http://sedici.unlp.edu.ar:80/handle/10915/127747 Thu, 12 Nov 2026 09:56:07 GMT 2026-11-12T09:56:07Z http://sedici.unlp.edu.ar:80/handle/10915/127787 Revision Physiological Mini Reviews; vol. 8, no. 6 CAPS (Calcium-dependent activator protein for secretion), was discovered as a soluble factor required for catecholamine secretion from PC12 cells. CAPS facilitates release of dense-core vesicles and release of neurotransmitters. In vertebrates CAPS is required for priming of synaptic vesicles and dense-core vesicles in neurons and in catecholamine release from the adrenal medulla. The pleckstrin homology domain of CAPS has been shown to mediate an interaction with the plasma membrane. An interaction with SNARE proteins and assembled SNARE complexes requires the Munc13 homology domain. The interaction with SNARE components facilitates SNARE complex formation, the molecular basis of the priming reaction, while interactions with the phosphoinositol 4,5 bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P2) rich areas of the plasma membrane localize CAPS at the release site but may also promote the fusion of primed vesicles. CAPS splice variants lacking the Munc13 homology domain but with an intact pleckstrin homology domain promote priming to the readily releasable pool while CAPS splice variants with a deletion in the pleckstrin homology domain promote catecholamine release, albeit at slower rates. These results confirm a dual action of CAPS dependent on the Munc13 homology- and the pleckstrin homology domains, respectively. Thu, 01 Jan 2015 00:00:00 GMT http://sedici.unlp.edu.ar:80/handle/10915/127787 2015-01-01T00:00:00Z CAPS (Calcium-dependent activator protein for secretion), was discovered as a soluble factor required for catecholamine secretion from PC12 cells. CAPS facilitates release of dense-core vesicles and release of neurotransmitters. In vertebrates CAPS is required for priming of synaptic vesicles and dense-core vesicles in neurons and in catecholamine release from the adrenal medulla. The pleckstrin homology domain of CAPS has been shown to mediate an interaction with the plasma membrane. An interaction with SNARE proteins and assembled SNARE complexes requires the Munc13 homology domain. The interaction with SNARE components facilitates SNARE complex formation, the molecular basis of the priming reaction, while interactions with the phosphoinositol 4,5 bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P2) rich areas of the plasma membrane localize CAPS at the release site but may also promote the fusion of primed vesicles. CAPS splice variants lacking the Munc13 homology domain but with an intact pleckstrin homology domain promote priming to the readily releasable pool while CAPS splice variants with a deletion in the pleckstrin homology domain promote catecholamine release, albeit at slower rates. These results confirm a dual action of CAPS dependent on the Munc13 homology- and the pleckstrin homology domains, respectively. http://sedici.unlp.edu.ar:80/handle/10915/127779 Revision Physiological Mini Reviews; vol. 8, no. 5 Ouabain, a substance obtained from plant extracts, has been long known as cardiotonic, as well as by its high affinity to the Na-K- ATPase pump. The recent finding that ouabain is endogenously expressed in mammals has prompted research to determine its role as a hormone. We have shown that, in a physiological level (10 nM), it influences on three important features of epithelial physiology related to cell to cell contacts: (1) It modifies the Tight Junction integrity, as reflected by an increase in the Transepithelial Electrical Resistance (TER) of mature monolayers of MDCK cells. (2) It speeds up ciliogenesis, a feature closely related to epithelial (Apical/Basolateral) polarity and (3) It triggers Gap Junctional Intercellular Communication (GJIC). Since lack of GJIC has been associated to cancer, ouabain may be an interesting player on this issue. Thu, 01 Jan 2015 00:00:00 GMT http://sedici.unlp.edu.ar:80/handle/10915/127779 2015-01-01T00:00:00Z Ouabain, a substance obtained from plant extracts, has been long known as cardiotonic, as well as by its high affinity to the Na-K- ATPase pump. The recent finding that ouabain is endogenously expressed in mammals has prompted research to determine its role as a hormone. We have shown that, in a physiological level (10 nM), it influences on three important features of epithelial physiology related to cell to cell contacts: (1) It modifies the Tight Junction integrity, as reflected by an increase in the Transepithelial Electrical Resistance (TER) of mature monolayers of MDCK cells. (2) It speeds up ciliogenesis, a feature closely related to epithelial (Apical/Basolateral) polarity and (3) It triggers Gap Junctional Intercellular Communication (GJIC). Since lack of GJIC has been associated to cancer, ouabain may be an interesting player on this issue. http://sedici.unlp.edu.ar:80/handle/10915/127769 Revision Physiological Mini Reviews; vol. 8, no. 4 Chronic respiratory diseases, including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), are a major health issue worldwide due to their growing prevalence and high economic costs, which include prolonged medication use and frequent hospitalizations. Both asthma and COPD are incurable, and each is characterized by chronic inflammation, tissue remodeling, and ultrastructural alterations that might not be amenable to available therapies. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are non-hematopoietic, immunosuppressive cells found in bone marrow, adipose tissue, placenta, and other tissues and have demonstrated anti-inflammatory actions in a number of preclinical models of asthma and COPD. Although the entire repertoire of action of MSCs has not been elucidated, there is growing interest in the potential clinical utility of MSC-based cell therapy in chronic respiratory diseases. The present review will focus on the most recent mechanisms that have been elucidated from preclinical studies in asthma and COPD. In addition, a comprehensive review of clinical trials conducted to date will be presented. Thu, 01 Jan 2015 00:00:00 GMT http://sedici.unlp.edu.ar:80/handle/10915/127769 2015-01-01T00:00:00Z Chronic respiratory diseases, including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), are a major health issue worldwide due to their growing prevalence and high economic costs, which include prolonged medication use and frequent hospitalizations. Both asthma and COPD are incurable, and each is characterized by chronic inflammation, tissue remodeling, and ultrastructural alterations that might not be amenable to available therapies. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are non-hematopoietic, immunosuppressive cells found in bone marrow, adipose tissue, placenta, and other tissues and have demonstrated anti-inflammatory actions in a number of preclinical models of asthma and COPD. Although the entire repertoire of action of MSCs has not been elucidated, there is growing interest in the potential clinical utility of MSC-based cell therapy in chronic respiratory diseases. The present review will focus on the most recent mechanisms that have been elucidated from preclinical studies in asthma and COPD. In addition, a comprehensive review of clinical trials conducted to date will be presented. http://sedici.unlp.edu.ar:80/handle/10915/127763 Revision Physiological Mini Reviews; vol. 8, no. 3 Metastatic development is a complex, multistage process involving modulation of cell phenotype, cell migration, and dynamic homeotypic as well as heterotypic cell-cell interactions. In breast cancer, MUC1 mucin has been emerging as a key molecule involved in metastasis. MUC1 is a large transmembrane glycoprotein expressed by mammary normal epithelial cells but it is overexpressed and underglycosylated in cancer cells. Cutaneous metastasis is a neoplastic lesion localized at the dermis or subcutaneous cellular tissue, which is not contiguous to the primary tumor, with an overall incidence of 5.3%. The most common tumor to metastasize to the skin is breast cancer with an incidence of 24%. We present a minireview on metastatic dissemination with special emphasis on breast cancer cutaneous metastases and the role that MUC1 plays on it. Thu, 01 Jan 2015 00:00:00 GMT http://sedici.unlp.edu.ar:80/handle/10915/127763 2015-01-01T00:00:00Z Metastatic development is a complex, multistage process involving modulation of cell phenotype, cell migration, and dynamic homeotypic as well as heterotypic cell-cell interactions. In breast cancer, MUC1 mucin has been emerging as a key molecule involved in metastasis. MUC1 is a large transmembrane glycoprotein expressed by mammary normal epithelial cells but it is overexpressed and underglycosylated in cancer cells. Cutaneous metastasis is a neoplastic lesion localized at the dermis or subcutaneous cellular tissue, which is not contiguous to the primary tumor, with an overall incidence of 5.3%. The most common tumor to metastasize to the skin is breast cancer with an incidence of 24%. We present a minireview on metastatic dissemination with special emphasis on breast cancer cutaneous metastases and the role that MUC1 plays on it. http://sedici.unlp.edu.ar:80/handle/10915/127761 Revision Physiological Mini Reviews; vol. 8, no. 2 The use of mathematical models in science has increased in the last decades, since it is clear that they constitute an essential tool for the