Proteoglycan Combined with Hyaluronic Acid and Hydrolyzed Collagen Restores the Skin Barrier in Mild Atopic Dermatitis and Dry, Eczema-Prone Skin: A Pilot Study.

Dry and eczema-prone skin conditions such as atopic dermatitis and xerotic eczema primarily indicate an impaired skin barrier function, which leads to chronic pruritus. Here, we investigated the effects of a novel emollient containing H.ECMTM liposome, which contains a soluble proteoglycan in combination with hydrolyzed collagen and hyaluronic acid. A prospective, single-arm study was conducted on 25 participants with mild atopic dermatitis or dry skin to assess the hydration and anti-inflammatory effect of the novel emollient applied daily over four weeks. All efficacy parameters, including itching severity, transepidermal water loss, and skin hydration, improved significantly after four weeks. The in vitro and ex vivo studies confirmed the restoration of the skin's barrier function. The study revealed the clinical and laboratory efficacy of H.ECMTM liposome in reducing itching and improving the skin's barrier integrity. Thus, the use of H.ECMTM liposome can be considered a therapeutic option for dry and eczema-prone skin.

The impact of initial tumor microenvironment on imaging phenotype.

Models of human cancer, to be useful, must replicate human disease with high fidelity. Our focus in this study is rat xenograft brain tumors as a model of human embedded cerebral tumors. A distinguishing signature of such tumors in humans, that of contrast-enhancement on imaging, is often not present when the human cells grow in rodents, despite the xenografts having nearly identical DNA signatures to the original tumor specimen. Although contrast enhancement was uniformly evident in all the human tumors from which the xenografts' cells were derived, we show that long-term contrast enhancement in the model tumors may be determined conditionally by the tumor microenvironment at the time of cell implantation. We demonstrate this phenomenon in one of two patient-derived orthotopic xenograft (PDOX) models using cancer stem-like cell (CSC)-enriched neurospheres from human tumor resection specimens, transplanted to groups of immune-compromised rats in the presence or absence of a collagen/fibrin scaffolding matrix, Matrigel. The rats were imaged by dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) and their brains were examined by histopathology. Targeted proteomics of the PDOX tumor specimens grown from CSC implanted with and without Matrigel showed that while the levels of the majority of proteins and post-translational modifications were comparable between contrast-enhancing and non-enhancing tumors, phosphorylation of Fox038 showed a differential expression. The results suggest key proteins determine contrast enhancement and suggest a path toward the development of better animal models of human glioma. Future work is needed to elucidate fully the molecular determinants of contrast-enhancement.

Purification and antioxidant and anti-Inflammatory activity of extracellular polysaccharopeptide from sanghuang mushroom, Sanghuangporus lonicericola.

BACKGROUND: Sanghuang mushrooms are medicinal fungi widely used in eastern Asia. In this study, the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of a novel extracellular polysaccharopeptide, sanghuang extracellular polysaccharopeptide (SePSP) was investigated. The SePSP was purified from the submerged fermentation broth of a sanghuang mycelium, Sanghuangporus lonicericola strain CBS17, which was isolated from a wild sanghuang fruiting body. RESULTS: The SePSP was extracted using an ethanol precipitation procedure, followed by diethylaminoethanol (DEAE) anion-exchange and size-exclusion chromatography. The mass ratio of the polysaccharide and peptide components in the purified SePSP was approximately 4.87:1. By determining its free radical scavenging abilities using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), the hydroxyl free radical, and the superoxide anion free radical, as well as its total reducing power, SePSP was shown to have strong concentration-dependent antioxidant activity in vitro. Further, SePSP effectively alleviated dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis (UC) in mice. Administration of 200 mg kg-1 SePSP by gavage for 7 days prevented body weight loss; significantly reduced the mRNA levels of proinflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α and IL-1ß; increased mRNA level of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 in the colon, and decreased the malondialdehyde concentration from 6.42 to 4.82 µmol L-1 in the blood in UC mice. CONCLUSION: The SePSP had strong concentration-dependent antioxidant activity in vitro and effectively alleviated DSS-induced UC in mice. The in vivo therapeutic efficacy in DSS-induced UC may be mediated by modulating the expression of inflammatory cytokines and inhibiting oxidative stress. The findings provide a scientific rationale for the use of bioactive nutraceuticals from sanghuang mushrooms to develop functional foods for the prevention and treatment of UC. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

