Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: EC:2.7.10.2 (focal adhesion kinase)
44,029 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

In patient with damaged upper motor neurones we show the therapeutic effect of electrical stimulation (called FES) of peripheral mixed nerves on the restoration of motor activity and movements. The results of neurophysiological, kinesiological and clinical observations are presented. We discuss the possible mechanisms, especially the spinal ones, which are fundamental for such a rhythmic activity as gait. We discuss them also from the point of view of activation of proprioceptive feedback mechanisms and of achieved sensory reinforcement influencing the spinal reflex mechanisms as well as the preserved supraspinal integrated activity which contributes to the long-term FES effect. The stimulation modes, the control of stimuli in relation to the needs of individual patients (hemiplegia in adults, paraparesis, cerebral palsy in children and multiple sclerosis) as well as the motor deficit are discussed. We conclude that the electronic system used for this purpose represents a functionally active orthotic aid with therapeutic effects.
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PMID:Functional electrical stimulation in control of motor output and movements. 22 5

Intrathecal IgG synthesis has been studied in neurological patients by both quantitative and qualitative methods. An elevated correlation was found between IgG/Albumin quotient, IgG-Index and IgG SYN: moreover the appearance of oligoclonal IgG bands in CSF seems clearly related to high IgG Index values, as observed by statistical analysis. Nevertheless oligoclonal pattern in CSF is always present in diseases associated with immunological abnormalities, while quantitative parameters may be found elevated also in the diseases without a clear immunological disturbance. The authors stress the great importance of CSF examination by Isoelectric Focusing in the evaluation of intrathecal IgG synthesis in multiple sclerosis.
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PMID:[Comparative quantitative and qualitative analysis of intrathecal IgG synthesis during multiple sclerosis and other neurologic diseases]. 744 5

The Odstock dropped foot stimulator (ODFS) is a foot switch controlled single channel neuromuscular stimulator for correction of dropped foot. Following a randomized controlled trial, the ODFS was recommended for use in the United Kingdom's National Health Service and a clinical service established. The patient performance was assessed by measurement of walking speed over 10 m, physiological cost index (PCI), and by questionnaire. After 4.5 months stroke patients (n = 111) showed a mean increase in walking speed of 27% and reduction in PCI of 31% with stimulation and changes of 14% and 19%, respectively, unassisted. Multiple sclerosis patients (n = 21) gained similar orthotic benefit but no carry over. The principal reason cited for using the equipment was that it reduced the effort of walking. The principal reasons identified for discontinuing were an improvement in mobility, electrode positioning difficulties, and deteriorating mobility. A comprehensive clinical follow-up service is essential to achieve the maximum continuing benefit from FES based orthosis.
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PMID:Clinical audit of 5 years provision of the Odstock dropped foot stimulator. 1037 38

An increased level of citrullinated myelin basic protein (MBP-C8) has been reported in the brains of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. However, the involvement of the immune response to post-translational modified MBP in the pathophysiology of MS remains speculative. The aim of this study was to compare the levels of immunoglobulin G antibodies to several MBP epitopes, before and after citrullination, in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and sera of MS patients using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We analyzed antibody reactivity against various MBP-peptides in the CSF and sera of 60 MS patients, and 30 patients with other neurological diseases (OND) as controls. The peptides tested were: MBP(75-98) (peptide 1), native (peptide 2) and citrullinated (peptide 3) MBP(108-126) (ARG(122)-->Cit(122)), and native (peptide 4) and citrullinated (peptide 5) MBP(151-170) (ARG(159, 170)-->Cit(159, 170)). All selected peptides could support an immune reactivity in CSF and sera of MS and OND patients. A higher reactivity against peptide 4 was found in the CSF of MS patients compared with OND patients (P<0.0001), but not against citrullinated peptides (peptides 3 and 5). However, we observed that the citrullination state of peptide 2 modified the patterns of immune reactivity more markedly in MS patients (P<0.0001) than in OND patients (P<0.02). Although some MBP epitopes could be a potential target in MS, our data did not demonstrate any difference of antibody response to MBP peptides in their citrullinated forms.
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PMID:IgG reactivity against citrullinated myelin basic protein in multiple sclerosis. 1143 Oct 15

Experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) is a CD4(+) Th1 cell-mediated inflammatory demyelinating autoimmune disease of the CNS that serves as an animal model for multiple sclerosis (MS). IL-12 is a proinflammatory cytokine that plays a crucial role in the induction of neural Ag-specific Th1 differentiation and pathogenesis of CNS demyelination in EAE and MS. Curcumin (1,7-Bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1,6-heptadiene-3,5-dione) is a naturally occurring polyphenolic phytochemical isolated from the rhizome of the medicinal plant Curcuma longa. It has profound anti-inflammatory activity and been traditionally used to treat inflammatory disorders. In this study we have examined the effect and mechanism of action of curcumin on the pathogenesis of CNS demyelination in EAE. In vivo treatment of SJL/J mice with curcumin significantly reduced the duration and clinical severity of active immunization and adoptive transfer EAE. Curcumin inhibited EAE in association with a decrease in IL-12 production from macrophage/microglial cells and differentiation of neural Ag-specific Th1 cells. In vitro treatment of activated T cells with curcumin inhibited IL-12-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of Janus kinase 2, tyrosine kinase 2, and STAT3 and STAT4 transcription factors. The inhibition of Janus kinase-STAT pathway by curcumin resulted in a decrease in IL-12-induced T cell proliferation and Th1 differentiation. These findings highlight the fact that curcumin inhibits EAE by blocking IL-12 signaling in T cells and suggest its use in the treatment of MS and other Th1 cell-mediated inflammatory diseases.
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PMID:Curcumin inhibits experimental allergic encephalomyelitis by blocking IL-12 signaling through Janus kinase-STAT pathway in T lymphocytes. 1205 72

Copolymer 1 (Cop 1, Copaxone [Teva Marion Partners, Kansas City, Missouri, USA]), a random amino acid copolymer of tyrosine (Y), glutamic acid (E), alanine (A), and lysine (K), reduces the frequency of relapses by 30% in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. In the present study, novel random four-amino acid copolymers, whose design was based on the nature of the anchor residues of the immunodominant epitope of myelin basic protein (MBP) 85-99 and of the binding pockets of MS-associated HLA-DR2 (DRB1*1501), have been synthesized by solid-phase chemistry. Poly (Y, F, A, K) (YFAK) inhibited binding of the biotinylated MBP 86-100 epitope to HLA-DR2 molecules more efficiently than did either unlabeled MBP 85-99 or any other copolymer including Cop 1. Moreover, YFAK and poly (F, A, K) (FAK) were much more effective than Cop 1 in inhibition of MBP 85-99-specific HLA-DR2-restricted T cell clones. Most importantly, these novel copolymers suppressed experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, induced in the susceptible SJL/J (H-2(s)) strain of mice with the encephalitogenic epitope PLP 139-151, more efficiently than did Cop 1. Thus, random synthetic copolymers designed according to the binding motif of the human immunodominant epitope MBP 85-99 and the binding pockets of HLA-DR2 might be more beneficial than Cop 1 in treatment of MS.
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PMID:Novel synthetic amino acid copolymers that inhibit autoantigen-specific T cell responses and suppress experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. 1207 Mar 11

CD40 is a type I membrane-bound molecule belonging to the TNFR superfamily that is expressed on various immune cells including macrophages and microglia. The aberrant expression of CD40 is involved in the initiation and maintenance of various human diseases including multiple sclerosis, arthritis, atherosclerosis, and Alzheimer's disease. Inhibition of CD40 signaling has been shown to provide a significant beneficial effect in a number of animal models of human diseases including the aforementioned examples. We have previously shown that IFN-gamma induces CD40 expression in macrophages and microglia. IFN-gamma leads to STAT-1alpha activation directly and up-regulation of NF-kappaB activity due to the secretion and subsequent autocrine signaling of TNF-alpha. However, TNF-alpha alone is not capable of inducing CD40 expression in these cells. Suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 protein (SOCS-1) is a cytokine-inducible Src homology 2-containing protein that regulates cytokine receptor signaling by inhibiting STAT-1alpha activation via a specific interaction with activated Janus kinase 2. Given the important role of CD40 in inflammatory events in the CNS as well as other organ systems, it is imperative to understand the molecular mechanisms contributing to both CD40 induction and repression. We show that ectopic expression of SOCS-1 abrogates IFN-gamma-induced CD40 protein expression, mRNA levels, and promoter activity. Additionally, IFN-gamma-induced TNF-alpha secretion, as well as STAT-1alpha and NF-kappaB activation, are inhibited in the presence of SOCS-1. We conclude that SOCS-1 inhibits cytokine-induced CD40 expression by blocking IFN-gamma-mediated STAT-1alpha activation, which also then results in suppression of IFN-gamma-induced TNF-alpha secretion and subsequent NF-kappaB activation.
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PMID:Suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 inhibits cytokine induction of CD40 expression in macrophages. 1219 1

