Publications by authors named "Aruffo A"

This study investigates auditory localization in children with a diagnosis of hearing impairment rehabilitated with bilateral cochlear implants or hearing aids. Localization accuracy in the anterior horizontal field and its distribution along the angular position of the source were analyzed. Participants performed a localization task in a virtual environment where they could move their heads freely and were asked to point to an invisible sound source.

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This study investigates the relationship between auditory localization accuracy in the horizontal plane and the spontaneous translation and rotation of the head in response to an acoustic stimulus from an invisible sound source. Although a number of studies have suggested that localization ability improves with head movements, most of them measured the perceived source elevation and front-back disambiguation. We investigated the contribution of head movements to auditory localization in the anterior horizontal field in normal hearing subjects.

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Incomplete struts coverage is a predictor of late stent thrombosis after implantation of the drug-eluting stents (DES) in atherosclerotic lesions. The process of struts coverage in DES implanted for bare-metal stent (BMS) restenosis has never been described. Thirty-two patients with stable coronary artery disease were consecutively selected, 11 with BMS restenosis (group A) and 21 with de novo atherosclerotic lesions (group B).

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Recombinant DNA technology has allowed the preparation of chimeric genes encoding proteins with novel properties. This unit describes the construction and subsequent testing of genes encoding immunoglobulin chimeras. The first protocol details fusion of a protein (or protein fragment) of interest onto an immunoglobulin constant region using a modified version of the expression vector pCDM8.

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This unit details the use of transient expression in mammalian cells to screen cDNA libraries with monoclonal antibodies (MAb) to isolate cDNA clones encoding cell-surface and intracellular proteins. The first protocol describes the cloning of cDNAs encoding cell-surface antigens. The second protocol is a modification that facilitates isolation of cDNAs encoding antigens that are expressed intracellularly.

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This unit describes the use of COS cells to efficiently produce a desired protein in a short period of time. These cells express high levels of the SV40 large tumor (T) antigen, which is necessary to initiate viral DNA replication at the SV40 origin. Each COS cell transfected with DNA encoding a cell-surface antigen (in the appropriate vector) or cytoplasmic protein will express several thousand to several hundred thousand copies of the protein 72 hr posttransfection.

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This unit details the use of transient expression in mammalian cells to screen cDNA libraries with monoclonal antibodies (MAb) to isolate cDNA clones encoding cell-surface and intracellular proteins. The first protocol in this unit describes the cloning of cDNAs encoding cell-surface antigens. Several steps in this protocol involve transfection procedures that are described in greater detail elsewhere in this volume.

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This unit describes the use of COS cells to efficiently produce a desired protein in a short period of time. These cells express high levels of the SV40 large tumor (T) antigen, which is necessary to initiate viral DNA replication at the SV40 origin. Each COS cell transfected with DNA encoding a cell-surface antigen (in the appropriate vector) or cytoplasmic protein will express several thousand to several hundred thousand copies of the protein 72 hr posttransfection.

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Background: Organ transplant recipients currently require lifetime immunosuppressive therapy, with its accompanying side effects. Biological agents that block T-cell costimulatory pathways are important components of strategies being developed to induce transplantation tolerance. The aim of this study was to test the effect of a novel chimeric anti-human CD40 monoclonal antibody (Chi 220), either alone or in combination with CTLA4-Ig, on the survival of renal allografts in a nonhuman primate model.

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Workshop cluster 1 (WC1) is a member of the scavenger receptor cysteine-rich (SRCR) superfamily that includes CD5, CD6, CD163, and M160. Bovine WC1 consists of 11 SRCR domains, a unique domain 1, and two homologous 5 SRCR domain cassettes, WC1 domains 2-6 and 7-11. The porcine orthologue of WC1 contains five SRCR domains with a different domain arrangement.

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Many humanized antibodies and fusion proteins targeting T-cell co-stimulatory molecules are now in late-stage clinical development (phase II, phase III) or have recently completed phase III clinical trials. Both Amevive, an LFA-3-Ig fusion protein targeting CD2, and Xanelim, a humanized anti-CD11a antibody, have shown efficacy in pivotal phase III trials in patients with plaque psoriasis. These new medicines are poised to enter clinical use in 2002.

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CD178 (CD95-ligand) is expressed on several tumor cells and likely influences the interaction of the tumor with the host immune system. However, little is known about the mechanisms that regulate its expression on the cell surface. We have evaluated the ability of various compounds and cytokines to regulate cell surface expression and release of soluble CD178 in various carcinoma cell lines.

