Pannexin-1 Channels Are Essential for Mast Cell Degranulation Triggered During Type I Hypersensitivity Reactions.

Mast cells (MCs) release pro-inflammatory mediators through a process called degranulation response. The latter may be induced by several conditions, including antigen recognition through immunoglobulin E (IgE) or "cross-linking," classically associated with Type I hypersensitivity reactions. Early in this reaction, Ca influx and subsequent increase of intracellular free Ca concentration are essential for MC degranulation.

Innexins: Expression, Regulation, and Functions.

The innexin (Inx) proteins form gap junction channels and non-junctional channels (named hemichannels) in invertebrates. These channels participate in cellular communication playing a relevant role in several physiological processes. Pioneer studies conducted mainly in worms and flies have shown that innexins participate in embryo development and behavior.

Ascorbate Attenuates Oxidative Stress and Increased Blood Pressure Induced by 2-(4-Hydroxyphenyl) Amino-1,4-naphthoquinone in Rats.

Quinone derivatives like 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl) amino-1,4-naphthoquinone (Q7) are used as antitumor agents usually associated with adverse effects on the cardiovascular system. The objective of this study was to evaluate the cardioprotective effect of ascorbate on Q7-induced cardiovascular response in Wistar rats. In this study, blood pressure, vascular reactivity, and intracellular calcium fluxes were evaluated in cardiomyocytes and the rat aorta.

Infection Induces Pannexin-1 Channel Opening in Cardiac Myocytes.

, the etiological agent of Chagas diseases, invades the cardiac tissue causing acute myocarditis and heart electrical disturbances. In invasion, the parasite induces [Ca] transients in the host cells, an essential phenomenon for invasion. To date, knowledge on the mechanism that elicits transients of [Ca] during the infection of cardiac myocytes has not been fully characterized.

Decreased cruzipain and gp85/trans-sialidase family protein expression contributes to loss of Trypanosoma cruzi trypomastigote virulence.

Two cell lines derived from a single Trypanosoma cruzi clone by long-term passaging generated a highly virulent (C8C3hvir) and a low virulent (C8C3lvir) cell line. The C8C3hvir cell line was highly infective and lethal to Balb/c mice, and the C8C3lvir cell line was three- to five-fold less infective to mouse cardiomyocytes than C8C3hvir. The highly virulent T.

Ecological and biogeographical inferences on two sympatric and enigmatic Andean cat species using genetic identification of faecal samples.

The carnivore community of the altiplano ecosystem of the high Andes, including the Andean mountain cat (Leopardus jacobita) and pampas cat (Leopardus colocolo), is one of the least studied in the world. We determined the origin of 186 carnivore samples (184 faeces and two skulls) collected above 3000 m above sea level in northern Chile, including 33 from the Andean mountain cat and 75 from the pampas cat using diagnostic molecular genetic sequence variation. We determined for the first time food habits, habitat and physiographic associations, and general patterns of molecular genetic variation of the Andean mountain cat and the pampas cat in Chile.