Magistro baigiamajame darbe nagrinėjamas AB „Šiaulių banko“ veiklos efektyvumas, LB riziką ribojanys normatyvai. Įvertinta AB „Šiaulių bankas“ finansinė padėtis tarp kitų šalies komercinių bankų, atlikta palyginamoji AB „Šiaulių banko“ ir AB „Snoro banko“ balanso, pelno (nuostolio) vertikaliosios ir horizontaliosios analizės, santykinių rodiklių analizė palyginta su Lietuvos komerciniais bankais, įvertinti išlaidų struktūros rodikliai, atlikta pajamų ir pelno priklausomybės analizė, įvertinta bankroto rizika Bonity indeksu, atlikta riziką ribojančių normatyvų analizė bei įvertinta banko netradicinė veikla. Atliktas tyrimas AB „Šiaulių banko“ patikimumas ir saugumas. Dalyvavo 164 respondentai AB „Šiaulių banko“ klientai. Remiantis anketinės apklausos rezultatais nustatyta kaip pasikeitė požiūris į AB „Šiaulių banko“ patikimumą ir saugumą po AB „Snoro banko“ bankroto. Patvitinama darbe iškelta hipotezė, kad komercinio banko veiklos priežiūra neužtikrina ir negarantuoja, kad bankas nebankrutuos, efektyviai veikiantys bankai, gali bankrutuoti. / Master's work dealt with AB Siauliai bank efficiency, LB prudential norms. Estimated Siauliai bank's financial situation among domestic commercial banks, carried out a comparative AB Siauliai Bank and AB Bank Snoras "balance sheet, profit (loss) horizontal and vertical analysis ratios compared with the analysis of Lithuanian commercial banks to assess the cost structure indicators of income and made a profit of dependence analysis evaluated the risk of bankruptcy Bonita index, made the prudential requirements for analysis and assessment of non-traditional banking activities. An analysis of AB Siauliai bank credibility and security. 164 respondents participated in the AB Siauliai bank customers. Based on the results of the questionnaire as a change in approach to the AB Siauliai bank soundness and safety of the AB Snoras bank bankruptcy. It is confirmed hypothesis that the commercial activities of the bank supervision does not guarantee or warrant that the bank will not go bankrupt, banks are operating effectively, it may go bankrupt.

This thesis examines the important question of whether or not Islamic law and international human rights are compatible and whether Muslim States can comply with international human rights law while they still adhere to Islamic law. The traditional arguments on the subject are examined and responded to from both international human rights and Islamic legal perspectives. The thesis formulates a synthesis between two extremes and argues that although there are some differences of scope and application, that does not create a general state of dissonance between Islamic law and international human rights law. It is argued that the differences would be easier to address if the concept of human rights were positively established from within the themes of Islamic law rather than imposing it as a concept alien to Islamic law. To avoid a simplistic generalisation of the arguments, each Article of the international bill of rights (ICCPR and ICESCR) and some relevant articles of the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women are analysed in the light of Islamic law. The thesis theoretically engages international human rights law in dialogue with Islamic law and then evaluates the human rights policy of modern Muslim States within the scope of that dialogue. The State Practice of six Muslim States is examined as case studies to establish the arguments of the thesis. The thesis concludes, inter alia, that it is possible to harmonise the differences between Islamic law and international human rights law through the adoption of the margin of appreciation doctrine by international human rights treaty bodies and the utilisation of the Islamic law doctrines of maqâsid al-sharî‘ah (overall objective of Sharî‘ah) and maslahah (welfare) by Muslim States in their interpretation and application of Islamic law respectively. It is asserted that Islamic law can serve as an important vehicle for the enforcement of international human rights law in the Muslim world and recommendations are advanced to that effect in the conclusion.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / The nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) plays pivotal roles in inflammatory and immune responses and in cancer. Therefore, understanding its regulation holds great promise for disease therapy. Using validation-based insertional mutagenesis (VBIM), a powerful technique established by us, we discovered armadillo repeat containing protein 4 (ARMC4) as a novel negative regulator of NF-κB in colorectal cancer (CRC). ARMC4 is a rarely studied protein only known to date for its role in primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) and mouse spermatogenesis. Thus, my work reveals a completely new facet of ARMC4 function that has never been reported before. We showed that ARMC4 overexpression downregulated the expression of NF-κB-dependent genes, many of which are related to cancer. Additionally, compared to the vector control group, overexpression of ARMC4 in HEK293 cells or CRC HT29, DLD1, and HCT116 cells dramatically reduced NF-κB activity, cellular proliferation, anchorage-independent growth, and migratory ability in vitro, and unsurprisingly, significantly decreased xenograft tumor growth in vivo. In contrast, shARMC4 knockdown cells showed quite opposite effect. Furthermore, co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) experiment confirmed that ARMC4 may form a complex with the p65 subunit of NF-κB. Importantly, immunohistochemistry (IHC) data exhibited much lower ARMC4 expression level in CRC patient tumor tissues compared to normal tissues, indicating that ARMC4 may function as a tumor suppressor in CRC. To conclude, my important findings for the first time uncovered the negative regulatory function of ARMC4 in NF-κB signaling, and present ARMC4 as an innovative therapeutic target in CRC treatment. / 2022-05-06

