Heat Shock Proteins in Cancer

Heat Shock Proteins in Cancer
Author: Stuart K. Calderwood
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 399
Release: 2007-09-09
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 1402064012

Heat shock proteins are emerging as important molecules in the development of cancer and as key targets in cancer therapy. These proteins enhance the growth of cancer cells and protect tumors from treatments such as drugs or surgery. However, new drugs have recently been developed particularly those targeting heat shock protein 90. As heat shock protein 90 functions to stabilize many of the oncogenes and growth promoting proteins in cancer cells, such drugs have broad specificity in many types of cancer cell and offer the possibility of evading the development of resistance through point mutation or use of compensatory pathways. Heat shock proteins have a further property that makes them tempting targets in cancer immunotherapy. These proteins have the ability to induce an inflammatory response when released in tumors and to carry tumor antigens to antigen presenting cells. They have thus become important components of anticancer vaccines. Overall, heat shock proteins are important new targets in molecular cancer therapy and can be approached in a number of contrasting approaches to therapy.

Heat Shock Proteins and the Brain: Implications for Neurodegenerative Diseases and Neuroprotection

Heat Shock Proteins and the Brain: Implications for Neurodegenerative Diseases and Neuroprotection
Author: Alexzander A.A. Asea
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 374
Release: 2008-04-06
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 1402082312

With the prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases on the rise as average life expectancy increases, the hunt for effective treatments and preventive measures for these disorders is a pressing challenge. Neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis have been termed ‘protein misfolding disorders’ that are char- terized by the neural accumulation of protein aggregates. Manipulation of the cellular stress response involving the induction of heat shock proteins offers a the- peutic strategy to counter conformational changes in neural proteins that trigger pathogenic cascades resulting in neurodegenerative diseases. Heat shock proteins are protein repair agents that provide a line of defense against misfolded, aggregati- prone proteins. Heat Shock Proteins and the Brain: Implications for Neurodegenerative Diseases and Neuroprotection reviews current progress on neural heat shock proteins (HSP) in relation to neurodegenerative diseases (Part I), neuroprotection (Part II), ext- cellular HSP (Part III) and aging and control of life span (Part IV). Key basic and clinical research laboratories from major universities and hospitals around the world contribute chapters that review present research activity and importantly project the field into the future. The book is a must read for researchers, postdoctoral fellows and graduate students in the fields of Neuroscience, Neurodegenerative Diseases, Molecular Medicine, Aging, Physiology, Pharmacology and Pathology.

Heat Shock Proteins in Neural Cells

Heat Shock Proteins in Neural Cells
Author: Christiane Richter-Landsberg
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 123
Release: 2009-05-22
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 0387399542

This valuable new title addresses the role of heat shock proteins and cellular stress responses in the brain, with a major focus on nerve cells and glia, namely oligodendrocytes and astrocytes. Heat shock proteins are involved in many physiological processes, including development and differentiation, organisation of the cytoarchitecture by binding to cytoskeletal elements, and regulation of the balance between cell death and survival.

Encyclopedia of Signaling Molecules

Encyclopedia of Signaling Molecules
Author: Sangdun Choi
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2012-07-09
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 9781441904607

Biological processes are driven by complex systems of functionally interacting signaling molecules. Thus, understanding signaling molecules is essential to explain normal or pathological biological phenomena. A large body of clinical and experimental data has been accumulated over these years, albeit in fragmented state. Hence, systems biological approaches concomitant with the understanding of each molecule are ideal to delineate signaling networks/pathways involved in the biologically important processes. The control of these signaling pathways will enrich our healthier life. Currently, there are more than 30,000 genes in human genome. However, not all the proteins encoded by these genes work equally in order to maintain homeostasis. Understanding the important signaling molecules as completely as possible will significantly improve our research-based teaching and scientific capabilities. This encyclopedia presents 350 biologically important signaling molecules and the content is built on the core concepts of their functions along with early findings written by some of the world’s foremost experts. The molecules are described by recognized leaders in each molecule. The interactions of these single molecules in signal transduction networks will also be explored. This encyclopedia marks a new era in overview of current cellular signaling molecules for the specialist and the interested non-specialist alike During past years, there were multiple databases to gather this information briefly and very partially. Amidst the excitement of these findings, one of the great scientific tasks of the coming century is to bring all the useful information into a place. Such an approach is arduous but at the end will infuse the lacunas and considerably be a streamline in the understanding of vibrant signaling networks. Based on this easy-approach, we can build up more complicated biological systems.

