The G(i/o)-coupled histamine H(4) receptor is highly expressed in hemopoietic cells and is a promising new target for the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases. 1-[(5-Chloro-1H-indol-2-yl)carbonyl]-4-methyl-piperazine (JNJ7777120) has been described as a selective antagonist at the H(4) receptor and is widely used to characterize the physiological role of the H(4) receptor. We have investi...

Introduction: Estrogen, a crucial hormone during pregnancy, acts through two types of receptors. The estrogen receptor alpha and beta (ESR-α and ESR-β) are more abundant and exists in all human reproductive systems. Association of ESR-α and ESR-β genes polymorphisms has been reported in some reproductive problems such as spontaneous abortion, endometriosis-related infertility, and in vitro fert...

Tight regulation of TGF-β (transforming growth factor-β) superfamily signalling is important for normal cellular functions and tissue homoeostasis. Since TGF-β superfamily signalling pathways are activated by a short phosphorylation cascade, from receptor phosphorylation to subsequent phosphorylation and activation of downstream signal transducer R-Smads (receptor-activated Smads), reversible p...

The transforming growth factor βs (TGF-β) belong a family of structurally related, dimeric, disulfide-linked polypeptides that includes five TGF-β isoforms, activins, inhibins, Müllerian inhibiting substance, bone morphogenic proteins, and products of the Xenopus Vg1 and Drosophila decapentaplegic (dpp) genes (reviewed in Rizzino, 1988; Massagué, 1990; Roberts and Sporn, 1990). In mammals, thre...

Complex formation among transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) receptors and its modulation by coreceptors represent an important level of regulation for TGF-β signaling. Oligomerization of ALK5 and the type II TGF-β receptor (TβRII) has been thoroughly investigated, both in vitro and in intact cells. However, such studies, especially in live cells, are missing for the endothelial cell coreceptor...

Postnatal muscle hypertrophy of beef cattle is the result of enhanced myofibrillar protein synthesis and reduced protein turnover. Skeletal muscle hypertrophy has been studied in cattle fed β-adrenergic agonists (β-AA), which are receptor-mediated enhancers of protein synthesis and inhibitors of protein degradation. Feeding β-AA to beef cattle increases longissimus muscle cross-sectional area 6...

G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are typically present in a basal, inactive state but, when bound to an agonist, activate downstream signaling cascades. In studying arrestin regulation of opioid receptors in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons, we find that agonists of delta opioid receptors (δORs) activate cofilin through Rho-associated coiled-coil-containing protein kinase (ROCK), LIM domain...

BACKGROUND Evidence suggests a role for oestrogen in depression but the involvement of oestrogen receptor polymorphisms remains unknown. AIMS To determine the association between oestrogen receptor polymorphisms and late-life depression and the modifying effect of hormone treatment. METHOD Depression was assessed using the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview, according to DSM-IV c...

Transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) is critical for the development and maintenance of epithelial structures. Because receptor localization and trafficking affect the cellular and organismal response to TGF-β, the present study was designed to address how such homeostatic control is regulated. To that end, we identify a new role for the mammalian retromer complex in maintaining basolateral pla...