Kidney is one of the important organs of the body.With both excretory and endocrine functions,it plays a vital role in regulating the normal physiological state.As a precursor of the nitric oxide(NO)synthesis
Animals ; Arginine/physiology* ; Kidney/physiology* ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; Nitric Oxide/physiology* ; Rats ; Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-1/physiology* ; Renal Insufficiency/physiopathology* ; Signal Transduction ; Vasoconstriction

OBJECTIVE: To explore the interaction between arginine functionalized hydroxyapatite (HAP/Arg) nanoparticles and endothelial cells, and to investigate mechanisms for endocytosis kinetics and endocytosis.
 METHODS: Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were selected as the research model.Cellular uptake of HAP/Arg nanoparticles were observed by laser scanning confocal microscopy.Average fluorescence intensity of cells after ingestion with different concentrations of HAP/Arg nanoparticles were determined by flow cytometer and atomic force microscopy.
 RESULTS: The HAP/Arg nanoparticles with doped terbium existed in cytoplasm, and most of them distributed around the nucleus area after cellular uptake by HUVECs. Cellular uptake process of HAP/Arg nanoparticles in HUVECs was in a time and concentration dependent manner. 4 h and 50 mg/L was the best condition for uptake. HAP/Arg nanoparticles were easier to be up-taken into the cells than HAP nanoparticles without arginine functionalized.
 CONCLUSION HAP/Arg nanoparticles are internalized by HUVECs cells through an active transport and energy-dependent endocytosis process, and it is up-taken by cells mainly through caveolin-mediated endocytosis, but the clathrin-dependent endocytic pathway is also involved..
Arginine ; pharmacology ; Biological Transport, Active ; physiology ; Caveolins ; physiology ; Cells, Cultured ; Clathrin ; physiology ; Durapatite ; pharmacokinetics ; Endocytosis ; physiology ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; Humans ; Nanoparticles ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDProtein arginine methyltransferases 1 (PRMT1) is over-expressed in a variety of cancers, including lung cancer, and is correlated with a poor prognosis of tumor development. This study aimed to investigate the role of PRMT1 in nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) migration in vitro.

METHODSIn this study, PRMT1 expression in the NSCLC cell line A549 was silenced using lentiviral vector-mediated short hairpin RNAs. Cell migration was measured using both scratch wound healing and transwell cell migration assays. The mRNA expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1, 2 (TIMP1, 2) were measured using quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The expression levels of protein markers for epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) (E-cadherin, N-cadherin), focal adhesion kinase (FAK), Src, AKT, and their corresponding phosphorylated states were detected by Western blot.

RESULTSCell migration was significantly inhibited in the PRMT1 silenced group compared to the control group. The mRNA expression of MMP-2 decreased while TIMP1 and TIMP2 increased significantly. E-cadherin mRNA expression also increased while N-cadherin decreased. Only phosphorylated Src levels decreased in the silenced group while FAK or AKT remained unchanged.

CONCLUSIONSPRMT1-small hairpin RNA inhibits the migration abilities of NSCLC A549 cells by inhibiting EMT, extracellular matrix degradation, and Src phosphorylation in vitro.

Blotting, Western ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; enzymology ; genetics ; Cell Line ; Cell Movement ; genetics ; physiology ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; genetics ; physiology ; Extracellular Matrix Proteins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Protein-Arginine N-Methyltransferases ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; physiology

No abstract available.
Adrenalectomy ; Arginine Vasopressin/diagnostic use ; Catecholamines/physiology ; Cushing Syndrome/diagnosis/*physiopathology/surgery ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone/*secretion ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Vasopressins/physiology

The effects of the feed attractants on Whitmania pigra were studied. The average weight of Wh. pigra were 5.0 g. Arginine was selected as feed attractants, xanthan gum was selected as feed substrate. The times of Wh. pigra going into the inducing room were recorded. The water temperature was 22-25 degrees C during the whole experiment. Arginine that had better inducing effect was chosen to carry on in the gradient experiment. The results showed that the best inducing effect was found when the added amount of arginine was 0.3%, which was close to the arginine content of the natural body fluid of Wh. Pigra and Bellamya purificata, 2.97 mg x g(-1).
Animal Feed ; analysis ; Animals ; Arginine ; analysis ; metabolism ; Body Weight ; Feeding Behavior ; Leeches ; growth & development ; physiology

