bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Inhibition of cysteine protease and growth of Staphylococcus aureus V8 and poliovirus by phosphorylated cystatin α conjugate of skin
Authors: Takahashi Masae , Tezuka Tadashi , Korant Bruce , Katunuma Nobuhiko 
Published: December 2008

AbstractThe inhibitory properties of phosphorylated cystatin α (P‐cystatin α) and a conjugated protein of the P‐cystatin α with filaggrin linker segment peptide (FLSP) against the growth of Staphylococcus bacteria and poliovirus were investigated. Both the P‐cystatin α and the conjugated protein (P‐cystatin α‐FLSP conjugate) as a model for the cornified envelope of skin inhibited the cysteine protease activity of Staphylococcus aureus V8. The protease activity was inhibited by normal cornified envelope of newborn rat skin, which contains P‐cystatin α, and P‐cystatin α in cornified envelope of newborn rat skin also suppressed the growth of S. aureus V8. When P‐cystatin α or P‐cystatin α‐FLSP conjugate was added to cultured HeLa cells infected with poliovirus, 50—70% of the cell‐death due to poliovirus infection was prevented. The poliovirus 3C protease activity in the infected HeLa cells was inhibited by P‐cystatin α or P‐cystatin α‐FLSP conjugate. As a result, the processing of viral capsid peptides was suppressed. These findings suggest that P‐cystatin α and P‐cystatin α‐FLSP conjugate could play the role of the barrier against microorganism infections due to inhibition of their cysteine protease activities.
Cardiovascular effects of dietary copper deficiency
Authors: Saari Jack T. , Schuschke Dale A. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractDietary copper deficiency may impair cardiovascular health by contributing to high blood pressure, enhancement of inflammation, anemia, reduced blood clotting and arteriosclerosis. The purpose of this review is to compile information on the numerous changes of the heart, blood and blood vessels that may contribute to these cardiovascular defects. These alterations include weakened structural integrity of the heart and blood vessels, impairment of the use of energy by the heart, reduced ability of the heart to contract, altered ability of blood vessels to control their diameter and to grow, and altered structure and function of circulating blood cells. The fundamental causes of these changes rest largely on reduced effectiveness of enzymes that depend on copper for their activity.
The influence of the cytokines Il‐1β and INFγ on the expression of selenoproteins in the human hepatocarcinoma cell line HepG2
Authors: Hesse‐Bähr K. , Dreher I. , Körle J. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractMetabolic labeling of HepG2 cells with 75selenite indicated the expression of more than four selenoproteins in the 80 to 45 kDa range and more than four selenoproteins in the 24 to 14 kDa range. Although there were no significant changes in the total protein content, determined by the method of BioRad, the densitometric analysis of the autoradiogramms showed a reduced expression of all labeled selenoproteins in the cell lysates of HepG2 after cytokine treatment for 24 hours. A stronger reduction was observed after treatment with ii‐1β than with IFNγ. Moreover, the inhibitory effects were more significant for those selenoproteins in the higher molecular mass range. Our data on the inhibition of selenoprotein synthesis and on repression of SeP promoter activity show that the expression of selenoproteins, especially of SeP, is influenced by acute phase reaction and pro‐inflammatory reactions.
Activation of the coenzyme at the early step of the catalytic cycle of tryptophanase
Authors: Ikushiro Hiroko , Kagamiyama Hiroyuki 
Published: December 2008

AbstractTryptophanase is catalytically more competent in alkaline pH even though the coenzyme exists as an inactive aldamine structure in this pH region. The binding of a substrate analog, 3‐indolepropionate to the enzyme shifts the equilibrium from the substituted aldamine to the ketoenamine form in the entire pH region studied. The resultant ketoenamine form is favorable for transaldimination with the substrate amino group, a prerequisite for subsequent catalysis. This implies that the binding of tryptophan in alkaline pH, where the enzyme shows maximum activity, converts the inactive aldamine form of the coenzyme to the active ketoenamine form, which is favorable for undergoing the next step of the catalytic process.
Phytate prevents tissue calcifications in female rats
Authors: Grases F. , Prieto R. M. , Simonet B. M. , March J. G. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractThe AIN‐76 A, a purified rodent diet, has a propensity to cause kidney calcifications in female rats which is not observed with non‐purified rodent diets, suggesting a nutritional factor that avoids these calcifications. One candidate is phytate, which inhibits crystallisation of calcium salts and is practically absent in purified diets. Therefore, the effects on calcification of kidney tissue of phytate addition to the AIN‐76 A diet using female Wistar rats were studied. The rats were assigned to three groups: AIN‐76 A, AIN‐76 A + 1% phytate and standard nonpurified chow. Urinary phytate of the AIN‐76 A fed group was undetectable. Urinary phytate of AIN‐76 A + 1% phytate and standard fed groups did not differ and was significantly higher than in the AIN‐76 A group. The concentrations of calcium and phosporus in kidneys were greater in the AIN‐76 A group than in AIN‐76 A + 1% phytate and standard groups. Only rats of the AIN‐76 A group displayed mineral deposits at the corticomedullary junction. These findings demonstrated that the absence of phytate in the AIN‐76 A diet is one of the causes of renal calcification in female rats.
Scavenger receptor regulation and atherosclerosis
Authors: Zingg Jean‐Marc , Ricciarelli Roberta , Azzi Angelo 
Published: December 2008