A imunidade inata é responsável pela resposta inicial aos microrganismos, uma vez que impede, controla ou elimina a infecção. Esse sistema consiste em barreiras epiteliais, proteínas plasmáticas e células circulantes e teciduais. Dentre esses componentes, os macrófagos possuem grande importância, sendo capazes de controlar e eliminar agentes patogênicos através da fagocitose e produção de espécies reativas de oxigênio e nitrogênio. A ativação de PRRs por constituintes oriundos dos patógenos em macrófagos desencadeia eventos da resposta imune inata, ativados por diversas vias de sinalização intracelular. A via das PI3Ks é conhecida por regular várias funções nas células, como a regulação do ciclo celular, migração e produção de espécies reativas de oxigênio e nitrogênio. O NO é um mediador central na imunidade inata que, após estímulos inflamatórios, é produzido em altas quantidades através da iNOS. Macrófagos deficientes em PI3K produzem menos NO e apresentam prejudicado controle da infecção quando infectados por T. cruzi. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi investigar o papel da via PI3K na produção de NO por macrófagos peritoneais estimulados com LPS. Os macrófagos empregados no estudo, WT e PI3K-/-, possuem o mesmo fenótipo. Observamos que macrófagos PI3K-/- possuem uma menor produção de NO e expressam menos iNOS. A reduzida expressão de iNOS, após estímulo com LPS, é também observada quando macrófagos WT são tratados com inibidores seletivos da PI3K e AKT. Além disso, demonstramos que, concomitantemente à menor expressão da iNOS, ocorre deficiência na fosforilação da AKT e diminuição da ativação do fator de transcrição NF-kB, sugerindo que a PI3K participa da ativação do NF-kB. Foi observado ainda que o tratamento com PTX também diminui a expressão da iNOS. No entanto, macrófagos PAFR-/- expostos ao LPS presentam maior expressão da iNOS, enquanto os macrófagos CCR2-/- apresentam menor expressão dessa enzima nessas condições. Para investigar a implicação da via PI3K in vivo foi administrado LPS i.v., como modelo de choque endotoxemico, no qual observamos maior sobrevida em animais PI3K-/- comparado aos animais WT e menores níveis de nitrito no soro. Nossos dados sugerem que a enzima PI3K é crítica para expressão de iNOS e produção de NO pelos macrófagos, possivelmente através da ativação do receptor CCR2, estando envolvida na fisiopatologia do choque induzido por LPS. / Innate immunity is the initial response to microorganisms, since it prevents, controls and eliminates infection. This system consists in epithelial barriers, plasma proteins and circulating and tissue cells. Among these components, macrophages have great importance, being capable of control and eliminate pathogen agents through phagocytosis and production of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. Activation of PRRs by pathogens constituents in macrophages triggers events of the innate immune response, activated by various intracellular signaling pathways. PI3Ks pathway is known to regulate several functions in the cell, such as regulation of the cell cycle, migration and production of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. NO is a central mediator in innate immunity, which after inflammatory stimuli, is produced in high levels by iNOS. PI3K-deficient macrophages produce less NO and exhibit impaired control of infection when infected by T. cruzi. The aim of the present study is to investigate the role of PI3K pathway in NO production by LPS-estimulated peritoneal macrophages. The macrophages used in this study, WT and PI3K- / -, have the same phenotype. We observed that PI3K- / - macrophages have a lower NO production and express less iNOS. The low expression of iNOS after stimulation with LPS was also observed in WT macrophages treated with selective inhibitors of PI3K and AKT. Furthermore, we demonstrate that, along to lower iNOS expression, there is deficiency in AKT phosphorylation and decreased activation of the transcription factor NF-kB, suggesting that PI3K participates of the NF-kB activation. It was also observed that PTX treatment has decreased iNOS expression. However, LPS-exposed PFAR-/- macrophages present greater expression of iNOS, while CCR2-/- macrophage exhibit lower expression of this enzyme under these conditions. To investigate involvement of the PI3K pathway has \"in vivo\",LPS was administered i.v., as an endotoxic model, in which we observed a higher survival in PI3K- / - animals compared to WT animals and lower nitrite levels in serum. Our data suggest that PI3K enzyme is critical to iNOS expression and NO production by macrophages, possibly through activation of the CCR2 receptor, being involved in the LPS-induced shock pathophysiology

