Atopic dermatitis (AD) is an inflammatory skin disease triggered by a vicious circle between epidermal barrier alteration and immune system dysregulation. This can notably be initiated exposure of epidermis to interleukins (IL) 4 13 that alter keratinocyte phenotype through activation their IL-4Rα/IL-13Rα1 (type II) receptor. Expression IL-2Rγ/IL-4Rα I) receptor for IL-4 normally limited hemato...

Aim of the Study Pleiotropic effect of statins can modulate inflammation in septic shock. We tested the hypothesis whether statins can reduce mortality in septic shock. Patients and Methods We conducted a randomized double-blinded trial with treatment (40 mg dose of atorvastatin for 7 days) and control (placebo) arm in adult septic shock patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit. Primary (...

In vertebrates, three members of the d4 gene family code for proteins, which are believed to function as transcription factors and involved in regulation of various intracellular processes. One member of the family, ubi-d4/requiem is ubiquitously expressed gene and two other, neuro-d4 and cer-d4, are expressed predominantly in the neural tissues (Nucleic Acids Res. 20 (1992) 5579; Biochim. Biop...

Vinculin can interact with F-actin both in recruitment of actin filaments to the growing focal adhesions and also in capping of actin filaments to regulate actin dynamics. Using molecular dynamics, both interactions are simulated using different vinculin conformations. Vinculin is simulated either with only its vinculin tail domain (Vt), with all residues in its closed conformation, with all re...

The fourth segment of domain 4 (S4/D4) in Na+ channels is a voltage sensor especially implicated in channel inactivation. Although there has been evidence that S4/D4 moves externally during membrane depolarization, whether (and if so, how) the movement leads to conformational changes of the inactivation gate remains unknown. We added a positive charge just external to the outermost charged resi...

Repeated inhalation exposure to octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4) produces a reversible and dose-related hepatomegaly and proliferation of hepatic endoplasmic reticulum in rats. However, the effects of D4 on the expression of cytochrome P450 enzymes have not been evaluated. In the present study, the time course for changes in hepatic microsomal cytochrome P450 enzyme expression following repeat...

Dopamine is a retinal neuromodulator that has been implicated in many aspects of retinal physiology. Photoreceptor cells express dopamine D4 receptors that regulate cAMP metabolism. To assess the effects of dopamine on photoreceptor physiology, we examined the morphology, electrophysiology, and regulation of cAMP metabolism in mice with targeted disruption of the dopamine D4 receptor gene. Phot...

background: interferons with diffrent functions such as antiviral, antiproliferative and immunomodulatory actions are effctivemedications for a number of diseases. one of these new interferons (ifns) is interleukin-29 (il-29) belongs to the family of ifn-λ hasantiviral activity and its potent in accompanying with ifn-α in treatment of hcv infection has been evaluated (clinical trial phase ii).r...

We recently reported that angiotensin II (Ang II) induced IL-6 mRNA expression in cardiac fibroblasts, which played an important role in Ang II-induced cardiac hypertrophy in paracrine fashion. The present study investigated the regulatory mechanism of Ang II-induced IL-6 gene expression, focusing especially on reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated signaling in cardiac fibroblasts. Ang II incr...