Synergistic antioxidative effect of astaxanthin and tocotrienol by co-encapsulated in liposomes.

Astaxanthin and vitamin E are both effective antioxidants that are frequently used in cosmetics, as food additives, and in to prevent oxidative damage. A combination of astaxanthin and vitamin E would be expected to show an additive anntioxidative effect. In this study, liposomes co-encapsulating astaxanthin and the vitamin E derivatives α-tocopherol (α-T) or tocotrienols (T3) were prepared, and the antioxidative activity of these liposomes toward singlet oxygen and hydroxyl radical was evaluated in vitro. Liposomes co-encapsulating astaxanthin and α-T showed no additive anntioxidative effect, while the actual scavenging activity of liposomes co-encapsulating astaxanthin and T3 was higher than the calculated additive activity. To clarify why this synergistic effect occurs, the most stable structure of astaxanthin in the presence of α-T or α-T3 was calculated. Only α-T3 was predicted to form hydrogen bonding with astaxanthin, and the astaxanthin polyene chain would partially interact with the α-T3 triene chain, which could explain why there was a synergistic effect between astaxanthin and T3 but not α-T. In conclusion, co-encapsulation of astaxanthin and T3 induces synergistic scavenging activity by intermolecular interactions between the two antioxidants.

Calcium restriction for 28 days markedly and negatively influences bone mineral density of the femur and lumbar vertebrae regardless of the high-fat diet ingestion in young adult male rats.

Calcium (Ca) is necessary for bone calcification, and Ca deficiency leads to decreased bone mineral density (BMD). Epidemiological studies have reported a correlation between Ca intake and BMD. Although the influences of Ca deficiency on BMD have been reported, the effects of Ca restriction on bone during high-fat diet ingestion remain unclear. Therefore, we hypothesized that high-fat diet ingestion would potentiate the negative effects of Ca restriction on bone. Sprague-Dawley strain male rats (aged 11 weeks) were divided into 4 groups: basic control diet (Cont.) (11% lipid energy rate, 0.5% calcium), basic control diet with Ca restriction (CaR) (11% lipid energy rate, 0.02% calcium), high-fat diet (HF) (40% lipid energy rate, 0.5% calcium), and high-fat diet with Ca restriction (HFCaR) (40% lipid energy rate, 0.02% calcium). At 28 days after starting the experimental diets, body weights were higher in the high-fat diet groups (HF and HFCaR) than in the standard-fat diet groups (Cont. and CaR) on 2-way analysis of variance. The apparent Ca absorption rate in the Ca-restricted groups (CaR and HFCaR) was higher than in the Ca-sufficient groups (Cont. and HF). BMD and bone strength parameters of the femur and lumbar vertebrae in the Ca-restricted groups were markedly lower than in the Ca-sufficient groups, whereas there were no significant differences between the standard-fat diet and HF diet groups. These results suggest that 28 days of Ca restriction increases the risk of bone fracture and osteoporosis.

Development of a novel nanoparticle by dual modification with the pluripotential cell-penetrating peptide PepFect6 for cellular uptake, endosomal escape, and decondensation of an siRNA core complex.

