Taq-I polymorphism in 3'UTR of the IL-12B and association with IL-12p40 production from human PBMC

A wide array of studies has demonstrated differences in genotype and allele frequencies of cytokine gene polymorphisms depending on ethnicity and race. In this study, the frequency of Taq-I polymorphism in 3' untranslated region of IL-12B was investigated in two Bulgarian ethnic groups-Bulgarians and Turkish minority. No significant differences of genotype and allele frequencies were observed between these groups. Genotype distribution in the total group of Bulgarian citizens was: AA (61%), CA (32%) and CC (7%), and the allele frequency of 16974 A allele was 0.77. We also evaluated whether this polymorphism affects IL-12p40 production from human PBMC after stimulation. We demonstrated that association between genotype and IL-12p40 production by stimulated PBMC depends on the stimuli used. Our results indicated a significantly decreased IL-12 p40 secretion for the following order of genotypes: AA>CA>CC, after stimulation of PBMC with C3-binding glycoprotein (C3bgp) in contrast to lipopolysaccharide, phytohaemagglutinin and pokeweed mitogen.

Sugar ratios, glutathione redox status and phenols in the resurrection species Haberlea rhodopensis and the closely related non-resurrection species Chirita eberhardtii

Because of their unique tolerance to desiccation, the so-called resurrection plants can be considered as excellent models for extensive research on plant reactions to environmental stresses. The vegetative tissues of these species are able to withstand long dry periods and to recover very rapidly upon re-watering. This study follows the dynamics of key components involved in leaf tissue antioxidant systems under desiccation in the resurrection plant Haberlea rhodopensis and the related non-resurrection species Chirita eberhardtii. In H. rhodopensis these parameters were also followed during recovery after full drying. A well-defined test system was developed to characterise the different responses of the two species under drought stress. Results show that levels of H₂O₂ decreased significantly both in H. rhodopensis and C. eberhardtii, but that accumulation of malondialdehyde was much more pronounced in the desiccation-tolerant H. rhodopensis than in the non-resurrection C. eberhardtii. A putative protective role could be attributed to accumulation of total phenols in H. rhodopensis during the late stages of drying. The total glutathione concentration and GSSG/GSH ratio increased upon complete dehydration of H. rhodopensis. Our data on soluble sugars suggest that sugar ratios might be important for plant desiccation tolerance. An array of different adaptations could thus be responsible for the resurrection phenotype of H. rhodopensis.

Signal transduction in keratinocytes

Keratinocytes, a key cellular component both for homeostasis and pathophysiologic processes of the skin, secrete a number of cytokines and their proliferation and differentiation are stimulated by a variety of biological factors. The major mechanism by which cells (keratinocytes) respond to extracellular signals, is changing in protein phosphorylation. The protein phosphorylation is a consequence of the ligand/receptor binding which leads to activation of several transduction systems. In this review we emphasize on different signal transduction pathways in keratinocytes (tyrosine kinases, PKA, PKC, MAPK, casein kinase 2 etc.).

Incontinentia pigmenti: a case associated with cardiovascular anomalies

Various cutaneous and developmental defects of the eyes, teeth, skeleton, and central nervous system have been detected in infants with incontinentia pigmenti. We report an isolated case of incontinentia pigmenti in a 6-month-old girl in association with tricuspid insufficiency, an abnormal shunt of the right pulmonary vein into the superior vena cava, and pulmonary hypertension. We believe that our findings will help to confirm the association of cardiovascular anomalies in IP.

Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus presenting with generalized poikiloderma

A 64-year-old woman experienced progressive generalized poikiloderma after an episode of sunburn 4 years earlier. The diagnosis of subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE) was confirmed by the presence of anti-Ro/SS-A and antinuclear antibodies, the histology, and the direct immunofluorescent findings (ie, positive lupus band test and "dust-like" epidermal IgG staining pattern). Poikiloderma has not been previously reported in the spectrum of SCLE. As a major pathomechanism of SCLE, photosensitivity might explain this uncommon clinical manifestation of the disease.

