Search results for "Transferase"
showing 10 items of 1030 documents
Glutathione S Transferase Polymorphisms Influence on Iron Overload in β-Thalassemia Patients
2013
In patients with β-thalassemia iron overload that leads to damage to vital organs is observed. Glutathione S transferase (GST) enzymes have an antioxidant role in detoxification processes of toxic substances. This role is determined genetically. In this study, we correlated GSTT1 and GSTM1 genotypes with iron overload measured with direct and indirect non-invasive methods; in particular, we used serum ferritin and signal intensity of the magnetic resonance image (MRI) in 42 patients with β-thalassemia, which were regularly subjected to chelation and transfusion therapy. Multiplex polymerase chain reaction was used to determine the genotype. The loss of both alleles leads to a decreased valu…
Chick embryo retina development in vitro: the effect of insulin.
1995
In this paper we study the development of chick embryo retina cultured in vitro and the effects exerted by insulin. Retinas were removed from 7-day embryos and cultured in serum- and hormone-free medium for 7 additional days. Under these conditions retinal cells survived and underwent cholinergic differentiation, as previously ascertained by Hausman et al. (Dev. Brain Res., 1991, 59: 31-37). However, a great retardation of development was noted compared to uncultured control, 14-day retina. In fact both wet weight and DNA and protein content increased much slower than in ovo and the tubulin content decreased below even the starting value. In addition, although after 7 days in culture retina…
Role of the cyclic AMP-dependent pathway in free radical-induced cholesterol accumulation in vascular smooth muscle cells.
2000
We have previously reported that free radical-treated vascular smooth muscle cells (SMC) lead to cholesterol accumulation in vitro. In the current study, we investigated the effects of oxidative stress on cyclic AMP concentration and cAMP-dependent enzymes involved in cholesterol homeostasis in A7r5 cells. Under our conditions of a mild oxidative stress, namely with no change in cell viability, we found that free radicals, initiated using azobis-amidinopropane dihydrochloride (AAPH), resulted in a dose-dependent decrease in cellular cAMP which was opposed by vitamin E preincubation. Although the addition of adenylate cyclase activators (carbacyclin and forskolin) increased cAMP levels it di…
Oxidative stress leads to cholesterol accumulation in vascular smooth muscle cells.
1999
The transformation of macrophages and smooth muscle cells into foam cells by modified low-density lipoproteins (LDL) is one of the key events of atherogenesis. Effects of free radicals have mainly been studied in LDL, and other than toxicity, data dealing with direct action of free radicals on cells are scarce. This study focused on the direct effects of free radicals on cholesterol metabolism of smooth muscle cells. A free radical generator, azobis-amidinopropane dihydrochloride, was used, and conditions for a standardized oxidative stress were set up in vascular smooth muscle cells. After free radical action, the cells presented an accumulation of cholesterol that appeared to be the resul…
Enzymatic Determination in Serum of Lathyritic and Prednisone-treated Lathyritic Rats
1966
WHILE a remarkably raised serum-level of transaminases and aldolase is found in dermatomyositis, such augmentation, as a rule, is not found in cases of severe muscular involvement of scleroderma and disseminated lupus erythematosus (acutus)1–3.
Statins stimulate the production of a soluble form of the receptor for advanced glycation end products
2013
The beneficial effects of statin therapy in the reduction of cardiovascular pathogenesis, atherosclerosis, and diabetic complications are well known. The receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) plays an important role in the progression of these diseases. In contrast, soluble forms of RAGE act as decoys for RAGE ligands and may prevent the development of RAGE-mediated disorders. Soluble forms of RAGE are either produced by alternative splicing [endogenous secretory RAGE (esRAGE)] or by proteolytic shedding mediated by metalloproteinases [shed RAGE (sRAGE)]. Therefore we analyzed whether statins influence the production of soluble RAGE. Lovastatin treatment of either mouse alveol…
Glutathione, GlutathioneS-Transferase α and π, and Aldehyde Dehydrogenase Content in Relationship to Drug Resistance in Ovarian Cancer
1997
Glutathione, glutathione S-transferases alpha and pi, and aldehyde dehydrogenase are associated with resistance to carboplatin and/or cyclophosphamide in cell lines. Therefore, we examined whether the expression of these factors in ovarian cancer tissue specimens is associated with resistance of the patients to combination chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide/carboplatin. Ovarian cancer tissue specimens were taken intraoperatively from 139 patients and frozen in liquid nitrogen, and the contents of glutathione S-transferases alpha and pi, total glutathione, and aldehyde dehydrogenase activity were determined. No association between the levels of glutathione S-transferases alpha and pi or alde…
Drug-induced hepatitis: a rare complication of oral anticoagulants.
1994
Hepatotoxicity is a rare complication of coumarin anticoagulants. We present the case of a 56-year-old woman who developed a viral-hepatitis-like picture 8 months after mitral valve replacement and oral anticoagulation. Phenprocoumon-induced hepatitis was diagnosed after positive reexposure and improvement following withdrawal of the drug. There appeared to be cross-reactivity to warfarin since this drug led to a similar increase in alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyl transferase after a few days of administration. Liver biopsy showed an acute viral-hepatitis-like picture. Anticoagulation was changed to a subcutaneous low molecular weight heparin and low-dose aspirin. Because of the wid…
Catechol-O-Methyltransferase Gene Polymorphism Is Associated with Skeletal Muscle Properties in Older Women Alone and Together with Physical Activity
2008
BackgroundMuscle strength declines on average by one percent annually from midlife on. In postmenopausal women this decrement coincides with a rapid decline in estrogen production. The genetics underlying the effects of estrogen on skeletal muscle remains unclear. In the present study, we examined whether polymorphisms within COMT and ESR1 are associated with muscle properties and assessed their interaction and their combined effects with physical activity.Methodology/principal findingsA cross-sectional data analysis was conducted with 434 63-76-year-old women from the population-based Finnish Twin Study on Aging. Body anthropometry, muscle cross-sectional area (mCSA), isometric hand grip a…
The histone acetyltransferase MOF activates hypothalamic polysialylation to prevent diet-induced obesity in mice
2014
Overfeeding causes rapid synaptic remodeling in hypothalamus feeding circuits. Polysialylation of cell surface molecules is a key step in this neuronal rewiring and allows normalization of food intake. Here we examined the role of hypothalamic polysialylation in the long-term maintenance of body weight, and deciphered the molecular sequence underlying its nutritional regulation. We found that upon high fat diet (HFD), reduced hypothalamic polysialylation exacerbated the diet-induced obese phenotype in mice. Upon HFD, the histone acetyltransferase MOF was rapidly recruited on the St8sia4 polysialyltransferase-encoding gene. Mof silencing in the mediobasal hypothalamus of adult mice prevented…