Em roedores, a administração de Losartan (LO) durante a nefrogênese (primeiras duas semanas de vida) leva à insuficiência renal progressiva e, mais tardiamente, à hipertensão, indicando que a Angiotensina II (AII) é indispensável a uma nefrogênese adequada. Os mediadores intracelulares desse efeito são desconhecidos. Nós investigamos se o sistema NF-kB, que tem influência na embriogênese de outros tecidos, poderia ser um desses mediadores. Trinta e duas ratas Munich Wistar, cada uma amamentando 6 filhotes, foram divididas em dois grupos: C, sem tratamento, e PDTC, que receberam o inibidor do NF-kB Pirrolidina Ditiocarbamato (PDTC), 280 mg/kg/dia na água de beber durante 21 dias. A prole (C e PDTC), constituída de ratos machos, foi acompanhada até 10 meses de vida sem qualquer tratamento. Diferentemente do observado anteriormente com o LO, o PDTC não promoveu redução do número de néfrons nem albuminúria, indicando que o sistema NF-kB não participa crucialmente da nefrogênese. No entanto, os ratos que receberam o PDTC durante a lactação apresentaram hipertensão persistente, associada a hipertrofia de miócitos e a fibrose miocárdica. Para investigar a patogênese da hipertensão (que não se pode explicar por uma redução no número de néfrons), as expressões renais dos componentes do sistema renina-angiotensina (SRA) e dos transportadores tubulares foram determinadas por PCR em tempo real (qRT-PCR) aos 3 e 10 meses de vida. Aos 3 meses, a expressão de angiotensinogênio (AGT) e renina foram significativamente aumentadas no grupo PDTC vs C, indicando que uma ativação local do SRA pode explicar o desenvolvimento da hipertensão no grupo PDTC. No entanto, a expressão de todos os componentes do SRA examinados nos animais que receberam o PDTC durante a nefrogênese estava diminuída aos 10 meses, possivelmente devido a um mecanismo compensatório, sugerindo que a hipertensão foi mantida por outros mecanismos. No túbulo proximal, observou-se um aumento da expressão do transportador sódio/glicose isoforma 1 (SGLT1) (luminal) e sódio/bicarbonato (NBC) (basolateral), bem como um aumento numérico na expressão do trocador luminal sódio/hidrogênio isoforma 3 (NHE3), sugerindo que essas anormalidades podem estar envolvidas na patogênese da hipertensão nesses animais. Aos 10 meses, a expressão de todas as moléculas estava diminuída, sugerindo a participação de outros mecanismos na manutenção da hipertensão em longo prazo. A administração de PDTC pode representar um novo modelo de hipertensão essencial, possivelmente iniciada pela ativação local do SRA e por anormalidades no transporte de sódio no túbulo proximal e mantida em longo prazo por outros mecanismos. / Losartan treatment during late murine nephrogenesis (first 2 weeks of extrauterine life) causes progressive renal injury in adult life and, at more advanced stages, hypertension, indicating a physiologic action of angiotensin II on nephrogenesis. The possible intracellular pathways that might mediate this effect are unknown. We investigated the possibility that the NF-kB system, known to participate in the embryogenesis of other tissues, could be one of these mediators. Soon after delivery, thirty-two Munich-Wistar dams, each nursing 6 male pups, were divided in 2 groups: C, untreated, and PDTC, receiving the NF-kB inhibitor pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC), 280 mg/kg/day in drinking water during 21 days. After weaning (at 25 days), the offspring (C and PDTC) were followed until 10 months of age with no further treatment. Unlike Losartan, neonatal PDTC treatment promoted no reduction in the number of nephrons and no abnormal albuminuria, indicating that the NF-kB system does not participate decisively in nephrogenesis. Nevertheless, rats that received PDTC during lactation exhibited stable hypertension associated with myocardial hypertrophy and fibrosis. To investigate the pathogenesis of hypertension, which cannot be ascribed to number of nephrons reduction, the renal expressions of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) components and of several molecules involved in sodium transport were determined by qRT-PCR at 3 and 10 months of life. The renal expression of renin and angiotensinogen in PDTC-treated rats at 3 months of age was significantly higher in comparison with control, but lower than age-matched controls at 10 months of age, suggesting that, although hypertension may be initiated by a derangement in the RAS, it was maintained by other mechanisms in the long run. At 3 months of age, there was upregulation of the luminal sodium/glucose transporter and the basolateral sodium/bicarbonate transporter at the proximal tubule, as well as a numerically higher expression of the luminal sodium/hydrogen exchanger, suggesting that these abnormalities might also be related to the pathogenesis of hypertension in these rats. At 10 months of age, however, the expression of all these transporters was reduced, suggesting that none of them was responsible for the long-term maintenance of high blood pressure. Neonatal PDTC administration represents a new model of essential hypertension, possibly related to local renal activation of the RAS and to deranged sodium transport at the proximal tubule. In the long run, hypertension must be maintained by other mechanisms.

