Autoantibody against activating transcription factor-2 in patients with systemic sclerosis

OBJECTIVES

To determine the prevalence and clinical correlation of autoantibody to activating transcription factor (ATF)-2, a transcription factor of ATF/CREB family, in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc).

METHODS

Anti-ATF-2 Ab was examined by ELISA and immunoblotting using human recombinant ATF-2. ATF-2 activity to bind target DNA was evaluated by ELISA using a plate coated with oligonucleotide containing the consensus binding site for ATF-2.

RESULTS

IgG anti-ATF-2 Ab levels in SSc patients (n=69) were significantly higher than those in normal controls (n=26). SSc patients positive for IgG anti-ATF-2 Ab had significantly longer disease duration, more frequent presence of decreased %VC and %DLco, and elevated levels of serum IgG, serum IgA, and erythrocyte sedimentation rates than those negative. More-over, IgG anti-ATF-2 Ab levels correlated inversely with %VC or %DLco. The presence of anti-ATF-2 Ab in SSc patients was confirmed by immunoblotting analysis. IgG isolated from serum samples of SSc patients positive for IgG anti-ATF-2 Ab by ELISA slightly but significantly inhibited ATF-2 activity compared with normal controls.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that anti-ATF-2 Ab is a new autoantibody in SSc and that it serves as a novel serological marker for inflammation and lung involvement in SSc.

Autoantibody against a protease domain of caspase-8 in patients with systemic sclerosis

BACKGROUND

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is characterized by autoantibodies against various cellular components.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the presence or levels of antibodies (Abs) against a protease domain (PD) of caspase-8 and their clinical relevance in SSc.

METHODS

Anti-caspase-8 PD Ab was examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunoblotting using human recombinant caspase-8 PD. Caspase-8 activity was evaluated by spectrophotometric detection of cleavage from p-nitroanilide-labeled IETD, a substrate of caspase-8.

RESULTS

IgG anti-caspase-8 PD Ab levels in patients with SSc, systemic lupus erythematosus, or dermatomyositis were higher than in normal controls (CTL). Furthermore, anit-caspase-8 PD Ab levels in limited cutaneous SSc (ISSc) patients were elevated compared to diffuse cutameous SSc (dSSc) patients. To investigate the clinical correlation, laboratory findings were compared between SSc patients with high levels (>the mean+2SD of CTL) of anti-caspase-8 PD Ab and those with low levels. SSc patients with high level exhibited lower frequency of male and decreased C-reactive protein levels relative to those with low levels. Immunoblotting showed the anit-caspase-8 PD Ab was present in all SSc patients examined, while it was also detected in 75% of CTL. Caspase-8 activity was inhibited by IgG isolated from sera of SSc patients and CTL, although inhibitory effect was greater in SSc patients than CTL.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that immune response to caspase-8 occurs in healthy individuals, although it is greater in patients with systemic autoimmune diseases including SSc. Furthermore, high level of anti-caspase-8 PD Ab may be a serological indicator for a milder SSc subset.

Involvement of gaseous low molecular monoxides in the cutaneous reverse passive Arthus reaction: cytoprotective action of carbon monoxide

The deposition of immune complexes (IC) induces an acute inflammatory response with tissue injury, for which the involvement of nitric oxide (NO) and carbon monoxide (CO) has been suggested. NO is induced by NO synthase (NOS) and CO is generated by haeme oxygenase (HO). Among HO isoenzymes, HO-1 is an induced type. To assess the role of NO and CO in the pathogenic process, the cutaneous reverse passive Arthus reaction was examined using NOS inhibitor, HO-1 stimulator and HO-1 inhibitor. To evaluate the reaction we considered oedema, tumour necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-6, and neutrophil number. The values of these four parameters were significantly reduced in mice treated with HO-1 stimulator as compared with the positive control mice. Quite the reverse was observed in mice treated with HO-1 inhibitor. These results suggest that the HO-1/CO signalling pathway is a therapeutic target for human IC-mediated disease.

