Search results for "Animal"
showing 10 items of 22159 documents
Metabotropic glutamate receptors activate phospholipase D in astrocytes through a protein kinase C-dependent and Rho-independent pathway.
2003
Metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) are G protein-coupled receptors that mediate phospholipase D (PLD) activation in brain, but the mechanism underlying this response remains unclear. Here we used primary cultures of astrocytes as a cell model to explore the mechanism that links mGluRs to PLD. Glutamate activated both phospholipase C (PLC) and PLD with equal potency and this effect was mimicked by L-cysteinesulfinic acid, a putative neurotransmitter previously shown to activate mGluRs coupled to PLD, but not PLC, in adult brain. PLD activation by glutamate was dependent on Ca(2+) mobilization and fully blocked by both protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors and PKC down-regulation, suggesti…
A novel microtubule de-stabilizing complementarity-determining region C36L1 peptide displays antitumor activity against melanoma in vitro and in vivo
2015
AbstractShort peptide sequences from complementarity-determining regions (CDRs) of different immunoglobulins may exert anti-infective, immunomodulatory and antitumor activities regardless of the specificity of the original monoclonal antibody (mAb). In this sense, they resemble early molecules of innate immunity. C36L1 was identified as a bioactive light-chain CDR1 peptide by screening 19 conserved CDR sequences targeting murine B16F10-Nex2 melanoma. The 17-amino acid peptide is readily taken up by melanoma cells and acts on microtubules causing depolymerization, stress of the endoplasmic reticulum and intrinsic apoptosis. At low concentrations, C36L1 inhibited migration, invasion and proli…
Rho GTPases: Promising Cellular Targets for Novel Anticancer Drugs
2006
Ras-homologous (Rho) GTPases play a pivotal role in the regulation of numerous cellular functions associated with malignant transformation and metastasis. Rho GTPases are localized at membranes and become activated upon stimulation of cell surface receptors. In their GTP-bound (=active) state, Rho proteins bind to effector proteins, thereby triggering specific cellular responses. Members of the Rho family of small GTPases are key regulators of actin reorganization, cell motility, cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) adhesion as well as of cell cycle progression, gene expression and apoptosis. Each of these functions is of importance for the development and progression of cancer. Fu…
Inhibition of Protein Isoprenylation Impairs Rho-Regulated Early Cellular Response to Genotoxic Stress
2000
Activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs) and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) are early cellular responses to genotoxic stress involved in the regulation of gene expression. Pretreatment of cells with the hydroxymethyl glutaryl-CoA reductase inhibitor lovastatin blocked stimulation of JNK1 activity by UV irradiation and by treatment with the alkylating compound methyl methanesulfonate but did not affect activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 2 by UV light. Lovastatin also attenuated UV-induced degradation of the NF-kappaB inhibitor IkappaBalpha. The effects of lovastatin on UV-triggered stimulation of JNK1 as well as on IkappaBalpha degradation were reverted by cotreatmen…
Chronic ethanol exposure alters the levels, assembly, and cellular organization of the actin cytoskeleton and microtubules in hippocampal neurons in …
2010
The organization and dynamics of microtubules (MTs) and the actin cytoskeleton are critical for the correct development and functions of neurons, including intracellular traffic and signaling. In vitro ethanol exposure impairs endocytosis, exocytosis, and nucleocytoplasmic traffic in astrocytes and alters endocytosis in cultured neurons. In astrocytes, these effects relate to changes in the organization and/or function of MTs and the actin cytoskeleton. To evaluate this possibility in hippocampal cultured neurons, we analyzed if chronic ethanol exposure affects the levels, assembly, and cellular organization of both cytoskeleton elements and the possible underlying mechanisms of these effec…
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…
Detection of natural killer T cells in mice infected with Rickettsia conorii.
2013
Little information is available regarding the role of natural killer T (NKT) cells during the early stage of Rickettsia conorii infection. Herein, C3H/HeN mice were infected with the Malish 7 strain of R. conorii. Splenocytes from these mice were analysed in the early stage of the infection by flow cytometry and compared with uninfected controls. Our results showed an increase in NKT cells in infected mice. Additionally, NKT interleukin (IL)-17(+) cells increased three days after infection, together with a concurrent decrease in the relative amount of NKT interferon (IFN)-γ(+) cells. We also confirmed a higher amount of NK IFN-γ(+) cells in infected mice. Taken together, our data showed tha…
Nitrate and nitrite in the diet: How to assess their benefit and risk for human health
2015
Nitrate is a natural constituent of the human diet and an approved food additive. It can be partially converted to nitrogen monoxide, which induces vasodilation and thereby decreases blood pressure. This effect is associated with a reduced risk regarding cardiovascular disease, myocardial infarction, and stroke. Moreover, dietary nitrate has been associated with beneficial effects in patients with gastric ulcer, renal failure, or metabolic syndrome. Recent studies indicate that such beneficial health effects due to dietary nitrate may be achievable at intake levels resulting from the daily consumption of nitrate-rich vegetables. N-nitroso compounds are endogenously formed in humans. However…
Risk map of transmission of urogenital schistosomiasis by Bulinus truncatus (Audouin, 1827) (Mollusca Gastropoda, Bulinidae) in Spain and Portugal
2019
Mapa del riesgo de contraer schistosomiasis urogenital provocada por Bulinus truncatus (Audouin, 1827) (Mollusca Gastropoda, Bulinidae) en España y Portugal Se da a conocer el mapa de la distribución geográfica de Bulinus truncatus en España y Portugal en el que se recopilan las localidades históricas y actuales, que coincide con el mapa del riesgo de contraer schistosomiasis urogenital provocada por este caracol de agua dulce. Se revisan las muestras de esta especie depositadas en el Museu de Ciències Naturals de Barcelona y en el Museo de Ciencias Naturales de Madrid, así como datos propios, incluidas algunas aportaciones inéditas. Este mapa permitirá conocer el área óptima de esta especi…
A Family Meal as Fiction
2020
Stacie Friend's theory of fiction departs from those ap- proaches that seek to identify the necessary and sufficient conditions for a work to count as fiction. She argues that this goal cannot really be achieved; instead, she appeals to the notion of genre to distinguish between fiction and nonfiction. This notion is significantly more flex- ible, since it invites us to identify standard¿but not necessary¿and counter-standard features of works of fiction in light of our classifi- catory practices. More specifically, Friend argues that the genre of fiction has the genre of nonfiction¿and only that genre¿as its con- trast class. I will refer to the particular way in which Friend elabo- rates …