A Systematic Bioinformatics Approach to Motif-Based Analysis of Human Locus Control Regions.

Locus control regions (LCRs), -acting, noncoding regulatory elements with strong transcription-enhancing activity, are conserved in sequence and organization, and exhibit strict gene-specific expression. LCRs have been reported and studied in several mammalian gene systems, signifying that they play an important role in eukaryotic gene expression control. Their highly regulated, stable, and precise levels of expression have made them a strong candidate for use in gene therapy vectors.

Dual PPARα/γ agonist saroglitazar improves liver histopathology and biochemistry in experimental NASH models.

Background & Aims: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) are common clinico-pathological conditions that affect millions of patients worldwide. In this study, the efficacy of saroglitazar, a novel PPARα/γ agonist, was assessed in models of NAFLD/NASH.

Methods & Results: HepG2 cells treated with palmitic acid (PA;0.

Evaluation of Cardioprotective Effect of 3,5,3'-Tri-iodo-L-thyronine in Isoproterenol-Induced Cardiotoxicity.

T(3) (3,5,3'-triiodothyronine) has drawn relatively little attention in relation to cardiovascular (CVS) diseases. The present study was designed to evaluate the cardioprotective action of T(3) in isoproterenol-(ISO-) induced cardiac toxicity. Female Wistar rats were exposed with ISO (100 mg/kg, body weight, subcutaneously) for 2 days at the interval of 24 h followed by T(3) (3 μg/kg, body weight, orally) treatment for 3 days.

Subtherapeutic dose of pioglitazone reduces expression of inflammatory adipokines in db/db mice.

Agonists of the thiazolidinedione class of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma exhibit both insulin-sensitizing and anti-inflammatory effects. We hypothesized that pioglitazone might be able to exert its anti-inflammatory properties at a lower dose than that required for its insulin-sensitizing effect. In order to investigate this hypothesis, we evaluated the effects of pioglitazone on inflammatory as well as metabolic biomarkers in serum and white adipose tissue (WAT) at 2 different doses.

Mutations associated with retinopathies alter mitogen-activated protein kinase-induced phosphorylation of neural retina leucine-zipper.

Purpose: Neural retina leucine-zipper (NRL), a member of the basic motif leucine zipper family of transcription factors, is preferentially expressed in rod photoreceptors of the mammalian retina. Mutations in NRL are associated with retinopathies; many of these are suggested to change phosphorylation status and alter NRL-mediated transactivation of rhodopsin promoter. The purpose of this study was to identify potential kinases responsible for the phosphorylation of NRL and determine if such kinase-dependent phosphorylation is altered in disease-associated NRL mutations.

Expression and characterization of Asp fI, an immunodominant allergen/antigen of A. fumigatus in insect cell.

Asp fI is a major allergen/antigen/cytotoxin of Aspergillus fumigatus and exhibits ribonuclease activity. This allergen plays a role in allergic and invasive Aspergillosis and reported as a major cytotoxin with ribonuclease activity. To express the protein in large quantity and to characterize the multifunctional nature of Asp fI, we have generated recombinant baculovirus by introducing the gene in pFastBac HTa expression vector and expressed in insect cell.