Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
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Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. · Dec 2004
Alterations in protein expression in HL-60 cells during etoposide-induced apoptosis modulated by the caspase inhibitor ZVAD.fmk.
DNA topoisomerase inhibitors induce a specific signaling cascade that promotes an active apoptotic caspase-dependent cell death process. However, little is known about the initial signals elicited by these agents. In the present study, we compared apoptosis in HL-60 cells treated either with the chemotherapeutic drug etoposide (VP16) alone or combined with the broad caspase inhibitor ZVAD.fmk. ⋯ Indeed, some proteins were induced in the cytoplasm and subsequently accumulated in the nuclei after etoposide treatment. This process was slightly inhibited by the caspase inhibitor ZVAD.fmk. We suggest that these proteins are associated with the induction of specific signaling cascades that characterize the apoptotic cell death process.
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Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. · Dec 2004
Early events in antigen-specific regulatory T cell induction via nasal and oral mucosa.
Mucosal Tr prevent harmful immune responses to innocuous antigens that are encountered at the mucosae. This unique subset of Tr is adaptive, antigen specific, and suppresses irrespective of cytokine polarization. Here we study the earliest events of mucosal Tr induction and factors that control their differentiation from naive T cells.
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Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. · Dec 2004
Oxidative stress and changes in alpha- and gamma-tocopherol levels during coronary artery bypass grafting.
We studied whether cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) has any immediate impact on the initiation of antioxidative defenses in the body by measuring F(2)-isoprostanes and alpha- and gamma-tocopherol, respectively. 8-iso-PGF(2alpha) levels increased significantly within 3 minutes and until the end of CPB. alpha-Tocopherol levels increased gradually at 20 min during CPB and continued until 6 hours after CPB. gamma-Tocopherol levels followed a similar fashion at the end of CPB. 8-iso-PGF(2alpha) and tocopherol levels kept at basal level 12 and 24 hours post CPB. These findings suggest that an increased free radical-induced oxidative stress together with a gradual appearance of antioxidative defense system during and after CPB.