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At least 433 records · Page 24Linked to original sources
PubMed2002

Role of sarcolemmal K(ATP) channels in cardioprotection against ischemia/reperfusion injury in mice.

Recently it has been postulated that mitochondrial ATP-sensitive K(+) (mitoK(ATP)) channels rather than sarcolemmal K(ATP) (sarcK(ATP)) channels are important as end effectors and/or triggers of ischemic preconditioning (IPC). To define the pathophysiological significance of sarcK(ATP) channels, we conducted functional experiments using Kir6.2-deficient (KO) mice. Metabolic inhibition with glucose-free, dinitrophenol-containing solution activated sarcK(ATP) current and shortened the action potential duration in ventricular cells isolated from wild-type (WT) but not KO mice. MitoK(ATP) channel function was preserved in KO ventricular cells. In anesthetized mice, IPC reduced the infarct size in WT but not KO mice. Following global ischemia/reperfusion, the increase of left ventricular end-diastolic pressure during ischemia was more marked, and the recovery of contractile function was worse, in KO hearts than in WT hearts. Treatment with HMR1098, a sarcK(ATP) channel blocker, but not 5-hydroxydecanoate, a mitoK(ATP) channel blocker, produced a deterioration of contractile function in WT hearts comparable to that of KO hearts. These findings suggest that sarcKATP channels figures prominently in modulating ischemia/reperfusion injury in the mouse. The rapid heart rate of the mouse (>600 beats per minute) may magnify the relative importance of sarcK(ATP) channels during ischemia, prompting caution in the extrapolation of the conclusions to larger mammals.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Essential function of Wnt-4 for tubulogenesis in the Xenopus pronephric kidney.

In the vertebrate embryo, development of the excretory system is characterized by the successive formation of three distinct kidneys: the pronephros, mesonephros, and metanephros. While tubulogenesis in the metanephric kidney is critically dependent on the signaling molecule Wnt-4, it is unknown whether Wnt signaling is equally required for the formation of renal epithelia in the other embryonic kidney forms. We therefore investigated the expression of Wnt genes during the pronephric kidney development in Xenopus. Wnt4 was found to be associated with developing pronephric tubules, but was absent from the pronephric duct. Onset of pronephric Wnt-4 expression coincided with mesenchyme-to-epithelium transformation. To investigate Wnt-4 gene function, we performed gain- and loss-of-function experiments. Misexpression of Wnt4 in the intermediate and lateral mesoderm caused abnormal morphogenesis of the pronephric tubules, but was not sufficient to initiate ectopic tubule formation. We used a morpholino antisense oligonucleotide-based gene knockdown strategy to disrupt Wnt-4 gene function. Xenopus embryos injected with antisense Wnt-4 morpholinos developed normally, but marker gene and morphological analysis revealed a complete absence of pronephric tubules. Pronephric duct development was largely unaffected, indicating that ductogenesis may occur normally in the absence of pronephric tubules. Our results show that, as in the metanephric kidney, Wnt-4 is critically required for tubulogenesis in the pronephric kidney, indicating that a common, evolutionary conserved gene regulatory network may control tubulogenesis in different vertebrate excretory organs.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Minibrain/DYRK1A gene: candidate gene for mental retardation in Down's syndrome?].

DYRK1A is the first member of a novel subfamily of protein kinases with dual specificity. The human gene for DYRK1A is located in the "Down syndrome critical region" (21q22.2). Due to its relationship to the Drosophila gene minibrain (Mnb), whose mutation results in specific defects in neurogenesis, and based on functional experiments on transgenic mice, DYRK1A is discussed as a candidate gene for mental retardation in Down syndrome. The kinase is characterized by its ability to catalyze tyrosine-directed autophosphorylation as well as phosphorylation of serine/threonine residues in substrates. Its exact cellular function is yet unknown. DYRK1A is, however, known to be translocated into the nucleus and supposed to be involved in the control of cell growth and development. The pathogenetic impact of DYRK1A on Down syndrome needs further elucidation.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Characterization of beta-adrenoceptor subtypes in the ferret urinary bladder in vitro and in vivo.

