Search results for "immune system"
showing 10 items of 2885 documents
New biological aspects of Chromogranin A-derived peptides: Focus on vasostatins
2007
Chromogranin A (CgA), one component of the granin family, represents the major soluble protein co-stored and co-released with catecholamines, within chromaffin cells secretory granules. It is considered a diagnostic and prognostic marker of several diseases, including a variety of tumours and cardiac heart failure. It also represents a precursor of biologically active fragments, generated after proteolytic cleavage at the level of the multiple pairs of dibasic sites which enrich its sequence. CgA, and its derived fragments show an old evolutionary history being ubiquitously present throughout the animal word, from mammals to invertebrates. Their biological functions include control of hormo…
Eel immune response to Vibrio vulnificus infection. Host-pathogen relationship
2013
The European eel (Anguilla anguilla), has experienced a dangerous decline in recruitment, yield and stock over the last 30 years and this decline is likely to continue into the future. Several major threats are responsible for this situation, including overfishing of glass eels for consumption, new infections by introduced pathogens, dams and blocking of migration routes. The lack of knowledge concerning the biology of this species represents a handicap to the conservation and recovery of the population. Nevertheless,the eel farming industry is increasing, therefore it could be considered one of the major risks for wild eel stock perpetuation, which is threatened principally by the lack of …
Efficacy of oral reimmunisation after immersion vaccination against Vibrio vulnificus in farmed European eels
2004
Abstract Vulnivaccine, a licensed vaccine against Vibrio vulnificus , protects eels against vibriosis after vaccination by triple prolonged immersion at glass eel stage. Protection lasts for at least 6 months, but later, protection decreases, and eels can suffer stress-related vibriosis. The main objective of this work was to design an oral vaccine that can be used for reimmunisation at any developmental eel stage. With this aim, the efficacy of Vulnivaccine mixed with food as an oral booster was tested in an eel farm. The protection and the immune response (innate and acquired) in serum, mucus (from skin and intestine) and bile were evaluated in reimmunised and control animals (non-reimmun…
Analysis of the Immune Status in Latvian Chernobyl Clean-up Workers with Nononcological Thyroid Diseases
2001
The aim of the present work was to characterize the immune status of 385 individuals who participated in the 1986–90 clean-up work of the after effects of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant explosion. Fifty-nine Chernobyl clean-up workers developed the most common thyroid diseases; euthyroid nodular and diffuse goiter; 47 healthy blood donors were taken as controls. The levels of immunoglobulins (IgA, IgG and IgM), the numbers of peripheral blood leukocytes, lymphocytes, monocytes, T lymphocytes and their subpopulations (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+), B lymphocytes (CD19+), natural killer (NK) cells (CD16+), classical and alternative pathway activity of complement (CH50, APH50), the C3 split product C3d…
Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) Is a Modulator of Human Luteal Cell Steroidogenesis: Localization of the IL Type I System in the Corpus Luteum1
1999
The present investigation examined the effect of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) on progesterone production by human luteal cells and the expression and localization of the IL-1 system in the human corpus luteum (CL). Luteal cells were isolated from corpora lutea collected throughout the luteal phase. After dispersion, luteal cells were treated with a panel of monoclonal antibodies directed to leukocyte-specific molecules. The leukocytes were isolated with immunomagnetic beads. Leukocyte-free luteal cells exhibited greater steroidogenic responsiveness to hCG toward the end of the luteal phase. The treatment of mixed luteal cells (total luteal cells) with IL-1beta inhibited by 60% hCG-stimulate…
The Inflammatory Feed-Forward Loop Triggered by the Complement Component C3 as a Potential Target in Endometriosis
2021
Copyright © 2021 Agostinis, Zorzet, Balduit, Zito, Mangogna, Macor, Romano, Toffoli, Belmonte, Morello, Martorana, Borelli, Ricci, Kishore and Bulla. The complement system is a major component of humoral innate immunity, acting as a first line of defense against microbes via opsonization and lysis of pathogens. However, novel roles of the complement system in inflammatory and immunological processes, including in cancer, are emerging. Endometriosis (EM), a benign disease characterized by ectopic endometrial implants, shows certain unique features of cancer, such as the capacity to invade surrounding tissues, and in severe cases, metastatic properties. A defective immune surveillance against…
Retrieval of functional TCRs from single antigen-specific T cells: Toward individualized TCR-engineered therapies
2015
We have developed a highly versatile platform for the systematic retrieval of T-cell receptors (TCRs) from single-antigen-reactive T cells and for characterization of their function and specificity. This approach enables rapid extraction of multiple TCRs from repertoires in individuals and not only broadens the diversity of TCRs suitable for clinical use, but also sets the stage for actively personalized immunotherapeutic strategies.
Antibody injection in the egg yolk: maternal antibodies affect humoral immune response of the offspring
2010
Summary 1. In vertebrate species, maternal antibodies specific for the pathogens to which mothers have been exposed can be transmitted to offspring before birth. This is assumed to be adaptive as these antibodies can be essential in protecting offspring early in life before their own immune system is fully developed. However, fitness consequences in natural conditions and the long-term effects of these mechanisms have yet to be fully examined. 2. Exploring the ecological and evolutionary implications of such maternal effects requires experimental manipulations to avoid potential confounding maternal effects. In birds, maternal antibodies are transmitted via the egg yolk – a self contained e…
Molecular Determinants of the Response of Tumor Cells to Boswellic Acids
2011
Frankincense (Boswellia serrata, B. carterii) is used as traditional remedy to treat inflammatory diseases. The molecular effects of the active ingredients, the boswellic acids, on the immune system have previously been studied and verified in several clinical studies. Boswellic acids also inhibit cancer cell growth in vitro and in vivo. The molecular basis of the cytotoxicity of boswellic acids is, however, not fully understood as yet. By mRNA-based microarray, COMPARE, and hierarchical cluster analyses, we identified a panel of genes from diverse functional groups, which were significantly associated with sensitivity or resistance of a- or b-boswellic acids, such as transcription factors,…
Evaluation of presumptive biomarkers of oxidative stress, immune response and apoptosis in primary open-angle glaucoma.
2013
There is growing interest on the correlation among oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis and primary open-angle glaucoma initiation and progression. Reactive oxygen species are formed in the eyes following a wide variety of stressors, and are largely implicated in glaucoma pathogenesis. Immune-inflammatory response mediators have recently become a target of ophthalmologic concern, including glaucoma. Much attention has been derived to the role of specific pro and anti-apoptotic molecules in glaucoma. This article reviews the early evidence suggesting that reactive oxygen species, immune inflammatory response mediators, and apoptogenic molecules are engaged in glaucoma disease. Moreover,…