Activation of mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) could protect human osteoblasts from dexamethasone. Tuberous sclerosis complex 1 (TSC1) is mTORC1 upstream inhibitory protein. We demonstrate here that microRNA-19a ("miR-19a", -3p) targets the 3' untranslated regions of TSC1 mRNA. Expression of miR-19a downregulated TSC1 in OB-6 osteoblastic cells and primary human osteoblasts. miR-19a activated mTORC1 and...

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is one of the most important environmental factors involved in the pathogenesis of skin aging and cancer. Many harmful effects of UV radiation are associated with the generation of reactive oxygen species, and cellular antioxidants act to prevent the occurrence and reduce the severity of UV-induced skin disorders. Transcription factor NF-E2-related Factor 2 (Nrf2) and...

Background: Mesozeaxanthin (MZ) is a macular carotenoid which has been reported to have a number of pharmacological properties, including the antioxidant, and anticarcinogenic property, and has been stated to decrease the hepatocyte lipid content. Objective: In this study, we investigated the effect of MZ on cardio-metabolic health risk (CMHR) and its probable mechanisms of action in rats fed a...

The 5' DNase I-hypersensitive site 2 (5' HS-2) is an erythroid-specific enhancer located 11 kilobases (kb) upstream of the human beta-globin gene cluster. Presence in cis of 5' HS-2 confers a high level of erythroid cell-specific and developmentally regulated promoter activities of human globin genes in transfected cell cultures and in transgenic mice. Combining the use of the methylation prote...

UNLABELLED Sulforaphane (SFN), a naturally occurring isothiocyanate found in cruciferous vegetables, is implicated as a possible therapy for airway inflammation via induction of the transcription factor NF-E2-related factor 2 (NRF2). In this proof-of-concept clinical study, we show that supplementation of SFN with broccoli sprout homogenate in healthy human subjects did not induce expression of...

We investigated the role of nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) in the cytokine-mediated induction of cyclooxygenase-2 activity in the paraventricular nucleus of hypothalamus (PVN), a critical cardiovascular and autonomic center, in rats with heart failure (HF). Sprague-Dawley rats underwent coronary artery ligation to induce HF or sham surgery. HF rats were treated orally for 6 weeks with vehicl...

Although NF-E2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) was found to be a transcriptional regulator that controls an expression of the beta-globin gene, the notion is now widely accepted that this transfactor serves as a master regulator for the gene expression of a battery of proteins acting on anti-oxidative stress and detoxification of electrophiles. The function of Nrf2 that bears transcriptional activation...

Purpose: To investigate the effect of phycocyanin on myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury, and possible mechanisms involved.
 Methods: Twenty-four Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into Sham group (only threading without ligation), IRI (myocardial injury group) (phycocyanin pretreatment + group). The heart was harvested cardiomyocytes isolated. Colorimetry used to determine ...