Search results for " calcium"

Photocatalytic Activity of Polymer Nanoparticles Modulates Intracellular Calcium Dynamics and Reactive Oxygen Species in HEK-293 Cells

2018

Optical modulation of living cells activity by light-absorbing exogenous materials is gaining increasing interest, due to the possibility both to achieve high spatial and temporal resolution with a minimally invasive and reversible technique and to avoid the need of viral transfection with light-sensitive proteins. In this context, conjugated polymers represent ideal candidates for photo-transduction, due to their excellent optoelectronic and biocompatibility properties. In this work, we demonstrate that organic polymer nanoparticles, based on poly(3-hexylthiophene) conjugated polymer, establish a functional interaction with an in vitro cell model (Human Embryonic Kidney cells, HEK-293). Th…

Cortex-wide BOLD fMRI activity reflects locally-recorded slow oscillation-associated calcium waves.

2017

When a person is in a deep non-dreaming sleep, neurons in their brain alternate slowly between periods of silence and periods of activity. This gives rise to low-frequency brain rhythms called slow waves, which are thought to help stabilize memories. Slow wave activity can be detected on multiple scales, from the pattern of electrical impulses sent by an individual neuron to the collective activity of the brain’s entire outer layer, the cortex. But does slow wave activity in an individual group of neurons in the cortex affect the activity of the rest of the brain? To find out, Schwalm, Schmid, Wachsmuth et al. took advantage of the fact that slow waves also occur under general anesthesia, a…

The role of extracellular calcium in bone metastasis

2016

AbstractThis review summarizes the role of extracellular calcium, as found present in the bone tissue, in the process of bone metastasis.

The Daily Consumption of Cola Can Determine Hypocalcemia: A Case Report of Postsurgical Hypoparathyroidism-Related Hypocalcemia Refractory to Supplem…

2017

The consumption of soft drinks is a crucial factor in determining persistent hypocalcemia. The aim of the study was to evaluate the biochemical mechanisms inducing hypocalcemia in a female patient with usual high consumption of cola drink and persistent hypocalcemia, who failed to respond to high doses of calcium and calcitriol supplementation. At baseline and after pentagastrin injection, gastric and duodenal secretion samples were collected and calcium and total phosphorus concentrations were evaluated. At the same time, blood calcium, total phosphorus, sodium, potassium, chloride, magnesium concentrations and vitamin D were sampled. After intake of cola (1 L) over 180 min, gastric and du…

Ca2+ signalling plays a role in celastrol‐mediated suppression of synovial fibroblasts of rheumatoid arthritis patients and experimental arthritis in…

2019

Background and purpose Celastrol exhibits anti-arthritic effects in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but the role of celastrol-mediated Ca2+ mobilization in treatment of RA remains undefined. Here, we describe a regulatory role for celastrol-induced Ca2+ signalling in synovial fibroblasts of RA patients and adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) in rats. Experimental approach We used computational docking, Ca2+ dynamics and functional assays to study the sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase pump (SERCA). In rheumatoid arthritis synovial fibroblasts (RASFs)/rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocytes (RAFLS), mechanisms of Ca2+ -mediated autophagy were analysed by histological, immunohis…

More than a pore: How voltage-gated calcium channels act on different levels of neuronal communication regulation.

2021

ABSTRACT Voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs) represent key regulators of the calcium influx through the plasma membrane of excitable cells, like neurons. Activated by the depolarization of the membrane, the opening of VGCCs induces very transient and local changes in the intracellular calcium concentration, known as calcium nanodomains, that in turn trigger calcium-dependent signaling cascades and the release of chemical neurotransmitters. Based on their central importance as concierges of excitation-secretion coupling and therefore neuronal communication, VGCCs have been studied in multiple aspects of neuronal function and malfunction. However, studies on molecular interaction partners …

Thermokinetic Investigation of the Drying Conditions on Amorphous Calcium Phosphate

2017

The present work investigated dried calcium phosphate powders which still retain an amorphous or poorly crystalline structure under a variety of conditions. In previous studies, freeze-drying was found to be the optimum drying condition. However, several publications, as well as our previous studies, have shown that calcium phosphate amorphous, or a poorly crystalline structure, can retain their structure even if the samples are dried immediately after synthesis up to 200°C. In our study, we used the thermokinetic studies FTIR and XRD and showed that the samples are amorphous, or poorly crystalline, but were unable to answer the questions: Is there a difference between the differently dried…

2019

AbstractDuring early postnatal life, speed up of signal propagation through many central and peripheral neurons has been associated with an increase in axon diameter or/and myelination. Especially in unmyelinated axons postnatal adjustments of axonal membrane conductances is potentially a third mechanism but solid evidence is lacking. Here, we show that axonal action potential (AP) conduction velocity in theDrosophilagiant fiber (GF) interneuron, which is required for fast long-distance signal conduction through the escape circuit, is increased by 80% during the first day of adult life. Genetic manipulations indicate that this postnatal increase in AP conduction velocity in the unmyelinated…

Disarrangement of Endoplasmic reticulum-mitochondria communication impairs Ca2+ homeostasis in FRDA

2020

AbstractFriedreich ataxia (FRDA) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by neuromuscular and neurological manifestations. It is caused by mutations in gene FXN, which results in loss of the mitochondrial protein frataxin. Endoplasmic Reticulum-mitochondria associated membranes (MAMs) are inter-organelle structures involved in the regulation of essential cellular processes, including lipid metabolism and calcium signaling. In the present study, we have analyzed in both, unicellular and multicellular models of FRDA, an analysis of calcium management and of integrity of MAMs. We observed that function of MAMs is compromised in our cellular model of FRDA, which was improved upon treatmen…

Coordination abilities of N-methyl alkylaminomethane-1,1-diphosphonic acids towards zinc(II), magnesium(II) and calcium(II) metal ions. Equilibrium s…

2017

Abstract Complex-formation abilities of a series of N-methyl alkylaminomethane-1,1-diphosphonic acids (1–7) with a common tertiary nitrogen atom (CH3−N−R) bearing linear or branched alkyl, cycloheptyl or phenylalkyl R substituents towards zinc(II), magnesium(II) and calcium(II) in aqueous solution have been studied by means of pH-potentiometry, ESI-MS spectrometry, 1H NMR and 31P NMR methods. The obtained results indicate that in the all presented systems mononuclear protonated equimolar and bis complexes are formed. In acidic and neutral solution, the formation of the protonated dinuclear species has been confirmed. The comparative analysis of the potentiometric and NMR data reveal that th…