Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a condition when the pressure in the lung blood vessels is elevated. This leads to increase in thickness of the blood vessels and increases the workload of the heart and lungs. The incidence and prevalence of PH has been on the increase in the last decade. It is estimated that PH affects about 1% of the global population and about 10% of individuals >65 years of age.

The aberrant proliferation of pulmonary artery smooth muscle (PASMCs) cells is a defining characteristic of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and leads to increased vascular resistance, elevated pulmonary pressure, and right heart failure. The sphingosine kinase 1 (SPHK1)/sphingosine-1 phosphate/sphingosine-1 phosphate receptor 2 pathway promotes vascular remodeling and induces PAH. The aim of

Sphingosine-1-phosphate lyase insufficiency syndrome (SPLIS) is a rare metabolic disorder caused by a deficiency in sphingosine-1-phosphate lyase (SPL), the final enzyme in the sphingolipid degradative pathway. Inactivating mutations of SGPL1—the gene encoding SPL—lead to a deficiency of its downstream products, and buildup of sphingolipid intermediates, including its bioactive substrate, sphingosine-1-phosphate

Inflammation and oxidative stress feature prominently in the secondary spinal cord injury (SCI). The present work is targeted at deciphering miR-145-5p’s role and underlying mechanism in SCI. We randomly divided Sprague-Dawley rats into SCI group and control group. Microglial BV2 cells were separated into control group and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment group. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

Cholesterol oxidation product, 3β-hydroxy-5-oxo-5,6-secocholestan-6-al (cholesterol 5,6-secosterol, ChSeco or Atheronal-A), formed at inflammatory sites, has been shown to promote monocyte differentiation into macrophages and cause elevated expression of macrophage scavenger receptors. Since inflammation is a key event at all stages of atherosclerotic plaque formation, the pro-inflammatory actions

Lysophosphatidylserine (LysoPS) is an emerging lysophospholipid (LPL) mediator, which acts through G protein-coupled receptors, like lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) and sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P). LysoPS is detected in various tissues and cells and thought to be produced mainly by the deacylation of phosphatidylserine. LysoPS has been known to stimulate degranulation of mast cells. Recently, four LysoPS-specific

NOS–NO system activity is closely correlated with ischemia–reperfusion injury (IRI) and NOS subtypes were suggested to play different roles in IRI. In this work, the activity of serum NOS, NO levels, and ischemic necrosis after reperfusion in rabbit with AMI at different time was studied. We also explored the NOS–NO system activity changes and its correlation with myocardial ischemia and necrosis.

This study aimed to investigate the underlying molecular pathogenic mechanism of Sec62 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Microarray analysis was conducted to profile the global gene expression in the HCC cell line Huh7 cells transfected with Sec62high vs. NC and Sec62low vs. NC. Ingenuity pathway analysis and gene set enrichment analysis were used to perform Sec62-related signaling pathway analysis

Our aim was to clarify the regulations of lncRNA HOXA11-AS (HOXA11-AS) played on the progression of glioma as well as to investigate the mechanisms by which HOXA11-AS modulated development of glioma. This study confirmed the regulations of miR-124 and HOXA11-AS on the progression of glioma. Here, HOXA11-AS was overexpressed and miR-124 was underexpressed in glioma. Expression of miR-124 was negatively

The bio-active lipid, lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) interacts with various lysophosphatidic acid receptors (LPARs) to affect a variety of cellular functions, including proliferation, differentiation, survival, migration, morphogenesis and others. The Rho family of small GTPases, is well-known downstream signaling pathways activated by LPA. Among the Rho GTPases, RhoA, Rac1, and Cdc42 are best characterized

Alpha-amylase (α-amylase) not long ago has acquire recognition as a possible drug target for the management of diabetes. Here, we have investigated the binding and enzyme activity of α-amylase by hesperidin; a naturally occurring flavanone having wide therapeutic potential. Hesperidin exerted an inhibitory influence on α-amylase activity with an IC50 value of 16.6 µM. Hesperidin shows a significant

