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PubMedDate not supplied

Ischemic brain edema.

Brain edema is a life-threatening complication of cerebral infarction. The molecular cascade initiated by cerebral ischemia includes the loss of membrane ionic pumps and cell swelling. Secondary formation of free radicals and proteases disrupts brain-cell membranes, causing irreversible damage. New diagnostic methods based on magnetic resonance imaging have markedly improved diagnostic accuracy. Cytotoxic and vasogenic edema is maximal by 24 to 72 hours after the ischemic event. Thrombolytics reperfuse tissue and improve outcome; when treatment is delayed, they can increase edema and blood-brain barrier opening. Although osmotherapy reduces brain water, and is used to treat ischemic edema, its efficacy remains to be proven. As the molecular events become clearer, novel treatments that block different stages of the injury cascade will be available for clinical testing.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Arachidonic acid mediates muscarinic inhibition and enhancement of N-type Ca2+ current in sympathetic neurons.

N-type Ca(2+) channels participate in acute activity-dependent processes such as regulation of Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channels and in more prolonged events such as gene transcription and long-term depression. A slow postsynaptic M(1) muscarinic receptor-mediated modulation of N-type current in superior cervical ganglion neurons may be important in regulating these processes. This slow pathway inhibits N-type current by using a diffusible second messenger that has remained unidentified for more than a decade. Using whole-cell patch-clamp techniques, which isolate the slow pathway, we found that the muscarinic agonist oxotremorine methiodide not only inhibits currents at positive potentials but enhances N-type current at negative potentials. Enhancement was also observed in cell-attached patches. These findings provide evidence for N-type Ca(2+)-current enhancement by a classical neurotransmitter. Moreover, enhancement and inhibition of current by oxotremorine methiodide mimics modulation observed with direct application of a low concentration of arachidonic acid (AA). Although no transmitter has been reported to use AA as a second messenger to modulate any Ca(2+) current in either neuronal or nonneuronal cells, we nevertheless tested whether a fatty acid signaling cascade was involved. Blocking phospholipase C, phospholipase A(2), or AA but not AA metabolism minimized muscarinic modulation of N-type current, supporting the participation of these molecules in the slow pathway. A role for the G protein G(q) was also confirmed by blocking muscarinic modulation of Ca(2+) currents with anti-G(qalpha) antibody. Our finding that AA participates in the slow pathway strongly suggests that it may be the previously unknown diffusible second messenger.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

A bacterial two-hybrid system based on a reconstituted signal transduction pathway.

We describe a bacterial two-hybrid system that allows an easy in vivo screening and selection of functional interactions between two proteins. This genetic test is based on the reconstitution, in an Escherichia coli cya strain, of a signal transduction pathway that takes advantage of the positive control exerted by cAMP. Two putative interacting proteins are genetically fused to two complementary fragments, T25 and T18, that constitute the catalytic domain of Bordetella pertussis adenylate cyclase. Association of the two-hybrid proteins results in functional complementation between T25 and T18 fragments and leads to cAMP synthesis. Cyclic AMP then triggers transcriptional activation of catabolic operons, such as lactose or maltose, that yield a characteristic phenotype. In this genetic test, the involvement of a signaling cascade offers the unique property that association between the hybrid proteins can be spatially separated from the transcriptional activation readout. This permits a versatile design of screening procedures either for ligands that bind to a given "bait," as in the classical yeast two-hybrid system, or for molecules or mutations that block a given interaction between two proteins of interest.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗
PubMed2005

A direct signaling role for phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) in the visual excitation process of microvillar receptors.

In microvillar photoreceptors the pivotal role of phospholipase C in light transduction is undisputed, but previous attempts to account for the photoresponse solely in terms of downstream products of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) hydrolysis have proved wanting. In other systems PIP2 has been shown to possess signaling functions of its own, rather than simply serving as a precursor molecule. Because illumination of microvillar photoreceptors cells leads to PIP2 break-down, a potential role for this phospholipid in phototransduction would be to help maintain some element(s) of the transduction cascade in the inactive state. We tested the effect of intracellular dialysis of PIP2 on voltage-clamped molluscan photoreceptors and found a marked reduction in the amplitude of the photocurrent; by contrast, depolarization-activated calcium and potassium currents were unaffected, thus supporting the notion of a specific effect on light signaling. In the dark, PIP2 caused a gradual outward shift of the holding current; this change was due to a decrease in membrane conductance and may reflect the suppression of basal openings of the light-sensitive conductance. The consequences of depleting PIP2 were examined in patches of light-sensitive microvillar membrane screened for the exclusive presence of light-activated ion channels. After excision, superfusion with anti-PIP2 antibodies induced the appearance of single-channel currents. Replenishment of PIP2 by exogenous application reverted the effect. These data support the notion that PIP2, in addition to being the source of inositol trisphosphate and diacylglycerol, two messengers of visual excitation, may also participate in a direct fashion in the control of the light-sensitive conductance.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Evidence that aggregation of mouse sperm receptors by ZP3 triggers the acrosome reaction.

