Search results for "Pertussis toxin"
showing 10 items of 26 documents
European Sero-Epidemiology Network 2: standardisation of immunoassay results for pertussis requires homogeneity in the antigenic preparations.
2008
A standardisation process, already developed during the earlier European Sero-Epidemiology Network (ESEN) project, was employed with a more robust algorithm to harmonise results of pertussis serological assays performed in 12 European and non-European countries. Initially, results from each country's own assay were compared with those obtained at the reference laboratory by means of an in-house pertussis toxin (PT)-based ELISA: seven countries used in-house or commercial PT-ELISAs; the other countries used assays based on Bordetella pertussis whole cell extracts (WCE) (three countries) or on combined PT-FHA (filamentous haemagglutinin) antigenic preparations (two countries). The WCE assays,…
Selective loss of pertussis toxin-sensitive G-proteins from the plasma membrane after antibody-induced internalization of T-cell surface molecules.
1991
Antibody-induced antigenic modulation occurs after binding of antibodies to a variety of cell surface proteins. It is characterized by aggregation and subsequent loss of the molecules from the cell surface, usually by internalization. In this study we have investigated the effect of modulation of the T-cell antigen receptor complex (TCR) and the transferrin receptor (TFR) on the distribution of cholera toxin (CTx)- and pertussis toxin (PTx)-sensitive GTP binding proteins in human T-lymphocytes. Modulation of both the TCR and the TFR induced a selective shift of PTx-sensitive G-proteins from the plasma membrane to a high density membrane fraction enriched for lysosomal membranes. The distrib…
Melatonin modulates diacylglycerol and arachidonic acid metabolism in the anterior pituitary of immature rats.
1990
In pituitary glands of immature rats prelabeled in vitro with [3H]arachidonic acid, melatonin diminished the luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH)-induced increase in [3H]diacylglycerol accumulation as well as [3H]arachidonic acid release from the tissue. Melatonin reduced also LHRH-stimulated incorporation of [3H]glycerol into pituitary [3H]diacylglycerol. The effect was day-time dependent: in the evening experiment melatonin was effective at 0.1 nM concentration while in the morning it had no effect even at 10 nM concentration. The effect of melatonin was also abolished by pretreatment with pertussis toxin. Diacylglycerol and/or arachidonic acid might serve as 2nd messengers transd…
CiC3-1a-Mediated Chemotaxis in the Deuterostome Invertebrate Ciona intestinalis (Urochordata)
2003
Abstract Deuterostome invertebrates possess complement genes, and in limited instances complement-mediated functions have been reported in these organisms. However, the organization of the complement pathway(s), as well as the functions exerted by the cloned gene products, are largely unknown. To address the issue of the presence of an inflammatory pathway in ascidians, we expressed in Escherichia coli the fragment of Ciona intestinalis C3-1 corresponding to mammalian complement C3a (rCiC3-1a) and assessed its chemotactic activity on C. intestinalis hemocytes. We found that the migration of C. intestinalis hemocytes toward rCiC3-1a was dose dependent, peaking at 500 nM, and was specific for…
Sphingosine-1-phosphate increases human alveolar epithelial IL-8 secretion, proliferation and neutrophil chemotaxis
2009
Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) has been presented recently as a pro-inflammatory agent in the airway epithelium since S1P levels are increased in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of human asthmatics. However, the effects of S1P over the alveolar epithelium and neutrophil interactions are poorly understood. Here, we show that S1P increased interleukin 8 (IL-8) gene expression and protein secretion and proliferation in alveolar epithelial cells A549 at physiological concentrations (1 microM). At the same time, S1P increased intracellular Ca2+ concentration (potency 17.91 microM, measured by epifluorescence microscopy), phospholipase D (PLD) activity (measured by chemiluminiscence method) and extra…
Seroepidemiology of Pertussis in Italy
1991
During 1988 and 1989 the prevalence of serum IgG antibodies to pertussis toxin in a sample of 3,875 unvaccinated, apparently healthy persons between the ages of 1 year to 19 years was estimated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The participants were recruited by means of systematic cluster sampling from public and private schools in five geographic areas of Italy. The overall prevalence of IgG antibodies was 80.8%, with a steady increase from 33.5% among 1- to 3-year-old children to 95% among 17- to 19-year-old individuals. The prevalence of natural immunity was 50% and 75% at the ages of 4 and 6 years, respectively. No gender-related difference in immunity was observed. For children gr…
Sulfhydryl G Proteins and Phospholipase A2-Associated G Proteins Are Involved in Adrenergic Signal Transduction in the Rat Pineal Gland
2001
The rat pineal gland with its circadian noradrenaline-regulated melatonin rhythm is an excellent model for studying adrenergic signal transduction with respect to cAMP and cGMP formation. The stimulatory G(s) proteins play a well-established role in this process. In contrast, the potential roles of the inhibitory G(i) proteins, the functionally unclear other G(o) proteins, and a number of G protein subtypes are not known. The present study examines the effects on beta(1)- and beta(1)-plus-alpha(1)-stimulated cAMP and cGMP formation of a number of G protein modulators in rat pinealocyte suspension cultures. The effects of the nitric oxide donor sodium nitroprusside on cGMP were also examined…
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PERTUSSIS SYMPTOMATOLOGY, INCIDENCE AND SEROLOGY IN ADOLESCENTS
2008
Adolescents have an unknown true incidence of pertussis and are important reservoirs of transmission. We evaluated the incidence of coughing illnesses, serologic evidence of recent infection and the relationship between symptomatology and serology in adolescents. A retrospective respiratory questionnaire and anti-pertussis toxin immunoglobulin G measurement was undertaken in a convenience sample of adolescents and was repeated one year later. The US Centers for Disease Control clinical case definition of pertussis was used. At least a third of coughing illnesses met the CDC clinical case definition. Symptoms correlated with serology. Pertussis was endemic with a high annual incidence of new…
Hemolytic uremic syndrome in an infant following Bordetella pertussis infection.
2006
Reported here is the case of a 6-week-old female infant with a severe Bordetella pertussis infection requiring supportive pressure-positive ventilation in the intensive care unit. After being discharged from the intensive care unit, she developed hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia and acute renal failure, which suggested a diagnosis of hemolytic uremic syndrome. The clinical outcome was favorable with no renal consequences. This case suggests there may be a direct cause-effect relationship between B. pertussis infection and hemolytic uremic syndrome.
Pro-inflammatory T helper 17 directly harms oligodendrocytes in neuroinflammation.
2021
Significance Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neuroinflammatory, demyelinating disease that represents one of the most frequent causes of irreversible disability in young adults. Treatment options to halt disability are limited. We discovered that T helper (Th)17 cells in contact with oligodendrocytes produce higher levels of glutamate and induce significantly greater oligodendrocyte damage than their Th2 counterpart. Blockade of CD29, which is linked to glutamate release pathways and expressed in high levels on Th17 cells, preserved human oligodendrocyte processes from Th17-mediated injury. Our data thus provide evidence for the direct and deleterious attack of Th17 cells on the myelin compart…