Articles

The N-terminal domain of Escherichia coli RecA have multiple functions in promoting homologous recombination

Escherichia coli RecA mediates homologous recombination, a process essential to maintaining genome integrity. In the presence of ATP, RecA proteins bind a single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) to form a RecA-ssDNA presynap...

Authors: Chien-Der Lee and Ting-Fang Wang

Femtosecond laser treatment enhances DNA transfection efficiency in vivo

Gene therapy with plasmid DNA is emerging as a promising strategy for the treatment of many diseases. One of the major obstacles to such therapy is the poor transfection efficiency of DNA in vivo.

Authors: Shaw-Wei D Tsen, Chao-Yi Wu, Avedis Meneshian, Sara I Pai, Chien-Fu Hung and T-C Wu

Green tea extract supplement reduces D-galactosamine-induced acute liver injury by inhibition of apoptotic and proinflammatory signaling

Oxidative stress and inflammation contributed to the propagation of acute liver injury (ALI). The present study was undertaken to determine whether D-galactosamine (D-GalN) induces ALI via the mitochondrial ap...

Authors: Bor-Ru Lin, Chia-Jung Yu, Wang-Chuan Chen, Hsuan-Shu Lee, Huei-Min Chang, Yen-Chih Lee, Chiang-Ting Chien and Chau-Fong Chen

Effects of statins on the secretion of human serum albumin in cultured HepG2 cells

Statins reduce cholesterol biosynthesis by inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase and thereby lower total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels in serum, which in turn lower the incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD...

Authors: Chung-Eun Ha, Ji-Sook Ha, Andre G Theriault and Nadhipuram V Bhagavan

Studies on the binding affinity of anticancer drug mitoxantrone to chromatin, DNA and histone proteins

Mitoxantrone is a potent antitumor drug, widely used in the treatment of various cancers. In the present study, we have investigated and compared the affinity of anticancer drug, mitoxantrone, to EDTA-soluble ...

Authors: Zahra Hajihassan and Azra Rabbani-Chadegani

Immunotherapy for liver tumors: present status and future prospects

Increasing evidence suggests that immune responses are involved in the control of cancer and that the immune system can be manipulated in different ways to recognize and attack tumors. Progress in immune-based...

Authors: Pablo Matar, Laura Alaniz, Viviana Rozados, Jorge B Aquino, Mariana Malvicini, Catalina Atorrasagasti, Manuel Gidekel, Marcelo Silva, O Graciela Scharovsky and Guillermo Mazzolini

Structural changes in the cytoplasmic pore of the Kir1.1 channel during pH_i-gating probed by FRET

Kir1.1 channels are important in maintaining K⁺ homeostasis in the kidney. Intracellular acidification reversibly closes the Kir1.1 channel and thus decreases K⁺ secretion. In this study, we used Foster resonance...

Authors: Jay-Ron Lee and Ru-Chi Shieh

Antigen-driven bystander effect accelerates epicutaneous sensitization with a new protein allergen

Exposure to protein allergen epicutaneously, inducing a Th2-dominant immune response, sensitizes the host to the development of atopic disease. Antigen-driven bystander effect demonstrates that polarized T cel...

Authors: Li-Fang Wang, Jau-Shiuh Chen, Chih-Jung Hsu, Ching-Yi Liu, Jhang-Sian Yu and Shi-Chuen Miaw

In vitro study of the tocolytic effect of oroxylin A from Scutellaria baicalensis root

Scutellariae Radix is one of the well-known tocolytic Chinese herbs. Oroxylin A is isolated from the root of Scutellaria baicalensis. The main syndrome of preterm birth is caused by uterus contractions from excit...

Authors: Huey-Chuan Shih, Chun-Sen Hsu and Ling-Ling Yang

Genistein-mediated inhibition of glycosaminoglycan synthesis, which corrects storage in cells of patients suffering from mucopolysaccharidoses, acts by influencing an epidermal growth factor-dependent pathway

Mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS) are inherited metabolic disorders caused by mutations leading to dysfunction of one of enzymes involved in degradation of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). Due to their impaired degradatio...

