Publications by authors named "Ashley N Mentlik"

Natural killer cells are lymphocytes specialized to participate in host defense through their innate ability to mediate cytotoxicity by secreting the contents of preformed secretory lysosomes (lytic granules) directly onto a target cell. This form of directed secretion requires the formation of an immunological synapse and occurs stepwise with actin reorganization preceding microtubule-organizing center (MTOC) polarization to the synapse. Because MTOC polarization to the synapse is required for polarization of lytic granules, we attempted to define their interrelationship.

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Since NK cells specialize in contact-dependent functions including cytotoxicity, interest has focused on the direct study of the interface between the NK cell and the cell with which it is interacting. This interface is also known as the immunological synapse and is characterized by an extraordinary number of dynamic molecular events that have the potential to result in NK cell function. Here we describe microscopy-based methods for evaluating and quantifying the NK cell immunological synapse that can be useful in enabling experimental studies.

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Adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors are effective gene delivery vehicles mediating long-lasting transgene expression. Data from a clinical trial of AAV2-mediated hepatic transfer of the Factor IX gene (F9) into hemophilia B subjects suggests that CTL responses against AAV capsid can eliminate transduced hepatocytes and prevent long-term F9 expression. However, the capacity of hepatocytes to present AAV capsid-derived antigens has not been formally demonstrated, nor whether transduction by AAV sensitizes hepatocytes for CTL-mediated destruction.

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