Neutrophil : Methods and Protocols
Neutrophils, the most abundant white cells in humans, serve as the primary cellular defense against infection. This volume provides a concise set of protocols for assessing basic neutrophil functions and investigating specialized areas in neutrophil biology. Each of the protocols is written by leading researchers in the field and includes hints for success, as well as guidance for troubleshooting. Part I contains overviews of neutrophil biology, function, and disorders. Part II describes commonly used methods to isolate neutrophils from humans and other animal species. Part III details methods for investigating chemotaxis, transmigration, phagocytosis, and bactericidal activity. Part IV includes protocols that measure neutrophil apoptosis, calcium signal transduction, degranulation and detection of cytoplasmic granules, gene expression, transcription factors, and apoptosis. Part V provides multiple assays for measuring production of intracellular and/or extracellular reactive oxygen species, and a method that details use of the cell-free NADPH oxidase assay, an iconic assay for studies of the neutrophil NADPH oxidase. Part VI provides chapters that describe how to analyze formation and function of neutrophil extracellular traps.
Natural products and human diseases : Pharmacology, molecular targets, and therapeutic benefits
Provides insight into the clinical and translational application of natural products in human diseases Details the impact of natural products on a molecular basis Describes the identification of biomarkers, therapeutic effects of phytochemicals, and and new targets
Molecular Mechanism of Congenital Heart Disease and Pulmonary Hypertension
This book focuses on the molecular mechanism of congenital heart disease and pulmonary hypertension, offering new insights into the development of pulmonary circulation and the ductus arteriosus. It describes in detail the molecular mechanisms involved in the development and morphogenesis of the heart, lungs and ductus arteriosus, covering a range of topics such as gene functions, growth factors, transcription factors and cellular interactions, as well as stem cell engineering technologies
Inflammation and natural products ; 1st ed.
Brings together research in the area of the natural products and their anti-inflammatory action in medical, nutraceutical and food products, addressing specific chronic inflammatory diseases like cancer and the mechanistic aspects of the mode of action of some key natural products. Inflammation is a complicated process, driven by infection or injury or genetic changes, which results in triggering signalling cascades, activation of transcription factors, gene expression, increased levels of inflammatory enzymes, and release of various oxidants and pro-inflammatory molecules in inflammatory cells. Excessive oxidants and inflammatory mediators have a harmful effect on normal tissue, including toxicity, loss of barrier function, abnormal cell proliferation, inhibiting normal function of tissues and organs and finally leading to systemic disorders. The emerging development of natural product formulations utilizing the unique anti-inflammatory compounds such as polyphenols, polysaccharides, terpenes, fatty acids, proteins and several other bioactive components has shown notable successes.
Genomics in Endocrinology : DNA Microarray Analysis in Endocrine Health and Disease
Genomics in Endocrinology focuses on exciting new advances in endocrinology resulting from DNA microarray studies and includes a comprehensive introduction to the use of DNA microarrays in endocrinology. The volume provides the basis for further understanding of the usefulness of microarray analyses in endocrinology research.
Gene Expression and Regulation
This book offers a comprehensive look into the science of gene expression and regulation. Focusing on topics such as actions of nuclear receptors, RNA processing, and DNA methylation and imprinting, Gene Expression and Regulation is edited by a leading biologist and includes contributions by experts in the field. Presented in the following five sections, this book covers a full spectrum of topics: The History; The Machinery; The Regulators; The Genome; and Special Topics. The Machinery section covers the transcriptional apparatus and general transcription factors. The Regulators section examines selected gene-specific transcription factors important to regulating gene expression. The Genome section covers issues relevant to the behavior of the genome in relation to gene regulation. The Special Topics section discusses several selected topics ranging from bacterial and plant gene expression to DNA topology and interference RNA. The book’s focus is on scientific concepts and issues, rather than specific organisms or experimental approaches.
Etiology and Morphogenesis of Congenital Heart Disease : From Gene Function and Cellular Interaction to Morphology
This volume focuses on the etiology and morphogenesis of congenital heart diseases. It reviews in detail the early development and differentiation of the heart, and later morphologic events of the cardiovascular system, covering a wide range of topics such as gene functions, growth factors, transcription factors and cellular interactions that are implicated in cardiac morphogenesis and congenital heart disease. This book also presents recent advances in stem cell and cell sheet tissue engineering technologies which have the potential to provide novel in vitro disease models and to generate regenerative paradigms for cardiac repair and regeneration
Ctenophores : Methods and protocols
Explores emerging approaches and methods inspired by recent research using ctenophores or placozoans, facilitating the study of these enigmatic species and ancient animal lineages. Practical protocols are integrated with introductory chapters about general biology, summarizing the diversity, evolution, genomics, development, and neurobiology of these organisms. Special chapters outline strategies and applications for culturing, microscopy, physiology, electrical synapses, and bioluminescence, molecular and single-cell biology, transcription factors, as well as gene and protein expression analyses. The book also contains bioinformatics and computational chapters covering peptidomics and epigenomics. Written for the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series, chapters include detailed implementation advice that leads to dependable results in the laboratory.
Lymphocyte Signal Transduction
Signal transduction through leukocyte receptors involves a variety of signaling molecules including kinases, phosphatases, adaptor proteins, small GTPases GTP exchange factors, membrane phospholipids as well as others. These signal transducers, regulated by inter- and intra-molecular interactions, as well as by various post-translational modifications, lead to the activation of transcription factors that mediate cellular differentiation and growth, effector cell functions, and apoptotic cell death. Several investigators from various parts of the world convened at the 3rd Lymphocyte Signal Transduction Workshop in Crete, Greece from May 27 to June 1, 2005 to discuss their most recent findings in leukocyte signaling. This volume represents a collection of topics discussed during the conference.








