Emodin upregulates urokinase plasminogen activator, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and promotes wound healing in human fibroblasts

Urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) system is important for several biological processes that call for extracellular proteolysis, fibrinolysis, cell migration, proliferation and angiogenesis. The current study highlights the fibrinolytic and wound healing potential of emodin, an anthraquinone, with relevance to the uPA system. Emodin increased the fibrinolytic activity of fibroblast cells in a dose-dependent manner. Zymography linked the activity to increased uPA activity. Subsequent RT-PCR and western analyses demonstrated uPA gene upregulation. Interestingly, PAI-1, the inhibitor of uPA was also upregulated. EMSA showed the upregulation occurred independent of emodin's effect on nuclear factor kappa B (NFkappaB). The effect on uPA system is supposedly via generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) since cotreatment with ascorbic acid, an anti-oxidant, attenuated the activity. In addition to profibrinolytic potential, emodin also demonstrated wound healing activity in in vitro wound models. Presence of emodin in the medium enhanced the rate of migration of fibroblasts into the wounded region. These in vitro experiments reveal that emodin is a potent profibrinolytic and wound healing agent.

uPA dependent and independent mechanisms of wound healing by C-phycocyanin

Wound repair requires both recruitment and well co-ordinated actions of many cell types including inflammatory cells, endothelial cells, epithelial cells and importantly fibroblast cells. Urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) system plays a vital role in wound healing phenomenon. We have previously demonstrated that C-phycocyanin (C-pc), a biliprotein from blue-green algae, transcriptionally regulates uPA through cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA) pathway. To date, a role for C-pc in wound-healing scenario is not elucidated. This study was designed to examine the wound-healing property of C-pc in relation to fibroblast proliferation and migration. C-pc increased fibroblast proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. It also enhanced G1 phase of cell cycle and increased the expressions of cyclin-dependent kinases 1 and 2, which facilitate cell cycle progression, in a uPA-independent manner. In vitro wound healing and migration assays revealed the pro-migratory properties of C-pc. Short-interference RNA studies demonstrated that uPA was necessary for C-pc-induced fibroblast migration. C-pc also significantly elevated the expressions of chemokines (MDC, RANTES, Eotaxin, GRO α, ENA78 and TARC) and Rho-GTPases (Cdc 42 and Rac 1) in a uPA-dependent manner. Pre-treatment of C-pc-stimulated cells with pharmacological inhibitor of PI-3K (LY294002) annulled the expression of GTPases implying that Rac 1 and Cdc 42 were induced through PI-3K pathway. C-pc-induced cellular migration towards wounded area was also negatively affected by PI-3K inhibition. In vivo wound-healing experiments in mice validated our finding that C-pc accelerates wound healing. Our data provides conclusive evidence of a novel therapeutic usage for C-pc as a wound-healing agent. C-pc is a food and drug administration (FDA)-approved health supplement. We believe this compound can also be beneficial in healing of internal wounds, such as ulcers.

Desmin as a marker of proteinuria in early stages of membranous nephropathy in elderly patients

AIMS AND METHOD

Idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN) is the most common cause of nephrotic syndrome in adults worldwide. Many patients with IMN are elderly, but little is known about the relationship regarding the morphological stage determined by electron microscopy (EM), the amount of proteinuria, and the expression of glomerular podocyte markers such as desmin and nephrin in nephrotic glomeruli in IMN. We studied 59 patients with histopathologically proven IMN. We compared the clinical features, EM stage classification, and the immunohistochemical features of glomerular expression of podocyte markers, including desmin and nephrin, between older (age > or = 60 years) and younger (age < 60 years) patients. We also investigated these parameters in patients with minimal-change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS), minor glomerular abnormalities (MGA), and normal kidneys as age-matched controls.

RESULTS

Prevalence of nephrotic syndrome was significantly higher in the older (52.9%) than the younger group (20.0%) of IMN. The level of proteinuria was higher in early stages (Stages I + II) than in late stages (Stages III + IV) in IMN. The glomerular expression of desmin in podocytes was significantly higher in IMN as compared to MCNS, MGA, or age-matched controls. Desmin expression was significantly increased in earlier EM stages (Stages I + II) and in higher proteinuric group (daily proteinuria > or = 1 g) of older patients with IMN. Reciprocally, the reduced expression of nephrin was associated with the early EM stages (Stages I + II) of patients with IMN.

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that the expression of desmin in podocytes is upregulated in patients with IMN as compared to other glomerular diseases including MCNS or MGA, or to controls. In elderly patients with IMN, desmin expression was associated with early EM stages and heavy proteinuria, which may reflect phenotypic alteration of the podocyte.

