Research Topics
Genomes and Genes | A J SzalaiSummaryAffiliation: University of Alabama at Birmingham Country: USA Publications
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Publications
Human C-reactive protein is protective against fatal Salmonella enterica serovar typhimurium infection in transgenic miceA J Szalai
Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35294, USA
Infect Immun 68:5652-6. 2000..In addition, as the beneficial effect of CRP includes enhancement of the host's humoral immune response, CRP may also contribute indirectly to host defense during later stages of infection...
Single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the C-reactive protein (CRP) gene promoter that affect transcription factor binding, alter transcriptional activity, and associate with differences in baseline serum CRP levelA J Szalai
Department of Medicine, Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
J Mol Med (Berl) 83:440-7. 2005..Ultimately, development of genetic tests to screen for CRP expression variants could allow categorization of healthy people into groups at high versus low future risk of inflammatory disease...- The biological functions of C-reactive proteinAlexander J Szalai
Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, THT 437B, Birmingham, AL 35294 0006, USA
Vascul Pharmacol 39:105-7. 2002..The relevance of this finding is underlined by the observation that subtle elevation of blood CRP is associated with significantly increased risk of cardiac disease... - Varied biologic functions of C-reactive protein: lessons learned from transgenic miceAlexander J Szalai
Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 35294 0006, USA
Immunol Res 26:279-87. 2002..In this article, we discuss these and other observations we have made during the last 5 yr and summarize our ongoing studies and future plans related to CRP biology... - Experimental allergic encephalomyelitis is inhibited in transgenic mice expressing human C-reactive proteinAlexander J Szalai
Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
J Immunol 168:5792-7. 2002.... - The antimicrobial activity of C-reactive proteinAlexander J Szalai
Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294 0006, USA
Microbes Infect 4:201-5. 2002..However, in transgenic mice protection also requires the alternative pathway of complement, and FcgammaRI is dispensable... - Association between baseline levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and a dinucleotide repeat polymorphism in the intron of the CRP geneA J Szalai
Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
Genes Immun 3:14-9. 2002..On the other hand, the fact that baseline CRP does have a genetic component suggests that in coronary disease, stratification of risk assessment based on CRP levels might be enhanced by consideration of this polymorphism... - Systemic lupus erythematosus in a multiethnic US Cohort (LUMINA). XXX: association between C-reactive protein (CRP) gene polymorphisms and vascular eventsA J Szalai
The University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL 35294 3408, USA
Rheumatology (Oxford) 44:864-8. 2005..To determine if a polymorphic GTn repeat in the intron of the C-reactive protein (CRP) gene associates with occurrence of vascular arterial events in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)... - Complement-dependent acute-phase expression of C-reactive protein and serum amyloid P-componentA J Szalai
Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
J Immunol 165:1030-5. 2000..Based on these data, we conclude that during the APR, C5a generated as a consequence of complement activation acts in concert with IL-6 and/or IL-1beta to promote up-regulation of the CRP and SAP genes... - The Arthus reaction in rodents: species-specific requirement of complementA J Szalai
Department of Medicine, University of Alabama, Birmingham 35294, USA
J Immunol 164:463-8. 2000.... - Bioluminescence imaging reveals a significant role for complement in liver transduction following intravenous delivery of adenovirusK R Zinn
Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 35294, USA
Gene Ther 11:1482-6. 2004..05) increased transduction of mouse liver cells, as compared to preincubation with C3-/- sera or PBS. These results suggest the classical or alternate complement pathway enhances Ad5-mediated liver transduction... - C-reactive protein: structural biology and host defense functionA J Szalai
Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 35294 0006, USA
Clin Chem Lab Med 37:265-70. 1999..This was attributable to an up to 400-fold reduction in bacteremia mediated mainly by the interaction of C-reactive protein with complement. A complement-independent host protective effect was also demonstrated... - Overexpression of innate immune response genes in a model of recessive polycystic kidney diseaseM Mrug
Division of Genetic and Translational Medicine, Department of Medicine, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, 720 20th Street South, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
Kidney Int 73:63-76. 2008..We also found elevated complement component 3 activation in two other mouse-recessive models and human-recessive PKD. Our results suggest that abnormal complement component 3 activation is a key element of progression in PKD... - Attenuation of experimental autoimmune demyelination in complement-deficient miceS Nataf
