Quantifying phenotypic flexibility as the response to a high-fat challenge test in different states of metabolic health

Metabolism maintains homeostasis at chronic hypercaloric conditions, activating postprandial response mechanisms, which come at the cost of adaptation processes such as energy storage, eventually with negative health consequences. This study quantified the metabolic adaptation capacity by studying challenge response curves. After a high-fat...

Involvement of calcium and G proteins in the acute release of tissue- type plasminogen activator and von Willebrand factor from cultured human endothelial cells

In this study, we investigated the role of Ca2+ and G proteins in thrombin-induced acute release (regulated secretion) of tissue-type plasminogen activator (TPA) and yon Willebrand factor (vWF), using a previously described system of primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). The acute release of TPA and vWF, as induced by α...

Release of arachidonic and linoleic acid metabolites in skin organ cultures as characteristics of in vitro skin irritancy

In vitro techniques make a major contribution to the development of alternatives to the in vivo 'Draize' skin irritation test, and the development of sensitive and generally applicable in vitro endpoints of cutaneous toxicity is an area of intensive research. To investigate in vitro characteristics of cutaneous irritation, skin explants of...