Discovery Of A New Signaling Mechanism May Lead To Novel Anti-inflammatory Therapy Jul 19, 2008
D., postdoctoral fellows in the Karin laboratory, describe how engagement of CD40, a member of the TNFR family, results in assembly of multiprotein signaling complexes at the receptor. However, according to the researchers -- and contrary to previous expectations -- signaling cascades that lead to activation of Jun Kinases (JNK) and p38 MAP Kinases (MAPK) are not initiated until these complexes dissociate from the receptor. (Science Daily)
Journal of Clinical Oncology Publishes Leukine(R) Study Demonstrating Positive Survival Outcomes in Patients with High-Risk Melanoma Jul 1, 2008
Two weeks of treatment with Leukine resulted in a significant increase in the proportion of total mature dendritic cells as defined by expression of CD86, CD83, CCR7 and CD40 molecules. Further, results show that Leukine increased dendritic cell populations in patients who started the study with lower than normal levels of dendritic cells, but had no effect on patients who started the trial with normal levels. (PR Newswire)
Immune Molecule That Plays A Powerful Role In Avoiding Organ Rejection Identified Jun 21, 2008
4, 2007) Rats treated with a drug known as CD40Ig have been shown to accept heart grafts from rats that are not genetically identical. Although it is known that CD40Ig disrupts the interaction between CD40. (Science Daily)
New vaccine approach prevents/reverses diabetes in lab study at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh May 29, 2008
The growth factors are also combined with short DNA sequences that specifically block the expression of molecules that are found at the surface of dendritic cells known as CD40, CD80 and CD86. Once these reprogrammed dendritic cells are tested in the lab, they are injected back into the patient. (EurekAlert!)
Umbilical cord blood cell therapy in an animal model of Alzheimer's disease Mar 27, 2008
Amyloid- induces an inflammatory response in the brain associated with the interaction of CD40 and CD40L, two pro-inflammatory molecules. Human umbilical cord blood cell therapy was associated with suppression of CD40-CD40L activity, suggesting that this therapeutic approach modulates the activity of the immune system, offering the potential to target the pathogenic inflammatory response that may contribute to a variety of degenerative conditions, including Alzheimers disease ... Jun Tan, PhD,... (EurekAlert!)
Ginger extract inhibits LPS induced macrophage activation and function Jan 4, 2008
2 and CD40 molecules. We also studied the antigen presenting function of ginger extract treated macrophages by primary mixed lymphocyte reaction. (BioMed Central)
Meet the second team May 17, 2007
Research on the role of proteins linked to CD40 and cancer cell growth; Starling Chamber Orchestra concertmaster. Michael Ding, Glen Cove (N.Y.) High. (USA Today)
Heart Grafts Avoid Rejection Apr 5, 2007
Rats treated with a drug known as CD40Ig have been shown to accept heart grafts from rats that are not genetically identical. Although it is known that CD40Ig disrupts the interaction between CD40 and CD40L on different immune cells, exactly how this prevents heart graft rejection in rats had not been determined ... In a study that appears in the April issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation, Ignacio Anegon and colleagues from Centre Hopitalier Universitaire de Nantes, France, identified... (Science Daily)
Obstructive Sleep Apnea Patients Show Silent Brain Infarction Lesions Mar 16, 2007
Dr. Murray concluded: "Treating obstructive sleep apnea with continuous positive airway pressure appears to reduce the incidence of clinically obvious stroke. This study provides a novel potential mechanism for this finding. In particular, those patients with silent infarcts and sleep apnea had elevated markers of platelet activation, such as soluble CD40 ligand and soluble P-selectin. Furthermore, continuous positive airway pressure therapy for 3 months can lower such markers in this... (Science Daily)
NIH researchers discover protein that appears to regulate bone mass loss, the cause of osteoporosis Mar 6, 2007
X-linked Hyper IgM Syndrome strikes about one in a million American--all males--and is caused by a deficiency in an important immune system protein known as CD40 ligand ... CD40 ligand appears to regulate cells that secrete chemicals that block bone metabolism, and the loss of this protein in people with X-linked Hyper IgM Syndrome appears to accelerate bone loss ... ARTICLE: "Osteopenia in X-linked hyper-IgM syndrome reveals a regulatory role for CD40 ligand in osteoclastogenesis." E... (EurekAlert!)
