In order to identify novel targets for the molecular therapy of gastric cancer (GC), we investigated the mRNA and protein expression of frizzled-2 (Fz2), a Wnt signaling pathway receptor. Reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification was utilized to determine the expression patterns of Fz genes in normal stomach and in the GC cell lines MKN45 and MKN74. Immunostaining was ...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The Kaposi sarcoma (KS)-associated herpesvirus GPCR (vGPCR) is a key molecule in the pathogenesis of KS, where it increases NF-κB gene expression and activates the NF-κB pathway. We investigated whether the less calcemic vitamin D analogue TX 527 inhibited the proliferation of endothelial cells transformed by vGPCR by modulation of the NF-κB pathway. EXPERIMENTAL APPROA...

A recombinant anti-CD25 immunotoxin, LMB-2, has shown clinical efficacy in hairy cell leukemia and T-cell neoplasms. Its activity in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) is inferior but might be improved if B-CLL cells expressed higher numbers of CD25 binding sites. It was recently reported that DSP30, a phosphorothioate CpG-oligodeoxynucleotide (CpG-ODN) induces immunogenicity of B-CLL ...

BACKGROUND The local anesthetic lidocaine can affect intra- and extra-cellular signaling pathways in both neuronal and non-neuronal cells, resulting in long-term modulation of biological functions, including cell growth and death. Indeed, lidocaine was shown to induce necrosis and apoptosis in vitro. While several studies have suggested that lidocaine-induced apoptosis is mitochondrial pathway-...

Introduction: Medial temporal sclerosis (MTS) is a form of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (mTLE). It is typically characterized by structural alterations in hippocampus (HC) and related mesial temporal lobe (MTL) network. Resting state functional connectivity (RSFC) is considered an ideal technique in quantifying the dysfunction and maladaptation in MTL network. It is well- dem...

Tetrazolium salts can be used for measuring the reducing activity of microbial cultures colorimetrically, because the reduced form of these redox indicators is conspicuously colored (B. Jambor, Tetrazolium Salze in der Biologie, G. Fischer, Jena, 1960; B. J. Liska et al., J. Dairy Sci. 41:776, 1958). In an actively growing culture, the reducing activity is proportional with the number of bacter...

PURPOSE MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenously expressed, small noncoding RNAs that inhibit gene expression by binding to target mRNAs. Recent studies have revealed that miRNAs function as tumor suppressors or oncogenes. In the present study, we investigated the role of miRNA-34b/c in uveal melanoma. METHODS Real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed to dete...

Cyanobacterial toxins, especially microcystins (MCs), are found in eutrophized waters throughout the world. Acute poisonings on animals and humans have been reported following MC exposure. Around 80 MCs variants have been isolated in surface waters worldwide so far. The toxicity of the most frequent MC congener, MC-LR, is well known; however, studies dealing with MC-RR and MC-YR are less abunda...

Aberrant expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) is involved in the development and progression of various types of cancers. In this study, we investigated the role of miR-331-3p in cell proliferation and the expression of keratinocyte differentiation markers of uterine cervical cancer cells. Moreover, we evaluated whether neuropilin 2 (NRP2) are putative target molecules that regulate the human papil...