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Pressor, tachycardic and behavioral excitatory responses in conscious rats following ICV administration of ACTH and CRF are blocked by naloxone pretreatment.

Experiments were conducted to compare the blood pressure and heart rate responses of conscious rats given intracerebroventricular (ICV) injections of adrenocorticotropin (ACTH 1-24) and corticotropin releasing factor (CRF). Under sodium pentobarbital anaesthesia, rats were implanted with a stainless-steel cannula into the lateral cerebral ventricle and had their right femoral artery and vein cannulated. Upon recovery (24-48 hr later) conscious, unrestrained rats were given ICV injections (total volume 5 microliter by gravity flow) of sterile saline, ACTH (1-24) (0.85 and 1.7 nmoles) or CRF (0.55 and 1.1 nmoles) and blood pressure and heart rate were monitored over the next 2 hr (from the abdominal aorta via the femoral arterial catheter). Both ACTH and CRF caused mean arterial pressure (MAP) to increase, which was paralleled with increases in mean heart rate (MHR). Moreover, these elevations in MAP and MHR were temporally associated with excessive grooming (for ACTH) and locomotor activity (for CRF), which occurred before and lasted as long as MAP and MHR were enhanced. Intravenous (IV) pretreatment whereby naloxone was given 10 min before ICV administration of ACTH (1.7 nmoles) or CRF (1.1 nmoles), showed that naloxone blocked the behavioral, pressor and tachycardic effects of both ACTH and CRF. The results demonstrate that the pressor, tachycardic and locomotor effects evoked in conscious rats by ICV administration of ACTH or CRF are antagonized by naloxone and that their hemodynamic changes may, in part, be mediated by prior behavioral activation.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗

Cytokeratin patterns of epithelial cells of the rat nasal cavity in vivo and in vitro.

Nasal epithelial cells are a primary target for the actions of inhaled substances. To enable the determination of alterations in cell differentiation in the rat inhalation model, we developed a methodology to assess cytokeratin expression in rat nasal tissue. A panel of commercially available antibodies was validated for specificity to defined rat cytokeratins by immunoblotting. The development of immunohistological procedures to enhance spatial resolution enabled mapping of cytokeratin patterns in various cell types at defined regions and levels of the rat nasal cavity using serial sections and a standardized evaluation schedule.

Animals↗

Proteomic analysis of phosphorylation, oxidation and nitrosylation in signal transduction.

Signal transduction pathways control cell fate, survival and function. They are organized as intricate biochemical networks which enable biochemical protein activities, crosstalk and subcellular localization to be integrated and tuned to produce highly specific biological responses in a robust and reproducible manner. Post translational Modifications (PTMs) play major roles in regulating these processes through a wide variety of mechanisms that include changes in protein activities, interactions, and subcellular localizations. Determining and analyzing PTMs poses enormous challenges. Recent progress in mass spectrometry (MS) based proteomics have enhanced our capability to map and identify many PTMs. Here we review the current state of proteomic PTM analysis relevant for signal transduction research, focusing on two areas: phosphorylation, which is well established as a widespread key regulator of signal transduction; and oxidative modifications, which from being primarily viewed as protein damage now start to emerge as important regulatory mechanisms.

Animals↗

Artificial intelligence-derived myocardial fibrosis on cardiac magnetic resonance for prognosis in cardiomyopathy: A systematic review of a sparse evidence base.

