Regulation of calcium signaling in dendritic cells by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3.

Dendritic cells (DCs) are antigen-presenting cells that provide a link between innate and adaptive immunity. Ca(2+)-dependent signaling plays a central regulatory role in DC responses to diverse antigens. DCs are a primary target of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) [1,25(OH)(2)D(3)], a secosteroid hormone, that, in addition to its well-established action on Ca(2+) homeostasis, possesses immunomodulatory properties.

Impaired mast cell activation in gene-targeted mice lacking the serum- and glucocorticoid-inducible kinase SGK1.

The PI3K pathway plays a pivotal role in the stimulation of mast cells. PI3K-dependent kinases include the serum- and glucocorticoid-inducible kinase 1 (SGK1). The present study explored the role of SGK1 in mast cell function.

Ca2+-dependent functions in peptidoglycan-stimulated mouse dendritic cells.

Peptidoglycans (PGN) from bacterial cell walls may modify the course of an infection with bacterial pathogens. The present study explored the effect of PGN on cytosolic Ca2+ activity, cytokine production and phagocytosis of mouse dendritic cells (DCs), essential cells in the initiation and direction of antigen-specific T cell responses. Exposure of DCs to PGN was followed by a rapid increase in cytosolic Ca2+ activity ([Ca2+]i), which was due to Ca2+ release from intracellular stores and influx of extracellular Ca2+ across the cell membrane.

The additional loss of Bak and not the lack of the protein tyrosine kinase p56/Lck in one JCaM1.6 subclone caused pronounced apoptosis resistance in response to stimuli of the intrinsic pathway.

Ionising radiation, hypoxia, and the cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor Celecoxib are known agonists of the intrinsic apoptosis pathway that involves mitochondrial damage upstream of caspase activation. Mitochondrial integrity is regulated by the pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein family members Bak and Bax. Upstream of the mitochondria, many kinases and phosphatases control the apoptotic response.

Ochratoxin a lowers mRNA levels of genes encoding for key proteins of liver cell metabolism.

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a nephro- and hepatotoxic mycotoxin that frequently contaminates food and feedstuffs. Although recent studies have indicated that OTA modulates renal gene expression, little is known regarding its impact on differential gene expression in the liver. Therefore a microarray study of the HepG2 liver cell transcriptome in response to OTA exposure (0, 0.