In the present study, the beta-adrenoceptor subtypes distributed in the detrusor of the ferret were investigated in functional experiments in vitro and in vivo using a variety of beta-adrenoceptor agonists and antagonists. All the beta-adrenoceptor agonists tested relaxed the isolated detrusor strip, the rank order of potency being (+/-)-(R*, R*)-[4-[2-[[2-(3-chlorophenyl)-2-hydroxyethyl]-amino]propyl]phenoxy]- acetic acid sodium (BRL 37344A)>(+/-)-4-(3-t-butylamino-2-hydroxypropoxy) benzimidazol-2-one (CGP-12177A), isoprenaline and (R, R)-5-[2-[[2-(3-chlorophenyl)-2-hydroxyethylamino]propyl]-1, 3-benzodioxole-2,2-dicarboxylate (CL 316,243)>dobutamine and procaterol. In antagonist experiment, 3-(2-allylphenoxy)-1-[(1S)-1,2, 3,4-tetrahydro-naphth-1-ylamino]-(2S)-2-propanol hydrochloride (SR 58894A), but neither 2-hydroxy-5(2-((2-hydroxy-3-(4-((1-methyl-4-trifluoromethyl)1H-imidaz ole-2-yl)-phenoxy)propyl)amino)ethoxy)-benzamide monomethane sulphonate (CGP-20712A) nor erythro-(+/-)-1-(7-methylindan-4-yloxy)-3-isopropylaminob utan-2-ol hydrochloride (ICI-118,551), caused a rightward shift of the concentration-relaxation curve for isoprenaline. In in vivo experiments, isoprenaline and CL 316,243 each reduced bladder pressure in a dose-dependent manner. CL 316,243 was the only drug that did not produce any significant influences on blood pressure and heart rate at doses that reduced bladder pressure. The present functional study provides the first evidence that relaxation of the ferret detrusor by beta-adrenoceptor activation is mediated mainly via the beta(3)-adrenoceptor, as in the human detrusor.

Adrenergic beta-Agonists↗
PubMed2002

Wnt-11 activation of a non-canonical Wnt signalling pathway is required for cardiogenesis.

Formation of the vertebrate heart requires a complex interplay of several temporally regulated signalling cascades. In Xenopus laevis, cardiac specification occurs during gastrulation and requires signals from the dorsal lip and underlying endoderm. Among known Xenopus Wnt genes, only Wnt-11 shows a spatiotemporal pattern of expression that correlates with cardiac specification, which indicates that Wnt-11 may be involved in heart development. Here we show, through loss- and gain-of-function experiments, that XWnt-11 is required for heart formation in Xenopus embryos and is sufficient to induce a contractile phenotype in embryonic explants. Treating the mouse embryonic carcinoma stem cell line P19 with murine Wnt-11 conditioned medium triggers cardiogenesis, which indicates that the function of Wnt-11 in heart development has been conserved in higher vertebrates. XWnt-11 mediates this effect by non-canonical Wnt signalling, which is independent of beta-catenin and involves protein kinase C and Jun amino-terminal kinase. Our results indicate that the cardiac developmental program requires non-canonical Wnt signal transduction.

3T3 Cells↗
PubMed2003

Maternal induction of ventral fate by zebrafish radar.

In vertebrate embryos, maternal determinants are thought to preestablish the dorsoventral axis by locally activating zygotic ventral- and dorsal-specifying genes, e.g., genes encoding bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) and BMP inhibitors, respectively. Whereas the canonical Wntbeta-catenin pathway fulfills this role dorsally, the existence of a reciprocal maternal ventralizing signal remains hypothetical. Maternal noncanonical WntCa(2+) signaling may promote ventral fates by suppressing Wntbeta-catenin dorsalizing signals; however, whether any maternal determinant is directly required for the activation of zygotic ventral-specifying genes is unknown. Here, we show that such a function is achieved, in part, in the zebrafish embryo by the maternally encoded transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) signaling molecule, Radar. Loss-of-function experiments, together with epistasis analyses, identify maternal Radar as an upstream activator of bmps expression. Maternal induction of bmps by Radar is essential for zebrafish development as its removal results in larval-lethal dorsalized phenotypes. Double-morphant analyses further suggest that Radar functions through the TGF-beta receptor Alk8 to initiate the expression of bmp genes. Our results support the existence of a previously uncharacterized maternal ventralizing pathway. They might further indicate that maternal TGF-betaRdr and WntCa(2+) pathways complementarily specify ventral cell fates, with the former triggering bmps expression and the latter indirectly repressing genes encoding BMP antagonists.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Non-cell-autonomous role for Cripto in axial midline formation during vertebrate embryogenesis.

