Analysis of IL-1α, bFGF, TGF-β1, IFNγ, MMP-1, and CatD Expression in Multinuclea Macrophages In Vitro

Clinical observation of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) combined with minoxidil in the treatment of male androgenetic alopecia

BACKGROUND

Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) has been one of the most common progressive hair loss in the world, which affects 80% of white males. To date, only minoxidil and finasteride have been approved by FDA for the treatment of AGA. However, limited therapeutic effect and the toxic adverse events of these drugs limit their applications. Therefore, it is still an urgent clinical problem to find effective therapeutic drugs and medication regimen.

OBJECTIVE

The goal was to explore the efficacy and side effects of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) combined with minoxidil in the treatment of male patients with early stage of androgenetic alopecia (AGA).

METHODS

Using a randomized control method, 80 male patients with androgenetic alopecia in Hamilton grade II-IV were randomly divided into two groups, with 40 patients in each group. The Group A: 1 ml minoxidil for external use twice a day; Group B: 3500 IU basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and 1 ml minoxidil for external use twice a day. The selected patients received global photograph evaluation before treatment, 3 months after treatment, and 6 months after treatment, and the curative effect was judged according to the changes in the area and degree of hair loss on the top of the head and anterior parietal area of the patients shown in the photographs before and after treatment. At the same time, each patient had a satisfaction questionnaire survey before treatment, 3 months after treatment, and 6 months after treatment. During the research period, the adverse reactions of the patients were recorded.

RESULTS

After 3 months and 6 months of treatment, the effective rate of the two groups was statistically significant (p < 0.05), and the patients' hair conditions in the Group B improved significantly compared with those in the Group A. After 6 months of treatment, the difference in treatment satisfaction between the two groups was statistically significant (p < 0.05). The patients in the Group B were more satisfied than those in Group A. During the patient's medication, no serious adverse reactions occurred in the two groups, and the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups was not statistically significant (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Compared with 5% minoxidil alone, the combination of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) +5% minoxidil in the treatment of male patients with early stage of androgenetic alopecia improved treatment efficiency and patient satisfaction.

In Vitro Study of the Expression of CD1, CD14, CD25, CD30, CD35, CD95 Receptors by Macrophages of Mice Infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis

In cultures of peritoneal macrophages (MP) of male BALB/c mice infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis from the BCG vaccine, the expression of CD1, CD14, CD25, CD30, CD35, and CD95 receptors was studied in vitro 3 months after infection. In MP cultures from intact and infected mice, mononuclear MP predominated (96 and 92%, respectively). Bi- and trinuclear MP in MP cultures from control and infected mice constituted 4 and 8.3% of all MP, respectively. In the cultures of both groups, no obvious correlations between the number of MP expressing CD-receptors and number of nuclei in these cells were found, but the expression of CD14 receptor was more often noted. In cultures from infected animals, hypertrophied MP and enhanced (by several times) expression of all CD-receptors were observed. The increase in the expression of CD-receptor can be determined by activation of plastic processes in hypertrophied MP (in epithelioid and in numerically insignificant polynuclear MP), which is due to the phenomenon of prolonged M. tuberculosis persistence in the vacuolar apparatus of these cells.

Location of Pulmonary Mycobacteria Tuberculosis and Effectiveness of Various Dextrazide Compositions in Treatment of Mice with BCG-Induced Granulomatosis

The study examined effectiveness of liposomal form of dextrazide (inhaled or intraperitoneal), free dextrazide (intraperitoneal), and isoniazid (intraperitoneal) in the treatment of BALB/c mice with BCG-induced granulomatosis. The mice were infected with mycobacteria tuberculosis 3 months prior to onset of treatment. The preparations under examinations were administered twice a week over 2 months. The decrease of the number and size of macrophagal granulomas in mice BCG-induced granulomatosis during treatment was determined by the number of living mycobacteria tuberculosis in these granulomas. The most effective treatment was achieved with liposomal form of dextrazide (a conjugate of oxidized dextran with isonicotinic acid hydrazide). Macrophages with captured mycobacteria tuberculosis, dextrazide, and dextrazide-loaded liposomes can be incorporated into granulomas. The antimycobacterial effect of dextrazide is an important factor preventing the destructive processes in granulomas and organs via a decrease in the prodestructive potential of lysosomes in macrophages realized after their migration from granulomas.

In Vitro Analysis of the Expression of CD11, CD29, CD36, and DC-STAMP Molecules during the Formation of Multinuclear Macrophages in BCG-Infected Mice

Expression of CD11, CD29, CD36, and DC-STAMP molecules by macrophages was analyzed in in vitro experiments. These molecules mediate cell fusion, one of the mechanisms underlying the formation of multinuclear macrophages. Macrophages were obtained from intact and BCG-infected male BALB/c mice. In intact cultures, multinuclear macrophages appeared primarily due to amitotic division of cell nuclei, while in macrophage cultures from infected mice, the process of cell fusion predominated. In intact macrophage cultures, bi- and multinuclear cells expressed primarily CD29 and CD36. In cultures from infected mice, macrophages expressing CD29 and DC-STAMP predominated, but bi- and multinuclear macrophages expressing CD11 and CD36 predominated over mononuclear ones. The study of macrophage fusion mechanism can be useful for understanding of this biological phenomenon as the mechanisms of delivery of M. tuberculosis and lysosomotropic anti-tuberculosis drugs into tuberculous granulomas to suppress M. tuberculosis persisting in macrophages and reduce the destructive potential of granulomas.