The adoptive transfer of antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) shows promise in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. We utilize adeno-associated virus-(AAV-) based antigen gene-loaded dendritic cells (DCs) to stimulate such antigen-specific CTL. Yet further improvements in CTL stimulation and killing may result by gene delivery of various Th1-response interferons/cytokines,...

Endothelial cells (EC) synthesize and secrete von Willebrand factor (vWF), a multimeric glycoprotein required for normal hemostasis. Within human endothelial cells, vWF multimers of extremely high molecular weight are stored in rod-shaped organelles known as Weibel-Palade bodies. Inflammatory mediators, such as interleukin-1, induce in vitro a variety of procoagulant responses by EC, including ...

background: interferon gamma (ifn-γ), a cytokine produced by a variety of cells is involved in the immune response against m. tuberculosis. it activates the production of other cytokines and molecules that kill mycobacterium. ifn-γ also has diagnostic role in identification of active and latent tuberculosis. objective: to determine the level of ifn-γ in the blood of tb patients. methods: ninety...

Highly purified interleukin 2 (IL 2), free of interferon activity, enhanced natural killer (NK) cell activity against tumor cells in mouse spleen cell cultures and in human peripheral lymphocyte cultures in a manner similar to that of interferon (IFN). We determined that IL 2 enhanced NK activity indirectly in a cascade manner by the induction of gamma IFN (IFN-gamma) in the cultures, which act...

The interferon (IFN)-induced double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-activated Ser/Thr protein kinase (PKR) plays a role in the antiviral and antiproliferative effects of IFN. PKR phosphorylates initiation factor eIF2alpha, thereby inhibiting protein synthesis, and also activates the transcription factor, nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB), by phosphorylating the inhibitor of NF-kappaB, IkappaB. Mice devoid...

In the present study, we demonstrate gamma-interferon (gamma-IFN)-inducible scavenger receptor A (SR-A) mRNA expression during the early stages of THP-1 and blood monocyte differentiation. Predominant induction of SR-A type II mRNA parallels the increased accumulation of cholesteryl esters under these conditions. A potential signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT1) binding site ...

To study the role of the interferon- (IFN) gammaR2 chain in IFN-gamma signaling and immune function, IFN-gammaR2-deficient mice have been generated and characterized. Cells derived from IFN-gammaR2 -/- mice are unable to activate either JAK/STAT signaling proteins or gene transcription in response to IFN-gamma. The lack of IFN-gamma responsiveness alters IFN-gamma-induced Ig class switching by ...

Incubation of HeLa cell cultures with human interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) increased the binding of radioiodinated human tumor necrosis factor (TNF) to specific cell surface receptors (TNF-R). IFN-gamma also produced a proportionate increase in receptor-mediated endocytosis of TNF. TNF-R expression was significantly increased after 6 h of exposure to IFN-gamma (100 units/ml), and it remained elev...

Gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) plays a major role in the protection against lethal infection with mouse hepatitis virus A59. IFN-gamma production reaches a maximum level 2 days after viral inoculation, especially in liver immune cells. Among these cells, natural killer cells are the major producers of this cytokine. Transfer experiments indicated that the protective role of IFN-gamma is mediated ...

Gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) is an important cytokine in host defense against chlamydial infection. An in vitro cell culture system was used to show that IFN-gamma inhibition of chlamydial growth, as determined by diminished recovery of infectious elementary bodies, differed markedly among chlamydial strains. These differences in sensitivity among chlamydial strains to IFN-gamma-mediated inhibi...