Decreased Expression of Canstatin in Rat Model of Monocrotaline-Induced Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Protective Effect of Canstatin on Right Ventricular Remodeling.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a progressive disease which causes right ventricular (RV) failure. Canstatin, a C-terminal fragment of type IV collagen α2 chain, is expressed in various rat organs. However, the expression level of canstatin in plasma and organs during PAH is still unclear. We aimed to clarify it and further investigated the protective effects of canstatin in a rat model of monocrotaline-induced PAH. Cardiac functions were assessed by echocardiography. Expression levels of canstatin in plasma and organs were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blotting, respectively. PAH was evaluated by catheterization. RV remodeling was evaluated by histological analyses. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed to evaluate RV remodeling-related genes. The plasma concentration of canstatin in PAH rats was decreased, which was correlated with a reduction in acceleration time/ejection time ratio and an increase in RV weight/body weight ratio. The protein expression of canstatin in RV, lung and kidney was decreased in PAH rats. While recombinant canstatin had no effect on PAH, it significantly improved RV remodeling, including hypertrophy and fibrosis, and prevented the increase in RV remodeling-related genes. We demonstrated that plasma canstatin is decreased in PAH rats and that administration of canstatin exerts cardioprotective effects.

Selenium-mediated gga-miR-29a-3p regulates LMH cell proliferation, invasion, and migration by targeting COL4A2.

Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element that has several functions in cellular processes related to cancer prevention. While the cancericidal effect of Se has been reported in liver cancer, the mechanism has not been clarified. MiR-29a has widely been reported as a tumor suppressor; however, it also acts as a carcinogenic agent by increasing cell invasion in human epithelial cancer cells and hepatoma cells. In a previous study, we found that miR-29a-3p is a Se-sensitive miRNA. However, its effect in the chicken hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (LMH) is still unknown. In the present study, we found that the expression of miR-29a-3p in LMH cells was decreased by Se supplementation and increased under Se-deficient conditions. Flow cytometry and CCK-8 results suggested that Se decreased LMH cell proliferation induced by miR-29a-3p overexpression. Transwell and gap-closure assays implied that Se mediated LMH cell invasion and migration by downregulating miR-29a-3p. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting results suggested that Se mitigated miR-29a-3p overexpression-induced LMH cell proliferation by downregulating CDK2, cyclin-D1, CDK6, and cyclin-E1. We further demonstrated that collagen type IV alpha 2 (COL4A2) is a target gene of miR-29a-3p. COL4A2 activates the RhoA/ROCK pathway to promote LMH cell invasion and migration. In conclusion, Se mediated miR-29a-3p overexpression induced LMH cell invasion and migration by targeting COL4A2 to inactivate the RhoA/ROCK pathway.

Ferric citrate reduces fibroblast growth factor 23 levels and improves renal and cardiac function in a mouse model of chronic kidney disease.

Iron deficiency, anemia, hyperphosphatemia, and increased fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) are common and interrelated complications of chronic kidney disease (CKD) that are linked to CKD progression, cardiovascular disease and death. Ferric citrate is an oral phosphate binder that decreases dietary phosphate absorption and serum FGF23 concentrations while increasing iron stores and hemoglobin in patients with CKD. Here we compared the effects of ferric citrate administration versus a mineral sufficient control diet using the Col4a3 knockout mouse model of progressive CKD and age-matched wild-type mice. Ferric citrate was given to knockout mice for four weeks beginning at six weeks of age when they had overt CKD, or for six weeks beginning at four weeks of age when they had early CKD. Ten-week-old knockout mice on the control diet showed overt iron deficiency, anemia, hyperphosphatemia, increased serum FGF23, hypertension, decreased kidney function, and left ventricular systolic dysfunction. Ferric citrate rescued iron deficiency and anemia in knockout mice regardless of the timing of treatment initiation. Circulating levels and bone expression of FGF23 were reduced in knockout mice given ferric citrate with more pronounced reductions observed when ferric citrate was initiated in early CKD. Ferric citrate decreased serum phosphate only when it was initiated in early CKD. While ferric citrate mitigated systolic dysfunction in knockout mice regardless of timing of treatment initiation, early initiation of ferric citrate also reduced renal fibrosis and proteinuria, improved kidney function, and prolonged life span. Thus, initiation of ferric citrate treatment early in the course of murine CKD lowered FGF23, slowed CKD progression, improved cardiac function and significantly improved survival.

