An intracellular mechanism that senses decreases in tissue oxygen level and stimulates hypoxia-related gene expression has been reported in various cell types including the cardiac cell. The mechanism can also be activated by Co(2+) in normoxia. Thus we investigated the effects of prior chronic oral CoCl(2) on mechanical functions of isolated, perfused rat hearts in hypoxia-reoxygenation. In no...

In asthma, the increase in airway smooth muscle (ASM) can contribute to inflammation, airway wall remodeling and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR). Targetting peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), a receptor upregulated in ASM in asthmatic airways, may provide a novel approach to regulate these contributions. This review summarises experimental evidence that PPARγ ligands, such a...

Protein phosphatase type 1 (PP1) is involved in a wide range of cell activities (1), and even within the more restricted theme of contractile activity in muscle several processes may be considered. Important areas include regulation of ion channels (2), effect of phospholamban on Ca uptake by the SR (3), and phosphorylation-dephosphorylation of myosin II. Phosphorylation of myosin light chains ...

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors including quinapril could exert a protective effect on cardiovascular system through endothelial system in normoglycemic and diabetic rats. The present experimental work was designed to study the vascular reactivity of aortic ring segments isolated from streptozotocin (STZ)-diabetic rats treated for 4 weeks with nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester (L-NAM...

objective: the greatest challenge in cancer gene therapy is to achieve the high specificity and efficiency in targeting of cancer cells. because the goal of cancer gene therapy is to eradicate cancer cells, many therapeutic genes could be detrimental if unintentionally expressed in normal cells. using promoter of the genes which are expressed specifically in cancer cells or have much more expre...

Smooth muscle cells use an actin-myosin II-based contractile apparatus to produce force for a variety of physiological functions, including blood pressure regulation and gut peristalsis. The organization of the smooth muscle contractile apparatus resembles that of striated skeletal and cardiac muscle, but remains much more poorly understood. We have found that avian vascular and visceral smooth...