gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Molecular cloning and characterization of a novel glycoprotein, gp34, that is specifically induced by the human T-cell leukemia virus type I transactivator p40tax. (1991)

We have cloned and sequenced a cDNA encoding gp34, a novel glycoprotein expressed in cells bearing human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I). HTLV-I has a trans-acting transcriptional activator, p40tax, that is thought to be implicated in leukemogenesis through the activation of cellular enhancers. With a subline (JPX-9) of the human T-cell line Jurkat, in which p40tax is inducible, gp34 was shown to be of cellular origin and to be transcriptionally activated by p40tax. It was also demonstrated that two species of mRNA are generated from one copy of the gp34 gene and that these mRNAs encode the identical gp34 product and differ in the 3' untranslated region. Analysis of the deduced amino acid sequence of gp34 showed that it lacks typical signal peptides; however, it has a hydrophobic stretch for membrane anchoring and four possible N-linked glycosylation sites at the carboxy-terminal portion, indicating that it belongs to the family of membrane proteins whose carboxy-terminal portion protrudes out of the cell. The gp34 gene displayed relatively delayed induction compared with other genes activated by p40tax. Taken together with the observation of the dependence of gp34 expression on HTLV-I p40tax, unlike other p40tax-dependent genes such as those for the interleukin-2 receptor alpha chain and c-fos, which are expressed or induced under physiological conditions, we predict that the mechanism involved in the induction of gp34 expression by p40tax is distinct from and more intricate than those for the previously characterized genes.
Adenosine A2A receptor antagonists: blockade of adenosinergic effects and T regulatory cells (2008)

The intensity and duration of host responses are determined by protective mechanisms that control tissue injury by dampening down inflammation. Adenosine generation and consequent effects, mediated via A2A adenosine receptors (A2AR) on effector cells, play a critical role in the pathophysiological modulation of these responses in vivo. Adenosine is both released by hypoxic cells/tissues and is also generated from extracellular nucleotides by ecto-enzymes e.g. CD39 (ENTPD1) and CD73 that are expressed by the vasculature and immune cells, in particular by T regulatory cell. In general, these adenosinergic mechanisms minimize the extent of collateral damage to host tissues during the course of inflammatory reactions. However, induction of suppressive pathways might also cause escape of pathogens and permit dissemination. In addition, adenosinergic responses may inhibit immune responses while enhancing vascular angiogenic responses to malignant cells that promote tumor growth. Novel drugs that block A2AR-adenosinergic effects and/or adenosine generation have the potential to boost pathogen destruction and to selectively destroy malignant tissues. In the latter instance, future treatment modalities might include novel 'anti-adenosinergic' approaches that augment immune clearance of malignant cells and block permissive angiogenesis. This review addresses several possible pharmacological modalities to block adenosinergic pathways and speculates on their future application together with impacts on human disease.
Linkage of cystic fibrosis to the proα 2(I) collagen gene, COL1A2, on chromosome 7 (1986)

A linkage has been detected between the locus for cystic fibrosis (CF) and the pro alpha 2(I) collagen gene (COL1A2) which is located in the region q21.3----q22.1 of chromosome 7. Based on the combined linkage data derived from 50 informative two-generation nuclear families collected in Canada and Denmark, the distance between COL1A2 and CF is estimated to be 19 centiMorgans. Close linkage has also been detected between COL1A2 and the DNA marker D7S15 (formerly D0CRI-917) and the serum enzyme activity marker paraoxonase (PON), both of which have previously been found linked to CF. The results of the two-point and three-point linkage analyses indicate that the most probable order of these four genetic loci is COL1A2-D7S15 - PON - CF.
Insulin binding to human B lymphoblasts is a function of HLA haplotype. (1987)

