Previous studies have shown that dendritic cells (DCs) and apoptosis-related proteins play a critical role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune thyroid diseases (ATD). This study was designed to investigate the expression and distribution of S-100 protein, CD83 and apoptosis-related proteins (Fas, FasL and Bcl-2) in the thyroid tissues of ATD and their role in ATD pathogenesis as determined by imm...

Glycoprotein D (gD) is a structural component of the herpes simplex virus (HSV) envelope which is essential for virus entry into host cells. Chinese hamster ovary (CHO-K1) cells are one of the few cell types which are nonpermissive for the entry of many HSV strains. However, when these cells are transformed with the gene for the herpesvirus entry mediator (HVEM), the resulting cells, CHO-HVEM12...

PURPOSE To evaluate the preventive effect of vaccination using fusion protein (gD-IL-2) consisting of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) glycoprotein D (gD), and human interleukin-2 (IL-2), and plasmid DNA encoding gD-IL-2 against murine herpetic keratitis. METHODS Plasmid containing gD-IL-2 (pHDLneo1) was constructed, and gD-IL-2 peptide was purified. BALB/c mice were injected hypodermally ...

The presented comprehensive review of current knowledge about genetic factors predisposing to Graves' disease (GD) put emphasis on functional significance of observed associations. In particular, we discuss recent efforts aimed at refining diseases associations found within the HLA complex and implicating HLA class I as well as HLA-DPB1 loci. We summarize data regarding non-HLA genes such as PT...

Much is still unknown about the long-term effects of repeated, sub-lethal exposure to organophosphorus (OP) nerve agents, such as soman (GD), on learning and memory tasks and related protein expression in the hippocampus. In the present study, guinea pigs were exposed to sub-lethal doses of GD for 10 days and cognitive performance assessed using the Morris water maze (MWM) up to 88 days post-ex...

We report a general strategy for developing a smart MRI contrast agent for the sensing of small molecules such as adenosine based on a DNA aptamer that is conjugated to a Gd compound and a protein streptavidin. The binding of adenosine to its aptamer results in the dissociation of the Gd compound from the large protein, leading to decreases in the rotational correlation time and thus change of ...

Herpes simplex virus entry into cells requires four glycoproteins, gB, gD, gH, and gL. Binding of gD to one of its receptors triggers steps requiring the core fusion proteins, gB and the gH/gL heterodimer. There is evidence that gH/gL initiates hemifusion of cells, but whether this complex interacts physically with gB to cause complete fusion is unknown. We used bimolecular complementation (BiM...

To enhance the diagnosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), we prepared a dual-modal probe Cy5.5-Tf-Gd-DTPA. Gd-DTPA and near-infrared (NIR) dyes were conjugated to holo-Transferrin (Tf) sequentially, the result of ICP-AES and UV showed 25 Gd ions and 1 Cy5.5 could be loaded per protein, respectively. The calculated longitudinal relaxivity R1 of Cy5.5-Tf-DTPA-Gd was 4.21 mM-1S-1 per Gd whil...

Protein surface accessibility is a critical parameter which drives all intermolecular interaction processes. In this respect a big deal of information has been derived by analyzing paramagnetic perturbation profiles obtained from NMR protein spectra, particularly in the case that the effects due to different soluble paramagnets can be compared. Here Gd(2)L7, a neutral ditopic paramagnetic NMR p...

Thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy and dermopathy are connective tissue manifestations of Graves' disease (GD). Tissue remodeling is a prominent feature of both and is apparently driven by recruited T cells. In this study, we report that IgG isolated from patients with GD (GD-IgG) up-regulates T lymphocyte chemoattractant activity in GD-derived fibroblasts from orbit, thyroid, and several region...