Interferon-gamma impedes reverse cholesterol transport and promotes foam cell transformation in THP-1 human monocytes/macrophages.

Background: Cholesterol 27-hydroxylase, an enzyme expressed at high levels by human monocytes/macrophages, provides a first line of defense against the development of atherosclerosis. Prior studies have suggested that the cytokine interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) promotes atherosclerosis. We therefore examined the effect of IFN-g on macrophage foam cell formation and on expression of the anti-atherogenic 27-hydroxylase in THP-1 human monocytes/macrophages.

Thermo-osmoregulation of heat-labile enterotoxin expression by Escherichia coli.

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli causes diarrhea by producing several virulence factors including heat-labile enterotoxin (LT). LT is maximally expressed at 37 degrees C. The histone-like nucleoid structuring protein (H-NS) appears to inhibit LT expression by binding to a downstream regulatory element (DRE) at low temperatures.