GLORIA

GEOMAR Library Ocean Research Information Access

X
feed icon rss

Your email was sent successfully. Check your inbox.

An error occurred while sending the email. Please try again.

Proceed reservation?

Export
  • 1
    facet.materialart.
    Unknown
    Antisense Oligonucleotide Inhibition of Apolipoprotein C-III Reduces Plasma Triglycerides in Rodents, Nonhuman Primates, and Humans [Clinical/Translational Research] (2013)
    American Heart Association (AHA)
    Details
    Publication Date: 2013-05-24
    Description: Rationale: Elevated plasma triglyceride levels have been recognized as a risk factor for the development of coronary heart disease. Apolipoprotein C-III (apoC-III) represents both an independent risk factor and a key regulatory factor of plasma triglyceride concentrations. Furthermore, elevated apoC-III levels have been associated with metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes mellitus. To date, no selective apoC-III therapeutic agent has been evaluated in the clinic. Objective: To test the hypothesis that selective inhibition of apoC-III with antisense drugs in preclinical models and in healthy volunteers would reduce plasma apoC-III and triglyceride levels. Methods and Results: Rodent- and human-specific second-generation antisense oligonucleotides were identified and evaluated in preclinical models, including rats, mice, human apoC-III transgenic mice, and nonhuman primates. We demonstrated the selective reduction of both apoC-III and triglyceride in all preclinical pharmacological evaluations. We also showed that inhibition of apoC-III was well tolerated and not associated with increased liver triglyceride deposition or hepatotoxicity. A double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase I clinical study was performed in healthy subjects. Administration of the human apoC-III antisense drug resulted in dose-dependent reductions in plasma apoC-III, concomitant lowering of triglyceride levels, and produced no clinically meaningful signals in the safety evaluations. Conclusions: Antisense inhibition of apoC-III in preclinical models and in a phase I clinical trial with healthy subjects produced potent, selective reductions in plasma apoC-III and triglyceride, 2 known risk factors for cardiovascular disease. This compelling pharmacological profile supports further clinical investigations in hypertriglyceridemic subjects.
    Keywords: Animal models of human disease, Risk Factors, Gene expression, Gene regulation, Lipid and lipoprotein metabolism
    Print ISSN: 0009-7330
    Electronic ISSN: 1524-4571
    Topics: Medicine
    Published by American Heart Association (AHA)
    Location Call Number Limitation Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    PAPER CURRENT
  • 2
    facet.materialart.
    Unknown
    Ergothioneine Is a Secreted Antioxidant in Mycobacterium smegmatis [Susceptibility] (2013)
    The American Society for Microbiology (ASM)
    Details
    Publication Date: 2013-06-12
    Description: Ergothioneine (ERG) and mycothiol (MSH) are two low-molecular-weight thiols synthesized by mycobacteria. The role of MSH has been extensively investigated in mycobacteria; however, little is known about the role of ERG in mycobacterial physiology. In this study, quantification of ERG at various points in the growth cycle of Mycobacterium smegmatis revealed that a significant portion of ERG is found in the culture media, suggesting that it is actively secreted. A mutant of M. smegmatis lacking egtD ( MSMEG_6247 ) was unable to synthesize ERG, confirming its role in ERG biosynthesis. Deletion of egtD from wild-type M. smegmatis and an MSH-deficient mutant did not affect their susceptibility to antibiotics tested in this study. The ERG- and MSH-deficient double mutant was significantly more sensitive to peroxide than either of the single mutants lacking either ERG or MSH, suggesting that both thiols play a role in protecting M. smegmatis against oxidative stress and that ERG is able to partly compensate for the loss of MSH.
    Print ISSN: 0066-4804
    Electronic ISSN: 1098-6596
    Topics: Biology , Medicine
    Published by The American Society for Microbiology (ASM)
    Location Call Number Limitation Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    PAPER CURRENT
  • 3
    facet.materialart.
