Downregulation of exocyst Sec10 accelerates kidney tubule cell recovery through enhanced cell migration.

Migration of surviving kidney tubule cells after sub-lethal injury, for example ischemia/reperfusion (I/R), plays a critical role in recovery. Exocytosis is known to be involved in cell migration, and a key component in exocytosis is the highly-conserved eight-protein exocyst complex. We investigated the expression of a central exocyst complex member, Sec10, in kidneys following I/R injury, as well as the role of Sec10 in wound healing following scratch injury of cultured Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells. Sec10 overexpression and knockdown (KD) in MDCK cells were used to investigate the speed of wound healing and the mechanisms underlying recovery. In mice, Sec10 decreased after I/R injury, and increased during the recovery period. In cell culture, Sec10 OE inhibited ruffle formation and wound healing, while Sec10 KD accelerated it. Sec10 OE cells had higher amounts of diacylglycerol kinase (DGK) gamma at the leading edge than did control cells. A DGK inhibitor reversed the inhibition of wound healing and ruffle formation in Sec10 OE cells. Conclusively, downregulation of Sec10 following I/R injury appears to accelerate recovery of kidney tubule cells through activated ruffle formation and enhanced cell migration.

Deficiency of primary cilia in kidney epithelial cells induces epithelial to mesenchymal transition.

Primary cilium is a microtubule-based non-motile organelle that plays critical roles in kidney pathophysiology. Our previous studies revealed that the lengths of primary cilia decreased upon renal ischemia/reperfusion injury and oxidative stress, and restored with recovery. Here, we tested the hypothesis that lack of primary cilium causes epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) of kidney tubule cells. We investigated the alteration of length of primary cilia in TGF-ß-induced EMT via visualization of primary cilia by fluorescence staining against acetylated α-tubulin. EMT was determined by measuring mesenchymal protein expression using quantitative PCR and indirect fluorescence staining. As a result, TGF-ß treatment decreased ciliary length along with EMT. To test whether defect of primary cilia trigger onset of EMT, cilia formation was disturbed by knock down of ciliary protein using siRNA along with/without TGF-ß treatment. Knock down of Arl13b and Ift20 reduced cilia elongation and increased expression of EMT markers such as fibronectin, α-SMA, and collagen III. TGF-ß-induced EMT was greater as well in Arl13b and Ift20-knock down cells compared to control cells. Taken together, deficiency of primary cilia trigger EMT and exacerbates it under pro-fibrotic signals.

Lupeol Isolated from Sorbus commixta Suppresses 1α,25-(OH)2D3-Mediated Osteoclast Differentiation and Bone Loss in Vitro and in Vivo.

Lupeol is a lupane-type triterpene isolated from Sorbus commixta, an oriental medicine used to treat arthritis and inflammatory diseases. However, the antiosteoporotic effects of S. commixta or any of its constituents have not been studied yet. In the present study, we have examined the effect of lupeol (a major active triterpenoid isolated from S. commixta) on osteoclastogenesis and sought to elucidate its underlying molecular mechanisms. We evaluated whether lupeol antagonized osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption. Lupeol markedly inhibited osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption activity through its effects on MAP kinases and transcription factors (NF-κB, NFATc1, and c-Fos) downstream of the osteoclast differentiation factor receptor RANK. Furthermore, in vivo efficacy of lupeol was confirmed by using an animal model of hypercalcemic mediated bone loss. Taken together, lupeol showed strong inhibitory effects on osteoclastogenesis. Supplementation with S. commixta and lupeol could be beneficial for bone health or osteoclast-related diseases such as osteoporosis, Paget's disease, osteolysis associated with periodontal disease, and multiple myeloma.

An improved model predictive control of back-to-back three-level NPC converters with virtual space vectors for high power PMSG-based wind energy conversion systems.

In this study, an improved virtual space vector (VSV)-based two-stage model predictive control (MPC) scheme is presented for neutral point clamped (NPC) converters in high power-rated permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG)-based wind energy conversion system applications. The presented MPC scheme utilizes the VSVs and involves two-stage prediction for effectively reducing computation complexity. In stage-I prediction, a virtual space vector is identified based on the optimum cost function. Then, a set of sub-sector vectors are placed in stage II prediction based on the capacitor voltage levels. From this, the cost function predicts the optimum switching state. At the same time, the conditional selection of small voltage vectors in stage II prediction eliminates the neutral point voltage balancing constraint. Finally, the presented method is verified by the simulation of the back-to-back NPC converter of a high-power-rated PMSG-based wind energy conversion system. Further, the adaptability of the presented scheme for maximum power point tracking, reactive power control, and dc-link voltage control is also verified by simulation.

