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)

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.
 ...
PMID:New insights into immunological aspects of atherosclerosis. 1847 59

Brief virologic news included the discovery of the virophage, a unique parasite of the giant mimivirus and the association of HHV-8 infection with a peculiar form of African diabetes. Secondly, this news focused on risk factors for arterial or venous thrombosis and therapy for auto-immune disorders. Only oral estrogen therapy increases the risk of venous thromboembolism in postmenopausal women. Despite significant homocysteine lowering, vitamin supplementation with folic acid, vitamins B6 and B12 did not reduce total cardiovascular events among high-risk patients. Patients with venous thromboembolism have a substantially increased long-term risk of subsequent cardiovascular events while obesity, systemic arterial hypertension, and diabetes are common risk factors for arterial and venous thrombosis. The non fasting ApoB/ApoA1 ratio was superior to any of the cholesterol ratios for estimation of the risk of acute myocardial infection in all ethnic groups. Preventive anticoagulation of in-patients with risk of venous thromboembolism was inadequately prescribed in many hospitals of the world. Subcutaneous administration of methotrexate was more effective than the oral administration at the same dosage in patients suffering from active rheumatoid arthritis. Hydroxychloroquine directly reduces the binding of antiphospholipid antibody-beta2-glycoprotein I complexes to phospholipid bilayers. Anti-IL-5 and anti-IL-6 antibodies were effective for the treatment of respectively hypereosinophilic syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis. The efficacy of proteasome inhibitors and mesenchymal stems cells have been demonstrated in respectively two mouse strains with lupus-like disease and steroid-resistant severe acute graft-versus-host disease. These treatments may be useful for auto-immune disorders if their long term toxicity is acceptable. In conclusion, subcutaneous injections of physiological saline, used as placebo in two different trials, enhanced in vitro activation of immunocompetent cells in healthy individuals.
 ...
PMID:[What's new in internal medicine?]. 1926 9