PGI(2) plays a key role in limiting Th2-mediated airway inflammation. In studies to investigate the mechanism underlying such regulation, we found that the PGI(2) receptor, IP, is preferentially expressed by effector CD4(+) Th2 cells, when compared with Th1 cells. Adoptive transfer of DO11.10 Th2 cells pretreated with PGI(2) resulted in considerably attenuated pulmonary inflammation and airway ...

An imbalance of immunosuppressive cells and cytotoxic cells plays an important role in inhibiting the antitumor immune response of the tumor-bearing host. We previously reported the profiles of tumor infiltrating leukocytes in cutaneous angiosarcoma (AS) and suggested that a combination of docetaxel (DTX) with bisphosphonate risedronate sodium (RS) might be effective for MMP9-expressing AS by t...

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS). It affects more than two million people worldwide, mainly young adults, and may lead to progressive neurological disability. Chemokines and their receptors have been shown to play critical roles in the pathogenesis of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a murine disease mode...

Chemokines dictate regional trafficking of functionally distinct T cell subsets. In rodents and humans, a unique subset of CD4(+)CD25(+) cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen (CTLA)-4(+) regulatory T cells (Treg) has been proposed to control peripheral tolerance. However, the molecular basis of immune suppression and the trafficking properties of Treg cells are still unknown. Here, we determined the c...

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a cancer of the pleura. There is an established correlation between asbestos exposure and MPM. Despite the ban of asbestos, MPM incidence is still expected to rise because of the very long lag-times between exposure and diagnosis. However, MPM remains a universally fatal cancer with median survival from diagnosis being only 9-12 months. We described a 60-...

Excessive signaling by chemokines has been associated with chronic inflammation or cancer, thus attracting substantial attention as promising therapeutic targets. Inspired by chemokine-clearing molecules shaped by pathogens to escape the immune system, we designed a generic screening assay to discover chemokine neutralizing molecules (neutraligands) and unambiguously distinguish them from molec...

We previously identified the chemokine receptor CCR4 as part of the molecular signature of melanoma brain metastasis. The aim of this study was to determine the functional significance of CCR4 in melanoma brain metastasis. We show that CCR4 is more highly expressed by brain metastasizing melanoma cells than by local cutaneous cells from the same melanoma. Moreover, we found that the expression ...

Several factors support CLL cell survival in the microenvironment. Under different experimental conditions, IL21 can either induce apoptosis or promote CLL cell survival. To investigate mechanisms involved in the effects of IL21, we studied the ability of IL21 to modulate gene and miRNA expressions in CD40-activated CLL cells. IL21 was a major regulator of chemokine production in CLL cells and ...