Publications by authors named "Wayne J Higgins"

SerpinI2/Pancpin/MEPI is a 46kDa member of the serpin (serine protease inhibitor) superfamily. It is downregulated in pancreatic and breast cancer, and associated with acinar cell apoptosis and pancreatic insufficiency when absent in mice. However, the target protease and protein properties of serpinI2 are previously uncharacterised.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

PEDF (Pigment epithelium-derived factor) is a non-inhibitory member of the serpin gene family (serpinF1) that displays neurotrophic and anti-angiogenic properties. PEDF contains a secretion signal sequence, but although originally regarded as a secreted extracellular protein, endogenous PEDF is found in the cytoplasm and nucleus of several mammalian cell types. In this study we employed a yeast two-hybrid interaction trap screen to identify transportin-SR2, a member of the importin-β family of nuclear transport karyopherins, as a putative PEDF binding partner.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Granzyme-mediated cell death is the major pathway for cytotoxic lymphocytes to kill virus-infected and tumor cells. In humans, five different granzymes (i.e.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The glycosaminoglycan heparin is known to possess antimetastatic activity in experimental models and preclinical studies, but there is still uncertainty over its mechanism of action in this respect. As an anticoagulant, heparin enhances inhibition of thrombin by the serpin antithrombin III, but a similar cofactor role has not been previously investigated for proteases linked to metastasis. The squamous cell carcinoma antigens (serpins B3 and B4) are tumor-associated proteins that can inhibit papain-like cysteine proteases, including cathepsins L, K, and S.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF