Peripheral-nerve injury is a frequent cause of disability. Presently, no clinically effective neuroprotectors have been found. We have studied the NO-dependent expression of p53 in the neurons and glial cells of the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) of a rat's spinal cord, as well as the role of NO in the death of these cells under the conditions of axonal stress, using sciatic-nerve axotomy as a model.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn the present review, numerous experimental and theoretical data describing the properties of non-canonical DNA structures (NSs) are analyzed. NSs (G-quadruplex, i-motif, hairpin, and triplex) play an important role in epigenetic processes (including the genetic variability of viruses), are prone to energetically low-cost conformational transformations and can very effectively be used in the design of nanoscale devices. Numerous experimental data have been analyzed in connection with the so-called oligonucleotides-transformers (nucleotide sequences that able to fold not only into one, but also into several NSs).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSevere mechanical nerve injury such as axotomy can lead to neuron degeneration and death of surrounding glial cells. We showed that axotomy not only mechanically injures glial cells at the cutting location, but also induces necrosis or apoptosis of satellite glial cells remote from the transection site. Therefore, axon integrity is necessary for survival of surrounding glial cells.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEpigenetic processes play a critical role in melanoma development. However, little is known about proteins responsible for epigenetic transformations in melanoma cells. The processes in the peritumoral skin within the excision margin are almost unstudied.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCurr Cancer Drug Targets
October 2013
Malignant melanoma is an extremely aggressive and metastatic cancer, highly resistant to conventional treatment modalities. Understanding of fundamental mechanisms responsible for its genesis and progression is critical for development of successful chemotherapeutic treatment. It is becoming clear that melanoma results from complex changes in multiple signaling pathways that control cell proliferation and ability to evade the cell death processes.
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