Baicalein, a flavonoid extracted from a methanolic extract of Oroxylum indicum inhibits proliferation of a cancer cell line in vitro via induction of apoptosis

A methanolic extract of the fruits of Oroxylum indicum, which is widely used in traditional Chinese herbal medicine for its anti-inflammatory, anti-pyretic and anti-hypersensitivity effects, inhibited in vitro proliferation of HL-60 cells. The flavonoid baicalein was found as an active component in the extract. Analysis of freeze-dried fruits of the plant indicated that this component comprised about 4% of the material by dry weight. In this study, we investigated the in vitro effects of baicalein on the viability and induction of apoptosis in the HL-60 cell line. The cell viability after treating with baicalein for 24 h was quantified by counting viable cells using trypan blue staining. The results showed that baicalein caused a 50% inhibition of HL-60 cells at concentrations of 25-30 microM. The inhibition of proliferation of HL-60 cells due to 36-48 h exposure to 10 or 20 microM baicalein was associated with the accumulation of cells at S or G2M phases. However, proliferation inhibition at a higher dose may be associated with induction by apoptosis, as evidenced by the typical nuclear fragmentation using DNA fragmentation assay and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL). The results indicate that baicalein has anti-tumor effects on human cancer cells, and Oroxylum indicum extract could be used in supplementary cancer therapy.

411 EFFECTIVE PRODUCTION OF ICSI-MEDIATED TRANSGENIC MICE: INTENSITY OF GFP EXPRESSION AS A MARKER GENE AND INCIDENCE OF APOPTOSIS IN BLASTOCYSTS

Transgenic animals provide a powerful model to explore the regulation of gene expression, and to study gene functionality. The objective of this study was to improve the production efficiency of transgenic mice in ICSI-mediated transgenesis. We examined the relation between the intensity of green fluorescent protein (GFP) expression as a marker gene in blastocysts and the productivity of green mice after embryo transfer, and the incidence of apoptosis in blastocysts with GFP expression. Spermatozoa were processed fresh (FR) and with 2 methods that cause membrane disruption: freeze–thawing (FT), or freeze–thawing followed by 0.5% Triton X-100 for 0.5 min (TX). The spermatozoa were co-incubated with 4.0 ng �L-1 of pCX-EGFP DNA fragments (3.5 kb) for 1 min on ice and injected into oocytes of B6D2F1 mice. The injected oocytes were cultured in KSOMaa for 96 h. Blastocysts were classified into 3 categories depending on the intensity of GFP expression (strong, moderate, and mosaic/negative) under fluorescence microscopy. The number of apoptotic cells in the blastocysts was determined by the TUNEL method using an in situ cell death detection kit (Roche Diagnostics, Mannheim, Germany). Data were analyzed by the chi-square test in all experiments. Blastocyst rates for FR, FT, and TX were 77% (27/35), 67% (18/27), and 69% (31/45), respectively. The proportion of blastocysts expressing GFP for FR, FT, and TX were 0% (0/27), 22% (4/18), and 52% (16/31), respectively. The percentage of apoptotic cells (the number of apoptotic cells/total cells) in blastocysts with strong GFP expression (7.3 � 0.5%; 4.9 � 0.4/68 � 3) was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than in those with moderate (2.5 � 0.3%; 2.2 � 0.2/88 � 3) or mosaic/negative (1.5 � 0.2%; 1.4 � 0.2/91 � 2) GFP expression. After embryo transfer, the rates of implantation, fetal development, and green fetus production were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in blastocysts with moderate GFP expression (52%, 16/31; 19%, 6/312 and 16%, 5/31, respectively) than in those with strong GFP expression (12%, 4/33; 6%, 2/33; 3%, 1/33). These results suggest that a high amount of GFP expression in blastocyst is detrimental to embryo development and survival.

