Myxoma virus (MyxV) is a rabbit-specific poxvirus. However, its ability to selectively target tumor cells has established it as safe and effective anticancer therapy. To strengthen preclinical efficacy, transgenes that can prolong cancer cell infection enhance anti-tumor effector functions are currently being investigated. We engineered MyxV armed with CD47, turn on ‘do not eat me’ signal withi...

We describe a computer-based protocol to design protein mutations increasing binding affinity between ligand and its receptor. The method was applied to mutate interferon-γ receptor 1 (IFN-γ-Rx) to increase its affinity to natural ligand IFN-γ, protein important for innate immunity. We analyzed all four available crystal structures of the IFN-γ-Rx/IFN-γ complex to identify 40 receptor residues ...

Objective(s): Multiple sclerosis (MS) and its animal model, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), are regarded as autoimmune diseases of the central nervous system (CNS).  The CNS, testes, and eyes are immune privileged sites.  It was initially presumed that ocular involvement in EAE and infertility in MS are neural-mediated.  However, inflammatory molecules...

Background: Despite demonstration of molecular and biochemical changes induced by heat shock on Leishmania, the immunological importance of such changes has not been elucidated.  Objective: Studying the effect of two excretory factors prepared under heat shock and ambient temperature from Leishmania major on Balb/c splenocytes function.  Methods: The parasites were cultured at 25°C and then sub...

Objective: Paraquat (PQ) is a herbicide which induces oxidative stress and inflammation. Anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects were shown for Zataria multiflora (Z. multiflora) and carvacrol previously. The effects of Z. multiflora hydroalcoholic extract and carvacrol on systemic inflammation and oxidative stressinduced by inhaled PQ were examine...

Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) is the most prevalent valvulopathy worldwide. Growing evidence supports a role for viral and cell-derived double-stranded (ds)-RNA in cardiovascular pathophysiology. Poly(I:C), dsRNA surrogate, has been shown to induce inflammation, type I interferon (IFN) responses, osteogenesis through Toll-like receptor 3 interstitial cells (VIC). Here, we aimed determine...

Background: IFN-g is mostly secreted by activated CD4+ , CD8+ T cells and NK cells. This cytokine has immunomodulatory, anti-cancer and anti-microbial effects and is important for prophylaxis, diagnosis and treatment of chronic infections and cancers. Objective: The purpose of this study was to clone the full cDNA of human IFN-g and express it in CHO cell line. Methods: Lymphocytes from a healt...

Production of innate interferon-γ (IFN-γ) is a crucial step in immunological defense against bacteria. However, there is little information regarding cellular mechanisms underlying IFN-γ production in vivo early after bacterial infection. Here we analyze innate IFN-γ production in the spleen of mice early after Listeria monocytogenes (LM) infection ex vivo by flow-cytometry and in situ by immun...

Interferon γ (IFN-γ), a multifunctional cytokine, was upregulated in the resected gastric cancer tissue. However, whether IFN-γ is involved in the regulation of gastric cancer has not been well elucidated. Herein, we aimed to investigate the effects and mechanism of IFN-γ on gastric cancer. In this study, we found a vital role of IFN-γ in enhancing proliferation, inhibiting apoptosis, and promo...