The glucocorticoid receptor (GR) acts as an anti-inflammatory factor. To a large extent, this activity is exerted by the interference of pro-inflammatory nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappa B) activity. In their respective inactive forms, both GR and NF-kappa B reside in the cytoplasm and translocate to the nucleus on relevant stimulation. Previously, p65, a component of the NF-kappa B complex, an...

The rearrangement of Ig genes is known to be regulated by the production of H and kappa L chains. To determine whether lambda L chains have a similar effect, transgenic mice were produced with a lambda 2 gene. It was necessary to include the H chain enhancer, since a lambda gene without the added enhancer did not result in transgene expression. The lambda 2 transgene with the H enhancer was exp...

Shp-2, a src homology (SH)2-containing phosphotyrosine phosphatase, appears to be involved in cytoplasmic signaling downstream of a variety of cell surface receptors, although the mechanism is unclear. Here, we have determined a role of Shp-2 in the cytokine circuit for inflammatory and immune responses. Production of interleukin (IL)-6 in response to IL-1 alpha or tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-a...

IL-17 expression is restricted to activated T cells, whereas the IL-17R is expressed in a variety of cell types including intestinal epithelial cells. However, the functional responses of intestinal epithelial cells to stimulation with IL-17 are unknown. Moreover, the signal transduction pathways activated by the IL-17R have not been characterized. IL-17 induced NF-kappa B protein-DNA complexes...

BACKGROUND This investigation deals with the molecular mechanism of anti-human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) action of pentoxifylline (PTX) [1-(5'-oxohexyl)-3, 7-dimethylxanthine] a drug widely used for the treatment of conditions involving defective regional microcirculation. MATERIALS AND METHODS The inhibition by PTX of protein kinase C (PKC) or cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA)-...

CD4+ macrophages in tissues such as lung, skin, and lymph nodes, promyelocytic cells in bone marrow, and peripheral blood monocytes serve as important targets and reservoirs for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) replication. HIV-1-infected myeloid cells are often diminished in their ability to participate in chemotaxis, phagocytosis, and intracellular killing. HIV-1 infection of myelo...