G2A is a G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) involved in immune regulation. Previous studies have shown that lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), a bioactive lipid associated with atherosclerosis and autoimmunity, acts through G2A to induce diverse biologic effects. Production of LPC during cell apoptosis serves as a chemotactic signal for macrophage recruitment. Here we demonstrate that macrophage che...

I t is generally accepted that proteases released from neutrophils and/or macrophages are involved in the development of emphysema associated with cigarette smoking. However, it has not been resolved which of these inflammatory cells is the main source of proteases responsible for lung destruction. To address this issue, we compared the concentrations of neutrophil elastase-a1 protease inhibito...

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is the most common form of non-ischemic cardiomyopathy that leads to heart failure. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are under active investigation currently as a potential therapy for DCM. However, little information is available about the therapeutic potential of intravenous administration of MSCs for DCM. Moreover, how MSCs home to the myocardium in DCM is also uncl...

Biomaterial implantation in a living tissue triggers the activation of macrophages in inflammatory events, promoting the transcription of pro-inflammatory mediator genes. The initiation of macrophage inflammatory processes is mainly regulated by signaling proteins of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and by nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) pathways. W...

Staphylococcal superantigens (SAgs) are very potent T cell mitogens, but they can also activate monocytes by binding directly to MHC class II molecules in a manner independent of TCR coengagement. Induction of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokine expression in monocytes by superantigens has recently been reported. Here we report that superantigen stimulation of human peripheral blood monocyt...

The CC chemokine eotaxin, identified in guinea pigs and also recently in mice, may be a key element for the selective recruitment of eosinophils to certain inflamed tissues. Using a partial mouse eotaxin CDNA probe, the human eotaxin gene was cloned and found to be 61.8 and 63.2% identical at the amino acid level to guinea pig and mouse eotaxin. Human eotaxin protein was a strong and specific e...

Calprotectin has been recently described as a novel marker of obesity. The aim of this study was to determine the circulating concentrations and expression levels of calprotectin subunits (S100A8 and S100A9) in visceral adipose tissue (VAT), exploring its impact on insulin resistance and inflammation and the effect of weight loss. We included 53 subjects in the study. Gene expression levels of ...

Lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) is considered a major proatherogenic component of oxidized low density lipoprotein based on its proinflammatory actions in vitro. LPC stimulates macrophage and T-cell chemotaxis via the G protein-coupled receptor G2A and may thus promote inflammatory cell infiltration during atherosclerotic lesion development. However, G2A also mediates proapoptotic effects of LPC ...