Accumulating evidence suggests that spinal cord astrocytes play an important role in neuropathic pain sensitization by releasing astrocytic mediators (e.g. cytokines, chemokines and growth factors). However, it remains unclear how astrocytes control the release of astrocytic mediators and sustain late-phase neuropathic pain. Astrocytic connexin-43 (now known as GJ1) has been implicated in gap j...

Contact hypersensitivity is a CD8 T cell-mediated response to hapten sensitization and challenge of the skin. Effector CD8 T cell recruitment into the skin parenchyma to elicit the response to hapten challenge requires prior CXCL1/KC-directed neutrophil infiltration within 3-6 h after challenge and is dependent on IFN-γ and IL-17 produced by the hapten-primed CD8 T cells. Mechanisms directing h...

Accumulating evidence suggests that spinal cord astrocytes play an important role in neuropathic pain sensitization by releasing astrocytic mediators (e.g. cytokines, chemokines and growth factors). However, it remains unclear how astrocytes control the release of astrocytic mediators and sustain late-phase neuropathic pain. Astrocytic connexin-43 (now known as GJ1) has been implicated in gap j...

mRNAs encoding proinflammatory chemokines are regulated posttranscriptionally via adenine-uridine-rich sequences (AREs) located in the 3' untranslated region of the message, which are recognized by sequence-specific RNA-binding proteins. One ARE binding protein, tristetraprolin (TTP), has been implicated in regulating the stability of several ARE-containing mRNAs, including those encoding TNF-a...

I show that the Eddington limit implies a critical orbital period Pcrit(BH) ' 2 d beyond which black–hole LMXBs cannot appear as persistent systems. The unusual behaviour of GRO J1655-40 may result from its location close to this critical period.

Stimulator of interferon genes (STING) contributes to anti-tumor immunity by activating antigen-presenting cells and inducing mobilization tumor-specific T cells. A role for tumor-migrating neutrophils in the effect STING-activating therapy has not been defined. We used mouse tumor transplantation models assessing neutrophil migration into triggered intratumoral treatment with STING agonist, 2?...

RATIONALE In-hospital outcomes are generally acceptable in patients with type B dissection; however, some patients present with undesirable complications, such as aortic expansion and rupture. Excessive inflammation is an independent predictor of adverse clinical outcomes. OBJECTIVE We have investigated the underlying mechanisms of catastrophic complications after acute aortic dissection (AAD...

The extracellular part of transmembrane segment V (TM-V) is expected to be involved in the activation process of 7TM receptors, but its role is far from clear. Here, we study the highly constitutively active CXC-chemokine receptor encoded by human herpesvirus 8 (ORF74-HHV8), in which a metal ion site was introduced at the extracellular end of TM-V by substitution of two arginines at positions V...

Chemokines including CXCL1 participate in neutrophil recruitment by triggering the activation of integrins, which leads to arrest from rolling. The downstream signaling pathways which lead to integrin activation and neutophil arrest following G-protein coupled receptor engagement are incompletely understood. To test whether Gα i2 is involved, mouse neutrophils in their native whole blood were i...

Chemokines mediate diverse fundamental biological processes, including combating infection. Multiple chemokines are expressed at the site of infection; thus chemokine synergy by heterodimer formation may play a role in determining function. Chemokine function involves interactions with G-protein-coupled receptors and sulfated glycosaminoglycans (GAG). However, very little is known regarding het...