272 research outputs found
The Role of Paracrine and Autocrine Signaling in the Early Phase of Adipogenic Differentiation of Adipose-derived Stem Cells.
INTRODUCTION: High cell density is known to enhance adipogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells, suggesting secretion of signaling factors or cell-contact-mediated signaling. By employing microfluidic biochip technology, we have been able to separate these two processes and study the secretion pathways. METHODS AND RESULTS: Adipogenic differentiation of human adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) cultured in a microfluidic system was investigated under perfusion conditions with an adipogenic medium or an adipogenic medium supplemented with supernatant from differentiating ASCs (conditioned medium). Conditioned medium increased adipogenic differentiation compared to adipogenic medium with respect to accumulation of lipid-filled vacuoles and gene expression of key adipogenic markers (C/EBPα, C/EBPβ, C/EBPδ, PPARγ, LPL and adiponectin). The positive effects of conditioned medium were observed early in the differentiation process. CONCLUSIONS: Using different cell densities and microfluidic perfusion cell cultures to suppress the effects of cell-released factors, we have demonstrated the significant role played by auto- or paracrine signaling in adipocyte differentiation. The cell-released factor(s) were shown to act in the recruitment phase of the differentiation process
A Chaperonin Subunit with Unique Structures Is Essential for Folding of a Specific Substrate
Type I chaperonins are large, double-ring complexes present in bacteria (GroEL),
mitochondria (Hsp60), and chloroplasts (Cpn60), which are involved in mediating
the folding of newly synthesized, translocated, or stress-denatured proteins. In
Escherichia coli, GroEL comprises 14 identical subunits and
has been exquisitely optimized to fold its broad range of substrates. However,
multiple Cpn60 subunits with different expression profiles have evolved in
chloroplasts. Here, we show that, in Arabidopsis thaliana, the
minor subunit Cpn60β4 forms a heterooligomeric Cpn60 complex with
Cpn60α1 and Cpn60β1–β3 and is specifically required for the
folding of NdhH, a subunit of the chloroplast NADH dehydrogenase-like complex
(NDH). Other Cpn60β subunits cannot complement the function of Cpn60β4.
Furthermore, the unique C-terminus of Cpn60β4 is required for the full
activity of the unique Cpn60 complex containing Cpn60β4 for folding of NdhH.
Our findings suggest that this unusual kind of subunit enables the Cpn60 complex
to assist the folding of some particular substrates, whereas other dominant
Cpn60 subunits maintain a housekeeping chaperonin function by facilitating the
folding of other obligate substrates
Geldanamycin Derivative Ameliorates High Fat Diet-Induced Renal Failure in Diabetes
Diabetic nephropathy is a serious complication of longstanding diabetes and its pathogenesis remains unclear. Oxidative stress may play a critical role in the pathogenesis and progression of diabetic nephropathy. Our previous studies have demonstrated that polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) induce peroxynitrite generation in primary human kidney mesangial cells and heat shock protein 90β1 (hsp90β1) is indispensable for the PUFA action. Here we investigated the effects of high fat diet (HFD) on kidney function and structure of db/db mice, a widely used rodent model of type 2 diabetes. Our results indicated that HFD dramatically increased the 24 h-urine output and worsened albuminuria in db/db mice. Discontinuation of HFD reversed the exacerbated albuminuria but not the increased urine output. Prolonged HFD feeding resulted in early death of db/db mice, which was associated with oliguria and anuria. Treatment with the geldanamycin derivative, 17-(dimethylaminoehtylamino)-17-demethoxygeldanamycin (17-DMAG), an hsp90 inhibitor, preserved kidney function, and ameliorated glomerular and tubular damage by HFD. 17-DMAG also significantly extended survival of the animals and protected them from the high mortality associated with renal failure. The benefit effect of 17-DMAG on renal function and structure was associated with a decreased level of kidney nitrotyrosine and a diminished kidney mitochondrial Ca2+ efflux in HFD-fed db/db mice. These results suggest that hsp90β1 is a potential target for the treatment of nephropathy and renal failure in diabetes
Urinary concentrations of the soluble adhesion molecule E-cadherin and total protein in patients with bladder cancer
AEROBIC AND ANAEROBIC SCALING IN FISH
Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/75506/1/j.1469-185X.1991.tb01134.x.pd
The apicomplexan plastid and its evolution
Protistan species belonging to the phylum Apicomplexa have a non-photosynthetic secondary plastid—the apicoplast. Although its tiny genome and even the entire nuclear genome has been sequenced for several organisms bearing the organelle, the reason for its existence remains largely obscure. Some of the functions of the apicoplast, including housekeeping ones, are significantly different from those of other plastids, possibly due to the organelle’s unique symbiotic origin
Early Treatment with Basal Insulin Glargine in People with Type 2 Diabetes: Lessons from ORIGIN and Other Cardiovascular Trials
Dysglycemia results from a deficit in first-phase insulin secretion compounded by increased insulin insensitivity, exposing beta cells to chronic hyperglycemia and excessive glycemic variability. Initiation of intensive insulin therapy at diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) to achieve normoglycemia has been shown to reverse glucotoxicity, resulting in recovery of residual beta-cell function. The United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS) 10-year post-trial follow-up reported reductions in cardiovascular outcomes and all-cause mortality in persons with T2DM who initially received intensive glucose control compared with standard therapy. In the cardiovascular outcome trial, outcome reduction with an initial glargine intervention (ORIGIN), a neutral effect on cardiovascular disease was observed in the population comprising prediabetes and T2DM. Worsening of glycemic control was prevented over the 6.7 year treatment period, with few serious hypoglycemic episodes and only moderate weight gain, with a lesser need for dual or triple oral treatment versus standard care. Several other studies have also highlighted the benefits of early insulin initiation as first-line or add-on therapy to metformin. The decision to introduce basal insulin to metformin must, however be individualized based on a risk-benefit analysis. The landmark ORIGIN trial provides many lessons relating to the concept and application of early insulin therapy for the prevention and safe and effective induction and maintenance of glycemic control in type 2 diabetes
Aerobic and anaerobic metabolism during activity in the lizard Dipsosaurus dorsalis
1. Oxygen consumption and lactate content of the lizard Dipsosaurus dorsalis were determined under standard conditions and for a bout of maximal activity induced by a 2-min period of electrical stimulation. Observations were made between 25 ° and 45 °C.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/47109/1/359_2004_Article_BF00693633.pd
Sodium Glucose Co-transporter Type 2 (SGLT2) Inhibitors: Targeting the Kidney to Improve Glycemic Control in Diabetes Mellitus
- …