Clinical, Pathological, and Prognostic Characteristics of Glomerulonephritis Related to Staphylococcal Infection.

Staphylococcal infection has become a common cause of postinfectious glomerulonephritis in the past 3 decades. Because few investigations focus on this disease, the demographics and clinicopathological features of glomerulonephritis related to staphylococcal infection are not well characterized. We conducted a pooled analysis of published literature in electronic databases and analyzed the clinical features, laboratory findings, and histopathological changes.

Effect of c-erbB2 overexpression on prognosis in osteosarcoma: evidence from eight studies.

C-erbB2 (HER-2/neu) plays an important role in the progression of several types of cancer by increasing tumor growth, migration, invasion, and metastasis and is associated with poor disease prognosis. Numerous studies examining the relationship between c-erbB2 expression and prognostic impact in patients with osteosarcoma have yielded inconclusive results. We therefore conducted a meta-analysis to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the prognostic role of c-erbB2 expression on 5-year survival, which compared the positive and negative expression of c-erbB2 in patients of the available studies.

[FAK/c-Src signaling pathway mediates the expression of cell surface HSP90 in cultured human prostate cancer cells and its association with their invasive capability].

Objective: To investigate the expression of heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) on the cell surface of highly invasive human prostate cancer cells PC3 and its possible molecular mechanisms of its effect on cell invasion through analyzing FAK/Src signaling pathway.

Methods: The expression of cell surface HSP90 on PC3 cells was studied by immunofluorescence staining and surface biotinylation assay respectively. A specific HSP90 antibody was used to inhibit the cell surface HSP90.

Expression of response gene to complement-32 in renal tissue of children with immunoglobulin A nephropathy.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the expression and significance of response gene to complement-32 (RGC-32) in renal tissue of children with immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN).

Material And Methods: Forty-five patients diagnosed as having IgAN by renal biopsy were enrolled. The expression of RGC-32, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and transforming growth factor-β(1) (TGF-β(1)) was observed by immunohistostaining.

[Effects of Chinese herbal medicine Huaiqihuang Granule on nephrin and podocin expressions in renal tissues of rats with adriamycin-induced nephrosis].

Object: To investigate the effects of Huaiqihuang Granule, a compound Chinese herbal medicine, on expressions of nephrin and podocin of slit diaphragm of glomerular podocytes in rats with adriamycin-induced nephrosis and to explore the mechanism in reducing the proteinuria.

Methods: Twenty SD rats were randomly divided into five groups: control group, model group, glucocorticoid group, Huaiqihuang Granule group and Huaiqihuang Granule plus glucocorticoid group. The 24-hour urine was collected 7, 14, 21 and 28 days after adriamycin injection respectively to measure 24-hour urinary protein, and all rats were sacrificed after 28-day treatment.

[Effect of interferon-gamma on transforming growth factor beta/Smad signal pathway and expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinase-2 in cultured rat mesangial cells].

Objective: To study the effect of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) on the proliferation of mesangial cells (MsC) and transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta/Smad signal pathway, the mRNA and protein expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2), and to provide an experimental basis for IFN-gamma treatment of renal fibrosis.

Methods: Cultured MsC were treated with IFN-gamma at different concentrations and the proliferation of MsC was examined by MTT. Protein and RNA samples were extracted from MsC at 0, 0.

Novel gene-modified-tissue engineering of cartilage using stable transforming growth factor-beta1-transfected mesenchymal stem cells grown on chitosan scaffolds.

Rabbit bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were stably transfected with the TGF-beta1 gene in monolayer culture using Lipofectamine 2000. After transfection, the expression of cartilage-specific extracellular matrix was upregulated, whereas matrix metalloproteinases 1 and 3 (MMP 1 and 3) protein expressions and enzymatic activities were downregulated. Autologous MSCs modified with the TGF-beta1 gene were seeded into chitosan scaffolds to construct gene-modified cartilage, which was then implanted into the full-thickness articular cartilage defects of rabbits' knees.

Significance of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 mRNA expressions on glomerular cells in the development of glomerulosclerosis.

Objective: To study the expressions of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 mRNA on cultured rat mesangial cells (MsC) and in human diseased glomeruli, and to explore their significance in the development of glomerulosclerosis.

Methods: The expressions of MMP-2, TIMP-2, and Col IV mRNA on cultured rat MsC stimulated by IL-1 or/and TGF-beta1 were investigated through Northern blot analysis. The levels of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 mRNA expressions and immunoreactivity of PCNA and Col IV in human diseased glomeruli from renal biopsies of lupus nephritis (LN) patients were examined by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry, respectively.

[Effect of transforming growth factor beta1/Smad signaling pathway on the expression and enzymatic activity of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 in cultured rat mesangial cells].

Objective: To explore the effect of transforming growth factor (TGF) beta1/Smad signaling pathway on the expression and enzymatic activity of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2) in cultured rat mesangial cells (MsC).

Methods: Lipofectin method was used to transfect Smad 2, Smad 3 and Smad 7 vectors into MsC; and immunofluorescence, RT-PCR and Western blot analysis were used to detect their transfection efficiency. The expression and enzymatic activity of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 were determined by Western blot, zymography or reverse zymography assay.

[The antagonistic effect on anti-thy-1 serum-induced nephritis of rats injected by decorin-transfected mesangial cells vector].

Objectives: To inject decorin-transfected mesangial cells (MsC) vector into the kidneys of rats with anti-thy-1 serum-induced nephritis via left renal artery and observe the survival condition of MsC vector and its influence on glomerular lesions in rats with anti-thy-1 serum induced nephritis.

Methods: Rat mesangio-proliferative glomerulonephritis was established by tail intravenous injection with rabbit anti-thy-1 serum (ATS). Decorin-transfected MsC was injected into rat kidneys via left renal artery.