Development of novel devices for effective nucleotide release from nanoparticles is required to improve the functionality of nonviral delivery systems, because decondensation of nucleotide/polycation complexes is considered as a key step for cytoplasmic delivery of nucleotides. Previously, PepFect6 (PF6) comprised chloroquine analog moieties and a stearylated cell-penetrating peptide to facilitate endosomal escape and cellular uptake, respectively, was developed as a device for efficient siRNA delivery. As PF6 contains bulky chloroquine analog moieties, the polyplexes are expected to be loose structure, which facilitates decondensation. In the present study, siRNA was electrostatically condensed by PF6, and the PF6/siRNA complexes were coated with lipid membranes. The surface of the nanoparticles encapsulating the PF6/siRNA core (PF6-NP) was modified with PF6 for endosomal escape (PF6/PF6-NP). The RNAi effect of PF6/PF6-NP was compared with those of stearylated cell-penetrating peptide octaarginine (R8)-modified PF6-NP, R8-modified nanoparticles encapsulating the R8/siRNA core (R8-NP) and PF6-modified R8-NP. Nanoparticles encapsulating the PF6 polyplex, especially PF/PF-NP, showed a significant knockdown effect on luciferase activity of B16-F1 cells stably expressing luciferase. siRNA was widely distributed within the cytoplasm after transfection of the nanoparticles encapsulating the PF6 polyplex, while siRNA encapsulated in the R8-presenting nanoparticles was localized within the nuclei. Thus, the siRNA distribution was dependent on the manner of peptide-modification. In conclusion, we have successfully developed PF6/PF6-NP exhibiting a potent RNAi effect resulting from high cellular uptake, efficient endosomal escape and decondensation of the polyplexes based on the multifunctional cell penetrating peptide PF6. PF6 is therefore a useful pluripotential device for siRNA delivery.

Vitamin D restriction and/or a high-fat diet influence intestinal alkaline phosphatase activity and serum endotoxin concentration, increasing the risk of metabolic endotoxemia in rats.

Vitamin D insufficiency induces calcification disorder of bone or a decrease in bone mineral density, increasing the risk of fracture. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, a differentiation marker for intestinal epithelial cells, is regulated by vitamin D. It has also been suggested that ALP may prevent metabolic endotoxemia by dephosphorylating lipopolysaccharide. We hypothesized that vitamin D restriction and/or a high-fat diet influences ALP activity in each tissue and serum lipopolysaccharide concentrations and increases the risk of metabolic endotoxemia. Eleven-week-old female rats were divided into 4 groups: basic control diet (Cont.), basic control diet with vitamin D restriction (DR), high-fat diet (HF), and high-fat diet with vitamin D restriction (DRHF) groups. They were acclimated for 28 days. The results of 2-way analysis of variance showed that intestinal ALP activity, which may contribute to an improvement in phosphate/lipid metabolism and longevity, in the high-fat diet groups (HF and DRHF) was higher than in the low-fat diet groups (Cont. and DR). ALP activity in the vitamin D-restricted groups (DR and DRHF) was lower than in the vitamin D-sufficient groups (Cont. and HF). Furthermore, serum endotoxin concentrations were significantly higher in the high-fat diet groups (HF and DRHF) than in the low-fat diet groups (Cont. and DR). In the vitamin D-restricted groups (DR and DRHF), serum endotoxin concentrations were also significantly higher than in the vitamin D-sufficient groups (Cont. and HF). These results suggest that vitamin D restriction and/or a high-fat diet increases the risk of metabolic endotoxemia.

Scavenging of hydroxyl radicals in aqueous solution by astaxanthin encapsulated in liposomes.

Astaxanthin (Asx) is known to be a potent quencher of singlet oxygen and an efficient scavenger of superoxide anion. Therefore, Asx would be expected to be a useful antioxidant for the prevention of oxidative stress, a causative factor in severe diseases such as ischemic reperfusion injury. However, it is still unclear whether Asx has scavenging capability against the most potent reactive oxygen species (ROS), hydroxyl radical, because the hydrophobicity of Asx prevents analysis of hydroxyl radical scavenging ability in aqueous solution. In this study, to solve this problem, liposomes containing Asx (Asx-lipo), which could be dispersed in water, were prepared, and the scavenging ability of Asx-lipo for the hydroxyl radical was examined. The liposomal formulation enabled encapsulation of a high concentration of Asx. Asx-lipo gave a dose-dependent reduction of chemiluminescence intensity induced by hydroxyl radical in aqueous solution. Hydroxyl radical scavenging of Asx was more potent than α-tocopherol. The absorbance of Asx in the liposome decreased after reduction of hydroxyl radicals, indicating the direct hydroxyl radical scavenging by Asx. Moreover, Asx-lipo prevented hydroxyl radical-induced cytotoxicity in cultured NIH-3T3 cells. In conclusion, Asx has potent scavenging capability against hydroxyl radicals in aqueous solution, and this paper is the first report regarding hydroxyl radial scavenging by Asx.

