Expression of sarcolectin in the human pituitary gland and amniotic fluid.

Sarcolectin (SCL) is a 55 kDa protein cross-reacting with a cytokeratin 7 monomer found in placental blood, sarcomas and various tissues. It blocks the synthesis of interferon-dependent secondary proteins, induces cell DNA activation and sensitizes cells to viral infection. SCL is a potent promoter of tissue growth.

Host factor pleiotrophin induces human immunodeficiency virus type 1 replication associated with inflammatory cytokine expression.

Pleiotrophin (PTN) is a polypeptide that belongs to a family of heparin-binding growth factors; it displays mitogenic activity for a wide variety of cells. In a previous study, we reported that PTN induces the stimulation of expression of inflammatory cytokines, including tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin (IL)-1beta and IL-6, in quiescent human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) through B-lymphocyte binding. These results emphasize the importance of PTN in the regulation of inflammatory processes.

Enhanced endogenous type I interferon cell-driven survival and inhibition of spontaneous apoptosis by Riluzole.

Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), although effective in improving the survival of HIV-1-infected individuals, has not been able to reconstitute the adaptive immune response. We have described the use of novel chemical agents to restore T-cell survival/proliferation by inducing cytokine production. Due to its cationic amphiphilic structure, these molecules appear to enhance immune restoration.

Pleiotrophin induces expression of inflammatory cytokines in peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Pleiotrophin (PTN) is a polypeptide that belongs to a family of heparin-binding growth factor, which displays mitogenic activity for a wide variety of cells. Since PTN induces the proliferation of immune cells the mechanism of action was investigated. In the present study, we show for the first time that PTN induces the expression of inflammatory cytokines including TNF-alpha, IL-1beta and IL-6 in quiescent human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC).

Induction of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) envelope specific cell-mediated immunity by a non-homologous synthetic peptide.

Background: Cell mediated immunity, including efficient CTL response, is required to prevent HIV-1 from cell-to-cell transmission. In previous investigations, we have shown that B1 peptide derived by Fourier transformation of HIV-1 primary structures and sharing no sequence homology with the parent proteins was able to generate antiserum which recognizes envelope and Tat proteins. Here we have investigated cellular immune response towards a novel non-homologous peptide, referred to as cA1 peptide.

Acute and selective inhibition of adipocyte glyceroneogenesis and cytosolic phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase by interferon gamma.

Interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) was previously shown to promote fatty acid (FA) release from adipose tissue (AT). Net lipolysis is an equilibrium between triglyceride breakdown and FA re-esterification. The latter requires activated glyceroneogenesis for glycerol-3-phosphate synthesis and increased cytosolic phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK-C), the key enzyme in this pathway.

Differentiation-dependent expression of interferon gamma and toll-like receptor 9 in 3T3-F442A adipocytes.

3T3-F442A and BFC-1 cells are widely used for studying adipocyte differentiation and metabolism. Macrophage markers were previously reported in these cell lines. We examined whether 3T3-F442A and BFC-1 would produce interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), the expression of which is a matter of debate in cells other than T-lymphocytes and natural killer cells, like macrophages or dendritic.

Expression of macrophage-selective markers in human and rodent adipocytes.

CD14, CD68 and/or mouse F4/80 or human epidermal growth factor module-containing mucin-like receptor 1 (EMR1) are widely used as macrophage-specific markers. Since macrophages infiltrate several tissues during inflammatory processes, CD14, CD68 and EMR1-F4/80 have been employed to discriminate between tissue-containing macrophages, like adipose tissue (AT), and other cells. Using real-time PCR experiments, we show that isolated adipocytes from humans and mice AT express high levels of CD14 and CD68 mRNA, whereas EMR1-F4/80 is mainly present in the macrophage-containing stroma-vascular fraction.