372 SPERM ASTER FORMATION AND BLASTOCYST DEVELOPMENT OF IN VIVO-MATURED BOVINE OOCYTES FERTILIZED BY INTRACYTOPLASMIC SPERM INJECTION

In cattle, activation treatment after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is required to improve cleavage and blastocyst rates (Horiuchi et al. 2002 Theriogenology 57, 1013–1024). The reason why the exogenous activation treatment in bovine ICSI is needed to promote cleavage and blastocyst development is not clear. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of activation treatment on sperm aster formation, cleavage, and blastocyst development of in vivo- and in vitro-matured bovine oocytes following ICSI. In vivo-matured oocytes were collected using transvaginal devices under ultrasound guide at about 29 h after GnRH injection from Japanese Black cows superstimulated with a total 19 mg FSH (Antrin�; Denka Pharmaceutical Co., Kanagawa, Japan) divided into twice daily over 3 days, and treated with 750 �g cloprostenol (Estramate�; Sumitomo Chemical Co., Tokyo, Japan). In a total of 8 aspiration sessions, 131 oocytes were collected; of 116 oocytes with expanded cumulus cells, 84 (72%) had a first polar body and were used for ICSI. On the other hand, in vitro-matured bovine oocytes were prepared by culturing immature follicular oocytes derived from abattoir ovaries. Bull spermatozoa, immobilized by scoring their tails, were injected into in vivo- or in vitro-matured oocytes. At 4 h after ICSI, the oocytes were treated with or without 7% ethanol for 5 min for activation. The injected oocytes were fixed at 8 h after ICSI, and sperm aster formation was examined by using specific antibodies and immunofluorescence microscopy. Data were analyzed by the chi-square test in all experiments. The rate of sperm aster formation in in vivo-matured oocytes was similar regardless of activation treatment (71% vs. 65%), but the rate in in vitro-matured oocytes was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in the group receiving activation treatment than in the non-activation group (57% vs. 19%). Cleavage (88% vs. 88%) and blastocyst rates (59% vs. 47%) of in vivo-matured oocytes after ICSI were also similar, regardless of activation treatment, but cleavage (72% and 20%) and blastocyst rates (19% and 7%) of in vitro-matured oocytes were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in the group receiving activation treatment than in the non-activation group. Moreover, the blastocyst rate of in vivo-matured oocytes was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than the rate in in vitro-matured oocytes. These results show that activation treatment after ICSI of in vivo-matured bovine oocytes is not necessary for cleavage and blastocyst development, and suggest that the necessity of activation treatment in bovine ICSI has relevance to in vitro maturation of bovine oocytes.

373 OOCYTE-ACTIVATING CAPACITY OF BOVINE SPERMATOGENIC CELLS AND ACTIVATION PROTOCOLS FOR INTRACYTOPLASMIC INJECTION OF BOVINE ROUND SPERMATIDS

