Valpha14 NKT cells express an invariant antigen receptor encoded by Valpha14 and Jalpha281 gene segments as well as natural killer (NK) markers, including NK1.1. Here, we describe a precursor population of NKT cells (pre-NKT) that expresses NK1.1, T cell antigen receptor beta, pTalpha, and RAG1/2 but not Valpha14 and surface CD3epsilon. Such pre-NKT cells were differentiated successfully in vit...

Central to the pathogenesis of osteoporosis is the ability of estrogen deficiency to increase osteoclast formation by enhancing stromal cell production of the osteoclastogenic cytokine macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF). We report that stromal cells from ovariectomized mice exhibit increased casein kinase II-dependent phosphorylation of the nuclear protein Egr-1. Phosphorylated Egr-1 ...

background: neisseria meninigitidis is one of the most frequently encountered microorganisms associated with central nervous system infections. the aim of this study was to evaluate a pcr-based assay for specific and rapid detection of n. meninigitidis in csf specimens.   methods : since april 2002 to july 2006, 130 csf specimens were collected from patients suspected of having bacterial mening...

Background Expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) studies have been influential in identifying gene targets for many complex diseases. However, levels of mRNA often correlate poorly with the protein that they encode, due to rates degradation, translation, or alternative splicing, among other reasons. By correlating genetic variation, pQTLs can elucidate a more accurate architecture underlie...

Abstract BACKGROUND Head Start 4 is a randomized clinical trial to determine whether dose-intensive tandem consolidation, compared with single cycle, autologous hematopoietic progenitor cell rescue provides survival benefit in pediatric patients medulloblastoma or other embryonal tumors. The incorporates upfront molecular subgrouping and non-mandatory, prospective blood cerebrospinal fluid (CSF...

The proteoglycan form of macrophage colony-stimulating factor (PG-M-CSF), but not M-CSF with a molecular weight of 85 kD (85-kD M-CSF), bound to immobilized basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and, conversely, bFGF bound to immobilized PG-M-CSF, but not to the 85-kD M-CSF. PG-M-CSF has an additional amino acid sequence at its carboxyl terminus (part of a precursor sequence that is removed in...

Human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) exerts profound effects on the proliferation, differentiation, and effector function of myeloid lineage cells. In contrast to its growth-promoting effects on normal myeloid progenitor cells, we found that GM-CSF unexpectedly inhibited the colony growth of U937 cells in agar culture. Furthermore, medium conditioned by recombinant GM...

Lesional skin of atopic dermatitis (AD) harbors high numbers of dendritic cells with enhanced stimulatory capacity for T lymphocytes. In this study, lesional AD skin was shown to stain heavily in both epidermal and dermal compartments for GM-CSF, a cytokine crucial to dendritic cell functions. Keratinocyte cultures established from uninvolved skin of AD patients exhibited markedly increased spo...

PU.1 is a unique regulatory protein required for the generation of both the innate and the adaptive immune system. It functions exclusively in a cell-intrinsic manner to control the development of granulocytes, macrophages, and B and T lymphocytes. We demonstrate that mutation of the PU.1 gene causes a severe reduction in myeloid (granulocyte/macrophage) progenitors. PU.1 -/- myeloid progenitor...