[Characteristic changes of blood stasis syndrome in rat model of steroid-induced femoral head necrosis based on the combination of disease, syndrome, and symptom].

The approach combining disease, syndrome, and symptom was employed to investigate the characteristic changes of blood stasis syndrome in a rat model of steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head(SONFH) during disease onset and progression. Seventy-two male SD rats were randomized into a healthy control group and a model group. The rat model of SONFH was established by injection of lipopolysaccharide(LPS) in the tail vein at a dose of 20 µg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1) on days 1 and 2 and gluteal intramuscular injection of methylprednisolone sodium succinate(MPS) at a dose of 40 mg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1) on days 3-5, while the healthy control group received an equal volume of saline. The mechanical pain test, tongue color RGB technique, gait detection, open field test, and inclined plane test were employed to assess hip pain, tongue color, limping, joint activity, and lower limb strength, respectively, at different time points within 21 weeks of modeling. At weeks 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, and 21 after modeling, histopathological changes of the femoral head were observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining and micro-CT scanning; four coagulation items were measured by rotational thromboelastometry; and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was employed to determine the levels of six blood lipids, vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF), endothelin-1(ET-1), nitric oxide(NO), tissue-type plasminogen activator(t-PA), plasminogen activator inhibitor factor-1(PAI-1), bone gla protein(BGP), alkaline phosphatase(ALP), receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB(RANKL), osteoprotegerin(OPG), and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b(TRAP5b) in the serum, as well as the levels of 6-keto-prostaglandin 1α(6-keto-PGF1α) and thromboxane B2(TXB2) in the plasma. The results demonstrated that the pathological alterations in the SONFH rats were severer over time. The bone trabecular area ratio, adipocyte number, empty lacuna rate, bone mineral density(BMD), bone volume/tissue volume(BV/TV), trabecular thickness(Tb.Th), trabecular number(Tb.N), bone surface area/bone volume(BS/BV), and trabecular separation(Tb.Sp) all significantly increased or decreased over the modeling time after week 4. Compared with the healthy control group, the mechanical pain threshold, gait swing speed, stride, standing time, and walking cycle of SONFH rats changed significantly within 21 weeks after modeling, with the greatest difference observed 12 weeks after modeling. The time spent in the central zone, rearing score, and maximum tilt angle in the open field test of SONFH rats also changed significantly over the modeling time. Compared with the healthy control group, the R, G, and B values of the tongue color of the model rats decreased significantly, with the greatest difference observed 11 weeks after modeling. The levels of total cholesterol(TC), total triglycerides(TG), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol(LDL-C), and apoprotein B(ApoB) in the SONFH rats changed significantly 4 and 8 weeks after modeling. The levels of VEGF, ET-1, NO, t-PA, PAI-1, 6-keto-PGF1α, TXB2, four coagulation items, and TXB2/6-keto-PGF1α ratio in the serum of SONFH rats changed significantly 4-16 weeks after modeling, with the greatest differences observed 12 weeks after modeling. The levels of BGP, TRAP5b, RANKL, OPG, and RANKL/OPG ratio in the serum of SONFH rats changed significantly 8-21 weeks after modeling. During the entire onset and progression of SONFH in rats, the blood stasis syndrome characteristics such as hyperalgesia, tongue color darkening, gait abnormalities, platelet, vascular, and coagulation dysfunctions were observed, which gradually worsened and then gradually alleviated in the disease course(2-21 weeks), with the most notable differences occurred around 12 weeks after modeling.

Concurrence of osteonecrosis and steroid myopathy secondary to oral steroid therapy in a patient with ABCB1 gene polymorphisms: A case report.