In the present study, HFD/STZ-mediated type 2 diabetic rodent model was used to comparatively evaluate coconut oil (CO) and thermally oxidized CO (TCO) as fat sources for the development of NAFLD. Female Wistar rats (six in each group; average bwt 200 g) fed HFD containing either CO or TCO for 2 months along with an intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (30 mg/kg bwt) at the end of 1-month feeding

The secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) group of secreted enzymes hydrolyze phospholipids and lead to the production of multiple biologically active lipid mediators. sPLA2s and their products (e.g., eicosanoids) play a significant role in the pathophysiology of various inflammatory diseases, including life-threatening lung disorders such as acute lung injury (ALI) and the Acute Respiratory Distress

Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), a bioactive lipid mediator, is generated from sphingosine by sphingosine kinases (SPHKs) 1 and 2 and is metabolized to ∆2-hexadecenal (∆2-HDE) and ethanolamine phosphate by S1P lyase (S1PL) in mammalian cells. We have recently demonstrated the activation of nuclear SPHK2 and the generation of S1P in the nucleus of lung epithelial cells exposed to Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Under normal physiological conditions, IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor-1) has important biological effects. However, many studies have found that IGF-1 is closely related to the occurrence and development of breast cancer. But up to now, the cellular properties of IGF-1 have not been systematically explored in breast cancer cell. It is well-known that the cellular properties and behaviors of IGF-1/IGF-1R

Abdominal massage (AM), a traditional Chinese medicine-based treatment method, has received considerable attention in the recent years. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of AM on high-fat diet (HFD)-induced insulin resistance (IR) in comparison with resveratrol (RSV) treatment. Forty-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into the following four groups: standard

Breast cancer resistance protein (ABCG2) is a human ATP-binding cassette (ABC) that plays a paramount role in multidrug resistance (MDR) in cancer therapy. The discovery of ABCG2 inhibitors could assist in designing unprecedented therapeutic strategies for cancer treatment. There is as yet no approved drug targeting ABCG2, although a large number of drug candidates have been clinically investigated

HNO (nitroxyl, IUPAC name azanone) is an electrophilic reactive nitrogen species of growing pharmacological and biological significance. Here, we present data on the pH-dependent kinetics of azanone reactions with the low molecular thiols glutathione and N-acetylcysteine, as well as with important serum proteins: bovine serum albumin and human serum albumin. The competition kinetics method used is

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive lung disease, which was caused by a complex interplay of inflammatory responses and chronic damage. miR-21 is increased in patients with IPF, but its function in the embryonic lung-derived diploid fibroblasts cells subjected to LPS is elusive. miRNA expression profile was obtained from GEO database and target genes of miRNAs were forecasted by TargetScan

Copper ions play various roles in mammalian cells. Some investigations indicated that copper correlates with liver fibrosis and changes in bone marrow cells. Here, we explored the role of bone marrow cell parameters in copper liver fibrosis development and possible underlying mechanisms. The age-related features of biochemical indicators, bone marrow cell parameters, and electrical conductivity of

Hanging drop represents a simple approach designed for the generation of 3D models that have potential to be used for the study of solid tumors characteristics. The aim of the study was to develop and characterize the breast cancer 3D cellular models obtained through hanging drop technique using MDA-MB-231 cells. The biological characteristics such as: morphology, cellular viability, proliferation

Metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients are treated with standard chemotherapeutic drugs in the form of FOLFOX and FOLFIRI regimens. There are no reliable markers that could predict response to chemotherapy for mCRC. TGF-β signaling which interacts with microRNA (miRNA) network has important roles in tumor progression and chemotherapy resistance, thus the interplay between TGF-β signaling and

The present study aimed to investigate the impacts and underlying mechanisms of 14,15-DHETs on eNOS and vascular endothelial functions. Bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs) were treated with various concentrations of 14, 15-DHET. The expressions of eNOS protein and mRNA were observed at different time points. The eNOS expression and phosphorylation were subsequently detected administered with 8

