Search results for " Small Interfering"
showing 10 items of 211 documents
Development of a simple, biocompatible and cost-effective Inulin-Diethylenetriamine based siRNA delivery system
2015
Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) have the potential to be of therapeutic value for many human diseases. So far, however, a serious obstacle to their therapeutic use is represented by the absence of appropriate delivery systems able to protect them from degradation and to allow an efficient cellular uptake. In this work we developed a siRNA delivery system based on inulin (Inu), an abundant and natural polysaccharide. Inu was functionalized via the conjugation with diethylenetriamine (DETA) residues to form the complex Inu-DETA. We studied the size, surface charge and the shape of the Inu-DETA/siRNA complexes; additionally, the cytotoxicity, the silencing efficacy and the cell uptake-mechanis…
Gold nanostar–polymer hybrids for siRNA delivery: Polymer design towards colloidal stability and in vitro studies on breast cancer cells
2017
To overcome the low bioavailability of siRNA (small interfering RNA) and to improve their transfection efficiency, the use of non-viral delivery carriers is today a feasible approach to transform the discovery of these incredibly potent and versatile drugs into clinical practice. Polymer-modified gold nanoconstructs (AuNCs) are currently viewed as efficient and safe intracellular delivery carriers for siRNA, as they have the possibility to conjugate the ability to stably entrap and deliver siRNAs inside cells with the advantages of gold nanoparticles, which can act as theranostic agents and radiotherapy enhancers through laser-induced hyperthermia. In this study, AuNCs were prepared by coat…
Statins and the squalene synthase inhibitor zaragozic acid stimulate the non-amyloidogenic pathway of amyloid-beta protein precursor processing by su…
2010
Cholesterol-lowering drugs such as statins influence the proteolytic processing of the amyloid-beta protein precursor (AbetaPP) and are reported to stimulate the activity of alpha-secretase, the major preventive secretase of Alzheimer's disease. Statins can increase the alpha-secretase activity by their cholesterol-lowering properties as well as by impairment of isoprenoids synthesis. In the present study, we elucidate the contribution of these pathways in alpha-secretase activation. We demonstrate that zaragozic acid, a potent inhibitor of squalene synthase which blocks cholesterol synthesis but allows synthesis of isoprenoids, also stimulates alpha-secretase activity. Treatment of human n…
Stat3 and Gfi-1 Transcription Factors Control Th17 Cell Immunosuppressive Activity via the Regulation of Ectonucleotidase Expression
2012
International audience; Although Th17 cells are known to promote tissue inflammation and autoimmunity, their role during cancer progression remains elusive. Here, we showed that in vitro Th17 cells generated with the cytokines IL-6 and TGF-β expressed CD39 and CD73 ectonucleotidases, leading to adenosine release and the subsequent suppression of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell effector functions. The IL-6-mediated activation of the transcription factor Stat3 and the TGF-β-driven downregulation of Gfi-1 transcription factor were both essential for the expression of ectonucleotidases during Th17 cell differentiation. Stat3 supported whereas Gfi-1 repressed CD39 and CD73 expression by binding to thei…
BRAF(V600E) mutation influences hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha expression levels in papillary thyroid cancer
2010
Abstract Hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha is found frequently overexpressed in solid tumors cells, exerting an important role in angiogenesis, glucose metabolism, cell proliferation, survival and invasion. In thyroid carcinomas, hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha expression was found increased in differentiated, poorly differentiated, medullary and anaplastic variants. Hypoxia represents the principal stimulus responsible for hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha induction. Other nonhypoxic stimuli increase hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha synthesis through the activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways in a cell-type-specific manner. We have previously s…
NF-κB protects Behçet's disease T cells against CD95-induced apoptosis up-regulating antiapoptotic proteins
2005
Objective To determine whether prolongation of the inflammatory reaction in patients with Behcet's disease (BD) is related to apoptosis resistance and is associated with the up-regulation of antiapoptotic factors. Methods The percentage of cell death was evaluated by flow cytometry in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 35 patients with BD and 30 healthy volunteers. The expression levels of antiapoptotic factors and NF-κB regulatory proteins were measured using Western blotting and immunohistochemical analyses. To down-regulate NF-κB nuclear translocation, BD T lymphocytes were exposed in vitro to thalidomide and subjected to transfection with NF-κB small interfering RNA. Results Althou…
Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor 1– 5-Hydroxytryptamine 1A Heteroreceptor Complexes and Their Enhancement of Hippocampal Plasticity
2011
Background The hippocampus and its 5-hydroxytryptamine transmission plays an important role in depression related to its involvement in limbic circuit plasticity. Methods The analysis was made with bioluminescence resonance energy transfer, co-immunoprecipitation, in situ proximity ligation assay, binding assay, in cell western and the forced swim test. Results Using bioluminescence resonance energy transfer analysis, fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1)-5-hydroxytryptamine 1A (5-HT1A) receptor complexes have been demonstrated and their specificity and agonist modulation characterized. Their presence based on co-immunoprecipitation and proximity ligation assay has also been indicated…
Amyloid-β toxicity and tau hyperphosphorylation are linked via RCAN1 in Alzheimer's disease.
2011
Amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) toxicity and tau hyperphosphorylation are hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). How their molecular relationships may affect the etiology, progression, and severity of the disease, however, has not been elucidated. We now report that incubation of foetal rat cortical neurons with Aβ up-regulates expression of the Regulator of Calcineurin gene RCAN1, and this is mediated by Aβ-induced oxidative stress. Calcineurin (PPP3CA) is a serine-threonine phosphatase that dephosphorylates tau. RCAN1 proteins inhibit this phosphatase activity of calcineurin. Increased expression of RCAN1 also causes up-regulation of glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (GSK3β), a tau kinase. Thus, incr…
Knock-down of the oxysterol receptor LXRα impairs cholesterol efflux in human primary macrophages: lack of compensation by LXRβ activation.
2012
Liver X Receptors (LXRs) α and β are oxysterol-activated nuclear receptors involved in the control of lipid metabolism and inflammation. Pharmacological activation of LXR is promising in the treatment of atherosclerosis since it can promote cholesterol efflux from macrophages and prevent foam cell formation. However, the development of LXR agonists has been limited by undesirable side-effects such as hepatic steatosis mediated by LXRα activation. Therefore, it has been proposed that targeting LXRα activators to extrahepatic tissues or using LXRβ-specific activators could be used as alternative strategies. It is not clear whether these molecules will retain the full atheroprotective potentia…
Superoxide Flux in Endothelial Cells via the Chloride Channel-3 Mediates Intracellular Signaling
2007
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been implicated in both cell signaling and pathology. A major source of ROS in endothelial cells is NADPH oxidase, which generates superoxide (O2.−) on the extracellular side of the plasma membrane but can result in intracellular signaling. To study possible transmembrane flux of O2.−, pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells were preloaded with the O2.−-sensitive fluorophore hydroethidine (HE). Application of an extracellular bolus of O2.−resulted in rapid and concentration-dependent transient HE oxidation that was followed by a progressive and nonreversible increase in nuclear HE fluorescence. These fluorescence changes were inhibited by superoxide dism…