Facile fabrication of water-dispersible nanocomposites based on hexa--hexabenzocoronene and FeO for dual mode imaging (fluorescent/MR) and drug delivery.

The facile fabrication of multifunctional nanocomposites (FeO/HBC@F127) consisting of superparamagnetic FeO nanoparticles and fluorescent organic hexa--hexabenzocoronene (HBC) molecules incorporated in block copolymer diacylphospholipid-polyethyleneglycol F127 have been demonstrated for dual mode imaging (fluorescent/MR) and drug delivery. The obtained nanocomposites were water-dispersible, stable and biocompatible, as confirmed by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Relativity measurements showed a relaxivity ( ) of 214.

Activator protein‑1 is a novel regulator of mesencephalic astrocyte‑derived neurotrophic factor transcription.

Mesencephalic astrocyte‑derived neurotrophic factor (MANF) is an endoplasmic reticulum stress‑inducible protein, which has been suggested to be upregulated in inflammatory diseases; however, how inflammation regulates its transcription remains unclear. Activator protein‑1 (AP‑1), which is a transcription factor complex composed of c‑Fos and c‑Jun, is activated during the inflammatory process. The present study aimed to investigate whether the AP‑1 complex regulates MANF transcription.

Activated macrophage-like synoviocytes are resistant to endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced apoptosis in antigen-induced arthritis.

Objective: To explore the characteristic expression of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress protein in antigen-induced arthritis models and the role of ER stress in arthritis.

Methods: Effective animal models of rheumatoid arthritis in rabbits and rats were induced by methylated bovine serum albumin and Freund's complete adjuvant. Pathological changes were assessed by magnetic resonance imaging and histological analysis.