Macrophage variants in laboratory research: most are well done, but some are RAW.

Macrophages play a pivotal role in the innate immune response. While their most characteristic function is phagocytosis, it is important not to solely characterize macrophages by this activity. Their crucial roles in body development, homeostasis, repair, and immune responses against pathogens necessitate a broader understanding.

Simultaneous Increases in Intracellular Sodium and Tonicity Boost Antimicrobial Activity of Macrophages.

Inflamed and infected tissues can display increased local sodium (Na) levels, which can have various effects on immune cells. In macrophages, high salt (HS) leads to a Na/Ca-exchanger 1 (NCX1)-dependent increase in intracellular Na levels. This results in augmented osmoprotective signaling and enhanced proinflammatory activation, such as enhanced expression of type 2 nitric oxide synthase and antimicrobial function.

Rheumatoid Arthritis-Associated Autoimmunity Due to and Its Resolution With Antibiotic Therapy.

() is a Gram-negative coccobacillus recognized as a pathogen in periodontitis and infective endocarditis. By producing a toxin (leukotoxin A, LtxA) that triggers global hypercitrullination in neutrophils, has been recently linked to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) pathogenesis. Although mechanistic and clinical association studies implicate infection in the initiation of autoimmunity in RA, direct evidence in humans is lacking.

PI3K: A master regulator of brain metastasis-promoting macrophages/microglia.

Mutations and activation of the PI3K signaling pathway in breast cancer cells have been linked to brain metastases. However, here we describe that in some breast cancer brain metastases samples the protein expression of PI3K signaling components is restricted to the metastatic microenvironment. In contrast to the therapeutic effects of PI3K inhibition on the breast cancer cells, the reaction of the brain microenvironment is less understood.

Comparative whole genome analysis of three consecutive Salmonella diarizonae isolates.

Infections of very young children or immunocompromised people with Salmonella of higher subspecies are a well-known phenomenon often associated with contact to cold-blooded animals. We describe the molecular characterization of three S. enterica subsp.