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Marked Suppression (marked + suppression)
Selected AbstractsImidazoline-induced amplification of glucose- and carbachol-stimulated insulin release includes a marked suppression of islet nitric oxide generation in the mouseACTA PHYSIOLOGICA, Issue 3 2009S. Meidute-Abaraviciene Abstract Aim:, The role of islet nitric oxide (NO) production in insulin-releasing mechanisms is unclear. We examined whether the beneficial effects of the imidazoline derivative RX 871024 (RX) on ,-cell function might be related to perturbations of islet NO production. Methods:, Experiments were performed with isolated islets or intact mice challenged with glucose or carbachol with or without RX treatment. Insulin was determined with radioimmunoassay, NO generation with high-performance liquid chromatography and expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) with confocal microscopy. Results:, RX treatment, in doses lacking effects on basal insulin, greatly amplified insulin release stimulated by the NO-generating secretagogues glucose and carbachol both in vitro and in vivo. RX also improved the glucose tolerance curve. Islets incubated at high glucose levels (20 mmol L,1) displayed increased NO production derived from both neuronal constitutive NO synthase (ncNOS) and iNOS. RX abrogated this glucose-induced NO production concomitant with amplification of insulin release. Confocal microscopy revealed abundant iNOS expression in , cells after incubation of islets at high but not low glucose levels. This was abolished after RX treatment. Similarly, islets cultured for 24 h at high glucose levels showed intense iNOS expression in , cells. This was abrogated with RX and followed by an amplified glucose-induced insulin release. Conclusion:, RX effectively counteracts the negative impact of ,-cell NO generation on insulin release stimulated by glucose and carbachol suggesting imidazoline compounds by virtue of NOS inhibitory properties being of potential therapeutic value for treatment of ,-cell dysfunction in hyperglycaemia and type 2 diabetes. [source] The Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Bee Venom Stimulation in a Mouse Air Pouch Model Is Mediated by Adrenal Medullary ActivityJOURNAL OF NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY, Issue 1 2003Y.-B. Kwon Abstract Cutaneous electrical or chemical stimulation can produce an anti-inflammatory effect, which is dependent on adrenal medullary-sympathetic activation. We have previously shown that peripheral injection of bee venom (BV) also produces a significant anti-inflammatory effect that is neurally mediated. In the present study, we examined whether this anti-inflammatory effect is also dependent on the adrenal gland using the mouse inflammatory air pouch model. Subcutaneous (s.c.) BV injection produced a marked suppression of leucocyte migration and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)- , concentration induced by zymosan injection into the air pouch. The role of the adrenal gland in this suppression was evaluated in adrenalectomized mice. Adrenalectomy significantly reversed the suppression of leucocyte migration and TNF- , elevation caused by BV. Serum concentrations of corticosteroid were increased in mice with zymosan-induced air-pouch inflammation and this increase was reduced by BV administration, suggesting that adrenal corticosteroid release is not involved in mediating the anti-inflammatory effects of BV. To test this hypothesis, the corticosteroid receptor antagonist (RU486) was administered and found not to affect the BV-induced inhibition of leucocyte migration. By contrast, pretreatment with the , -adrenergic antagonist propranolol reversed the BV-induced inhibitory effect on leucocyte migration. These results suggest that the anti-inflammatory effect of s.c. BV administration is mediated in part by the release of catecholamines from the adrenal medulla. [source] Eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid effects on tumour mitochondrial metabolism, acyl CoA metabolism and cell proliferationCELL BIOCHEMISTRY AND FUNCTION, Issue 2 2001Alison Colquhoun Abstract In order to investigate the effects of high-fat diets rich in eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), Wistar rats bearing subcutaneous implants of the Walker 256 tumour were fed pelleted chow containing low DHA/EPA or high DHA/EPA. The presence of n -3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) led to a marked suppression (35,46%) of tumour growth over a 12 day period. Both the whole tumour homogenate and the Percoll-purified mitochondrial fraction presented significant changes