Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UNIPROT:P06889 (Mol)
 630,302 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Fas is a cell-surface protein mediating apoptosis. Fas ligand is a type II membrane protein and induces apoptosis by binding to Fas. Fas ligand is expressed in activated T cells, and works as an effector of cytotoxic lymphocytes. Molecular and genetic analysis of Fas and Fas ligand indicated that mouse lymphoproliferation mutation (lpr) and generalized lymphoproliferative disease (gld) are mutations of Fas and Fas ligand respectively. The lpr of gld mice develop lymphadenopathy, and suffer from autoimmune disease. Based on these phenotypes and other studies, it was concluded that the Fas system is involved in the apoptotic process during T-cell development, specifically peripheral clonal deletion or activation-induced suicide of mature T cells. In addition to the activated lymphocytes, Fas is expressed in the liver, heart and lung. Administration of agonistic anti-Fas antibody into mice induced apoptosis in the liver and quickly killed the mice, causing liver damage. These findings suggest that the Fas system plays a role not only in the physiological process of lymphocyte development, but also in the cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-mediated disease such as fulminant hepatitis.
Prog Mol Subcell Biol 1996
PMID:Apoptosis mediated by the Fas system. 882 94

Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) was described as a distinct clinical syndrome in 1972. Since then many cases have been reported in the literature worldwide. In this study we present our experience with a group of 17 Mexican patients with this syndrome, and we analyze their clinical and serological features, as well as the causes of death in these patients. The patients are Mexican mestizos living in Guadalajara and most of them have been followed-up at Hospital General de Occidente for a period of 1-10 years. The female/male ratio was 16:1, and their age ranged from 14-55 years with a mean of 29 years. The disease duration has ranged from 1-17 years, with a mean of 6 years. Among the clinical manifestations we have found a high frequency of lymphadenopathy when compared with published series (13/17 or 76%), and the laboratory findings in our patients included a very high polyclonal increase of gammaglobulins (93%), lymphopenia (76%), direct immunofluorescence speckled nuclear epidermal deposits in skin biopsies (75%) and positive rheumatoid factor (65%). Other clinical and serological features were similar to those reported in other series of patients with MCTD. Six of the 17 patients have died (35%), and in 3 of them (17.5%) the cause of death was due to an infectious disease that suddenly presented, and apparently was not related to a concomitant high dose of steroids or malnutrition in the patients. It seems that in addition to the already well known autoimmune abnormalities that occur in MCTD, there are other features like the presence of lymphadenopathy, the high polyclonal increase of gammaglobulins, and the lymphopenia, that reflect the profound disturbance of the immune system in this syndrome, possibly contributing to the sudden appearance of a severe infectious disease in some of our patients.
Mol Biol Rep 1996
PMID:Mixed connective tissue disease. A clinico-serological study of 17 cases. 911 23

MRL/Mp-lpr/lpr mice develop a spontaneous lupus syndrome, including hypergammaglobulinemia, autoantibodies, glomerulonephritis, and lymphadenopathy. To investigate the role of lymphocytes subsets in the pathogenesis of disease, lupus-prone MRL mice deficient in alpha beta T cells, gamma delta T cells, or both were generated. Mice deficient in alpha beta T cells developed a partially penetrant lupus syndrome, characterized by lymphadenopathy, elevated levels of class-switched immunoglobulins, an increased incidence of antinuclear antibodies, and immune deposits in kidneys which progressed to renal insufficiency over time. In comparison to wild type animals, gamma delta T cell-deficient animals developed an accelerated and exacerbated disease phenotype, characterized by accelerated hypergammaglobulinemia and enhanced autoantibody production and mortality. Repertoire analysis of these latter animals identified polyclonal expansion (V beta) of alpha beta CD4+ B220-cells. Mice lacking both alpha beta and gamma delta T cells failed to generate class-switched autoantibodies and immune complex renal disease. First, these findings demonstrate that murine lupus in the setting of Fas-deficiency does not absolutely require the presence of alpha beta T cells, and they also suggest that a significant basis for MRL/lpr disease, including renal disease, involves alpha beta T cell-independent, gamma delta T cell dependent, polyreactive B cell autoimmunity, upon which alpha beta T cell-dependent mechanisms aggravate specific autoimmune responses. Second, these data indicate that gamma delta T cells partake in the regulation of systemic autoimmunity, presumably via their effects on alpha beta CD4+ B220-T cells that provide B cell help. Finally, these results demonstrate that MRL/lpr B cells, despite their intrinsic abnormalities, cannot per se cause tissue injury without T cell help.
Mol Biol Rep 1996
PMID:T cells in murine lupus: propagation and regulation of disease. 911 36

