Metabolic Signaling


Book Description

This book provides protocols to quantify metabolism, to identify metabolic crosstalk, and to setup and develop tools and models to gain insight into metabolic signaling using experimental and computational approaches. Chapters detail protocols to quantify metabolism, identify metabolic crosstalk, and develop tools and models to gain a systems-level insight into metabolic signaling. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and cutting-edge, Metabolic Signaling: Methods and Protocols aims to provide researchers with methods to study, perturb, and functionally interpret metabolism and metabolic signaling from the sub-cellular to the whole-body level.




Mast Cells


Book Description

A cutting-edge collection of readily reproducible techniques for the isolation, culture, and study of activation and signaling in human mast cells. These methods take advantage of the latest advances in molecular biology, technology, and information science. They include methods for the identification of mast cells, the development of mast cells in vitro, the study of mast cell signaling and gene expression, and the measurement of mast cell expression of inflammatory mediators. Additional chapters cover methods for studying mast cell interactions with other cell types (endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and B cells), the roles of mast cells in host defense, and mast cell apoptosis.




Protocol Handbook for Cancer Biology


Book Description

Protocol Handbook for Cancer Biology brings together a comprehensive collection of the methods used for cancer assessment, diagnostics, and therapeutics. Various protocols are discussed along with alternative strategies, including the advantages and limitations of techniques that have been used in labs globally. These protocols are presented by cancer biology experts based on their real-world experience. The protocols in this book will be a valuable resource for cancer researchers and graduate students, who can utilize the techniques described to conduct research more efficiently and successfully. - Presents comprehensive protocols used for cancer assessment, diagnostics, and therapeutics all in one place - Encompasses alternative strategies considering the requirements of the end user and taking into consideration diverse research settings - Discusses limitations and advantages of each method in experimental design and execution, thus saving time during the research process




Inflammation and Cancer


Book Description

This second edition volume expands on the previous edition with an update on the broad spectrum of research models, techniques, and protocols used in laboratories by basic and clinical researchers. The chapters in this book are divided into two parts. Part One discusses the latest findings on the development and characterization of representative research models for chronic immune-based diseases and inflammation-associated cancers. Part Two covers biochemical, molecular, and cellular biological techniques that are commonly used to dissect the molecular mechanisms and cellular processes that drive the pathogenesis of certain disease states. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Cutting-edge and comprehensive, Inflammation and Cancer: Methods and Protocols, Second Edition is a valuable resource for those with a diverse range of laboratory-based experience, ranging from novice undergraduate students to established basic or clinical researchers who wish to diversify their existing portfolio of practical knowledge in the field.




T-Cell Development


Book Description

​This volume provides simple and accessible experiment protocols to explore thymus biology. T-Cell Development: Methods and Protocols is divided into three parts presenting short reviews on T cell development, analysis strategies, protocols for cell preparation, flow cytometry analyses, and multiple aspects of thymocyte biology. As a volume in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series, chapters contain introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Concise and easy-to-use, T-Cell Development: Methods and Protocols aims to ensure successful results in the further study of this vital field.




Hedgehog Signaling


Book Description

This detailed book explores the technical breakthroughs with biophysical and cell biological approaches that have advanced the study of molecular mechanisms underlying the generation and transduction of the hedgehog (HH) signal, indicating the important role of sterols in this pathway. Within its pages, the volume examines techniques involving several key protein components in this pathway, including HH, the signaling ligand; Dispatched, a HH secretion regulator; Patched, the receptor of HH; Smoothened, the signal transducer used to transduce the HH signal across the plasma membrane; and GLI, the transcription factor to turn on HH target genes. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters feature introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step readily reproducible laboratory protocols, as well as tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and practical, Hedgehog Signaling: Methods and Protocols provides researchers in clinical and basic science with a fresh and reliable reference for analyzing HH signal transduction through cell biological, biochemical, and biophysical approaches.