Temperature is a fundamental thermodynamic property that can serve as a probe of biochemical reactions. Extracellular thermometry has previously been used to probe cancer metabolism and thermoregulation, with measured temperature changes of ~1–2 K in tissues, consistent with theoretical predictions. In contrast, previous intracellular thermometry studies remain disputed due to reports of >1 K intracellular

The recently emerged SARS-like coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has continued to spread rapidly among humans with alarming upsurges in global mortality rates. A major key to tackling this virus is to disrupt its RNA replication process as previously reported for Remdesivir (Rem-P3). In this study, we theorize, using computational simulations, novel mechanisms that may underlie the binding of Rem-P3 to SARS-CoV-2

Background B7 homolog 3 (B7-H3), a member of the immunoregulatory ligand B7 family, is pivotal in T-cell-mediated immune response. It is widely expressed in diverse human tumors and its high expression indicates the poor prognosis of the patients. Nonetheless, B7-H3’s role in colorectal cancer (CRC) needs to be further explored. Methods Western blot and immunohistochemistry were employed for detecting

Defects in inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase-1 (IMPDH1) lead to insufficient biosyntheses of purine nucleotides. In eyes, these defects are believed to cause retinitis pigmentosa (RP). Major retinal isoforms of IMPDH1 are structurally distinct from those in other tissues, by bearing terminal extensions. Using recombinant mouse IMPDH1 (mH1), we evaluated the kinetics and oligomerization states of

Colorectal cancer (CRC) belongs to one of gastric cancers that half of cases will develop metastasis, causing higher mortality or chemotherapy resistance. In the present study, the long noncoding RNA zinc finger antisense 1 (ZFAS1) was proved to have high expression level in CRC samples and in advanced stages. Additionally, it also indicated that p53 status is associated with ZFAS1 expression. Silencing

Hepatic fibrosis is known as the accumulation of connective tissue secondary to chronic damage to the liver. Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) corresponding increase in liver fibrogenesis was shown with immunohistochemistry and PCR-based studies. Suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA), a synthetic compound approved as a histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDAC) by the FDA to treat cutaneous T-cell

The proliferation of fetal alveolar type II cells (FATIICs) was impaired in bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), which is modulated by hyperoxia and inflammatory response. Interleukin 24 (IL-24), a cytokine produced by certain cell types, plays an essential role in inflammation and host protection against infection. However, the ability of FATIICs to produce IL-24 remains unclear, and the role of IL-24

The advancements in biotechnology over time have led to an increase in the demand of pure, soluble and functionally active proteins. Recombinant protein production has thus been employed to obtain high expression of purified proteins in bulk. E. coli is considered as the most desirable host for recombinant protein production due to its inexpensive and fast cultivation, simple nutritional requirements

Laminins (Ln), a type of extracellular matrix glycoprotein, are key regulators of cellular behavior. Recent work revealed that in various tumor cell lines, laminin isoforms influence specific responses, such as cell anchorage, survival, proliferation, migration, organization, and specialization. The contribution of laminin isoforms to the function of gastric cancer cells, however, remain unclear. Here

Chelerythrine (CHE) is a natural benzophenanthridine alkaloid, which has shown its anti-fibrosis activity in kidney and liver, while the impact of CHE in pulmonary fibrosis is still unclear. This study is developed to explore the impact and mechanism of CHE in pulmonary fibrosis. Pulmonary fibrosis mouse models were established through intratracheal injection of bleomycin (BLM), after which the mice

Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) transplantation is an effective periodontal regenerative therapy. MSCs are multipotent, have self-renewal ability, and can differentiate into periodontal cells. However, senescence is inevitable for MSCs. In vitro, cell senescence can be induced by long-term culture with/without cell passage. However, the regulatory mechanism of MSC senescence remains unclear. Undifferentiated

Epimerase-deficiency galactosemia (EDG) is caused by mutations in the UDP-galactose 4’-epimerase enzyme, encoded by gene GALE. Catalyzing the last reaction in the Leloir pathway, UDP-galactose-4-epimerase catalyzes the interconversion of UDP-galactose and UDP-glucose. This study aimed to use in-depth computational strategies to prioritize the pathogenic missense mutations in GALE protein and investigate