In vitro spermatogenesis can be applied to generate spermatids or spermatozoa and produce a genetically modified male germ line. Intracytoplasmic injection of the spermatids or spermatozoa is an important technique for effective production of offspring. The objective of this study is to evaluate oocyte-activation capacity of bovine spermatids or spermatozoa and to determine the effective activation treatment for in vitro development of bovine oocytes injected with round spermatids. Cryopreserved testicular spermatogenic cells and cauda epididymal spermatozoa obtained from a 1-year-old Japanese bull were used. In the first experiment, we injected bovine round (ROS) and elongated (ELS) spermatids, or testicular (TES) and cauda epididymal (CES) spermatozoa into mouse oocytes to examine their oocyte-activating capacity. The presence of pronuclei within whole-mounted oocytes was observed 4 h after injection. In the second experiment, we injected similar spermatids and spermatozoa into bovine oocytes without additional activation, and examined cleavage and blastocyst development. In the third experiment, bovine oocytes injected with ROS were activated with 7% ethanol or 5 �M ionomycin for 5 min (1 � Et or 1 � Iono) immediately after injection; some were further activated repeatedly at 3 h after injection (2 � Et or 2 � Iono), and some of these were subjected to 1.9 mM 6-dimethylaminopurine (DMAP) for 3 h after the second activation (2 � Et + DMAP or 2 � Iono + DMAP). Data were analyzed by the chi-square test in all experiments. The vast majority of bovine ROS failed to activate mouse oocytes (activation rate 10%). Activation rates of mouse oocytes injected with bovine ELS, TES, and CES were 61%, 75%, and 91%, respectively. The results suggest that oocyte-activation capacity is acquired during transformation from ROS to ELS. Cleavage and blastocyst rates of bovine oocytes injected with CES (59% and 19%, respectively) were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than the rates obtained with injections of TES (37% and 9%) and ROS (5% and 0%) without additional activation. However, cleavage and blastocyst rates of bovine oocytes injected with ROS in the groups of 2 � Et + DMAP (80% and 19%) and 2 � Iono + DMAP (76% and 19%) were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than those in the groups of 1 � and 2 � Et (37% and 2%, 59% and 4%), 1 � and 2 � Iono (10% and 7%, 22% and 4%), or those receiving a sham injection and activated with 2 � Iono + DMAP (43% and 4%). These results demonstrate that intracytoplasmic injection of ROS with repeated Et or Iono activation followed by DMAP treatment is more efficient than single or double Et or Iono activation.

All-optical switching of 40 Gb/s packets by MMI-BLD optical label memory

We demonstrated all-optical label storing and switching for 40 Gb/s optical packets by using all-optical signal processing of multimode interference bistable laser diode optical flip-flops. The stored optical labels in the optical flip-flop controlled an all-optical switch to forward the injected optical packets. The 40 Gb/s optical packets were successfully switched in the all-optical scheme with 11-dB extinction ratio. Error-free operation for the output packets from the switch was also obtained with 1.3-dB power penalty. The presented all-optical packet switching has the advantages of ultrafast switching and transparency of data rate and format, suitable for the future optical networks.

Evaluation of activation treatments for blastocyst production and birth of viable calves following bovine intracytoplasmic sperm injection

The objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness of different methods of bovine oocyte activation following intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in terms of oocyte cleavage and blastocyst rates, and calf production. Oocytes were harvested, post mortem, from the ovaries of Japanese Black heifers or cows. ICSI was carried out using a piezo-electric actuator. The injected or sham-injected oocytes that were assigned to three activation treatments, each replicated three times, were studied: (1) exposure to 5 microM ionomycin for 5 min (ionomycin); (2) exposure to 5 microM ionomycin for 5 min followed by culture in TCM199 for 3 h and a further 3h culture in 1.9 mM 6-dimethylaminopurine (DMAP-ionomycin+DMAP); (3) exposure to 7% ethanol in TCM199 for 5 min, 4 h after ICSI (ethanol). One or two blastocysts from the ionomycin+DMAP (8 recipients) and ethanol (17 recipients) oocyte activation treatments were non-surgically transferred into Holsteins for the study of calf production. The highest cleavage and blastocyst production rates were observed in the ionomycin+DMAP treatment (83.9% and 40.1%) by the ICSI. These rates were significantly (P<0.05) higher than those for the ionomycin oocyte activation treatment (57.6% and 18.2%) but did not differ from the ethanol treatment (75.6% and 29.4%). In the sham-injected, the highest blastocyst production rates were observed for the ionomycin+DMAP and ethanol treatments (10.7% and 11.3%). Pregnancy and birth rates for blastocysts derived from the ethanol oocyte activation treatment (58.8% and 47.4%) were significantly higher (P<0.05) than those of the ionomycin+DMAP treatment (12.5% and 9.2%). The results showed that post-ICSI oocyte activation with ethanol is more effective than activation with ionomycin alone or with ionomycin+DMAP for the production of viable blastocysts and calves.

