Cardiolipin (CL) is the signature phospholipid of the inner mitochondrial membrane, where it stabilizes electron transport chain protein complexes. The final step in CL biosynthesis relates to its remodelling: the exchange of nascent acyl chains with longer, unsaturated chains. However, the enzyme responsible for cleaving nascent CL (nCL) has remained elusive.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTumors evolve to avoid immune destruction and establish an immunosuppressive microenvironment. Syngeneic mouse tumor models are critical for understanding tumor immune evasion and testing cancer immunotherapy. Derived from established mouse tumor cell lines that can already evade the immune system, these models cannot simulate early phases of immunoediting during initial tumorigenesis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOur recent study demonstrated that immunizations with nonreplicable MC38 colorectal cancer cells plus a novel recombinant protein adjuvant, the amino-terminus region of dense granule protein 6 (rGRA6Nt) of (a protozoan parasite), effectively activate the cancer cell-specific CD8 T cytotoxic cells and inhibit the growth of implanted tumors of the identical cancer cells after its challenge implantation. In the present study, we first examined whether rGRA6Nt activates mRNA expression for IFN-γ, IL-12, IL-15, and IL-18, which are known to assist an activation of the CD8 T cells, in innate immune cells. Following an intraperitoneal injection of rGRA6Nt (40 μg) into SCID mice deficient in both T and B cells, markedly increased levels of mRNA for only IFN-γ and IL-18 were detected in their peritoneal exudate innate immune cells.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFALECT2 amyloidosis is a rare systemic disease characterized by the pathological deposition of leukocyte cell-derived chemotaxin-2 (LECT2) as amyloid fibrils, primarily affecting the kidneys and liver. The molecular mechanisms underlying LECT2 aggregation remain poorly defined, hindering diagnostic and therapeutic development. Here, we present cryo-electron microscopy structures of ALECT2 fibrils extracted from a patient's kidney.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHereditary apolipoprotein A-I (AApoA-I) amyloidosis is a rare systemic disease caused by the deposition of amyloid fibrils formed by apolipoprotein A-I in multiple organs, leading to severe clinical outcomes. With no available therapies or diagnostic tools, defining the structure of AApoA-I fibrils is crucial to understanding disease mechanisms and guiding intervention. Using cryo-electron microscopy, we analyzed AApoA-I fibrils from the heart, kidney, liver, and spleen of patients carrying G26R, L90P, and R173P mutations.
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