CD8+ T Cells Directed Against a Peptide Epitope Derived From Peptidoglycan-Associated Lipoprotein of Legionella pneumophila Confer Disease Protection.

Legionella pneumophila, an intracellular bacterium, may cause life-threatening pneumonia in immunocompromised individuals. Mononuclear cells and antibodies have been reported to be associated with the host defense response against L. pneumophila. This study is to determine whether Legionella peptidoglycan-associated lipoprotein (PAL)-specific CD8+ T cells are directly associated with protection against L. pneumophila, with a focus on potential epitopes. Synthetic peptides derived from PAL of L. pneumophila were obtained and tested through in vitro and in vivo cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) assays for immunogenicity. PAL DNA vaccines or a peptide epitope with or without CpG-oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) was evaluated for protection against L. pneumophila infection in animal models. When mice were immunized with DNA vaccines expressing the PAL of L. pneumophila, they were significantly protected against a lethal challenge with L. pneumophila through induction of antigen-specific CD8+ CTLs. Of the 13 PAL peptides tested, PAL92-100 (EYLKTHPGA) was the most immunogenic and induced the strongest CTL responses. When mice were immunized with the PAL92-100 peptide plus CpG-ODN, they were protected against the lethal challenge, while control mice died within 3-6 days after the challenge. Consistent with lung tissue histological data, bacterial counts in the lungs of immunized mice were significantly lower than those in control mice. Also, the amino acid sequence of PAL92-100 peptides is conserved among various Legionella species. To our knowledge, this study is the first to demonstrate that PAL92-100-specific CD8+ T cells play a central role in the host defense response against L. pneumophila.

(1,3)-ß-D-Glucan-based empirical antifungal interruption in suspected invasive candidiasis: a randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: (1,3)-ß-D-Glucan has been widely used in clinical practice for the diagnosis of invasive Candida infections. However, such serum biomarker showed potential to guide antimicrobial therapy in order to reduce the duration of empirical antifungal treatment in critically ill septic patients with suspected invasive candidiasis. METHODS: This was a single-centre, randomized, open-label clinical trial in which critically ill patients were enrolled during the admission to the intensive care unit (ICU). All septic patients who presented invasive Candida infection risk factors and for whom an empirical antifungal therapy was commenced were randomly assigned (1:1) in those stopping antifungal therapy if (1,3)-ß-D-glucan was negative ((1,3)-ß-D-glucan group) or those continuing the antifungal therapy based on clinical rules (control group). Serum 1,3-ß-D-glucan was measured at the enrolment and every 48/72 h over 14 days afterwards. The primary endpoint was the duration of antifungal treatment in the first 30 days after enrolment. RESULTS: We randomized 108 patients into the (1,3)-ß-D-glucan (n = 53) and control (n = 55) groups. Median [IQR] duration of antifungal treatment was 2 days [1-3] in the (1,3)-ß-D-glucan group vs. 10 days [6-13] in the control group (between-group absolute difference in means, 6.29 days [95% CI 3.94-8.65], p < 0.001). Thirty-day mortality was similar (28.3% [(1,3)-ß-D-glucan group] vs. 27.3% [control group], p = 0.92) as well as the overall rate of documented candidiasis (11.3% [(1,3)-ß-D-glucan group] vs. 12.7% [control group], p = 0.94), the length of mechanical ventilation (p = 0.97) and ICU stay (p = 0.23). CONCLUSIONS: In critically ill septic patients admitted to the ICU at risk of invasive candidiasis, a (1,3)-ß-D-glucan-guided strategy could reduce the duration of empirical antifungal therapy. However, the safety of this algorithm needs to be confirmed in future, multicentre clinical trial with a larger population. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03117439 , retrospectively registered on 18 April 2017.