Twenty-eight days of vitamin D restriction and/or a high-fat diet influenced bone mineral density and body composition in young adult female rats.

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D deficiency is associated with the risk of osteoporosis, and also influences skeletal muscle functions. Recently, we reported that a high-fat diet with vitamin D restriction decreased bone mineral density (BMD) in young adult male rats. Therefore, we hypothesized that vitamin D restriction and/or a high-fat diet would influence BMD in young adult female rats. METHODS: Sprague-Dawley strain female rats (11-week-old) were divided into four groups: a basic control diet (Cont.), a basic control diet with vitamin D restriction (DR), a high-fat diet (F), and a high-fat diet with vitamin D restriction (FDR). RESULTS: At 28 days after starting the experimental diets, the weights of the soleus muscle and gastrocnemius muscle mass were significantly lower in the high-fat diet groups compared with the normal-fat diet groups. The cortical BMD of the femur was significantly lower in the DR group compared with the Cont. group, while no significant differences in the cortical, cancellous, and total BMD of the femur in the FDR were observed compared with the F group. Myogenin is one of the muscle-specific transcription factors. The levels of mRNA expression of myogenin in the gastrocnemius muscle from the DR and F groups were reduced compared with the Cont. group. CONCLUSIONS: We revealed the influences of vitamin D restriction and/or a high-fat diet on the BMD and muscle in young adult female rats. Further studies on vitamin D deficiency in the regulation of muscle as well as bone metabolism would provide valuable data for the prevention of osteoporosis and sarcopenia.

Characterization and Structure of Alternatively Spliced Transcript Variant of Human Intestinal Alkaline Phosphatase (ALPI) Gene.

Intestinal-type alkaline phosphatase (IAP) is expressed at a high concentration in the brush border membrane of intestinal epithelial cells and is known to be a gut mucosal defense factor. In humans, a single gene (ALPI) for IAP has been isolated, and its transcription produces two kinds of alternatively spliced mRNAs (aAug10 and bAug10). Recently, we discovered that vitamin D up-regulated the expression of both types of human IAP alternative splicing variants in Caco-2 cells. However, the functional difference of protein encoded by the mRNA variants has remained elusive. In the present study, we aimed to provide further insight into the characterization and structure of IAP isoforms. To analyze the protein translated from the ALPI gene, we constructed two kinds of cDNA expression plasmids (aAug10 and bAug10), and the transfected cells were homogenized and assayed for alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity. We also designed the homology-modeled 3D structures of the protein encoded by the mRNA variants (ALPI-aAug10 and ALPI-bAug10). The levels of ALP activity of COS-1 cells transfected with the aAug10 plasmid were increased significantly, while cells transfected with the bAug10 plasmid had undetectable ALP activity. The homology-modeled 3D structures revealed that the variant bAug10 lacks the central N-terminal α-helix and residue corresponding to Asp-42 of ALPI-aAug10 near the active site. This is the first report on the characterization and structure of alternatively spliced transcript variants of the human ALPI gene. Further studies on the regulation of aAug10 and/or bAug10 mRNA expression may identify novel physiological functions of IAP.

A high-fat diet in the presence of vitamin D deficiency status is associated with a negative influence on calcaneal quantitative ultrasound parameters in young adults: a cross-sectional study.

