Altered gene expression profiles associated with enhanced skin inflammation induced by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate in streptozotocin-diabetic mice.

To examine the mechanisms of diabetes-enhanced inflammation, ear inflammation was induced by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) in streptozotocin (STZ)-injected diabetic and control mice. The inflammatory response was determined from ear thickness and histology. The mRNA expression of several inflammation-related genes 8, 24 and 32 h after TPA treatment was determined by quantitative real-time RT-PCR.

Synthesis of Well-Defined Polybenzamide-block-Polystyrene by Combination of Chain-Growth Condensation Polymerization and RAFT Polymerization.

Well-defined diblock copolymers composed of poly(N-octylbenzamide) and polystyrene were synthesized by reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization of styrene with a polyamide chain transfer agent (CTA) prepared via chain-growth condensation polymerization. Synthesis of a dithioester-type macro-CTA possessing the polyamide segment as an activating group was unsatisfactory due to side reactions and incomplete introduction of the benzyl dithiocarbonyl unit. On the other hand, a dithiobenzoate-CTA containing poly(N-octylbenzamide) as a radical leaving group was easily synthesized, and the RAFT polymerization of styrene with this CTA afforded poly(N-octylbenzamide)-block-polystyrene with controlled molecular weight and narrow polydispersity.

Successive chain-growth condensation polymerization for the synthesis of well-defined diblock copolymers of aromatic polyamide and aromatic polyether.

Well-defined diblock condensation copolymers composed of an aromatic polyamide and an aromatic polyether have been synthesized by means of successive chain-growth condensation polymerizations. Polymerization of a polyamide monomer with an orthogonally difunctional initiator is accompanied with side reactions. On the other hand, polymerization with a monofunctional initiator afforded well-defined polyamide, which has been converted into a macroinitiator by introduction of a terminal 4-fluorobenzophenone unit.

Involvement of mast cells in the regulation of matrix metalloproteinase-9 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteases-1 in 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbolacetate-induced inflammation in mice.

In this study, we investigated the involvement of mast cells in the regulation of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbolacetate (TPA)-induced inflammation, using mast cell-deficient (W/W(v)) mice and control (+/+) mice. Topical application of TPA to the ears induced acute inflammation, accompanied by mast cell degranulation in +/+ mice, which peaked at 6-12 h. There was no significant difference in ear thickness between the groups until 12 h, but the swelling was greater in W/W(v) mice than +/+ mice at 24-36 h.

Possible involvement of mast cells in collagen remodeling in the late phase of cutaneous wound healing in mice.

We examined possible roles of mast cells in cutaneous wound healing using mast cell deficient (W/Wv) mice and their normal littermates (+/+). A round full-thickness wound was made on the back skin of these mice. The wounds closed completely within 20 days, and there was no difference in wound contraction between +/+ and W/Wv mice during the wound healing.