Measuring the linear optical absorption coefficient by interferometry and the thermal lensing effect: a numerical analysis.

We report on a pump-probe thermal lensing method for measuring the linear absorption coefficient of liquids by using interferometry and numerical analysis. The method is based on interferograms generated when a localized photothermal effect is induced in the sample. The photothermal effect itself is induced by a pump beam impinging on a sample located on-axis of the probe beam, which is one of the paths of a Mach-Zehnder interferometer.

Thermal lensing approach based on parabolic approximation and Mach-Zehnder interferometer.

A thermal lensing approach based on parabolic approximation and Mach-Zehnder interferometer for measuring optical absorption and thermal diffusivity coefficients in pure solvents is described in this work. The approach combines the sensitivity of both thermal lensing methods and interferometry techniques. The photothermal effect is induced by a pump laser beam generating localized changes in the refractive index of the sample, which are observed as a shift in phase of the interference pattern.

Drosophila WASH is required for integrin-mediated cell adhesion, cell motility and lysosomal neutralization.

The Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein and SCAR homolog (WASH; also known as Washout in flies) is a conserved actin-nucleation-promoting factor controlling Arp2/3 complex activity in endosomal sorting and recycling. Previous studies have identified WASH as an essential regulator in Drosophila development. Here, we show that homozygous wash mutant flies are viable and fertile.

IRF5 and IRF8 modulate the CAL-1 human plasmacytoid dendritic cell line response following TLR9 ligation.

Synthetic oligonucleotides (ODNs) containing CpG motifs stimulate human plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) to produce type-1 interferons (IFNs) and proinflammatory cytokines. Previous studies demonstrated that interferon regulatory factors (IRFs) play a central role in mediating CpG-induced pDC activation. This work explores the inverse effects of IRF5 and IRF8 (also known as IFN consensus sequence-binding protein) on CpG-dependent gene expression in the human CAL-1 pDC cell line.

Nitric oxide-releasing prodrug triggers cancer cell death through deregulation of cellular redox balance.

JS-K is a nitric oxide (NO)-releasing prodrug of the O (2)-arylated diazeniumdiolate family that has demonstrated pronounced cytotoxicity and antitumor properties in a variety of cancer models both in vitro and in vivo. The current study of the metabolic actions of JS-K was undertaken to investigate mechanisms of its cytotoxicity. Consistent with model chemical reactions, the activating step in the metabolism of JS-K in the cell is the dearylation of the diazeniumdiolate by glutathione (GSH) via a nucleophilic aromatic substitution reaction.

IRF-5 and NF-κB p50 co-regulate IFN-β and IL-6 expression in TLR9-stimulated human plasmacytoid dendritic cells.

Synthetic oligonucleotides (ODN) expressing CpG motifs mimic the ability of bacterial DNA to trigger the innate immune system via TLR9. Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) make a critical contribution to the ensuing immune response. This work examines the induction of antiviral (IFN-β) and pro-inflammatory (IL-6) cytokines by CpG-stimulated human pDCs and the human CAL-1 pDC cell line.

Wnt4 induces nephronic tubules in metanephric mesenchyme by a non-canonical mechanism.

Wnt4 and β-catenin are both required for nephrogenesis, but studies using TCF-reporter mice suggest that canonical Wnt signaling is not activated in metanephric mesenchyme (MM) during its conversion to the epithelia of the nephron. To better define the role of Wnt signaling, we treated rat metanephric mesenchymal progenitors directly with recombinant Wnt proteins. These studies revealed that Wnt4 protein, which is required for nephron formation, induces tubule formation and differentiation markers Lim1 and E-cadherin in MM cells, but does not activate a TCF reporter or up regulate expression of canonical Wnt target gene Axin-2 and has little effect on the stabilization of β-catenin or phosphorylation of disheveled-2.

NSAIDs and cardiovascular disease: transducing human pharmacology results into clinical read-outs in the general population.

Traditional (t) non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and selective cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 inhibitors (coxibs) are important and efficacious drugs for the management of musculoskeletal symptoms. These drugs have both beneficial and adverse effects due to the inhibition of prostanoids. Although the tNSAID and coxib inhibition of COX-2-dependent prostaglandin (PG)E(2) production is effective in ameliorating symptoms of inflammation and pain, a small but consistent increased risk of myocardial infarction has been detected in association with their use.

Effects of hapten density on the induced antibody repertoire.

Small peptides and oligosaccharides are important antigens for the development of vaccines and the production of monoclonal antibodies. Because of their small size, peptides and oligosaccharides are non-immunogenic on their own and typically must be conjugated to a larger carrier protein to elicit an immune response. Selection of a suitable carrier protein, conjugation method, and hapten density are critical for generating an optimal immune response.

An array-based method to identify multivalent inhibitors.

Carbohydrate-protein interactions play a critical role in a variety of biological processes, and agonists/antagonists of these interactions are useful as biological probes and therapeutic agents. Most carbohydrate-binding proteins achieve tight binding through formation of a multivalent complex. Therefore, both ligand structure and presentation contribute to recognition.

Coherent anti-stokes Raman scattering microscopy: a biological review.

Microscopic imaging of cells and tissues are generated by the interaction of light with either the sample itself or contrast agents that label the sample. Most contrast agents, however, alter the cell in order to introduce molecular labels, complicating live cell imaging. The interaction of light from multiple laser sources has given rise to microscopy, based on Raman scattering or vibrational resonance, which demonstrates selectivity to specific chemical bonds while imaging unmodified live cells.

Wound-healing assay.

The wound-healing assay is simple, inexpensive, and one of the earliest developed methods to study directional cell migration in vitro. This method mimics cell migration during wound healing in vivo. The basic steps involve creating a "wound" in a cell monolayer, capturing the images at the beginning and at regular intervals during cell migration to close the wound, and comparing the images to quantify the migration rate of the cells.

14-3-3 regulation of cell spreading and migration requires a functional amphipathic groove.

The 14-3-3 proteins associate with many cellular proteins that participate in the regulation of various cellular events including apoptosis, the cell cycle, spreading, and migration. We have previously described that 14-3-3beta binds the beta1-integrin and overexpression of 14-3-3beta promoted increased cell spreading and migration (Han et al. [2001] Oncogene 20: 346-357).