A variety of genetic and biochemical evidence points to an association between major histocompatibility complex (MHC) haplotype and several types of cell surface receptors including epidermal growth factor and insulin receptors. We report evidence for such associations between human class I MHC antigens, HLA antigens, and specific insulin binding sites on human B lymphoblasts. We have measured insulin binding to cells of an HLA-heterozygous, Epstein-Barr virus-transformed B-cell line, LCL 721, and to derivative mutants from which all or part of the HLA complex had been deleted. The affinity, Ka, of insulin binding sites is approximately 10(8) M-1 in mutants expressing antigen HLA-B5 together with other HLA antigens and in mutants expressing only HLA-C. HLA-A1; HLA-A1,B8; HLA-A2,C; and HLA null mutants (not expressing any HLA antigens) bind insulin to sites with an affinity of approximately 10(9) M-1.
Manufacturing of agarose-based chromatographic adsorbents with controlled pore and particle size (2009)

Chromatography remains the most commonly employed method for achieving high resolution separation of large-sized biomolecules, such as plasmid DNA, typically around 150-250 nm in diameter. Currently, fractionation of such entities is performed using stationary phases designed for protein purification, typically employing pore sizes of about 40 nm. This results into a severe underexploitation of the porous structure of the adsorbent as adsorption of plasmid DNA occurs almost exclusively on the outer surface of the adsorbent. In this study, the effect of two processing parameters, the ionic strength of agarose solution and quenching temperature, on the structure of the resulting particles was investigated. Three characterization methods, Atomic Force and cryo-Scanning Electron microscopy, as well as mechanical testing of single particles where used to quantify the effect of these parameters on the pore size/size distribution and mechanical properties of the adsorbent. In the presence of salt, it was found that agarose fibres tend to aggregate, leading to a gel with large pore size and wide pore size distribution. In fact, for the narrow range of ionic strength used (0-0.1m), a five-fold increase in pore size of the gel was observed. The same type of enlarged agarose structures was observed when slow cooling was applied during the gelation of agarose. The increase in pore size of the gel was also accompanied by an increase in the compression strength and the elastic modulus of the particles, i.e. particles with 200 nm pore size were found to have higher compression strength (1.5-fold difference) than those with 40 nm pore size.
Alternatively activated dendritic cells regulate CD4+T-cell polarization in vitro and in vivo (2012)

Interleukin-4 is a cytokine widely known for its role in CD4(+) T cell polarization and its ability to alternatively activate macrophage populations. In contrast, the impact of IL-4 on the activation and function of dendritic cells (DCs) is poorly understood. We report here that DCs respond to IL-4 both in vitro and in vivo by expression of multiple alternative activation markers with a different expression pattern to that of macrophages. We further demonstrate a central role for DC IL-4Rα expression in the optimal induction of IFNγ responses in vivo in both Th1 and Th2 settings, through a feedback loop in which IL-4 promotes DC secretion of IL-12. Finally, we reveal a central role for RELMα during T-cell priming, establishing that its expression by DCs is critical for optimal IL-10 and IL-13 promotion in vitro and in vivo. Together, these data highlight the significant impact that IL-4 and RELMα can have on DC activation and function in the context of either bacterial or helminth pathogens.
Identification of a Sphingolipid α-Glucuronosyltransferase That Is Essential for Pollen Function inArabidopsis (2014)

Glycosyl inositol phosphorylceramide (GIPC) sphingolipids are a major class of lipids in fungi, protozoans, and plants. GIPCs are abundant in the plasma membrane in plants, comprising around a quarter of the total lipids in these membranes. Plant GIPCs contain unique glycan decorations that include a conserved glucuronic acid (GlcA) residue and various additional sugars; however, no proteins responsible for glycosylating GIPCs have been identified to date. Here, we show that the Arabidopsis thaliana protein INOSITOL PHOSPHORYLCERAMIDE GLUCURONOSYLTRANSFERASE1 (IPUT1) transfers GlcA from UDP-GlcA to GIPCs. To demonstrate IPUT1 activity, we introduced the IPUT1 gene together with genes for a UDP-glucose dehydrogenase from Arabidopsis and a human UDP-GlcA transporter into a yeast mutant deficient in the endogenous inositol phosphorylceramide (IPC) mannosyltransferase. In this engineered yeast strain, IPUT1 transferred GlcA to IPC. Overexpression or silencing of IPUT1 in Nicotiana benthamiana resulted in an increase or a decrease, respectively, in IPC glucuronosyltransferase activity in vitro. Plants in which IPUT1 was silenced accumulated IPC, the immediate precursor, as well as ceramides and glucosylceramides. Plants overexpressing IPUT1 showed an increased content of GIPCs. Mutations in IPUT1 are not transmitted through pollen, indicating that these sphingolipids are essential in plants.
Periodontal Disease as a Complication of Diabetes Mellitus (1998)

