Interictal spikes are electroencephalographic discharges that occur at or near brain regions that produce epileptic seizures. While their role in generating seizures is not well understood, spikes have profound effects on cognition and behaviour, depending on where and when they occur. We previously demonstrated that spiking areas of human neocortex show sustained MAPK activation in superficial cortical Layers I-III and are associated with microlesions in deeper cortical areas characterized by reduced neuronal nuclear protein staining and increased microglial infiltration.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTo make appropriate clinical decisions, clinicians consider many types of data from multiple sources to arrive at a diagnosis and plan. However, the current health systems have siloed data, making it challenging to develop information platforms that integrate this process into a single place for comprehensive clinical evaluation and research. INTUITION is a human brain integrative data system that facilitates multimodal data integration, unified storage, cohort selection, and analysis of multidisciplinary datasets.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNeurol Neuroimmunol Neuroinflamm
August 2014
Objective: To investigate the potential of 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α (8-iso-PGF2α) as a biomarker for disease activity and oxidative stress in the CSF of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).
Methods: The isoprostane 8-iso-PGF2α is an established biomarker for in vivo oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation. We measured CSF 8-isoPGF2α levels in 231 patients with MS (74 with relapsing-remitting MS, 67 with primary progressive MS, and 90 with secondary progressive MS [SPMS]) and 40 controls using a competition ELISA.
2-Aminoethyl methylphosphonate (2-AEMP), an analog of GABA, has been found to exhibit antagonist activity at GABA(A)-ρ1 (also known as ρ1 GABA(C)) receptors. The present study was undertaken to elucidate 2-AEMP's action and to test the activities of 2-AEMP analogs. Whole-cell patch-clamp techniques were used to record membrane currents in neuroblastoma cells stably transfected with human GABA(A)-ρ1 receptors.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFADP plays an integral role in the process of hemostasis by signaling through two platelet G-protein-coupled receptors, P2Y1 and P2Y12. The recent use of antagonists against these two receptors has contributed a substantial body of data characterizing the ADP signaling pathways in human platelets. Specifically, the results have indicated that although P2Y1 receptors are involved in the initiation of platelet aggregation, P2Y12 receptor activation appears to account for the bulk of the ADP-mediated effects.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe present study investigated G protein expression, localization, and functional coupling to thromboxane A(2) receptors (TPRs) during oligodendrocyte (OLG) development. It was found that as OLGs mature, the expression levels of G(q) increase while those of G(13) decrease. In contrast, the expression levels of G(s), G(o), and G(i) do not change significantly.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSince isoprostanes are thought to participate in the pathogenesis of thrombosis, presumably through their interaction with thromboxane receptors (TPRs), we examined the ability of 8-iso-PGF(2alpha) to bind/signal through TPRs. Using TPR expressing HEK cells, it was found that 8-iso-PGF(2alpha) mobilized calcium and bound TPRs with a dissociation constant (K(d)) of 57 nM. Interestingly, site-directed-mutagenesis revealed that 8-iso-PGF(2alpha) has a unique coordination profile with TPRs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe present work investigates the role of thromboxane A(2) (TXA(2)) receptors in the development of oligodendrocytes (OLGs). The results demonstrate that the proteins of the TXA(2) signaling pathway, i.e.
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