Ribonucleotide reductase inhibitors (RRIs) have been recently shown to inhibit retroviral replication. We examined a new series of RRIs, 3,4-dihydroxybenzohydroxamic acid (Didox) and 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzohydroxamidoxime (Trimidox) for their ability to alter disease progression in murine acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (MAIDS), both alone and in combination with 2',3'-dideoxyinosine (ddI). MAIDS disease was induced by inoculation of female C57BL/6 mice with the LP-BM5 murine leukemia virus (MuLV) and disease progression characterized by extensive peripheral lymphadenopathy and splenomegaly. Efficacy of treatment with these drugs was based upon their ability to influence survival and disease pathophysiology by monitoring the development of splenomegaly. Toxicity was determined by changes in body weight, total peripheral white blood cell count and hematocrit. Didox or trimidox monotherapy was associated with increased survival and decreased disease pathophysiology, with no apparent toxicity. Combined with ddI, their ability to reduce development of viral induced splenomegaly was enhanced compared to trimidox, didox or ddI alone. These results demonstrate RRIs have potent activity in reversing the disease manifestations characteristic of MAIDS. Further studies are warranted to determine human clinical efficacy.
Cell Mol Biol (Noisy-le-grand) 1997 Nov
PMID:Effective use of ribonucleotide reductase inhibitors (Didox and Trimidox) alone or in combination with didanosine (ddI) to suppress disease progression and increase survival in murine acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (MAIDS). 944 34

Autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS) is a rare, newly recognized, chronic lymphoproliferative disorder in children and is characterized by lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly, pancytopenia, autoimmune phenomena and expansion of double-negative (DN) T lymphocytes (TCR alpha beta+, CD4-, CD8-). Defective lymphocyte apoptosis caused by mutations of the Fas (CD95) gene has been linked in the pathogenesis of ALPS, as binding of Fas-ligand to Fas can trigger apoptosis. Of the ALPS cases reported to date, point mutations, frameshifts and silent mutations in Fas all have been identified. We report two new point mutations in Fas in a child with ALPS and eosinophilia; studies on other family members established the pattern of inheritance for these mutations. Flow cytometric analysis of blood and tissues (spleen, lymph node, bone marrow) revealed abnormally expanded populations of DN T lymphocytes. Furthermore, activated lymphocytes and IFN gamma-activated eosinophils were resistant to Fas-mediated apoptosis. Eosinophil resistance to Fas-mediated apoptosis has not been previously described in ALPS. Sequencing of Fas revealed two separate mutations not previously reported. One mutation, a C to T change at base 836, was a silent mutation inherited from the mother, while the second mutation, a C to A change at base 916, caused a non-conservative amino acid substitution in the death domain of Fas, changing a threonine to a lysine. This mutation is associated with a predicted change in the structure of a part of the death domain from a beta-pleated sheet to an alpha-helix. We speculate that the mutation in the death domain prevents the interaction of Fas with intracellular mediators of apoptosis and is responsible for the autoimmune manifestations of ALPS and the abnormal lymphocytosis and eosinophilia in this patient.
Blood Cells Mol Dis
PMID:Identification of new Fas mutations in a patient with autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS) and eosinophilia. 1057 48

Emk is a serine/threonine protein kinase implicated in regulating polarity, cell cycle progression, and microtubule dynamics. To delineate the role of Emk in development and adult tissues, mice lacking Emk were generated by targeted gene disruption. Emk(-/-) mice displayed growth retardation and immune cell dysfunction. Although B- and T-cell development were normal, CD4(+)T cells lacking Emk exhibited a marked upregulation of the memory marker CD44/pgp-1 and produced more gamma interferon and interleukin-4 on stimulation through the T-cell receptor in vitro. In addition, B-cell responses to T-cell-dependent and -independent antigen challenge were altered in vivo. As Emk(-/-) animals aged, they developed splenomegaly, lymphadenopathy, membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis, and lymphocytic infiltrates in the lungs, parotid glands and kidneys. Taken together, these results demonstrate that the Emk protein kinase is essential for maintaining immune system homeostasis and that loss of Emk may contribute to autoimmune disease in mammals.
Mol Cell Biol 2001 May
PMID:Immune system dysfunction and autoimmune disease in mice lacking Emk (Par-1) protein kinase. 1128 24

