Wnt signaling plays an important role in the bone development and remodeling. The Wnt antagonist Dkk-1 is a potent inhibitor of bone formation. The aims of this study were firstly to compare the serum Dkk-1 levels in postmenopausal osteoporosis patients with age-matched healthy controls, and secondly, to assess the possible relationship between Dkk-1 and β-catenin, sclerostin, or bone turnover markers [CTX, PINP, N-MID-OT and 25(OH)D] in the setting of postmenopausal osteoporosis. A total of 350 patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis and 150 age-matched healthy controls were enrolled, and the serum levels of Dkk-1, β-catenin, sclerostin, OPG, and RANKL were detected by ELISA, and bone turnover markers [CTX, PINP, N-MID-OT and 25(OH)D] were measured by Roche electrochemiluminescence system in two groups. Serum Dkk-1 levels were significantly higher in postmenopausal osteoporosis group than in control group (P<0.001). Univariate analyses revealed that serum Dkk-1 levels were weakly negatively correlated to β-catenin (r=-0.161, P=0.003) and OPG (r=-0.106, P=0.047), while multiple regression analysis showed a negative correlation between serum Dkk-1 levels with β-catenin (β=-0.165, P=0.009) and BMD (β=-0.139, P=0.027), and a positive correlation between serum Dkk-1 levels and CTX (β=0.122, P=0.040) in postmenopausal osteoporosis group. No similar correlations ware observed in control group. The results provided evidence for the role of Dkk-1 in bone metabolism and demonstrated the link of Dkk-1 and Wnt/β-catenin in some ways.
Female ; Humans ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; blood ; Middle Aged ; Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal ; blood ; beta Catenin ; blood

OBJECTIVE: To detect the levels of Dickkopf-1 (DKK-1) in the plasma of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and to analyze their correlation with peripheral blood T cell subsets and clinical indicators. METHODS: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect plasma DKK-1 levels in 32 RA patients and 20 healthy controls, and to record the various clinical manifestations and laboratory indicators of the RA patients, and flow cytometry to detect peripheral blood T cell subsets in the RA patients (Including Treg, nTreg, aTreg, sTreg, Teff, Tfh, CD4⁺CD161⁺T, CD8⁺T, CD8⁺CD161⁺T cells). The plasma DKK-1 levels between the two groups were ompared, and its correlation with peripheral blood T cell subsets and clinical indicators analyzed. RESULTS: (1) The plasma DKK-1 concentration of the RA patients was (124.97±64.98) ng/L. The plasma DKK-1 concentration of the healthy control group was (84.95±13.74) ng/L. The plasma DKK-1 level of the RA patients was significantly higher than that of the healthy control group (P < 0.05), and the percentage of CD8⁺CD161⁺T cells in the peripheral blood of the RA patients was significantly higher than that of the healthy control group (P < 0.05). (2) The plasma DKK-1 level was positively correlated with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (r=0.406, P=0.021), DAS28 score (r=0.372, P=0.036), immunoglobulin G(r=0.362, P=0.042), immunoglobulin A(r=0.377, P=0.033); it had no correlation with age, course of disease, C-reactive protein, rheumatoid factor, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody, immunoglobulin M, complement C3, complement C4, white blood cell, neutrophil ratio. (3) The plasma DKK-1 level in the RA patients was positively correlated with the percentage of peripheral blood CD161⁺CD8⁺T cells (r=0.413, P=0.019);it had no correlation with Treg, nTreg, aTreg, sTreg, Teff, Tfh, CD4⁺CD161⁺T, CD8⁺T cells. (4) The percentage of CD161⁺CD8⁺T cells was negatively correlated with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (r=-0.415, P=0.004), C-reactive protein (r=-0.393, P=0.007), DAS28 score(r=-0.392, P=0.007), rheumatoid factor (r=-0.535, P < 0.001), anti-citrullinated protein antibody (r=-0.589, P < 0.001), immunoglobulin G(r=-0.368, P=0.012) immunoglobulin M (r=-0.311, P=0.035); it had no correlation with age, disease course, immunoglobulin A, complement C3, complement C4, white blood cell, and neutrophil ratio. CONCLUSION RA patients' plasma DKK-1 levels and the percentage of CD8⁺CD161⁺T cells in T cell subsets in peripheral blood increase, which may be related to the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines in patients; DKK-1 is involved in the regulation of bone homeostasis and can be used as a marker of bone destruction in RA.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Blood Sedimentation ; Humans ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/blood* ; Plasma ; Rheumatoid Factor ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets

Rotator cuff tear is a common reason for shoulder pain. Although the surgical technique of rotator cuff repair is developing, high retear rate requires additional supplementary methods. Among these supplementary methods, as a kind of biologic augmentation, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has been spotlighted and has recently been studied by many researchers. PRP, a concentrate of platelet extract obtained from whole blood, contains numerous growth factors. As this is known to play an important role in the tissue recovery process, it had been used for research in a variety of fields including orthopedics. Use of PRP has been attempted in surgical treatments of rotator cuff tear for better results; however, only a few large-scale research studies on the effect of PRP have been reported. Clinical results of each study are also variable. Therefore research using large-scale randomized, double-blind trials should be conducted in order to prove the application range, safety, and clinical effects of PRP.
Blood Platelets ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Orthopedics ; Platelet-Rich Plasma* ; Rotator Cuff* ; Shoulder ; Shoulder Pain

