Search results for "FRAGMENTS"
showing 10 items of 422 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 sea urchin embryo: a model to study Alzheimer's beta amyloid induced toxicity.
2009
Abstract Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia. The cause of AD is closely related to the accumulation of amyloid beta peptide in the neuritic plaques. The use of animal model systems represents a good strategy to elucidate the molecular mechanism behind the development of this pathology. Here we use the Paracentrotus lividus embryo to identify molecules and pathways that can be involved in the degenerative process. As a first step, we identified the presence of an antigen related to the human APP, called Pl APP. This antigen, after gastrula stage, is processed producing a polypeptide of about 10 kDa. By immunohistochemistry we localized the Pl APP antigen in some ser…
Structural analysis of copper(I) interaction with amyloid β peptide
2019
Abstract The N-terminal fragment of Aβ (β = beta) peptide is able to bind essential transition metal ions like, copper, zinc and iron. Metal binding usually occurs via the imidazole nitrogens of the three His residues which play a key role in the coordination chemistry. Among all the investigated systems, the interaction between copper and Amyloid β assume a biological relevance because of the interplay between the two copper oxidation states, Cu(II) and Cu(I), and their involvement in redox reactions. Both copper ions share the ability to bind Amyloid β. A huge number of investigations have demonstrated that Cu(II) anchors to the N-terminal amino and His6, His13/14 imidazole groups, while …
Angiotensin Receptor Neprilysin Inhibition Compared With Enalapril on the Risk of Clinical Progression in Surviving Patients With Heart Failure
2015
Background— Clinical trials in heart failure have focused on the improvement in symptoms or decreases in the risk of death and other cardiovascular events. Little is known about the effect of drugs on the risk of clinical deterioration in surviving patients. Methods and Results— We compared the angiotensin-neprilysin inhibitor LCZ696 (400 mg daily) with the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor enalapril (20 mg daily) in 8399 patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction in a double-blind trial. The analyses focused on prespecified measures of nonfatal clinical deterioration. In comparison with the enalapril group, fewer LCZ696-treated patients required intensification of med…
Identification of epitopes of Mycobacterium tuberculosis 16-kDa protein recognized by human leukocyte antigen-A*0201 CD8(+) T lymphocytes.
2002
CD8(+) T cells could make an important contribution to protection against tuberculosis (TB), but the antigenic determinants recognized in the context of major histocompatibility complex class I molecules remain ill defined. Our aim was to identify nonamer peptides derived from the acr/16-kDa antigen. Two immunogenic peptides (p21-29 and p120-128) were identified by their ability to elicit cytotoxic CD8(+) T cells from juvenile patients recovering from TB. Epitope-specific recognition was demonstrated by the lysis of both Mycobacterium tuberculosis-infected and peptide-pulsed macrophages, the release of cytotoxic granules, and interferon-gamma and tumor necrosis factor-alpha production. CD8(…
Efficacy and safety of bempedoic acid for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia: A systematic review and meta-analysis
2020
Background Bempedoic acid is a first-in-class lipid-lowering drug recommended by guidelines for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia. Our objective was to estimate its average effect on plasma lipids in humans and its safety profile. Methods and findings We carried out a systematic review and meta-analysis of phase II and III randomized controlled trials on bempedoic acid (PROSPERO: CRD42019129687). PubMed (Medline), Scopus, Google Scholar, and Web of Science databases were searched, with no language restriction, from inception to 5 August 2019. We included 10 RCTs (n = 3,788) comprising 26 arms (active arm [n = 2,460]; control arm [n = 1,328]). Effect sizes for changes in lipids and high-…
Amyloid-β toxicity and tau hyperphosphorylation are linked via RCAN1 in Alzheimer's disease.
2011
Amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) toxicity and tau hyperphosphorylation are hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). How their molecular relationships may affect the etiology, progression, and severity of the disease, however, has not been elucidated. We now report that incubation of foetal rat cortical neurons with Aβ up-regulates expression of the Regulator of Calcineurin gene RCAN1, and this is mediated by Aβ-induced oxidative stress. Calcineurin (PPP3CA) is a serine-threonine phosphatase that dephosphorylates tau. RCAN1 proteins inhibit this phosphatase activity of calcineurin. Increased expression of RCAN1 also causes up-regulation of glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (GSK3β), a tau kinase. Thus, incr…
Role for NK1 and NK2 receptors in the motor activity in mouse colon
2007
The present study examined the effects induced by endogenous and exogenous activation of NK(1) and NK(2) receptors on the mechanical activity of mouse proximal colon. Experiments were performed in vitro recording the changes in intraluminal pressure from isolated colonic segments. Electrical field stimulation in the presence of atropine and guanethidine produced a small relaxation, followed by nonadrenergic noncholinergic (NANC) contraction. SR140333, NK(1) receptor antagonist, or SR48968, NK(2) receptor antagonist, significantly reduced the contraction, although SR48968 appeared more efficacious. The co-administration of SR140333 and SR48968 virtually abolished the NANC contraction. [Sar(9…
Endotoxin inhibits gastric emptying in rats via a capsaicin-sensitive afferent pathway.
2001
The effects of endotoxin on gastric emptying of a solid nutrient meal and the neural mechanisms involved in such a response were investigated in conscious rats. The intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of E. coli endotoxin (40 mug/kg) significantly reduced the 4-h rate of gastric emptying of a standard solid nutrient meal. Ablation of primary afferent neurons by systemic administration of high doses of capsaicin (20+30+50 mg/kg s.c.) to adult rats did not modify the rate of gastric emptying in control animals but prevented the delay in gastric transit induced by endotoxin. Local application of capsaicin to the vagus nerve rather than application of capsaicin to the celiac ganglion signific…
On the opioid receptor subtype inhibiting the evoked release of 3H-noradrenaline from guinea-pig atria in vitro
1986
1. Guinea-pig isolated atria were incubated and loaded with 3H-(−)-noradrenaline. The intrinsic nerves were stimulated with trains of 5 or 35 field pulses (4 Hz), and the evoked efflux of 3H-noradrenaline and of total tritium was determined in the presence of atropine, corticosterone, desipramine, and phentolamine by liquid scintillation spectrometry. 2. Ethylketocyclazocine (1.4 nmol/l, IC50), MR 2033 (9.1 nmol/l), dynorphin A (1–13) (25 nmol/l, peptidase inhibitors present), etorphine (71 nmol/l), and [d-Ala2, d-Leu5]-enkephalin (>10 μmol/l, peptidase inhibitors present) inhibited the stimulation-evoked efflux of 3H-noradrenaline in a concentration-dependent manner, but not morphine up to…