OBJECTIVE Fluid shear stress plays a role in angiogenesis. Laminar shear stress (LS) promotes endothelial cell (EC) quiescence, whereas oscillatory shear stress (OS) promotes EC turnover and dysfunction, which could lead to pathological angiogenesis. We hypothesized that LS inhibits EC migration and tubule formation, 2 functions important in angiogenesis, by inhibiting the secretion of proangio...

Cathepsins, the lysosomal cysteine proteases, are involved in vascular remodeling and atherosclerosis. Genetic knockout of cathepsins S and K in mice has shown to reduce atherosclerosis, although the molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Because atherosclerosis preferentially occurs in arteries exposed to disturbed flow conditions, we hypothesized that shear stress would regulate cathepsin K exp...

Detonation Shock Dynamics (DSD), involved in an underwater explosion scenario is numerically simulated by in-house computer code, ‘DSSDYN’. The simulation based on Chapman-Jouguet (CJ) theory, formulated Arbitrary Lagrangian Eulerian frame work. Specifically, the propagation of detonation front with‘Burn Fraction Model’. classical burn fraction model improved for achieving better computational ...

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) significantly affects quality of life. We recently cloned synoviolin, a RING-type E3 ubiquitin ligase implicated in the endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation (ERAD) pathway. Synoviolin is highly expressed in rheumatoid synovial cells and may be involved in the pathogenesis of RA. Inhibition of synoviolin activity i...

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 23 (SCA23) is caused by missense mutations in prodynorphin, encoding the precursor protein for the opioid neuropeptides α-neoendorphin, Dynorphin (Dyn) A and Dyn B, leading to neurotoxic elevated mutant Dyn A levels. Dyn A acts on opioid receptors to reduce pain in the spinal cord, but its cerebellar function remains largely unknown. Increased concentration of or pro...

Dynorphin (Dyn) A and related opioid and nonopioid peptides were tested for their ability to produce motor effects in mice. Central (intracerebroventricular) administration of Dyn A in mice produced marked motor effects characterized by wild running, jumping, circling and/or barrel rolling with an ED50 value of 14.32 (95% confidence limits, 10.09-20.32) nmol/mouse. The order of potency of the v...

The utility of matrix-assisted laser desorption mass spectrometry for characterizing products of in vitro processing of synthetic dynorphin A (Dyn A) peptides in biologic matrices is described. A series of laser desorption matrices were tested for their response to Dyn A (1-6), Dyn A (1-7), Dyn A (1-8), Dyn A (1-9), Dyn A (1-l0), Dyn A (1-13), Dyn A (2-17), and Dyn A (1-17). α-Cyano-4-hydroxyci...

Antinociceptive actions and effects of intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) dynorphin-(1-13) (DYN) on morphine (MOR) analgesia and acute tolerance were studied in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Antinociceptive effect against hind paw pressure was produced by 30 micrograms of DYN, but not by 0.5-10 micrograms. Acetic acid writhing was inhibited dose-dependently by DYN at the doses of 2-30 micrograms, and...

To examine the processing of products of the dynorphin gene in the central nervous system, immunoreactive (ir) dynorphin (Dyn) A, Dyn B, Dyn A-(1-8), alpha- and beta-neo-endorphin (alpha- and beta-Neo) in rat brain and spinal cord were measured, using specific antisera after gel filtration and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Three peaks of Mr about 8, 4, and 2 kDa for ir-Dyn A an...

We compared effects on motor function of four peptides belonging to the dynorphin family--dynorphin-(1-17) (DYN-(1-17], dynorphin-(1-13) (DYN-(1-13], dynorphin-(1-8) (DYN-(1-8] and alpha-neo-endorphin (alpha NE). After intrathecal administration, each of these peptides produced dose-related, flaccid, hindlimb paralysis, with the order of potency being DYN-(1-17) greater than DYN-(1-13) greater ...