Effects of berberine on hippocampal neuronal damage and matrix metalloproteinase-9 activity following transient global cerebral ischemia.

Berberine, an isoquinoline alkaloid with a long history of use in Chinese medicine, has several important pharmacological effects. Several studies have revealed that berberine has neuroprotective and neuropsychiatric effects. However, there are few reports regarding the protective effect of berberine against neuronal damage following transient global cerebral ischemia. In this study, mice were subjected to 20 min of global brain ischemia and sacrificed 72 hr later. Berberine was administered for 7 days prior to ischemia and daily until sacrifice. Mice treated with berberine showed reduced matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) activity. Berberine inhibited gelatinase activity directly in in situ zymography and reduced neuronal damage following global ischemia. Laminin expression and NeuN expression were markedly reduced in CA1 and CA2 areas after ischemia, and berberine reduced the laminin degradation and neuronal loss. In the TUNEL assay, damaged neurons were also apparent in the CA1 and CA2 areas, and berberine reduced TUNEL-positive cells. These data demonstrate that berberine, a plant alkaloid, may protect from hippocampal neuronal damage following transient global ischemia by reducing MMP-9 activity.

The effect of Baicalein on hippocampal neuronal damage and metalloproteinase activity following transient global cerebral ischaemia.

Baicalein, a flavonoid derived from Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, is known to protect neural tissue from damage. Several studies have found that baicalein reduces brain infarction following focal brain ischaemia. However, there are few reports on the protective effects of baicalein following global brain ischaemia. Therefore, the current study was designed to address the effects of baicalein on neuronal damage and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP; gelatinase) activity in the hippocampus after transient global ischaemia. C57BL/6 mice were subjected to transient global brain ischaemia for 20 min and sacrificed 72 h after ischaemic insult. Baicalein (200 mg/kg, once daily, as a suspension in 0.5% carboxymethylcellulose) or an equal volume of vehicle was orally administered to the mice from 7 days prior to the ischaemic insult until sacrifice. After global ischaemia neuronal damage was significant in CA1 and CA2 pyramidal cell layers. In baicalein-treated mice, neuronal damage from the ischaemic insult was significantly less than that in vehicle-treated mice. Baicalein administration also inhibited MMP-9 activity in the hippocampus. These data demonstrate that baicalein reduces hippocampal neuronal damage after transient global ischaemia. Besides its possible protective mechanisms, the protective role of baicalein against global ischaemia may operate, at least in part, through the inhibition of MMP-9 activity.

Second-generation non-hematopoietic erythropoietin-derived peptide for neuroprotection.

Erythropoietin (EPO) is a well-known erythropoietic cytokine having a tissue-protective effect in various tissues against hypoxic stress, including the brain. Thus, its recombinants may function as neuroprotective compounds. However, despite considerable neuroprotective effects, the EPO-based therapeutic approach has side effects, including hyper-erythropoietic and tumorigenic effects. Therefore, some modified forms and derivatives of EPO have been proposed to minimize the side effects. In this study, we generated divergently modified new peptide analogs derived from helix C of EPO, with several amino acid replacements that interact with erythropoietin receptors (EPORs). This modification resulted in unique binding potency to EPOR. Unlike recombinant EPO, among the peptides, ML1-h3 exhibited a potent neuroprotective effect against oxidative stress without additional induction of cell-proliferation, owing to a differential activating mode of EPOR signaling. Furthermore, it inhibited neuronal death and brain injury under hypoxic stress in vitro and in an in vivo ischemic brain injury model. Therefore, the divergent modification of EPO-derivatives for affinity to EPOR could provide a basis for a more advanced and optimal neuroprotective strategy.