Epidermal growth factor stimulates mitogen-activated protein kinase by a PKC-dependent pathway in human keratinocytes

Epidermal growth factor (EGF), 20 ng/ml, stimulated myelin basic protein (MBP) phosphorylation in crude extracts from human keratinocyte primary cultures. In order to identify the involved kinases, we separated by fast protein liquid chromatography proteins participating in MBP phosphorylation. We detected three MBP kinase activities in the keratinocyte crude extracts. The first MBP kinase activity was the only one stimulated by EGF and reacted with anti-mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) antiserum recognising p42mapk and p44mapk isoforms. However, when protein kinase C (PKC) was either inhibited by the PKC inhibitor GF 109203X or depleted by a prolonged TPA treatment, the stimulation of MBP phosphorylation by EGF was strongly inhibited. The second MBP kinase activity eluted was due to a PKC isoform reacting with an anti-PKC zeta antibody, and the third was not identified. With this work, we have thus shown that, in human keratinocytes, EGF activates MAPK activity by a PKC-dependent pathway.

Interleukin-12B-3'UTR polymorphism in association with IL-12p40 and IL-12p70 serum levels and silicosis severity

Susceptibility to silicosis and to disease severity is in part genetically determined. In this study, the role of IL-12B-3'UTR polymorphism in susceptibility and severity of silicosis and its influence on IL-12p40 and IL-12p70 serum level were investigated. The quantity of IL-12p40 and IL-12p70 was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and the genotype of IL-12B was determined using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment-length polymorphism method. We observed elevated IL-12p40 in contrast to IL-12p70 serum levels in a group of 62 silicosis patients compared with both control groups. In severe silicosis patients, we detected the highest IL-12p40 serum levels (129.1 +/- 67.7 pg mL(-1)); lower in patients with the moderate (94 +/- 41.6 pg mL(-1)), whereas in mild silicosis, the IL-12p40 levels (67 +/- 23.5 pg mL(-1)) was similar to these in healthy donors. According to IL-12B polymorphism, increased serum levels were observed in subjects with AA genotype (103.2 +/- 46.9 pg mL(-1)) compared to silicosis patients with AC genotype (82.7 +/- 38.3 pg mL(-1)). No significant differences of genotype and allele frequencies of the 3'UTR polymorphism were observed between silicosis patients and healthy controls. However, the heterozygous genotype was found approximately five times more frequently in patients with mild and moderate (48% and 52%) silicosis compared to patients with severe silicosis (11%), and that IL-12B polymorphism may contribute to silicosis severity rather than to susceptibility. Our data demonstrated that elevated serum IL-12p40, independently of IL-12p70 levels, is associated with severity of silicosis, and suggested that IL-12p40 profibrotic activity may contribute to silicosis severity.

Correlation between TNF-alpha and IL-12p40-containing cytokines in silicosis

The aim of the present study was to investigate the correlation between tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin (IL)-12p40-containing cytokines, in silicosis patients and healthy donors exposed to silica dust, in an attempt to clarify the reason for variety of clinical outcomes between humans with similar exposure history. Serum levels of TNF-α, IL-12p40, IL-12p70 and IL-23 in total group of 62 silicosis patients, 24 healthy donors with similar exposure history like patients and 19 healthy donors without exposure were determined by enzyme-linked-immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. The serum level of TNF-α was significantly higher in healthy donors exposed to SiO2 (22.4 ± 11.1 pg/mL) in comparison with non-exposed healthy donors (14.8 ± 8.8 pg/mL; p = 0.022) and similar to that in silicosis patients. In total, group of silicosis patients significantly elevated levels of TNF-α (20.9 ± 12.9 vs. 14.8 ± 8.8 pg/mL; p = 0.047) and IL-12p40 (94.5 ± 51.6 pg/mL vs. 68.7 ± 26.2 pg/mL; p = 0.029) compared to non-exposed healthy donors were observed. In addition, a strong positive correlation between TNF-α and IL-23 levels (r = 0.678; p = 0.022) and between TNF-α and IL-12p70 levels (r = 0.75; p = 0.0003) was detected in the group of exposed healthy donors, while in the group of silicosis patients, a significant positive correlation was observed only between TNF-α and IL-12p40 (r = 0.434; p = 0.00048), in contrast to other IL-12p40 containing cytokines. In conclusion, we could assume that the elevated serum levels of TNF-α are associated with exposition to silica particles, while the elevation of both TNF-α and IL-12p40 is associated with silicosis development and severity. Additionally, the balance between IL-12p40-containing cytokines may also contribute to the silicosis progression.

