Effects of Jaoga-Yukmiwon®, a Korean herbal medicine, on chondrocyte proliferation and longitudinal bone growth in adolescent male rats

Externally visible growth of the body is the result of proliferation of chondrocytes and longitudinal bone growth. The effects of the Korean herbal medicine, Jaoga-Yukmiwon((R)), on the growth of adolescent rats were investigated in the present study. The proliferation ratio of chondrocytes was calculated from 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine incorporation during DNA synthesis. The 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine incorporation ratio of the control group was 21.1 +/- 3.5%, and Jaoga-Yukmiwon((R)) administration markedly increased the ratio to 34.5 +/- 4.6% (p < 0.05). The bone formation rate of longitudinal bone was estimated by labelling with tetracycline, which binds to newly formed bone. The bone formation rate in the tibia of Jaoga-Yukmiwon((R))-administered rats was increased to 405.1 +/- 4.3 micro m (p < 0.05) from 292.2 +/- 11.8 micrometer (control value). The height of the growth plate in the administrated rats was increased to 614.6 +/- 10.0 micro m (p < 0.05) from 552.3 +/- 17.1 micro m. The bone morphogenetic protein-2 immunostaining in the growth plate was also increased. These results suggest that Jaoga-Yukmiwon((R)) may promote longitudinal bone growth during the developmental period.

Phylogenetic analysis of Antrodia and related taxa based on partial mitochondrial SSU rDNA sequences

Sequences of mitochondrial SSU rDNA were obtained from six species of Antrodia and related fungal taxa to reveal their phylogenetic relationships. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the species of Antrodia did not cluster into a single clade. Brown rot fungi were separated into two main groups through which Antrodia was dispersed. Antrodia sinuosa, A. serialis, A. heteromorpha and A. malicola clustered with Perenniporia, Fomitopsis, Piptoporus, Daedalea and Melanoporia within one group of brown rot fungi, while A. carbonica and A. vaillantii clustered with Oligoporus, Gloeophyllum and Auriporia within the other group of brown rot fungi, indicating that Antrodia is a heterogeneous genus and that brown rot fungi have evolved convergently.

Differential expression of six novel peroxidase cDNAs from cell cultures of sweetpotato in response to stress

Six peroxidase (POD) cDNAs were isolated from suspension cultures of sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas) by cDNA library screening, and their expression was investigated with a view to understanding the physiological functions of each POD in relation to environmental stress. The gene products encoded by these cDNAs could be divided into two groups, anionic PODs (SWPA4, SWPA5, SWPA6) and basic PODs (SWPB1, SWPB2, SWPB3), on the basis of the predicted pI values of the mature proteins. RT-PCR analysis revealed that the six POD genes showed diverse expression patterns in various tissues of intact plants, a various stages of growth in suspension cultures, and in leaf tissues exposed to different stresses. The six genes from which they were derived are predominantly expressed in cultured cells of sweetpotato. Thus, transcripts of swpa4 were not detected in any tissues of the intact plant. The genes swpa6 and swpb1 were highly expressed in root tissues, whereas swpa6 and swpb3 were highly expressed in stem tissues. During suspension culture, the expression patterns of the six genes differed from each other. The level of swpa4, swpa5, swpb2 and swpb3 transcripts progressively increased during culture, whereas swpa6 and swpb1 showed high expression levels regardless of the age of the culture. In leaf tissues the six POD genes responded differently to various abiotic stresses. In particular, swpa4 was highly induced by several abiotic stresses, including exposure to hydrogen peroxide (440 mM) or NaCl (100 mM), and wounding of leaf tissues, suggesting that this POD gene is inducible by many stresses. Based on the different expression patterns of these POD genes, we propose that each POD may have different enzymatic properties and physiological functions during cell growth and development.

Enhanced cough response to hyperpnea with cold air challenge in chronic cough patients showing increased cough sensitivity to inhaled capsaicin

BACKGROUND

Although many chronic cough patients have complained of an induced cough by cold air contact, the clinical relevance of cold air to inducing a cough and the diagnostic value of a hyperpnea with cold air (HCA) challenge to detect a hyperreactive cough reflex have not yet been investigated.