Here we demonstrate that binuclear dinitrosyl iron complexes with thiol-containing ligands (glutathione and mercaptosuccinate, B-DNIC-GSH and B-DNIC-MS, respectively) exert cytotoxic effects on MCF7 human breast cancer cells. We showed that they are mediated by nitrosonium cations released from these complexes (NO+). This finding is supported by the cytotoxic effect of both B-DNICs on MCF7 cells evidenced

DUSP3 is a phosphatase expressed and active in several tissues that dephosphorylates tyrosine residues in many regulatory proteins of cellular activities such as proliferation, survival, and cell death. Recently, two new independent functions were assigned to this enzyme: dephosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and regulation of nucleotide-excision repair (NER) pathway. Genotoxic stress by

A combination of light microscopy and image processing was applied to investigate morphology of label-free primary-melanocytes and melanoma cells. A novel methodological approach based on morphology of nuclear body was used to find those single cells, which were at the same phase of cell cycle. The area and perimeter of melanocytes and melanoma cells were quantified. We found that there was a significant

The vitamin E derivative with side chain modification (TC6OAc) has been shown to possess anticancer activity in our earlier in vivo studies. It was hypothesized that, as Vitamin E (VE) and VE derivative are fat soluble lipophilic molecules, they exert their function by modulating the lipid metabolism and related pathways. This study aimed to evaluate the cellular impact of this VE derivative (2,5,7

The objective of this study is to investigate the roles of acteoside (ACT) in cells with oxygen–glucose deprivation and reoxygenation (OGD/R)-induced injury and the underlying mechanisms. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in rats with middle cerebral artery occlusion were identified using GSE61616 data set. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment with the DEGs and the prediction

It has been long known that the oncogenic extracellular environment plays an indispensable role in developing and nurturing cancer cell progression and in resistance to standard treatments. However, by how much the biophysical components of tumour extracellular environment contribute to these processes is uncertain. In particular, the topographic environment is scarcely explored. The biophysical modulation

Obestatin is a 23-residue peptide, obtained after posttranslational modification of preproghrelin. It has been shown, in Swiss albino mice, to upregulate glycerolipid metabolism and PPARγ signaling. It was opined that the by-products of increased glycerolipid metabolism triggered PPARγ signaling. It was hypothesized that obestatin upon co-administration with a full agonist of PPARγ should reveal the

Chloride intracellular channel 1 (CLIC1) is a sensor of oxidative stress in endothelial cells (EC). However, the mechanism by which CLIC1 mediate the regulation of endothelial dysfunction has not been established. In this study, overexpressed CLIC1 impaired the ability of the vascular cells to resist oxidative damage and promoted cellular senescence. Besides, suppressed CLIC1 protected against cellular

The dual inhibition of adenosine receptors A1 (A1 AR) and A2 (A2A AR) has been considered as an efficient strategy in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease (PD). This led to the recent development of a series of methoxy-substituted benzofuran derivatives among which compound 3j exhibited dual-inhibitory potencies in the micromolar range. Therefore, in this study, we seek to resolve the mechanisms by

The simultaneous determination of adhesion and deformability parameters of erythrocytes was carried out through a microfluidic device, which uses an inverted optical microscope with new image acquisition and analysis technologies. Also, an update of the models describing erythrocyte adhesion and deformation was proposed. Measurements were carried out with red blood cells suspended in saline solution

Tripartite motif containing 44 (TRIM44) has been reported to regulate various biological effects in malignant cancers and matrix Metalloproteinases has been demonstrated to be associated with cancer cell migration and invasion. Nonetheless, the expression and molecular mechanism of TRIM44 in colorectal cancer (CRC) remain rarely known. TRIM44 was overexpressed or knocked down in CRC cells. Subsequently