BACKGROUND: Myocardial fibrosis on cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR), assessed by late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) and parametric mapping, is an established predictor of adverse events in cardiomyopathy. We assessed whether artificial intelligence (AI) quantification of fibrosis adds independent prognostic value. METHODS: We searched six databases, a clinical-trials register, and a preprint server from inception to 13 June 2026. Eligible studies used AI to generate a fibrosis marker in adults with ischemic or nonischemic cardiomyopathy, with covariate-adjusted outcomes over ≥12 months. Risk of bias was assessed using PROBAST, PROBAST+AI, and QUIPS. Fewer than three comparable studies precluded meta-analysis; certainty was rated using GRADE. RESULTS: Of 448 records (381 after de-duplication), 18 full texts were reviewed and two included, one peer-reviewed and one preprint. In an ischemic-cardiomyopathy registry (Ghanbari et al.; n = 216 analytic, 26 events), AI-derived dense LGE scar predicted arrhythmic events (univariable hazard ratio [HR] 2.35, 95% CI 1.33-4.15), and AI-derived but not manual scar improved discrimination beyond guideline criteria (area under the curve 0.63 to 0.68; p = 0.02). In a nonischemic dilated-cardiomyopathy preprint (Kim et al.; n = 347, 119 events), automated extracellular volume ≥30% predicted cardiovascular death or heart-failure hospitalization (adjusted HR 2.00, 95% CI 1.32-3.03). Both were at high risk of bias, with data-derived thresholds and no external validation. CONCLUSIONS: Across only two studies, AI-derived fibrosis was independently associated with adverse cardiovascular events, but its added value over manual quantification remains unproven. Certainty was very low. The evidence base is sparse and not yet ready for clinical use.

Humans↗

Modification of glucocorticoid sensitivity by MAP kinase signaling pathways in glucocorticoid-induced T-cell apoptosis.

OBJECTIVE: Glucocorticoid is widely used for the treatment of diseases such as hematological malignancies. Glucocorticoid sensitivity is different from person to person and the mechanism of the regulation of glucocorticoid sensitivity is not well known. Glucocorticoid resistance is a major clinical problem. METHODS AND RESULTS: Here, using glucocorticoid-induced T-cell apoptosis, a model system for the analysis of the mechanism of glucocorticoid action, we clarified that mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) modify glucocorticoid sensitivity, namely that the activation of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) and p38 MAP kinase reduce and enhance glucocorticoid sensitivity, respectively. CONCLUSION: These findings might provide new tools for overcoming glucocorticoid-resistance.

Apoptosis↗

HC-gp39 contributes to chondrocyte differentiation by inducing SOX9 and type II collagen expressions.

OBJECTIVE: The transcription factor SOX9 has been shown to be linked to chondrocyte differentiation and induction of type II collagen synthesis. Since the chitinase-like protein, human cartilage glycoprotein 39 (HC-gp39), can be expressed by articular chondrocytes and has been shown to enhance chondrocyte mitogenesis through MAP kinase and PI3 kinase-mediated signalling, we hypothesized that it may also promote synthesis of cartilage matrix components through induction of SOX9, utilizing similar signalling pathways. METHODS: Primary chondrocytes from neonatal mouse rib cartilage were exposed to purified HC-gp39. The response of the cells was evaluated in terms of SOX9 induction and synthesis of type II collagen. Signalling pathways activated following HC-gp9 exposure were analyzed by Western blotting of cell lysates with phosphorylation-specific antibodies as well as by using selective inhibitors. RESULTS: HC-gp39 induced both SOX9 and type II collagen synthesis. Similar results were observed for IGF-1. This process required signalling through both MAP kinase and PI3 kinase pathways resulting in rapid phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and AKT, respectively. Neither HC-gp39 nor IGF-1 induced activation of SAPK/JNK. CONCLUSIONS: The effects of HC-gp39 on chondrocyte function suggest that this molecule may promote the maintenance or expression of a chondrocytic phenotype. Its expression in injured or degenerate cartilage could be related to the initial repair-response and increased matrix synthesis observed in osteoarthritic cartilage.

