Kruppel-like factor 4 is required for the expression of vascular smooth muscle cell differentiation marker genes induced by all-trans retinoic acid.

Krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) is involved in phenotypic modulation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) inhibits VSMC proliferation and induces VSMC differentiation. However, the role of KLF4 in ATRA-elicited VSMC phenotypic modulation remains unclear.

Electrophoretic evidence for the presence of structural isoforms specific for the IgG2 isotype.

Recombinant monoclonal antibodies of therapeutic interest were analyzed by a nonreduced CE-SDS (nrCE-SDS) method developed for the evaluation of size-based variants. We found that immunoglobulins analyzed by this technique exhibited different behavior depending on their subclasses. Under nrCE-SDS conditions, IgG1 molecules were separated in a well-resolved, single peak, whereas IgG2 molecules were consistently separated as a doublet.

[Inulicin inhibits activation and expression of vascular remodeling enzymes induced by de-endothelium].

Aim: To observe the effects of inulicin on the neointimal hyperplasia and expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2) after balloon injury in rat aorta.

Methods: The intimal hyperplasia model was replicated by balloon injury. The histological changes in vascular wall were observed by HE staining.

[Suppressive effect of rhIL-24 protein on the human A375 cell melanoma in nude mouse].

Objective: To study the suppressive effect of purified and renaturalized rhIL-24 protein on the human A375 cell melanoma in nude mouse.

Methods: Human A375 cells were injected into the nude mouse. After the volume of tumor attained, rhIL-24 was injected into the tumor.

[Application of BED-CEIA to estimate the human immunodeficiency virus prevalence among injecting drug users in Chongqing municipality].

Objective: To estimate the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) prevalence of injecting drug users (IDUs) in Chongqing city.

Methods: To apply BED-capture enzyme immunoassay (CEIA) which was based on the principle of HIV-antibody varies as the disease progress, in order to estimate both the HIV incidence and prevalence of IDUs from two IDUs surveillance sites in Chongqing.

Results: During the research period, 4711 serum samples were tested by ELISA and 130 were HIV-1 positive, confirmed by Western blot.

Human heart LIM protein has transcription activation ability related to LIM domain 1.

Human heart LIM (hhLIM), a muscle-specific expressed transcriptional coactivator of cardiac hypertrophy related gene, stimulates transcriptional activation of the ANF gene promoter in H9C2 cells. We revealed that the N-terminal half of hhLIM mediated this activation, in which the LIM domain 1 and protein kinase C phosphorylation site are important, especially the LIM domain 1. Further, mutagenesis of the conserved Cys in the LIM domain 1 abolished its ability to activate cardiac hypertrophy.

Short- and long-term effects of antipsychotic drug treatment on weight gain and H1 receptor expression.

The present study investigated body weight gain, food intake, open-field activity and brain histamine H1 receptor mRNA and protein expression in rats treated with three types of antipsychotics. Rats were divided into eight groups and treated with aripiprazole (2.25mg/kg/day), olanzapine (1.

hhLIM is a novel F-actin binding protein involved in actin cytoskeleton remodeling.

Human heart LIM protein (hhLIM) is a newly cloned protein. In vitro analyses showed that green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged hhLIM protein accumulated in the cytoplasm of C2C12 cells and colocalized with F-actin, indicating that hhLIM is an actin-binding protein in C2C12 cells. Overexpression of hhLIM-GFP in C2C12 cells significantly stabilized actin filaments and delayed depolymerization of the actin cytoskeleton induced by cytochalasin B treatment.

The effects of antipsychotics on the density of cannabinoid receptors in the dorsal vagal complex of rats: implications for olanzapine-induced weight gain.

Some atypical antipsychotics clinically used to treat schizophrenia induce weight gain by unknown mechanisms. The dorsal vagal complex (DVC) of the brainstem and the endogenous cannabinoid system are implicated in the regulation of appetite signalling and food intake. We investigated whether antipsychotic drugs alter cannabinoid receptor-binding density in the DVC.