Ameliorative effect of zinc supplementation on compromised small intestinal health in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Zinc depletion during diabetes postulates a role for zinc nutrition in the management of associated complications. The present study evaluated zinc supplementation for countering the compromised intestinal integrity through moderation of oxidative stress and suppression of stress-stimulated inflammatory proliferation in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Diabetic rats were provided with supplemental zinc for six weeks (5 and 10-times of normal level). Supplemental zinc nurtured diabetic groups evidenced a significant reversal of the disruption of intestinal ultra structure. While the brush border membrane (BBM) of diabetic animals showed decreased fluidity with increased cholesterol: phospholipid ratio and altered polyunsaturated to saturated fatty acid ratio, the same was countered in zinc supplementation. A stimulated activity of BBM-bound enzymes suggested a modulation in membrane dynamics in diabetic condition which was moderated in zinc treatment. Higher expression of the lipid oxidative markers, oxidative stress markers, concomitant inflammatory markers, cytokines, fibrosis factors and apoptotic regulatory proteins in the intestines were curbed by zinc supplementation. The pathological aberrations of the intestinal architecture in diabetic animals were similarly reverted. Thus, supplemental zinc has a favourable consequence in restricting the compromised intestinal health in diabetes which was exerted through a defensive stimulus on oxidative stress induced cytokines, inflammatory propagation, and subsequent injury.

A Split-Luciferase-Based Trimer Formation Assay as a High-throughput Screening Platform for Therapeutics in Alport Syndrome.

Alport syndrome is a hereditary glomerular disease caused by mutation in type IV collagen α3-α5 chains (α3-α5(IV)), which disrupts trimerization, leading to glomerular basement membrane degeneration. Correcting the trimerization of α3/α4/α5 chain is a feasible therapeutic approach, but is hindered by lack of information on the regulation of intracellular α(IV) chain and the absence of high-throughput screening (HTS) platforms to assess α345(IV) trimer formation. Here, we developed sets of split NanoLuc-fusion α345(IV) proteins to monitor α345(IV) trimerization of wild-type and clinically associated mutant α5(IV). The α345(IV) trimer assay, which satisfied the acceptance criteria for HTS, enabled the characterization of intracellular- and secretion-dependent defects of mutant α5(IV). Small interfering RNA-based and chemical screening targeting the ER identified several chemical chaperones that have potential to promote α345(IV) trimer formation. This split luciferase-based trimer formation assay is a functional HTS platform that realizes the feasibility of targeting α345(IV) trimers to treat Alport syndrome.

Alleviation of Cardiac Damage by Dietary Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) Seeds is Potentiated by Onion (Allium cepa) in Experimental Diabetic Rats via Blocking Renin-Angiotensin System.

Hyperglycemia is one of the metabolic and homeostatic abnormalities that increase the cardiovascular mortality in diabetic patients by increased oxidative stress. We have recently reported amelioration of oxidative stress in cardiac tissue by dietary fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) seeds and onion (Allium cepa) in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. The mechanistic aspects of the cardio-protective influence of dietary fenugreek seeds (10%) and onion (3% powder) both individually and in combination on hyperglycemia-mediated cardiac damage was further investigated in this study on streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Cardio-protective influence of these dietary spices was evidenced by their blocking potential on renin-angiotensin system. This might be the consequence of reduced activation of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and angiotensin type 1 receptor (AT1) in cardiac tissue. The combination produced an additive effect on ACE and AT1 protein and mRNA expressions. Increased expression of type IV collagen, fibronectin, Bax, 4-hydroxynonenal, iNOS and metabolites of nitric oxide (nitrate/nitrite) along with disturbed PUFA-to-SFA ratio and activities of cardiac marker enzymes in blood confirmed the myocardial damage. Dietary fenugreek seed, onion and fenugreek + onion were found to ameliorate these pathological changes in the cardiovascular system. The beneficial effect being higher with the combination sometime amounting to additive (iNOS expression) or even a synergistic (cardiac Bax and type IV collagen expression and circulatory marker enzymes) in diabetic rats. Thus, the results of present investigation suggested that the combination of fenugreek seeds and onion offers higher beneficial influence in ameliorating cardiac damage accompanying diabetes.

