Sequential Activation (sequential + activation)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Distribution within Life Sciences


Selected Abstracts


SEQUENTIAL ACTIVATION OF THE REACTIVE OXYGEN SPECIES/ANGIOTENSINOGEN/RENIN,ANGIOTENSIN SYSTEM AXIS IN RENAL INJURY OF TYPE 2 DIABETIC RATS

CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL PHARMACOLOGY AND PHYSIOLOGY, Issue 8 2008
Kayoko Miyata
SUMMARY 1The present study was performed to test the hypothesis that the reactive oxygen species (ROS),angiotensinogen (AGT),renin angiotensin system (RAS) axis is sequentially activated in the development of diabetic nephropathy in Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) obese rats. 2Genetic pairs of male ZDF obese and control ZDF lean rats (n = 12 of each species) were killed every 3 weeks from 12 to 21 weeks of age (n = 6 at each time point). 3The ZDF obese rats developed diabetes mellitus at 12 weeks. At that time, urinary excretion rates of 8-isoprostane were similar between the groups; however, urinary 8-isoprostane levels were significantly increased at 15 weeks in ZDF obese rats compared with controls (36 ± 6 vs 15 ± 2 ng/day, respectively). At 15 weeks, protein levels of cortical angiotensinogen were similar between groups; however, cortical angiotensinogen levels were significantly increased at 18 weeks in ZDF obese rats compared with controls (relative ratio of 2.32 ± 0.21 vs 1.00 ± 0.20, respectively). At 12 weeks, angiotensin (Ang) II-like immunoreactivity was similar between groups in both the glomeruli and tubules; however, AngII-like immunoreactivity was increased significantly at 21 weeks in ZDF obese rats compared with controls (relative ratios of 1.98 ± 0.55 vs 1.00 ± 0.03, respectively, for glomeruli and 1.58 ± 0.16 vs 1.00 ± 0.13, respectively, for tubules). Moreover, at 21 weeks, the desmin-positive area in the glomeruli (0.63 ± 0.08 vs 0.22 ± 0.05%) and Masson's trichrome stain-positive area in the interstitium (4.97 ± 0.05 vs 3.18 ± 0.41%) were significantly increased in ZDF obese rats compared with controls, even though these differences had not been observed earlier. 4These data suggest that the sequential activation of the ROS,AGT,RAS axis plays an important role in the development of diabetic nephropathy in ZDF obese rats. [source]


Sequential activation of Notch family receptors during mouse spermatogenesis

DEVELOPMENT GROWTH & DIFFERENTIATION, Issue 1 2003
Shintaro Mori
The expression pattern of Notch family receptors during mouse spermatogenesis was examined by immunohistochemistry. The entire cytoplasm of spermatogonia, spermatocytes and spermatids showed staining with antibodies against extracellular domains of Notch1, 2 and 4. In contrast, the nuclei of spermatogonia showed staining with an antibody against the intracellular domain of Notch3, and the nuclei of spermatocytes and spermatids showed staining with antibodies against the intracellular domains of Notch1 and 4. During regeneration of spermatogonia in busulfan-treated mice, the nuclei of all proliferating cells showed staining for the intracellular domain of Notch3. Western blot analysis showed that the molecular weights of the intracellular domains of Notch1 and 3 localizing in the nuclear fraction were smaller than those in the cytoplasmic fraction. This was consistent with the theory that the intracellular domain of Notch was cleaved in the cytoplasm and translocated to the nucleus. These results suggest that different Notch signals are sequentially activated during mouse spermatogenesis and control the proliferation and differentiation of spermatogenic stem cells. [source]