Multicentric Castleman's disease (MCD) is a lymphoproliferative disorder characterized by systemic lymphadenopathy and hypergammaglobulinemia. Recently, a French group reported that human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8) DNA was detected in tissue samples of MCD patients. The detection rate was especially high in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive MCD patients. Thus, HHV8 infection seems to be closely related to HIV infection. In Japan, the HIV infection rate in the general population is very low. To examine whether HHV8 is actually related to MCD in Japan, we performed nested polymerase chain reaction for the HHV8 genome using DNA samples from 7 patients with MCD and 23 patients with related diseases such as POEMS syndrome, amyloidosis, myeloma and lymphoma. They were all HIV-negative Japanese. Three of 7 MCD patients were positive for HHV8. There were no clear differences in clinical characteristics between HHV8-positive patients and negative ones. All other patients were negative for HHV8. Thus, we have shown that some MCD patients in Japan are also infected with HHV8.
Int J Mol Med 2001 Nov
PMID:Human herpesvirus 8 DNA in HIV-negative Japanese patients with multicentric Castleman's disease and related diseases. 1160 26

Fas/CD95 is a key regulator of apoptotic signaling, which is crucial for the maintenance of homeostasis in peripheral lymphoid organs. TDAG51 has been shown to play critical roles in the up-regulation of Fas gene expression and T-cell apoptosis in vitro. In order to identify the role of TDAG51 in vivo, we generated TDAG51-deficient (TDAG51-/-) mice. Northern blotting revealed no expression of TDAG51 in TDAG51-/- mice, indicating that the TDAG51 gene was successfully targeted. TDAG51-/- mice were healthy and showed no gross developmental abnormalities. While Fas-deficient mice display marked lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly, and lymphocytosis, TDAG51-/- mice had no apparent defects in secondary lymphoid organs. Although TDAG51 is required for up-regulation of Fas expression in T-cell hybridomas, TDAG51-/- mice expressed normal levels of Fas and had normal T-cell apoptosis. Therefore, we conclude that TDAG51 is not essential for Fas up-regulation and T-cell apoptosis in vivo. There are several known homologs of TDAG51, and these homologs may substitute for TDAG51 in TDAG51-/- mice.
Mol Cell Biol 2001 Dec
PMID:TDAG51 is not essential for Fas/CD95 regulation and apoptosis in vivo. 1171 73

Sierra Leone ranks at the bottom of the global World Bank Development Index based on multiple health and economic indices and lacks the resources to purchase HIV diagnostic kits. Our study has defined some common clinical features presenting HIV infection that could form clinical algorithms for the diagnosis and recognition of HIV infection by health workers in Sierra Leone. In a private clinic in Freetown, Sierra Leone, West Africa, 106 out of a total of 124 patients presenting with various symptoms and strong clinical suspicion of HIV infection within a two-year period (1999 and 2000), were deemed positive by two different ELISA tests. The prevalence of HIV infection seen in this private clinic in Freetown in 2000 was 14.89% as compared to 9.25% in 1999. The positive predictive value of our clinical diagnosis of HIV/AIDS infection was 85.5%. The male:female ratio of the patients in our series was 1:1.9, with a mean age of 39 years for males and 28 years for females. HIV infection was found in a cross-section of the population that we examined. Heterosexual contact appeared to be the major mode of transmission amongst our patients and there seemed to be a significant epidemiological risk of HIV infection amongst those who traveled to other countries in the West African sub region. Common clinical features in decreasing frequency were fever (92.5%), weight loss (84.1%), lymphadenopathy (78.3%), cough (48.1%), diarrhea (37.7%), candidiasis (32.1%) and body aches (30.1%).
Cell Mol Biol (Noisy-le-grand) 2001 Nov
PMID:The usefulness of defined clinical features in the diagnosis of HIV/AIDS infection in Sierra Leone. 1183 63

Whipple's disease is a systemic infection, caused by the bacterium Tropheryma whipplei, with protean clinical manifestations characterized by fever, weight loss, diarrhea, polyarthritis, skin hyperpigmentation and adenopathy. For a long time, due to the inability to culture the causative organism, diagnosis was based on histologic examination of infected tissues, usually duodenal biopsies, which revealed diastase-resistant periodic acid-Schiff-positive staining. Now, PCR of various tissues or fluid is emerging as a way to diagnose Whipple's disease. However, the presence of T. whipplei DNA in saliva, gastric juice or duodenal biopsies of healthy individuals has led to questions regarding the specificity of the molecular techniques involved. After a series of failures, stable culture was achieved in 2000. Subsequently, the generation of rabbit polyclonal antibodies has led to the detection of the bacterium in tissues by immunohistology. However, culture and immunohistology are very recent techniques and are not yet widely used. Propagation of the bacterium will lead to extensive molecular knowledge of T. whipplei, which will help in the diagnosis and understanding of the epidemiology and pathogenicity of Whipple's disease.
Expert Rev Mol Diagn 2001 Sep
PMID:Molecular techniques in Whipple's disease. 1190 35


<< Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next >>