Association of anti-TPM4 autoantibodies with vasculopathic cutaneous manifestations in juvenile dermatomyositis.

Objectives: AECAs are detected in multiple forms of vasculitis or vasculopathy, including JDM. High levels of tropomyosin alpha-4 chain (TPM4) gene expression in cutaneous lesions and TPM4 protein expression in some endothelial cells (ECs) have been proven. Furthermore, the presence of autoantibodies to tropomyosin proteins have been discovered in DM.

Association of anti-HSC70 autoantibodies with cutaneous ulceration and severe disease in juvenile dermatomyositis.

Objectives: JDM is an inflammatory myopathy characterized by prominent vasculopathy. AECAs are frequently detected in inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. We sought to determine whether AECAs correlate with clinical features of JDM, and thus serve as biomarkers to guide therapy or predict outcome.

Lipid Dynamics due to Muscle Atrophy Induced by Immobilization.

Muscle atrophy refers to skeletal muscle loss and dysfunction that affects glucose and lipid metabolism. Moreover, muscle atrophy is manifested in cancer, diabetes, and obesity. In this study, we focused on lipid metabolism during muscle atrophy.

Using the tools of proteomics to understand the pathogenesis of idiopathic inflammatory myopathies.

Purpose Of Review: One of the most important advances in medical research over the past 20 years has been the emergence of technologies to assess complex biological processes on a global scale. Although a great deal of attention has been given to genome-scale genetics and genomics technologies, the utility of studying the proteome in a comprehensive way is sometimes under-appreciated. In this review, we discuss recent advances in proteomics as applied to dermatomyositis/polymyositis as well as findings from other inflammatory diseases that may enlighten our understanding of dermatomyositis/polymyositis.

Plasma exosomes from children with juvenile dermatomyositis are taken up by human aortic endothelial cells and are associated with altered gene expression in those cells.

Background: The pathology of juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) is characterized by prominent vessel wall and perivascular inflammation. This feature of the disease has remained unexplained and under-investigated. We have hypothesized that plasma exosomes, which play an important role in inter-cellular communication, may play a role in the vascular injury associated with JDM.

ScAlN Thick-Film Ultrasonic Transducer in 40-80 MHz.

A medical ultrasound diagnostic system and an ultrasonic microscope are generally used in the frequency range of 1-20 MHz and 100 MHz-2 GHz, respectively. Ultrasonic transducers in the frequency range of 20-100 MHz are, therefore, not well developed because of less application into ultrasonic imaging or suitable piezoelectric materials with this frequency range. Polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) is usually used for ultrasonic transducers in the 10-50-MHz ranges.

Multiple target autoantigens on endothelial cells identified in juvenile dermatomyositis using proteomics.

Objective: Although generally classified within the group of inflammatory myopathies, JDM displays many pathological features of vasculitis. Previous work has shown that AECA are abundant in other forms of vasculitis. We therefore investigated whether such antibodies might also be detected in JDM.

Proceedings of the 2016 Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA) Scientific Meeting : Toronto, Canada. 14-17 April 2016.

P1 Serologic evidence of gut-driven systemic inflammation in juvenile idiopathic arthritis Lampros Fotis, Nur Shaikh, Kevin Baszis, Anthony French, Phillip Tarr P2 Oral health and anti-citrullinated peptide antibodies (ACPA) in juvenile idiopathic arthritis Sriharsha Grevich, Peggy Lee, Sarah Ringold, Brian Leroux, Hannah Leahey, Megan Yuasa, Jessica Foster, Jeremy Sokolove, Lauren Lahey, William Robinson, Joshua Newsom, Anne Stevens P3 Novel autoantigens for endothelial cell antibodies in pediatric rheumatic diseases identified by proteomics Rie Karasawa, Mayumi Tamaki, Megumi Tanaka, Toshiko Sato, Kazuo Yudoh, James N. Jarvis P4 Transcriptional profiling reveals monocyte signature associated with JIA patient poor response to methotrexate Halima Moncrieffe, Mark F. Bennett, Monica Tsoras, Lorie Luyrink, Huan Xu, Sampath Prahalad, Paula Morris, Jason Dare, Peter A.

Using proteomic and genomic methods to understand JDM.

Juvenile dermatomyositis is a complex illness characterized by vascular/perivascular inflammation, primarily in the skin and muscles. In this review, we discuss how proteomic and genomic technologies have expanded our understanding of the immune pathogenesis of this disease. We will also discuss further directions that the field may take to use existing and developing technologies to further our understanding of this often-perplexing disease.

Age-related Decrease of Sirtuin 2 Protein in Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells.

Sirtuin 2, which is mainly present in cytoplasm, plays an important role in mammalian development, caloric restriction, metabolic regulation cellular antioxidant potential and the regulation of aging. We found that the protein level of sirtuin 2 in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) decreases with an advance in donor age in men and women. Our data suggest that sirtuin 2 level in PBMCs decreases with age in both men and women and may have a potential as a useful biomarker monitoring health conditions and aging.

The DNA repair enzyme apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease (Apex nuclease) 2 has the potential to protect against down-regulation of chondrocyte activity in osteoarthritis.

Apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 2 (Apex 2) plays a critical role in DNA repair caused by oxidative damage in a variety of human somatic cells. We speculated that chondrocyte Apex 2 may protect against the catabolic process of articular cartilage in osteoarthritis (OA). Higher levels of Apex 2 expression were histologically observed in severely compared with mildly degenerated OA cartilage from STR/OrtCrlj mice, an experimental model which spontaneously develops OA.

A novel anti-peroxiredoxin autoantibody in patients with Kawasaki disease.