Sequential activation of transcription factors in lens induction

DEVELOPMENT GROWTH & DIFFERENTIATION, Issue 5 2000
Hajime Ogino
Since the pioneering work of the early 1900s, the lens has been used as a model system for the study of tissue development in vertebrates. A number of embryological transplantation experiments designed to elucidate the role of tissue interactions in the formation of the lens have led to the proposal of a stepwise determination model. This model has recently been refined through the identification of certain transcription factor genes, which exhibit distinct expression patterns and functional properties in the lens cell lineage. Otx2, Pax6, and Lens1 are induced by the adjacent anterior neural plate and expressed in predifferentiated lens ectoderm. Contact between the optic vesicle and lens ectoderm promotes expression of mafs, Soxs, and Prox1, which are responsible for the initiation of lens differentiation programs including crystallin expression, cell elongation, and cell cycle arrest. Further analysis of the expression and functional characteristics of these transcription factors will allow greater detail when describing the orchestration of genetic programs, which control tissue development from induction to maturation. [source]


Sequential activation of individual caspases, and of alterations in Bcl-2 proapoptotic signals in a mouse model of Huntington's disease

JOURNAL OF NEUROCHEMISTRY, Issue 6 2003
Yu Zhang
No abstract is available for this article. [source]


Induction of G2/M phase arrest and apoptosis by a novel indoloquinoline derivative, IQDMA, in K562 cells

DRUG DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH, Issue 9 2006
Yi-Hsiung Lin
Abstract The indoloquinoline, IQDMA (N,-(11H-indolo[3,2-c]quinolin-6-yl)-N,N-dimethylethane-1,2-diamine), was identified as a novel antineoplastic agent with broad spectrum of antitumor activities against several human cancer cells. IQDMA-induced G2/M arrest was accompanied by up-regulation of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors (CDKIs), p21 and p27, and down-regulation of Cdk1and Cdk2. IQDMA had no effect on the levels of cyclin A, cyclin B1, cyclin D3, or Cdc25C. IQDMA also increased apoptosis, as characterized by apoptotic body formation, increase of the sub G1 population and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage. Further mechanistic analysis demonstrated that IQDMA upregulated FasL protein expression, and kinetic studies showed the sequential activation of caspases-8, -3, and -9. Both caspase-8 and caspase-3 inhibitors, but not a caspase-9-specific inhibitor, suppressed IQDMA-induced cell death. These molecular alterations provide an insight into IQDMA-caused growth inhibition, G2/M arrest, and apoptotic death of K562 cells. Drug Dev. Res. 67:743,751, 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Activation of p21-activated kinase 1 is required for lysophosphatidic acid-induced focal adhesion kinase phosphorylation and cell motility in human melanoma A2058 cells

FEBS JOURNAL, Issue 8 2004
In Duk Jung
Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), one of the naturally occurring phospholipids, stimulates cell motility through the activation of Rho family members, but the signaling mechanisms remain to be elucidated. In the present study, we investigated the roles of p21-activated kinase 1 (PAK1) on LPA-induced focal adhesion kinase (FAK) phosphorylation and cell motility. Treatment of human melanoma cells A2058 with LPA increased phosphorylation and activation of PAK1, which was blocked by treatment with pertussis toxin and by inhibition of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) with an inhibitor LY294002 or by overexpression of catalytically inactive mutant of PI3K,, indicating that LPA-induced PAK1 activation was mediated via a Gi protein and the PI3K, signaling pathway. In addition, we demonstrated that Rac1/Cdc42 signals acted as upstream effector molecules of LPA-induced PAK activation. However, Rho-associated kinase, MAP kinase kinase 1/2 or phospholipase C might not be involved in LPA-induced PAK1 activation or cell motility stimulation. Furthermore, PAK1 was necessary for FAK phosphorylation by LPA, which might cause cell migration, as transfection of the kinase deficient mutant of PAK1 or PAK auto-inhibitory domain significantly abrogated LPA-induced FAK phosphorylation. Taken together, these findings strongly indicated that PAK1 activation was necessary for LPA-induced cell motility and FAK phosphorylation that might be mediated by sequential activation of Gi protein, PI3K, and Rac1/Cdc42. [source]


Parallel activation of field CA2 and dentate gyrus by synaptically elicited perforant path volleys

