Protein kinase C isoenzymes in human neuroblasts involvement of PKCε in cell differentiation

AbstractAlthough neuronal cells are a major target of phorbol ester action, the activity of the various protein kinase C (PKC) isoenzymes have not been studied in detail in human neuroblasts. Differentiation of the LAN-5 human neuroblastoma cell line by interferon-γ (IFN-γ) is accompanied by a twofold increase in PKC activity. Since PKC is a multigene family, we investigated which isoforms were expressed in control and differentiated cells, and which of these isoenzymes is involved in neuronal differentiation. We found that: (1) PKC activity is higher in differentiated than in undifferentiated cells; (2) RT-PCR analysis showed the expression of mRNA for PKCα, -γ, -δ -ε and-ζ and the absence of mRNA for β in untreated LAN-5 cells; (3) Western blot evaluation with PKC isoform-specific antibodies showed the same pattern of PKC expression in non-differentiated cells; (4) Expression of PKCε mRNA was significantly enhanced by IFN-γ-induced differentiation, while the other isoforms were not affected; (5) Differentiation of LAN-5 cells with IFN-γ or retinoic acid induced overexpression of the PKCε protein, while inhibition of cell proliferation by fetal calf serum starvation was without effect. These findings suggest that expression of PKCε isoform is tightly coupled with neuronal differentiation and may play a role in the maintenance of the differentiated state

Presenting Pa.B.I.c. – Psychological-Anamnestic Bereavement Interview for caregivers. International Journal of Psychology

“Psychological-Anamnestic Bereavement Interview for caregivers” (Pa.B.I.c.) is a structured guide for psychologists/psychotherapists, useful for conducting a clinical interview with bereaved parents. This interview collects information about the life, the family and the experiences – during the disease of the child and after his death for incurable disease – of bereaved parents. This clinical guide is divided in three sections: first section collects anagraphic information about the caregiver and his/her family; second section collects anamnestic information about the dead child, his incurable disease and the quality of received care; third section investigates the psycho-emotional sphere of caregiver and possible received psychological support

Synthesis of purine derivatives of potential immunomodulatory activity

Moving from the interest as immunomodulatory agent of ST789 was studied the synthesis of series of N9alkylated hypoxanthine and adenine. The synthesis and the chemical physical properties of these derivatives are here described