Hepatoprotective role of Sestrin2 against chronic ER stress.

Upon prolonged endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, cells attenuate protein translation to prevent accumulation of unfolded proteins. Here we show that Sestrin2 is critical for this process. Sestrin2 expression is induced by an ER stress-activated transcription factor CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein beta (c/EBPβ).

Sestrin2 inhibits uncoupling protein 1 expression through suppressing reactive oxygen species.

Uncoupling protein 1 (Ucp1), which is localized in the mitochondrial inner membrane of mammalian brown adipose tissue (BAT), generates heat by uncoupling oxidative phosphorylation. Upon cold exposure or nutritional abundance, sympathetic neurons stimulate BAT to express Ucp1 to induce energy dissipation and thermogenesis. Accordingly, increased Ucp1 expression reduces obesity in mice and is correlated with leanness in humans.

Therapeutic effects of hepatocyte growth factor-overexpressing human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells on liver fibrosis in rats.

Fibrosis is a common end stage for a variety of liver diseases, including most chronic liver diseases, and results from an imbalance between collagen deposition and degradation. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have the ability to migrate into fibrotic livers and differentiate into hepatocytes. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) has potent anti-apoptotic and mitogenic effects on hepatocytes during liver injury and plays an essential role in the development and regeneration of the liver.

Different isoforms of apolipoprotein AI present heterologous post-translational expression in HIV infected patients.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is rapidly becoming a global health concern. Proteomics technology was employed to examine HIV infected plasma samples in an attempt to identify disease-associated proteins. By comparison with normal and HIV positive plasma samples, at least eight proteins were significantly changed in HIV infected plasma.

Heterogeneity of capillary endothelial cells for basic fibroblast growth factor-induced paracrine signaling.

In this study, the authors isolated morphologically different capillary endothelial cells, designated as BCE-1 and BCE-2 cells, from bovine adrenal cortex. By a series of experiments involving proliferation, migration, and tubular-like structure formation assays, the authors found that the two BCE clones showed a clearly different response to basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). Similar to these results, the ERK-1/2 in the BCE-1 cells was phosphorylated by bFGF or vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), whereas that of the BCE-2 cells was phosphorylated only by VEGF.