Endoplasmic reticulum aminopeptidase 1 polymorphism Ile276Met is associated with atopic dermatitis and affects the generation of an HLA-C associated antigenic epitope in vitro.

BACKGROUND: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common inflammatory skin disease of complex aetiology, with interactions between susceptibility genes and environmental factors. We have previously described a protective effect of the KIR2DS1 gene encoding the natural killer cell receptor, whose ligands are HLA-C molecules. Here, we found an association of HLA-C*05:01 allele with AD. KIR-HLA-C interactions are affected by peptides presented by HLA-C. The generation of these peptides is strongly influenced by endoplasmic reticulum aminopeptidases 1 and 2 (ERAP1 and ERAP2). Expression and activity of ERAP molecules depend on the polymorphisms of their genes. OBJECTIVE: Possible associations of several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the ERAP1 and ERAP2 genes with susceptibility to AD. METHODS: Peripheral blood DNA isolation from 318 patients and 549 controls. PCR-SSO or PCR-SSP for HLA-C typing; TaqMan Genotyping Assay for ERAP typing. RESULTS: Only one SNP in the ERAP1 gene, rs26618T>C, causing the amino acid change Ile276Met, had an association with AD. To gain insight on the functional role of this SNP, we produced recombinant variants differing only at position 276 (Ile or Met) and tested their aminopeptidase activity against a N-terminally extended precursor LIVDRPVTLV of the HLA-C*05:01 epitope IVDRPVTLV. Both ERAP1 variants were able to efficiently generate the epitope, although the 276Ile allotype was able to do this about 50% faster. Furthermore, both variants were quite inefficient in further degradation of the mature epitope. Finally, we found that the effect of 276Met on susceptibility to AD was seen only in KIR2DS1-negative individuals, not protected by this KIR. CONCLUSION: Associations of HLA-C*05:01 allele and rs26618T>C (Ile276Met) ERAP1 polymorphism with AD, and a significant difference between these two ERAP1 variants in their ability to generate an epitope for the HLA-C*05:01 molecule was found.

Nuclear stopping from 0.09A to 1.93A GeV and its correlation to flow.

We present a complete systematics (excitation functions and system-size dependences) of global stopping and side flow for heavy ion reactions in the energy range between 0.09A and 1.93A GeV. For the heaviest system, Au+Au, we observe a plateau of maximal stopping extending from about 0.2A to 0.8A GeV with a fast drop on both sides. The degree of stopping, which is shown to remain significantly below the expectations of a full stopping scenario, is found to be highly correlated to the amount of side flow.

Azimuthal dependence of collective expansion for symmetric heavy-ion collisions.

Detailed studies of the azimuthal dependence of the mean fragment and flow energies in the Au+Au and Xe+CsI systems are reported as a function of incident energy and centrality. Comparisons between data and model calculations show that the flow energy values along different azimuthal directions could be viewed as snapshots of the fireball expansion with different exposure times. For the same number of participating nucleons more transversally elongated participant shapes from the heavier system produce less collective transverse energy. Good agreement with Boltzmann-Uehling-Uhlenbeck calculations is obtained for a soft nuclear equation of state.

[Amanita pantherina and Amanita muscaria poisonings--pathogenesis, symptoms and treatment]. / Zatrucia muchomorami plamistym i czerwonym--patogeneza, objawy leczenie.

Amanita pantherina and Amanita muscaria are commonly occurring mushrooms in Polish forests. They contain ibotenic acid and muscimol: the substances reacting with neurotransmitter receptors in central nervous system. The ingestion of these mushrooms produces a distinctive syndrome consisting of alternating phase of drowsiness and agitation with hallucinations, and sometimes with convulsions. The diagnosis of Amanita pantherina or Amanita muscaria poisoning is established by means of mycologic investigation of gastric lavage. The treatment is only symptomatic, and the prognosis is usually good.

[Poisoning with spotted and red mushrooms--pathogenesis, symptoms, treatment]. / Zatrucia muchomorami plamistym i czerwonym--patogeneza, objawy, leczenie.

Amanita pantherina and Amanita muscaria are commonly occurring mushrooms in Polish forests. They contain ibotenic acid and muscimol: the substances reacting with neurotransmitter receptors in central nervous system. The ingestion of these mushrooms produces a distinctive syndrome consisting of alternating phases of drowsiness and agitation with hallucinations, and sometimes with convulsions. The diagnosis of Amanita pantherina or Amanita muscaria poisoning is established by means of mycologic investigation of gastric lavage. The treatment is only symptomatic, and the prognosis is usually good.