Increased circulating soluble vascular adhesion protein-1 levels in systemic sclerosis: association with lower frequency and severity of interstitial lung disease.

Aim: To determine circulating soluble vascular adhesion protein-1 (sVAP-1) levels and their clinical associations in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc).

Method: Serum VAP-1 levels were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 71 SSc patients, 13 systemic lupus erythematosus patients and 50 healthy individuals.

Results: Serum sVAP-1 levels were significantly elevated in SSc patients (617.

Common and distinct clinical features in adult patients with anti-aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase antibodies: heterogeneity within the syndrome.

Objective: To identify similarities and differences in the clinical features of adult Japanese patients with individual anti-aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase antibodies (anti-ARS Abs).

Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of 166 adult Japanese patients with anti-ARS Abs detected by immunoprecipitation assays. These patients had visited Kanazawa University Hospital or collaborating medical centers from 2003 to 2009.

Exogenous application of hydrogen sulfide donor attenuates inflammatory reactions through the L-selectin-involved pathway in the cutaneous reverse passive Arthus reaction.

H2S has been highlighted recently as an endogenous, gaseous signaling molecule, especially in inflammations. The deposition of IC induces an acute inflammatory response with tissue injury. To assess the roles of H2S in the IC-induced diseases, the cutaneous, reverse passive Arthus reaction was conducted using NaHS as a H2S donor.

The roles of P- and E-selectins and P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 in primary and metastatic mouse melanomas.

Background: Malignant melanoma is often accompanied by a host response of inflammatory cell infiltration that is highly regulated by multiple adhesion molecules.

Objective: To evaluate the role of adhesion molecules, including P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1), P-selectin, and E-selectin.

Methods: Subcutaneous primary growth and metastasis to the lung of B16 melanoma cells were examined in mice lacking PSGL-1, P-selectin, or E-selectin.

Clinical correlations with dermatomyositis-specific autoantibodies in adult Japanese patients with dermatomyositis: a multicenter cross-sectional study.

Objective: To clarify the association of clinical and prognostic features with dermatomyositis (DM)-specific autoantibodies (Abs) in adult Japanese patients with DM.

Design: Retrospective study.

Setting: Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Science Department of Dermatology and collaborating medical centers.

Increasing levels of serum antioxidant status, total antioxidant power, in systemic sclerosis.

Oxidative stress is one of the important factors that contribute to tissue damage in systemic sclerosis (SSc). Since the physiological response to oxidative stress is regulated by multiple antioxidant systems, it is important to measure quantitatively the total antioxidant capacity in the biological specimens. To determine the clinical significance of total antioxidant power (TAP) in SSc, we investigated the prevalence and clinical correlation of serum TAP levels in SSc patients.

Elevated serum interleukin-27 levels in patients with systemic sclerosis: association with T cell, B cell and fibroblast activation.

Objective: To determine serum levels of interleukin 27 (IL-27) in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and relate the results to the clinical features of SSc.

Methods: Serum levels of IL-27 in 91 patients with SSc and the production of IL-27 by isolated monocytes were examined by ELISA. The expression of IL-27 receptor in the skin fibroblasts, B cells and T cells was quantified by real-time PCR.

Cell adhesion molecules regulate fibrotic process via Th1/Th2/Th17 cell balance in a bleomycin-induced scleroderma model.

Mice s.c. injected with bleomycin, an experimental model for human systemic sclerosis, develop skin and lung fibrosis, which is mediated by inflammatory cell infiltration.

C-Mannosylated peptides derived from the thrombospondin type 1 repeat interact with Hsc70 to modulate its signaling in RAW264.7 cells.

The thrombospondin type 1 repeat (TSR) is a functional module of proteins called TSR superfamily proteins (e.g., thrombospondin, F-spondin, mindin, etc.

Autoantibody against survivin in patients with systemic sclerosis.

Objective: In patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc), to determine concentrations of antibodies against survivin and their clinical association with SSc, and to evaluate serum survivin concentrations.

Methods: Anti-survivin antibody was examined by ELISA and immunoblotting using human recombinant survivin. Serum survivin levels were assessed by ELISA.

A portable dermatoscope for easy, rapid examination of periungual nailfold capillary changes in patients with systemic sclerosis.

Microvascular lesions are a predominant feature in systemic sclerosis (SSc) and seem to play a central pathogenic role. The presence of nailfold capillary abnormalities is useful in diagnosing SSc. Capillaroscopy, however, usually requires special equipment and may be time consuming.

The proteasome inhibitor bortezomib inhibits T cell-dependent inflammatory responses.

CHS is a cutaneous, T cell-dependent, inflammatory reaction mediated mainly by antigen-specific effector T cells. Bortezomib is a proteasome inhibitor that has shown impressive efficacy for the treatment of multiple myeloma. In the current study, we have assessed the effect of bortezomib treatment of CHS in mice and found that bortezomib potently inhibited CHS responses.

The differential role of L-selectin and ICAM-1 in Th1-type and Th2-type contact hypersensitivity.