Based on our clinical observations that patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) are subject to periodontal disease, we developed the hypothesis that hyper- or hypoglycemia might contribute to the pathogenesis of diabetic periodontitis. In this article, experimental facts that substantiate this hypothesis are presented on the basis of our studies and then discussed. Hyperglycemia progressively glycates body proteins, forming advanced glycation end products (AGE), which stimulate phagocytes to release inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-alpha and IL-6. In this context, to understand the effects of hyperglycemic episodes on periodontal health, 24 adolescent IDDM patients were examined for their periodontal status, and 3 of them were found to have periodontitis. Laboratory analyses on these 3 patients revealed that 2 had elevated serum TNF-alpha levels. These results may partly support the current hypothesis of a mechanism of diabetic complications in which abnormal cytokine levels induced by AGE could exacerbate inflammatory responses. In IDDM patients, the diabetes is often accompanied not only by hyperglycemic episodes but also by iatrogenic hypoglycemia. Periodontal ligament cells (PDL) cultured under hyperglycemic conditions were impaired in such biological functions as adhesion and motility, while cells cultured under hypoglycemic conditions (10 mg/dL) gradually dissociated from their anchor and underwent cell death. These phenomena correlated well with the expression profile of fibronectin receptor. Interestingly, these changes due to the different glucose levels were observed more intensively in PDL than in other fibroblastic cells, suggesting that the biological functions of PDL are easily led to impairment by variation or rapid fluctuation of glucose levels. These observations suggest that hyperglycemia could indirectly exacerbate inflammatory tissue destruction through the body's scavenger system against AGE, and that both hyper- and hypoglycemia might directly impair the biological functions of periodontal connective tissues through cell-matrix interactions.
Glypican 3 Expression in Human Nonneoplastic, Preneoplastic, and Neoplastic Tissues (2008)

Several studies have shown that glypican 3 (GPC3) could be a useful diagnostic marker for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and for differentiating HCC from nonneoplastic and preneoplastic liver disease. To systematically investigate the epidemiology of GPC3 expression in the liver and in other organs and tissues, we used tissue microarray technology comprising 4,387 tissue samples from 139 tumor categories and 36 nonneoplastic and preneoplastic tissue types. The immunohistochemical expression of GPC3 was assessed semiquantitatively using a 10% cutoff score and was detected in 9.2% of nonneoplastic liver samples (11/119), 16% of preneoplastic nodular liver lesions (6/38), and 63.6% of HCCs (140/220), underlining the role of GPC3 in hepatocarcinogenesis. Furthermore, several other tumors revealed consistent expression of GPC3, including squamous cell carcinoma of the lung (27/50 [54%]), testicular nonseminomatous germ cell tumors (32/62 [52%]), and liposarcoma (15/29 [52%]).
Apical trehalase expression associated with cell patterning after inducer treatment of LLC‐PK1 monolayers (1987)

Trehalase, a differentiation-specific marker of renal proximal tubule brush border membrane, is expressed in confluent long-term cultures of the renal epithelial cell line LLC-PK1. The level of trehalase is greatly increased after treatment of cultures with differentiation inducers such as hexamethylene bisacetamide (HMBA), accompanied by increases in other apical membrane-associated differentiated functions (Yoneyama and Lever: J. Cell. Physiol. 121: 64-73, 1984). In the present study, we utilize a polyclonal antibody specific for renal trehalase to demonstrate that trehalase expression induced in LLC-PK1 cultures after HMBA treatment is localized in cells forming a three-dimensional network of strands across the confluent monolayer. The antitrehalase antibody recognized an apical membrane antigen of apparent molecular weight 100-110 kD both in LLC-PK1 cultures and in the corresponding pig renal brush border membranes. Strand formation and total trehalase activity increased in parallel as a function of inducer concentration and duration of exposure. Strand formation and trehalase expression were also greatly enhanced in monolayers grown on a Nuclepore filter support even in the absence of inducer. Strand formation was not a prerequisite for induced trehalase expression in culture, since strands did not develop in cultures treated with N, N'-dimethylformamide (DMF) and equally potent inducer of trehalase expression. In this case, cells which expressed increased levels of trehalase were dispersed at random over the monolayer. Induction of strand formation and trehalase expression by HMBA required a minimum exposure period of 48 hr and persisted up to a week after removal of inducer. By contrast, the response to DMF required continuous presence of inducer. Levels of trehalase declined even in the continuous presence of inducer in local regions of low cell density created by wound-repair of the monolayer. In addition to the membrane-bound form, trehalase activity was also recoverable from the culture medium, but release of trehalase was not affected by inducers. These observations are consistent with the view that a cell type committed to express a program of differentiation after HMBA treatment or growth on a permeable support is organized in specific cell patterns visible as strands over the confluent cell monolayer.
Cutting Edge: CD4+CD25+ Regulatory T Cells Suppress Antigen-Specific Autoreactive Immune Responses and Central Nervous System Inflammation During Active Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (2002)