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We studied the tissue distribution of CD6(+) lymphocytes and cells expressing the CD6 ligand (also known as activated leukocyte cell adhesion molecule CD166) in calves by immunohistochemistry using an anti-bovine CD6 monoclonal antibody (mAb), a human CD6 (huCD6)-immunoglobulin G1 fusion protein (huCD6-Ig), and an anti-human CD166 (anti-huCD166) mAb. The huCD6-Ig and anti-huCD166 mAb bound to the sympathetic and parasympathetic nerve fibers but not to myelinated nerve fibers in the spinal nerve. Studies with human tissue using the anti-huCD166 mAb yielded identical patterns of labeling.

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Shigella entry into epithelial cells is characterized by a transient reorganization of the host cell cytoskeleton at the site of bacterial interaction with the cell membrane, which leads to bacterial engulfment in a macropinocytic process. Using affinity chromatography on HeLa cell extracts, we show here that the hyaluronan receptor CD44 associates with IpaB, a Shigella protein that is secreted upon cell contact. Overlay and solid-phase assays indicated that IpaB binds directly to the extracellular domain of CD44; binding is saturable and inhibitable, with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration of 175 nM.

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Members of the TNF superfamily, including Fas, Fas ligand, and CD40, have been shown to be expressed on tumor cells. In the studies described in this work, we report that another family member, the ligand for 4-1BB (CD137), is expressed on various human carcinoma cell lines, on cells of solid tumors derived from these cell lines, and cells obtained from human tumors. Expression of 4-1BB ligand (4-1BBL) mRNA was detected by both RT-PCR and Northern blot analysis, and expression of 4-1BBL protein was detected by Western blot analysis of whole cell lysates and by FACS analysis of tumor cells and cell lines.

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CD6 is a cell surface receptor belonging to the scavenger receptor cysteine-rich (SRCR) protein superfamily (SRCRSF). It specifically binds activated leukocyte cell adhesion molecule (ALCAM, CD166), a member of the immunoglobulin (Ig) superfamily (IgSF). CD166 was among the first molecules identified as a ligand for an SRCRSF receptor, and the CD6-CD166 interaction was the first interaction characterized involving SRCRSF and IgSF proteins.

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Ligation of CD40 using anti-CD40 or soluble CD40-ligand activates numerous intracellular kinases which transduce signals to the nucleus. The nature whereby these signaling events are coupled to distal functional events in B cells is poorly understood. In this study, using anti-CD40 monoclonal antibodies which recognize different epitopes on CD40, we compare the ability to activate the stress-activated protein kinases (SAPK) such as c-Jun NH(2) terminal kinase and p38 in human B cells with CD40 function.

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Although the function of CD5 on B cells is unknown, previous studies suggested that CD5 interaction with V(H) framework regions of surface immunoglobulins (Igs) may contribute to survival and expansion of B cells. Here we used B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) cells and transformed B-cell lines from normal and B-CLL patients to study CD5-Ig interactions. Immobilized Ig binds and permits isolation of CD5 from lysates of CD5-expressing cell lines.

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Several group B scavenger receptor cysteine-rich (SRCR) proteins have been shown to function as modulators in the immune response. Recently, we reported the cloning of a new member of this family, human Spalpha (hSpalpha). Herein we report the cloning and characterization of the mouse homologue of hSpalpha.

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Previous in vitro studies have shown CD44 isoforms containing the alternatively spliced exon v3 (CD44v3) to be modified with heparan sulphate (HS) and to bind HS-binding basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). Here, we demonstrate that exogenously added bFGF is also bound in vivo by CD44v3-positive keratinocytes in normal skin and by tumour cells in basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), two skin cancers of keratinocyte origin. bFGF binding and CD44v3 expression were colocalized in cultured human normal keratinocytes (HNK) and on the SCC cell line A431.

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In this study, we investigated the role of the pleckstrin homology (PH) domain of the Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (WASP) in the regulation of actin cytoskeleton, which is defective in patients with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) and X-linked thrombocytopenia (XLT). Overexpression of the WASP in COS-7 cells cultured in the presence of fetal calf serum (FCS) resulted in large cluster formation of polymerized actin and WASP in the cytoplasm. In contrast, when the WASP transfected cells were cultured in the absence of FCS, activation with PMA or EGF was required to induce cluster formation.

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Here, we report the functional expression of CD40 on human malignant melanomas (MMs). Comparison of tumor specimen from MM precursor lesions, primary tumors, and metastases revealed that CD40 surface expression is down-regulated during tumor progression. CD40 expression was confirmed in 7 human MM cell lines established from immunogenic primary tumors or metastases, whereas 11 cell lines established from advanced stages were CD40 negative.

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Osteopontin is a secreted glycoprotein with adhesive and migratory functions. Cellular interactions with osteopontin are mediated through integrin receptors which recognize the RGD domain. Recently, CD44, a non-integrin, multifunctional adhesion molecule was identified as an osteopontin receptor.

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