In hippocampal neurons, AMPA receptors (AMPARs) mediate fast excitatory postsynaptic responses at glutamatergic synapses, and are involved in various forms of synaptic plasticity. Dendritic local protein synthesis of selected AMPAR subunit mRNAs is considered an additional mechanism to independently and rapidly control the strength of individual synapses. We have used ...

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays an important role in solid tumor growth, progression and metastasis as well as in the proliferation and differentiation of hematological malignancies. However, the molecular mechanism that modulates VEGF expression and secretion in leukemia cells has not yet to be elucidated. The purpose of the ...

Leptin may be involved in the pathogenesis of numerous cancer types by activation of cellular signal-transduction pathways. In this study, we analyzed the role of leptin and the mechanism(s) underlying its action in cervical carcinoma cells. Firstly, we examined the expression of leptin in 80 cases of cervical carcinoma using immunohistochemical ...

All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) is a potent chemopreventive and therapeutic agent and exerts its effects by inducing growth arrest. In the present study, we demonstrated that ATRA activated the expression of p53 via Axin and induced cell cycle arrest at the G1/S phase and apoptosis of glioma cells. Briefly, C6 ...

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) regulates cell proliferation and survival. The present study aimed to investigate the role of STAT1 in the development and progression of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The levels of STAT1 expression in 36 HCC and 12 non-HCC liver tissues were examined by immunohistochemistry. ...

Regucalcin (RGN/SMP30) was discovered in 1978 and is a unique calcium-binding protein contains no EF-hand motif calcium-binding domain. Its name, regucalcin, was proposed as it suppresses activation of enzymes related to calcium signalling. The regucalcin gene (rgn) is localized on the X chromosome. Regucalcin plays its role of suppressor protein ...

The aim of this study was to investigate effects of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) on differentiation of adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs), in vitro. Murine ASCs were treated with LIPUS for either three or five days, immediately after adipogenic induction, or delayed for 2 days. Expression of adipogenic genes PPAR-γ1, and APN, ...

Based on in vivo studies, low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) stimulation has been widely used in the clinic for advancing bone growth during healing of non-union alignment, fractures and other osseous defects. In this study, we have investigated osteogenic differentiation of adipose stem cells (ASCs) regulated by LIPUS, and also in ...

HDACs (histone deacetylases) 1 and 2 are ubiquitous long-lived proteins, which are often found together in three major multiprotein co-repressor complexes: Sin3, NuRD (nucleosome remodelling and deacetylation) and CoREST (co-repressor for element-1-silencing transcription factor). Although there is a burgeoning number of non-histone proteins within the acetylome, these complexes contain multiple ...

LIM kinase 1 (LIMK1), a cytosolic serine/threonine kinase, regulates actin filament dynamics and reorganization and is involved in neuronal development and brain function. Abnormal expression of LIMK1 is associated with several neurological disorders. In this study, we performed a conservation analysis using Vector NTI (8.0) software. The dualluciferase reporter assay ...

Receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappaB-ligand (RANKL), encoded by the gene TNFSF11, is required for osteoclastogenesis, and its expression is upregulated in pathologic bone loss. Transcript variants of TNFSF11 messenger RNA (mRNA) have been described that encode a membrane-bound and a putative secreted form of RANKL. We identify a TNFSF11 transcript ...

Sperm-associated antigen 9 (SPAG9) is a recently characterized oncoprotein involved in the progression of several human malignancies. The present study aims to investigate the expression pattern and biological roles of SPAG9 protein in human astrocytoma. SPAG9 expression was analyzed in 105 astrocytoma specimens by immunohistochemistry. We observed negative staining in ...

BACKGROUND: RA (retinoic acid) signal pathway has been proved to be required for germ cell meiotic initiation in mammals, aves and amphibians. Stra8 (Stimulated by retinoic acid gene 8) is an important factor in RA signal pathway. However, the role of RA and Stra8 in germ cell meiotic initiation in ...

Of the features that characterize glioblastoma, arguably none is more clinically significant than the propensity of malignant glioma cells to aggressively invade into the surrounding normal brain tissue. These invasive cells render complete resection impossible, confer significant resistance to chemo- and radiation-therapy, and virtually assure tumor recurrence. Expression of TROY ...

Over-expression of ErbB2 and ErbB3 is found in several human cancers, and ErbB2-ErbB3 heterodimers are known as the most potent signaling units among ErbB dimers. While ErbB2 probably undergoes weak endocytosis, ErbB3 is readily internalized even in the absence of added ligand and without requirement for kinase activity. Over-expression of ...

Autophagy is a cellular recycling process induced in response to many types of stress. However, little is known of the signaling pathways that regulate autophagy during acute kidney injury (AKI). Bcl-2/adenovirus E1B 19kDa-interacting protein 3 (BNIP3) and sestrin2 are the target proteins of hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and p53, respectively. ...

Resistance of prostate cancer (CaP) cells to the next generation anti-androgen, Enzalutamide, may be mediated by a multitude of survival signaling pathways. In this study we tested whether increased expression of NF-κB2/p52 induces CaP cell resistance to Enzalutamide and whether this response is mediated by aberrant androgen receptor (AR) activation ...