Synergistic memory impairment through the interaction of chronic cerebral hypoperfusion and amlyloid toxicity in a rat model.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Vascular pathology and Alzheimer disease (AD) pathology have been shown to coexist in the brains of dementia patients. We investigated how cognitive impairment could be exacerbated in a rat model of combined injury through the interaction of chronic cerebral hypoperfusion and amyloid beta (Aß) toxicity. METHODS: In Wistar rats, chronic cerebral hypoperfusion was modeled by permanent occlusion of bilateral common carotid arteries (BCCAo). Further, AD pathology was modeled by bilateral intracerebroventricular Aß (Aß toxicity) using a nonphysiological Aß peptide (Aß 25 to 35). The experimental animals were divided into 4 groups, including sham, single injury (Aß toxicity or BCCAo), and combined injury (BCCAo-Aß toxicity) groups (n=7 per group) . Cerebral blood flow and metabolism were measured using small animal positron emission tomography. A Morris water maze task, novel object location and recognition tests, and histological investigation, including neuronal cell death, apoptosis, neuroinflammation, and AD-related pathology, were performed. RESULTS: Spatial memory impairment was synergistically exacerbated in the BCCAo-Aß toxicity group as compared to the BCCAo or Aß toxicity groups (P<0.05). Compared to the sham group, neuroinflammation with microglial or astroglial activation was increased both in multiple white matter lesions and the hippocampus in other experimental groups. AD-related pathology was enhanced in the BCCAo-Aß toxicity group compared to the Aß toxicity group. CONCLUSIONS: Our experimental results support a clinical hypothesis of the deleterious interaction between chronic cerebral hypoperfusion and Aß toxicity. Chronic cerebral hypoperfusion-induced perturbation in the equilibrium of AD-related pathology may exacerbate cognitive impairment in a rat model of combined injury.

Long-term outcome of canal paresis of a vascular cause.

There have been several reports on the progress of the caloric response of vestibular neuritis, but little is known about the recovery of canal paresis (CP) of a vascular cause. This study found that the caloric response normalised in 20 (67%) of 30 patients with CP associated with posterior circulation ischaemic stroke who were followed for at least 1 year (mean, 42.5 months; range, 14-85 months). The most commonly infarcted territory on brain MRI associated with CP was in the distribution of the anterior inferior cerebellar artery (26/30, 87%). None of the patients who were followed for >5 years after the onset of vertigo showed persistent CP. Residual dizziness did not differ significantly between patients with or without CP at the final follow-up. These findings suggest that CP associated with posterior circulation ischaemic stroke often has a good long-term outcome. Following patients for at least 5 years increases the likelihood of normalisation of the vestibular response to caloric stimulation.

Lipoprotein receptor-mediated induction of matrix metalloproteinase by tissue plasminogen activator.

Although thrombolysis with tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is a stroke therapy approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, its efficacy may be limited by neurotoxic side effects. Recently, proteolytic damage involving matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have been implicated. In experimental embolic stroke models, MMP inhibitors decreased cerebral hemorrhage and injury after treatment with tPA. MMPs comprise a family of zinc endopeptidases that can modify several components of the extracellular matrix. In particular, the gelatinases MMP-2 and MMP-9 can degrade neurovascular matrix integrity. MMP-9 promotes neuronal death by disrupting cell-matrix interactions, and MMP-9 knockout mice have reduced blood-brain barrier leakage and infarction after cerebral ischemia. Hence it is possible that tPA upregulates MMPs in the brain, and that subsequent matrix degradation causes brain injury. Here we show that tPA upregulates MMP-9 in cell culture and in vivo. MMP-9 levels were lower in tPA knockouts compared with wild-type mice after focal cerebral ischemia. In human cerebral microvascular endothelial cells, MMP-9 was upregulated when recombinant tPA was added. RNA interference (RNAi) suggested that this response was mediated by the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein (LRP), which avidly binds tPA and possesses signaling properties. Targeting the tPA-LRP signaling pathway in brain may offer new approaches for decreasing neurotoxicity and improving stroke therapy.

Effects of carnosine and hypothermia combination therapy on hypoxic-ischemic brain injury in neonatal rats.