Antifungal activity of tetra-substituted tetrahydrofuran lignan, (-)-virgatusin, and its structure-activity relationship

Antifungal activities of the optically pure (>99%ee) (-)- and (+)-virgatusin, a tetra-substituted tetrahydrofuran lignan, were tested. (-)-Virgatusin, which is a natural product, showed highest antifungal activity against Colletotrichum lagenarium. Research on its structure-activity relationship was also performed. It was shown that two methoxy groups on 9 and 9' positions and a 3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl group on the 7 position of virgatusin were essential for high fungal growth inhibition. The part on 7'-phenyl group was not essential for activity. The 7'-(4-methoxyphenyl) derivative showed higher activity than that of (-)-virgatusin.

Determination of the stereochemistry of the tetrahydropyran sesquineolignans morinols A and B

The 7',8'-stereochemistry of the tetrahydropyran sesquineolignans morinols A and B was determined as threo via synthetic studies and by comparison of NMR data of 7',8'-threo-morinol and 7',8'-erythro-morinol. This study also confirmed that the biosynthetic process produces enantiomeric mixtures of morinols A and B. This was ascertained by comparing the specific rotations of synthesized morinols A and B with those of naturally occurring morinols A and B.

Antibacterial activity of a virgatusin-related compound

The relationship between antibacterial activity of tetra-substituted tetrahydrofuran lignans (1-4) and their absolute configurations was tested. Only compound 4 among two virgatusins and two related compounds exhibited growth inhibitory activity against the Gram-positive bacteria Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria denitrificans. Compound 4 affected the growth of B. subtilis in a bactericidic manner, and its ability to dissipate the cytoplasmic membrane potential was investigated using the fluorescence probe 3,3'-dipropylthiadicarbocyanine iodide. These results suggested that compound 4 damages cells by causing the loss of the proton motive force and disruption of the cellular integrity of the membrane, leading to cell death. In addition, it was shown that the antibacterial activity of a lignan was closely related to its absolute configuration and functional groups.

Multi-step lymphomagenesis deduced from DNA changes in thymic lymphomas and atrophic thymuses at various times after gamma-irradiation

Whole-body gamma-irradiation to mice causes thymic atrophy where a population of precancerous cells with mutation can be found. Thus, clonal growth and DNA changes at Bcl11b, Ikaros, Pten, Notch1 and Myc were examined in not only thymic lymphomas but also in atrophic thymuses at various times after irradiation. Clonal expansion was detected from the distinct patterns of rearrangements at the TCRbeta receptor locus in a fraction of atrophic thymuses at as early as 30 days after irradiation. This expansion may be in part owing to the rearranged TCRbeta signaling because the transfer of bone marrow cells with the rearrangement and the wild-type locus into severe-combined immunodeficiency mice showed preferential growth of the rearranged thymocytes in atrophic thymus. Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at Bcl11b and trisomy of Myc were found at high frequencies in both lymphomas and atrophic thymuses, and in contrast, LOH at Ikaros and Pten were rare in atrophic thymuses but prevalent in lymphomas. Notch1 activation was detected in lymphomas and in atrophic thymuses only at a late stage. Similar patterns of DNA changes were found in atrophic thymuses induced in Bcl11b(+/-) mice. These results suggest the order of genetic changes during lymphomagenesis, Bcl11b and Myc being at the early stage; whereas Ikaros, Pten and Notch1 at the late stage.

Identification and kinetic study of tyrosinase inhibitors found in sake lees

The present study found that the n-hexane extract of freeze-dried sake lees inhibits tyrosinase activity and showed that the constituents isolated from the n-hexane extract are the mixture of triacylglycerols. The inhibitory effects of triolein and trilinolein found as the triacylglycerols were examined using tyrosinases from mushroom and Streptomyces castaneoglobisporus. The IC50 values of the triacylglycerol mixture for the oxidase activity on mushroom and Streptomyces tyrosinases were 20 and 0.14 microg/mL, respectively. The IC50 values of trilinolein for the oxidase activity on mushroom and Streptomyces tyrosinases were 8.4 and 0.1 microM, respectively. However, the inhibitory effect of triolein (IC50=30 microM) was lower than that of trilinolein, even when the Streptomyces tyrosinase was used for the assay. Kinetic analyses indicate that both trilinolein and triolein inhibit the tyrosinase activity noncompetitively. When transformed with a plasmid carrying the Streptomyces tyrosinase gene, the melanin-synthesizing ability of the transformed Escherichia coli host was dose-dependently interfered with by trilinolein.