Departments of Microbiology, Pathology, and Medicine, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
J Immunol 165:5867-73. 2000..These results suggest that complement might be a target for the therapeutic treatment of inflammatory demyelinating diseases of the CNS... - Estrogen treatment abrogates neointima formation in human C-reactive protein transgenic miceDajun Wang
Division of Cardiovascular Disease, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama 35294-0006, USA
Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 25:2094-9. 2005..E2 reduces both neointima formation and neointimal expression of human CRP, suggesting that E2 is vasoprotective... - C3a expressed in the central nervous system protects against LPS-induced shockLaura Boos
Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 845 19th St. S, BBRB/842, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
Neurosci Lett 387:68-71. 2005..Surprisingly, C3a/GFAPxC3aR-/- hybrids were also significantly protected, indicating that C3a exerts its protective anti-inflammatory effect either directly or via an as yet unidentified non-canonical C3aR... - Genetic deficiency of C3 as well as CNS-targeted expression of the complement inhibitor sCrry ameliorates experimental autoimmune uveoretinitisRussell W Read
Department of Ophthalmology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1530 3rd Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35294 1150, USA
Exp Eye Res 82:389-94. 2006..18 versus 1.85, respectively, p=0.0054). A genetic deficiency of C3 and production of a soluble complement inhibitor targeted to the CNS and eye are protective against EAU... - Exaggerated neointima formation in human C-reactive protein transgenic mice is IgG Fc receptor type I (Fc gamma RI)-dependentDongqi Xing
Vascular Biology and Hypertension Program, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
Am J Pathol 172:22-30. 2008..The exaggerated response to vascular injury provoked by CRP in OVX CRPtg depends on Fc gamma RI and probably requires its expression by F4/80+ cells... - Requirement of the Fc receptor common gamma-chain for gamma delta T cell-mediated promotion of murine experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitisAlexander J Szalai
Department of Medicine at The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
Eur J Immunol 35:3487-92. 2005..Expression of the common gamma-chain by gammadelta T cells, probably in conjunction with the T cell receptor/CD3 complex, is likely the key requirement for full development of EAE... - Complement and demyelinating disease: no MAC needed?Scott R Barnum
Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
Brain Res Rev 52:58-68. 2006..Based on these newer data, we posit that C3-derived biologically active fragments, rather than C5 and the MAC, are central players in the pathophysiology of complement in EAE... - Experimental autoimmune uveitis in the C57BL/6 mouseRussell W Read
Exp Eye Res 83:229-30; author reply 231. 2006 - Induction of leptin resistance through direct interaction of C-reactive protein with leptinKe Chen
Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of Pittsburgh, 3500 Terrace Street, BST S 326, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, USA
Nat Med 12:425-32. 2006..Thus, our results suggest a potential mechanism contributing to leptin resistance, by which circulating CRP binds to leptin and attenuates its physiological functions... - C-reactive protein gene polymorphisms, C-reactive protein blood levels, and cardiovascular disease riskFadi G Hage
Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
J Am Coll Cardiol 50:1115-22. 2007..Some of these variations are associated with clinical correlates of cardiovascular disease. If future studies can establish with certainty that CRP influences cardiovascular biology, then CRP gene profiling could have clinical utility... - PspA and PspC minimize immune adherence and transfer of pneumococci from erythrocytes to macrophages through their effects on complement activationJie Li
Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
Infect Immun 75:5877-85. 2007..These data provide new insight into how PspA and PspC act in synergy to protect pneumococci from complement-dependent clearance during invasive infection... - The virulence function of Streptococcus pneumoniae surface protein A involves inhibition of complement activation and impairment of complement receptor-mediated protectionBing Ren
Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
J Immunol 173:7506-12. 2004..Our new results suggest that complement receptors CR1/2, CR3, and CR4 all play important roles in host defense against pneumococcal infection... - Both family 1 and family 2 PspA proteins can inhibit complement deposition and confer virulence to a capsular serotype 3 strain of Streptococcus pneumoniaeBing Ren
Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35294, USA
Infect Immun 71:75-85. 2003..These results suggest that family 1 and family 2 PspA proteins play similar roles in virulence and that surface accessibility of PspA is important for their function... - Delayed lupus onset in (NZB x NZW)F1 mice expressing a human C-reactive protein transgeneAlexander J Szalai
