Natural antisense transcripts (NATs) are a class of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) that are complementary to other protein-coding genes. Although thousands of NATs are encoded by mammalian genomes, their functions in innate immunity are unknown. Here, we identify and characterize a novel NAT, AS-IL1α that is partially complementary to IL-1α. Similar to IL-1α, AS-IL1α is expressed at low levels i...

EGFR is upregulated in the majority of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC). However, many patients with HNSCC respond poorly to the EGFR inhibitors (EGFRI) cetuximab and erlotinib, despite tumor expression of EGFR. Gene expression analysis of erlotinib-treated HNSCC cells revealed an upregulation of genes involved in MyD88-dependent signaling compared with their respective vehicle-tr...

Breast cancer is the most common non-cutaneous malignancy in American women, and better preventative strategies are needed. Epidemiological and laboratory studies point to vitamin D3 as a promising chemopreventative agent for breast cancer. Vitamin D3 metabolites induce anti-proliferative effects in breast cancer cells in vitro and in vivo, but few studies have investigated their effects in nor...

Interleukin 1 (IL1) plays a central part in the pathophysiology of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). 2 The IL1 gene family includes IL1α, IL1β, and IL1 receptor antagonist (IL1Ra). IL1α and IL1β are both agonist molecules. There are two distinct IL1 receptors, designated type I (IL1RI) and type II (IL1RII). IL1 binding to IL1RI results in signal transduction and cell activation. IL1Ra is the third mem...

Protein kinase C (PKC) has been implicated in interleukin 1 (IL1) signal transduction in a number of cellular systems, either as a key event in IL1 action or as a negative regulator. Here we have examined the effects of two PKC inhibitors, staurosporine and the more selective agent Ro 31-8220, on IL1 responses in the murine thymoma line EL4.NOB-1. A 1 h pulse of staurosporine was found to stron...

Immune recognition of tumor targets by specific cytotoxic lymphocytes is essential for the effective rejection of tumors. A phase I clinical trial of ipilimumab (an antibody that blocks CTLA-4 function) in combination with bevacizumab (an antibody that inhibits angiogenesis) in patients with metastatic melanoma found favorable clinical outcomes were associated with increased tumor endothelial a...

Purpose Sjögren's syndrome is a systemic chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease that primarily targets the salivary and lacrimal glands (LGs). Currently there is no cure; therefore, cell-based regenerative therapy may be a viable option. LG inflammation is facilitated by extracellular ATP and mediated by the Pannexin-1 (Panx1) membrane channel glycoprotein. We propose that suppression of infla...

needed to detect patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) at high risk of developing a destructive form of the disease as this may influence the choice of early treatment. Among the cytokines produced by the inflammatory synovium, interleukin 1 (IL1) appears to have a predominant role in joint destruction. Specific regulation of IL1 involves natural mechanisms, including soluble IL1 receptors, I...

We examined the profiling of gene expression of metallothioneins (MTs) in human tissues from cadaver eyes with microarray-based analysis. All MT1 isoforms, with the exception of MT1B, were abundantly expressed in lens and corneal tissue. Along with MT1B, MT4 was not detected in any tissues. Antibodies to MT1/2 labeled the corneal epithelial and endothelial cells, whereas MT3 label the retinal g...