Cyclophilin A is required for CXCR4-mediated nuclear export of heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A2, activation and nuclear translocation of ERK1/2, and chemotactic cell migration.

The chemokine receptor CXCR4-mediated signaling cascades play an important role in cell proliferation and migration, but the underlying mechanisms by which the receptor signaling is regulated remain incompletely understood. Here, we demonstrate that CXCR4 was co-immunoprecipitated with cyclophilin A (CyPA) from the lysate of HEK293 cells stably expressing CXCR4. Although both the glutathione S-transferase-CXCR4 N- and C-terminal fusion proteins were associated with the purified CyPA, truncation of the C-terminal domain of CXCR4 robustly inhibited the receptor co-immunoprecipitation with CyPA in intact cells, thereby suggesting a critical role of the receptor C terminus in this interaction.

Reduction in extracellular superoxide dismutase activity in African-American patients with hypertension.

Superoxide anions react with nitric oxide to form peroxynitrite and hence reduce the bioavailability of nitric oxide in the arteries. Extracellular superoxide dismutase (EC-SOD) is a major superoxide scavenger in human plasma and vascular tissues. The objective of this study is to assess whether essential hypertension is associated with an alteration in EC-SOD activity.

Disruption of testicular steroidogenesis and epididymal function by inhaled benzo(a)pyrene.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of sub-acute exposure to inhaled benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) on testicular steroidogenesis and epididymal function in Fisher 344 rats. Animals were assigned randomly to two control groups and one experimental group for each exposure regimen. Treatment consisted of sub-acute exposure of rats via inhalation to 25, 75, and 100 microg BaP/m(3), 4 h daily for 10 days.

Alteration of pregnancy related hormones and fetal survival in F-344 rats exposed by inhalation to benzo(a)pyrene.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of subacute exposure to inhaled benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) on fetal survival and luteal maintenance using timed-pregnant Fisher 344 rats. Prior to assignment of pregnant rats to treatment and control groups, numbers of implantation sites were determined on gestation day (GD) 8 via midventral laparotomy. Subsequently, animals were assigned randomly to three treatment groups and two control groups.