Embryo implantation triggers dynamic spatiotemporal expression of the basement membrane toolkit during uterine reprogramming.

Basement membranes (BMs) are specialized extracellular scaffolds that influence behaviors of cells in epithelial, endothelial, muscle, nervous, and fat tissues. Throughout development and in response to injury or disease, BMs are fine-tuned with specific protein compositions, ultrastructure, and localization. These features are modulated through implements of the BM toolkit that is comprised of collagen IV, laminin, perlecan, and nidogen. Two additional proteins, peroxidasin and Goodpasture antigen-binding protein (GPBP), have recently emerged as potential members of the toolkit. In the present study, we sought to determine whether peroxidasin and GPBP undergo dynamic regulation in the assembly of uterine tissue BMs in early pregnancy as a tractable model for dynamic adult BMs. We explored these proteins in the context of collagen IV and laminin that are known to extensively change for decidualization. Electron microscopic analyses revealed: 1) a smooth continuous layer of BM in between the epithelial and stromal layers of the preimplantation endometrium; and 2) interrupted, uneven, and progressively thickened BM within the pericellular space of the postimplantation decidua. Quantification of mRNA levels by qPCR showed changes in expression levels that were complemented by immunofluorescence localization of peroxidasin, GPBP, collagen IV, and laminin. Novel BM-associated and subcellular spatiotemporal localization patterns of the four components suggest both collective pericellular functions and distinct functions in the uterus during reprogramming for embryo implantation.

Thymoquinone effectively alleviates lung fibrosis induced by paraquat herbicide through down-regulation of pro-fibrotic genes and inhibition of oxidative stress.

The potential preventive and therapeutic effects of thymoquinone (TQ) and its molecular mechanism were evaluated in paraquat (PQ)-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice. TQ was administered orally at the doses of 20 and 40mg/kg during the course and after development of fibrosis. Pathological changes, expressions of genes involved in fibrogenesis, hydroxyproline (HP) and oxidative stress parameters were determined in the lung tissues. TQ dose-dependently recovered the pathological changes induced by PQ. TQ decreased hydroxyproline content, lipid peroxidation and restored the antioxidant enzymes to the normal values. In molecular level, expressions of TGF-ß1, α-SMA, collagen 1a1 and collagen 4a1 genes were also returned to the control level by TQ. This study indicated that TQ has the preventive and therapeutic potentials for the treatment of lung fibrosis by inhibition of oxidative stress and down-regulation of profibrotic genes.

Lingzhilactones from Ganoderma lingzhi ameliorate adriamycin-induced nephropathy in mice.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Several Ganoderma fungi are well-known for their medical uses to treat cancer, insomnia and kidney disease in East Asia. Triperpenoids and polysaccharides have been considered for a long time to be the major active components of the genus Ganoderma. The present study is to examine the effects of lingzhilactones from G. lingzhi on adriamycin-induced nephropathy in mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A combination of various chromatography led to the isolation of lingzhilactones A-C, their structures were identified by spectroscopic and computational methods. The intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) was detected with the carboxymethyl-H2-dichlorofluorescein diacetate fluoroprobe. The fibrotic markers were analyzed by real-time RT-PCR and Western blot analyses. Detection of SEAP was conducted with the chemiluminescent. Urine albumin was measured using an ELISA assay. Histology and immunohistochemical staining was used to assess fibrotic lesions in mice. RESULTS: Three new lingzhilactones A-C (1-3) containing a fused lactone moiety were isolated from G. lingzhi. We found that 2 could inhibit ROS generation in a dose-dependent manner, inhibit mRNA expression of collagen IV, fibronectin, IL-6 and increase expression of Nrf2 in rat tubular epithelial cells. Furthermore, we found that 2 could reduce urinary albumin levels, abrogate myofibroblastic activation and inhibit the phosphorylation of Smad3 in adriamycin-induced mice. CONCLUSIONS: The in vitro and in vivo results suggested that lingzhilactone B could protect against renal injuries by increasing the activities of antioxidants and inhibiting inflammation. The inhibition of Smad3 phosphorylation suggested that this substance displays in vivo antifibrotic activity by a mechanism that is dependent on disruption of Smad3. These results promote understanding of the traditional usage of G. lingzhi and provide promising findings which may be beneficial for anti-kidney disease drug design.

