Search results for "CKD"
showing 10 items of 258 documents
Cellular Prion Protein Participates in Amyloid-β Transcytosis across the Blood—Brain Barrier
2012
The blood—brain barrier (BBB) facilitates amyloid-β (Aβ) exchange between the blood and the brain. Here, we found that the cellular prion protein (PrPc), a putative receptor implicated in mediating Aβ neurotoxicity in Alzheimer's disease (AD), participates in Aβ transcytosis across the BBB. Using an in vitro BBB model, [125I]-Aβ1–40 transcytosis was reduced by genetic knockout of PrPc or after addition of a competing PrPc-specific antibody. Furthermore, we provide evidence that PrPc is expressed in endothelial cells and, that monomeric Aβ1–40 binds to PrPc. These observations provide new mechanistic insights into the role of PrPc in AD.
The role of ICOS in directing T cell responses: ICOS-dependent induction of T cell anergy by tolerogenic dendritic cells.
2009
Abstract Tolerogenic dendritic cells (DC) play an important role in maintaining peripheral T cell tolerance in steady-state conditions through induction of anergic, IL-10-producing T cells with suppressive properties. ICOS, an activation-induced member of the CD28 family on T cells, is involved in the induction of IL-10, which itself could contribute to induction of anergy and development of suppressive T cells. Therefore, we analyzed the functional role of ICOS in the differentiation process of human CD4+ T cells upon their interaction with tolerogenic DC. We compared the functional properties of CD4+ T cells from healthy volunteers and ICOS-deficient patients after stimulation with tolero…
The Fumarate/Succinate Antiporter DcuB of Escherichia coli Is a Bifunctional Protein with Sites for Regulation of DcuS-dependent Gene Expression
2008
DcuB of Escherichia coli catalyzes C4-dicarboxylate/succinate antiport during growth by fumarate respiration. The expression of genes of fumarate respiration, including the genes for DcuB (dcuB) and fumarate reductase (frdABCD) is transcriptionally activated by C4-dicarboxylates via the DcuS-DcuR two-component system, comprising the sensor kinase DcuS, which contains a periplasmic sensing domain for C4-dicarboxylates. Deletion or inactivation of dcuB caused constitutive expression of DcuS-regulated genes in the absence of C4-dicarboxylates. The effect was specific for DcuB and not observed after inactivation of the homologous DcuA or the more distantly related DcuC transporter. Random and s…
Knock-down of the oxysterol receptor LXRα impairs cholesterol efflux in human primary macrophages: lack of compensation by LXRβ activation.
2012
Liver X Receptors (LXRs) α and β are oxysterol-activated nuclear receptors involved in the control of lipid metabolism and inflammation. Pharmacological activation of LXR is promising in the treatment of atherosclerosis since it can promote cholesterol efflux from macrophages and prevent foam cell formation. However, the development of LXR agonists has been limited by undesirable side-effects such as hepatic steatosis mediated by LXRα activation. Therefore, it has been proposed that targeting LXRα activators to extrahepatic tissues or using LXRβ-specific activators could be used as alternative strategies. It is not clear whether these molecules will retain the full atheroprotective potentia…
Relation of oxidant stress with endothelial activation in hemodialysis.
2006
Introduction and Aims: Enhanced oxidative stress may be implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis in hemodialysed patients (HDs). We hypothesized that in hypertensive HDs oxidative stress should be elevated and associated to endothelial activation, and inflammation. Methods:We examined oxidative stress, as measured by 8-ISO-PGF2alpha, endothelial activation by measuring endothelin-1 (ET-1) and adhesion molecules ICAM-1 and VCAM-1, and the biomarker of acute-phase inflammation CRP. In 52 mild HDs and in 50 healthy controls (Cs) we analysed, in the interdialytic day, plasma levels of 8-ISO-PGF2alpha, ET-1, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1, and high sensitivity CRP. Results: The comparison between Cs…
The Effect of the Covid-19 Lockdown on Air Quality in Three Italian Medium-Sized Cities
2020
Despite the societal and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the lockdown measures put in place by the Italian government provided an unprecedented opportunity to increase our knowledge of the effect transportation and industry-related emissions have on the air quality in our cities. This study assessed the effect of reduced emissions during the lockdown period, due to COVID-19, on air quality in three Italian cities, Florence, Pisa, and Lucca. For this study, we compared the concentration of particulate matter PM10, PM2.5, NO2, and O3 measured during the lockdown period, with values obtained in the same period of 2019. Our results show no evidence of a direct relationship between th…
The matching effect in persuasive communication about lockdown
2022
Scientific literature about persuasion has shown that the effectiveness of persuasive communication may depend on the match between the affective or cognitive contents of the message and the affective (Need for Affect) or cognitive (Need for Cognition) orientation of the recipient. The present work aims to contribute to studying this effect by considering the context of health-related communication during the SARS-CoV-2 infection. Specifically, we aim to demonstrate that, when the message is characterized by affective and cognitive contents having the same (congruent message) or different valence (incongruent message), the attitude towards the target (i.e., a new lockdown) will be guided by…
Obesity and Outcomes in COVID-19: When an Epidemic and Pandemic Collide.
2020
Obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the United States and in much of the westernized world, contributing to considerable morbidity. Several of these obesity-related morbidities are associated with greater risk for death with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 penetrates human cells through direct binding with angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptors on the cell surface. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 expression in adipose tissue is higher than that in lung tissue, which means that adipose tissue may be vulnerable to COVID-19 infection. Obese patients also have worse outcomes with COVID-19 infection, including respiratory failure, n…
ABSENCE OF AN ASSOCIATION BETWEEN SHORT-TERM BLOOD PRESSURE VARIABILITY AND MILD RENAL DYSFUNCTION IN ESSENTIAL HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS.
2014
Introduction: Studies investigating the prognostic implications of short-term blood pressure (BP) variability (STBPV), expressed as standard deviation (SD) and assessed by noninvasive 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM), yielded conflicting results. In last years further indices of STBPV have been proposed. Among these, the 24-h BP average real variability (ARV) seems to be associated with an increased cardiovascular risk more closely than the SD. Little is known about the association between mild renal dysfunction (MRD) and STBPV, and particularly between 24-h BP ARV and MRD. Aim: To analyse, in a group of essential hypertensives, the relationships between MRD and STBPV, expressed as SD o…
A Wnt-specific astacin proteinase controls head formation inHydra
2020
AbstractTheHydrahead organizer acts as a signaling center that initiates and maintains the primary body axis in steady state polyps and during budding or regeneration. Wnt/beta-Catenin signaling functions as a primary cue controlling this process, but how Wnt ligand activity is locally restricted at the protein level is poorly understood.Here we report the identification of an astacin family proteinase as a Wnt processing factor.Hydraastacin-7 (HAS-7) is expressed from gland cells as an apical-distal gradient in the body column, peaking close beneath the tentacle zone.HAS-7siRNA knockdown abrogates HyWnt3 proteolysis in the head tissue and induces a robust double axis phenotype, which is re…