Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: EC:2.7.7.6 (RNA polymerase)
34,946 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Inflammatory cytokines, particularly those produced by Th1 type lymphocytes, are hypothesized to play a major role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. The present studies investigated this hypothesis in the BB rat. Diabetes-prone (DP) BB rats develop spontaneous hyperglycemia and thyroiditis. Coisogenic diabetes-resistant (DR) BB rats do not develop either disorder spontaneously, but both diseases are induced by depletion of RT6+ T cells. Reverse transcriptase-PCR was used to measure mRNA encoding type 1 and type 2 cytokines. In both DP and RT6-depleted DR rats, IFN-gamma mRNA was present in islets before and during disease onset. IL-2 and IL-4 mRNAs were minimal or undetectable in infiltrated islets but present in activated peripheral T cells. IL-10 mRNA was present at low abundance in infiltrating T cells. These observations suggested a Th1 type inflammatory response, and consistent with this interpretation, we observed that mRNA encoding the p40 chain of IL-12 was also present before and during disease onset. Similar cytokine mRNA profiles were observed in the thyroids of RT6-depleted DR rats and in the islets of DP rats treated with prophylactic parenteral insulin to prevent diabetes. We conclude that IFN-gamma and IL-12 may play a major role in the expression of insulitis and thyroiditis in the BB rat, that Th1 lymphocytes may predominate over Th2 lymphocytes in these inflammatory lesions, and that prevention of diabetes by insulin is not associated with an alteration in the cytokine gene profile of islet infiltrating cells.
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PMID:Cytokine gene expression in islets and thyroids of BB rats. IFN-gamma and IL-12p40 mRNA increase with age in both diabetic and insulin-treated nondiabetic BB rats. 855 12

In several vertebrate species, Borna disease virus (BDV), the prototype of a new group of animal viruses, causes central nervous system disease accompanied by diverse behavioral abnormalities. Seroepidemiological data indicate that BDV may contribute to the pathophysiology of certain human mental disorders. This hypothesis is further supported by the detection of both BDV antigens and BDV RNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with psychiatric disorders and the isolation of BDV from such PBMCs. Here we describe serological and molecular epidemiological studies on psychiatric patients and healthy individuals from the area of Homburg, Germany. Using a novel Western blot (immunoblot) assay, we found a BDV seroprevalence of 9.6% among 416 neuropsychiatric patients, which is significantly higher than the 1.4% found among 203 healthy control individuals. Human sera displayed a prominent immunoreactivity against the virus nucleoprotein, the p40 antigen. Reverse transcriptase-mediated PCR analysis of RNA extracted from PBMCs of a subset of 26 of the neuropsychiatric patients revealed that 50% were BDV RNA positive. Three of the 13 BDV RNA-positive patients also had BDV-positive serology, whereas one patient with serum antibodies to BDV p40 antigen did not harbor detectable BDV RNA in PBMCs. BDV p40 and p24 sequences derived from human PBMCs exhibited both a high degree of inter- and intrapatient conservation and a close genetic relationship to animal-derived BDV sequences.
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PMID:Detection of Borna disease virus (BDV) antibodies and BDV RNA in psychiatric patients: evidence for high sequence conservation of human blood-derived BDV RNA. 889 92

Interleukin (IL)-12 is a heterodimeric cytokine consisting of 35 and 40 kDa subunits, produced primarily by phagocytic cells in response to bacteria or bacterial products. IL-12 is important in the regulation of both innate and antigen-specific immunity through its stimulatory effects on NK cells and cytotoxic lymphocytes. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction with primers derived from human sequence was used to clone the p35 and p40 subunits of porcine IL-12. Predicted amino acid sequences for both subunits are approximately 85% homologous to their human cognates but contain a 3aa addition and a 4aa deletion in p35 and p40 subunits, respectively. The high degree of similarity indicates the proteins may be cross reactive, an important consideration in pig-human xenotransplantation. Both subunits of pIL-12 are constitutively expressed in a variety of porcine tissues. Highest levels of the p40 subunit were found in lymphoid tissues including inguinal and mesenteric lymph nodes, Peyer's patches, spleen and thymus. The p35 subunit was also detected in these tissues. Levels of mRNA encoding the p40 subunit, but not the p35 subunit, were rapidly increased in alveolar macrophages stimulated with lipopolysaccharide or killed Staphylococcus aureus. Thus, the heterodimeric subunits appear to be differentially regulated at the transcriptional level. Since p40 also self-associates to form inactive homodimers, differential expression may be a mechanism for regulating IL-12 activity.
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PMID:Molecular cloning and mRNA expression of porcine interleukin-12. 923 44

