Objective(s): Umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (UCB-MSCs) are ideally suited for use in various cell-based therapies. We investigated a novel induction protocol (NIP) to improve the neuronal differentiation of human UCB-MSCs under appropriate conditions. Materials and Methods: This experimental study was performed in Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization (IBTO), Tehran, I...

In continuation of our investigation on bioactive molecules, the melanin promotion activity-guided fractionation of the methanolic extract of the bark of Crataeva nurvala, yielded two known triterpenoid derivatives, lupeol (1) and lupenone (2). the structure of the compounds were established by physical and spectral data (UV, Ir, 1H, 13c nMr and Mass). the compounds were shown potent melanin pr...

1. Methylxanthines (IBMX, caffeine, theophylline), which are known inhibitors of c-AMP phosphodiesterase inhibited reversibly progesterone-induced maturation of Xenopus oocyte. 2. The time course of protein phosphorylation during maturation stimulated by progesterone was analysed in Xenopus oocyte : protein phosphorylation increased around germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD). No quantitative chan...

Numerous studies have described neuronal differentiation of neural progenitor cells derived from fetal tissue in vitro, but the biochemical mechanisms underlying this process remain largely unknown. In the present study, the role of cAMP in promoting functional maturation of neuronal progenitor cells (NPCs) from the subventricular zone (SVZ) of rodent fetal brain was investigated. NPCs were ext...

OBJECTIVES Umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (UCB-MSCs) are ideally suited for use in various cell-based therapies. We investigated a novel induction protocol (NIP) to improve the neuronal differentiation of human UCB-MSCs under appropriate conditions. MATERIALS AND METHODS This experimental study was performed in Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization (IBTO), Tehran, Ira...

Human mesenchymal stem cells are primary multipotent cells capable of differentiating into several cell types including adipocytes when cultured under defined in vitro conditions. In the present study we investigated the role of cAMP signaling and its downstream effectors, protein kinase A (PKA) and exchange protein directly activated by cAMP (Epac) in adipocyte conversion of human mesenchymal ...

Colonic epithelial secretion is an important host defense mechanism. We examined whether a bout of colitis would produce long-lasting changes in epithelial function that persisted after resolution of mucosal inflammation. Colitis was induced in rats with intracolonic trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid. Six weeks later, colonic damage and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA expression and acti...

Nitrate assimilation in plants and related organisms is a highly regulated and conserved pathway in which the enzyme nitrate reductase (NR) occupies a central position. Although some progress has been made in understanding the regulation of the protein, transcriptional regulation of the NR gene (NIA1) is poorly understood. This work describes a mechanism for the ammonium-mediated repression of ...

Shakuyakukanzoto (Shao-Yao-Gan-Cao-Tang), a formulation of Japanese herbal (Kampo) medicines, is composed of Paeoniae Radix and Glycyrrhizae Radix. Effects of Shakuyakukanzoto and the ingredients on rat intestinal tract were examined. Shakuyakukanzoto (0.01 0.3 mg/ml) relaxed a carbachol (CCh, 0.3 μM) -induced contraction in a concentration-dependent manner. Both components (Paeoniae Radix and ...