The cardiac insulin-like growth factor 2 receptor (IGF-2R) can induce cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in a heterotrimeric G protein receptor-coupled manner involving αq (Gαq) or αs (Gαs). We have previously shown increased left ventricular weight and cardiac IGF-2 and IGF-2R gene expression in low-birth-weight (LBW) compared with average-birth-weight (ABW) lambs. Here, we have investigated the cardia...

Levels of serum soluble interleukin 2 receptor (sIL-2R) provide a reliable marker of disease activity in patients with hairy cell leukemia and adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma. The malignant cells in patients with anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) express CD30 and are usually positive for expression of CD25. We measured serum sIL-2R and soluble CD30 (sCD30) levels in patients with ALCL treate...

Previous studies have shown the involvement of the immune response in the progression of human uterine cervix cancer. The aim of this study was to determine the expression of Interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-2 receptor (IL-2R) and Interleukin 10 (IL-10) in different grades of cervical intraepithelial neoplasias of the exocervix (CIN 1, 2 and 3), and its relationship with the serum cytokine profiles and...

Thymidylate synthase [TS, (EC 2.1.1.45)] is the target enzyme in 5-fluorouracil treatment. Recently, the DNA polymorphism of this gene has been found to affect TS protein (pTS) expression. However, no prospective studies have been performed to evaluate the influence of this polymorphism on the clinical efficacy of 5-FU-based adjuvant chemotherapy for colorectal cancer (CRC). In this study, we i...

BACKGROUND Studies investigating the association between 2R/3R polymorphisms in the thymidylate synthase 5'-untranslated enhanced region (TYMS 5'-UTR) and gastric cancer risk have generated conflicting results. Thus, a meta-analysis was performed to summarize the data on any association. METHODS Pubmed, Embase, and CNKI databases were searched for all available studies. The strength of associ...

The interleukin 2-diphtheria toxin-related fusion protein (IL-2-toxin) rapidly inhibits protein synthesis in IL-2 receptor (IL-2R)-bearing phytohemagglutinin-activated T cells but transiently stimulates DNA synthesis. At 7 hr after interaction with IL-2R+ phytohemagglutinin-activated T cells, IL-2-toxin-treated cells bear augmented steady-state levels of c-myc, interferon gamma, and IL-2R mRNA;...

CD8(+) T cells respond to IL-2 produced both endogenously and by CD4(+) Th during an antiviral response. However, IL-2R signals can potentially promote CD8(+) T cell death as well as proliferation, making it unclear whether IL-2R signals provide a predominantly positive or negative effect upon CD8(+) T cell responses to viral infection. To more precisely define the direct role of IL-2R signalin...

To clarify the interrelation between interleukin-2 (IL-2) and soluble IL-2R receptor (sIL-2R), as products of T-cell activation in the bronchial tree of patients with bronchial asthma, we measured the concentration of IL-2, sIL-2R, and the cellular composition in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid. We also measured physiologic parameters, including provocation concentration of histamine require...

The goal of the present study was to determine whether the kappa-opioid receptor agonist (ORA) U50,488 attenuates behavioral and primary afferent nerve responses to noxious colorectal distension (CRD) by sodium channel blockade. We tested the analgesic kappa-ORA (+/-)-trans U50,488, its enantiomers (-)-trans (1S,2S)-U50,488 and non kappa-ORA (+)-trans (1R,2R)-U50,488, and/or its diastereomer (-...

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES In spite of potent immunosuppression, acute rejection continues to be the single largest cause of graft dysfunction after renal transplantation. Renal allograft biopsy, though invasive, continues to be the reference standard, though certain clinical and biochemical parameters are helpful in assessment of these patients. Acute renal allograft rejection is mediated by T ly...