Currently browsing: “Publications”

Matus S, Lopez E, Valenzuela V, Nassif M and Hetz C. (2013). “Functional role of the transcription factor ATF4 in the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis”. PLoS One. 2013 Jul 18;8(7):e66672.

Dopamine receptor D3 expressed on CD4+ T-cells favours neurodegeneration of dopaminergic neurons during Parkinson’s disease

ABSTRACT: Emerging evidence has demonstrated that CD4+ T cells infiltrate into the substantia nigra (SN) in Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients and in animal models of PD. SN-infiltrated CD4+ T cells bearing inflammatory phenotypes promote microglial activation and strongly contribute to neurodegeneration of dopaminergic neurons. Importantly, altered expression of dopamine receptor D3 (D3R) in PBLs from […]

Modulation of T-cell mediated immunity by dopamine receptor D5

ABSTRACT: CD4+ T-cells are central players orchestrating antigen-specific immunity and tolerance. Importantly, dendritic cells (DCs) are responsible for priming T-cells and for promoting their differentiation from naïve T-cells into appropriate functional cells. Because of their fundamental roles in controlling immunity, activation and differentiation of DCs and CD4+ T-cells require tight regulatory mechanisms. Several studies have […]

ICEAfe1, an actively excising integrative-conjugative element from the biomining bacterium Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans.

Castillo K, Valenzuela V, Nassif M, Oñate M, Encina G, Matus S, Irrazabal T, Parsons G, Court F, Schneider B, Aebischer P, Armentano D and Hetz C. (2013). “Measurement of autophagy flux in the nervous system in vivo”. Cell Death and Differentiation. 2013; 4:e917.

Guerrero J, Alfaro IE, Gómez F, Protter AA, Bernales S (2013) Enzalutamide, an Androgen Receptor Signaling Inhibitor, Induces Tumor Regression in Mouse Model of Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer. Prostate. 73(12):1291-305.

Castillo K, Nassif M, Valenzuela V, Rojas F, Matus S, Mercado G, Court F, van Zundert B, and Hetz C. (2013). “Trehalose delays the progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis by enhancing autophagy in motoneurons”. Autophagy. 2013 Jun 6;9(9).

Enzalutamide, an androgen receptor signaling inhibitor, induces tumor regression in a mouse model of castration-resistant prostate cancer

ABSTRACT: Background: Enzalutamide (formerly MDV3100 and available commercially as Xtandi®), a novel androgen receptor (AR) signaling inhibitor, blocks the growth of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) in cellular model systems and was shown in a clinical study to increase survival in patients with metastatic CRPC. Enzalutamide inhibits multiple steps of AR signaling: binding of androgens to […]

Complete Genome Sequence of Temperate Bacteriophage AcaML1 from the Extreme Acidophile Acidithiobacillus caldus ATCC 51756.

Immunity on Dendritic Cells Potentiates Th17-Mediated Stimulation of Dopamine Receptor D5 Expressed

ABSTRACT: Dendritic cells (DCs) are responsible for priming T cells and for promoting their differentiation from naive T cells into appropriate effector cells. Emerging evidence suggests that neurotransmitters can modulate T cell-mediated immunity. However, the involvement of specific neurotransmitters or receptors remains poorly understood. In this study, we analyzed the role of dopamine in the regulation of DC […]

The unfolded protein response during prostate cancer development

Accumulation of misfolded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) induces the unfolded protein response (UPR). The UPR promotes cell survival by adjusting ER protein folding capacity but if homeostasis cannot be reestablished, apoptosis is induced. The execution of life/death decisions is regulated by the three UPR branches (IRE1, PERK, ATF6) and their downstream effectors. Events […]

Unfolded protein stress in the endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria: a role in neurodegeneration

Protein-folding occurs in several intracellular locations including the endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria. In normal conditions there is a balance between the levels of unfolded proteins and protein folding machinery. Disruption of homeostasis and an accumulation of unfolded proteins trigger stress responses, or unfolded protein responses (UPR), in these organelles. These pathways signal to increase the […]

Latrepirdine stimulates autophagy and reduces accumulation of α-synuclein in cells and in mouse brain

ABSTRACT: Latrepirdine (Dimebon; dimebolin) is a neuroactive compound that was associated with enhanced cognition, neuroprotection and neurogenesis in laboratory animals, and has entered phase II clinical trials for both Alzheimer’s disease and Huntington’s disease (HD). Based on recent indications that latrepirdine protects cells against cytotoxicity associated with expression of aggregatable neurodegeneration-related proteins, including Aβ42 and […]

Critical role of the first transmembrane domain of Cx26 in regulating oligomerization and function

ABSTRACT: To identify motifs involved in oligomerization of the gap junction protein Cx26, we studied individual transmembrane (TM) domains and the full-length protein. Using the TOXCAT assay for interactions of isolated TM α-helices, we found that TM1, a Cx26 pore domain, had a strong propensity to homodimerize. We identified amino acids Val-37–Ala-40 (VVAA) as the […]

A rule-based model of a hypothetical zombie outbreak: Insights on the role of emotional factors during behavioral adaptation of an artificial population

ABSTRACT: Models of infectious diseases have been developed since the first half of the twentieth century. There are different approaches to model an infectious outbreak, especially in terms of how individuals and their interactions are defined and treated. Most models haven’t considered the role that emotional factors of the individual may play on the population’s […]