Mutations in the Wilms' tumor suppressor 1 (WT1) gene are as frequent in acute myeloid leukemia as in nephroblastma and predict poor prognosis. However, the role of WT1 in hematopoiesis remains unclear. We show that Wt1-deficient mouse embryonic stem cells exhibit reduced hematopoietic potential caused by Vegf-a dependent apoptosis of ...

Giant cell tumor (GCT) of bone is a benign but locally aggressive neoplasm of bone. However, molecular mechanisms underlying osteolysis in GCT have not been deeply understood. The aim of this study was to investigate one of the possible mechanisms underlying the up-regulation of receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ...

Snail belongs to the superfamily of zinc-finger transcription factors and plays a crucial role in processes regulating cell fate, such as the formation of mesoderm and initiation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition. We have previously discovered that Snail modulates adiponectin expression in 3T3-L1 cells during adipogenesis. In the present study, we elucidated ...

BACKGROUND: Retroperitoneal lymph node (RLN) metastasis is an important indicator of endometrial cancer (EC) prognosis. Because vascular endothelial growth factor c (VEGF-c) is known to influence lymphangiogenesis and thereby lymph node metastasis, this study assessed the relationship of VEGF-c mRNA expression with RLN metastasis in EC. METHODS: The uterine muscularis ...

Nerve growth factor (NGF) is a polypeptide growth factor with specific trophic function in nerve cells and was initially investigated for its role as a key player in the regulation of peripheral innervations. The aim of this study was to examine the NGF-induced transdifferentiation of adrenal medullary cells, and to ...

Background:Eukaryotic translation elongation factor 1A2 (eEF1A2) is a known proto-oncogene. We proposed that stimulation of the eEF1A2 expression in cancer tissues is caused by the loss of miRNA-mediated control.Methods:Impact of miRNAs on eEF1A2 at the mRNA and protein levels was examined by qPCR and western blot, respectively. Dual-luciferase assay was ...

Somatostatin signals predominantly through somatostatin receptor (SSTR) subtype 2 to attenuate GH release. However, the independent role of the receptor in regulating GH synthesis is unclear. Because we had previously demonstrated constitutive SSTR2 activity in mouse corticotrophs, we now analyzed GH regulation in rat pituitary somatotroph (GC) tumor cells, which ...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: p53-mediated neuronal death is a central pathway of stroke pathophysiology, but its mechanistic details remain unclear. Here, we identified a novel microRNA mechanism that downregulation of inhibitory member of the apoptosis-stimulating proteins of p53 family (iASPP) by the brain-specific microRNA-124 (miR-124) promotes neuronal death after cerebral ischemia. ...

Interleukin-22 (IL-22) is a proinflammatory cytokine that has been associated with the pathogenesis of inflammatory skin disorders. However, the impact of IL-22 on microRNA (miRNA) expression in epidermal keratinocytes is unknown. Here we show that IL-22 induces miR-184 in reconstituted human epidermis (RHE) and in the HaCaT keratinocyte cell line. ...

The sirtuin family of class III histone deacetylases has been extensively implicated in modulating a myriad of cellular processes, including energy metabolism, stress response, cell/tissue survival and malignancy. Recent studies have also identified multifaceted roles for Sirt1 and Sirt2 in the regulation of autophagy. Sirt1 could influence autophagy directly via ...

This study was designed to systematically analyze and evaluate the effects of in vivo blockade of α1-adrenergic receptors (α1-ADRs) on the stress-induced disturbance of steroidogenic machinery in Leydig cells. Parameters followed: (1) steroidogenic enzymes/proteins, transcription factors and cAMP/testosterone production; (2) the main hallmarks of stress (adrenaline, glucocorticoids); transcription profiles ADRs ...

Plakoglobin (γ-catenin), a constituent of the adherens junction and desmosomes, has signaling capabilities typically associated with tumor/metastasis suppression through mechanisms that remain undefined. To determine the role of plakoglobin during tumorigenesis and metastasis, we expressed plakoglobin in human tongue squamous cell carcinoma (SCC9) cells and compared the mRNA profiles of ...

Targeted inhibition of Hedgehog signaling at the cell membrane has been associated with anticancer activity in preclinical and early clinical studies. Hedgehog signaling involves activation of Gli transcription factors that can also be induced by alternative pathways. In this study, we identified an interaction between Gli proteins and a transcription ...

Acetylation of the RelA subunit of NF-κB at lysine-310 regulates the transcriptional activation of NF-κB target genes and contributes to maintaining constitutively active NF-κB in tumors. Bromodomain-containing factor Brd4 has been shown to bind to acetylated lysine-310 (AcLys310) and to regulate the transcriptional activity of NF-κB, but the role of ...

LM23, a gene expressed specifically in the testis in a stage-specific manner, has a diverse range of functions that are important in both the life and death of spermatogenic cells. The aim of this study was to further investigate the expression of LM23 in the developing rat testis and the ...

Telomerase is a specialized ribonucleoprotein that adds repeated DNA sequences to the ends of eukaryotic chromosomes to preserve genome integrity. Some secondary structure features of the telomerase RNA are very well conserved, and it serves as a central scaffold for the binding of associated proteins. The Saccharomyces cerevisiae telomerase RNA, ...

