Disrupted ER-to-Golgi Trafficking Underlies Anti-HIV Drugs and Alcohol-Induced Cellular Stress and Hepatic Injury.

Unlabelled: Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and unfolded protein response (UPR) are involved in anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) drugs and alcohol-induced liver disease in a significant number of patients infected with HIV. However, the precise mechanism by which the drugs and alcohol cause ER stress remains elusive. We found that ritonavir-boosted lopinavir (RL) activated two canonical UPR branches without activation of the third canonical activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6) branch in either HepG2 cells or primary mouse hepatocytes.

Influence of age, gender, and race on nitric oxide release over acupuncture points-meridians.

This study examined the influence of age, gender and race on nitric oxide (NO) release over acupuncture points, meridian without acupoint, and non-meridian regions of the Pericardium (PC) and Bladder (BL) meridian as well as aging on LU meridian in 61 healthy subjects. Biocapture tubes were attached to the skin surface, and total nitrite and nitrate was biocaptured and quantified using chemiluminescence. In elder ages compared to adults, NO levels over the ventral forearm were significantly decreased over LU on radial regions but not altered over PC on medial regions.

Effects of combined alcohol and anti-HIV drugs on cellular stress responses in primary hepatocytes and hepatic stellate and kupffer cells.

Background: Certain anti-HIV drugs alone or in combination are often associated with liver damages, which are frequently worsened by alcohol consumption. We previously found an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress mechanism for the drug- and alcohol-induced hepatic injuries in animal models and in vitro hepatocytes. However, it is unknown whether anti-HIV drugs and alcohol induce similar cellular stress responses and injuries in liver nonparenchymal cells.

Altered methylation and expression of ER-associated degradation factors in long-term alcohol and constitutive ER stress-induced murine hepatic tumors.

Mortality from liver cancer in humans is increasingly attributable to heavy or long-term alcohol consumption. The mechanisms by which alcohol exerts its carcinogenic effect are not well understood. In this study, the role of alcohol-induced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response in liver cancer development was investigated using an animal model with a liver knockout (KO) of the chaperone BiP and under constitutive hepatic ER stress.

Biomimetic enzyme nanocomplexes and their use as antidotes and preventive measures for alcohol intoxication.

Organisms have sophisticated subcellular compartments containing enzymes that function in tandem. These confined compartments ensure effective chemical transformation and transport of molecules, and the elimination of toxic metabolic wastes. Creating functional enzyme complexes that are confined in a similar way remains challenging.

Association of cyclin D and estrogen receptor α36 with hepatocellular adenomas of female mice under chronic endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Background And Aims: Hepatocellular adenomas (HCAs) are benign tumors that can lead to medical complications. Chronic inflammation and mutations in β-catenin, hepatocyte nuclear factor 1α, or glycoprotein 130 are potential causes for human HCA. However, additional causes may exist due to heterogeneity of HCA.

Effects of electroacupuncture Zusanli (ST36) on food intake and expression of POMC and TRPV1 through afferents-medulla pathway in obese prone rats.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) ST36 on food intake and body weight in obese prone (OP) rats compared to obese resistant (OR) strain on a high fat diet. The influences of EA on mRNA levels of pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC), transient receptor potential vanilloid type-1 (TRPV1), and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) were also examined in the medulla regions and ST36 skin tissue.

Methods: Advanced EA ST36 was conducted in two sessions of 20 min separated by an 80 min interval for 7 days.

Infrared heat treatment reduces food intake and modifies expressions of TRPV3-POMC in the dorsal medulla of obesity prone rats.

Purpose: Infrared heat, a transient receptor potential vanilloid type-3 (TRPV3) sensitive stimulus, may have potential physiological effects beneficial to treating metabolic syndrome.

Materials And Methods: Obesity prone (OP) and obesity resistant (OR) rats were fed for seven days on a high-fat diet. Heat treated OP rats were exposed twice daily to infrared light for 20 min each, separated by 80 min of rest.

Relationship between anti-double-stranded DNA antibodies and exacerbation of renal disease in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objective: To examine the relationship between changes in anti-double-stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA) antibody levels and the risk of renal flare in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), using data from 2 randomized, controlled trials.

Methods: Analyses were based on 487 patients with SLE and a history of lupus nephritis who had an anti-dsDNA antibody titer >/=15 IU/ml at baseline, as measured by Farr assay. Results are presented for the combined population of patients, the placebo arms, and the drug treatment arms in which a dsDNA-based bioconjugate (abetimus sodium; LJP 394) was used.