Search results for " signaling."

The interleukin-22/STAT3 pathway potentiates expression of inducible nitric-oxide synthase in human colon carcinoma cells.

2007

Inducible nitric-oxide synthase (iNOS) has been identified as a marker and mediator of disease in human colonic inflammation and carcinogenesis. Accordingly, identification of mediators that trigger iNOS in colon carcinoma/epithelial cells is an important topic of current research. Here we demonstrate that interleukin (IL)-22, a newly described member of the IL-10 cytokine family, potently synergizes with interferon (IFN)-gamma for iNOS expression in human DLD-1 colon carcinoma cells. Detection of both IL-22 receptor chains and STAT3 phosphorylation proved robust IL-22 responsiveness of these cells. Short interfering RNA technology identified STAT3 as being crucial for up-regulation of iNOS…

Protein kinase C controls activation of the DNA integrity checkpoint

2014

The protein kinase C (PKC) superfamily plays key regulatory roles in numerous cellular processes. Saccharomyces cerevisiae contains a single PKC, Pkc1, whose main function is cell wall integrity maintenance. In this work, we connect the Pkc1 protein to the maintenance of genome integrity in response to genotoxic stresses. Pkc1 and its kinase activity are necessary for the phosphorylation of checkpoint kinase Rad53, histone H2A and Xrs2 protein after deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damage, indicating that Pkc1 is required for activation of checkpoint kinases Mec1 and Tel1. Furthermore, Pkc1 electrophoretic mobility is delayed after inducing DNA damage, which reflects that Pkc1 is post-translatio…

Response of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Mpk1 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Pathway to Increases in Internal Turgor Pressure Caused by Loss of Ppz…

2004

ABSTRACT The Mpk1 pathway of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a key determinant of cell wall integrity. A genetic link between the Mpk1 kinase and the Ppz phosphatases has been reported, but the nature of this connection was unclear. Recently, the Ppz phosphatases were shown to be regulators of K + and pH homeostasis. Here, we demonstrate that Ppz-deficient strains display increased steady-state K + levels and sensitivity to increased KCl concentrations. Given these observations and the fact that K + is the major determinant of intracellular turgor pressure, we reasoned that the connection between PPZ1 and - 2 and MPK1 was due to the combination of increased internal turgor pressure in Ppz-defic…

The Deep-Sea Natural Products, Biogenic Polyphosphate (Bio-PolyP) and Biogenic Silica (Bio-Silica), as Biomimetic Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineeri…

2013

Bone defects in human, caused by fractures/nonunions or trauma, gain increasing impact and have become a medical challenge in the present-day aging population. Frequently, those fractures require surgical intervention which ideally relies on autografts or suboptimally on allografts. Therefore, it is pressing and likewise challenging to develop bone substitution materials to heal bone defects. During the differentiation of osteoblasts from their mesenchymal progenitor/stem cells and of osteoclasts from their hemopoietic precursor cells, a lineage-specific release of growth factors and a trans-lineage homeostatic cross-talk via signaling molecules take place. Hence, the major hurdle is to fab…

Polylactide-based materials science strategies to improve tissue-material interface without the use of growth factors or other biological molecules

2018

In a large number of medical devices, a key feature of a biomaterial is the ability to successfully bond to living tissues by means of engineered mechanisms such as the enhancement of biomineralization on a bone tissue engineering scaffold or the mimicking of the natural structure of the extracellular matrix (ECM). This ability is commonly referred to as "bioactivity". Materials sciences started to grow interest in it since the development of bioactive glasses by Larry Hench five decades ago. As the main goal in applications of biomedical devices and tissue scaffolds is to obtain a seamless tissue-material interface, achieving optimal bioactivity is essential for the success of most biomate…

FACS-based protocol to assess cytotoxicity and clonogenic potential of colorectal cancer stem cells using a Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway reporter

2021

Summary Cancer stem cells (CSCs) play a key role in tumor initiation and progression. A real-time tool to evaluate the activation of CSC-specific signaling pathways is crucial for the study of this cancer cell subset. Here, we present a protocol to monitor, in vitro, the activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, which is considered a functional biomarker for colorectal CSCs (CR-CSCs). This flow-cytometry-based protocol allows it to isolate CR-CSCs and to evaluate their cytotoxicity upon anti-tumor treatments. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Di Franco et al. (2021).

NECAB2 participates in an endosomal pathway of mitochondrial stress response at striatal synapses

2021

Synaptic signaling depends on ATP generated by mitochondria. Due to extensive connectivity, the striatum is especially vulnerable to mitochondrial dysfunction and thus requires efficient mitochondrial quality control. We found that the neuronal calcium-binding protein NECAB2 ensures synaptic function in the striatum by increasing mitochondrial efficiency. NECAB2 associates with early endosomes and mitochondria at striatal synapses. Loss of NECAB2 dysregulates proteins of the endosomal ESCRT machinery and oxidative phosphorylation. Mitochondria from NECAB2-deficient mice are more abundant but less efficient. These mitochondria exhibit increased respiration and superoxide production but produ…

Inhibition of FcεRI-mediated Activation of Rat Basophilic Leukemia Cells by Clostridium difficile Toxin B (Monoglucosyltransferase)

1996

Abstract Treatment of rat basophilic leukemia (RBL) 2H3-hm1 cells with Clostridium difficile toxin B (2 ng/ml), which reportedly depolymerizes the actin cytoskeleton, blocked [3H]serotonin release induced by 2,4-dinitrophenyl-bovine serum albumin, carbachol, mastoparan, and reduced ionophore A23187-stimulated degranulation by about 55-60%. In lysates of RBL cells, toxin B 14C-glucosylated two major and one minor protein. By using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting, RhoA and Cdc42 were identified as protein substrates of toxin B. In contrast to toxin B, Clostridium botulinum transferase C3 that selectively inactivates RhoA by ADP-ribosylation did not inhibit degranulation…

Alteration of signaling pathways in hepatocellular carcinoma: identification of new pharmacological targets and possible prognosis markers.

2012

Insulin/IGF-1 Signaling: More than a Metabolic Pathway

2014

Background: Dietary intervention and genetic alterations in gene encoding proteins involved in nutrient-sensing pathways can modulate lifespan, influencing longevity. It depends on under/over-expression of regulatory molecules that lead to different expression of homeostatic genes. Insulin/IGF-1 pathway was associated with longevity and lifespan modulation in model organisms. In humans, a key molecule in this pathway is FOXO3A that acts as a TF on homeostatic genes in response to decreased signaling increasing life span. Interestingly, other genes that increase lifespan interact with FOXO3A such as SIRT1, which modulates the oxidative stress response. Methods: We used meta-analytical and ca…