    Unknown
    Genomic and bioinformatic profiling of mutational neoepitopes reveals new rules to predict anticancer immunogenicity (2014)
    Rockefeller University Press
    Details
    Publication Date: 2014-10-21
    Description: The mutational repertoire of cancers creates the neoepitopes that make cancers immunogenic. Here, we introduce two novel tools that identify, with relatively high accuracy, the small proportion of neoepitopes (among the hundreds of potential neoepitopes) that protect the host through an antitumor T cell response. The two tools consist of (a) the numerical difference in NetMHC scores between the mutated sequences and their unmutated counterparts, termed the differential agretopic index, and (b) the conformational stability of the MHC I–peptide interaction. Mechanistically, these tools identify neoepitopes that are mutated to create new anchor residues for MHC binding, and render the overall peptide more rigid. Surprisingly, the protective neoepitopes identified here elicit CD8-dependent immunity, even though their affinity for K d is orders of magnitude lower than the 500-nM threshold considered reasonable for such interactions. These results greatly expand the universe of target cancer antigens and identify new tools for human cancer immunotherapy.
    Print ISSN: 0022-1007
    Electronic ISSN: 1540-9538
    Topics: Medicine
    Published by Rockefeller University Press
    Location Call Number Limitation Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    PAPER CURRENT
  • 4
    facet.materialart.
    Unknown
    Peptide Modulation of MHC Flexibility [Protein Structure and Folding] (2013)
    The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB)
    Details
    Publication Date: 2013-08-24
    Description: T cells use the αβ T cell receptor (TCR) to recognize antigenic peptides presented by class I major histocompatibility complex proteins (pMHCs) on the surfaces of antigen-presenting cells. Flexibility in both TCRs and peptides plays an important role in antigen recognition and discrimination. Less clear is the role of flexibility in the MHC protein; although recent observations have indicated that mobility in the MHC can impact TCR recognition in a peptide-dependent fashion, the extent of this behavior is unknown. Here, using hydrogen/deuterium exchange, fluorescence anisotropy, and structural analyses, we show that the flexibility of the peptide binding groove of the class I MHC protein HLA-A*0201 varies significantly with different peptides. The variations extend throughout the binding groove, impacting regions contacted by TCRs as well as other activating and inhibitory receptors of the immune system. Our results are consistent with statistical mechanical models of protein structure and dynamics, in which the binding of different peptides alters the populations and exchange kinetics of substates in the MHC conformational ensemble. Altered MHC flexibility will influence receptor engagement, impacting conformational adaptations, entropic penalties associated with receptor recognition, and the populations of binding-competent states. Our results highlight a previously unrecognized aspect of the “altered self” mechanism of immune recognition and have implications for specificity, cross-reactivity, and antigenicity in cellular immunity.
    Print ISSN: 0021-9258
    Electronic ISSN: 1083-351X
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Published by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB)
    Location Call Number Limitation Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    PAPER CURRENT
  • 5
    facet.materialart.
    Unknown
    Endothelial Cell Sensing of Flow Direction [Basic Science] (2013)
    American Heart Association (AHA)
    Details
    Publication Date: 2013-08-15
    Description: Objective— Atherosclerosis-prone regions of arteries are characterized by complex flow patterns where the magnitude of shear stress is low and direction rapidly changes, termed disturbed flow. How endothelial cells sense flow direction and how it impacts inflammatory effects of disturbed flow are unknown. We therefore aimed to understand how endothelial cells respond to changes in flow direction. Approach and Results— Using a recently developed flow system capable of changing flow direction to any angle, we show that responses of aligned endothelial cells are determined by flow direction relative to their morphological and cytoskeletal axis. Activation of the atheroprotective endothelial nitric oxide synthase pathway is maximal at 180° and undetectable at 90°, whereas activation of proinflammatory nuclear factor-B is maximal at 90° and undetectable at 180°. Similar effects were observed in randomly oriented cells in naive monolayers subjected to onset of shear. Cells aligned on micropatterned substrates subjected to oscillatory flow were also examined. In this system, parallel flow preferentially activated endothelial nitric oxide synthase and production of nitric oxide, whereas perpendicular flow preferentially activated reactive oxygen production and nuclear factor-B. Conclusions— These data show that the angle between flow and the cell axis defined by their shape and cytoskeleton determines endothelial cell responses. The data also strongly suggest that the inability of cells to align in low and oscillatory flow is a key determinant of the resultant inflammatory activation.
    Keywords: Other arteriosclerosis, Endothelium/vascular type/nitric oxide
    Print ISSN: 1079-5642
    Electronic ISSN: 1524-4636
    Topics: Medicine
    Published by American Heart Association (AHA)
    Location Call Number Limitation Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    PAPER CURRENT
  • 6
    facet.materialart.
