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Full-Text Articles in Pharmacology, Toxicology and Environmental Health
Characterization Of Small Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels In A Human Lens Epithelium Cell Line (B3), Wedad Ali Saqar
Characterization Of Small Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels In A Human Lens Epithelium Cell Line (B3), Wedad Ali Saqar
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Small conductance calcium-activated potassium (SK) channels belong to the family of K+ channels. They play a significant role in cell volume regulation and in lens homeostasis, and thus are associated with cataract formation. This study was designed to demonstrate the presence of the four different isoforms of SK channels (SK1, SK2, SK3, and SK4) in human lens epithelial (HLE)-B3 cell line using Western blot (WB), immunofluorescence (IF), and reverse transcriptase coupled to the polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Cataract formation involves SK-mediated K+ loss and gain of Na+ ions by lens cells. Further, it has been shown in previous studies that …
Role Of Bumetanide On Insulin Secretion, Mohammed Mashari Almutairi
Role Of Bumetanide On Insulin Secretion, Mohammed Mashari Almutairi
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Insulin secretion depends on the electrical properties of the ß-cells in pancreatic islets. The consensus mechanism of insulin secretion involves glucose-stimulated metabolic increase in the ATP/ADP ratio. This increase closes ATP-sensitive K+ (KATP) channels resulting in ß-cell plasma membrane depolarization, which in turn activates voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels further resulting in Ca2+ influx and release of insulin stored in granules. In addition to this well-known consensus mechanism, insulin secretion also depends on electrogenic efflux of Cl- ions. The Na+K 2Cl- cotransporters (NKCCs) maintain the intracellular concentration of Cl- ([Cl-]i) at values higher than those predicted at thermodynamic equilibrium. This distribution of …
The Modulatory Role Of Circulating Microvesicles In Endothelial Progenitor Cell Function Is Altered In T2dm, Hala Mustafa Ammar
The Modulatory Role Of Circulating Microvesicles In Endothelial Progenitor Cell Function Is Altered In T2dm, Hala Mustafa Ammar
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Circulating microvesicles (cMVs) are the extracellular MVs released from the cells in the blood and on the vascular wall. Our previous study demonstrates that cMVs of diabetic mouse are detrimental to endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), which are known to be very important for maintaining normal endothelial function and structure. In this study, we compared the levels of circulating EPCs and EPC-derived MVs (EPC-MVs) in diabetic and healthy subjects. Also, the migration ability, apoptosis rate and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production of EPCs cultured from diabetic and healthy subjects were determined. More importantly, we evaluated whether cMVs from healthy subjects (ch-MVs) …
Inactivation Of At1a Receptors Attenuate Lactate Accumulation And Improve Cardiac Performance And Acid-Base Homeostasis During Endurance Exercise, Ahmad Mohammed Alhajoj
Inactivation Of At1a Receptors Attenuate Lactate Accumulation And Improve Cardiac Performance And Acid-Base Homeostasis During Endurance Exercise, Ahmad Mohammed Alhajoj
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Angiotensin Type 1 (AT1) receptors are involved in cardiovascular pathology. Losartan, the AT1 receptor blocker, in combination with exercise has been shown to be effective in improving cardiac performance. The goal of the study was to investigate the role of AT1a receptors on cardiac function, and exercise tolerance in response to aerobic exercise using AT1a receptor knockout (AT1aKO) mice. An exercise wheel system was used for the exercise paradigm. Male (C57BL/6) wild type (WT) and AT1aKO mice were randomly assigned to four groups: WT control (n=6), WT exercise (WTEX, n=8), AT1a KO (KO) control (n=5), and AT1a KO exercise (KOEX, …
Early Increase Of Cd11c In Human Monocyte-Derived Dendritic Cells In The Presence Of A/California/07/2009 (H1n1pdm), Amber M. Braddock
Early Increase Of Cd11c In Human Monocyte-Derived Dendritic Cells In The Presence Of A/California/07/2009 (H1n1pdm), Amber M. Braddock
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Influenza A continues to cause significant morbidity and mortality. Vaccine production time, viral antigenic variability and low vaccine efficacy contribute to the annual pandemics and seasonal epidemics. A better understanding of human immune responses to influenza A could result in more effective vaccines. Dendritic cells (DCs) play an important role in the initiation of immune responses. Populations of B lymphocytes secrete protective antibodies but the role of different populations of B cells in the protective response is unknown. In this thesis we developed assays to determine subclasses of influenza specific antibodies. Mononuclear cells were assessed using flow cytometry to identify …
Expression, Characterization, Cloning And Functional Impact Of Slc12a5 In The Endocrine Pancreas, Shams Kursan
Expression, Characterization, Cloning And Functional Impact Of Slc12a5 In The Endocrine Pancreas, Shams Kursan
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The Slc12a5 gene encodes the neuron-specific electroneutral K+Cl- cotransporter-2 (KCC2), a constitutively active Cl- extruder. In mature neurons, KCC2 functionally predominates over other members of the Slc12a family, particularly the Na+K+2Cl- cotransporter-1 (NKCC1), a ubiquitous Cl- loader. Therefore, KCC2 keeps and maintains the intracellular chloride concentration ([Cl-]i) below values predicted by thermodynamic equilibrium and in doing so, KCC2 plays a key role in neuron physiology: it makes possible the inhibitory action of neurotransmitters such as gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glycine. Neurons and insulin-secreting pancreatic ß-cells share many genes and functions. Indeed, neuron-specific genes have been also found in ß-cells whereas …
Effect Of The Broad-Spectrum Caspase Inhibitor Q-Vd-Oph On Neurodegeneration And Neuroinflammation Of Sarin Exposed Mice, Ekta J. Shah
Effect Of The Broad-Spectrum Caspase Inhibitor Q-Vd-Oph On Neurodegeneration And Neuroinflammation Of Sarin Exposed Mice, Ekta J. Shah
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Organophosphates (OP) cause CNS hyperstimulation resulting in seizures, convulsions and brain damage. Sarin is a toxic nerve agent used in Syria, the Gulf War and in terrorist attacks in Japan. Exposure to sarin is associated with presence of dead neurons, activation of astrocytes, microglia and neuroinflammation. Since, cell death and neuroinflammation are found in sarin exposed animals, we evaluated the efficacy of Q-VD-OPh, a broad spectrum caspase inhibitor that prevents cell death and has anti-inflammatory properties. Currently, treatment for sarin exposures is effective only if administered within 30-40 minutes of exposure. In this study, adult female C57BL/6 mice were subjected …
Increased Urinary Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 (Ace2) And Neprilysin (Nep) In Type 2 Diabetic Patients, Sridevi Gutta
Increased Urinary Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 (Ace2) And Neprilysin (Nep) In Type 2 Diabetic Patients, Sridevi Gutta
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Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) has reached epidemic proportions affecting more than 20 million adults in the US. CKD is routinely diagnosed and defined as reduced glomerular filtration rate (GFR), increased urinary albumin creatinine ratio (UACR) or both. Diabetes, hypertension and obesity share a major part in causing CKD. Angiotensin (1-7) (Ang (1-7)) is a vasodilator that plays an important renoprotective role in the renin angiotensin system, counteracting the vasoconstrictor and proliferative effects of Ang II. ACE2 and NEP which form Ang (1-7) by degrading Ang II and Ang I, respectively. A Disintegrin and Metalloproteinase (ADAM) 17, which is responsible for …