AbstractAtherosclerosis and its complications, such as coronary heart disease, heart infarction and stroke, are the leading causes of death in the developed world. High blood pressure, diabetes, smoking and a diet high in cholesterol and lipids clearly increase the likelihood of premature atherosclerosis, albeit other factors, such as the individual genetic makeup, may play an additional role. During atherosclerosis, uncontrolled cholesterol and lipid accumulation in macrophages and smooth muscle cells leads to foam cell formation and to the progression of the atherosclerotic plaque. This review will focus on foam cell formation within the atherosclerotic lesion, the involvement of the scavenger receptor genes in this process, and the possibility to interfere with scavenger receptor function to reduce the progression of atherosclerosis. To date, the regulatory mechanisms for the expression of scavenger receptor genes and their role in atherosclerosis are not well characterized. Knowledge on this subject could lead to a better understanding of the process, prevention and therapy of this disease.
Alpha‐tocopherol protects against monocyte Mac‐1 (CD11b/CD18) expression and Mac‐1‐dependent adhesion to endothelial cells induced by oxidized low‐density lipoprotein
Authors: Terasawa Yoshimitsu , Manabe Hiroki , Yoshida Norimasa , Uemura Manabu , Sugimoto Naohito , Naito Yuji , Yoshikawa Toshikazu , Kondo Motoharu 
Published: December 2008

Abstractα‐Tocopherol supplementation is reported to protect against cardiovascular disease and to influence cells involved in atherogenesis, such as monocytes. Interactions between monocytes and vascular endothelial cells occur early in atherogenesis, and adhesion is mediated by integrins. We evaluated the effects of α‐tocopherol on expression of Mac‐1 (CD11b/CD18) by monocytes after stimulation with oxidized low‐density lipoprotein (LDL), which is implicated as a potent chemotactic agent in atherogenesis. Incubation of whole blood with oxidized LDL (100 ± 119 g/ml) increased Mac‐1 expression on monocytes, and preincubation with α‐tocopherol reduced this upregulation in a concentration dependent manner. In another experiment, whole blood was obtained from healthy adult volunteers after 10 days of α‐tocopherol administration (600 mg/day) and was incubated with oxidized LDL (100 μg/ml). There was a decrease in the upregulation of Mac‐1 compared with that measured before administration. Adherence of oxidized LDL‐stimulated monocytes to human umbilical vein endothelial cells was reduced by pretreatment with α‐tocopherol, and was also inhibited by an anti‐CD18 monoclonal antibody. Experiments with protein kinase C inhibitors suggested that reduction of Mac‐1 upregulation by α‐tocopherol was secondary to a decrease of protein kinase C activity. In conclusion, α‐tocopherol suppressed the upregulation of Mac‐1 expression on monocytes by oxidized LDL.
Effects of food factors on signal transduction pathways
Authors: Dong Zigang 
Published: December 2008