    Unknown
    Hypertension Analysis of Stress Reduction Using Mindfulness Meditation and Yoga: Results From the Harmony Randomized Controlled Trial (2013)
    Oxford University Press
    Details
    Publication Date: 2013-12-04
    Description: BACKGROUND The HARMONY study was a randomized, controlled trial examining the efficacy of an 8-week mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program for blood pressure (BP) lowering among unmedicated stage 1 hypertensive participants. METHODS Participants diagnosed with stage 1 hypertension based on ambulatory BP were randomized to either immediate treatment of MBSR for 8 weeks or wait-list control. Primary outcome analysis evaluated whether change in awake and 24-hour ambulatory BP from baseline to week 12 was significantly different between the 2 groups. A within-group before and after MBSR analysis was also performed. RESULTS The study enrolled 101 adults (38% male) with baseline average 24-hour ambulatory BP of 135±7.9/82±5.8mm Hg and daytime ambulatory BP of 140±7.7/87±6.3 mmHg. At week 12, the change from baseline in 24-hour ambulatory BP was 0.4±6.7/0.0±4.9mm Hg for the immediate intervention and 0.4±7.8/–0.4±4.6mm Hg for the wait-list control. There were no significant differences between intervention and wait-list control for all ambulatory BP parameters. The secondary within-group analysis found a small reduction in BP after MBSR compared with baseline, a finding limited to female subjects in a sex analysis. CONCLUSIONS MBSR did not lower ambulatory BP by a statistically or clinically significant amount in untreated, stage 1 hypertensive patients when compared with a wait-list control group. It leaves untested whether MBSR might be useful for lowering BP by improving adherence in treated hypertensive participants. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION NCT00825526.
    Print ISSN: 0895-7061
    Electronic ISSN: 1879-1905
    Topics: Medicine
    Published by Oxford University Press
    Location Call Number Limitation Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    PAPER CURRENT
  • 7
    facet.materialart.
    Unknown
    TCR Scanning of Peptide/MHC through Complementary Matching of Receptor and Ligand Molecular Flexibility [MOLECULAR AND STRUCTURAL IMMUNOLOGY] (2014)
    The American Association of Immunologists (AAI)
    Details
    Publication Date: 2014-03-08
    Description: Although conformational changes in TCRs and peptide Ags presented by MHC protein (pMHC) molecules often occur upon binding, their relationship to intrinsic flexibility and role in ligand selectivity are poorly understood. In this study, we used nuclear magnetic resonance to study TCR–pMHC binding, examining recognition of the QL9/H-2L d complex by the 2C TCR. Although the majority of the CDR loops of the 2C TCR rigidify upon binding, the CDR3β loop remains mobile within the TCR–pMHC interface. Remarkably, the region of the QL9 peptide that interfaces with CDR3β is also mobile in the free pMHC and in the TCR–pMHC complex. Determination of conformational exchange kinetics revealed that the motions of CDR3β and QL9 are closely matched. The matching of conformational exchange in the free proteins and its persistence in the complex enhances the thermodynamic and kinetic stability of the TCR–pMHC complex and provides a mechanism for facile binding. We thus propose that matching of structural fluctuations is a component of how TCRs scan among potential ligands for those that can bind with sufficient stability to enable T cell signaling.
    Print ISSN: 0022-1767
    Electronic ISSN: 1550-6606
    Topics: Medicine
    Published by The American Association of Immunologists (AAI)
    Location Call Number Limitation Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    PAPER CURRENT
  • 8
    facet.materialart.
    Unknown
    Lunar radiation environment and space weathering from the Cosmic Ray Telescope for the Effects of Radiation (CRaTER) (2012)
    Wiley-Blackwell
    Details
    Publication Date: 2012-03-13
    Description: The Cosmic Ray Telescope for the Effects of Radiation (CRaTER) measures linear energy transfer by Galactic Cosmic Rays (GCRs) and Solar Energetic Particles (SEPs) on the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) Mission in a circular, polar lunar orbit. GCR fluxes remain at the highest levels ever observed during the space age. One of the largest SEP events observed by CRaTER during the LRO mission occurred on June 7, 2011. We compare model predictions by the Earth-Moon-Mars Radiation Environment Module (EMMREM) for both dose rates from GCRs and SEPs during this event with results from CRaTER. We find agreement between these models and the CRaTER dose rates, which together demonstrate the accuracy of EMMREM, and its suitability for a real-time space weather system. We utilize CRaTER to test forecasts made by the Relativistic Electron Alert System for Exploration (REleASE), which successfully predicts the June 7th event. At the maximum CRaTER-observed GCR dose rate (∼11.7 cGy/yr where Gy is a unit indicating energy deposition per unit mass, 1 Gy = 1 J/kg), GCRs deposit ∼88 eV/molecule in water over 4 billion years, causing significant change in molecular composition and physical structure (e.g., density, color, crystallinity) of water ice, loss of molecular hydrogen, and production of more complex molecules linking carbon and other elements in the irradiated ice. This shows that space weathering by GCRs may be extremely important for chemical evolution of ice on the Moon. Thus, we show comprehensive observations from the CRaTER instrument on the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter that characterizes the radiation environment and space weathering on the Moon.
