Subject:
All Disciplines Arts & Humanities Biology & Life Sciences Business & Economics Chemistry & Materials Science Computer Science & Mathematics Engineering Environmental & Earth Sciences Medicine & Pharmacology Physical Sciences Public Health & Healthcare Social Sciences
Sort:
Most Viewed Latest Alphabetical (A-Z) Alphabetical (Z-A)
Filter:
All Topic Review Biography Peer Reviewed Entry Video Entry
Topic Review
Renal Cell Carcinoma
Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a malignant tumor associated with various tumor microenvironments (TMEs).
  • 585
  • 22 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Dysregulated DNA Methylation
Epigenetic mechanisms, such as DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNAs, are known regulators of gene expression and genomic stability in cell growth, development, and differentiation. Since epigenetic mechanisms can regulate several immune system elements, epigenetic alterations have been found in several autoimmune diseases.
  • 585
  • 08 Dec 2021
Topic Review
Chitin in Controlling the NLRP3 Inflammasome
The role of NLRP3 in the tumour microenvironment is elusive. In some cancers, the activation of NLRP3 causes a worse prognosis and in some cancers, NLRP3 increases chances of survivability. However, in many cases where NLRP3 has a protumorigenic role, inhibition of NLRP3 would be a crucial step in therapy. Consequently, activation of NLRP3 would be of essence when inflammation is required. Chitin and its derivatives are able to upregulate and downregulate the effect of the NLRP3 inflammasome based on its preparation, and these different reactions can be utilised to successfully target a broad range of cancers. Out of chitin, chitosan and chitooligosaccharide (COS), COS seems to be the best approach to actual products due its solubility being the highest, enabling it to be delivered more efficiently when compared to the other two. These specific preparations can be used on a case-by-case basis to help mitigate the negative effects of cancer and can potentially be used as a treatment or an adjuvant to cancer treatment.
  • 585
  • 22 Aug 2022
Topic Review
Th17/Treg Imbalance in Lung Inflammatory Diseases
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) and T helper 17 cells (Th17) are two CD4+ T cell subsets with antagonist effects. Th17 cells promote inflammation, whereas Tregs are crucial in maintaining immune homeostasis. Th17 cells and Treg cells are the foremost players in several inflammatory diseases.
  • 585
  • 03 Apr 2023
Topic Review
Periodontal NETs: Beneficence & Maleficence
Periodontitis is a general term for diseases characterised by inflammatory destruction of tooth-supporting tissues, gradual destruction of the marginal periodontal ligament and resorption of alveolar bone. Early-onset periodontitis is due to disturbed neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation and clearance. Indeed, mutations that inactivate the cysteine proteases cathepsin C result in deficient NET formation and concomitant early-onset periodontitis. In contrast, exaggerated NET formation due to polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) hyper-responsiveness drives the pathology of late-onset periodontitis by damaging and ulcerating the gingival epithelium and retarding epithelial healing. Periodontitis progression ends with almost complete loss of the periodontal ligament and subsequent tooth exfoliation. 
  • 584
  • 28 Jan 2021
Topic Review
Dendritic Cells
Dendritic cells (DCs) are a unique myeloid cell lineage that play a central role in the priming of the adaptive immune response.  DCs are crucial sentinel cells able to recognize diverse tumor-associated antigens (TAA). Despite DCs critical “mentoring” role for T cells, single-agent DC-based therapies have been minimally successful and their combination with standard of care therapies and novel immunotherapies have shown limited improvement. The immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) is likely the main reason for this reduced efficacy. The TME significantly shapes the phenotype and function of DCs rendering them dysfunctional and tolerogenic in orchestrating an effective anti-tumor response.
  • 582
  • 26 Oct 2022
Topic Review
Training vs. Tolerance of the Innate Immune System
Trained immunity represents a functional state of the innate immune cells and tissue-resident stem cells adjusting their response to subsequent insults, characterized particularly by a prolonged activation after a resting period, orchestrated mainly by epigenetic reprogramming and the metabolic rewiring of cells. It describes a property of innate immune system to mount memory-like responses against past microbial and non-microbial challenges. In contrast, the refractory state of endotoxin tolerance as opposing reaction of trained immunity has been extensively elaborated and defined as an immunosuppressive state of myeloid cells portrayed by a significant reduction in the inflammatory capacity. Both opposing adaptive reactions of the innate immune system are of fundamental interest since they may represent a double-edged sword counteracting each other, protecting or driving the pathogenesis of a variety of inflammatory diseases. 