In the mouse, considerable evidence indicates that initial sperm binding to the zona pellucida (ZP) is mediated by ZP3. In addition, this same glycoprotein is also responsible for inducing the acrosome reaction (AR). Whereas the O-linked oligosaccharides of ZP3 appear to mediate sperm-ZP binding, the portion of ZP3 bearing AR activity has not been defined. To try to understand the bifunctional role of ZP3 (binding and AR inducing activities), we have examined the hypothesis that ZP3 aggregates sperm receptor molecules. By analogy with findings in a variety of other extracellular signal transducing systems, including receptors for growth factors and insulin, this aggregation event could initiate the cascade resulting in the AR. To test this hypothesis, we have generated monospecific polyclonal antibodies against ZP2 and against ZP3, and examined the effects of these probes on capacitated sperm incubated in the absence or presence of various ZP protein preparations. For some experiments, we have used proteolytic fragments of ZP3, a preparation known to retain specific binding, but not AR-inducing, activity. We show here that capacitated mouse sperm, incubated with ZP glycopeptides, displayed ARs when incubated subsequently with anti-ZP3 IgG; ARs did not occur when parallel sperm samples were incubated with anti-ZP2 IgG or with anti-ZP3 Fab fragments. When capacitated sperm were treated successively, with (a) ZP3 glycopeptides, (b) anti-ZP3 Fab fragments, and (c) goat anti-rabbit IgG, ARs occurred in the majority of sperm. An alternative approach to examine this hypothesis used ZP proteins obtained from tubal eggs treated previously with bioactive phorbol diester (12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate [TPA]). This preparation arrests capacitated sperm in an intermediate state of the AR. We demonstrate here that these sperm can be induced to undergo a complete AR by subsequent treatment with anti-ZP3 IgG. Together, these findings are consistent with the hypothesis under examination, and suggest that the aggregation of sperm molecules recognized by ZP3 glycopeptides or by TPA-treated ZP is sufficient to trigger the events that occur during acrosomal exocytosis.

Acrosome↗
PubMed2004

Activation of complement pathways after contusion-induced spinal cord injury.

Previous studies have shown that a cellular inflammatory response is initiated, and inflammatory cytokines are synthesized, following experimental spinal cord injury (SCI). In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that the complement cascade, a major component of both the innate and adaptive immune response, is also activated following experimental SCI. We investigated the pathways, cellular localization, timecourse, and degree of complement activation in rat spinal cord following acute contusion-induced SCI using the New York University (NYU) weight drop impactor. Mild and severe injuries (12.5 and 50 mm drop heights) at 1, 7, and 42 days post injury time points were evaluated. Classical (C1q and C4), alternative (Factor B) and terminal (C5b-9) complement pathways were strongly activated within 1 day of SCI. Complement protein immunoreactivity was predominantly found in cell types vulnerable to degeneration, neurons and oligodendrocytes, and was not generally observed in inflammatory or astroglial cells. Surprisingly, immunoreactivity for complement proteins was also evident 6 weeks after injury, and complement activation was observed as far as 20 mm rostral to the site of injury. Axonal staining by C1q and Factor B was also observed, suggesting a potential role for the complement cascade in demyelination or axonal degeneration. These data support the hypothesis that complement activation plays a role in SCI.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Piscivores, trophic cascades, and lake management.

