Protective role

The nature of the hormone—NP link is unclear. Although the binding is quite specific, it is sufficientiy weak, ie, binding constant 10 10 M (71), as to cast doubt upon a protective role. However, no compelling evidence for a biological function for the neurophysins, other than as hormone carriers, has been elucidated (59,72). 

Bursch, W. Oberhammer, F., and Schulte-Herrnann, R. (1992). Cell death by apoptosis and its protective role against di.sease. Trends Pharmacol. Set. 1.3(6), 245-251. 

Based on the role of endocannabinoids and cannabinoid receptors in several pathological conditions, the pharmacological manipulation of their levels or action is being developed as a therapeutic strategy. Enhancement of endocannabinoid signalling when this plays uniquely a protective role can be effected in a safer way using (i) cannabis extracts in which the presence of non-psychotropic cannabinoids with therapeutic activity per... 

Lowenstein, D.H., Chan, P.H., Miles, M.F. (1991). The stress protein response in cultured neurons Characterization and evidence for a protective role in excitotoxicity. Neuron 7, 1053-1060. 

Ghosh C, Bandyopadhyay S, Medda JN. 1998. Protective role of thyroxine in methyl parathion intoxicated chick embryos. Drug Chem Toxicol 21 495-506. 

Table 2. Molecules and enzymes with possible protective roles during drought...

A frequently observed response of plant cells exposed to saline stress is the accumulation of proline. Two cell lines of tobacco, one resistant and the other sensitive to growth inhibition by NaCl, accumulated proline when exposed to 1.5% w/v NaCl in the growth media (Dix Pearce, 1981). The NaCl sensitive line accumulated proline more rapidly than did the resistant line, though the levels accumulated were not adequate to provide osmotic protection against salt stress. The authors suggested that proline accumulation may have a protective role other than osmoregulation and may be symptomatic of stress injury, the nature of which was not discussed. 

Surprisingly, very little physiological work has been done to understand the nature and processes of plant recovery from extreme drought stress, especially in relation to plant production (Chapter 7). In order for the plant to recover properly from severe water stress, its various meristems must survive. The association between severe plant stress and the factors that affect meristem survival and function upon rehydration are unclear though osmoregulation may have a possible protective role and as a potential source of carbon for recovery. Active plant apices generally excel in osmoregulation and do not lose much water upon plant dehydration (Barlow, Munns Brady, 1980). 

Decreased severity of disease Associated with early death No effect on disease No association with MS Associated with MS Protective role... 

There is now a growing body of evidence to suggest that phytochemicals may have a protective role against a variety of chronic diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disease. Part 1 reviews this body of evidence, its strengths and its weaknesses. Chapter 2 discusses the ways in which phenolic... 

Mortality rates from CVD are generally lower in Asian populations compared to Western populations (Knight and Eden, 1996). Although many dietary factors are known to play a protective role in CVD and it has been suggested that phytoestrogen content of Asian diets may be responsible for the cardioprotective effect. 

Sugumaran, M., Comparative biochemistry of eumelanogenesis and the protective roles of phenoloxidase and melanin in insects. Pigment Cell Res., 15, 2, 2002. Riley, P.A., Melanin, Int. J. Biochem. Cell. Biol, 29, 1235, 1997. 

Carotenoids and prostate cancer — Numerous epidemiological studies including prospective cohort and case-control studies have demonstrated the protective roles of lycopene, tomatoes, and tomato-derived products on prostate cancer risk other carotenoids showed no effects. " In two studies based on correlations between plasma levels or dietary intake of various carotenoids and prostate cancer risk, lycopene appeared inversely associated with prostate cancer but no association was reported for a-carotene, P-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, or p-cryptoxanthin. - Nevertheless, a protective role of all these carotenoids (provided by tomatoes, pumpkin, spinach, watermelon, and citrus fruits) against prostate cancer was recently reported by Jian et al. ... 

Intervention trials confirmed this protective role of lycopene on prostate cancer risk. Three primary intervention studies evaluated the effect of lycopene supplementation on prostate cancer risk or on certain risk markers such as prostate-specific antigen (PSA) plasma concentration or oxidative alterations of leucocyte DNA. - All showed increases of plasma and prostate lycopene levels after diet supplementation with lycopene and inverse correlations between tumor incidence and risk biomarkers. 

Carotenoids and urino-digestive cancers — On the whole, findings from epidemiological studies did not demonstrate a protective role of carotenoids against colorectal, gastric, and bladder cancers. Indeed, most prospective and case-control studies of colorectal cancer showed no association with dietary intake or plasma level of most carotenoids. - Only lycopene and lutein were shown to be protective against colorectal cancer. Otherwise, findings from the ATBC study s showed no effect of P-carotene supplementation on colorectal cancer. 

Some prospective and case-control studies also investigated the relationship of carotenoids and the evolution of CCA-IMT. Although the EVA study showed no association between total carotenoids and IMT, others like the ARIC study, the Los Angeles Atherosclerosis Study, " and the Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study demonstrated the protective role of isolated carotenoids such as lycopene, lutein, zeaxanthin, and P-cryptoxanthin on IMT. Thus, findings from prospective and case-control studies have suggested that some carotenoids such as lycopene and P-carotene may present protective effects against CVD and particularly myocardial infarcts and intima media thickness, a marker of atherosclerosis. 

Touati D, M Jacques, B Tardat, L Bouchard, S Despied (1995) Lethal oxidative damage and mutagenesis are generated by iron Afur mutants of Escherichia coli protective role of superoxide dismutase. J Bacterial 111 2305-2314. 

EC-SOD is a copper-zinc enzyme located on endothelial cell surfaces. It is believed that EC-SOD binds to the vasculature via specific glycosaminoglycans — probably heparan sulphate on the endothelium. The association of EC-SOD with endothelial cell surfaces may indicate a cell-specific protective role. Eig/ity per cent of SOD activity in control, noninflamed synovial fluid is due to EC-SOD and its concentration is decreased by 50% in RA fluid (Marklund etal., 1986). 

Mitchell, J.R., follow, D.J., Potter, W.Z. Gillette, J.R. and Brodie, B.B. (1973b). Acetaminophen-induced hepatic necrosis. IV. Protective role of glutathione. J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 187, 211-217. 

Khan, S.G., Ali, S. and Rahman, Q. (1990). Protective role of ascorbic acid against asbestos induced toxicity in rat lung in vitro study. DrugChem. Toxicol. 13, 249-256. 

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