  • 580
  • 10 Mar 2023
Topic Review
Practical Considerations for Next-Generation Adjuvant Development and Translation
Throughout the last two decades, there has been increasing focus on the discovery and translation of new immune-stimulating agents. These compounds are often collectively referred to as adjuvants due to their precedent of use in vaccine development. There has been an expansion in the application of adjuvants in oncology and other areas as the understanding and definition of adjuvants continue to grow. Adjuvants stimulate key cell types in the innate immune system and can influence the scale and class of immune response directed towards a given antigen or antigens.
  • 580
  • 07 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Hyperuricemia and Gout
Hyperuricemia is a risk factor for gout. It has been well observed that a large proportion of individuals with hyperuricemia have never had a gout flare(s), while some patients with gout can have a normuricemia. This raises a puzzle of the real role of serum uric acid (SUA) in the occurrence of gout flares. As the molecule of uric acid has its dual effects in vivo with antioxidant properties as well as being an inflammatory promoter, it has been placed in a delicate position in balancing metabolisms. Gout seems to be a multifactorial metabolic disease and its pathogenesis should not rely solely on hyperuricemia or monosodium urate (MSU) crystals. 
  • 578
  • 22 Mar 2021
Topic Review
NK Cells in Viral Infections
NK cells are usually defined as immune cells that belong to the innate immune response. They were described as cells capable of killing several tumour cell lines without previous antigen presentation. It was shown then that NK cells lack the TCR and BCR receptors capable of binding specific antigens, and consequently, it was assumed that these cells lack antigen recognition.
  • 578
  • 12 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Regulatory T Cells in Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease that typically presents in childhood and early adulthood that results in the destruction of insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells by T cells. One potential protective mechanism includes the suppression of immune responses by regulatory CD4 T cells (Tregs) that recognize self-peptides from islets presented by human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II molecules.
  • 578
  • 25 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Platelet Biology
Platelets are generated from megakaryocytes in a multi-step process called thrombopoiesis regulated by thrombopoietin. Thrombopoietin stimulates its receptor in megakaryocytes to induce the genesis of pro-platelets via a mechanism activated by low platelet counts. Platelet counts in blood are controlled by the rates of production and removal, involving mechanisms of platelet clearance, activation or ageing. Platelets are the most numerous circulating cell type (≈200,000/µL blood in humans) with an immune function. 
  • 577
  • 14 Feb 2022
Topic Review
SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Safety
Recovery from SARS-CoV-2 infection requires a solid first line of innate immunity defense, namely release of interferon-alpha and beta, which interfere with viral replication.  These critical defense factors are produced upon encounter of the RNA of the virus that succeeded in host cell invasion with the cytoplasmic innate immunity receptors, notably retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-1).  A second line of defense would be the host generation of neutralizing and opsonic antibodies capable of preventing virus entry and virus spread, respectively.  We need to avoid or dampen host generation of powerful cytotoxic T cells, which lead to destruction of the host heart, lung, kidney, and small intestine cells presenting the viral peptides on their surface membrane, and potential organ failure and destruction.  We herein wish to demonstrate that the vaccine should be based uniquely on SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein subunit 1 polypeptide, because that subunit is released upon virus invasion, and does not penetrate host critical cells in the heart, lung, liver, kidney and small intestine.  Differently from all other viral peptides, subunit 1 peptides are not readily processed for presentation on the surface of the host structural cells, rendering them targets for the destructive action of cytotoxic T lymphocytes and natural killer cells.  
