To elucidate the interspecies variation of susceptibility to microcystins (MCs), fresh plasma and purified albumin from six kinds of mammals and fish were used in toxins-substances binding test. Protein contents in the test plasma were analyzed and the binding characteristics to MCs were compared. Two kinds of widely observed MCs, microcystin-LR (MC-LR) and microcystin-RR (MC-RR) were tested an...

Computer-aided systems in mammography focus on detection and characterization/diagnosis of lesions (masses and microcalcifications). Characterization of microcalcifications (MCs) is challenged by the presence of dense breast parenchyma, resulting in low specificity values and thus in unnecessary biopsies. Automated characterization of MCs is mainly based on morphology analysis; the current stud...

OBJECTIVE Activated mast cells (MCs) release chymase, which can induce vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) apoptosis leading to plaque destabilization. Because the mechanism through which MCs release chymase in atherosclerosis is unknown, we studied whether MC-associated VSMC apoptosis is regulated by toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling. METHODS AND RESULTS Local recruitment and activation o...

Capsaicin and its ultrapotent analog resiniferatoxin (RTX) act through specific vanilloid receptors on sensory neurons. The C-type receptor is coupled to 45Ca uptake, whereas the R-type is detectable by [3H]RTX binding. We describe here specific vanilloid responses in murine mast cells (MCs). In the MC lines and in bone marrow-derived mast cells, capsaicin and RTX induced 45Ca uptake similarly ...

Background. Literature data suggest that cells such as mast cells (MCs), are involved in angiogenesis. MCs can stimulate angiogenesis by releasing of several proangiogenic cytokines stored in their cytoplasm. In particular MCs can release tryptase, a potent in vivo and in vitro proangiogenic factor. Nevertheless few data are available concerning the role of MCs positive to tryptase in primary p...

These days it has been increasingly recognized that mast cells (MCs) are critical components of host defense against pathogens. In this study, we have provided the first evidence that MCs can kill bacteria by entrapping them in extracellular structures similar to the extracellular traps described for neutrophils (NETs). We took advantage of the ability of MCs to kill the human pathogen Streptoc...

OBJECTIVE Gouty arthritis is caused by the precipitation of monosodium urate monohydrate (MSU) crystals in the joints. While it has been reported that mast cells (MCs) infiltrate gouty tophi, little is known about the actual roles of MCs during acute attacks of gout. This study was undertaken to assess the role of MCs in a mouse model of MSU crystal-induced acute arthritis. METHODS We assesse...

Protozoan parasites such as Plasmodium spp., Leishmania spp., Trypanosoma spp., and Toxoplasma gondii are major causes of parasitic diseases in both humans and animals. The immune system plays a critical role against protozoa, but their immune mechanism remains poorly understood. This highlights the need to investigate the function of immune cells involved in the process of parasite infections ...

Human mast cells (MCs) and eosinophils were first described and named by Paul Ehrlich. These cells have distinct myeloid progenitors and differ morphologically, ultrastructurally, immunologically, biochemically, and pharmacologically. However, MCs and eosinophils play a pivotal role in several allergic disorders. In addition, these cells are involved in autoimmune disorders, cardiovascular dise...

Motor cortex stimulation (MCS) is relatively recent neurosurgical technique for pain control, the use of which is growing steadily since its description in the last decade. While clinical series show that at least 50% of patients with chronic, pharmacoresistant neuropathic pain may benefit from this technique, the mechanisms of action of MCS remain elusive. In this review, we synthesise a numbe...