n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) influences a variety of disease conditions, such as hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, cancer and allergic diseases, by modulating membrane constitution, inhibiting production of proinflammatory eicosanoids and cytokines, and binding to cell surface and nuclear receptors. We have previously shown that n-3 PUFA inhibit mast cell functions by disrupting high affinity IgE receptor (FcεRI) lipid raft partitioning and subsequent suppression of FcεRI signaling in mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells. However, it is still largely unknown how n-3 PUFA modulate human mast cell function, which could be attributed to multiple mechanisms.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPrions are lipidated proteins that interact with endogenous lipids and metal ions. They also assemble into multimers and propagate into the infectious scrapie form known as PrP The high-resolution structure of the infectious PrP state remains unknown, and its analysis largely relies on detergent-based preparations devoid of endogenous ligands. Here we designed polymers that allow isolation of endogenous membrane:protein assemblies in native nanodiscs without exposure to conventional detergents that destabilize protein structures and induce fibrillization.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDespite the fact that glucocorticoids and long acting beta agonists are effective treatments for asthma, their effects on human mast cells (MC) appear to be modest. Although MC are one of the major effector cells in the underlying inflammatory reactions associated with asthma, their regulation by these drugs is not yet fully understood and, in some cases, controversial. Using a human immortalized MC line (LAD2), we studied the effects of fluticasone propionate (FP) and salmeterol (SM), on the release of early and late phase mediators.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSubstance P (SP) is a neuropeptide with neuroimmunoregulatory activity that may play a role in susceptibility to infection. Human mast cells, which are important in innate immune responses, were analysed for their responses to pathogen-associated molecules via Toll-like receptors (TLRs) in the presence of SP. Human cultured mast cells (LAD2) were activated by SP and TLR ligands including lipopolysaccharide (LPS), Pam3CysSerLys4 (Pam3CSK4) and lipoteichoic acid (LTA), and mast cell leukotriene and chemokine production was assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and gene expression by quantitative PCR (qPCR).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe effect of the neuropeptide substance P (SP) on human mast cell (MC) phenotype is poorly understood. In this study, SP effects on human MC expression of the high affinity IgE receptor (FcepsilonRI) were characterized. SP downregulated expression of FcepsilonRI mRNA and protein by approximately 50% and in a concentration dependent manner, the effect was partially mediated by engagement of the neurokinin-1 receptor (NK1R) and resulted in reduced mast cell activation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDuring neuronal-induced inflammation, mast cells may respond to stimuli such as neuropeptides in an FcepsilonRI-independent manner. In this study, we characterized human mast cell responses to substance P (SP), nerve growth factor (NGF), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and compared these responses to human mast cell responses to immunoglobulin E (IgE)/anti-IgE and compound 48/80. Primary cultured mast cells, generated from CD34(+) progenitors in the presence of stem cell factor and interleukin-6 (IL-6), and human cultured mast cells (LAD2) were stimulated with these and other stimuli (gastrin, concanavalin A, radiocontrast media, and mannitol) and their degranulation and chemokine production was assessed.
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