Role for Mucin-5AC in Upper and Lower Airway Pathogenesis in Mice.

Mucin-5AC (MUC5AC) is a major secreted mucin in pathogenic airways. To determine its role in mucus-related airway disorders, -deficient () and wild-type () mice were compared in bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) disease, and ozone toxicity. Significantly greater inflammation and fibrosis by bleomycin were developed in lungs compared to lungs.

Muc5ac null mice are predisposed to spontaneous gastric antro-pyloric hyperplasia and adenomas coupled with attenuated H. pylori-induced corpus mucous metaplasia.

Gastric cancer (GC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide and is strongly associated with chronic Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection. The ability of Hp to closely adhere to the gastric surface protective mucous layer containing mucins (MUC in humans and Muc in animals), primarily Muc5ac, is integral in the stepwise pathogenesis from gastritis to cancer. To probe the role of Muc5ac in Hp-induced gastric pathology, Muc5ac and Muc5ac (WT) mice were experimentally infected with Hp Sydney strain (SS1).

PGE2 Inhibits IL-10 Production via EP2-Mediated β-Arrestin Signaling in Neuroinflammatory Condition.

Regulatory mechanisms of the expression of interleukin-10 (IL-10) in brain inflammatory conditions remain elusive. To address this issue, we used multiple primary brain cell cultures to study the expression of IL-10 in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-elicited inflammatory conditions. In neuron-glia cultures, LPS triggered well-orchestrated expression of various immune factors in the following order: tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and lastly IL-10, and these inflammatory mediators were mainly produced from microglia.

Cyclooxygenase-2 mediates induction of the renal stanniocalcin-1 gene by arginine vasopressin.

In rats and mice, the renal stanniocalcin-1 (STC-1) gene is expressed in most nephron segments, but is differentially induced in response to dehydration. In cortical segments STC-1 mRNA levels are upregulated by the hypertonicity of dehydration, while hypovolemia causes gene induction in the inner medulla (papilla). In both cases induction is mediated by arginine vasopressin (AVP) acting via the V2 receptor (V2R).

Role of cyclooxygenase-2 in exacerbation of allergen-induced airway remodeling by multiwalled carbon nanotubes.

The emergence of nanotechnology has produced a multitude of engineered nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and concerns have been raised about their effects on human health, especially for susceptible populations such as individuals with asthma. Multiwalled CNTs (MWCNTs) have been shown to exacerbate ovalbumin (OVA)-induced airway remodeling in mice. Moreover, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) has been described as a protective factor in asthma.