Microstructure of the Advanced Titanium Alloy VT8M-1 Subjected to Rotary Swaging.

In this study, the microstructural behavior of the advanced Ti-5.7Al-3.8Mo-1.

Evaluation of LFA-1 Peptide-Methotrexate Conjugates in Modulating Endothelial Cell Inflammation and Cytokine Regulation.

Interactions between vascular endothelial cells and inflammatory leukocytes are intermediated via cell adhesion molecules and they become one of the key events for vascular cell injury and development of atherosclerosis. This study evaluated the effects of MTX-peptide conjugates as anti-inflammatory agents on human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAEC) and Molt-3 T cells. Cyclic peptides, cLABL and cLBEL, were derived from the α- and β-subunits of leukocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1), respectively.

Effect of the Texture of the Ultrafine-Grained Ti-6Al-4V Titanium Alloy on Impact Toughness.

In this work, the strength properties and impact toughness of the ultrafine-grained (UFG) Ti-6Al-4V titanium alloy produced by severe plastic deformation (SPD) in combination with upsetting were studied, depending on the direction of crack propagation. In the billets processed by equal-channel angular pressing (ECAP), the presence of anisotropy of ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and ductility was observed, conditioned by the formation of a metallographic and crystallographic texture. At the same time, the ECAP-processed UFG alloy exhibited satisfactory values of impact toughness, ~0.

Methotrexate (MTX)-cIBR conjugate for targeting MTX to leukocytes: conjugate stability and in vivo efficacy in suppressing rheumatoid arthritis.

Methotrexate (MTX) has been used to treat rheumatoid arthritis at low doses and leukemia at high doses; however, this drug can produce severe side effects. Our hypothesis is that MTX side effects can be attenuated by directing the drug to the target cells (i.e.

Sequence recognition of alpha-LFA-1-derived peptides by ICAM-1 cell receptors: inhibitors of T-cell adhesion.

Blocking the T-cell adhesion signal from intercellular adhesion molecule-1/leukocyte function-associated antigen-1 interactions (Signal-2) can suppress the progression of autoimmune diseases (i.e. type-1 diabetes, psoriasis) and prevent allograph rejection.

Ectopic Agouti protein overexpression increases stimulated corticosterone production without effect on adenylate cyclase activity in mouse adrenal cells.

Objective: The antagonism of Agouti protein (AP) and Agouti-related protein on melanocortin receptors suggests an inhibitory role in the regulation of steroidogenesis. However, we have previously demonstrated that ectopic AP overexpression increased restraint-induced corticosterone release and adrenal reactivity to ACTH in mice. A high steroidogenic response to ACTH may be a consequence of a stimulatory AP action on the adenylate cyclase (AC) and/or intracellular steroidogenic enzymes.

Inhibition of LFA-1/ICAM-1 and VLA-4/VCAM-1 as a therapeutic approach to inflammation and autoimmune diseases.

This review focuses on providing insights into the structural basis and clinical relevance of LFA-1 and VLA-4 inhibition by peptides and small molecules as adhesion-based therapeutic strategies for inflammation and autoimmune diseases. Interactions of cell adhesion molecules (CAM) play central roles in mediating immune and inflammatory responses. Leukocyte function-associated antigen (LFA-1, alpha(L)beta(2), and CD11a/CD18) and very late antigen (VLA-4, alpha(4)beta(1), and CD49d/CD29) are members of integrin-type CAM that are predominantly involved in leukocyte trafficking and extravasation.