A imunidade inata é responsável pela resposta inicial aos microrganismos, uma vez que impede, controla ou elimina a infecção. Esse sistema consiste em barreiras epiteliais, proteínas plasmáticas e células circulantes e teciduais. Dentre esses componentes, os macrófagos possuem grande importância, sendo capazes de controlar e eliminar agentes patogênicos através da fagocitose e produção de espécies reativas de oxigênio e nitrogênio. A ativação de PRRs por constituintes oriundos dos patógenos em macrófagos desencadeia eventos da resposta imune inata, ativados por diversas vias de sinalização intracelular. A via das PI3Ks é conhecida por regular várias funções nas células, como a regulação do ciclo celular, migração e produção de espécies reativas de oxigênio e nitrogênio. O NO é um mediador central na imunidade inata que, após estímulos inflamatórios, é produzido em altas quantidades através da iNOS. Macrófagos deficientes em PI3K produzem menos NO e apresentam prejudicado controle da infecção quando infectados por T. cruzi. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi investigar o papel da via PI3K na produção de NO por macrófagos peritoneais estimulados com LPS. Os macrófagos empregados no estudo, WT e PI3K-/-, possuem o mesmo fenótipo. Observamos que macrófagos PI3K-/- possuem uma menor produção de NO e expressam menos iNOS. A reduzida expressão de iNOS, após estímulo com LPS, é também observada quando macrófagos WT são tratados com inibidores seletivos da PI3K e AKT. Além disso, demonstramos que, concomitantemente à menor expressão da iNOS, ocorre deficiência na fosforilação da AKT e diminuição da ativação do fator de transcrição NF-kB, sugerindo que a PI3K participa da ativação do NF-kB. Foi observado ainda que o tratamento com PTX também diminui a expressão da iNOS. No entanto, macrófagos PAFR-/- expostos ao LPS presentam maior expressão da iNOS, enquanto os macrófagos CCR2-/- apresentam menor expressão dessa enzima nessas condições. Para investigar a implicação da via PI3K in vivo foi administrado LPS i.v., como modelo de choque endotoxemico, no qual observamos maior sobrevida em animais PI3K-/- comparado aos animais WT e menores níveis de nitrito no soro. Nossos dados sugerem que a enzima PI3K é crítica para expressão de iNOS e produção de NO pelos macrófagos, possivelmente através da ativação do receptor CCR2, estando envolvida na fisiopatologia do choque induzido por LPS. / Innate immunity is the initial response to microorganisms, since it prevents, controls and eliminates infection. This system consists in epithelial barriers, plasma proteins and circulating and tissue cells. Among these components, macrophages have great importance, being capable of control and eliminate pathogen agents through phagocytosis and production of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. Activation of PRRs by pathogens constituents in macrophages triggers events of the innate immune response, activated by various intracellular signaling pathways. PI3Ks pathway is known to regulate several functions in the cell, such as regulation of the cell cycle, migration and production of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. NO is a central mediator in innate immunity, which after inflammatory stimuli, is produced in high levels by iNOS. PI3K-deficient macrophages produce less NO and exhibit impaired control of infection when infected by T. cruzi. The aim of the present study is to investigate the role of PI3K pathway in NO production by LPS-estimulated peritoneal macrophages. The macrophages used in this study, WT and PI3K- / -, have the same phenotype. We observed that PI3K- / - macrophages have a lower NO production and express less iNOS. The low expression of iNOS after stimulation with LPS was also observed in WT macrophages treated with selective inhibitors of PI3K and AKT. Furthermore, we demonstrate that, along to lower iNOS expression, there is deficiency in AKT phosphorylation and decreased activation of the transcription factor NF-kB, suggesting that PI3K participates of the NF-kB activation. It was also observed that PTX treatment has decreased iNOS expression. However, LPS-exposed PFAR-/- macrophages present greater expression of iNOS, while CCR2-/- macrophage exhibit lower expression of this enzyme under these conditions. To investigate involvement of the PI3K pathway has \"in vivo\",LPS was administered i.v., as an endotoxic model, in which we observed a higher survival in PI3K- / - animals compared to WT animals and lower nitrite levels in serum. Our data suggest that PI3K enzyme is critical to iNOS expression and NO production by macrophages, possibly through activation of the CCR2 receptor, being involved in the LPS-induced shock pathophysiology

