Search results for "molecule"
showing 10 items of 5162 documents
Effects of Cytokines on the Expression of Cell Adhesion Molecules by Cultured Human Omental Mesothelial Cells
1995
Cultured mesothelial cells (HOMES) are very responsive to the proinflammatory cytokines, interleukin (IL)-1 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). E-selectin, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 are known to play an important role, because they are presented by diverse cell types, for example endothelial cells (ECs), and interact with co-responding ligands on white blood cell membranes. In this study, the expression of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, E-selectin as well as PECAM-1 on cultured HOMES was studied over 5, 24, 48 and 72 h exposure to IL-1 beta, interferon-gamma and TNF-alpha. In previous studies we have shown that IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha increase the expression of ICAM-1, E-selectin and VCAM-1 on the cytopl…
Increased adhesion and activation of polymorphonuclear neutrophil granulocytes to endothelial cells under heavy metal exposure in vitro.
1994
Heavy metals have been implicated in the mechanisms of endothelial damage. Influences of heavy metal ions on diverse cell types have been studied using a variety of in vitro and in vivo methods. Polymorphonuclear neutrophil granulocytes (PMNs) have physiological and pathological functions, including the modulation of adhesion to and destruction of endothelial cells (ECs). PMNs were studied during interaction with human umbilical vein ECs under exposure to zinc, nickel and cobalt using an in vitro model. We studied adhesion processes with the help of a computer-controlled image-analyzing system and examined the activation of PMNs by quantification of leukotriene B4 (LTB4) release. The biphas…
Identification of a cell surface-associated protein involved in mouse neural cell aggregation by means of antibodies against the sponge aggregation f…
1989
Polyclonal antibodies were raised against the purified aggregation factor (AF) from the sponge Geodia cydonium to elucidate possible immunological relationships between adhesion molecules of lower multicellular eukaryotic systems (sponges) and those of vertebrates. This anti-AF recognized a series of polypeptides associated with the AF, among them also a polypeptide with a Mr of 47,000 (p47). The formation of the antibody-p47 immunocomplexes could be prevented by adsorbing the anti-AF with a brain extract from DBA/2J mice. Moreover, this brain polypeptide inhibited the AF-mediated aggregation of sponge cells. Interestingly, the anti-AF recognized a p37 molecule in the brains of 2- to 3-day-…
Presenilin is the molecular target of acidic γ-secretase modulators in living cells.
2012
The intramembrane-cleaving protease γ-secretase catalyzes the last step in the generation of toxic amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides and is a principal therapeutic target in Alzheimer's disease. Both preclinical and clinical studies have demonstrated that inhibition of γ-secretase is associated with prohibitive side effects due to suppression of Notch processing and signaling. Potentially safer are γ-secretase modulators (GSMs), which are small molecules that selectively lower generation of the highly amyloidogenic Aβ42 peptides but spare Notch processing. GSMs with nanomolar potency and favorable pharmacological properties have been described, but the molecular mechanism of GSMs remains uncertain an…
Simulations of a Graphene Nanoflake as a Nanovector To Improve ZnPc Phototherapy Toxicity: From Vacuum to Cell Membrane
2017
International audience; We propose a new approach to improving photodynamic therapy (PDT) by transporting zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc) in biological systems via a graphene nanoflake, to increase its targeting. Indeed, by means of time-dependent density functional theory simulations, we show that the ZnPc molecule in interaction with a graphene nanoflake preserves its optical properties not only in a vacuum but also in water. Moreover, molecular dynamic simulations demonstrate that the graphene nanoflake/ZnPc association, as a carrier, permits one to stabilize the ZnPc/graphene nanoflake system on the cellular membrane, which was not possible when using ZnPc alone. We finally conclude that the…
Intrinsic Acidity of Surface Sites in Calcium Silicate Hydrates and Its Implication to Their Electrokinetic Properties
2014
Calcium Silicate Hydrates (C–S–H) are the major hydration products of portland cement paste. The accurate description of acid–base reactions at the surface of C–S–H particles is essential for both understanding the ion sorption equilibrium in cement and prediction of mechanical properties of the hardened cement paste. Ab initio molecular dynamics simulations at the density functional level of theory were applied to calculate intrinsic acidity constants (pKa’s) of the relevant ≡SiOH and ≡CaOH2 groups on the C–S–H surfaces using a thermodynamic integration technique. Ion sorption equilibrium in C–S–H was modeled applying ab initio calculated pKa’s in titrating Grand Canonical Monte Carlo simu…
Gray Matter NG2 Cells Display Multiple Ca2+-Signaling Pathways and Highly Motile Processes
2011
NG2 cells, the fourth type of glia in the mammalian CNS, receive synaptic input from neurons. The function of this innervation is unknown yet. Postsynaptic changes in intracellular Ca(2+)-concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) might be a possible consequence. We employed transgenic mice with fluorescently labeled NG2 cells to address this issue. To identify Ca(2+)-signaling pathways we combined patch-clamp recordings, Ca(2+)-imaging, mRNA-transcript analysis and focal pressure-application of various substances to identified NG2-cells in acute hippocampal slices. We show that activation of voltage-gated Ca(2+)-channels, Ca(2+)-permeable AMPA-receptors, and group I metabotropic glutamate-receptors provo…
Mutations in spalt cause a severe but reversible neurodegenerative phenotype in the embryonic central nervous system ofDrosophila melanogaster
2002
The gene spalt is expressed in the embryonic central nervous system of Drosophila melanogaster but its function in this tissue is still unknown. To investigate this question, we used a combination of techniques to analyse spalt mutant embryos. Electron microscopy showed that in the absence of Spalt, the central nervous system cells are separated by enlarged extracellular spaces populated by membranous material at 60% of embryonic development. Surprisingly, the central nervous system from slightly older embryos (80% of development) exhibited almost wild-type morphology. An extensive survey by laser confocal microscopy revealed that thespalt mutant central nervous system has abnormal levels o…
Immunoproteomic studies on paediatric opsoclonus-myoclonus associated with neuroblastoma
2016
We aimed to identify new cell-membrane antigens implicated in opsoclonus-myoclonus with neuroblastoma. The sera of 3 out of 14 patients showed IgG electron-microscopy immunogold reactivity on SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. Immunoprecipitation experiments using rat brain synaptosomes and SH-SY5Y cells led to the identification of: (1) thirty-one nuclear/cytoplasmic proteins (including antigens HuB, HuC); (2) seven neuronal membrane proteins, including the Shaw-potassium channel Kv3.3 (KCNC3), whose genetic disruption in mice causes ataxia and generalized muscle twitching. Although cell-based assays did not demonstrate direct antigenicity, our findings point to Shaw-related subfamily of the pot…
Polysialic acid is required for dopamine D2 receptor-mediated plasticity involving inhibitory circuits of the rat medial prefrontal cortex.
2011
Decreased expression of dopamine D2 receptors (D2R), dysfunction of inhibitory neurotransmission and impairments in the structure and connectivity of neurons in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) are involved in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia and major depression, but the relationship between these changes remains unclear. The polysialylated form of the neural cell adhesion molecule (PSA-NCAM), a plasticity-related molecule, may serve as a link. This molecule is expressed in cortical interneurons and dopamine, via D2R, modulates its expression in parallel to that of proteins related to synapses and inhibitory neurotransmission, suggesting that D2R-targeted antipsychotics/antidepressants…