Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: EC:2.7.7.49 (reverse transcriptase)
31,746 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The opportunistic fungal pathogen, Cryptococcus neoformans, shows a marked predilection for the central nervous system (CNS). This can be partially explained by its ability to synthesize melanin starting from the catecholamines, highly concentrated at the CNS level. Two cryptococcal strains, the avirulent non-melanogenic strain Sb26 and the virulent melanogenic revertant strain Sb26Rev, were used in a murine model of intracerebral (i.c.) infection, in order to evaluate their virulence and immunomodulating properties at the cerebral level. We found that, unlike Sb26Rev, Sb26 i.c. infection was never lethal regardless of the challenging dose. Sb26Rev infection resulted in massive CNS tissue damage, associated with little or no cytokine response, as established by semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Differently, Sb26 infection failed to alter CNS structure, while inducing IL-12 p40, TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IFN-gamma and iNOS specific-gene expression as well as IL-12, TNF-alpha and IL-1beta cytokine production. Interestingly, all Sb26 infected mice survived a subsequent lethal challenge with Sb26Rev. The phenomenon was associated with enhanced IL-12, TNF-alpha and IL-1beta production and was strictly specific, as shown by heterologous challenges and delayed type of hypersensitivity assay. Overall, we provide evidence that protective immunity against cerebral cryptococcosis is established by means of an avirulent strain of C. neoformans.
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PMID:Establishment of protective immunity against cerebral cryptococcosis by means of an avirulent, non melanogenic Cryptococcus neoformans strain. 1099 9

In this study we investigated the capacity of morphine to modulate expression of cytokines in peritoneal macrophages. Mice were implanted subcutaneously with a 75-mg morphine slow-release pellet, and 48 h later resident peritoneal macrophages were harvested. Control groups received placebo pellets, naltrexone pellets, or morphine plus naltrexone pellets. Adherent cells were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS: 10 microg/mL) plus interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma: 100 units/mL) to induce cytokine production. After 24 h RNA was extracted for analysis of cytokine mRNA levels by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, or supernatants were collected after 48 h for determination of cytokine production by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Morphine enhanced mRNA expression of interleukin (IL)-12 p40 and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) compared with controls, whereas IL-10 levels were unchanged by drug treatment. ELISA data showed that both IL-12 p40 and p70 were increased by morphine. The enhancement of IL-12 at both the mRNA and protein levels was antagonized by naltrexone, indicating that the modulation of this cytokine by morphine is via a classic opioid receptor. These results are particularly interesting in light of our previous observation that 48 h after morphine pellet implantation, the peritoneal cavity is colonized with gram-negative and other enteric bacteria. The enhancement of IL-12 by morphine might be related to morphine-induced sepsis.
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PMID:Morphine enhances interleukin-12 and the production of other pro-inflammatory cytokines in mouse peritoneal macrophages. 1107 13

Mouse monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) that specifically detect the 127 kDa Pol precursor and the 85 kDa reverse transcriptase/RNase H (RT/RN) or pr127 and the 40 kDa integrase (IN) in immunoblot and immunofluorescence assays (IFA) were used to investigate the subcellular localization of primate foamy virus (PFV) proteins. IFA of cells infected with PFV using the anti-Pol MAbs and rabbit anti-capsid (Gag) serum revealed that both the Gag and Pol proteins are transported into the nucleus. Transfection of cells with eukaryotic expression constructs for pr127(Pol), p85(RT/RN) and p40(IN) served to show Gag-independent subcellular localization of Pol proteins. Interestingly, not only the Pol precursor and IN molecules were found to be localized to the nucleus, but also the RT/RN subdomain. It is therefore suggested that PFV cores bear at least three separate nuclear localization signals, one in Gag and two in Pol. The latter appear to be localized to the two Pol subdomains.
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PMID:Primate foamy virus Pol proteins are imported into the nucleus. 1108 25