HIV-1 incidence estimates using IgG-capture BED-enzyme immunoassay from surveillance sites of injection drug users in three cities of China.

Objective: To detect recent infection in injection drug users (IDU) using the HIV-1 subtypes B, E, and D IgG-capture enzyme immunoassay (BED-CEIA) and estimate HIV-1 incidence in the IDU population in three cities of China.

Design: HIV-1-positive samples from IDU surveillance sentinel sites were collected for BED-CEIA, including 215 from city C (2001-2006), 433 from city D (2005), and 912 from city E (2000-2003). All 1560 samples were confirmed HIV positive with Western blot or alternative strategy.

Biosorption of nickel and copper onto treated alga (Undaria pinnatifida): application of isotherm and kinetic models.

Biosorption of nickel and copper ions from aqueous solution onto treated alga biomass Undaria pinnatifida has been studied and the Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkine equilibrium isotherms, pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order and intra-particle diffusion kinetic model were determined respectively. Within the test range (initial concentration 5-50 mg/L, biosorption doze 0.1-0.

Roscovitine inhibits ERK1/2 activation induced by angiotensin II in vascular smooth muscle cells.

Roscovitine is a potent CDK inhibitor often used as a biological tool in cell-cycle studies, but its working mechanism and real targets in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) remain unclear. In this study, we observed that ERK1/2 phosphorylation induced by Ang II was abrogated by pretreating VSMCs with roscovitine for 15h. Pretreating VSMCs with roscovitine also inhibited Ang II-induced c-Jun expression and phosphorylation.

No changes in densities of cannabinoid receptors in the superior temporal gyrus in schizophrenia.

Objective: In recent years, abnormal changes in the endocannabinoid system have been found in schizophrenia. The superior temporal gyrus (STG) is strongly implicated in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia, particularly with regards to auditory hallucinations. In this study, we investigated the binding density of cannabinoid CB1 receptors in the STG of schizophrenia patients compared to control subjects.

[Experimental study on inhibition of restenosis by osteopontin oligopeptide antagonist after de-endothelium].

Aim: Osteopontin 13-peptide(Gly158-Lys170), containing multi-function domains was used to inhibit the VSMC adhesion, migration. The mechanism of 13-peptide inhibiting neointima formation was investigated.

Methods: The effect of 13-peptide on VSMC adhesion was tested by adhesion assay.

Human heart LIM protein activates atrial-natriuretic-factor gene expression by interacting with the cardiac-restricted transcription factor Nkx2.5.

hhLIM [human heart LIM (Lin-11/IsI-1/Mec-3) protein] is a muscle-specific LIM-only protein that consists of two LIM motifs. hhLIM functions as a positive regulator for cardiac hypertrophy. Here we report that hhLIM serves as a cofactor regulating the expression of the ANF (atrial natriuretic factor) gene in H9c2 rat cardiomyoblast cells.

Acetylbritannilactone suppresses lipopolysaccharide-induced vascular smooth muscle cell inflammatory response.

To investigate the mechanism of action by which a new anti-inflammatory active compound, 1-O-acetylbritannilactone (ABL) isolated from Inula britannica-F., inhibits inflammatory responses in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Enzyme immunoassay was used to measure the levels of prostandin E(2) (PGE(2)) production.

Acetylbritannilactone Inhibits Neointimal Hyperplasia after Balloon Injury of Rat Artery by Suppressing Nuclear Factor-{kappa}B Activation.

Based on our previous observations that 1-O-acetylbritannilactone (R)-4((3aS,4S,7aR)-4-hydroxy-6-methyl-3-methylene-2-oxo-2,3,3a,4,7,7a-hexahydrobenzofuran-5-yl)pentyl acetate (ABL) suppresses prostaglandin E(2) and nitric oxide synthesis in macrophages, the present study was designed to explore the effect of ABL on neointimal hyperplasia after balloon injury and its mechanism of action. In male Sprague-Dawley rats, 26 mg/kg ABL or polyglycol (control) was administered daily from 3 days before injury to 2 weeks after conventional balloon injury. ABL administration led to a significant reduction in neointimal formation (neointima to media ratio, 1.

