Activation of NF-κB transcription factor is strictly regulated to accurately direct cellular processes including inflammation, immunity, and cell survival. In the retina, the modulation of the NF-κB pathway is essential to prevent excessive inflammatory responses, which plays a pivotal role in many retinal neurodegenerative diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy (DR), and inherited retinal dystrophies (IRDs). A critical cytokine mediating inflammatory responses in retinal cells is tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα), leading to the activation of several transductional pathways, including NF-κB.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDe novo somatic mutations are well documented in diseases such as neoplasia but are rarely reported in rare diseases. Hovewer, severe genetic diseases that are not compatible with embryonic development are caused exclusively by deleterious mutations that could only be found as mosaic and not as inherited mutations. We will review here the paradigmatic case of Incontinentia Pigmenti, a rare X-linked dominant disease caused by deficiency of the NEMO (also called IKKgamma) protein, which plays a pivotal role in tissue homeostasis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUrban soil pollution by heavy metals (HMs) is a pressing problem in the development of urban agriculture (UA). In this context, the use of amendments, such as biochar, and phytoremediation are considered potentially cost-effective alternatives to conventional methods, and can be also combined to improve the remediation of soils from HMs. A pot experiment was performed to investigate the combined effect of berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrinum, L.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe engagement of TNF on TNFR can result in cell survival or cell death depending on the different complex formation downstream this interaction. Here we describe reagents and assay procedures that can be used to study caspase-independent cell death (necroptosis) in cultured cells, in response to pharmacological interventions with NF-kappaB and death inhibitors. We provide protocol to detect death-specific proteins using immunoblot and to dissect necrosome complex by sequential co-immunoprecipitation of death-specific components during necroptosis.
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