Coordinated Regulation of Palladin and α-Smooth Muscle Actin by Transforming Growth Factor-β in Human Corneal Fibroblasts.

Purpose: To investigate the role of palladin in the cornea, we examined expression of this actin assembly-related protein in normal, diseased, or injured corneal tissue as well as in cultured corneal fibroblasts.

Methods: Expression of palladin and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in the rat cornea with an incision wound, in the normal and diseased human cornea, and in cultured human corneal fibroblasts was examined by immunofluorescence or immunoblot analysis.

Results: The expression of both palladin and α-SMA was detected at the lesion site during wound healing in the rat cornea.

Up-regulation of the tight-junction protein ZO-1 by substance P and IGF-1 in A431 cells.

The formation of a barrier by tight junctions is important in epithelia of various tissues. Substance P (SP) and insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 synergistically promote barrier function in the corneal epithelium. We have now examined the effects of SP and IGF-1 on expression of the tight-junction protein zonula occludens (ZO)-1 in A431 human epidermoid carcinoma cells.

Cerebral sinus thrombosis associated with severe active ulcerative colitis.

A 19-year-old man with severe active ulcerative colitis was admitted to our hospital where he was prescribed 80 mg prednisolone and underwent leukocytapheresis (LCAP). Two weeks after initiating therapy, his symptoms had not recovered. We administered cyclosporin via continuous intravenous infusion for 12 days.