TASK DEFINITION: In this task, you are given a passage which has a question and the context. You have to generate an answer to the question based on the information present in the context.
PROBLEM: Context: Pirfenidone (5 methyl-1-phenyl-2(1H)-pyridone) is a novel anti-fibrotic agent, which has been shown to decrease collagen deposition in a variety of animal models in vivo, and recently in hepatic fibrosis also. At cellular level, we have recently demonstrated that pirfenidone is able to inhibit proliferation of hepatic stellate cells induced by platelet-derived growth factor, as well as collagen type I accumulation and alpha1(I) procollagen mRNA expression.', 'To evaluate if pirfenidone maintains its anti-fibrotic properties also when administered after the induction of hepatic damage and to further investigate the molecular mechanisms leading to the anti-fibrotic effect of pirfenidone.', 'Rats treated with dimethylnitrosamine (10 mg/kg) for 5 weeks received a liquid diet containing 0.5% pirfenidone starting from the third week. Pirfenidone treatment reduced the degree of liver injury, as determined by alanine aminotransferase values and necro-inflammatory score, which was associated with reduced hepatic stellate cells proliferation and collagen deposition. Treatment with dimethylnitrosamine increased transcripts levels for transforming growth factorbeta1, procollagen alpha1(I), tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase-1 and matrix metalloproteinase-2 by 7-, 7-, 4- and 15-fold, respectively. Pirfenidone administration downregulated elevated levels of those transcripts by 50-60%, and this was associated with a 70% reduction in collagen deposition.\Question: Is the anti-fibrotic effect of pirfenidone in rat liver fibrosis mediated by downregulation of procollagen alpha1 ( I ) , TIMP-1 and MMP-2?

SOLUTION: (1) Pirfenidone is effective also if administered after the induction of the hepatic damage; (2) the anti-fibrotic effect of pirfenidone is mainly due to the reduced expression of profibrogenic procollagen alpha1(I) and TIMP-1, most likely through the downregulation of transforming growth factorbeta1 mRNA, and of matrix metalloproteinase-2, which is mainly implicated in the degradation of the normal extracellular matrix.

PROBLEM: Context: Activation of NF-kappaB signaling pathway plays a critical role in the initiation and progression of carcinogenesis. However, the role of NF-kappaB pathway in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) has not been fully elucidated. Studies have shown that curcumin possesses anti-infection and anti-oxidation effects. This study was to evaluate whether curcumin could induce apoptosis through inhibition of NF-kappaB signaling pathway in ESCC cells.', 'Expressions of pIkappaBalpha and Bcl-2 were detected using Western blott after incubation of ESCC cells with curcumin (50 micromol/L) at different time points. Apoptosis and the number of viable ESCC cells were analyzed using flow cytometry and MTT, respectively, after the treatment of curcumin, 5-FU, or the combination of curcumin and 5-FU.', 'In two ESCC cell lines, EC9706 and Eca109,curcumin inhibited IkappaBalpha phosphorylation and Bcl-2 in a time-dependent manner; curcumin alone increased cell apoptosis (P<0.05), and the effect became more prominent when it was combined with 5-FU (P<0.05); curcumin plus 5-FU exerted a stronger inhibition effect on cell proliferation than curcumin alone (P<0.05) or 5-FU alone (P<0.05).\Question: Does [ Curcumin promote apoptosis of esophageal squamous carcinoma cell lines through inhibition of NF-kappaB signaling pathway ]?

SOLUTION: Curcumin inhibits the phosphorylation of IkappaBalpha, leading to suppression of proliferation, induction of apoptosis and an increase of the sensitivity of ESCC cell lines towards 5-FU.

PROBLEM: Context: Animals control the speed of motion to meet behavioral demands. Yet, the underlying neuronal mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here we show that a class of segmentally arrayed local interneurons (period-positive median segmental interneurons, or PMSIs) regulates the speed of peristaltic locomotion in Drosophila larvae.', 'PMSIs formed glutamatergic synapses on motor neurons and, when optogenetically activated, inhibited motor activity, indicating that they are inhibitory premotor interneurons. Calcium imaging showed that PMSIs are rhythmically active during peristalsis with a short time delay in relation to motor neurons. Optogenetic silencing of these neurons elongated the duration of motor bursting and greatly reduced the speed of larval locomotion.\Question: Does a group of segmental premotor interneurons regulate the speed of axial locomotion in Drosophila larvae?

SOLUTION:
Our results suggest that PMSIs control the speed of axial locomotion by limiting, via inhibition, the duration of motor outputs in each segment. Similar mechanisms are found in the regulation of mammalian limb locomotion, suggesting that common strategies may be used to control the speed of animal movements in a diversity of species.