Does position 156 influence the peptide repertoire and tapasin dependency of human leukocyte antigen B*44 allotypes?
Here we report for the first time the influence of position 156 on the human leukocyte antigen/tapasin association. Additionally, the results of peptide sequencing suggest that tapasin chaperoning is needed to acquire peptides of unusual length.
Different phagocytic cells can exhibit variable responses to AraLAM and ManLAM. Moreover, LAMs affect cell functions through different mechanisms. Protein synthesis and activation of protein tyrosine kinases are important intermediates in the signal transduction pathway of the chemotactic response of mononuclear phagocytes to AraLAM and ManLAM; whereas ManLAM-induced inhibition of macrophage phagocytic ability could depend on the binding of macrophage mannose receptors and/or the insertion of this molecule into cellular plasma membrane. Together these data highlight the danger of making generalizations regarding the activity of LAMs on immune defenses.