BACKGROUND:Studies have funded that reduced Wnt/β-catenin signaling is involved in the onset and/or progression of bone erosion in rheumatoid arthritis. It can lead to potential new treatment approaches of bone erosion by enhancing Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. R-spondin 1 may act as a Wnt agonist, but there is no study in human osteoblasts. OBJECTIVE:To verify the effect of R-spondin 1 on promoting differentiation and maturation of human osteoblasts by inhibiting DKK1. METHODS:S40-transfected human osteoblast lines, hFOB1.19, were treated with R-spondin 1, Wnt-3a and DKK1 to detecting the proliferation, alkaline phoshpatase activity and osteoprotegerin concentration. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:R-spondin 1 had no effects on hFOB1.19 cel s. Wnt-3a upregulated the activity of alkaline phoshpatase, which could be enhanced by addition of R-spondin 1. R-spondin 1 could reduce the DKK1-mediated inhibition of alkaline phoshpatase activity in hFOB1.19 cel s. R-spondin 1 increased the concentration of osteoprotegerin, and moreover, the promotion of osteoprotegerin by R-spondin 1 alone was stronger than the inhibition by DKK1. These findings suggest that R-spondin 1 can inhibit DKK1 by Wnt/β-catenin signal pathway to promote the differential and maturation of human osteoblasts to excrete osteoprotegerin.

BACKGROUND: Human placenta is a stable source for human amniotic epithelial cells, which is becoming a cellsource in the regenerative medicine that attracts widespread attentions.OBJECTIVE: To establish the method of isolation, culture, and adipogenic, chondric and osteogenic differentiationof human amniotic epithelial cells. METHODS: Trypsin-EDTA digestion was used to isolate human amniotic epithelial cells from human amnion tissue,which were then cultured and identified in vitro. The growth curve of the cells was observed in 12 days. Passage 1human amniotic epithelial cells were induced to differentiate into adipocytes, chondrocytes and osteoblasts, andconventional cultured cells were used as controls. After 16 days induction, oil red O, Masson and alkaline phosphatesstaining methods were carried out, and adipogenic transcription factor, type Ⅱ collagen, osteopontin, alkalinephosphatase mRNA expressions were detected using real-time fluorescene quantitative PCR.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Human amniotic epithelial cells were successfully obtained from human amnion tissue.Immunofluorescence data showed the expression of epithelial cell surface marker CK19. Passage 1 cells had a strongability to divide and proliferate. Compared with passage 1 ones, passage 2 cells showed a slight decrease in proliferationability, and the proliferation ability of passage 3 cells was the worst. Red lipid droplets, brilliant blue cartilage matrix andreddish brown calcium nodes were detected by oil red O, Masson and alkaline phosphates staining after adipogenic,chondrogenic and osteogenic differentiation, respectively. With the time prolonged, the expressions of adipogenictranscription factor, type Ⅱ collagen, osteopontin and alkaline phosphatase mRNA were increased. These resultsdemonstrated that human amniotic epithelial cells could be isolated from human amniotic membrane by enzymedigestion method, and these amniotic epithelial cells could be induced to differentiate into differentiate into adipocytes,chondrocytes and osteoblasts.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of tumor-transforming gene-1 (PTTG1) in systemic sclerosis (SSc) and its role in fibrosis. METHODS: Skin biopsy samples were collected from 21 patients with SSc and 22 patients with healthy skin for detecting the mRNA and protein expressions of PTTG1 using real-time PCR (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry, respectively. In cultured primary human dermal fibroblasts, PTTG1 expression was knocked down via RNA interference (siRNA), and the mRNA expression levels of PTTG1 and the fibrosis-related genes RESULTS: Compared with those in normal skin samples, the mRNA and protein expressions of PTTG1 increased significantly in the skin tissue of patients with SSc ( CONCLUSIONS PTTG1 is highly expressed in skin tissues of patients with SSc, and PTTG1 knockdown can reduce the activity of the dermal fibroblasts, suggesting a close correlation of PTTG1 with fibrosis in SSc.
Cells, Cultured ; Fibroblasts ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Scleroderma, Systemic/pathology* ; Securin ; Skin/pathology*