Vitamin D deficiency and a high-fat diet are considered health problems worldwide. The aims of this study were to examine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency in young adults, factors related to the vitamin D status, and the influence of vitamin D deficiency and/or a high-fat diet on bone parameters. Here, we investigated the hypothesis that a high-fat diet in the presence of a vitamin D-deficient status would have a more negative influence on bone parameters than a normal-fat diet with such a status. In the present study, we targeted young Japanese adults aged 21-23 (n = 175). We conducted a diet survey based on 3-day food records, biochemical examination of serum, and quantitative ultrasound measurements at the calcaneus. As a result, the rates of vitamin D deficiency {serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 [25(OH)D] concentration less than 20 ng/mL} and insufficiency [serum 25(OH)D concentration less than 30 ng/mL but not less than 20 ng/mL] were 60.6 and 30.9%, respectively. A positive correlation was observed between the serum 25(OH)D level and serum bone-specific alkaline phosphatase level, which is a serum marker of bone formation (r = 0.253, P< .01) or the speed of sound (SOS) as an index of bone density (r = 0.259, P< .01). A negative correlation was observed between the ratio of fat intake to total energy intake (%E) and serum 25(OH)D levels (r = -0.206, P< .01). Furthermore, we revealed that a high-fat diet in the presence of a vitamin D deficient status reduced the SOS parameter compared with a normal-fat diet with a vitamin D-deficient status (P< .05).

Influence of dietary vitamin D deficiency on bone strength, body composition, and muscle in ovariectomized rats fed a high-fat diet.

OBJECTIVE: Vitamin D deficiency is associated with a greater risk for osteoporosis and also influences skeletal muscle functions. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of vitamin D restriction on ovariectomized (OVX) rats fed a high-fat diet. METHODS: Twenty-four 13-wk-old female rats were ovariectomized, and another 6 received a sham operation (Sham). The OVX rats were divided into four groups and fed experimental diets: a basic control diet (OVX-Cont), a basic control diet with vitamin D restriction (OVX-DR), a high-fat diet (OVX-F), and a high-fat diet with vitamin D restriction (OVX-FDR). RESULTS: At 28 d after starting the experimental diets, the fat mass was significantly increased in the OVX-F and OVX-FDR groups compared with OVX-Cont group, whereas the muscle mass was significantly decreased in the OVX-F and OVX-FDR groups compared with the OVX-Cont group. Compared with the OVX-Cont group, the bone mineral content of the femur was significantly lower in the OVX-DR and OVX-FDR groups, and the bone mineral density of the femur was significantly lower in the OVX-DR group. Myogenin is one of the muscle-specific transcription factors. The levels of mRNA expression of myogenin in the soleus and gastrocnemius muscles from the OVX-DR and OVX-FDR groups were reduced markedly compared with those from the OVX-Cont group. CONCLUSION: We provided evidence that a high-fat diet with vitamin D restriction influences bone and muscle metabolism using OVX rats. Further studies on vitamin D deficiency in the regulation of muscle as well as bone metabolism would provide valuable data for the prevention of osteoporosis and sarcopenia.

Vitamin D-restricted high-fat diet down-regulates expression of intestinal alkaline phosphatase isozymes in ovariectomized rats.

Intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP) is expressed at a high concentration in the brush border membrane of intestinal epithelial cells. Intestinal alkaline phosphatase controls bacterial endotoxin-induced inflammation by dephosphorylating lipopolysaccharide and is a gut mucosal defense factor. Previously, we reported that IAP activity in the duodenum was significantly decreased in male rats receiving a high-fat diet with vitamin D restriction. Here, we tested the hypothesis that IAP is also regulated by a vitamin D-restricted high-fat diet in an animal model of menopause. Twenty-four female rats were ovariectomized (OVX), and another 6 female rats were sham operated. The OVX rats were divided into 4 groups and fed experimental diets: a basic control diet, a basic control diet with vitamin D restriction, a high-fat diet, and a high-fat diet with vitamin D restriction. After 28days of the experimental diets, the vitamin D-restricted high-fat diet decreased alkaline phosphatase activity in the duodenum of the OVX groups. The vitamin D-restricted high-fat diet down-regulated mRNA expressions of IAP isozymes in the duodenum of the OVX groups. These findings support the hypothesis that the expression of IAP is suppressed by a vitamin D-restricted high-fat diet in OVX rats. An adequate vitamin D intake and prevention of low vitamin D levels may be important for IAP expression in gut homeostasis.