Antibodies to the anti-oxidative peroxiredoxin (Prx) enzymes occur in both systemic autoimmune disease and vasculitis in adulthood. Because increased oxidative stress induces vasculitis in Kawasaki disease (KD), autoimmunity to Prxs in patients with KD was investigated. The presence of antibodies to Prx 1, 2 and 4 was analyzed by ELISA and Western blot.

Anti-endothelial cell antibodies (AECA) in patients with systemic vasculitis: our research using proteomics.

Importance Of The Field: Anti-endothelial cell antibodies (AECA) may cause damage to endothelial cell (EC) functions and therefore may be of a pathophysiological role in systemic vasculitis. The pathophysiological role of AECA, however, is still uncertain.

Areas Covered In This Review: To clarify the detailed roles of AECA, various methods for identification of target proteins of AECA have been developed, such as expression libraries and proteomic approaches combining two-dimensional electrophoresis and immunoblotting.

Statin prevents chondrocyte aging and degeneration of articular cartilage in osteoarthritis (OA).

Recent reports have shown that statin (HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors) may have the potential to inhibit inflammatory arthritis. More recently, the idea that chondrocyte aging is closely associated with the progression of cartilage degeneration has been promulgated. Here, we demonstrate the potential of statin as protective agents against chondrocyte aging and degeneration of articular cartilage during the progression of osteoarthritis (OA), both in vitro and in vivo.

[Detection of specific markers: our research on the marker in patients with Kawasaki disease].

Anti-endothelial cell antibodies (AECA) were antibodies targeting the antigens expressed on the endothelial cell surface. It has been reported that AECA were detected frequently in patients with vasculitis and were associated with disease activity and vasculitis symptoms. Consequently, AECA are thought to be involved in pathophysiology of vasculitis, including Kawasaki disease (KD); however, the role of AECA is not clear yet.

Peroxiredoxin 2 is a novel autoantigen for anti-endothelial cell antibodies in systemic vasculitis.

Anti-endothelial cell antibodies (AECA) have been frequently detected in systemic vasculitis, which affects blood vessels of various sizes. To understand the pathogenic roles of AECA in systemic vasculitis, we attempted to identify target antigens for AECA comprehensively by a proteomic approach. Proteins extracted from human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were separated by two-dimensional electrophoresis, and Western blotting was subsequently conducted using sera from patients with systemic vasculitis.

Water-soluble fullerene (C60) inhibits the osteoclast differentiation and bone destruction in arthritis.

Recently, it has been demonstrated that oxygen free radicals have an important role as a signaling messenger in the receptor activator NFkappaB (RANK) signal pathway required for osteoclast differentiation. The aim of this study was to examine the potential of a strong free-radical scavenger, water-soluble fullerene (C60), as a protective agent against the RANK-induced osteoclastogenesis and osteoclastic bone destruction in arthritis, both in vitro and in vivo. The effects of C60 on the RANK-induced osteoclastogenesis and osteoclastic bone resorption were examined in vitro.

Water-soluble fullerene (C60) inhibits the development of arthritis in the rat model of arthritis.

Recently, it has been demonstrated that oxygen free radicals have an important role as a signaling messenger in the development of inflammation and osteoclastogenesis, suggesting the implication of oxygen free radicals in the pathogenesis of arthritis. The aim of this study was to examine the potential of a strong free-radical scavenger, water-soluble fullerene (C60), as a protective agent against synovitis in arthritis, both in vitro and in vivo. In the presence or absence of C60 (0.

Autoantibodies to peroxiredoxin I and IV in patients with systemic autoimmune diseases.

Anti-oxidative enzymes protect living bodies from various oxidative stresses. In the systemic autoimmune diseases, autoantibodies to oxidized molecules and to anti-oxidative enzymes have been reported. To promote understanding of the relationships between autoimmunity and oxidative stress, we here investigate whether autoimmunity to the anti-oxidative peroxiredoxin (Prxs) enzymes exists in patients with systemic autoimmune diseases.

Cushing's syndrome due to a large adrenocortical adenoma with histological features simulating ACTH-independent macronodular adrenocortical hyperplasia.

A 53-year-old woman presented with Cushing's syndrome resulting from an adrenocortical adenoma, 6.5 cm in diameter and 75 g in weight, which is larger than usual. Endocrinological data of this patient showed adrenocorticotropin (ACTH)-independent hypercortisolemia.

Patient with diffuse mesangial and endocapillary proliferative glomerulonephritis with hypocomplementemia and elevated anti-streptolysin O treated with prednisolone, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, and angiotensin II receptor antagonist.

A 24-year-old woman was admitted to Toyosaka Hospital with proteinuria, hematuria, lymphopenia, hypocomplementemia, positive anti-nuclear antibody (ANA), and elevation of anti-streptolysin O (ASO). Renal biopsy specimen revealed diffuse mesangial and endocapillary glomerulonephritis with crescent formation and duplication of the capillary loop on light microscopic examination. Mild to moderate proliferation of mesangial matrix and cells were observed.

Treatment of membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis associated with hepatitis C virus infection. Niigata Research Group of Glomerulonephritis and Nephrotic Syndrome.

Objective: Interferon has been used as a new therapeutic agent for glomerulonephritis since a manifest relationship between membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection was documented. However, several side effects and rebound phenomenon have been significant problems. We retrospectively evaluated the therapeutic effect and safety of the standard treatment with steroids and/or immunosuppressive agents for MPGN patients with an HCV infection.

Apolipoprotein E4 reduces risk of diabetic nephropathy in patients with NIDDM.

Hypercholesterolemia is a major determinant of the decline of renal function in patients with diabetes. Apolipoprotein E polymorphism may influence the metabolism of lipoprotein in diabetic patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between genetic polymorphisms in apolipoprotein E and the progression of diabetic nephropathy in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus over a 10-year period (13 to 37 years; median, 20 years).