Calsenilin/DREAM/KChIP3, a neuronal Ca(2+)-binding protein, has multifunctions in nucleus and cytosol. Here, we identified CLN3 as a calsenilin-binding partner whose mutation or deletion is observed in Batten disease. In vitro binding and immunoprecipitation assays show that calsenilin interacts with the C-terminal region of CLN3 and the increase of Ca(2+) concentration in vitro and in cells ca...

Oxidative stress and free radical production have been implicated in Alzheimer's disease, where low levels of the antioxidant vitamin C (ascorbate) have been shown to be associated with the disease. In this study, neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells were treated with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of ascorbate in order to elucidate the mechanism(s) of protection against oxidative stress afforded by ...

Praziquantel (PZQ) is prescribed as a racemic mixture (racemic-PZQ, rac-PZQ), which is composed of (R)-PZQ and (S)-PZQ. In this work, the cytotoxicity of rac-PZQ and its two enantiomers (R)-PZQ and (S)-PZQ on eight cell lines (L-02, HepG2, prf-plc-5, SH-SY5Y, HUVEC, A549, HCT-15, Raw264.7) was evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphe-nyltetrazolium bromide and lactate dehydrogenase a...

Amyloid beta-peptide (Abeta) accumulation leads to neurodegeneration and Alzheimer disease; however, amyloid metabolism is a dynamic process and enzymic mechanisms exist for Abeta removal. Considerable controversy surrounds whether the intracellular domain of the amyloid precursor protein (AICD) regulates expression of the Abeta-degrading metalloprotease, neprilysin (NEP). By comparing two neur...

Ge-132 is a synthetic organic germanium that is used as a dietary supplement. The antioxidant activity of Ge-132 on cultured mammalian cells was investigated in this study. First, Ge-132 cytotoxicity on mammalian cultured cells was determined by measuring lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels. Ge-132 had no cytotoxic effect on three different cell lines. Second, the cell proliferative effect of Ge...

NNMT (nicotinamide N-methyltransferase, E.C. 2.1.1.1) catalyses the N-methylation of nicotinamide to 1-methylnicotinamide. NNMT expression is significantly elevated in a number of cancers, and we have previously demonstrated that NNMT expression is significantly increased in the brains of patients who have died of Parkinson's disease. To investigate the cellular effects of NNMT overexpression, ...

BACKGROUND Infections can aggravate the course of neurodegenerative diseases including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Mutations in the anti-oxidant enzyme Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase (EC 1.15.1.1, SOD1) are associated with familial ALS. Streptococcus pneumoniae, the most frequent respiratory pathogen, causes damage by the action of the cholesterol-binding virulence factor pneumolysin and b...

We have recently characterized a series of 3-amino-2-phenyl-propene (APP) derivatives as reversible inhibitors for the bovine adrenal chromaffin granule vesicular monoamine transporter (VMAT) that have been previously characterized as potent irreversible dopamine-beta-monooxygenase (DbetaM) and monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors. Halogen substitution on the 4'-position of the aromatic ring grad...

Telomeres, telomerase and tankyrase (TNKS) have an extremely important and special association with human cell aging and cancer. Telomerase activity is abnormally high in cancer cells and is accompanied by the overexpression of tankyrase 1 (TNKS1). TNKS1 is a positive regulator of telomerase activation and telomere extension in the human body, indicating that TNKS1 may be a possible therapeutic...

Aim. Cancer continues to pose a serious threat human health. Euphorbia plants are rich in phenolics, aromatic esters, steroids and several bioactive compounds. Studies have shown the presence of large number compounds E. echinus including flavonoids, proanthocyanins. Method. There it was investigated cytotoxic effects methanolic extract on K562, HL60, Ishikawa, Raji SH-SY5Y cells. Results. The ...