Stress exposure activates the sympathoneural system, resulting in catecholamine release. Chronic stress is associated with development of numerous disorders, including cardiovascular diseases. Here we investigated the expression of mRNAs for catecholamine biosynthetic enzymes tyrosine-hydroxylase, dopamine-ß-hydroxylase and phenylethanolamine N-methyl- transferase, and for ß1- and ß2-adrenoceptors in the right and left ventricles of rats exposed to chronic unpredictable mild stress. The tyrosine-hydroxylase and dopamine-ß-hydroxylase mRNA levels were not affected by stress, whereas the phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase mRNA levels significantly increased in both right and left ventricles. No changes in ß1-adrenoceptor mRNA levels in either right or left ventricles were observed. At the same time, stress produced a significant increase of β2-adrenoceptor mRNA levels in left ventricles. These results suggest that elevated expression of phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase in both ventricules and ß2-adrenoceptor genes in left ventricles could provide a molecular mechanism that leads to altered physiological response, which is important for the organism coping with stress., N. Spasojevic, L. Gavrilovic, S. Dronjak., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
Salicylic acid (SA) and nitric oxide (NO) form a new group of plant growth substances that cooperatively interact to promote plant growth and productivity. Water deficit (WD) stress is a major limiting factor for photosynthesis, which in turn limits crop yield. However, the mechanism of SA and NO in stimulating photosynthesis has not yet been elucidated. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the SA- and NO-mediated photosynthetic adaptability of maize seedlings to WD in terms of photosynthetic parameters, activities and mRNA levels of CO2 assimilation enzymes. Our results showed that SA alleviated the WD-induced reduction of photosynthetic performance. The activities of Rubisco and Rubisco activase enzymes increased significantly due to SA pretreatment. Moreover, higher transcription rates of Rbc L, ZmRCAα and ZmRCAβ mRNA further confirmed the effects of SA on CO2 assimilation. WD or SA-induced decreases or increases of CO2 assimilation ability were further decreased after c-PTIO addition., R. X. Shao, L. F. Xin, J. M. Guo, H. F. Zheng, J. Mao, X.P. Han, L. Jia, S. J. Jia, C. G. Du, R. Song, Q. H. Yang, R. W. Elmore., and Obsahuje bibliografii
In our previous work we established a T7 polymerase-driven Tetracycline-inducible protein expression system in Leishmania mexicana (Biagi, 1953). We used this system to analyse gene expression profiles during development of L. mexicana in procyclic and metacyclic promastigotes and amastigotes. The transcription of the gene of interest and the T7 polymerase genes was significantly reduced upon cell differentiation. This regulation is not locus-specific. It depends on untranslated regions flanking open reading frames of the genes analysed. In this paper, we report that the previously established conventional inducible protein expression system may not be suitable for studies on differentiation of species of Leishmania Ross, 1903 and protein expression systems might have certain limitations., Aygul Ishemgulova, Natalya Kraeva, Drahomíra Faktorová, Lucie Podešvová, Julius Lukeš, Vyacheslav Yurchenko., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Increased circulating adhesion molecules in patients with obesity play an important role in the development of endothelial dysfunction/atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to assess the contribution of various fat depots to the production of adhesion molecules in obesity. 12 women with 1st and 2nd degree of obesity, 13 women with 3rd degree of obesity and 14 lean age-matched women were included into study. Circulating levels of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and E-selectin were measured by Luminex kits. mRNA expression of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, E-selectin, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and CD68 in subcutaneous (SAT) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) was measured by RT-PCR; ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 protein levels by Luminex kits, normalized to protein content. Obesity increased ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 mRNA expression and protein levels and CD68 mRNA expression in VAT. Expression of E-selectin and MCP-1 did not significantly differ between groups. Expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 positively correlated with expression of CD68 in both adipose depots. In VAT, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expression and protein levels positively correlated with BMI. Obesity was associated with increased adhesion molecules mRNA expression and protein levels in VAT, but not in SAT. Increased adhesion molecules production in visceral fat may provide a novel direct link between visceral adiposity and increased risk of cardiovascular complications., L. Bošanská ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
To understand the pathogenesis of hypercholesterolemia in Prague hereditary hypercholesterolemic (PHHC) rat, we analyzed the response of hepatic transcriptome to dietary cholesterol in PHHC and control Wistar rats. Male PHHC and Wistar rats were fed chow (C), 5 % fat (palm kernel oil) (CF) or 1 % cholesterol + 5 % fat (CHOL) diet for three weeks. Hepatic transcriptome was analyzed using Affymetrix GeneChip arrays. No differences were found in the effect of both control diets (C and CF) on lipid metabolism and gene expression of 6500 genes. Therefore, these data were pooled for further analysis. Dietary cholesterol induced accumulation of cholesterol and triacylglycerols in the liver in both strains and hypercholesterolemia in PHHC rats. However, there were no differences in response of hepatic transcriptome to CHOL diet. On the other hand, several genes were found to be differently expressed between both strains independently of the diet. Two of those genes, Apof and Aldh1a7, were studied in more detail, and their role in pathogenesis of hypercholesterolemia in PHHC rats could not been corroborated. In conclusion, the hypercholesterolemia in PHHC rats is due to physiological response of hepatic transcriptome to dietary cholesterol in different genetic background., M. Vlachová, M. Heczková, M. Jirsa, R. Poledne, J. Kovář., and Obsahuje bibliografii