Suppression of BMP-Smad signaling axis-induced osteoblastic differentiation by small C-terminal domain phosphatase 1, a Smad phosphatase.

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) induce osteoblastic differentiation in myogenic cells via the phosphorylation of Smads. Two types of Smad phosphatases--small C-terminal domain phosphatase 1 (SCP1) and protein phosphatase magnesium-dependent 1A--have been shown to inhibit BMP activity. Here, we report that SCP1 inhibits the osteoblastic differentiation induced by BMP-4, a constitutively active BMP receptor, and a constitutively active form of Smad1.

An in vitro model for studying vascular injury after laser microdissection.

We have developed an in vitro model for studying vascular injury. After 7-10 days in a three-dimensional collagen gel culture, capillary-like tubes were formed in the collagen gels. We injured these capillary-like tubes with a laser microdissection system or a scrape method with razors and then examined the collagen gel culture by phase contrast and electron microscopy.

Angiogenesis and fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) in a three-dimensional collagen gel culture.

Small pieces of mouse aorta were cultured in collagen gels, and the formation of capillary-like tubes from the aortic explant was observed under phase-contrast and transmission electron microscopes. Migration of fibroblastic cells from the aortic explant occurred in 2 days. After about 10 days of culture, capillary-like tubes from the aortic explant were formed in the collagen gels.

The effect of topically applied secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor on the eosinophil response in the late phase of allergic conjunctivitis.

Purpose: This study examined the effects of secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI), a protease inhibitor in tears, in allergic conjunctivitis.

Methods: Conjunctiva of male Hartley guinea pigs sensitized with ovalbumin were treated with SLPI or the vehicle 10 min before antigen challenge or simultaneously. The animals were sacrificed after antigen challenges of 0-24 h duration, and the inhibition of eosinophil conjunctival migration and degranulation by SLPI was analyzed histochemically.

Reorganized small intestine from fetal mouse as an in vitro wound healing model.

Background: We developed a method for reorganizing the mouse small intestine. In the present study, we investigated whether the reorganized small intestine was morphologically and histochemically differentiated. We also evaluated the reorganized small intestine as an in vitro wound healing model.

Effects of thalidomide, cytochrome P-450 and TNF-alpha on angiogenesis in a three-dimensional collagen gel-culture.

The anti-angiogenic effects of thalidomide were examined in mouse aortae grown in a three-dimensional collagen gel-culture. In our in vitro model, (+/-)-thalidomide and (-)-thalidomide exhibited no anti-angiogenic effects. On the other hand, when the culture was treated with thalidomide plus cytochrome P-450, both types of thalidomides significantly inhibited angiogenesis.