Oil-induccd mononuclear phagocytes (MN) were quantitatively assayed for various hydrolases as unfractionatcd suspensions of frozen and thawed cells. They apparently contain two proteases. The first, measured with ureaor acid-denatured hemoglobin, was similar to purified Proteinase I of lung with respect to pH optimum (pH 4), stability, hydrolytic and polymerizing activities, and reactions to va...

BACKGROUND/AIMS Gelatinase B is a matrix metalloproteinase involved in extracellular matrix (ECM) breakdown often associated with scarring and other pathological disorders. It was investigated whether gelatinase B is involved in the pathogenesis of ECM degradation associated with trachomatous conjunctivitis. METHODS Conjunctival biopsy specimens obtained from six patients with active trachoma...

Sickle cell anemia is characterized by painful vaso-occlusive crises. It is hypothesized that monocytes are activated in sickle cell disease and can enhance vasoocclusion by activating endothelium. To test this hypothesis, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and human microvascular endothelial cells (MVEC) with sickle and normal mononuclear leukocytes were incubated, and endothelial ...

Sickle cell anemia is characterized by painful vaso-occlusive crises. It is hypothesized that monocytes are activated in sickle cell disease and can enhance vaso-occlusion by activating endothelium. To test this hypothesis, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and human microvascular endothelial cells (MVEC) with sickle and normal mononuclear leukocytes were incubated, and endothelial...

A fever-producing substance derived from rabbit exudate leucocytes was first described in 1953 by Bennett and Beeson.' The subsequent demonstration of pyrogens with similar biologic properties derived from other variously stimulated leucocytes' or present in the blood of febrile rabbits7 has led to the concept of a single pyrogenic substance, termed endogenous pyrogen. Most investigations of th...

New blood forming vessels are produced by differentiation of mesodermal precursor cells to angioblasts that become endothelial cells (ECs) which in turn give rise to primitive capillary network. Human cord blood (HCB) contains large subsets of mononuclear cells (MNCs) that can be differentiated into endothelial-like cells in vitro. Human mononuclear progenitor cells were purified from fresh umb...

The purpose of this study was to identify the cell populations involved in recovery from oral infections with Candida albicans. Monoclonal antibodies specific for CD4+ cells, CD8+ cells, and polymorphonuclear leukocytes were used to deplete BALB/c and CBA/CaH mice of the relevant cell populations in systemic circulation. Monocytes were inactivated with the cytotoxic chemical carrageenan. Mice w...