Background: Acne is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the pilosebaceous unit (PSU). The PSU is an immunocompetent organ, and the sebaceous gland (SG) exhibits an independent peripheral endocrine function and expresses receptors for neuropeptides (NP). The presence of a complete corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH)/CRH receptor (CRHR) system in human sebocytes has ...

VACM-1, a cul5 gene product, when overexpressed in vitro, has an antiproliferative effect. In vivo, VACM-1/cul5 is present in tissues involved in the regulation of water balance. Neither proteins targeted for VACM-1/cul5-specific degradation nor factors that may regulate its expression in those tissues have been studied. To identify genes that ...

Microcystin-leucine arginine (MC-LR), a cyclic heptapeptide produced by several bloom-forming cyanobacteria, has strong reproductive toxicity. We examined whether MC-LR could enter spermatogonia and investigated the toxic effects of MC-LR on spermatogonia in vitro. Multispecific organic anion-transporting polypeptides (Oatps), which transported MCs, were screened as well. Spermatogonia were exposed to 0, ...

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of small interference RNA (siRNA) against ribosomal protein L22 (RPL22) on ET-1-induced proliferation of human pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (HPASMCs). HPASMCs were transfected with siRNA against RPL22, incubated in smooth muscle cell culture medium (SMCM) and ET-1. RPL22 gene expression ...

Neuronal excitation is mediated by the activation of NMDA receptor and associated with the formation of reactive oxygen species due to the activation of NADPH oxidase complex proteins. The activation of G(s) protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) induces neuronal activation in the cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA)-mediated signal cascade and regulates ...

Soybean isoflavone (SIF) has been demonstrated to have neuroprotective effects induced by β-amyloid peptides (Aβ) through suppressing oxidative stress; however, the explicit mechanisms still remain uncovered. In the present study, thirty-two Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups, an Aβ1-42 treated group, a SIF+Aβ1-42 group, a SIF-treated group and ...

The objectives of this study were to investigate the effect of Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on the function of bovine neutrophils (PMNL) collected from mid lactation cows and determine the differential effects of LPS on gene expression of PMNL purified from early and mid lactation cows. The PMNL from mid ...

BACKGROUND: Dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DP4) is a serine protease that preferentially cleaves Nterminal dipeptides from polypeptides containing proline or alanine as the penultimate amino acid. DP4 inactivates glucagon like peptide-2 (GLP-2), a trophic peptide with cytoprotective and reparative properties in the injured gut: therefore DP4 potentially inhibits repair processes. DP4 ...

The plant hormone auxin is a mobile signal which affects nuclear transcription by regulating the stability of AUX/IAA repressor proteins. Auxin is polarly transported from cell to cell by auxin efflux proteins of the PIN family, but it is not as yet clear how auxin levels are regulated within cells ...

To investigate the effect of JAKs-STATs signal pathway on expression of S100A4 in pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMCs), the action of S100A4 and hypoxia induced factor 1 (HIF-1) on the proliferation of hypoxic PASMCs. The results showed that S100A4 immunostaining was localized in the cytoplasm and nuclei of PASMCs ...

The present study has demonstrated the expression of HSP60, HSP70, HSP90, and UBQ in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) during different seasons in three different age groups (Groups I, II, and III with age of 0-2, 2-5, and >5 years, respectively) of goats of tropical and temperate regions. Real-time polymerase chain ...

The Toll-like receptor (TLR)4 is critical for the recognition of Gram-negative bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) but in porcine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) it may cooperate with other TLRs and lead to the production of inflammatory cytokines. Therefore, we analyzed TLR1-10 mRNA expression in porcine PBMCs stimulated with LPS over time ...

Prostaglandin (PG) J(2) series including Δ(12)-PGJ(2) and 15-deoxy-Δ(12,14)-prostaglandin J(2) (15d-PGJ(2)) are the dehydration products of PGD(2) that are biosynthesized through the cyclooxygenase (COX) pathway. These PGJ(2) are active ligands for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), a master regulator of adipogenesis in adipocytes. Here we investigated whether PGJ(2) derivatives can modulate ...

