Polycationic modified polypeptides enhancing poly I:C induced viral resistance.

Polycationic modified derivatives of polyglutamic acid are at least as good enhancers of poly I:C induced viral resistance in various cell cultures as are DEAE-dextran or poly-L-lysine.     

Catheptic activity in the cerebral tissue of the rabbit during allergic encephalomyelitis

Zusammenfassung Gehirnhomogenate von Kaninchen mit experimenteller allergischer Encephalomyelitis weisen eine deutlich erhöhte katheptische Aktivität auf, wahrscheinlich als Folge des allergischen Entzündungsprozesses.     

Calcium dobesilate (Doxium) as a prostaglandin synthetase inhibitor in pregnant human myometrium in vitro

This comparative study on the effect of calcium dobesilate and indomethacin on prostaglandin biosynthesis was performed on microsomal fractions of pregnant human myometrium. Both drugs inhibited prostaglandin synthesis, indomethacin being more potent. Calcium dobesilate inhibited, in a dose-dependent manner, the synthesis of 6-oxo-PGF1 alpha, PGF2 alpha, PGE2 and TXB2. Its inhibitory action is comparable to that of etamsylate.     

Enhancement of haemagglutinin production in polyoma virus-infected candida by a defined medium and urethan

Zusammenfassung Das onkogene Polyomavirus kann sich im PilzC. albicans vermehren und die Virusausbeute wird durch Urethanzugabe erhöht.

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We are very grateful to Mr. G. M.Healy of the CMRL, University of Toronto, for the generous supply of media and to Mr. B.Bucz for his technical help in this work supported by a grant of the National Cancer Institute of Canada.     

Versuch zum histochemischen Nachweis des Mucins in roten Blutkörperchen

Summary The presence of groups directly oxydizable to aldehyde by means of IO₄-ions could not be proved histochemically in erythrocytes.      

Opposite roles of protein kinase C isoforms in proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and tumorigenicity of human HaCaT keratinocytes

We have previously shown that the protein kinase C (PKC) system plays a pivotal role in regulation of proliferation and differentiation of the human keratinocyte line HaCaT which is often used to assess processes of immortalization, transformation, and tumorigenesis in human skin. In this paper, using pharmacological and molecular biology approaches, we investigated the isoform-specific roles of certain PKC isoenzymes (conventional cPKC and ; novel nPKC and ) in the regulation of various keratinocyte functions. cPKC and nPKC stimulated cellular differentiation and increased susceptibility of cells to actions of inducers of apoptosis, and they markedly inhibited cellular proliferation and tumor growth in immunodeficient mice. In marked contrast, cPKC and nPKC increased both in vitro and in vivo growth of cells and inhibited differentiation and apoptosis. Our data present clear evidence for the specific, antagonistic roles of certain cPKC and nPKC isoforms in regulating the above processes in human HaCaT keratinocytes.Received 13 January 2004; received after revision 18 February 2004; accepted 25 February 2004     

Calcium dobesilate (Doxium) as a prostaglandin synthetase inhibitor in pregnant human myometrium in vitro

Summary This comparative study on the effect of calcium dobesilate and indomethacin on prostaglandin biosynthesis was performed on microsomal fractions of pregnant human myometrium. Both drugs inhibited prostaglandin synthesis, indomethacin being more potent. Calcium dobesilate inhibited, in a dose-dependent manner, the synthesis of 6-oxo-PGF₁, PGF₂, PGE₂ and TXB₂. Its inhibitory action is comparable to that of etamsylate.     

Etamsylate as inhibitor of prostaglandin biosynthesis in pregnant human myometrium in vitro

Summary The effects of etamsylate on prostaglandin (PG) biosynthesis in microsomes of pregnant human myometrium in vitro have been determined, and compared with those of indomethacin. Both drugs inhibited PG biosynthesis, indomethacin being the more potent inhibitor of the two. Etamsylate inhibited synthesis of 6-oxo-PGF₁, PGF₂, PGE₂, and thromboxane B₂; increasing the concentration of etamsylate increased the inhibition of synthesis. It is suggested that etamsylate has no anti-cyclo-oxygenase activity, but acts by inhibiting the activity of prostacyclin synthetase, endoperoxide reductase, endoperoxide isomerase, and thromboxane synthetase.     

C-terminal fragment (residues 61–91) ofβ-lipotropin: Is it the natural opiate-like neurohormon of the brain?

Summary The C-terminal fragment of porcine -lipotropin (residues 61–91) has a very strong analgesic activity in vivo in rats. It is 20 times more potent than morphine if administered intracerebroventricularly (ICV) to rats. Its effect could be antagonized by naloxone. Presumably it is a natural opiate-like neurohormon of the brain.     

Antitumoral effects of 9-cis retinoic acid in adrenocortical cancer

The currently available medical treatment options of adrenocortical cancer (ACC) are limited. In our previous meta-analysis of adrenocortical tumor genomics data, ACC was associated with reduced retinoic acid production and retinoid X receptor-mediated signaling. Our objective has been to study the potential antitumoral effects of 9-cis retinoic acid (9-cisRA) on the ACC cell line NCI-H295R and in a xenograft model. Cell proliferation, hormone secretion, and gene expression have been studied in the NCI-H295R cell line. A complex bioinformatics approach involving pathway and network analysis has been performed. Selected genes have been validated by real-time qRT-PCR. Athymic nude mice xenografted with NCI-H295R have been used in a pilot in vivo xenograft model. 9-cisRA significantly decreased cell viability and steroid hormone secretion in a concentration- and time-dependent manner in the NCI-H295R cell line. Four major molecular pathways have been identified by the analysis of gene expression data. Ten genes have been successfully validated involved in: (1) steroid hormone secretion (HSD3B1, HSD3B2), (2) retinoic acid signaling (ABCA1, ABCG1, HMGCR), (3) cell-cycle damage (GADD45A, CCNE2, UHRF1), and the (4) immune response (MAP2K6, IL1R2). 9-cisRA appears to directly regulate the cell cycle by network analysis. 9-cisRA also reduced tumor growth in the in vivo xenograft model. In conclusion, 9-cisRA might represent a promising new candidate in the treatment of hormone-secreting adrenal tumors and adrenocortical cancer.