Influences of genetic variants in interleukin-15 gene and serum interleukin-15 levels on coronary heart disease

Interleukin-15 (IL-15) is a potent proinflammatory cytokine that is now considered a key component of atherosclerosis. Proinflammatory gene polymorphisms lead to variations in the production and level of the proteins. In light of these findings, we hypothesized that variations in the gene coding for IL-15 influence the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) by modulating the IL-15 levels. To test this hypothesis, we examined 5 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in IL-15 gene and IL-15 levels in 102 patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), 102 patients with chronic ischemic stable CHD and 162 healthy control subjects. This study is the first report showing the influences of IL-15 gene variants and IL-15 levels on CHD. The five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the IL-15 gene, G367A, C267T, A14035T, C13687A, and A10504G were carried out by polymerase chain reaction/restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR/RFLP). Serum IL-15 levels were significantly higher in both acute and chronic patients than in controls. Genetic variants of IL-15 gene and IL-15 levels were associated with CHD. In conclusion, our study supports the hypothesis that genetic variation in IL-15 gene and IL-15 levels influence the risk of CHD. Further studies are needed to confirm our hypothesis.     

Population-response model for vibrotactile spatial summation

A computational model based on previous physiological and psychophysical data is presented for the human Pacinian (P) psychophysical channel. The model can predict the probability of detection in simple psychophysical tasks, and hence psychometric functions and thresholds. The model simulates stimulating variable and fixed glabrous skin sites with different-sized contactors and includes spatial variation of monkey P-fiber sensitivities. Therefore, it is especially suitable for studying spatial summation, i.e. the improvement of threshold with increasing contactor area. Selective contributions of neural integration (n.i.) and probability summation (p.s.) are also incorporated into the model. Model predictions are compared to psychophysical results of Gescheider et al. (). The performance of the model regarding the effects of contactor size is very good. In addition to predicting approximately 3?dB improvement of thresholds when the contactor area is doubled, the model also reveals nonlinear contributions of p.s. and n.i. Furthermore, the model asserts that thresholds are largely governed by neural integration when small contactors are used. These and other findings discussed in the article show that the presented model is a helpful tool for formulating testable hypotheses. Although the model can also simulate some temporal summation effects, simulation results do not conform well to previous data on temporal response properties. Thus, the model needs to be refined in that respect.     

Prediction of optimal folding routes of proteins that satisfy the principle of lowest entropy loss: dynamic contact maps and optimal control

An optimization model is introduced in which proteins try to evade high energy regions of the folding landscape, and prefer low entropy loss routes during folding. We make use of the framework of optimal control whose convenient solution provides practical and useful insight into the sequence of events during folding. We assume that the native state is available. As the protein folds, it makes different set of contacts at different folding steps. The dynamic contact map is constructed from these contacts. The topology of the dynamic contact map changes during the course of folding and this information is utilized in the dynamic optimization model. The solution is obtained using the optimal control theory. We show that the optimal solution can be cast into the form of a Gaussian Network that governs the optimal folding dynamics. Simulation results on three examples (CI2, Sso7d and Villin) show that folding starts by the formation of local clusters. Non-local clusters generally require the formation of several local clusters. Non-local clusters form cooperatively and not sequentially. We also observe that the optimal controller prefers "zipping" or small loop closure steps during folding. The folding routes predicted by the proposed method bear strong resemblance to the results in the literature.     

Effects of Chronic Light/Dark Cycle on Iron Zinc and Copper Levels in Different Brain Regions of Rats

In this study, we aimed to investigate whether chronic shift in light/dark cycle alters brain trace element concentrations. For this purpose, 20 male Wistar albino adult rats were weighed and randomly divided into three groups. The first group (n?=?6) was the control and had been subjected to 12/12-h light/dark cycle for 30?days. The second group (n?=?7) was subjected to 6/18-h light/dark cycle for 15?days, and the third group (n?=?7) was also subjected to 6/18-h light/dark cycle for 15?days and then returned to normal 12/12-h light/dark cycle for 15?days. When light/dark cycle protocols were completed, tissue specimens of the frontal lobe, temporal lobe, and brain stem were collected. Iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu) concentrations of the frontal lobe, temporal lobe, and brain stem were determined by an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. When compared with controls, Fe levels of the temporal lobe significantly increased in 6/18-h light/dark cycle group (p?相似文献   

Allyl isothiocyanate attenuates oxidative stress and inflammation by modulating Nrf2/HO-1 and NF-κB pathways in traumatic brain injury in mice

Molecular Biology Reports - Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in young adults and children in the industrialized countries; however, there are presently...     

