MicroRNA profiling identifies miR-29 as a regulator of disease-associated pathways in experimental biliary atresia.

Biliary atresia (BA) is a pediatric liver disease of unknown underlying etiology, in which fibroinflammatory destruction of the extrahepatic biliary system leads to obstructive cholestasis. MicroRNAs are a class of short (18-23 nucleotide), noncoding RNA molecules, which act as negative regulators of target mRNA stability and translation. The importance of these molecules in normal and diseased liver has been demonstrated, but their potential role in the pathogenesis of BA has not been addressed.

Development and evaluation of a chromatographic procedure for partial purification of substance P with quantitation by an enzyme immunoassay.

We have developed a simple chromatographic procedure for the partial purification of substance P (SP) from acidified plasma and serum samples. We have evaluated a sensitive antigen competition enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for the quantitation of SP. The chromatographic procedure has recovery efficiencies ranging from 94.

Human monocytes and macrophages express substance P and neurokinin-1 receptor.

We present data demonstrating the gene expression of substance P and its receptor in human peripheral blood-isolated monocytes and macrophages. Using the RT-PCR assay, preprotachykinin-A (substance P) mRNA is detected in human peripheral blood-isolated monocytes and macrophages. Among the alpha, beta, and gamma transcripts of the substance P gene, only the beta and gamma transcripts are detectable in these cells.

Substance P as an immune modulator of anxiety.

Peripheral blood concentrations of the proinflammatory peptide substance P (SP) have been shown to increase in response to psychological anxiety in human subjects. In this study, we examined changes in SP levels in peripheral blood in response to the anxiety of a diagnostic medical procedure. The levels of SP were found to he higher in subjects with high initial anxiety as compared to subjects with low initial anxiety as measured on the Multiple Affect Adjective Checklist.

Substance P augments interleukin-10 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha release by human cord blood monocytes and macrophages.

We have investigated the effects of SP on the constitutive and/or lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced expression of interleukin-10 (IL-10) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) in both freshly isolated cord blood monocytes (FICBM) and cord blood monocyte-derived macrophages (CBMDM). The cells were treated with SP at various concentrations (10(-14) to 10(-6) M) in the presence or absence of LPS and culture supernatants were analyzed for IL-10 and TNF-alpha as measured by an enzyme immunosorbent assay (ELISA). FICBM and CBMDM treated with SP alone increased TNF-alpha secretion.