Transforming growth factor-beta pathway: role in pancreas development and pancreatic disease

The pancreas is a complex exocrine and endocrine gland that controls many homeostatic functions. The exocrine pancreas produces and secretes digestive enzymes, whereas, the endocrine pancreas produces four distinct hormones, chief among them being the glucose regulating hormone-insulin. Diabetes, pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer are some of the main afflictions that result from pancreas dysfunction. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) proteins are central regulators of pancreas cell function, and have key roles in pancreas development and pancreatic disease. Since expression levels and kinase activities of components of TGF-beta signaling are aberrantly altered in diseases of the pancreas, modulating the activity of TGF-beta provides a unique and rational opportunity for therapeutic intervention. Although TGF-beta still remains elusive in terms of our understanding of its multifunctional modes of action, research is moving closer to the design of approaches directed toward modulating its activities for therapeutic benefit.     

Attenuation of the serotonin-induced increase in intracellular calcium in rat aortic smooth muscle cells by sarpogrelate

Although serotonin (5-HT) induced proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells is considered to involve changes in intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i), the mechanism of Ca2+ mobilization by 5-HT is not well defined. In this study, we examined the effect of 5-HT on rat aortic smooth muscle cells (RASMCs) by Fura-2 microfluorometry for [Ca2+]i measurements. 5-HT was observed to increase the [Ca2+]i in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. This action of 5-HT was dependent upon the extracellular concentration of Ca2+ ([Ca2+]e) and was inhibited by both Ca2+ channel antagonists (verapamil and diltiazem) and inhibitors of sarcoplasmic reticular Ca2+ pumps (thapsigargin and cyclopia zonic acid). The 5-HT-induced increase in [Ca2+]i was blocked by sarpogrelate, a 5-HT2A-receptor antagonist, but not by different agents known to block other receptor sites. 5-HT-receptor antagonists such as ketanserin, cinanserin, and mianserin, unlike methysergide, were also found to inhibit the 5-HT-induced Ca2+ mobilization, but these agents were less effective in comparison to sarpogrelate. On the other hand, the increase in [Ca2+]i in RASMCs by ATP, angiotensin II, endothelin-1, or phorbol ester was not affected by sarpogrelate. These results indicate that Ca2+ mobilization in RASMCs by 5-HT is mediated through the activation of 5-HT2A receptors and support the view that the 5-HT-induced increase in [Ca2+]i involves both the extracellular and intracellular sources of Ca2+.     

Conservation of wild animals by assisted reproduction and molecular marker technology

Wild animals are an integral component of the ecosystem. Their decimation due to abrupt natural calamities or due to gradual human intervention would be disastrous to the ecosystem and would alter the balance in nature between various biotic components. Such an imbalance could have an adverse effect on the ecosystem. Therefore, there is an urgent need to put an end to the ever increasing list of endangered species by undertaking both in situ and ex situ conservation using tools of modern biology, to ascertain the degree of genetic variation and reproductive competence in these animals. This review highlights the development and use of molecular markers such as microsatellites, minisatellites, mitochondrial control region, cytochrome b and MHC loci to assess the genetic variation in various Indian wild animals such as the lion, tiger, leopard and deer. The review also presents data on the semen profile of the big cats of India. Reproductive technologies such as cryopreservation of semen and artificial insemination in big cats are also highlighted.     

Catestatin (CgA344-364) stimulates rat mast cell release of histamine in a manner comparable to mastoparan and other cationic charged neuropeptides

Catestatin (bovine CgA(344-364)) is a cationic peptide, which besides reducing catecholamine secretion from chromaffin cells in vitro also acts a potent vasodilator in the rat in vivo. The alleged histamine releasing effect of catestatin was tested in vitro in rat mast cells. The most active domain of catestatin (bovine CgA(344-358): RSMRLSFRARGYGFR) caused concentration-dependent (0.01-5 microM) release of histamine from peritoneal and pleural mast cells. The potency and efficacy of catestatin was higher than for the wasp venom peptide, mastoparan. Only in the pleural cells was neurotensin (NT) more potent than catestatin, mastoparan and substance P (SP), consistent with a receptor-mediated histamine release by neurotensin. Amongst these cationic peptides, substance P was least effective. The acidic CgA peptide (WE-14, bovine CgA (324-337)) neither stimulated nor modulated histamine release by the cationic peptides. The catestatin and neurotensin evoked histamine release were suppressed by pertussis toxin (PTX), suggesting involvement of a G(i) subunit. Electron micrographs of rat pleural mast cells responding to catestatin revealed a concentration-dependent discharge of granular material. We propose that catestatin activates histamine release from rat mast cells by a mechanism analogous to that already established for mastoparan and other amphiphilic cationic neuropeptides (the peptidergic pathway) and distinct from the mechanism of inhibition of catecholamine release from chromaffin cells.     

