Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UNIPROT:P02749 (beta2-glycoprotein I)
 836 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

To investigate the pathogenic versus the protective role of cytokines and toxin-binding factors in Plasmodium falciparum infections, we measured the concentrations of tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha), IL-1 beta, IL-1 receptor antagonist, and IL-6, as well as soluble receptors of tumor necrosis factor and IL-6 (sIL-6R) in serum of Gambian children with cerebral malaria, mild or asymptomatic malaria, or other illnesses unrelated to malaria. Because cytokine secretion may be triggered by toxic structures containing phosphatidylinositol (PI), we also measured concentrations of anti-PI antibodies and the PI-binding serum protein beta-2-glycoprotein I. We found increased concentrations of IL-6, sIL-6R, IL-1ra, and some immunoglobulin M antibodies against PI in children with cerebral malaria, but those who died had decreased concentrations of beta-2-glycoprotein I. We conclude that increased concentrations of cytokines and soluble cytokine receptors represent a normal host response to P. falciparum infections but that excessive secretion of cytokines like IL-6 may predispose to cerebral malaria and a fatal outcome while beta-2-glycoprotein I may protect against a fatal outcome of cerebral malaria.
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PMID:Increased concentrations of interleukin-6 and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist and decreased concentrations of beta-2-glycoprotein I in Gambian children with cerebral malaria. 792 98

The human plasma protein beta2-glycoprotein I (beta2-GPI) is the most common target for antiphospholipid antibodies associated with thrombotic events in chronic disorders related to endothelial cell dysfunction. Crucial information is needed to clarify why this self-abundant protein is targeted by autoimmune responses. In this study, we investigated whether oxidative modification of beta2-GPI, either spontaneous in culture wells or induced by treatment with H2O2, renders this self-protein able to activate immature monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DCs) from healthy human donors. Oxidized beta2-GPI caused DCs to mature so that CD83 appeared and CD80, CD86, human leukocyte antigen-D region related (HLA-DR), and CD40 increased. The interaction between oxidized beta2-GPI and DCs specifically stimulated these cells to secrete interleukin 12 (IL-12), IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), and IL-10. Oxidized beta2-GPI-stimulated DCs had increased allostimulatory ability and primed naive T lymphocytes, thus inducing T helper 1 (Th1) polarization. The interaction between oxidized beta2-GPI and DCs involved interleukin-1 receptor associated kinase (IRAK) phosphorylation and nuclear factor kappaB (NFkappaB) activation. Pretreatment of beta2-GPI with the antioxidant alpha-tocopherol prevented DC maturation. These findings show that human oxidized beta2-GPI, probably by interacting with a member of the Toll-like receptor (TLR) family, causes DCs to mature. Because this key beta2-GPI function requires oxidative modification, in several chronic disorders related to endothelial cell dysfunction oxidative stress might trigger the "autoimmune spiral."
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PMID:Oxidized beta2-glycoprotein I induces human dendritic cell maturation and promotes a T helper type 1 response. 1609 86

Although atherosclerosis was previously thought to be mainly a degenerative disease, it is now well ascertained that its pathogenesis is inflammatory. This review describes the history of a new atherogenetic concept, including the pivotal role of apoE-knockout mice in understanding the inflammatory background of atherosclerosis. There has been lack of unequivocal evidence of an important inflammatory component in atherogenesis. This evidence was delivered by a new technique--gene targeting, for the invention of which Mario R. Capecchi, Martin J. Evans and Oliver Smithies received in 2007 the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. The pivotal stage of atherogenesis is the antigen presentation by macrophages to T lymphocytes. This antigen could be a fragment of oxidized low-density lipoproteins "digested" by macrophage, heat shock protein 60, beta2-glycoprotein I or fragments of bacterial antigens. For interaction between the immunological cells a presence of CD40 receptor on macrophages and its ligand CD40L on the surface of T lymphocytes are necessary. During the interaction between these cells an immunological type T helper 1 (Th1--cellular) or T helper 2 (Th2--humoral) response arises. Th1 response and its mediators: interferon gamma, tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-1, interleukin-12 and interleukin-18 enhance atherogenesis, whereas Th2 response and its mediators: interleukin-4, interleukin-5, interleukin-10 and interleukin-13 inhibit the development of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is therefore a chronic inflammatory disease, in most cases initiated by hypercholesterolemia. Nowadays, hypercholesterolemia and inflammation are considered as "partners in crime". The concept of atherosclerosis as inflammatory disease is fairly new, however, it is already considered as an undisputable achievement of science which have particular therapeutic consequences.
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PMID:New insights into immunological aspects of atherosclerosis. 1847 59