Search results for "glycoproteins"

Biomimetic synthesis of the tumor-associated (2,3)-sialyl-T antigen and its incorporation into glycopeptide antigens from the mucins MUC1 and MUC4.

2004

Glycoproteins on epithelial tumor cells often exhibit aberrant glycosylation profiles. The incomplete formation of the glycan side chains resulting from a down-regulated glucosamine transfer and a premature sialylation results in additional peptide epitopes, which become accessible to the immune system in mucin-type glycoproteins. These cancer-specific structure alterations are considered to be a promising basis for selective immunological attack on tumor cells. Among the tumor-associated saccharide antigens, the (2,3)-sialyl-T antigen has been identified as the most abundant glycan, found in several different carcinoma cell lines. According to a linear biomimetic strategy, the (2,3)-sialyl…

Total Synthesis of the Glycopeptide Recognition Domain of the P-Selectin Glycoprotein Ligand 1

2008

Initial steps of wall protoplast regeneration in Candida albicans

1997

Summary Cell wall regeneration of individual Candida albicans yeast and mycelial protoplasts was studied with confocal and electron microscopy using polyclonal antibodies and leetins. Quantitative measurements of the fluorescence emitted by individual protoplasts during the process of regeneration indicate that chitin is the first polymer to be laid down, whereas β(1,3)- and β(1,6)glucan are incorporated at a later stage. Mannoproteins were found on the surface of fresh protoplasts and those newly synthesized were then deposited with time. During the first steps of wall regeneration, the proteins that interacted covalently with chitin or glucan were different, but the same species were foun…

Expression of the actin-bundling protein fascin in cultured human dendritic cells correlates with dendritic morphology and cell differentiation.

2000

Dendritic cells are key players of the immune system as they efficiently induce primary immune responses by activating naive T cells. We generated human dendritic cells from CD14+ blood precursors and investigated expression of the actin-bundling protein fascin during maturation by western blotting, immunofluorescence, and cytofluorometry. Cells obtained by culture of CD14+ blood precursors in the presence of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and interleukin-4, which were only weakly positive for the maturation marker CD83, expressed low amounts of fascin. Addition of a cytokine cocktail including tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-1beta, interleukin-6, and prostaglandi…

Coelomocytes and post-traumatic response in the common sea star Asterias rubens.

2008

Coelomocytes are recognized as the main cellular component of the echinoderm immune system. They are the first line of defense and their number and type can vary dramatically during infections or following injury. Sea stars have been used as a model system to study the regeneration process after autotomy or predation. In the present study we examined the cellular and biochemical responses of coelomocytes from the European sea star Asterias rubens to traumatic stress using immunochemical and biochemical approaches. In terms of trauma and post-traumatic stress period, here we consider the experimental arm amputation and the repair phase involved in the first 24 hours post-amputation, which mi…

Metazoan Circadian Rhythm: Toward an Understanding of a Light-Based Zeitgeber in Sponges

2013

In all eukaryotes, the 24-h periodicity in the environment contributed to the evolution of the molecular circadian clock. We studied some elements of a postulated circadian clock circuit in the lowest metazoans, the siliceous sponges. First, we identified in the demosponge Suberites domuncula the enzyme luciferase that generates photons. Then (most likely), the photons generated by luciferase are transmitted via the biosilica glass skeleton of the sponges and are finally harvested by cryptochrome in the same individual; hence, cryptochrome is acting as a photosensor. This information-transduction system, generation of light (luciferase), photon transmission (through the siliceous spicules),…

Desmosomes: interconnected calcium-dependent structures of remarkable stability with significant integral membrane protein turnover

2002

Desmosomes are prominent cell adhesion structures that are major stabilizing elements, together with the attached cytoskeletal intermediate filament network, of the cytokeratin type in epithelial tissues. To examine desmosome dynamics in tightly coupled cells and in situations of decreased adhesion, fluorescent desmosomal cadherin desmocollin 2a (Dsc2a) chimeras were stably expressed in human hepatocellular carcinoma-derived PLC cells (clone PDc-13) and in Madin-Darby canine kidney cells (clone MDc-2) for the continuous monitoring of desmosomes in living cells. The hybrid polypeptides integrated specifically and without disturbance into normal-appearing desmosomes that occurred in associati…

Insect venom immunotherapy induces interleukin-10 production and a Th2-to-Th1 shift, and changes surface marker expression in venom-allergic subjects.

1997

Abstract The current study was carried out to elucidate the immunoregulatory changes induced by venom immunotherapy (VIT) in bee or wasp allergic subjects. All subjects included in this study had a history of severe systemic allergic reactions to stings of the respective insect as well as positive skin tests with the respective venom or venom-specific IgE in the sera. Parameters assessed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) before and after initiation of VIT (rush therapy reaching a maintenance dose of 100 micrograms venom injected subcutaneously within 1 week) were expression of CD3, CD4, CD8, CD45RA, CD45RO, interleukin (IL)-2 receptor (R) alpha, IL-4R, IL-12R, Fc epsilon RII, CD4…

Blood Component Therapy and Coagulopathy in Trauma: A Systematic Review of the Literature from the Trauma Update Group

2016

Background Traumatic coagulopathy is thought to increase mortality and its treatment to reduce preventable deaths. However, there is still uncertainty in this field, and available literature results may have been overestimated. Methods We searched the MEDLINE database using the PubMed platform. We formulated four queries investigating the prognostic weight of traumatic coagulopathy defined according to conventional laboratory testing, and the effectiveness in reducing mortality of three different treatments aimed at contrasting coagulopathy (high fresh frozen plasma/packed red blood cells ratios, fibrinogen, and tranexamic acid administration). Randomized controlled trials were selected alo…

Immune Evasion Proteins Enhance Cytomegalovirus Latency in the Lungs

2009

ABSTRACT CD8 T cells control cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in bone marrow transplantation recipients and persist in latently infected lungs as effector memory cells for continuous sensing of reactivated viral gene expression. Here we have addressed the question of whether viral immunoevasins, glycoproteins that specifically interfere with antigen presentation to CD8 T cells, have an impact on viral latency in the murine model. The data show that deletion of immunoevasin genes in murine CMV accelerates the clearance of productive infection during hematopoietic reconstitution and leads to a reduced latent viral genome load, reduced latency-associated viral transcription, and a lower inciden…