ThermoFluor (a miniaturized high-throughput protein stability assay) was used to analyze the linkage between protein thermal stability and ligand binding. Equilibrium binding ligands increase protein thermal stability by an amount proportional to the concentration and affinity of the ligand. Binding constants (K(b)) were measured by examining the systematic effect of ligand concentration on pro...

Objectives. To analyse the expression of receptor activator of NF-kB (RANK) and RANK ligand (RANKL) in the joints of children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), to characterize the phenotype of RANK cells and to test the hypothesis that some RANK cells are of the dendritic type. Methods. Paired samples of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and synovial fluid mononuclear cells (SFM...

Scoring to identify high-affinity compounds remains a challenge in virtual screening. On one hand, protein-ligand scoring focuses on weighting favorable and unfavorable interactions between the two molecules. Ligand-based scoring, on the other hand, focuses on how well the shape and chemistry of each ligand candidate overlay on a three-dimensional reference ligand. Our hypothesis is that a hybr...

The emergence of the molecular triad osteoprotegerin (OPG)/Receptor Activator of NF-kB (RANK)/RANK Ligand (RANKL) has helped elucidate a key signalling pathway between stromal cells and osteoclasts. The interaction between RANK and RANKL plays a critical role in promoting osteoclast differentiation and activation leading to bone resorption. OPG is a soluble decoy receptor for RANKL that blocks ...

Five rare earth complexeslanthanum(III),praseodymium(III),neodymium(III), samarium(III) and europium(III) have been synthesized from Schiff base ligand (N,N-bis (2-hydroxy-1-naphthylidene) acetylhydrazone). The complexes were characterized based on elemental analysis, molar conductance, ultraviolet, infrared, mass, thermogravimetric and powder X-ray diffraction studies. Infrared spectra sug...

Crohn's disease (CD) is associated with low bone mass due to chronic inflammation and other factors. Receptor activator of NF-kappaB ligand (RANKL), its receptor RANK and its decoy receptor osteoprotegerin (OPG) are potentially involved in this process as they regulate osteoclastogenesis and are influenced by pro-inflammatory cytokines. The aim of this study was to determine the levels of solub...

INTRODUCTION NSCLC is the leading cause of cancer mortality. Recent retrospective clinical analyses suggest that blocking the receptor activator of NF-κB (RANK) signaling pathway inhibits the growth of NSCLC and might represent a new treatment strategy. METHODS Receptor activator of NF-κB gene (RANK) and receptor activator of NF-κB ligand gene (RANKL) expression in human lung adenocarcinoma w...

OBJECTIVE To investigate the expression of the osteoprotegerin (OPG)/receptor activator of nuclear factor-ĸB (RANK)/RANK ligand (RANKL) axis in the stabilization of spontaneously restored sinus rhythm (SR) in permanent atrial fibrillation (AF) patients after mitral valve (MV) surgery and study its clinical significance. METHODS Clinical data, biopsies of right atrial appendages were collected...

macrocyclic heterobinuclear zn(ii)–cu(ii) complexes with phenol based dicompartmental ligands possessing contiguous hexa- and penta-coordination sites were prepared by a stepwise procedure. the ligands include similar n4o2 and dissimilar n(imine)3o2 and n(amine)3o2 coordination sites sharing two phenolic oxygen atoms. the six-coordination site comprises two pyridyl pendant arms on the amine nit...

Osteomyelitis is an inflammatory disease of the bone that is characterized by the presence of necrotic bone tissue and increased osteoclast activity. Staphylococcus aureus is responsible for approximately 80% of all cases of human osteomyelitis. While the disease is especially difficult to treat, the pathogenesis of S. aureus-induced osteomyelitis is poorly understood. Elucidating the molecular...