1-alpha,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 up-regulates the expression of 2 types of human intestinal alkaline phosphatase alternative splicing variants in Caco-2 cells and may be an important regulator of their expression in gut homeostasis.

Vitamin D insufficiency is associated with a greater risk of osteoporosis and also influences skeletal muscle functions, differentiation, and development. The principal function of vitamin D in calcium homeostasis is to increase the absorption of calcium from the intestine, and the level of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, a differentiation marker for intestinal epithelial cells, is regulated by vitamin D. Intestinal-type ALP is expressed at a high concentration in the brush border membrane of intestinal epithelial cells, and is known to be affected by several kinds of nutrients. Recent reviews have highlighted the importance of intestinal-type ALP in gut homeostasis. Intestinal-type ALP controls bacterial endotoxin-induced inflammation by dephosphorylating lipopolysaccharide and is a gut mucosal defense factor. In this study, we investigated the influence of vitamin D on the expression of 2 types of alternative mRNA variants encoding the human alkaline phosphatase, intestinal (ALPI) gene in human Caco-2 cells as an in vitro model of the small intestinal epithelium. After treatment with 1-alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, the biologically active form of vitamin D3, there were significant increases in the ALP activities of Caco-2 cells. Inhibitor and thermal inactivation experiments showed that the increased ALP had properties of intestinal-type ALP. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed that expression of the 2 types of alternative mRNA variants from the ALPI gene was markedly enhanced by vitamin D in Caco-2 cells. In conclusion, these findings agree with the hypothesis: vitamin D up-regulated the expression of 2 types of human intestinal alkaline phosphatase alternative splicing variants in Caco-2 cells; vitamin D may be an important regulator of ALPI gene expression in gut homeostasis.

Suppressive Activity of Quercetin on Periostin Functions In Vitro.

Periostin, a 90-kDa extracellular matrix protein, has been attracting attention as a novel biomarker of airway inflammatory diseases such as allergic rhinitis (AR) and asthma. Although oral administration of quercetin to patients with AR can favorably modify the clinical condition of this disease, the influence of quercetin on periostin functions is not well understood. The present study was, therefore, undertaken to examine the influence of quercetin on the production of both periostin and periostin-induced eosinophil chemoattractants from human nasal epithelial cells (HNEpC) in vitro. HNEpC were stimulated with 15.0 ng/ml interleukin (IL)-4 in the absence or presence of quercetin for 72 h. Periostin levels in the culture supernatants were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Addition of 4.0 µM quercetin into cell cultures suppressed periostin production from HNEpC that was induced by IL-4 stimulation through inhibitation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6) activation. We then examined whether quercetin could inhibit production of the periostin-induced eosinophil chemoattractants, regulated on activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted (RANTES) and eotaxin, from HNEpC. HNEpC were stimulated with 2.0 ng/ml periostin in the absence or presence of quercetin for 72 h. RANTES and eotaxin levels in culture supernatants were examined using ELISA. Treatment of HNEpC with quercetin at a concentration of 4.0 µM suppressed the ability of cells to produce RANTES and eotaxin. This suppression was mediated through suppression of activation of the transcription factor nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) p65, as measured using ELISA, and of chemokine mRNA expression, as measured using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). These results strongly suggest that quercetin suppresses the production of both periostin and periostin-induced eosinophil chemoattractants from HNEpC and results in improvement of the clinical condition of AR.

Menaquinone-4 (vitamin K2) up-regulates expression of human intestinal alkaline phosphatase in Caco-2 cells.

Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) hydrolyzes several monophosphate esters into inorganic acid and alcohol. In humans, 4 kinds of ALP isozymes have been identified: tissue-nonspecific ALP, intestinal ALP, placental ALP, and germ cell ALP. Intestinal ALP is expressed at a high concentration in the brush border membrane of intestinal epithelial cells and is known to be affected by several kinds of nutrients, such as lipids, but the physiological function of intestinal ALP has remained elusive. Vitamin K is an essential cofactor for the posttranslational carboxylation of glutamate residues into γ-carboxy glutamate. Menaquinone-4 (MK-4) with 4 isoprene units, vitamin K2, has been shown to induce bone-type ALP activity and osteoblastogenesis in human bone marrow cells. In this study, we investigated the effects of MK-4 on the level of ALP activity and expression of ALP messenger RNA in the human colon carcinoma cell line Caco-2, which is known to differentiate into small intestinal epithelial cells in vitro. After treatment with MK-4, there were significant increases in the ALP activities of Caco-2 cells. Inhibitor and thermal inactivation experiments demonstrated that the increased ALP had properties of intestinal-type ALP. Semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed that expressions of human intestinal ALP and sucrase-isomaltase, which are intestinal differentiation markers, were highly enhanced in Caco-2 cells by MK-4. This is the first report concerning ALP messenger RNA expression induced by vitamin K2 in Caco-2 cells. Further studies on the physiological functions of human intestinal ALP will provide useful data on the novel effects of vitamin K.

Influences of dietary vitamin D restriction on bone strength, body composition and muscle in rats fed a high-fat diet: involvement of mRNA expression of MyoD in skeletal muscle.

Vitamin D insufficiency is associated with a greater risk of osteoporosis and also influences skeletal muscle functions, differentiation and development. The present study investigated the influences of vitamin D restriction on the body composition, bone and skeletal muscle in rats fed a high-fat diet. Sprague-Dawley strain male rats (11weeks old) were divided into four groups and fed experimental diets: a basic control diet (Cont.), a basic control diet with vitamin D restriction (DR), a high-fat diet (F) and a high-fat diet with vitamin D restriction (FDR). At 28days after starting the experimental diets, the visceral fat mass was significantly increased in the F group compared with Cont. group, and the muscle mass tended to decrease in the DR group compared with Cont. group. The total volume of the femur was significantly lower in the DR group compared with Cont. group, and the bone mineral density (BMD) of the femur was significantly lower in the FDR group compared with F group. MyoD is one of the muscle-specific transcription factors. The levels of mRNA expression of MyoD of the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles from the DR group were reduced markedly compared with those from the Cont. group. In conclusion, our findings revealed the influences of a vitamin D-restricted high-fat diet on the bone strength, body composition and muscle. Further studies on vitamin D insufficiency in the regulation of muscle as well as fat and bone metabolism would provide valuable data for the prevention of lifestyle-related disorders, including osteoporosis and sarcopenia.

Tri-membrane nanoparticles produced by combining liposome fusion and a novel patchwork of bicelles to overcome endosomal and nuclear membrane barriers to cargo delivery.

Membrane fusion is a rational strategy for crossing intracellular membranes that present barriers to liposomal nanocarrier-mediated delivery of plasmid DNA into the nucleus of non-dividing cells, such as dendritic cells. Based on this strategy, we previously developed nanocarriers consisting of a nucleic acid core particle coated with four lipid membranes [Akita, et al., Biomaterials, 2009, 30, 2940-2949]. However, including the endosomal membrane and two nuclear membranes, cells possess three intracellular membranous barriers. Thus, after entering the nucleus, nanoparticles coated with four membranes would still have one lipid membrane remaining, and could impede cargo delivery. Until now, coating a core particle with an odd number of lipid membranes was challenging. To produce nanocarriers with an odd number of lipid membranes, we developed a novel coating method involving lipid nano-discs, also known as bicelles, as a material for packaging DNA in a carrier with an odd number of lipid membranes. In this procedure, bicelles fuse to form an outer coating that resembles a patchwork quilt, which allows the preparation of nanoparticles coated with only three lipid membranes. Moreover, the transfection activity of dendritic cells with these three-membrane nanoparticles was higher than that for nanoparticles coated with four lipid membranes. In summary, we developed novel nanoparticles coated with an odd number of lipid membranes using the novel "patchwork-packaging method" to deliver plasmid DNA into the nucleus via membrane fusion.

HPLC profile of captopril disulfide that undergoes reversible cis-trans conversion among three isomers.

