OBJECTIVES: The molecular mechanisms that regulate cardiomyocyte cell cycle and terminal differentiation in humans remain largely unknown. To determine which cyclins, cyclin dependent kinases (CDKs) and cyclin kinase inhibitors (CKIs) are important for cardiomyocyte proliferation, we have examined protein levels of cyclins, CDKs and CKIs during normal atrial development in humans. METHODS: Atrial tissues were obtained in the fetus from inevitable abortion and in the adult during surgery. Cyclin and CDK proteins were determined by Western blot analysis. CDK activities were determined by phosphorylation amount using specific substrate. RESULTS: Most cyclins and CDKs were high during the fetal period and their levels decreased at different rates during the adult period. While the protein levels of cyclin D1, cyclin D3, CDK4, CDK6 and CDK2 were still detectable in adult atria, the protein levels of cyclin E, cyclin A, cyclin B, cdc2 and PCNA were not detectable. Interestingly, p27KIP1 protein increased markedly in the adult period, while p21CIP1 protein in atria was detectable only in the fetal period. While the activities of CDK6, CDK2 and cdc2 decreased markedly, the activity of CDK4 did not change from the fetal period to the adult period. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that marked reduction of protein levels and activities of cyclins and CDKs, and marked induction of p27KIP1 in atria, are associated with the withdrawal of cardiac cell cycle in adult humans.
Adult ; Age Factors ; Animal ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Cycle ; Cells, Cultured ; Comparative Study ; Cyclin A/analysis ; Cyclin B/analysis ; Cyclin D1/analysis ; Cyclin E/analysis ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinases/analysis* ; Cyclins/analysis* ; Female ; Fetal Development ; Heart Atrium/growth & development* ; Heart Atrium/embryology ; Heart Atrium/cytology* ; Heart Atrium/chemistry ; Human ; Male ; Middle Age ; Myocardium/chemistry* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Substances: Cyclin D1 ; Substances: Cyclins ; Substances: Cyclin-Dependent Kinases ; Substances: Cyclin E ; Substances: Cyclin B ; Substances: Cyclin A

In this study we examined the in vitro characteristics of tenocyte adhesion to biologically-modified surface of polymer. Polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) 85/15 films were prepared by a solvent-casting technique. Each film was adhered onto the bottom of a chamber. The film was precoated with poly-D-lysine (PDL), and then coated with serum-free F12 medium containing various concentrations of fibronectin (FN), type I collagen (CN I), and insulin-like growth factor1 (IGF-1). The monoclonal antibodies (to FN and to CN I) with various dilutions were used to inhibit attachment of tenocytes to surface precoated with FN or CN I. Human embryonic tendon cells (HETCs) and transformed human embryonic tendon cells (THETCs) were used as the seeding cells. The system used for the measurement of adhesion force was the micropipette aspiration experiment system. The micropipette was manipulated to aspirate a small portion of the tenocyte body by using a small aspiration pressure. Then the pipette was pulled away from the adhesion area by micromanipulation. The minimum force required to detach the tenocyte from the substrate was defined as the adhesion force. The results showed that modification of FN or CN I by precoating significantly enhanced attachment of tenocytes to surface of polymer (P < 0.05). As antibodies to FN or CN I were added to a polymer film precoated with FN or CN I, the adhesion force decreased significantly (P < 0.05). We concluded that the specific adhesion forces of tenocytes to extracellular matrix adhesion proteins (FN and CN I) had coordinated action and showed good dependence on their precoating concentrations, and were inhibited by the antibodies to these adhesion proteins. Films precoated with IGF-1 strongly accelerated the adhesion of tenocytes to polymer. These results indicate that the specific adhesion of tenocytes to polymer can be promoted by coating extracellular matrix adhesive proteins and insulin-like growth factor1. It is of great importance to construct tissue-engineered tendon.
Biocompatible Materials ; chemistry ; Cell Adhesion ; drug effects ; physiology ; Cells, Cultured ; Extracellular Matrix Proteins ; pharmacology ; Growth Substances ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Lactic Acid ; chemistry ; Polyglycolic Acid ; chemistry ; Polylysine ; pharmacology ; Polymers ; chemistry ; Tendons ; cytology ; embryology ; physiology ; Tissue Engineering

Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF-1) is an oxygen-dependent transcriptional activator, which plays crucial roles in the angiogenesis of tumors and mammalian development. HIF-1 consists of a constitutively expressed HIF-1beta subunit and one of three subunits (HIF-1alpha, HIF-2alpha or HIF-3alpha). The stability and activity of HIF-1alpha are regulated by various post-translational modifications, hydroxylation, acetylation, and phosphorylation. Therefore, HIF-1alpha interacts with several protein factors including PHD, pVHL, ARD-1, and p300/CBP. Under normoxia, the HIF-1alpha subunit is rapidly degraded via the von Hippel-Lindau tumor suppressor gene product (pVHL)- mediated ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. The association of pVHL and HIF-1alpha under normoxic conditions is triggered by the hydroxylation of prolines and the acetylation of lysine within a polypeptide segment known as the oxygen-dependent degradation (ODD) domain. On the contrary, in the hypoxia condition, HIF-1alpha subunit becomes stable and interacts with coactivators such as p300/CBP to modulate its transcriptional activity. Eventually, HIF-1 acts as a master regulator of numerous hypoxia-inducible genes under hypoxic conditions. The target genes of HIF-1 are especially related to angiogenesis, cell proliferation/survival, and glucose/iron metabolism. Moreover, it was reported that the activation of HIF-1alpha is closely associated with a variety of tumors and oncogenic pathways. Hence, the blocking of HIF-1a itself or HIF-1alpha interacting proteins inhibit tumor growth. Based on these findings, HIF-1 can be a prime target for anticancer therapies. This review summarizes the molecular mechanism of HIF-1a stability, the biological functions of HIF-1 and its potential applications of cancer therapies.
Alternative Splicing ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Gene Therapy ; Growth Substances/metabolism ; Humans ; Protein Isoforms/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Protein Subunits/genetics/metabolism ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Signal Transduction/physiology ; Transcription Factors/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Transcription, Genetic

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the wound healing potential of fractions from ethanol extract of Martynia annua (M. annua) Linn leaves.

METHODSEthanol extract of M. annua Linn leaves was fractionate into three different fractions (MAF-A, MAF-B and MAF-C) which were screened for wound healing potential using two models: excision and incision on rats. The thin layer chromatography (TLC) profile of all fractions were analyzed and TLC of luteolin was also done. The Povidone-Iodine Ointment was used as reference for comparision. Excision and incision wounds were created on dorsal portion of rats for study. Wound contraction, biochemical parameters (protein level and hydroxyproline level) and histopathological study were performed in excision wound model whereas incision model was used for determination of tensile strength.

RESULTSThe wound contraction and tensile strength of skin tissues were observed significantly greater in MAF-C fraction treated group than other two fractions (P<0.01). In excision wound method (on day 18) protein content and hydroxyproline were found significantly higher in MAF-C group than control group (P<0.01). Histopathological study also showed better angiogenesis, matured collagen fibres and fibroblast cells as compared with the control group.

CONCLUSIONSIn conclusion, our findings suggest that fraction MAF-C from ethanol extract of M. annua leaves is found most effective in wound healing.

Animals ; Anti-Infective Agents, Local ; isolation & purification ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Growth Substances ; isolation & purification ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Plant Extracts ; isolation & purification ; therapeutic use ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Rats, Wistar ; Tracheophyta ; chemistry ; Treatment Outcome ; Wound Healing ; drug effects

Mouse spleen cells activated in a mixed lymphocyte reaction release a soluble factor, which induces a significant proliferative response in fresh mouse spleen cells. This proliferation inducing factor (PIF) was found to be heat stable (90 degrees C for 45 min) and also resistant to trypsin or chymotrypsin treatment. By using a sizing HPLC column, the molecular weight of PIF appears to be 25 kDa. Mouse spleen cells treated with anti-thy-1 + complement lost Con-A induced proliferative responses but responded well to PIF. B cell depleted spleen cells obtained by negative selection panning, did not respond to PIF. These results indicate that B cells proliferated in response to PIF. Polymixin-B, which blocks the B cell proliferative response to LPS, did not inhibit PIF induced proliferation.
Animal ; B-Lymphocytes/physiology* ; B-Lymphocytes/drug effects ; Bone Marrow/metabolism ; Cell Division/physiology ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Chymotrypsin/pharmacology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Growth Substances/pharmacology* ; Growth Substances/chemistry ; Heat ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Molecular Weight ; Polymyxin B/pharmacology ; Protein Denaturation ; Spleen/metabolism* ; Thymus Gland/metabolism ; Trypsin/pharmacology

Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) is composed of HIF-1alpha and HIF-1beta, and is a master regulator of oxygen homeostasis, playing critical roles in physiological and pathological processes. Normally, the formation and transcriptional activity of HIF-1 depend on the amount of HIF-1alpha, and the expression of HIF-1alpha is tightly controlled by the cellular oxygen tension. Recent progress in the study of its regulation mechanism provided clues as to how HIF-1alpha is regulated by oxygen. It appears that HIF-1alpha is not regulated only by the oxygen tension, but also by various other stimuli, such as transition metals, nitric oxide, reactive oxygen species, growth factors, and mechanical stresses. In this review, we summarize the oxygen-dependent and -independent regulation of HIF-1alpha, and the respective physiological and pathological meanings.
Animals ; Growth Substances/metabolism ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit ; Molecular Structure ; Nitric Oxide/metabolism ; Oxygen/*metabolism ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Stress, Mechanical ; Transcription Factors/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Transition Elements/metabolism

BACKGROUNDPlatelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a kind of natural source of autologous growth factors, and has been used successfully in medical community. However, the effect of PRP in periodontal regeneration is not clear yet. This study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of PRP as an adjunct to bovine porous bone mineral (BPBM) graft in the treatment of human intrabony defects.

