Experimental evidence indicates that the primary structure of the β2-α2 loop region (residues 165-175) in mammalian prion proteins (PrP) influences the conversion from the cellular species (PrP(C)) to the β-sheet-rich aggregate. Here, we captured the transition of the β2-α2 loop from 310-helical turn to β turn by unbiased molecular dynamics simulations of the single-point mutant Y169G. Multiple...

Immunoglobulin A deficiency (IgAD) is the most common immunodeficiency, but the pathogenesis of most cases of IgAD is poorly understood. The gene and protein expression levels of members of the IgA subclasses in IgAD patients were analyzed by a reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR method that could differentiate between α1 and α2 gene expression. Three selective, 5 partial and 2 secondary IgAD patien...

In the present study, we aimed at investigating a heart rate variability (HRV) biomarker that could be associated with the severity of the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), which could be used for an early diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This was a cross-sectional observational study on 47 patients (age 36 ± 9.2 standard deviation) diagnosed with mild (23.4%), moderate (34%), or severe (4...

Dexmedetomidine is an α2-adrenoceptor agonist with sedative, anxiolytic, sympatholytic, and analgesic-sparing effects, and minimal depression of respiratory function. It is potent and highly selective for α2-receptors with an α2:α1 ratio of 1620:1. Hemodynamic effects, which include transient hypertension, bradycardia, and hypotension, result from the drug's peripheral vasoconstrictive and symp...

Glycine receptors (GlyRs) belong to the superfamily of pentameric cys-loop receptor-operated channels and are involved in numerous physiological functions, including movement, vision, and pain. In search for compounds performing subunit-specific modulation of GlyRs we studied action of ginkgolic acid, an abundant Ginkgo biloba product. Using patch-clamp recordings, we analyzed the effects of gi...

Platelets express the imidazoline (I)-receptor, I1 and I2, as well as the α2-adrenoceptor. Although dexmedetomidine, a selective α2-adrenoceptor agonist with some affinity for the I-receptor is expected to affect platelet function, the effects of dexmedetomidine on platelet functions remain unclear. In the present study, we investigated the effects of dexmedetomidine on human platelet functions...

Depressive disorders (DD) are common, and their prevalence is expected to rise over the next decade. linked significant morbidity mortality. The clinical conundrum of depressive lies in heterogeneity phenomenology etiology. Further, currently available antidepressants have several limitations, including a delayed onset action, limited efficacy, an unfavorable side effect profile. In this review...

Rationale GABAA receptors containing α2-subunits are highly represented in brain areas that are involved in motivation and reward, and have been associated with addiction to several drugs, including cocaine. We have shown previously that a deletion of the α2-subunit results in an absence of sensitisation to cocaine. Objective We investigated the reinforcing properties of cocaine in GABAA α2-sub...

Two lines of transgenic mice expressing mouse/elk and mouse/horse prion protein (PrP) hybrids, which both form a well-structured β2-α2 loop in the NMR structures at 20 °C termed rigid-loop cellular prion proteins (RL-PrP(C)), presented with accumulation of the aggregated scrapie form of PrP in brain tissue, and the mouse/elk hybrid has also been shown to develop a spontaneous transmissible spon...