Mast cells are found resident in tissues throughout the body, particularly in association with structures such as blood vessels and nerves, and in proximity to surfaces that interface the external environment. Mast cells are bone marrow-derived and particularly depend upon stem cell factor for their survival. Mast cells express a variety of phenotypic features within tissues as determined by th...

CD3 zeta and CD3 eta form disulfide-linked homo- or heterodimers important in targeting partially assembled Ti alpha-beta/CD3 gamma delta epsilon T cell receptor (TCR) complexes to the cell surface and transducing stimulatory signals after antigen recognition. Here we identify a new TCR isoform expressed on splenic CD2+, CD3/Ti alpha-beta+, CD4-, CD8-, CD16+, NK1.1+ mouse large granular lymphoc...

Results of determination of circulating histamine releasing autoantibodies using histamine release urticaria test in 12 children (aged 3 to 18 years, mean age 8.5 years; 7 female and 5 male) with chronic urticaria are presented. Standard work-up including detailed history, allergy testing and routine laboratory findings did not disclose any plausible cause of chronic/recurrent urticarial erupti...

Most gut intraepithelial cells (IEL) of the mouse are T cells that bear CD8 molecules, present either as alpha-beta chain heterodimers (CD8 beta+) or as alpha chain homodimers (CD8 beta-). All CD8 beta+ IEL bear alpha/beta T cell receptors (TCR); CD8 beta- IEL bear either alpha/beta or gamma/delta TCR and are considered to be a thymus-independent (TI) population, probably arising locally from a...

Mast cells are well known for their involvement in allergic and anaphylactic reactions, during which immunoglobulin E (IgE) receptor (Fc epsilon RI) aggregation leads to exocytosis of the content of secretory granules (1000 nm), commonly known as degranulation, and secretion of multiple mediators. Recent findings implicate mast cells also in inflammatory diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, wh...

Serum levels of soluble tumor necrosis factor alpha receptor I (sTNF-RI) were elevated in patients with lepromatous (LL) reactional-state type II leprosy, and sTNF-RII levels were increased in patients with full tuberculoid (TT) or LL type II leprosy. The sTNF-R in sera from patients with type II leprosy, but not other forms of leprosy, inhibited recombinant TNF cytolytic activities in vitro. T...

Using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) techniques to model buoyancy-driven airflows has always proved challenging. This work investigates CFD modelling of buoyancy-driven natural ventilation flows in a single-storey space connected to an atrium. The atrium is taller than the ventilated space and when warmed by internal heat gains producing a column of warm air in the atrium and connect space ...

While there are many reviews which examine the group of proteins known as protein kinase C (PKC), the focus of this article is to examine the cellular roles of two PKCs that are important for stress responses in neurological tissues (PKC gamma and epsilon) and in cardiac tissues (PKC epsilon). These two kinases, in particular, seem to have overlapping functions and interact with an identical ta...

The CCAAT box is one of the most common promoter elements. The evolutionarily conserved heteromeric factor NF-Y binds this sequence with high affinity and specificity. By comparing the methylation interference patterns of different sites, performing electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA) with IC-substituted oligonucleotides and competition experiments with the minor groove binding (MGB) d...

We constructed chimeric receptors to dissect the role of the transmembrane (TM) domain in cell surface expression of and phagocytosis by the chain–dependent Fc receptors Fc RIIIA and Fc RI. Fc R chimeras containing the TM and cytoplasmic (CY) domains of the chain were expressed on the cell surface and mediated an efficient phagocytic signal. In contrast, chimeras containing the Fc RIIIA TM were...