Megalocytivirus is a DNA virus that is highly infectious in a wide variety of marine and freshwater fish, including Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus), a flatfish that is farmed worldwide. However, the infection mechanism of megalocytivirus remains largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the function of a flounder microRNA, pol-miR-731, in virus-host interaction. We found that p...

Toll-like receptor (TLR) 9 plays a role in intestinal inflammation that, in turn, is related to the tumorigenesis of colorectal cancer. Nuclear factor κB (NFκB), and interferon regulatory factor (IRF) 5 and IRF7 can be activated by TLR9 and induce the production of proinflammatory cytokines and type I interferon, respectively. This study investigated the mRNA expressions of TLR9 and its downstr...

Recognition of viruses by pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) causes interferon-β (IFN-β) induction, a key event in the anti-viral innate immune response, and also a target of viral immune evasion. Here the vaccinia virus (VACV) protein C6 is identified as an inhibitor of PRR-induced IFN-β expression by a functional screen of select VACV open reading frames expressed individually in mammalian ...

Type I IFNs are induced by pathogens to protect the host from infection and boost the immune response. We have recently demonstrated that this IFN response is not restricted to pathogens, as the Gram-positive bacterium Lactobacillus acidophilus, a natural inhabitant of the intestine, induces high levels of IFN-β in dendritic cells. In the current study, we investigate the intracellular pathways...

Ebola Zaire virus is highly pathogenic for humans, with case fatality rates approaching 90% in large outbreaks in Africa. The virus replicates in macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs), suppressing production of type I interferons (IFNs) while inducing the release of large quantities of proinflammatory cytokines. Although the viral VP35 protein has been shown to inhibit IFN responses, the mechan...

Heart failure (HF) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the western world. Although optimal medical care and treatment is widely available, the prognosis of patients with HF is still poor. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are important compartments of the innate immunity. Current studies have identified TLRs as critical mediators in cardiovascular diseases. In the present study, we invest...

Glutamate-mediated excitotoxicity has been purported to underlie many neurodegenerative disorders. A subtype of glutamate receptors, namely N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, has been recognized as potential targets for neuroprotection. To increase our understanding of the mechanisms that underlie this neuroprotection, we employed a mouse model of glutamate receptor-induced excitotoxic inju...

The production of cytokines such as type I interferon (IFN) is an essential component of innate immunity. Insufficient amounts of cytokines lead to host sensitivity to infection, whereas abundant cytokine production can lead to inflammation. A tight regulation of cytokine production is, thus, essential for homeostasis of the immune system. IFN-α production during RNA virus infection is mediated...

Factor VII deficiency is a rare bleeding disorder in which premature death may occur from severe bleeding. Up to now, our scientific knowledge on factor VII deficiency has been mainly based on reporting of single cases and groups of patients from confined geographical areas.1-3 To improve our insight and understanding of the epidemiology and the heterogeneity of factor VII deficiency through de...