Showing papers in "Molecular Aspects of Medicine in 2008"

TL;DR: The ADAM family are fundamental to many control processes in development and homeostasis, and unsurprisingly they are also linked to pathological states when their functions are dysregulated, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, asthma, Alzheimer’s disease.

TL;DR: Matrix metalloproteinases are now acknowledged as key players in the regulation of both cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix interactions, and their potential as drug targets in disease or as important features of the repair process will be dependent upon careful analysis of their role in different cellular locations and at different disease stages.

TL;DR: The revelation that the colon, breast, prostate, macrophages and skin among other organs have the enzymatic machinery to produce 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D provides further insight as to how vitamin D plays such an essential role for overall health and well being.

TL;DR: The vitamin D receptor and catalytic enzymes are colocalized in the areas of the brain involved in complex planning, processing, and the formation of new memories, which potentially implicate vitamin D in neurocognitive function.

TL;DR: Further research is needed to fully characterize the exact underlying mechanisms of vitamin D action on muscle tissue and to understand how these cellular changes translate into clinical improvements in physical performance.

TL;DR: Observations on immune responses towards antigens originating from the reactions of lipid peroxidation products with hepatic proteins might represent one of the mechanisms that contribute to perpetuate chronic hepatic inflammation in ALD.

TL;DR: In this article, the impact of location and UV exposure on vitamin D synthesis in humans is discussed. But little is understood about the basic interaction of sunlight (UV) exposure and the subsequent photobiology and photochemistry of vitamin D production in humans.

TL;DR: The in vivo substrates of meprins are unknown, but the abundant expression of these proteinases in the epithelial cells of the intestine, kidney and skin provide clues to their functions.

TL;DR: In this short review emerging concepts in hepatic fibrogenesis and related molecular mechanisms, as provided by recent experimental and clinical studies, are presented.

TL;DR: The demonstrated adduction reaction of HNE with important signalling proteins strongly suggests a pathogenetic role for this lipid aldehyde in the progression of liver diseases.

TL;DR: Vitamin D analogs with improved therapeutic indices are now available for treatment of psoriasis and secondary hyperparathyroidism in chronic kidney disease, and research on newer analogs for these indications continues, as well as many new analogs that show tremendous promise in cell-based models.

TL;DR: While vitamin D-induced growth arrest and apoptosis of tumor cells or their non-neoplastic progenitors are plausible mechanisms, other gene targets related to DNA repair and immunomodulation, and other cell targets may be regulated by 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D and contribute to vitamin D mediated cancer prevention.

TL;DR: This review briefly summarizes the molecular mechanisms underlying acetaldehyde pro-fibrogenic effects of alcohol abuse, in which acetaldehyde (AcCHO), the major ethanol metabolite, plays a central role.

TL;DR: The seemingly paradoxical effects of 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) and vitamin D on Th1 mediated autoimmunity versus infectious immunity point to a broad array of vitamin D targets in the immune system.

TL;DR: This review describes some recent findings obtained in lipid peroxidation and its aldehydic products, which can regulate several cellular processes, as proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis of normal and neoplastic cells.

TL;DR: Understanding the mechanism of SIRT1 neuroprotection promises novel strategies in clinical intervention of neurodegenerative diseases as neuronal degeneration is a major pathophysiological aspect of human aging.

TL;DR: It is suggested that mitochondrial respiratory chain, UCP2 and redox balance cooperate in a common pathway that permits to set down the mitochondrial redox pressure, limits the risk of oxidative damage, and allows the maximal rate of fat removal.

TL;DR: The molecular basis of protective and toxic vitamin D actions on the vasculature is summarized and the first clinical studies indicate that vitamin D receptor activation can improve survival in patients with chronic kidney disease.

TL;DR: It is concluded that the skeleton is an intracrine organ for vitamin D metabolism, challenging the long-held notion that 1,25D is solely an endocrine hormone.

TL;DR: This review aims to summarize the data as they stand at the present time on the role of vitamin D in the pathogenesis of immune-mediated disorders, with special focus on type 1 diabetes, and on the therapeutic opportunities for vitaminD in the prevention and treatment of this autoimmune disease in mouse models and humans.

TL;DR: The present review will outline the principal aspects of such HCV-induced systemic disease focusing on extrahepatic manifestations and recommend a cautious approach to the patient, with a case to case accurate tailoring of therapy.

TL;DR: Molecular and clinical aspects of filoviral haemorrhagic fevers are summarized and vaccine appears the unique therapeutic frontier.

TL;DR: The most recent findings on the pathogenesis of liver cancer and on therapeutic approaches, included those emerging from the most recent literature are reported.

TL;DR: Methods to assess protease expression at the messenger RNA level using DNA microarrays and at the protein level using mass spectrometry-based proteomics are described and methods to reveal and quantify the activity state of proteases and to identify their biological substrates are reviewed.

TL;DR: A new perspective based on the development of Food intended for Specific Medical Purposes (FSMP) containing highly bioavailable antioxidant compounds or polyunsaturated-fatty acids, has been highlighted as a tool for preventive and curative medicine, to be associated to pharmacological treatments.

TL;DR: Thirty years after its discovery, the hepatitis B virus (HBV) still remains a major global public health problem and the understanding of the natural dynamism of HBV infection and of the virus-host interactions that induce liver damage is crucial to the prevention of new infections.

TL;DR: Protein kinase C is a family of isoenzymes differently involved in cell response to injury and many studies describe their role as "stress sensors", but molecular mechanisms are not really defined.

TL;DR: Understanding the pathogenesis of portal hypertension could be of great utility in preventing and curing the complications of portal hypertensive patients, such as esophageal varices, hepatic encephalopathy, ascites.

TL;DR: In cirrhotic patients, portal hypertension is often associated with a hyperdynamic circulatory syndrome, with high cardiac output and reduced systemic vascular resistance and arterial pressure, due to arterial vasodilation in the splanchnic circulation.

TL;DR: Recent advances on the molecular and cell biology of human cholangiopathies are opening new potential therapeutic perspectives for these diseases, including liver transplantation in the infanthood and the third in adulthood.