Peculiarly shaped chromatograms of some compounds that consist of two reversible isomers have been reported. Those of a compound that consists of three reversible isomers are described here. Because disulfide of captopril has two cis-trans convertible bonds, it exists in three forms of cis-cis, cis-trans and trans-trans isomers. The disulfide has produced various HPLC-UV profiles under various conditions, such as three split peaks, three peaks with bridging plateaus and one broad peak. The effect of the column temperature and the eluent flow rate on the profile was investigated and explained by interconversion among three isomers. A profile analysis could provide some kinetic constants of this reaction.

The effect of swimming on cartilage formation.

Swimming is a non-weight-bearing exercise. Therefore it has the advantage of maintaining skeletal integrity in aged persons with weakened skeletal structures. Unlike other weight-bearing aerobic exercises, however, it does not appear to exert sufficient stimulus on bone-remodeling activities because the local load-bearing on bone tissues is mild. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of swimming on bone remodeling, especially with the use of implanted pellets containing bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) and demineralized bone matrix during the initial stages of the differentiation of mesenchymal cells to cartilage cells. Six-week-old female rats were divided into the swimming group and a control, nonswimming group. Test animals were forced to swim in a water bath for 30 min daily for 2 wk. After the swimming protocol, pellets were implanted and harvested. Messenger RNA isolated from pellets was quantified by means of a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The expression of RNAs for bone sialoprotein and BMP-6 in pellets from the swimming group was apparently enhanced at 7 d after implantation. These results suggested that systemic hormonal and/or metabolic changes that promote cartilage formation might have occurred after swimming because the effect was observed after the swimming protocol had ended and the pellets were implanted at a non-weight-bearing site.

Protective effects of topical application of a poorly soluble antioxidant astaxanthin liposomal formulation on ultraviolet-induced skin damage.

Astaxanthin (Asx) would be expected to prevent ultraviolet (UV)-induced skin damage, as it is regarded as a potent antioxidative carotenoid in biological membranes. However, it is difficult to administer Asx topically to skin because of its poor water solubility. In this study, we attempted to solve this problem by preparing liposomes containing Asx (Asx-lipo), which were dispersible in the water phase, and therefore, suitable for topical application to the skin. Asx-lipo was shown to have potent scavenging ability against chemiluminescence-dependent singlet oxygen production in the water phase. When Asx-lipo was applied to skin before UV exposure, UV-induced skin thickening was prevented. Interestingly, collagen reduction induced by UV exposure was also prevented by preadministration of Asx-lipo. In addition, topical administration of Asx-lipo containing cationic lipid inhibited melanin production in skin exposed to UV. Consequently, we succeeded in preventing UV-induced skin damage using a topical application of a liposomal formulation containing Asx.

Phosphate depletion enhances bone morphogenetic protein-4 gene expression in a cultured mouse marrow stromal cell line ST2.

Alkaline phosphatases (ALPs) are glycosylated, membrane-bound enzymes that hydrolyze various monophosphate esters at an optimum high pH and are present in nearly all living organisms. In Escherichia coli, extracellular phosphate (Pi) limitation induces the ALP gene, indicating a role of extracellular Pi in ALP gene regulation. However, little is known about similar mechanisms in mammalian cells. Previously, we reported that Pi starvation increased the tissue-nonspecific ALP (TNSALP) activity and regulated its expression in the mouse stromal cell line ST2, derived from mouse bone marrow. In the present study, we further examined the effects of Pi starvation on the mechanism of TNSALP induction. The specific activity of TNSALP increased markedly after treatment by Pi starvation for 5 days and RT-PCR analysis revealed that the mRNA of the bone morphogenetic protein-4 (BMP-4) gene was highly stimulated. The combination of Pi depletion and mouse BMP-4 receptor IA/Fc chimera down-regulated the TNSALP activity. These results indicated that Pi depletion stimulates the TNSALP activity for the Pi supplementation, and that this system may involve the signaling pathway of the BMP-4 gene at the transcription level.