HIPPOCAMPUS, Issue 8 2004
Renata Bartesaghi
Abstract Previous studies showed that dorsal psalterium (PSD) volleys to the entorhinal cortex (ENT) activated in layer II perforant path neurons projecting to the dentate gyrus. The discharge of layer II neurons was followed by the sequential activation of the dentate gyrus (DG), field CA3, field CA1. The aim of the present study was to ascertain whether in this experimental model field, CA2, a largely ignored sector, is activated either directly by perforant path volleys and/or indirectly by recurrent hippocampal projections. Field potentials evoked by single-shock PSD stimulation were recorded in anesthetized guinea pigs from ENT, DG, fields CA2, CA1, and CA3. Current source-density (CSD) analysis was used to localize the input/s to field CA2. The results showed the presence in field CA2 of an early population spike superimposed on a slow wave (early response) and of a late and smaller population spike, superimposed on a slow wave (late response). CSD analysis during the early CA2 response showed a current sink in stratum lacunosum-moleculare, followed by a sink moving from stratum radiatum to stratum pyramidale, suggesting that this response represented the activation and discharge of CA2 pyramidal neurons, mediated by perforant path fibers to this field. CSD analysis during the late response showed a current sink in middle stratum radiatum of CA2 followed by a sink moving from inner stratum radiatum to stratum pyramidale, suggesting that this response was mediated by Schaffer collaterals from field CA3. No early population spike was evoked in CA3. However, an early current sink of small magnitude was evoked in stratum lacunosum-moleculare of CA3, suggesting the presence of synaptic currents mediated by perforant path fibers to this field. The results provide novel information about the perforant path system, by showing that dorsal psalterium volleys to the entorhinal cortex activate perforant path neurons that evoke the parallel discharge of granule cells and CA2 pyramidal neurons and depolarization, but no discharge of CA3 pyramidal neurons. Consequently, field CA2 may mediate the direct transfer of ENT signals to hippocampal and extrahippocampal structures in parallel with the DG-CA3-CA1 system and may provide a security factor in situations in which the latter is disrupted. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


The timing of cognitive control in partially incongruent categorization

HUMAN BRAIN MAPPING, Issue 9 2008
Antao Chen
Abstract We designed a novel task, partially incongruent categorization (PIC), to examine the timing of cognitive control. In the PIC task, participants categorized the probe stimulus according to a specific concept, and the number of features corresponding to the concept was varied. When there was one feature (c1 condition), the probe would elicit only categorization, but when there was more than one feature (c2 and c3 conditions), the probe would also elicit cognitive control. Here, the high temporal resolution of event-related potentials (ERPs) was utilized to investigate the temporal patterns of activity during conflict detection and control. Cognitive control elicited a N2 that was much larger in response to c2 and c3 than c1 in stimulus-locked waveforms, and no difference was evident between c2 and c3. The N2 was followed by a P3 that was much less on c2 and c3 than c1 trials, with no difference between c2 and c3. A dipole source analysis for two difference waves, c2,c1 and c3,c1, further showed that the corresponding dipoles of the N2 and P3 in the cognitive control conditions were in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and prefrontal cortex (PFC), respectively. Taken together, the present findings support that ERP components in response to the PIC task reflect the time course of cognitive control: the N2 responds to conflict information and subsequently activates the P3 to control this conflict. The connection between the ACC and PFC is supported by their sequential activation within trials. Hum Brain Mapp, 2008. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Timing and connectivity in the human somatosensory cortex from single trial mass electrical activity

HUMAN BRAIN MAPPING, Issue 4 2002
Andreas A. Ioannides
Abstract Parallel-distributed processing is ubiquitous in the brain but often ignored by experimental designs and methods of analysis, which presuppose sequential and stereotypical brain activations. We introduce here a methodology that can effectively deal with sequential and distributed activity. Regional brain activations elicited by electrical median nerve stimulation are identified in tomographic estimates extracted from single trial magnetoencephalographic signals. Habituation is identified in both primary somatosensory cortex (SI) and secondary somatosensory cortex (SII), often interrupted by resurgence of strong activations. Pattern analysis is used to identify single trials with homogeneous regional brain activations. Common activity patterns with well-defined connectivity are identified within each homogeneous group of single trials across the subjects studied. On the contralateral side one encounters distinct sets of single trials following identical stimuli. We observe in one set of trials sequential activation from SI to SII and insula with onset of SII at 60 msec, whereas in the other set simultaneous early co-activations of the same two areas. Hum. Brain Mapping 15:231,246, 2002. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


