Human umbilical cord matrix-derived stem cells expressing interferon-beta gene significantly attenuate bronchioloalveolar carcinoma xenografts in SCID mice.

Mesenchymal stem cells derived from the human umbilical cord matrix (hUCMSCs) have great potential for therapeutic use for multiple diseases. The strategy that uses therapeutic gene-transfected hUCMSCs as cellular vehicles for targeted biologic agent delivery has solved the problem of short half-life or excessive toxicity of biological agent(s) in vivo. Interferon-beta (IFN-beta) has demonstrated a potent antitumor effect on many types of cancer cell lines in vivo.

Evaluation of the biodegradability of polyurethane and its derivatives by using lipase-displaying arming yeast.

Candida antarctica lipase B (CALB) has been used to polymerize and degrade polyesters. We developed a convenient method for investigating the biodegradability of plastics that involves the use of CALB-displaying "arming yeast." Polyurethane containing dulcitol units was prepared and used as the model material.

Opposite effects of two thiazolidinediones, ciglitazone and troglitazone, on proteinase-activated receptor-1-triggered prostaglandin E(2) release.

Thiazolidinediones, known as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARgamma) agonists, may modify prostaglandin formation and exert gastroprotective effects. Since activation of proteinase-activated receptor-1 (PAR1) reveals endogenous prostanoid-dependent gastroprotection, we investigated if two thiazolidinediones, ciglitazone and troglitazone, modulate the prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) release caused by activation of PAR1 in normal rat gastric mucosal epithelial RGM1 cells. Ciglitazone dramatically facilitated the PAR1-triggered PGE(2) production and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) upregulation, although it had no effect by itself.

Novel antagonists for proteinase-activated receptor 2: inhibition of cellular and vascular responses in vitro and in vivo.

Background And Purpose: Proteinase-activated receptor 2 (PAR(2)) is a G-protein coupled receptor associated with many pathophysiological functions. To date, the development of PAR(2) antagonists has been limited. Here, we identify a number of novel peptide-mimetic PAR(2) antagonists and demonstrate inhibitory effects on PAR(2)-mediated intracellular signalling pathways and vascular responses.

y Human herpesvirus 6 envelope components enriched in lipid rafts: evidence for virion-associated lipid rafts.

In general, enveloped viruses are highly dependent on their lipid envelope for entry into host cells. Here, we demonstrated that during the course of virus maturation, a significant proportion of human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) envelope proteins were selectively concentrated in the detergent-resistant glycosphingolipid- and cholesterol-rich membranes (rafts) in HHV-6-infected cells. In addition, the ganglioside GM1, which is known to partition preferentially into lipid rafts, was detected in purified virions, along with viral envelope glycoproteins, gH, gL, gB, gQ1, gQ2 and gO indicating that at least one raft component was included in the viral particle during the assembly process.

Rhodanese, but not cystathionine-gamma-lyase, is associated with dextran sulfate sodium-evoked colitis in mice: a sign of impaired colonic sulfide detoxification?

Clinical studies suggest that colonic luminal hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S), produced by sulfate-reducing bacteria or through other pathways, might be involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Nonetheless, this hypothesis has been poorly investigated by basic studies using laboratory animals. We thus focused on two enzymes, cystathionine-gamma-lyase (CSE) that generates H(2)S from l-cysteine, and rhodanese that directly or indirectly detoxifies H(2)S, particularly in relation to the colitis induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in mice.

Hydrogen sulfide as a novel mediator for pancreatic pain in rodents.

Objective: Hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) is formed from l-cysteine by multiple enzymes including cystathionine-gamma-lyase (CSE) in mammals, and plays various roles in health and disease. Recently, a pronociceptive role for H(2)S in the processing of somatic pain was identified. Here, the involvement of H(2)S in pancreatic pain is examined.

[A case of small cell lung cancer with dermatomyositis that deteriorated with leukocytopenia due to chemotherapy].

A 64-year-old woman presented skin lesions on her face, upper extremities and finger erythema (heliotropism and Gottron's sign). She had weakness in her lower extremities. She was given a diagnosis of dermatomyositis (DM), because the serum examination showed that a myositis-specific antibody was positive whereas Jo-1 antibody was negative.

Hyperalgesia induced by spinal and peripheral hydrogen sulfide: evidence for involvement of Cav3.2 T-type calcium channels.

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S), a gasotransmitter, facilitates membrane currents through T-type Ca2+ channels, and intraplantar (i.pl.) administration of NaHS, a donor of H2S, causes prompt hyperalgesia in rats.

Hydrogen sulfide evokes neurite outgrowth and expression of high-voltage-activated Ca2+ currents in NG108-15 cells: involvement of T-type Ca2+ channels.

We investigated if stimulation of T-type Ca(2+) channels with sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS), a donor of hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S), could cause neuronal differentiation of NG108-15 cells. Like dibutyryl cyclic AMP (db-cAMP), treatment with NaHS at 1.5-13.

Selective growth of vertically aligned double- and single-walled carbon nanotubes on a substrate at 590 °C.

Vertically aligned double- and single-walled carbon nanotubes (DWNTs and SWNTs) were synthesized on a substrate at 590 °C by hot-filament chemical vapor deposition. An optimized combination of iron and aluminum layers as the catalyst resulted in iron particles ranging from 1-5 nm floating in an aluminum matrix after annealing. Selective synthesis of DWNTs and SWNTs from such particles was achieved by adjusting the dilution ratio of acetylene that was used as the source gas.

