Crisdesalazine alleviates inflammation in an experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis multiple sclerosis mouse model by regulating the immune system.

Microglia/macrophages participate in the development of and recovery from experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), and the macrophage M1 (pro-inflammatory)/M2 (anti-inflammatory) phase transition is involved in EAE disease progression. We evaluated the efficacy of crisdesalazine (a novel microsomal prostaglandin E2 synthase-1 inhibitor) in an EAE model, including its immune-regulating potency in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophages, and its neuroprotective effects in a macrophage-neuronal co-culture system. Crisdesalazine significantly alleviated clinical symptoms, inhibited inflammatory cell infiltration and demyelination in the spinal cord, and altered the phase of microglial/macrophage and regulatory T cells.

Comparison of cytokine expression and ultrastructural alterations in fresh-frozen and dried electron beam-irradiated human amniotic membrane and chorion.

The purpose of the current study was to compare the effects of drying and fresh-freezing on human amniotic membrane (HAM) and amnion/chorion membrane (HACM) in terms of histological and structural characteristics and cytokine levels. HAM and HACM samples, obtained from six placentae, were investigated. HAM and HACM were dried, electron beam-irradiated (dehydration group; d-HAM/d-HACM), or fresh-frozen (freezing group; f-HAM/f-HACM).

rhEGF-containing thermosensitive and mucoadhesive polymeric sol-gel for endoscopic treatment of gastric ulcer and bleeding.

Gastrointestinal endoscopy is a standard diagnostic tool for gastrointestinal ulcers and cancer. In this study, we have developed recombinant human epidermal growth factor-containing ulcer-coating polymeric sol-gel for endoscopic application. Chitosan and pluronic F127 were employed for their thermoresponsive and bioadhesive properties.

CWJ-081, a novel 3-arylisoquinoline derivative, induces apoptosis in human leukemia HL-60 cells partially involves reactive oxygen species through c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase pathway.

In the present study, we investigated the effect of a novel 3-arylisoquinoline derivative 3-(6-ethyl-benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-yl)-7,8-dimethoxy-2-methyl-2H-isoquinolin-1-one (CWJ-081) on the induction of apoptosis and the putative molecular mechanism of its action in human leukemia cells. Treatment with CWJ-081 exhibited a characteristic feature of apoptosis including externalization of phosphatidylserine and formation of DNA fragmentation in human leukemia cell lines (HL-60, U-937, K-562). In addition, stimulation of HL-60 cells with CWJ-081 induced a series of intracellular events: (1) the activations of caspase-8, -9, and -3; (2) the cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1); (3) the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨ(m)); (4) the release of cytochrome c; and (5) the modulation of Bcl-2 family proteins.

3α,23-isopropylidenedioxyolean-12-en-27-oic acid, a triterpene isolated from Aceriphyllum rossii, induces apoptosis in human cervical cancer HeLa cells through mitochondrial dysfunction and endoplasmic reticulum stress.

In the present study, we investigated the effect of 3alpha,23-isopropylidenedioxyolean-12-en-27-oic acid (IPA), an active compound isolated from Aceriphyllum rossii, on the apoptotic activity and the molecular mechanism of the action in human cervical cancer HeLa cells. Treatment with IPA significantly increased externalization of phosphatidylserine residues and apoptotic DNA fragmentation as shown by Annexin V staining and 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole-dihydrochloride (DAPI) staining, respectively. In addition, IPA induced the activations of caspase-8, -9, -3, and cleavage of poly(ADP ribose) polymerase (PARP-1) in HeLa cells.

3-Oxoolean-12-en-27-oic acid isolated from Aceriphyllum rossii induces caspase-8-dependent apoptosis in human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells.

In the present study, we investigated the effects of 3-oxoolean-12-en-27-oic acid (3-OA) isolated from the underground parts of Aceriphyllum rossii (Saxifragaceae) on the viability and apoptosis of HL-60 human promyelocytic leukemia cells, and the mechanisms underlying its action. 3-OA-treated HL-60 cells and HeLa human cervix adenocarcinoma cells displayed several apoptotic features, such as, DNA fragmentation, DNA laddering by agarose gel electrophoresis, and hypodiploid DNA contents by flow cytometry, and 3-OA also caused the activations of caspase-8, -9 and -3. Pretreatment with z-VAD-fmk (a broad-caspase inhibitor) almost completely suppressed 3-OA-induced DNA ladder formation and hypodiploid DNA contents, thereby implicating the caspase cascade in the apoptotic process.

Fibrin promotes proliferation and matrix production of intervertebral disc cells cultured in three-dimensional poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) scaffold.

Previously, we have proven that fibrin and poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) scaffolds facilitate cell proliferation, matrix production and early chondrogenesis of rabbit articular chondrocytes in in vitro and in vivo experiments. In this study, we evaluated the potential of fibrin/PLGA scaffold for intervertebral disc (IVD) tissue engineering using annulus fibrosus (AF) and nucleus pulposus (NP) cells in relation to potential clinical application. PLGA scaffolds were soaked in cells-fibrin suspension and polymerized by dropping thrombin-sodium chloride (CaCl(2)) solution.

Reduction of inflammatory reaction of poly(d,l-lactic-co-glycolic Acid) using demineralized bone particles.

Poly(lactide-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) has been widely applied to tissue engineering as a good biocompatible material because of its biodegradability and nontoxic metabolites, but how the inflammatory reaction of PLGA on the surrounding tissue in vivo is reduced has not been discussed sufficiently. We hypothesized that the cells neighboring the PLGA implant might have an inflammatory response that could be reduced by impregnating demineralized bone particles (DBPs) into the PLGA. We manufactured five different ratios of DBP/PLGA hybrid materials, with each material containing 0, 10, 20, 40, and 80 wt% of DBPs of PLGA.