The Lipoprotein Profile Evaluated by 1H-NMR Improves the Performance of Genetic Testing in Familial Hypercholesterolemia.

Background: The familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) diagnosis is based on clinical and genetic criteria. A relevant proportion of FH patients fulfilling the criteria for definite FH have negative genetic testing. Increasing the identification of true genetic-based FH is a clinical challenge.

Engineering and utilization of reporter cell lines for cell-based assays of transmembrane receptors.

Transmembrane receptors, a subset of integral membrane proteins, are the receivers that transduce an extracellular chemical message into an intracellular response. Accordingly, these proteins are of particular interest in the scientific community and are probably best studied as part of a cellular system. Herein, we detail the engineering of a fluorescent and bioluminescent reporter cell line for a transmembrane receptor and how to employ it in a directed evolution screen that identifies peptide regulators of receptor activity.

Protein engineering methods applied to membrane protein targets.

Genes encoding membrane proteins have been estimated to comprise as much as 30% of the human genome. Among these membrane, proteins are a large number of signaling receptors, transporters, ion channels and enzymes that are vital to cellular regulation, metabolism and homeostasis. While many membrane proteins are considered high-priority targets for drug design, there is a dearth of structural and biochemical information on them.

Evaluation of myocyte proliferation in alcoholic cardiomyopathy: telomerase enzyme activity (TERT) compared with Ki-67 expression.

Aims: Although the human heart was classically considered a terminal organ, recent studies have reported a myocyte proliferation response versus some aggressions. Excessive ethanol consumption induces development of cardiomyopathy (CMP) through myocyte apoptosis. We evaluated myocyte proliferation response in the heart of chronic alcoholic donors with telomerase activity (telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT)) compared with Ki-67 nuclear expression.

Increased myostatin activity and decreased myocyte proliferation in chronic alcoholic cardiomyopathy.

Background: Apoptosis mediates in alcohol-induced heart damage leading to cardiomyopathy (CMP). Myocyte proliferation may compensate for myocyte loss. Myostatin is upregulated after cardiac damage and by alcohol consumption thereby decreasing myocyte renewal.