Search results for "Alpha"
showing 10 items of 3228 documents
Modulatory role of a constitutively active population of α1D-adrenoceptors in conductance arteries
2002
A constitutively active population of α1D-adrenoceptors in iliac and proximal, distal, and small mesenteric rat arteries was studied. The increase in resting tone (IRT) that evidences it was observed only in iliac and proximal mesenteric and was inhibited by prazosin (pIC50 = 9.57), 5-methylurapidil (pIC50 = 7.61), and BMY 7378 (pIC50 = 8.77). Chloroethylchlonidine (100 μmol/l) did not affect IRT, but when added before the other antagonists it blocked their effect. The potency shown by BMY 7378 confirms the α1D-subtype as responsible for IRT. BMY 7378 displayed greater inhibition of adrenergic responses in iliac (pIC50 = 7.57 ± 0.11) and proximal mesenteric arteries (pIC50 = 8.05 ± 0.2) th…
Effects of cytokines on synthesis and function of the hepatic asialoglycoprotein receptor
1994
In this study we have investigated whether cytokines, critical mediators of the immune response, might have a direct effect on the expression and/or function of the human hepatic asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGPR). Binding and uptake of asialoglycoproteins by the human hepatoma cell line, HepG2, and by freshly isolated rat hepatocytes were inhibited by 50% after 3-6 hours and completely abolished following a 24 hour exposure to tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha, interferon (INF) alpha or gamma, or interleukin-2 (IL-2). The loss of ASGPR binding activity mediated by IL-2 was reversible up to 4 hours of exposure and accompanied by the selective phosphorylation of the cell-surface receptor. S…
The identification of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha-independent effects of oleoylethanolamide on intestinal transit in mice
2009
Oleoylethanolamide (OEA) is an endogenous lipid produced in the intestine that mediates satiety by activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha). OEA inhibits gastric emptying and intestinal motility, but the mechanism of action remains to be determined. We investigated whether OEA inhibits intestinal motility by activation of PPARalpha. PPARalpha immunoreactivity was examined in whole mount preparations of mouse gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The effect of OEA on motility was assessed in wildtype, PPARalpha, cannabinoid CB(1) receptor and CB(2) receptor gene-deficient mice and in a model of accelerated GI transit. In addition, the effect of OEA on motility was as…
Anti-Tumour Necrosis Factor-?? Therapy for Rheumatoid and Other Inflammatory Arthropathies
2006
Anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha represents a major advance in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis. It is usually well tolerated, but a potential increase in the incidence of some infections in patients taking anti-TNFalpha agents has been reported. Compared with younger people, elderly patients have more co-morbidities and are likely to be taking more medications. Moreover, the aging process induces an increase in the rate of infections. Nevertheless, in recent studies analysing the databases of etanercept trials, the normalised incidence of adverse events, serious adverse events, medically important infections and deaths was no…
Perivascular nerve fiber α-synuclein regulates contractility of mouse aorta: A link to autonomic dysfunction in Parkinson's disease
2010
Parkinson's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders associated to changes in alpha-synuclein often result in autonomic dysfunction, most of the time accompanied by abundant expression of this synaptic protein in peripheral autonomic neurons. Given that expression of alpha-synuclein in vascular elements has been previously reported, the present study was undertaken to determine whether alpha-synuclein directly participates in the regulation of vascular responsiveness. We detected by immunohistochemistry perivascular nerve fibers containing alpha-synuclein in the aorta of mice while aortic endothelial cells and muscular fibers themselves did not exhibit detectable levels of this protein…
Synergistic effects of fluticasone propionate and salmeterol on in vitro T-cell activation and apoptosis in asthma
2004
Background In asthma T cells are characterized by an increased activation state and by reduced apoptosis. Objective Because the clinical efficacy of inhaled corticosteroids combined with long-acting β 2 -agonists has been widely demonstrated in asthma, we studied, in vitro , the effect of fluticasone propionate (FP) and salmeterol alone and in combination on the activation and apoptosis of peripheral blood T cells (PBTs), on the expression of phosphorylated nuclear factor κB inhibitor (IκBα), and on the nuclear translocation of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) in PBTs from asthmatic subjects. Methods Apoptosis was evaluated on the basis of annexin V binding, whereas the expression of caspases 8…
Estrogen regulates cytokine production and apoptosis in PMA-differentiated, macrophage-like U937 cells
2003
We have investigated the effects of sex steroids, estradiol (E2), and testosterone (T) on the synthesis of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) in phorbol-myristate-acetate (PMA)-differentiated human monoblastic U937 cells. The ability of both hormones to modulate the viability and programmed cell death of macrophage-like PMA-differentiated U937 cells was also inspected. E2 increased TNF-alpha synthesis, whereas T had no effect on the production of this cytokine. The combination of E2 and its antagonist tamoxifen or ICI-182,789 completely abolished the induction of TNF-alpha, while combination of T and its antagonist Casodex (CSDX) did not significantly affect …
Estradiol, acting through estrogen receptor alpha, restores dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase activity and nitric oxide production in oxLDL-tre…
2011
Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is an endogenous inhibitor of nitric oxide (NO) synthase. ADMA accumulation, mainly due to a decreased dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase (DDAH) activity, has been related to the development of cardiovascular diseases. We investigate whether estradiol prevents the changes induced by oxidized low density lipoprotein (oxLDL) on the DDAH/ADMA/NO pathway in human umbilical artery endothelial cells (HUAEC). HUAEC were exposed to estradiol, native LDL (nLDL), oxLDL and their combinations for 24 h. In some experiments, cells were also exposed to the unspecific estrogen receptor (ER) antagonist ICI 182780, the specific ERα antagonist MPP or specific agonists …
Validation of the Angioedema Control Test (AECT)—A Patient-Reported Outcome Instrument for Assessing Angioedema Control
2019
Background Recurrent angioedema (RA) is an important clinical problem in routine care and emergency medicine. As of recently, the only validated tools to specifically assess disease status in patients with RA were diary-type activity assessments and angioedema-related quality-of-life questionnaires. Although these tools are particularly helpful in clinical studies, they were not designed to determine disease control or to guide treatment decisions. To close this gap, the Angioedema Control Test (AECT) was published recently. Objective To test the AECT for its validity and reliability, and to identify a cutoff value to aid treatment decisions. Methods Two AECT versions with a recall period o…
International psychometric validation of the Living with Chronic Illness Scale in Spanish-speaking patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
2021
Objectives To validate the Living with Chronic Illness (LW-CI) Scale in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Design Observational, cross-sectional validation study with retest. Acceptability, reliability, precision and construct validity were tested. Setting The study took place in primary and secondary specialised units of public and private hospitals of Spain and Colombia. Participants The study included 612 patients with COPD assessed from May 2018 to May 2019. A consecutive cases sampling was done. Inclusion criteria included: (A) patients with a diagnosis of COPD; (B) native Spanish speaking; (C) able to read and understand questionnaires; and (D) able to provide…