The endomysial antibody (EMA) immunofluorescent test is a highly specific method to detect disease-specific autoantibodies in celiac disease (CD) by their binding to natural transglutaminase-2 autoantigen in tissue sections, and it is used as a compulsory confirmatory test in the non-invasive diagnosis of CD. The classical EMA substrates are the monkey esophagus and the human umbilical cord. It is increasingly difficult to use these tissues due to ethical concerns and animal welfare regulations.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTransglutaminase 2 (TG2) is a uniquely versatile protein with diverse catalytic activities, such as transglutaminase, protein disulfide isomerase, GTPase and protein kinase, and participates in several biological processes. According to information available in the RBP2GO database, TG2 can act as an RNA-binding protein (RBP). RBPs participate in posttranscriptional gene expression regulation, therefore influencing the function of RNA, whereas RNA molecules can also modulate the biological activity of RBPs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMacrophage polarization is a process whereby macrophages develop a specific phenotype and functional response to different pathophysiological stimuli and tissue environments. In general, two main macrophage phenotypes have been identified: inflammatory (M1) and alternatively activated (M2) macrophages characterized specifically by IL-1β and IL-10 production, respectively. In the cardiotoxin-induced skeletal muscle injury model bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) play the central role in regulating tissue repair.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTransglutaminases are protein-modifying enzymes involved in physiological and pathological processes with potent therapeutic possibilities. Human TG4, also called prostate transglutaminase, is involved in the development of autoimmune and tumour diseases. Although rodent TG4 is well characterised, biochemical characteristics of human TG4 that could help th e understanding of its way of action are not published.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThermogenic brown and beige adipocytes might open up new strategies in combating obesity. Recent studies in rodents and humans have indicated that these adipocytes release cytokines, termed "batokines". Irisin was discovered as a polypeptide regulator of beige adipocytes released by myocytes, primarily during exercise.
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