Search results for "CALCIUM"
showing 10 items of 1740 documents
Absence of correlation between oxysterol accumulation in lipid raft microdomains, calcium increase, and apoptosis induction on 158N murine oligodendr…
2013
There is some evidence that oxidized derivatives of cholesterol, 7-ketocholesterol (7KC) and 7β-hydroxycholesterol (7βOHC), are increased in the plasma of patients with neurodegenerative diseases associated with demyelinization of the central nervous system (CNS). It was therefore of interest to investigate the effects of these oxysterols on oligodendrocytes, the myelin-forming cells in the CNS. To this end, 158N murine oligodendrocytes were treated with 7KC or 7βOHC inducing an apoptotic mode of cell death characterized by condensation/fragmentation of the nuclei, dephosphorylation of Akt and GSK3, mitochondrial depolarization involving Mcl-1, and caspase-3 activation. In contrast, under t…
Optogenetically Controlled Activity Pattern Determines Survival Rate of Developing Neocortical Neurons
2021
A substantial proportion of neurons undergoes programmed cell death (apoptosis) during early development. This process is attenuated by increased levels of neuronal activity and enhanced by suppression of activity. To uncover whether the mere level of activity or also the temporal structure of electrical activity affects neuronal death rates, we optogenetically controlled spontaneous activity of synaptically-isolated neurons in developing cortical cultures. Our results demonstrate that action potential firing of primary cortical neurons promotes neuronal survival throughout development. Chronic patterned optogenetic stimulation allowed to effectively modulate the firing pattern of single ne…
Calcium in plant defence‐signalling pathways
2006
In plant cells, the calcium ion is a ubiquitous intracellular second messenger involved in numerous signalling pathways. Variations in the cytosolic concentration of Ca2+ ([Ca2+]cyt) couple a large array of signals and responses. Here we concentrate on calcium signalling in plant defence responses, particularly on the generation of the calcium signal and downstream calcium-dependent events participating in the establishment of defence responses with special reference to calcium-binding proteins.
Bax inhibitor-1 is likely a pH-sensitive calcium leak channel, not a H+/Ca2+ exchanger.
2014
The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) plays a key role in the synthesis, folding, and sorting of proteins, and disturbances of this delicate system can cause cell death. The ER also serves as the major intracellular calcium (Ca(2+)) store, and release of Ca(2+) from this store controls diverse cellular functions. At the interface of both these functions of the ER is Bax inhibitor-1 (BI-1), an evolutionarily conserved multifunctional protein that mediates Ca(2+) efflux from the ER and protects against ER stress. Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain how BI-1 might mediate Ca(2+) efflux from the ER. Chang et al. present structural evidence that a bacterial homolog of BI-1, BsYetJ, is a pH…
Phytochemical indicaxanthin suppresses 7-ketocholesterol-induced THP-1 cell apoptosis by preventing cytosolic Ca(2+) increase and oxidative stress.
2012
7-Ketocholesterol (7-KC)-induced apoptosis of macrophages is considered a key event in the development of human atheromas. In the present study, the effect of indicaxanthin (Ind), a bioactive pigment from cactus pear fruit, on 7-KC-induced apoptosis of human monocyte/macrophage THP-1 cells was investigated. A pathophysiological condition was simulated by using amounts of 7-KC that can be reached in human atheromatous plaque. Ind was assayed within a micromolar concentration range, consistent with its plasma level after dietary supplementation with cactus pear fruit. Pro-apoptotic effects of 7-KC were assessed by cell cycle arrest, exposure of phosphatidylserine at the plasma membrane, varia…
Effect of flupirtine on cell death of human umbilical vein endothelial cells induced by reactive oxygen species.
1999
Abstract Flupirtine (KATADOLON®), known as a nonopiate centrally acting analgesic drug, was tested as to its potential to prevent apoptosis of human endothelial cells induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS). It was found that Flupirtine displayed no effect on viability and cell proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) up to a concentration of 10 μg/mL. Apoptosis, induced by ROS and generated by hypoxanthine/xanthine oxidase (EC 1.1.3.22) (HX/XOD) or t-butyl hydroperoxide, was reduced after preincubation with Flupirtine for 3 hr by 35% and 41%, respectively. The maximal cytoprotective effect against apoptosis was observed at a drug concentration of 1 to 3 μg/mL. Flow …
Highlighting Curcumin-Induced Crosstalk between Autophagy and Apoptosis as Supported by Its Specific Subcellular Localization
2020
Curcumin, a major active component of turmeric (Curcuma longa, L.), is known to have various effects on both healthy and cancerous tissues. In vitro studies suggest that curcumin inhibits cancer cell growth by activating apoptosis, but the mechanism underlying the anticancer effect of curcumin is still unclear. Since there is a recent consensus about endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress being involved in the cytotoxicity of natural compounds, we have investigated using Image flow cytometry the mechanistic aspects of curcumin&rsquo
Assessment of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and the Unfolded Protein Response in Endothelial Cells
2011
In the vascular wall, the most inner cell layer that separates the blood from organelles is comprised of only a single layer of endothelial cells (ECs). This cell type is fundamental to a large variety of processes, ranging from blood coagulation and interaction with inflammatory cells to cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and atherosclerosis. Dysfunction of ECs is often causally linked to these processes such that research exploring such events attracted much attention. Damage of ECs and subsequent disruption of the intact endothelial barrier can result not only from oxidative stress, but also from conditions that stress the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and induce a sign…
Insights into functional aspects of centrins from the structure of N-terminally extended mouse centrin 1
2006
AbstractCentrins are members of the family of Ca2+-binding EF-hand proteins. In photoreceptor cells, centrin isoform 1 is specifically localized in the non-motile cilium. This connecting cilium links the light-sensitive outer segment with the biosynthetic active inner segment of the photoreceptor cell. All intracellular exchanges between these compartments have to occur through this cilium. Three-dimensional structures of centrins from diverse organisms are known, showing that the EF-hand motifs of the N-terminal domains adopt closed conformations, while the C-terminal EF-hand motifs have open conformations. The crystal structure of an N-terminally extended mouse centrin 1 (MmCen1-L) resemb…
Nucleation and Growth of CaCO3 Mediated by the Egg-White Protein Ovalbumin: A Time-Resolved in situ Study Using Small-Angle Neutron Scattering
2008
Mineralization of calcium carbonate in aqueous solutions starting from its initiation was studied by time-resolved small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). SANS revealed that homogeneous crystallization of CaCO 3 involves an initial formation of thin plate-shaped nuclei which subsequently reassemble to 3-dimensional particles, first of fractal and finally of compact structure. The presence of the egg-white protein ovalbumin leads to a different progression of mineralization through several stages; the first step represents amorphous CaCO 3, whereas the other phases are crystalline. The formation and dissolution of the amorphous phase is accompanied by Ca (2+)-mediated unfolding and cross-link…