Expression profile of Caenorhabditis elegans mutant for the Werner syndrome gene ortholog reveals the impact of vitamin C on development to increase life span.

Background: Werner Syndrome (WS) is a rare disorder characterized by the premature onset of a number of age-related diseases. The gene responsible for WS encodes a DNA helicase/exonuclease protein believed to affect different aspects of transcription, replication, and DNA repair. Caenorhabditis elegans (C.

Crystal-induced neutrophil activation: XI. Implication and novel roles of classical protein kinase C.

Monosodium urate (MSU) crystals are among the most potent proinflammatory stimuli, and an innate immune inflammatory response to the crystal surface is involved in the pathology of gouty arthritis. Furthermore, MSU crystals have recently been identified as danger signals able to induce the maturation of dendritic cells. Release of the crystals into the joint cavity promotes an acute inflammation characterized by a massive infiltration of neutrophils that leads to tissue damage.

The ubiquitin ligase c-Cbl down-regulates FcgammaRIIa activation in human neutrophils.

Little is known about the mechanisms that arrest FcgammaRIIa signaling in human neutrophils once engaged by immune complexes or opsonized pathogens. In our previous studies, we observed a loss of immunoreactivity of Abs directed against FcgammaRIIa following its cross-linking. In this study, we report on the mechanisms involved in this event.