VEGF in the lung: a role for novel isoforms.

Vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF) is a potent mitogen and permogen that increases in the plasma and decreases in the alveolar space in respiratory diseases such as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). This observation has led to controversy over the role of this potent molecule in lung physiology and disease. We hypothesized that some of the VEGF previously detected in normal lung may be of the anti-angiogenic family (VEGF(xxx)b) with significant potential effects on VEGF bioactivity.

Reduced FcepsilonRI-mediated release of asthma-promoting cytokines and chemokines from human basophils during omalizumab therapy.

Background: Treating asthmatics with the humanized IgE-scavenging antibody, omalizumab (rhuMAb-E25, Xolair, reduces airways inflammation and asthma symptoms. Previously, omalizumab was shown to cause a dramatic and reversible loss of cell surface high-affinity IgE receptors, FcepsilonRI, from the peripheral blood basophils of asthmatics. The consequences of receptor loss for the FcepsilonRI-mediated synthesis and release of cytokines implicated in allergic asthma have not been examined.

A comparison of inflammatory mediators released by basophils of asthmatic and control subjects in response to high-affinity IgE receptor aggregation.

Background: In human blood basophils, cross-linking the high-affinity IgE receptor Fc epsilonRI with multivalent antigen activates a signaling pathway leading to secretion of inflammatory mediators and cytokine production. Basophils are known to play an important role in the pathogenesis of asthma but there has been no comprehensive examination of the effectors these cells produce. Here a study of the transcription and release of a selection of chemokines and cytokines from basophils was undertaken.

Histamine release from the basophils of control and asthmatic subjects and a comparison of gene expression between "releaser" and "nonreleaser" basophils.

Most human blood basophils respond to FcepsilonRI cross-linking by releasing histamine and other inflammatory mediators. Basophils that do not degranulate after anti-IgE challenge, known as "nonreleaser" basophils, characteristically have no or barely detectable levels of the Syk tyrosine kinase. The true incidence of the nonreleaser phenotype, its relationship (if any) to allergic asthma, and its molecular mechanism are not well understood.

Production of cod (Gadus morhua) muscle hydrolysates. Influence of combinations of commercial enzyme preparations on hydrolysate peptide size range.

The complement of enzyme activities of a selection of commercial protease preparations were determined using fluorogenic substrates. Alcalase was used in combination with other commercial enzyme preparations to produce cod muscle (Gadus morhua) hydrolysates. Each muscle hydrolysate was characterized with respect to the percentage degree of hydrolysis (DH %), peptide molecular weight range, and free amino acid content.