Bitter taste receptors (TAS2Rs) are not only expressed in the oral cavity but also in skin. Extraoral TAS2Rs are thought to be involved in non-taste perception and tissue-specific functions. Keratinocytes that express TAS2Rs in the skin provide a first-line defense against external threats.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSelective immunoglobulin M (IgM) deficiency (sIgMD) is a rare immunodeficiency disorder characterized by decreased serum levels of IgM. Symptoms of sIgMD include repeated infections and allergic manifestations such as asthma and allergic rhinitis. The etiology and pathology of sIgMD remain largely unknown.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSystemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease characterized by vasculopathy, aberrant immune activation, and extensive tissue fibrosis of the skin and internal organs. Because of the complicated nature of its pathogenesis, the underlying mechanisms of SSc remain incompletely understood. Angiogenic factor with a G-patch domain and a Forkhead-associated domain 1 (AGGF1) is a critical factor in angiogenesis expressed on vascular endothelial cells, associated with inflammatory and fibrotic responses.
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