Search results for "DAS"
showing 10 items of 4164 documents
A common precursor for glia and neurons in the embryonic CNS of Drosophila gives rise to segment-specific lineage variants
1993
ABSTRACT The nervous system consists of two classes of cells, neurons and glia, which differ in morphology and function. They derive from precursors located in the neurogenic region of the ectoderm. In this study, we present the complete embryonic lineage of a neuroectodermal precursor in Drosophila that gives rise to neurons as well as glia in the abdominal CNS. This lineage is conserved among different Drosophila species. We show that neuronal and glial cell types in this clone derive from one segregating precursor, previously described as NB1-1. Thus, in addition to neuroblasts and glioblasts, there exists a third class of CNS precursors in Drosophila, which we call neuroglioblasts. We f…
Production of ceramides causes apoptosis during early neural differentiation in vitro.
2000
To investigate signal transduction pathways leading to apoptosis during the early phase of neurogenesis, we employed PCC7-Mz1 cells, which cease to proliferate and begin to differentiate into a stable pattern of neurons, astroglial cells, and fibroblasts upon incubation with retinoic acid (RA). As part of lineage determination, a sizable fraction of RA-treated cultures die by apoptosis. Applying natural long-chain C(16)-ceramides as well as membrane-permeable C(2)/C(6)-ceramide analogs caused apoptosis, whereas the biologically nonactive C(2)-dihydroceramide did not. Treating PCC7-Mz1 stem cells with a neutral sphingomyelinase or with the ceramidase inhibitor N-oleoylethanolamine elevated t…
Streptolysin O-permeabilized granulocytes shed L-selectin concomitantly with ceramide generation via neutral sphingomyelinase
2000
Abstract Cleavage of membrane-associated L-selectin regulates leukocyte rolling on vascular endothelium at sites of inflammation. We report that rapid and massive shedding of L-selectin occurs from granulocytes attacked by the pore-forming bacterial toxin streptolysin O (SLO). Shedding was not induced by an SLO mutant that retained binding capacity but lacked pore-forming activity. Cells permeabilized with SLO exhibited a 1.5-fold increase in the activity of neutral sphingomyelinase, which was accompanied by increased ceramide formation. L-selectin cleavage was inducible by treatment of cells with bacterial sphingomyelinase, and also through exogenous application of a cell-permeable ceramid…
The GABAergic system of the dorsal cortex of lizards: a combined HRP-GABA immunohistochemistry study.
1990
Abstract γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA)-like immunoreactive (GABA-LI) neurons were found throughout the mediolateral and rostrocaudal axis of the dorsal cortex. They were horizontal, vertical and multipolar cells, mainly distributed in layers 1 and 3. GABA-LI boutons were diffusely distributed in layers 1 and 3, as well as forming basket-like images around layer 2 pyramidal perikarya. Double labelling experiments indicate that GABA-LI cells are an origin of and a target for rostrocaudal intrinsic projections within the dorsal cortex.
Phenylsulphonyl urenyl chalcone derivatives as dual inhibitors of cyclo-oxygenase-2 and 5-lipoxygenase
2005
Two series of phenylsulphonyl urenyl chalcone derivatives (UCH) with various patterns of substitution were tested for their effects on nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) overproduction in RAW 264.7 macrophages. None of the tested compounds reduced NO production more than 50% at 10 microM but most of them inhibited the generation of PGE2 with IC50 values under the micromolar range. Me-UCH 1, Me-UCH 5, Me-UCH 9, Cl-UCH 1, and Cl-UCH 9 were selected to evaluate their influence on human leukocyte functions and eicosanoids generation. These derivatives selectively inhibited cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2) activity in human monocytes being Me-UCH 5 the most potent (IC50 0.06 microM). Selecte…
Nuevo registro y caracterización molecular de la tortuga verde Chelonia mydas (Testudines, Cheloniidae) en las aguas costeras sicilianas
2017
A juvenile specimen of the Green Turtle, Chelonia mydas, was recovered in Sicilian coastal waters close to Avola (Syracuse province, south-eastern Sicily, Italy). Before being released, the specimen was measured and inspected for the presence of ingested hooks or other possible harms to its health. A fragment of the mtDNA marker COI was amplified and sequenced in order to provide the first molecular data for the species from the central Mediterranean area. The possible influence of climate change on the occurrence of this thermophilic species in the central Mediterranean area is briefly discussed.
A new record and molecular characterization of the Green Turtle Chelonia mydas (Testudines, Cheloniidae) in Sicilian coastal waters
2017
A juvenile specimen of the Green Turtle, Chelonia mydas, was recovered in Sicilian coastal waters close to Avola (Syracuse province, south-eastern Sicily, Italy). Before being released, the specimen was measured and inspected for the presence of ingested hooks or other possible harms to its health. A fragment of the mtDNA marker COI was amplified and sequenced in order to provide the first molecular data for the species from the central Mediterranean area. The possible influence of climate change on the occurrence of this thermophilic species in the central Mediterranean area is briefly discussed.
Use of Nanomaterials as Alternative for Controlling Enzymatic Browning in Fruit Juices
2020
Abstract Polyphenol oxidase (PPO) enzyme, present in most of fruits and vegetables, frequently induces browning in juices and beverages during postharvest and processing. Many efforts have been done to prevent or avoid this reaction. Nevertheless, the development of new methods is still of interest since many of the current methods present important drawbacks. An overview of the exiting techniques to inhibit enzymatic browning has been compiled in this chapter, including physical (i.e., thermal treatments, high pressures, irradiation, ultrasonication, pulsed electric fields, and ultrafiltration) and chemical techniques (acidification, addition of antibrowning agents) but with particular att…
Dual effects of increased glycogen synthase kinase-3β activity on adult neurogenesis
2013
Adult neurogenesis, the generation of new neurons during the adulthood, is a process controlled by several kinases and phosphatases among which GSK3β exerts important functions. This protein is particularly abundant in the central nervous system, and its activity deregulation is believed to play a key role in chronic disorders such as Alzheimer's disease. Previously, we reported that in vivo overexpression of GSK3β (Tet/GSK3β mice) causes alterations in adult neurogenesis, leading to a depletion of the neurogenic niches. Here, we have further characterized those alterations, finding a delay in the switching-off of doublecortin marker as well as changes in the survival and death rates of imm…
Inhibitory effects of N-acetylcysteine on the functional responses of human eosinophils in vitro
2007
Background Oxidative stress appears to be relevant in the pathogenesis of inflammation in allergic diseases like bronchial asthma. Eosinophils are oxidant-sensitive cells considered as key effectors in allergic inflammation. Objective The aim of this work was to study the effects of the clinically used antioxidant N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) on the functional responses of human-isolated eosinophils. Methods Human eosinophils were purified from the blood of healthy donors by a magnetic bead separation system. The effects of NAC were investigated on the generation of reactive oxygen species (chemiluminescence and flow cytometry), Ca2+ signal (fluorimetry), intracellular glutathione (GSH; flow c…