Search results for "57"
showing 10 items of 4186 documents
Migration of Melanoblasts into the Developing Murine Hair Follicle Is Accompanied by Transient c-Kit Expression
2002
Disruption of the c-Kit/stem cell factor (SCF) signaling pathway interferes with the survival, migration, and differentiation of melanocytes during generation of the hair follicle pigmentary unit. We examined c-Kit, SCF, and S100 (a marker for precursor melanocytic cells) expression, as well as melanoblast/melanocyte ultrastructure, in perinatal C57BL/6 mouse skin. Before the onset of hair bulb melanogenesis (i.e., stages 0–4 of hair follicle morphogenesis), strong c-Kit immunoreactivity (IR) was seen in selected non-mela-nogenic cells in the developing hair placode and hair plug. Many of these cells were S100-IR and were ultrastructurally identified as melanoblasts with migratory appearanc…
Genetic inactivation of the sigma-1 chaperone protein results in decreased expression of the R2 subunit of the GABA-B receptor and increased suscepti…
2021
There is a growing body of evidence demonstrating the significant involvement of the sigma-1 chaperone protein in the modulation of seizures. Several sigma-1 receptor (Sig1R) ligands have been demonstrated to regulate the seizure threshold in acute and chronic seizure models. However, the mechanism by which Sig1R modulates the excitatory and inhibitory pathways in the brain has not been elucidated. The aim of this study was to compare the susceptibility to seizures of wild type (WT) and Sig1R knockout (Sig1R−/−) mice in intravenous pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) and (+)-bicuculline (BIC) infusion-induced acute seizure and Sig1R antagonist NE-100-induced seizure models. To determine pos…
Identification of metastasis-related genes by genomic and transcriptomic studies in murine melanoma.
2021
Abstract Aims We systematically characterized metastatic murine B16-F10 melanoma, a sub-line derived from murine melanoma B16-F1 cells. Materials and methods RNA-sequencing and network analyses (Ingenuity Pathway Analysis) were performed to identify novel potential metastasis mechanisms. Chromosomal aberrations were identified by multicolor fluorescence in situ hybridization (mFISH) using all 21 murine whole chromosome painting probes. Key findings Numerous genes were overexpressed in B16-F10 cells, some of which have been already described as being metastasis-linked. Nr5a1/sf1, a known prognostic marker for adrenal tumors, was 177-fold upregulated in B16-F10 cells compared to B16-F1 cells.…
Obesity as a Risk Factor for Alzheimer’s Disease: Implication of Leptin and Glutamate
2019
Obesity is known to induce leptin and insulin resistance. Leptin is a peptide hormone synthesized in adipose tissue that mainly regulates food intake. It has been shown that insulin stimulates the production of leptin when adipocytes are exposed to glucose to encourage satiety; while leptin, via a negative feedback, decreases the insulin release and enhances tissue sensitivity to it, leading to glucose uptake for energy utilization or storage. Therefore, resistance to insulin is closely related to leptin resistance. Obesity in middle age has also been related to Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In recent years, the relation between impaired leptin signaling pathway and the onset of AD has been stu…
The Assessment of Serum Concentrations of AGEs and Their Soluble Receptor (sRAGE) in Multiple Sclerosis Patients
2021
Background: Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are involved in the pathogenesis of many diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS). The aim of the study was to determine serum concentrations of AGEs and their soluble receptor (sRAGE) in MS patients and healthy controls and to investigate their possible influence on disease activity. Methods: Serum concentrations of AGE and sRAGE in patients with MS and healthy controls were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: The mean serum AGE concentration in patients with MS was higher than in healthy controls, whereas the mean serum sRAGE concentration was lower than in the control gr…
Trend of Drug Abuse in 2011– 2014 in Italy
2017
Doping, although was born as a medication and not with the purpose of enhancing performance, is a widespread practice in all sports, between amateur and gym-goers. The Italian sports federations were in second place worldwide for positive doping-test, after Russia. This review focuses on the analysis of data collected by Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) in the 2012–2014 period, showing that the most commonly used substances were anabolic androgenic agents, glucocorticoids, diuretics and stimulants. Prevention in doping could be a key to limit the damage caused by this harmful practice both, for the physical health and the athlete’s moral integrity and anti-doping campai…
Health-Relevant Phenotypes in the Offspring of Mice Given CAR Activators Prior to Pregnancy
2018
Hepatic induction in response to drugs and environmental chemicals affects drug therapies and energy metabolism. We investigated whether the induction is transmitted to the offspring. We injected 3-day- and 6-week-old F0 female mice with TCPOBOP, an activator of the nuclear receptor constitutive androstane receptor (CAR, NR1I3), and mated them 1-6 weeks afterward. We detected in the offspring long-lasting alterations of CAR-mediated drug disposition, energy metabolism, and lipid profile. The transmission to the first filial generation (F1) was mediated by TCPOBOP transfer from the F0 adipose tissue via milk, as revealed by embryo transfer, crossfostering experiments, and liquid chromatograp…
Decreased Fibrogenesis After Treatment with Pirfenidone in a Newly Developed Mouse Model of Intestinal Fibrosis
2016
BACKGROUND Fibrosis as a common problem in patients with Crohn's disease is a result of an imbalance toward excessive tissue repair. At present, there is no specific treatment option. Pirfenidone is approved for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis with both antifibrotic and anti-inflammatory effects. We subsequently investigated the impact of pirfenidone treatment on development of fibrosis in a new mouse model of intestinal fibrosis. METHODS Small bowel resections from donor mice were transplanted subcutaneously into the neck of recipients. Animals received either pirfenidone (100 mg/kg, three times daily, orally) or vehicle. RESULTS After administration of pirfenidone, a signif…
Olesoxime improves cerebral mitochondrial dysfunction and enhances Aβ levels in preclinical models of Alzheimer's disease.
2019
Abstract Background Approved drugs for Alzheimer's disease (AD) only have a symptomatic effects and do not intervene causally in the course of the disease. Olesoxime (TRO19622) has been tested in AD disease models characterized by improved amyloid precursor protein processing (AβPP) and mitochondrial dysfunction. Methods Three months old Thy-1-AβPPSL (tg) and wild type mice (wt) received TRO19622 (100 mg/kg b.w.) in supplemented food pellets for 15 weeks (tg TRO19622). Mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels were determined in dissociated brain cells (DBC). Respiration was analyzed in mitochondria isolated from brain tissue. Citrate synthase (CS) activ…
Reducing Peripheral Inflammation with Infliximab Reduces Neuroinflammation and Improves Cognition in Rats with Hepatic Encephalopathy
2016
Inflammation contributes to cognitive impairment in patients with hepatic encephalopathy (HE). However, the process by which peripheral inflammation results in cognitive impairment remains unclear. In animal models, neuroinflammation and altered neurotransmission mediate cognitive impairment. Taking into account these data, we hypothesized that in rats with HE: (1) peripheral inflammation is a main contributor to neuroinflammation; (2) neuroinflammation in hippocampus impairs spatial learning by altering AMPA and/or NMDA receptors membrane expression; (3) reducing peripheral inflammation with infliximab (anti-TNF-a) would improve spatial learning; (4) this would be associated with reduced n…