The concept of cascading trophic interactions predicts that an increase in piscivore biomass in lakes will result in decreased planktivorous fish biomass, increased herbivorous zooplankton biomass, and decreased phytoplankton biomass. Though often accepted as a paradigm in the ecological literature and adopted by lake managers as a basis for lake management strategies, the trophic cascading interactions hypothesis has not received the unequivocal support (in the form of rigorous experimental testing) that might be expected of a paradigm. Here we review field experiments and surveys, testing the hypothesis that effects of increasing piscivore biomass will cascade down through the food web yielding a decline in phytoplankton biomass. We found 39 studies in the scientific literature examining piscivore effects on phytoplankton biomass. Of the studies, 22 were confounded by supplemental manipulations (e.g., simultaneous reduction of nutrients or removal of planktivores) and could not be used to assess piscivore effects. Of the 17 nonconfounded studies, most did not find piscivore effects on phytoplankton biomass and therefore did not support the trophic cascading interactions hypothesis. However, the trophic cascading interactions hypothesis also predicts that lake systems containing piscivores will have lower phytoplankton biomass for any given phosphorus concentration. Based on regression analyses of chlorophyll-total phosphorus relationships in the 17 nonconfounded piscivore studies, this aspect of the trophic cascading interactions hypothesis was supported. The slope of the chlorophyll vs. total phosphorus regression was lower in lakes with planktivores and piscivores compared with lakes containing only planktivores but no piscivores. We hypothesize that this slope can be used as an indicator of "functional piscivory" and that communities with extremes of functional piscivory (zero and very high) represent classical 3- and 4-trophic level food webs.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

A novel digital image processing system for the transient liquid crystal technique applied for heat transfer and film cooling measurements.

This paper is dedicated to the transient liquid crystal technique measurements for multiple view access by using a novel digital recording and image processing system. The transient liquid crystal technique is widely used for heat transfer investigations in turbomachinery. It has been applied in our laboratory in several test facilities such as a linear cascade for external film cooling measurements or on a ribbed squared duct for internal cooling measurements. The data analysis as well as the measurement equipment is described, with a special focus on the newly developed computerized image processing system suitable to capture the liquid crystal signal.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2002

Interleukin-6 stimulates tubular regeneration in rats with glycerol-induced acute renal failure.

UNLABELLED: Interleukin-6 stimulates tubular regeneration in rats with glycerol-induced acute renal failure. BACKGROUND: Interleukin 6 (IL-6) is a pleiotropic cytokine released after endotoxemia, trauma and organ injury. IL-6 may act in cellular proliferation activating transduction signals and Ras/Map cascade or the HGF/c-met axis. We tested the effect of IL-6 in the regeneration of tubular epithelia after acute tubular necrosis (ATN) in rats. METHODS: Rats with glycerol-induced acute renal failure (Gly-ARF) were treated with IL-6 200 microg/kg/day. Functional, histological and immunohistochemical tests were done 24 and 72 h after Gly-ARF to localise mitotic cells (BrdU). The renal expression of c-met (Western-Blot) and circulating levels of HGF (ELISA) were also determined. RESULTS: Rats with Gly-ARF had reduced creatinine clearance that was not influenced by IL-6. The histological appearance of ATN was also unaffected by IL-6. The IL-6 treated rats showed a significant increase in tubular cell proliferation in cortex and medulla, as well as in the expression of c-met protein in the renal cortex, compared to untreated Gly-ARF rats. The plasma HGF concentration was equally elevated in treated and untreated Gly-ARF rats. DISCUSSION: IL-6 stimulates tubular regeneration after Gly-ARF and increases the expression of c-met in the renal cortex. Gly-ARF rats have high circulating levels of HGF that is targeted to act in the injured kidneys by the IL-6 overexpressed renal c-met.

Acute Kidney Injury↗
PubMed2003

Involvement of phosphatidic acid in both degranulation and oxidative activity in fMet-Leu-Phe stimulated polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (neutrophils) release a variety of toxic agents--proteins and reactive oxygen species (ROS)--that are used to inactivate foreign microorganisms in the non-specific immune response. This study was undertaken to compare intracellular signalling pathways that lead to the ROS production as well as degranulation of azurophilic granules of human fMet-Leu-Phe/cytochalasin B stimulated neutrophils. METHODS: Luminol-amplified chemiluminescence was used for monitoring the oxidative activity of human neutrophils in the presence of various inhibitors. The elastase activity was assessed in the neutrophil supernatant as a marker for degranulation of azurophilic granules. RESULTS: Tested inhibitors of enzymes of signalling cascades showed the same effect on the ROS production and on the activity of elastase released from neutrophils. The only difference was obtained with staurosporine: it inhibited the chemiluminescence response, but increased the elastase release. CONCLUSION: Early signalling pathways leading to the ROS production and the degranulation are ubiquitous in human neutrophils. They are branching most probably at the point of the phosphatidic acid production by phospholipase D. A protein kinase activated by this lipid second messenger might play a central regulatory role in human neutrophils.

1-Butanol↗
PubMed1999

In vivo enzymatic assay reveals catalytic activity of the human renin precursor in tissues.