Interleukin (IL)-17 enhances tumor necrosis factor-alpha-stimulated IL-6 synthesis via p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase in osteoblasts

Inflammatory cytokines are well known to play crucial roles in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis. Among them, interleukin (IL)-17 is a cytokine that is mainly synthesized by activated T cells and its receptors are present in osteoblasts. The synthesis of IL-6, known to stimulate osteoclastic bone resorption, is reportedly responded to bone resorptive agents such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in osteoblasts. It has been reported that IL-17 enhances TNF-alpha-stimulated IL-6 synthesis in osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cells. We previously showed that sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1-P) mediates TNF-alpha-stimulated IL-6 synthesis in these cells. In the present study, we investigated the mechanism of IL-17 underlying enhancement of IL-6 synthesis in MC3T3-E1 cells. IL-17 induced phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase. SB203580 and PD169316, specific inhibitors of p38 MAP kinase, significantly reduced the enhancement by IL-17 of TNF-alpha-stimulated IL-6 synthesis. IL-17 also amplified S1-P-stimulated IL-6 synthesis, and the amplification by IL-17 was suppressed by SB203580. Anisomycin, an activator of p38 MAP kinase, which alone had no effect on IL-6 level, enhanced the IL-6 synthesis stimulated by TNF-alpha. SB203580 and PD169316 inhibited the amplification by anisomycin of the TNF-alpha-induced IL-6 synthesis. Taken together, our results strongly suggest that IL-17 enhances TNF-alpha-stimulated IL-6 synthesis via p38 MAP kinase activation in osteoblasts.

Pre-decondensed sperm head injections into female pronuclei result in chromosomal mingling, zygotic cleavage, and adequate embryonic and fetal development up to delivery of healthy offspring: a novel method of assisted syngamy

Investigation of the developmental potential post-injection of a pre-decondensed or non-pre-decondensed sperm head into the female pronucleus of a pre-activated oocyte. Rat pre-activated oocytes were treated with intrapronuclear pre-decondensed sperm head injections (IPSHI) (n = 133) or intrapronuclear non-pre-decondensed sperm head injections (INPSHI) (n = 138). All injected oocytes were transferred to pseudopregnant female recipients. Rat IPSHI techniques resulted in the delivery of five healthy offspring. Rat INPSHI techniques did not result in any pregnancies. Rat IPSHI techniques can result in delivery of healthy offspring. Successful performance of human IPSHI techniques might serve as a novel method to manage cases of intracytoplasmic sperm injection failure due to lack of development of male pronucleus or due to failure in pronuclei fusion.

Vasopressin phosphorylates HSP27 in aortic smooth muscle cells

Administration of arginine vasopressin (AVP) time-dependently induced the phosphorylation of heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) at Ser-15 and Ser-85 in smooth muscle of aorta in vivo. The AVP-induced phosphorylation of HSP27 at Ser-15 and Ser-85 was inhibited by a V1a receptor antagonist but not by a V2 receptor antagonist. In cultured aortic smooth muscle A10 cells, AVP markedly stimulated the phosphorylation of HSP27 at Ser-15 and Ser-85. The AVP-induced phosphorylation of HSP27 was attenuated by SB203580 and PD169316, inhibitors of p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase, but not by PD98059, a MEK inhibitor. These results strongly suggest that AVP phosphorylates HSP27 via p38 MAP kinase in aortic smooth muscle cells.

Which cartilage is regenerated, hyaline cartilage or fibrocartilage? Non-invasive ultrasonic evaluation of tissue-engineered cartilage

OBJECTIVE

To investigate ultrasonic evaluation methods for detecting whether the repair tissue is hyaline cartilage or fibrocartilage in new cartilage regeneration therapy.

METHODS

We examined four experimental rabbit models: a spontaneous repair model (group S), a large cartilage defect model (group L), a periosteal graft model (group P) and a tissue-engineered cartilage regeneration model (group T). From the resulting ultrasonic evaluation, we used %MM (the maximum magnitude of the measurement area divided by that of the intact cartilage) as a quantitative index of cartilage regeneration. The results of the ultrasonic evaluation were compared with the histological findings and histological score.