Several membrane-associated proteins are known to modulate the activity and range of potent morphogenetic signals during development. In particular, members of the EGF-CFC family encode glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol (GPI)-linked proteins that are essential for activity of the transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta) ligand Nodal, a factor that plays a central role in establishing the vertebrate body plan. Genetic and biochemical studies have indicated that EGF-CFC proteins function as cell-autonomous co-receptors for Nodal; by contrast, cell culture data have suggested that the mammalian EGF-CFC protein Cripto can act as a secreted signaling factor. Here we show that Cripto acts non-cell-autonomously during axial mesendoderm formation in the mouse embryo and may possess intercellular signaling activity in vivo. Phenotypic analysis of hypomorphic mutants demonstrates that Cripto is essential for formation of the notochordal plate, prechordal mesoderm and foregut endoderm during gastrulation. Remarkably, Cripto null mutant cells readily contribute to these tissues in chimeras, indicating non-cell-autonomy. Consistent with these loss-of-function analyses, gain-of-function experiments in chick embryos show that exposure of node/head process mesoderm to soluble Cripto protein results in alterations in cell fates toward anterior mesendoderm, in a manner that is dependent on Nodal signaling. Taken together, our findings support a model in which Cripto can function in trans as an intercellular mediator of Nodal signaling activity.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Functional MRI changes before and after onset of reported emotions.

The social nature of emotion is evident in the importance of facial and vocal displays in emotion-related behavior. This is the first brain-imaging study to use simulated face-to-face social interactions to evoke emotional responses and to compare valence-related activations before and after subjective onset of emotional response. Videotapes were prepared with actresses who described happy or unhappy experiences. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) at 1.5 T was used to acquire BOLD images in 21 healthy young adults before, after, and during viewing of the happy and sad tapes. Subjects pushed buttons to indicate the onset of subjective emotional responses. Group data were analyzed by a bootstrap randomization method after anatomical normalization. Significant activation was detected in frontal and sensory regions prior to the reported onset of emotional response, and this activity showed a marked decrease after the report of conscious emotional experience. Significant differences between happy and sad conditions were evident in multiple brain regions both before and after the reported onset of emotional response, including the middle and superior temporal gyri, the middle frontal gyrus, the caudate, and the hippocampus. Socially relevant emotional stimulation is feasible and evokes robust responses. The neural correlates of the evoked emotion are multiple, widely distributed, and inclusive of areas important in many cognitive tasks. Positive and negative emotional responses include activation of common and distinctive brain regions.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Growth factors in the fetal and neonatal lung.

Formation and orderly development of the mammalian lung results from a complex set of cell to cell and cell to matrix interactions following transcriptional regulation during pulmonary organogenesis. Transcriptional control of differentiation genes early on and epithelial-mesenchymal interactions mediated by growth factors later on, resulting in the formation of conducting airways and an extensive alveolar capillary interface, is critical for normal lung development. HNF-3beta and TTF-1 are transcription factors that are involved in gene regulation and formation and differentiation of respiratory epithelium. Studies done in early mouse embryonic lung demonstrate that a variety of peptide growth factors and their receptors are expressed early on in lung development. Signalling through the FGFR2 is critical to normal development of the distal epithelium and mesenchyme. The inductive and permissive influences of growth factors on lung development has been demonstrated by gain or loss of function experiments in early embryonic mouse lung organ culture, in transgenic and in null mutant mice. VEGF present in airway epithelial cells is involved in the maturation as well as proliferation of capillary endothelial cells. Epithelial-endothelial interactions during lung development are important in establishing a functional blood gas interface. Epithelial-mesenchymal interactions mediated by growth factors are also important in the restoration of normal alveolar architecture after lung injury. Further understanding of the role of these growth factors and their cellular interactions in bronchopulmonary dysplasia and in tissue repair following lung injury, may lead to development of better therapeutic modalities in treating these disorders.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

[Study of anti-tumor action and influence on immune function of Allium stativum].

