Yantang Wang

Publications (2)4.77 Total impact

• Article: The Regulating Function of Heterotrimeric G Proteins in the Immune System.

  Yantang Wang, Yan Li, Guixiu Shi
  [show abstract] [hide abstract]
  ABSTRACT: Heterotrimeric guanine nucleotide-binding proteins (G proteins), which consist of an α-, a β- and a γ-subunit, have crucial roles as molecular switches in the regulation of the downstream effector molecules of multiple G protein-coupled receptor signalling pathways, such as phospholipase C and adenylyl cyclase. According to the structural and functional similarities of their α-subunits, G proteins can be divided into four subfamilies: Gαs, Gαi/o, Gαq/11 and Gα12/13. Most of the α- and the βγ-subunits are abundantly expressed on the surface of immune cells. Recent studies have demonstrated that G proteins are a group of important immunomodulatory factors that regulate the migration, activation, survival, proliferation, differentiation and cytokine secretion of immune cells. In this review, we summarise the recent findings on the functions of G proteins in immune regulation and autoimmunity.
  Archivum Immunologiae et Therapiae Experimentalis 04/2013; · 2.54 Impact Factor
• Article: Expression of G protein αq Subunit is Decreased in Lymphocytes from Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients and is Correlated with Disease Activity.

  Yantang Wang, Yan Li, Yan He, Yuechi Sun, Wencui Sun, Qibing Xie, Geng Yin, Yanchun Du, Li Wang, Guixiu Shi
  [show abstract] [hide abstract]
  ABSTRACT: Gαq, the alpha subunit of Gq, a member of the Gq/11 sub-family, was reported to inhibit Phosphatidylinositol-3-Kinase (PI3K) activation and prevent the activation of Akt. Previous studies demonstrated that mice losing Gαq in their immune system could spontaneously develop inflammatory arthritis. In this study, we showed that the Gαq expressions at mRNA and protein levels in the peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients were significantly decreased in comparison of which in healthy individuals. The expression levels of Gαq mRNA in PBLs from RA patients were correlated with RA disease activity (DAS28), anti-cyclic citrullinated protein antibodies (anti-CCP), C-reactive protein (CRP) and rheumatoid factor (RF). We also demonstrated that Gαq controlled the apoptosis of RA PBLs through regulating the activity of Mcl-1 and caspase-3. These data suggested that Gαq might be involved in the pathogenesis of RA by regulating PBLs apoptosis.
  Scandinavian Journal of Immunology 09/2011; · 2.23 Impact Factor