METHODS

Recordings of cough counts after a 2-min HCA challenge were performed in 49 chronic cough patients and 15 healthy controls. Capsaicin cough provocation tests, which determine the threshold concentration of capsaicin that induces five or more consecutive coughs (C5), were also administered.

RESULTS

After comparing the results from the capsaicin cough provocation tests of the patients and the controls, the chronic cough patients were divided into two groups: an increased cough sensitivity (ICS) group (n = 28) (C5 < 32 micromol/l) and a normal cough sensitivity (NCS) group (n = 21) (C5 >or= 32 micromol/l). The median value of induced cough counts after a HCA challenge was 11 coughs in patients with ICS and was a significantly enhanced cough response compared to that of the patients with NCS and healthy controls (four coughs, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

A simple cough provocation test using a HCA challenge may be useful for detecting ICS. It also suggests that hyperreactive cough reflexes may be one of the mechanisms of inducing chronic cough.

Identification of a novel BMPR1A germline mutation in a Korean juvenile polyposis patient without SMAD4 mutation

Juvenile polyposis (JP) is characterized by the development of multiple hamartomatous polyps and is inherited as an autosomal dominant trait. Germline mutations of the SMAD4 gene have been reported in JP. We have previously identified three SMAD4 germline mutations in five Korean JP patients. Recently, germline mutations of the BMPR1A (ALK3) gene were reported in JP cases without SMAD4 mutations. In order to determine whether BMPR1A could be involved in the development of JP, we screened all five patients using denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC) analysis. We found that one patient had a BMPR1A germline mutation without a SMAD4 mutation. This patient harbored a novel missense mutation (M470T) in exon 10. After close clinico-pathological examination, one patient who was previously diagnosed to have JP was excluded from the JP group. In total, all four Korean JP patients had either the SMAD4 or the BMPR1A mutation, with three having SMAD4 germline mutations and one carrying a BMPR1A germline mutation.

Estimation of urban runoff and water quality using remote sensing and artificial intelligence

Water quality and quantity of runoff are strongly dependent on the landuse and landcover (LULC) criteria. In this study, we developed a more improved parameter estimation procedure for the environmental model using remote sensing (RS) and artificial intelligence (AI) techniques. Landsat TM multi-band (7bands) and Korea Multi-Purpose Satellite (KOMPSAT) panchromatic data were selected for input data processing. We employed two kinds of artificial intelligence techniques, RBF-NN (radial-basis-function neural network) and ANN (artificial neural network), to classify LULC of the study area. A bootstrap resampling method, a statistical technique, was employed to generate the confidence intervals and distribution of the unit load. SWMM was used to simulate the urban runoff and water quality and applied to the study watershed. The condition of urban flow and non-point contaminations was simulated with rainfall-runoff and measured water quality data. The estimated total runoff, peak time, and pollutant generation varied considerably according to the classification accuracy and percentile unit load applied. The proposed procedure would efficiently be applied to water quality and runoff simulation in a rapidly changing urban area.

Prophylactic antiemetic efficacy of granisetron or ramosetron in patients undergoing thyroidectomy

OBJECTIVE

Thyroidectomy is associated with a high incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), ranging from 60% to 84%. We conducted this study to compare the antiemetic effects and safety of granisetron 20 micro g/kg and ramosetron 4 micro g/kg in patients undergoing elective thyroidectomy under standard anaesthetic technique.

METHODS

One hundred and thirteen patients were randomized to receive placebo (n = 41), granisetron 20 nug/kg (n = 36) or ramosetron 4 micro g/kg (n = 36) intravenously over 2-5 minutes immediately before the induction of anaesthesia. The incidence of PONV, nausea severity score (NSS), adverse events and the need for rescue antiemetics were assessed during the first 1 hour (0-1 h) and following 23 hours (1-24 h) after anaesthesia.