Plakoglobin (PG) is an important component of intercellular junctions, including both desmosomes and adherens junctions, which is known as a tumor suppressor. Although mutations in the plakoglobin gene (Jup) and/or changes in its protein levels have been observed in various disease states, including cancer progression or cardiovascular defects, the information ...

BACKGROUND: Notch signaling, a critical pathway for tissue development, contributes to tumorigenesis in many tissues; however, the roles of Notch signaling in Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) remains unclear. In this study, we evaluated the expression and effects of Notch1 on cell migration in ICC. METHODS: Multiple cellular and molecular approaches were ...

An airway-selective DNase hypersensitive site (DHS) at -35kb 5' to the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene is evident in many lung cell lines and primary human tracheal epithelial cells but is absent from intestinal epithelia. DHS-35kb contains an element with enhancer activity in 16HBE14o- airway epithelial cells and ...

Lipocalin-2 (Lcn2) is preferentially expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the functional role of Lcn2 in HCC progression is still poorly understood, particularly with respect to its involvement in invasion and metastasis. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether Lcn2 is associated with the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in ...

BCL11B is a Kruppel-like C2H2-type zinc finger transcription factor, which has been associated with several human malignancies. Recent evidence showed that overexpressed BCL11B conferred chemoresistance to malignant T cells and that inhibiting BCL11B led to increased apoptosis, suggesting its potential pathogenic relevance in cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCL), which were characterized ...

The abundance of an mRNA in a cell depends on its overall rates of synthesis and decay. RNA stability is an important element in the regulation of gene expression, and is achieved by a variety of processes including specific recruitment of nucleases and RNAi-associated mechanisms. These mechanisms are particularly important ...

Zinc is the most common trace mineral after iron in the human body. In organisms, zinc transporters help zinc influx and efflux from cells. A previous study has reported that Zip2 was up-regulated over 27-fold in human monocytic THP-1 cells, when intracellular zinc was depleted by TPEN. Our study found ...

Glucocorticoids (GCs) are pro-apoptotic as a co-medication to treat leukemia and lymphoma. However, the effects in breast cancer (BC) are diverse with mechanisms less understood. In this study using BC model cell MCF7, we found that dexamethasone (Dex) promotes cell proliferation. Gene expression analysis identified that c-Myc was enhanced by ...

The combined effects of various carcinogens found in food products are a concern for human health. In the present study, the effects of flumequine (FL) on the in vivo mutagenicity of 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (MeIQx) in the liver were investigated. Additionally, we attempted to clarify the underlying mechanisms through comprehensive gene analysis ...

Sirtuins belong to a class of NAD-dependent deacetylases and consists of seven distinct isoforms of which SIRT7 is the least studied member. In the present study, the subcellular expression of SIRT7 in primary fibroblasts undergoing senescence was evaluated by immunocytochemistry and immunoblot assay. Expression of nucleolar SIRT7 in young fibroblast ...

The CC (cumulus cell) proliferation index in relation to the expression and distribution of Cdk4 and Cx43 proteins, which are crucial factors for oocyte maturation, was investigated. Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were recovered from pubertal crossbred Landrace gilts and treated with collagenase, and separated CCs were cultured in standard TCM199 medium ...

Nitric oxide (NO) plays an important role in innate host defence and inflammation. In response to infection, NO is generated by inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), a gene product whose expression is highly modulated by different stimuli, including lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from gram-negative bacteria. We reported recently that LPS from Pseudomonas ...

Objective. To investigate the expression and function of Mohawk (MKX) in human adult anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tissues and ligament cells from normal and osteoarthritis-affected knees. Methods. Knee joints were obtained at autopsy within 24-48 hours postmortem from 13 normal donors (age 36.9±11.0 years), 16 OA donors (age 79.7±11.4 years) ...

The expression of ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase 1 (UCHL1) is deregulated in human cancer cells with tumor inhibiting or promoting functions. Due to less knowledge on the role of UCHL1 in melanoma progression, the expression pattern and function of UCHL1 as well as the deregulated signaling pathways were characterized. A large ...

Engagement of NKG2D and DNAX accessory molecule-1 (DNAM-1) receptors on lymphocytes plays an important role for anticancer response and represents an interesting therapeutic target for pharmacological modulation. In this study, we investigated the effect of inhibitors targeting the glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK3) on the expression of NKG2D and DNAM-1 ligands ...

Nitric oxide and cGMP modulate vascular smooth muscle cell (SMC) phenotype by regulating cell differentiation and proliferation. Recent studies suggest that cGMP-dependent protein kinase I (PKGI) cleavage and the nuclear translocation of a constitutively active kinase fragment, PKGIγ, are required for nuclear cGMP signaling in SMC. However, the mechanisms that ...

p66(Shc), one of the SHC1 gene encoding proteins, promotes cell death and reports cell anchorage status, mediating anoikis in vitro and functioning as a metastasis suppressor in vivo. However, very little is known about p66(Shc) gene regulation in cancer cells. Here, we show that methylation of a specific CpG site ...