Removal of cationic dye methylene blue by zero-valent iron: Effects of pH and dissolved oxygen on removal mechanisms.

Effects of pH and dissolved oxygen on mechanisms for decolorization and total organic carbon (TOC) removal of cationic dye methylene blue (MB) by zero-valent iron (ZVI) were systematically examined. Decolorization and TOC removal of MB by ZVI are attributed to the four potential mechanisms, i.e.

Up-regulation of Axin2 by dexamethasone promotes adipocyte differentiation in ROB-C26 mesenchymal progenitor cells.

Dexamethasone (Dex) regulates osteoblastic and adipocytic differentiation in mesenchymal progenitor cells through regulation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling. To elucidate the regulatory mechanisms underlying the effects of Dex, we examine the expression of Axin2, which is an intracellular inhibitor of Wnt/β-catenin signaling, in ROB-C26 clonal mesenchymal progenitor cells (C26). We observed the induction of Axin2 mRNA in C26 cells in response to Dex treatment.

Inhibition of Wnt/β-catenin signaling by dexamethasone promotes adipocyte differentiation in mesenchymal progenitor cells, ROB-C26.

Dexamethasone (Dex) stimulates the differentiation of mesenchymal progenitor cells into adipocytes and osteoblasts. However, the mechanisms underlying Dex-induced differentiation have not been clearly elucidated. We examined the effect of Dex on the expression and activity of Wnt/β-catenin signal-related molecules in a clonal mesenchymal progenitor cell line, ROB-C26 (C26).

Suppression of lamin A/C by short hairpin RNAs promotes adipocyte lineage commitment in mesenchymal progenitor cell line, ROB-C26.

Lamin A/C gene encodes a nuclear membrane protein, and mutations in this gene are associated with diverse degenerative diseases that are linked to premature aging. While lamin A/C is involved in the regulation of tissue homeostasis, the distinct expression patterns are poorly understood in the mesenchymal cells differentiating into adipocytes. Here, we examined the expression of lamin A/C in a rat mesenchymal progenitor cell-line, ROB-C26 (C26).

Inhibitory effects of a tryptamine derivative on ultraviolet radiation-induced apoptosis in MC3T3-E1 mouse osteoblasts.

MS-IPA1 is a new synthetic compound that is synthesized from tryptamine. Recently, our group demonstrated that SST-VED-I-1, which has a similar chemical structure to MS-IPA1, inhibits starvation-induced apoptosis in osteoblasts. However, the effects of MS-IPA1 on apoptosis in osteoblasts have not yet been examined.

Inhibitory Effects of a Tryptamine Derivative on Ultraviolet Radiation-Induced Apoptosis in MC3T3-E1 Mouse Osteoblasts.

MS-IPA1 is a new synthetic compound that is synthesized from tryptamine. Recently, our group demonstrated that SST-VED-I-1, which has a similar chemical structure to MS-IPA1, inhibits starvation-induced apoptosis in osteoblasts. However, the effects of MS-IPA1 on apoptosis in osteoblasts have not yet been examined.

The effects of Sp7/Osterix gene silencing in the chondroprogenitor cell line, ATDC5.

Chondrocytes are known to express Sp7/Osterix (Osx) to varying degrees, but the role of Osx in chondrocytes is still unknown. In the current study, we investigated the role of the Osx gene using the clonal mouse embryonic cell line ATDC5, which retains the properties of the chondroprogenitor. ATDC5 cells express Osx; therefore, the effects of Osx gene silencing with shRNA lentiviral particles on chondrocyte marker gene expression and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity were investigated.

Bone morphogenetic protein 2 and dexamethasone synergistically increase alkaline phosphatase levels through JAK/STAT signaling in C3H10T1/2 cells.

Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is generally believed to be a faithful marker of osteoblast differentiation, and its expression is induced by bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) and dexamethasone (Dex). However, the effects of combined administration of BMP-2 and Dex on ALP transcription have not been extensively examined. In this study, we found that BMP-2 and Dex synergistically increase ALP levels in mouse C3H10T1/2 pluripotent stem cells.

A tryptamine derivative, SST-VEDI-1, inhibits apoptosis and stimulates mineralization in osteoblasts.

SST-VEDI-1(VEDI-1) is a new synthetic compound that is synthesized from tryptamine, and has structural similarity to the SSH-BM family of compounds. However, the biological effects of VEDI-1 have yet to be well characterized. A recent report has demonstrated that SSH-BM-type compounds can stimulate osteoblast activity in cultured scales of goldfish.

FGF8 regulates myogenesis and induces Runx2 expression and osteoblast differentiation in cultured cells.

In the current study, treatment of the rat osteogenic cell line ROB-C26 cells with fibroblast growth factor 8 (FGF8) stimulated alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and also induced the expression of the Runx2 transcription factor, and increased the activity of a luciferase reporter gene containing the osteocalcin (OCN) promoter and six copies of the osteoblast specific cis-acting element 2 (OSE2) response element. In contrast, FGF8 treatment of the mouse myoblast cell line C2C12 inhibited the expression of desmin and the synthesis of myotubes. The expression of MyoD, Myogenin, Foxc2, and Hand1 was also decreased by FGF8.