Enhanced casein kinase II activity in metastatic melanoma

The benign dermal nevus can be transformed into malignant melanoma. The possibility that the transformation process is accompanied with enhanced casein kinase II (CK II) activity was investigated. The tissue samples were obtained by incisional biopsy, homogenized and ultracentrifuged. The supernatant was injected onto a Mono Q column. CK II was monitored with [gamma-32P]GTP and its specific substrate RRREEETEEE. The CK II stimulators, spermine and polylysine, the inhibitors heparin, quercetin, poly (Glu-Tyr) 4:1 and 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate were used for identification. CK II activity in metastatic melanoma samples was about 2.5-fold higher than in dermal nevus. These results support our hypothesis that CK II takes a central role in the non-transformed and transformed skin proliferation.

Dual role of protein kinase C on mitogen-activated protein kinase activation and human keratinocyte proliferation

Subconfluent normal human keratinocytes exhibit autonomous (autocrine growth factor driven) proliferation and express the specific markers for keratinocyte proliferation K#5 and K#14. In keratinocyte autocrine culture, the exogenously added epidermal growth factor (EGF) has no effect on cell proliferation and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activity. PD98059 inhibits MAPK pathway and autocrine keratinocyte proliferation. Staurosporine and Gö6976 strongly inhibit autonomous keratinocyte proliferation. In contrast, Gö6983 (which does not inhibit PKC micro ) inhibits only 20% of autocrine keratinocyte proliferation. Staurosporine inhibits MAPK activity, whereas Gö6976 and Gö6983 strongly increase it. We have concluded that MAPK, PKC micro and probably PKCalpha take part in autocrine keratinocyte proliferation. The effect of Gö6976 and Gö6983 on MAPK activity could be explained by the inhibition of PKC-dependent MAPK-phosphatase expression. The effect of staurosporine could be explained by its paradoxical action (activation) on protein kinase C (PKC) in keratinocytes.

Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CaM-kinase) inhibitor KN-62 suppresses the activity of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), c-myc activation and human keratinocyte proliferation

Autocrine growth of human epidermal keratinocytes can be maintained in subconfluent cell cultures in the absence of exogenous growth factors. We used this culture model to investigate the interactions between the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway and Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinases (CaM-kinases) in autocrine keratinocyte proliferation. We have previously demonstrated that MAPK and protein kinase C (PKC) are both involved in keratinocyte proliferation in a complex set of interactions. Treatment of keratinocytes with PD98059, a potent inhibitor of MAPK kinase, inhibited the MAPK pathway, c-myc activation and autocrine keratinocyte proliferation. Application of the CaM-kinase inhibitor KN-62 also led to a strong inhibition of MAPK/c-myc activation and autocrine keratinocyte proliferation. Other inhibitors, such as wortmannin (selective and potent inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase) and AG 490 (JAK2 inhibitor) had weak effects on autocrine keratinocyte proliferation, MAPK and c-myc activation. Our results clearly demonstrate a crosstalk between CaM-kinase/MAPK pathways in transducing keratinocyte proliferation stimuli.

Oil-soluble vitamins: illegal use for lip augmentation

Fillers for lip augmentation have become more and more popular in recent years and seem to be indispensable in the cosmetic market nowadays. A series of six young females is presented who developed massive swellings and pain after vitamins A and/or E lip augmentation. The vitamins were extracted from gelatinous capsules (Gericaps [Adipharm EAD, Sofia, Bulgaria], Geritamins [Actavis EAD, Balkanpharma-Dubnitsa AD, Bulgaria], or vitamin E yellow gel capsules) and injected by unprofessional physicians and beauticians in different cosmetic centers. Physical examination revealed firm indurations of the lips and perioral skin, tenderness, erythema, and hard dermal nodules. Histological analysis revealed numerous round-to-ovoid cavities of varying sizes, resulting in a Swiss cheese-like appearance, consistent with lipogranulomas. The patients were treated with systemic and intralesional triamcinolone injections and broad-spectrum antibiotics with good clinical response. In conclusion, these cases demonstrate the danger of the use of unregistered products as fillers injected by unprofessional physicians and beauticians.

Cutaneous aspects of Down syndrome

Down syndrome is associated with an increased incidence of cutaneous manifestations such as atopic dermatitis, alopecia areata, elastosis perforans serpiginosa, syringomas, and skin infections. We describe 3 patients with Down syndrome: an 8-year-old boy with alopecia areata, a 17-year-old boy with crusted scabies, and a 39-year-old woman with a cutaneous collagen vascular disease-like disorder. We also review cutaneous signs of this syndrome.