Apoptotic and anti-proliferative effects of 17beta-estradiol and 17beta-estradiol-like compounds in the Hep3B cell line.

Since there is evidence for estrogen and estrogen-like compounds to have beneficial effect on the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), this study was designed to investigative the apoptotic and anti-proliferative effects of these compounds on the human hepatoma Hep3B cell line. The Hep3B cells were treated with 17beta-estradiol (E2), diethylstilbestrol (DES), tamoxifen, and genistein. After treatments of these compounds at the concentration of 10(-6) or 10(-8) M, the Hep3B cells were demonstrated to have significant DNA fragmentation, nucleus condensation, cytochrome-c leaking from the mitochondria and caspase-3 activation by DAPI and Western blotting.

Roles of insulin-like growth factor II in cardiomyoblast apoptosis and in hypertensive rat heart with abdominal aorta ligation.

Although IGF-II activating the IGF-II receptor signaling pathway has been found to stimulate cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, the role of IGF-II in cardiac cell apoptosis remains unclear. This study aimed to identify the roles of IGF-II and/or IGF-II receptors (IGF-II/IIR) in cardiomyoblast apoptosis and in hypertensive rat hearts with abdominal aorta ligation. Cultured rat heart-derived H9c2 cardiomyoblasts and excised hearts from Sprague-Dawley rats with 0- to 20-day complete abdominal aorta ligation, a model of ANG II elevation and hypertension, were used.

Opposing action of estrogen receptors alpha and beta on tumor necrosis factor-alpha gene expression and caspase-8-mediated apoptotic effects in HA22T cells.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the major manifestation of primary liver cancer, is one of the most frequent and malignant cancers worldwide, especially in Taiwan. Estrogen receptors (ERs) have been reported to play either a proliferation- or apoptosis-enhancing role in the differentiation of cancers, including HCC. In a previous experiment, we showed that transient overexpressed estrogen receptor-alpha induced early stage HCC cell line Hep 3B cell apoptosis by increasing the hTNF-alpha gene expression in a ligand-independent manner.

Serum insulin-like growth factor-axis and matrix metalloproteinases in patients with rheumatic arthritis or rheumatic heart disease.

Background: Insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I plays an important role for maintaining cardiac functions. We clarified the unknown role of IGF-axis in rheumatic heart disease (RHD).

Method: Interleukin (IL)-10, growth hormone (GH), IGF, IGF binding protein (IGFBP)-3 and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) were measured by ELISA and zymography in 30 age range-matched normal subjects (control), 36 patients with acute phase of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with positive rheumatoid factor (RF) and C-reactive protein (CRP), and in 43 patients with RHD with negative RF and CRP.

Homocysteine and other biochemical parameters in Type 2 diabetes mellitus with different diabetic duration or diabetic retinopathy.

Background: Cardiovascular risk-related markers in type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) have not been well understood.

Methods: Serum and urine samples for biochemical and immunologic analysis were collected from 204 normal subjects and 257 type 2 DM patients, the latter of which were further classified by different diabetic duration with or without retinopathy.

Results: Glycosylated hemoglobin A1c, triglyceride, lipase, free fatty acid, albumin creatinine ratio (ACR), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and homocysteine were significantly increased in DM patients, whereas high density lipoprotein cholesterol and bilirubin were significantly decreased in DM patients, compared with normal subjects.