultures of swine kidney or liver tissues [10].