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AIF-1's secret weapon: Why does it play a key role in the immune system?
In the human immune system, all-graft inflammatory factor 1 (AIF-1), also known as deionized calcium-binding adapter protein 1 (IBA1), is a crucial protein. The performance of this protein is closely related to various physiological and pathological processes, especially its role in regulating immune responses and cell proliferation, which has attracted close attention from the scientific community.
Gene and function of AIF-1
The AIF1 gene is located in the class III region of the major histocompatibility complex. This gene is strongly expressed in the human testicle, spleen, and brain, but is weakly expressed in the lungs and kidneys. In brain cells, the Iba1 gene is mainly expressed in microglia, but circulating macrophages also express Iba1.
AIF1 is a 17-kDa EF hand protein that is exclusively expressed in macrophages and microglia and is upregulated during the activation of these cells.
AIF-1 was first discovered in atherosclerotic lesions of chronic allograft cardiac rejection in rats, and its expression is significantly increased in both macrophages and neutrophils during inflammatory conditions . This phenomenon shows a potential role of AIF-1 in cardiovascular pathology.
AIF-1 and vascular health
The enhanced expression of AIF-1 is related to the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells. This process is achieved through the uglification of the cell cycle, thereby promoting the development of blood vessel thickening. Such proliferation affects vascular health in the graft and may lead to pathological changes.
AIF1 regulates angiogenesis in endothelial cells, including aortic sprouting and tubular structure formation.
In addition, AIF-1 has been shown to interact with known signal transduction molecules such as p44/42 kinase and PAK1, and plays a key role in the regulation of endothelial cell proliferation and migration.
The identity of AIF-1 in the immune response
As a key immune regulator, AIF-1 also shows the potential to boost T cell responses. Studies have found that AIF-1 can increase the expression of IL-2 and IFN-γ while inhibiting the polarization of regulatory T cells. This process is extremely important in regulating immune responses.
Clinical significance and disease correlation
AIF-1 is found in activated macrophages and is closely linked to inflammation. AIF-1 levels in healthy people are positively correlated with metabolic markers such as body mass index, triglycerides, and fasting plasma glucose levels. This makes AIF-1 a potential indicator of chronic inflammation.
High expression of AIF-1 has been observed in a variety of diseases, including diabetic nephropathy and cancer progression.
In the development of cancer, the expression of AIF-1 increases significantly and is related to various cancer cell lines and tissues such as liver cancer and breast cancer. These changes may imply the role of AIF-1 in inhibiting cell proliferation and apoptosis, thereby promoting tumor growth.
AIF-1 and autoimmune diseases
In rheumatoid arthritis, the expression of AIF-1 also shows strong upregulation, which means that it may play a role in promoting cell proliferation and inflammatory response in the pathological process. Also in kidney and eye diseases, AIF-1 function has been shown to have a targeted impact on disease progression.
Rethinking the role of AIF-1
As research on the function of AIF-1 continues to deepen, the scientific community has begun to think about the potential applications of this protein in a variety of diseases, such as its potential as a biomarker or therapeutic target for diseases.
Whether AIF-1 can become a key target for future treatment strategies, does it require further research and exploration?
