Inflammatory cytokines | Ricerc@Sapienza

Granzyme B in Inflammatory Diseases: Apoptosis, Inflammation, Extracellular Matrix Remodeling, Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition and Fibrosis

Inflammation is strictly interconnected to anti-inflammatory mechanisms to maintain tissue homeostasis. The disruption of immune homeostasis can lead to acute and chronic inflammatory diseases, as cardiovascular, pulmonary, metabolic diseases and cancer. The knowledge of the mechanisms involved in the development and progression of these pathological conditions is important to find effective therapies. Granzyme B (GrB) is a serine protease produced by a variety of immune, non-immune and tumor cells.

Bradyrhizobium lipid A: Immunological properties and molecular basis of its binding to the myeloid differentiation protein-2/Toll-like receptor 4 complex

Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) are potent activator of the innate immune response through the binding to the myeloid differentiation protein-2 (MD-2)/toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) receptor complexes. Although a variety of LPSs have been characterized so far, a detailed molecular description of the structure-activity relationship of the lipid A part has yet to be clarified. Photosynthetic Bradyrhizobium strains, symbiont of Aeschynomene legumes, express distinctive LPSs bearing very long-chain fatty acids with a hopanoid moiety covalently linked to the lipid A region.

Inflammatory cytokines and experimental arterial and vein grafts

Thickening of the wall of vein grafts is a physiologic adaptation to the arterial system, regulated by a delicate balance of many factors. This balance can be altered in specific hemodynamic conditions, and it may be related to genetic factors and aging through increased production of inflammatory cytokines.