Internet in clinical research based on a pilot experience.

Computing has become an integral part of many disciplines nowadays, turning it into an evermore necessary working tool. Internet provides a fast and easy way to collect scientific data and is becoming a more and more effective and safe way to transmit data. It is also an efficient means for interaction and information sharing within a work group that provides the necessary flexibility.

Effects of 24,25(OH)2D3, 1,25(OH)2D3 and 25(OH)D3 on alkaline and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase activities in fetal rat calvaria.

The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, 24,25(OH)2D3, on alkaline phosphatase (AP) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) activities in fetal rat calvaria cultures. These actions were compared with those of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, 1,25(OH)2D3, and 25-hydroxyvitamin D3, 25(OH)D3, in similar experimental conditions. At 10 min, 30 min and at 24 h incubation time, 1,25(OH)2D3 (10(-10)M) and 25(OH)D3 (10(-7) M) produced a significant increase in AP and TRAP activities compared to control group (without vitamin D metabolites).

Mitochondrial alkaline phosphatase as an intracellular signal in the synthesis of 1,25(OH)2D3 and 24,25(OH)2D3 in LLC-PK1 cells.

In previous works we have found a mitochondrial alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity in LLC-PK1. The aim of this work has been to study the possible involvement of mitochondrial AP activity in the synthesis of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3) and 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (24,25(OH)2D3) from the substrate 25(OH)D3. Renal phenotype LLC-PK1 cells were incubated with 25(OH)D3 as substrate and treated with or without 1,25(OH)2D3, forskolin, 12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) and 1,25(OH)2D3 in conjunction with PMA.

Positioning atypical protein kinase C isoforms in the UV-induced apoptotic signaling cascade.

Recent studies have documented the involvement of the atypical protein kinase C (aPKC) isoforms in important cellular functions such as cell proliferation and survival. Exposure of cells to a genotoxic stimulus that induces apoptosis, such as UV irradiation, leads to a profound inhibition of the atypical PKC activity in vivo. In this study, we addressed the relationship between this phenomenon and different proteins involved in the apoptotic response.

The product of par-4, a gene induced during apoptosis, interacts selectively with the atypical isoforms of protein kinase C.

The atypical PKCs are involved in a number of important cellular functions, including cell proliferation. We report here that the product of the par-4 gene specifically interacts with the regulatory domains of zeta PKC and lambda/LPKC, which dramatically inhibits their enzymatic activity. This is particularly challenging, because expression of par-4 has been shown to correlate with growth inhibition and apoptosis.