Targeting of the osteoclastogenic RANKL-RANK axis prevents osteoporotic bone loss and soft tissue calcification in coxsackievirus B3-infected mice.

Bone mineralization is a normal physiological process, whereas ectopic calcification of soft tissues is a pathological process that leads to irreversible tissue damage. We have established a coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3)-infected mouse model that manifests both osteoporosis and ectopic calcification specifically in heart, pancreas, and lung. The CVB3-infected mice showed increased serum concentrations of both cytokines including IL-1β, TNF-α, and the receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) that stimulate osteoclast formation and of the osteoclast-derived protein tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b.

Comparison of 12-lipoxygenase expression in vascular smooth muscle cells from old normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats with spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Vascular aging and essential hypertension cause similar structural and molecular modifications in the vasculature. The 12-lipoxygenase (LO) pathway of arachidonic acid metabolism is linked to cell growth and the pathology of hypertension. Thus, elevated expression of 12-LO has been observed in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR).

Seroepidemiologic survey of varicella-zoster virus in korean adults using glycoprotein enzyme immuno assay and fluorescent antibody to membrane antigen test.

Background: Herpes zoster (HZ) occurs mainly in the elderly and Korea is rapidly becoming an aging society. Therefore, it is important to know the immune status against varicella-zoster virus (VZV) in Korean adults to prevent the disease.

Objective: The aim of this study was to survey the immune status of Korean adults over 40 years of age against VZV.

Endothelial colony-forming cell coating of pig islets prevents xenogeneic instant blood-mediated inflammatory reaction.

Instant blood-mediated inflammatory reaction (IBMIR) causes rapid islet loss in islet transplantation. Endothelial colony-forming cells (ECFCs) display unique abilities to promote angiogenesis and repair vascular injury compared to those of endothelial cells (ECs), which inhibits the allogeneic and xenogeneic IBMIR. We investigated the coating of pig islets with ex vivo-expanded ECFCs as a strategy to overcome xenogeneic IBMIR.

Changes in hepatic gene expression upon oral administration of taurine-conjugated ursodeoxycholic acid in ob/ob mice.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is highly prevalent and associated with considerable morbidities. Unfortunately, there is no currently available drug established to treat NAFLD. It was recently reported that intraperitoneal administration of taurine-conjugated ursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) improved hepatic steatosis in ob/ob mice.

ATP measurement predicts porcine islet transplantation outcome in nude mice.

Current nude mice islet transplantation studies cannot be used prospectively. Therefore, to predict transplantation outcomes, reliable and rapid assays for islet quality assessment are warranted. This study evaluated the predictive power of the porcine islet ATP content on the outcomes of islet transplantation in nude mice.

Interferon-stimulated genes response in endothelial cells following Hantaan virus infection.

The regulation mechanism of interferon (IFN) and IFN-stimulated genes is a very complex procedure and is dependent on cell types and virus species. We observed molecular changes related to anti-viral responses in endothelial cells during Hantaan virus (HTNV) infection. We found that there are two patterns of gene expression, the first pattern of gene expression being characterized by early induction and short action, as in that of type I IFNs,' and the other being characterized by delayed induction and long duration, as those of IRF-7, MxA, and TAP-1/2.

Influence of strain and age differences on the yields of porcine islet isolation: extremely high islet yields from SPF CMS miniature pigs.

Background: Porcine pancreas is a potential source of material for islet xenotransplantation. However, the difficulty in isolating islets, because of their fragility and the variability of isolation outcome in donor age and breed, represents a major obstacle to porcine islet xenotransplantation. In this study, we compared the islet isolation yield of specific pathogen-free (SPF) Chicago Medical School (CMS) miniature pigs with that of another miniature pig breed and market pigs from a local slaughterhouse.

Colocalization of interferon regulatory factor 7 (IRF7) with latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) of Epstein-Barr virus.

Interferon regulatory factor 7 (IRF7) is one of the transcriptional factors for the activation of type I Interferon (IFN) genes. It is known that IRF7 and the latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) are highly expressed in EBV type III latency cells, and LMP1 induces mRNA expression of IRF7. In this study, the expression pattern of endogenous IRF7 was observed in several B cell lines with or without EBV infection by immunofluorescence staining.

Pirfenidone suppressed the development of glomerulosclerosis in the FGS/Kist mouse.

Pirfenidone (PFD) is a newly developed anti-fibrotic agent. We evaluated the effect of PFD for the prevention of renal fibrosis using a spontaneous progressive glomerulosclerosis animal model, FGS/Kist mice. Male and female FGS/Kist mice were fed a diet containing 0.