(C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) has been shown to protect neurons against oxidative stress. Lower levels of H(2)S as well as accumulation of homocysteine (Hcy), a strong risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), are reported in the brains of AD patients. The aim of present study is to explore the protection see more of H(2)S against Hcy-induced cytotoxicity and apoptosis and the molecular mechanisms underlying in PC12 cells. We show that sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS), a H(2)S donor, protects PC12 cells against Hcy-mediated cytotoxicity and apoptosis
by preventing both the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and the increase in intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by Hcy. NaHS not only promotes the expression of bc1-2, but also blocks the down-regulation of bc1-2 by Hcy. These results indicate that H(2)S protects neuronal cells against neurotoxicity Veliparib clinical trial of Hcy by preserving MMP and attenuating ROS accumulation through up-regulation of bcl-2 level. Our study suggests a promising future of H(2)S-based therapies for neurodegenerative diseases such as AD. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ireland
Ltd and the Japan Neuroscience Society. All rights reserved.”
“The Xbp1 gene, located on chromosome 11qA1 in Mus musculus, encodes a key transcription factor in the endoplasmic reticulum stress response pathway. XBP1 play a role in brain development and implicated in pathogenesis of neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases. To evaluate the role of Xbp1 in behavioral phenotypes, we subjected heterozygous Xbp1 knockout (Xbp1(+/-)) mice to a battery of behavioral tests. Xbp1(+/-) mice showed enhanced prepulse inhibition (1)131). We also examined gene expression profiles in frontal cortex and hippocampus of Xbp1(+/-) mice to investigate the molecular basis that could underlie behavioral phenotypes. Gene expression analysis showed that several genes selleckchem located on chromosome 11qA1 were differentially expressed. Among them, Uqcr10 and Nipsnap1 were strongly up-regulated. Significant up-regulation of these genes
in 129S compared with BALB/c as well as higher PPI in 129S than BALB/c was previously reported. The ES cells used to generation of XBP1 knockout mice were derived from 129S and the founder was backcrossed with BALB/c. Thus, these findings would be accounted for by 129S-derived chromosomal region flanking Xbp1. These results support the contribution of chromosome 11qA1 locus to the amount of PPI. Uqcr10 and Nipsnapl are good candidate genes that could impact PPI. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd and the Japan Neuroscience Society. All rights reserved.”
“A mathematical model that simulates the within-vector dynamics of Plasmodium falciparum in an Anopheles mosquito is developed, based on experimental data.