NKG2D ligands (NKG2DL) are expressed by infected and transformed cells. They transmit danger signals to NKG2D-expressing immune cells, leading to lysis of NKG2DL-expressing cells. We here report that the NKG2DL MHC class I-chain-related molecules A and B (MICA/B) and UL16-binding proteins (ULBP) 1-3 are expressed in human brain tumours in vivo, while expression levels are low or undetectable in...

PURPOSE To investigate the effect of intraepithelial tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (ieTIL) and their ligands expressed by cervical tumor cells on the outcome of cervical cancer patients. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN The prognostic value of ieTILs was investigated in 115 cases of cervical cancer. T-cell subsets, CD57(+) cells, and regulatory T cells (Treg) were enumerated. The associations of these di...

The adsorption process of asphaltene onto molecularly smooth mica surfaces from toluene solutions of various concentrations (0.01-1 wt %) was studied using a surface forces apparatus (SFA). Adsorption of asphaltenes onto mica was found to be highly dependent on adsorption time and asphaltene concentration of the solution. The adsorption of asphaltenes led to an attractive bridging force between...

The immunoreceptor NKG2D stimulates activation of cytotoxic lymphocytes upon engagement with MHC class I-related NKG2D ligands of which at least some are expressed inducibly upon exposure to carcinogens, cell stress, or viruses. In this study, we investigated consequences of a persistent NKG2D ligand expression in vivo by using transgenic mice expressing MHC class I chain-related protein A (MIC...

The MHC class I chain-related MICA molecule is a stress-induced, highly polymorphic, epithelia-specific, membrane-bound glycoprotein interacting with the activating NK cell receptor NKG2D and/or gut-enriched Vdelta1-bearing gammadelta T cells. We have previously reported the presence of a MICA transmembrane-encoded short-tandem repeat harboring a peculiar allele, A5.1, characterized by a frame ...

NKG2D ligands (NKG2DL) are expressed by infected and transformed cells. They transmit danger signals to NKG2D-expressing immune cells, leading to lysis of NKG2DL-expressing cells. We here report that the NKG2DL MHC class I-chain-related molecules A and B (MICA/B) and UL16-binding proteins (ULBP) 1–3 are expressed in human brain tumours in vivo, while expression levels are low or undetectable in...

In this study, we characterize the molecular signal pathways that lead to MHC class I chain-related protein A (MICA) expression after histone deacetylase (HDAC)-inhibitor (HDAC-i) treatment of Jurkat T cells. Chelating calcium with BAPTA-AM or EGTA potently inhibited HDAC- and CMV-mediated MICA/B expression. It was further observed that endoplasmic reticulum calcium stores were depleted after H...

This work focuses on both the structure manipulation and the crystallizing mechanism investigation of the well-known methanofullerene, [6,6]-phenyl-C(61)-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM). PCBM crystals with two novel structures, i.e., five-fold twinned and cubic crystals are obtained by the introduction of the mica substrate and the polymer blenders (P3HT and PS) into PCBM thin films under ther...

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of four different ratios of silanized mica filler and milled glass fiber on the surface hardness of an acrylic denture tooth material. Acrylic resin disks made of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) used in fabrication of denture teeth were used as the control group. Eight test groups were prepared by adding a ratio of 5%, 10%, 15%, or 20% by wei...

Defined crystal growth is highly demanded for technological applications but also fundamental research. Within this work, the crystal growth of the asymmetric molecule caffeine was studied on single crystalline surfaces of muscovite mica, sodium chloride and potassium chloride. While elongated needle-like crystals grow on muscovite mica and sodium chloride, smaller individual "bird-like" struct...