Search results for "Zen"

Downregulation of thioredoxin-1-dependent CD95 S-nitrosation by Sorafenib reduces liver cancer

2020

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents 80% of the primary hepatic neoplasms. It is the sixth most frequent neoplasm, the fourth cause of cancer-related death, and 7% of registered malignancies. Sorafenib is the first line molecular targeted therapy for patients in advanced stage of HCC. The present study shows that Sorafenib exerts free radical scavenging properties associated with the downregulation of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)-regulated thioredoxin 1 (Trx1) expression in liver cancer cells. The experimental downregulation and/or overexpression strategies showed that Trx1 induced activation of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) type 3 (NOS3) and S-nitrosation (SNO) of CD95 rece…

Synthesis and antitumor activities of 1,2,3-triazines and their benzo- and heterofused derivatives

2017

1,2,3-Triazines are a class of biologically active compounds that exhibit a broad spectrum of activities, including antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antiproliferative, analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. This review, which covers the literature from the end of last century to 2016, treats, through a comprehensive, systematic approach, the 1,2,3-triazine and related benzo- and hetero-fused derivatives possessing antitumor activity. Their efficacy, combined with a simple synthesis confers to these molecules a great potential as scaffold for the development of antitumor compounds.

Identification and Characterization of a Single High-Affinity Fatty Acid Binding Site in Human Serum Albumin.

2017

A single high-affinity fatty acid binding site in the important human transport protein serum albumin (HSA) is identified and characterized using an NBD (7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl)-C12 fatty acid. This ligand exhibits a 1:1 binding stoichiometry in its HSA complex with high site-specificity. The complex dissociation constant is determined by titration experiments as well as radioactive equilibrium dialysis. Competition experiments with the known HSA-binding drugs warfarin and ibuprofen confirm the new binding site to be different from Sudlow-sites I and II. These binding studies are extended to other albumin binders and fatty acid derivatives. Furthermore an X-ray crystal structure …

The activation of Wnt signaling by a STAT6-dependent macrophage phenotype promotes mucosal repair in murine IBD

2016

The complete repair of the mucosa constitutes a key goal in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) treatment. The Wnt signaling pathway mediates mucosal repair and M2 macrophages that coordinate efficient healing have been related to Wnt ligand expression. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6) mediates M2 polarization in vitro and we hypothesize that a STAT6-dependent macrophage phenotype mediates mucosal repair in acute murine colitis by activating the Wnt signaling pathway. Our results reveal an impaired mucosal expression of M2 macrophage-associated genes and delayed wound healing in STAT6(-/-) mice treated with 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS). These mice also ex…

Preventive effects of guanosine on intestinal inflammation in 2, 4-dinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (DNBS)-induced colitis in rats

2018

Background: Guanosine, a guanine-based purine, is an extracellular signaling molecule exerting anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects in several in vivo and in vitro injury models. We aimed to investigate its protective effects on 2, 4-dinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (DNBS)-induced colitis in rat. Methods: Rats were divided into five groups and colitis was induced by intracolonic instillation of DNBS (15 mg/rat). Guanosine (4 or 8 mg/kg) was administered for 6 days i.p. starting the day of the colitis induction. Body weight loss, stool consistency, colon weight/length, histological analysis, myeloperoxidase activity (MPO) and pro-inflammatory cytokine levels were assessed. Immunoblotting …

2019

Purpose: Clear resection margins are paramount for good outcome in children undergoing solid tumor resections. Multiphoton microscopy (MPM) can provide high-resolution, real-time, intraoperative microscopic images of tumor tissue. Objective: This prospective international multicenter study evaluates the diagnostic accuracy, feasibility, and interobserver congruence of MPM in diagnosing solid pediatric tissue and tumors for the first time. Material and methods: Representative fresh sections from six different neonatal solid tissues (liver, lung, kidney, adrenal gland, heart muscle, testicle) and two types of typical pediatric solid tumors (neuroblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma) with adjacent nonne…

CD16+ Macrophages Mediate Fibrosis in Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

2017

Background and Aims Fibrosis is a common complication of Crohn's disease [CD], and is related to dysregulated tissular repair following inflammation, in which macrophages play a central role. We have previously observed that STAT6-/- mice present delayed mucosal recovery after 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid [TNBS]-induced colitis due to a deficiency in reparatory interleukin-4 [IL4]/STAT6-dependent M2 macrophages, which can be reverted by the exogenous transfer of this cell type. In the present study, we analyse the role of STAT6-dependent macrophages in intestinal fibrosis. Methods Colitis was induced by weekly intra-rectal administration of TNBS [6 weeks] to STAT6-/- mice and wild-typ…

Mutations in SKI in Shprintzen-Goldberg syndrome lead to attenuated TGF-β responses through SKI stabilization.

2020

ABSTRACTShprintzen-Goldberg syndrome (SGS) is a multisystemic connective tissue disorder, with considerable clinical overlap with Marfan and Loeys-Dietz syndromes. These syndromes have commonly been associated with enhanced TGF-β signaling. In SGS patients, heterozygous point mutations have been mapped to the transcriptional corepressor SKI, which is a negative regulator of TGF-β signaling that is rapidly degraded upon ligand stimulation. The molecular consequences of these mutations, however, are not understood. Here we use a combination of structural biology, genome editing and biochemistry to show that SGS mutations in SKI abolish its binding to phosphorylated SMAD2 and SMAD3. This resul…

Angiotensin II type II receptors and colonic dysmotility in 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzenesulfonic acid-induced colitis in rats

2016

Background: Angiotensin II (Ang II), the main peptide of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), has been suggested to be involved in inflammatory bowel diseases. Since RAS has emerged as gut motility regulator, and dysmotility is associated with intestinal inflammation, our objective was to investigate in rat 2,4-dinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (DNBS)-induced colitis the functionality of RAS and its contribution to colonic motor alterations. Methods: The effects of Ang II on the longitudinal colonic muscular contractility of control and DNBS-treated rats were characterized in vitro. Transcripts encoding for Ang II receptors were investigated by RT-PCR. Key Results: Inflamed preparations showed a l…

Tissue expansion of lung bronchi due to tissue processing for histology – A comparative analysis of paraffin versus frozen sections in a pig model

2019

Tissue shrinking due to fixation and processing is well known. However, the degree of shrinking varies significantly with the tissue type as well as the processing method and is not well studied in various tissues. In daily pathological routine workflow, histological specimens from frozen and paraffin sections are performed from the same tissue. In the present study we compared the thickness of bronchus walls obtained from paraffin and frozen sections.Pig lungs were frozen in ventilated condition in liquid nitrogen and 36 bronchi were isolated after dissection. Frozen sections of 5 μm thickness were performed and the remaining tissue was fixed and embedded in paraffin after fixation in 4% f…