Applying mice test on cancer model of S180 and Lewis cancer by using method clystered stomach(oral), observs the Anti-tumor function. Experiments showed that Allium sativum can inhibit tumor growth and Lengthen lift duration of mice, the rate of inhibiting tumor was 74.35% and life lengthening rate were 42.4%, with control grou comparison. There was profund difference between them. Besides, we discoved Allium sativum can raise immune function of mice.

Allium↗
PubMed2006

Iron sucrose induced morphological and functional changes in the rat kidney.

Treatment of anemia in uremic patients requires simultaneous supplementation of erythropoietin and iron. Because of the impaired iron absorption from the gastrointestinal tract in conditions of renal insufficiency, intravenous supplementation is a treatment of choice in such conditions. Iron compounds used for intravenous supplementation induce several systemic side effects, and therefore, we studied the effect of chronic exposure to iron sucrose in rats on renal function. Experiments were performed on male Wistar rats, which were infused intraperitoneally every 4 days, for 28 days with iron sucrose in a dose 1 mg/kg bw or 10 mg/kg bw diluted in 20 mL of the dialysis fluid. Control animals were infused with plain dialysis fluid. Renal function was evaluated at the beginning and at the end of the study. Additionally morphology of the kidneys was evaluated in all animals after 28 days of the study. Chronic exposure of rats to iron sucrose resulted in increased accumulation of PAS-positive material in their glomeruli: + 38% at Fe 1 mg/kg bw P < 0.05 and + 42% at Fe 10 mg/kg/bw P < 0.01 and collagen in the peritubular area: + 40% at Fe 1 mg/kg bw P < 0.005 and + 77% at Fe 10 mg/kg/bw P < 0.001. Only renal clearance of urea was decreased by 53%, P < 0.01 in rats exposed to iron sucrose at a dose of 10 mg/kg bw. Chronic exposure of rats to iron sucrose results in morphologic changes of the kidney; however, mild impairment in renal function was observed only at the highest (10 mg Fe/kg bw) concentration of iron sucrose.

Albuminuria↗
PubMed2004

Defining a large set of full-length clones from a Xenopus tropicalis EST project.

Amphibian embryos from the genus Xenopus are among the best species for understanding early vertebrate development and for studying basic cell biological processes. Xenopus, and in particular the diploid Xenopus tropicalis, is also ideal for functional genomics. Understanding the behavior of genes in this accessible model system will have a significant and beneficial impact on the understanding of similar genes in other vertebrate systems. Here we describe the analysis of 219,270 X. tropicalis expressed sequence tags (ESTs) from four early developmental stages. From these, we have deduced a set of unique expressed sequences comprising approximately 20,000 clusters and 16,000 singletons. Furthermore, we developed a computational method to identify clones that contain the complete coding sequence and describe the creation for the first time of a set of approximately 7000 such clones, the full-length (FL) clone set. The entire EST set is cloned in a eukaryotic expression vector and is flanked by bacteriophage promoters for in vitro transcription, allowing functional experiments to be carried out without further subcloning. We have created a publicly available database containing the FL clone set and related clustering data (http://www.gurdon.cam.ac.uk/informatics/Xenopus.html) and we make the FL clone set publicly available as a resource to accelerate the process of gene discovery and function in this model organism. The creation of the unique set of expressed sequences and the FL clone set pave the way toward a large-scale systematic analysis of gene sequence, gene expression, and gene function in this vertebrate species.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Identification of a SulP-type bicarbonate transporter in marine cyanobacteria.

