Adiponectin (APN), a novel hormone/cytokine derived from adipocyte tissue, is involved in various physiological functions. Genetics, nutrition, and adiposity are factors contributing to circulating plasma concentrations of APN. Clinical correlation studies have shown that lower levels of serum APN are associated with increased malignancy of various cancers, such as breast and colon cancers, sug...

Tumor cell surface aminopeptidase N (APN or CD13) has two puzzling functions unrelated to its enzymatic activity: mediating tumor cell motility and serving as a receptor for tumor-homing peptides (peptides that bring anti-cancer drugs to tumor cells). To investigate APN-based tumor-homing therapy, we determined the crystal structure of APN complexed with a tumor-homing peptide containing a repr...

BACKGROUND The role of adiponectin (APN), an adipose tissue-specific secretory protein, on chronic rejection after cardiac transplantation in APN-sense transgenic mice (APN-SE) was evaluated. METHODS AND RESULTS Heterotopic cardiac transplantation in major histocompatibility complex class II-mismatched mice was performed. B6.C-H-2(bm12)KhEg (Bm12) hearts were transplanted into APN-SE, and all...

BACKGROUND Adiponectin plays a role as a positive contributor to the stabilization of atherosclerotic plaques. Circulating total adiponectin (Total-APN) levels associates with the number of coronary vessels in men with coronary artery disease (CAD). We recently reported that adiponectin binds to C1q in human blood, and serum C1q-binding adiponectin (C1q-APN) /Total-APN levels are associated wit...

An overview of the efficacy of anti-predator netting (APN) used by the shellfish industry is presented. There is little support that the currently favored APN effectively protects farmed clams from predators. Evidence does suggest that APN leads to impacts and pollution. APN is an attractant for predators, e.g., crabs, by providing a refuge within Ulva sp. which attaches onto the surface of APN...

Adiponectin (ApN) and leptin are two adipocytokines that control fuel homeostasis, body weight, and insulin sensitivity. Their interplay is still poorly studied. These hormones are either undetectable or decreased in obese, diabetic ob/ob mice. We examined the effects of leptin treatment on ApN gene expression, protein production, secretion, and circulating levels of ob/ob mice. We also briefly...

RATIONALE Patients treated with peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-gamma agonist manifest favorable metabolic profiles associated with increased plasma adiponectin (APN). However, whether increased APN production as a result of PPAR-gamma agonist treatment is an epiphenomenon or is causatively related to the cardioprotective actions of PPAR-gamma remains unknown. OBJECTIVE To d...

PURPOSE We previously established a novel murine monoclonal antibody(MH8-11) that recognized aminopeptidase N (APN)/cluster of differentiation antigen 13 (CD13). This monoclonal antibody inhibited human umbilical vein endothelial cells migration and capillary-like tube formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells on Matrigel. In this study, we investigated the expression of APN/CD13 and ...

PURPOSE This study was aimed at exploring the current status of graduate programs for an advanced practice nurse(APN) to recommend future directions of APN education. METHODS A total of 142 students enrolled in seven APN specialty programs, 67 professors who were involved in APN education, and nine nurse administrators participated in the study. Data was collected by questionnaires and focus ...

We determined that Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1Ac and Cry1Fa delta-endotoxins recognize the same 110, 120 and 170 kDa aminopeptidase N (APN) molecules in brush border membrane vesicles (BBMV) from Heliothis virescens. The 110 kDa protein, not previously identified as an APN, contained a variant APN consensus sequence identical to that found in Helicoverpa punctigera APN 2. PCR amplification of H...