Disseminated blastomycosis in coalworkers' pneumoconiosis.

is a thermally dimorphic fungus that can cause pulmonary, extrapulmonary, or disseminated infections. Though it can infect both immune-competent and immunocompromised hosts, the disease can be severe in immunocompromised hosts. Exposure to silica dust is associated with silicosis, and this is associated with impaired immunity and an increased risk of mycobacterial and fungal infections.

Linear IgA Bullous Dermatosis Preceding the Diagnosis of Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis and Ulcerative Colitis: A Case Report.

Linear IgA bullous dermatosis (LABD) is a rare autoimmune blistering disorder seen in the pediatric and adult populations that is often linked to a medication, infection, or underlying gastrointestinal, hepatobiliary, or autoimmune disease. In this study, we describe the case of a 23-year-old white man whose presentation and diagnosis of LABD ultimately led to the discovery of underlying primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and ulcerative colitis (UC). His dermatitis resolved with topical steroids and dapsone, and he is undergoing systemic treatment for his UC and PSC.

CXCL11 Expression by Keratinocytes Occurs Transiently Between Reaching Confluence and Cellular Compaction.

To investigate whether differentiation or cellular confluence is responsible for CXCL11 expression patterns in re-epithelialization. model systems of re-epithelialization using the HaCaT keratinocyte cell line were utilized in monitoring expression of differentiation markers, including desmoplakin and various cytokeratins while evaluating for an association with chemokine CXCL11 expression. CXCL11 expression was elevated in sparse culture with peak expression near the time of confluence.

Langerhans cell histiocytosis and Erdheim-Chester disease, both with cutaneous presentations, and papillary thyroid carcinoma all harboring the BRAF(V600E) mutation.

Langerhans cell histocytosis (LCH) and Erdheim-Chester disease are two rare histiocytic disorders. Their occurrence in the same patient is more infrequent, but has been described. We report a case of a 38-year-old woman who presented with a diagnosis of single system cutaneous LCH.

The Beginning of the End: CXCR3 Signaling in Late-Stage Wound Healing.

Background: Prior to 2009, research regarding the role of CXC receptor 3 (CXCR3) in cutaneous biology was primarily in the context of inflammatory reactions. Foundational research performed at that time demonstrated that, in addition to recruited inflammatory cells, cellular components of the skin, keratinocytes, fibroblasts, and endothelial cells, also express CXCR3 and are capable of expressing CXCR3 ligands, specifically CXC ligand 10 (CXCL10) and CXCL11. Surprisingly, experimentation demonstrated differential effects on the different cell types, suggesting that the CXCR3 signaling pathway may serve as a coordinator of wound remodeling.

Desmoplakin assembly dynamics in four dimensions: multiple phases differentially regulated by intermediate filaments and actin.

The intermediate filament (IF)-binding protein desmoplakin (DP) is essential for desmosome function and tissue integrity, but its role in junction assembly is poorly understood. Using time-lapse imaging, we show that cell-cell contact triggers three temporally overlapping phases of DP-GFP dynamics: (1) the de novo appearance of punctate fluorescence at new contact zones after as little as 3 min; (2) the coalescence of DP and the armadillo protein plakophilin 2 into discrete cytoplasmic particles after as little as 15 min; and (3) the cytochalasin-sensitive translocation of cytoplasmic particles to maturing borders, with kinetics ranging from 0.002 to 0.

17 beta-estradiol transiently disrupts adherens junctions in endothelial cells.

Interendothelial junctions are important regulators of endothelial cell functions such as migration and proliferation, major features in angiogenesis, and endothelial cell monolayer wound healing. 17beta-estradiol regulates these functions in vivo and in vitro and also increases endothelial monolayer permeability as it results from impaired monolayer integrity and intercellular adhesion. We hypothesized that 17beta-estradiol affects these cell adhesion-dependent functions in endothelial cells by targeting the adherens junction complex.

Intermediate filament-membrane attachments function synergistically with actin-dependent contacts to regulate intercellular adhesive strength.

By tethering intermediate filaments (IFs) to sites of intercellular adhesion, desmosomes facilitate formation of a supercellular scaffold that imparts mechanical strength to a tissue. However, the role IF-membrane attachments play in strengthening adhesion has not been directly examined. To address this question, we generated Tet-On A431 cells inducibly expressing a desmoplakin (DP) mutant lacking the rod and IF-binding domains (DPNTP).