Iron is indispensable for the viablility of nearly all living organisms, and it is imperative for cells, tissues, and organisms to acquire this essential metal sufficiently and maintain its metabolic stability for survival. Disruption of iron homeostasis can lead to the development of various diseases. There is a robust connection between iron metabolism and infection, immunity, inflammation, and aging, suggesting that disorders in iron metabolism may contribute to the pathogenesis of arthritis. Numerous studies have focused on the significant role of iron metabolism in the development of arthritis and its potential for targeted drug therapy. Targeting iron metabolism offers a promising approach for individualized treatment of arthritis. Therefore, this review aimed to investigate the mechanisms by which the body maintains iron metabolism and the impacts of iron and iron metabolism disorders on arthritis. Furthermore, this review aimed to identify potential therapeutic targets and active substances related to iron metabolism, which could provide promising research directions in this field.

OBJECTIVE： To screen active fractions of Xiaozhong zhitong lotion that are able to reduce swelling， promote ulcer healing and analgesia， and to provide reference for it’s secondary development of ointment preparation. METHODS： Water elution fraction and 20％， 40％， 60％， 95％ ethanol elution parts were separated by D101 macroporous resin from Xiaozhong zhitong lotion. 120 SD rats were randomly divided into normal group （n＝8） and modeling group （n＝112）. Rats in the normal group were not treated. Hemorrhoids model was established in the model group by injecting 75％ glacial acetic acid into the perianal skin to induce perianal ulcer. 96 model rats were randomly divided into model group [blank ointment matrix 0.51 g/（kg·d）]， positive group [Mayinglong ointment， 0.51 g/（kg·d）]， high-dose and low-dose groups of Xiaozhong zhitong lotion and it’s water elution fraction and 20％， 40％， 60％ ethanol elution parts [8.34， 2.78 g/（kg·d） by crude drug， all make into containing drug ointment]， with 8 rats in each group. The periphery of the anus was smeared with relevant medicine， twice a day， for consecutive 7 d. The local symptoms around the anus of rats 3 and 7 days after administration and the pathological morphology of the local mucosa around the anus of rats 7 days after administration were observed and scored respectively. The effects of each elution part for reducing swelling and promoting ulcer healing were investigated. 120 ICR mice were randomly divided into model group [blank ointment matrix 1.03 g/（kg·d）]， positive group [Mayinglong ointment 1.03 g/（kg·d）]， high-dose and low-dose groups of Xiaozhong zhitong lotion and it’s each elution part [16.65， 5.55 g/（kg·d） by crude drug， all make into containing drug ointment]， with 10 mice in each group. Transdermal administration， twice a day， for consecutive 7 d. After 30 min of last administration， the latency time and 15 min writhing times of mice were detected by designing acetic acid writhing test； pain threshold of mice was determined by hot-plate pain test so as to investigate systemic and local analgesic effects of each elution part. RESULTS： In the detumescence and ulcer healing test， compared with normal group， the score of local symptoms around anus at 3rd and 7th day of administration as well as pathological score of hemorrhoids local mucosa were increased significantly in model group （P＜0.01）. Compared with model group， above scores of positive group， 40％ ethanol elution high-dose and low-dose groups were decreased significantly （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. The scores of local symptoms around anus in 20％ ethanol elution part high-dose group at 3rd and 7th day after medication as well as 60％ ethanol elution part group at 7th day after medication were decreased significantly （P＜0.05）. In analgesia test， compared with model group， writhing latency time was shortened significantly and 15 min writhing times was decreased significantly in positive group， 40％ ethanol elution part high-dose and low-dose groups as weel as 60％ ethanol elution part high-dose group （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）； writhing latency time of 20％ ethanol elution part high-dose group was shortened significantly （P＜0.05）. Pain threshold of mice was increased significantly in positive group， 40％ ethanol elution part high-dose and low-dose groups after medication （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. CONCLUSIONS： The 40％ ethanol elution part from Xiaozhong zhitong lotion is the effective part that can reduce swelling， promote ulcer healing and analgesia.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of calponin-1 (CNN1) in systemic sclerosis (SSc) and its pathogenic role in fibrosis. METHODS: Skin biopsy samples were collected from 19 patients with SSc and 21 healthy subjects. Real-time PCR was used to detect the expression of and mRNAs in the samples, and the protein expression of CNN1 was detected using immunohistochemistry. In cultured primary human dermal fibroblasts, expression was knocked down RNA interference, and the mRNA expression levels of and the fibrosis-related genes , , , , and were detected using real-time PCR; the proliferation of the cells was assessed using a real-time cell proliferation detection system. RESULTS: Compared with that in samples from normal subjects, the expression of mRNA was significantly increased in the skin tissue of patients with SSc ( < 0.05) with a positive correlation with α-SMA (=0.7219, < 0.0001); the protein expression of CNN1 was also significantly increased in the skin tissue of patients with SSc. In cultured primary skin fibroblasts, the expression of CNN1 mRNA was positively correlated with and mRNA expressions (=0.6547, < 0.05; =0.6438, < 0.05). knockdown in the fibroblasts significantly inhibited the cell proliferation, obviously lowered the expressions of fibrosis-related genes, and reduced the protein expression of collagen. CONCLUSIONS The expression of is increased in the skin tissues of patients with SSc, and knockdown can reduce the activity of dermal fibroblasts, suggesting the close correlation of CNN1 with fibrosis in SSc.
Calcium-Binding Proteins ; Cells, Cultured ; Fibroblasts ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Microfilament Proteins ; Scleroderma, Systemic ; Skin

