Vitamin A Status Modulates Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition in the Lung: The Role of Furin.

Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) induced TGF-β hyperactivation and reduced expression of cell adhesion proteins in the lung, suggesting that the disruption of retinoic acid (RA) signaling leads to epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). To elucidate the role of lung vitamin A status in EMT, several EMT markers and the expression of the proprotein convertase furin, which activates TGF-β, were analyzed in two experimental models. Our in vivo model included control rats, VAD rats, and both control rats and VAD rats, treated with RA.

Role of Vitamin A in Mammary Gland Development and Lactation.

Vitamin A (all--retinol), its active derivatives retinal and retinoic acid, and their synthetic analogues constitute the group of retinoids. It is obtained from diet either as preformed vitamin A or as carotenoids. Retinal plays a biological role in vision, but most of the effects of vitamin A are exerted by retinoic acid, which binds to nuclear receptors and regulates gene transcription.

Time course of memory formation for an appetitive, one-trial, water-reward task in day-old chicks.

Researchers studying learning and memory in the day-old chick have developed a one-trial taste avoidance learning task, in which a chick pecks a bead coated with an aversive-tasting liquid such as methylanthranilate. The current study examined, in two experiments, whether chicks could demonstrate learning of an appetitive version of the one-trial task, and how long this memory might last. The results demonstrate that chicks show significantly decreased latencies to peck a test bead similar to that pecked at training coated with water, and that this memory lasted for at least 6 h after training.

Vitamin A Deficiency and the Lung.

Vitamin A (all--retinol) is a fat-soluble micronutrient which together with its natural derivatives and synthetic analogues constitutes the group of retinoids. They are involved in a wide range of physiological processes such as embryonic development, vision, immunity and cellular differentiation and proliferation. Retinoic acid (RA) is the main active form of vitamin A and multiple genes respond to RA signalling through transcriptional and non-transcriptional mechanisms.

Amelioration of scopolamine-induced amnesia by phosphatidylserine and curcumin in the day-old chick.

In the one-trial taste-avoidance task in day-old chicks, acetylcholine receptor activation has been shown to be important for memory formation. Injection of scopolamine produces amnesia, which appears to be very similar in type to that of Alzheimer's disease, which is correlated with low levels of acetylcholine in the brain. Traditional pharmacological treatments of Alzheimer's disease, such as cholinesterase inhibitors and glutamate receptor blockers, improve memory and delay the onset of impairments in memory compared with placebo controls.

Discrimination of shape and size sues by day-old chicks in two one-trial learning tasks.

The ability of day-old chicks (Gallus gallus domesticus) to discriminate between the shape and size of beads was investigated in two one-trial tasks, taste avoidance and sickness-conditioned learning. Previous studies determined that color is a critical classification cue for conditioned stimuli in these tasks. In taste avoidance learning, a chick pecks a bead coated with a bitter substance.

Memantine improves observational learning in day-old chicks.

Evidence of observational learning (social learning) is present in many species. One such task is the one-trial taste-avoidance task, in which Actor chicks peck a bead coated with an aversant substance. Observer chicks learn to avoid beads that are similar in appearance to the one presented to the Actors.

Vitamin a deficiency and alterations in the extracellular matrix.

Vitamin A or retinol which is the natural precursor of several biologically active metabolites can be considered the most multifunctional vitamin in mammals. Its deficiency is currently, along with protein malnutrition, the most serious and common nutritional disorder worldwide. It is necessary for normal embryonic development and postnatal tissue homeostasis, and exerts important effects on cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis.

Gambling with our health: smoke-free policy would not reduce tribal casino patronage.

Background: Tribal sovereignty exempts tribal casinos from statewide smoking bans.

Purpose: To conduct a tribally-led assessment to identify the characteristics of casino patrons at Lake of the Torches Resort Casino in Lac du Flambeau WI and their preferences for a smoke-free casino.

Methods: A survey was administered from April to August 2011 to a stratified random sample of 957 members of the casino players club to assess their preferences for a smoke-free casino.

Vitamin A deficiency disturbs collagen IV and laminin composition and decreases matrix metalloproteinase concentrations in rat lung. Partial reversibility by retinoic acid.

Vitamin A is essential for lung development and pulmonary cell differentiation. Its deficiency leads to altered lung structure and function and to basement membrane architecture and composition disturbances. Previously, we showed that lack of retinoids thickens the alveolar basement membrane and increases collagen IV, which are reversed by retinoic acid, the main biologically active vitamin A form.