in fatty acid composition. The levels of EPA increased in both n -3 dietary groups while the levels of DHA increased only in the high DHA/EPA group, in comparison with the control chow-fed group. The presence of n -3 PUFAs led to an increase in mitochondrial acyl CoA synthetase activity, but neither the cytoplasmic acyl CoA content nor the n -3 fatty acid composition of the cytoplasmic acyl CoAs was altered by the diet. The content of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) was increased in the low DHA/EPA group but was unchanged in the high DHA/EPA group. In vitro studies with the Walker 256 cell line showed a 46% decrease in cell growth in the presence of either EPA or DHA which was accompanied by a large decrease in the measured mitochondrial membrane potential. The TBARS content was increased only in the EPA-exposed cells. Cell cycle analysis identified a decrease in G0,G1 phase cells and an increase in G2,M phase cells and apoptotic cells, for both EPA and DHA-exposed cells. The data show that the presence of n -3 PUFAs in the diet is able to significantly after the growth rate of the Walker 256 tumour. The involvement of changes in mitochondrial membrane composition and membrane potential have been indicated for both EPA and DHA, while changes in lipid peroxidation have been identified in the presence of EPA but not of DHA. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Nitric oxide and inflammationACTA OPHTHALMOLOGICA, Issue 2009AD DICK Purpose The talk will discuss the dichomatous role of nitric oxide in inflammation as a result of macrophage activation and also its role in controlling T cell responses. Methods We have used both microglial cell cultures, bone marrow derived macrophages and finally animal models of uveitis to dissect the role of macrophage activation and nitric oxide production in both tissue damage and limiting the extent of the inflammatory response. Results Macrophages when activated via T cell responses secreting interferon gamma, elicit a TNF-dependent nitrite response. Inhibiting nitric oxide activity by either suppressing NOS2 or via inhibiting TNF activity results in marked suppression of macrophage activation and reduction in retinal damage observed during experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis (EAU). Macrophages regulate T cell responses, in part via nitric oxide production, but is dependent upon IFN-gamma and autocrine TNF signalling via TNFReceptor1. Conclusion TNF and Interferon play essential roles in generating macrophage activation that elaborates in turn nitric oxide production. The nitric oxide, whilst damaging to cell membranes thus contributing to tissue damage during autoimmunity, also assists in regulating T cell responses by down regulating of T cell proliferation within the target tissue. [source] The 4-mg intravenous dexamethasone suppression test in the diagnosis of Cushing's syndromeCLINICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY, Issue 1 2010Caroline Jung Summary Objective, Optimal diagnostic criteria for the 4-mg intravenous dexamethasone suppression test (IVDST) in patients with Cushing's syndrome (CS), compared with normal subjects, have not been established. We evaluated the performance of the 4-mg IVDST for differentiating CS from normal subjects and to define the responses in CS of various aetiologies. Design, subjects, measurements, Thirty-two control subjects [normal and overweight/obese participants with or without type 2 diabetes) were prospectively studied, and data from 66 patients with Cushing's disease (CD), three with ectopic ACTH syndrome (EAS), 14 with adrenal Cushing's (AC)] and 15 with low probability of CS (LPC) from three tertiary hospitals were retrospectively evaluated. Dexamethasone was infused at 1 mg/h for 4 h. Plasma cortisol and ACTH were measured at ,60 min (baseline), ,5 min, +3 h, +4 h, +5 h and at +23 and +23·5 h on Day 2. Results, Control subjects (including those with type 2 diabetes) exhibited a marked suppression of cortisol which was maintained until Day 2. Two of 15 patients with LPC had Day 2 cortisol results that overlapped with CS. Patients with CD demonstrated partial suppression, with rebound hypercortisolism on Day 2. Patients with AC and EAS did not suppress cortisol levels. Day 2 cortisol level of >130 nmol/l (or >20% of the baseline) diagnosed CS with 100% sensitivity and 96% specificity. Conclusion, While the IVDST allowed complete discrimination between control subjects and CS, 13% of LPC overlapped with CS. Given the small number of EAS, no conclusion can be drawn regarding the utility of this test in the differential diagnosis of CS. [source] | |||||||||||||