Embryonic proteoglycans regulate monoamines in the rat frontal cortex and hippocampus in Alzheimer's disease-like pathology.

Using the rat Alzheimer's disease (AD)-like model we have analyzed the hippocampal short-term potentiation, levels of monoamines, and morphological changes in the hippocampal and cortical neurons after the administration of proteoglycans of embryonic origin (PEG). Results showed that the levels of monoamines and especially norepinephrine in the target AD brain structures were found elevated, except serotonin, which was unaffected in the hippocampus, but decreased in the frontal cortex. These changes were accompanied by the substantial structural damage of cortical and hippocampal neurons. PEG was able to reverse most of these changes. In addition, PEG administration had regime-dependent effects on a short-term potentiation pattern of hippocampal neurons. The elevated levels of key elements of brain monoaminergic system in the model of AD support the hypothesis of the important role of monoamines in the excessive synaptic excitation resulting in cognitive dysfunction in AD brain. The neuroprotective effect of PEG, as manifested by the recovery of the monoaminergic system, suggests this bioactive substance as a perspective therapeutic agent for the treatment of AD.

Investigation of drug dissolution and uptake from low-density DPI formulations in an impactor-integrated cell culture model.

Besides deposition, pulmonary bioavailability is determined by dissolution of particles in the scarce epithelial fluid and by cellular API uptake. In the present work, we have developed an experimental in vitro model, which is combining the state-of-the-art next generation impactor (NGI), used for aerodynamic performance assessment of inhalation products, with a culture of human alveolar A549 epithelial cells to study the fate of inhaled drugs following lung deposition. The goal was to investigate five previously developed nano-milled and spray-dried budesonide formulations and to examine the suitability of the in vitro test model. The NGI dissolution cups of stages 3, 4, and 5 were transformed to accommodate cell culture inserts while assuring minimal interference with the air flow. A549 cells were cultivated at the air-liquid interface on Corning® Matrigel® -coated inserts. After deposition of aerodynamically classified powders on the cell cultures, budesonide amount was determined on the cell surface, in the interior of the cell monolayer, and in the basal solution for four to eight hours. Significant differences in the total deposited drug amount and the amount remaining on the cell surface at the end of the experiment were found between different formulations and NGI stages. Roughly 50% of budesonide was taken up by the cells and converted to a large extent to its metabolic conjugate with oleic acid for all formulations and stages. Prolonged time required for complete drug dissolution and cell uptake in case of large deposited powder amounts suggested initial drug saturation of the surfactant layer of the cell surface. Discrimination between formulations with respect to time scale of dissolution and cell uptake was possible with the present test model providing useful insights into the biopharmaceutical performance of developed formulations that may be relevant for predicting local bioavailability. The absolute quantitative result of cell uptake and permeation into the systemic compartment is unreliable, though, because of partly compromised cell membrane integrity due to particle impaction and professed leakiness of A549 monolayer tight junctions, respectively.

Intravitreal Pharmacokinetic Study of the Antiangiogenic Glycoprotein Opticin.

