Université de Fribourg

Arginase‐II induces vascular smooth muscle cell senescence and apoptosis through p66Shc and p53 independently of its l‐arginine ureahydrolase activity: implications for atherosclerotic plaque vulnerability

Xiong, Yuyan ; Yu, Yi ; Montani, Jean‐Pierre ; Yang, Zhihong ; Ming, Xiu‐Fen

In: Journal of the American Heart Association, 2013, vol. 2, no. 4, p. e000096

Background Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) senescence and apoptosis are involved in atherosclerotic plaque vulnerability. Arginase‐II (Arg‐II) has been shown to promote vascular dysfunction and plaque vulnerability phenotypes in mice through uncoupling of endothelial nitric oxide synthase and activation of macrophage inflammation. The function of Arg‐II in VSMCs with respect to plaque...

Université de Fribourg

Neonatal stroke in mice causes long-term changes in neuronal notch-2 expression that may contribute to prolonged injury

Albéri, Lavinia ; Chi, Zhikai ; Kadam, Shilpa D. ; Mulholland, Justin D. ; Dawson, Valina L. ; Gaiano, Nicholas ; Comi, Anne M.

In: Stroke, 2010, vol. 41, no. Suppl. 1, p. S64-S71

Background and Purpose: Notch receptors (1–4) are membrane proteins that, on ligand stilumation, release their cytoplasmic domains to serve as transcription factors. Notch-2 promotes proliferation both during development and cancer, but its role in response to ischemic injury is less well understood. The purpose of this study was to understand whether Notch-2 is induced after neonatal stroke...

Université de Fribourg

Different vascular smooth muscle cell apoptosis in the human internal mammary artery and the saphenous vein: implications for bypass graft disease

Frischknecht, Karin ; Greutert, Helen ; Weisshaupt, Christian ; Kaspar, Mathias ; Yang, Zhihong ; Lüscher, Thomas F. ; Carrel, Thierry P. ; Tanner, Felix C.

In: Journal of Vascular Research, 2006, vol. 43, no. 4, p. 338-346

The remarkable patency of internal mammary artery (MA) grafts compared to saphenous vein (SV) grafts has been related to different biological properties of the two blood vessels. We examined whether proliferation and apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) from human coronary artery bypass vessels differ according to patency rates. Methods and Results: Proliferation rates to serum...

Université de Fribourg

Life time—circadian clocks, mitochondria and metabolism

Langmesser, Sonja ; Albrecht, Urs

In: Chronobiology International, 2006, vol. 23, no. 1-2, p. 51–157

A functional circadian clock has long been considered a selective advantage. Accumulating evidence shows that the clock coordinates a variety of physiological processes in order to schedule them to the optimal time of day and thus to synchronize metabolism to changes in external conditions. In mitochondria, both metabolic and cellular defense mechanisms are carefully regulated. Abnormal clock...

Université de Fribourg

A guideline for analyzing circadian wheel-running behavior in rodents under different lighting conditions

Jud, Corinne ; Schmutz, Isabelle ; Hampp, Gabriele ; Oster, Henrik ; Albrecht, Urs

In: Biological Procedures Online, 2005, vol. 7, p. 101-116

Most behavioral experiments within circadian research are based on the analysis of locomotor activity. This paper introduces scientists to chronobiology by explaining the basic terminology used within the field. Furthermore, it aims to assist in designing, carrying out, and evaluating wheel-running experiments with rodents, particularly mice. Since light is an easily applicable stimulus that...