Em roedores, a administração de Losartan (LO) durante a nefrogênese (primeiras duas semanas de vida) leva à insuficiência renal progressiva e, mais tardiamente, à hipertensão, indicando que a Angiotensina II (AII) é indispensável a uma nefrogênese adequada. Os mediadores intracelulares desse efeito são desconhecidos. Nós investigamos se o sistema NF-kB, que tem influência na embriogênese de outros tecidos, poderia ser um desses mediadores. Trinta e duas ratas Munich Wistar, cada uma amamentando 6 filhotes, foram divididas em dois grupos: C, sem tratamento, e PDTC, que receberam o inibidor do NF-kB Pirrolidina Ditiocarbamato (PDTC), 280 mg/kg/dia na água de beber durante 21 dias. A prole (C e PDTC), constituída de ratos machos, foi acompanhada até 10 meses de vida sem qualquer tratamento. Diferentemente do observado anteriormente com o LO, o PDTC não promoveu redução do número de néfrons nem albuminúria, indicando que o sistema NF-kB não participa crucialmente da nefrogênese. No entanto, os ratos que receberam o PDTC durante a lactação apresentaram hipertensão persistente, associada a hipertrofia de miócitos e a fibrose miocárdica. Para investigar a patogênese da hipertensão (que não se pode explicar por uma redução no número de néfrons), as expressões renais dos componentes do sistema renina-angiotensina (SRA) e dos transportadores tubulares foram determinadas por PCR em tempo real (qRT-PCR) aos 3 e 10 meses de vida. Aos 3 meses, a expressão de angiotensinogênio (AGT) e renina foram significativamente aumentadas no grupo PDTC vs C, indicando que uma ativação local do SRA pode explicar o desenvolvimento da hipertensão no grupo PDTC. No entanto, a expressão de todos os componentes do SRA examinados nos animais que receberam o PDTC durante a nefrogênese estava diminuída aos 10 meses, possivelmente devido a um mecanismo compensatório, sugerindo que a hipertensão foi mantida por outros mecanismos. No túbulo proximal, observou-se um aumento da expressão do transportador sódio/glicose isoforma 1 (SGLT1) (luminal) e sódio/bicarbonato (NBC) (basolateral), bem como um aumento numérico na expressão do trocador luminal sódio/hidrogênio isoforma 3 (NHE3), sugerindo que essas anormalidades podem estar envolvidas na patogênese da hipertensão nesses animais. Aos 10 meses, a expressão de todas as moléculas estava diminuída, sugerindo a participação de outros mecanismos na manutenção da hipertensão em longo prazo. A administração de PDTC pode representar um novo modelo de hipertensão essencial, possivelmente iniciada pela ativação local do SRA e por anormalidades no transporte de sódio no túbulo proximal e mantida em longo prazo por outros mecanismos. / Losartan treatment during late murine nephrogenesis (first 2 weeks of extrauterine life) causes progressive renal injury in adult life and, at more advanced stages, hypertension, indicating a physiologic action of angiotensin II on nephrogenesis. The possible intracellular pathways that might mediate this effect are unknown. We investigated the possibility that the NF-kB system, known to participate in the embryogenesis of other tissues, could be one of these mediators. Soon after delivery, thirty-two Munich-Wistar dams, each nursing 6 male pups, were divided in 2 groups: C, untreated, and PDTC, receiving the NF-kB inhibitor pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC), 280 mg/kg/day in drinking water during 21 days. After weaning (at 25 days), the offspring (C and PDTC) were followed until 10 months of age with no further treatment. Unlike Losartan, neonatal PDTC treatment promoted no reduction in the number of nephrons and no abnormal albuminuria, indicating that the NF-kB system does not participate decisively in nephrogenesis. Nevertheless, rats that received PDTC during lactation exhibited stable hypertension associated with myocardial hypertrophy and fibrosis. To investigate the pathogenesis of hypertension, which cannot be ascribed to number of nephrons reduction, the renal expressions of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) components and of several molecules involved in sodium transport were determined by qRT-PCR at 