Increased Carotid Artery Lesion Inflammation Upon Treatment With the CD137 Agonistic Antibody 2A.

Background: Increased inflammatory activity destabilizes the atherosclerotic lesion and may lead to atherothrombosis and symptomatic cardiovascular disease. Co-stimulatory molecules, such as CD137, are key regulators of inflammation, and CD137 activity regulates inflammation in experimental atherosclerosis. Here, we hypothesized that CD137 activation promotes carotid artery inflammation and atherothrombosis.

A processive lipid glycosyltransferase in the small human pathogen Mycoplasma pneumoniae: involvement in host immune response.

The human pathogen Mycoplasma pneumoniae has a very small genome but with many yet not identified gene functions, e.g. for membrane lipid biosynthesis.

High cationic charge and bilayer interface-binding helices in a regulatory lipid glycosyltransferase.

In the prokaryote Acholeplasma laidlawii, membrane bilayer properties are sensed and regulated by two interface glycosyltransferases (GTs), synthesizing major nonbilayer- (alMGS GT) and bilayer-prone glucolipids. These enzymes are of similar structure, as many soluble GTs, but are sensitive to lipid charge and curvature stress properties. Multivariate and bioinformatic sequence analyses show that such interface enzymes, in relation to soluble ones of similar fold, are characterized by high cationic charge, certain distances between small and cationic amino acids, and by amphipathic helices.