AbstractConsumption of plant‐derived foods, especially fruits and vegetables, has been linked to decreased risk of cancer. Laboratory studies with animals and cells in culture have shown cancer preventive activity of chemicals isolated from soy, tea, rice and many green, yellow and orange fruits and vegetables. Using cell culture, transgenic mice and knockout mice models to examine the anti‐cancer effects of these dietary factors at the molecular level, we found that (1) (‐)‐epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), the major active polyphenol in green tea, and theaflavins, the major active components in black tea, inhibit epidermal growth factor (EGF)‐ or 12‐O‐tetradecanoylphorbol‐13‐acetate (TPA)‐induced JB6 cell transformation. At the same dose range that inhibited cell transformation, EGCG and theaflavins inhibited activator protein‐1 (AP‐1) activation. These compounds also inhibited ultraviolet B (UVB)‐induced AP‐1 and nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB)‐dependent transcriptional activation; (2) resveratrol, found at high levels in grapes, inhibited cell transformation through the induction of apoptosis, mediated through JNK and p53‐dependent pathways; (3) inositol hexaphosphate (InsP6), an active compound from rice and other grains, inhibited TPA‐ or EGF‐induced transformation and signal transduction through its effects on phosphatidylinositol‐3 kinase (PI‐3) kinase; (4) phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC), which occurs as a conjugate in certain cruciferous vegetables, inhibited cell transformation corresponding with the induction of apoptosis. An elevation of p53 is required for PEITC‐induced apoptosis. Our studies indicated that the chemopreventive effect of these food factors may be mediated by their effects on different signal transduction pathways; (5) retinoids (vitamin A and its metabolites) inhibited tumor promoter‐induced cell transformation and tumor promotion in transgenic mice through the inhibition of AP‐1 action but not through the activation of retinoic acid response element (RARE).
Zinc deficiency and taste dysfunction; Contribution of carbonic anhydrase, a zinc‐metalloenzyme, to normal taste sensation
Authors: Komai Michio , Goto Tomoko , Suzuki Hitoshi , Takeda Tomohiko , Furukawa Yuji 
Published: December 2008

AbstractThe present study was designed to clarify the effect of zinc deficiency on sodium chloride preference, the lingual trigeminal and taste nerves transduction, and carbonic anhydrase (CA) activity of the tongue surface and salivary gland. Male SD rats, 4 weeks old, were divided into four groups, and fed zinc‐deficient (Zn‐Def), low‐zinc (Low‐Zn), and zinc‐sufficient diets with free access (Zn‐Suf) and pair‐feeding (Pair‐fed). After taking part in the preference tests for 42 days, the rats were provided for the chorda tympani and lingual trigeminal nerves recordings, then finally sacrificed and the tongue and submandibular gland excised to measure CA activity.Sodium chloride preference increased only after 4 days of the feeding of zinc‐deficient and low‐zinc diets, which means that the taste abnormality appears abruptly in zinc deficieny and even though in marginal zinc deficiency. Reduced CA activities of the taste‐related tissues in zinc‐deficient group paralleled well with the decreased taste and lingual trigeminal nerves sensitivities.
Prevention of colon carcinogenesis and carcinoma metastasis by orally administered bovine lactoferrin in animals
Authors: Tsuda Hiroyuki , Sekine Kazunori , Takasuka Nobuo , Toriyama‐Baba Hiroyasu , Iigo Masaaki 
Published: December 2008

AbstractBovine lactoferrin (bLF), a milk protein known to have bacteriostatic properties was examined for its preventive effects on colon and other organ carcinogenesis and experimental metastasis. (Experiment 1) The influence on colon carcinogenesis was investigated in male rats treated with azoxymethane (AOM), then received 2 or 0.2% weeks. Significant reduction in the incidence (27% control, respectively) and number of adenocarcinomas of the large intestine was observed. (Experiment 2) In BALB/c mice bearing subcutaneous (s.c.) implants of colon carcinoma 26 (Co 26Lu), bLF demonstrated significant inhibition of spontaneous lung metastasis (approximately 43% and CD8+ cells in white blood cells increased (171% control, respectively) after treatment. Results of those experiments indicate that bLF remarkably prevents colon carcinogenesis and lung metastasis of colon carcinoma cells, possibly due to increasing cytotoxic cells in the peripheral blood.
Dietary intake and cancer mortality in Japan
Authors: Matsumura Yasuhiro , Yoshiike Nobuo , Yokoyama Tetsuji , Tanaka Heizo 
Published: December 2008

AbstractWe examined the correlation between the prefectural variation of standardized mortality ratio (SMR) for lung and colon cancer and the consumption of foods using dietary data from National Nutrition Survey in Japan from 1976 to 1995. We found partly the same results on promoting factors and preventing factors of these cancers as the previously reported large scale cohort studies. But, we also found the inconsistent results. This might be partly because of the limitation of data collection method in the National Nutrition Survey. It was thought that the method of National Nutrition Survey should be modified to monitor nutrition and health conditions to correspond the epidemiological study and to prevent chronic diseases.
Inhibitory effects of curcumin and capsaicin on phorbol ester‐induced activation of eukaryotic transcription factors, NF‐κB and AP‐1
Authors: Surh Young‐Joon , Han Seong Su , Keum Young‐Sam , Seo Hyo‐Joung , Lee Sang Sup 
Published: December 2008

