Antioxidant and cyclooxygenase-2-inhibiting activity of 4,4'-biphenol, 2,2'-biphenol and phenol.

The anthropogenic substance 4,4'-biphenol and its analogues are estrogenic and cytotoxic. It has been previously found that synthesized ortho-dimers of phenolic compounds possess potent antioxidative and anti-inflammatory activity. To clarify the relationships between radical-scavenging and anti-inflammatory activities, the radical-scavenging activities of 4,4'-biphenol, 2,2'-biphenol and phenol were investigated by using differential scanning calorimetry to measure the induction period for polymerization of methyl methacrylate initiated by thermal decomposition of 2,2'-azobisisobutyronitrile.

Alterations of Fas and Fas-related molecules in patients with silicosis.

Persons with silicosis have not only respiratory disorders but also autoimmune diseases. To clarify the mechanisms involved in the dysregulation of autoimmunity found in patients with silicosis, we have been focusing on Fas and Fas-related molecules in the Fas-mediated apoptotic pathway, because Fas is one of the most important molecules regulating auto-immunity involving T cells. Our findings showed that patients with silicosis exhibited elevated serum soluble Fas levels, an increased relative expression of the soluble fas and dcr3 genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, high levels of other variant messages of the fas transcript, relatively decreased expression of genes encoding several physiological inhibitors (such as survivin and toso), and dominancy of lower-membrane Fas expressers in lymphocytes, which transcribe soluble fas dominantly, compared with soluble fas transcription in healthy donors.

Detection, epitope-mapping and function of anti-Fas autoantibody in patients with silicosis.

Dysregulation of apoptosis through the Fas-Fas ligand pathway is associated with the onset of autoimmune disease. Since autoantibodies directed against unknown antigens are present in the sera of these patients, sera samples were examined for the presence of autoantibodies directed against the Fas molecule. Using Western blotting and a ProteinChip analysis, autoantibodies against Fas were detected in patients with silicosis, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and systemic sclerosis (SSc), and weakly detected in healthy individuals.

[Dysregulation of Fas and related molecules in silicosis patients].

Silicosis patients not only suffer from respiratory disorders but also from autoimmune diseases. To clarify the mechanisms involved in the occurrence of the dysregulation of autoimmunity found in silicosis patients, we have been focusing on investigation of the Fas and Fas-related molecules in the Fas-mediated apoptotic pathway, since Fas is one of the most important molecules regulating autoimmunity in mainly T cells. Our findings showed that silicosis patients exhibited elevated serum soluble Fas levels, increased relative expression of soluble Fas and DcR 3 genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, other highly detectable variant messages of Fas transcripts, relatively decreased expression of several physiological inhibitors (Sentrin, I-Fline, ICAD/DFF45, and survivin), and dominancy of lower membrane Fas expressers in lymphocytes when compared with healthy volunteers.

Anti-caspase-8 autoantibody response in silicosis patients is associated with HLA-DRB1, DQB1 and DPB1 alleles.

We reported previously the autoantibodies directed to caspase-8 among patients with silicosis, systemic sclerosis (SSc) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) , and in healthy individuals. In this study, we analyzed the correlation between anti-caspase-8 autoantibody responses and HLA class II alleles in silicosis patients. The frequencies of HLA-DRB1*0406 were significantly higher in antibody positive patients (16.

IL-10 in myeloma cells.

In addition to interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10 is considered as one of the most important cytokines regulating the proliferation and cellular characteristics of myeloma cells. It is still unclear from the clinical data how serum IL-10 levels of various stages of myeloma, are related to clinical manifestations of this disease. Several studies have reported that IL-10 affects myeloma cells by stimulating secondary signals for cell proliferation through oncostatin M (OSM) and IL-11.

Effect of hypoxia on human seminoma cells.

Since hypoxia has been considered to enhance metastatic potential in solid tumors via a neo-angiogenesis caused by vascular endothelial cell growth factors (VEGFs) induced by hypoxia inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha), the effects of hypoxia on human seminoma cell lines were examined in terms of growth, morphology, gene expression, protein expression and cell cycle perturbation. Growth was inhibited in long-term cultures with morphological changes to the spindle form. The gene expression of VEGF-C was markedly enhanced and the production of VEGF-A increased during hypoxia, although HIF-1alpha was not upregulated at the protein or message level.

Detection of anti-topoisomerase I autoantibody in patients with silicosis.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to detect anti-topoisomerase I (anti-topo I) autoantibodies, which are known to be limited in systemic sclerosis patients, in silicosis patients with no clinical symptoms of autoimmune disease.

Methods: Serum anti-topo I autoantibodies were detected using ELISA. Differences in clinical parameters between patients with and without anti-topo I autoantibodies were analyzed.

Interleukin 10 abolishes the growth inhibitory effects of all-trans retinoic acid on human myeloma cells.

Recently, it was disclosed that all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) inhibits myeloma cell growth by downregulating the interleukin 6 (IL-6)/IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) auto/paracrine loop, and upregulating p21/Cip1 cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor (CDK-I), thereby inducing apoptosis with a decrease in Bcl-2 protein expression. To elucidate and generalize the effects of ATRA on the proliferation and cellular biology of myeloma cells, 12 human myeloma cell lines established in our laboratory were utilized. Two out of the 12 lines showed enhanced growth on supplementation of ATRA and were characterized by IL-10 production, downregulation of membrane Fas and reduced upregulation of p21/Cip1 CDK-I message.

Perturbation of secretory Ig A in saliva and its daily variation by academic stress.

Objectives: Several studies have reported that the secretory immunoglobulin A (S-IgA) concentration in saliva is an indicator of psychological stress. The aim of this study was to clarify the relationship between S-IgA and the stress from academic examinations.

Methods: S-IgA levels in 10 medical student volunteers from the second year course between May 4 and July 13, 2000 were examined using the ELISA method.