CoagMDB: a database analysis of missense mutations within four conserved domains in five vitamin K,dependent coagulation serine proteases using a text-mining tool,

HUMAN MUTATION, Issue 3 2008
Rebecca E. Saunders
Abstract Central repositories of mutations that combine structural, sequence, and phenotypic information in related proteins will facilitate the diagnosis and molecular understanding of diseases associated with them. Coagulation involves the sequential activation of serine proteases and regulators in order to yield stable blood clots while maintaining hemostasis. Five coagulation serine proteases,factor VII (F7), factor IX (F9), factor X (F10), protein C (PROC), and thrombin (F2),exhibit high sequence similarities and all require vitamin K. All five of these were incorporated into an interactive database of mutations named CoagMDB (http://www.coagMDB.org; last accessed: 9 August 2007). The large number of mutations involved (especially for factor IX) and the increasing problem of out-of-date databases required the development of new database management tools. A text mining tool automatically scans full-length references to identify and extract mutations. High recall rates between 96 and 99% and precision rates of 87 to 93% were achieved. Text mining significantly reduces the time and expertise required to maintain the databases and offers a solution to the problem of locus-specific database management and upkeep. A total of 875 mutations were extracted from 1,279 literature sources. Of these, 116 correspond to Gla domains, 86 to the N-terminal EGF domain, 73 to the C-terminal EGF domain, and 477 to the serine protease domain. The combination of text mining and consensus domain structures enables mutations to be correlated with experimentally-measurable phenotypes based on either low protein levels (Type I) or reduced functional activities (Type II), respectively. A tendency for the conservation of phenotype with structural location was identified. Hum Mutat 29(3), 333,344, 2008. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Modulation of integrin antagonist signaling by ligand binding of the heparin-binding domain of vitronectin to the ,V,3 integrin

JOURNAL OF CELLULAR BIOCHEMISTRY, Issue 2 2008
Laura A. Maile
Abstract The interaction between the arginine glycine and aspartic acid motif (RGD) of integrin ligands such as vitronectin and the integrin receptor ,V,3 in mediating cell attachment has been well described. Similarly, the ability of disintegrins, small RGD containing peptides, to inhibit cell attachment and other cellular processes has also been studied extensively. Recently, we characterized a second site of interaction between vitronectin and its integrin partner. We determined that amino acids within the heparin-binding domain of vitronectin bind to a cysteine loop (C-loop) region of ,3 and that this interaction is required for the positive effects of ,V,3 ligand occupancy on IGF-I signaling in smooth muscle cells. In this study we examine the signaling events activated following ligand binding of disintegrins to the ,V,3 and the ability of these signals to be regulated by binding of the heparin-binding domain of vitronectin. We demonstrate that disintegrin ligand binding activates a series of events including the sequential activation of the tyrosine kinases c-Src and Syk. This leads to the activation of calpain and the cleavage of the ,3 cytoplasmic tail. Addition of vitronectin or a peptide homologous to the heparin-binding domain inhibited activation of this pathway. Our results suggest that the signaling events that occur following ligand binding to the ,V,3 integrin reflects a balance between the effects mediated through the RGD binding site interaction and the effects mediated by the heparin binding site interaction and that for intact vitronectin the effect of the heparin-binding domain predominates. J. Cell. Biochem. 105: 437,446, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Cadmium-induced hormetic effect in differentiated Caco-2 cells: ERK and p38 activation without cell proliferation stimulation

