To identify the possible roles of Ca2+-related proteins, calmodulin and microfilaments in leukemic cells, we tested the effect of calmodulin antagonists and cytochalasins on proliferation and differentiation of human promyelocytic leukemic HL-60 cells. The growth of HL-60 was inhibited by A/-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1 naphthalenesulfonamide, A/-(4-aminobutyl)-5-chloro-2-naphthalenesulfonamide, a...

BACKGROUND Ganoderic acid B is an important bioactive ingredient isolated from Ganoderma lucidum, and exhibits various pharmacological activities. AIMS To investigate the influence of Ganoderic acid B towards the therapeutic window of trifluoperazine (TFP). METHODS In vitro human liver microsomes (HLMs) incubation system was used to determine the inhibition of Ganoderic acid B towards the g...

We examined some of the metabolic events that regulate sensitizing cancer extract-induced leukocyte adherence inhibition and found that human leukocytes adhere in a comparatively passive manner to glass in serum-free medium. Adherence of leukocytes to glass did not require oxidative metabolism, microtubules, microfilaments, or calcium entry, whereas leukocyte mobility excited by sensitizing can...

Pyocyanine, a low-molecular-weight phenazine pigment produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, has previously been shown to strongly inhibit human lymphocyte blastogenesis. We now report that synthetic pyocyanine can also affect the generation of superoxide by human peripheral blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) in a dose-dependent manner. Superoxide production by PMNs stimulated with phorbol m...

An overexpression of plasma membrane glycoprotein with a relative molecular mass (Mr) of 170,000-180,000 is consistently found in different multidrug-resistant human and animal cell lines, although the functional role of the protein in multidrug resistance is not fully understood. It has been reported previously that the Mr 170,000-180,000 glycoprotein is involved, directly or indirectly, in th...

BACKGROUND Getting access to authentic human drug metabolites is an important issue during the drug discovery and development process. Employing recombinant microorganisms as whole-cell biocatalysts constitutes an elegant alternative to organic synthesis to produce these compounds. The present work aimed for the generation of an efficient whole-cell catalyst based on the flavin monooxygenase is...

Psychotropics (antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, antidepressants, anxiolytics, etc.) are commonly prescribed to treat Huntington's disease (HD). In HD preclinical models, while no psychotropic has convincingly affected huntingtin gene, HD modifying gene, or huntingtin protein expression, psychotropic neuroprotective effects include upregulated huntingtin autophagy (lithium), histone acetylation...