Opticin is an endogenous vitreous glycoprotein that may have therapeutic potential as it has been shown that supranormal concentrations suppress preretinal neovascularization. Herein we investigated the pharmacokinetics of opticin following intravitreal injection in rabbits. To measure simultaneously concentrations of human and rabbit opticin, a selected reaction monitoring mass spectrometry assay was developed. The mean concentration of endogenous rabbit opticin in 7 uninjected eyes was measured and found to be 19.2 nM or 0.62 µg/mL. When the vitreous was separated by centrifugation into a supernatant and collagen-containing pellet, 94% of the rabbit opticin was in the supernatant. Intravitreal injection of human opticin (40 µg) into both eyes of rabbits was followed by enucleation at 5, 24, and 72 h and 7, 14, and 28 days postinjection (n = 6 at each time point) and measurement of vitreous human and rabbit opticin concentrations in the supernatant and collagen-containing pellet following centrifugation. The volume of distribution of human opticin was calculated to be 3.31 mL, and the vitreous half-life was 4.2 days. Assuming that rabbit and human opticin are cleared from rabbit vitreous at the same rate, opticin is secreted into the vitreous at a rate of 0.14 µg/day. We conclude that intravitreally injected opticin has a vitreous half-life that is similar to currently available antiangiogenic therapeutics. While opticin was first identified bound to vitreous collagen fibrils, here we demonstrate that >90% of endogenous opticin is not bound to collagen. Endogenous opticin is secreted by the nonpigmented ciliary epithelium into the rabbit vitreous at a remarkably high rate, and the turnover in vitreous is approximately 15% per day.

Promastigote secretory gel from natural and unnatural sand fly vectors exacerbate Leishmania major and Leishmania tropica cutaneous leishmaniasis in mice.

Leishmania rely heavily on glycans to complete their digenetic life cycle in both mammalian and phlebotomine sand fly hosts. Leishmania promastigotes secrete a proteophosphoglycan-rich gel (Promastigote Secretory Gel, PSG) that is regurgitated during transmission and can exacerbate infection in the skin. Here we explored the role of PSG from natural Leishmania-sand fly vector combinations by obtaining PSG from Leishmania (L.) major-infected Phlebotomus (P.) papatasi and P. duboscqi and L. tropica-infected P. arabicus. We found that, in addition to the vector's saliva, the PSG from L. major and L. tropica potently exacerbated cutaneous infection in BALB/c mice, improved the probability of developing a patent cutaneous lesion, parasite growth and the evolution of the lesion. Of note, the presence of PSG in the inoculum more than halved the prepatent period of cutaneous L. tropica infection from an average of 32 weeks to 13 weeks. In addition, L. major and L. tropica PSG extracted from the permissive experimental vector, Lutzomyia (Lu.) longipalpis, also exacerbated infections in mice. These results reinforce and extend the hypothesis that PSG is an important and evolutionarily conserved component of Leishmania infection that can be used to facilitate experimental infection for drug and vaccine screening.

Effects of combination of mizolastine and proteoglycan on chronic urticaria: a randomized controlled trial.

The present study aimed to observe the therapeutic effect of combined mizolastine and proteoglycan in chronic urticaria. The patients were randomly divided into the treatment group (n = 56) and the control group (n = 44). The treatment group was medicated with calcium gluconate (10 mg/ time, 1 time/day), vitamin D3 (intramuscular 10 mg/time, 1 time/week), mizolastine (10 mg/time, 1 time/day), and proteoglycan (1.2 g/time, 3 times/day), while the control group was administered with the same drugs except proteoglycan for 4 weeks. After treatment with combined mizolastine and proteoglycan, therapeutic effect with symptoms decline index (SDI) more than 60% was significant different (44 vs. 24, p = 0.000973) and the relapse rate after 2 months was significantly lower (17.9% vs. 38.6%, p = 0.0202). Using ELISA, we found that the IFN-γ (37.88 ± 4.27 pg/mL vs. 21.91 ± 4.95 pg/mL, p = 0.028) levels were specifically increased in the experiment group. The combination of mizolastine plus proteoglycan is effective in treating chronic urticaria with better therapeutic effect and lower relapse rate through promoting IFN-γ production.

