The therapeutic age of the neonatal Fc receptor.

IgGs are essential soluble components of the adaptive immune response that evolved to protect the body from infection. Compared with other immunoglobulins, the role of IgGs is distinguished and enhanced by their high circulating levels, long half-life and ability to transfer from mother to offspring, properties that are conferred by interactions with neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn). FcRn binds to the Fc portion of IgGs in a pH-dependent manner and protects them from intracellular degradation.

Structural analysis of human CEACAM1 oligomerization.

The human (h) CEACAM1 GFCC' face serves as a binding site for homophilic and heterophilic interactions with various microbial and host ligands. hCEACAM1 has also been observed to form oligomers and micro-clusters on the cell surface which are thought to regulate hCEACAM1-mediated signaling. However, the structural basis for hCEACAM1 higher-order oligomerization is currently unknown.

Structural basis of the dynamic human CEACAM1 monomer-dimer equilibrium.

Human (h) carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 1 (CEACAM1) function depends upon IgV-mediated homodimerization or heterodimerization with host ligands, including hCEACAM5, hTIM-3, PD-1, and a variety of microbial pathogens. However, there is little structural information available on how hCEACAM1 transitions between monomeric and dimeric states which in the latter case is critical for initiating hCEACAM1 activities. We therefore mutated residues within the hCEACAM1 IgV GFCC' face including V39, I91, N97, and E99 and examined hCEACAM1 IgV monomer-homodimer exchange using differential scanning fluorimetry, multi-angle light scattering, X-ray crystallography and/or nuclear magnetic resonance.

FcRn is a CD32a coreceptor that determines susceptibility to IgG immune complex-driven autoimmunity.

IgG immune complexes (ICs) promote autoimmunity through binding fragment crystallizable (Fc) γ-receptors (FcγRs). Of these, the highly prevalent FcγRIIa (CD32a) histidine (H)-131 variant (CD32aH) is strongly linked to human autoimmune diseases through unclear mechanisms. We show that, relative to the CD32a arginine (R)-131 (CD32aR) variant, CD32aH more avidly bound human (h) IgG1 IC and formed a ternary complex with the neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) under acidic conditions.

CEACAM1 structure and function in immunity and its therapeutic implications.

The type I membrane protein receptor carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 1 (CEACAM1) distinctively exhibits significant alternative splicing that allows for tunable functions upon homophilic binding. CEACAM1 is highly expressed in the tumor environment and is strictly regulated on lymphocytes such that its expression is restricted to activated cells where it is now recognized to function in tolerance pathways. CEACAM1 is also an important target for microbes which have co-opted these attributes of CEACAM1 for the purposes of invading the host and evading the immune system.

Effect of acidic environment and intracanal medicament on push-out bond strength of biodentine and mineral trioxide aggregate plus: an in vitro study.

Introduction: This in-vitro study aims to evaluate the effect of acidic environment and intracanal medicament on push out bond strength of Biodentine and Mineral Trioxide Aggregate Plus (MTA Plus).

Method: Forty extracted single rooted teeth were sectioned below the cement-enamel junction. The root canals were instrumented using rotary files and then peeso reamer was used to obtain standardized root canal dimension.

High resolution X-ray and NMR structural study of human T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain containing protein-3.

T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain containing protein-3 (TIM-3) is an important immune regulator. Here, we describe a novel high resolution (1.7 Å) crystal structure of the human (h)TIM-3 N-terminal variable immunoglobulin (IgV) domain with bound calcium (Ca) that was confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy.

Dietary and Microbial Oxazoles Induce Intestinal Inflammation by Modulating Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Responses.

Genome-wide association studies have identified risk loci associated with the development of inflammatory bowel disease, while epidemiological studies have emphasized that pathogenesis likely involves host interactions with environmental elements whose source and structure need to be defined. Here, we identify a class of compounds derived from dietary, microbial, and industrial sources that are characterized by the presence of a five-membered oxazole ring and induce CD1d-dependent intestinal inflammation. We observe that minimal oxazole structures modulate natural killer T cell-dependent inflammation by regulating lipid antigen presentation by CD1d on intestinal epithelial cells (IECs).

Hepatic FcRn regulates albumin homeostasis and susceptibility to liver injury.

The neonatal crystallizable fragment receptor (FcRn) is responsible for maintaining the long half-life and high levels of the two most abundant circulating proteins, albumin and IgG. In the latter case, the protective mechanism derives from FcRn binding to IgG in the weakly acidic environment contained within endosomes of hematopoietic and parenchymal cells, whereupon IgG is diverted from degradation in lysosomes and is recycled. The cellular location and mechanism by which FcRn protects albumin are partially understood.

Crystal structure of a polypeptide's C-terminus in complex with the regulatory domain of ER aminopeptidase 1.