Authors: Joanna Jakóbkiewicz-Banecka, Ewa Piotrowska, Magdalena Narajczyk, Sylwia Barańska and Grzegorz Węgrzyn

An integrated method for cancer classification and rule extraction from microarray data

Different microarray techniques recently have been successfully used to investigate useful information for cancer diagnosis at the gene expression level due to their ability to measure thousands of gene expres...

Authors: Liang-Tsung Huang

Spatiotemporal expression of histone acetyltransferases, p300 and CBP, in developing embryonic hearts

Histone acetyltransferases (HATs), p300 and cAMP response element binding protein (CREB)-binding protein (CBP) are two structurally related transcriptional co-activators that activate expression of many eukary...

Authors: Guozhen Chen, Jing Zhu, Tiewei Lv, Gang Wu, Huichao Sun, Xupei Huang and Jie Tian

Distinct functional defect of three novel Brugada syndrome related cardiac sodium channel mutations

The Brugada syndrome is characterized by ST segment elevation in the right precodial leads V1-V3 on surface ECG accompanied by episodes of ventricular fibrillation causing syncope or even sudden death. The mol...

Authors: Chia-Hsiang Hsueh, Wen-Pin Chen, Jiunn-Lee Lin, Chia-Ti Tsai, Yen-Bin Liu, Jyh-Ming Juang, Hsuan-Ming Tsao, Ming-Jai Su and Ling-Ping Lai

STAT2 hypomorphic mutant mice display impaired dendritic cell development and antiviral response

Interferons (IFNs) are key regulators for both innate and adaptive immune responses. By screening ENU-mutagenized mice, we identified a pedigree- P117 which displayed impaired response to type I, but not type ...

Authors: Lan-Sun Chen, Pei-Chi Wei, Taming Liu, Chung-Hsuan Kao, Li-Mei Pai and Chien-Kuo Lee

Treatment with TNF-α or bacterial lipopolysaccharide attenuates endocardial endothelial cell-mediated stimulation of cardiac fibroblasts

The endocardial endothelium that lines the inner cavity of the heart is distinct from the microvascular endothelial cells and modulates cardiac muscle performance in a manner similar to the vascular endothelia...

Authors: Leena Kuruvilla and Cheranellore Chandrasekharan Kartha

Regulation of multi-organ inflammation in the regulatory T cell-deficient scurfy mice

Scurfy mice display the most severe form of multi-organ inflammation due to total lack of the CD4⁺Foxp3⁺ regulatory T cells (Treg) resulted from a mutation of the X-linked transcription factor Foxp3. A large repe...

Authors: Rahul Sharma, Sun-sang Joe Sung, Shu Man Fu and Shyr-Te Ju

Ischemic conditioning by short periods of reperfusion attenuates renal ischemia/reperfusion induced apoptosis and autophagy in the rat

Prolonged ischemia amplified iscehemia/reperfusion (IR) induced renal apoptosis and autophagy. We hypothesize that ischemic conditioning (IC) by a briefly intermittent reperfusion during a prolonged ischemic p...

Authors: Hsing-Hui Wu, Tzu-Yu Hsiao, Chiang-Ting Chien and Ming-Kuen Lai

Telomerase prevents accelerated senescence in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD)-deficient human fibroblasts

Fibroblasts derived from glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD)-deficient patients display retarded growth and accelerated cellular senescence that is attributable to increased accumulation of oxidative DNA ...

Authors: Yi-Hsuan Wu, Mei-Ling Cheng, Hung-Yao Ho, Daniel Tsun-Yee Chiu and Tzu-Chien V Wang

Characterization of dengue virus entry into HepG2 cells

Despite infections by the dengue virus being a significant problem in tropical and sub-tropical countries, the mechanism by which the dengue virus enters into mammalian cells remains poorly described.