IL-12, a 75-kDa heterodimeric cytokine composed of two chains (p35 and p40), is a central regulator of immune responses and may be implicated in the pathogenesis of certain inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system (CNS). We have examined the capacity of two CNS APC, microglia and astrocytes, to produce IL-12 upon stimulation with cytokines, LPS, or a neurotropic virus. In purified microglial cultures from neonatal mouse brains, expression of IL-12 p35 and p40 mRNA is induced by LPS and is stimulated maximally by combined IFN-gamma/LPS treatment, as detected by semiquantitative reverse-transcriptase PCR. LPS induces secretion of IL-12 p40, but not of IL-12 p75, as detected by specific ELISA. Combined stimulation with IFN-gamma/LPS enhances IL-12 p40 secretion and induces IL-12 p75 secretion by microglia. Conversely, mouse astrocytes do not express IL-12 p35 mRNA and do not secrete IL-12 p75 under any condition tested. IL-12 production by activated microglia is inhibited by IL-10, PGE2, and cAMP-elevating agents. Coculture of microglia with astrocytes or exposure of microglia to astrocyte-conditioned medium also results in marked reduction of IL-12 p75 and p40 secretion by IFN-gamma/LPS-stimulated microglia, indicating a regulatory role of astrocytes on IL-12 production. This novel mechanism of IL-12 regulation may play an important role in the control of immune responses during infection or in Th1 cell-mediated autoimmune diseases of the CNS.
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PMID:IL-12 production by central nervous system microglia is inhibited by astrocytes. 925 19

Some cytotoxic drugs cause translocation of nucleophosmin/B23 and other nucleolar proteins to the nucleoplasm. The present study shows that these drugs caused a similar translocation of RH-II/Gu, a nucleolar RNA helicase. Other nucleolar proteins including p120, UBF, RNA polymerase I large subunit, fibrillarin, p40, and Ren-1 did not translocate. A 2-h treatment of MCF-7 breast cancer cells with 0.008 or 0.16 microM actinomycin D resulted in translocation of RH-II/Gu to the nucleoplasm; these effects were not reversed by 100 microM guanosine. The effects of 0.008 microM actinomycin D, but not 0.16 microM actinomycin D, on the translocation of RH-II/Gu were reversed when the drug was removed. However, the effects of 0.008 or 0.16 microM actinomycin D on the translocation of nucleophosmin/B23 were not reversible. The translocation effects of 50 microM toyocamycin on RH-II/Gu were reversed when the drug was replaced with fresh medium. RH-II/Gu mostly relocalized to the nucleoli within 15 min after toyocamycin was withdrawn; only partial relocalization of nucleophosmin/B23 occurred 40 h after removal of the drug. The effects of toyocamycin were not blocked by 100 microM guanosine. Mycophenolic acid (50 microM, 2-h treatment) caused partial translocation of RH-II/Gu; this effect was slowly reversed upon drug removal and was inhibited by 100 microM guanosine, in a manner similar to the effects of mycophenolic acid on the localization of nucleophosmin/B23. This study shows similarities and differences in the drug-induced translocation and relocalization of RH-II/Gu and nucleophosmin/B23. Analysis of translocation of specific nucleolar proteins may offer a quantitative approach to assessment of potency and duration of effects of cytotoxic agents.
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PMID:Effects of cytotoxic drugs on translocation of nucleolar RNA helicase RH-II/Gu. 929 66

