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C Vilardell

Publications and source records attributed to C Vilardell.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

Tissue targeting and disease patterns in systemic vasculitis.

The systemic vasculitides include a group of diseases with highly heterogeneous organ distribution and disease expression patterns. The mechanisms mediating tissue targeting in systemic vasculitis are largely unknown. Mechanical forces may contribute to the distribution of lesions in immune complex-mediated vasculitis. The site at which the antigen is encountered may be crucial in determining the location of inflammatory infiltrates in some vasculitides. Co-existence of different immunopathogenic mechanisms with variable dominance may generate diversity in disease presentation patterns. Heterogeneous and incompletely understood triggering mechanisms attract inflammatory cells to the site of interest through sophisticated molecular mechanisms: interplay between leukocyte receptors and endothelial ligands, and interactions between chemokines and chemokine receptors. Even with a similar distribution of lesions, patients with vasculitis may display highly variable clinical manifestations. Variations in genes involved in immune response might determine the severity of disease, the intensity of the systemic inflammatory response, the degree of vessel occlusion and the response to therapy.

Adult↗

Genomic characterization of CD84 reveals the existence of five isoforms differing in their cytoplasmic domains.

CD84, a new member of the immunoglobulin superfamily, shows high homology with several molecules belonging to the CD2 family of differentiation antigens. By screening a peripheral blood leukocyte cDNA library four CD84 isoforms were obtained differing in their 3' sequence. A reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis confirmed that these isoforms were normally found on leukocytes and a new isoform was identified. To establish the nature of the five isoforms obtained (CD84a, CD84b, CD84c, CD84d and CD84e) the genomic structure of the CD84 gene was determined. Our results show that it is composed of at least eight exons, with an exon coding for the 5' UTR and the leader peptide, two exons coding for each of the two immunoglobulin-like domains, an exon encoding the transmembrane portion and four exons coding for the cytoplasmic domains. The isoforms are generated by several mechanisms: alternative use of exons, reading frame shift, use of a cryptic splice site or absence of splicing. The differential expression of several potentially phosphorylatable residues on the different isoforms could be a way to regulate its possible activity in signal transduction.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Fibronectin upregulates gelatinase B (MMP-9) and induces coordinated expression of gelatinase A (MMP-2) and its activator MT1-MMP (MMP-14) by human T lymphocyte cell lines. A process repressed through RAS/MAP kinase signaling pathways.

T-lymphocyte migration into tissues requires focal degradation of the basement membrane. In this study, we show that transient adherence to fibronectin induces the production of activated forms of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9, as well as downregulation of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2) by T-cell lines. MMP-2 activation was likely achieved by inducing a coordinated expression of membrane-type matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-14), a major activator of MMP-2. Blocking monoclonal antibodies against alpha4, alpha5, and alphav integrins strongly reduced MMP-2 and MMP-9 production induced by fibronectin. Disrupting actin cytoskeleton organization by cytochalasin D strongly enhanced fibronectin-induced MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression. Inhibiting Src tyrosine kinases with herbimycin A reduced MMP-2 and MMP-9 production with no effect on cell attachment. By contrast, G-protein inhibition by pertussis toxin, or transfection with a dominant negative mutant of Ha-Ras strongly increased fibronectin-induced MMP-2 and MMP-9. Inhibition of PI3 kinase, MAPkinase (MEK1), or p38 MAPkinase by wortmannin, PD 98059, or SB 202190, respectively, strongly promoted fibronectin-induced MMP2 and MMP-9. Cells at high density lost their ability to synthesize MMP-2 and MMP-9 in response to fibronectin and MMP expression was restored by transfection with a dominant-negative mutant of Ha-Ras or by treatment with wortmannin, PD 98059, or SB 202190. Our findings suggest that adhesion to fibronectin transduces both stimulatory (through Src-type tyrosin kinases) and inhibitory signals (through Ras/MAPKinase signaling pathways) for MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression by T lymphocytes and that their relative predominance is regulated by additional stimuli related to cell adhesion, motility, and growth.

Androstadienes↗

Regulation of ICAM-3 and other adhesion molecule expressions on eosinophils in vitro. Effects of dexamethasone.

