Search results for "Acquired"

Exploring a regulatory role for mast cells: 'MCregs'?

2010

Regulatory cells can mould the fate of the immune response by direct suppression of specific subsets of effector cells, or by redirecting effectors against invading pathogens and infected or neoplastic cells. These functions have been classically, although not exclusively, ascribed to different subsets of T cells. Recently, mast cells have been shown to regulate physiological and pathological immune responses, and thus to act at the interface between innate and adaptive immunity assuming different functions and behaviors at discrete stages of the immune response. Here, we focus on these poorly defined, and sometimes apparently conflicting, functions of mast cells.

Complement and atherosclerosis—united to the point of no return?

2012

Atherosclerosis is widely regarded as a chronic inflammatory disease that develops as a consequence of entrapment of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in the arterial intima and its interaction with components of both innate and adaptive immunity. This article reviews the role of the complement system in the context of a different concept on atherogenesis. Arguments are forwarded in support of the contention that enzymatic and not oxidative modification of LDL is the prerequisite for transforming the lipoprotein into a moiety that is recognized by the innate immune system. In a departure from general wisdom, it is proposed that these processes are initially not pathological. To the con…

miR-155: On the Crosstalk Between Inflammation and Cancer

2009

MicroRNAs are short non-coding RNAs that posttranscriptionally modulate the expression of multiple target genes and are thus implicated in a wide array of cellular and developmental processes. miR-155 is processed from BIC, a non-coding transcript highly expressed in both activated B and T cells and in monocytes/macrophages. miR-155 levels change dynamically during both hematopoietic lineage differentiation and the course of the immune response. Different mouse models developed recently indicate that miR-155 plays a critical role during hematopoiesis and regulates lymphocyte homeostasis and tolerance. A moderate increase of miR-155 levels is observed in many types of malignancies of B cell …

Anti-inflammatory Therapies for Cardiovascular Disease: Signaling Pathways and Mechanisms

2019

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the clinical manifestation of atherosclerosis, a chronic inflammatory disease promoted by several risk factors such as dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and smoking. Acute CVD events are the result of an unresolved inflammatory chronic state that promotes the rupture of unstable plaque lesions. Of note, the existing intensive therapies modify risk factors but do not prevent life-threatening recurrent ischemic events in high-risk patients, who have a residual inflammatory risk displayed by increased C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. Better understanding of the role of innate and adaptive immunity in plaque development and rupture has led t…

Expression and function of micro-RNAs in immune cells during normal or disease state.

2008

Micro-RNAs (miRNAs) are 19-24 nucleotide long non-coding RNAs that posttranscriptionally modulate gene expression. They are found in almost all species: viruses, plants, nematodes, fly, fish, mouse, human, and are implicated in a wide array of cellular and developmental processes. Microarray-based miRNA profiling brought to the discovery of miRNAs specific to different hematopoietic lineages. Furthermore, the functional assays performed in tissue cultures to discover miRNAs involved in immune responses in combination with the reports of miRNA-transgenic or miRNA -knockout mouse models has helped elucidating the miRNA roles in the development and function of immune system. Abnormal patterns …

Changes in CD4+ cells’ miRNA expression following exposure to HIV-1

2010

Background: Micro RNAs (miRNAs) inhibit HIV-1 expression by either modulating host innate immunity or by directly interfering with viral mRNAs. Here, we investigated the miRNA profile that discriminates different classes of HIV-1-infected patients from multiple-exposed uninfected individuals. Methods: The expression levels of 377 miRNAs were selectively analysed in CD4+ cells isolated from whole blood of HIV-1 elite LTNP (eLTNP), naive, and multiply exposed uninfected individuals (MEUs). MiRNA extraction was performed by the mir Vana™ miRNA Isolation Kit (Ambion), and their expression was subsequently examined by real-time PCR-based arrays. The expression of miRNAs was also determined in pr…

Network of Cells and Mediators of Innate and Adaptive Cutaneous Immunity

2017

The skin is a major surface organ that translates external signals from the environment into local and systemic immune responses. As such, it is also strongly involved in fighting against cutaneous pathogens transmitted by arthropod vectors to the host. By harboring various skin-resident as well as highly motile immune cells and unique molecules, the skin orchestrates resulting immune responses against pathogens. Only an understanding of the complexity of skin immunity will lead to a better assessment of vector-induced alterations of resulting antipathogen immunity.

The Fundamentals of T‐cell Lymphocyte Biology

2021

Human GITR Ligand Is Expressed on Tumor Cells and Reduces Cytokine Production and Cellular Cytotoxicity of NK Cells Identified to Express GITR.

2005

Abstract Members of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) superfamily mediate multiple cellular functions including cellular proliferation, differentiation, and cell death. Human Glucocorticoid-induced TNF Receptor (GITR) has been shown to be expressed on T cells, is upregulated following activation and mediates costimulatory signals. The human GITR ligand (GITRL) has been reported to be expressed on antigen presenting cells and various healthy nonlymphoid tissues including small intestine, ovary, testis, kidney and endothelial cells. We analyzed multiple tumor cell lines of hematopoietic and epithelial origin as well as of germ cell lineage and various gliomas by RT-PCR and FACS analysis. Both G…

Microgravity-induced alterations in signal transduction in cells of the immune system

2010

Since decades it is known that the activity of cells of the immune system is severely dysregulated in microgravity, however, the underlying molecular aspects have not been elucidated yet. The identification of gravity-sensitive molecular mechanisms in cells of the immune system is an important and indispensable prerequisite for the development of counteractive measures to prevent or treat disturbed immune cell function of astronauts during long-term space missions. Moreover, their sensitivity to altered gravity renders immune cells an ideal model system to understand if and how gravity on Earth is required for normal mammalian cell function and signal transduction. We investigated the effec…