Targeted gene regulation via designed transcription factors has great potential for precise phenotypic modification and acceleration of novel crop trait development. Canola seed oil composition is dictated largely by the expression of genes encoding enzymes in the fatty acid biosynthetic pathway. In the present study, zinc finger proteins (ZFPs) were ...

The Angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R) is involved in the development of cardiac hypertrophy promoted by TH. Recently we demonstrated that T3 rapidly increases the AT1R mRNA and protein levels in cardiomyocyte cultures. However, the molecular mechanisms responsible for these rapid events are not yet known. In this study ...

This study aimed to clone and sequence the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (cftr) from, and to determine the effects of seawater acclimation or exposure to 100 mmol l(-1) NH(4)Cl in freshwater on its mRNA and protein expressions in, the gills of Anabas testudineus. There were 4,530 bp coding for 1,510 amino acids ...

Signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (Stat3) plays a central role in interleukin-6 (IL-6)-mediated cell proliferation by inhibiting apoptosis in a variety of cell types. The Stat3 pathway is essential for embryonic development. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of recombinant IL-6 on the viability and ...

This study was undertaken to investigate the effect of cypermethrin on the expression patterns of mRNAs in the striatum of adulthood alone and postnatal pre-exposed followed by adulthood re-exposed rats using discover chips rat microarrays. The expression patterns of V-akt murine thymoma viral oncogene homolog 1, B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL-2), ...

Transcription factors have long been recognised as powerful regulators of mammalian development yet it is largely unknown how individual key regulators operate within wider regulatory networks. Here we have used a combination of global gene expression and chromatin-immunoprecipitation approaches during the early stages of haematopoietic development to define the transcriptional ...

To investigate the effects of sodium fluoride (NaF) on apoptosis, c-Fos mRNA and protein expression levels, and methylation status as well as Dnmt1, Dnmt3a, and Dnmt3b mRNA expression levels in human embryo hepatocyte (L-02) which were exposed to different concentrations of NaF (0, 20, 40, and 80 mg/l) for 24 h in ...

Purpose: Conjunctivochalasis (CCh) is an age-related inflammatory ocular surface disease manifesting redundant, loose conjunctiva folds. The pathogenic role of Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) in controlling upregulation of MMP-1 and MMP-3 in CCh remains undefined. Methods: Cytolocation of PTX3 and apoptosis were compared by immunostaining and TUNEL assay between normal and CCh ...

The expression of the prophenoloxidase (proPO) gene was investigated in nine tissues of red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii, by real-time PCR after challenges by CpG oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN), Aeromonas hydrophila and white spot syndrome virus (WSSV). The results can be summarized as follows: (i) the expression level of the proPO gene ...

This study aims to investigate the mechanism of electroacupuncture (EA) in promoting behavioral recovery after focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion. The SD rats received filament occlusion of the right middle cerebral artery for 2 h followed by reperfusion for 1, 3, 7, 14, and 21 days, respectively. Rats were randomly divided into sham group, ...

Mutations in the presenilin-1 (PSEN1) gene are associated with familial Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Interestingly, neuropathological analysis of a Belgian FTD family carrying a PSEN1 c.548G>T mutation confirmed neurodegeneration in the absence of amyloid plaques. To investigate the impact of the c.548G>T mutation on presenilin-1 (PS1) function in ...

The anti-inflammatory actions of IL-4 in activated human monocytes may reflect transcriptional regulation of genes involved in TLR signaling pathways. Tailored gene arrays were conducted to profile the expression of 84 genes central to TLR-mediated signal transduction in human monocytes treated with the TLR4 ligand, LPS, with or without IL-4. ...