AbstractRecently, considerable attention has been focused on identifying dietary and medicinal phytochemicals that can inhibit, retard or reverse the multi‐stage carcinogenesis. Spices and herbs contain phenolic substances with potent antioxidative and chemopreventive properties. Curcumin, a yellow colouring agent from turmeric and capsaicin, a pungent principle of red pepper exhibit profound anticarcinogenic and antimutagenic activities. Two well‐defined eukaryotic transcription factors, nuclear factor‐kappa B (NF‐κB) and activator protein 1 (AP‐1) have been implicated in pathogenesis of many human diseases including cancer. These transcription factors are known to be activated by a wide array of external stimuli, such as tumor promoter 12‐O‐tetradecanoylphorbol‐13‐acetate (TPA), tumor necrosis factor, reactive oxygen species, bacterial lipopolysaccharide, and ultraviolet. In the present study, we found that topical application of TPA onto dorsal skin of female ICR mice resulted in marked activation of epidermal NF‐κB and AP‐1. Curcumin and capsaicin, when topically applied prior to TPA, significantly attenuated TPA‐induced activation of each transcription factor in mouse skin. Likewise, both compounds inhibited NF‐κB and AP‐1 activation in cultured human promyelocytic leukemia (HL‐60) cells stimulated with TPA. Based on these findings, it is likely that curcumin and capsaicin exert anti‐tumor promotional effects through suppression of the tumor promoter‐induced activation of transcription factors, NF‐κB and AP‐1.
COX‐2 and iNOS, good targets for chemoprevention of colon cancer
Authors: Watanabe Kouji , Kawamori Toshihiko , Nakatsugi Seiichi , Wakabayashi Keiji 
Published: December 2008

AbstractCyclooxygenase (COX)‐2 has been suggested to play an important role in colon carcinogenesis. We found that the COX‐2 selective inhibitor, nimesulide, reduces azoxymethane (AOM)‐induced aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in rats and colon carcinogenesis in mice, as well as formation of intestinal polyps in Min mice. Thus, selective inhibitors of COX‐2, which catalyzes the synthesis of prostanoids, could be good candidates as chemopreventive agents against colon cancer. Examination of the effect of prostanoid receptor deficiency and a selective antagonist of prostanoid receptor on the development of AOM‐induced ACF in mice revealed the involvement of the EP_1 receptor. Moreover, a selective EP_1 antagonist reduced the number of intestinal polyps in Min mice. These results suggest that PGE_2 contributes to colon carcinogenesis through binding to the EP_1 receptor. Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) is known to be overexpressed in colon cancers of humans and rats, and a NOS inhibitor, L‐NG‐nitroarginine methyl ester, was found to inhibit the development of AOM‐induced ACF in rats. Thus, NOS including iNOS could also be a good target for chemoprevention of colon cancer, as in the COX‐2 case.
Effects of L‐lysine deficient diet on the hypothalamic interstitial norepinephrine and diet‐induced thermogenesis in rats in vivo
Authors: Smriga M. , Murakami H. , Mori M. , Torii K. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractRats readily recognize an amino acid deficient diet, presumably via central mechanisms that involve hypothalamic circuits. Presently, effects of the essential amino acid L‐lysine deficiency on the ventromedial (VMH) and lateral (LH) hypothalamus norepinephrine (NE) release were evaluated in free moving rats. Microdialysis measurement was undertaken once in 48 h (12:00 noon–14:00) in rats that had free access to food and drink. Significant decline in the food intake and VMH NE release were found in rats fed L‐lysine diet. No changes were identified in LH NE release. Additionally, no significant differences in diet‐induced spatial thermogenesis between normal and L‐lysine deficient non‐stressed rats were found in vivo. The results suggested that the VMH NE release was specifically involved in the integration of signals about amino acid deficiency. However, the decrease in VMH NE was not translated into changes of thermogenic responses to diet.
Antitumor protein (AP) from a mushroom induced apoptosis to transformed human keratinocyte by controlling the status of pRb, c‐MYC, cyclin E‐cdk2, and p21WAF1 in the G1/S transition
Authors: Kawamura Yukio , Manabe Mariko , Kitta Kazumi 
Published: December 2008