Angiopoietin-1 Promotes the Integrity of Neovascularization in the Subcutaneous Matrigel of Type 1 Diabetic Rats.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the effects of Ang-1 on neovascularization of diabetic organs by subcutaneous Matrigel angiogenesis model, established in type 1 diabetic rats. METHODS: Ang-1 adenoviral vector was constructed. The rat model was established by STZ and divided into four group. The Matrigel was inserted subcutaneously into the abdominal cavity of rats at 8 weeks, the treatment group was injected with Ang-1 adenovirus vector via tail vein, and the rats were sacrificed at 10 weeks. Neovascularization of Matrigel was observed with transmission electron microscopy. The marker of vascular endothelial cell and pericyte were detected by immunofluorescence. Immunohistochemical detection of the neovascular endothelial junction protein was performed. RT-PCR was used to determine protein expression of neovascular in Matrigel. RESULTS: Vascular cavity-like structure could be seen in subcutaneous Matrigel of diabetic rats, and the cavity was filled with a lot of red blood cells. Transmission electron microscopy showed that neovascular endothelial structure of the Matrigel was incomplete, while the Ang-1 treatment group had more vascular cavity-like structures, intact vascular endothelial structure, and reduced inflammatory cell infiltration in Matrigel. Additionally, the integrity of vascularization improved, and the marker of pericyte and the cell tight junctions protein was upregulated in Ang-1 treatment group. CONCLUSION: Hyperglycemia could induce pathological angiogenesis in subcutaneous Matrigel of diabetic rats, and Ang-1 could upregulate the expression of intercellular junction protein in subcutaneous Matrigel of diabetic rats and promote the integrity of neovascularization in the subcutaneous Matrigel of diabetic rats.

A polysaccharide-peptide with mercury clearance activity from dried fruiting bodies of maitake mushroom Grifola frondosa.

Mercury is considered to be "a global pollutant" and raises concern worldwide. Once mercury enters the body, it will be distributed all over the body but will accumulate in the brain, kidney and liver. To date, no substance originating from edible fungi capable of adsorbing mercury has been reported. We found that the mushroom Grifola frondosa exhibited mercury adsorption capacity. A polysaccharide-peptide (GFPP), displaying the unique N-terminal amino acid sequence of APPGMHQKQQ and 7 partial sequences with high reliability obtained by LC-MS/MS, was isolated by hot-water extraction of its fruiting bodies followed by ion exchange chromatography and gel filtration chromatography. Two rat models were employed to determine the dose and the duration of HgCl2 treatment (given by acute administration or continuous treatment) to test if G. frondosa could promote mercury elimination. For rats subjected to acute treatment with HgCl2, both GFPP and G. frondosa fruiting bodies (GFFF) could accelerate the decline of blood mercury level, which fell precipitously by 50% on the second day. GFPP and GFFF also promoted elimination of the burden of mercury in the liver and kidneys. For rats receiving continuous HgCl2 treatment, G. frondosa prevented the progressive increase of blood mercury level, and kept the blood mercury level within a relatively stable range.

The role of polysaccharide peptide of Ganoderma lucidum as a potent antioxidant against atherosclerosis in high risk and stable angina patients.

OBJECTIVES: Antioxidants can reduce oxidative radicals that affect the early phase of atherogenesis, that is endothelial dysfunction. Polysaccharide Peptide (PsP) derived from Ganoderma lucidum has an active substance in the form of ß-glucan. Previous studies have proven the PsP of Ganoderma lucidum as an effective antioxidant in atherosclerotic rats and shows no toxicity in animal model. This study aims to prove the effect of PsP as potent antioxidant in high risk and stable angina patients. METHOD: This is a clinical trial conducted to 37 high risk and 34 stable angina patients, which were determined based on ESC Stable CAD Guidelines and Framingham risk score, with pre and post test design without control group. The parameters are superoxide dimustase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration, circulating endothelial cell (CEC) and endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) counts. The patients were given PsP 750mg/day in 3 divided dose for 90days. Paired t-test was performed for normally distributed data, and Wilcoxon test for not normally distributed data, and significant level of p≤0,05. RESULTS: SOD level in high risk patients slightly increased but not statistically significant with p=0,22. Level of SOD in stable angina group significantly increased with p=0,001. MDA concentration significantly reduced in high risk and stable angina patients with p=0.000. CEC significantly reduced both in high risk and stable angina patients, with p=0.000 in both groups. EPC count significantly reduced in high risk and stable angina with p=0.000. CONCLUSION: PsP of Ganoderma lucidum is a potent antioxidant against pathogenesis of atherosclerosis in stable angina and high risk patients.

