Combination of toxicological and epidemiological approaches for estimating the health impact of atmospheric pollutants. A proof of concept for NO.

Background: Regular monitoring of the air pollutant nitrogen dioxide (NO), an indicator for traffic-related emissions, is a priority in urban environments. The health impacts associated with NO exposure are the result of a combination of factors, including concentration, duration of exposure, and interactions with other pollutants. WHO has established air quality guidelines based on epidemiological studies.

Differential regulation of chemotaxis: role of Gβγ in chemokine receptor-induced cell migration.

CC and CXC chemokine receptor signalling networks are regulated in different ways. Here we show that intracellular calcium release and cell migration occur independent of Gβγ activation in response to CCL3, whereas CXCL11 induced migration of activated T-lymphocytes depends on Gβγ activation. Treatment of a range of cell types with gallein, a pharmacological inhibitor of Gβγ signalling, did not result in a reduction in CCL3 induced cellular migration, but resulted in enhanced calcium mobilisation following chemokine stimulation.

Stable and sensitive probes for lysosomes: cell-penetrating fluorescent calix[4]arenes accumulate in acidic vesicles.

The uptake of a fluorescently labeled cationic calix[4] (NBDCalAm) in live, nonfixed cells has been investigated. The compound is taken into the cells rapidly and shows distinct endosomal distribution after 2 hours. This distribution pattern shows colocalization with lysosomal staining.

Distinct modes of molecular regulation of CCL3 induced calcium flux in monocytic cells.

The chemokine receptor CCR5 has been shown to be targeted to cholesterol- and sphingolipid-rich membrane microdomains. Here we elucidate the effects of membrane fluidity on CCR5 signalling and expression using the monocytic THP-1 cells. MCD treatment of THP-1 cells, which removes nearly all cholesterol from the plasma membrane, leads to an increase in the signalling properties of CCR5.

CCR5 internalisation and signalling have different dependence on membrane lipid raft integrity.

The chemokine receptor, CCR5, acts as a co-receptor for human immunodeficiency virus entry into cells. CCR5 has been shown to be targeted to cholesterol- and sphingolipid-rich membrane microdomains termed lipid rafts or caveolae. Cholesterol is essential for CCL4 binding to CCR5 and for keeping the conformational integrity of the receptor.