Aims: Although the aetiology of varicose veins remains unknown, recent studies have focused on endothelial cell integrity and function. Among the regulatory factors of vessel tone, synthesises, pro- and anti-inflammatory, adhesion molecules and the transcription factor hypoxia inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1alpha), which are responsible for recruiting leukocytes, are very important.
Methods: Investigation in this study focused on the expression of ICAM-1, E-selectin and HIF-1alpha on endothelial cells using immunostaining and RT-PCR in varicose vein specimens compared with controls.
The progression of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is poorly understood but may be caused by an underlying inflammatory dysfunction. This study therefore profiled interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-13, anticardiolipin, and anti-beta2-glycoprotein 1 antibody concentrations and characterized patients' inflammatory response in vitro. Patients were classified according to World Health Organization criteria and ankle-brachial pressure index into critical ischemics (n=20), stable claudicants (n=20), and controls (n=20).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBiochem Biophys Res Commun
February 2003
Human epidermal melanocytes hold the full capacity for autocrine de novo synthesis/regulation/recycling of the essential cofactor 6-tetrahydrobiopterin (6BH(4)) for conversion of L-phenylalanine via phenylalanine hydroxylase to L-tyrosine and for production of L-Dopa via tyrosine hydroxylase to initiate both pigmentation and catecholamine synthesis in these neural crest-derived cells. Earlier we have demonstrated pterin-4a-carbinolamine dehydratase (PCD) mRNA and enzyme activities in epidermal melanocytes and keratinocytes. This protein dimerises also the transcription factor hepatocyte nuclear factor 1 (HNF-1), leading to activation of multiple genes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAlopecia areata (AA) is a relatively common reversible hair loss disorder usually manifesting as patchy areas of complete hair loss on the scalp and other body parts that can progress to complete loss of all body hair. This condition is now generally assumed to be an autoimmune disease with the hair follicle (HF) as the principal target tissue. AA may be passively transferred by T cells and there is some evidence that serum IgG may also disturb hair cycling.
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