bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
KATP Channels Are an Important Component of the Shear‐Sensing Mechanism in the Pulmonary Microvasculature
Authors: CHATTERJEE S. , LEVITAN I. , WEI Z. , FISHER A. B. 
Published: November 2006

ABSTRACTObjective: To investigate the role of a KATP channel in sensing shear, specifically its cessation, in the endothelial cells of the pulmonary microvasculature.Methods: Endothelial cells isolated from the pulmonary microvasculature of wild‐type and KATP channel knockout (KIR6.2−/−) mice were either statically cultured (non‐flow‐adapted) or kept under flow (flow‐adapted) and the KIR currents in these cells were monitored by whole‐cell patch‐clamp technique during flow and its cessation. Membrane potential changes, generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and Ca2+ influx with flow cessation were evaluated by the use of fluorescent dyes. Lungs isolated from wild‐type mice were imaged to visualize ROS generation in the subpleural endothelium.Results: By patch‐clamp analysis, reduction in the KIR current with cessation of flow occurred only in wild‐type cells that were flow‐adapted and not in flow‐adapted KIR6.2−/− cells. Similar observations were made using changes in bisoxonol fluorescence as an index of cell membrane potential. Generation of ROS and Ca2+ influx that follow membrane depolarization were significantly lower in statically cultured and in KIR6.2−/− cells as compared to flow‐adapted wild‐type cells. Imaging of subpleural endothelial cells of the whole lung showed that the KATP antagonist glyburide caused the production of ROS in the absence of flow cessation.Conclusions: The responses to stop of flow (viz. membrane depolarization, KIR currents, ROS, Ca2+) were significantly altered with knockout of KATP channels, which indicates that this channel is an important component of the pulmonary endothelial response to abrupt loss of shear stress.
T‐type Calcium Channels in Pulmonary Vascular Endothelium
Authors: ZHOU CHUN , WU SONGWEI 
Published: November 2006

ABSTRACTThe expression of low‐voltage‐gated T‐type calcium channel α1G‐subunit (Cav3.1) has recently been revealed in pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (PMVECs). In endothelial cells, changes in membrane potential may be caused by a variety of physiological or pathophysiological vascular stimuli. Thus, the characteristic low‐voltage range of activation, transient kinetics of inactivation, and conducting continuous Ca2+ entry in a range of low membrane potentials of this channel may confer its temporal and spatial control of cytosolic Ca2 + important for a variety of cellular processes in vascular endothelial cells. The goal of this review is to provide a succinct description of the endothelial cell T‐type calcium channel, including its molecular characteristics, biophysical and pharmacological profiles, and involvement in certain endothelial cell functions.
Ca2+Channels and Chronic Hypoxia
Authors: SHIMODA LARISSA A. , WANG JIAN , SYLVESTER J. T. 
Published: November 2006

ABSTRACTMany chronic lung diseases are associated with prolonged exposure to alveolar hypoxia, resulting in the development of pulmonary hypertension. While the exact mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of hypoxic pulmonary hypertension remain poorly understood, a key role for changes in Ca2+homeostasis has emerged. Intracellular Ca2+concentration controls a variety of pulmonary vascular cell functions, including contraction, gene expression, growth, barrier function and synthesis of vasoactive substances. Several studies indicate that prolonged exposure to hypoxia causes alterations in the expression and activity of several Ca2+handling pathways in pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells. In contrast, the effect of chronic hypoxia on Ca2+homeostasis in pulmonary arterial endothelial cells is relatively unexplored. In this review, we discuss data from our laboratory and others describing the effects of prolonged hypoxia on pulmonary vascular smooth muscle and endothelial cell Ca2+homeostasis and the various Ca2+channels and handling pathways involved in these responses. We will also highlight future directions of investigation that might improve our understanding of the response of pulmonary vascular cells to chronic hypoxia.
Selection of Appropriate Imaging Equipment and Methodology for Live Cell Imaging inDrosophila
Authors: Davis Ilan , Parton Richard M. 
Published: November 2006