BACKGROUND: Carnosine has antioxidative and neuroprotective properties against hypoxic-ischemic (HI) brain injury. Hypothermia is used as a therapeutic tool for HI encephalopathy in newborn infants with perinatal asphyxia. However, the combined effects of these therapies are unknown. PURPOSE: Here we investigated the effects of combined carnosine and hypothermia therapy on HI brain injury in neonatal rats. METHODS: Postnatal day 7 (P7) rats were subjected to HI brain injury and randomly assigned to 4 groups: vehicle; carnosine alone; vehicle and hypothermia; and carnosine and hypothermia. Carnosine (250 mg/kg) was intraperitoneally administered at 3 points: immediately following HI injury, 24 hours later, and 48 hours later. Hypothermia was performed by placing the rats in a chamber maintained at 27°C for 3 hours to induce whole-body cooling. Sham-treated rats were also included as a normal control. The rats were euthanized for experiments at P10, P14, and P35. Histological and morphological analyses, in situ zymography, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL) assays, and immunofluorescence studies were conducted to investigate the neuroprotective effects of the various interventional treatments. RESULTS: Vehicle-treated P10 rats with HI injury showed an increased infarct volume compared to sham-treated rats during the triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining study. Hematoxylin and eosin staining revealed that vehicle-treated P35 rats with HI injury had decreased brain volume in the affected hemisphere. Compared to the vehicle group, carnosine and hypothermia alone did not result in any protective effects against HI brain injury. However, a combination of carnosine and hypothermia effectively reduced the extent of brain damage. The results of in situ zymography, TUNEL assays, and immunofluorescence studies showed that neuroprotective effects were achieved with combination therapy only. CONCLUSION: Carnosine and hypothermia may have synergistic neuroprotective effects against brain damage following HI injury.

Neuroprotective effects of N-acetylcysteine via inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase in a mouse model of transient global cerebral ischemia.

N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is known to serve many biological functions including acting as an antioxidant, and electing antiinflammatory effects. Previous reports have revealed that NAC may have neuroprotective effects against the deleterious effects of brain ischemia. Despite of this, the mechanism by which NAC prevents neuronal damage after brain ischemia remains unclear. The current study aimed to investigate this mechanism in a mouse model of transient global brain ischemia. In the present study, mice were subjected to 20 min of transient global brain ischemia, proceeded by intraperitoneal administration of NAC (150 mg/kg) in one group. The mice were then euthanized 72 h after this ischemic insult for collection of experimental tissues. The effect of NAC on neuronal damage and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 activity were assessed and immunofluorescence, and hippocampal terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL) assay experiments were conducted and results compared between NAC- and vehicle-treated groups. Neuronal damage was primarily observed in the hippocampal CA1 and CA2 regions. In NAC-treated mice, neuronal damage was significantly reduced after ischemia when compared to vehicle-treated animals. NAC also inhibited increased MMP-9 activity after global brain ischemia. NAC increased laminin and NeuN expression and inhibited increases in TUNEL-positive cells, all in the hippocampus. These results suggest that NAC reduces hippocampal neuronal damage following transient global ischemia, potentially via reductions in MMP-9 activity.

Infarction in the territory of anterior inferior cerebellar artery: spectrum of audiovestibular loss.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To define the detailed spectrum of audiovestibular dysfunction in anterior inferior cerebellar artery territory infarction. METHODS: Over 8.5 years, we prospectively identified 82 consecutive patients with anterior inferior cerebellar artery territory infarction diagnosed by MRI. Each patient completed a standardized audiovestibular questionnaire and underwent a neuro-otologic evaluation, including bithermal caloric tests and pure tone audiogram. RESULTS: All but 2 (80 of 82 [98%]) patients had acute prolonged vertigo and vestibular dysfunction of peripheral, central, or combined origin. The most common pattern of audiovestibular dysfunction was the combined loss of auditory and vestibular function (n=49 [60%]). A selective loss of vestibular (n=4 [5%]) or cochlear (n=3 [4%]) function was rarely observed. We could classify anterior inferior cerebellar artery territory infarction into 7 subgroups according to the patterns of neuro-otological presentations: (1) acute prolonged vertigo with audiovestibular loss (n=35); (2) acute prolonged vertigo with audiovestibular loss preceded by an episode(s) of transient vertigo/auditory disturbance within 1 month before the infarction (n=13); (3) acute prolonged vertigo and isolated auditory loss without vestibular loss (n=3); (4) acute prolonged vertigo and isolated vestibular loss without auditory loss (n=4); (5) acute prolonged vertigo but without documented audiovestibular loss (n=24); (6) acute prolonged vertigo and isolated audiovestibular loss without any other neurological symptoms/signs (n=1); and (7) nonvestibular symptoms with normal audiovestibular function (n=2). CONCLUSIONS: Infarction in the anterior inferior cerebellar artery territory can present with a broad spectrum of audiovestibular dysfunctions. Unlike a viral cause, labyrinthine dysfunction of a vascular cause usually leads to combined loss of both auditory and vestibular functions.

Doxycycline inhibits matrix metalloproteinase-9 and laminin degradation after transient global cerebral ischemia.