Uncontrolled fibrosis of skin and internal organs is the main characteristic of scleroderma, and collagen is a major extracellular matrix protein that deposits in the fibrotic organs. As the chaperone of collagen, heat shock protein 47 (HSP47) is closely related with the development of fibrosis. To explore the potential function of HSP47 in the pathogenesis of scleroderma, the clinical, in vivo and in vitro studies were performed. In clinical, the increased mRNA level of HSP47 was observed in the skin fibroblasts and PBMC from scleroderma patients, and the enhanced protein level of HSP47 was also detected in the skin biopsy and plasma of the above patients. Unexpectedly, the enhanced levels of HSP47 were positively correlated with the presence of anti-centromere antibody in scleroderma patients. Moreover, a high expression of HSP47 was found in the skin lesion of BLM-induced scleroderma mouse model. Further in vitro studies demonstrated that HSP47 knockdown could block the intracellular and extracellular collagen over-productions induced by exogenous TGF-β. Therefore, the results in this study provide direct evidence that HSP47 is involved in the pathogenesis of scleroderma. The high expression of HSP47 can be detected in the circulatory system of scleroderma patients, indicating that HSP47 may become a pathological marker to assess the progression of scleroderma, and also explain the systemic fibrosis of scleroderma. Meanwhile, collagen over-expression is blocked by HSP47 knockdown, suggesting the possibility that HSP47 can be a potential therapeutic target for scleroderma.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Animals ; Biopsy ; Blotting, Western ; Cells, Cultured ; Collagen ; metabolism ; Female ; Fibroblasts ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Fibrosis ; HSP47 Heat-Shock Proteins ; blood ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C3H ; Middle Aged ; NIH 3T3 Cells ; Protein Binding ; RNA Interference ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Scleroderma, Systemic ; blood ; genetics ; metabolism ; Skin ; metabolism ; pathology ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; pharmacology ; Young Adult

ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters ; genetics ; DNA Copy Number Variations ; genetics ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Gout ; genetics ; Humans ; Receptors, IgG ; genetics ; Receptors, Interleukin-17 ; genetics