Adipokines↗

Predicting telomerase reverse transcriptase promoter mutation status in glioblastoma by whole-tumor multi-sequence magnetic resonance texture analysis.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the feasibility of preoperative multi-sequence magnetic resonance texture analysis (MRTA) for predicting TERT promoter mutation status in IDH-wildtype glioblastoma (IDHwt GB). METHODS: The clinical and imaging data of 111 patients with IDHwt GB at our hospital between November 2018 and June 2023 were retrospectively analyzed as the training set, and those of 23 patients with IDHwt GB between July 2023 and November 2023 were interpreted as the validation set. We used molecular sequencing results to classify the training set into TERT promoter mutation and wildtype groups. Textural features of the whole-tumor volume were extracted, including T2-weighted imaging (T2WI), T2-fluid-attenuated inversion recovery, apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) map, and contrast-enhanced T1-weighted imaging (CE-T1). All textural features were obtained using open-source pyradiomics. After feature selection, logistic regression was used to build prediction models, and a nomogram was generated. Finally, the model was validated using validation cohort. RESULTS: The CE-T1_Model (AUC 0.704) had a better predictive ability than the T2_Model (AUC 0.684) and ADC_Model (AUC 0.624). The MRI_Combined_Model (CE-T1, T2, and ADC texture features) (AUC 0.780) had a better predictive ability than the Clinical_Model (AUC 0.758). The Combined_Model (CE-T1, T2, ADC texture features, and clinical features) had the best predictive performance (AUC 0.871), with a sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 82.60 %, 83.30 %, and 80.18 %, respectively. The AUC, sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy in the validation cohort were 0.775, 86.70 %, 75.00 %, and 69.57 %, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Whole-tumor multi-sequence MRTA can be used as non-invasive quantitative parameters to assist in the preoperative clinical prediction of TERT promoter mutation status in IDHwt GB.

Humans↗

A low-field intraoperative MRI system for glioma surgery: is it worthwhile?

As intraoperative MRI expands its presence, its use will undoubtedly increase in glioma surgery. The foregoing discussion makes it clear that its benefits are unsurpassed by any other existing system. Because of their radiographic characteristics and gross appearance, gliomas are particularly suited for intraoperative MRI-guided surgery. It enables us to localize gliomas and define tumor margins precisely when, during surgery, the difference between tumor and brain is not easy to discern. The images generated during surgery serve as a detailed and updated map within which navigation is performed with utmost precision. Its significance is further highlighted when dealing with tumors in eloquent areas of the brain, where uncertainties over the location of tumor in relation to important brain structures can hinder the removal of tumor. By providing accurate positional information and in conjunction with cortical mapping techniques, intraoperative MRI enhances the confidence of the surgeon to go forward with resection or to stop when reaching important cortex. It allows us to perform the resection to the desired limit without causing injury to nearby important structures, thereby preventing postoperative neurologic deficits. The tracking system guides us in targeting each minute part of the tumor with unprecedented accuracy, and the ability to update images makes possible the constant evaluation of the progress of surgery. This near-real-time imaging can eliminate the errors brought about by the brain shifting that occurs throughout surgery. It also serves the important purpose of verifying the presence and position of any remaining tumor in the operative field. By means of sequential imaging, additional resection can be performed on any remaining tumor until imaging shows completion. The unwanted occurrence of finding residual tumor on a postoperative scan is thus practically eliminated. As a result, the surgical goal of complete or optimal resection can be achieved without any guesswork. Ultimately, what this means for the glioma patient is increased likelihood of longer survival brought about by a more thorough tumor resection. Intraoperative MRI addresses many of the surgical challenges posed by gliomas. As it becomes more available, there will come a point when the prevailing persuasion will be that some poorly defined tumors near eloquent cortex should not be operated on without intraoperative MRI. In the final analysis, not only is intraoperative MRI worthwhile but it will, in all likelihood, become a standard of care for many glioma cases.

Brain Neoplasms↗

Characterisation of global protein expression by two-dimensional electrophoresis and mass spectrometry: proteomics of Toxoplasma gondii.