Progression of Alport Kidney Disease in Col4a3 Knock Out Mice Is Independent of Sex or Macrophage Depletion by Clodronate Treatment.

Alport syndrome is a genetic disease of collagen IV (α3, 4, 5) resulting in renal failure. This study was designed to investigate sex-phenotype correlations and evaluate the contribution of macrophage infiltration to disease progression using Col4a3 knock out (Col4a3KO) mice, an established genetic model of autosomal recessive Alport syndrome. No sex differences in the evolution of body mass loss, renal pathology, biomarkers of tubular damage KIM-1 and NGAL, or deterioration of kidney function were observed during the life span of Col4a3KO mice. These findings confirm that, similar to human autosomal recessive Alport syndrome, female and male Col4a3KO mice develop renal failure at the same age and with similar severity. The specific contribution of macrophage infiltration to Alport disease, one of the prominent features of the disease in human and Col4a3KO mice, remains unknown. This study shows that depletion of kidney macrophages in Col4a3KO male mice by administration of clodronate liposomes, prior to clinical onset of disease and throughout the study period, does not protect the mice from renal failure and interstitial fibrosis, nor delay disease progression. These results suggest that therapy targeting macrophage recruitment to kidney is unlikely to be effective as treatment of Alport syndrome.

[Study on effect of scutellarin in resisting liver fibrosis in rats].

Totally 80 rats were randomly divided into the control group, the model group, low, middle and high dose (25, 50, 100 mg x kg(-1)) scutellarin( SC) groups and the colchicine ( Col) group. Apart from the blank group, all of the remaining groups were intraperitoneally injected with 0.5 mL pig serum twice every week for consecutively 13 weeks and orally administered with the corresponding drugs since the 9th week. The blank group and the model group were orally given equal volume of normal saline once every for consecutively four weeks. After the experiment, efforts were made to detect the contents of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspertate aminotransferase (AST), albumin (ALB), total protein (TP), total bilirubin (TBIL), hyaluronic acid (HA), laminin (LN) and collagen type IV (CIV), collect liver tissues of fixed positions, observe the pathological changes through hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, conduct the pathological grading for liver fibrosis, determine the expressions of hepatic collagen type I and III (C I, C III) and calculate their color rendering index. Compared with the model group, low, middle and high dose (25, 50, 100 mg x kg(-1)) SC groups could decrease the contents of ALT, AST, TBIL, HA, LN, CIV, increase the contents of ALB, TP in serum and reduce the contents of C I, C III in liver tissues. In conclusion, scutellarin has a certain therapeutic effect on immune liver fibrosis in rats induced by pig serum.

Qianliening capsules influence the apoptosis of benign prostatic hyperplasia epithelial-1 cells by regulating the extracellular matrix.

The present study investigated whether Qianliening capsules (QC) affected the apoptosis of benign prostatic hyperplastia epithelial (BPH­1) cells by regulating the extracellular matrix (ECM). The levels of fibronectin (FN) and collagen IV were determined in the culture medium of BPH­1 cells maintained in normal medium and of BPH­1 cells maintained in an environment rich in FN and collagen IV using an enzyme­linked immunosorbent assay. Reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis were performed to determine the mRNA and protein expression levels of FN, collagen IV, B­cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl­2), Bcl­2­associated X protein (Bax) and cyclin D1, respectively. The cell morphology and viability were determined using light microscopy and an MTT assay and cell apoptosis was detected by annexin V staining. The results demonstrated that FN and collagen IV affected the apoptotic response of the BPH­1 cells, QC treatment significantly reduced the levels of FN and collagen IV secreted by the cells into the culture medium (P<0.01), inhibited the mRNA and protein expression levels of FN, collagen IV, Bcl­2 and cyclin D1 and promoted the mRNA and protein expression of Bax. Therefore, one of the mechanisms underlying the anti­BPH action of QC involves promoting apoptosis by regulating the expression of the extracellular matrix.