INTRODUCTIONThe wide range of microscopy equipment and techniques are truly bewildering and ever-expanding. In the past two decades, there have been many revolutions in light microscopy techniques made possible by improvements in optics, detector technology, and computers. Furthermore, there is no indication that the rate of development of new equipment is slowing down. Here we attempt to provide an overview of available options and important considerations applicable to imagingDrosophilacells and tissues.
Live Imaging of Caenorhabditis elegans: Preparation of Samples
Authors: Podbilewicz Benjamin , Gruenbaum Yosef 
Published: November 2006

INTRODUCTIONCaenorhabditis elegans, a small (adults are ~1 mm long), free-living soil nematode that feeds on bacteria, is an ideal organism for applying various live microscopy techniques. The organism is transparent, thus it is possible to microscopically analyze the whole animal throughout its entire life. Its complete cell lineage is known, making it possible to follow developmental and differentiation processes in real time. Furthermore, the development of transgenic techniques, as well as RNA interference (RNAi) methods and sophisticated genetic analyses, and the availability of a large collection of mutant lines all make C. elegans especially attractive for live microscopy. This protocol describes useful techniques for preparing C. elegans for live microscopic analysis. Details of sample preparation depend on the developmental stage of the worm to be studied.
Detection of Ubiquitylated Proteins in Mammalian Cells
Authors: Tansey William P. 
Published: November 2006

INTRODUCTIONThis assay is performed to detect ubiquitylated proteins in transfected mammalian cells. Twenty-four to 40 hours after transfection, cells are harvested, total ubiquitylated proteins are recovered by nickel-affinity chromatography, and specific proteins are detected by Western blotting.
High JC virus load in gastric cancer and adjacent non‐cancerous mucosa
Authors: Murai Yoshihiro , Zheng Hua‐Chuan , Aziz Hekmat Osman Abdel , Mei Hong , Kutsuna Tomohiko , Nakanishi Yuko , Tsuneyama Koichi , Takano Yasuo 
Published: November 2006

The JC virus (JCV) infects a large proportion of the worldwide population and approximately 90% of adults are seropositive. Recent reports have described the possibility of its oncogenetic role in several malignancies. The aim of the present study was to assess the oncogenetic significance of JCV for gastric cancer. Twenty‐two sample pairs of fresh tumor and adjacent non‐cancerous tissue (ANCT) as well as 10 normal gastric mucosa specimens were investigated on the basis of nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by Southern blotting, DNA direct sequencing, real‐time PCR, in situ PCR and immunohistochemistry. The T antigen sequence was detected in 86.4% of gastric cancers and ANCT, and in 100% of the normal mucosa samples, as for virus capsid protein, 54.1%, 68.1% and 70%, respectively. A generally low incidence was noted for agnoprotein. The JCV DNA load was approximately 10‐fold higher in both gastric cancers and paired ANCT (4784 ± 759 and 5394 ± 1466 copies/µg DNA, respectively) than in normal gastric tissue (542.4 ± 476.0 copies/µg DNA, P < 0.0001). In situ PCR revealed sporadic JCV genome‐positive cancer cells and foveolar epithelial cells. T antigen protein expression assessed by immunohistochemistry was detected only in one case (1/22; 4.5%), probably because the half life of T antigen might be short. It was concluded that the gastric epithelium in most Japanese people is infected with JCV at a low rate but levels of infection are increased markedly in both cancer cells and ANCT, indicating that multiplication of JCV copies might be a risk factor and a background for gastric carcinogenesis. (Cancer Sci 2007; 98: 25–31)
Evaluation of S100A10, annexin II and B‐FABP expression as markers for renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Domoto Tomohiro , Miyama Youko , Suzuki Hiroko , Teratani Takumi , Arai Kazumori , Sugiyama Takayuki , Takayama Tatsuya , Mugiya Soichi , Ozono Seiichiro , Nozawa Ryushi 
Published: November 2006

