ABSTRACT
This pilot study sought to identify an appropriate methodology to investigate the impact of reflexology in healthcare settings. The study involved healthy volunteers to prevent unnecessary intervention to individuals who may already be experiencing health related trauma. Thirty participants underwent either reflexology or no treatment (control), in a cross-over experimental design. Self-reported anxiety (Spielberger STAI), cardiovascular parameters (BP and pulse rate) and salivary cortisol and melatonin concentrations were assessed before and after reflexology. Control data were obtained at the same time points in identical settings. Reflexology had a powerful anxiety-reduction effect ('state'; P<0.001) but no significant effect on underlying anxiety ('trait'). Cardiovascular parameters decreased (P<0.001). Baseline salivary cortisol and melatonin were not significantly correlated with STAI scores and did not change significantly following reflexology. Reflexology reduced 'state' anxiety and cardiovascular activity within healthy individuals, consistent with stress-reduction. Considering the connection between stress/anxiety and well being, the effects of reflexology may have beneficial outcomes for patients. These findings will be transferred to a study involving breast cancer patients where effects may be more pronounced particularly since cancer patients display disregulation of cortisol and melatonin secretion.
Subject(s)
Anxiety/therapy , Hydrocortisone/analysis , Massage/psychology , Melatonin/analysis , Saliva/chemistry , Adolescent , Adult , Anxiety/metabolism , Biometry , Blood Pressure , Cross-Over Studies , Heart Rate , Humans , Hydrocortisone/metabolism , Melatonin/metabolism , Middle Aged , Pilot Projects , PsychometricsABSTRACT
Lipocortin 1 (annexin 1) is a calcium- and phospholipid-binding protein that modulates anti-inflammatory responses including those induced by lipopolysaccharide. To investigate the precise role of lipocortin 1 in regulating the lipopolysaccharide-induced signal transduction pathways, we generated stable RAW 264.7 macrophage cell lines expressing decreased and increased lipocortin 1 protein. Several RAW 264.7 clones with increased lipocortin 1 protein levels showed constitutive activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase extracellular signal-regulated kinase, which was down-regulated following lipopolysaccharide treatment. Conversely, clones with decreased lipocortin 1 protein expression showed prolonged extracellular signal-regulated kinase activity, following lipopolysaccharide activation. Lipocortin 1 specifically regulates the components of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathway, since changes in lipocortin 1 protein expression had no affect on the related mitogen-activated protein kinases p38 and c-Jun N-terminal kinase. Lipocortin 1 modulated upstream components of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathway and associated with the adaptor protein growth factor binding protein. The downstream consequences of altered extracellular signal-regulated kinase activity were independent of the proinflammatory transcription factor nuclear factor kappa B. These data indicate that lipocortin 1 specifically regulates proximal signaling components of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase signal transduction pathway, resulting in the modulation of biochemical functions in RAW macrophages.
Subject(s)
Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing , Annexin A1/metabolism , MAP Kinase Signaling System , Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/metabolism , Animals , Base Sequence , Biological Transport , Cell Line , DNA Primers , Enzyme Activation , GRB2 Adaptor Protein , Lipopolysaccharides/pharmacology , Mice , NF-kappa B/metabolism , Phosphorylation , Proteins/metabolismABSTRACT
Treatment of spontaneously differentiated PSMB embryonal carcinoma cells with murine interferon beta results in a transient decrease in the expression of the nuclear lamins A and C. Reduced levels of mRNAs were observed 4 h after the addition of interferon beta, with reductions in the polypeptides and assembled proteins within the nuclear lamina seen after 8 h of treatment. Expression of the 72-kDa (lamin A) and the 62-kDa (lamin C) polypeptides remained down regulated for 8 h, returning to control levels after 16 h of interferon treatment. The specificity of this response is indicated by the inhibitory action of a neutralizing antibody to interferon.
Subject(s)
Interferon Type I/pharmacology , Nuclear Proteins/drug effects , Animals , Antibodies/immunology , Blotting, Western , Embryonal Carcinoma Stem Cells , Fluorescent Antibody Technique , Interferon Type I/immunology , Lamin Type A , Lamins , Mice , Neoplastic Stem CellsABSTRACT
Murine interferon beta increases expression of the 58-kDa intermediate filament protein vimentin by differentiated PSMB cells. Enhanced amounts of vimentin mRNA and protein have been detected using Northern hybridization and Western blotting techniques. Immunocytochemical analysis demonstrates the increased assembly of the protein into the intermediate filament network and its relocalization around the cell nucleus. Induction follows a defined time course, with peak protein levels 16 h post interferon addition, followed by a gradual decline over the next 36 h.