Abstract Stereotyped B-cell receptors (BCR) are frequent in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). In cell culture and mouse models of CLL, immunogenic epitopes these BCRs were shown to trigger specific T-cell responses control development. These results suggest vaccination autologous BCR-derived peptides as a novel therapy for CLL. See related article by Rovida et al., p. 729

ovarian cancer is one of the major causes of death in women. parabens are a class of chemicals widely used as preservatives in cosmetic and pharmaceutical products, they mimic estrogens, which are known to play a role in the development of different cancers in women. the aim of this study was to investigate the proliferative effects of methyl paraben (mp) and propyl paraben (pp) on human ovaria...

The nucleoside adenosine is present within cells and body fluids of all living organisms and its production, both intra- and extracellularly, is tightly coupled to energy consumption resulting in increased level of extracellular adenosine. The physiological effects of adenosine are mediated through four pharmacologically and biochemically distinct adenosine receptors (AR), i.e. A1, A2A, A2B and...

the protective effect of a l-type calcium channel blocker, nimodipine, on cell injury induced by oxygen-glucose deprivation (ogd) in pc12 cells was investigated. pc12 cells were exposed to in-vitro oxygen-glucose deprivation (30 minutes and 60 minutes respectively) in the presence or absence of nimodipine (10mm/l) in three different time schedules (pre-24h, pre-3h and concurrently). cellular vi...

Background: The innate immune system against malignancies is mainly orchestrated by natural killer cells, which carry out killing mechanisms by using their receptors, such as killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs). This study was designed to determine the diversity of KIR genes in non-melanoma skin cancers. Methods: A total of 160 subjects with skin cancer, including 60 cases of squamous c...

background: pattern recognition receptors (prrs) are the main sensors of pathogen and danger signals in innate immunity of which toll like receptors (tlrs) are the most studied ones. the contribution of prrs in cerebral inflammation induced by microbial infection, tissue damage and cancer has not extensively been addressed so far. glioma is the most common tumor of the central nervous system an...

T cell activation is initiated by the recognition of specific antigenic peptides and subsequently accomplished complex signaling cascades. These aspects have been extensively studied for decades as pivotal factors in establishment adaptive immunity. However, how receptors or molecules are organized resting state prior to encountering antigens has received less attention. Recent advancements sup...

Vasopressins are evolutionarily conserved peptide hormones. Mammalian vasopressin functions systemically as an antidiuretic and regulator of blood cardiac flow essential for adapting to terrestrial environments. Moreover, acts centrally a neurohormone involved in social parental behavior stress response. Vasopressin synthesis several cell types, storage intracellular vesicles, release response ...

Natural Killer (NK) cells are key effectors of the innate immune system which represent first line defense against viral infections. NK cell activation depends on engagement a complex receptor repertoire expressed their surface, consisting both activating and inhibitory receptors. Among known receptors, family killer Ig-like receptors (KIRs) consists in activating/inhibitory that interact with ...