Matrix metalloproteinases have traditionally been thought to act only extracellulary. However, increasing evidence has revealed intracellular localization as well as several alternative substrates and novel biological roles for these proteinases. The aims of this master thesis were to map intracellular localization of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in different tissues from mouse, determine if detected enzymes ...

Cancer is becoming a global epidemic in recent times and can affect different organs in the body and even more worrying is that they do not have a common cause. Several factors have been implicated in the onset and spread of cancers, one of which are the metalloproteinases (MMPs). The MMPs utilize the same strategy they employ in normal physiological processes in pathology, thus creating a dilemma ...

PDE5 is a member of the superfamily of phosphodiesterases, and it is identified as the main mechanism for breakdown of cGMP in mammals. Sildenafil is a well-known inhibitor of the PDE5 enzyme and it is also shown that sildenafil inhibits the ABCC5 transporter pump. ABCC5 is a member of the superfamily of ABC-transporters, and identified as an important transporter for mediating the cellular efflux ...

The worldwide dissemination of antimicrobial resistance is a growing problem causing increased morbidity, mortality, and financial costs. β-lactams are an important family of antimicrobial agents and accounts for ~46% of the total antibiotic use for systemic infections in Norway. Resistance to β-lactams can be caused by several factors where the production of enzymes, β-lactamases, is the major ...

Human polyomavirus BK (BKV) is a non enveloped virus with a double-stranded, circular DNA genome. BKV infects >70% of the human population world-wide. Infection occurs predominantly during childhood and the virus remains in a latent state throughout life in the immune competent individuals. In the context of immunosuppression, however, reactivation occurs and can lead to renal stenosis and interstitial ...

It is now well established that p62 and NBR1 are selectively degraded by autophagy and can act as cargo receptors or adaptors for the autophagic degradation of ubiquitinated substrates. Research on autophagy in plants is also well under way, but the mechanism by which target substrates are sequestered for autophagic degradation has not been elucidated. The uncharacterized plant protein Q9SB64 shares ...

Neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (NAIT) is most commonly caused by destruction of foetal platelets by maternal antibodies reactive to human platelet antigen (HPA)-1a. The activation of antigen-primed B cells to differentiate to antibody-secreting plasma cells usually requires help from CD4 T cells. The strong association between anti-HPA-1a-production and the MHC allele HLA-DRB3*0101 supports ...

Common features of arthritis include destruction of extracellular matrices in cartilage and bone as a result of chronic inflammation. Cartilage deterioration is generally described as a result from the effect of immune cells and their inflammatory mediators. However, recent reports suggest a role of chondrocytes in the initiation of inflammation in joints, and that they play a pivotal role in the ...

The arctic is exposed to a wide range of pollutants which originate from industrialized areas located in temperate regions. Halogenated organic contaminants (HOCs) are of special concern due to their persistency and ability to bioaccumulate. Consequently, animals high in the food chain, such as marine seabirds, are prone to accumulate high levels of these compounds. The HOCs are known to increase ...

The emergence and increase of antimicrobial resistance among bacterial populations has raised interest in the factor that contributes to this situation. Mobile genetic elements and in particular integrons have been found to play a role in the spread of resistance genes due to their ability to capture and integrate one or more gene cassettes by site-specific recombination. The genes can be integrated ...