Podocalyxin Expressed in Antigen Presenting Cells Promotes Interaction With T Cells and Alters Centrosome Translocation to the Contact Site.

Podocalyxin (PODXL), a cell surface sialomucin expressed in diverse types of normal and malignant cells, mediates cellular adhesion to extracellular matrix and cell-to-cell interaction. A previous study reported the expression of PODXL protein on monocytes undergoing macrophage differentiation, yet the expression of this molecule in other antigen presenting cells (APCs) and its function in the immune system still remain undetermined. In this study, we report that PODXL is expressed in human monocyte-derived immature dendritic cells at both the mRNA and protein levels.

Podocalyxin promotes proliferation and survival in mature B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma cells.

Podocalyxin (PCLP1) is a CD34-related sialomucin expressed by some normal cells and a variety of malignant tumors, including leukemia, and associated with the most aggressive cancers and poor clinical outcome. PCLP1 increases breast tumor growth, migration and invasion; however, its role in hematologic malignancies still remains undetermined. The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression and function of PCLP1 in mature B-cell lymphoma cells.

Podocalyxin-like protein 1 functions as an immunomodulatory molecule in breast cancer cells.

Podocalyxin-like protein 1 (PCLP1), a CD34-related sialomucin involved in the regulation of cellular morphology and adhesion, is expressed by a number of normal cells and various tumor cells. In breast malignancies PCLP1 overexpression has been associated with the most aggressive, metastatic cancers and poor prognosis. These observations suggest that PCLP1 expression could provide a mechanism to evade the immune response, thereby promoting metastatic progression of cancer.

Involvement of platelet-tumor cell interaction in immune evasion. Potential role of podocalyxin-like protein 1.

Besides their essential role in hemostasis and thrombosis, platelets are involved in the onset of cancer metastasis by interacting with tumor cells. Platelets release secretory factors that promote tumor growth, angiogenesis, and metastasis. Furthermore, the formation of platelet-tumor cell aggregates in the bloodstream provides cancer cells with an immune escape mechanism by protecting circulating malignant cells from immune-mediated lysis by natural killer (NK) cells.

Natural killer cells for cancer immunotherapy: pluripotent stem cells-derived NK cells as an immunotherapeutic perspective.

Natural killer (NK) cells play an essential role in the fight against tumor development. Over the last years, the progress made in the NK-cell biology field and in deciphering how NK-cell function is regulated, is driving efforts to utilize NK-cell-based immunotherapy as a promising approach for the treatment of malignant diseases. Therapies involving NK cells may be accomplished by activating and expanding endogenous NK cells by means of cytokine treatment or by transferring exogenous cells by adoptive cell therapy and/or by hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Cow's-milk-free diet as a therapeutic option in childhood chronic constipation.

Objectives: It has been reported that a number of children with constipation respond to a diet free of cow's-milk (CM) proteins, although evidence is lacking to support an immunoglobulin E-mediated mechanism.

Patients And Methods: We performed an open-label crossover study comparing CM and rice milk in 69 children who fulfilled Rome III criteria for chronic constipation. Clinical, physical, and immunologic parameters of patients who responded (R) and who did not respond (NR) to a CM-free diet were compared.

Differential expression of viral PAMP receptors mRNA in peripheral blood of patients with chronic hepatitis C infection.

Background: Pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMP) receptors play a key role in the early host response to viruses. In this work, we determined mRNA levels of two members of the Toll-like Receptors family, (TLR3 and TLR7) and the helicase RIG-I, all of three recognizing viral RNA products, in peripheral blood of healthy donors and hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients, to observe if their transcripts are altered in this disease.

Methods: IFN-alpha, TLR3, TLR7 and RIG-I levels in peripheral blood from healthy controls (n = 18) and chronic HCV patients (n = 18) were quantified by real-time polymerase chain reaction.