Glucocorticoids (GCs) are widely used in various autoimmune diseases. Side effects may occur in patients with long-term or high-dose GC usage. Among them, steroid myopathy and osteonecrosis are two severe forms. We report a patient with pemphigus vulgaris on GC-treatment who developed muscle weakness when a cumulative dose of methylprednisolone reached about 20g (14-80mg/d for 2.5 years). Laboratory tests showed slightly elevated lactate dehydrogenase and hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase. MRI revealed osteonecrosis in the femoral head, distal femur, and proximal tibia of both legs. The biopsy of the right quadriceps revealed atrophy of type II myofiber without leukocyte infiltration, which was suggestive of steroid myopathy. Genotyping of the patient showed 5G/5G genotype of the PAI-1 gene and CC genotype of the ABCB1 gene (C3435T), suggesting she was sensitive to GCs. The patient's lesions were considered to be GC-induced adverse events, which were improved with tapering GC. Therefore, it is important to recognize steroid-induced musculoskeletal side effects and genotyping favors personalized medication.

Optimization of expression yield in a stable cell line expressing a novel mutated chimeric tissue plasminogen activator (mt-PA)

Abstract The development of stable cell lines producing recombinant proteins is very time-consuming and laborious. One of the practical approaches successfully performed is Fluorescence-Activated Cell Sorting (FACS). A mutated chimeric tissue plasminogen activator (mt-PA) was developed by removing the first three domains of t-PA, insertion of GHRP sequence and mutation toward resistance to plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1). In the current study, a new stable CHO-DG44 cell line producing mt-PA was developed by two sequential clonal selections: FACS and clonal-selection by limiting dilution. Furthermore, the expression was more evaluated using two different expression media. Finally, the high-producing clones were selected based on the dot blot and amidolytic activity test. The transfection efficiency of CHO-DG44 cells was 38% as measured by flow cytometry on green fluorescent protein (GFP). After performing FACS on stable cell pools, the expression yield was increased to fifty-fold. In terms of growth profile, CD-DG44 showed higher viability and cell density results than ProCHO5 medium. The expression of mt-PA was significantly higher in CD-DG44 than in ProCHO5, 765 and 280 IU/mL, respectively. Our data indicated that selection of an appropriate expression medium played a critical role in the development of potent producing stable cells by FACS.

Non-Antithrombin-Mediated Heparin Resistance During Cardiac Surgery: Two Case Reports.

It is well known that antithrombin (AT) deficiency results in decreased heparin sensitivity, also known as "heparin resistance." However, non-AT-mediated causes of heparin resistance are generally poorly characterized and less prevalent in the literature. We present 2 case reports of non-AT-mediated heparin resistance during cardiac surgery due to paraproteinemia and hyperfibrinogenemia. These cases highlight the challenges posed by unusual conditions in achieving adequate anticoagulation for cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). The pros and cons of the treatment selections for these cases are discussed, and the potential complications of large doses of unfractionated heparin are considered.

The antifibrotic effects of plasminogen activation occur via prostaglandin E2 synthesis in humans and mice.

Plasminogen activation to plasmin protects from lung fibrosis, but the mechanism underlying this antifibrotic effect remains unclear. We found that mice lacking plasminogen activation inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), which are protected from bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis, exhibit lung overproduction of the antifibrotic lipid mediator prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). Plasminogen activation upregulated PGE2 synthesis in alveolar epithelial cells, lung fibroblasts, and lung fibrocytes from saline- and bleomycin-treated mice, as well as in normal fetal and adult primary human lung fibroblasts. This response was exaggerated in cells from Pai1-/- mice. Although enhanced PGE2 formation required the generation of plasmin, it was independent of proteinase-activated receptor 1 (PAR-1) and instead reflected proteolytic activation and release of HGF with subsequent induction of COX-2. That the HGF/COX-2/PGE2 axis mediates in vivo protection from fibrosis in Pai1-/- mice was demonstrated by experiments showing that a selective inhibitor of the HGF receptor c-Met increased lung collagen to WT levels while reducing COX-2 protein and PGE2 levels. Of clinical interest, fibroblasts from patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis were found to be defective in their ability to induce COX-2 and, therefore, unable to upregulate PGE2 synthesis in response to plasmin or HGF. These studies demonstrate crosstalk between plasminogen activation and PGE2 generation in the lung and provide a mechanism for the well-known antifibrotic actions of the fibrinolytic pathway.