The University of Alabama at Birmingham
Arthritis Rheum 48:1602-11. 2003..CONCLUSION: In hCRPtg/BW mice, CRP protects against SLE by increasing blood and mesangial clearance of immune complexes and by preventing their accumulation in the renal cortex... - Fc gamma Rs modulate cytotoxicity of anti-Fas antibodies: implications for agonistic antibody-based therapeuticsYuanyuan Xu
Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Medicine and Laboratory for MultiModality Imaging Assessment, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
J Immunol 171:562-8. 2003..Recognizing this fact should facilitate development of safer and more efficacious agonistic Abs... - Increased thrombosis after arterial injury in human C-reactive protein-transgenic miceHaim D Danenberg
Harvard MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Cambridge, Mass 02139, USA
Circulation 108:512-5. 2003..To determine whether CRP directly modulates vascular cell function in vivo, we subjected wild-type mice, which do not express CRP, and human CRP-transgenic (CRPtg) mice to 2 models of arterial injury... - Effects of PspA and antibodies to PspA on activation and deposition of complement on the pneumococcal surfaceBing Ren
Department of Microbiology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35294, USA
Infect Immun 72:114-22. 2004..Antibodies to PspA could overcome the anticomplementary effect of PspA, allowing for increased complement activation and C3 deposition onto PspA+ bacteria... - C-reactive protein accelerates the progression of atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-deficient miceAntoni Paul
Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Tex 77030, USA
Circulation 109:647-55. 2004..Plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration is a strong predictor of atherosclerosis. However, to date, there is no in vivo evidence that CRP is proatherogenic... - Evidence for anti-inflammatory activity of statins and PPARalpha activators in human C-reactive protein transgenic mice in vivo and in cultured human hepatocytes in vitroRobert Kleemann
Gaubius Laboratory, TNO Prevention and Health, PO Box 2215, 2301 CE Leiden, The Netherlands
Blood 103:4188-94. 2004..Our results provide conclusive evidence for a direct suppressive effect of statins and PPARalpha activators on huCRP expression independent of cholesterol lowering and atherogenesis... - Fc receptors and the common gamma-chain in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitisAlexander J Szalai
Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
J Neurosci Res 75:597-602. 2004..These studies support previous evidence implicating a pathogenic role for gammadelta T cells in EAE... - Murine complement C4 is not required for experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitisLaura A Boos
Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama 35294, USA
Glia 49:158-60. 2005..These results support the conclusion that the contribution of murine complement to the pathogenesis of demyelinating disease is realized via the alternative pathway... - Effect of low dose atorvastatin versus diet-induced cholesterol lowering on atherosclerotic lesion progression and inflammation in apolipoprotein E*3-Leiden transgenic miceLars Verschuren
Gaubius Laboratory, TNO-Prevention and Health, Leiden, The Netherlands
Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 25:161-7. 2005.... - C-reactive protein (CRP) and autoimmune disease: facts and conjecturesAlexander J Szalai
Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294-0006, USA
Clin Dev Immunol 11:221-6. 2004..A mechanistic hypothesis is presented to account for this cause-and-effect relationship... - Complement in BuB/BnJ mice revisited: serum C3 levels and complement opsonic activity are not elevatedInga Osmers
Department of Microbiology, 845 19th St S BBRB 842, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
Mol Immunol 43:1722-5. 2006..In contrast hemolytic assays indicate BuB/BnJ sera to be most active. These results indicate that accepted views regarding mouse serum complement activity need to be re-examined... - Complement in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis revisited: C3 is required for development of maximal diseaseAlexander J Szalai
Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, United States
Mol Immunol 44:3132-6. 2007..Our results confirm a requirement for C3 for maximal development of EAE and suggest that receptors for C3-derived activation fragments might be a viable therapeutic target for prevention and treatment demyelinating disease... - Complement as a biomarker in multiple sclerosisScott R Barnum
J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 64:741. 2005 - Immune opsonins modulate BLyS/BAFF release in a receptor-specific fashionXinrui Li
Department of Medicine, Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
J Immunol 181:1012-8. 2008..These results provide a mechanism by which Fcgamma receptors can elevate circulating BLyS levels and promote autoantibody production in immune complex-mediated autoimmune diseases...
Research Grants
- C REACTIVE PROTEIN IN HOST DEFENSEALEXANDER SZALAI; Fiscal Year: 2002..These studies will increase the understanding of innate host defense mechanisms and their interaction with acquired immunity. ..