Authors: Lukkana Suksanpaisan, Tharinee Susantad and Duncan R Smith

Dihydroartemisinin (DHA) induces caspase-3-dependent apoptosis in human lung adenocarcinoma ASTC-a-1 cells

Dihydroartemisinin (DHA), a semi-synthetic derivative of artemisinin, isolated from the traditional Chinese herb Artemisia annua, is recommended as the first-line anti-malarial drug with low toxicity. DHA has ...

Authors: Ying-Ying Lu, Tong-Sheng Chen, Jun-Le Qu, Wen-Liang Pan, Lei Sun and Xun-Bin Wei

Partially hydrolyzed guar gum supplement reduces high-fat diet increased blood lipids and oxidative stress and ameliorates FeCl₃-induced acute arterial injury in hamsters

Increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) and hyperlipidemia can promote arterial thrombus. We evaluated the potential of a partially hydrolyzed guar gum (PHGG) as dietary fiber on lipid profiles and FeCl₃-induced ...

Authors: Dar-Chih Kuo, Shih-Ping Hsu and Chiang-Ting Chien

Increased expression of Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 in liver from NZB/W F1 mice received antibody against human parvovirus B19 VP1 unique region protein

Human parvovirus B19 infection has been postulated to the anti-phospholipid syndrome (APS) in autoimmunity. However, the influence of anti-B19-VP1u antibody in autoimmune diseases is still obscure.

Authors: Chun-Chou Tsai, Bor-Show Tzang, Szu-Yi Chiang, Gwo-Jong Hsu and Tsai-Ching Hsu

Effects of human parvovirus B19 VP1 unique region protein on macrophage responses

Activity of secreted phospholipase A (sPLA2) has been implicated in a wide range of cellular responses. However, little is known about the function of human parvovirus B19-VP1 unique region (VP1u) with sPLA2 a...

Authors: Bor-Show Tzang, Chun-Ching Chiu, Chun-Chou Tsai, Yi-Ju Lee, I-Jung Lu, Jing-Yu Shi and Tsai-Ching Hsu

Regulation of shear-induced nuclear translocation of the Nrf2 transcription factor in endothelial cells

Vascular endothelial cells (ECs) constantly experience fluid shear stresses generated by blood flow. Laminar flow is known to produce atheroprotective effects on ECs. Nrf2 is a transcription factor that is ess...

Authors: Chung-Yu Hsieh, Huai-Yu Hsiao, Wan-Yi Wu, Ching-Ann Liu, Yu-Chih Tsai, Yuen-Jen Chao, Danny L Wang and Hsyue-Jen Hsieh

RhoGDIβ-induced hypertrophic growth in H9c2 cells is negatively regulated by ZAK

We found that overexpression of RhoGDIβ, a Rho GDP dissociation inhibitor, induced hypertrophic growth and suppressed cell cycle progression in a cultured cardiomyoblast cell line. Knockdown of RhoGDIβ express...

Authors: Chih-Yang Huang, Li-Chiu Yang, Kuan-Yu Liu, Pao-Hsin Liao, Janet Ing-Yuh Chou, Ming-Yung Chou, Wei-Wen Lin and Jaw-Ji Yang

Lectin of Concanavalin A as an anti-hepatoma therapeutic agent

Liver cancer is the predominant cause of cancer mortality in males of Southern China and Taiwan. The current therapy is not satisfactory, and more effective treatments are needed. In the search for new therapi...

Authors: Huan-Yao Lei and Chih-Peng Chang

Neuroprotective mechanisms of puerarin in middle cerebral artery occlusion-induced brain infarction in rats

Puerarin, a major isoflavonoid derived from the Chinese medical herb Radix puerariae (kudzu root), has been reported to be useful in the treatment of various cardiovascular diseases. In the present study, we exam...

Authors: Yi Chang, Cheng-Ying Hsieh, Zi-Aa Peng, Ting-Lin Yen, George Hsiao, Duen-Suey Chou, Chien-Ming Chen and Joen-Rong Sheu

Differential protection against oxidative stress and nitric oxide overproduction in cardiovascular and pulmonary systems by propofol during endotoxemia

Both overproduction of nitric oxide (NO) and oxidative injury of cardiovascular and pulmonary systems contribute to fatal cardiovascular depression during endotoxemia. We investigated in the present study the ...

