The second-sphere residue T263 is important for the function and catalytic activity of PTP1B via interaction with the WPD-loop.

Protein tyrosine phosphatases have diverse substrate specificities and intrinsic activities that lay the foundations for the fine-tuning of a phosphorylation network to precisely regulate cellular signal transduction. All classical PTPs share common catalytic mechanisms, and the important catalytic residues in the first sphere of their active sites have been well characterized. However, little attention has been paid to the second-sphere residues that are potentially important in defining the intrinsic activity and substrate specificity of PTPs.

[IL-25 derived from epithelial cells has the potential to promote airway remodeling in asthma].

Aim: To explore the role of interleukin-25(IL-25) in the pathogenesis of eosinophilic asthma (EA) and non-eosinophilic asthma (NEA) through detecting its expression in serum, induced sputum and bronchial epithelial mucosa of asthmatic patients.

Methods: Serum and induced sputum were collected from 55 untreated asthmatic patients and 27 healthy control subjects. The asthmatic patients were divided into EA and NEA groups according to sputum eosinophils(EOS) percentage (3% as a dividing point).

[Expression of MADD in lung adenocarcinoma tissues and its effects on proliferation and apoptosis of lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells].

Aim: To investigate the expression of MAPK-activating death domain protein (MADD) in lung adenocarcinoma tissues and its effects on proliferation and apoptosis of lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells.

Methods: Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of MADD in lung normal and tumor tissues. The expression of IG20 gene in A549 cells was measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.

Thymic stromal lymphopoietin promotes lung inflammation through activation of dendritic cells.

Asthma is an epithelial disorder in which T helper 2 (Th2)-type inflammation has a prominent role. Recent studies indicated that a cytokine, thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), is essential for the development of antigen-induced asthma. The authors used ovalbumin (OVA) sensitization and challenge to induce a murine asthmatic model.

FIZZ1 plays a crucial role in early stage airway remodeling of OVA-induced asthma.

The aim of this study was to elucidate the role of Found in Inflammatory Zone 1 (FIZZ1, also known as RELM-alpha or resistin-like molecule-alpha) in airway remodeling in asthma. We used a rat model of ovalbumin (OVA) sensitization and challenge to induce lung inflammation and remodeling. Expression of alpha -SMA in the lungs of OVA-treated rats was significantly elevated in the peribronchial regions compared with control saline-treated animals.