Cardiac-restricted expression of the carboxyl-terminal fragment of GRK3 Uncovers Distinct Functions of GRK3 in regulation of cardiac contractility and growth: GRK3 controls cardiac alpha1-adrenergic receptor responsiveness.

G protein-coupled receptor kinase-2 and -3 (GRK2 and GRK3) in cardiac myocytes catalyze phosphorylation and desensitization of different G protein-coupled receptors through specificity controlled by their carboxyl-terminal pleckstrin homology domain. Although GRK2 has been extensively investigated, the function of cardiac GRK3 remains unknown. Thus, in this study cardiac function of GRK3 was investigated in transgenic (Tg) mice with cardiac-restricted expression of a competitive inhibitor of GRK3, i.

Contraction pattern of the systemic right ventricle shift from longitudinal to circumferential shortening and absent global ventricular torsion.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to characterize the contraction pattern of the systemic right ventricle (RV).

Background: Reduced longitudinal function of the systemic RV compared with the normal RV has been interpreted as ventricular dysfunction. However, longitudinal shortening represents only one aspect of myocardial deformation, and changes in contraction in other dimensions have not previously been described.

Human receptors of innate immunity (CD14, TLR2) are promising targets for novel recombinant immunoglobulin-based vaccine candidates.

Experiments in mice have suggested that engagement of receptors of innate immunity has an adjuvant effect on adaptive immune responses. Such studies need to be extended to humans. We have here constructed recombinant scFv-based vaccine candidate proteins (vaccibodies) that target human TLR2 and CD14 for delivery of large antigens.

A VH4-34+ myeloma protein with weak autoreactivity.

It has been suggested that VH4-34 gene segment expression is counter-selected in multiple myeloma (MM) due to a self-tolerance mechanism. We cloned and sequenced a VH4-34 gene segment from bone marrow mononuclear cells of a stage III MM patient. We show that VH4-34 was expressed by the serum IgA myeloma (M)-protein, as demonstrated by reactivity with the VH4-34 specific 9G4 mAb and mass spectrometry (MS).

Lymphomas can develop from B cells chronically helped by idiotype-specific T cells.

B cell lymphomas have been associated with chronic infections and autoimmunity. However, most lymphomas develop in the absence of any known chronic antigenic stimulation. B cells process their highly diversified endogenous immunoglobulin and present clonally unique variable-region idiotypic (Id) peptides on their major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules to Id-specific T cells.

Delivery of antigen to CD40 induces protective immune responses against tumors.

Ligation of CD40 induces maturation of dendritic cells (DC) and could be a useful target for vaccines. In this study, we have constructed two types of Ab-based vaccine constructs that target mouse CD40. One type is a recombinant Ab with V regions specific for CD40 and has defined T cell epitopes inserted into its C region.

A three-cell model for activation of naïve T helper cells.

It is generally assumed that the activation of naïve T helper (Th) cells is the result of a two-cell interaction between the Th cell and a dendritic cell (DC) and that three signals are required. Signal one or stimulation is the recognition by the T-cell receptor (TCR) of antigenic peptides presented by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules. Signal two or co-stimulation is mainly provided by the triggering of CD28 on the T cell by CD80 and CD86 molecules on the DC.