Authors: Yen-Chin Liu, Alice YW Chang, Yu-Chuan Tsai and Julie YH Chan

The effects of the bacterial interaction with visible-light responsive titania photocatalyst on the bactericidal performance

Bactericidal activity of traditional titanium dioxide (TiO₂) photocatalyst is effective only upon irradiation by ultraviolet light, which restricts the potential applications of TiO₂ for use in our living environ...

Authors: Chia-Liang Cheng, Der-Shan Sun, Wen-Chen Chu, Yao-Hsuan Tseng, Han-Chen Ho, Jia-Bin Wang, Pei-Hua Chung, Jiann-Hwa Chen, Pei-Jane Tsai, Nien-Tsung Lin, Mei-Shiuan Yu and Hsin-Hou Chang

Mutagenesis identifies the critical amino acid residues of human endonuclease G involved in catalysis, magnesium coordination, and substrate specificity

Endonuclease G (EndoG), a member of DNA/RNA nonspecific ββα-Me-finger nucleases, is involved in apoptosis and normal cellular proliferation. In this study, we analyzed the critical amino acid residues of EndoG...

Authors: Shih-Lu Wu, Chia-Cheng Li, Jaw-Chyun Chen, Yi-Jin Chen, Ching-Ting Lin, Tin-Yun Ho and Chien-Yun Hsiang

Requirement of focal adhesion kinase in branching tubulogenesis

We previously demonstrated that α3β1 integrins are essential to hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)-independent branching tubulogenesis in Mardin-Darby Canine Kidney (MDCK) cells. However, the involvement of integr...

Authors: Wei-Chun Wei, Anna K Kopec and Ming-Jer Tang

Molecular mechanisms of cell proliferation induced by low power laser irradiation

Low power laser irradiation (LPLI) promotes proliferation of multiple cells, which (especially red and near infrared light) is mainly through the activation of mitochondrial respiratory chain and the initiatio...

Authors: Xuejuan Gao and Da Xing

A novel 9-bp insertion detected in steroid 21-hydroxylase gene (CYP21A2): prediction of its structural and functional implications by computational methods

Steroid 21-hydroxylase deficiency is the most common cause of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). Detection of underlying mutations in CYP21A2 gene encoding steroid 21-hydroxylase enzyme is helpful both for con...

Authors: Sudhisha Dubey, Susan Idicula-Thomas, Mohammad Anwaruddin, Chinnaraj Saravanan, R Raveendra Varma and Anurupa Maitra

Transgenic mice exhibiting inducible and spontaneous Cre activities driven by a bovine keratin 5 promoter that can be used for the conditional analysis of basal epithelial cells in multiple organs

Cre/lox P-mediated genetic modification is the most widely used conditional genetic approach used in the mouse. Engineered Cre and the mutated ligand-binding domain of estrogen receptor fusion recombinase (CreER^T

Authors: Chih-Chia Liang, Li-Ru You, Junn-Liang Chang, Ting-Fen Tsai and Chun-Ming Chen

Journal of Biomedical Science, marking a new epoch: moving to open access in 2009

Authors: Michael MC Lai

Persistent H. pylori colonization in early acquisition age of mice related with higher gastric sialylated Lewis x, IL-10, but lower interferon-γ expressions

H. pylori infection is less prevalent in childhood. This study validated whether the rates of H. pylori colonization depend on different acquisition ages, and correlate with the different gastric Lewis antigens o...

Authors: Yao-Jong Yang, Hsiao-Bai Yang, Jiunn-Jong Wu and Bor-Shyang Sheu

Downregulation of developmentally regulated endothelial cell locus-1 inhibits the growth of colon cancer

Developmentally regulated endothelial cell locus-1 (Del1) is an embryonic angiogenic factor expressed in early embryonic endothelial cells, but recently has been found to be expressed in some forms of cancers ...

Authors: Xiaolong Zou, Haiquan Qiao, Xian Jiang, Xuesong Dong, Hongchi Jiang and Xueying Sun