Group B Streptococcus (GBS) has developed several strategies to evade immune defenses.
We show that GBS induces macrophage (M) membrane permeability defects and apoptosis …

Inflammasome is an intracellular signaling complex of the innate immune system. Activation
of inflammasomes promotes the secretion of interleukin 1β (IL-1β) and IL-18 and triggers …

The neurotoxic effects of activated microglia in neurodegenerative diseases are well
established. We recently provided evidence that chromogranin A (CGA), a multifunctional …

The susceptibility of lysosomal membranes in tumor cells to cationic amphiphilic drugs
(CADs) enables CADs to induce lysosomal membrane permeabilization (LMP) and trigger …

Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, occurs because of the activation of a protease
cascade amplification circuit that includes the critical effector caspase-3. Previously, we …

Apoptotic cells undergo a number of changes to prepare for phagocytosis; most occur during
the execution phase of apoptosis, when dying cells undergo shrinkage and/or fragmentation …

Caspases are specific proteases involved in apoptosis, and their inhibition by specific
peptide inhibitors can inhibit apoptosis. With these inhibitors we examined the relationship …

Cytotoxic lymphocytes induce target cell apoptosis via two major pathways: Fas/FasL and
granule exocytosis. The latter pathway has largely been defined by the roles of the pore …

An accelerated activity of the GD3 synthase (ST8), with consequent GD3 accumulation, is
part of the response to environmental stressors in different cell types. Depending on specific …

Apoptosis induced by various chemotherapeutic agents is associated with an increased
level of intracellular ceramide. Ceramide is a lipid second messenger in the regulation of …