Search results for "Prague"
showing 10 items of 652 documents
Synergistic effects of neurons and astrocytes on the differentiation of brain capillary endothelial cells in culture
2003
Brain capillary endothelial cells form a functional barrier between blood and brain, based on the existence of tight junctions that limit paracellular permeability. Occludin is one of the major transmembrane proteins of tight junctions and its peripheral localization gives indication of tight junction formation. We previously reported that RBE4.B cells (brain capillary endothelial cells), cultured on collagen IV, synthesize occludin and correctly localize it at the cell periphery only when cocultured with neurons. In the present study, we describe a three-cell type-culture system that allowed us to analyze the combined effects of neurons and astrocytes on differentiation of brain capillary …
Inhibition of HSP27 blocks fibrosis development and EMT features by promoting Snail degradation
2013
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a devastating disease characterized by myofibroblast proliferation. Transition of epithelial/mesothelial cells into myofibroblasts [epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT)] occurs under the influence of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, with Snail being a major transcription factor. We study here the role of the heat-shock protein HSP27 in fibrogenesis and EMT. In vitro, we have up- and down-modulated HSP27 expression in mesothelial and epithelial cell lines and studied the expression of different EMT markers induced by TGF-β1. In vivo, we inhibited HSP27 with the antisense oligonucleotide OGX-427 (in phase II clinical trials as anticancer agent)…
'TRPing' synaptic ribbon function in the rat pineal gland: neuroendocrine regulation involves the capsaicin receptor TRPV1.
2009
Synaptic ribbons (SRs) are presynaptic structures thought to regulate and facilitate multivesicular release. In the pineal gland, they display a circadian rhythm with higher levels at night paralleling melatonin synthesis. To gain more insight into the processes involved and the possible functions of these structures, a series of experiments were conducted in rodents. We studied the regional distribution of a molecular marker of pineal SRs, the kinesin motor KIF3A in the gland. Respective immunoreactivity was abundant in central regions of the gland where sympathetic fibers were less dense, and vice versa, revealing that intercellular communication between adjacent pinealocytes is enhanced …
Arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase gene expression in retina and pineal gland of rats under various photoperiods
2004
Abstract The present study examines how the circadian oscillators in the retina and the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) respond to changes in photoperiod. ArylalkylamineN-acetyltransferase (aa-nat) gene expression studied by quantitative RT-PCR revealed that in adult Sprague–Dawley rats kept under different light–dark (LD) cycles for two weeks the temporal pattern of AA-NAT mRNA expression was identical in retina and pineal gland. In both tissues, the time span between the onset of darkness and the nocturnal rise in AA-NAT mRNA expression was 3 h under LD 20:4, 6 h under LD 12:12, and 15 h under LD 4:20. As aa-nat expression in the pineal gland is regulated by the circadian oscillator in SCN,…
Aligned microcontact printing of biomolecules on microelectronic device surfaces
2001
Microcontact printing (/spl mu/CP) of extracellular matrix proteins is a fascinating approach to control cell positioning and outgrowth, which is essential in the development of applications ranging from cellular biosensors to tissue engineering. Microelectronic devices can be used to detect the activity from a large number of recording sites over the long term. However, signals from cells can only be recorded at small sensitive spots. Here, the authors present an innovative setup to perform aligned /spl mu/CP of extracellular matrix proteins on microelectronic devices in order to guide the growth of electrogenic cells specifically to these sensitive spots. The authors' system is based on t…
Light-dependent CK2-mediated phosphorylation of centrins regulates complex formation with visual G-protein.
2008
AbstractCentrins are Ca2+-binding EF-hand proteins. All four known centrin isoforms are expressed in the ciliary apparatus of photoreceptor cells. Cen1p and Cen2p bind to the visual G-protein transducin in a strictly Ca2+-dependent way, which is thought to regulate light driven movements of transducin between photoreceptor cell compartments. These relatively slow motile processes represent a novel paradigm in light adaptation of photoreceptor cells.Here we validated specific phosphorylation as a novel regulator of centrins in photoreceptors. Centrins were differentially phosphorylated during photoreceptor dark adaptation. Inhibitor treatments revealed protein kinase CK2 as the major protein…
Beta-adrenoceptor-mediated facilitation of endogenous noradrenaline release from rat isolated trachea.
1994
Overflow of endogenous noradrenaline from rat isolated trachea was evoked by electrical field stimulation (3 Hz, 540 pulses) in the presence of yohimbine, desipramine and tyrosine. Isoprenaline 100 nmol/l increased the evoked overflow of noradrenaline by about 65%. This effect was antagonized by propranolol (100 nmol/l) and the beta 2-selective adrenoceptor antagonist ICI 118,551 (100 nmol/l), but not by the beta 1-selective adrenoceptor antagonist CGP 20712 A (100 nmol/l). The beta 2-selective adrenoceptor agonist formoterol (1-100 nmol/l) also facilitated the evoked overflow of noradrenaline, but maximally by only about 25% at 10 nmol/l, i.e. formoterol behaved as a partial agonist at the…
Circadian rhythm in NO synthase I transcript expression and its photoperiodic regulation in the rat pineal gland.
2001
The photoneural regulation of nitric oxide synthase type I (NOS I) expression in the rat pineal was investigated using semiquantitative RT-PCR. NOS I transcript expression exhibited a daily rhythm with peak values during the night hours. The daily rhythm in NOS I transcript expression persisted under constant dark conditions and was abolished under constant light conditions. The extent of nocturnal NOS I expression was found to be dependent on the photoperiod. It was attenuated under 20 h light and 4 h dark (L:D 20:4) compared with 12 h light and 12 h dark (L:D 12:12). The present findings indicate that, in the rat pineal, NOS I transcript expression exhibits a true circadian rhythm. Furthe…
Hardwiring the Brain: Endocannabinoids Shape Neuronal Connectivity
2007
The roles of endocannabinoid signaling during central nervous system development are unknown. We report that CB 1 cannabinoid receptors (CB 1 Rs) are enriched in the axonal growth cones of γ-aminobutyric acid–containing (GABAergic) interneurons in the rodent cortex during late gestation. Endocannabinoids trigger CB 1 R internalization and elimination from filopodia and induce chemorepulsion and collapse of axonal growth cones of these GABAergic interneurons by activating RhoA. Similarly, endocannabinoids diminish the galvanotropism of Xenopus laevis spinal neurons. These findings, together with the impaired target selection of cortical GABAergic interneurons lacking CB 1 Rs, identify endoc…
Mucosa-dependent muscarinic liberation of prostaglandins from rat isolated trachea.
1995
1. The present study examined whether cholinoceptor stimulation modulates the release of arachidonic acid-derived mediators from rat isolate tracheae. 2. Tracheae were preincubated with [3H]-arachidonic acid and the outflow of 3H-compounds was determined. Acetylcholine and the muscarinic agonist, carbachol but not nicotine, increased the rate of tritium outflow maximally by about 30%. The M3 receptor-preferring antagonist rho-fluoro-hexahydrosiladiphenidol was more effective than pirenzepine and methoctramine in antagonizing the effect of acetylcholine. 3. High performance liquid chromatography analysis (methanol gradient) of the released 3H-compounds showed that one peak, co-eluting with […