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“Glucocorticoid hormones (GC) are essential in all aspects of human health and disease. Their anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties are reasons for therapeutic application selleck chemicals llc in several diseases. GC suppress immune activation and uncontrolled overproduction and release of cytokines. GC inhibit the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and stimulate the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines. Investigation of GC’s mechanism of action, suggested that polyamines (PA) may act as mediators

or messengers of their effects. Beside glucocorticoids, spermine (Spm) is one of endogenous inhibitors of cytokine production. selleckchem There are many similarities in the metabolic actions of GC and PA. The major mechanism of GC effects involves the regulation of gene expression. PA are essential for maintaining higher order organization of chromatin in vivo. Spermidine and Spm stabilize chromatin and nuclear enzymes, due to their ability to form complexes with negatively charged groups on DNA, RNA and proteins. Also, there is an increasing body of evidence that GC and PA change the chromatin

structure especially through acetylation and deacetylation of histones. GC display potent immunomodulatory activities, including the ability to induce T and B lymphocyte apoptosis, mediated via production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the mitochondrial pathway. The by-products of PA catabolic pathways (hydrogen peroxide, amino buy Rabusertib aldehydes, acrolein) produce ROS, well-known cytotoxic agents involved

in programmed cell death (PCD) or apoptosis. This review is an attempt in the better understanding of relation between GC and PA, naturally occurring compounds of all eukaryotic cells, anti-inflammatory and apoptotic agents in physiological and pathological conditions connected to oxidative stress or PCD.”
“Adriamycin (ADM) is a commonly used chemotherapeutic drug in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. However, the mechanisms involved in ADM-induced cell death and the molecular basis of ADM resistance are still unclear. To observe the early events that occurred in hepatoma cells in response to ADM, we investigated the alterations of morphology and subcellular distributions of cellular organelles in human liver-derived hepatoma G2 (HepG2) cells after ADM treatment, HepG2 cells were exposed to different doses of ADM for up to 60 h. Cytotoxicity occurred 24 h after 0.05 mu g/ml ADM application, and remaining living cells showed irregular shapes but continued to multiply. Some cellular organelles altered their subcellular distribution or morphology after ADM treatment, including mitochondria, autophagic vacuoles, and Golgi apparatus.