A Dendritic Cell–Specific Intercellular Adhesion Molecule 3–Grabbing Nonintegrin (Dc-Sign)–Related Protein Is Highly Expressed on Human Liver Sinusoidal Endothelial Cells and Promotes HIV-1 Infection

The discovery of dendritic cell (DC)-specific intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-3–grabbing nonintegrin (DC-SIGN) as a DC-specific ICAM-3 binding receptor that enhances HIV-1 infection of T cells in trans has indicated a potentially important role for adhesion molecules in AIDS pathogenesis. A related molecule called DC-SIGNR exhibits 77% amino acid sequence identity with DC-SIGN. The DC-SIGN and DC-SIGNR genes map within a 30-kb region on chromosome 19p13.2-3. Their strong homology and close physical location indicate a recent duplication of the original gene. Messenger RNA and protein expression patterns demonstrate that the DC-SIGN–related molecule is highly expressed on liver sinusoidal cells and in the lymph node but not on DCs, in contrast to DC-SIGN. Therefore, we suggest that a more appropriate name for the DC-SIGN–related molecule is L-SIGN, liver/lymph node–specific ICAM-3–grabbing nonintegrin. We show that in the liver, L-SIGN is expressed by sinusoidal endothelial cells. Functional studies indicate that L-SIGN behaves similarly to DC-SIGN in that it has a high affinity for ICAM-3, captures HIV-1 through gp120 binding, and enhances HIV-1 infection of T cells in trans. We propose that L-SIGN may play an important role in the interaction between liver sinusoidal endothelium and trafficking lymphocytes, as well as function in the pathogenesis of HIV-1

Crash

https://spark.siue.edu/artanddesign_walk/1009/thumbnail.jp

From Architect to Sculptor

My thinking once privileged the logical path as my architecture training had taught me to do, has grown to include equally the emotional influences of my lived experience. The unique contributions of each of my parents have come to bear on this change in thinking and in my development as a sculptor. My mother was a maker of textiles. Within her works, she clearly communicated a message of appreciation to the wearer, as represented in the multitude of carefully crafted stitches. My father is an architect. In his drawings of buildings, I see order, form, and the expression of space clearly articulated. Together, my parents imparted their lessons to me during my formative years. These influences carried me forward, yet I always viewed them distinct from one another. The self-reflective experience of graduate school revealed a relationship between these different ways of making that I had not initially realized. This has had a direct impact on the type of work I produced in which I tried to expand these boundaries. This thesis speaks to my journey from being an architect to becoming a sculptor