Entactin is an integral component of basement membranes that plays a major role in basement membrane assembly through its ability to bind avidly to both laminin and type IV collagen. Because neutrophil (PMN) interactions with entactin have not been examined, we investigated the ability of natural and recombinant entactin to mediate PMN adhesion and chemotaxis. With both forms of entactin, we ob...

Calcium signaling has long been associated with key events of immunity, including chemotaxis, phagocytosis, and activation. However, imaging and manipulation of calcium flux in motile immune cells in live animals remain challenging. Using light-sheet microscopy for in vivo calcium imaging in zebrafish, we observe characteristic patterns of calcium flux triggered by distinct events, including ph...

Aqueous extract of roots of Baliospermum montanum was evaluated on preliminary basis for immunomodulatory activity by studying neutrophil phagocytic function. The different concentration of (25, 50, 100 mug/ml) of aqueous extract of roots of Baliospermum montanum was subjected to study its effect on different in vitro methods of phagocytosis such as neutrophil locomotion, chemotaxis, immunostim...

BACKGROUND Gynura segetum is used traditionally to treat various ailments related to the immune system, which include cancer, inflammation, rheumatism, diabetes, hypertension, and viral infections but little studies have been carried out to validate their ethnopharmacological aspects. In this study the immunosuppressive effects of G. segetum and its constituents were investigated. METHODS Iso...

Secretoglobin family 1A member 1 (SCGB 1A1) is a small protein mainly secreted by mucosal epithelial cells of the lungs and uterus. SCGB 1A1, also known as club (Clara) cell secretory protein, represents a major constituent of airway surface fluid. The protein has anti-inflammatory properties, and its concentration is reduced in equine recurrent airway obstruction (RAO) and human asthma. RAO is...

background: h pylori is a human gastric pathogen. chemotaxis is an essential factor in colonization of h pylori , but very little is known about its chemotactic responses at different ph conditions, especially in acidic environment of stomach as its natural habitant.   methods: we first determined survival of h pylori under various ph conditions in the presence and absence of urea.  chemotaxis ...

Motile activities such as chemotaxis and phagocytosis, which occur in Dictyostelium cells lacking myosin II, may be dependent upon myosin I. To begin to explore this possibility, we have engineered a disruption of the Dictyostelium myosin I heavy chain (DMIHC) gene described recently (Jung, G., C. L. Saxe III, A. R. Kimmel, and J. A. Hammer III. 1989. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 86:6186-6190). ...

The subcellular pattern of cytosolic free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) changes in human polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) was studied using imaging of fura-2 fluorescence (time resolution 12.5 ratios/s) to determine whether PMNs could obtain directional information from the [Ca2+]i signal. [Ca2+]i changes were observed during initial adherence, the subsequent chemotactic movement, and the phagocytosis of ...

Major bacterial infections are most commonly associated with agranulocytosis or an abnormality of immunoglobulins or complement. Occasionally, repeated infections cannot be attributed to these relatively common causes. In such cases, a quantitative abnormality in neutrophil function should be sought. Complete evaluation of neutrophil function, including: chemotaxis, adhesion, aggregation, phago...