We examined the role of sphingosine kinase-1 (SphK1), a critical regulator of the ceramide/sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) biostat, in the regulation of death and survival of SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells in response to amyloid (A ) peptide (25-35). Upon incubation with A , SH-SY5Y cells displayed a marked down-regulation of SphK1 activity coupled with an increase in the ceramide/S1P ratio followed...

longed exclusive breastfeeding can prevent allergic disease [8, 9] . There are over 250 proteins in human breast milk including a wide variety of cytokines, inflammatory mediators, signalling molecules and soluble receptors [10] , yet there is limited literature on the relationship between maternal diet, breast milk immune constituents and allergy development. In this issue of International Arc...

Amiodarone (AM) is an efficacious antidysrhythmic agent that can cause numerous adverse effects, including potentially lifethreatening pulmonary fibrosis. The current study was undertaken to investigate potential protective mechanisms of vitamin E against AM-induced pulmonary toxicity (AIPT) in the hamster. Three weeks after intratracheal administration of AM (1.83 mol), increased pulmonary hyd...

THE PLASTICITY OF SKELETAL muscle continues to fascinate physiologists and cell biologists. Many of the key molecules in the pathways that signal growth or atrophy of muscle have been identified, along with a number of hormones and growth factors that regulate these pathways. This knowledge may enable us to more effectively prevent or reverse muscle atrophy associated with a number of condition...

R enal fibrosis, characterized by glomerulosclerosis and tubulointerstitial fibrosis, is the final common pathway of a wide variety of chronic kidney diseases (CKD). Regardless of the underlying disorder and whether the injury is sustained, the kidney will follow a doomsday path of fibrogenesis, a condition characterized by excessive extracellular matrix accumulation. Can we do anything to slow...

Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is performed using autologous vein and arterial grafts. Patency rates of arterial grafts are significantly higher than those of vein grafts.1,2 Early vein graft occlusion occurs in up to 12%, potentially attributable to graft thrombosis. The subsequent occlusion rate is 2% to 4% per year, and this problem has been attributed to accelerated vein graft arter...

Accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) on tissue proteins increases with pathogenesis of diabetic complications and atherosclerosis. Here we examined the effect of peroxynitrite (ONOO ) on the formation of N -(carboxymethyl)lysine (CML), a major AGE-structure. When glycated human serum albumin (HSA; Amadori-modified protein) was incubated with ONOO , CML formation was detected b...

Hypertensive disorders are a major cause of maternal and fetal death, especially in developing nations, with the pregnancy-specific disease preeclampsiaeclampsia responsible for most of this mortality. Preeclampsia, recognized by ancient Greeks, was only sporadically investigated until late last century, current literature still labeling this disorder a “disease of theories.” Thus, not surprisi...

If activated vitamin D supplementation is renoprotective, is it because of suppression of the parathyroid hormone (PTH) or selective vitamin D receptor activation? In the present issue of Hypertension, Alborzi et al1 present the results of a well-done prospective clinical trial to evaluate the effects of short-term (1-month) treatment with activated vitamin D (paricalcitol) on blood pressure, b...