Purification of c-phycocyanin from Spirulina fusiformis and its effect on the induction of urokinase-type plasminogen activator from calf pulmonary endothelial cells

c-Phycocyanin (c-pc), a blue coloured, fluorescent protein was purified from blue-green alga, Spirulina fusiformis and its effect on fibrinolytic system in vascular endothelial cells was investigated. The c-pc consisted of two subunits, alpha and beta, whose molecular masses were 16 and 17 kDa, respectively. N-terminal sequences of both subunits were well conserved compared with other blue green algal phycobiliproteins. Fibrinolytic activity in the medium conditioned by calf pulmonary arterial endothelial cells was measured by the fibrin plate method. The c-pc increased the fibrinolytic activity in dose- and time-dependent manners. Fibrin zymographic studies indicated that c-pc-induced urokinase-type plasminogen activator in the cells. These in vitro results suggest that c-pc from S. fusiformis is a potent profibrinolytic protein in the vascular endothelial system.

C-phycocyanin transcriptionally regulates uPA mRNA through cAMP mediated PKA pathway in human fibroblast WI-38 cells

We have previously demonstrated the efficacy of c-phycocyanin in up-regulation of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) in bovine endothelial cell line. However, the mechanism of action and pathway elucidation in uPA regulation is unclear. In experiments reported here, we have investigated the mechanism of action of c-phycocyanin (c-pc) induced uPA gene modulation in human fibroblast (WI-38) cell line. ELISA test confirmed that c-pc increased the uPA antigen whereas PAI-1 antigen level was unaffected. Treatment of cells with c-pc significantly (P<0.05) enhanced the uPA mRNA level in a dose (50 microg/ml) and time dependent (up to 4 h) manner. This effect of c-pc was abolished by treatment with dichloro-1-beta-D-ribofuranosyl benzamidazole (DRB) (10 microg/ml). Co-treatment of c-pc with 200 microg/ml cycloheximide (CHX), translation inhibitor, resulted in over accumulation of uPA mRNA. These results suggest that uPA induction by c-pc is transcriptionally regulated and does not require de novo protein synthesis. We also provide evidence that c-pc stimulates uPA gene through cAMP dependent pathway as adenylyl cyclase (AC) inhibitor, dideoxyadenosine (DDA) significantly inhibited the uPA mRNA expression and co-treatment with adenylyl cyclase analogue, dBcAMP recovered the effect of c-pc on gene activity. Furthermore, the present investigation provides evidence on the regulatory pathway involved in the c-pc stimulus. C-pc induced uPA expression was completely inhibited by PKA inhibitor (KT 5200), indicating the regulation is dependent on PKA pathway. Elimination of PKC pathway components by prolonged incubation with excess amount of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) failed to abolish the c-pc effect on uPA expression indicating the regulation is independent of PKC pathway. Taken together, our data indicate that uPA gene regulation by c-pc is transcriptionally controlled through cAMP mediated PKA pathway.

Dissociation of neurological deficits in spinal decompression illness

Functional differentiation is found in the spinal cord. A unique set of neurological deficits follows a multi-focal injury. Clinically, sensory and motor disturbance present independently, often resulting in sensory and motor deficit dissociation. This study examined 103 spinal decompression illness (DCI) cases. The neurological deficit dissociation was classified as follows: 1) Cases with sensory impairment only, or motor dysfunction alone, were tagged as having "dissociation" (44 cases); when a case was with both sensory and motor dysfunction, the spinal level of the sensory impairment was determined and was matched with the spinal segments responsible for the motor dysfunction; 2) If the two spinal areas did not match (i.e. with no regional overlap), they were tagged as having "dissociation" for each motor dysfunction (32 cases). In total, dissociation was present in 76 out of 103 cases. We concluded that clinical neurological deficit dissociation is frequently observed in spinal DCI.

Growth-melt asymmetry in crystals and twelve-sided snowflakes

It is in the lexicon of crystal growth that the shape of a growing crystal reflects the underlying microscopic architecture. Although it is known that in weakly nonequilibrium conditions the slowest growing orientations ultimately dominate the asymptotic shape, is the same true for melting? Here we observe and show theoretically that while the two-dimensional steady melt shapes of ice are bounded by six planes, these planes are not proper facets but instead are rotated 30 degrees from the prism planes of ice. Finally, the transient melting state exposes 12 apparent crystallographic planes thereby differing substantially from the transient growth state.

Good response of membranous lupus nephritis to tacrolimus

A 22-year-old woman hospitalized for polyarthralgia was diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). She was treated with prednisolone, and her clinical manifestations improved. However, she was re-admitted for renal biopsy because of persistent hypocomplementemia and development of proteinuria. The biopsy revealed segmental spike formation of basement membrane and subepithelial immune complex deposition, and membranous lupus nephritis (class V) was diagnosed. When tacrolimus was added to prednisolone, the serum complement titer quickly improved and proteinuria disappeared after about 11 months. Nevertheless, when tacrolimus was replaced examination showed cyclosporine due to gastrointestinal symptoms, she complained about arthralgia. Examination showed drop in the serum complement titer and recurrence of proteinuria. Renal biopsy at the time of recurrence showed increased subepithelial immune complex deposition in the capillary loops as compared to the first biopsy, a high degree of thickening of the basement membrane, and segmental circumferential interposition in some of the glomeruli. Membranous lupus nephritis (classes V + III) was diagnosed. By changing to tacrolimus and higher doses of steroids, the serum complement titer improved and proteinuria disappeared. This case indicates that tacrolimus can be an effective therapeutic agent for membranous lupus nephritis.