This study aimed to analyze expression of S100A10, annexin II and B‐FABP genes in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and their potential value as tumor markers. Furthermore, any correlation between the gene expression and prognostic indicators of RCC was analyzed. Expression of each gene was estimated by RT‐PCR in the non‐neoplastic (normal) and tumorous parts of resected kidney samples. Also, each antigen was immunostained in RCC and normal kidney tissues. Expression of the S100A10 gene averaged 2.5‐fold higher in the tumor than that in the normal tissues (n = 47), after standardization against that of β‐actin. However, expression of annexin II, a natural ligand of S100A10, was only 1.64‐fold higher. In the tissue sections of RCC, S100A10 and annexin II were immunostained in membranes. In the normal renal epithelia, however, both antigens were stained in the Bowman's capsule and the tubules from Henle's loop through the collecting duct system, but not in the proximal tubules, from where most RCC are derived. In contrast, expression of the B‐FABP gene was 20‐fold higher in the tumor. No B‐FABP was immunohistochemically detected in normal kidney sections, but it was stained in the cytoplasm of RCC tissue sections. S100A10 and B‐FABP genes were overexpressed regardless of nuclear grade and stage of RCC. Immunopositivity in RCC tissues (n = 13) was 100% for S100A10 and annexin II, and 70% for B‐FABP; however, no clear relationship was observed in either antigen with nuclear grade and stage. It was found that all three performed well as RCC markers. B‐FABP was most specific to RCC, as it was expressed little in normal kidney tissues. (Cancer Sci 2007; 98: 77–82)
Do skin prick and conjunctival provocation tests predict symptom severity in seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis?
Authors: Radcliffe Michael J , Lewith George T , Prescott Philip , Church Martin K , Holgate Stephen T 
Published: November 2006

SummaryBackground
In the investigation of seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (SAR), quantitative skin and conjunctival allergen challenge tests are used to measure individual allergen sensitivity. These tests are reproducible and relate well to prevalence but their relationship to symptom severity is less well established.Objective
We wished to determine if quantitative skin prick tests (QSPT) and conjunctival provocation tests (CPTs) using a single grass pollen allergen extract are reproducible and predict symptom severity in SAR.Methods
We retrospectively analysed data from 91 participants in a previously published randomized placebo controlled study of low dosage allergen immunotherapy who were randomized to receive placebo treatment. We examined the relationship between pre‐seasonal QSPT, CPT and SAR symptoms.Results
We found a high level of reproducibility when repeated measures were compared for both the QSPT (P<0.001) and the CPT (P<0.001) and moderate correlation (0.49) between the standard skin prick test (SPT) and the QSPT (P<0.001). We found weak negative correlation (−0.27) between the QSPT and the CPT (P<0.001). We found no correlation between seasonal symptom, use of rescue medication or quality of life (QOL) scores and pre‐seasonal QSPT or CPT.Conclusion
In the assessment of seasonal rhinoconjunctivitis, quantitative skin and conjunctival allergen challenge tests are strongly reproducible, although there is no correlation between these tests and seasonal symptom, use of rescue medication or QOL scores.
Evidence for immunological priming and increased frequency of CD4+ CD25+ cord blood T cells in children born to mothers with type 1 diabetes
Authors: Holm B C , Svensson J , Åkesson C , Arvastsson J , Ljungberg J , Lynch K , Ivarsson S-A , Lernmark Å , Cilio C M ,   Diabetes Prediction Study in Skåne (DiPiS)
Published: November 2006

SummaryMaternal transmission of islet autoantibodies to children born to mothers with type 1 diabetes (T1D) has been shown to protect from autoantibodies and diabetes development later in life. However, the factors conferring disease protection are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to evaluate comparatively proinflammatory cytokines, autoantibodies and lymphocyte subsets in cord blood (CB) of children born to mothers with either T1D (n = 13), gestational diabetes (GDM) (n = 32) or healthy mothers (n = 81) in relation to transplacental passage of autoantibodies. The results are consistent with early priming of the fetal immune system only in children born to mothers with T1D. Levels of interleukin (IL)-1β (P = 0·022), tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α (P = 0·002) and IL-8 (P = 0·0012), as well as the frequency of CD4+ CD25+ T cells (P &lt; 0·01) were significantly increased, and the increased levels correlated positively with anti-GAD65 autoantibody (GADA) levels. Moreover, CD4+ CD25+ T cells of children born to T1D mothers exhibited a more pronounced memory phenotype with increased CCR4 expression and down-regulation of CD62L. These data suggest that early activation of the fetal immune system as a consequence of maternal autoimmunity and transplacental passage of GADA may influence the generation and expansion of fetal regulatory T cells. This might induce an early antigen-specific immunological tolerance that could protect against T1D later in life.
Trans-dimensional inverse problems, model comparison and the evidence
Authors: Sambridge M. , Gallagher K. , Jackson A. , Rickwood P. 
Published: November 2006

