Inflammatory cytokines, interleukin 1beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha, potently stimulate rat mesangial cells to express and secrete group IIA phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)). Cytokine-induced up-regulation of PLA(2) has been blocked by inhibitors (antioxidants) of the transcription factor, nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB), suggesting a role for NF-kappaB in the regulation of group IIA PLA(2) ...

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES Lipoprotein associated phospholipase A 2 (Lp-PLA 2 ) is an important risk predictor of coronary artery disease (CAD). This study was aimed to evaluate Lp-PLA 2 activity and oxidized low density lipoprotein (oxLDL) in newly diagnosed patients of type 2 diabetes mellitus and to determine the correlation of Lp-PLA 2 activity with oxLDL and plasma glucose levels. METHODS B...

We investigated whether poly-L-arginine (PLA) enhances the paracellular permeability of the Caco-2 monolayer to hydrophilic macromolecules and clarified the disposition of tight junction (TJ) proteins. The transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) and fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-dextran (FD-4) permeation were determined after treatment with PLA. TJ proteins were visualized using immuno...

BACKGROUND Poly-lactic acid nanoparticles (PLA-NP) are a type of polymeric NP, frequently used as nanomedicines, which have advantages over metallic NP such as the ability to maintain therapeutic drug levels for sustained periods of time. Despite PLA-NP being considered biocompatible, data concerning alterations in cellular physiology are scarce. METHODS We conducted an extensive evaluation o...

Equilibrium dialysis was used to study the binding of two nonhydrolyzable, short chain phospholipid analogues to the secreted group IA phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)), which has been shown to contain several phospholipid binding sites that dramatically affect activity. This study provides new insight into how these activations occur. One analogue contained a phosphorylethanolamine (DiC(6)SNPE) head...

Fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder recognized in fragile X premutation carriers. Using Drosophila, we previously identified elongated non-coding CGG repeats in FMR1 allele as the pathogenic cause of FXTAS. Here, we use this same FXTAS Drosophila model to conduct a chemical screen that reveals small molecules that can ameliorate the to...

The unique region of the capsid protein VP1 (VP1u) of B19 virus (B19V) elicits a dominant immune response and has a phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)) activity required for the infection. Despite these properties, we have observed that the VP1u-PLA(2) motif occupies an internal position in the capsid. However, brief exposure to increasing temperatures induced a progressive accessibility of the PLA(2) ...

In recent years, atherosclerosis has become recognized as an inflammatory disease whose activity can be assessed by circulating biomarkers. Along with C-reactive protein (CRP), lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A(2) (Lp-PLA(2)) may now be considered as a biomarker with sufficient accumulated evidence to support its application in clinical practice. Lp-PLA(2) is especially appealing because o...