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Sensing Receptor (sensing + receptor)
Kinds of Sensing Receptor Selected AbstractsDihydropyridine- and voltage-sensitive Ca2+ entry in human parathyroid cellsEXPERIMENTAL PHYSIOLOGY, Issue 7 2009Keitaro Yokoyama Patch-clamp and fluorescence measurements of cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) were performed to directly detect extracellular Ca2+ entry into cultured parathyroid cells from patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism. Cells loaded with fluo-3 AM or fluo-4 AM showed a transient increase in fluorescence (Ca2+ transient) following 10 s exposure to 150 mm K+ solution in the presence of millimolar concentrations of external Ca2+. The Ca2+ transient was completely inactivated after 30,40 s exposure to the high-K+ solution, was reduced by dihydropyridine antagonists and was enhanced by FPL-64176, an L-type Ca2+ channel agonist. The electrophysiological and pharmacological properties of the whole-cell Ca2+ and Ba2+ currents were similar to those of L-type Ca2+ channels. The Ca2+ transients induced by 10 s exposure to 3.0 mm extracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]o) were inhibited by dihydropyridine antagonists and were partly inactivated following 30,40 s exposure to the high-K+ solution. These results demonstrate, for the first time, that human parathyroid cells express L-type-like Ca2+ channels that are possibly involved in the [Ca2+]o -induced change in [Ca2+]i. This Ca2+ entry system might provide a compensatory pathway for the negative feedback regulation of parathyroid hormone secretion, especially in hyperplastic conditions in which the Ca2+ -sensing receptor is poorly expressed. [source] Differential expression of the calcium sensing receptor and combined loss of chromosomes 1q and 11q in parathyroid carcinomaTHE JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY, Issue 1 2004Carola J Haven Abstract Malignant transformation of parathyroid tumours is rare. Nevertheless, this small subset of malignant tumours often creates diagnostic and therapeutic problems. In this work, the morphological characteristics of 26 primary parathyroid carcinomas and seven metastases have been studied. Furthermore, immunohistochemical expression profiles for the calcium sensing receptor (CASR), cyclin D1 (CCND1), and Ki-67 were determined for parathyroid carcinomas and compared with adenomas and hyperplasias using a tissue microarray. Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of the chromosome 1q region containing the HRPT2 gene and chromosome 11q (MEN1) was determined in the carcinomas. In contrast to the adenomas and hyperplasias, 31% of carcinomas demonstrated down-regulation of CASR. A significant correlation was found between CASR expression and the Ki-67 proliferation index. Chromosome 1q and chromosome 11q LOH were found in 12 of 22 (55%) and 11 of 22 (50%) carcinomas tested, respectively. Combined 1q and 11q LOH was seen in 8 of 22 (36%) carcinomas, in contrast to the low percentage of LOH reported in both regions in adenomas. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that combined 1q and 11q LOH in parathyroid tumours is suggestive of malignant behaviour. Strong down-regulation of the CASR protein is seen in a proportion of parathyroid carcinomas with a high proliferation index. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Evidence for chloroplast control of external Ca2+ -induced cytosolic Ca2+ transients and stomatal closureTHE PLANT JOURNAL, Issue 6 2008Hironari Nomura Summary The role of guard cell chloroplasts in stomatal function is controversial. It is usually assumed that stomatal closure is preceded by a transient increase in cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]cyt) in the guard cells. Here, we provide the evidence that chloroplasts play a critical role in the generation of extracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]ext)-induced [Ca2+]cyt transients and stomatal closure in Arabidopsis. CAS (Ca2+ sensing receptor) is a plant-specific putative Ca2+ -binding protein that was originally proposed to be a plasma membrane-localized external Ca2+ sensor. In the present study, we characterized the intracellular localization of CAS in Arabidopsis with a combination of techniques, including (i) in vivo localization of green fluorescent protein (GFP) fused gene expression, (ii) subcellular fractionation and fractional analysis of CAS with Western blots, and (iii) database analysis of thylakoid membrane proteomes. Each technique produced consistent results. CAS was