Proteomic Analysis Leads to Insights into Heart Failure

dilated_cardiomyopathy

Although mass spectrometry-based proteomic analysis is particularly useful for performing global proteomic analysis, this technique can also be used in a more targeted manner. For example, mass spectrometry-based proteomic analysis can be combined with immunoprecipitation to reveal the proteins that interact with the immunoprecipitated protein. Quick and colleagues (1) used coimmunoprecipitation followed by mass spectrometric … Read more

The Power of Proteomics in Vascular Disease

Carotid_artery_stenosis

This commentary on the power of proteomics highlights research showing how proteomics can advance the diagnosis of atherosclerosis, a type of vascular disease. Langley and colleagues use mass spectrometric analysis to define a 4-protein signature that predicts patients with atherosclerosis who are at risk for a vascular event, such as stroke or heart attack.This study … Read more

Proteomics Improves Antigen Prediction

Vaccine_development

How will we benefit from being able to accurately predict the peptide antigens that the immune system can recognize? Vaccine development would be a major beneficiary of such knowledge (Figure 1). We could produce more effective and safer vaccines. We could develop vaccines for pathogens for which no vaccine is currently available. We could ensure … Read more

Therapeutic Applications for Inhibitors and Activators of RANKL/RANK Signaling

Bone_Marrow_Extraction

Target tissue type, as well as a patient’s gender, nutritional, and reproductive status, must be considered to manipulate signaling through the RANKL/RANK pathway for therapeutic benefit. In some contexts, activating this pathway can be beneficial and in others inhibiting this pathway is beneficial. RANKL is the ligand, RANK [receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB)] … Read more

Natural Killer Cells in Cancer Immunotherapy

NKG2D_ULBP6_Complex

T cells of the adaptive immune system are not the only cytotoxic cells in the immune system. Natural killer cells (NK cells) are a cytotoxic white blood cell (lymphocyte) of the innate immune system. Clinical trials with NK cells use these as cell-based biologic therapies: The NK cells are the therapy. New research suggests that … Read more