Search results for "Protective Agent"
showing 10 items of 226 documents
A Neuroprotective Function for the Hematopoietic Protein Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony Stimulating Factor (GM-CSF)
2007
Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is a hematopoietic cytokine responsible for the proliferation, differentiation, and maturation of cells of the myeloid lineage, which was cloned more than 20 years ago. Here we uncovered a novel function of GM-CSF in the central nervous system (CNS). We identified the GM-CSF α-receptor as an upregulated gene in a screen for ischemia-induced genes in the cortex. This receptor is broadly expressed on neurons throughout the brain together with its ligand and induced by ischemic insults. In primary cortical neurons and human neuroblastoma cells, GM-CSF counteracts programmed cell death and induces BCL-2 and BCL-Xl expression in a dose- a…
The selective estrogen receptor modulator, bazedoxifene, reduces ischemic brain damage in male rat
2014
While the estrogen treatment of stroke is under debate, selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) arise as a promising alternative. We hypothesize that bazedoxifene (acetate, BZA), a third generation SERM approved for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis, reduces ischemic brain damage in a rat model of transient focal cerebral ischemia. For comparative purposes, the neuroprotective effect of 17β-estradiol (E2) has also been assessed. Male Wistar rats underwent 60min middle cerebral artery occlusion (intraluminal thread technique), and grouped according to treatment: vehicle-, E2- and BZA-treated rats. Optimal plasma concentrations of E2 (45.6±7.8pg/ml) and BZA (20.7±2.1ng/ml) w…
MitoKATP-channel opener protects against neuronal death in rat venous ischemia.
2005
OBJECTIVE: Mitochondrial adenosine triphosphate-dependent potassium (mitoK ATP ) channels are present in the brain, and several reports have shown their neuroprotective, preconditioning effect against an ischemic insult. The role of mitoK ATP channels in the penumbra area has not been studied thoroughly. In a model of venous ischemia, widespread penumbra-like low flow areas are created, which are susceptible to cortical spreading depression. Thus, we studied effects of mitoK ATP channels on infarct size in this model. METHODS: Male Wistar rats were subjected to two-vein occlusion by photochemical thrombosis of two adjacent cortical veins combined with KCI-induced cortical spreading depressi…
Expression of metabotropic glutamate receptors in murine thymocytes and thymic stromal cells
2000
RT-PCR combined with immunoblotting showed the expression of group-I (mGlu1 and 5) and group-II (mGlu2 and 3) metabotropic glutamate receptors in whole mouse thymus, isolated thymocytes and TC-1S thymic stromal cell line. Cytofluorimetric analysis showed that mGlu-5 receptors were absent in CD4(-)/CD8(-) but present in more mature CD4(+) CD8(+) and CD4(+)CD8(-) thymocytes. mGlu-1a receptors showed an opposite pattern of expression with respect to mGlu5, whereas mGlu2/3 receptor expression did not differ between double negative and double positive cells. mGlu receptors expressed in both thymic cell components were functional, as indicated by measurements of polyphosphoinositide hydrolysis or…
Role of two sequence motifs of mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor in its survival-promoting activity
2015
AbstractMesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor (MANF) is a prosurvival protein that protects the cells when applied intracellularly in vitro or extracellularly in vivo. Its protective mechanisms are poorly known. Here we studied the role of two short sequence motifs within the carboxy-(C) terminal domain of MANF in its neuroprotective activity: the CKGC sequence (a CXXC motif) that could be involved in redox reactions, and the C-terminal RTDL sequence, an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) retention signal. We mutated these motifs and analyzed the antiapoptotic effect and intracellular localization of these mutants of MANF when overexpressed in cultured sympathetic or sensory neurons. …
Anti-inflammatory lipoxin A4 is an endogenous allosteric enhancer of CB1 cannabinoid receptor.
2012
Allosteric modulation of G-protein–coupled receptors represents a key goal of current pharmacology. In particular, endogenous allosteric modulators might represent important targets of interventions aimed at maximizing therapeutic efficacy and reducing side effects of drugs. Here we show that the anti-inflammatory lipid lipoxin A 4 is an endogenous allosteric enhancer of the CB 1 cannabinoid receptor. Lipoxin A 4 was detected in brain tissues, did not compete for the orthosteric binding site of the CB 1 receptor (vs. 3 H-SR141716A), and did not alter endocannabinoid metabolism (as opposed to URB597 and MAFP), but it enhanced affinity of anandamide at the CB1 receptor, thereby potentiating …
The endocannabinoid N-arachidonoyldopamine (NADA) exerts neuroprotective effects after excitotoxic neuronal damage via cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB(1)).
2012
Endocannabinoids exert numerous effects in the CNS under physiological and pathological conditions. The aim of the present study was to examine whether the endocannabinoid N-arachidonoyldopamine (NADA) may protect neurons in excitotoxically lesioned organotypic hippocampal slice cultures (OHSC). OHSC were excitotoxically lesioned by application of N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA, 50 μM) for 4 h and subsequently treated with different NADA concentrations (0.1 pM-50 μM) alone or in combination with cannabinoid receptor antagonists. NADA protected dentate gyrus granule cells and caused a slight reduction in the number of microglial cells. The number of degenerated neurons significantly decreased be…
HERS study disturbs hormonal replacement therapy
2000
Cardiovascular protection of hormonal replacement therapy was considered a fact. The effects of estrogens on lipid levels and vascular health gave biological support to estrogen cardioprotection. The recently published HERS study showing no protective effects of estrogen and progesterone replacement therapy on the risk of myocardial infarction or coronary deaths is provoking perplexity. These surprising results may have several causes such as the use of progesterone, the associated use of cardioprotective agents or the short observation period. However, the study results scope is rectricted to secondary prevention. These cannot be extrapolated to frequent conditions of postmenopausal women …
C022 Experimental approaches of oxidative stress and cardiotoxicity associated with anthracyclines administration
2009
The chronic cardiotoxicity of anthracyclines anticancer drugs is one of the main factors which limits their prolonged use. Clinically, this cardiotoxicity results in a cardiomyopathy with irreversible congestive heart failure with high mortality. The molecular mechanisms, which could explain this cardiac toxicity, are complex but seem distinct from the anticancer mechanism. Several hypotheses were advanced, but it appears that the production of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) constitutes the common denominator.In a first study, we evaluated the acute effect of epirubicin administration on the evolution of cardiac functional parameters and production of RONS. Isolated perfused ra…
Cryopreservation of Escherichia coli K12TG1: Protection from the damaging effects of supercooling by freezing
2015
Injuries in living cells caused by water freezing during a freeze-thaw process have been extensively reported. In particular, intracellular water freezing has long been incriminated in cell death caused by a high cooling rate, but this supposition could not always be demonstrated. This work aims to discriminate the role of water freezing, dehydration and cold-induced injuries in cellular damage occuring during cryopreservation. For this purpose, Escherichia coli K12TG1 suspensions were maintained in a supercooled or frozen state at -20°C for times ranging from 10 min to 5 h. The supercooled state was maintained for a long period at -20°C by applying a non-injurious isostatic pressure (P<40 …