Low density lipoprotein signaling and pancreatic beta cells protection

SummaryLow-density lipoproteins (LDLs) have an important physiological role in organism transporting cholesterol and other fatty substances to target tissues. However, elevated LDL levels in the blood are associated with the formation of arterial plaques and consequently atherosclerosis. It is therefore important to characterize the intracellular pathways induced upon LDL stimulation as they might be involved in the pathological properties of these lipoproteins. It has been previously found that LDL stimulation of mouse embryonic fibroblasts activates p38 mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPKs). This leads to cell spreading and increase in the wound healing capabilities of the cells. These two responses might occur within atherosclerotic plaques.The aim of this project is to reveal the missing links between LDL particle and activation of p38 MAPK kinase. As previously shown in our lab activation of p38 MAPK kinase by the LDL particles occur independently of classical LDL receptor (LDLR). In this study we have shown that scavenger receptor type Β class I (SR-BI) is responsible for the signal transduction from the LDLs to the p38 MAPK. We have also shown that Mitogen activated kinase kinases (MKKs) that can directly activate ρ 38 MAPK in these conditions are MKK3 and MKK6 but not MKK4. We have also tested some of the intermediate components of the pathway like Ras and PI3 kinase but found that they do not play a role.The data obtained in this study showed a part of molecular mechanism responsible for p38 MAPK activation and subsequent wound healing and can contribute to our knowledge on function of the fibroblasts in the development of the atherosclerotic plaques.Diabetes Mellitus is a condition caused by disordered metabolism of blood glucose level. It is one of the most commonly spread disease in the western world, with the incidence reaching 8% of population in United States. Two most common types of diabetes are type 1 and 2 that differs slightly in the mechanism of the development. However in the basis of both types lies the cell death of pancreatic beta cells. The aim of this work is to improve beta cells survival in different pathophysiological settings. This could be extrapolated to the conditions in which Diabetes develops in humans. We decided to use RasGAP- derived fragment Ν with its strong antiapoptotic effect in beta cells. In our lab we have demonstrated that in the mild stress conditions RasGAP can be cleaved by caspases at the position 455 producing two fragments, fragment Ν and fragment C. Fragment Ν exerts

Report of Recommendations to the Iowa Department of Revenue, June 30, 2005

State Audit Reports

Assessing the Political Viability of Labour Market Reform: The Case of Employment Protection

We analyze the political support for employment protection legislation. Unlike my previous work on the same topic, this paper pays a lot of attention to the role of obsolescence in the growth process. In voting in favour of employment protection, incumbent employees trade off lower living standards (because employment protection maintains workers in less productive activities) against longer job duration. The support for employment protection will then depend on the value of the latter relative to the cost of the former. We highlight two key deeterminants of this trade-off: first, the workers' bargaining power, second, the economy's growth rate-more precisely its rate of creative destruction.

Academic Building Revenue Bond Funds, Iowa State University of Science and Technology, Independent Auditor's Report, Basic Financial Statements and Supplementary Information, June 30, 2006

State University Audit Report

Dormitory and Dining Services Revenue Bond Funds, Iowa State University of Science and Technology, Independent Auditor's Report, Basic Financial Statements and Supplementary Information, June 30, 2006

State University Audit Report

Hilton Coliseum Revenue Bond Funds, Iowa State University of Science and Technology, Independent Auditor's Report, Basic Financial Statements and Supplementary Information, June 30, 2006

State University Audit Report

Recreational Facility Revenue Bond Funds, Iowa State University of Science and Technology, Independent Auditor's Report, Basic Financial Statement and Supplementary Information, June 30, 2006

State University Audit Report

Student Health Facility Revenue Bond Funds, Iowa State University of Science and Technology, Independent Auditor's Report, Basic Financial Statement and Supplementary Information, June 30, 2006

State University Audit Report

Utility System Revenue Bond Funds, Iowa State University of Science and Technology, Independent Auditor's Report, Basic Financial Statements and Supplementary Information, June 30, 2006

State University Audit Report

Telecommunications Facilities Revenue Bond Funds, Iowa State University of Science and Technology, Independent Auditor's Report, Basic Financial Statements and Supplementary Information, June 30, 2006

State University Audit Report

Parking System Revenue Bond Funds, Iowa State University of Science and Technology, Independent Auditor's Reports, Basic Financial Statements and Supplemental Information, June 30, 2006

State University Audit Report

Ice Arena Facility Revenue Note Funds, Iowa State University of Science and Technology, Independent Auditor's Report, Basic Financial Information and Supplementary Information, June 30, 2006

State University Audit Report

Indoor Multipurpose Use and Training Facility Revenue Bond Funds, Iowa State University of Science and Technology, Independent Auditor's Report, Basic Financial Statements and Supplementary Information, June 30, 2006

State University Audit Report

Regulated Materials Facility Revenue Bond Funds, Iowa State University of Science and Technology, Independent Auditor's Report, Basic Financial Statement and Supplementary Information, June 30, 2006

State University Audit Report

Memorial Union Revenue Bond Funds, Iowa State University of Science and Technology, Independent Auditor's Report, Basic Financial Statements and Supplementary Information, June 30, 2006

State University Audit Report