RESULTS

The %MM values were 61.1 +/- 16.5% in group S, 29.8 +/- 15.1% in group L, 36.3 +/- 18.3% in group P and 76.5 +/- 18.7% in group T. The results showed a strong similarity to the histological scoring.

CONCLUSION

The ultrasonic examination showed that all the hyaline-like cartilage in groups S and T had a high %MM (more than 60%). Therefore, we could define the borderline between the two types of regenerated cartilage by the %MM.

Tumour necrosis factor-alpha but not interferon-gamma is the main inducer of inducible protein-10 in skin fibroblasts from patients with atopic dermatitis

BACKGROUND

Inducible protein (IP)-10 belongs to the CXC chemokine subfamily and acts through the CXCR3 receptors that attract T lymphocytes. Keratinocytes are thought to be the main cell source of this chemokine in the skin, but other sources need to be elucidated.

OBJECTIVES

To determine whether skin fibroblasts, besides keratinocytes, are able to produce IP-10 and the possible involvement of these cells in pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis (AD).

METHODS

We studied the production pattern of IP-10 in dermal fibroblasts obtained from healthy donors, AD patients and in the HaCaT cell line (normal human keratinocytes) used as control. We stimulated fibroblasts after the sixth and seventh passage with tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interferon (IFN)-gamma, interleukin (IL)-4, and by means of reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay analysis detected the production pattern of IP-10. To determine whether a different pattern of production of IP-10 by fibroblasts corresponds to the level of this chemokine in the plasma of patients with AD, we also checked the plasma IP-10 levels in 33 AD patients and 10 healthy donors.

RESULTS

The pattern of chemokine production between dermal fibroblasts and HaCaT cells was different. The main inducer of IP-10 in fibroblasts was TNF-alpha, whereas IFN-gamma was the main inducer of IP-10 in HaCaT cells. We demonstrate that fibroblasts from AD patients have higher IP-10 expression and are more sensitive to TNF-alpha stimulation compared with healthy controls. Consequently, IP-10 levels in plasma of AD patients were higher than in healthy donors.

CONCLUSIONS

Skin fibroblasts could be an important source of IP-10. TNF-alpha is the main inducer of IP-10 by skin fibroblasts, but not IFN-gamma or IL-4. The increased level of IP-10 in the plasma of patients with AD could be connected with increased activity of skin fibroblasts.

Platelet-derived growth factor-BB phosphorylates heat shock protein 27 in cardiac myocytes

It is recognized that heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) is highly expressed in heart. In the present study, we investigated whether platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) phosphorylates HSP27 in mouse myocytes, and the mechanism underlying the HSP27 phosphorylation. Administration of PDGF-BB induced the phosphorylation of HSP27 at Ser-15 and -85 in mouse cardiac muscle in vivo. In primary cultured myocytes, PDGF-BB time dependently phosphorylated HSP27 at Ser-15 and -85. PDGF-BB stimulated the phosphorylation of p44/p42 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase, p38 MAP kinase, and stress-activated protein kinase/c-Jun N-terminal kinase (SAPK/JNK) among the MAP kinase superfamily. SB203580, a specific inhibitor of p38 MAP kinase, reduced the PDGF-BB-stimulated phosphorylation of HSP27 at both Ser-15 and -85, and phosphorylation of p38 MAP kinase. However, PD98059, a specific inhibitor of MEK, or SP600125, a specific inhibitor of SAPK/JNK, failed to affect the HSP27 phosphorylation. These results strongly suggest that PDGF-BB phosphorylates HSP27 at Ser-15 and -85 via p38 MAP kinase in cardiac myocytes.

Can ultrasound predict histological findings in regenerated cartilage?

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate regenerated articular cartilage quantitatively by introducing an ultrasonic probe into the knee joint under arthroscopy and analysing the A-mode echogram by means of wavelet transformation.