Immune Surveillance

Immune Surveillance
Author: Richard T. Smith
Publisher: Elsevier
Total Pages: 553
Release: 2012-12-02
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 0323146260

Immune Surveillance deals with the issues regarding tumor immunology and surveillance, in which the central theme is all about the life span of the mammalian host that is depleted by the environment with mutagenic agents and solutions. The book is divided into six chapters. It includes discussions on the organization and modulation of cell membrane receptors, as well as the origin and expression of membrane antigens. It also covers the topics on the triggering mechanisms for and effector mechanisms activated by the cellular recognition. These topics analyze and evaluate alternatives for the recognition and destruction mechanisms in the knowledge of cell cooperation and requirements for immune recognition. A chapter provides discourse on a solution for the paradox of thriving tumors based on the demonstrable in vitro host immunity. Another discusses the generation of antibody diversity and the theory of self-tolerance. The last chapter explains the evaluation of the evidence for immune surveillance. This reference will be invaluable to those who specialize in immunology.

Cell Stress Proteins

Cell Stress Proteins
Author: Stuart K. Calderwood
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 464
Release: 2009-02-13
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0387397175

This book surveys the current knowledge concerning the expression and function of stress proteins in different organisms, ranging from prokaryotes to humans. It provides an overview of the diversity and complex evolutionary history of cell stress proteins and describes their function and expression in different eukaryote models. The book will appeal to researchers and scientists in biochemistry, cell biology, microbiology, immunology, and genetics.

Biochemical Ecotoxicology

Biochemical Ecotoxicology
Author: Francois Gagne
Publisher: Elsevier
Total Pages: 282
Release: 2014-07-07
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 012411623X

Biochemical Ecotoxicology: Principles and Methods presents practical approaches to biochemical ecotoxicology experiments for environmental protection and conservation. With its methodical, stepped approach this essential reference introduces readers to current techniques for toxicity endpoint testing, suitable for laboratories of any size and budget. Each chapter presents a state-of-the-art principle, a quick and inexpensive procedure (including appropriate reagents), case studies, and demonstrations on how to analyze your results. Generic techniques are covered, suitable for a variety of organisms, as well as high-throughput techniques like quantitative polymerase chain reactions and enzyme-linked immunoassays. Cutting-edge approaches, including gPCR arrays and lipidomic techniques, are also included, making this is an essential reference for anyone who needs to assess environmental toxicity. - Practical, cost-effective approaches to assess environmental toxicity endpoints for all types of organism - Presents theory, methods, case studies and information on how to analyze results - State-of-the-art techniques, such as 'omics' approaches to toxicology

Immunity, Tumors and Aging: The Role of HSP70

Immunity, Tumors and Aging: The Role of HSP70
Author: Igor Malyshev
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 145
Release: 2013-01-08
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 9400759436

The book is dedicated to the topical area of biology and medicine and the role of stress proteins HSP70 in the regulation of intracellular protein homeostasis, signaling transduction and cell protection. The book is divided into chapters, which describe the discovery of HSP70 and its molecular structure, the mechanism of the synthesis and function in normal and damaged cells, examine the role of HSP70 in immunity, cancerogenesis, aging, Alzheimer's disease and cardiac surgery. In this book, the author looks at HSP70 as a factor which prevents the transformation of homeostasis mechanisms of intracellular proteins into a link in the pathogenesis of a disease.