Vitamin A deficiency increases protein catabolism and induces urea cycle enzymes in rats.

Chronic vitamin A deficiency induces a substantial delay in the rates of weight and height gain in both humans and experimental animals. This effect has been associated with an impaired nutrient metabolism and loss of body protein. Therefore, we analyzed the effect of vitamin A deficiency on endogenous proteolysis and nitrogen metabolism and its reversibility with all-trans retinoic acid (RA).

Memantine ameliorates scopolamine-induced amnesia in chicks trained on taste-avoidance learning.

In day-old chicks trained on the one-trial taste-avoidance task, activation of NMDA receptors by glutamate is particularly important in the initial stages of memory consolidation. In addition, acetylcholine receptor activation has been shown to be a necessary component of memory formation for this task because injection of scopolamine produces amnesia. Memantine, a non-competitive NMDA receptor antagonist, improves memory formation under certain impairing circumstances, despite inhibiting the activation of NMDA receptors.

Memantine improves memory for taste-avoidance learning in day-old chicks exposed to isolation stress.

Activation of NMDA receptors by glutamate is particularly important in the initial stages of memory consolidation. Memantine, a noncompetitive NMDA receptor antagonist, ameliorates memory impairment under certain circumstances, despite blocking the activation of NMDA receptors. The present experiments tested the hypothesis that memantine can improve memory deficits induced by isolation stress in day-old chicks (Gallus gallus domesticus) trained in a one-trial taste-avoidance task.

Vitamin A deficiency alters rat lung alveolar basement membrane: reversibility by retinoic acid.

Vitamin A is essential for lung development and pulmonary cell differentiation and its deficiency results in alterations of lung structure and function. Basement membranes (BMs) are also involved in those processes, and retinoic acid, the main biologically active form of vitamin A, influences the expression of extracellular matrix macromolecules. Therefore, we have analyzed the ultrastructure and collagen content of lung alveolar BM in growing rats deficient in vitamin A and the recovering effect of all-trans retinoic acid.

Vitamin E deficiency induces liver nuclear factor-kappaB DNA-binding activity and changes in related genes.

The biological functions of vitamin E have been classically attributed to its property as a potent inhibitor of lipid peroxidation in cellular membranes. However, in 1991, Azzi's group first described that alpha-tocopherol inhibits smooth muscle cell proliferation in a protein kinase C (PKC)-dependent way, demonstrating a non-antioxidant cell signalling function for vitamin E. More recently, the capacity of alpha-tocopherol to modulate gene expression with the implication of different transcription factors, beyond its antioxidant properties, has also been established.

Weaning induces NOS-2 expression through NF-kappaB modulation in the lactating mammary gland: importance of GSH.

At the end of lactation the mammary gland undergoes involution, a process characterized by apoptosis of secretory cells and tissue remodelling. To gain insight into this process, we analysed the gene expression profile by oligonucleotide microarrays during lactation and after forced weaning. Up-regulation of inflammatory mediators and acute-phase response genes during weaning was found.

Vitamin A deficiency alters the structure and collagen IV composition of rat renal basement membranes.

Retinoids can modulate the expression of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins with variable results depending on other contributing factors. Because changes in these proteins may alter the composition and impair the function of specialized ECM structures such as basement membranes (BMs), we studied the effects of vitamin A deficiency on renal BMs during the growing period. Newborn male rats were fed a vitamin A-deficient (VAD) diet for 50 d.

Inhibition of liver trans-sulphuration pathway by propargylglycine mimics gene expression changes found in the mammary gland of weaned lactating rats: role of glutathione.

In the lactating mammary gland, weaning produces mitochondrial cytochrome c release and nuclear DNA fragmentation, as determined by gel electrophoresis. This is followed by a significant decrease in lactation. Weaning for 2 h produces an early induction of the tumour suppressor/transcription factor p53, whereas the oncoprotein c-Jun and c-Jun N-terminal kinase are elevated after 24 h of weaning when compared with controls.

In vivo studies of altered expression patterns of p53 and proliferative control genes in chronic vitamin A deficiency and hypervitaminosis.

Several clinical trials have revealed that individuals who were given beta-carotene and vitamin A did not have a reduced risk of cancer compared to those given placebo; rather, vitamin A could actually have caused an adverse effect in the lungs of smokers [Omenn, G.S., Goodman, G.