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V Petit

Publications and source records attributed to V Petit.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

The gene encoding the human ileal bile acid-binding protein (I-BABP) is regulated by peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors.

Peroxisome proliferator-activator receptors (PPAR) are involved in cholesterol homeostasis through the regulation of bile acids synthesis, composition, and reclamation. As ileal bile acid-binding protein (I-BABP) is thought to play a crucial role in the enterohepatic circulation of bile acids, we investigated whether I-BABP gene expression could also be affected by PPAR. Indeed, treatment with the PPARalpha-PPARbeta/delta agonist bezafibrate led to the up-regulation of I-BABP mRNA levels in the human intestine-derived Caco-2 cells. Cotransfections of the reporter-linked human I-BABP promoter (hI-BABP-2769/+44) together with PPAR and RXR expression vectors demonstrated that the fibrate-mediated induction of the I-BABP gene is dependent on PPARalpha or PPARbeta/delta. Using progressive 5' deletions of the hI-BABP promoter and sequence analysis, we identified a putative PPAR-binding site located at the position -198 and -186 upstream of the transcription initiation site. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays showed that the PPAR/RXR heterodimer can specifically bind to this PPRE-like motif. The deletion of the PPRE within the hI-BABP promoter abolished the PPAR-mediated transactivation in transient transfection assays. The regulation of the I-BABP promoter by PPAR appears species-specific, as the mouse I-BABP promoter, which lacks a conserved PPRE, was not responsive to exogenous PPAR expression in the presence of bezafibrate. Our findings show that the I-BABP gene may be a novel target for PPAR in humans and further emphasize the role for PPAR in the control of bile acid homeostasis.

Animals↗

Phosphorylation of tyrosine residues 31 and 118 on paxillin regulates cell migration through an association with CRK in NBT-II cells.

Identification of signaling molecules that regulate cell migration is important for understanding fundamental processes in development and the origin of various pathological conditions. The migration of Nara Bladder Tumor II (NBT-II) cells was used to determine which signaling molecules are specifically involved in the collagen-mediated locomotion. We show here that paxillin is tyrosine phosphorylated after induction of motility on collagen. Overexpression of paxillin mutants in which tyrosine 31 and/or tyrosine 118 were replaced by phenylalanine effectively impaired cell motility. Moreover, stimulation of motility by collagen preferentially enhanced the association of paxillin with the SH2 domain of the adaptor protein CrkII. Mutations in both tyrosine 31 and 118 diminished the phosphotyrosine content of paxillin and prevented the formation of the paxillin-Crk complex, suggesting that this association is necessary for collagen-mediated NBT-II cell migration. Other responses to collagen, such as cell adhesion and spreading, were not affected by these mutations. Overexpression of wild-type paxillin or Crk could bypass the migration-deficient phenotype. Both the SH2 and the SH3 domains of CrkII are shown to play a critical role in this collagen-mediated migration. These results demonstrate the important role of the paxillin-Crk complex in the collagen-induced cell motility.

Amino Acid Substitution↗

Focal adhesions: structure and dynamics.

Interactions of cells with the extracellular matrix are essential for the control of tissue remodelling, cell migration, and embryogenesis. At the cell-extracellular matrix contact points, specialized structures are formed and termed focal adhesions, where transmembrane adhesion receptors provide a structural link between the actin cytoskeleton and the extracellular matrix components. Numerous structural and regulatory proteins assemble at the cytoplasmic face of focal adhesions in a Rho-dependent fashion.

Cell Adhesion↗

Characterization of the signaling pathways regulating alpha2beta1 integrin-mediated events by a pharmacological approach.

In certain instances of developing and adult organism, epithelial cells can change morphology and transform into mesenchymal-like type in order to move through the extracellular matrix. However, because of the multiplicity and complexity of signaling pathways that contribute to these processes, their molecular dissection has remained difficult. By using a pharmacological approach on the rat bladder carcinoma cell line NBT-II dispersion system, we have identified distinct signaling events for adhesion and motility in response to collagen, both activities depending on alpha2beta1 integrin. Treatment of cells with PKC inhibitors markedly impaired initial attachment on collagen without affecting the capacity of cells to move, suggesting that PKC activity is required for initial adhesion strength during cell translocation. Both adhesion and motility were diminished by tyrosine kinase inhibitors herbimycin and tyrphostin whereas tyrosine phosphatase inhibitors amplified cell scattering. The collagen-induced dispersion was insensitive to genistein which we previously showed to abrogate growth factor-induced scattering, thus demonstrating inducer specificity. Finally. Ras inhibitors and expression of a dominant negative form of Ras (N17Ras) while affecting initial cell attachment, did not prevent cell migration, and instead favored the dissociated state on collagen. The specific signaling pathways identified for adhesion and motility should help to understand the sequential processes associated with cell migration.

Animals↗

[Migration and family roles: demographic measurement and cultural contexts].

"Demographers explain the fact that women are heads of households in the countries of origin by the shortage of men created by labour migration (the so-called sex-ratio argument). Empirical testing using census or survey data pertaining to a large number of countries proves disappointing. No significant statistical correlation can be established between sex ratios and various characteristics of the households. In order to understand the failure of the methodology used, one must shift from demography to the sociology of migrations and take into account the cultural contexts, and more specifically roles and statuses of women, as is shown in the case of the Caribbean and of the Dogon, one of the ethnic groups in Mali." (SUMMARY IN ENG AND SPA)

Africa↗

Which factors predict cognitive decline in Parkinson's disease?

The study assessed cognitive decline in non-demented, non-depressed patients with well defined Parkinson's disease and determined the predictive value for cognitive decline of different motor symptoms. Motor disability was measured with the Unified Parkinson's disease rating scale, impairment in activities of daily living, levodopa test, and long term clinical follow up. Neuropsychological evaluations included modified mini mental state, fluency, Wechsler logical memory, Wisconsin card sorting test, and the Montgomery and Asberg depression rating scale. Fifty three patients fulfilling clinical criteria for idiopathic Parkinson's disease were studied. Cognitive performance on initial testing was significantly correlated with education and disease duration but not with age at disease onset. Cognitive performance on retesting after three years of follow up was significantly reduced. This reduction was significantly greater in the late onset group, in patients with isolated dystonic dyskinesiae, and in patients with a lower percentage of motor improvement on levodopa. Cognitive decline in idiopathic Parkinson's disease may depend on both the prevalence of non-dopaminergic lesions and the topography of dopaminergic denervation. Predictive factors for cognitive decline, especially in executive tasks, relate more to non-dopaminergic than to dopaminergic lesions.

Activities of Daily Living↗

["Ana-Yana", those who go away from the Dogon region (Mali)].

"Our purpose is to study the migrations of a Malian population, the Dogon (district of Sangha, Bandiagara's cliff). We distinguish three patterns of emigration: emigration through West African frontiers (mainly Ivory Coast, Ghana), internal movements and a deplacement towards the plain of Seno Gondo. Each pattern of migration has its own [characteristics] with regards to age, gender, nuptiality and geographical origin of migrant people.... We conclude by a sociological analysis of the causes and consequences of emigration in the Dogon society." (SUMMARY IN ENG AND SPA)

Africa↗