Gene Therapy of Cancer


Book Description

Since the discovery of the molecular structure of genes and the unveiling of the molecular basis of numerous human diseases, scientists have been fas- nated with the possibility of treating certain diseases by transducing foreign DNA into the affected cells. Initially, it was proposed that the foreign DNA could either replace defective nonfunctional genes, or code for therapeutic proteins. This concept has evolved into the rapidly growing field of gene therapy. Even though surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy are widely ava- able and routinely used for cancer treatment, these therapies fail to cure approximately 50 percent of cancer patients. Therefore, since it is a disease characterized by aberrant gene expression, cancer has been a target of gene therapy research since the inception of this treatment modality. Numerous cancer gene therapy strategies are currently being investigated, including gene replacement therapy, the regulation of gene expression to modulate immu- logical responses to tumors, the direct killing of tumor cells, and direct int- ference with tumor growth. In this context, gene transfer systems, tumor-specific expression vectors, and novel therapeutic genes have been extensively st- ied. All these strategies aim for the selective destruction of human malignant disease while circumventing the destruction of nonmalignant cells and tissues thereby minimizing toxicity to the patient.




Cancer Nanotechnology


Book Description

Early detection of cancer at the cellular level, even before anatomic anomalies are visible, is critical to more efficacious and cost effective diagnosis and therapeutic advances. In Cancer Nanotechnology: Methods and Protocols, an international panel of experts provide the most recent, cutting-edge, "how-to" approaches developed and employed by researchers in a variety of disciplines to identify cancer specific biomarkers, construct suitable multifunctional targeted nanostructure platforms, along with enhanced imaging and therapeutic applications. Covering such topics as multifunctional and multimodal nanoparticles, nanoparticle mediated cancer theranostics, molecular targets for cancer nanotechnology, and nanoparticles for non-invasive image-guided cancer therapy, the volume addresses the key challenges of the field today, specifically targeted and localized delivery of the drugs. As a volume in the highly successful Methods in Molecular BiologyTM series, the protocols chapters include brief introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and notes on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and cutting-edge, Cancer Nanotechnology: Methods and Protocols integrates cancer biology, clinical oncology, molecular cancer imaging, materials science and chemical engineering, biomedical engineering, toxicology, computer science, electrical engineering, chemistry, physics, and mathematics in order to achieve the vital goals of nanotechnology-mediated early cancer detection and more efficacious and less toxic therapies for these devastating diseases.




Natural Killer Cells


Book Description

This volume contains collection of Natural Killer Cell methodologies relevant for both basic and translational research. These methodologies present new developments in the natural killer (NK) cell field, such as understanding the influence of NK cells metabolism on its function, identifying complexity of NK cell subsets through mass cytometry, and determining the emergence of memory NK cells in murine model of MCMV infection. Methods that study NK cell migration and cytotoxicity through endpoint analysis or live single cell imaging are also discussed. Chapters also describe methods pertaining to translational application of NK cells, such as ex vivo expansion of NK cells on K562 cell lines genetically modified to express either membrane bound IL-15 or membrane bound IL-21, large scale NK cell culture, current techniques for engineering NK cells to express chimeric antigen receptors or chemokine receptors using retroviral vectors, electroporation of mRNA, and the natural phenomenon of trogocytosis. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, these chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Cutting edge and thorough, Natural Killer Cells: Methods and Protocols is a valuable resource for researchers who not only want to understand mechanisms that govern NK cell behavior and diversity, but also for those who want to understand how to systematically evaluate NK cells for adoptive immunotherapy applications.




Mast Cells


Book Description

Mast Cells: Methods and Protocols, Second Edition expands upon the previous edition with current, detailed reviews that cover topics of interest to mast cell neophytes and cognoscenti alike. With new chapters on methods for the enumeration of tissue mast cells and isolation of mature mast cells and mast cell progenitors from mammalian tissues, Danio rerio (zebrafish) model in the study of mast cell development and function, the functions of mast cells in human health and disease and methods for the isolation, methods for the investigation of the molecular mechanisms of mast cell activation and their effector functions, assays for the detection and analysis of mast cell secretory and cell surface phenotype and, mast cell activation state, and experimental mouse models of disease that have been deemed useful for the assessment of mast cell functions in the regulation of innate and adaptive immune response in cancer, tissue fibrosis, auto-inflammation and allergic disease. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and cutting-edge, Mast Cells: Methods and Protocols, Second Edition provides a sampler of useful methods and techniques in the further study of mast cell biology.