Search results for "Calcium in biology"

2019

The P-STS human ileal neuroendocrine tumor cells, as a model for gut enterochromaffin cells, are strongly and synergistically activated by histamine plus acetylcholine (ACh), presumably via histamine 4 receptors, and weakly activated by histamine alone. Sensing these signals, enterochromaffin cells could participate in intestinal intolerance or allergic reactions to food constituents associated with elevated histamine levels. In this study we aimed to analyze the underlying molecular mechanisms. Inhibition by mepyramine and mibefradil indicated that histamine alone caused a rise in intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) via histamine 1 receptors involving T-type voltage-gated calciu…

Crude oil exposures reveal roles for intracellular calcium cycling in haddock craniofacial and cardiac development.

2016

AbstractRecent studies have shown that crude oil exposure affects cardiac development in fish by disrupting excitation-contraction (EC) coupling. We previously found that eggs of Atlantic haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) bind dispersed oil droplets, potentially leading to more profound toxic effects from uptake of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Using lower concentrations of dispersed crude oil (0.7–7 μg/L ∑PAH), here we exposed a broader range of developmental stages over both short and prolonged durations. We quantified effects on cardiac function and morphogenesis, characterized novel craniofacial defects, and examined the expression of genes encoding potential targets underly…

DHA induces Jurkat T-cell arrest in G2/M phase of cell cycle and modulates the plasma membrane expression of TRPC3/6 channels.

2021

Abstract We investigated whether docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a dietary n-3 fatty acid, modulates calcium (Ca2+) signaling and cell cycle progression in human Jurkat T-cells. Our study demonstrates that DHA inhibited Jurkat T-cell cycle progression by blocking their passage from S phase to G2/M phase. In addition, DHA decreased the plasma membrane expression of TRPC3 and TRPC6 calcium channels during T-cell proliferation. Interestingly, this fatty acid increased plasma membrane expression of TRPC6 after 24 h of mitogenic stimulation by phorbol-13-myristate-12-acetate (PMA) and ionomycin. These variations in the membrane expression of TRPC3 and TRPC6 channels were not directly correlated with…

Leaf and Root Extracts from Campomanesia adamantium (Myrtaceae) Promote Apoptotic Death of Leukemic Cells via Activation of Intracellular Calcium and…

2017

Phytochemical studies are seeking new alternatives to prevent or treat cancer, including different types of leukemias. Campomanesia adamantium, commonly known as guavira or guabiroba, exhibits pharmacological properties including antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antiproliferative activities. Considering the anticancer potential of this plant species, the aim of this study was to evaluate the antileukemic activity and the chemical composition of aqueous extracts from the leaves (AECL) and roots (AECR) of C. adamantium and their possible mechanisms of action. The extracts were analyzed by LC-DAD-MS, and their constituents were identified based on the UV, MS, and MS/MS data. The AECL and AECR s…

Dimethyl fumarate alters intracellular Ca2+ handling in immune cells by redox-mediated pleiotropic effects

2019

Dimethyl fumarate (DMF) is widely used to treat the human autoimmune diseases multiple sclerosis (MS) and psoriasis. DMF causes short-term oxidative stress and activates the antioxidant response via the transcription factor Nrf2 but its immunosuppressive effect is not well understood. Immune cell activation depends on calcium signaling which itself is influenced by the cellular redox state. We therefore measured calcium, reactive oxygen species levels and glutathione content in lymphocytes from immunized mice before onset of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from MS patients treated with DMF, and in mouse splenocytes treated ex vivo with DMF. T…

Photocatalytic Activity of Polymer Nanoparticles Modulates Intracellular Calcium Dynamics and Reactive Oxygen Species in HEK-293 Cells

2018

Optical modulation of living cells activity by light-absorbing exogenous materials is gaining increasing interest, due to the possibility both to achieve high spatial and temporal resolution with a minimally invasive and reversible technique and to avoid the need of viral transfection with light-sensitive proteins. In this context, conjugated polymers represent ideal candidates for photo-transduction, due to their excellent optoelectronic and biocompatibility properties. In this work, we demonstrate that organic polymer nanoparticles, based on poly(3-hexylthiophene) conjugated polymer, establish a functional interaction with an in vitro cell model (Human Embryonic Kidney cells, HEK-293). Th…

More than a pore: How voltage-gated calcium channels act on different levels of neuronal communication regulation.

2021

ABSTRACT Voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs) represent key regulators of the calcium influx through the plasma membrane of excitable cells, like neurons. Activated by the depolarization of the membrane, the opening of VGCCs induces very transient and local changes in the intracellular calcium concentration, known as calcium nanodomains, that in turn trigger calcium-dependent signaling cascades and the release of chemical neurotransmitters. Based on their central importance as concierges of excitation-secretion coupling and therefore neuronal communication, VGCCs have been studied in multiple aspects of neuronal function and malfunction. However, studies on molecular interaction partners …

Hawthorn extract inhibits human isolated neutrophil functions.

2008

Hawthorn extract is a popular herbal medicine given as adjunctive treatment for chronic heart failure. In contrast to the cardiac properties of hawthorn extract, its anti-inflammatory effect has been scarcely investigated. This study examines the effects of a dry extract of leaves and flowers of Crataegus laevigata on various functional outputs of human neutrophils in vitro. Incubation of human neutrophils obtained from peripheral blood of healthy donors with C. laevigata extract (0.75-250 microg/ml) inhibited N-formyl-Met-Leu-Phe (FMLP)-induced superoxide anion generation, elastase release and chemotactic migration with potency values of 43.6, 21.9, and 31.6 microg/ml, respectively. By con…

The Interaction of Buccal Mucosal Epithelial Cells with E. coli Bacteria Enhances the Intraepithelial Calcium Flux and the Release of Prostaglandin E…

1999

Mucosal epithelial cells contribute significantly to host defense mechanisms. Uroepithelial cells (UEC) from healthy donors suppress bacterial growth in vitro. Bacterial adherence to UEC has been shown to be a prerequisite. Similar results have been shown for buccal epithelial cells (BEC). The host response triggered by the host-parasite interaction seems to involve signal transduction and intracellular activation of second messengers. In this study the intraepithelial calcium flux was analyzed in individual BEC after bacterial contact. BEC were derived from scrapes of the buccal mucosa and labelled with fluo-3 (a calcium indicator). Thereafter the cells were analyzed immediately with a FAC…

Relaxation by β3-adrenoceptor agonists of the isolated human internal anal sphincter

2009

In this study, responses of beta(3)-adrenoceptor agonists were examined on human isolated internal anal sphincter (IAS) in order to explore their relaxant effects on hypertonicity of IAS.The relaxant efficacy (E(max)) and potency (-logIC(50)) of BRL37344 and SR58611A, beta(3)-adrenoceptor agonists, were examined in contracted IAS muscle strips. The presence of beta(3)-adrenoceptors, and changes in intracellular calcium and cyclic nucleotide levels in IAS muscle were tested by Western blotting, epifluorescence microscopy and enzyme immunoassay, respectively.BRL37344 and SR58611A relaxed contracted IAS muscle (E(max)=27+/-3% and 35+/-3%; -logIC(50)=6.26+/-0.24 and 4.87+/-0.13; respectively). …