BACKGROUND: ICAM-3 has been recently identified as the third leukocyte-function associated-1 (LFA-1) ligand. ICAM-3 is expressed in eosinophils, but its regulation has not been studied. The objective of this study was to investigate the differential expression of ICAM-3 and other adhesion molecules (AM) on the surface of eosinophils. We also evaluated the effects of dexamethasone on AM expression. METHODS: Normodense eosinophils were isolated from peripheral blood and incubated with calcium ionophore A23187 (calcimycin) with and without dexamethasone. Expression of AM was assessed by flow cytometry and expressed as fluorescence mean intensity (FMI). RESULTS: Peripheral blood eosinophils constitutively expressed low levels of ICAM-1 and ICAM-2 (<10 FMI), moderate levels (10-50 FMI) of CD29 and L-selectin, and high levels (>50 FMI) of ICAM-3, LFA-1, and Mac-1. Calcium ionophore (1 microM) significantly increased Mac-1 and ICAM-1 expression at 6 and 24 h. L-selectin expression decreased at 6 and 24 h, but ICAM-2, ICAM-3, LFA-1, and CD29 expression did not show any significant change after calcium ionophore stimulation. Dexamethasone decreased ICAM-3 and increased L-selectin basal expression, and it caused a dose-related inhibition of calcium ionophore-induced ICAM-1 expression. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that some AM, such as ICAM-1, Mac-1, and L-selectin, may be involved in adhesion during eosinophil activation and that glucocorticoids may prevent airway inflammation by regulating the expression of AM in eosinophils. The role of ICAM-3, a leukocyte AM highly expressed in resting eosinophils, remains to be clarified.

Antigens, CD↗

Circulating soluble adhesion molecules in patients with giant cell arteritis. Correlation between soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) concentrations and disease activity.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether changes in concentrations of circulating adhesion molecules are related to disease activity in patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA). METHODS: A sandwich ELISA was used to measure soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), sICAM-3, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1), E-selectin (sE-selectin), and L-selectin (sL-selectin) in serum and plasma samples from patients with GCA. A cross sectional study was performed on 64 GCA patients at different activity stages and on 35 age and sex matched healthy donors. Thirteen of these patients were evaluated at the time of diagnosis and serially during follow up. RESULTS: At the time of diagnosis, sICAM-1 concentrations were significantly higher in active GCA patients than in controls (mean (SD) 360.55 (129.78) ng/ml versus 243.25 (47.43) ng/ml, p < 0.001). In contrast, sICAM-3, sVCAM-1, sE-selectin, and sL-selectin values did not differ from those obtained in normal donors. With corticosteroid administration, a decrease in sICAM-1 concentrations was observed, reaching normal values when clinical remission was achieved (263.18 (92.7) ng/ml globally, 293.59 (108.39) ng/ml in the group of patients in recent remission, and 236.83 (70.02) ng/ml in those in long term remission). In the 13 patients followed up longitudinally, sICAM-1 values also normalised with clinical remission (225.87 (64.25) ng/ml in patients in recent remission, and 256.29 (75.15) ng/ml in those in long term remission). CONCLUSIONS: Circulating sICAM-1 concentrations clearly correlate with clinically apparent disease activity in GCA patients. Differences with results previously found in patients with other vasculitides may indicate that different pathogenic mechanisms contribute to vascular inflammation in different disorders.

Aged↗

Isolation of two CD50 (ICAM-3)-negative Jurkat T-cell clones and their application for analysis of CD50 function.

The leukocyte differentiation antigen CD50 (intercellular adhesion molecule-3, ICAM-3), mediates cell-cell adhesion through its ligand LFA-1 and is a transducting receptor molecule during T-cell activation. Since CD50 homologues in other species have not yet been identified, the role of this molecule can only be analyzed in human cell models. Thus, to better study CD50 function in T cells, we have obtained two CD50-negative T-cell clones, named CAMY.1 and CAMY.2. These clones were derived from the Jurkat T-cell variant PPL.1. Data from analysis of protein expression, specific mRNA content and calcium mobilization assays have confirmed the absence of functional CD50 molecules on these two clones. Thus, CAMY.1 and CAMY.2 show no CD50 expression by phenotypical and immunoprecipitation analysis. CD50-specific mRNA content is undetectable by Northern blot analysis in these clones and, only, when RT-PCR was performed could specific mRNA be detected. Additionally, CD50 cross-linking on theses clones shows no increase in intracellular calcium. Transfection of CD50 cDNA on CAMY cells restores not only CD50 surface expression, but its functional ability to induce calcium mobilization, CD69 upregulation and cell morphological changes. The CAMY.1 and CAMY.2 clones provide useful model systems to analyze CD50 function in T cells.

Animals↗

CD148, a membrane protein tyrosine phosphatase, is able to induce tyrosine phosphorylation on human lymphocytes.

CD148 is a new cluster of differentiation defined in the VI International Workshop on Leucocyte Differentiation Antigens. It has been identified as the hematopoietic form of a formerly described membrane protein tyrosine phosphatase called HPTP eta/ DEP-1. Previous data have demonstrated that this molecule is able to give rise to [Ca2+]i increase. In the present work we show its capability to induce protein tyrosine phosphorylation in human lymphocytes in spite of its intrinsic protein tyrosine phosphatase activity. The induction of kinase activity suggests the involvement of some protein tyrosine kinase based signaling pathway. The activation of this postulated kinase could be carried out through a direct association or via an adapter molecule.

Antigens, CD↗