RESULTS

During the first hour after anaesthesia, the incidence of PONV was 36.6% for placebo, 11.1% for granisetron (p = 0.012 vs placebo) and 25.0% for ramosetron. During 1 hour to 23 hours after anaesthesia, the incidence of PONV was 51.2% for placebo, 30.6% for granisetron and 41.7% for ramosetron. There were no significant differences between the three groups. Overall (0-24 h), the corresponding incidence of PONV were 61.0%, 30.6% and 50.0%, respectively, showing a significantly lower value in the granisetron group than in the placebo group (p = 0.008). The incidence of vomiting and rescue antiemetic requirement during the first 24 hours after anaesthesia was significantly lower with the granisetron group than with placebo (p = 0.021 and 0.030, respectively). The most common adverse events in the three groups were headache and dizziness.

CONCLUSION

Only granisetron 20 micro g/kg was superior to placebo for the prevention of PONV after thyroidectomy.

Expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 in human crescentic glomerulonephritis

AIMS

In glomerulonephritis, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) may play important roles in the formation of crescents. These studies are designed to evaluate the expression patterns of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 in human crescentic glomerulonephritis and to determine the cellular origin of adhesion molecules in the crescentic lesions.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We examined the expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 proteins in renal biopsies with cellular (n=7), fibrocellular (n=9) or fibrous (n=4) crescentic glomerulonephritis, and six controls by immunohistochemistry. mRNA expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 was further evaluated by RNA in-situ hybridization. Cytokeratin or CD68 immunohistochemistry was performed on the same sections, where in-situ hybridization had been carried out. In cellular crescents, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 proteins were over-expressed to a similar extent. Of the three types of crescents, the extent of ICAM-1 immunopositivity was the greatest in the cellular crescents and decreased towards the fibrous crescents (P < 0.05). Yet the extent of VCAM-1 immunoreactivity was not different between the types. Fibrous crescents still contained some epithelial cells and showed only VCAM-1 expression. In the glomeruli with cellular or fibrocellular crescents, the extent of ICAM-1 immunopositivity in the glomerular tufts was significantly larger than that of VCAM-1 (P < 0.05). In an in-situ hybridization study, the mRNA expression patterns of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 paralleled their protein expressions. A double-labelling study showed that the signal for ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 mRNAs was mainly present in cytokeratin-positive and CD68-negative cells in the crescentic lesions.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that glomerular parietal epithelial cells in cellular crescents up-regulate both ICAM-1 and VCAM-1, and that some epithelial cells retained in fibrous crescents persistently over-express VCAM-1, but not ICAM-1. They also suggest that ICAM-1 is involved in early leucocyte recruitment into glomeruli in crescentic glomerulonephritis.

Isolated extramedullary relapse in the pleural fluid of a patient with acute myeloid leukemia following allogeneic BMT

We report an unusual case of AML, in which the patient showed extramedullary relapse in the pleural fluid and the skin without bone marrow recurrence even 3 years after allogeneic BMT. On examination of the pleural effusion and the skin, which relapsed 31 months and 40 months, respectively, after BMT, we found that most of cells were as the XY-type recipient by quantitative X/Y FISH (fluorescence in situ hybridization). However, 100% of the bone marrow cells remained XX-type donor cells. In the present case, we believe that the graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) response in the extramedullary site was not so effective as that in the bone marrow, where it remains effective.

Prenatal diagnosis of a familial complex chromosomal rearrangement involving chromosomes 5, 10, 16 and 18

We report one case of a familial complex chromosomal rearrangement (CCR) involving four different chromosomes 5, 10, 16 and 18. The CCR was detected prenatally at 20 weeks' gestation because of advanced maternal age and history of recurrent miscarriages. Cytogenetic analysis of cultured amniotic fluid cells with GTG banding showed a 46,XX,t(5;16;10;18)(q13;q22;q11.2;q21) karyotype. Parental cytogenetic study revealed that the mother has the same CCR. RBG banding, high resolution banding and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) were used to characterize further and confirm the conventional banding data. No physical abnormalities were shown in the targeted fetal ultrasonography examination. The parents decided to continue the pregnancy. The child is now 2 years old and has neither congenital anomalies nor evidence of delayed psychomotor development. The fetal targeted ultrasound and FISH analysis helped us reassure fetal status.