The neural cell adhesion molecule L1 (L1CAM) promotes neurite outgrowth via mechanisms that are not completely understood, but are known to involve the cytoskeleton. Here, we show that L1 binds directly to the microtubule associated protein 2c (MAP2c). This isoform of MAP2 is predominantly expressed in developing neurons. We found ...

Adipose tissue secretes numerous pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α that can lead to insulin resistance (IR). In the liver, both IL-6 and TNF-α induce IR by inhibiting phosphorylation or ubiquitination of IRS1. In IR development, Fe is a risk factor in type-2 diabetes development. ...

Super elongation complexes (SECs) contain two different transcription elongation factors, P-TEFb and ELL1/2, linked by the scaffolding protein AFF4 or AFF1. They stimulate the expression of both normal and disease-related genes, especially those of HIV or those involved in leukemogenesis. Among all SEC subunits, ELL2 is stoichiometrically limiting and uniquely ...

We hypothesized that in mares, cytokines influence luteal angiogenesis, while angiogenic factors themselves can also regulate luteal secretory capacity. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of cytokines--tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF), interferon gamma (IFNG) and Fas ligand (FASL)--on in vitro modulation of angiogenic activity and ...

Arginine kinase (AK) catalyzes the reversible phosphorylation of L-arginine to form phosphoarginine, and plays a critical role in energy metabolism in invertebrates. In the present study, a scallop AK gene was identified from Chlamys farreri with an open reading frame (ORF) of 1101 bp encoding for a protein of 366 ...

Exposure to cytokines can down-regulate hepatic cytochrome P450 enzymes. Accordingly, relief of inflammation by cytokinetargeted drug therapy has the potential to up-regulate cytochrome P450s and thereby increase clearance of co-administered drugs. This study examined the effects of the inflammatory cytokine, interleukin 1β (IL-1β), and IL-1β /interleukin 6 (IL-6) combinations on ...

BACKGROUND: High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is an important inflammatory factor that is closely related to mortality in patients with sepsis. High magnesium therapy has been proved to reduce sepsis-related mortality and sepsis-induced pathologic complications. These effects result from reduced expression and release of many inflammatory cytokines, although it ...

Human inducible nitric oxide synthase (hiNOS) gene expression is regulated by transcriptional and posttranscriptional mechanisms. The purpose of this study was to determine whether specific microRNA (miRNA) directly regulate hiNOS gene expression. Sequence analysis of the 496-bp hiNOS 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) revealed five putative miR-939 binding sites. The hiNOS 3'-UTR ...

BACKGROUND: The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) is influenced by the proinflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α in critically ill humans. Information about the association of cytokines with the HPA axis in neonatal foals is lacking. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: The objectives were to describe for hospitalized septic and nonseptic foals (1) temporal changes in blood ...

PG201, an ethanol extract from a mixture of 12 herbs, has strong antiarthritic activity. To understand the molecular mechanisms underlying its anti-inflammatory effects, PG201-mediated suppression of inflammatory mediators was studied in Raw264.7, a mouse macrophage cell line. PG201 decreased the expression of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and CC chemokine ligand-2, but ...

Eicosanoids are metabolites of arachidonic acid produced by cycloxygenases (COXs) or lipoxygenases (LOXs). They mediate inflammation and mucus secretion in chronic pulmonary inflammatory diseases. The gel-forming mucin MUC5AC is over-expressed in the airways of these patients. MUC5AC expression is mediated by extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK)/Sp1 dependent mechanism.Study the role of eicosanoids ...

CNS neurons exhibit sustained activation by recurring hypoglycemia in the presence of estrogen. We investigated the impact of estradiol on fuel uptake and detection of energy imbalance by hindbrain A2 metabolosensory neurons during acute vs. chronic hypoglycemia. A2 neurons were laser dissected from estradiol benzoate (EB)- and oil (O)-implanted ovariectomized ...

The expression and functional significance of Nox5 and its five isoforms in vascular cells is poorly understood. The goal of this study was to determine whether Nox5α, β, δ, γ and ε(short) are expressed in human blood vessels and evaluate their respective functions. Nox5 mRNA and protein were detected in ...