The development of tools for the analysis of global gene expression is vital for the optimal exploitation of the data on parasite genomes that are now being generated in abundance. Recent advances in two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE), mass spectrometry and bioinformatics have greatly enhanced the possibilities for mapping and characterisation of protein populations. We have employed these developments in a proteomics approach for the analysis of proteins expressed in the tachyzoite stage of Toxoplasma gondii. Over 1000 polypeptides were reproducibly separated by high-resolution 2-DE using the pH ranges 4-7 and 6-11. Further separations using narrow range gels suggest that at least 3000-4000 polypeptides should be resolvable by 2-DE using multiple single pH unit gels. Mass spectrometry was used to characterise a variety of protein spots on the 2-DE gels. Peptide mass fingerprints, acquired by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation-(MALDI) mass spectrometry, enabled unambiguous protein identifications to be made where full gene sequence information was available. However, interpretation of peptide mass fingerprint data using the T. gondii expressed sequence tag (EST) database was less reliable. Peptide fragmentation data, acquired by post-source decay mass spectrometry, proved a more successful strategy for the putative identification of proteins using the T. gondii EST database and protein databases from other organisms. In some instances, several protein spots appeared to be encoded by the same gene, indicating that post-translational modification and/or alternative splicing events may be a common feature of functional gene expression in T. gondii. The data demonstrate that proteomic analyses are now viable for T. gondii and other protozoa for which there are good EST databases, even in the absence of complete genome sequence. Moreover, proteomics is of great value in interpreting and annotating EST databases.

Animals↗

Bcl-2 blocks cisplatin-induced apoptosis by suppression of ERK-mediated p53 accumulation in B104 cells.

Bcl-2 has been reported to inhibit neurotoxicity induced by cisplatin. However, neither the mechanism of cisplatin-induced neurotoxicity nor the mechanism by which Bcl-2 confers neuroprotection is clear. In this study, the signaling pathways involved in cisplatin-induced neurotoxicity were examined using a rat neuroblastoma cell line, B104. Treatment of B104 cells with cisplatin induced apoptosis, accompanying the accumulation of p53 and Bax protein. Interestingly, extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) activities of MAP kinases were markedly enhanced prior to cisplatin-induced accumulation of p53 and Bax. Inhibition of ERK1/2 activities using PD98059, a selective MEK inhibitor, blocked the apoptotic cell death preventing cisplatin-induced accumulation of p53 and Bax. These results suggest that ERK mediates cisplatin-induced p53 activation to trigger apoptosis in B104 cells. Overexpression of Bcl-2 in B104 cells resulted in the complete resistance to cisplatin-induced apoptosis blocking ERK activation and the subsequent signaling pathway of p53. Our study clearly demonstrates that the action site of Bcl-2 localizes upstream of ERK in cisplatin-induced apoptotic signaling pathway.

Animals↗

Device for the reversed-phase separation and on-target deposition of peptides incorporating a hydrophobic sample barrier for matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry.

The separation of peptide mixtures from proteolytic cleavage is often necessary prior to mass spectrometry (MS) to enhance sensitivity and peptide mapping coverage. When buffers, salts, and other higher abundance peptides/contaminants are present, competition for charge during the electrospray ionization and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) processes can lead to ion suppression for the targeted analyte(s). In this note, a simple reversed-phase microcolumn sample separation and deposition device (Sep-Dep) is described. The use of this device improves or renders possible the analysis of complex or contaminated peptide mixtures by MALDI-MS. The method is simple and inexpensive and utilizes single-use low-cost Geloader-type columns packed with reversed-phase material. The device described utilizes an open column, allowing for a gradient or narrow-step gradient to be applied by any solvent delivery system or manually with a pipet. A key feature of the device is a deposition chamber that can be custom-built to hold any MALDI target. The Sep-Dep device is attached directly to an in-house vacuum line and draws solvent from the open-ended LC column. The elution of separated peptides is performed directly onto a target that has been treated with a hydrophobic barrier. This barrier effectively isolates fractions and improves the quality and morphology of the matrix crystals. The method produces efficient separations of proteolytic peptides, significantly reducing signal suppression effects in MALDI.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

GDNF acutely modulates excitability and A-type K(+) channels in midbrain dopaminergic neurons.

Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) prevents lesion-induced death of midbrain dopaminergic neurons, but its function in normal brain remains uncertain. Here we show that GDNF acutely and reversibly potentiated the excitability of cultured midbrain neurons by inhibiting transient A-type K(+) channels. The effects of GDNF were limited to large, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive dopaminergic neurons, and were mediated by mitogen associated protein (MAP) kinase. Application of GDNF also elicited a MAP kinase-dependent enhancement of the excitability in dopaminergic neurons in midbrain slice. These results demonstrate an acute regulation of GDNF on ion channels and its underlying signaling mechanism, and reveal an unexpected role of GDNF in normal midbrain dopaminergic neurons.

4-Aminopyridine↗

Thrombospondin-1 mediates distal tubule hypertrophy induced by glycated albumin.

Diabetic nephropathy is characterized by early hypertrophy in both glomerular and tubuloepithelial elements. However, no studies to date have established a direct causal link between hyperglycaemia and renal hypertrophy. Our previous studies have found that high glucose does not induce cellular hypertrophy or expression of TGF-beta1 (transforming growth factor-beta1) in distal renal tubule cells [Yang, Guh, Yang, Lai, Tsai, Hung, Chang and Chuang (1998) J. Am. Soc. Nephrol. 9, 182-193]. In the present study, we used AGEs (advanced glycation end-products) to mimic long-term hyperglycaemia. Similar to glucose, AGEs did not induce TGF-beta1 mRNA in distal renal tubule cells [MDCK (Madin-Darby canine kidney) cells]; however, TGF-beta1 bioactivity was increased significantly. This result indicated post-translational regulation. Since TSP-1 (thrombospondin-1) has been demonstrated to activate latent TGF-beta1 in a variety of systems, the following experiments were performed. We found that AGEs dose-dependently increased both intracellular and extracellular levels of TSP-1. Purified TSP-1, like AGEs, increased the cellular protein content. Furthermore, anti-TSP-1 neutralizing antibodies attenuated the AGE-induced increase in TGF-beta1 bioactivity and hypertrophy. Thus TSP-1 might mediate AGE-induced distal renal tubule hypertrophy. In addition, we observed several putative transcription factor binding sites in the TSP-1 promoter, including those for AP-1 (activator protein-1), CREB (cAMP response element binding protein), NF-kappaB (nuclear factor-kappaB), SRF (serum response factor) and HSF (heat-shock factor), by sequence mapping. We used an enhancer assay to screen possible transcription factors involved. We showed that AP-1 and CREB were specifically induced by AGEs; furthermore, TFD (transcription factor decoy) for AP-1 could attenuate the AGE-induced increases in TSP-1 levels and cellular hypertrophy. Thus regulation of TSP-1 might be critical for hyperglycaemic distal tubule hypertrophy. Furthermore, TSP-1 TFD might be a potential approach to ameliorate diabetic renal hypertrophy.

Animals↗

Variations in in vivo phosphorylation at the proline-rich domain of the microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2) during rat brain development.

Microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2) is an in vitro substrate for MAP kinase. Part of the phosphorylation occurs at the C-terminal microtubule-binding domain of the molecule which contains a cluster of putative consensus sites for MAP kinase on a proline-rich region. A peptide with the sequence RTPGTPG-TPSY, located at this region of the molecule, is efficiently phosphorylated by MAP kinase in vitro. An antibody (972) raised against this non-phosphorylated peptide has been used to test for in vivo phosphorylation at the proline-rich domain of the MAP2 molecule. The reaction of purified MAP2 with antibody 972 diminishes after in vitro phosphorylation by MAP kinase and is enhanced after in vitro dephosphorylation by alkaline phosphatase. A fraction of brain MAP2 isolated by iron-chelation affinity chromatography appears to be phosphorylated in vivo at the site recognized by antibody 972. There is some variation in the phosphorylation of MAP2 at the proline-rich region throughout rat brain development. MAP2C is more highly phosphorylated in the developing rat brain, whereas high-molecular-mass MAP2 is more extensively phosphorylated in the adult rat brain.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

Neuronal development in the Drosophila retina: the sextra gene defines an inhibitory component in the developmental pathway of R7 photoreceptor cells.

