Search results for " Western"
showing 10 items of 687 documents
Global and gene-specific histone modification profiles of mouse multipotent adult germline stem cells
2010
We previously reported the generation of multipotent adult germline stem cells (maGSCs) from spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) isolated from adult mouse testis. In a later study, we substantiated the pluripotency of maGSCs by demonstrating their close similarity to pluripotent male embryonic stem cells (ESCs) at the epigenetic level of global and gene-specific DNA methylation. Here, we extended the comparative epigenetic analysis of maGSCs and male ESCs by investigating the second main epigenetic modification in mammals, i.e. global and gene-specific modifications of histones (H3K4 trimethylation, H3K9 acetylation, H3K9 trimethylation and H3K27 trimethylation). Using immunofluorescence stain…
Loss of striatal type 1 cannabinoid receptors is a key pathogenic factor in Huntington's disease.
2010
Endocannabinoids act as neuromodulatory and neuroprotective cues by engaging type 1 cannabinoid receptors. These receptors are highly abundant in the basal ganglia and play a pivotal role in the control of motor behaviour. An early downregulation of type 1 cannabinoid receptors has been documented in the basal ganglia of patients with Huntington's disease and animal models. However, the pathophysiological impact of this loss of receptors in Huntington's disease is as yet unknown. Here, we generated a double-mutant mouse model that expresses human mutant huntingtin exon 1 in a type 1 cannabinoid receptor-null background, and found that receptor deletion aggravates the symptoms, neuropatholog…
Echinostoma caproni: identification of enolase in excretory/secretory products, molecular cloning, and functional expression.
2007
In order to investigate molecules that could be involved in host-trematode relationships, we have analysed the excretory/secretory products (ESP) of Echinostoma caproni following a proteomic approach. Actin, Gluthathione S-transferase (GST) and enolase have been identified in the ESP. Enolase, observed to be one of the most abundant proteins, was further characterized. The molecular cloning and in vitro expression in Escherichia coli of E. caproni enolase allowed us to determine that the protein contains 431 amino acids and a theoretical MW of 46272 Da. E. caproni enolase shows high homology to other trematode enolases. The recombinant protein binds specifically to human plasminogen in vitr…
Some new species of Phaneroptera, Eulioptera and Scolocerca (Orthoptera Tettigoniidae: Phaneropterinae) from West Tropical Africa
2021
The author describes Phaneroptera abdita n. sp., characterized by only two apical spurs; two new species of Eulioptera, E. iolandae n. sp. with unarmed fore coxae, E. atypica n. sp., with atypical opaque tegmina; and Scolocerca thomasi n. sp., all from West Tropical Africa. In addition, he discusses on the probable only African distribution of Phaneroptera sparsa Stål, 1857, and transfers Dithela longicaudata Massa, 2017 to the genus Eulioptera Ragge, 1956.
Detection of increased tyrosine phosphorylation in murine Langerhans cells after stimulation with contact sensitizers.
1999
The signalling pathways in epidermal Langerhans cells (LC) during activation by contact sensitizers are poorly understood. Recently, we have described an increased phosphorylation of tyrosine residues in human MHC class II-positive cells in vitro following stimulation with contact sensitizers. In the study reported here the formation of phosphotyrosine (p-tyr) in murine epidermal LC upon stimulation with contact sensitizers was examined. By the use of a flow cytometric technique a significant increase in p-tyr was demonstrated in LC stimulated in vitro with the strong contact sensitizers TNCB (2,4,6-trinitro-chlorobenzene) and MCI/MI (5-chloro-2-methylisothiazolinone plus 2-methylisothiazol…
Dephosphorylation of p-ERK1/2 in relation to tumor remission after HER-2 and Raf1 blocking therapy in a conditional mouse tumor model
2006
Several studies have shown that HER-2/neu (erbB-2) blocking therapy strategies can cause tumor remission. However, the responsible molecular mechanisms are not yet known. Both ERK1/2 and Akt/PKB are critical for HER-2-mediated signal transduction. Therefore, we used a mouse tumor model that allows downregulation of HER-2 in tumor tissue by administration of anhydrotetracycline (ATc). Switching-off HER-2 caused a rapid tumor remission by more than 95% within 7 d of ATc administration compared to the volume before switching-off HER-2. Interestingly, HER-2 downregulation caused a dephosphorylation of p-ERK1/2 by more than 80% already before tumor remission occurred. Levels of total ERK protein…
Pentoxifylline Prevents Loss of PP2A Phosphatase Activity and Recruitment of Histone Acetyltransferases to Proinflammatory Genes in Acute Pancreatitis
2009
Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) are considered major signal transducers early during the development of acute pancreatitis. Pentoxifylline is a phosphodiesterase inhibitor with marked anti-inflammatory properties through blockade of extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation and tumor necrosis factor alpha production. Our aim was to elucidate the mechanism of action of pentoxifylline as an anti-inflammatory agent in acute pancreatitis. Necrotizing pancreatitis induced by taurocholate in rats and taurocholate-treated AR42J acinar cells were studied. Phosphorylation of ERK and ERK kinase (MEK1/2), as well as PP2A, PP2B, and PP2C serine/threonine phosphatase activiti…
Inactivation of glycogen synthase kinase-3β protects against kainic acid-induced neurotoxicity in vivo
2004
Many neurodegenerative diseases involve oxidative stress and excitotoxic cell death. In an attempt to further elucidate the signal transduction pathways involved in the cell death/cell survival associated with excitotoxicity, we have used an in vivo model of excitotoxicity employing kainic acid (KA)-induced neurotoxicity. Here, we show that extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK) 2, but not ERK 1, is phosphorylated and thereby activated in the hippocampus and cerebellum of kainic acid-treated mice. Phosphorylation and hence inactivation of glycogen synthase kinase 3beta (GSK-3beta), a general survival factor, is often a downstream consequence of mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway ac…
Endothelial kinin B1‐receptors are induced by myocardial ischaemia‐reperfusion in the rabbit
2001
Kinin B1-receptors are induced by various inflammatory stimuli. Since myocardial ischaemia-reperfusion results in inflammation, we questioned whether it could induce B1-receptor-dependent responses to des-Arg9-bradykinin (DBK). Thirty-six rabbits were submitted either to a 30 min coronary occlusion followed by a 3 h reperfusion or to a sham operation. The response to DBK was then tested in vivo on mean arterial pressure (MAP) and in vitro on isolated hearts and arterial rings. DBK induced a dose-dependent decrease in MAP in the ischaemia-reperfusion group (DBK, 10 μg kg−1, intra-arterial: -12 ± 2 vs. -5 ± 2 mmHg in the sham group, P < 0.02), which was significantly antagonised by [Leu8]-des…
A novel form of ataxia oculomotor apraxia characterized by oxidative stress and apoptosis resistance
2007
Several different autosomal recessive genetic disorders characterized by ataxia with oculomotor apraxia (AOA) have been identified with the unifying feature of defective DNA damage recognition and/or repair. We describe here the characterization of a novel form of AOA showing increased sensitivity to agents that cause single-strand breaks (SSBs) in DNA but having no gross defect in the repair of these breaks. Evidence for the presence of residual SSBs in DNA was provided by dramatically increased levels of poly (ADP-ribose)polymerase (PARP-1) auto-poly (ADP-ribosyl)ation, the detection of increased levels of reactive oxygen/nitrogen species (ROS/RNS) and oxidative damage to DNA in the patie…