Silver nanoparticles up-regulate Connexin43 expression and increase gap junctional intercellular communication in human lung adenocarcinoma cell line A549.

Silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) are increasingly being used in wound dressings, medical settings, and various household products due to their unique properties and antimicrobial activity. Despite the widespread use of Ag NP products, the molecular mechanisms underlying the biological effects of Ag NPs remain unclear. Gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC), formed by the connexin protein family, plays a critical role in the maintenance of tissue and organ homeostasis.

PVP-coated silver nanoparticles and silver ions induce reactive oxygen species, apoptosis and necrosis in THP-1 monocytes.

The objective of the present study was to investigate the toxicity of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) in vitro. Silver ions (Ag+) have been used in medical treatments for decades whereas Ag NPs have been used in a variety of consumer products within recent years. This study was undertaken to compare the effect of well characterized, PVP-coated Ag NPs (69 nm +/- 3 nm) and Ag+ in a human monocytic cell line (THP-1).

Bone morphogenetic proteins regulate osteoprotegerin and its ligands in human vascular smooth muscle cells.

The bone-related protein osteoprotegerin (OPG) may be involved in the development of vascular calcifications, especially in diabetes, where it has been found in increased amounts in the arterial wall. Experimental studies suggest that members of the TGF-superfamily are involved in the transformation of human vascular smooth muscle cells (HVSMC) to osteoblast-like cells. In this study, we evaluated the effect of BMP-2, BMP-7 and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta1) on the secretion and mRNA expression of OPG and its ligands receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappabeta ligand (RANKL) and TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) in HVSMC.

AT1 receptor blockade prevents interstitial and glomerular apoptosis but not fibrosis in pigs with neonatal induced partial unilateral ureteral obstruction.

Obstruction-induced fibrosis is a leading cause of end-stage renal failure in children. The pathophysiological mechanisms may involve apoptosis and the renin-angiotensin system. We studied apoptosis and fibrosis in a well-established neonatal pig model with unilateral partial ureteral obstruction (PUUO) induced during ongoing nephrogenesis in 2-day-old piglets.

Calcification of human vascular smooth muscle cells: associations with osteoprotegerin expression and acceleration by high-dose insulin.

Arterial medial calcifications occur often in diabetic individuals as part of the diabetic macroangiopathy. The pathogenesis is unknown, but the presence of calcifications predicts risk of cardiovascular events. We examined the effects of insulin on calcifying smooth muscle cells in vitro and measured the expression of the bone-related molecule osteoprotegerin (OPG).