We showed previously that vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) increases prolactin (PRL) gene expression and secretion in turkey primary pituitary cells. We have now used 5’flanking deletions and mutations of the turkey PRL promoter fused to the luciferase (Luc) reporter gene in transient transfection assays to further characterize sequences involved in stimulation of PRL gene expression by VIP....

Karrikins are potent germination stimulants generated by the combustion of plant matter. Treatment of Arabidopsis with karrikins triggers a signaling process that is dependent upon a putative receptor protein KARRIKIN INSENSITIVE 2 (KAI2). KAI2 is a homolog of DWARF 14 (D14), the receptor for endogenous strigolactone hormones. Genetic analyses suggest that KAI2 also perceives endogenous signal(...

This study assessed the concept of whether delivery of magnetic nanobeads (MNBs)/adenoviral vectors (Ad)-encoded hVEGF gene (Ad(hVEGF)) could regenerate ischaemically damaged hearts in a rat acute myocardial infarction model under the control of an external magnetic field. Adenoviral vectors were conjugated to MNBs with the Sulfo-NHS-LC-Biotin linker. In vitro transduction efficacy of MNBs/Ad-e...

PURPOSE The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) plays an important role in the maintenance of the health and function of photoreceptors. Previous studies have shown that the RPE is also involved in the regulation of disc shedding, a process that is vital for photoreceptor health. This process has been shown to be under circadian control, although the mechanisms that control it are poorly understoo...

The growth phase-dependent activity profile of the alternate transcription factor sigma(B) and its effects on the expression of sar and agr were examined in three different Staphylococcus aureus strains by Northern blot analyses and by the use of reporter gene fusion experiments. Significant sigma(B) activity was detectable only in the clinical isolates MSSA1112 and Newman, carrying the wild-ty...

The anticancer effect of curcumin has been widely reported. However, whether curcumin can enhance the radiosensitivity of human oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remains to be elucidated. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of curcumin combined with radiation against OSCC. SAS cells were transfected with the luciferase gene (luc) and named SAS/luc. NF-κB/DNA binding acti...

Hypoxic regions within the tumor form due to imbalances between cell proliferation and angiogenesis; specifically, temporary closure or a reduced flow due to abnormal vasculature. They create environments where cancer cells acquire resistance to therapies. Therefore, the development of therapeutic approaches targeting the hypoxic cells is one of the most crucial challenges for cancer regression...

BACKGROUND: Suicide gene therapy employing the prodrug activating system Herpes simplex virus type 1 thymidine kinase (HSV-TK)/ ganciclovir (GCV) has proven to be effective in killing experimental brain tumors. In contrast, glioma patients treated with HSV-TK/ GCV did not show significant treatment benefit, most likely due to insufficient transgene delivery to tumor cells. Therefore, this study...

Prions are infectious proteins that cause fatal neurodegenerative diseases. Because astrocytic gliosis marked by the deposition of fibrils composed of GFAP is a prominent feature of prion disease, we asked whether GFAP might be used as a surrogate marker for prions. To interrogate this posit, we inoculated prions into transgenic (Tg) mice expressing luciferase (luc) under the GFAP gene (Gfap) p...

Despite their critical function as APCs for primary immune responses, dendritic cells (DC) and Langerhans cells (LC) have been rarely used as targets of gene-based manipulation because well-defined regulatory elements controlling LC/DC-specific expression have not been identified. Previously, we identified dectin-2, a C-type lectin receptor expressed selectively by LC-like XS cell lines and by ...