AbstractAntitumor protein (AP) from a mushroom, induced the morphological changes typical to apoptosis such as nuclear condensation, aneuploidity, and DNA fragmentation at concentrations as low as 5–20 ng/ml to cancer cells. Molecular alterations related to cell cycle. Molecular alterations related to cell cycle, especially G1/S transition were investigated with a human keratinocyte transformed with oncoproteins, E6 and E7 of human pappiloma virus(HPV)‐16. AP didn't alter significantly and oncosuppressor p53 level, but induced hyperphosphorylation of pRb. Time‐dependent change of G1 cyclins, cdk2 and cdk4 after addition of AP showed that expression level of cdk inhibitors, INK4 family, and p27KIP1 did not altered, while that of p21WAF1 was downregulated.
Factors affecting flavonoids absorption
Authors: Piskula Mariusz K. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractIn experiments on rats, some of the factors affecting flavonoids absorption (solubility, glycosylation and nutritional status: fasted and not‐fasted animals) were examined. Administration of quercetin with different solubilization degree showed no direct correlation between the quercetin absorption extent and solubility, i.e. despite 3 orders of difference in solubilization degree, the extent of absorption varied only about 4‐fold. Absorption comparison of genistein and its glycoside genistin showed no difference in the extent of absorption; however, aglycone, in contrast to glycoside, was absorbed already from the rat stomach. Conjugation patterns (sulfation and glucuronization) of genistein metabolites demonstrated that the plasma of animals fasted prior to isoflavone administration contained significantly more sulfates and less glucuronides and mixed sulfates/glucuronides conjugates than the plasma of non‐fasted animals.
Suppressive effects of flavonoids on dioxin toxicity
Authors: Ashida Hitoshi 
Published: December 2008

AbstractDioxin type chemicals such as 2,3,7,8‐tetrachlorodibenzo‐p‐dioxin (TCDD) cause a variety of toxicity. Most of the toxicity of TCDD has been attributed to a mechanism by which TCDD is bound to aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and transforms the receptor. Thus, suppression of the AhR transformation by food factors can suppress the dioxin toxicity. In this study, flavonoids at various concentrations were treated to a rat cytosolic fraction containing AhR before adding 1 nM TCDD. The transformed AhR was detected by an electrophoretic mobility shift assay with a DNA oligonucleotide consensus to dioxin response element. As the results, flavones and flavonols at dietary levels act as the antagonists for AhR and suppress the transformation. The antagonistic IC50values were in a range between 0.14 and 10 μM, which are close to the physiological levels in human. These results suggest that a plant‐based diet can prevent the dioxin toxicity.
The effects of soy protein in women and men with elevated plasma lipids
Authors: Mackey R. , Ekangaki A. , Eden J. A. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractFifty four postmenopausal women with elevated cholesterol were recruited for a randomised, double‐blind controlled trial of soy protein containing isoflavones. (ISP+) or a soy protein with a low isoflavone content (ISP‐), taken daily for 12 weeks. There was an overall reduction after 12 weeks in total cholesterol (TC), LDL cholesterol (LDL‐C), sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), and luteinizing hormone (LH). There were no significant differences between treatment groups. In a separate study 27 male subjects with a TC > 5.5 mmol/l were given ISP+ for 12 weeks. In this male study there was a significant increase in HDL cholesterol (HDL‐C) and SHBG. Soy protein has a cholesterol lowering effect in both women and men. These studies suggest that this effect is independent of isoflavones. Soy protein also reduces SHBG levels in both sexes.
Modulation of cell‐cell communication in the cause and chemoprevention/chemotherapy of cancer
Authors: Trosko James E. , Chang Chia Cheng 
Published: December 2008

AbstractChemopreventive or chemotherapeutic agents have been those that either kill cancer cells to a differential degree over the non‐cancer cells or those chemicals that either block the induction of tumors in carcinogen‐treated animals or retard transplanted tumors in animals. Carcinogenesis is a multi‐stage, multi‐mechanism process, involving the irreversible alteration of a stem cell (“initiation”), followed by the clonal proliferation of the initiated cell (“promotion”). To develop a strategy for intervention with chemoprevention/chemotherapeutic chemicals, the basic mechanism(s) of carcinogenesis must be understood. Gap junction intercellular communication (GJIC) regulates cell growth, differentiation, apoptosis and adaptive functions of differentiated cells. Normal cells have functional GJIC while cancer cells do not. Tumor promoters and oncogenes inhibit GJIC, while anti‐tumor promoter and anti‐oncogene drugs can reverse the down‐regulation of GJIC. Transfection of gap junction genes (connexins) has been shown to reverse the tumorigenic phenotype. If prevention/treatment of cancer is to occur, prevention of the chronic down regulation of GJIC by tumor promoters in non‐tumorigenic but initiated cells or the up‐regulation of GJIC in stably down‐regulated GJIC in tumor cells must occur to prevent or to treat cancers.