Alveolar macrophages are the preferential site for growth of Legionella pneumophila (Lp) during infection. However, the study of Lp infection in alveolar macrophages is difficult due to the limitation of available primary alveolar macrophages. In the present study, we established an in vitro Lp infection model in alveolar macrophages using a continuous cell line of murine alveolar macrophages designated MH-S. Infection of both MH-S cells and primary mouse alveolar macrophages obtained by alveolar lavage with virulent L. pneumophila (Lp-V) showed vigorous growth of the bacteria, but infection with avirulent L. pneumophila (Lp-Av) resulted in only minimum growth. Cytokine message expression determination in the MH-S cells after infection showed strong induction of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha messages induced by Lp-V but minimal induction of these cytokines by Lp-Av infection. IL-1 alpha protein secretion and the message levels for IL-1 alpha were also analyzed, and remarkable induction of IL-1 alpha was evident in both macrophage types when infected with Lp-V. Analysis of IL-12 p40 responses of both macrophage types to Lp-V infection assessed by reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction revealed induction of increased message levels, but significant levels were induced only slowly. Determination of IL-12 protein secretion by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of culture supernatants from both macrophage types infected with either Lp-V or Lp-Av showed only minimum production. Thus, MH-S alveolar macrophages showed a similar response to Lp infection compared with primary alveolar macrophages and can be a useful in vitro model system to study Lp infection. The study also revealed the restricted IL-12 protein secretion of alveolar macrophages by Lp infection.
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PMID:Alveolar macrophage cell line MH-S is valuable as an in vitro model for Legionella pneumophila infection. 1124 32

Complementary DNAs coding for gerbil interleukin 12 (IL-12) p40/p35 subunits were cloned by a combination of cross species reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and 3' rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) techniques. IL-12 p40/p35 had 79% nucleotide identity and 81% amino acid homology to mouse IL-12 p40/p35. The p40/p35 subunits were expressed as a single polypeptide separated by a short hinge sequence that allowed for proper folding and assembly. COS-7 cells transfected with DNA encoding the single-chain gerbil IL-12 (pSCjIL12) secreted high levels of the protein which stimulated proliferation of ConA-activated gerbil spleen lymphoblasts in a dose-dependent manner.
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PMID:Molecular cloning of gerbil interleukin 12 and its expression as a bioactive single-chain protein. 1139 96

This study extends our previous observations that the reovirus type-2(Reo-2) can induce autoimmune insulitis, which may be mediated by T-helper (Th) 1-dependent mechanisms, resulting in diabetes in newborn DBA/1 mice. In this study mRNA expression for Th1-related cytokines including Th1 and Th2 cytokines in splenic cells was examined by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in relation to the development of insulitis. Furthermore, the effect of monoclonal antibody (MoAb) against interleukin (IL)-12(p40) on the development of insulitis and the mRNA expression in the splenic cells was examined. The mRNA expression for IL-12(p40), IL-18, and interferon (IFN)-gamma, but not IL-5, increased in the spleen in parallel with the development of insulitis. The treatment with MoAb to IL-12(p40) reduced the insulitis with diabetes which was associated with a decrease in the mRNA expression for IL-12(p40), IL-18 and IFN-gamma, and an increase of IL-4 mRNA expression in the spleen. The present study suggested that Th1-dominant systemic immune responses, being responsible for the development of autoimmune insulitis, might be induced by IL-12-induced and IL-18-activated mechanisms.
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PMID:Possible involvement of IL-12 in reovirus type-2-induced diabetes in newborn DBA/1 mice. 1142 5

We report on an antitumor treatment involving electrogene therapy (EGT), a newly developed in vivo gene transfer method using electroporation. We carried out in vivo EGT in a subcutaneous model of CT26 colon carcinoma cells, using plasmid DNAs encoding interleukin 12 (IL-12) subunits. For this purpose, we developed two IL-12 expression systems: a cotransfer system using a plasmid encoding the IL-12 p40 subunit and a plasmid encoding the IL-12 p35 subunit, and a single-vector system using a plasmid expressing a p40-p35 fusion protein. Both transfer systems significantly inhibited the growth of CT26 tumor. Immunohistochemical analysis of IL-12 EGT-treated tumors revealed enhanced infiltration of CD8(+) cells into the tumor tissue, while reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction confirmed the increased expression of interferon gamma within treated tumors. The same IL-12 EGT applied to the nude mouse model was not effective, suggesting the critical role of T cell infiltration in this treatment. The inhibitory effects revealed in experiments in which previously treated mice were rechallenged with a second inoculation of CT26 tumor cells suggested that IL-12 EGT may also establish partial systemic antitumor immunity. The growth of IL-12 EGT-treated Renca tumors, a renal cell carcinoma, was also significantly inhibited. These findings suggest that EGT of the IL-12 gene has the potential to be an effective anticancer gene therapy.
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PMID:Intratumoral delivery of interleukin 12 expression plasmids with in vivo electroporation is effective for colon and renal cancer. 1144 Jun 20

The chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin and the anti-proliferative long-acting somatostatin analogue octreotide, both used in cancer treatment, have been shown to increase the expression of the p53 tumour suppressor protein. In the present study, we demonstrate by Western-blot analysis that, in addition to the p53 protein, these molecules were able to induce the expression of a shorter protein with an apparent molecular mass of 40 kDa (p40), recognized by antibodies raised against the N-terminus of p53. This induction was present in tumoral and non-tumoral cells and did not depend on the status of the endogenous p53 protein. The p40 protein was significantly induced after 3 h of cell treatment with doxorubicin or octreotide, remained stable until 24 h and was located in the nuclear extract. Using reverse primers corresponding to each exon of the p53 gene, only one transcript was amplified by reverse transcriptase-PCR. This suggested that p40 was issued from a post-translational modification and not from an alternative splicing. This protein was not recognized by the PAb421 antibody, suggesting that it was issued from a cleavage of the p53 C-terminal region (p40deltaC). Furthermore, this cleavage was not dependent on caspase activity. In conclusion, these results support the hypothesis that this post-translational modification plays a significant role in the regulation of multiple p53 signalling pathways. These results also suggest that octreotide, a molecule with different signalling pathways, was able as doxorubicin to generate a p53 breakdown product.
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PMID:Doxorubicin and octreotide induce a 40 kDa breakdown product of p53 in human hepatoma and tumoral colon cell lines. 1204 55

Borna disease (BD) was diagnosed in a 3-year-old male Welsh corgi suffering from a severe and acute progressive disorder of the central nervous system. Histopathologically, neuronal lesions were characterized by a non-suppurative encephalomyelitis dominated by large perivascular cuffs consisting of lymphocytes, macrophages and plasma cells; also present were inflammatory cell infiltrates in the neural parenchyma, neuronophagia and focal gliosis. Strong immunolabelling with BD virus (BDV) p40 antibody was diffusely distributed in the cytoplasm of small and large neurons in areas of the brain with and without inflammatory changes, and also in the spinal cord. Positive hybridization signals with BDV p40 sense and antisense riboprobes were seen in the nucleus and cytoplasm of the neurons throughout the whole brain and spinal cord. BDV p24 RNA in formalin-fixed brain tissue was detected by reverse transcriptase (RT)-nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR). BDV p24 RNA-positive signals were detected in the temporal lobe. This is the first report of spontaneous canine BD in Japan.
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PMID:Borna disease in a dog in Japan. 1205 80

Cytokines and beta-chemokines are important mediators of the immune system and are expressed in many infectious diseases. To study cytokine and beta-chemokine profiles during pathogenesis of lentiviral infection and progression to AIDS in rhesus macaques, we established new quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays based on TaqMan chemistry. Using synthetic RNA standards, we quantified mRNAs of IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12 p40, interferon gamma (IFN-gamma), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), RANTES, macrophage inflammatory protein 1 alpha (MIP-1 alpha), and MIP-1 beta in unstimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and lymph nodes from macaques chronically infected with SIV or SHIV. Viremic monkeys with decreased CD4(+) T cell counts (<500 cells/microl) had significantly higher IL-10 mRNA expression than uninfected controls, which parallels the findings in HIV-1-infected humans. In addition, MIP-1 alpha, MIP-1 beta, and RANTES mRNA expression increased in viremic monkeys with decreased CD4(+) T cell counts; gene expression was inversely correlated with CD4(+) T cell counts, but not viral load. The newly established quantitative real-time RT-PCR assays will allow the determination of cytokine and beta-chemokine patterns in rhesus macaques in studies of microbial pathogenesis or vaccine development.
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PMID:Quantitation of simian cytokine and beta-chemokine mRNAs, using real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction: variations in expression during chronic primate lentivirus infection. 1207 58


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