PAR2 triggers IL-8 release via MEK/ERK and PI3-kinase/Akt pathways in GI epithelial cells.

Proteinase-activated receptor-2 (PAR2) plays pro-inflammatory roles in many organs including the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. To clarify the downstream pro-inflammatory signaling of PAR2 in the GI tract, we examined interleukin-8 (IL-8) release and the underlying cellular signaling following PAR2 stimulation in human colorectal cancer-derived HCT-15 cells and human gastric adenocarcinoma-derived MKN-45 cells. A PAR2-activating peptide, but not a PAR2-inactive scrambled peptide or a PAR1- activating peptide, caused IL-8 release in these GI epithelial cells.

Luminal hydrogen sulfide plays a pronociceptive role in mouse colon.

Objective: Given recent evidence that hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S), a gasotransmitter, promotes somatic pain through redox modulation of T-type Ca(2+) channels, the roles of colonic luminal H(2)S in visceral nociceptive processing in mice were examined.

Methods: After intracolonic administration of NaHS, an H(2)S donor, visceral pain-like behaviour and referred abdominal allodynia/hyperalgesia were evaluated. Phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) in the spinal dorsal horn was determined immunohistochemically.

Human herpesvirus-6 induces MVB formation, and virus egress occurs by an exosomal release pathway.

The final envelopment of most herpesviruses occurs at Golgi or post-Golgi compartments, such as the trans Golgi network (TGN); however, the final envelopment site of human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) is uncertain. In this study, we found novel pathways for HHV-6 assembly and release from T cells that differed, in part, from those of alphaherpesviruses. Electron microscopy showed that late in infection, HHV-6-infected cells were larger than uninfected cells and contained many newly formed multivesicular body (MVB)-like compartments that included small vesicles.

Human herpesvirus-6 infection induces the reorganization of membrane microdomains in target cells, which are required for virus entry.

Cell-membrane raft microdomains are important for successful infection by several viruses. However, their role in the cell-entry process of human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) is unknown. Here we tested whether HHV-6 requires cell-membrane rafts for its entry.

Histopathological comparison of pulmonary artery lesions between raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) and domestic dogs experimentally infected with Dirofilaria immitis.

Five raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) and two domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) were subcutaneously infected with 100 infective larvae (L3) of Dirofilaria immitis. Two and five worms, respectively, were collected from two of three raccoon dogs. Villous endarteritis was found in the raccoon dog with five worms and two dogs at 116 days after infection.

Proteinase-activated receptors in the gastrointestinal system: a functional linkage to prostanoids.

Proteinase-activated receptors (PARs), G protein-coupled receptors, play critical roles in the alimentary system. Increasing evidence suggests that endogenous prostaglandins (PGs) mediate some of PARs' gastrointestinal functions. Systemic administration of the PAR1 agonist protects against gastric mucosal injury through PG formation in rats.

[Pasteurella multocida pneumonia with molecular evidence of zoonotic transmission].

We report the case of a patient with pneumonia caused by Pasteurella multocida (P. multocida). An 83-year-old woman admitted for bronchiectasis, productive cough, and a high fever was found in chest radiography on admission to have a new infiltrative shadow in the left lower lung field.

Possible requirement of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 for invasion of gingival epithelial cells by Treponema medium.

Oral treponemes are members of the spirochete family of bacteria associated with periodontal diseases. In the present study, we demonstrate that intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) on human gingival epithelial cells (HGEC) contributed to the invasion of Treponema medium, a medium-sized oral Treponema, into those cells. The quantity of T.

Soluble CD14 discriminates slight structural differences between lipid as that lead to distinct host cell activation.

Soluble CD14 (sCD14) in serum is known to sensitize host cells to LPS. In the present study, the contributions of sCD14 and LPS-binding protein to a lipid A moiety from LPS preparations of periodontopathogenic Fusobacterium nucleatum sp. nucleatum were compared with that of Escherichia coli-type synthetic lipid A (compound 506).

Gastrointestinal roles for proteinase-activated receptors in health and disease.

It has been almost a decade since the molecular cloning of all four members of the proteinase-activated receptor (PAR) family was completed. This unique family of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) mediates specific cellular actions of various endogenous proteinases including thrombin, trypsin, tryptase, etc. and also certain exogenous enzymes.

Dual modulation of the tension of isolated gastric artery and gastric mucosal circulation by hydrogen sulfide in rats.

To clarify roles of H2S in regulation of gastric circulation, we investigated effects of NaHS, a H2S donor, on tension of isolated rat gastric artery and gastric mucosal blood flow in rats. In the precontracted ring preparations, NaHS caused contraction and relaxation at low and high concentrations, respectively. The NaHS-induced vasorelaxation was only partially blocked by glibenclamide, a K+ (ATP) channel inhibitor.

Hydrogen sulfide inhibits activity of three isoforms of recombinant nitric oxide synthase.

To clarify the presence of cross-talk between H(2)S and NO, we investigated effect of NaHS, an H(2)S donor, on activity of recombinant NO synthase (NOS) isoforms. Activity of all nNOS, iNOS and eNOS was inhibited by NaHS (IC(50): 0.13-0.