Autoreactive CD4(+) T cells exist in normal individuals and retain the capacity to initiate autoimmune disease. The current study investigates the role of CD4(+)CD25(+) T-regulatory (T(R)) cells during autoimmune disease using the CD4(+) T cell-dependent myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)-specific experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis model of multiple sclerosis. In vitro, T(R) cells effectively inhibited both the proliferation of and cytokine production by MOG(35-55)-specific Th1 cells. In vivo, adoptive transfer of T(R) cells conferred significant protection from clinical experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis which was associated with normal activation of autoreactive Th1 cells, but an increased frequency of MOG(35-55)-specific Th2 cells and decreased CNS infiltration. Lastly, transferred T(R) cells displayed an enhanced ability to traffic to the peripheral lymph nodes and expressed increased levels of the adhesion molecules ICAM-1 and P-selectin that may promote functional interactions with target T cells. Collectively, these findings suggest that T(R) cells contribute notably to the endogenous mechanisms that regulate actively induced autoimmune disease.
Ecdysteroid ligand–receptor selectivity – exploring trends to design orthogonal gene switches (2008)

A set of thirty-two natural and ten semisynthetic ecdysteroids was assayed in murine 3T3 cells across ten different ecdysteroid receptor (EcR) ligand-binding domains derived from nine arthropod species in an engineered gene switch format. Among the ecdysteroids tested, the most biologically widespread ecdysteroid, 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E), was moderately and consistently potent across the tested EcRs. The most potent ligand-receptor combination (EC(50) = 0.3 nm) was ponasterone A (PoA) actuating the Nephotettix cincticeps EcR switch. The most robust ligand-receptor combination, as measured by potency and efficacy, was PoA actuating either the Bombyx mori EcR or a 'VY' (E274V/V390I/Y410E) mutant of Choristoneura fumiferana EcR. Parallel ecdysteroid structure-activity relationships were observed across species; addition of hydroxyl groups at positions 2, 3, 14, 20 and 22 incrementally enhanced potency, whereas hydroxylation at position 25 retarded potency. Nevertheless, several outlier ligand-EcR combinations, such as cyasterone actuating the VY C. fumiferana EcR mutant and canescensterone activating Bemisia argentifolii EcR, exhibited an inversion of relative potency, and therefore lend themselves to construction of orthogonal duplex gene switches. The potency inversion between these two ligand-receptor pairs can be accounted for by steroid-tail contact residues Tyr411 and Met502 in VY C. fumiferana EcR corresponding to two threonines in B. argentifolii EcR. Another potency inversion was also observed with cyasterone operating on the VY mutant of C. fumiferana EcR and polypodine B activating Aedes aegypti EcR. The ecdysteroid-EcR dataset, generated in a non-natural system, nevertheless invites conjecture regarding relative ecdysteroid potencies, plant species distribution of certain phytoecdysteroids, and the role of phytoecdysteroids as chemodefense against relevant insect herbivores.
Methods of robustness analysis for Boolean models of gene control networks (2006)

