ASB17061, a novel chymase inhibitor, prevented the development of angiotensin II-induced abdominal aortic aneurysm in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice.

Our aim was to examine the effects of ASB17061, an orally active novel chymase inhibitor, on angiotensin II-induced abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice. Oral administration of ASB17061 (10 mg/kg) significantly suppressed angiotensin II-induced AAA formation in these mice. The pro-matrix metalloproteinase-9 (pro-MMP-9) level in AAA lesions was significantly suppressed by ASB17061 treatment, indicating that ASB17061 inhibited the accumulation of pro-MMP-9-producing cells in AAA lesions.

Quantitative analysis of cadherin-11 and β-catenin signalling during proliferation of rheumatoid arthritis-derived synovial fibroblast cells.

Objectives: Cadherin-11 (CDH11) is an adhesion molecule that anchors β-catenin and is involved with various functions of synovial fibroblast cells (SFCs) during the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, the mechanism of CDH11 during RA-SFC proliferation is unclear. The aim of our study was to clarify the involvement of CDH11 and β-catenin signalling during proliferation.

Inflammation and resolution are associated with upregulation of fatty acid β-oxidation in Zymosan-induced peritonitis.

Inflammation is a fundamental defensive response to harmful stimuli. However, it can cause damage if it does not subside. To avoid such damage, organisms have developed a mechanism called resolution of inflammation.

Enhanced ATPase activities as a primary defect of mutant valosin-containing proteins that cause inclusion body myopathy associated with Paget disease of bone and frontotemporal dementia.

Valosin-containing protein (VCP) has been shown to colocalize with abnormal protein aggregates, such as nuclear inclusions of Huntington disease and Machado-Joseph disease, Lewy bodies in Parkinson disease. Several mis-sense mutations in the human VCP gene have been identified in patients suffering inclusion body myopathy associated with Paget disease of bone and frontotemporal dementia (IBMPFD). Recently, we have shown that VCP possesses both aggregate-forming and aggregate-clearing activities.

Involvement of valosin-containing protein (VCP)/p97 in the formation and clearance of abnormal protein aggregates.

Abnormal protein aggregates are commonly observed in affected neurons in many neurodegenerative disorders. We have reported that valosin-containing protein (VCP) co-localizes with protein aggregates in patients' neurons and in cultured cells expressing diseased proteins. However, the significance of such co-localization remains elucidated.

ATPase activity of p97/valosin-containing protein is regulated by oxidative modification of the evolutionally conserved cysteine 522 residue in Walker A motif.

Valosin-containing protein (p97/VCP) has been proposed as playing crucial roles in a variety of physiological and pathological processes such as cancer and neurodegeneration. We previously showed that VCP(K524A), an ATPase activity-negative VCP mutant, induced vacuolization, accumulation of ubiquitinated proteins, and cell death, phenotypes commonly observed in neurodegenerative disorders. However, any regulatory mechanism of its ATPase activity has not yet been clarified.