Human parvovirus B19 antibodies induce altered membrane protein expression and apoptosis of BeWo trophoblasts.

Human parvovirus B19 (B19) is harmful during pregnancy since it can be vertically transmitted to the developing fetus. In addition, the anti‑B19 antibodies induced by B19 infection are believed to have a cytopathic role in B19 transmission; however, knowledge regarding the effects of anti‑B19 antibodies during pregnancy is limited. To investigate the possible roles of anti‑B19 antibodies during pregnancy, the present study examined the effects of anti‑B19‑VP1 unique region (VP1u), anti‑B19‑VP2 and anti‑B19‑nonstructural protein 1 (NS1) immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies on BeWo trophoblasts.

Cystamine attenuates lupus-associated apoptosis of ventricular tissue by suppressing both intrinsic and extrinsic pathways.

Cystamine, a disulphide metabolite, has been demonstrated to ameliorate various lupus-associated tissue damages by animal models. However, effects of cystamine on apoptosis of cardiac tissue, a main cardiac damage attributing to lupus, are less obvious. Therefore, we aimed to investigate whether or not cystamine possesses anti-apoptotic effects with emphasis on LV tissue of lupus-prone mice NZB/W-F1.

Expression of anti-cardiolipin antibodies and inflammatory associated factors in patients with schizophrenia.

Numerous studies have implicated a connection between schizophrenia and autoimmune disorders. However, the precise relationship and underlying mechanism are still obscure. To further identify the association between autoimmune disorders and schizophrenia, the mRNA expressions of various cytokines and Toll-like receptors (TLRs) in monocytes are examined by using RT-PCR.

Human parvovirus B19 nonstructural protein NS1 enhanced the expression of cleavage of 70 kDa U1-snRNP autoantigen.

Background: Human parvovirus B19 (B19) is known to induce apoptosis that has been associated with a variety of autoimmune disorders. Although we have previously reported that B19 non-structural protein (NS1) induces mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis in COS-7 cells, the precise mechanism of B19-NS1 in developing autoimmunity is still obscure.

Methods: To further examine the effect of B19-NS1 in presence of autoantigens, COS-7 cells were transfected with pEGFP, pEGFP-B19-NS1 and pEGFP-NS1K334E, a mutant form of B19-NS1, and detected the expressions of autoantigens by various autoantibodies against Sm, U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (U1-snRNP), SSA/Ro, SSB/La, Scl-70, Jo-1, Ku, and centromere protein (CENP) A/B by using Immunoblotting.

Increased expression of Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 in liver from NZB/W F1 mice received antibody against human parvovirus B19 VP1 unique region protein.

Background: Human parvovirus B19 infection has been postulated to the anti-phospholipid syndrome (APS) in autoimmunity. However, the influence of anti-B19-VP1u antibody in autoimmune diseases is still obscure.

Methods: To elucidate the effect of anti-B19-VP1u antibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), passive transfer of rabbit anti-B19-VP1u IgG was injected intravenously into NZB/W F1 mice.

Treatment with taurine attenuates hepatic apoptosis in NZB/W F1 mice fed with a high-cholesterol diet.

Cholesterol-rich diets are known to cause hepatic apoptosis, which has been associated with the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, the mechanisms and treatments for hepatic apoptosis in SLE are poorly understood. To clarify the effects of taurine on hepatic apoptosis in SLE, NZB/W F1 mice received control, cholesterol, and cholesterol/taurine diets.

Beneficial effects of treatment with cystamine on brain in NZB/W F1 mice.

The involvement of the central nervous system (CNS) or neuropsychosis has been reported in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and considered a major cause of long-standing functional impairment and mortality. However, little is known in the improvement of the brain abnormality in SLE. To investigate the effect and mechanism of cystamine on brain in SLE, NZB/W F1 mice were used as the animal model.

Transglutaminase inhibitor cystamine alleviates the abnormality in liver from NZB/W F1 mice.

Increased hepatic abnormality has been observed in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and contributes to the elevated apoptosis that results in severe disease activity. Since cystamine has been demonstrated to be beneficial for NZB/W F1 mice, this study investigates the effects of cystamine on various inflammatory and stress-related proteins in liver from NZB/W F1 mice. Nephelometric analyses and immunoblots were conducted to detect aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), C-reactive protein (CRP), p53, p21, Gadd45, heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2).

Beneficial effects of treatment with transglutaminase inhibitor cystamine on macrophage response in NZB/W F1 mice.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex systemic autoimmune disorder of unknown etiology. However, the definitive mechanisms remain obscure. Recently, transglutaminase 2 (TG2) was implicated in the pathogenesis of SLE.