Vitamin D3 inhibits proliferation and increases c-myc expression in fibroblasts from psoriatic patients

Overexpression of Wilms' tumor 1 in skin lesions of psoriasis is associated with abnormal proliferation and apoptosis of keratinocytes

Psoriasis vulgaris (PV) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease, which is characterized by the abnormal proliferation and apoptosis of keratinocytes. Previous studies have demonstrated that transcription factor Wilms' tumor 1 (WT1) is involved in a number of pathophysiological processes, including organ development, tumorigenesis and cell proliferation. However, the role of WT1 in PV remains unclear. In the present study, WT1 expression was analyzed by reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analyses. WT1 was stably overexpressed or inhibited in HaCaT cells using Lipofectamine® 2000, and cell proliferation and apoptosis were determined using a Cell Counting Kit‑8 or Fluorescein Isothiocyanate Annexin V Apoptosis Detection kit II, respectively. We demonstrated that compared with normal controls, the mRNA and protein expression levels of WT1 were significantly increased in non‑lesional skins (human, P<0.0001 and P=0.0291, respectively; mouse, P=0.0020 and P=0.0150, respectively) and lesional skins (human, P<0.0001 and P=0.0060, respectively; mouse, P=0.0010 and P=0.0172, respectively) of patients with PV, in addition to the imiquimod (IMQ)‑induced psoriasis‑like mouse model. WT1 mRNA and protein expression levels in lesional skins were slightly increased compared with those in non‑lesional skins from patients with psoriasis (P=0.2510 and P=0.1690, respectively) and IMQ‑treated mice (P=0.9590 and P=0.2552, respectively), although there were no statistical differences. Knockdown of WT1 inhibited the proliferation of HaCaT cells [day (D)4, P=0.0454; D5, P=0.0021] and promoted their apoptosis (P=0.0007), while overexpressing WT1 exhibited the opposite effects (proliferation D3, P=0.0216; D4, P=0.0356; D5, P=0.0188; apoptosis, P=0.0003). Furthermore, it was identified that the inflammatory cytokines interleukin‑17A (IL‑17A), interferon‑γ and IL‑22 induced the overexpression of WT1 in HaCaT cells. The results of the present study suggested that inflammatory cytokine‑induced WT1 overexpression may promote the formation of psoriatic skin lesions via regulation of the proliferation and apoptosis of keratinocytes.

Aggressive postoperative lumbar fibromatosis after the placement of instrumentation for treatment of spondylolisthesis

✓ This 50-year-old woman presented with a paravertebral lumbar fibromatosis (desmoid tumor) after undergoing the placement of instrumentation for lumbar spondylolisthesis. The tumor developed just cranial to the previous skin incision. Fibromatoses, or desmoid tumors, are uncommon infiltrative lesions that affect musculoaponeurotic structures, most often of the trunk and limbs. They are known to occur in association with surgery-related scars or implants and only rare examples appear in the neurosurgical and spine-related literature. In cases involving well-defined tumors in which radical resection is possible, surgery is the treatment of choice; however, the recurrence rate is high. The patient in the present case was followed for 14 months postoperatively and did not undergo radiotherapy; there was no recurrence.

Although rare, this distinctive tumor should be considered in the differential diagnosis of postoperative paravertebral bulgings after neurosurgical and spinal operations.

1,25-Dihydroxy vitamin D3: can it be an effective therapeutic option for aggressive fibromatosis

Aggressive fibromatosis (AF), also known as desmoid tumor is a monoclonal fibroblastic proliferation in a collagen matrix that arises in musculoaponeurotic structures. Though considered as benign, they are locally invasive and their propensity for recurrence after conservative surgery is well documented. Addition of postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy produces higher local control rates, although recurrence rates are still high in patients with positive margins. The antineoplastic activity of vitamin D has been demonstrated both in vitro and in vivo models of several cancers. The proposed mechanisms for antineoplastic activity include inhibition of proliferation associated with cell cycle arrest, induction of apoptosis and reduction in invasiveness and angiogenesis. It has also been shown that vitamin D has a negative impact on collagen homeostasis by inhibiting the formation and increasing its degradation. Since vitamin D has an antineoplastic activity and negative effect on collagen synthesis and deposition, it is proposed that 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D3 can be a right therapeutic option for the management of desmoid tumors.

1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 decreases podocyte loss and podocyte hypertrophy in the subtotally nephrectomized rat

1,25(OH)(2)D(3) has antiproliferative effects and promotes cell differentiation. This consideration has provided the rationale for studies in subtotally nephrectomized rats showing that 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) interfered with glomerulosclerosis. The cellular mechanisms involved have remained obscure, however. It was the purpose of the present study to assess glomerular structure and cellular composition in subtotally nephrectomized (SNX) rats treated with nonpharmacological doses of 1,25(OH)(2)D(3). Male Sprague-Dawley rats were sham operated (sham) or underwent SNX under general anesthesia and received either solvent or 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) (3 ng.100 g body wt(-1).day(-1) sc). Blood pressure (BP) and albuminuria were measured. After 16 wk, the remnant renal tissue was perfusion fixed and morphometric and stereological measurements were carried out. The expression of proliferating cellular antigen (PCNA), cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27, Wilms tumor gene (WT1), and desmin, a marker of early podocyte damage, was investigated by immunohistology. BP, serum creatinine, and urinary albumin excretion were significantly higher in SNX than in sham rats. Albuminuria was significantly lower in SNX+1,25(OH)(2)D(3) compared with SNX+solvent rats. Mean glomerular tuft volume was significantly higher in SNX+solvent (2.69 +/- 0.21 gx 10(6) microm(3)) than in sham rats (1.44 +/- 0.17 and 1.28 +/- 0.14 x 10(6) microm(3)); it was significantly (P < 0.05) lower in SNX+1,25(OH)(2)D(3) rats (1.81 +/- 0.16 x 10(6) microm(3)). The main finding was a significantly higher number of podocytes in SNX+1,25(OH)(2)D(3) (88 +/- 9) and sham (98 +/- 17) compared with SNX+solvent rats (81 +/- 8.7). In parallel, the increase in podocyte volume in SNX+solvent rats was abrogated by treatment with 1,25(OH)(2)D(3), and immunohistochemistry revealed less expression of desmin, PCNA, and p27, suggesting less podocyte injury and activation of the cyclin cascade. This study identifies the podocyte as an important target cell for the renoprotective action of 1,25(OH)(2)D(3). This notion is suggested by less evidence of podocyte injury, decreased podocytes loss, and abrogation of podocyte hypertrophy, findings that may also explain less pronounced albuminuria and glomerulosclerosis.