Introduction: Beside its autonomic functions, the nucleus paragigantocellularis lateralis (LPGi) is involved in the descending pain modulation. 17β-Estradiol is a neuroactive steroid found in several brain areas such as LPGi. Intra-LPGi microinjection of 17β-estradiol can elicit the analgesic responses. 17β-Estradiol modulates nociception by binding to estrogenic receptors as wel...

Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system which its main characteristic is an inflammation and demyelination and subsequent, neural degeneration. Many studies have shown that inflammation causing neuronal demyelination. MS is the most common cause of chronic neurological disability in during youth which the prognosis is that can be death. Platelet activating fact...

We investigated the mechanism of beta-very low density lipoprotein (beta-VLDL)-induced foam cell formation derived from peritoneal macrophages from control mice and low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor-deficient mice to elucidate the role of the LDL receptor in this process. The LDL receptor appeared to be of major importance for beta-VLDL metabolism. Consequently, the accumulation of cholest...

The aim of the present study was to examine gene expression and protein concentrations of beta(1)- and beta(2)-adrenergic receptors in subcutaneous adipose tissue in obese subjects in response to weight loss. Eighteen obese subjects were studied during diet-induced weight loss. Beta-adrenergic receptor mRNA levels were quantified by reverse transcription-PCR-HPLC. Beta-adrenergic receptor prote...

Estrogen receptor-beta knockout mice become hypertensive as they age, and males have a higher blood pressure than females. We hypothesized that the absence of estrogen receptor-beta may contribute to development of cardiovascular dysfunction by modification of adrenergic responsiveness in the peripheral vasculature. Small femoral arteries (internal diameter <200 microm) were isolated from estro...

Functionally active gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) receptors consist of an alpha subunit required for ligand binding and signal transduction and a beta subunit required primarily for signaling. Although the receptor alpha chain has been well characterized, little is known about the specific role of the receptor beta chain in IFN-gamma signaling. Expression of the wild-type human IFN-gamma recepto...

Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) increased the phosphorylation of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor and inhibited the growth of A431 cells. Incubation with TGF-beta induced maximal EGF receptor phosphorylation to levels 1.5-fold higher than controls. Phosphorylation increased more prominently (4-5-fold) on tyrosine residues as determined by phosphoamino acid analysis and anti...

OBJECTIVE Abrupt increases in right ventricular afterload occur after cardiac transplantation and pulmonary artery banding, which can result in right ventricular hypertrophy and dilatation. Right ventricular dysfunction is also accompanied by beta-adrenergic receptor desensitization. We sought to determine whether selective right ventricular expression of a transgene encoding a beta-adrenergic ...