Osteopontin: a new emerging role in psoriasis.

Osteopontin (OPN) is a phosphorylated acidic glycoprotein produced by cells of the immune system, epithelial tissue, smooth muscle cells, osteoblasts, and tumor cells. OPN interacts with integrins and CD44 to enhance Th1 and inhibit Th2 cytokine expression. The involvement of this molecule in the onset of psoriasis has not previously been studied.

Artemisinin reduces human melanoma cell migration by down-regulating alpha V beta 3 integrin and reducing metalloproteinase 2 production.

Artemisinin and its derivatives are well known antimalarial drugs, particularly useful after resistance to traditional antimalarial pharmaceuticals has started to occur in Plasmodium falciparum. In recent years, anticancer activity of artemisinin has been reported both in vitro and in vivo. Artemisinin has inhibitory effects on cancer cell growth and anti-angiogenetic activity.

Analysis of the signal transduction pathway of nickel-induced matrix metalloproteinase-2 expression in the human keratinocytes in vitro: preliminary findings.

Background: Nickel can induce cellular and nuclear damages responsible for chronic diseases, like allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). We previously showed that matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) gene expression was induced by nickel in nontumorigenic human keratinocytes cell line (HaCat).

Objective: To investigate the signal transduction pathways involved in gelatinolytic activity induced in HaCat under nickel stimulation.

Interferon-gamma cooperates with Helicobacter pylori to induce iNOS-related apoptosis in AGS gastric adenocarcinoma cells.

Helicobacter pylori colonizes the human stomach and causes gastric disease. The resulting gastric damage is a multi-step process involving several molecular factors and different target cells. Th1 cytokines released by neutrophils and lymphoid cells that infiltrate gastric mucosa, nitric oxide production and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) are associated with immune activation and tissue injury.

In vitro evaluation of matrix metalloproteinases as predictive testing for nickel, a model sensitizing agent.

The identification of potential damage due to chemical exposure in the workplace is a major health and regulatory concern. Traditional tests that measure both sensitization and elicitation responses require the use of animals. An alternative to this widespread use of experimental animals could have a crucial impact on risk assessment, especially for the preliminary screening of new molecules.