Doxycycline, a tetracycline antibiotic inhibits matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) and reduces neuronal damage in focal brain ischemia. This study was undertaken to assess if doxycycline reduces delayed neuronal damage following transient global cerebral ischemia through MMP inhibition. C57BL/6 mice were subjected to 20 min global cerebral ischemia. Doxycycline was administered to mice 30 min before and 2 h after ischemia. In TUNEL assay, damaged neurons were also apparent in the CA1 and CA2 areas and doxycycline reduced TUNEL-positive neurons. Gelatin gel and in situ zymography showed upregulation of gelatinase activity after ischemia. Doxycycline significantly inhibited MMP-9 activity in gel zymography and also suppressed in situ gelatinase activity. Laminin degradation was remarkable in CA1 and CA2 areas after ischemia and doxycycline reduced the laminin degradation and neuronal loss. Our data suggest that doxycycline may provide a neuroprotection against global cerebral ischemia since it reduces perineuronal laminin degradation by inhibiting MMP-9 activity.

PPARgamma agonist pioglitazone reduces matrix metalloproteinase-9 activity and neuronal damage after focal cerebral ischemia.

Pioglitazone, a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) agonist, has shown protective effects against ischemic insult in various tissues. Pioglitazone is also reported to reduce matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity. MMPs can remodel extracellular matrix components in many pathological conditions. The current study was designed to investigate whether the neuroprotection of pioglitazone is related to its MMP inhibition in focal cerebral ischemia. Mice were subjected to 90 min focal ischemia and reperfusion. In gel zymography, pioglitazone reduced the upregulation of active form of MMP-9 after ischemia. In in situ zymograms, pioglitazone also reduced the gelatinase activity induced by ischemia. After co-incubation with pioglitazone, in situ gelatinase activity was directly reduced. Pioglitazone reduced the infarct volume significantly compared with controls. These results demonstrate that pioglitazone may reduce MMP-9 activity and neuronal damage following focal ischemia. The reduction of MMP-9 activity may have a possible therapeutic effect for the management of brain injury after focal ischemia.

Silibinin inhibits expression of HIF-1alpha through suppression of protein translation in prostate cancer cells.

Silibinin is a polyphenolic flavonoid isolated from the milk thistle (Silybum marianum) and is reported to exhibit anticancer properties. Recently, it has been reported that silibinin inhibits hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha) expression in cancer cells. However, the precise mechanism by which silibinin decreases HIF-1 expression is not fully understood. In this study, silibinin inhibited basal and hypoxia induced expression levels of HIF-1alpha protein in LNCaP and PC-3 prostate cancer cells, while the rate of HIF-1alpha protein degradation and mRNA levels were not affected. We found that the decrease in HIF-1 protein by silibinin correlated with suppression of de novo synthesis of HIF-1alpha protein. Silibinin inhibited global protein synthesis coincided with reduction of eIF4F complex formation and induction of phosphorylation of the translation initiation factor 2alpha (eIF-2alpha) which can cause inhibition of general protein synthesis. These results suggest that silibinin's activity to inhibit HIF-1alpha protein expression is associated with the suppression of global protein translation.

Green tea polyphenol (-)-epigallocatechin gallate reduces neuronal cell damage and up-regulation of MMP-9 activity in hippocampal CA1 and CA2 areas following transient global cerebral ischemia.

Previous studies have demonstrated that (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a green tea polyphenol, protects against ischemia and reperfusion-induced injury in many organ systems. Here, we test the hypothesis that part of EGCG's neuroprotective effects may involve a modulation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) after cerebral ischemia. C57BL/6 mice were subjected to 20 min of transient global cerebral ischemia. EGCG (50 mg/kg) or vehicle (saline) was administered i.p. immediately after ischemia. Brains were examined 3 days after ischemia. The effects of EGCG on MMP (gelatinase) activity and neuronal damage in the hippocampus were assessed. Gelatin gel zymography showed induction of active forms of MMP-9 protein after transient global cerebral ischemia. In situ zymography showed that ischemic gelatinase activity occurred primarily in pyramidal neuronal areas after brain ischemia. Mice treated with EGCG showed significantly reduced gelatinase levels. Neuronal damage was evident in CA1 and CA2 pyramidal sectors, corresponding to TUNEL-positive signals. In EGCG-treated mice, delayed neuronal damage was significantly reduced compared with vehicle-treated mice. These results demonstrate that the green tea polyphenol EGCG suppresses MMP-9 activation and reduces the development of delayed neuronal death after transient global cerebral ischemia in mouse brain.