Toxicogenomic analysis of mainstream tobacco smoke-exposed mice reveals repression of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 gene in heart.

Tobacco smoking is associated with cardiovascular pathology. However, the molecular mechanisms of tobacco smoke exposure that lead to initiation or exacerbation of cardiovascular disease are unclear. In this study, the effects of mainstream tobacco smoke (MTS) on global transcription in the heart were investigated. Male C57B1/CBA mice were exposed to MTS from 2 cigarettes daily, 5 days/wk for 6 or 12 wk. Mice were sacrificed immediately, or 6 wk following the last cigarette. High-density DNA microarrays were used to characterize global gene expression changes in whole heart. Fifteen genes were significantly differentially expressed following exposure to MTS. Among these genes, cytochrome P-450 1A1 (Cyp1A1) was upregulated by 12-fold, and Serpine-1 (plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, PAI-1) was downregulated by 1.7-fold. Concomitant increase in Cyp1A1 protein levels and decrease in total and active PAI-1 protein was observed in tissue extracts by Western blot assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. Observed changes were transient and were partially reversed during break periods. Thus, gene expression profiling of heart tissue revealed a novel cardiovascular mechanism operating in response to MTS. Our results suggest a potential role for PAI-1 in MTS-induced cardiovascular pathology.

Síndrome metabólica: um estado pró-trombótico / Metabolic syndrome: a prothrombotic state

Dentre os vários componentes considerados na definição da síndrome metabólica encontra-se o estado pró-trombótico. Esse estado pró-trombótico é caracterizado pelo desequilíbrio entre fatores pró-coagulantes e pró-fibrinolíticos. Clinicamente o estado pró-trombótico da síndrome metabólica pode ser caracterizado pela elevação do fibrinogênio e do PAI-1 e pela ativação de vias de coagulação. Além da ativação de vias de coagulação e do aumento de fatores que desencadeiam fenômenostrombóticos no paciente com a síndrome metabólica, o agrupamento de fatores de risco cardiovascular encontrado nesses pacientes está associado também com a disfunção endotelial. O endotélio, como já se sabe, regula funções tais como controle do tônus vascular, metabolismo de lipídios, equilíbrio fibrinólise-trombose, agregação plaquetária, resposta inflamatória (permeabilidade celular) e proliferação celular vascular. De modo que ele assume papel muito importante como elo fisiopatológico desde a patogênese da aterosclerose incipiente até as complicações mais graves. Essa situação é preocupante pelas evidências epidemiológicas, que demonstram risco de eventos cardiovasculares aterotrombóticos aumentado associado coma síndrome metabólica.

Aldosterone and PAI-1: implications for renal injury.

Aldosterone modulates cardiovascular and renal injury and fibrosis in animal models. This review explores the hypothesis that aldosterone causes injury and fibrosis, in part, through effects on plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, the major physiological inhibitor of plasminogen activators in vivo. Aldosterone interacts with angiotensin II to increase plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 expression in vitro and in vivo. Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, by inhibiting the production of plasmin from plasminogen, tips the balance in favor of extracellular matrix accumulation and promotes fibrosis. Aldosterone receptor antagonism decreases both PAI-1 expression and fibrosis in animal models. These findings have implications for the clinical management of cardiovascular and renal disease.

Randomized adjuvant chemotherapy trial in high-risk, lymph node-negative breast cancer patients identified by urokinase-type plasminogen activator and plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1.

