Specific regulation of T helper cell 1-mediated murine colitis by CEACAM1.

Carcinoembryonic antigen-related cellular adhesion molecule 1 (CEACAM1) is a cell surface molecule that has been proposed to negatively regulate T cell function. We have shown that CEACAM1 is associated with specific regulation of T helper cell (Th)1 pathways, T-bet-mediated Th1 cytokine signaling, and Th1-mediated immunopathology in vivo. Mice treated with anti-mouse CEACAM1-specific monoclonal antibody (mAb) CC1 during the effector phase exhibited a reduced severity of trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid colitis in association with decreased interferon (IFN)-gamma production.

Quaternary structure of coronavirus spikes in complex with carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule cellular receptors.

Oligomeric spike (S) glycoproteins extend from coronavirus membranes. These integral membrane proteins assemble within the endoplasmic reticulum of infected cells and are subsequently endoproteolyzed in the Golgi, generating noncovalently associated S1 and S2 fragments. Once on the surface of infected cells and virions, peripheral S1 fragments bind carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule (CEACAM) receptors, and this triggers membrane fusion reactions mediated by integral membrane S2 fragments.

A comparison of mutations induced by accelerated iron particles versus those induced by low earth orbit space radiation in the FEM-3 gene of Caenorhabditis elegans.

The fem-3 gene of Caenorhabditis elegans was employed to determine the mutation frequency as well as the nature of mutations induced by low earth orbit space radiation ambient to Space Shuttle flight STS-76. Recovered mutations were compared to those induced by accelerated iron ions generated by the AGS synchrotron accelerator at Brookhaven National Laboratory. For logistical reasons, dauer larvae were prepared at TCU, transported to either Kennedy Space Center or Brookhaven National Laboratory, flown in space or irradiated, returned to TCU and screened for mutants.

Variations in disparate regions of the murine coronavirus spike protein impact the initiation of membrane fusion.

The prototype JHM strain of murine hepatitis virus (MHV) is an enveloped, RNA-containing coronavirus that has been selected in vivo for extreme neurovirulence. This virus encodes spike (S) glycoproteins that are extraordinarily effective mediators of intercellular membrane fusion, unique in their ability to initiate fusion even without prior interaction with the primary MHV receptor, a murine carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule (CEACAM). In considering the possible role of this hyperactive membrane fusion activity in neurovirulence, we discovered that the growth of JHM in tissue culture selected for variants that had lost murine CEACAM-independent fusion activity.

[Psoriasis and bullous dermatoses].

In the last five years we observed in Berlin seven cases of psoriasis vulgaris combined with bullous eruptions of the pemphigoid type. Exogenious factors provoking the bullous eruptions were sun exposure, photochemotherapy and treatment with dithranol. These factors did not cause contact allergy of type IV, but pemphigoid eruption which could be characterised by immunfluorescence.