Characterization of the oxygenated intermediate of the thermophilic cytochrome P450 CYP119

Using UV-Vis, resonance Raman, and EPR spectroscopy we have studied the properties of the oxygenated ferrous cytochrome P450 from Sulfolobus solfataricus, (CYP119). The recently determined crystal structure of CYP119 is compared with other available structures of P450s, and detailed structural and spectroscopic analyses are reported. With several structural similarities to CYP102, such as in-plane iron position and a shorter iron-proximal ligand bond, CYP119 shows low-spin conformation preference in the ferric form and partially in the ferrous form at low temperatures. These structural features can explain the fast autoxidation of the oxyferrous complex of CYP119. Finally, we report the first UV-Vis and EPR spectra of the cryoradiolytically reduced oxygenated intermediate of CYP119. The primary reduced intermediate, a hydroperoxo-ferric complex of CYP119, undergoes a 'peroxide shunt' pathway during gradual annealing at 170-195 K and returns to the low-spin ferric form.

Diabetic alterations in cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase and phospholamban protein expression

Diabetic cardiomyopathy has been suggested to be caused by abnormal intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis in the myocardium, which is partly due to a defect in calcium transport by the cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). In the present study, the underlying mechanism for this functional derangement was investigated with respect to SR Ca2+-ATPase and phospholamban (the inhibitor of SR Ca2+-ATPase). The maximal Ca2+ uptake and the affinity of Ca2+-ATPase for Ca2+ were decreased, and exogenous phosphorylation level of phospholamban was higher in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat SR. Levels of both mRNA and protein of phospholamban were significantly increased in the diabetic hearts, whereas those of SR Ca2+-ATPase were significantly decreased. Consequently, the relative phospholamban/Ca2+-ATPase ratio was 1.88 in the diabetic hearts, and these changes were correlated with changes in the rates of SR Ca2+ uptake. However, phosphatase pretreatment of phospholamban for dephosphorylation of the sites phosphorylated in vivo did not change the levels of subsequent phospholamban phosphorylation in either control or diabetic rat hearts. The above data indicated that the increased phospholamban phosphorylation was not due to autonomic dysfunction but possibly due to increased phospholamban expression. These findings suggest that reduction of the SR Ca2+-ATPase level would contribute to decreased rates of SR Ca2+ uptake and that this function is further impaired by the enhanced inhibition by phospholamban due to its increased expression in the diabetic heart.

Prevalence of porcine proliferative enteropathy and its control with tylosin in Korea

Porcine proliferative enteropathy(PPE) is an enteric disease been caused by Lawsonia intracellularis. It has become one of the critical problems in the pig industry. To investigate the prevalence of PPE in Korea, serum samples of 828 pigs from 65 herds were tested using indirect immunofluorescence antibody technique(IFA). The infection rate in individual pigs varied from 44 to 69%, whereas 100% in pig farms. The infection frequency was 57, 44.9, and 59.4% according to age respectively. Administration of tylosin in feed at a concentration of 110 ppm for 14 days reduced the infection rate of the farms. These data indicated that the high prevalence of PPE may be controlled by tylosin.

Characterization and large-scale expression of the recombinant cysteine proteinase from adult Clonorchis sinensis

Cysteine proteinases play important roles in the pathogenesis of several parasitic infections and have been proposed as targets for the structure-based approach of drug design. As the first step toward applying this strategy to design inhibitors as antiparasitic agents for Clonorchis sinensis, we overexpressed and characterized the 24-kDa cysteine proteinase from adult worms. First, the partial cysteine proteinase gene from C. sinensis was cloned by performing reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with degenerate oligonucleotide primers derived from conserved cysteine proteinase sequences. The 5' and the 3' regions of the cysteine proteinase gene were amplified using the PCR protocol for the rapid amplification of cDNA ends-polymerase chain reaction (RACE-PCR). The cDNA has an open reading frame of 981 bp, and the deduced amino acid sequence shares similarity with the cathepsin L-like cysteine proteinases from Schistosoma mansoni, Paragonimus westermani metacercaria, Fasciola hepatica, and human cathepsin L by 52%, 47%, 34%, and 29%, respectively. The cysteine proteinase was then overexpressed in the yeast Pichia pastoris as an active enzyme on a large-scale basis (19.7 mg/L). The active recombinant enzyme was purified from culture media using a Ni2+-NTA-agarose affinity column and gel filtration chromatography. This 24-kDa recombinant protein exhibited a substrate preference for Z-Phe-Arg-AMC (benzyloxycarbonyl-L-phenylalanyl-L-arginine-7-amino-4-methyl-coumarin) compared with Z-Arg-Arg-AMC, and the activity was inhibited by E-64 (L-trans-epoxysuccinylleucylamido(4-quanidino)butane).