SummaryIn most geophysical inverse problems the properties of interest are parametrized using a fixed number of unknowns. In some cases arguments can be used to bound the maximum number of parameters that need to be considered. In others the number of unknowns is set at some arbitrary value and regularization is used to encourage simple, non-extravagant models. In recent times variable or self-adaptive parametrizations have gained in popularity. Rarely, however, is the number of unknowns itself directly treated as an unknown. This situation leads to a transdimensional inverse problem, that is, one where the dimension of the parameter space is a variable to be solved for.This paper discusses trans-dimensional inverse problems from the Bayesian viewpoint. A particular type of Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) sampling algorithm is highlighted which allows probabilistic sampling in variable dimension spaces. A quantity termed the evidence or marginal likelihood plays a key role in this type of problem. It is shown that once evidence calculations are performed, the results of complex variable dimension sampling algorithms can be replicated with simple and more familiar fixed dimensional MCMC sampling techniques. Numerical examples are used to illustrate the main points. The evidence can be difficult to calculate, especially in high-dimensional non-linear inverse problems. Nevertheless some general strategies are discussed and analytical expressions given for certain linear problems.
Management of field margins to maximize multiple ecological services
Authors: OLSON DAWN M. , WÄCKERS FELIX L. 
Published: November 2006

Summary

Vegetative buffers in agricultural landscapes can provide a range of important ecological services, including conservation of native flora and fauna, enhancement of biological pest control and reduction of agrochemical drift. Typically, studies addressing the impact of such vegetative elements focus on one particular benefit. We investigated whether the benefits of field margins that had been established for conservation of northern bobwhite quail Colinus virginianus populations extended to the enhancement of biological pest control in adjacent conservation tillage cotton fields.
Densities of a selection of insect species and the predation and parasitism rates of insect pest species were measured in first‐ and second‐year field margins established for bobwhite quail as well as in an adjacent cotton crop.
Second‐year field margins yielded higher densities of all species sampled, with the exception of staphylinids and cotton aphids. Despite this, thrips and their predator, Orius insidiosus, were the only species that were also more abundant in the adjacent cotton field. Tachinids and Trichogramma and Lygus species, appeared to prefer the field margin vegetation over the cotton.
Overall, the impact of second‐year margins on the cotton crop did not significantly differ from first‐year margins with regard to pest occurrence or biological control.
Analysis of the sugar content in Meteorus autographae, a generalist parasitoid of Lepidoptera larvae, suggested that this species is severely food‐limited in the field margins established for bobwhite quail.
Synthesis and applications. This study shows that field margins designed to specifically benefit bobwhite quail may be unsuitable for providing other ecological services. By making small adjustments in the vegetative composition of these field margins, such as adding early season nectar‐producing plants, it may be feasible to combine biodiversity and pest‐control benefits and thereby optimize the overall ecological services to be gained.
SINEs of progress: Mobile element applications to molecular ecology
Authors: RAY DAVID A. 
Published: November 2006

AbstractMobile elements represent a unique and under‐utilized set of tools for molecular ecologists. They are essentially homoplasy‐free characters with the ability to be genotyped in a simple and efficient manner. Interpretation of the data generated using mobile elements can be simple compared to other genetic markers. They exist in a wide variety of taxa and are useful over a wide selection of temporal ranges within those taxa. Furthermore, their mode of evolution instills them with another advantage over other types of multilocus genotype data: the ability to determine loci applicable to a range of time spans in the history of a taxon. In this review, I discuss the application of mobile element markers, especially short interspersed elements (SINEs), to phylogenetic and population data, with an emphasis on potential applications to molecular ecology.
Proteins encoded by the conservon of Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) comprise a membrane‐associated heterocomplex that resembles eukaryotic G protein‐coupled regulatory system
Authors: Komatsu Mamoru , Takano Hideaki , Hiratsuka Tomonari , Ishigaki Yuji , Shimada Kyoko , Beppu Teruhiko , Ueda Kenji 
Published: November 2006