Bone morphogenetic protein-2 induces the differentiation of a mesenchymal progenitor cell line, ROB-C26, into mature osteoblasts and adipocytes.

Aims: Osteoblasts and adipocytes originate from common precursor cells. We examined the effects of bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) on the molecular mechanisms governing the diametric actions of BMP-2 on simultaneous mature osteoblast and adipocyte differentiation in a clonal mesenchymal progenitor cell line, ROB-C26 (C26).

Main Methods: The present study using RT-PCR, Western blotting and ELISA investigated the effects of BMP-2 on transcription factors for osteoblasts (Runx2, Dlx5, Osterix, Msx2 and AJ18) and adipocytes (PPARgamma2), osteoblastic markers, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bone sialoprotein (BSP) and osteocalcin (OC), and adipocyte differentiation-dependent protein, aP2 in C26 cells.

A new synthetic compound, SST-VEDI-1, inhibits osteoblast differentiation with a down-regulation of the Osterix expression.

SST-VEDI-1(VEDI-1) is a new synthetic compound which is synthesized from tryptamine. However, the effect of VEDI-1 on various bio-phenomena in cells has not yet been examined. Tryptamine is one of the known trace amines.

Identification of stem cells during prepubertal spermatogenesis via monitoring of nucleostemin promoter activity.

The nucleostemin (NS) gene encodes a nucleolar protein found at high levels in several types of stem cells and tumor cell lines. The function of NS is unclear but it may play a critical role in S-phase entry by stem/progenitor cells. Here we characterize NS expression in murine male germ cells.

Dexamethasone promotes DMP1 mRNA expression by inhibiting negative regulation of Runx2 in multipotential mesenchymal progenitor, ROB-C26.

Dentin matrix protein 1 (DMP1) is an acidic phosphorylated extracellular protein and essential for mineralization of dentin and bone; however, the precise mechanism regulating DMP1 expression is not fully understood. A synthetic glucocorticoid (GC), dexamethasone (Dex), promotes an early osteoblast differentiation of a mesenchymal progenitor, ROB-C26 (C26), in parallel with inductive expression of an osteoblast-specific transcription factor, Runx2, and other extracellular matrix proteins such as osteocalcin and bone sialoprotein (BSP). We have examined the effect of Dex on DMP1 expression via induction of Runx2 in C26 cells.

The effect of retinoic acid on a zinc finger transcription factor, AJ18, during differentiation of a rat clonal preosteoblastic cell line, ROB-C20, into osteoblasts.

Objective: A zinc finger type transcription factor, AJ18, is thought to be a negative regulator of osteoblast differentiation, but its expression mechanism is not fully understood. Retinoic acid (RA) is a metabolite of vitamin A and involves the proliferation and differentiation in a variety of cells. To verify the effect of RA on osteoblast differentiation, AJ18 expression level was examined using a rat clonal preosteoblastic cell line, ROB-C20 (C20).

Inductive effects of dexamethasone on the mineralization and the osteoblastic gene expressions in mature osteoblast-like ROS17/2.8 cells.

We examined the effects of dexamethasone (Dex), a synthetic glucocorticoid, on the formation of mineralized bone nodules and the gene expressions of the late osteoblastic markers, bone sialoprotein (BSP), osteocalcin (OC), and osteopontin (OPN) in mature osteoblast ROS17/2.8 cells. Treatment of ROS17/2.

Changes in extracellular activin A:follistatin ratio during differentiation of a mesenchymal progenitor cell line, ROB-C26 into osteoblasts and adipocytes.

We investigated the effects of BMP-2 and dexamethasone (Dex) on follistatin (FS) and activin A expressions in a mesenchymal progenitor cell line, ROB-C26 (C26). C26 cells stimulated to differentiate into osteoblastic cells by blocking myogenic differentiation after BMP-2 treatment and into adipocytes with Dex treatment. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) mRNA expression and its activity in the confluent C26 cells were dose- and time-dependently stimulated by BMP-2, but inhibited by Dex.

Foxc2 induces expression of MyoD and differentiation of the mouse myoblast cell line C2C12.

The Fox family of transcription factors is expressed in various organs and tissues during development, and is involved in a variety of developmental and cellular differentiation processes. Foxc2 mRNA is strongly expressed in mesoderm-derived tissues in the embryo, but the molecular mechanism of Foxc2-induced cellular differentiation and the physiological role of Foxc2 are unclear. In mouse myoblast C2C12 cells, over-expression of Foxc2 increased the expression of desmin, the muscle-specific member of the intermediate filament family of proteins, and induced the synthesis of myotubes.

Immunoelectron microscopic analysis of CD11c-positive dendritic cells in the periapical region of the periodontal ligament of rat molars.

