C-SH2 point mutation converts p85β regulatory subunit of phosphoinositide 3-kinase to an anti-aging gene.

Insulin interacts with the insulin receptor, and the activated receptor promotes activity of the phosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI3K) enzyme. A decrease in insulin or insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) signaling increases the lifespan in mammalian species. We found that a point mutation in the C-SH2 domain of the p85β regulatory subunit of PI3K results in a prolonged lifespan.

Intracranial self-stimulation-reward induces neurite extension in PC12m3 cells and activation of the p38 MAPK pathway.

Factors that trigger emotional expression may be divided into two patterns according to the type of motivation, acquiring reward (pleasure) and avoiding aversion (punishment). Repeated exposure to certain external stimuli accompanied by aberrant motivation may produce psychiatric diseases such as bipolar disorder and addiction via dysregulation of the central nervous system. However, neurobiological underpinnings of such diseases have not been clarified, especially at the neuronal level.

Effect of a steam foot spa on geriatric inpatients with cognitive impairment: a pilot study.

Purpose: To investigate whether a steam foot spa improves cognitive impairment in geriatric inpatients.

Methods: Geriatric inpatients with cognitive impairment were given a steam foot spa treatment at 42°C for 20 minutes for 2 weeks (5 days/week). Physiological indicators such as blood pressure, percutaneous oxygen saturation, pulse, tympanic temperature, and sleep time and efficiency were assessed.

Differential response of heat-shock-induced p38 MAPK and JNK activity in PC12 mutant and PC12 parental cells for differentiation and apoptosis.

Among the 3 mitogen-activated protein kinases--ERK, p38 MAPK and JNK--JNK has been suggested to participate in apoptosis, whereas p38 MAPK is thought to be part of the differentiation response. There are many common inducers of JNK and p38 MAPK, but the mechanisms underlying the differential response to apoptosis and differentiation are poorly understood. We found that heatshock activated p38 MAPK at 3 min after exposure to a temperature of 44 degrees C in stress-hypersensitive PC12m3 mutant cells, while it activated JNK at 20 min after the same heat treatment.

Artepillin C derived from propolis induces neurite outgrowth in PC12m3 cells via ERK and p38 MAPK pathways.

We investigated whether artepillin C, a major component of Brazilian propolis, acts as a neurotrophic-like factor in rat PC12m3 cells, in which nerve growth factor (NGF)-induced neurite outgrowth is impaired. When cultures of PC12m3 cells were treated with artepillin C at a concentration of 20 microM, the frequency of neurite outgrowth induced by artepillin C was approximately 7-fold greater than that induced by NGF alone. Artepillin C induced-neurite outgrowth of PC12m3 cells was inhibited by the ERK inhibitor U0126 and by the p38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580.

Microwave irradiation induces neurite outgrowth in PC12m3 cells via the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway.

The increasing use of mobile phone communication has raised concerns about possible health hazard effects of microwave irradiation. We investigated damage and differentiation caused by microwave irradiation on drug-hypersensitive PC12 cell line (PC12m3). These cells showed enhancement of neurite outgrowth to various stimulants.

Heat-shock-induced three-dimensional-like proliferation of mouse fibroblasts mediated by hydroxyapatite.

The aim of the present study was to determine both the minimal and the optimal conditions under which heat treatment is effective for enhancing 3D (three-dimensional)-like cell proliferation. C3H10T1/2 mouse fibroblasts were cultured with hydroxyapatite granules for 10 weeks after heat treatment at 40, 41.5, 43, 44 or 45 degrees C for 2, 10, 15, 20, 30, 45, 60, 90, 180 and 360 min.

Enhancement of hydroxyapatite-mediated three-dimensional-like proliferation of mouse fibroblasts by heat treatment: effects of heat shock-induced p38 MAPK pathway.

Regulation of the biocompatibility of compositional hydroxyapatite (HA) with cells is affected by various environmental factors. The aim of this study was to determine whether the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway has a key role in enhancement of HA-mediated three-dimensional (3D)-like proliferation of mouse fibroblasts after heat treatment. C3H10T1/2 mouse fibroblasts were cultured with HA granules for 10 weeks after heat treatment at 44 degrees C for 5, 10, 20, and 30 min.

Heat shock induces neurite outgrowth in PC12m3 cells via the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway.

We investigated the role of the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway in heat-shock-induced neurite outgrowth of PC12 mutant cells in which nerve growth factor (NGF)-induced neurite outgrowth is impaired. When cultures of the PC12 mutant (PC12m3) cells were exposed to heat stress at 44 degrees C for 10 min, activity of p38 MAPK increased and neurite outgrowth was greatly enhanced. The neurite extension was inhibited by the p38 MAPK inhibitor BS203580.

Immunosuppressant FK506 induces sustained activation of MAP kinase and promotes neurite outgrowth in PC12 mutant cells incapable of differentiating.

During the continuous culturing of neural PC12 cells, a drug hypersensitive PC12 mutant cell line (PC12m3) was obtained, which demonstrated high neurite outgrowth when stimulated by various drugs. When the immunosuppressant drug FK506 and nerve growth factor (NGF) were introduced to the PC12m3 cells, the frequency of neurite outgrowth increased approximately 40-fold for NGF alone. However, the effect of FK506 on neuritogenesis in PC12 parental and drug insensitive PC12m1 mutant cells was much lower than in PC12m3 cells.