Mutations in a gene called sextra (sxt) have been isolated. Loss of one copy of sxt promotes R7 photoreceptor cell development in a genetically sensitized background, while loss of both copies results in precursors of non-neuronal cone cells transforming into R7 cells. The requirement for sxt function is cell-autonomous. The transformation of cone-cell precursors into R7 cells occurs independently of the sevenless signal. However, the R7 precursor becomes neuronal in an sxt/sxt mutant only in a wild-type sevenless background. The genetic analysis of sxt suggests that it plays an inhibitory role, preventing cone cells from becoming neuronal. Additionally, sxt functions in R7 precursors, but the sevenless signal is essential for specification of this fate, since loss of sextra alone is unable to impart a neural fate to this cell.

Animals↗

Participation of reactive oxygen species in the lysophosphatidic acid-stimulated mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase activation pathway.

Recent evidence suggests that reactive oxygen species (ROS) may function as second messengers in intracellular signal transduction pathways. We explored the possibility that ROS were involved in lysophosphatidic acid (LPA)-induced mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase signaling pathway in HeLa cells. Antioxidant N-acetylcysteine inhibited the LPA-stimulated MAP kinase kinase activity. Direct exposure of HeLa cells to hydrogen peroxide resulted in a concentration- and time-dependent activation of MAP kinase kinase. Inhibition of catalase with aminotriazole enhanced the effect of LPA on induction of MAP kinase kinase. Further, LPA stimulated ROS production in HeLa cells. These findings suggest that ROS participate in the LPA-elicited MAP kinase signaling pathway.

Enzyme Activation↗

A high resolution CEPH crossover mapping panel and integrated map of chromosome 11.

High resolution (0.1 cM) CEPH crossover mapping panels were constructed for chromosome 11. These panels will facilitate a transition from top-down physical and genetic mapping strategies to integrated breakpoint mapping strategies. Novel methods, which differ from other methods in overcoming the limitations of incomplete heterozygosity and variable marker density, were developed for creating the panels and integrated maps. This made it possible to identify and sublocalize the majority of crossovers in 61 families. The panels were used to map 139 microsatellite markers. A semi-integrated map and a fully-integrated map were constructed by combining these data with data from CEPH 7.1 and then integrating data from the radiation hybrid (RH) map. Genetic lengths estimated from the mapping panels were similar to the estimates obtained when all recombinant and non-recombinant offspring were included (189.4 cM in females and 126.1 cM in males), indicating that genetic distances are stable at this high marker density. The maps have a cM density of 0.62. The distance between ordered markers is 1.39-2.92 cM depending on the criterion for order and the extent of map integration. The 2D maps provide the resolution and flexibility needed to enhance current applications such as positional cloning and mapping complex disorders; while the mapping panels will greatly improve the resolution, reliability and efficiency of future genetic mapping.

Chromosome Mapping↗

Duplicated copies of the bovine JH locus contribute to the Ig repertoire.

We report the cloning and analysis of a bovine JH locus comprising a DQ52 segment, six JH segments and sequence to a 5' H chain intronic enhancer. The contig was mapped to BTA 11 and evidence was found for rearrangement of the sixth JH segment at a low but detectable frequency. In contrast, the fourth segment present at a second copy of the bovine JH locus mapping to BTA 21 was found to rearrange at high-frequency, forming FR4 in the majority of bovine Ig H chains. The data thus show that bovine H chains can be generated from segments at two distinct genomic locations. Further investigation should establish if rearrangement takes place at each locus or if the participating segments are brought together from different chromosomal locations by less conventional processes (for example by gene conversion or trans-chromosomal rearrangement).

Amino Acid Sequence↗