Cell Death Modulation by Intravenous Immunoglobulin

Uses of intravenous immunoglobulin

Adjuvant high dose IVIgs are being used increasingly in a range of immune-mediated and auto-immune diseases. Although numerous immunomodulatory mechanisms have been suggested, the exact mechanisms of action are poorly understood. The efficacy of IVIg in certain diseases has been proven in clinical trials, in so far as IVIg is approved as the therapy of choice for Kawasaki syndrome and idiopathi...

Host cell death modulation by Chlamydia trachomatis

Viral modulation of cell death by inhibition of caspases.

Caspases are key effectors of the apoptotic process. Some of them play important roles in the immune system, being involved in the proteolytic maturation of the key cytokines, including interleukin 1beta (IL-1beta) and IL-18. The latter directs the production of interferon gamma (IFN-gamma). Among pathogens, particularly viruses express various modulators of caspases that inhibit their activity...

Modulation of trophoblast cell death by oxygen and EGF.

BACKGROUND Preeclampsia, a maternal hypertensive disease, is characterized by shallow invasion of the maternal spiral arterioles resulting in hypoxia/reperfusion type insult; however, the molecular mechanism is unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the mechanism of altered oxygen tension or inhibition of phosphatidyl-inositol-3-kinase (PI3K) on trophoblast survival and to investigate ...

Modulation of cell death by Bcl-XL through caspase interaction.

The caspases are cysteine proteases that have been implicated in the execution of programmed cell death in organisms ranging from nematodes to humans. Many members of the Bcl-2 family, including Bcl-XL, are potent inhibitors of programmed cell death and inhibit activation of caspases in cells. Here, we report a direct interaction between caspases and Bcl-XL. The loop domain of Bcl-XL is cleaved...