Sp1 mediates phorbol ester (PMA)-induced expression of membrane-bound guanylyl cyclase GC-A in human monocytic THP-1 cells.

Cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) is synthesized by two types of enzymes: particulate (membrane-bound) guanylyl cyclases (pGCs) and soluble (cytosolic) guanylyl cyclases (sGCs). sGCs are primarily activated by binding of nitric oxide to their prosthetic heme group while pGCs are activated by binding of peptide ligands to their extracellular domains. One of them, pGC type A (GC-A) is activated by atrial and brain natriuretic peptides (ANP and BNP, respectively).

Can proline-rich polypeptide complex mimic the effect of nerve growth factor?

Naturally occurring compounds that can act as prosurvival factors and neurite formation stimulants in the conditions of reduced neurotrophins production are important both in neuronal protection and therapy of neurodegenerative disorders. Therefore, the role of proline-rich polypeptide complex (PRP) and its nonapeptide fragment (NP) in the promotion of pheochromocytoma cell line (PC12) survival and neurite outgrowth pathway is presented. It was shown that PRP/NP did not affect the neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) at the transcriptional and protein level.

Phosphodiesterase 2 negatively regulates adenosine-induced transcription of the tyrosine hydroxylase gene in PC12 rat pheochromocytoma cells.

Adenosine induces expression of the tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) gene in PC12 cells. However, it is suggested that atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) inhibits expression of this gene. Using real-time PCR and luciferase reporter assays we found that ANP significantly decreases the adenosine-induced transcription of the TH gene.

Different effects of soluble and particulate guanylyl cyclases on expression of inflammatory cytokines in rat peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Inflammation involves the cooperation of various cells and biologically active molecules. An important intracellular messenger molecule participating in the regulation of the process is cyclic GMP (cGMP), which is synthesized by guanylyl cyclases (GCs). The GC family comprises cytosolic (soluble) and membrane-bound (particulate) enzymes.

Antibodies to 46-kDa retinal antigen in a patient with breast carcinoma and cancer-associated retinopathy.

Cancer-associated retinopathy (CAR) is a rare paraneoplastic syndrome usually associated with small-cell lung carcinoma and serum autoantibodies against recovering. We report the breast cancer woman with visual impairments and electrophysiological abnormalities characteristic of CAR. Her serum contained high-titer antibodies against alpha-enolase but not against other retinal proteins.