Blockade of integrin beta3-FAK signaling pathway activated by osteopontin inhibits neointimal formation after balloon injury.

Background: Osteopontin (OPN) promotes the migration and adhesion of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) through cell surface receptor, integrin beta3. In order to elucidate the signaling pathway by which OPN is involved in neointimal formation, we focused on integrin beta3-focal adhesion kinase (FAK) upon VSMC migration.

Methods: The integrin beta3 and FAK expression in VSMC and in neointima was detected by Western blot and immunohistochemistry staining.

Effects of antipsychotic medication on muscarinic M1 receptor mRNA expression in the rat brain.

Alterations in muscarinic M1 receptor protein and mRNA expression have been revealed in post-mortem brains of schizophrenia patients. Most patients had been treated with antipsychotics, so medication effects cannot be excluded as a possible explanation for these results. With in situ hybridization, this study investigated M1 receptor mRNA expression in rats treated with the typical antipsychotic haloperidol (0.

[Recombinant C-terminal fragment of SM22 induces cytoskeleton reorganization].

Aim: To investigate the interaction between C-terminal domains of SM22alpha and cytoskeleton F-actin.

Methods: Prokaryotic expression vector containing SM22alpha cDNA and GST sequence was constructed. The induction conditions were optimized to increase the product of soluble GST-SM22alpha fusion protein in E coli.

Analysis of post-translational modifications in recombinant monoclonal antibody IgG1 by reversed-phase liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry.

Characterization and quantitative analysis of modifications in recombinant monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) plays an important role in biopharmaceutical development. This study demonstrates a new approach to assess variants in mAbs, based on individual analysis of subdomains. These subdomains were generated by dithiothreitol reduction and papain cleavage.

Natural killer cell crossmatch: functional analysis of inhibitory killer immunoglobulin-like receptors and their HLA ligands.

Attempts to predict outcome of bone marrow transplantation based on killer immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) and HLA genotyping have yielded discordant results. To better understand the factors involved, we investigated natural killer (NK) cell function and correlated it with genetics and expression of inhibitory KIR and HLA ligands in 20 normal allogeneic pairs. KIR expression was analyzed by flow cytometry to estimate the percentage of NK cells that could be inhibited by the HLA ligands in each pair combination.

Is functional state of spinal microglia involved in the anti-allodynic and anti-hyperalgesic effects of electroacupuncture in rat model of monoarthritis?

Spinal microglia play a key role for creating exaggerated pain following tissues inflammation or injury. Electroacupuncture (EA) can effectively control the exaggerated pain both in humans with inflammatory disease and animals with experimental inflammatory pain. However, little is known about the relationship between spinal glial activation and EA analgesia.

Olanzapine treatment decreases the density of muscarinic M2 receptors in the dorsal vagal complex of rats.

In this study, we investigated the effects of antipsychotic drugs, olanzapine and haloperidol, on the density of the muscarinic M2 receptors in the dorsal vagal complex (DVC) and hypoglossal nucleus (HN). Female Sprague Dawley rats were treated with olanzapine, haloperidol or vehicle (control) for 1 (short-term) or 12 weeks (long-term). Quantitative autoradiography was used to investigate the M2 receptor density in the DVC and HN using a muscarinic antagonist [(3)H] AF-DX384.

Osteopontin stimulates vascular smooth muscle cell migration by inducing FAK phosphorylation and ILK dephosphorylation.

Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and integrin-linked kinase (ILK) are both involved in integrin-mediated cell migration. However, the molecular mechanism, and the relationship between FAK and ILK activity in signaling transduction for the osteopontin (OPN)-induced migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) remain unclear. Here, we show that treating VSMCs with OPN could result in the dissociation of FAK with ILK by inducing phosphorylation of the former and dephosphorylation of the latter.