Anticancer activity and differentially expressed genes in head and neck cancer cells treated with a novel cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor.

BACKGROUND: Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) are involved in the regulation of the cell cycle and the growth of tumor cells. In this study, we investigated the antitumor effect and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in head and neck cancer cells treated by a novel CDK inhibitor, 2-[1,1'-biphenyl]- 4-yl-N-[5-(1,1-dioxo-1lambda(6)-isothiazolidin-2-yl)-1H-indazol-3-yl] acetamide (BAI). METHODS: Cell growth was measured by XTT assay. Cell cycle and apoptosis were determined using flow cytometry. GeneFishing PCR was utilized to identify DEGs. Protein expression was analyzed by Western blot. RESULTS: Exposure to BAI of 2 different head and neck cancer cell lines, AMC-HN4 and AMC-HN6, induced apoptosis in association with growth inhibition, cell cycle arrest, caspase-3 activation and cytochrome c release. Significantly, data from GeneFishing PCR experiments demonstrated 10 DEGs in AMC-HN6 cells treated with BAI. Some of these DEGs turned out to encode proteins with functions related to key cellular processes. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that BAI has strong anticancer activities on head and neck cancer cells, and the DEGs induced by BAI may become involved in BAI-induced cancer cell death.

PPARgamma agonist pioglitazone reduces [corrected] neuronal cell damage after transient global cerebral ischemia through matrix metalloproteinase inhibition.

Previous studies have demonstrated that pioglitazone, a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) agonist, inhibits ischemia-induced injury in various tissues including neural tissue. Pioglitazone has also been shown to reduce matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity. Because MMP is known to play a major role in the pathophysiology of brain ischemia, the present study was undertaken to test whether pioglitazone attenuates ischemic neuronal damage through MMP inhibition. C57BL/6 mice were subjected to global brain ischemia for 20 min. Animals were killed 72 h after ischemia. Oral pioglitazone (40 mg/kg/day, as a suspension in 0.5% carboxymethylcellulose) was administered to mice twice daily for 3 days before ischemia and twice daily after ischemia until the animals were killed. We investigated gelatinase activity by zymography and laminin immunohistochemistry. Histological analysis was also performed to test the protective effect of pioglitazone on neuronal damage. Mice treated with pioglitazone had attenuated gelatinase activity. Gelatin gel and in situ zymography showed up-regulation of gelatinase activity after ischemia. Pioglitazone significantly inhibited ischemia-induced elevation of the active form of MMP-9. Pioglitazone also reduced up-regulation of in situ gelatinase activity and laminin breakdown induced by ischemia in the hippocampus. There was marked neuronal damage in the CA1 and CA2 areas after ischemia. Neuronal damage in mice was significantly decreased by pioglitazone treatment, compared with vehicle-treated mice. Pioglitazone also inhibited TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling staining in CA1 and CA2 areas. Pioglitazone, a PPARgamma agonist, reduces delayed neuronal damage induced by global ischemia through inhibition of MMP-9 activity.

Ocular torsion associated with infarction in the territory of the anterior inferior cerebellar artery: frequency, pattern, and a major determinant.

BACKGROUND: Acute ischemic stroke in the distribution of the anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA) can cause the vestibular dysfunction in the roll plane of the vestibuloocular reflex with abnormal ocular torsion (OT). There has been no systemic study that carefully investigates the nature of OT that occurs with AICA infarction. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the frequency, the characteristic patterns of OT associated with AICA territory infarction, and the crucial site for determining the direction of OT in AICA territory infarction. METHODS: We studied 12 consecutive cases of infarction in the territory of the AICA diagnosed by brain MRI. Fundus photography, prism cover test, and subjective visual vertical tilting test were performed to evaluate the function of the otolith system. Pure tone audiogram was also performed to evaluate the function of the auditory system. RESULTS: Nine (75%) of 12 patients exhibited pathological ocular torsion (OT). Two types of pathological OT were found: ipsiversive OT accompanying skew deviation (n=6), and contraversive OT only (n=3). Six patients with ipsiversive OT with skew deviation showed an audiovestibular loss with canal paresis and hearing loss ipsilaterally whereas three patients with contraversive OT without skew deviation had a normal audiovestibular response. In all cases with pathological OT, the direction of the subjective visual vertical tilt corresponded to the direction of the OT. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings emphasize that the peripheral vestibular structure with inner ear probably plays a crucial role in determining the direction of OT associated with AICA territory infarction.