Ursolic acid from Trailliaedoxa gracilis induces apoptosis in medullary thyroid carcinoma cells.

Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) originates from the C‑cells of the thyroid and is not sensitive to radiation or chemotherapy. Therefore, surgical removal of the tumor tissue in its entirety is the only curative treatment for MTC. The present study aimed to examine the potential mechanisms of action of extracts of Trailliaedoxa gracilis (TG; WW Smith & Forrest), a plant from the province of Sichuan, China, and of ursolic acid (UA), a pentacyclic triterpen present in TG, on the MTC‑SK MTC cell line.

The anti-hypertensive drug prazosin induces apoptosis in the medullary thyroid carcinoma cell line TT.

Background/aim: Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is a tumor associated with poor prognosis since it exhibits high resistance against conventional cancer therapy. Recent studies have shown that quinazolines exhibit a pro-apoptotic effect on malignant cells. The aim of the present study was to elucidate whether MTC cells are affected by quinazolines, in particular prazosin.

Anticancer activity of novel plant extracts from Trailliaedoxa gracilis (W. W. Smith & Forrest) in human carcinoid KRJ-I Cells.

Background: Small intestinal (SI) neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are rare neoplasms derived from neuroendocrine cells presenting distinct clinical symptoms according to the ability to secrete neuroamines. Nevertheless, many are asymptomatic and misdiagnosed. As response rates to chemotherapy are low, surgery remains the only effective treatment.

Establishment of stably transfected rat neuronal cell lines expressing alpha-synuclein GFP fusion proteins.

Mutations in the alpha-synuclein gene have been linked to rare cases of familial Parkinson's disease (PD). alpha-Synuclein, a 140 amino acid polypeptide, is a major component of Lewy bodies (LB), a pathological hallmark of PD. Transgenic mice, Drosophila and marmosets (Challitrix jacchus) expressing either wild type (WT) or mutant human alpha-synuclein develop motor deficits, LB-like inclusions in some neurons and neuronal degeneration.

Anticancer activity of novel extracts from Cautleya gracilis (Smith) Dandy: apoptosis in human medullary thyroid carcinoma cells.

Background: Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is a calcitonin-producing tumor of the thyroid arising from the parafollicular C-cells. MTC is poorly responsive to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, hence the only effective therapy is surgery. Based on this fact, alternative strategies have been sought.

Structural and biochemical properties of lipid particles from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The two most prominent neutral lipids of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, triacylglycerols (TAG) and steryl esters (SE), are synthesized by the two TAG synthases Dga1p and Lro1p and the two SE synthases Are1p and Are2p. In this study, we made use of a set of triple mutants with only one of these acyltransferases active to elucidate the contribution of each single enzyme to lipid particle (LP)/droplet formation. Depending on the remaining acyltransferases, LP from triple mutants contained only TAG or SE, respectively, with specific patterns of fatty acids and sterols.

The non-competitive metabotropic glutamate receptor-1 antagonist CPCCOEt inhibits the in vitro growth of human melanoma.

Five decades ago, the dicarboxylic amino acid glutamate became recognized as the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. In recent years, the expression of glutamate receptors was detected also in peripheral, non-neuronal tissues. Furthermore, it was found that glutamate stimulated the proliferation and migration of several peripheral tumor cells, and that glutamate receptor antagonists limited tumor growth.

Lipid composition of peroxisomes from the yeast Pichia pastoris grown on different carbon sources.

Highly purified peroxisomes from the yeast Pichia pastoris grown on methanol or oleic acid, respectively, were used to characterize the lipid composition of this organelle. For this purpose, an isolation procedure had to be adapted which yielded highly purified P. pastoris peroxisomes.

Biocompatibility of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMW-PE) stabilized with alpha-tocopherol used for joint endoprostheses assessed in vitro.

Adding the natural antioxidant alpha-tocopherol to ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMW-PE) can remarkably delay the oxidation of hip cups made thereof. However, alpha-tocopherol is likely to undergo different chemical transformations during manufacturing and sterilization of hip cups than in human metabolism. Therefore, the biocompatibility of the putative transformation products has to be investigated.

The oxidized phospholipids POVPC and PGPC inhibit growth and induce apoptosis in vascular smooth muscle cells.

Oxidized phospholipids, including 1-palmitoyl-2-(5-oxovaleroyl)-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POVPC) and 1-palmitoyl-2-glutaroyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (PGPC) are typically present in oxidatively modified low density lipoprotein (oxLDL) and have been found in atherosclerotic lesions. These compounds are gaining increasing importance as inducers of different cellular responses like inflammation, proliferation, or cell death. The aim of this study was to elicit the type and outcome of the cellular response of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) upon treatment with POVPC and PGPC.

Glutamate receptor-mediated effects on growth and morphology of human histiocytic lymphoma cells.

Glutamate is the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system (CNS) and binds to a variety of receptors, which recently have also been detected in peripheral, non-excitable cells. New research suggests that this abundant amino acid might also be involved in the growth of tumor cells acting via novel receptor-mediated autocrine/paracrine signal transduction pathways. We report here that glutamate, as well as glutamate receptor reactive drugs, differentially modulate growth and morphology of human histiocytic lymphoma-derived U937 cells.

Lysosomal pathology associated with alpha-synuclein accumulation in transgenic models using an eGFP fusion protein.

Disorders with Lewy body (LB) formation, such as Parkinson's disease (PD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), are characterized by alpha-synuclein accumulation in the neuronal cell body. Recent studies have suggested that in addition to LBs, alpha-synuclein might accumulate more widely throughout the neurons and their processes, leading to neurodegeneration and functional impairment. The precise patterns of alpha-synuclein accumulation in vivo, however, and its relationship with subcellular neuronal alterations such as lysosomal pathology are not completely clear.

YEH2/YLR020c encodes a novel steryl ester hydrolase of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Previous work from our laboratory (Zinser, E., Paltauf, F., and Daum, G.

Role of ceramide in activation of stress-associated MAP kinases by minimally modified LDL in vascular smooth muscle cells.

Interaction of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) with arterial smooth muscle cells (SMC) is believed to play a key role in the development of atherosclerosis. Depending on the extent of oxidation, apolipoproteins and/or lipids in the particle may be modified and thus lead to different cellular responses (e.g.

Medullary thyroid carcinomas in cell culture--models for future therapies.

We report the successful establishment of seven human medullary thyroid carcinomas (MTC) as continuous cell lines. Characteristic features--such as the presence of neuroendocrine granules--and the positive immunoreactivity to antibodies to CT, CGRP, GRP, SRIF, 5-HT, NSE, PHE, LK2H10, ER and Pgr were followed throughout the cultivation. An overexpression of the antiapoptotic gene bcl-2 was detected in the cell lines.