JOURNAL OF CELLULAR PHYSIOLOGY, Issue 1 2010
Marc Mantha
Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic metal that enters the food chain. Following oral ingestion, the intestinal epithelium may in part protect against Cd toxicity but is also a target tissue. Using human enterocytic-like Caco-2 cells, we have previously shown differences in sensitivity to Cd according to the differentiation status. The present study focuses on Cd effects on differentiated cells. Concentration and time-dependent increases in MTT (3-[4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay) activity were observed in post-confluent cultures exclusively, with a twofold maximal stimulation in 21-day-old cells exposed to 10,µM Cd for 24,h. No concomitant increase in [methyl- 3H] thymidine incorporation was noted and Cd did not modify cell distribution in the cell-cycle phases. However, Cd-induced increase in MTT activity was inhibited by cycloheximine as well as by inhibitors of ERK1/2 and p38, but not by that of JNK. Consistently, Cd increased the levels of ERK1/2 and p38 phosphorylation. Inhibition of Ras-GTP or PI3K enhanced the stimulatory effect of Cd, whereas mTOR inhibition had no effect. Inhibition of G protein-phospholipase and PKC decreased MTT stimulation. These results show a hormesis-like stimulation of Cd on MTT activity in differentiated intestinal cells exclusively. This effect is not related to cell proliferation but more likely to increased protein synthesis which involves ERK1/2 and p38 cascades and possibly PLC-, signaling pathways. Because growth-related differentiation of intestinal cells is linked to the selective and sequential activation of MAPKs, the impacts that these Cd-induced perturbations in signaling pathways may have on intestinal functions clearly deserve to be investigated. J. Cell. Physiol. 224:250,261, 2010 © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway mediates N -(4-hydroxyphenyl)retinamide-induced neuronal differentiation in the ARPE-19 human retinal pigment epithelial cell line

JOURNAL OF NEUROCHEMISTRY, Issue 2 2008
William Samuel
Abstract We have shown previously that N -(4-hydroxyphenyl)retinamide (4HPR, fenretinide), a retinoic acid derivative, induces neuronal differentiation in cultured human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells [Chen et al., J. Neurochem., 84 (2003), 972]. We asked the question whether the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway is involved in the regulation of the 4HPR-induced neuronal differentiation of RPE (ARPE-19) cells. When we treated ARPE-19 cells with 4HPR, c-Raf and MEK1/2 kinase were activated resulting in activation of the downstream effector ERK1/2 and of SAPK/JNK. By blocking the upstream kinase MEK1/2 with specific inhibitor U0126 we abrogated the 4HPR-induced phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and SAPK/JNK, indicating that the neuronal differentiation occurs through a positive cross-talk between the ERK and the SAPK/JNK pathways. Both U0126 and the suppression of ERK1/2 expression with small interfering RNA effectively blocked the 4HPR-induced neuronal differentiation of RPE cells and the expression of calretinin. The activated ERK1/2 then induced a sequential activation of p90RSK, and increase in phosphorylation of transcription factors c- fos and c- jun leading to transcriptional activation of AP-1. Taken together, our results clearly demonstrate that c-Raf/MEK1/2 signaling cascade involving ERK1/2 plays a central role in mediating the 4HPR-induced neuronal differentiation and calretinin expression in the human ARPE-19 retinal pigment epithelial cell line. [source]


In Vitro and In Vivo Transfer of bcl-2 Gene into Keratinocytes Suppresses UVB-induced Apoptosis,

