The AFD-expressed SRTX-1 GPCR does not contribute to AFD thermosensory functions.

Temperature experience-regulated gene expression changes have been shown to underlie long-term adaptation of the response threshold of the AFD thermosensory neuron pair, and contribute to thermotaxis behavioral plasticity in . We previously showed that the SRTX-1 GPCR is expressed primarily in AFD and is localized to their sensory endings. Here we find that SRTX-1 levels are regulated by the animal's temperature experience.

1,3-Propanediol binds inside the water-conducting pore of aquaporin 4: Does this efficacious inhibitor have sufficient potency?

Among the thirteen types of water channel proteins, aquaporins (AQPs), which play various essential roles in human physiology, AQP4 is richly expressed in cells of the central nervous system and implicated in pathological conditions such as brain edema. Therefore, researchers have been looking for ways to inhibit AQP4's water-conducting function. Many small molecules have been investigated for their interactions with the residues that form the AQP4 channel entry vestibule on the extracellular side and their interruption of waters entering into the conducting pore.

1,3-propanediol binds deep inside the channel to inhibit water permeation through aquaporins.

Aquaporins and aquaglyceroporins (AQPs) are membrane channel proteins responsible for transport of water and for transport of glycerol in addition to water across the cell membrane, respectively. They are expressed throughout the human body and also in other forms of life. Inhibitors of human AQPs have been sought for therapeutic treatment for various medical conditions including hypertension, refractory edema, neurotoxic brain edema, and so forth.

Genistein down-regulates the constitutive activation of nuclear factor-kappaB in human multiple myeloma cells, leading to suppression of proliferation and induction of apoptosis.

Because of the central role of transcription factor nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) in cell survival and proliferation in human multiple myeloma, the possibility of using it as a target for myeloma treatment was explored using genistein, an agent known to have very little or no toxicity in humans. It was found that NF-kappaB was constitutively active in two human myeloma cell lines examined and that genistein, a chemopreventive agent, down-regulated NF-kappaB in two cell lines as indicated by the electrophoretic mobility gel shift assay and prevented the nuclear retention of p65 as shown by immunocytochemistry. Two myeloma cell lines showed constitutively active Akt phosphorylation.

Circulating endothelial progenitor cells in multiple myeloma: implications and significance.

Angiogenesis governs the progression of multiple myeloma (MM). Circulating endothelial cells (CECs) contribute to angiogenesis and comprise mature ECs and endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs). The present study sought to characterize CECs and their relation to disease activity and therapeutic response in 31 consecutive patients with MM.