Malignant lymphoma of the maxillary sinus manifesting as a persistent toothache

Many teeth have been mistakenly extracted or endodontically treated because of an incorrect diagnosis of orofacial pain, including toothache. A case of persistent toothache originating from a malignant lymphoma of the left maxillary sinus is presented. Root canal therapy and extraction of the upper left quadrant teeth from the canine to the second molar did not resolve the chief complaint. The patient was referred to a neurologist and received a diagnosis of a malignant lymphoma, a rare lesion of the maxillary sinus. This case stresses the importance of considering malignant neoplasm of the maxillary sinus as a potential etiologic factor in the differential diagnosis of orofacial pain.

Changes in voltage-gated calcium channel alpha(1) gene expression in rat dorsal root ganglia following peripheral nerve injury

Although an increase in the excitability and ectopic spontaneous discharge (ESD) of primary sensory neurons can lead to abnormal burst activity, which is associated with neuropathic pain, the underlying molecular mechanisms are not fully understood. To investigate the relationship between these electrical abnormalities in injured neurons and voltage-gated calcium channel (VGCC) gene expression, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to monitor the expression of the VGCC alpha(1) gene in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) following chronic constriction injury (CCI) and axotomy of the rat sciatic nerve. Electrophoresis of the RT-PCR products showed the presence of multiple types of VGCC alpha(1) transcripts with various levels of basal expression in lumbar 4, 5, and 6 DRGs. CCI decreased alpha(1C), alpha(1D), alpha(1H), and alpha(1I) mRNA expression at 7 days in the ipsilateral DRG, to approximately 34-50% of the contralateral side. The same transcripts were repressed 7 days after sciatic axotomy and their reduction levels proved similar to those of CCI. Considering that changes of the intracellular calcium concentration modify the maintenance of ESD in injured DRG, these results suggest that the downregulation of alpha(1C), alpha(1D), alpha(1H) and alpha(1I) subunit gene expression in the rat DRG following peripheral nerve injury may contribute to the production of ESD associated with damaged nerves.

The 3-D QSAR study of anticancer 1-N-substituted imidazo- and pyrrolo-quinoline-4,9-dione derivatives by CoMFA and CoMSIA

The 3-D QSAR analysis with new imidazo- and pyrrolo-quinolinedione derivatives was conducted by Comparative Molecular Field Analysis (CoMFA) and Comparative Molecular Similarity Indices Analysis (CoMSIA). When crossvalidation value (q(2)) is 0.844 at four components, the Pearson correlation coefficient (r(2)) of the CoMFA is 0.964. In the CoMSIA, q(2) is 0.709 at six components and r(2) is 0.969. Unknown samples were analyzed, using QSAR analyzed results from the CoMFA and CoMSIA methods. Excellent agreement was obtained between, with an error range of 0.01-0.15 the calculated values and measured in vitro cytotoxic activities against human lung A-549 cancer cell lines.

Synthesis of pyridino[2,3-f]indole-4,9-dione and 6,7-disubstituted quinoline-5,8-dione derivatives and evaluation on their cytotoxic activity

We report upon the synthesis of the following derivatives: N-substituted-pyridino[2,3-f]indole-4,9-dione, and 6-(alpha-diethoxycarbonyl-methyl)-7-substituted-amino-quinoline-5,8-dione, which contain the active quinoline-5,8-dione (VII) moiety. The cytotoxic activities of these compounds have been tested in SRB (SulfoRhodamine B) assays against the cancer cell lines of A-549 (human lung cancer), SK-MEL-2 (human melanoma cancer), SK-OV-3 (human ovarian cancer), XF-498 (human brain cancer) and HCT 15 (human colon cancer). The compound, N-benzyl-3-ethoxycarbonyl-2-hydroxy-pyridino[2,3-f]indole-4,9-dione (A-9), also showed higher activity than cis-platin. The highest level of cytotoxic activity in these human tumor cell lines was observed in the compound 6-(alpha-diethoxycarbonyl-methyl)-7-(2-methyl-phenylamino)-quinoline-5,8-dione (B-3).

