Processed antigen reacts selectively with lymphocytes bearing .appropriate surface immunoglobulin molecules resulting in the clonal proliferation of these cells, produc­ing circulating immunoglobulin (humoral immunity) or non-circulating immunoglobulins (cellular immunity).  High levels of circulating immunoglobulins (lgM & lgG) occur in protozoa and helminths infections. Reaginic antibodies a...

Although myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) have been demonstrated to contribute to tumor initiation, progression and metastasis, however, which MDSC subsets are preferentially expanded and activated, and what's the key molecular mechanism responsible for specific MDSC subsets in promoting tumor progression need to be fully addressed. Here we identify that Ly6GmiLy6CloCD11b+CXCR2+ subpopu...

The sequential events and the inflammatory mediators that characterize disease onset and progression of ulcerative colitis (UC) are not well known. In this study, we evaluated the early pathologic events in the pathogenesis of colonic ulcers in rats treated with dextran sodium sulfate (DSS). Following a lag phase, day 5 of DSS treatment was found clinically most critical as disease activity ind...

Twenty mucin genes have been identified and classified in two groups (encoding secreted membrane-bound proteins). Secreted mucins participate mucus formation by assembling a 3-dimensional network via oligomerization, whereas are anchored to the outer membrane mediating extracellular interactions cell signaling. Both associated with carcinogenesis progression epithelial cancers, therefore consid...

T cell immunoglobulin mucin-3 (Tim-3) has previously been implicated in the immune response and tumor biology. Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) is a malignancy, which is closely associated with inflammation. However, the role of Tim‑3 in the progression of CRC remains to be fully elucidated. The present study aimed to investigate the role of Tim‑3 in the progressive activities of human CRC. A total o...

Accumulating evidence indicates that T-cell immunoglobulin (Ig) and mucin domain (TIM) proteins play critical roles in viral infections. Herein, we report that the TIM-family proteins strongly inhibit HIV-1 release, resulting in diminished viral production and replication. Expression of TIM-1 causes HIV-1 Gag and mature viral particles to accumulate on the plasma membrane. Mutation of the phosp...

Cell-surface mucin glycoproteins are altered with the onset of oncogenesis. Knowledge of mucin structure could be used in vaccine strategies that target tumor-associated mucin motifs. Thus far, however, mucins have resisted detailed molecular analysis. Reported herein is the solution conformation of a highly complex segment of the mucin CD43. The elongated secondary structure of the isolated mu...

PURPOSE Mucins released into the tear film are crucial to maintaining a healthy ocular surface. Alterations in goblet cell numbers and mucin secretion are observed in chronic ocular surface inflammatory diseases. Nerve growth factor (NGF) plays a crucial role in healing and inflammation of the ocular surface. The aim of this study was to evaluate in vitro the effect of NGF on conjunctival goble...