Dexamethasone can attenuate the pulmonary inflammatory response via regulation of the lncH19/miR-324-3p cascade.

Objective: To investigate lncRNAs and their roles in regulating the pulmonary inflammatory response under dexamethasone (Dex) treatment.

Methods: IL-1β (10 ng/mL) and LPS (1 μg/mL) was used to construct inflammatory cell models with A549 cells; IL-1β performed better against LPS. Different concentrations of Dex were used to attenuate the inflammation induced by IL-1β, and its effect was assessed via RT-PCR to detect inflammatory cytokine-related mRNA levels, including those of IKβ-α, IKKβ, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α.

Blockade of Discoidin Domain Receptor 2 as a Strategy for Reducing Inflammation and Joint Destruction in Rheumatoid Arthritis Via Altered Interleukin-15 and Dkk-1 Signaling in Fibroblast-Like Synoviocytes.

Objective: This study was undertaken to uncover the pathophysiologic role of discoidin domain receptor 2 (DDR-2), a putative fibrillar collagen receptor, in inflammation promotion and joint destruction in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: In synovial tissue from patients with RA and from mice with collagen antibody-induced arthritis (CAIA) (using Ddr2 and DBA/1 mice), gene and protein expression levels of DDR-2, interleukin-15 (IL-15), and Dkk-1 were measured by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry. Gene knockdown of DDR2 in human RA fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) was conducted via small interfering RNA.

DDR2-CYR61-MMP1 Signaling Pathway Promotes Bone Erosion in Rheumatoid Arthritis Through Regulating Migration and Invasion of Fibroblast-Like Synoviocytes.

Regulation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) by collagen in the fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) plays a critical role in joint destruction in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Our previous study indicated that discoidin receptor 2 (DDR2) mediated collagen upregulation of MMPs. However, the precise underlying mechanism remains unclear.

Synergistic increase of oxidative stress and tumor markers in PAH-exposed workers.

In this study, we investigated oxidative stress and tumor marker levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in 136 coke oven workers and in 60 control subjects, and evaluated the correlation between oxidative stress and tumor marker levels. Questionnaires on basic demographic information were also administered. Significant differences in employment time and percentages of alcohol drinkers were observed between the control and exposed groups.

Therapeutic effects of PADRE-BAFF autovaccine on rat adjuvant arthritis.

B cell activating factor (BAFF) is a cytokine of tumor necrosis factor family mainly produced by monocytes and dendritic cells. BAFF can regulate the proliferation, differentiation, and survival of B lymphocytes by binding with BAFF-R on B cell membrane. Accumulating evidences showed that BAFF played crucial roles and was overexpressed in various autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

A novel dimeric thymosin beta 4 with enhanced activities accelerates the rate of wound healing.

Objective: Thymosin beta 4 (Tβ4) is a peptide with 43 amino acids that is critical for repair and remodeling tissues on the skin, eye, heart, and neural system following injury. To fully realize its utility as a treatment for disease caused by injury, the authors constructed a cost-effective novel Tβ4 dimer and demonstrated that it was better able to accelerate tissue repair than native Tβ4.

Methods: A prokaryotic vector harboring two complete Tβ4 genes with a short linker was constructed and expressed in Escherichia coli.

Construction, expression, and characterization of thymosin alpha 1 tandem repeats in Escherichia coli.

Thymosin alpha 1 (T α 1), which is composed of 28 amino acids, has been commercialized worldwide for its immune-modulatory and antitumor effects. T α 1 can stimulate T cell proliferation and differentiation from bone marrow stem cells, augment cell-mediated immune responses, and regulate homeostasis of immune system. In this study, we developed a novel strategy to produce T α 1 concatemer (T α 1③) in Escherichia coli and compared its activity with chemically synthesized T α 1.

Protective effects of pentadecapeptide BPC 157 on gastric ulcer in rats.

Aim: To investigate the protective effects of gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 on acute and chronic gastric ulcers in rats and to compare the results in therapy of human gastric ulcers by different administration methods.

Methods: Gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 was administered (initial single or continuous administration) into rats either intragastrically or intramuscularly before (induced acute gastric ulcer) or after (induced chronic gastric ulcer) the applications of inducing agents, and each animal was sacrificed to observe the protective effects of BPC 157 on gastric ulcers.

Results: Both intramuscular (im) and intragastric (ig) administration of BPC 157 could apparently reduce the ulcer area and accelerate the healing of induced ulcer in different models and the effect of im administered BPC 157 was better than that of ig.