METHODS

Three experimental rabbit models (spontaneous repair model, large cartilage defect model, treatment model) were examined using our ultrasonic evaluation system and a histological grading scale. From resulting wavelet map, the percentage of maximum magnitude was selected as the quantitative index of the ultrasonic evaluation system.

RESULTS

The percentage maximum magnitude in the spontaneous repair model was 61.1%, that in the large defect model was 29.8% and that in the treatment model was 36.3%. There was modest correlation between the percentage maximum magnitude and the histological grading scale (r = -0.594)

CONCLUSION

Our findings indicate that ultrasound analysis can predict the microstructure of regenerated cartilage.

Simvastatin stimulates VEGF release via p44/p42 MAP kinase in vascular smooth muscle cells

It has been shown that 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors (statins) modulate vascular smooth muscle cell functions. In the present study, we investigated the effect of simvastatin on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) release, and the underlying mechanism, in a rat aortic smooth muscle cell line, A10 cells. Administration of simvastatin increased the VEGF level in rat plasma in vivo. In cultured cells, simvastatin significantly stimulated VEGF release in a dose-dependent manner. Simvastatin induced the phosphorylation of p44/p42 MAP kinase but not p38 MAP kinase or SAPK (stress-activated protein kinase)/JNK (c-Jun N-terminal kinase). PD98059 and U-0126, inhibitors of the upstream kinase that activates p44/p42 MAP kinase, significantly reduced the simvastatin-induced VEGF release in a dose-dependent manner. The phosphorylation of p44/p42 MAP kinase induced by simvastatin was reduced by PD98059 or U-0126. Moreover, a bolus injection of PD98059 truly suppressed the simvastatin-increased VEGF level in rat plasma in vivo. These results strongly suggest that p44/p42 MAP kinase plays a role at least partly in the simvastatin-stimulated VEGF release in vascular smooth muscle cells.

Impaired sweating function in adult atopic dermatitis: results of the quantitative sudomotor axon reflex test

BACKGROUND

Impaired sweating is thought to be a cause of barrier dysfunction in atopic dermatitis (AD).

OBJECTIVES

To examine the sweating function in AD in a quantitative manner.

METHODS

We investigated the sweating response of lesional and non-lesional skin of adult patients with AD by a quantitative sudomotor axon reflex test in which the axon reflex is stimulated by acetylcholine iontophoresis. Sweat volume on the volar aspect of the forearm was measured in 18 adult patients with AD and in 40 non-atopic controls; five patients with Sjögren's syndrome were also studied as disease comparators. We also evaluated the sweating function in four AD patients after topical corticosteroid therapy. Latency time, direct (DIR) sweat volume and axon reflex-mediated indirect (AXR) sweat volume were the variables studied.

RESULTS

The latency time in AD patients was significantly prolonged and AXR sweat volume significantly reduced compared with those in non-atopic control subjects. The latency time and AXR sweat volume of lesional AD skin were significantly more prolonged and reduced, respectively, than those of non-lesional skin. In contrast, the DIR sweat volume of lesional or non-lesional AD skin induced by direct stimulation with acetylcholine was only slightly reduced when compared with that in non-atopic controls. Latency time and sweat volumes of lesional and non-lesional AD skin improved after topical corticosteroid therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that the impaired sweat response in AD is attributable to an abnormal sudomotor axon reflex, which is reversed by topical corticosteroid administration.

Fermi surface of nanocrystalline embedded particles in materials: bcc Cu in Fe

We report that a positron can act as a probe to directly reveal electronic structures of nanocrystalline embedded particles in materials. The Fermi surface (FS) of "bcc" Cu nanoparticles in an Fe matrix is observed as the first example. A two-dimensional angular correlation of the positron annihilation radiation (2D-ACAR) method is used to measure the momentum distribution which reflects the FS topology. The obtained 2D-ACAR spectra show strong and characteristic anisotropy associated with the necks of the FS around the [110] Brillouin zone boundaries of the bcc Cu, which are well reproduced by full-potential linearized argumented plane-wave calculations.