The C. elegans gene ced-4 is essential for programmed cell death. We report that ced-4 encodes two transcripts and that whereas the major transcript can cause programmed cell death, the minor transcript can act oppositely and prevent programmed cell death, thus defining a novel class of cell death inhibitors. That ced-4 has both cell-killing and cell-protective functions is consistent with prev...

Interferon (IFN) family has a significant impact on both SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2. The aim of this current bioinformatics study is to assess IFN-gene alterations following the infection in association with iron metabolism lymphoid biology.Gene expression data human bronchial epithelial cells treated for 12, 24, 48 hours were obtained from Array Express (GSE17400). In order use other targeted ana...

We have analyzed four kinds of T cells for rearrangement and expression of immunoglobulin genes. These cells include: (a) whole thymus; (b) WEHI-22, a T-cell lymphoma; (c) HT-1, an major histocompatibility complex-restricted T helper line; and (d) CTLLi6, an H-2 alloreactive killer cell line. None of the B-cell joining and constant gene segments are rearranged in the T cells. The monoclonal cel...

The antileukemic potential of natural killer (NK) cells has been of rising interest in recent years. Interactions between inhibitory killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) and HLA class I ligands seem to be critically involved in the immunosurveillance process. It is also well established that mismatching of HLA class I-encoded KIR ligands in the setting of hematopoietic stem cell tran...

Dendritic cells (DCs) are potent antigen-presenting cells with the potential for cancer immunotherapy. Adenoviral-mediated gene transfer is an attractive means to manipulate the immunostimulatory properties of DCs for therapeutic advantage. Because adenovirus induces DC maturation, we postulated that it would significantly alter their immune functions. Infected DCs markedly increased allogeneic...

Dendritic cells (DCs) are potent antigen-presenting cells with the potential for cancer immunotherapy. Adenoviral-mediated gene transfer is an attractive means to manipulate the immunostimulatory properties of DCs for therapeutic advantage. Because adenovirus induces DC maturation, we postulated that it would significantly alter their immune functions. Infected DCs markedly increased allogeneic...

Killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) bind self-major histocompatibility complex class I molecules, allowing natural killer (NK) cells to recognize aberrant cells that have down-regulated class I. NK cells express variable numbers and combinations of highly homologous clonally restricted KIR genes, but uniformly express KIR2DL4. We show that NK clones express both 2DL4 alleles and either o...

The effect of natural killer (NK) cells and lymphokine activated killer ( LAK) cells was studied on a group of human melanoma cell lines. Peripheral blood from healthy volunteers was utilized as a fresh source of natural killer cells and rhI L-2 for producing LAK cells. The cytotoxicity of effector cells was quantified using a 4 hour SI determining the density of antigen expression on tumor...