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in the serum and the vascular endothelial function in patients with hypercholesterolemia and the underlying mechanism. METHODS: We examined the flow-mediated arterial diastolic function (FMD), the levels of IGF-1, asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), NO, and the activity of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in the serum from 25 patients with hypercholesterolemia and from healthy controls. An endothelial cell injury model was established by incubation of the human umbical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) with oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) for 24 hours. Cells were treated with IGF-1 30 min before ox-LDL treatment. The levels of ADMA, NOS, and NO in the cell supernatant, the activity of dimethylarginine dimethylamine hydrolase (DDAH) in the cell lysate were measured. Beta-galactosidase staining was used to assess the degree of endothelial cell senescence by calculating the senescence rate of cells. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the FMD, the levels of IGF-1 and NO, and the activity of NOS in the serum from patients with hypercholesterolemia decreased significantly accompanied with a dramatic increase at ADMA level. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the change in IGF-1 was positively correlated with FMD while the change in ADMA was negatively correlated with FMD. Compared with the control group, ox-LDL treatments significantly decreased the activities of DDAH and NOS, and the level of NO, accompanied with an increase in ADMA. Betagalactosidase staining showed that the senescence rate of cells increased in the ox-LDL group. The effect of ox-LDL on HUVECs was significantly attenuated at the presence of IGF-1. CONCLUSION The decrease in IGF-1 in the peripheral blood may contribute to vascular endothelial dysfunction in patients with hypercholesterolemia. IGF-1 can protect HUVECs against ox-LDL-induced senescence, which is likely involved in the regulation of DDAH/ADMA pathway.
Adult ; Arginine ; analogs & derivatives ; blood ; Case-Control Studies ; Cells, Cultured ; Endothelium, Vascular ; physiology ; Female ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; Humans ; Hypercholesterolemia ; blood ; physiopathology ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; metabolism ; physiology ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; pharmacology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; Protective Agents ; metabolism ; Vasodilation ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo screen the asymmetric dimethyl arginines (ADMA)-containing proteins which could combine with protein arginine methyltransferase 1 (PRMT1).

METHODSWestern blot was adopted to identify the expression of PRMT1 and the proteins with ADMA in glioma cell lines and normal brain tissues, and then to detect the changes of ADMA level after knock-down of PRMT1 with RNAi transfection in U87MG cells. Co-Immunoprecipitation (Co-IP), western blot, and sliver staining were employed to screen the candidate binding proteins of PRMT1. Then liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was used to identify the binding proteins of PRMT1.

RESULTSThe expression of PRMT1 and some levels of ADMA were higher in glioma cell lines than in normal brain tissues. After knocking down PRMT1, some ADMA levels were found declined. After screening the binding proteins of PRMT1 with Co-IP and LC-MS/MS, 26 candidate binding proteins were identified. Among them, 6 candidate proteins had higher ions scores (> 38) and bioinformation analysis predicted that SEC23-IP, ANKHD1-EIF4EBP3 protein, and 1-phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate 5-kinase isoform 2 had possible methylated aginine sites.

CONCLUSIONSThe high expression of PRMT1 in glioma may induce the change of ADMA levels. Altogether 26 candidate proteins were identified, which contain ADMA and specifically bind with PRMT1.

Arginine ; analogs & derivatives ; analysis ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Glioma ; chemistry ; Humans ; Immunoprecipitation ; Protein-Arginine N-Methyltransferases ; analysis ; physiology ; Repressor Proteins ; analysis ; physiology ; Substrate Specificity ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of oxotremorine in arginine vasopressin (AVP)-induced hypothermia and its effects on the behavioral thermoregulatory response.

METHODSCore temperature (Tc), brown adipose tissue (BAT) temperature and motor activities were monitored in undisturbed female SD rats using radiotelemetry. The behavioral thermoregulatory response was monitored in rats using radiotelemetric temperature gradient apparatus. Effect of AVP (10 microg/kg) and oxotremorine (0.25 mg/kg) on Tc, motor activities, BAT temperature (T(BAT)), grooming activities and the behavioral thermoregulatory response were observed in rats.