[Effect of Moutan Cortex on AGEs-induced mesangial cell proliferation and basement membrane thickening].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of Moutan Cortex on mesangial proliferation and basement membrane thickening induced by advanced glycation end products (AGEs). METHOD: The glomerular mesangial cells (MC) injury model was established by inducing by AGEs. The cell were divided into 6 groups: the blank group ( BSA, 200 mg L-1) , the model group (AGEs, 200 mg L-1), the positive control group (AG, 10 mmol L L-1), and drug administration groups, namely the Moutan Cortex-treated high-dose group (2 x 10(-4) g mL(- 1)), the Moutan Cortex-treated medium-dose group (1 x 10(-4) g mL-1 ), and the Moutan Cortex-treated low-dose group (0. 5 x 10(-4) g . mL(-1)). The MTT method was performed to observe the effect of Moutan Cortex on the proliferation of MC. The content of fibronectin (FN) and collagen secretion 1V (Col IV) in cell supernatant were detected by ELISA kits. The western blot analysis was carried out to observe the FN expression. The Real-time PCR analysis was applied to examine the Col IV mRNA expression. RESULT: AGEs significantly increased AGEs-induced MC proliferation and FN and Col 1V secretion. The western blot analysis showed that MC could down-regulate the FN expression of MC secretion. According to the results of the real-time PCR assay, MC could down-regulate AGEs-induced MC secretion Col IV mRNA expression. CONCLUSION: MC had a certain protective effect on MC cultured under AGEs conditions. MC could remarkably inhibit the composition and secretion of Col IV and FN in matrix and the basement membrane thickening, and provide an experimental basis for the treatment of diabetic nephropathy.

Astragaloside IV ameliorates renal injury in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats through inhibiting NF-κB-mediated inflammatory genes expression.

Accumulating evidence suggests that inflammatory processes are involved in the development of diabetic nephropathy (DN). However, there are no effective interventions for inflammation in the diabetic kidneys. Here, we tested the hypothesis that Astragaloside IV(AS-IV), a novel saponin purified from Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch) Bge, ameliorates DN in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats through anti-inflammatory mechanisms. Diabetes was induced with STZ (65 mg/kg) by intraperitoneal injection in rats. Two weeks after STZ injection, rats were divided into three groups (n=8/each group), namely, diabetic rats, diabetic rats treated with AS-IV at 5 and 10 mgkg(-1)d(-1), p.o., for 8 weeks. The normal rats were chosen as nondiabetic control group (n=8). The rats were sacrificed 10 weeks after induction of diabetes. AS-IV ameliorated albuminuria, renal histopathology and podocyte foot process effacement in diabetic rats. Renal NF-κB activity, as wells as protein and mRNA expression were increased in diabetic kidneys, accompanied by an increase in mRNA expression and protein content of TNF-α, MCP-1 and ICAM-1 in kidney tissues. The α1-chain type IV collagen mRNA was elevated in the kidneys of diabetic rats. All of these abnormalities were partially restored by AS-IV. AS-IV also decreased the serum levels of TNF-α, MCP-1 and ICAM-1 in diabetic rats. These findings suggest that AS-IV, a novel anti-inflammatory agent, attenuated DN in rats through inhibiting NF-κB mediated inflammatory genes expression.

Purple corn anthocyanins retard diabetes-associated glomerulosclerosis in mesangial cells and db/db mice.

PURPOSE: Diabetic glomerulosclerosis is the hardening of the renal glomeruli that can lead to kidney failure. In the early stage of glomerulosclerosis occur renal mesangial expansion and renal filtration dysfunction. Purple corn has been classified as a functional food and is rich in anthocyanins exerting potential disease-preventive activities. The in vitro study using human renal mesangial cells examined that anthocyanin-rich purple corn butanol fraction (PCB) can attenuate high glucose (HG)-promoted mesangial cell proliferation and matrix accumulation. METHODS: Cells were cultured for 3 days in media containing 33 mM glucose in the presence of 1-20 µg/mL PCB. In the in vivo animal study, db/db mice were treated with 10 mg/kg anthocyanin-rich polyphenolic extracts of purple corn (PCE) for 8 weeks. RESULTS: HG enhanced mesangial production of the fibrosis biomarkers of collagen IV and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), which was markedly attenuated by adding PCB. Such mesangial fibrosis entailed interleukin-8 activation via eliciting Tyk2-STAT signaling pathway. PCB dampened HG-promoted mesangial hyperplasia that appeared to be attributed to increased expression of platelet-derived growth factor. The 8-week administration of PCE lowered plasma glucose level of db/db mice and ameliorated severe albuminuria. Moreover, PCE lessened collagen fiber accumulation in kidney glomeruli and CTGF expression via retarding TGF-ß signaling. Protein expressions of nephrin and podocin, key proteins for filtration barrier function of the glomerular capillary wall, were repressed by treating mice with PCE. CONCLUSION: Purple corn may be a potent therapeutic agent for the treatment for diabetes-associated glomerulosclerosis accompanying proteinuria and kidney filtration dysfunction.