BACKGROUND: Most patients with lymph node-negative breast cancer are cured by locoregional treatment; however, about 30% relapse. Because traditional histomorphologic and clinical factors fail to identify the high-risk patients who may benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy, other prognostic factors are needed. In a unicenter study, we have found that levels of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1) in the primary tumor are predictive of disease recurrence. Thus, we designed the Chemo N(0) prospective randomized multicenter therapy trial to investigate further whether uPA and PAI-1 are such prognostic factors and whether high-risk patients identified by these factors benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy. After 4.5 years, we present results of the first interim analysis. METHODS: We studied 556 patients with lymph node-negative breast cancer. The median follow-up was 32 months. All patients with low tumor levels of uPA (< or = 3 ng/mg of protein) and of PAI-1 (< or = 14 ng/mg of protein) were observed. Patients with high tumor levels of uPA (> 3 ng/mg of protein) and/or of PAI-1 (> 14 ng/mg of protein) were randomly assigned to combination chemotherapy or subjected to observation only. All statistical tests were two-sided. RESULTS: A total of 241 patients had low levels of uPA and PAI-1, and 315 had elevated levels of uPA and/or PAI-1. The estimated 3-year recurrence rate for patients with low tumor levels of uPA and PAI-1 (low-risk group) was 6.7% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.5% to 10.8%). This rate for patients with high tumor levels of uPA and/or PAI-1 (high-risk group) was 14.7% (95% CI = 8.5% to 20.9%) (P = 0.006). First interim analysis suggests that high-risk patients in the chemotherapy group benefit, with a 43.8% lower estimated probability of disease recurrence at 3 years than high-risk patients in the observation group (intention-to-treat analysis: relative risk = 0.56; 95% CI = 0.25 to 1.28), but further follow-up is needed for confirmation. CONCLUSIONS: Using uPA and PAI-1, we have been able to classify about half of the patients with lymph node-negative breast cancer as low risk, for whom adjuvant chemotherapy may be avoided, and half as high risk, who appear to benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy.

Impaired endogenous fibrinolysis in diabetes mellitus: mechanisms and therapeutic approaches.

In type II diabetes mellitus the activity of the endogenous fibrinolytic system is reduced secondary to increased plasma activity of the plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1). Because PAI-1 is considered an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease, increased PAI-1 activity in diabetes mellitus may partly explain the increased susceptibility to both primary atherosclerosis and restenosis after angioplasty in this disease. The factors contributing to increased PAI-1 expression in diabetes mellitus are reviewed as well as possible therapeutic approaches to normalize increased PAI-1 expression.

Tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-I (PAI-I) levels in plasma and peritoneal effluent in patients on CAPD.

The formation of fibrin on peritoneal surface has been related to the appearance of adhesions both, in surgical and CAPD patients. It is known that mesothelial cells have fibrinolytic activity related with t-PA production. We studied plasma and overnight peritoneal effluent (OPE) from 20 CAPD stable patients. Antigenic PAI and t-PA were determined. These values and its correspondent peritoneal saturation indexes were compared to urea and creatinine MTCs, peritonitis incidence, UF capacity, protein losses, Pi, Ca, Na, CO2t, urea and creatinine OPE levels. Plasma t-PA 6.64 +/- 4.68 (2.4-20); Plasma PAI-I 24.8 +/- 17.1 (p < 0.001 in respect to controls) (4-62); OPEt-PA 1.46 +/- 0.95 (0.4-4.6); OPE PAI-I 7.3 +/- 5.6 (0-20.4). Peritoneal saturation ratios were for t-PA 29.6 +/- 21% (6-65) and for PAI-I 34 +/- 32% (7-132). In conclusion our data do not support strong relationship between peritoneal t-PA/PAI system and the functional characteristics of the peritoneal membrane although plasma PAI-I, after an increase in patients at early stages on CAPD, shows a tendency to decrease over time and frequent peritonitis. The values of peritoneal saturation ratios for t-PA/PAI are higher than expected for their molecular weight, which suggests local production. An elevated plasma t-PA levels has been found in older patients.