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.

Immune defence strategies of generalist and specialist insect herbivores.

Ecological immunology examines the adaptive responses of animals to pathogens in relation to other environmental factors and explores the consequences of trade-offs between investment in immune function and other life-history traits. Among species of herbivorous insects, diet breadth may vary greatly, with generalists consuming a wide variety of plant families and specialists restricted to a few species. Generalists may thus be exposed to a wider range of pathogens exerting stronger selection on the innate immune system.

β₂-glycoprotein I, the major target in antiphospholipid syndrome, is a special human complement regulator.

The human plasma protein β(2)-glycoprotein I (β(2)-GPI) is the major target of autoantibodies associated with antiphospholipid syndrome. However, the biologic function of this abundant protein is still unclear. Here we identify β(2)-GPI as a complement regulator.

Synthesis and cannabinoid-1 receptor binding affinity of conformationally constrained analogs of taranabant.

The design, synthesis, and binding activity of ring constrained analogs of the acyclic cannabinoid-1 receptor (CB1R) inverse agonist taranabant 1 are described. The initial inspiration for these taranabant derivatives was its conformation 1a, determined by (1)H NMR, X-ray, and molecular modeling. The constrained analogs were all much less potent than their acyclic parent structure.

Assessment of somatic complaints in environmental health.

In patients attributing their health complaints to environmental factors (EnvPat) evidence based medical diagnostics usually do not confirm environmental and somatic causes of symptoms. Many symptoms remain unexplained. Aim of the study was the systematic assessment of medically unexplained physical symptoms (MUPS) in EnvPat and comparison to symptom rates reported by subjects of an environmental study exposed to environmental odors (EnvExp).