[Effect of berberine on expression of transforming growth factor-beta1 and type IV collagen proteins in mesangial cells of diabetic rats with nephropathy].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect and mechanism of berberine on diabetic nephropathy in experimental rats. METHOD: The rat model of diabetic nephropathy was induced by injection of streptozocin (STZ). The rats were divided into 6 groups: control group, model group, 3 berberine treatment groups and Xiaoke Wan (XKW) treatment group. The fasting blood glucose (FBG), kidney weight/body weight (KW/BW), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (Cr) and urinary protein (Upro) were tested 8 weeks later. The expression of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) and type IV collagen (IV-C) proteins in renal tissue of diabetic rats with nephropathy were observed by optical micrography. RESULT: Berberine could reduce the levels of FBG, KW/BW, BUN, Cr, Upro and the expression of TGF-beta1 and IV-C proteins in renal tissue of diabetic rats with nephropathy. CONCLUSION: Berberine may protect renal function and slow down the progression of diabetic nephropathy in rats by suppressing the expression of TGF-beta1 and IV-C proteins in renal tissue.

Molecular anatomy of breast cancer stroma and its prognostic value in estrogen receptor-positive and -negative cancers.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify genes enriched in breast cancer stroma, assess the stromal gene expression differences between estrogen receptor (ER) -positive and -negative cancers, and separately determine their prognostic value in these two subtypes of breast cancers. METHODS: We compared gene expression profiles of pairs of fine-needle (stroma-poor) and core-needle (stroma-rich) biopsies from 37 cancers to identify stroma-associated genes. We defined stromal metagenes and tested their prognostic values in 684 node-negative patients who received no systemic adjuvant therapy and 259 tamoxifen-treated patients. RESULTS: We identified 293 probe sets overexpressed in core biopsies; these included five highly coexpressed gene clusters (metagenes) corresponding to immune functions and extracellular matrix components. These genes showed quantitative and qualitative differences between ER-positive and ER-negative cancers. A B-cell/plasma cell metagene showed strong prognostic value in ER-positive highly proliferative cancers, a lesser prognostic value in ER-negative cancers, and no prognostic value in ER-positive cancers with low proliferation. The hazard ratio for distant relapse in the lowest compared with the highest tertile of the pooled prognostic data set was 4.29 (95% CI, 2.04 to 9.01; P = .001) in ER-positive cancers and 3.34 (95% CI, 1.60 to 6.97; P = .001) in ER-negative cancers. This remained significant in multivariate analysis including routine variables and other genomic prognostic scores. As a result of quantitative differences in this metagene between ER-positive and ER-negative cancers, different thresholds apply in the two subgroups. Other stromal metagenes had inconsistent prognostic value. CONCLUSION: Among ER-negative and ER-positive highly proliferative cancers, a subset of tumors with high expression of a B-cell/plasma cell metagene carries a favorable prognosis.

Effect of eplerenone, enalapril and their combination treatment on diabetic nephropathy in type II diabetic rats.

BACKGROUND: Recent data suggest that aldosterone antagonists have beneficial effects on diabetic nephropathy. In this study, we investigated the dose-dependent effect of eplerenone and a combined treatment with eplerenone and enalapril compared with each drug alone on renal function in type II diabetic rats. To further explore the molecular mechanism of action of combination therapy, we also performed in vitro study. METHODS: The animals were divided into six groups as follows: normal control Long-Evans Tokushima Otsuka (LETO) rats, Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats, OLETF rats treated with low dose of eplerenone (50 mg/kg/day), OLETF rats treated with high dose of eplerenone (200 mg/kg/day), OLETF rats treated with enalapril (10 mg/kg/day) and OLETF rats treated with a combination of both drugs (eplerenone 200 mg/kg/day and enalapril 10 mg/kg/day) for 6 months. RESULTS: Treatment of OLETF rats had no significant effect on body weight, kidney weight and blood glucose levels. However, urinary albumin excretion, glomerular filtration rate and glomerulosclerosis were significantly improved in the enalapril group and improvement was observed in a dose-dependent manner in the eplerenone groups; the most dramatic decreases were observed in the combination group. In accordance with these findings, renal expressions of TGF-beta1, type IV collagen and PAI-1 were also markedly decreased in the treatment groups, with the combined treatment providing the most significant level of improvement. In cultured mesangial cells, combined treatment resulted in an additive decrease in TGF-beta1, PAI-1 and collagen gene expressions and protein production induced by high glucose and aldosterone stimulation. CONCLUSIONS: Aldosterone receptor antagonism provided additional benefits beyond blockade of the renin-angiotensin system in type II diabetic nephropathy.

