Biochemical and biophysical research communications
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Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. · Jul 2013
Thio-Cl-IB-MECA, a novel A₃ adenosine receptor agonist, suppresses angiogenesis by regulating PI3K/AKT/mTOR and ERK signaling in endothelial cells.
Although A₃AR agonists exhibit a variety of biological activities including anticancer effects, their possible anti-angiogenic effects have not yet been investigated. In the present study, we assayed the anti-angiogenic activity of thio-Cl-IB-MECA, a novel A₃AR agonist, in cultured HUVECs and mES/EB-derived endothelial cells. Thio-Cl-IB-MECA inhibited migration and tube formation by endothelial cells and dramatically decreased ex vivo microvessel sprouting in cultured mouse aortic rings. The anti-angiogenic activity of thio-Cl-IB-MECA was associated with suppression of the expression of the endothelial biomarker PECAM via regulation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR and ERK signaling in mES/EB-derived endothelial cells.
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Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. · Jul 2013
Human xylosyltransferase-I - a new marker for myofibroblast differentiation in skin fibrosis.
Skin fibrosis is a severe type of fibrotic disorder emerging in terms of hypertrophic scars or systemic sclerosis. Key event of fibrogenesis is the transition of fibroblasts to matrix-producing myofibroblasts. In the presence of fibrotic triggers, for instance secretion of profibrotic growth factors like transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) or mechanical strain, myofibroblasts persist. ⋯ Our results strengthen the significance of XT expression and activity in fibrotic remodeling. Therefore, we propose XT activity, in addition to α-SMA expression, as a new biomarker for myofibroblast differentiation and fibrotic development. Further studies are now needed to evaluate the option to control and inhibit fibrotic remodeling by interfering with XT expression.
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Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. · Jul 2013
Effects of chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 1 on microglial function.
Microglia, which constitute the resident macrophages of the central nervous system (CNS), are generally considered as the primary immune cells in the brain and spinal cord. Microglial cells respond to various factors which are produced following nerve injury of multiple aetiologies and contribute to the development of neuronal disease. Chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 1 (CCL-1), a well-characterized chemokine secreted by activated T cells, has been shown to play an important role in neuropathic pain induced by nerve injury and is also produced in various cell types in the CNS, especially in dorsal root ganglia (DRG). ⋯ CCL-1 at concentration of 1 ng/ml induced chemotaxis, increased motility at a higher concentration (100 ng/ml), and increased proliferation and phagocytosis of cultured microglia. CCL-1 also activated microglia morphologically, promoted mRNA levels for brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and IL-6, and increased the release of nitrite from microglia. These indicate that CCL-1 has a role as a mediator in neuron-glia interaction, which may contribute to the development of neurological diseases, especially in neuropathic pain.
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Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. · Jul 2013
Potential roles of adenosine deaminase-2 in diabetic retinopathy.
The early activation of microglia that induces retinal inflammation in DR may serve as a target for therapeutic intervention of DR. Our demonstration that retinal inflammation is attenuated via adenosine receptor A(2A)AR supports the hypothesis that a mechanism to maintain extracellular concentrations of adenosine important in normal physiology is impaired in DR. Extracellular concentrations of adenosine are regulated by the interplay of equiliberative nucleoside transporter (ENT)s with enzymes of adenosine metabolism including adenosine deaminase-1 (ADA1), adenosine kinase (AK) and CD73. ⋯ Quantitative analysis of normal and diabetic porcine retinas reveals that while the expression levels of ADA2, A2AAR, ENT1, TNF-α and MMP9 are increased, the levels of AK are reduced during inflammation as an endogenous protective mechanism. To determine the role of ADA2, we found that AGA induces ADA2 expression, ADA2 activity and TNF-α release, and that TNF-α release is blocked by ADA2-neutralizing antibody or ADA2 siRNA, but not by scrambled siRNA. These results suggest that retinal inflammation in DR is mediated by ADA2, and that the anti-inflammatory activity of A(2A)AR signaling is impaired in diabetes due to increased ADA2 activity.
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Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. · Jun 2013
Compound K is able to ameliorate the impaired cognitive function and hippocampal neurogenesis following chemotherapy treatment.
Chemotherapy frequently results in neurocognitive deficits that include impaired learning and memory. Thus, it is important to prevent or ameliorate the persistence of cognitive impairment. Compound K was employed to examine the ameliorating effect on chronic treatment with cyclophosphamide. ⋯ Immunohistochemical staining for progenitor cell and immature neurons was used to assess changes in neurogenesis. Compound K (10 mg/kg) is able to ameliorate the decrease of neurogenesis in the hippocampus caused by cyclophosphamide. These results suggest that compound K might be a potential strategy to ameliorate or repair the disrupted hippocampal neurogenesis induced by the side effect of chemotherapy agent.