Search results for " Western"

Inhibition of Rho modulates cytokine-induced prostaglandin E2 formation in renal mesangial cells.

2003

Stimulation of rat mesangial cells for 24 h with interleukin-1β(IL-1β) plus forskolin (Fk) leads to a marked increase in prostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2 ) synthesis. This effect is further enhanced by the small G-protein Rho inhibitor toxin A. A similar increase in PGE 2 formation is obtained with Y27632, a Rho-dependent kinase inhibitor, and with lovastatin, a hydroxymethylglutaryl-coenzyme A inhibitor which depletes cells from geranylgeranyl moieties and thus blocks Rho activation. In parallel to the increased PGE 2 synthesis, a potentiation of IL-1β-induced secretory group IIA phospholipases A 2 (sPLA 2 -IIA) protein expression also occurs by Rho inhibition. However, only toxin A triggers an in…

Rural architecture in Western Sicily tradition. Identity, sustainable recovery

2010

Effects of ectopic expression of NGAL on doxorubicin sensitivity.

2012

Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL, a.k.a Lnc2) is a member of the lipocalin family which has diverse roles including stabilizing matrix metalloproteinase-9 from auto-degradation and as siderocalins which are important in the transport of iron. NGAL also has important biological functions involved in immunity and inflammation as well as responses to kidney damage. NGAL expression has also been associated with certain neoplasia and is important in the metastasis of breast cancer. Many advanced cancer patients have elevated levels of NGAL in their urine and it has been proposed that NGAL may be a prognostic indicator for certain cancers (e.g. breast, brain, and others). NGAL exp…

Identification of Energy Hubs for the Exploitation of Residual Biomass in an Area of Western Sicily

2017

Recent years have witnessed a marked reduction in financial incentives for renewable energy production in Italy as a consequence of the fact that the nation has already reached its energy policy targets for 2020, However, incentives still persist in certain sectors, such as those of specialized crops for biomass and residual biomass. In order to increase use-efficiency of biomass resources, careful study is needed of their characteristics, and their distribution within an area and over time: biomass use is of interest when production is concentrated in a given area and sufficiently available throughout the year. In order to assess the competitiveness of the biomass energy sector, the logist…

Peptide-mediated interference with baculovirus transduction

2007

Baculovirus represents a multifunctional platform with potential for biomedical applications including disease therapies. The importance of F3, a tumor-homing peptide, in baculovirus transduction was previously recognized by the ability of F3 to augment viral binding and gene delivery to human cancer cells following display on the viral envelope. Here, F3 was utilized as a molecular tool to expand understanding of the poorly characterized baculovirus-mammalian cell interactions. Baculovirus-mediated transduction of HepG2 hepatocarcinoma cells was strongly inhibited by coincubating the virus with synthetic F3 or following incorporation of F3 into viral nucleocapsid by genetic engineering, th…

Occlusion-derived baculovirus: interaction with human cells and evaluation of the envelope protein P74 as a surface display platform.

2008

To develop complementary baculovirus-based tools for gene delivery and display technologies, the interaction of occlusion-derived baculovirus (ODV) with human cells, and the functionality of the P74 ODV envelope protein for display of the IgG-binding Z domains (ZZP74) were evaluated. The cellular binding of ODV was concentration-dependent and saturable. Only minority of the bound virions were internalized at both 37 and 4 degrees C, suggesting usage of direct membrane fusion as the entry mode. The intracellular transport of ODV was confined in vesicular structures peripheral to the plasma membrane, impeding subsequent nuclear entry and transgene expression. Transduction of ODV was not rescu…

Microgastrinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) in the Forest State of Artikutza (Navarra: Spain): Diversity and Community Structure

2013

Microgastrinae is one of the largest subfamilies of the Braconidae with about 2,000 described species worldwide. These wasps are of enormous ecological interest due to their role in controlling the caterpillar populations. This study analyses diversity and community structure within the Microgastrinae in the Artikutza Forest, located in the Peñas de Aia Natural Park, western Pyrenees, Spain. The specimens were collected in two different habitats: mixed forest and beech forest. A total of 524 specimens, belonging to nine separate genera and 27 species were captured. Alpha, beta and gamma diversity were analyzed. Additionally, the relationship between Microgastrinae phenology and climatic con…