Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
- Keyword
-
- Apoptosis (2)
- ATF4 (1)
- Adenosine 5’-triphosphate (ATP) (1)
- Aging (1)
- Bcl-2 family (1)
-
- Bone remodeling (1)
- Cell Signaling (1)
- Cell stress response (1)
- Cholinergic (1)
- EFEMP1 (1)
- Eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF2) (1)
- Fibulin-3 (1)
- G Protein Coupled Receptor (GPCR) (1)
- GTPase Accelerating Protein (GAP) (1)
- Gap junction channel (1)
- Heart failure (1)
- Heterotypic docking compatibility (1)
- Hydrogen bond (1)
- KISS1R (1)
- Kisspeptin (1)
- Mechanotransduction (1)
- Metastasis (1)
- Microglia (1)
- Neural precursor cells (1)
- Neuroinflammation (1)
- Orthodontic tooth movement (1)
- Osteoblasts (1)
- P2X7 receptor (1)
- Patch clamp (1)
- Pro-inflammatory cytokines (1)
Articles 1 - 7 of 7
Full-Text Articles in Physiology
Cardioprotective Role Of The Cholinergic System, Mouhamed Dakroub
Cardioprotective Role Of The Cholinergic System, Mouhamed Dakroub
Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository
The process of aging is an irreversible continuum experienced by all individuals. A large number of physiological transformations occur to the cardiovascular system as one ages. These changes result in increased risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, many of which are frequently seen in geriatric populations. While the exact mechanisms of age-related cardiac dysfunction have not been established, abnormal cholinergic dysfunction has been implicated in the pathology of other age related diseases; therefore, we have hypothesized that age induced cholinergic dysfunction is detrimental to cardiac function and health. This study seeks to identify whether increased cholinergic signaling, either by transgenic overexpression …
Dexamethasone Regulates Gene Expression Induced By The Mechanosensitive P2x7 Receptor In Osteoblasts, Meena Na
Dexamethasone Regulates Gene Expression Induced By The Mechanosensitive P2x7 Receptor In Osteoblasts, Meena Na
Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository
Orthodontic tooth movement involves activation of osteoblasts and osteoclasts in response to mechanical forces. Extracellular nucleotides, released in response to mechanical stimuli, signal through P2 receptors in osteoblasts. P2X7 receptors are ATP-gated cation channels implicated in mechanotransduction in bone. Corticosteroids such as dexamethasone exhibit anti-inflammatory effects and their chronic use has been linked to serious side-effects such as osteoporosis. We investigated gene expression following P2X7 receptor activation with benzoylbenzoyl-ATP (P2X7 receptor agonist) in osteoblast precursor cells in the presence or absence of dexamethasone. We hypothesized that dexamethasone inhibits the ability of ATP to stimulate the expression of anabolic (bone forming) …
Engineered Cx26 Variant Established Functional Heterotypic Cx26/Cx43 And Cx26/Cx40 Gap Junction Channels, Levent Berk Karademir
Engineered Cx26 Variant Established Functional Heterotypic Cx26/Cx43 And Cx26/Cx40 Gap Junction Channels, Levent Berk Karademir
Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository
Two hexameric connexin hemichannels dock together to from a whole gap junction (GJ) channel. The mechanisms of docking specificity in forming homotypic and heterotypic GJ channels are not fully clear. To reveal the key differences between Cx26 and Cx43 (or Cx40) in their docking residues, we aligned and analyzed ten well studied connexin sequences. Five of them are docking compatible with Cx26 and the rest (including Cx43 and Cx40) are not. According to Cx26 crystal structure at the docking interface, we identified two putative docking residues on the second extracellular domain (E2) that are well conserved within docking compatible connexins, …
Role Of Rgs2 In Cellular Stress, Chang-Hui Wang
Role Of Rgs2 In Cellular Stress, Chang-Hui Wang
Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository
Stresses from the external environment can disrupt cellular processes and result in damaging effects, such as the misfolding of proteins, which have been linked to several diseases. Regulator of G protein signalling 2 (RGS2) is upregulated by several forms of stress and can inhibit protein synthesis, an established response to stress typically achieved via the phosphorylation of the initiation factor, eIF2, to conserve energy and resources. Under reduced translation, some factors are selectively expressed via alternative translation mechanisms and these factors consequently may promote apoptosis. The molecular mechanisms mediating such opposing responses to stress are not well understood. Here, we …
Fibulin-3 Promotes Triple Negative Breast Cancer Cell Invasion, Michelle M. Noonan
Fibulin-3 Promotes Triple Negative Breast Cancer Cell Invasion, Michelle M. Noonan
Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository
Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype of breast cancer, and metastasis is a leading cause of mortality in these patients. Fibulin-3, a secreted extracellular matrix protein, has a pro-invasive role in other cancers. However, a role for fibulin-3 in TNBC invasion is unknown. We have previously shown that KISS1R signaling promotes TNBC cell invasion through EGFR and MMP-9 activity, via β-arrestin2. Thus, we hypothesized that KISS1R signaling promotes TNBC cell invasion via fibulin-3. Our clinical data suggests that plasma fibulin-3 levels are elevated in metastatic TNBC patients. Additionally, we found that invasive breast cancer cells have increased …
Stability And Activity Of Naturally Occurring Rgs2 Variants, Patrick Stockwell
Stability And Activity Of Naturally Occurring Rgs2 Variants, Patrick Stockwell
Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository
Regulator of G protein signaling protein 2 (RGS2) attenuates G Protein-Coupled Receptor (GPCR) signaling by promoting the hydrolysis of GTP in the activated Gα subunit to GDP, thereby governing many physiological and pathophysiological signals. However, how RGS2 itself is regulated remains to be elucidated. In this study, our principal goal was to discover the molecular mechanisms controlling RGS2 degradation and if altered degradation affects Gα signaling. RGS2 has four initiation sites (at residues 1, 5, 16, and 33), resulting in the existence of four distinct N-terminal initiation site variants. Additionally, there are naturally occurring mutations in this region at residues …
Mechanisms Of Neural Precursor Cell Apoptosis By Microglia-Derived Cytokines, Jennifer Guadagno
Mechanisms Of Neural Precursor Cell Apoptosis By Microglia-Derived Cytokines, Jennifer Guadagno
Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository
The persistence of neural precursor cells (NPCs) in distinct niches of the adult brain and spinal cord provides an important opportunity for regeneration in the affected nervous system. In the adult brain, neural precursor cells (NPCs) generate new neurons that can be integrated into the CNS circuitry to replace damaged or lost neurons, and contribute to learning and memory processes. Deregulated neurogenesis has been observed under both acute and chronic neurological conditions including stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease. The extent to which neurogenesis contributes to brain repair is severely limited by the neuroinflammatory processes associated with these neurodegenerative conditions. …