IFN-gamma, produced after infection with Trypanosoma cruzi, has been shown to be crucial in the determination of resistance or susceptibility. We have performed a detailed study on the expression of IFN-gamma and of the IFN-gamma-inducing cytokines IL-12 and IFN-gamma-inducing factor (IGIF)/IL-18 with regard to time course and tissue localization. IFN-gamma was present in high amounts in the serum and in the supernatants of unseparated spleen cells and isolated CD4+ and CD8+ T cells from the spleens of infected mice which were stimulated ex vivo with T. cruzi. Using the in situ hybridization technique we demonstrate that IL-12 p40 messages were expressed in the spleen and increased during infection, correlating with the expression of IFN-gamma transcripts. Furthermore, we show for the first time that the mRNA for the cytokine IL-18 was induced by a parasitic infection and that this expression increased during infection with T. cruzi. Interestingly, the message for IL-18 was produced earlier during infection and already had declined until day 38, when IFN-gamma and IL-12 p40 transcripts were optimally expressed. Surprisingly, the changes in IL-12 and IL-18 mRNA production were clearly seen only by in situ hybridization, but less clearly by quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). This is possibly due to the extensive activation and proliferation of spleen cells observed during infection leading to a dilution of these specific mRNAs.
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PMID:Trypanosoma cruzi induces strong IL-12 and IL-18 gene expression in vivo: correlation with interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) production. 940 39

In the present study, we have analyzed the pattern of cytokines expressed by two independent dendritic cell (DC) subpopulations generated in vitro from human cord blood CD34+ progenitors cultured with granulocyte-macrophage CSF and TNF-alpha. Molecularly, we confirmed the phenotypic differences discriminating the two subsets: E-cadherin mRNA was only detected in CD1a+-derived DC, whereas CD68 and factor XIIIa mRNAs were observed exclusively in CD14+-derived DC. Semiquantitative reverse-transcriptase PCR analysis revealed that both DC subpopulations spontaneously expressed IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-7, IL-12 (p35 and p40), IL-15, IL-18, TNF-alpha, TGF-beta, macrophage CSF, and granulocyte-macrophage CSF, but not IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-9, and IFN-gamma transcripts. Both subpopulations were shown to secrete IL-12 after CD40 triggering. Interestingly, only the CD14+-derived DC secreted IL-10 after CD40 activation, strengthening the notion that the two DC subpopulations indeed represent two independent pathways of DC development. Furthermore, both DC subpopulations expressed IL-13 mRNA and protein following activation with PMA-ionomycin, but not with CD40 ligand, in contrast to IL-12 and IL-10, revealing the existence of different pathways for DC activation. Finally, we confirmed the expression of IL-7, IL-10, and IL-13 mRNA by CD4+ CD11c+ CD3- DC isolated ex vivo from tonsillar germinal centers. Thus, CD14+-derived DC expressing IL-10 and factor XIIIa seemed more closely related to germinal center dendritic cellsGCDC than to Langerhans cells.
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PMID:The cytokine profile expressed by human dendritic cells is dependent on cell subtype and mode of activation. 946 23

