The MHC class I chain-related molecule A (MICA) is a highly polymorphic ligand for the activating natural killer (NK)-cell receptor NKG2D. A single nucleotide polymorphism causes a valine to methionine exchange at position 129. Presence of a MICA-129Met allele in patients (n = 452) undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) increased the chance of overall survival (hazard ratio [...

BACKGROUND The immune response plays a significant role in pericarditis, but the mechanisms of disease are poorly defined. Further, efficient monitoring and predictive clinical tools are unavailable. Carcinoembryonic antigen cell adhesion molecule 1 (CEACAM1) is an immune-inhibitory protein, while MHC class I chain related protein A (MICA) and B (MICB) have an immune-stimulating function. MET...

The presence of donor-specific alloantibodies (DSAs) against the MICA antigen results in high risk for antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) of a transplanted kidney, especially in patients receiving a re-transplant. We describe the incidence of acute C4d+ AMR in a patient who had received a first kidney transplant with a zero HLA antigen mismatch. Retrospective analysis of post-transplant T and B ...

Nano-encapsulated iron oxide in Zirconium oxide-coated mica pigments are thermally stable,innocuous to human health, non-combustible, and they do not conduct electricity. They could beapplied in several industries such as thermoplastics, cosmetics, food packaging, children toys, paints,automobiles coating, security purposes, and banknotes. Nowadays, they are highly desirable inceramic decoratio...

Inflammatory rheumatic diseases are characterized by inflammation resulting from the immune dysregulation that usually attacks joints, skin and internal organs. Many of them are considered as complex disease that may be predisposed by multiple genes and/or genetic loci, and triggered by environmental factors such as microbiome and cellular stress. The major histocompatibility complex class I ch...

MICA is a major ligand for the NKG2D immune receptor, which plays a key role in activating natural killer (NK) cells and cytotoxic T cells. We analyzed NKG2D ligand expression on a range of cell types and could demonstrate that MICA expression levels were closely linked to cellular growth mode. While the expression of other NKG2D ligands was largely independent of cell growth mode, MICA express...

In a previous work [Heinz, Castelijns, and Suter, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 115, 9500 (2003)], we developed an accurate force field and simulated the phase transitions in C18-mica (octadecyltrimethylammonium-mica) as well as the absence of such transitions in 2C18-mica (dioctadecyldimethylammonium-mica) between room temperature and 100 degrees C. Here we analyze (i) average z coordinates of the carbon ...

Nowadays polymer nanocomposites have introduced as a new class of food packaging materials due to their enhanced mechanical, thermal, and barrier properties. In this study PET nano composites were prepared by melt blending of poly (ethylene terephthalate) pellets and mica nanoparticles. The morphology of PET/mica nanocomposites was characterized by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron mi...

INTRODUCTION The gene MICA encodes the protein major histocompatibility complex class I polypeptide-related sequence A. It is expressed in synovium of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and its implication in autoimmunity is discussed. We analyzed the association of genetic variants of MICA with susceptibility to RA. METHODS Initially, 300 French Caucasian individuals belonging to 100 RA...

nowadays polymer nanocomposites have introduced as a new class of food packaging materials due to their enhanced mechanical, thermal, and barrier properties. in this study pet nano composites were prepared by melt blending of poly (ethylene terephthalate) pellets and mica nanoparticles. the morphology of pet/mica nanocomposites was characterized by x-ray diffraction and transmission electron mi...