Summary Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) retains unique conserved operons termed conservons. Here, one of the conservons (cvn9), which encodes five proteins (A9‐E9), was characterized. Mutants for cvnA9 and cvnA10 conditionally overproduced actinorhodin and performed precocious aerial growth, while a cvnE9 mutant showed the parental phenotype. Transcription of bldG, adpA and bldN was upregulated in the cvnA9 mutant. A9‐D9 were detected in the insoluble fraction of cell‐free extract of S. coelicolor by Western analysis. Biochemical analyses revealed that A9 has ATP‐hydrolysing and adenine nucleotide‐binding activities; D9 has GTP‐hydrolysing and guanine nucleotide‐binding activities; and E9 shows a typical spectrum similar to cytochrome P450. The comprehensive interaction assays demonstrated the occurrence of specific interactions between A9 and B9, A9 and C9, B9 and B9, B9 and D9, and C9 and D9. A9 associated with and dissociated from B9 (and C9) when ATP and ATP‐γ‐S were supplied in the reaction respectively. Similarly, D9 associated with and dissociated from B9 (and C9) when GTP and GTP‐γ‐S were supplied respectively. A9 and B9 were also shown for the occurrence as homocomplexes. Probably, Cvn9 proteins comprise a membrane‐associated heterocomplex resembling the eukaryotic G‐protein‐coupled receptor system, which may serve as a signal transducer that connects to the bld cascade.
Phenotypic Analysis of IL‐10‐treated, Monocyte‐derived Dendritic Cells in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Authors: Figueroa‐Vega N. , Galindo‐Rodríguez G. , Bajaña S. , Portales‐Pérez D. , Abud‐Mendoza C. , Sánchez‐Torres C. , González‐Amaro R. 
Published: November 2006

AbstractDendritic cells (DC) play a dual role in the immune response, participating in its induction, and the maintenance of immune tolerance. The aim of this work was to perform a quantitative and phenotypic analysis of DC generated in vitro in the presence of IL‐10 in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Blood samples were obtained from 10 active and untreated patients with SLE and six controls. Monocyte‐derived DC were generated in vitro in the presence or absence of IL‐10, and a quantitative and phenotypic analysis was performed. We found that freshly isolated monocytes from SLE patients had an increased expression of CD11b. On the other hand, the efficiency of in vitro DC generation was diminished in blood samples from SLE patients for conventional DC, but not for IL‐10‐treated DC. A diminished expression of HLA‐DR, CD9 and CD86 was observed in conventional DC from SLE patients compared with controls. In contrast, enhanced levels of HLA‐DR, CD80, CD9 and CD151 tetraspanins, FN1 (a class II MHC‐tetraspanin epitope), CD85j/ILT2 and CD69 were detected in IL‐10‐treated DC from SLE patients. Accordingly, the phenotypic profile of IL‐10‐treated DC was very different in SLE and controls. However, the synthesis of IL‐10 and IL‐12 was similar in IL‐10‐treated and conventional cells in both SLE patients and controls. Our findings on the aberrant phenotype of IL‐10‐treated DC in SLE and their normal efficiency of in vitro generation may be important for the design of future therapies of this condition based on the administration of DC to induce immune tolerance.
Testing the phenotypic gambit: phenotypic, genetic and environmental correlations of colour
Authors: HADFIELD J. D. , NUTALL A. , OSORIO D. , OWENS I. P. F. 
Published: November 2006

AbstractEvolutionary theory is primarily concerned with genetic processes, yet empirical testing of this theory often involves data collected on phenotypes. To make this tenable, the implicit assumption is often made that phenotypic patterns are good predictors of genetic patterns; an assumption that coined the phenotypic gambit. Although this assumption has been validated for traits with high heritability, such as morphology, its generality for traits with low heritabilities, such as life‐history and behavioural traits, remains controversial. Using a large‐scale cross‐fostering experiment, we were able to measure genetic, common environmental and phenotypic correlations between four colour traits and two skeletal traits in a wild population of passerine birds, the blue tit (Parus caeruleus). Colour traits had little heritable variation but common environment effects were found to be important; skeletal traits showed the opposite pattern. Positive correlations because of a shared natal environment were found between all traits, obscuring negative genetic correlations between some colour and skeletal traits. Consequently, phenotypic patterns were poor surrogates for genetic patterns and we suggest that this may be common if trade‐offs or substantial parental effects exist. For this group of traits, the phenotypic gambit cannot be made and we suggest caution when inferring genetic patterns from phenotypic data, especially for behavioural and life‐history traits.