Lysyl oxidase (LOX), a matrix cross-linking protein, is known to be selectively expressed and to enhance a fibrotic phenotype. A recent study of ours showed that LOX oxidizes the PDGF receptor-β (PDGFR-β), leading to amplified downstream signaling. Here, we examined the expression and functions of LOX in megakaryocytes (MKs), the platelet precursors. Cells committed to the MK lineage undergo mi...

Creating conditions similar to those that occur during exposure of cells to microgravity induced a sixfold increase of apoptotic bodies and DNA fragments in human lymphocytes, paralleled by an early (within 2 h) fourfold increase in 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) activity and a fivefold decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential and increase in cytochrome c release (within 4 and 8 h, respectively). S...

Lipoxygenase (LOX) and lipid hydroperoxide-decomposing activity (LHDA) markedly increased in the fifth leaves of rice (Oryza sativa cv Aichiasahi) after infection with the rice blast fungus, Magnaporthe grisea. The increases in the enzyme activities were significantly higher in response to infection with an incompatible strain (race 131) compared with infection with a compatible strain (race 00...

Human placental development is characterized by invasion of extravillous cytotrophoblasts (EVCTs) into the uterine wall during the first trimester of pregnancy. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) plays a major role in placental development, and activation of PPARγ by its agonists results in inhibition of EVCT invasion in vitro. To identify PPARγ target genes, microarray analys...

BACKGROUND Oxidative stress is a component of many pathological conditions including neurodegenerative diseases and inflammation. An important source of reactive oxygen species (ROS) are lipoxygenases (LOX) - enzymes responsible for the metabolism of arachidonic acid and other polyunsaturated fatty acids. LOX inhibitors have a protective effect in inflammatory diseases and in neurodegenerative ...

PURPOSE Keratoconus (KC) is characterized by progressive vision loss due to corneal thinning and structural abnormalities. It is hypothesized that KC is caused by deregulated collagen levels and collagen fibril-maturating enzyme lysyl oxidase (LOX). Further, it is currently not understood whether the gene expression deregulated by the corneal epithelium influences KC pathogenesis. We studied (i...

The synthetic retinoid fenretinide induces apoptosis of neuroblastoma cells and in vitro acts synergistically with chemotherapeutic drugs used to treat neuroblastoma. The mechanisms of fenretinide-induced cell death of neuroblastoma cells are complex, involving cellular signaling pathways as yet incompletely defined but, in part, involving the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In an ...

Partially purified lipoxygenase (LOX) extracts were obtained from Fusarium proliferatum, Fusarium oxysporum, Chlorella pyrenoidosa, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae; the enzymatic extract of F. proliferatum showed the highest LOX activity while those of F. oxysporum and S. cerevisiae demonstrated only 27.8 and 16.5% of the activity at pH 8.0, and 61.2 and 9.7% of the enzyme activity at pH 10.0, res...

Introduction Astaxanthin (ASX) is carotenoid with the highest antioxidant activity in various cell types and reverse atherosclerosis. However, roles detailed mechanisms of ASX atherosclerosis associated endothelial injury remains unclear. Methods In vitro model was established HUVECs by incubation oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL). Cell viability oxidative stress were measured. The mRNA...

The onset of the antinociceptive effect with loxoprofen sodium (LOX), a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, was examined electrophysiologically during carrageenan-induced hindpaw inflammation in the rat. Extracellular recordings were made from either wide dynamic range (WDR) or high threshold (HT) neurons in the dorsal horn. Recordings from the same neuron were continued for at least 3 h afte...