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- Boerma, M, et al.
(författare)
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A genetic polymorphism in connexin 37 as a prognostic marker for atherosclerotic plaque development
- 1999
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Ingår i: Journal of Internal Medicine. - : Wiley. - 1365-2796 .- 0954-6820. ; 246:2, s. 211-218
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Atherosclerosis is a multifactorial disease, in part characterized by chronic inflammatory changes in the vessel wall and loss of normal physical and biochemical interactions between endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells. Previous studies [Hu J., Cotgreave IA. J Clin Invest; 99: 1-5] have provided molecular links between inflammation and myoendothelial communication via gap junctions, suggesting that these structures may be important in the development of the atherosclerotic vessel phenotype. In order to strengthen this premise, the aim of the present work was to probe for structural polymorphisms in connexin 37, a gap junctional protein uniquely expressed in endothelial cells, and to assess for potential genotypic segregation in individuals displaying atherosclerotic plaque. METHODS AND RESULTS: Computer-based comparisons of Expressed Sequence Tags (ESTs) predicted a polymorphism in the human gap junctional protein connexin 37 (cx37). The C1019-T mutation results in a proline to serine shift at codon 319 (cx37*1-cx37*2). A Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) assay, involving the insertion of a novel Drd I cleavage site in the proline variant revealed a statistically significant over-representation of the cx37*1 allele in association with atherosclerotic plaque-bearing individuals (Odds-ratio for the homozygote = 2.38, Chi2 = 7.693, P = 0.006), in comparison to individuals lacking plaque, irrespective of a history of hypertension. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that the C1019-T polymorphism in cx37 may provide 'single gene marker', which could be useful in assessing atherosclerotic plaque development, particularly in cardiovascular risk groups such as those with borderline hypertension.
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| 2. |
- Hong, J., et al.
(författare)
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Plasma chemistries for high density plasma etching of SiC
- 1999
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Ingår i: Journal of Electronic Materials. - Charlottesville, VA, USA. - 0361-5235 .- 1543-186X. ; 28:3, s. 196-201
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A variety of different plasma chemistries, including SF6, Cl2, ICI, and IBr, have been examined for dry etching of 6H-SiC in high ion density plasma tools (inductively coupled plasma and electron cyclotron resonance). Rates up to 4500 angstroms·min-1 were obtained for SF6 plasmas, while much lower rates (≀800 angstroms·min-1) were achieved with Cl2, ICI, and IBr. The F2-based chemistries have poor selectivity for SiC over photoresist masks (typically 0.4-0.5), but Ni masks are more robust, and allow etch depths ≥10 Όm in the SiC. A micromachining process (sequential etch/deposition steps) designed for Si produces relatively low etch rates (<2,000 angstroms·min-1) for SiC.
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| 3. |
- Korsgren, M, et al.
(författare)
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Natural killer cells determine development of allergen-induced eosinophilic airway inflammation in mice
- 1999
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Ingår i: The Journal of experimental medicine. - : Rockefeller University Press. - 0022-1007 .- 1540-9538. ; 189:3, s. 553-562
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The earliest contact between antigen and the innate immune system is thought to direct the subsequent antigen-specific T cell response. We hypothesized that cells of the innate immune system, such as natural killer (NK) cells, NK1.1+ T cells (NKT cells), and γ/δ T cells, may regulate the development of allergic airway disease. We demonstrate here that depletion of NK1.1+ cells (NK cells and NKT cells) before immunization inhibits pulmonary eosinophil and CD3+ T cell infiltration as well as increased levels of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, and IL-12 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in a murine model of allergic asthma. Moreover, systemic allergen-specific immunoglobulin (Ig)E and IgG2a levels and the number of IL-4 and interferon γ–producing splenic cells were diminished in mice depleted of NK1.1+ cells before the priming regime. Depletion of NK1.1+ cells during the challenge period only did not influence pulmonary eosinophilic inflammation. CD1d1 mutant mice, deficient in NKT cells but with normal NK cells, developed lung tissue eosinophilia and allergen-specific IgE levels not different from those observed in wild-type mice. Mice deficient in γ/δ T cells showed a mild attenuation of lung tissue eosinophilia in this model. Taken together, these findings suggest a critical role of NK cells, but not of NKT cells, for the development of allergen-induced airway inflammation, and that this effect of NK cells is exerted during the immunization. If translatable to humans, these data suggest that NK cells may be critically important for deciding whether allergic eosinophilic airway disease will develop. These observations are also compatible with a pathogenic role for the increased NK cell activity observed in human asthma.
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| 4. |
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| 5. |
- Medstrand, Patrik, et al.
(författare)
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Structure and genomic organization of a novel human endogenous retrovirus family : HERV-K (HML-6)
- 1997
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Ingår i: Journal of General Virology. - 0022-1317 .- 1465-2099. ; 78 (Pt 7), s. 1731-44
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Prototypic elements of a novel human endogenous retrovirus (HERV) family were identified and cloned from a human genomic library by the use of a pol fragment, HML-6, related to type A and type B retroviruses and class II HERVs. Out of 39 polhybridizing clones, five contained structures of full-length retroviral proviruses, with regions showing similarity to gag, pol and env, flanked by long terminal repeats (LTRs). Restriction mapping and partial sequence analysis of each full-length clone revealed few conserved restriction sites among HML-6 genomes, and about 20% sequence divergence over the reverse transcriptase region sequenced, suggesting that HML-6 constitutes a heterogeneous, but distinct family of elements belonging to the HERV-K superfamily. Sequence analysis of two clones, HML-6p and HML-6.17, revealed a lysine (K) tRNA UUU primer-binding site, and 40-68% nucleotide sequence similarity to LTR, gag, pro, pol and env regions of type B retroviruses and class II HERVs. HERV-K (HML-6) elements are present at about 30-40 copies per haploid genome. The HML-6 LTRs contain putative progesterone-responsive elements, which may be involved in the regulation of HML-6 expression. Furthermore, there are about 50 additional solitary HML-6 LTRs per haploid genome. Such LTRs were integrated within the pol region of two clones belonging to the same HML-6 family, indicating that some site preference may be involved in HERV integration.
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