T cells play a vital role mediating adaptive immunity, a specific acquired resistance to an infectious agent produced by the introduction of an antigen. There are a variety of T cell types with different functions. They are called T cells, because they are derived from the thymus gland. This volume discusses how T cells are regulated through the operation of signaling mechanisms. Topics covered include positive and negative selection, early events in T cell receptor engagement, and various T cell subsets.
This book provides a broad overview of all aspects of modern lymphokine research. It begins with the ways in which lymphokines play a role in the activation of the immune response and concludes with their participation in various facets of host defense. It devotes special attention to structure, mechanism of action, and range application. In addition, this fascinating work also shows how lymphokines are involved in other physiologic responses, such as reparative reactions involving fibrosis and angiogenesis. This is an excellent resource for students and investigators in the biomedical sciences, as well as clinicians who require up-to-date information about our current understanding of immune processes.
This is a unique compilation, by experts worldwide, addressing how diabetes impacts the nervous system. For example, diabetic polyneuropathy, a disorder more common than MS, Parkinson's disease, and ALS combined, is a major source of disability to diabetic persons worldwide. This book addresses diabetic polyneuropathy and how diabetes alters other parts of the nervous system.
Protein Kinases in Blood Cell Function provides an up-to-date, comprehensive review of protein kinases in various types of blood cell function. Blood cells discussed include T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, platelets, mast cells, neutrophils, and macrophages. The book will interest pathologists, physiologists, oncologists, hematologists, leukocyte biologists, and immunologists. It will also benefit anyone interested in signal transduction and blood cell functions such as host defense, hemostasis, and immune response.
Inflammation has become one of the most exciting and rewarding areas of medical research. Recent years have seen a revolution in our understanding of how blood and tissue cells interact and of the intracellular mechanisms controlling their activation. This has revealed the underlying inflammatory pathology of many diseases and provided multiple new targets for anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory therapy. The Encyclopedia of Inflammatory Diseases will cover the following areas: Inflammatory Processes and Cells Inflammatory Diseases Mediators of Inflammation Pharmacology of Inflammation Since inflammatory diseases and their therapy cover a broad range of scientific and medical fields, the encyclopedia will be co-edited by four international experts, a clinician and three researchers from the disciplines of immunology, biochemistry, and pharmacology, in this way providing students, basic and clinical scientists and practitioners in academia, hospitals and industry with valuable interlinked information. This living project will serve as a reliable and comprehensive data pool for everybody working in inflammation research. Owing to its dynamic nature, it will grow with time and future editions, becoming an indispensible source of information for academia, clinical practitioners and industry.
This is the first-and only-publication available which provides the most recent information in this particular field of biomedicine. Interleukin-2 (IL-2) and IL-2 activated killer cells have been shown to have a potential in the treatment of a variety of human malignant diseases. This work comprehensively summarizes basic aspects of IL-2 as well as its clinical application, therefore making all these aspects easily accessible to the readers. Because of the clinical significance of this molecule in the treatment of cancer, the basic and clinical investigations in the IL-2 field are rapidly expanding, together with the interest of the scientific and medical community. This book is an excellent educational and teaching tool for scientists, clinicians, and students. Those who already have expertise in research in the IL-2 area will find this reference indispensible.
A comprehensive review of stress signaling in plants using genomics and functional genomic approaches Improving agricultural production and meeting the needs of a rapidly growing global population requires crop systems capable of overcoming environmental stresses. Understanding the role of different signaling components in plant stress regulation is vital to developing crops which can withstand abiotic and biotic stresses without loss of crop yield and productivity. Emphasizing genomics and functional genomic approaches, Protein Kinases and Stress Signaling in Plants is a comprehensive review of cutting-edge research on stress perception, signal transduction, and stress response generation. Detailed chapters cover a broad range of topics central to improving agricultural production developing crop systems capable of overcoming environmental stresses to meet the needs of a rapidly growing global population. This book describes the field of protein kinases and stress signaling with a special emphasis on functional genomics. It presents a highly valuable contribution in the field of stress perception, signal transduction and generation of responses against one or multiple stress signals. This timely resource: Summarizes the role of various kinases involved in stress management Enumerates the role of TOR, GSK3-like kinase, SnRK kinases in different physiological conditions Examines mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in different stresses Describes the different aspects of calcium signaling under different stress conditions Examines photo-activated kinases (PAPKs) in varying light conditions Briefs the presence of tyrosine kinases in plants Highlights the cellular functions of receptor ]like protein kinases (RLKs) Possible implication of these kinases in developing stress tolerant crops Protein Kinases and Stress Signaling in Plants: Functional Genomic Perspective is an essential resource for researchers and students in the fields of plant molecular biology and signal transduction, plant responses to stress, plant cell signaling, plant protein kinases, plant biotechnology, transgenic plants and stress biology.
Calcium Entry Channels in Non-Excitable Cells focuses on methods of investigating the structure and function of non-voltage gated calcium channels. Each chapter presents important discoveries in calcium entry pathways, specifically dealing with the molecular identification of store-operated calcium channels which were reviewed by earlier volumes in the Methods in Signal Transduction series. Crystallographic and pharmacological approaches to the study of calcium channels of epithelial cells are also discussed. Calcium ion is a messenger in most cell types. Whereas voltage gated calcium channels have been studied extensively, the non-voltage gated calcium entry channel genes have only been identified relatively recently. The book will fill this important niche.
Molecular-Genetic and Statistical Techniques for Behavioral and Neural Research presents the most exciting molecular and recombinant DNA techniques used in the analysis of brain function and behavior, a critical piece of the puzzle for clinicians, scientists, course instructors and advanced undergraduate and graduate students. Chapters examine neuroinformatics, genetic and neurobehavioral databases and data mining, also providing an analysis of natural genetic variation and principles and applications of forward (mutagenesis) and reverse genetics (gene targeting). In addition, the book discusses gene expression and its role in brain function and behavior, along with ethical issues in the use of animals in genetics testing. Written and edited by leading international experts, this book provides a clear presentation of the frontiers of basic research as well as translationally relevant techniques that are used by neurobehavioral geneticists. - Focuses on new techniques, including electrocorticography, functional mapping, stereo EEG, motor evoked potentials, optical coherence tomography, magnetoencephalography, laser evoked potentials, transmagnetic stimulation, and motor evoked potentials - Presents the most exciting molecular and recombinant DNA techniques used in the analysis of brain function and behavior - Written and edited by leading international experts
One of the most exciting areas of cancer research now is the development of agents which can target signal transduction pathways that are activated inappropriately in malignant cells. The understanding of the molecular abnormalities which distinguish malignant cells from their normal counterparts has grown tremendously. This volume summarizes the current research on the role that signal transduction pathways play in the pathogenesis of cancer and how this knowledge may be used to develop the next generation of more effective and less toxic anticancer agents. Series Editor comments: "The biologic behavior of both normal and cancer cells is determined by critical signal transduction pathways. This text provides a comprehensive review of the field. Leading investigators discuss key molecules that may prove to be important diagnostic and/or therapeutic targets."
