Follicular dendritic cells are cells that facilitate antigen recognition by B cells in follicles. This kind of dendritic cell is not bone marrow derived and is not a kind of blood cell. It is purely a resident of the follicles of secondary lymphoid organs. B cells form germinal centers around follicular dendritic cells in lymphoid organs. Dendritic cells form from monocytes, white blood cells which circulate in the body and, depending on the right signal, can turn into dendritic cells or macro

PI3-Kinases (PI3-Ks) are a family of lipid kinases that are implicated in signal transduction. Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase is composed of an 85 kDa regulatory subunit and a 110 kDa catalytic subunit. The p85 subunit localize PI3-K activity to the plasma membrane while the p110 subunit contains the catalytic domain of PI3-K which uses ATP to phosphorylate PtdIns, PtdIns4P and PtdInsP2. Four isoforms of p110 has been found; alpha, beta, gamma, and the delta subunit. The alpha isoform, also k

Vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs), also known as vasculotropins, are a family of closely related growth factors having a conserved pattern of eight cysteine residues and sharing common VEGF receptors. VEGFs stimulate the proliferation of endothelial cells, induce angiogenesis, promote cell migration, increase vascular permeability, and inhibit apoptosis. The mitogenic activity of VEGFs appears to be mediated by specific VEGF receptors. The target cell specificity of VEGF is restrict

Vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs), also known as vasculotropins, are a family of closely related growth factors having a conserved pattern of eight cysteine residues and sharing common VEGF receptors. VEGFs stimulate the proliferation of endothelial cells, induce angiogenesis, promote cell migration, increase vascular permeability, and inhibit apoptosis. The mitogenic activity of VEGFs appears to be mediated by specific VEGF receptors. The target cell specificity of VEGF is restrict

Vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs), also known as vasculotropins, are a family of closely related growth factors having a conserved pattern of eight cysteine residues and sharing common VEGF receptors. VEGFs stimulate the proliferation of endothelial cells, induce angiogenesis, promote cell migration, increase vascular permeability, and inhibit apoptosis. The mitogenic activity of VEGFs appears to be mediated by specific VEGF receptors. The target cell specificity of VEGF is restrict

Surfactant protein D contributes to the lung's defense against inhaled microorganisms. It's a calcium ion dependent carbohydrate binding protein and is structurally similar to other C type mammalian lectins, such as conglutinin and SPA. It has a molecular size of approximately 37-43kDa in its reduced state, 620kDa in non dissociating conditions. Surfactant protein D enhances the production of oxygen radicals by rat alveolar macrophages and regulates some actions of SPA, which is the most a