localized mainly to chloroplasts. It is an integral thylakoid membrane protein, and the N-terminus acidic Ca2+ -binding region is likely exposed to the stromal side of the membrane. The phenotype of T-DNA insertion CAS knockout mutants and cDNA mutant-complemented plants revealed that CAS is essential for stomatal closure induced by external Ca2+. In contrast, overexpression of CAS promoted stomatal closure in the absence of externally applied Ca2+. Furthermore, using the transgenic aequorin system, we showed that [Ca2+]ext -induced [Ca2+]cyt transients were significantly reduced in CAS knockout mutants. Our results suggest that thylakoid membrane-localized CAS is essential for [Ca2+]ext -induced [Ca2+]cyt transients and stomatal closure. [source] Heterogeneous Disease Modeling for Hardy-Weinberg Disequilibrium in Case-Control Studies: Application to Renal Stones and Calcium-Sensing Receptor PolymorphismsANNALS OF HUMAN GENETICS, Issue 2 2009D. C. Hamilton Summary Renal stone formation due to hypercalciuria is a relatively common disorder with clear evidence for genetic predisposition, but cryptic phenotypic heterogeneity has hampered identification of candidate genes. The R990G single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of the calcium sensing receptor (CASR) gene has been associated with hypercalciuria in stone formers and shows the appropriate functional phenotype in cell culture. In our preliminary association analysis of a case-control cohort, however, we observed significant Hardy-Weinberg disequilibrium (HWD) for the cases (n= 223), but not controls (n= 676) at the R990G locus, pointing us toward the general disease model incorporating HWD. Because there is an adjacent CASR SNP, A986S, which is in negative linkage disequilibrium with R990G, we extended the general disease model to enable testing of a two-site hypothesis. In our data set, there is no lack of fit (P= .345) for the single-locus model for the R990G genotype, and likelihood ratio testing favors a recessive effect with an eight-fold increase in risk (P < .001) for GG homozygotes, relative to wild-type, based on a population prevalence of 2%. Addition of the A986S genotype provides no additional information either by itself or when included in our two-site model. [source] Two enantiomerically pure cyclic arenesulfonamide hydrochloride saltsACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION C, Issue 2 2009Lionel Kiefer The crystal structures of N -[(1R)-1-(1-naphthyl)ethyl]-3,4-dihydro-2H -1,2-benzothiazin-4-aminium 1,1-dioxide chloride, C20H21N2O2S+·Cl,, (I), a six-membered cyclic sulfonamide, and (1R)- N -[(5,5-dioxo-6,7-dihydrodibenzo[d,f][1,2]thiazepin-7-yl)methyl]-1-(1-naphthyl)ethanaminium chloride, C26H25N2O2S+·Cl,, (II), a seven-membered cyclic sulfonamide, both representative of a novel family of agonists of the extracellular calcium sensing receptor (CaSR) of possible clinical importance, are reported. The known chirality of the naphthylethylamine precursor has enabled assignment of the absolute configuration of both compounds, which is crucial for the receptor recognition. The crystal structures, though different, reveal for these agonists a notable absence of intramolecular ,,, stacking between their respective aromatic groups. This suggests a common structural feature that allows CaSR agonists to be distinguished from antagonists, since in the latter, such interactions have been shown to be important. The connectivities between molecules in the crystal structures are also different, but both involve hydrogen bonding mediated by chloride ions as a common dominant feature. [source] Clinical features and morphological characterization of 10 patients with noninsulinoma pancreatogenous hypoglycaemia syndrome (NIPHS)CLINICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY, Issue 5 2006Justin G. S. Won Summary Objective, Noninsulinoma pancreatogenous hypoglycaemia syndrome (NIPHS), characterized by postprandial neuroglycopaenia, negative prolonged fasts and negative perioperative localization studies for insulinoma, but positive selective arterial calcium stimulation tests and nesidioblastosis in the gradient-guided resected pancreas, is a rare hypoglycaemic disorder of undetermined aetiology. We analysed the clinical, morphological and immunohistological features to further clarify the aetiology and pathogenesis of this rare disease. Patients, Ten consecutive patients with NIPHS (nine men and one woman, aged 29,78 years) were included in the study. Six of the 10 received a gradient-guided subtotal (70%) or distal (50%) pancreatectomy. In the