Sensitization and challenge using DNFB induce contact hypersensitivity (CHS) with predominant type 1 helper (Th1) cell infiltration, whereas those using FITC generate CHS with Th2 cell infiltration. CHS results from inflammatory cell infiltration, a process that is highly regulated by the expression of multiple adhesion molecules. We attempted to determine the role of L-selectin and ICAM-1 in Th1- and Th2-type CHS induced by DNFB or FITC in mice lacking either L-selectin, ICAM-1, or both.

Case of localized scleroderma associated with osteomyelitis.

We report a 4-year-old girl presenting with progressive linear scleroderma affecting the right leg. Biopsy specimen disclosed typical histopathological findings of localized scleroderma. Right leg magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed high signal areas on T(2)-weighted images on the subcutaneous fatty tissue, muscles and bone marrow, suggesting that skin inflammation extended to the bone marrow.

Elevated serum concentrations of triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 in diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis: association with severity of pulmonary fibrosis.

Objective: To determine serum concentrations and clinical association of soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (sTREM-1) in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc).

Methods: Serum sTREM-1 levels from 17 patients with limited cutaneous SSc (lSSc), 24 patients with diffuse cutaneous SSc (dSSc), and 29 healthy control individuals were examined by ELISA.

Results: Total SSc patients exhibited significantly elevated serum sTREM-1 levels relative to controls (p < 0.

Platelets control leukocyte recruitment in a murine model of cutaneous arthus reaction.

Platelets have been shown to be important in inflammation, but their role in the cutaneous Arthus reaction remains unclear. To assess the role of platelets in this pathogenetic process, the cutaneous Arthus reaction was examined in wild-type mice and mice lacking E-selectin, P-selectin, or P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1) with or without platelet depletion by busulfan, a bone marrow precursor cell-specific toxin. Edema and hemorrhage induced by immune complex challenge significantly decreased in busulfan-treated wild-type mice compared with untreated mice.

Involvement of L-selectin in contact hypersensitivity responses augmented by auditory stress.

Stress affects the pathophysiology of cutaneous immune reactions, including contact hypersensitivity (CH) in individuals sensitized with sensitizing hapten, where local endothelial cell activation plays a critical role. To clarify the effects of stress in cutaneous immune reactions, we selected a CH model using annoying sound as a stress. Furthermore, we conducted the stress experiments by using selectin-deficient mice to determine the involvement of selectin molecules regarding local endothelial activation.

Autoantibody against one of the antioxidant repair enzymes, methionine sulfoxide reductase A, in systemic sclerosis: association with pulmonary fibrosis and vascular damage.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a connective tissue disease characterized by fibrosis and vascular changes in the skin and internal organs with autoimmune background. It has been suggested that oxidative stress plays an important role in the development of SSc. To determine the prevalence and clinical correlation of autoantibody to methionine sulfoxide reductase A (MSRA), one of the antioxidant repair enzymes, in SSc, serum anti-MSRA autoantibody levels were examined in patients with SSc by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using recombinant MSRA.

Cytoprotective role of Phyllanthus urinaria L. and glutathione-S transferase Pi in doxorubicin-induced toxicity in H9c2 cells.

Objective: To examine cytoprotective effect of Phyllanthus urinaria (PU) ethanolic extract in doxorubicin (DOX)-induced toxicity. The research focus was on the mechanism of action in association with the expression and localization of glutathione-S transferase (GST) in cardiac H9c2 cells.

Material And Method: The presence of GST isoforms was evaluated in H9c2 cells using western blot analysis and confocal immunofluorescence visualization.

Autoantibody against caspase-3, an executioner of apoptosis, in patients with systemic sclerosis.

The objective of the study was to determine the presence or levels of antibodies (Abs) against caspase-3 and their clinical relevance in systemic sclerosis (SSc). Anti-caspase-3 Ab was examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunoblotting. IgG anti-caspase-3 Ab levels in SSc patients were higher than in normal controls.

Serum CXCL16 concentrations correlate with the extent of skin sclerosis in patients with systemic sclerosis.

Objective: To determine serum concentrations of soluble CXCL16 and its clinical associations in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc).

Methods: Serum CXCL16 levels from 89 patients with SSc were examined by ELISA. In a retrospective longitudinal study, 68 sera from 28 patients with SSc were analyzed (followup 1.

CD19, a response regulator of B lymphocytes, regulates wound healing through hyaluronan-induced TLR4 signaling.

Immune cells are critical to the wound-healing process, through both cytokine and growth factor secretion. Although previous studies have revealed that B cells are present within wound tissue, little is known about the role of B cells in wound healing. To clarify this, we investigated cutaneous wound healing in mice either lacking or overexpressing CD19, a critical positive-response regulator of B cells.

Elevated circulating TWEAK levels in systemic sclerosis: association with lower frequency of pulmonary fibrosis.

Objective: To determine serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-related weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) and its clinical associations in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc).

Methods: Serum TWEAK levels from 70 patients with SSc were examined by ELISA. In a retrospective longitudinal study, sera from 23 patients with SSc were analyzed (followup 0.