Cyanobacteria possess a highly effective CO(2)-concentrating mechanism that elevates CO(2) concentrations around the primary carboxylase, Rubisco (ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase). This CO(2)-concentrating mechanism incorporates light-dependent, active uptake systems for CO(2) and HCO(-)(3). Through mutant studies in a coastal marine cyanobacterium, Synechococcus sp. strain PCC7002, we identified bicA as a gene that encodes a class of HCO(-)(3) transporter with relatively low transport affinity, but high flux rate. BicA is widely represented in genomes of oceanic cyanobacteria and belongs to a large family of eukaryotic and prokaryotic transporters presently annotated as sulfate transporters or permeases in many bacteria (SulP family). Further gain-of-function experiments in the freshwater cyanobacterium Synechococcus PCC7942 revealed that bicA expression alone is sufficient to confer a Na(+)-dependent, HCO(3)(-) uptake activity. We identified and characterized three cyanobacterial BicA transporters in this manner, including one from the ecologically important oceanic strain, Synechococcus WH8102. This study presents functional data concerning prokaryotic members of the SulP transporter family and represents a previously uncharacterized transport function for the family. The discovery of BicA has significant implications for understanding the important contribution of oceanic strains of cyanobacteria to global CO(2) sequestration processes.

Bicarbonates↗
PubMed2003

Selective blockade of gene expression in a single identified snail neuron.

In the present study, the applicability of antisense morpholino oligos for loss-of-function experiments in neurobiology was investigated. The identified withdrawal interneurons of the parietal ganglia expressing helix command neuron-specific 2 (HCS2) gene were pressure injected with HCS2 antisense or control morpholino oligo solution at a final concentration 1-4 microM. No toxic or side effects for the neural functioning were noted immediately or several hours after injection. The changes in the concentration of HCS2-encoded protein in neurons after injection were monitored by two methods, Western blotting and immunostaining of the brain. The amount of the peptide immunoreactive with the HCS2 antibody started to decline in the injected cells at day 2 post-injection, decreased four- to five-fold at day 4, and stayed at this low level thereafter. Similar results obtained by both methods suggest significant selective blockade of production of the HCS2-encoded peptide. In contrast, no substantial decrease of the HCS2-encoded polypeptide was observed after injection with control oligos. Due to the high stability of the morpholino oligos in the cell, they represent a highly efficient tool for a specific long-term blockade of gene expression in molluscan neurons.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

The kinin B1 receptor: an inducible G protein coupled receptor.

The B1 receptor, selectively stimulated by des-Arg9 fragments of native kinins, has a place in the vast family of G protein coupled receptors. We discuss a series of six criteria useful for comparing the B1 receptor with the more prominent and studied bradykinin B2 receptor. The B1 receptor has attracted interest because it is rapidly upregulated in biological systems following some types of tissue injury, notably the injection of bacterial materials to rabbits, rats, or pigs. A fast and specific genetic program recruits the expression of what we know now to be a G protein coupled receptor in smooth muscle cells, endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and a few other cell types. The cytokine network has been linked to B1 receptor expression in functional experiments, and this may be related to the recent finding of potential cytokine response elements in the proposed gene promoter of the human B1 receptor gene. The experimental approach of B1 receptor mRNA transcriptional regulation, protein synthesis, and maturation is illustrated, based on the biochemical (Northern blot) and functional analysis of isolated organs from rabbits injected with bacterial lipopolysaccharide or incubated in vitro with or without interleukin-1.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

[Contribution of digital subtraction angiography to the diagnosis of rejection reactions after kidney transplantation].

