The aim of this study was to find out whether stimulated monocytes could trigger apoptosis of vascular endothelial cells. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) (EC) were co-cultured for 24 h and 48 h with monocytes isolated from peripheral blood (peripheral blood monocytes) or MonoMac6 cell line activated previously with proinflammatory cytokines. Real-time PCR was conducted to investi...

The c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase (JNK)/c-Jun and p53 pathways form distinct death-signaling modules in neurons that culminate in Bax-dependent apoptosis. To investigate whether this signaling autonomy is due to recruitment of particular BH3-only proteins, we searched for a toxic signal that would activate both pathways in the same set of neurons. We show that arsenite activates both the JNK/...

We present the first study that evaluates jaguar-puma interactions in the arid lands of northern Mexico, where jaguars have their northernmost breeding population and both predators are persecuted for livestock depredation. We tested whether jaguars are the dominant species in this unique ecosystem, where: (1) pumas outnumber jaguars, (2) pumas are better adapted to arid environments, and (3) j...

DNA-damaging chemotherapy is the backbone of cancer treatment, although it is not clear how such treatments kill tumor cells. In nontransformed lymphoid cells, the combined loss of 2 proapoptotic p53 target genes, Puma and Noxa, induces as much resistance to DNA damage as loss of p53 itself. In E -Myc lymphomas, however, lack ofbothPumaandNoxaresulted innogreater drug resistance than lack of Pu...

The physiological role of B cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) homology 3-only proteins has been investigated in mice lacking the individual genes identifying rate-limiting roles for Bim (Bcl-2-interacting mediator of cell death) and Puma (p53-up-regulated modulator of apoptosis) in apoptosis induction. The loss of Bim protects lymphocytes from apoptosis induced by cytokine deprivation and deregulated Ca+...

Tip60 is a multifunctional acetyltransferase involved in multiple cellular functions. Acetylation of p53 at K120 by Tip60 promotes p53-mediated apoptosis after DNA damage. We previous showed that Tip60 activity is induced by phosphorylation at T158 by p38. In this study, we investigated the role of p38-mediated Tip60 phosphorylation in p53-mediated, DNA damage-induced apoptosis. We found that D...

Previous reports have shown that low expression of p53 upregulated modulator of apoptosis (PUMA) and abnormal expression patterns of a number of miRNAs may be associated with poor prognosis in various types of human malignancies. As a member of the oncomiRs, miR-222 has been found to be upregulated in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). We hypothesized that there was an important relationship ...

Recent studies have shown that high miR-155 expression was associated with poor prognosis in patients with acute myelogeneous leukemia (AML). Furthermore, targeting miR-155 results in monocytic differentiation and apoptosis. However, the exact role and mechanisms of miR-155 in human AML remains speculative. HL-60 cells were treated with anti-miR-155 for 72 h. Cell growth and apoptosis in vitro ...

Large-scale ungulate migrations result in changes in prey availability for top predators and, as a consequence, can alter predator behavior. Migration may include entire populations of prey species, but often prey populations exhibit partial migration with some individuals remaining resident and others migrating. Interactions of migratory prey and predators have been documented in North America...

We report two complete foamy retrovirus (FV) genomes isolated from Puma concolor, a large cat native to the Americas. Due to high overall genetic relatedness to known feline foamy viruses (FFVs), we propose the name Puma concolor FFV (FFVPc). The data confirm that felines are infected with distinct but closely related FVs.