Effect of the alternative magnetic stimulation on peripheral circulation for regenerative medicine

Regenerative medicine for patients with peripheral atherosclerosis attracts considerable attention around the world. However, ethical problems persist in gene therapy. This study evaluates the effect of alterative magnetic stimulation on peripheral circulation. The effect of magnetic stimulation as a medical treatment was examined using a thermograph for 11 healthy volunteers. The thermograph was used to measure the rise in skin temperature. The experimental results suggested an improvement in the peripheral circulation. The results of our study suggest the effectiveness of alternative magnetic stimulation on atherosclerosis. We intend to extend our study in order to establish a methodology for regenerative medical treatment for patients with peripheral atherosclerosis. Further, we wish to advance the current research in the field of angiogenesis.

Cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) for the monitoring of the atherosclerosis after heart transplantation

Atherosclerosis has been reported to progress rapidly after heart transplantation. A quantitative diagnosis is required for the diagnosis of atherosclerosis after heart transplantation. In this study, we compared brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) for the diagnosis. The average values of both baPWV and CAVI in the seven cases after heart transplantation were found to be signif-icantly large in comparison to the average values of the normal healthy people of the same age group. When comparisons were made before and after the heart transplantation in a particular case, CAVI was stable and baPWV changed sharply. A lot of parameters such as blood pressure, blood volume, etc. have been reported to influence baPWV. The results of this study suggested that CAVI was a stable parameter in comparison to baPWV even after heart transplantation. Thus, CAVI may be useful in the diagnosis of arteriosclerosis after heart transplantation.

Post-transcriptional regulation of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 by intracellular iron in cultured human lung fibroblasts--interaction of an 81-kDa nuclear protein with the 3'-UTR

The proteinase inhibitor, type-1 plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1), is a major regulator of the plasminogen activator system involved in plasmin formation and fibrinolysis. The present study explores the effects of intracellular iron on the expression of PAI-1 and associated cell-surface plasmin activity in human lung fibroblasts; and reports the presence of a novel iron-responsive protein. ELISA revealed a dose-dependent increase in PAI-1 antigen levels expressed in the conditioned medium of cells treated with deferoxamine, in the three cell lines studied. A concomitant increase in mRNA levels was also observed by Northern analyses. Presaturation with ferric citrate quenched the effect of deferoxamine. Experiments with transcription and translation inhibitors on TIG 3-20 cells demonstrated that intracellular iron modulated PAI-1 expression at the post-transcriptional level with the requirement of de-novo protein synthesis. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay and UV crosslinking assays revealed the presence of an approximately 81-kDa nuclear protein that interacted with the 3'-UTR of PAI-1 mRNA in an iron-sensitive manner. Finally, we demonstrated that the increased PAI-1 is functional in suppressing cell-surface plasmin activity, a process that can affect wound healing and tissue remodeling.

Clinical diagnosis of MM2-type sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease

BACKGROUND

No method for the clinical diagnosis of MM2-type sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (sCJD) has been established except for pathologic examination.

OBJECTIVE

To identify a reliable marker for the clinical diagnosis of MM2-type sCJD.

METHODS

CSF, EEG, and neuroimaging studies were performed in eight patients with MM2-type sCJD confirmed by neuropathologic, genetic, and western blot analyses.

RESULTS

The eight cases were pathologically classified into the cortical (n = 2), thalamic (n = 5), and combined (corticothalamic) (n = 1) forms. The cortical form was characterized by late-onset, slowly progressive dementia, cortical hyperintensity signals on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) of brain, and elevated levels of CSF 14-3-3 protein. The thalamic form showed various neurologic manifestations including dementia, ataxia, and pyramidal and extrapyramidal signs with onset at various ages and relatively long disease duration. Characteristic EEG and MRI abnormalities were almost absent. However, all four patients examined with cerebral blood flow (CBF) study using SPECT showed reduction of the CBF in the thalamus as well as the cerebral cortex. The combined form had features of both the cortical and the thalamic forms, showing cortical hyperintensity signals on DWI and hypometabolism of the thalamus on [18F]2-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose PET.

CONCLUSION

For the clinical diagnosis of MM2-type sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, cortical hyperintensity signals on diffusion-weighted MRI are useful for the cortical form and thalamic hypoperfusion or hypometabolism on cerebral blood flow SPECT or [18F]2-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose PET for the thalamic form.