Search results for "Biochemistry"
showing 10 items of 20172 documents
Metalloprotease meprin beta generates nontoxic N-terminal amyloid precursor protein fragments in vivo.
2011
Identification of physiologically relevant substrates is still the most challenging part in protease research for understanding the biological activity of these enzymes. The zinc-dependent metalloprotease meprin β is known to be expressed in many tissues with functions in health and disease. Here, we demonstrate unique interactions between meprin β and the amyloid precursor protein (APP). Although APP is intensively studied as a ubiquitously expressed cell surface protein, which is involved in Alzheimer disease, its precise physiological role and relevance remain elusive. Based on a novel proteomics technique termed terminal amine isotopic labeling of substrates (TAILS), APP was identified …
Heat shock protein expression and anti-heat shock protein reactivity in renal cell carcinoma.
2002
Heat shock proteins (HSP) are families of highly conserved proteins which are induced in cells and tissues upon exposure to extreme conditions causing acute or chronic stress. They exhibit distinct functions and have been implicated in the pathogenesis of a number of diseases, including cancer. A causal relationship between HSP expression and immunogenicity has been demonstrated in murine and human tumors and is also associated with the immune response. In order to investigate the correlation of HSP expression and their immunogenic potential in renal cell carcinoma (RCC), we here analyzed (i) the protein expression profile of various members of the HSP family in untreated and interferon (IF…
Synthesis of biotin-labelled dexamethasone derivatives. Novel hormone-affinity probes.
1983
A new, general methodology for 'sandwich' affinity chromatography of steroid hormone receptors is proposed, the part purification of the human spleen tumor glucocorticoid receptor is quoted as an illustration. 9-Fluoro-16 alpha-methyl-11 beta, 17-dihydroxy-1,4-androstadiene-3-one-17 beta-carboxylic acid was coupled to biotin using pentamethylenediamine (BioDex 1) as a spacer. The bifunctional derivative binds to glucocorticoid receptors and avidin-Sepharose and efficiently protects the glucocorticoid receptor against inactivation when previously added during homogenisation. We have standardized the capacity and optimum conditions for elution of receptor-BioDex-1 complexes which are bound to…
Novel Combination of Sorafenib and Celecoxib Provides Synergistic Anti-Proliferative and Pro-Apoptotic Effects in Human Liver Cancer Cells
2013
Molecular targeted therapy has shown promise as a treatment for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Sorafenib, a multikinase inhibitor, recently received FDA approval for the treatment of advanced HCC. However, although sorafenib is well tolerated, concern for its safety has been expressed. Celecoxib (Celebrex®) is a selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor which exhibits antitumor effects in human HCC cells. The present study examined the interaction between celecoxib and sorafenib in two human liver tumor cell lines HepG2 and Huh7. Our data showed that each inhibitor alone reduced cell growth and the combination of celecoxib with sorafenib synergistically inhibited cell growth an…
Recombinant Human Single Chain Fv Antibodies Recognizing Human Interleukin-6
1998
A human antibody library was displayed on the surface of filamentous bacteriophage and screened for binding to human interleukin-6 (IL-6). Two antibody-bearing phages were selected that bound IL-6. The complementary-determining region 3 loops of the variable heavy chains of these two antibodies differed in length and sequence and recognized two distinct epitopes. One of the single chain Fv fragments isolated (H1) was found to bind human (but not murine) IL-6 with an affinity comparable to that of the human IL-6 receptor. H1 also recognized newly synthesized human IL-6 intracellularly, as shown by indirect immunofluorescence. H1 did not neutralize human IL-6, and the H1 epitope was mapped to…
Immunologic microenvironment and personalized treatment in multiple myeloma.
2013
Introduction: Multiple myeloma (MM) is characterized by generalized immune suppression and increased susceptibility to infections and secondary malignancies. Malignant plasma cells (PCs) modulate the bone marrow microenvironment to favor their own survival and proliferation. These events lead to a severe deregulation of immune effectors. Extensive studies have been conducted to unveil the mechanisms through which MM cells negatively modulate immunity and to develop therapeutical approaches for restoring an efficient anti-MM immune response. Areas covered: This review article covers both the immunosuppressive effects exerted by MM and the immunomodulatory potential of novel anti-MM agents. A…
Stability of Cannabinoids in Hair Samples Exposed to Sunlight
2000
It has been well recognized that hashish and marihuana lose potency during storage because of a decrease in the content of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is the major psychoactive constituent of cannabis (1). The effect of oxygen on stored plant and resin materials or solutions of pure cannabinoids seems much less significant than that of higher temperatures (≥37 °C) or light (2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7). A few data are available on the stability of THC and major metabolites in blood (8)(9)(10)(11). However, the stability of cannabinoids in the hair shaft has not been addressed, although scalp hair represents one of the most exposed parts of the body. Therefore, a study was performed to elucidate …
Monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of non-haematological tumours: update of an expanding scenario.
2015
Abstract: Introduction: The identification of cell membrane-bound molecules with a relevant role in cancer cell survival prompted the development of moAbs to block the related pathways. In the last few years, the number of approved moAbs for cancer treatment has constantly increased. Many of these drugs significantly improved the survival outcomes in patients with solid tumours. Areas covered: In this review, all the FDA-approved moAbs in solid tumours have been described. This is an update of moAbs available for cancer treatment nowadays in comparison with the moAbs approved until few years ago. The moAbs under development are also discussed here. Expert opinion: The research on cancer ant…
Enantioselective determination of plasma protein binding of common amphetamine-type stimulants.
2021
Amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) like amphetamine ('speed'), methamphetamine ('crystal meth') and 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine (MDMA, 'ecstasy') represent some of the most frequently abused drugs worldwide. Another less frequently abused ATS is 4-fluoroamphetamine (4-FA). The enantiomers of these four compounds exhibit different pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties. According to the free drug theory, the pharmacological properties of a substance are dependent on its plasma protein binding (PPB). However, data on PPB of stimulant enantiomers in humans are rare or non-existent. Human plasma samples were spiked with racemic mixtures of the stimulants and subjected to ultra…
Optimized culture conditions for tissue explants of uterine leiomyoma
2012
Background Uterine leiomyomas are the most common benign tumours in women, which arise from smooth muscle cells of the uterine myometrium and usually are multicentric. In spite of their frequency pathogenesis is widely unknown, mainly due to the absence of a suitable model system. We describe the systematic optimization of culturing leiomyoma tissue explants in an economical and effective ex vivo system. Methods Different concentrations of oxygen, different media, sera, hormones, and growth factor supplements were tested. Immunohistochemical stainings with antibodies against hormone receptors as well as specifying proliferation and apoptotic indices and real-time PCR were performed. Results…