Purification of recombinant human B-domain-deleted factor VIII using anti-factor VIII monoclonal antibody selected by the surface plasmon resonance biosensor

The surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor measures the real-time kinetics of noncovalent interaction between a receptor and its ligand. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against recombinant factor VIII (rFVIII) were screened from 127 mAb candidates using the SPR biosensor for the purpose of affinity purification of rFVIII. Each mAb showed a different association and dissociation capacity for rFVIII at each buffer condition. One mAb, F8-38, was selected for immunopurification of rFVIII. To characterize the selected mAb F8-38, the immunopurification results on the anti-FVIII mAb F8-38 affinity gel and the anti-von Willebrand factor (vWF) mAb affinity gel were studied. Immunopurification by the anti-vWF affinity gel showed a lower binding capacity of rFVIII and resulted in low purification efficiency. On the other hand, immunopurification by the anti-FVIII affinity gel exhibited a 3.5-fold binding capacity and a 2-fold purification efficiency compared to those of the anti-vWF affinity gel. The amounts of proteins and DNAs derived from host cells and mouse IgGs derived from the affinity matrix in the affinity eluate were similar to those of the anti-vWF affinity gel. In conclusion, the SPR method of immunopurification is a useful technology in the screening of mAbs aimed at the development of an affinity purification procedure, and the mAb F8-38 was selected using this technology on the basis of the purification procedure of rFVIII.

Differentially expressed genes in rat dorsal root ganglia following peripheral nerve injury

Ordered differential display PCR was used to identify differentially expressed genes in rat dorsal root ganglia at 7 days following chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerve. Fourteen differentially displayed cDNA bands were isolated, cloned and verified by RT-PCR. The four mRNAs were increased, which included mRNAs encoding heat shock protein 27, fatty acid binding protein, apolipoprotein D and one novel gene. Six down-regulated clones were microtubule-associated protein 1B, protein tyrosine phosphatase alpha, Kv1.2 channel, myelin protein SR13, medium-sized neurofilament protein, and one novel gene. Our results show that many differentially regulated genes after CCI may play a role in nerve degeneration and/or regeneration and provide a molecular framework for understanding the peripheral mechanism underlying neuropathic pain.

Identification, characterization, and functional analysis of a gene encoding the ferric uptake regulation protein in Bartonella species

Environmental iron concentrations coordinately regulate transcription of genes involved in iron acquisition and virulence via the ferric uptake regulation (fur) system. We identified and sequenced the fur gene and flanking regions of three Bartonella species. The most notable difference between Bartonella Fur and other Fur proteins was a substantially higher predicted isoelectric point. No promoter activity or Fur autoregulation was detected using a gfp reporter gene fused to the 204 nucleotides immediately upstream of the Bartonella fur gene. Bartonella henselae fur gene expression complemented a Vibrio cholerae fur mutant.

The orphan nuclear receptor small heterodimer partner as a novel coregulator of nuclear factor-kappa b in oxidized low density lipoprotein-treated macrophage cell line RAW 264.7

Small heterodimer partner (SHP), specifically expressed in liver and a limited number of other tissues, is an unusual orphan nuclear receptor that lacks the conventional DNA binding domain. In this work, we found that SHP expression is abundant in murine macrophage cell line RAW 264.7 but was suppressed by oxidized low density lipoprotein (oxLDL) and its constituent 13-hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid, a ligand for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma. Furthermore, SHP acted as a transcription coactivator of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF kappa B) and was essential for the previously described NF kappa B transactivation by palmitoyl lysophosphatidylcholine, one of the oxLDL constituents. Accordingly NF kappa B, which was transcriptionally active in the beginning, became progressively inert in oxLDL-treated RAW 264.7 cells as oxLDL decreased the SHP expression. Thus, SHP appears to be an important modulatory component to regulate the transcriptional activities of NF kappa B in oxLDL-treated, resting macrophage cells.