remaining four patients, diazoxide treatment was initiated and the precise mechanism of its action was assessed by meal tests. Results, All of the patients showed a combination of postprandial neuroglycopaenia, negative prolonged fasts (except one patient) and negative localization studies for insulinoma, but positive calcium stimulation tests and nesidioblastosis in the gradient-guided resected pancreas. Immunohistological studies of the resected pancreatic tissues revealed neither an increased rate of proliferation of ,-cells nor an abnormal synthesis and/or processing of either proinsulin or amylin. Evidence of overexpression of the two pancreatic differentiation factors, PDX-1 and Nkx-6·1, as well as the calcium sensing receptor (CaSR) was absent. Nevertheless, abnormal expression of islet neogenesis-associated protein (INGAP), a human cytokine expressed only in the presence of islet neogenesis, in ducts and/or islets, was identified in three of the five patients studied. All of the six patients who received a surgical operation were relieved of further neuroglycopaenic attacks, but one patient who received a subtotal pancreatectomy developed diabetes. In the remaining four patients who received diazoxide treatment, hypoglycaemic episodes were satisfactorily controlled with an attenuated response of ,-cell peptides to meal stimulation. Conclusions, Our results strengthen the existence of this unique clinical hypoglycaemic syndrome from ,-cell hyperfunction as well as the value of the selective arterial calcium stimulation test in its correct diagnosis and localization. The mechanisms underlying ,-cell hyperfunction and release of insulin to calcium, however, remain poorly characterized. Nevertheless, in a subset of patients with NIPHS, there exists some, as yet undefined, pancreatic humoral/paracrine factor(s) other than proinsulin, amylin, PDX-1, Nkx-6·1 and possibly glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) that are capable of inducing the INGAP gene and, if activated, will initiate ductal proliferation and islet neogenesis. As for the treatment, we recommend that diazoxide be tried first in each patient and, should it fail, a gradient-guided subtotal or distal pancreatectomy be attempted. [source] Nucleic acid sensing receptors in systemic lupus erythematosus: development of novel DNA- and/or RNA-like analogues for treating lupusCLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 2 2010P. Lenert Summary Double-stranded (ds) DNA, DNA- or RNA-associated nucleoproteins are the primary autoimmune targets in SLE, yet their relative inability to trigger similar autoimmune responses in experimental animals has fascinated scientists for decades. While many cellular proteins bind non-specifically negatively charged nucleic acids, it was discovered only recently that several intracellular proteins are involved directly in innate recognition of exogenous DNA or RNA, or cytosol-residing DNA or RNA viruses. Thus, endosomal Toll-like receptors (TLR) mediate responses to double-stranded RNA (TLR-3), single-stranded RNA (TLR-7/8) or unmethylated bacterial cytosine (phosphodiester) guanine (CpG)-DNA (TLR-9), while DNA-dependent activator of IRFs/Z-DNA binding protein 1 (DAI/ZBP1), haematopoietic IFN-inducible nuclear protein-200 (p202), absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2), RNA polymerase III, retinoic acid-inducible gene-I (RIG-I) and melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5) mediate responses to cytosolic dsDNA or dsRNA, respectively. TLR-induced responses are more robust than those induced by cytosolic DNA- or RNA- sensors, the later usually being limited to interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3)-dependent type I interferon (IFN) induction and nuclear factor (NF)-,B activation. Interestingly, AIM2 is not capable of inducing type I IFN, but rather plays a role in caspase I activation. DNA- or RNA-like synthetic inhibitory oligonucleotides (INH-ODN) have been developed that antagonize TLR-7- and/or TLR-9-induced activation in autoimmune B cells and in type I IFN-producing dendritic cells at low nanomolar concentrations. It is not known whether these INH-ODNs have any agonistic or antagonistic effects on cytosolic DNA or RNA sensors. While this remains to be determined in the future, in vivo studies have already shown their potential for preventing spontaneous lupus in various animal models of lupus. Several groups are exploring the possibility of translating these INH-ODNs into human therapeutics for treating SLE and bacterial DNA-induced sepsis. [source] | |||||||||||||