To increase understanding of structural and phenotypic characteristics of dendritic cells (DCs) in the periapical region of the periodontal ligament (PDL) of rat molars, we performed immunoelectron microscopy for CD11c, a previously untested DC marker. Results demonstrated that CD11c clearly recognized DCs, although it also labeled certain macrophage subpopulation(s). In the normal PDL, resident DCs that extended several long cytoplasmic processes from their oval to slender cell body were identified.

Glucocorticoids induce the differentiation of a mesenchymal progenitor cell line, ROB-C26 into adipocytes and osteoblasts, but fail to induce terminal osteoblast differentiation.

To clarify the effects of glucocorticoids (GCs) on osteoblast and adipocyte differentiation, we investigated the effects of dexamethasone (Dex), a GC analogue on transcription factors for osteoblasts (Runx2, Dlx5 and Osterix) and adipocytes (C/EBPs such as C/EBPalpha, C/EBPbeta and C/EBPdelta, and PPARgamma2), late osteoblastic markers, bone sialoprotein (BSP) and osteocalcin (OC), and adipocyte differentiation-dependent protein, aP2 in a clonal mesenchymal progenitor cell line, ROB-C26 (C26). C26 cells were dose- and time-dependently responsive to Dex in terms of an increase in not only mRNA and protein expressions of the C/EBPs, PPARgamma2 and aP2, but also Runx2, Dlx5, BSP and OC with no induction of Osterix, which is considered to act mainly on terminal osteoblast differentiation. Cycloheximide pretreatment indicated that Dex signaling immediately increases expressions of the C/EBPs and Dlx5, while expressions of the rest of the genes require de novo protein synthesis.

Autoregulatory mechanism of Runx2 through the expression of transcription factors and bone matrix proteins in multipotential mesenchymal cell line, ROB-C26.

Runx2 is essential for osteoblast differentiation and gene expression of bone matrix proteins, however, little is known about the mechanism regulating its activity. In this study, the role of Runx2 on gene expression of transcription factors, AJ18, Msx2, and Dlx5, was examined in vitro. It is known that AJ18 and Msx2 act as repressors to inhibit activity of Runx2, whereas Dlx5 promotes its activity.

Molecular and cell biological properties of mouse osteogenic mesenchymal progenitor cells, Kusa.

A cell line of murine osteogenic progenitor cells, Kusa, was established from femoral bone marrow stromal cells with other types of mesenchymal progenitor cells. We characterized two sublines of Kusa (Kusa-A1 and Kusa-O) from several aspects, including the use of an expression profiling system, a cDNA microarray. The original Kusa subline (Kusa-A1) had high alkaline phosphatase activity and high accumulation of calcium deposits in a condition inducing mineralization, with ascorbic acid and beta-glycerophosphate.

Frequent promoter hypermethylation of RASSF1A and p16INK4a and infrequent allelic loss other than 9p21 in betel-associated oral carcinoma in a Vietnamese non-smoking/non-drinking female population.

Background: Betel-chewing, a risk factor for oral carcinoma, is a common habit of elderly Vietnamese females, but concomitant habits of tobacco and alcohol are uncommon.

Methods: In the present study, 36 paraffin-embedded betel-associated oral carcinoma samples including 27 squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and nine verrucous carcinomas (VC) were analyzed for the hypermethylation of tumor suppressor genes (TSGs) and loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of important TSG loci. Methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP) was used to identify promoter hypermethylation of p16INK4a and RASSF1A.

Effects of bone morphogenetic protein-2 and transforming growth factor beta1 on gene expression of transcription factors, AJ18 and Runx2 in cultured osteoblastic cells.

Osteoblast differentiation is controlled by multiple transcription factors, Runx2, AJ18, Osterix, Dlx5 and Msx2. The mechanisms of regulation of AJ18 mRNA expression by the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) superfamily remain poorly understood. However, it is known that BMP-2 induces differentiation of C26 cells into more mature osteoblastic cells.

Inductive effects of dexamethasone on the gene expression of Cbfa1, Osterix and bone matrix proteins during differentiation of cultured primary rat osteoblasts.

Runx2/core binding factor alpha 1 (Cbfa1) and Osterix (Osx) are osteoblast-specific transcription factors essential for the development of a mature osteoblast phenotype and are thought to activate osteoblast marker genes in vivo to produce a bone-specific matrix. Dexamethasone (Dex) is known to be a potent stimulator of osteoblastic differentiation in vitro, however, the exact role is still unclear. To investigate the mechanisms of the stimulation of osteoblastic differentiation by Dex, we evaluated the effects of Dex on proliferation and mineralization as well as on mRNA expression of Cbfa1, Osx and osteoblast marker genes, osteocalcin (OC) and bone sialoprotein (BSP) mRNAs in differentiating foetal rat calvarial cells (FRCC), which were cultured for 35 days in the presence or absence of 10(-7) M Dex.