scholarly journals Signaling pathways regulating Homer1a expression: implications for antidepressant therapy

2016 ◽  
Vol 397 (3) ◽  
pp. 207-214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tsvetan Serchov ◽  
Rolf Heumann ◽  
Dietrich van Calker ◽  
Knut Biber

Abstract Homer1a is upregulated by several different antidepressant measures, including non-pharmacological treatments, like sleep deprivation (SD) and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and antidepressant drugs, such as imipramine, fluoxetine and ketamine. Homer1a induction might thus be a crucial joint mechanism for antidepressant therapy in general. However, the upstream signaling pathways that regulate or induce Homer1a expression are still not well understood. The main focus of the present review is to offer an overview of the current knowledge about the potential role of Homer1a in depression and the signaling pathways responsible for Homer1a regulation. It is suggested here that a detailed characterization of the signaling mechanisms leading to Homer1a expression might provide novel therapeutic targets for antidepressant drug development.

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (42) ◽  
pp. 4510-4522 ◽  
Author(s):  
Biancamaria Longoni ◽  
Irene Fasciani ◽  
Shivakumar Kolachalam ◽  
Ilaria Pietrantoni ◽  
Francesco Marampon ◽  
...  

: Exosomes are extracellular vesicles produced by eukaryotic cells that are also found in most biological fluids and tissues. While they were initially thought to act as compartments for removal of cellular debris, they are now recognized as important tools for cell-to-cell communication and for the transfer of pathogens between the cells. They have attracted particular interest in neurodegenerative diseases for their potential role in transferring prion-like proteins between neurons, and in Parkinson’s disease (PD), they have been shown to spread oligomers of α-synuclein in the brain accelerating the progression of this pathology. A potential neuroprotective role of exosomes has also been equally proposed in PD as they could limit the toxicity of α-synuclein by clearing them out of the cells. Exosomes have also attracted considerable attention for use as drug vehicles. Being nonimmunogenic in nature, they provide an unprecedented opportunity to enhance the delivery of incorporated drugs to target cells. In this review, we discuss current knowledge about the potential neurotoxic and neuroprotective role of exosomes and their potential application as drug delivery systems in PD.


Weed Science ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 52 (4) ◽  
pp. 554-563 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giovanni Dinelli ◽  
Alessandra Bonetti ◽  
Ilaria Marotti ◽  
Maurizio Minelli ◽  
Pietro Catizone

Three ItalianLoliumweed populations, one susceptible and two resistant to diclofop, were characterized by the technique of inter simple sequence repeats (ISSR). The goal of this study was to taxonomically identify theseLoliumpopulations as well as to evaluate evidence for introgression of ISSR fragments fromFestucaand the potential role of this introgression in the diclofop response. ISSR analysis confirmed the genomic background of the weed populations to be consistent with that ofLolium. However, the great range of variation in ISSR banding patterns highlighted that the three ryegrass accessions are mixed populations made up of individuals resulting presumably from intrageneric and intergeneric hybridization in theLolium–Festucacomplex. TwoFestucagenus-discriminating and 20Festucaspecies-discriminating ISSR markers were screened among all the three ryegrass populations. The resistant Tuscania population carried the highest percentage ofFestucagenome (16.8%) followed by the resistant Roma (13.6%) and susceptible Vetralla (7.6%) populations. On the basis of these data some influence ofFestucagenome in diclofop resistance levels of studied ryegrass populations could be hypothesized.


2016 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
pp. 72-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rita de Cássia Pereira da Costa e Silva ◽  
Kátia Karina Verolli de Oliveira Moura ◽  
Circoncisto Laurentino Ribeiro Júnior ◽  
Lidia Andreu Guillo

SUMMARY Even though the physiological role of estrogen in the female reproductive cycle and endometrial proliferative phase is well established, the signaling pathways by which estrogen exerts its action in the endometrial tissue are still little known. In this regard, advancements in cell culture techniques and maintenance of endometrial cells in cultures enabled the discovery of new signaling mechanisms activated by estrogen in the normal endometrium and in endometriosis. This review aims to present the recent findings in the genomic and non-genomic estrogen signaling pathways in the proliferative human endometrium specifically associated with the pathogenesis and development of endometriosis.


2009 ◽  
Vol 2009 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anouk Waeytens ◽  
Martine De Vos ◽  
Debby Laukens

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are a group of chronic, relapsing, immune-mediated disorders of the intestine, including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Recent studies underscore the importance of the damaged epithelial barrier and the dysregulated innate immune system in their pathogenesis. Metallothioneins (MTs) are a family of small proteins with a high and conserved cysteine content that are rapidly upregulated in response to an inflammatory stimulus. Herein, we review the current knowledge regarding the expression and potential role of MTs in IBD. MTs exert a central position in zinc homeostasis, modulate the activation of the transcription factor nuclear factor (NF)-B, and serve as antioxidants. In addition, MTs could be involved in IBD through their antiapoptotic effects or through specific immunomodulating extracellular effects. Reports on MT expression in IBD are contradictory but clearly demonstrate a deviant MT expression supporting the idea that these aberrations in IBD require further clarification.


2016 ◽  
Vol 230 (1) ◽  
pp. R1-R11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony H Tsang ◽  
Mariana Astiz ◽  
Maureen Friedrichs ◽  
Henrik Oster

Endogenous circadian clocks regulate 24-h rhythms of behavior and physiology to align with external time. The endocrine system serves as a major clock output to regulate various biological processes. Recent findings suggest that some of the rhythmic hormones can also provide feedback to the circadian system at various levels, thus contributing to maintaining the robustness of endogenous rhythmicity. This delicate balance of clock–hormone interaction is vulnerable to modern lifestyle factors such as shiftwork or high-calorie diets, altering physiological set points. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on the communication between the circadian timing and endocrine systems, with a focus on adrenal glucocorticoids and metabolic peptide hormones. We explore the potential role of hormones as systemic feedback signals to adjust clock function and their relevance for the maintenance of physiological and metabolic circadian homeostasis.


2014 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 491-498 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sonja Gordic ◽  
Hatem Alkadhi ◽  
Hans-Peter Simmen ◽  
Guido Wanner ◽  
Dieter Cadosch

2018 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
pp. R25-R41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nadia Bellofiore ◽  
Fiona Cousins ◽  
Peter Temple-Smith ◽  
Hayley Dickinson ◽  
Jemma Evans

We recently discovered the first known menstruating rodent. With the exception of four bats and the elephant shrew, the common spiny mouse (Acomys cahirinus) is the only species outside the primate order to exhibit menses. There are few widely accepted theories on why menstruation developed as the preferred reproductive strategy of these select mammals, all of which reference the evolution of spontaneous decidualisation prior to menstrual shedding. Though menstruating species share several reproductive traits, there has been no identifiable feature unique to menstruating species. Such a feature might suggest why spontaneous decidualisation, and thus menstruation, evolved in these species. We propose that a ≥3-fold increase in progesterone during the luteal phase of the reproductive cycle is a unique characteristic linking menstruating species. We discuss spontaneous decidualisation as a consequence of high progesterone, and the potential role of prolactin in screening for defective embryos in these species to aid in minimising implantation of abnormal embryos. We further explore the possible impact of nutrition in selecting species to undergo spontaneous decidualisation and subsequent menstruation. We summarise the current knowledge of menstruation, discuss current pre-clinical models of menstruation and how the spiny mouse may benefit advancing our understanding of this rare biological phenomenon.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document