The aspartyl protease renin is secreted into the circulation of mammals in 2 forms: the proteolytically processed active form of the enzyme and the precursor form, prorenin. Prorenin has no detectable enzymatic activity in the circulation, but it is the exclusive form of the enzyme produced by several tissues that also produce the other components of the renin enzymatic cascade (renin-angiotensin system). To test whether prorenin might be enzymatically active in these tissues, transgenic mice expressing the human renin substrate (angiotensinogen) exclusively in the pituitary gland were mated to mice expressing either active human renin or prorenin in the same tissue. Measurement of in vivo product formation in pituitary glands of double-transgenic mice revealed that human prorenin was enzymatically active, and Western blot analysis demonstrated that this prorenin was in the precursor form with its prosegment attached. This in vivo enzymatic assay demonstrates for the first time that human prorenin can be activated within tissues by nonproteolytic means, where it could contribute to the activity of a localized renin-angiotensin system.

Angiotensin I↗
PubMed2001

Prevention of fat-induced insulin resistance by salicylate.

Insulin resistance is a major factor in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes and may involve fat-induced activation of a serine kinase cascade involving IKK-beta. To test this hypothesis, we first examined insulin action and signaling in awake rats during hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamps after a lipid infusion with or without pretreatment with salicylate, a known inhibitor of IKK-beta. Whole-body glucose uptake and metabolism were estimated using [3-(3)H]glucose infusion, and glucose uptake in individual tissues was estimated using [1-(14)C]2-deoxyglucose injection during the clamp. Here we show that lipid infusion decreased insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and activation of IRS-1-associated PI 3-kinase in skeletal muscle but that salicylate pretreatment prevented these lipid-induced effects. To examine the mechanism of salicylate action, we studied the effects of lipid infusion on insulin action and signaling during the clamp in awake mice lacking IKK-beta. Unlike the response in wild-type mice, IKK-beta knockout mice did not exhibit altered skeletal muscle insulin signaling and action following lipid infusion. In summary, high-dose salicylate and inactivation of IKK-beta prevent fat-induced insulin resistance in skeletal muscle by blocking fat-induced defects in insulin signaling and action and represent a potentially novel class of therapeutic agents for type 2 diabetes.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Molecular, cellular and medical aspects of the action of nutraceuticals and small molecules therapeutics: from chemoprevention to new drug development.

Dietary supplements, functional foods and their concentrated, sometimes purified, active forms, the so-called nutraceuticals, are becoming increasingly popular throughout the world. Small molecules that regulate signal transduction cascades and gene expression are being tested by many pharmaceutical companies. A rapidly and exponentially growing industry (close to $30 billion in 1999 worldwide) exists to commercialize and exploit this interest. However, the scientific basis of the action of such unproved products is in the very early stages of development. While supporters claim they produce miracle cures, opponents argue that such unproved agents do more harm than good.

Autoimmune Diseases↗
PubMed2002

Transgenic mice overexpressing human Bcl-2 are resistant to hepatic ischemia and reperfusion.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Apoptosis is a key mechanism of reperfusion injury in the ischemic liver. The apoptotic pathway is highly regulated by anti-apoptotic factors, such as Bcl-2. We evaluated the effect of Bcl-2 overexpression on apoptosis and the activation of the apoptotic cascade after hepatic ischemia and reperfusion. METHODS: Ninety minutes of ischemia and reperfusion was performed in Bcl-2 transgenic and non-transgenic mice. Bcl-2 overexpression was determined by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. Liver injury was determined by aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Tunel test and the activation of the apoptotic cascade and animal survival. RESULTS: Bcl-2 overexpression was present in all hepatocytes and non-parenchymal liver cells in transgenic mice. Bcl-2 overexpression resulted in significant decreased AST levels after ischemic injury, and complete inhibition of apoptosis. After 90 min of total hepatic ischemia all control mice died, while four transgenic mice survived permanently. Bcl-2 overexpression was associated with inhibition of caspase 3 activation after reperfusion and increased baseline levels of cytoplasmic cytochrome c, caspase 3, and a reduction of Bcl-x(L) production. CONCLUSIONS: Bcl-2 overexpression protects against ischemic injury by inhibiting apoptosis. Extensive overproduction of Bcl-2 is associated with a compensatory increase of baseline levels of cytoplasmic cytochrome c and caspase 3, and a deletion of Bcl-x(L).

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Critical findings on the activation cascade of yeast plasma membrane H+-ATPase.

