Extracellular SOD and VEGF are increased in vitreous bodies from proliferative diabetic retinopathy patients.

Purpose: To evaluate the relationship between vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and extracellular superoxide dismutase (EC-SOD) in vitreous body and serum in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), and investigate the role of EC-SOD in PDR by evaluating its angiostatic effect, using an in vitro angiogenesis model. To investigate the role of EC-SOD in PDR by evaluating its angiostatic effect, using an in vitro angiogenesis model.

Methods: EC-SOD and VEGF concentrations in vitreous and serum samples from PDR and macular hole (MH) were measured by ELISA.

Angiostatic effects of Brazilian green propolis and its chemical constituents.

Propolis, a resinous substance collected by honeybees from various plant sources, has several pharmacological actions, such as anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-angiogenic effects of a water extract of Brazilian green propolis (WEP) and its constituents, caffeoylquinic acid derivatives, against angiogenic processes in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in vitro. We also examined the anti-angiogenic effects of WEP against retinal neovascularization in a murine oxygen-induced retinopathy model in vivo.

Ruboxistaurin, a PKCbeta inhibitor, inhibits retinal neovascularization via suppression of phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and Akt.

Ruboxistaurin, a protein kinase C (PKC) beta inhibitor, exhibits significant anti-angiogenic activity that reduces the response of vascular endothelial cells to stimulation by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). In addition, the activation of PKC, specifically PKCbeta, plays a key role in the retinal neovascularization. However, the effect of ruboxistaurin on oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR), an experimental murine model of proliferative retinopathy, has not yet been investigated.

CB-12181, a new azasugar-based matrix metalloproteinase/tumor necrosis factor-alpha converting enzyme inhibitor, inhibits vascular endothelial growth factor-induced angiogenesis in vitro and retinal neovascularization in vivo.

To evaluate the anti-angiogenic efficacy of CB-12181 [an azasugar derivative that has inhibitory actions against matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) converting enzyme (TACE)], we investigated the suppressing ability on in vitro (tube formation by endothelial cells) and in vivo (retinal neovascularization on murine ischemia-induced proliferative retinopathy) models of angiogenesis. For in vitro analysis, a capillary-like tube formation model using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and fibroblasts co-culture assay was employed. Tube formation of HUVECs was stimulated by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and incubated with different concentrations of CB-12181 (0.

Vaccinium myrtillus (Bilberry) Extracts Reduce Angiogenesis In Vitro and In Vivo.

Vaccinium myrtillus (Bilberry) extracts (VME) were tested for effects on angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo. VME (0.3-30 µg ml(-1)) and GM6001 (0.

10-Hydroxy-2-decenoic acid, a major fatty acid from royal jelly, inhibits VEGF-induced angiogenesis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is reported to be a potent pro-angiogenic factor that plays a pivotal role in both physiological and pathological angiogenesis. Royal jelly (RJ) is a honeybee product containing various proteins, sugars, lipids, vitamins and free amino acids. 10-Hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10HDA), a major fatty acid component of RJ, is known to have various pharmacological effects; its antitumor activity being especially noteworthy.

Impact of non-homologous end-joining deficiency on random and targeted DNA integration: implications for gene targeting.

In higher animal cells, the principal limitation of gene-targeting technology is the extremely low efficiency of targeted integration, which occurs three to four orders of magnitude less frequently than random integration. Assuming that random integration mechanistically involves non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ), inactivation of this pathway should reduce random integration and may enhance gene targeting. To test this possibility, we examined the frequencies of random and targeted integration in NHEJ-deficient chicken DT40 and human Nalm-6 cell lines.

Role of soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 in the vitreous in proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

Purpose: To determine the vitreous level of soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 (sVEGFR-1) in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) or idiopathic macular hole (MH). Furthermore, to investigate the relationships among sVEGFR-1, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF).

Design: Retrospective case-control study.

Rifampicin inhibits the retinal neovascularization in vitro and in vivo.

Rifampicin, an antibacterial drug widely used in the treatment of tuberculosis and leprosy, has recently been reported to have anti-oxidative and anti-apoptotic effects. However, its anti-angiogenic effect has not been investigated. We examined its anti-angiogenic effect on tube formation and proliferation by human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in vitro and on retinal neovascularization in a murine oxygen-induced retinopathy model in vivo.

New quantitative analysis, using high-resolution images, of oxygen-induced retinal neovascularization in mice.

Oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) has been widely studied as an animal model of retinal neovascularization diseases. Evaluation using this model is mainly performed by counting cell nuclei above the internal limiting membrane in serial cross-sections or by scoring in flat-mounted retinas. Quantitative evaluation is important for accurate elucidation of pathological conditions and the drug evaluations.

Effect of humulus lupulus on gastric secretion in a rat pylorus-ligated model.

In this study, we investigated the pharmacological effect of humulus lupulus (hops) on gastric juice volume and acidity using a rat pylorus-ligated model. In an intraorally administered experiment, hops clearly increased gastric juice volume without affecting acidity. On the other hand, hops had no influence on gastric juice volume when it was intragastrically administered.