    Print ISSN: 0148-0227
    Topics: Geosciences , Physics
    Published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of American Geophysical Union (AGU).
    Location Call Number Limitation Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    PAPER CURRENT
  • 9
    facet.materialart.
    Unknown
    MicroRNA regulation of plant innate immune receptors [Plant Biology] (2012)
    National Academy of Sciences
    Details
    Publication Date: 2012-02-01
    Description: Plant genomes contain large numbers of cell surface leucine-rich repeat (LRR) and intracellular nucleotide binding (NB)-LRR immune receptors encoded by resistance (R) genes that recognize specific pathogen effectors and trigger resistance responses. The unregulated expression of NB-LRR genes can trigger autoimmunity in the absence of pathogen infection and inhibit plant growth. Despite the potential serious consequence on agricultural production, the mechanisms regulating R-gene expression are not well understood. We identified microRNA (miRNA) progenitor genes precursor transcripts, and two miRNAs [nta-miR6019 (22-nt) and nta-miR6020 (21-nt)] that guide cleavage of transcripts of the Toll and Interleukin-1 receptor-NB-LRR immune receptor N from tobacco that confers resistance to tobacco mosaic virus (TMV). We further showed that cleavage by nta-miR6019 triggers RNA-dependent RNA polymerase 6- and ribonuclease Dicer-like 4-dependent biogenesis of 21-nt secondary siRNAs “in phase” with the 22-nt miR6019 cleavage site. Furthermore, we found that processing of the 22-nt nta-miR6019 depended on an asymmetric bulge caused by mismatch in the nta-miR6019 precursor. Interestingly, coexpression of N with nta-miR6019 and nta-miR6020 resulted in attenuation of N-mediated resistance to TMV, indicating that these miRNAs have functional roles in NB-LRR regulation. Using a bioinformatics approach, we identified six additional 22-nt miRNA and two 21-nt miRNA families from three Solanaceae species—tobacco, tomato, and potato. We show that members of these miRNA families cleave transcripts of predicted functional R genes and trigger production of phased secondary 21-nt siRNAs. Our results demonstrate a conserved role for miRNAs and secondary siRNAs in NB-LRR/LRR immune receptor gene regulation and pathogen resistance in Solanaceae.
    Print ISSN: 0027-8424
    Electronic ISSN: 1091-6490
    Topics: Biology , Medicine , Natural Sciences in General
    Published by National Academy of Sciences
    Location Call Number Limitation Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    PAPER CURRENT
  • 10
    facet.materialart.
    Unknown
    Thermodynamic Control of TCR Specificity [Molecular Biophysics] (2013)
    The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB)
    Details
    Publication Date: 2013-06-29
    Description: The T-cell receptor (TCR) recognizes peptides bound to major histocompatibility molecules (MHC) and allows T-cells to interrogate the cellular proteome for internal anomalies from the cell surface. The TCR contacts both MHC and peptide in an interaction characterized by weak affinity (KD = 100 nm to 270 μm). We used phage-display to produce a melanoma-specific TCR (α24β17) with a 30,000-fold enhanced binding affinity (KD = 0.6 nm) to aid our exploration of the molecular mechanisms utilized to maintain peptide specificity. Remarkably, although the enhanced affinity was mediated primarily through new TCR-MHC contacts, α24β17 remained acutely sensitive to modifications at every position along the peptide backbone, mimicking the specificity of the wild type TCR. Thermodynamic analyses revealed an important role for solvation in directing peptide specificity. These findings advance our understanding of the molecular mechanisms that can govern the exquisite peptide specificity characteristic of TCR recognition.
    Print ISSN: 0021-9258
    Electronic ISSN: 1083-351X
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Published by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB)
    Location Call Number Limitation Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    PAPER CURRENT
Close ⊗
This website uses cookies and the analysis tool Matomo. More information can be found here...