Partial characterization of Ia antigens from murine lymphoid cells

Congenic anti-Ia antisera were used to bind radiolabelled Ia antigens from cells of various strains of mice of known H-2 haplotype. The results indicate that Ia antigens are proteins of molecular weight 30,000 to 35,000 daltons. The Ia antigens are distinct from known H-2 antigens as judged by independent immunoprecipitation as well as by molecular weight. Ia antigens are synthesized by, and are present on the surface of lymphoid cells as evidenced by incorporation studies using 3 H-leucine and enzymatic radioiodination of cells, respectively. Tissue distribution of cell surface Ia suggests that Ia antigens are on B cells. Ia antigens were detected in the incubation media of 3 H-leucine labeled splenocytes suggesting that antigens may be secreted.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/46728/1/251_2005_Article_BF01564048.pd

Adhesion molecules as targets for cancer therapy

Adhesion molecules mediate cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions and are essential for numerous physiological and pathological processes. Recent evidence from many laboratories suggests that adhesion molecules play an important role in tumor progression and may promote tumor growth and organ-specific metastasis. Certain adhesion molecules may also function as tumor suppressors. In this review, we describe current concepts concerning the role of the adhesion molecules in the pathogenesis of cancer and the development of therapeutic approaches which make use of this information. Hence, by preventing tumor cells from interacting with each other or with their microenvironment, tumor growth and metastasis can be suppressed. The feasibility of using anti-adhesion strategies to treat cancer has been demonstrated in many animal models. Thus, monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against adhesion molecules, synthetic peptidic and nonpeptidic analogues of the recognition sequences on their receptors, soluble adhesion molecules and antisense oligonucleotides can inhibit tumor growth and gene therapy can restore the functions of altered tumorsuppressive adhesion molecules

Stochastic models of receptor oligomerization by bivalent ligand

In this paper, we develop stochastic models of receptor binding by a bivalent ligand. A detailed kinetic study allows us to analyse the role of cross-linking in cell activation by receptor oligomerization. We show how oligomer formation could act to buffer intracellular signalling against stochastic fluctuations. In addition, we put forward the hypothesis that formation of long linear oligomers increases the range of ligand concentration to which the cell is responsive, whereas formation of closed oligomers increases ligand concentration specificity. Thus, different physiological functions requiring different degrees of specificity to ligand concentration would favour formation of oligomers with different lengths and geometries. Furthermore, provided that ligand concentration specificity is taken as a design principle, our model enables us to estimate parameters, such as the minimum proportion of receptors, that must engage in oligomer formation in order to trigger a cellular response