The 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors or statins are newly identified immunomodulators. In vivo treatment of SJL/J mice with lovastatin reduced the duration and clinical severity of active and passive experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model for multiple sclerosis. Lovastatin induced the expression of GATA3 and the phosphorylation of STAT6, whereas it inhibited tyrosine phosphorylation of Janus kinase 2, tyrosine kinase 2, and STAT4. Inhibition of the Janus kinase-STAT4 pathway by lovastatin modulated T0 to Th1 differentiation and reduced cytokine (IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha) production, thus inducing Th2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, and IL-10). It inhibited T-bet (T box transcription factor) and NF-kappaB in activated T cells and significantly reduced infiltration of CD4- and MHC class II-positive cells to CNS. Further, it stabilized IL-4 production and GATA-3 expression in differentiated Th2 cells, whereas in differentiated Th1 cells it inhibited the expression of T-bet and reduced the production of IFN-gamma. Moreover, lovastatin-exposed macrophage and BV2 (microglia) in allogeneic MLRs induced the production of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. These observations indicate that the anti-inflammatory effects of lovastatin are mediated via T cells as well as APCs, because it modulates the polarization patterns of naive T cell activation in an APC-independent system. Together, these findings reveal that lovastatin may have possible therapeutic value involving new targets (in both APCs and T cells) for the treatment of multiple sclerosis and other inflammatory diseases.
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PMID:Potential targets of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitor for multiple sclerosis therapy. 1470 6

Microglia, the resident macrophage of the brain, mediates immune and inflammatory responses in the central nervous system (CNS). Activation of microglia and secretion of inflammatory cytokines associate with the pathogenesis of CNS diseases, including multiple sclerosis (MS), Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease, prion disease, and AIDS dementia. Microbial pathogens, cytokines, chemokines, and costimulatory molecules are potent inducers of microglial activation in the CNS. Signaling through its receptor, IL-3 induces the activation of JAK-STAT and MAP kinase pathways in microglial cells. In this study, we found that in vitro treatment of EOC-20 microglial cells with tyrphostin AG490 blocked IL-3-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of JAK2, STAT5A, and STAT5B signaling proteins. Stable transfection of EOC-20 cells with a dominant negative JAK2 mutant also blocked IL-3-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of JAK2, STAT5A, and STAT5B in microglia. The blockade of JAK2-STAT5 pathway resulted in a decrease in IL-3-induced proliferation and expression of CD40 and major histocompatibility complex class II molecules in microglia. These findings highlight the fact that JAK2-STAT5 signaling pathway plays a critical role in mediating IL-3-induced activation of microglia.
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PMID:Signaling through JAK2-STAT5 pathway is essential for IL-3-induced activation of microglia. 1473 Jul 12

Mice are the experimental tool of choice for the majority of immunologists and the study of their immune responses has yielded tremendous insight into the workings of the human immune system. However, as 65 million years of evolution might suggest, there are significant differences. Here we outline known discrepancies in both innate and adaptive immunity, including: balance of leukocyte subsets, defensins, Toll receptors, inducible NO synthase, the NK inhibitory receptor families Ly49 and KIR, FcR, Ig subsets, the B cell (BLNK, Btk, and lambda5) and T cell (ZAP70 and common gamma-chain) signaling pathway components, Thy-1, gammadelta T cells, cytokines and cytokine receptors, Th1/Th2 differentiation, costimulatory molecule expression and function, Ag-presenting function of endothelial cells, and chemokine and chemokine receptor expression. We also provide examples, such as multiple sclerosis and delayed-type hypersensitivity, where complex multicomponent processes differ. Such differences should be taken into account when using mice as preclinical models of human disease.
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PMID:Of mice and not men: differences between mouse and human immunology. 1497 70


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