Search results for "mediator"
showing 10 items of 339 documents
Regulation of the type II oncostatin M receptor expression in lung-derived epithelial cells
1998
AbstractOncostatin M (OSM) is a potent modulator of human lung-derived epithelial cell function. This cytokine binds two distinct receptor complexes: type I OSM receptor which is also a functional receptor for leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), and type II OSM-specific receptor. The role of these two distinct receptors in mediating the response of individual cell types to OSM has not been delineated. In contrast to LIF, OSM induces synthesis of α1-antichymotrypsin and α1-antiproteinase inhibitor in lung-derived epithelial cells. The differential responsiveness to LIF and OSM suggested that the response of lung epithelial cells to OSM may be mediated by the OSM-specific receptor. Therefore, w…
Role of humanin, a mitochondrial-derived peptide, in cardiovascular disorders
2020
The mitochondria produce specific peptides-mitochondrial-derived peptides-that mediate the transcriptional stress response by their translocation into the nucleus and interaction with deoxyribonucleic acid. Mitochondrial-derived peptides are regulators of metabolism. This class of peptides comprises humanin, mitochondrial open reading frame of the 12S ribosomal ribonucleic acid type c (MOTS-c) and small humanin-like peptides (SHLPs). Humanin inhibits mitochondrial complex 1 activity and limits the level of oxidative stress in the cell. Data show that mitochondrial-derived peptides have a role in improving metabolic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes. Perhaps humanin can be used as a marker f…
Single administration of tripeptide α-MSH(11-13) attenuates brain damage by reduced inflammation and apoptosis after experimental traumatic brain inj…
2013
Following traumatic brain injury (TBI) neuroinflammatory processes promote neuronal cell loss. Alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) is a neuropeptide with immunomodulatory properties, which may offer neuroprotection. Due to short half-life and pigmentary side-effects of α-MSH, the C-terminal tripeptide α-MSH(11-13) may be an anti-inflammatory alternative. The present study investigated the mRNA concentrations of the precursor hormone proopiomelanocortin (POMC) and of melanocortin receptors 1 and 4 (MC1R/MC4R) in naive mice and 15 min, 6, 12, 24, and 48 h after controlled cortical impact (CCI). Regulation of POMC and MC4R expression did not change after trauma, while MC1R levels incr…
IL-17 and related cytokines involved in the pathology and immunotherapy of multiple sclerosis: Current and future developments.
2014
Multiple sclerosis (MS), an autoimmune neurological disorder, is driven by self-reactive T helper (Th) cells. Research on the role of Th17 lymphocytes in MS pathogenesis has made significant progress in identifying various immunological as well as environmental factors that induce the differentiation and expansion of these cells, different subsets of Th17 cells with varying degrees of pathogenicity, and the role of the secreted effector cytokines. While approved therapies for MS offer significant benefit to patients, there remain unmet needs. Ongoing clinical trials aim to translate the advanced knowledge of Th17 cytokines to improved therapies. This review discusses the current status and …
Synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of 2'-hydroxychalcones and flavones as inhibitors of inflammatory mediators generation.
1995
2'-Hydroxy-3,4-dimethoxy-3',4'-dimethylchalcone (3a), 2'-hydroxy-3',4',3,4-tetramethoxychalcone (3b), and their corresponding flavones, 3',4'-dimethoxy-7,8-dimethylflavone (4a) and 3',4',7,8-tetramethoxyflavone (4b), were prepared from 3,4-dimethoxycinnamic acid and the respective phenol. The four compounds inhibited enzymic lipid peroxidation and showed weak peroxyl scavenging activity. They also reduced LTB 4 release from human neutrophils stimulated by A23187. The chalcone 3b was the only compound able to inhibit in a concentration-dependent way, synovial human recombinant phospholipase A 2 activity, human platelet TXB 2 generation, and human neutrophil degranulation. This chalcone exert…
Hypothermic preservation of lung allograft inhibits cytokine-induced chemoattractant-1, endothelial leucocyte adhesion molecule, vascular cell adhesi…
2007
Summary Organ dysfunction is a major clinical problem after lung transplantation. Prolonged cold ischaemia and reperfusion injury are believed to play a central role in this complication. The influence of cold preservation on subsequent warm reperfusion was studied in an isolated, ventilated and perfused rat lung. Rat lungs were flushed with cold Perfadex-solution and stored at 4°C for different time periods. Thereafter lungs were perfused and ventilated for up to 3 h. Physiological parameters, production of inflammatory mediators and leucocyte infiltration were measured before and after perfusion. Lungs subjected to a cold ischaemia time of up to 6 h showed stable physiological conditions …
An inducible mouse model of colon carcinogenesis for the analysis of sporadic and inflammation-driven tumor progression.
2007
Colorectal cancer is a life-threatening disease that can develop spontaneously or as a complication of inflammatory bowel diseases. Mouse models are essential tools for the preclinical testing of novel therapeutic options in vivo. Here, we provide a highly reliable protocol for an experimental mouse model to study the development of colon cancers. It is based on the mutagenic agent azoxymethane (AOM), which exerts colonotropic carcinogenicity. Repeated intraperitoneal administration of AOM results in the development of spontaneous tumors within 30 weeks. As an alternative option, inflammation-dependent tumor growth can be investigated by combining the administration of AOM with the inflamma…
Aryl hydrocarbon receptor activation by cAMP vs. dioxin: divergent signaling pathways.
2005
Even before the first vertebrates appeared on our planet, the aryl hydrocarbon receptor ( AHR ) gene was present to carry out one or more critical life functions. The vertebrate AHR then evolved to take on functions of detecting and responding to certain classes of environmental toxicants. These environmental pollutants include polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (e.g., benzo[ a ]pyrene), polyhalogenated hydrocarbons, dibenzofurans, and the most potent small-molecular-weight toxicant known, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo- p -dioxin (TCDD or dioxin). After binding of these ligands, the activated AHR translocates rapidly from the cytosol to the nucleus, where it forms a heterodimer with aryl hydroc…
Automated Synthesis of Application-layer Connectors from Automata-based Specifications
2019
Abstract Ubiquitous and Pervasive Computing, and the Internet of Things, promote dynamic interaction among heterogeneous systems. To achieve this vision, interoperability among heterogeneous systems represents a key enabler, and mediators are often built to solve protocol mismatches. Many approaches propose the synthesis of mediators. Unfortunately, a rigorous characterization of the concept of interoperability is still lacking, hence making hard to assess their applicability and soundness. In this paper, we provide a framework for the synthesis of mediators that allows us to: (i) characterize the conditions for the mediator existence and correctness; and (ii) establish the applicability bo…
Involvement of nitric oxide in the mitochondrial action of efavirenz: a differential effect on neurons and glial cells
2014
Abstract The anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) drug efavirenz (EFV) alters mitochondrial function in cultured neurons and glial cells. Nitric oxide (NO) is a mediator of mitochondrial dysfunction associated with HIV central nervous system symptoms. We show that EFV promotes inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression in cultured glial cells and generated NO undermines their mitochondrial function, as inhibition of NOS partially reverses this effect. EFV inhibits mitochondrial Complex I in both neurons and glia; however, when the latter cells are treated for longer periods, other mitochondrial complexes are also affected in accordance with the increased NO production. These findi…