Production of specific immunoglobulin (Ig)E is the characteristic abnormality of atopy. IgE is produced by B lymphocytes under the influence of interleukin (IL)4 and IL-13. IgE binds to high-affinity IgE receptors (Fc«RI) on mast cells to induce degranulation and mediator synthesis. IL-4 enhances the activation of Fc«RI to augment the production of cytokines and lipid mediators. These receptors...

Apoptosis triggered by exogenous and endogenous stimuli such as ultraviolet radiation, oxidative stress, and genotoxic chemicals is a crucial phenomenon within biological systems. DNA damage activates and stabilizes p53 in nucleus and cytoplasm and regulates other proteins that stimulate intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic pathways. Apoptosis is morphologically distinct from that of necrosis and ...

that is needed to change membrane shape and to form a vesicle is very simple. These studies are in line with previous genetic studies that have identified a limited Howard Riezman,* Philip G. Woodman,† Gerrit van Meer,‡ and Mark Marsh§ *Biozentrum of the University of Basel CH-4056 Basel number of proteins that are required for COP-II-coated Switzerland vesicle formation from the ER. The functi...

Etoposide derives from podophyllotoxin, a toxin found in the American Mayapple. It was first synthesized in 1966 and approved for cancer therapy in 1983 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (Hande, 1998[25]). Starting from 1980s several studies demonstrated that etoposide targets DNA topoisomerase II activities thus leading to the production of DNA breaks and eliciting a response that affec...

The initial signal for triggering human parturition might be fetal but of trophoblastic origin. Concomitantly, this placental signal would have as its target not only the uterus but also the fetus by activating its hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical axis. The latter would represent a second fetal signal which, at the fetomaternal interface, would amplify and define in time the mechanisms resp...

Apoptosis, derived from the Greek word for a natural process of leaves falling from trees or petals fromflowers, is a distinct form of programmed cell death. Although such programmed deaths were describedmany decades ago, the significance of apoptosis had been largely overlooked, particularly its relevance to disease. The improved understanding of apoptotic signalling pathways, and the cloning ...

Photocarcinogenesis represents the accumulation of genetic changes as well as immune system modulation, which ultimately lead to the development of skin cancers. The recent advances in molecular and cellular biology have clarified the mechanisms of photocarcinogenesis, including the formation of DNA photoproducts, DNA repair, mutation of proto-oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes, and UV-induce...

context:micrornas (mirnas) are a class of short, endogenously-initiated, non-coding rnas that post-transcriptionally control gene expression via translational repression or mrna turnover. mirnas have attracted much attention in recent years as they play critical roles in gene expression and are promising tools with many biotech and therapeutic applications. the molecular mechanisms underlying t...

Cardiovascular diseases are still the main cause of mortality around the world. Therefore, it is essential to develop practical means to reduce their burden. A wealth of evidence supports the role of physical exercise in attenuating many of the risk factors of cardiovascular diseases. Moreover, endurance training warrants protection against myocardial infarction. Exercise, even if performed ...

Objective(s):Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) is overexpressed in cervical cancer (CC). However, the molecular mechanisms are unclear. This study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanism of eIF4E gene overexpression in CC. Materials andMethods:The human papillomavirus (HPV) type 18 E7 and eIF4E mRNAs were measured following knock down or overexpression of E7 gene by RT-P...