Se-methylselenocysteine alters collagen gene and protein expression in human prostate cells.

The anti-cancer activity of selenium is dose-dependent and species-specific but the mechanism is unclear. Se-methylselenocysteine (MSC), found in selenium-enriched alliums, is one of the most potent forms. We exposed two human prostate cell lines (LNCaP clone FGC and PNT1A) to nutritionally relevant doses of MSC and selenite, ranging from deficient to the equivalent of selenium supplementation in humans. The cells were adapted for one month to attain steady-state selenium status. Two microarray platforms, an in-house printed microarray (14,000 genes) and the Affymetrix U133A array (22,000 genes) were used to probe the molecular effects of selenium dose and form and several selenium-responsive genes were identified, many of which have been ascribed to cancer cell growth and progression. In response to MSC supplementation, the expression of 23 genes changed significantly, including several collagen genes. Quantitative RT-PCR assays were designed and optimized for four of the collagen genes to validate array data. Significant decreases in expression of collagen type I alpha 1 (COL1A1), COL1A2 and COL7A1 genes were observed in cells adapted to MSC supplementation compared to the control and selenite exposed cells. There were significant increases in genes encoding other types of collagen, including significant increases in COL6A1 and COL4A5 in response to MSC dose. Functional changes in collagen type I protein expression in response to MSC were confirmed by ELISA. This study reveals for the first time that MSC can alter the expression of several types of collagen and thus potentially modulate the extracellular matrix and stroma, which may at least partially explain the anti-cancer activity of MSC.

Corneal wound healing in New Zealand White Rabbits following anterior keratectomy and treatment with moxifloxacin ophthalmic solution 0.5% or gatifloxacin ophthalmic solution 0.3%.

PURPOSE: These studies examined corneal reepithelialization rates and type IV collagen expression in rabbits treated with either moxifloxacin HCl ophthalmic solution 0.5% as base or gatifloxacin 0.3% ophthalmic solution following anterior keratectomy. METHODS: Animals (n = 6 per group) underwent surgery to create an 8-mm anterior keratectomy in the right eye. Rabbits were subsequently dosed with 1 drop, 3 times per day for 4 days with either moxifloxacin, gatifloxacin, or a commercially available irrigating solution. Fluorescein images were collected daily for the duration of the study. Approximately 96 h following surgery, the eyes were processed and evaluated for the presence of type IV collagen using immunohistochemical techniques. In two similar parallel studies, epithelial tissues were collected after the 48-h slit-lamp examination for a quantitative comparison of type IV collagen using either Western blot or quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Q-RT-PCR) techniques. RESULTS: Analysis of fluorescein images demonstrated that there were no significant differences in reepithelialization rates between the groups at any time point. At 96 h, 87%+/- 8% reepithelialization for moxifloxacin-treated eyes was observed compared with 77%+/- 10% for gatifloxacin-treated eyes and 85%+/-14% for BSS-treated eyes. The wound healing rates for the parallel studies demonstrated similar levels of reepithelialization for all groups. No discernable differences in type IV collagen expression were observed between treatment groups in the animals. The Q-RT-PCR analysis yielded no significant quantifiable difference in type IV collagen expression between any of the treatment groups. Expression values for alpha1 type IV collagen relative to the 18 S ribosomal RNA control were 0.0306+/-0.005 for BSS, 0.0251+/-0.002 for moxifloxacin, and 0.0254+/-0.006 for gatifloxacin. CONCLUSIONS: These studies indicate that there are no significant differences in corneal reepithelialization rates and type IV collagen expression between moxifloxacin ophthalmic solution 0.5%, gatifloxacin ophthalmic solution 0.3%, and the commercially available irrigating solution in this anterior keratectomy model.