Haptaglobin

Human parasite Trypanosoma brucei proliferates in the blood of its host, where it takes up iron via receptor-mediated endocytosis of transferrin (Tf). Mechanisms of Tf endocytosis in the trypanosome are not fully understood. Small molecule lapatinib inhibits Tf endocytosis in T. brucei and associates with protein kinase GSK3β (TbGSK3β). Therefore, we hypothesized that Tf endocytosis may be regulated by TbGSK3β, and we used three approaches (both genetic and small molecule) to test this possibility. First, the RNAi knock-down of TbGSK3β reduced Tf endocytosis selectively, without affecting the uptake of haptaglobin-hemoglobin (Hp-Hb) or bovine serum albumin (BSA)...

Spinocerebellar ataxia 12 (SCA12) is a unique dominant type of ataxia characterized by early and prominent action tremors, memory deficit, neuropathy, dysarthria, etc. The expansion of DNA triplet (CAG) repeats in 5'UTR of PPP2R2B gene appears to be the cause for the pathogenesis of the neurodegenerative disorder, SCA12. The objective of the current study was to identify the aberrantly expressed plasma proteins for their potential application in therapy or diagnosis/prognosis of SCA12. Sixty-two clinically suspected patients were assessed using International Co-operative Ataxia Rating Scale (ICARS) and genetic confirmation was done using PCR followed by DNA sequencing...

In the accompanying article, we demonstrated that a live culture of Lactococcus lactis compares favourably with antibiotics for treatment of bovine mastitis in two initial field trials. In an effort to explain the mechanism involved, this study investigated the effect of culture administration on the local immune response. In this respect we initially observed that infusion of the live culture Lactococcus lactis stimulated substantial recruitment of polymorphonucleocytes (PMN) and lymphocytes to the udder. For instance, in one assay, quarters infused with the probiotic experienced a dramatic increase (approximately 20,000-fold) in neutrophils over the first 48-h period from an average value of 83...

Electrophiles formed during metabolic activation of chemical carcinogens and reactive oxygen species generated from endogenous and exogenous sources play a significant role in carcinogenesis. Cancer chemoprevention by induction of phase 2 proteins to counteract the insults of these reactive intermediates has gained considerable attention. Nuclear factor E2 p45-related factor 2 (Nrf2), a bZIP transcription factor, plays a central role in the regulation (basal and or inducible expression) of phase 2 genes by binding to the "antioxidant response element" in their promoters...

The feasibility of a microencapsulation process ultimately for cell transplantation was investigated by encapsulating human hepatoma (HepG2) cells in hydroxyethyl methacrylate-methyl methacrylate (HEMA-MMA) membranes through an interfacial precipitation process. Changes in viability and metabolic activity as well as protein secretion by the encapsulated cells were studied in vitro. When encapsulated at either low or high density (1 or 5 x 10(6) cells/mL, respectively), HepG2 cells retained their active metabolic state and/or proliferated during the initial 1-week period, after which a significant drop in cell viability was obtained...

The submitted investigation deals with the value of assessment of selected reactants of the acute stage in patients with acute pancreatitis and their follow-up in the course of the disease. For the investigation C-reactive protein, alpha-1-antitrypsin and haptaglobin were selected. In addition to the prognostic impact the authors focused attention on assessment of the dynamics of individual proteins and their importance for the early detection of complications in acute pancreatitis with different etiologies...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

The more frequent incidence of infections after splenectomy, some leading even to OPSI syndrome, is known from the literature and practice. The authors investigated in two groups of 20 splenectomized patients (on account of injury of the spleen or for haematological reasons) in particular changes of immunological indicators. On both groups they revealed a predominating increase of the absolute number of leucocytes, lymphocytes, the phagocytic index of PMN leucocytes, the ratio of active nucleoli, FW. They found also in both groups a predominating reduction of the number of T lymphocytes (p less than 0...