METHODSSeventeen intrabony defects in 10 periodontitis patients were randomly treated either with PRP and BPBM (test group, n = 9) or with BPBM alone (control group, n = 8). Clinical parameters were evaluated including changes in probing depth, relative attachment level (measured by Florida Probe and a stent), and bone probing level between baseline and 1 year postoperatively. Standardized periapical radiographs of each defect were taken at baseline, 2 weeks, and 1 year postoperatively, and analyzed by digital subtraction radiography (DSR).

RESULTSBoth treatment modalities resulted in significant attachment gain, reduction of probing depth, and bone probing level at 1-year post-surgery compared to baseline. The test group exhibited statistically significant improvement compared to the control sites in probing depth reduction: (4.78 +/- 0.95) mm versus (3.48 +/- 0.41) mm (P < 0.01); clinical attachment gain: (4.52 +/- 1.14) mm versus (2.85 +/- 0.80) mm (P < 0.01); bone probing reduction: (4.56 +/- 1.04) mm versus (2.88 +/- 0.79) mm (P < 0.01); and defect bone fill: (73.41 +/- 14.78)% versus (47.32 +/- 11.47)% (P < 0.01). DSR analysis of baseline and 1 year postoperatively also showed greater radiographic gains in alveolar bone mass in the test group than in the control group: gray increase (580 +/- 50) grays versus (220 +/- 32) grays (P = 0.0001); area with increased gray were (5.21 +/- 1.25) mm(2) versus (3.02 +/- 1.22) mm(2) (P = 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONSThe treatment with a combination of PRP and BPBM led to a significantly favorable clinical improvement in periodontal intrabony defects compared to using BPBM alone. Further studies are necessary to assess the long-term effectiveness of PRP, and a larger sample size is needed.

Adult ; Alveolar Bone Loss ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Animals ; Blood Platelets ; physiology ; Bone Regeneration ; drug effects ; Bone Substitutes ; therapeutic use ; Bone Transplantation ; methods ; Cattle ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Growth Substances ; therapeutic use ; Guided Tissue Regeneration, Periodontal ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Minerals ; therapeutic use ; Plasma ; chemistry ; cytology ; Platelet Transfusion ; Radiography ; Transplantation, Heterologous ; Treatment Outcome

AIMTo investigate the effects of 17beta-estradiol (E2), Peganum harmala extract (PHE) and caloric restriction (CR) on various testis parameters during aging.

METHODSTwelve month-old male rats were treated for 6 months with either E2 or PHE, or submitted to CR (40%).

RESULTSOur results show that estrogens and CR are able to protect the male gonad by preventing the decrease of testosterone and E2 levels as well as the decrease of aromatase and estrogen receptor gene expressions. Indeed, E2, PHE and CR treatments induced an increase in the superoxide dismutase activities and decreased the activity of testicular enzymes: gamma-glutamyl transferase, alkaline phosphatase, lactate deshydrogenase as well as the aspartate and lactate transaminases in aged animals. In addition, the testicular catalase and gluthatione peroxidase activities were enhanced in E2, PHE and CR-treated rats compared to untreated animals at 18 months of age. Moreover, the positive effects of estradiol, PHE and CR were further supported by a lower level of lipid peroxidation. Recovery of spermatogenesis was recorded in treated rats.

CONCLUSIONBesides a low caloric diet which is beneficial for spermatogenesis, a protective antioxydant role of estrogens is suggested. Estrogens delay testicular cell damage, which leads to functional senescence and, therefore, estrogens are helpful in protecting the reproductive functions from the adverse effects exerted by reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced in large quantities in the aged testis.

Aging ; physiology ; Animals ; Antioxidants ; metabolism ; Aromatase ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Caloric Restriction ; Estradiol ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Estrogens ; pharmacology ; Lipid Peroxidation ; drug effects ; Male ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Peganum ; chemistry ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; RNA ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Receptors, Estrogen ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Testis ; drug effects ; enzymology ; growth & development ; Testosterone ; metabolism ; Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances ; metabolism