Short Link N promotes disc repair in a rabbit model of disc degeneration.

BACKGROUND: The degeneration of the intervertebral disc (IVD) is characterized by proteolytic degradation of the extracellular matrix, and its repair requires the production of an extracellular matrix with a high proteoglycan-to-collagen ratio characteristic of a nucleus pulposus (NP)-like phenotype in vivo. At the moment, there is no medical treatment to reverse or even retard disc degeneration. The purpose of the present study was to determine if a low dose of short link N (sLN), a recently discovered fragment of the link N peptide, could behave in a manner similar to that of link N in restoring the proteoglycan content and proteoglycan-to-collagen ratio of the disc in a rabbit model of IVD degeneration, as an indication of its potential therapeutic benefit in reversing disc degeneration. METHODS: Adolescent New Zealand white rabbits received an annular puncture with an 18-gauge needle into two noncontiguous discs to induce disc degeneration. Two weeks later, either saline (10 µL) or sLN (25 µg in 10 µL saline) was injected into the center of the NP. The sLN concentration was empirically chosen at a lower molar concentration equivalent to half that of link N (100 µg in 10 µL). The effect on radiographic, biochemical and histologic changes were evaluated. RESULTS: Following needle puncture, disc height decreased by about 25-30% within 2 weeks and maintained this loss for the duration of the 12-week study; a single 25-µg sLN injection at 2 weeks partially restored this loss in disc height. sLN injection led to an increase in glycosaminoglycans (GAG) content 12 weeks post-injection in both the NP and annulus fibrosus (AF). There was a trend towards maintaining control disc collagen-content with sLN supplementation and the GAG-to-collagen ratio in the NP was increased when compared to the saline group. CONCLUSIONS: When administered to the degenerative disc in vivo, sLN injection leads to an increase in proteoglycan content and a trend towards maintaining control disc collagen content in both the NP and AF. This is similar to link N when it is administered to the degenerative disc. Thus, pharmacologically, sLN supplementation could be a novel therapeutic approach for treating disc degeneration.

Extracellular matrix and fibroblast injection produces pterygium-like lesion in rabbits.

BACKGROUND: Translational research to develop pharmaceutical and surgical treatments for pterygium requires a reliable and easy to produce animal model. Extracellular matrix and fibroblast are important components of pterygium. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of the subconjunctival injection of fibroblast cells (NIH3T3 cell line) and exogenous extracellular matrix in rabbits in producing a pterygium-like lesion. METHODS: Six 3-month-old white New Zealand rabbits were injected with 20,000 NIH3T3 cells and 5 µL of Matrigel in the right conjunctiva, and with only 5 µL of Matrigel in the left conjunctiva. The eyes were photographed under a magnification of 16× using a 12-megapixel digital camera attached to the microscope on day 1, 3 and 7. Conjunctival vascularization was measured by analyzing images to measure red pixel saturation. Area of corneal and conjunctival fibrovascular tissue formation on the site of injection was assessed by analyzing the images on day 3 and 7 using area measurement software. Histopathologic characteristics were determined in the rabbit tissues and compared with a human primary pterygium. RESULTS: The two treatments promoted growth of conjunctival fibrovascular tissue at day 7. The red pixel saturation and area of fibrovascular tissue developed was significantly higher in right eyes (p < 0.05). Tissues from both treatments showed neovascularization in lesser extent to that observed in human pterygium. Acanthosis, stromal inflammation, and edema were found in tissues of both treatments. No elastosis was found in either treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Matrigel alone or in combination with NIH3T3 cells injected into the rabbits' conjunctiva can promote tissue growth with characteristics of human pterygium, including neovascularization, acanthosis, stromal inflammation, and edema. The combination of Matrigel with NIH3T3 cells seems to have an additive effect on the size and redness of the pterygium-like tissue developed.