Skin fibrosis is one of the major features of scleroderma. WNT/β-catenin signaling is associated with the progression of skin fibrosis. In this study, we aimed to determine the effect of icaritin (IT), a natural compound, on scleroderma-related skin fibrosis and its mechanisms. We found that IT could reduce the expression of COL1A1, COL1A2, COL3A1, CTGF, and α-SMA in human foreskin fibroblasts (HFF-1

N-myc interactor (NMI), a member of the oncogene Myc family, has been reported to be closely related to the development of cancer. However, the character of NMI in cervical carcinoma has not been reported. Herein, we found that downregulation of NMI protein not only promoted the proliferation, migration, and invasion of HeLa cells, but also decreased their expression of Caspase-3 and Caspase-9. Silencing

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a potent endogenously derived vasoconstrictor, which increases pulmonary hypertension via stimulation of [Ca2+]i level in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs). In this communication, we sought to investigate the mechanism by which ET-1 causes stimulation of Ca2+ concentration in caveolae vesicles of bovine PASMCs (BPASMCs). ET-1 activates PKC-α in the caveolae vesicles

The use of cisplatin in chemotherapy may provoke a deteriorating impact in many vital organs, suggesting the need for more selective derivatives and effective protective cotreatments. This study assesses the effects of three novel Pt(IV) complexes containing ethyl-, propyl- and butyl-esters of the ethylenediamine-N, N’-di-S, S- (2,2’-dibenzyl) acetic acid on liver injury markers, redox parameters,

Herein, we studied the effect of labile iron (ferric chloride) on the progression of liver cancer cells (HepG2.2.15). The iron was found to induce cell proliferation, growth, and migration in both traditional two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional cell (3D) culture models. Biophysical and cell cycle determinations also showed the change in functional cellular biophysical features (cell morphology)

Cryptosporidiosis accounts for a surge in infant (<5 years) mortality and morbidity. To date, several drug discovery efforts have been put in place to develop effective therapeutic options against the causative parasite. Based on a recent report, P131 spares inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH) in a eukaryotic model (mouse IMPDH (mIMPDH)) while binding selectively to the NAD+ site in Cryptosporidium

This paper investigates the redistribution of metabolic fluxes in the cell with altered activity of S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (SAMdc, EC: 4.1.1.50), the key enzyme of the polyamine cycle and the common target for antitumor therapy. To address these goals, a stoichiometric metabolic model was developed that includes five metabolic pathways: polyamine, methionine, methionine salvage cycles,

The paper focuses on the selected plant lipid issues. Classification, nomenclature, and abundance of fatty acids was discussed. Then, classification, composition, role, and organization of lipids were displayed. The involvement of lipids in xantophyll cycle and glycerolipids synthesis (as the most abundant of all lipid classes) were also discussed. Moreover, in order to better understand the biomembranes

This study aims to explore the role of Gastrokin-2 (GKN2) in gastric cancer and its function in the progression and metastasis of gastric cancer. The expression of GKN2 in the patient samples was examined by qRT-PCR and western blot. The transcription factor NK6 Homeobox 2 (NKX6-2), which binds to the GKN2 promoter, was predicted by cBioportal and JSPAR. Binding between NKX6-2 and the GKN2 promoter

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a Gram-negative and rod-shaped bacterium. It can use a variety of carbon sources and grow in different culture media. Its versatile extracellular enzymes give it the ability to grow on complex carbon sources. One of the most important enzymes of this bacterium is lipase, which is an extracellular enzyme. Lipases are one of the most useful enzymes in medicine and industry,

Quinones are found in the lipid membranes of prokaryotes like E. coli and cyanobacteria, and are also abundant in eukaryotic mitochondria and chloroplasts. They are intricately involved in the reaction mechanism of redox phosphorylations. In the Mitchellian chemiosmotic school of thought, membrane-lodged quinones are perceived as highly mobile conveyors of two-electron equivalents from the first leg

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a major food additive used as a flavor enhancer. A lot of controversies have been generated over the use of MSG. The present study therefore investigated whether MSG would induce cytotoxicity via the induction of mitochondrial permeability transition (mPT) pore opening. 36 male albino rats were used for this study. The rats were equally divided into six groups: group I