There is considerable interest in the mechanisms by which systemic cytokines signal the CNS to elicit centrally controlled biological actions. This study determined the effects of intraperitoneal injections of interleukin-1b (IL-1b) on IL-1b mRNA and IL-1 receptor accessory protein (IL-1RAP) mRNA production in rat liver and brain using the reverse transcription-PCR. Saline or IL-1b (0.5 mg/kg) ...

We have previously described a variant form of the integrin beta 1 subunit (beta 1B)1 characterized by an altered sequence at the cytoplasmic domain. Using polyclonal antibodies to a synthetic peptide corresponding to the unique sequence of the beta 1B, we analyzed the expression of this molecule in human tissues and cultured cells. Western blot analysis showed that the beta 1B is expressed in ...

background the hepatitis c virus (hcv) infection has been identified as a leading cause of progressive liver diseases worldwide. despite new treatment strategies, pegylated interferon alfa-2a (peg-ifnα-2a), in combination with ribavirin (rbv), still represents the gold standard of therapy for hepatitis c in developing countries. results in this study, a significant association was observed betw...

Protein-tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP-1B) is a major protein-tyrosine phosphatase that has been implicated in the regulation of insulin action, as well as in other signal transduction pathways. To investigate the role of PTP-1B in vivo, we generated homozygotic PTP-1B-null mice by targeted gene disruption. PTP-1B-deficient mice have remarkably low adiposity and are protected from diet-induced ob...

RasGRPs, which load GTP onto Ras and Rap1, are expressed in vertebrate and invertebrate neurons. The functions, regulation, and mechanisms of action of neuronal RasGRPs are unknown. Here, we show how C. elegans RGEF-1b, a prototypical neuronal RasGRP, regulates a critical behavior. Chemotaxis to volatile odorants was disrupted in RGEF-1b-deficient (rgef-1⁻/⁻) animals and wild-type animals expre...

PURPOSE Organic anion-transporting polypeptides (OATP) mediate the cellular uptake of a broad range of drugs. The hydrophobic anticancer drug, paclitaxel (PTX), was recently identified as a substrate for OATP1B3 in vitro. We investigated the role of Oatp1a/1b transporters in the pharmacokinetics of PTX in vivo, as well as their impact at different dose levels of PTX and methotrexate (MTX). EX...

We have shown that interleukin-1b (IL-1b) activates the human brain natriuretic peptide (hBNP) promoter via a transcriptional mechanism. Others have reported that changes in intracellular calcium (Ca) mediate the action of IL-1b. We questioned whether Ca and Ca-dependent pathways mediate IL-1b regulation of the hBNP promoter in cardiac myocytes. The hBNP promoter (21818 to 1100) coupled to a lu...

Recombinant interferon beta-1b (IFNβ-1b) was the first approved disease-modifying therapy for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) by the world regulatory agencies for medical drugs and devices. IFNβ-1b significantly decreases the inflammatory component of MS but still has doubtable effect on the neurodegenerative component. This article appraises the beneficial effects of IFNβ-1b on clinical ...