A novel role of endocan in alleviating LPS-induced acute lung injury.

AIMS: Endotoxin induced acute lung injury (ALI) is a critical complication of some clinical illnesses. Endothelial cell dysfunction and excessive pro-inflammation cytokine release are pivotal to the injury of alveolar-capillary membrane which is the typical characteristic of endotoxic lung injury. As a potential marker of endothelial cells, endocan plays an important role in many endothelial-dependent pathophysiological diseases. We speculated that endocan have anti-inflammatory property in ALI. Here, we investigated the role of endocan in LPS-induced ALI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mice were randomly divided into 4 groups. LPS were used to construct ALI mice model by aerosolization for 20 min. Endocan was intraperitoneal injected at 30 min before LPS exposure. Levels of TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-1ß, IL-6 and MPO activities were detected by indicated ELISA. Cell apoptotic rate was determined by Annexin V/PI kit, ROS level and MPTP were detected by DCFH-DA and JC-1 kit, respectively. Seahorse XF96 was applied to evaluate the alteration of OCR and ECAR. Western blot and qRT-PCR were used to detect indicated molecules. KEY FINDINGS: Endocan effectively decreased TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-1ß, and IL-6 levels as well as relieved pulmonary epithelium cell apoptosis caused by LPS exposure. Endocan significantly reversed LPS induced UPRmt and promoted cell metabolism reprogramming which were crucial for the protective characteristic of endocan in ALI mice model. SIGNIFICANCE: The above findings suggested endocan could significantly suppress inflammatory response in ALI model through attenuating UPRmt associated apoptosis and switch cellular bioenergetics, indicating endocan could be considered as a promising compound against LPS induced ALI.

New model of proliferative vitreoretinopathy in rabbit for drug delivery and pharmacodynamic studies.

Blinding retinal diseases become more epidemic as the population ages. These diseases, such as diabetic retinopathy and macular edema, are of chronic nature and require protracted drug presence at the disease site. A sustained intravitreal porous silicon delivery system with dexamethasone (pSiO2-COO-DEX) was evaluated in a new rabbit model of proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) in a real treatment design. In contrast to the pretreatment design model, pSiO2-COO-DEX was intravitreally injected into the eyes with active inflammation. Subretinal injection of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and Matrigel induced a late-onset vitreoretinal inflammation that gradually developed into PVR. This method mimics the human disease better than PVR induced by either intravitreal cell injection or trauma. The pSiO2-COO-DEX intervened eyes had minimal PVR, while balanced saline solution or free dexamethasone intervened eyes had significantly more PVR formation. In addition, adding VEGF to the Matrigel for subretinal injection induced greater inflammation and retinal neovascularization in comparison to only Matrigel injected under the medullary ray. Clinical and pathological examinations, including fundus fluorescein angiography and optical coherence tomography, confirmed these changes. In the current study, neither subretinal injection of Matrigel or subretinal injection of VEGF and Matrigel induced choroidal neovascularization. However, the current PVR model demonstrates a chronic course with moderate severity, which may be useful for drug screening studies.

Phase III trial comparing UFT + PSK to UFT + LV in stage IIB, III colorectal cancer (MCSGO-CCTG).

