Immune modulation by complement receptor 3-dependent human monocyte TGF-β1-transporting vesicles.

Extracellular vesicles have an important function in cellular communication. Here, we show that human and mouse monocytes release TGF-β1-transporting vesicles in response to the pathogenic fungus Candida albicans. Soluble β-glucan from C.

Kallikrein Cleaves C3 and Activates Complement.

The human plasma contact system is an immune surveillance system activated by the negatively charged surfaces of bacteria and fungi and includes the kallikrein-kinin, the coagulation, and the fibrinolytic systems. Previous work shows that the contact system also activates complement, and that plasma enzymes like kallikrein, plasmin, thrombin, and FXII are involved in the activation process. Here, we show for the first time that kallikrein cleaves the central complement component C3 directly to yield active components C3b and C3a.

Anaphylatoxins Activate Ca, Akt/PI3-Kinase, and FOXO1/FoxP3 in the Retinal Pigment Epithelium.

Purpose: The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is a main target for complement activation in age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The anaphylatoxins C3a and C5a have been thought to mostly play a role as chemoattractants for macrophages and immune cells; here, we explore whether they trigger RPE alterations. Specifically, we investigated the RPE as a potential immunoregulatory gate, allowing for active changes in the RPE microenvironment in response to complement.

Factor H Binds to Extracellular DNA Traps Released from Human Blood Monocytes in Response to .

Upon systemic infection with human pathogenic yeast (), human monocytes and polymorph nuclear neutrophilic granulocytes are the first immune cells to respond and come into contact with . Monocytes exert immediate candidacidal activity and inhibit germination, mediate phagocytosis, and kill fungal cells. Here, we show that human monocytes spontaneously respond to cells phagocytosis, decondensation of nuclear DNA, and release of this decondensed DNA in the form of extracellular traps (called monocytic extracellular traps: MoETs).

Bacillus subtilis biosensor engineered to assess meat spoilage.

Here, we developed a cell-based biosensor that can assess meat freshness using the Gram-positive model bacterium Bacillus subtilis as a chassis. Using transcriptome analysis, we identified promoters that are specifically activated by volatiles released from spoiled meat. The most strongly activated promoter was PsboA, which drives expression of the genes required for the bacteriocin subtilosin.