Strains of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, deficient in either of its two G-proteins, in the Snf3 and Rgt2 sensors, in the Gpr1 receptor and in various hexokinases were tested for their ability to start the activation cascade with a metabolizable monosaccharide that leads eventually to activation of plasma membrane H(+)-ATPase. The acidification rate after addition of glucose to glucose-grown cells and of galactose to galactose-grown ones, and the rate of ATP hydrolysis by purified plasma membranes in both types of cells were studied. It appears unequivocally that phosphorylation of the monosaccharide is essential for the activation; the role of the Gpa2 protein (possibly in combination with the Gpr1 receptor) is very probable while the two sensors appear to play somewhat ambiguous roles - in the absence of both the activation was actually higher than in the parent strain. The Gpa1 G-protein is not involved in acidification but may function in ATPase activity where, in addition to the phosphorylation step, other factors can play a role. There appear to be alternative pathways leading to the ultimate activation of the H(+)-ATPase, not necessarily involving G-proteins.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed2002

Polycystin-1 activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase and AP-1 is mediated by heterotrimeric G proteins.

Functional analysis of polycystin-1, the product of the gene most frequently mutated in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, has revealed that this protein is involved in the regulation of diverse signaling pathways such as the activation of the transcription factor AP-1 and modulation of Wnt signaling. However, the initial steps involved in the activation of such cascades have remained unclear. We demonstrated previously that the C-terminal cytosolic tail of polycystin-1 binds and activates heterotrimeric G proteins in vitro. To test if polycystin-1 can activate cellular signaling cascades via heterotrimeric G protein subunits, polycystin-1 C-terminal tail-mediated c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and AP-1 activities were assayed in transiently transfected 293T cells in the presence of dominant-negative, G protein inhibiting constructs, and in the presence of cotransfected Galpha subunits. The results showed that polycystin-1-mediated JNK/AP-1 activation is mediated by Galpha and Gbetagamma subunits. Polycystin-1-mediated AP-1 activity could be significantly augmented by cotransfected Galpha(i), Galpha(q), and Galpha(12/13) subunits, suggesting that polycystin-1 can couple with and activate several heterotrimeric G protein families.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Contaminant effects on the teleost fish thyroid.

Numerous environmentally relevant chemicals, including polychlorinated hydrocarbons, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, organochlorine pesticides, chlorinated paraffins, organophosphorous pesticides, carbamate pesticides, cyanide compounds, methyl bromide, phenols, ammonia, metals, acid loads, sex steroids, and pharmaceuticals, exert acute or chronic effects on the thyroid cascade in the approximately 40 teleost fish species tested to date. Thyroid endpoints, therefore, serve as biomarkers of exposure to environmental pollutants. However, the mechanisms underlying thyroid changes and their physiological consequences are poorly understood because the thyroid cascade may respond indirectly and it has considerable capacity to compensate for abuses that otherwise would disrupt thyroid hormone homeostasis. Indeed, a xenobiotic-induced change in fish thyroid function has yet to be conclusively causally linked to decreased fitness or survival. Other complications in interpretation arise from the diversity of test conditions employed and the often indiscriminate use of numerous thyroid endpoints. Future work should be directed toward standardizing test conditions and thyroid endpoints and investigating causal links between thyroid changes and fish growth, reproduction, and development. Development may be particularly susceptible to thyroid disruption, and thyroid endpoints appropriate for early life stages need to be applied.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Down-regulation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade immediately before parturition in the rat myometrium.

OBJECTIVE: This study tested the hypothesis that mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway is up-regulated during the course of pregnancy concomitant with uterine hypertrophy. METHODS: The expression and intracellular distribution of components of the MAPK cascade and the activation of MAPKs erk1 and erk2 were examined in the pregnant rat myometrium (day 10-22 of gestation). Protein expression was detected by Western analysis of myometrial subcellular fractions. Mitogen-activated protein kinase activation was studied by detection of tyrosine phosphorylation of erk1 and erk2 kinases and enzymatic activity. RESULTS: Mitogen-activated protein kinase activity increased from day 15 to day 20 of pregnancy. Immediately before parturition, MAPK activity, but not expression, declined sharply. During the same interval, membrane expression of the mitogenic-switching protein ras and the ras activator sos declined. CONCLUSION: The shift in intracellular distribution ras and ras chaperone proteins may precede the down-regulation of membrane-dependent mitogenic signaling and uterine hypertrophy as pregnancy approaches parturition.

Animals↗