Interleukin 1alpha promotes Th1 differentiation and inhibits disease progression in Leishmania major-susceptible BALB/c mice.

Protective immunity against pathogens such as Leishmania major is mediated by interleukin (IL)-12-dependent Th1-immunity. We have shown previously that skin-dendritic cells (DCs) from both resistant C57BL/6 and susceptible BALB/c mice release IL-12 when infected with L. major, and infected BALB/c DCs effectively vaccinate against leishmaniasis.

High-density tissue-like cultivation of JAR choriocarcinoma cells for the in vitro production of human xylosyltransferase.

Human xylosyltransferase is the chain-initiating enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of glycosaminoglycans. Large amounts of xylosyltransferase are required to study the biochemical properties of the native enzyme. To achieve this goal a scale-up of animal cell culture systems was inevitable due to the small amounts of the enzyme present in tissues, e.