RESULTSAdministration of AVP and oxotremorine caused a significant drop in Tc, T(BAT), and an increases in grooming activities, respectively. The hypothermic responses were accompanied with a preference for cooler ambient temperature. Oxotremorine augmented the reduction of Tc, T(BAT), and the elevation of grooming activities resulting from AVP, and lasting a longer time. Administration of oxotremorine followed immediately by AVP injection in rats was also shown to induce a preference for cooler ambient temperature, but there was no significant difference compared with AVP.

CONCLUSIONAVP-induced hypothermia was related with the set point temperature reduction, inhibiton of BAT thermogenesis and an increases in grooming activities. Oxotremorine could participate in peripheral AVP-induced hypothermia by affecting BAT thermogenesis and behavioral thermoregulation.

Adipose Tissue, Brown ; drug effects ; physiology ; Animals ; Arginine Vasopressin ; pharmacology ; Behavior, Animal ; Body Temperature Regulation ; Female ; Hypothermia, Induced ; Oxotremorine ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

This paper was aimed to study conserved motifs of voltage sensing proteins (VSPs) and establish a voltage sensing model. All VSPs were collected from the Uniprot database using a comprehensive keyword search followed by manual curation, and the results indicated that there are only two types of known VSPs, voltage gated ion channels and voltage dependent phosphatases. All the VSPs have a common domain of four helical transmembrane segments (TMS, S1-S4), which constitute the voltage sensing module of the VSPs. The S1 segment was shown to be responsible for membrane targeting and insertion of these proteins, while S2-S4 segments, which can sense membrane potential, for protein properties. Conserved motifs/residues and their functional significance of each TMS were identified using profile-to-profile sequence alignments. Conserved motifs in these four segments are strikingly similar for all VSPs, especially, the conserved motif [RK]-X(2)-R-X(2)-R-X(2)-[RK] was presented in all the S4 segments, with positively charged arginine (R) alternating with two hydrophobic or uncharged residues. Movement of these arginines across the membrane electric field is the core mechanism by which the VSPs detect changes in membrane potential. The negatively charged aspartate (D) in the S3 segment is universally conserved in all the VSPs, suggesting that the aspartate residue may be involved in voltage sensing properties of VSPs as well as the electrostatic interactions with the positively charged residues in the S4 segment, which may enhance the thermodynamic stability of the S4 segments in plasma membrane.
Arginine ; chemistry ; Aspartic Acid ; chemistry ; Cell Membrane ; physiology ; Conserved Sequence ; Ion Channel Gating ; Ion Channels ; chemistry ; Membrane Potentials ; Protein Structure, Tertiary

Effective drug to manage constipation has been unsatisfactory. We sought to determine whether methionine has effect on the human colon. Human colon tissues were obtained from the specimens of colon resection. Microelectrode recording was performed and contractile activity of muscle strips and the propagation of the contractions in the colon segment were measured. At 10 microM, methionine depolarized the resting membrane potential (RMP) of circular muscle (CM) cells. In the CM strip, methionine increased the amplitude and area under the curve (AUC) of contractions. In the whole segment of colon, methionine increased the amplitude and AUC of the high amplitude contractions in the CM. These effects on contraction were maximal at 10 microM and were not observed in longitudinal muscles in both the strip and the colon segment. Methionine reversed the effects of pretreatment with sodium nitroprusside, tetrodotoxin and Nw-oxide-L-arginine, resulting in depolarization of the RMP, and increased amplitude and AUC of contractions in the muscle strip. Methionine treatment affected the wave pattern of the colon segment by evoking small sized amplitude contractions superimposed on preexisting wave patterns. Our results indicate that a compound mimicking methionine may provide prokinetic functions in the human colon.
Area Under Curve ; Arginine/pharmacology ; Colon/drug effects/physiology ; Humans ; Membrane Potentials/drug effects ; Methionine/*pharmacology ; Microelectrodes ; Muscle Contraction/*drug effects ; Muscle, Smooth/drug effects/*physiology ; Nitroprusside/pharmacology ; Tetrodotoxin/pharmacology