Effects of p38 MAP kinase inhibitors on the differentiation and maturation of erythroid progenitors.

In rodents, p38 MAP kinase inhibitors (p38is) induce bone marrow hypocellularity and reduce reticulocyte and erythrocyte counts. To identify target cell populations affected, a differentiating primary liquid erythroid culture system using sca-1(+)cells from mouse bone marrow was developed and challenged with p38is SB-203580, SB-226882, and SB-267030. Drug-related alterations in genes involved at different stages of erythropoiesis, cell-surface antigen expression (CSAE), burst-forming unit erythroid (BFU-E) colony formation, and cellular morphology (CM), growth (CG), and viability were evaluated.

Transcriptional profiling of laser capture microdissected rat arterial elements: fenoldopam-induced vascular toxicity as a model system.

Transcriptional profiling of specific elements of vasculature from animal models of vascular toxicity is an approach to gain insight into molecular mechanisms of vascular injury. Feasibility of using laser capture microdissection (LCM) to evaluate differential gene expression in selected elements of mesenteric arteries (MA) from untreated rats and rats given a single vasotoxic dose of 100 mg/kg Fenoldopam and euthanized 1 or 4 hours postdose was assessed. Regions of MA (endothelial cells [EC] and vascular smooth muscle cells [VSMC]) were selectively microdissected from optimal-cutting-temperature (O.

Role of p38 in regulation of hematopoiesis: effect of p38 inhibition on cytokine production and transcription factor activity in human bone marrow stromal cells.

This study was designed to evaluate effects of specific p38 MAP kinase inhibition on gene and protein expression of essential hematopoietic cytokines in primary human bone marrow stromal cells (HBMSC) and to identify downstream transcription factors (TF) regulated by the p38 MAP kinase signalling pathway. In vitro effects of p38 inhibitors (p38i) on cytokine regulation were compared to inhibitors of other major signalling pathways including PI3 kinase, JNK, MEK-1, NF-kappaB or protein kinase C (PKC). HBMSC were pre-treated with p38i (SB-203580) for 1 h and then stimulated with 200 ng/ml lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

Effects of 6-hydroxydopamine on mitochondrial function and glutathione status in SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells.

SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells were incubated with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) for 4 and 24 h to examine the mechanism of cell death and to determine the time-dependent effects of 6-OHDA on cellular glutathione status. After 4 h, 6-OHDA significantly depleted cellular ATP and GSH concentrations with only slight increases in cell death. GSH:GSSG ratios and mitochondrial membrane potential (Deltapsim) were significantly decreased during 4 h incubations with 6-OHDA.

In vitro expansion of human cord blood CD36+ erythroid progenitors: temporal changes in gene and protein expression.

Objective: Erythropoiesis involves proliferation and differentiation of committed erythroid progenitors to mature red blood cells. The objective of this study was to characterize growth characteristics of human CD36+ erythroid progenitors and to profile temporal expression of lineage-specific transcription factors, structural proteins, and growth factor receptors involved in erythropoiesis.

Materials And Methods: Erythropoietin-induced differentiation of human cord blood CD36+ erythroid progenitors was profiled for GATA-1, GATA-2, NFE2, EKLF, SCL, PU.

Troglitazone-induced intracellular oxidative stress in rat hepatoma cells: a flow cytometric assessment.

Background: Troglitazone (TRO), a thiazolidinedione (TZD) peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma agonist, was recently withdrawn from the market because of rare but serious hepatotoxicity. Previous studies investigating the cytotoxicity of TRO in cultured rat hepatocytes have conjectured about the role of oxidative stress in TRO-induced hepatotoxicity. Therefore, we investigated whether TRO induces oxidative stress and, if so, the portion of the TRO molecule responsible for the induction of oxidative stress.

Effects of troglitazone on HepG2 viability and mitochondrial function.

Troglitazone (TRO), a member of the thiazolidinedione class of drugs, has been associated with hepatotoxicity in patients. The following in vitro study was conducted to investigate the effects of TRO on mitochondrial function and viability in a human hepatoma cell line, HepG2. TRO induced a concentration- and time-dependent increase in cell death, as measured by lactate dehydrogenase release.