progress of experimental research. The main goal of this review is to present to the experimental physiologists some background on the different steps that are usually followed to develop a model. Probably more important, we aim to provide some basic thoughts to highlight the importance and need of mathematical modeling for scientific discovery and progress. The review also recapitulates the evolution of myocyte and Ca²⁺ handling models, the parallel work done in the interpretation of cardiac force generation, the integration of myocyte and force models into mechano-electric representations, and the construction of multi-scale models by assembling ventricular models with the mathematical descriptions of the circulatory system. Thu, 01 Jan 2015 00:00:00 GMT http://sedici.unlp.edu.ar:80/handle/10915/127761 2015-01-01T00:00:00Z The use of mathematical models in science has increased in the last decades, since it is clear that they constitute an essential tool for the progress of experimental research. The main goal of this review is to present to the experimental physiologists some background on the different steps that are usually followed to develop a model. Probably more important, we aim to provide some basic thoughts to highlight the importance and need of mathematical modeling for scientific discovery and progress. The review also recapitulates the evolution of myocyte and Ca²⁺ handling models, the parallel work done in the interpretation of cardiac force generation, the integration of myocyte and force models into mechano-electric representations, and the construction of multi-scale models by assembling ventricular models with the mathematical descriptions of the circulatory system. http://sedici.unlp.edu.ar:80/handle/10915/127755 Revision Physiological Mini Reviews; vol. 8, no. 1 Smoltification, also called parr-smolt transformation, is a complex developmental process that consists of a number of independent, but coordinated changes, in the biochemistry, physiology, morphology and behavior of juvenile salmon in their transition from freshwater to seawater life. A key component of smoltification is represented by the physiological adaptations that enable smolts to thrive in hyperosmotic environments. Instrumental to this process is the ability of smolt gills to gradually become capable of actively secreting salt through specialized cells known as mitochondria-rich (MR) cells, ionocytes or chloride cells. NaCl secretion by teleost gills is therefore accomplished via the secondary active transport of Cl⁻ and the passive transport of Na⁺. The driving force for active transport is provided by Na⁺/K⁺ ATPase, which maintains low intracellular Na⁺ and high intracellular K⁺ concentrations. However, this NaCl secretion mechanism needs at least two different ion channels: A CFTR type chloride channel for the passive exit of Cl⁻ and a potassium channel to recycle extracellular K⁺, which is a thermodynamic prerequisite to work under conditions imposed by high extracellular salinity in seawater. The characteristics of K⁺ channels required for NaCl secretion from MR cells into seawater are still unknown for <i>Salmo salar</i> and only recently have begun to be studied in other teleosts. Thu, 01 Jan 2015 00:00:00 GMT http://sedici.unlp.edu.ar:80/handle/10915/127755 2015-01-01T00:00:00Z Smoltification, also called parr-smolt transformation, is a complex developmental process that consists of a number of independent, but coordinated changes, in the biochemistry, physiology, morphology and behavior of juvenile salmon in their transition from freshwater to seawater life. A key component of smoltification is represented by the physiological adaptations that enable smolts to thrive in hyperosmotic environments. Instrumental to this process is the ability of smolt gills to gradually become capable of actively secreting salt through specialized cells known as mitochondria-rich (MR) cells, ionocytes or chloride cells. NaCl secretion by teleost gills is therefore accomplished via the secondary active transport of Cl⁻ and the passive transport of Na⁺. The driving force for active transport is provided by Na⁺/K⁺ ATPase, which maintains low intracellular Na⁺ and high intracellular K⁺ concentrations. However, this NaCl secretion mechanism needs at least two different ion channels: A CFTR type chloride channel for the passive exit of Cl⁻ and a potassium channel to recycle extracellular K⁺, which is a thermodynamic prerequisite to work under conditions imposed by high extracellular salinity in seawater. The characteristics of K⁺ channels required for NaCl secretion from MR cells into seawater are still unknown for <i>Salmo salar</i> and only recently have begun to be studied in other teleosts.