Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0038454 (stroke)
 147,016 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

We are in the beginning of the era of regenerative medicine and many researchers are testing adult stem cells to be used for tissue repair and regeneration in the human body. Many adult stem cells have been discovered since the late 1990's with more recently a novel adult stem cell described in menstrual blood. The menstrual blood is derived from shedding of the endometrial lining, specifically the functionalis layer, which contains highly proliferative cells used to prepare the female body for implementation of a fertilized egg. Cell characterization experiments of stromal stem cells discovered in menstrual blood have demonstrated cells to be multipotent which can successfully differentiate in vitro into cell lineages derived from the mesoderm and the ectoderm.When menstrual blood cells were seeded in culture the average number of adherent cells was 8.50 % with a range of 0.48% to 47.76%. Demonstrating longevity one cell line allowed to grow was subcultured 47 times before complete senescence and death. The menstrual blood stromal stem cell phenotypic analysis incorporates mesenchymal cell markers such as CD13, CD29, CD44, CD49f, CD73, CD90, CD105, CD166, MHC Class I and pluripotent embryonic stem cell markers SSEA-4, Nanog and Oct-4. Karyotypic analysis demonstrated the maintenance of diploid cells without chromosomal abnormalities.In conclusion preliminary studies have demonstrated menstrual stem cells are easily expandable to clinical relevance. Pivotal pre-clinical studies are now underway to test the safety and efficacy of menstrual stem cells in several different animal models including one for neuroprotection following transplantation into an experimental stroke model. The study demonstrates menstrual stem cells are a novel cell population that may be routinely and safely isolated to provide a renewable source of stem cells from child-bearing women.
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PMID:Recent Studies Assessing the Proliferative Capability of a Novel Adult Stem Cell Identified in Menstrual Blood. 2168 32

The hexapeptide angiotensin IV (Ang IV) induces diverse biological effects such as memory enhancement and protection against ischemic stroke. Studies on the mechanism of Ang IV however are hampered by its instability and its lack of selectivity. The high-affinity binding site for Ang IV is the insulin-regulated aminopeptidase (IRAP, EC 3.4.11.3), but Ang IV also acts as a weak agonist for the Ang II-receptor (AT1), implying the need for stable and highly selective Ang IV-analogues. Here we present the screening of novel Ang IV-analogues, selected on basis of high affinity for IRAP, high selectivity (compared to aminopeptidase N and the AT1 receptor) and resistance against proteases. The selected compound IVDE77 possesses a number of advantages compared to Ang IV: (i) it has a 40 times higher affinity for IRAP (Ki 1.71 nM), (ii) it does not activate the AT1 receptor, (iii) it is easily radiolabeled with tritium and (iv) it is resistant to proteolysis, even in human plasma. In addition, pre-treatment of intact CHO-K1 cells with IVDE77 led to a virtually complete inhibition of subsequent intracellular accumulation of [(3)H]IVDE77-IRAP complexes. IVDE77 thus represents the first Ang IV-analogue able to abolish IRAP-availability completely at the cell surface in vitro. In summary, IVDE77 is a useful tool for the detection of IRAP under physiological conditions, and may contribute to elucidating the mechanism of Ang IV to ascertain which functions are IRAP-dependent.
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PMID:[3H]IVDE77, a novel radioligand with high affinity and selectivity for the insulin-regulated aminopeptidase. 2337 57

Essential hypertension is one of the major contributors to premature morbidity and mortality due to the incresased risk for coronary heart disease, stroke, renal disease, peripheral vascular disease and vascular dementia for both men and women. However, its basic causes remain unknown. In the present work we studied the activity of several proteolytic regulatory enzymes related to renin-angiotensin-system (RAS) (aminopeptidase A, APA; aminopeptidase N, APN; aminopeptidase B, APB; and insulin-regulated aminopeptidase, IRAP); with oxytocin regulation (oxytocinase); with the metabolism of GnRH and TRH (pyrrolidone carboxypeptidase, Pcp); and with enkephalins metabolism (enkephalindegrading activity, EDA), to elucidate their role in the mechanisms responsible of essential hypertension and to discuss the possible gender differences. Serum samples of 53 individuals with essential hypertension and 60 healthy volunteers were collected and used to assay enzyme activities, gonad hormones testosterone and estradiol, TSH and free thyroxin (fT4). Differences were observed in APA, APN, Pcp and EDA specific activities, and in serum gonad hormone levels between hypertensive and control groups. Only Pcp activity showed gender differences. Regarding the RAS, APA is reduced while APN is increased, suggesting increased levels of angiotensin II and a facilitation of the conversion of angiotensin III in angiotensin IV. Thus, the changes in several RAS-regulating specific activities and other enzyme activities involved in the neuroendocrine modulation of gonad and stress-related functions are related to essential hypertension with minor gender differences. Therefore, aminopeptidases constitute new elements for the knowledge of the causes of essential hypertension and an alternative as therapeutic targets against the illness.
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PMID:Circulating aminopeptidase activities in men and women with essential hypertension. 2393 Dec 76