No abstract available.
Fetal Blood* ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins* ; Stem Cell Transplantation* ; Stem Cells* ; Umbilical Cord*

The availability of a large number of chondrocytes is important for cartilage tissue engineering. Chondrocytes have been shown to be sensitive to the proliferative action of a wide variety of growth factors. Many of these growth factors have been isolated from platelets. In this study, we tested whether human platelet supernatants, as a supplement to basic medium, would support the proliferative and secretary activity of rabbit auricular chondrocytes in low- density monolayer culture. In 5% serum supplemented cultures, uptake of [H]-thymidine was increased in platelet supernatant-treated chondrocytes by 1.9-2.5 fold at 72 hours compared with controls. In serum free cultures, the ability of platelet supernatants to promote proliferative activity was decreased compared with serum supplemented cultures. In 5% serum supplemented cultures, glycosaminoglycan synthesis was increased in platelet supernatant-treated chondrocytes at 96 hours compared with controls. In serum supplemented cultures, seeding efficiency was increased in platelet supernatant-treated cultures by more than 3-fold compared with controls. These results indicate that platelet supernatant promotes proliferation and matrix synthesis of rabbit auricular chondrocytes. Platelet supernatants may be useful as a cheap autologous source of multiple growth factors to increase in vitro expansion of chondrocytes.
Blood Platelets* ; Cartilage ; Chondrocytes* ; Humans ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Tissue Engineering

Platelet-enriched plasma (PRP) contains high concentration of platelets and abundant growth factors, which is made by centrifuging of blood and separating of blood elements. PRP promotes tendon repair by releasing various cytokines to enhance cell proliferation, tenogenic differentiation, formation and secretion of matrix; meantime, it can reduce pain by inhibiting the expression of pain-associated molecules. A number of clinical studies demonstrated that PRP was effective in treatment of tendinopathy, including patellar tendinopathy, lateral epicondylitis and plantar fasciopathy. However, some studies did not support this conclusion, because of disparity of PRP types, therapeutic courses and injections protocols in clinical application. Based on its safety, PRP can be a choice of treatment for tendinopathy, in case other non-surgical therapies are of no effect.
Blood Platelets ; cytology ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Humans ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; metabolism ; Platelet-Rich Plasma ; Tendinopathy ; therapy

Rotator cuff tear is a common reason for shoulder pain. Although the surgical technique of rotator cuff repair is developing, high retear rate requires additional supplementary methods. Among these supplementary methods, as a kind of biologic augmentation, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has been spotlighted and has recently been studied by many researchers. PRP, a concentrate of platelet extract obtained from whole blood, contains numerous growth factors. As this is known to play an important role in the tissue recovery process, it had been used for research in a variety of fields including orthopedics. Use of PRP has been attempted in surgical treatments of rotator cuff tear for better results; however, only a few large-scale research studies on the effect of PRP have been reported. Clinical results of each study are also variable. Therefore research using large-scale randomized, double-blind trials should be conducted in order to prove the application range, safety, and clinical effects of PRP.
Blood Platelets ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Orthopedics ; Platelet-Rich Plasma ; Rotator Cuff ; Shoulder ; Shoulder Pain

blood samples were obtained and analysed for measuring platelet counts of normal blood and PRP. In experimental group, two defects of mandibular bone, 10mm in diameter and 4.0mm deep, were created in the mandible and immediately grafted with autogenous bone chips mixed with PRP. In control group, same bone defects were prepared and grafted with autogenous bone chips. Gelform was used for carrier of PRP. 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 8 weeks later, each group was evaluated with histologi-cal and histomorphometric analyses.RESULTS : According to histological observation, experimental group was showed more anastomosing newly-formed woven bone having osteoblastic activation than control group. According to histomorphometric analysis, there were 9.11% more newly-formed bone volume in experimental group than control group at 2 weeks, 7.91% more at 4 weeks, 20.08% more at 8 weeks.CONCLUSION : Our results demonstrated PRP in autogenous bone graft could enhance the bone formation.]]>
Blood Platelets ; Centrifugation ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Mandible ; Osteoblasts ; Osteogenesis ; Platelet Count ; Platelet-Rich Plasma ; Transplants

PURPOSE: The purpose of this pilot study was to investigate a potential of platelet concentrate obtained from blood bank(PCBB) in accelerating wound healing and to determine an effective treatment protocol by quantifying levels of platelet derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB in PCBB in vitro. METHODS: The first study was designed to investigate quantity of PDGF-BB over stored time of the PCBB. The stored times for each PCBB were 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 and 13 days. The second study was designed to determine efficacy of adding thrombin to stimulate release of PDGF-BB from the platelets of PCBB. The platelets were suspended and incubated in either with or without thrombin. On 30 minutes and days 1, 3, 5, 7 after incubation, the levels of PDGF-BB were measured. RESULTS: PDGF-BB level showed a linear decrease over stored time of PCBB from the first day to the 13th day. Addition of thrombin increased PDGF-BB release from 30 minute through the 5th day. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that PCBB can provide sufficient amount of growth factors to stimulate wound healing and adding thrombin accelerate it.
Blood Banks* ; Blood Platelets* ; Clinical Protocols ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Pilot Projects ; Platelet-Derived Growth Factor ; Thrombin ; Wound Healing

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Complement C3 ; Disease Progression ; Female ; Humans ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; blood ; Lipid Metabolism ; Male ; Obesity ; blood