Cellular physiology and biochemistry : international journal of experimental cellular physiology, biochemistry, and pharmacology
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Cell. Physiol. Biochem. · Jan 2015
Anti-cancer effect of metabotropic glutamate receptor 1 inhibition in human glioma U87 cells: involvement of PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway.
Metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) are G-protein-coupled receptors that mediate neuronal excitability and synaptic plasticity in the central nervous system, and emerging evidence suggests a role of mGluRs in the biology of cancer. Previous studies showed that mGluR1 was a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of breast cancer and melanoma, but its role in human glioma has not been determined. ⋯ The remarkable efficiency of mGluR1 inhibition to induce cell death in U87 cells may find therapeutic application for the treatment of glioma patients.
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Cell. Physiol. Biochem. · Jan 2015
Role for HIF-1α and Downstream Pathways in Regulating Neuronal Injury after Intracerebral Hemorrhage in Diabetes.
HIF-1α is accumulated in the cellular nucleus and cytoplasm under conditions of oxygen deprivation and engaged in pathophysiologic changes of homeostasis by modulating the expression of several target genes. As an endogenous signaling protein, HIF-1α contributes to in neuroprotection, erythropoiesis, and apoptosis modulation. The purpose of this study was to examine the role played by HIF-1α in regulating neurological injury evoked by intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) through its downstream product, namely vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). In particular, we examined the effects of diabetic hyperglycemia on HIF-1α response in the processing of ICH. ⋯ HIF-1α activated by ICH likely plays a beneficial role via VEGF mechanisms and response of HIF-1α is largely impaired in diabetes. This has pharmacological implications to target specific HIF-1α and VEGF pathway for neuronal dysfunction and vulnerability related to ICH.
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Cell. Physiol. Biochem. · Jan 2015
Therapeutic Effects of Transplantation of As-MiR-937-Expressing Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Murine Model of Alzheimer's Disease.
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most common dementias among aged people, and is clinically characterized by progressive memory loss, behavioral and learning dysfunction and cognitive deficits. So far, this is no cure for AD. A therapeutic effect of transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into murine model of AD has been reported, but remains to be further improved. Brn-4 is a transcription factor that plays a critical role in neuronal development, whereas the effects of Brn-4 overexpression in transplanted MSCs on AD are unknown. ⋯ Overexpression of as-miR-937 in MSCs may substantially improve the therapeutic effects of MSCs on AD, possibly through augmenting Brn-4 levels in MSCs.
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Cell. Physiol. Biochem. · Jan 2015
Ketamine interferes with the proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells in the subventricular zone of neonatal rats.
Previous studies have shown ketamine can alter the proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells (NSCs) in vitro. However, these effects have not been entirely clarified in vivo in the subventricular zone (SVZ) of neonatal rats. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of ketamine on the proliferation and differentiation of NSCs in the SVZ of neonatal rats in vivo. ⋯ In the present study, it was demonstrated that ketamine could alter neurogenesis by inhibiting the proliferation of NSCs, suppressing their differentiation into astrocytes and promoting the neuronal differentiation of the NSCs in the SVZ of neonatal rats during a critical period of their neurodevelopment.