As a discrete approach to genetic regulatory networks, Boolean models provide an essential qualitative description of the structure of interactions among genes and proteins. Boolean models generally assume only two possible states (expressed or not expressed) for each gene or protein in the network, as well as a high level of synchronisation among the various regulatory processes. Two possible methods of adapting qualitative models to incorporate the continuous-time character of regulatory networks, are discussed and compared. The first method consists of introducing asynchronous updates in the Boolean model. In the second method, the approach introduced by Glass is adopted to obtain a set of piecewise linear differential equations that continuously describe the states of each gene or protein in the network. Both methods are applied to a Boolean model of the segment polarity gene network of Drosophila melanogaster. The dynamics of the model is analysed, and a theoretical characterisation of the model's gene pattern prediction is provided as a function of the timescales of the various processes.
[Pneumonia caused by Nocardia nova]. (2001)

This is the first clinical report of a case of pneumonia caused by Nocardia nova in Japan. A 52 year-old woman who had received steroids and cyclophosphamide for six years because of polymyositis was admitted to our hospital for further examination. On admission she had a mild cough, and her chest radiography and computed tomography revealed bilateral multiple nodules, some of which were cavitated. She developed a cough productive of yellow sputum and fever up to 38 degrees C. Examination of the sputum revealed a gram-positive branched organism and sputum cultures repeatedly grew Nocardia species. The isolate was identified as Nocardia nova later. Clinical recovery was obtained readily upon treatment with imipenem and trimethoprim methoxazole, though the latter drug was discontinued because of nausea and anorexia. This drug was therefore replaced with oral minocycline, which proved to be ineffective clinically although susceptibility testing of the drug showed positive sensitivity. Minocycline was replaced with clarithromycin, after which chest radiography and computed tomography showed almost total resolution of the infiltrates. Clarithromycin may be an alternative oral agent to sulfonamides or minocycline when these agents are ineffective or not tolerated.
Antibacterial Surface Coatings from Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Embedded in Poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) Hydrogel Surface Layers (2012)

Abstract Despite multiple research approaches to prevent bacterial colonization on surfaces, device‐associated infections are currently responsible for about 50% of nosocomial infections in Europe and significantly increase health care costs, which demands development of advanced antibacterial surface coatings. Here, novel antimicrobial composite materials incorporating zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NP) into biocompatible poly( N ‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) hydrogel layers are prepared by mixing the PNIPAAm prepolymer with ZnO NP, followed by spin‐coating and photocrosslinking. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) characterization of the composite film morphology reveals a homogeneous distribution of the ZnO NP throughout the film for every applied NP/polymer ratio. The optical properties of the embedded NP are not affected by the matrix as confirmed by UV‐vis spectroscopy. The nanocomposite films exhibit bactericidal behavior towards Escherichia coli (E. coli) for a ZnO concentration as low as ≈0.74 μg cm −2 (1.33 mmol cm −3 ), which is determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. In contrast, the coatings are found to be non‐cytotoxic towards a mammalian cell line (NIH/3T3) at bactericidal loadings of ZnO over an extended period of seven days. The differential toxicity of the ZnO/hydrogel nanocomposite thin films between bacterial and cellular species qualifies them as promising candidates for novel biomedical device coatings.
Cyclosporine Induced Autoimmunity in Newborns Prevented by Early Immunization (1998)

It has been shown in animal toxicity models that administration of Cyclosporine, CsA, to a pregnant mouse greatly increases the risk that the offspring will develop autoimmunity. Immunization starting at birth has been shown to prevent autoimmunity in other animal models of autoimmunity and early immunization is associated with the prevention of diabetes in humans. Experiments were performed to see if early immunization could also prevent CsA induced autoimmunity. Mice were injected with CsA during the first week of life and then immunized with killed human vaccines, including common pediatric vaccines, starting in the second week of life for a total of 3-4 doses. Administration of CsA during the first week of life resulted in the development of antigastric autoantibodies which were measured at week 8 of life. Only 12% of mice treated with CsA alone lacked anti-agastric antibodies compared to 61% in the group receiving the CsA and the diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, and anthrax vaccines (p = 0.0005). The results indicate early immunization can prevent CsA induced autoimmunity and provide further evidence that the effect of starting immunization in the first month should be compared to starting immunization after 2 months in humans.