Publications by authors named "Ellen E Millman"

Article Synopsis
  • Gefurulimab (ALXN1720) is a bispecific antibody designed for subcutaneous treatment of chronic disorders linked to the activation of the terminal complement pathway by blocking the breakdown of complement component 5 (C5).
  • It consists of specialized antibody fragments derived from llamas and humans that bind tightly to C5 and human serum albumin (HSA), enabling it to inhibit complement activity effectively in lab assays.
  • Structural studies indicate that gefurulimab obstructs C5's interaction with its activating convertase, suggesting it is a strong candidate for treating complement-mediated disorders.
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Background: Clinically validated biomarkers for monitoring of patients with complement-mediated thrombotic microangiopathy (CM-TMA) including atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) are unavailable. Improved characterization of biomarkers in patients with aHUS may inform treatment and monitoring for patients with CM-TMA.

Methods: This analysis used data collected from 55/56 (98.

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The internalization of beta(2)-adrenoceptors after agonist activation results in a desensitized and phosphorylated receptor that either resensitizes by recycling to the cell surface or becomes degraded by postendocytic sorting to lysosomes. The duration and physiological effects of agonists therefore depend on beta(2)-adrenoceptor sorting, highlighting the importance of sorting signals. Dileucine motifs within other membrane proteins act as signals for endocytosis and/or postendocytic sorting, and the beta(2)-adrenoceptor has a dileucine motif within helix 8 that might play a role in efficient receptor recycling and/or downregulation.

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For the beta(2)-adrenergic receptor (beta(2)AR), published evidence suggests that an intact actin cytoskeleton is required for the endocytosis of receptors and their proper sorting to the rapid recycling pathway. We have characterized the role of the actin cytoskeleton in the regulation of beta(2)AR trafficking in human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK293) cells using two distinct actin filament disrupting compounds, cytochalasin D and latrunculin B (LB). In cells pretreated with either drug, beta(2)AR internalization into transferrin-positive vesicles was not altered but both agents significantly decreased the rate at which beta(2)ARs recycled to the cell surface.

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Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitors have been shown to affect endocytosis or subsequent intracellular sorting in various receptor systems. Agonist-activated beta(2)-adrenergic receptors undergo desensitization by mechanisms that include the phosphorylation, endocytosis and degradation of receptors. Following endocytosis, most internalized receptors are sorted to the cell surface, but some proportion is sorted to lysosomes for degradation.

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Salmeterol is a long-acting beta(2)-adrenergic receptor (beta(2)AR) agonist commonly used in the treatment of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It differs from other beta-agonists in that it has a very low intrinisic efficacy, especially when compared with the other available long-acting beta-agonist, formoterol. Receptor desensitization and down-regulation has been described with the chronic use of beta-agonists.

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There is considerable evidence for the role of carboxyl-terminal serines 355, 356, and 364 in G protein-coupled receptor kinase (GRK)-mediated phosphorylation and desensitization of beta(2)-adrenergic receptors (beta(2)ARs). In this study we used receptors in which these serines were changed to alanines (SA3) or to aspartic acids (SD3) to determine the role of these sites in beta-arrestin-dependent beta(2)AR internalization and desensitization. Coupling efficiencies for epinephrine activation of adenylyl cyclase were similar in wild-type and mutant receptors, demonstrating that the SD3 mutant did not drive constitutive GRK desensitization.

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The pericentriolar recycling endosome (RE) may be an alternative compartment through which some beta2-adrenergic receptors (beta2ARs) recycle from early endosomes to the cell surface during prolonged exposure to agonist. For the transferrin receptor, CXCR2, and the M4-muscarinic acetylcholine receptor, trafficking through the RE and receptor recycling is regulated by the small GTPase rab11. The precise role of the RE and rab11 in regulating the cellular trafficking of the beta2AR is not understood.

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1. We have investigated the role of G protein-coupled receptor kinase 5 (GRK5) in the regulation of endosome sorting of human beta(2)-adrenoceptors. 2.

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