Menthol tolerant clones of Mentha arvensis: approach for in vitro selection of menthol rich genotypes

In vitro raised shoots of Mentha arvensis L. were screened for menthol tolerance level by growing them in media containing 0–100 g ml^–1 menthol. A total of 2850 regenerated shoots were step wise screened for menthol tolerance at the concentrations of 50 g ml^–1 followed by 60 and 70 g ml^–1. In this screening, only 30 individual regenerated shoots were able to survive. The clones from the primary screen were inoculated into rooting medium and, after rooting, transferred to pots in the greenhouse. Ultimately, these 30 menthol tolerant clones were multiplied and grown in the field in replicated plots of 2.5×2.5 m sizes. Twigs of 30 clones from the replicated trials were rechecked for tolerant phenotypes at a concentration of 70 g ml^–1 menthol wherein, these survived even after 7 days (secondary screening). These clones were checked for oil and menthol content and were found to be better than the control plants. Out of these 30 plants, five tolerated 80 g ml^–1 menthol (tertiary level screening) and were found to contain the highest amount of menthol per g leaf biomass. Molecular analysis through RAPD showed distinct variation in the profiles of these five plants, in comparison to the control. Using this method the relationship between the primer OPT 04, menthol tolerance and high menthol content character of the genotype was established. Further, a cultivar `Saksham' was released from the selections by CIMAP for superior performance.     

Development of 3D-QSAR models in cyclic ureidobenzenesulfonamides: human beta3-adrenergic receptor agonist

Pharmacophoric mapping based on 3D-QSAR studies is performed on sixteen cyclic ureidobenzenesulfonamides for their beta(3)-adrenergic receptor agonistic activity. The best 3D-QSAR model (with r(2)=0.877) which described the properties and distributions of 5-biophoric and 2-secondary biophoric sites, showed a good correlation between the observed and predicted activity both in training and test.     

Effect of vitamin B6 on oxygen radicals, mitochondrial membrane potential, and lipid peroxidation in H2O2-treated U937 monocytes

Vitamin B6 (Vit.B6) supplementation has been shown to be beneficial in reducing diabetic complications, cognitive aging, and in the prevention of coronary heart disease. It was hypothesized that Vit.B6 compounds may function as antioxidants and thus offer protection against oxidative stress under various pathophysiological and or experimental conditions. To test this hypothesis, U937 monocytes were cultured with pyridoxine (P), pyridoxal phosphate (PP) and pyridoxamine (PM) and H2O2, either alone or together for 2 h. Oxidative stress was determined by measuring superoxide radical production, lipid peroxidation, and mitochondrial transmembrane potential. Results demonstrate that Vit.B6 compounds can prevent the oxygen radical generation and lipid peroxidation caused by hydrogen peroxide in U937 monocytes, and that some of the protective effect of Vit.B6 may occur via modification of mitochondrial function.     

Antioxidants prevent aluminum-induced toxicity in cultured hepatocytes

Cellular Al accumulation has been shown to alter iron metabolism and induce peroxidative injury. Therefore antioxidants could potentially reduce or prevent peroxidative injury in Al-loaded cells. To test this hypothesis we assessed the effect of the antioxidants N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and tetramethylpiperidine 1-oxyl (TEMPO) in abrogating Al-associated cell toxicity and melonyldialdehyde (MDA) accumulation in mouse hepatocytes. Mouse hepatocytes (MH) were grown in media containing the minimum toxic concentration of Al (100 microg/L as Al-transferrin). All antioxidants protected MH from injury as assessed by cell growth and enzyme leakage into media. The antioxidants did not affect Al uptake by MH, protect MH from lipid peroxidation or decrease the reactive iron content of MH. Although antioxidants protected Al loaded MH from injury the mechanisms of this effect are unknown.     

Primary sequence characterization of catestatin intermediates and peptides defines proteolytic cleavage sites utilized for converting chromogranin a into active catestatin secreted from neuroendocrine chromaffin cells

Catestatin is an active 21-residue peptide derived from the chromogranin A (CgA) precursor, and catestatin is secreted from neuroendocrine chromaffin cells as an autocrine regulator of nicotine-stimulated catecholamine release. The goal of this study was to characterize the primary sequences of high molecular mass catestatin intermediates and peptides to define the proteolytic cleavage sites within CgA that are utilized in the biosynthesis of catestatin. Catestatin-containing polypeptides, demonstrated by anti-catestatin western blots, of 54-56, 50, 32, and 17 kDa contained NH(2)-terminal peptide sequences that indicated proteolytic cleavages of the CgA precursor at KK downward arrow, KR downward arrow, R downward arrow, and KR downward arrow basic residue sites, respectively. The COOH termini of these catestatin intermediates were defined by the presence of the COOH-terminal tryptic peptide of the CgA precursor, corresponding to residues 421-430, which was identified by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Results also demonstrated the presence of 54-56 and 50 kDa catestatin intermediates that contain the NH(2) terminus of CgA. Secretion of catestatin intermediates from chromaffin cells was accompanied by the cosecretion of catestatin (CgA(344)(-)(364)) and variant peptide forms (CgA(343)(-)(368) and CgA(332)(-)(361)). These determined cleavage sites predicted that production of high molecular mass catestatin intermediates requires cleavage at the COOH-terminal sides of paired basic residues, which is compatible with the cleavage specificities of PC1 and PC2 prohormone convertases. However, it is notable that production of catestatin itself (CgA(344)(-)(364)) utilizes more unusual cleavage sites at the NH(2)-terminal sides of downward arrow R and downward arrow RR basic residue sites, consistent with the cleavage specificities of the chromaffin granule cysteine protease "PTP" that participates in proenkephalin processing. These findings demonstrate that production of catestatin involves cleavage of CgA at paired basic and monobasic residues, necessary steps for catestatin peptide regulation of nicotinic cholinergic-induced catecholamine release.