BACKGROUND Dupuytren's disease (DD) is a debilitating fibro-proliferative disorder of the hand characterized by the appearance of fibrotic lesions (nodules and cords) leading to flexion contractures of the fingers and loss of hand function. Although the molecular mechanism of DD is unknown, it has been suggested that transforming growth factor-beta2 (TGF-beta2) may play an important role in the...

nigella sativa (n. sativa), which belongs to the botanical family of ranunculaceae, is a widely used medicinal plant all over the world. n. sativa seeds and oil have been used in the treatment of different diseases. various studies on n. sativa have been carried out and a broad spectrum of its pharmacological actions have been established which include antioxidant, antidiabetic, anticancer, ant...

We investigated the mechanisms by which transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta2 inhibited prolactin mRNA expression in GH3 rat pituitary tumor cells. Maximal inhibition was observed with cells exposed to 5 ng/ml TGF-beta2 for 24 hr. Continuous presence of the hormone during the entire period was not necessary because exposure of cells to TGF-beta2 for 20 min was sufficient to trigger the same ex...

Most physiological effects of sigma1 receptor ligands are sensitive to pertussis toxin, suggesting a coupling with cell membrane-bound G proteins. However, the cloning of the sigma1 receptor has allowed the identification of an intracellular protein anchored on the endoplasmic reticulum. Here, we show, using the isolated adult guinea pig brainstem preparation, that activation of the sigma1 rece...

Plasma and urinary levels of beta2 microglobulin have been investigated in 21 patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Despite a normal renal glomerular function in all patients 50% of them had supranormal plasma beta2 microglobulin levels and 30% had a higher than normal urinary output of beta2 microglobulin generally related to the high plasma level. Plasma beta2 microglobulin level...

The beta2 integrins are important for transendothelial migration of leukocytes as well as for T-cell activation during antigen presentation. Despite abundant expression of beta2 integrins on antigen-presenting cells (APCs), their functional relevance for antigen presentation is completely unclear. We show here that dendritic cells (DCs) from CD18-deficient mice, which lack all functional beta2 ...

Transforming growth factor beta 2 (TGF-beta2) plays a critical role in growth, differentiation and cell death, but its function in the developing cerebellum is still uncertain. In this study we analyzed the effects of TGF-beta2 on ex vivo developing cerebellar slice cultures. Proliferation of granule cell precursors peaked ex vivo in the same developmental window as in vivo (P8-P14). Addition o...

Leukocyte integrins of the beta2 family are essential for immune cell-cell adhesion. In activated cells, beta2 integrins are phosphorylated on the cytoplasmic Thr758, leading to 14-3-3 protein recruitment to the beta2 integrin. The mutation of this phosphorylation site impairs cell adhesion, actin reorganization, and cell spreading. Thr758 is contained in a Thr triplet of beta2 that also mediat...

Cytosolic guanylyl cyclases (GTP pyrophosphate-lyase [cyclizing; EC 4.6.1.2]), primary receptors for nitric oxide (NO) generated by NO synthases, are obligate heterodimers consisting of an alpha and a beta subunit. The alpha1/beta1 form of guanylyl cyclase has the greatest activity and is considered the universal form. An isomer of the beta1 subunit, i.e., beta2, has been detected in the liver ...

Macrophages incubated with OVA in the presence of TGF-beta2 induce immune deviation in vivo (impaired delayed hypersensitivity and IgG2a Ab production) when injected into naive, syngeneic mice. OVA-specific TCR transgenic naive T cells (DO11.10 T cells) produce Th1-type cytokines when stimulated in vitro with OVA-pulsed peritoneal exudate cells (PEC), but if PEC are first treated with TGF-beta2...