  • 575
  • 14 Dec 2020
Topic Review
TNBS-Induced Colitis in Brief
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) encompasses a group of chronic inflammatory disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. To advance our understanding of IBD pathogenesis and develop effective treatments, reliable experimental models are essential. Trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis is one such model that has significantly contributed to our comprehension of mucosal immune responses and potential therapeutic interventions. This research explores the utility of the TNBS-induced colitis model, encompassing its methods of induction, histopathological features, immune responses, and applications in drug development. While this model offers valuable insights into IBD, it presents certain limitations that researchers must consider. By providing an in-depth analysis of TNBS-induced colitis, this research highlights its significance in advancing IBD research and the quest for improved therapies.
  • 575
  • 08 Oct 2023
Topic Review
Pathogens Associated with Pre-Eclampsia
Pre-eclampsia, the second most frequent direct source of maternal mortality, is a multisystem gestational disorder characterized by proteinuria and maternal hypertension after the 20th gestational week. Metabolic conditions, immunological changes, and fluctuating hormone levels of the pregnant woman induce a dysbiosis of the oral microbiota and contribute to increase inflammation of periodontal tissues. Periodontal pathogens, as well as inflammatory molecules produced in response to periodontopathogens, could diffuse through the bloodstream inducing a placenta inflammatory response. In addition, periodontopathogens can colonize the vaginal microbiota through the gastrointestinal tract or during oro-genital contact. A cumulative bi-directional relationship between periodontal conditions, pathogens and pre-eclampsia exists.
  • 574
  • 24 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Antigenicity of the Brucella Cell Wall
The members of Brucella spp. as Gram-negative bacteria are characterized by their sandwich-structured cell envelopes composed of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-covered bacterial outer membrane and the inner cytoplasmic cell membrane with a thin peptidoglycan layer between them in the periplasmic space.
  • 574
  • 23 May 2023
Topic Review
Microglia in Brain Homeostasis and Neuroinflammation
Neuroinflammation is a common hallmark in different neurodegenerative conditions that share neuronal dysfunction and a progressive loss of a selectively vulnerable brain cell population. Alongside ageing and genetics, inflammation, oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction are considered key risk factors. Microglia are considered immune sentinels of the central nervous system capable of initiating an innate and adaptive immune response. Nevertheless, the pathological mechanisms underlying the initiation and spread of inflammation in the brain are still poorly described.
  • 572
  • 23 Aug 2022
Topic Review
Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor 2 in Cancer Therapy
Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor 2 (TNFR2) is a type I transmembrane protein and a prototypic member of the TNF receptor superfamily (TNFRSF). TNFR2 belongs to the TRAF (TNF-receptor-associated factor)-interacting subgroup of the TNFRSF and mediates pro-inflammatory effects, but can also stimulate strong anti-inflammatory activities. TNFR2 is  stimulated by the membrane-bound form of TNF (memTNF). TNFR2 expression is typically high in myeloid cells but is also found in certain T- and B-cell subsets and a few non-immune cells such as endothelial cells, glial cells and cardiomyocytes.
  • 571
  • 09 Jun 2022
Topic Review
Gut Microbiota and Dendritic Cells in Colorectal Cancer
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a malignancy that manifests in serial stages and has been observed to have an escalating incidence in modern societies, causing a significant global health problem. The development of CRC is influenced by various exogenous factors, including lifestyle, diet, nutrition, environment, and microbiota, that can affect host cells, including immune cells.
  • 571
  • 12 Dec 2023
Topic Review
Trypanosoma cruzi Congenital Transmission
Chagas disease, initiated by the etiological agent Trypanosoma cruzi, is an endemic infection in the American continent. Although vectorial transmission of T. cruzi is recognized as the main mode of infection, other routes such as congenital and blood transfusion are also documented as important methods of transmission. T. cruzi maternal–fetal transmission has been recorded in humans and examined by some investigators in naturally and experimentally infected mammals. 
  • 570
  • 08 Nov 2022
  • Page
  • of
  • 39
Featured Entry Collections
>>

Featured Books

>>
Encyclopedia of Social Sciences
Encyclopedia of COVID-19
Encyclopedia of Fungi
Encyclopedia of Digital Society, Industry 5.0 and Smart City
ScholarVision Creations
Feedback