Evaluation for amyloid deposition in other organ systems was negative and immunohistochemical analysis of the kidney deposits for known contributing proteins was unrevealing. Biochemical analysis of the fibrils identified a new amyloid subunit protein, leukocyte chemotactic factor 2, originally identified as a possible chemotactic and growth factor. A monoclonal antibody to this protein reacted specifically with the amyloid deposits in the glomeruli and interstitium by immunohistochemistry. This study emphasizes the importance of biochemical characterization of amyloid present in renal biopsies.”
“The neurite outgrowth-promoting effects of
scoparone isolated from the stem bark of Liriodendron tulipifera were investigated buy Elafibranor in PC12 cells. At a concentration of 200 mu M, scoparone markedly induced neurite outgrowth from PC12 cells. Scoparone at 200 mu M also enhanced the outgrowth of neurites from cells in the presence of nerve growth factor (NGF, 2 ng/ml). The levels of intracellular cyclic AMP and concentration of Ca(2+) were also increased by 200 mu M scoparone. In addition, scoparome at 200 mu M increased the activities of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK), cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA), protein selleck kinase C (PKC) and Ca(2+)/calmodulin
kinase II (CaMK II). However, scoparone-induced neurite out-growth was blocked by a mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitor (UO126), a PKA inhibitor (H89), a PKC inhibitor (GF109203X) and a CaMK 11 inhibitor (KN62). These kinase inhibitors also reduced the scoparone-induced neurite outgrowth associated with NGF. These results Selleck MK5108 suggest that scoparone can induce neurite outgrowth by stimulating the upstream steps of ERK, PKA, PKC and CaMK 11 in PC12 cells. (C) 2008 Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.”
“Using a combination of intra-operative digital photography and micro-biopsy we measured renal cortical and papillary changes in five patients with primary hyperparathyroidism
and abundant calcium phosphate kidney stones. Major tissue changes were variable papillary flattening and retraction, dilation of the ducts of Bellini, and plugging with apatite deposits of the inner medullary collecting ducts and ducts of Bellini. Some of the papillae in two of the patients contained plentiful large interstitial deposits of Randall’s plaque and where the deposits were most plentiful we found overgrowth of the attached stones. Hence, this disease combines features previously described in brushite stone formers-dilation, plugging of ducts and papillary deformity-with the interstitial plaque and stone overgrowth characteristic of routine idiopathic calcium oxalate stone formers, suggesting that these two patterns can coexist in a single patient.