Cell cycle progression is controlled by the sequential functions of cyclin-dependent kinases (cdks). Cdk activation requires phosphorylation of a key residue (on sites equivalent to Thr-160 in human cdk2) carried out by the cdk-activating kinase (CAK). Human CAK has been identified as a p40(MO15)/cyclin H/MAT1 complex that also functions as part of transcription factor IIH (TFIIH) where it phosphorylates multiple transcriptional components including the C-terminal domain (CTD) of the large subunit of RNA polymerase II. In contrast, CAK from budding yeast consists of a single polypeptide (Cak1p), is not a component of TFIIH, and lacks CTD kinase activity. Here we report that Cak1p and p40(MO15) have strikingly different substrate specificities. Cak1p preferentially phosphorylated monomeric cdks, whereas p40(MO15) preferentially phosphorylated cdk/cyclin complexes. Furthermore, p40(MO15) only phosphorylated cdk6 bound to cyclin D3, whereas Cak1p recognized monomeric cdk6 and cdk6 bound to cyclin D1, D2, or D3. We also found that cdk inhibitors, including p21(CIP1), p27(KIP1), p57(KIP2), p16(INK4a), and p18(INK4c), could block phosphorylation by p40(MO15) but not phosphorylation by Cak1p. Our results demonstrate that although both Cak1p and p40(MO15) activate cdks by phosphorylating the same residue, the structural mechanisms underlying the enzyme-substrate recognition differ greatly. Structural and physiological implications of these findings will be discussed.
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PMID:Human and yeast cdk-activating kinases (CAKs) display distinct substrate specificities. 972 11

Epidermal cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1beta, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and IL-12 have been described to play a crucial role in the induction and elicitation phase of allergic contact dermatitis upon exposure to haptens. In this study we asked whether these cytokines may also play a role in the epidermis of patients with atopic dermatitis after the application of house dust mite antigens (HDM) to their skin. Epidermal samples were collected by scraping healthy appearing skin of atopic patients and healthy individuals 8 h after the application of an extract of HDM. Sodium lauryl sulfate and saline served as controls. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction was performed for IL-1beta, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, IL-12 p35, and IL-12 p40. Exposure to HDM led to a significant upregulation of mRNA of these cytokines in atopic patients only. Whereas IL-1beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha also showed an upregulation in part of these patients after exposure to the irritant sodium lauryl sulfate, IL-12 p40 mRNA was exclusively enhanced by the application of the allergen. In contrast to IL-12 p40, IL-12 p35 mRNA was not detectable in significant amounts. Interestingly, also in untreated, normal appearing skin of atopic individuals (n = 16), the levels of these cytokines were higher than in normal individuals (n = 8), possibly explaining the increased skin irritability of atopic individuals. Finally, comparing epidermal cytokines in the skin of patients who developed a positive allergen patch test to those who stayed negative, suggests that only expression of IL-1beta mRNA may be a predictive marker for the development of a positive patch test reaction to HDM.
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PMID:Epidermal cytokines IL-1beta, TNF-alpha, and IL-12 in patients with atopic dermatitis: response to application of house dust mite antigens. 985 37

We investigated the relationship between the two forms of rabies virus P protein, a non-catalytic subunit of rabies virus RNA polymerase. The two displayed different electrophoretic mobilities as 37- and 40-kDa polypeptides, hence termed as p37 and p40, respectively. Double labeling experiments with [3H]leucine and [32P]orthophosphate demonstrated that p40 was much more phosphorylated than p37. Treatment of the virion proteins with alkaline phosphatase eliminated only p40, and not 37-kDa polypeptide. The p37 was a major product of the P gene, and was accumulated in the infected cell and incorporated into the virion. On the other hand, p40 was apparently detected only in the virion, and little detected in the cells. Treatment of infected cells with okadaic acid, however, resulted in significant accumulation of p40 in the cell, suggesting that p40 was continuously produced in the cell but dephosphorylated quickly. We detected both 37- and 40-kDa products in P cDNA-transfected animal cells, while only a 37-kDa product was produced in Escherichia coli. Incubation of 37-kDa products from E. coli with the lysates of animal cells in vitro resulted in the production of a 40-kDa product, which was also shown to be suppressed by the heparin. From these results, it is suggested that p40 is produced by the hyperphosphorylation of a 37-kDa polypeptide, which depends on certain heparin-sensitive cellular enzyme(s) and occurs even in the absence of the other viral gene products, and that p40 is reverted quickly to p37 in the infected cells, probably being dependent on some virus-induced factor(s).
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PMID:Studies on the rabies virus RNA polymerase: 2. Possible relationships between the two forms of the non-catalytic subunit (P protein). 988 49


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