Endoplasmic reticulum aminopeptidase 1 (ERAP1) is involved in the final processing of peptide precursors to generate the N-termini of MHC class I-restricted epitopes. ERAP1 thus influences immunodominance and cytotoxic immune responses by controlling the peptide repertoire available for cell surface presentation by MHC molecules. To enable this critical role in antigen processing, ERAP1 trims peptides by a unique molecular ruler mechanism that turns on/off hydrolysis activity in a peptide-length and -sequence dependent manner.

Molecular basis of E. coli L-threonine aldolase catalytic inactivation at low pH.

L-Threonine aldolases (TAs), a family of enzymes belonging to the fold-type I pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) dependent enzymes, play a role in catalyzing the reversible cleavage of l-3-hydroxy-α-amino acids to glycine and the corresponding aldehydes. Threonine aldolases have great biotechnological potential for the syntheses of pharmaceutically relevant drug molecules because of their stereospecificity. The pH-dependency of their catalytic activity, affecting reaction intermediates, led us to study the effect of low-pH on Escherichia coli TA (eTA) structure.

CEACAM1 regulates TIM-3-mediated tolerance and exhaustion.

T-cell immunoglobulin domain and mucin domain-3 (TIM-3, also known as HAVCR2) is an activation-induced inhibitory molecule involved in tolerance and shown to induce T-cell exhaustion in chronic viral infection and cancers. Under some conditions, TIM-3 expression has also been shown to be stimulatory. Considering that TIM-3, like cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4) and programmed death 1 (PD-1), is being targeted for cancer immunotherapy, it is important to identify the circumstances under which TIM-3 can inhibit and activate T-cell responses.

Crystal structures of human pyridoxal kinase in complex with the neurotoxins, ginkgotoxin and theophylline: insights into pyridoxal kinase inhibition.

Several drugs and natural compounds are known to be highly neurotoxic, triggering epileptic convulsions or seizures, and causing headaches, agitations, as well as other neuronal symptoms. The neurotoxic effects of some of these compounds, including theophylline and ginkgotoxin, have been traced to their inhibitory activity against human pyridoxal kinase (hPL kinase), resulting in deficiency of the active cofactor form of vitamin B₆, pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP). Pyridoxal (PL), an inactive form of vitamin B₆ is converted to PLP by PL kinase.

Pyridoxal 5'-phosphate is a slow tight binding inhibitor of E. coli pyridoxal kinase.

Pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) is a cofactor for dozens of B(6) requiring enzymes. PLP reacts with apo-B(6) enzymes by forming an aldimine linkage with the ε-amino group of an active site lysine residue, thus yielding the catalytically active holo-B(6) enzyme. During protein turnover, the PLP is salvaged by first converting it to pyridoxal by a phosphatase and then back to PLP by pyridoxal kinase.

Endodontic-periodontal management of a maxillary lateral incisor with an associated radicular lingual groove and severe periapical osseous destruction--a case report.

Radicular lingual grooves are morphological defects, which are found most frequently in maxillary anterior teeth and are a predisposing factor for periodontal disease. They are easily overlooked as aetiologic factors, as these grooves are covered by periodontal tissues. This case report presents a successful management of a case of a maxillary lateral incisor with an associated radicular lingual groove and severe periapical osseous destruction in a 30-year-old female patient.

Structural insights into the molecular ruler mechanism of the endoplasmic reticulum aminopeptidase ERAP1.

Endoplasmic reticulum aminopeptidase 1 (ERAP1) is an essential component of the immune system, because it trims peptide precursors and generates the N--restricted epitopes. To examine ERAP1's unique properties of length- and sequence-dependent processing of antigen precursors, we report a 2.3 Å resolution complex structure of the ERAP1 regulatory domain.

Kinetic and structural studies of the role of the active site residue Asp235 of human pyridoxal kinase.

Pyridoxal kinase catalyzes the phosphorylation of pyridoxal (PL) to pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP). A D235A variant shows 7-fold and 15-fold decreases in substrate affinity and activity, respectively. A D235N variant shows approximately 2-fold decrease in both PL affinity and activity.

Crystal Structure of human pyridoxal kinase: structural basis of M(+) and M(2+) activation.

Pyridoxal kinase catalyzes the transfer of a phosphate group from ATP to the 5' alcohol of pyridoxine, pyridoxamine, and pyridoxal. In this work, kinetic studies were conducted to examine monovalent cation dependence of human pyridoxal kinase kinetic parameters. The results show that hPLK affinity for ATP and PL is increased manyfold in the presence of K(+) when compared to Na(+); however, the maximal activity of the Na(+) form of the enzyme is more than double the activity in the presence of K(+).

Spontaneous common bile duct perforation in adult: a case report and review.

Common bile duct perforation has been reported in adults after invasive procedures. Spontaneous common bile duct perforation is a rare entity as a cause of acute abdomen in adults. A few cases due to choledocholithiasis have been reported as a cause of spontaneous perforation.