Search results for "messenger"
showing 10 items of 1493 documents
Connexin-30 mRNA Is Up-Regulated in Astrocytes and Expressed in Apoptotic Neuronal Cells of Rat Brain Following Kainate-Induced Seizures
2002
Glial connexins (Cxs) make an extensively interconnected functional syncytium created by a network of gap junctions between astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. Among Cxs expressed in the brain, Cx30 is expressed in grey matter astrocytes, as shown at the protein level by immunoistochemistry. In the present study we aimed to perform a detailed study of the regional distribution of Cx30 mRNA in the adult and postnatal developing rat brain, analyzing its expression by in situ hybridization, and determining its cell type localization by double labeling. Recently, it has been suggested that neuronal activity may control the level of intercellular communication between astrocytes through gap junctio…
Immunogenicity of the BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine in older residents of a long-term care facility: relation with age, frailty and prior infection …
2021
Clinical and biological assessment of the COVID-19 vaccine efficacy in the frail population is of crucial importance. The study focuses on measuring the levels of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies before and after BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccination among long-term care facility (LTCF) elderly residents. We conducted a prospective, single-center, observational study among LTCF residents. The study protocol was based on three blood sample acquisitions: first taken at baseline—5 days before the first dose of the vaccine, second—20 days after the first dose, and third—12 days after the second shot of the vaccine. The comparison was made for two cohorts: patients with and without prior COVID-19 inf…
Cellular expression of connexins in the rat brain: neuronal localization, effects of kainate-induced seizures and expression in apoptotic neuronal ce…
2003
The identification of connexins (Cxs) expressed in neuronal cells represents a crucial step for understanding the direct communication between neurons and between neuron and glia. In the present work, using a double-labelling method combining in situ hybridization for Cx mRNAs with immunohistochemical detection for neuronal markers, we provide evidence that, among cerebral connexins (Cx26, Cx32, Cx36, Cx37, Cx40, Cx43, Cx45 and Cx47), only Cx45 and Cx36 mRNAs are localized in neuronal cells in both developing and adult rat brain. In order to establish whether connexin expression is influenced in vivo by abnormal neuronal activity, we examined the short-term effects of kainate-induced seizur…
FGF-2/FGFR1 neurotrophic system expression level and its basal activation do not account for the age-dependent decline of precursor cell proliferatio…
2010
It is largely accepted that neurogenesis in the adult brain decreases with age and reduced levels of local neurotrophic support is speculated to be a contributing factor. Among neurotrophic factors involved on neurogenesis, we focused our attention on the neurotrophic system fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) and its receptor FGFR1, a potent modulator of precursor cell proliferation. In the present work, we aimed to analyse if potential age-dependent changes of the FGF-2/FGFR1 neurotrophic system may give account for the age-dependent decline of precursor cell proliferation in the neurogenic region of the subventricular zone (SVZ) in the rat brain. Using in situ hybridization and western bl…
Functional Role of α1-Adrenoceptor Subtypes in Murine Ophthalmic Arteries
2011
PURPOSE To identify the α(1)-adrenoceptor (α(1)-AR) subtypes mediating vascular adrenergic responses in murine ophthalmic arteries. METHODS Expression of mRNA was quantified for individual α(1)-AR subtypes in murine ophthalmic arteries using real-time PCR. To assess the functional relevance of α(1)-ARs for mediating vascular responses, ophthalmic arteries from mice deficient in one of the three α(1)-AR subtypes (α(1A)-AR(-/-), α(1B)-AR(-/-), and α(1D)-AR(-/-), respectively) and wild-type controls were isolated, cannulated with micropipettes, and pressurized. Changes in luminal artery diameter in response to the α(1)-AR agonist phenylephrine, the sympathetic transmitter noradrenaline, and to…
Constitutive expression and inducibility of O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase and N-methylpurine-DNA glycosylase in rat liver cells exhibiting d…
1995
AbstractWe have analyzed the expression of the DNA repair genes O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) and N-methylpurine-DNA glycosylase (MPG) at RNA and protein activity level in primary rat hepatocytes in vitro and various rat hepatoma cell lines exhibiting different status of differentiation. The basal level of MGMT mRNA and activity correlated well with the degree of differentiation, as measured by tyrosine aminotransferase (TAT) mRNA expression. Induction of MGMT mRNA and protein activity by X-ray and Nmethyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) treatment was most pronounced in the well-differentiated hepatocytes and in various differentiated hepatoma cell lines (up to 6-fold). T…
In activated mast cells, IL-1 up-regulates the production of several Th2-related cytokines including IL-9.
2000
Abstract Mast cells can play detrimental roles in the pathophysiology and mortality observed in anaphylaxis and other Th2-dominated allergic diseases. In contrast, these cells contribute to protective host defense mechanisms against parasitic worm infections. After IgE/Ag activation, mast cells can produce multiple cytokines that may enhance allergic inflammations, while a similar panel of Th2-related cytokines may support immunological strategies against parasites. Here we report that in primary mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells activated by ionomycin or IgE/Ag, the proinflammatory mediator IL-1 (α or β) up-regulated production of IL-3, IL-5, IL-6, and IL-9 as well as TNF, i.e., cytokin…
Expression of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunits in the cerebral cortex in Alzheimer's disease: histotopographical correlation with amyloid pl…
1999
Impairment of cholinergic transmission and decreased numbers of nicotinic binding sites are well-known features accompanying the cognitive dysfunction seen in Alzheimer's disease (AD). In order to elucidate the underlying cause of this cholinoceptive dysfunction, the expression of two pharmacologically different nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subunits (alpha4, alpha7) was studied in the cerebral cortex of Alzheimer patients as compared to controls. Patch-clamp recordings of 14 dissociated neurons of control cortices showed responses suggesting the existence of alpha4- and alpha7-containing functional nAChRs in the human cortex. In cortices of Alzheimer patients and controls, the p…
Dietary soy isoflavone induced increases in antioxidant and eNOS gene expression lead to improved endothelial function and reduced blood pressure in …
2005
Epidemiological evidence suggests that populations consuming large amounts of soy protein have a reduced incidence of coronary heart disease (1-5). The cardiovascular risks associated with conventional hormone replacement therapy in postmenopausal women (5-7) have precipitated a search for alternative estrogen receptor modulators. Here we report that long-term feeding of rats with a soy protein-rich (SP) diet during gestation and adult life results in decreased oxidative stress, improved endothelial function, and reduced blood pressure in vivo measured by radiotelemetry in aged male offspring. Improved vascular reactivity in animals fed an SP diet was paralleled by increased mitochondrial g…
Activation of L-arginine transport by protein kinase C in rabbit, rat and mouse alveolar macrophages
1998
1 The role of protein kinase C in controlling L-arginine transport in alveolar macrophages was investigated. 2 L-[3H]Arginine uptake in rabbit alveolar macrophages declined by 80 % after 20 h in culture. 4β-Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), but not 4α-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (α-PMA), present during 20 h culture, enhanced L-[3H]arginine uptake more than 10-fold. Staurosporine and chelerythrine opposed this effect. 3 L-[3H]Arginine uptake was saturable and blockable by L-lysine. After PMA treatment Vmax was increased more than 5-fold and Km was reduced from 0.65 to 0.32 mM. 4 Time course experiments showed that PMA increased L-[3H]arginine uptake almost maximally within 2 h. This…