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Cell-surface Molecules (cell-surface + molecule)
Selected AbstractsPathways of murine mast cell development and trafficking: tracking the roots and routes of the mast cellIMMUNOLOGICAL REVIEWS, Issue 1 2007Jenny Hallgren Summary:, The appreciation of the role of the mast cell (MC) in inflammatory processes has expanded dramatically during the last decade. Many of these processes, especially more prolonged responses, are accompanied by an increase in the number of MCs, and much of this increase is likely because of recruitment of immature progenitors with subsequent maturation under the control of the tissue microenvironment. We have begun to identify many of the cell-surface molecules that control this influx and have traced the development of these cells back to their hematopoietic roots. This development proceeds along the myelomonocytic pathway with distinct intermediates having been identified in both bone marrow and spleen. The expression of ,4,7 integrins has played a prominent role in this process, as it helped identify a bipotent basophil MC precursor in the spleens of C57BL/6 mice. This integrin also controls basal influx into the intestine and, along with ,4,1 integrins, plays a critical role in recruitment to inflamed lungs. Investigation of chemokines and chemokine receptors in these processes led to the identification of a dual role for the murine interleukin-8 receptor CXCR2. This ,-chemokine receptor affects MC progenitor trafficking by its expression by MC progenitors and by its expression on stromal cells, likely endothelium, affecting trafficking to both intestine under basal conditions and lung during inflammatory recruitment. [source] CD40 and OX40 ligand are differentially regulated on asthmatic airway smooth muscleALLERGY, Issue 7 2009D. I. Krimmer Background:, CD40 and OX40 Ligand (OX40L) are cell-surface molecules expressed on airway smooth muscle (ASM) that can enhance inflammatory cell activation and survival. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-,) and interferon-gamma (IFN-,) on ASM CD40 and OX40L expression. Methods:, CD40 and OX40L expression on human ASM cells from asthmatic and nonasthmatic donors following stimulation with TNF-, and/or IFN-, was measured using cell-surface enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and flow cytometry. Involvement of signalling pathway was investigated with pharmacological inhibitors. Soluble TNF receptor levels were quantified by ELISA. Results:, Interferon-, and TNF-, synergistically increased CD40 expression to a greater extent on asthmatic than on nonasthmatic ASM. In contrast, IFN-, reduced TNF-,-induced OX40L expression to a similar extent in both cell types. TNF-, and IFN-, induced CD40 via nuclear factor-,B (NF-,B) and signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 in both cell types and modulated OX40L via NF-,B and c-Jun N terminal kinase in nonasthmatic cells. Similar effects on the induction of OX40L in asthmatic cells were seen with NF-,B, but these were not statistically significant. The reduced OX40L expression with TNF-, and IFN-, involved extracellular regulated kinase 1/2 activation. Conclusion:, Asthmatic ASM may modulate airway inflammation locally by increasing CD40 and OX40L expression in response to cytokines. IFN-, may regulate ASM pro-inflammatory actions by differentially modulating ASM CD40 and OX40L expression. [source] The expression pattern of MUC1 glycoforms and other biomarkers of endometrial receptivity in fertile and infertile women,MOLECULAR REPRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT, Issue 2 2005A.W. Horne Abstract Changes in the surface epithelium of the endometrium, characterized in part by alterations in cell-surface molecules, sex steroid receptors and the appearance of pinopodes, coincide with the window of endometrial receptivity in the menstrual cycle. This study was performed to evaluate the usefulness of hematoxylin and eosin staining, scanning and transmission microscopy, and MUC1 glycoform, sex steroid receptor, and interleukin receptor (type 1) expression as biomarkers of endometrial receptivity using carefully characterized clinical fertile and infertile groups of women. Using a combination of immunohistochemistry and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) called scanning immunoelectron microscopy (SIM), we confirmed that MUC1 mucin was not associated with the endometrial pinopodes, which have been linked with embryo adhesion. We also showed that failure of embryo implantation was associated with an abnormal endometrial expression of MUC1 mucin, and retention of nuclear progesterone receptor (PR) particularly in epithelial cells. Hematoxylin and eosin staining, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), SEM in isolation and immunohistochemistry for interleukin receptor were not shown to be useful markers. Progesterone-dependent regulation of MUC1 appears to be an important factor in determining endometrial receptivity. Mol. Reprod. Dev. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Structure of murine angiogenin: features of the substrate- and cell-binding regions and prospects for inhibitor-binding studiesACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION D, Issue 12 2005Daniel E. Holloway Angiogenin is an unusual member of the pancreatic ribonuclease superfamily that induces blood-vessel formation and is a promising anticancer target. The three-dimensional structure of murine angiogenin (mAng) has been determined by X-ray crystallography. Two structures are presented: one is a complex with sulfate ions (1.5,Å resolution) and the other a complex with phosphate ions (1.6,Å resolution). Residues forming the putative B1, P1 and B2 subsites occupy positions similar to their hAng counterparts and are likely to play similar roles. The anions occupy the P1 subsite, sulfate binding conventionally and phosphate adopting two orientations, one of which is novel. The B1 subsite is obstructed by Glu116 and Phe119, with the latter assuming a less invasive position than its hAng counterpart. Hydrophobic interactions between the C-terminal segment and the main body of the protein are more extensive than in hAng and may underly the lower enzymatic activity of the murine protein. Elsewhere, the structure of the H3,B2 loop supports the view that hAng Asn61 interacts directly with cell-surface molecules and does not merely stabilize adjacent regions of the hAng structure. mAng crystals appear to offer small-molecule inhibitors a clear route to the active site and may even withstand a reorientation of the C-terminal segment that provides access to the cryptic B1 subsite. These features represent considerable advantages over crystalline hAng and bAng. [source] | ||||||||||