PURPOSE: Oral adjuvant uracil and tegafur plus leucovorin (UFT/LV) is not inferior to standard weekly fluorouracil and folinate for stage II/III colon cancer. However, protein-bound polysaccharide K (PSK) has been evaluated as postoperative adjuvant therapy for colorectal cancer. This report is the first of MCSGO-CCTG, which compared UFT/LV to UFT/PSK as adjuvant chemotherapy for stage IIB or III colorectal cancer in patients who had undergone Japanese D2/D3 lymph node dissection. METHODS: The primary endpoint was the 3-year disease-free survival (DFS). A randomized non-inferiority study compared UFT/LV to UFT/PSK. The overall survival, adverse events, compliance, and quality of life were also investigated as the secondary endpoints. RESULTS: Between March 2006 and December 2010, 357 patients were randomized to UFT/PSK (n = 178) or UFT/LV (n = 179) (median age 65 years, colon/rectum 67.4/32.6%, stage IIB/IIIA/IIIB/IIIC 11.1/15.7/55.0/18.2%). The 3-year DFS rate was 82.3% in those receiving UFT/LV and 72.1% in those receiving UFT/PSK. The non-inferiority of UFT/PSK adjuvant therapy to UFT/LV therapy was not verified (-9.06%, 90% confidence interval -17.06 to -1.06%). The 3-year overall survival rate was 95.4% in those receiving UFT/LV and 90.7% in those receiving UFT/PSK. CONCLUSIONS: As adjuvant chemotherapy for stage IIB and III colorectal cancer patients, UFT/PSK adjuvant therapy was not non-inferior to UFT/LV therapy with respect to the DFS.

A Three-Dimensional Culture System with Matrigel Promotes Purified Spiral Ganglion Neuron Survival and Function In Vitro.

In vitro culture of spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) is a useful approach to investigate numerous aspects of neuronal behavior and to identify potential therapeutic targets for SGN protection and regeneration. However, the isolation of SGNs and the long-term maintenance of their structure and function in vitro remain challenging. In this study, we isolated SGNs from Bhlhb5-cre and Rosa26-tdTomato mice with fluorescence-activated cell sorting and determined the cell purity. We then encapsulated the pure SGNs in matrigel and cultured the SGNs in vitro. We found that the three-dimensional (3D)-matrigel culture environment significantly suppressed apoptosis and improved SGN survival in vitro, which enabled the long-term culture of SGNs for up to 6 months. The 3D-matrigel system also significantly promoted neurite outgrowth of the SGNs, increased the cells' polarity, promoted the area of growth cones, and significantly increased the synapse density of the SGNs. More importantly, the 3D-matrigel system helped to maintain and promote the electrophysiological properties of the SGNs. In conclusion, the 3D-matrigel culture system promoted the survival of purified SGNs in vitro and maintained their morphological structure and function and thus could be a useful tool for studying the physiology and pathophysiology of purified SGNs in long-term culture.

Protective effects of a G. lucidum proteoglycan on INS-1 cells against IAPP-induced apoptosis via attenuating endoplasmic reticulum stress and modulating CHOP/JNK pathways.

Fudan-Yueyang-G. lucidum (FYGL) is a water-soluble macromolecular proteoglycan extracted from Ganoderma lucidum which has been used for health promotion for a long time in China. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects of FYGL on INS-1 rat insulinoma beta cells against IAPP-induced cell apoptosis, as well as the underlying mechanisms. The results showed that apoptotic cells were significantly increased when incubated with islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP). However, cytotoxicity of IAPP was significantly attenuated by co-incubation of the cells with FYGL. The results of RT-PCR showed that mRNA expression of caspase-3, caspase-12 and C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) in IAPP-treated cells were inhibited by FYGL. Moreover, FYGL significantly prevented the IAPP-induced abnormal expression of inositol-requiring protein-1α (IRE1α), protein kinase RNA (PKR)-like ER kinase (PERK), activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6), as well as suppressed the activation of CHOP and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). Taken together, our results suggest that FYGL protects INS-1 pancreatic beta cells against IAPP-induced apoptosis through attenuating endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) and modulating CHOP/JNK pathways.