Following pilus-mediated adhesion to human brain endothelial cells, meningococcus (N. meningitidis), the bacterium causing cerebrospinal meningitis, initiates signaling cascades, which eventually result in the opening of intercellular junctions, allowing meningeal colonization. The signaling receptor activated by the pathogen remained unknown. We report that N. meningitidis specifically stimula...

The α1-adrenoceptor agonist phenylephrine and the β-adrenoceptor agonist isoproterenol have opposite effects on evoked EPSPs (eEPSPs) in the cerebral cortex. The suppressive effects of phenylephrine on eEPSPs are mediated by modulation of postsynaptic glutamate receptors, whereas enhancement of eEPSPs by isoproterenol is due to facilitation of glutamate release from presynaptic terminals. The p...

We investigated the regulation of mitochondrial poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1) by the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)/protein kinase A (PKA) system during oxidative stress in U937 monocytes. Oxidative stress induced an early (10 minutes) mitochondrial DNA damage, and concomitant activation of PARP1 in the mitochondria. These early events were followed by a progressive mitochondrial...

Preterm delivery increases the risk of inadequate systemic blood flow and hypotension, and many preterm infants fail to respond to conventional inotrope treatments. If the profile of cardiac adrenoceptor subtypes in the preterm neonate is different to that at term this may contribute to these clinical problems. This study measured mRNA expression of β1, β2, α1A, α2A and α2B-adrenoceptor subtype...

Responses of adipose cells to adrenoceptor regulation, including that of β-adrenoceptor (AR), and the signalling machinery involved in these responses are not sufficiently understood; information that is helpful for elucidating the adrenoceptor (adrenergic and β-AR)-responsive machinery is insufficient. We examined phospho-Thr-172 AMPK production in mouse-derived 3T3-L1 adipocytes treated with ...

Background: Pseudopheochromocytoma is a condition that occurs more frequently than other diseases presenting with similar symptoms such as: paroxysmal hypertension, diaphoresis, pallor, palpitations. However, due to the lack of specific guidelines and awareness among physicians, it widely underdiagnosed. Conventional antihypertensive treatment ineffective in controlling which leads decreased qu...

Introduction: In recent study both endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent mechanisms have been reported for the action of β-adrenoceptor. The aim of this study was to investigate on the role of nitric oxide (NO) and cyclic guanosin monophosphate (cGMP) in vasodilation mechanisms of β2-adrenoceptors (β2-AR) in rat skin vessels. Methods: All drugs were injected subcutaneous into p...