The ability to diagnose rejection changes in renal transplants using DSA was evaluated retrospectively taking intrarenal vascular changes into consideration. The findings obtained with DSA were compared to those of scintigraphy in 26 graft recipients, on whom both methods had been performed within a narrow time period for evaluation of hypertensive disease. The scintigraphic diagnosis was based on function and perfusion studies. The intrarenal vascular tree was demonstrated on DSA better by intraarterial than by intravenous contrast media injection, however both techniques delivered useful diagnostic information. The status of the graft was evaluated with comparable results by DSA and scintigraphy in 73% of the cases. In our experience, functional effects produced by morphological changes demonstrated by DSA, can be defined better with the help of scintigraphy. On the other hand, by performing DSA it is possible to clarify morphologically functional findings, which may be detected by scintigraphy but often are diagnostically nonspecific. The availability of both morphological and functional data increases the diagnostic accuracy which can be obtained with these two low invasive procedures in the assessment of vascular changes in renal transplants.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Mutational analysis of the PITX2 coding region revealed no common cause for transposition of the great arteries (dTGA).

BACKGROUND: PITX2 is a bicoid-related homeodomain transcription factor that plays an important role in asymmetric cardiogenesis. Loss of function experiments in mice cause severe heart malformations, including transposition of the great arteries (TGA). TGA accounts for 5-7% of all congenital heart diseases affecting 0.2 per 1000 live births, thereby representing the most frequent cyanotic heart defect diagnosed in the neonatal period. METHODS: To address whether altered PITX2 function could also contribute to the formation of dTGA in humans, we screened 96 patients with dTGA by means of dHPLC and direct sequencing for mutations within the PITX2 gene. RESULTS: Several SNPs could be detected, but no stop or frame shift mutation. In particular, we found seven intronic and UTR variants, two silent mutations and two polymorphisms within the coding region. CONCLUSION: As most sequence variants were also found in controls we conclude that mutations in PITX2 are not a common cause of dTGA.

Alternative Splicing↗
PubMed1999

Pharmacological analysis of the novel, selective alpha1-adrenoceptor antagonist, KMD-3213, and its suitability as a tritiated radioligand.

Pharmacological profiles of tritiated KMD-3213, a new antagonist of alpha1-adrenoceptor (AR), were examined in recombinant and native alpha1-AR, and compared with those of prazosin (PZ) and tamsulosin (YM-617). In saturation experiments, [3H]-KMD (10-2000 pM) showed high affinity for alpha1a-AR (pK(D) = 10.5). However, no significant binding to alpha1b-AR and insufficient/unsaturated binding to alpha1d-AR were observed at concentrations up to 2000 pM. In contrast, [3H]-PZ and [3H]-YM bound to all subtypes with high affinity (pK(D)>9). In competition experiments, KMD-3213 also had higher affinity for alpha1a-AR than for other two subtypes; pKi = 10.4, 8.1 and 8.6 for alpha1a-, alpha1b- and alpha1d-AR, respectively. [3H]-KMD also bound to the native alpha1A-AR (rat submaxillary gland) with high affinity, but not to alpha1B-AR (rat liver). In rat kidney which expresses alpha1A- and alpha1B-AR, [3H]-KMD and [3H]-PZ bound to a single high-affinity site (pK(D) = 10.8 and 10.1, respectively) with distinct amount of binding sites (Bmax = 159 and 267 fmol mg(-1) protein, respectively). [3H]-PZ binding sites consisted of low- and high-affinity sites for KMD-3213 (pKi = 7.6 and 10.7, respectively), for WB4101 (pK = 8.1 and 10.0) and for YM-617 (pKi = 8.7 and 10.8). The proportion of the high affinity site was approximately 60% in these drugs which was compatible to the ratio between Bmax of [3H]-KMD and [3H]-PZ. [3H]-KMD binding sites consisted of a single site for these drugs with affinities which were similar to those of the high affinity sites in [3H]-PZ binding. In functional experiments, KMD-3213 antagonized the contractile responses to NS-49 or noradrenaline (NA) with higher affinity in functional alpha1A- (rat caudal artery, pA2= 10.0 against NS-49) and alpha1L-AR (dog mesenteric artery, pA2 = 9.9 against NA) than in alpha1B- (dog carotid artery, pA2 = 7.7 against NA) and alpha1D-AR (rat thoracic aorta, pA2 = 8.3 against NA). These results confirm the alpha1A-AR selectivity and high affinity of KMD-3213, and indicate that [3H]-KMD can label selectively alpha1A-AR.

Adrenergic alpha-1 Receptor Antagonists↗