Phylogenetic relationships of the populations of Iranolacerta brandtii (de Filippi, 1863) (Squamata: Lacertidae) recently found in Eastern Anatolia,Turkey

The Persian Lizard, Iranolacerta brandtii, was until recently considered to be restricted to north-western Iran (Azerbaijan and Esfahan provinces). However, two recent studies have revealed the existence of populations in Eastern Anatolia, extending the range of this species for about 230?km westwards. The fragmented distribution of this species has been considered to be a consequence of the climatic oscillations during the Pleistocene and Holocene, which created events of alternating contact and isolation of populations in distinct glacial refugia. According to our obtained genealogy derived from three mitochondrial fragments (12S rRNA, 16S rRNA and cytb), the Turkish specimens cluster together but form an independent clade, sister to the individuals from Tabriz in Iran. The separation of these two clades is concurrent with the cladogenesis between the Esfahan and Ardabil clades, estimated to have taken place during the late Holocene.     

Synthesis,Biological Activity Evaluation and Molecular Docking of Imidazole Derivatives Possessing Hydrazone Moiety

In an attempt to identify potential active anticancer agents with low cytotoxic properties and CA inhibitors, a new series of hybrid compounds incorporating imidazole ring and hydrazone moiety as part of their structure were synthesized by aza-Michael addition reaction followed by intramolecular cyclization. The structure of synthesized compounds was elucidated using various spectral techniques. Synthesized compounds were evaluated for their in vitro anticancer (prostate cell lines; PC3) and CA inhibitory (hCA I and hCA II) activity. Among them, some compound displayed remarkable anticancer activity and CA inhibitory activity with K_i values in range of 17.53±7.19–150.50±68.87 nM against cytosolic hCA I isoform associated with epilepsy, and 28.82±14.26–153.27±55.80 nM against dominant cytosolic hCA II isoforms associated with glaucoma. Furthermore, the theoretical parameters of the bioactive molecules were calculated to establish their drug-likeness qualities. The proteins used for the calculations are prostate cancer protein (PDB ID: 3RUK and 6XXP). ADME/T analysis was carried out to examine the drug properties of the studied molecules.     

Root hairs are the most important root trait for rhizosheath formation of barley (Hordeum vulgare), maize (Zea mays) and Lotus japonicus (Gifu)

Background and AimsRhizosheaths are defined as the soil adhering to the root system after it is extracted from the ground. Root hairs and mucilage (root exudates) are key root traits involved in rhizosheath formation, but to better understand the mechanisms involved their relative contributions should be distinguished.MethodsThe ability of three species [barley (Hordeum vulgare), maize (Zea mays) and Lotus japonicus (Gifu)] to form a rhizosheath in a sandy loam soil was compared with that of their root-hairless mutants [bald root barley (brb), maize root hairless 3 (rth3) and root hairless 1 (Ljrhl1)]. Root hair traits (length and density) of wild-type (WT) barley and maize were compared along with exudate adhesiveness of both barley and maize genotypes. Furthermore, root hair traits and exudate adhesiveness from different root types (axile versus lateral) were compared within the cereal species.Key ResultsPer unit root length, rhizosheath size diminished in the order of barley > L. japonicus > maize in WT plants. Root hairs significantly increased rhizosheath formation of all species (3.9-, 3.2- and 1.8-fold for barley, L. japonicus and maize, respectively) but there was no consistent genotypic effect on exudate adhesiveness in the cereals. While brb exudates were more and rth3 exudates were less adhesive than their respective WTs, maize rth3 bound more soil than barley brb. Although both maize genotypes produced significantly more adhesive exudate than the barley genotypes, root hair development of WT barley was more extensive than that of WT maize. Thus, the greater density of longer root hairs in WT barley bound more soil than WT maize. Root type did not seem to affect rhizosheath formation, unless these types differed in root length.ConclusionsWhen root hairs were present, greater root hair development better facilitated rhizosheath formation than root exudate adhesiveness. However, when root hairs were absent root exudate adhesiveness was a more dominant trait.