ABSTRACT: Methamphetamine (MA) is one of the commonly used illicit drugs and the central nervous system toxicity of MA is well documented. The mechanisms contributing to this toxicity have not been fully elucidated. In this study, we investigated the effect of MA on the expression levels of the proinflammatory cytokines/chemokines, ...

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Long-term acetate supplementation reduces neuroglial activation and cholinergic cell loss in a rat model of lipopolysaccharide-induced neuroinflammation. Additionally, a single dose of glyceryl triacetate, used to induce acetate supplementation, increases histone H3 and H4 acetylation and inhibits histone deacetylase activity and histone deacetylase-2 expression in normal rat brain. ...

Purpose: Mechanistic studies have shown that inflammation, complement activation, extracellular matrix (ECM) turnover, growth factor imbalance, and oxidative stress are fundamental components of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) mediate ECM turnover, but also process various bioactive molecules. Here we tested whether complement attack on RPE monolayers changes MMP ...

Chronic exposure to excessive manganese (Mn) can lead to manganism, a type of neurotoxicity accomplished with extracellular glutamate (Glu) accumulation. To investigate this accumulation, this study focused on the role of astrocyte glutamate transporters (GluTs) and glutamine synthetase (GS), which have roles in Glu transport and metabolism, respectively. And the ...

Humans are exposed to acrylamide in their diet and cigarette smoke. Acrylamide is metabolized into glycidamide by CYP2E1. However, very few studies regarding the effects of acrylamide on cytochrome P450 and Glutathione S-Transferase (GST) isozymes have been pursued. The aim of this study is to elucidate the effects of acrylamide ...

Prokaryotes commonly present outer cell wall structures composed of a crystalline array of proteinaceous subunits, known as surface layers (S-layers). The ORF encoding the S-layer protein (SlpA) of Lactobacillus brevis was cloned into Lactococcus lactis under the transcriptional control of the xylose-inducible expression system (XIES). SlpA was secreted into the ...

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays a fundamental role in neuronal synaptic plasticity. A decrease of plasticity in the brain may be related to the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative or psychiatric disorders. Pyrethroid insecticides, which affect sodium channels in neurons, are widely used to control insect pests in agriculture and in the ...

Diapause in Bombyx mori eggs is induced by temperature and photoperiod at the stage of embryonic development in the maternal generation. In those diapause eggs, Esterase-A4 is suggested to serve as a diapause-termination timer (TIME-EA4), because its ATPase activity shows an interval-timer elevation after acid treatment or chilling of eggs ...

ABSTRACT: Expression of inflammatory cytokines is regulated by transcriptional and posttranscriptional mechanisms. We previously showed that NADPH oxidase-derived superoxide induces inflammatory mediators in response to TNF-αand LPS. In this study, we examined the role of endothelial NADPH oxidase in the regulation of mRNA stability of three inflammatory mediators: interleukin-8 (IL-8) ...

Higher plants adapt their growth to high temperature by a dramatic change in plant architecture. It has been shown that the transcriptional regulator phytochrome-interacting factor 4 (PIF4) and the phytohormone auxin are involved in the regulation of high temperature-induced hypocotyl elongation in Arabidopsis. Here we report that PIF4 regulates high ...

Regulation of the positive transcription elongation factor, P-TEFb, plays a major role in controlling mammalian transcription and this is accomplished in part by controlled release of P-TEFb from the 7SK snRNP that sequesters the kinase in an inactive state. We demonstrate here that a similar P-TEFb control system exists in ...

Diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT) catalyzes the final step in triacylglycerol biosynthesis. In the present study, a DGAT2 gene from Bombyx mori was characterized. Temporal expression profiles indicated that BmDGAT2 steadily increased from 96 h before eclosion (-96 h) to an expression peak in the pheromone glands (PGs) of new-emerged female (0 ...