First in-depth analysis of the novel Th2-type cytokines in salmonid fish reveals distinct patterns of expression and modulation but overlapping bioactivities.

IL-4 and IL-13 are closely related canonical type-2 cytokines in mammals and have overlapping bioactivities via shared receptors. They are frequently activated together as part of the same immune response and are the signature cytokines produced by T-helper (Th)2 cells and type-2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2), mediating immunity against extracellular pathogens. Little is known about the origin of type-2 responses, and whether they were an essential component of the early adaptive immune system that gave a fitness advantage by limiting collateral damage caused by metazoan parasites.

Identification and expression modulation of a C-type lectin domain family 4 homologue that is highly expressed in monocytes/macrophages in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).

The C-type lectin domain containing (CLEC) receptors including CD209 are expressed in vivo by monocytes, monocyte-derived macrophages and dendritic cells and by in vitro generated monocyte-derived cells. This paper reports the cloning and sequencing of a lectin molecule, CLEC4T1, in rainbow trout that is a homologue of the CLEC4 family. The expression pattern of the CLEC4T1 was investigated in vivo after infection with a bacterial pathogen and in cultured macrophages after modulation with microbial mimics.

The expression and prognostic significance of retinoic acid metabolising enzymes in colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common types of cancer with over fifty percent of patients presenting at an advanced stage. Retinoic acid is a metabolite of vitamin A and is essential for normal cell growth and aberrant retinoic acid metabolism is implicated in tumourigenesis. This study has profiled the expression of retinoic acid metabolising enzymes using a well characterised colorectal cancer tissue microarray containing 650 primary colorectal cancers, 285 lymph node metastasis and 50 normal colonic mucosal samples.

Characterisation and expression analysis of the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) homologue of the human dendritic cell marker CD208/lysosomal associated membrane protein 3.

LAMP3/CD208 is a member of the lysosomal-associated membrane protein family and is used as a putative marker for mature dendritic cells (DCs) in humans since it is upregulated upon DC activation and maturation. This paper reports the cloning and sequencing of LAMP3 in rainbow trout. The predicted trout LAMP3 shares the characteristic features of LAMP family members such as a C-terminal lysosomal sorting motif (G-Y-D-R-I) in the short C-terminal cytoplasmic tail, typical for lysosomal targeting, four potential N-linked glycosylation sites (NXS/T), four conserved cysteines in the membrane-proximal domain and the luminal domain divided by a serine/proline-rich region.