PHOTOCHEMISTRY & PHOTOBIOLOGY, Issue 4 2001
Hidetoshi Takahashi
ABSTRACT Bcl-2 is a member of the large Bcl-2 family and protects cells from apoptosis. Ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation induces apoptosis of keratinocytes that is known as "sunburn cells." Previously we reported that UVB irradiation induces apoptosis accompanied by sequential activation of caspase 8, 3 and 1 in keratinocytes, and that the process is inhibited by various caspase inhibitors. Using bcl-2,expressing adenovirus vector we investigated the effect of Bcl-2 on UVB-induced apoptosis. Adenovirus vector efficiently introduced bcl-2 gene in cultured normal mouse keratinocytes (NMK cells); almost all NMK cells (1 × 106) were transfected at 1 × 108 plaque-forming unit (PFU)/mL. Bcl-2,transfected NMK cells were significantly resistant to UVB-induced apoptosis with the suppressive effect dependent on the Bcl-2 expression level. Following UVB irradiation caspase 8, 3 and 9 activities were stimulated in NMK cells, whereas in bcl-2,transfected cells only caspase 8, but not caspase 3 or 9, activity was stimulated. In order to investigate the effect of Bcl-2 in vivo topical application of Ad-bcl-2 on tape-stripped mouse skin was performed. Following the application Bcl-2 was efficiently overexpressed in almost all viable keratinocytes. The expression was transient with the maximal expression of Bcl-2 on the first day following the application of 1 × 109 PFU in 200 ,L. The introduced Bcl-2 remained at least for 6 days. UVB irradiation (1250 J/m2) induced apoptosis within 12 h and the maximal effect was observed at 24 h in control mouse skin. Both bcl-2,transfected and topical caspase 3 inhibitor-treated mice skin were resistant to UVB-induced apoptosis. The suppressive effect of Bcl-2 was more potent than that of caspase 3 inhibitor application. Topical application of empty adenovirus vector alone had no effect on Bcl-2 expression or UVB-induced apoptosis. These results indicate that adenovirus vector is an efficient gene delivery system into keratinocytes and that Bcl-2 is a potent inhibitor of UVB-induced apoptosis both in vitro and in vivo. [source]


SEQUENTIAL ACTIVATION OF THE REACTIVE OXYGEN SPECIES/ANGIOTENSINOGEN/RENIN,ANGIOTENSIN SYSTEM AXIS IN RENAL INJURY OF TYPE 2 DIABETIC RATS

CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL PHARMACOLOGY AND PHYSIOLOGY, Issue 8 2008
Kayoko Miyata
SUMMARY 1The present study was performed to test the hypothesis that the reactive oxygen species (ROS),angiotensinogen (AGT),renin angiotensin system (RAS) axis is sequentially activated in the development of diabetic nephropathy in Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) obese rats. 2Genetic pairs of male ZDF obese and control ZDF lean rats (n = 12 of each species) were killed every 3 weeks from 12 to 21 weeks of age (n = 6 at each time point). 3The ZDF obese rats developed diabetes mellitus at 12 weeks. At that time, urinary excretion rates of 8-isoprostane were similar between the groups; however, urinary 8-isoprostane levels were significantly increased at 15 weeks in ZDF obese rats compared with controls (36 ± 6 vs 15 ± 2 ng/day, respectively). At 15 weeks, protein levels of cortical angiotensinogen were similar between groups; however, cortical angiotensinogen levels were significantly increased at 18 weeks in ZDF obese rats compared with controls (relative ratio of 2.32 ± 0.21 vs 1.00 ± 0.20, respectively). At 12 weeks, angiotensin (Ang) II-like immunoreactivity was similar between groups in both the glomeruli and tubules; however, AngII-like immunoreactivity was increased significantly at 21 weeks in ZDF obese rats compared with controls (relative ratios of 1.98 ± 0.55 vs 1.00 ± 0.03, respectively, for glomeruli and 1.58 ± 0.16 vs 1.00 ± 0.13, respectively, for tubules). Moreover, at 21 weeks, the desmin-positive area in the glomeruli (0.63 ± 0.08 vs 0.22 ± 0.05%) and Masson's trichrome stain-positive area in the interstitium (4.97 ± 0.05 vs 3.18 ± 0.41%) were significantly increased in ZDF obese rats compared with controls, even though these differences had not been observed earlier. 4These data suggest that the sequential activation of the ROS,AGT,RAS axis plays an important role in the development of diabetic nephropathy in ZDF obese rats. [source]