3 and 10 months of life. The renal expression of renin and angiotensinogen in PDTC-treated rats at 3 months of age was significantly higher in comparison with control, but lower than age-matched controls at 10 months of age, suggesting that, although hypertension may be initiated by a derangement in the RAS, it was maintained by other mechanisms in the long run. At 3 months of age, there was upregulation of the luminal sodium/glucose transporter and the basolateral sodium/bicarbonate transporter at the proximal tubule, as well as a numerically higher expression of the luminal sodium/hydrogen exchanger, suggesting that these abnormalities might also be related to the pathogenesis of hypertension in these rats. At 10 months of age, however, the expression of all these transporters was reduced, suggesting that none of them was responsible for the long-term maintenance of high blood pressure. Neonatal PDTC administration represents a new model of essential hypertension, possibly related to local renal activation of the RAS and to deranged sodium transport at the proximal tubule. In the long run, hypertension must be maintained by other mechanisms.

The classical Nuclear Factor kappa B (NF-B) signaling pathway is an important regulator of inflammation and innate immune responses. Poxviruses, including vaccinia virus, encode multiple immune evasion proteins, including a growing number of NF-B inhibitors. To determine if additional vaccinia virus gene products disrupted NF-B signaling, we utilized VV811, a mutant virus missing 55 open reading frames and devoid of the known inhibitors of TNF-induced NF-B activation. NF-B nuclear translocation was inhibited in VV811 infected cells stimulated with TNF. Furthermore, VV811 infection suppressed IB degradation and resulted in accumulation of phosphorylated IB in cells stimulated with TNF. Coimmunoprecipitation assays demonstrated that the inhibitory IB-p65-p50 complex was intact in VV811 infected cells, and, significantly, treatment with AraC revealed the involvement of late protein synthesis in stabilization of IB. This work indicates that unidentified inhibitors of NF-B exist in vaccinia virus and illustrates the importance of NF-B activation in the antiviral response. / Virology

No description available.

Overexpression of the Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products (RAGE) has been implicated in multiple diseases, including several types of cancer. In different types of cancer, RAGE has been shown to promote cell survival by either autophagy or activation of the transcription factor NF-κB. Based on what is known about RAGE, we hypothesized that the RAGE/ligand interaction at the cell surface promotes pancreatic cancer and melanoma cell survival by both pathways, autophagy and NF-κB activation. To study the role of RAGE in pancreatic cancer resistance to chemotherapy, BxPC-3, MIA PaCa-2, PANC-1, and RAGE overexpressing PANC-1 FLR2 cell-lines were used. A significant decrease in cell viability was observed upon gemcitabine treatment with further significant reduction in cell viability upon combination of gemcitabine with the RAGE inhibitor IgG 2A11. In our studies we showed that RAGE plays a central role in pancreatic cancer cell resistance to gemcitabine by increasing autophagy. To test the importance of RAGE localization in mediating drug resistance, three melanoma cell-lines (WM115, WM266, and SK-MEL2) with their daughters, RAGE overexpressing cells (WM115-RAGE, WM266-RAGE, and SK-MEL2-RAGE) were used. Wild type cell-lines only expressed RAGE intracellularly while RAGE overexpressing cells expressed RAGE both at the cell surface and inside cells. We show in this study that only the cell surface RAGE is involved in melanoma resistance to dacarbazine. We next tested the effects of RAGE/RAGE ligand interaction at the cell surface in pancreatic tumor growth. We used two carcinoma cell-lines, PANC-1 and MIA PaCa-2, for this purpose. Both cell-lines were transiently transfected with a NF-κB/Luciferase reporter plasmid to test the effects of the interaction between RAGE and its ligands on the activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway. We observed higher NF-κB activity upon treatment with RAGE ligands (AGE, S100P, and S100A8/A9) compared to non-treated cells. Higher activity of NF-κB was coupled with a higher expression of cyclin D1 and lower expression of p53, NF-κB target genes. / Cobre grant "P20GM109024"