Rappaport Faculty of Medicine

About: Rappaport Faculty of Medicine is a based out in . It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Heparanase. The organization has 3205 authors who have published 3915 publications receiving 114533 citations.

Membrane-Associated Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycans Are Involved in the Recognition of Cellular Targets by NKp30 and NKp46

Abstract: Lysis of virus-infected and tumor cells by NK cells is mediated via natural cytotoxicity receptors (NCRs). We have recently shown that the NKp44 and NKp46 NCRs, but not the NKp30, recognize viral hemagglutinins. In this study we explored the nature of the cellular ligands recognized by the NKp30 and NKp46 NCRs. We demonstrate that target cell surface heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) are recognized by NKp30 and NKp46 and that 6-O-sulfation and N-acetylation state of the glucose building unit affect this recognition and lysis by NK cells. Tumor cells expressing cell surface heparanase, CHO cells lacking membranal heparan sulfate and glypican-1-suppressed pancreatic cancer cells manifest reduced recognition by NKp30 and NKp46 and are lysed to a lesser extent by NK cells. Our results are the first clue for the identity of the ligands for NKp30 and NKp46. Whether the ligands are particular HSPGs, unusual heparan sulfate epitopes, or a complex of HSPGs and either other protein or lipid moieties remains to be further explored.

Proteoglycans in health and disease: new concepts for heparanase function in tumor progression and metastasis.

Abstract: Heparanase is an endo-β-D-glucuronidase capable of cleaving heparan sulfate side chains at a limited number of sites, yielding heparan sulfate fragments of still appreciable size. Importantly, heparanase activity correlates with the metastatic potential of tumor-derived cells, attributed to enhanced cell dissemination as a consequence of heparan sulfate cleavage and remodeling of the extracellular matrix and basement membrane underlying epithelial and endothelial cells. Similarly, heparanase activity is implicated in neovascularization, inflammation and autoimmunity, involving the migration of vascular endothelial cells and activated cells of the immune system. The cloning of a single human heparanase cDNA 10 years ago enabled researchers to critically approve the notion that heparan sulfate cleavage by heparanase is required for structural remodeling of the extracellular matrix, thereby facilitating cell invasion. Progress in the field has expanded the scope of heparanase function and its significance in tumor progression and other pathologies. Notably, although heparanase inhibitors attenuated tumor progression and metastasis in several experimental systems, other studies revealed that heparanase also functions in an enzymatic activity-independent manner. Thus, inactive heparanase was noted to facilitate adhesion and migration of primary endothelial cells and to promote phosphorylation of signaling molecules such as Akt and Src, facilitating gene transcription (i.e. vascular endothelial growth factor) and phosphorylation of selected Src substrates (i.e. endothelial growth factor receptor). The concept of enzymatic activity-independent function of heparanase gained substantial support by the recent identification of the heparanase C-terminus domain as the molecular determinant behind its signaling capacity. Identification and characterization of a human heparanase splice variant (T5) devoid of enzymatic activity and endowed with protumorigenic characteristics, elucidation of cross-talk between heparanase and other extracellular matrix-degrading enzymes, and identification of single nucleotide polymorphism associated with heparanase expression and increased risk of graft versus host disease add other layers of complexity to heparanase function in health and disease.

Therapeutic Applications of Selective and Non-Selective Inhibitors of Monoamine Oxidase A and B that do not Cause Significant Tyramine Potentiation

Abstract: The major side effect with the use of first generation of non selective monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors as neuropsychiatric drugs was what became known as the “cheese reaction”. Namely, potentiation of sympathomimetic activity of ingested tyramine present in cheese and other food stuff, resulting from its ability to release noradrenaline, when prevented from metabolism by MAO. The identification of two forms of MAO, termed types A and B and their selective irreversible inhibitors resolved some of this problems. However irreversible MAO-A inhibitors continue to induce a cheese reaction, whereas MAO-B inhibitors at their selective dosage did not and led to introduction of l-deprenyl (selegiline) as an anti-Parkinson drug, since dopamine is equally well metabolized by both enzyme forms. The cheese reaction is a consequence of inhibition of MAO-A, the enzyme responsible for metabolism of noradreanline and serotonin, located in peripheral adrenergic neurons. The consequence of these findings were the development of reversible MAO-A inhibitors (RIMA), moclobemide and brofaromin, as antidepressants and possible anti-Parkinson activity, with limited tyramine potentiation, since the amine can displace the inhibitor from its binding site on the enzyme. It has always been deemed a greater pharmacological advantage to inhibit both forms of the enzymes to get the full functional activities of the amine neurotransmitters, and without inducing a “cheese reaction”. This was not possible until recently, with the development of the novel cholinesterase-brain selective MAO-AB inhibitor, TV3326 (N-propargyl-(3R)-aminoindan-5-yl-ethyl methylcarbamte hemitartate), a carbamte derivative of the irreversible MAO-B inhibitor anti-Parkinson drug, rasagiline. This drug is a brain selective MAO-A and B inhibitor, with little inhibition of liver and small intestine enzymes. Pharmacologically it has limited tyramine potentiation, very similar to moclobemide and being a MAO-AB inhibitor it has the antidepressant, anti-Parkinson and anti-Alzheimer activities in the respective models used to develop such drugs.

The Matrilineal Ancestry of Ashkenazi Jewry: Portrait of a Recent Founder Event

Abstract: Both the extent and location of the maternal ancestral deme from which the Ashkenazi Jewry arose remain obscure. Here, using complete sequences of the maternally inherited mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), we show that close to one-half of Ashkenazi Jews, estimated at 8,000,000 people, can be traced back to only 4 women carrying distinct mtDNAs that are virtually absent in other populations, with the important exception of low frequencies among non-Ashkenazi Jews. We conclude that four founding mtDNAs, likely of Near Eastern ancestry, underwent major expansion(s) in Europe within the past millennium.