PURPOSE: This study was performed to evaluate the expressions of osteopontin (OPN) and clusterin in a transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the urinary bladder, and then compare their expression rates with the tumor invasiveness. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-five superficial and 25 invasive TCC were used for immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: All 25 non-invasive TCC showed a strong positive reaction for OPN. Twenty of the invasive TCC showed a strong positive reaction for OPN, but 5 showed only a weak positive reaction. OPN expression was significantly decreased in the invasive TCC (p=0.02). Eighteen superficial TCC showed a weak positive reaction for clusterin, with 7 showing a negative reaction. Nine invasive TCC showed a strong positive reaction for clusterin, and 11 showed only a weak positive reaction. Five invasive TCC showed a negative reaction for clusterin. Clusterin expression was significantly increased in the invasive TCC (p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: These results may suggest that OPN and clusterin could be used as markers to predict the biological behavior of a TCC.
Carcinoma, Transitional Cell* ; Clusterin* ; Osteopontin* ; Urinary Bladder*

PURPOSE: This study was aimed at evaluating the histological changes of new bone and expression of osteopontin (OPN) after mandibular distraction osteogenesis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Unilateral mandibular distraction (0.5 mm twice per day for 10 days) was performed in eight adult dogs. Two animals were sacrificed at 7, 14, 28 and 56 days after completion of distraction, respectively. The distracted bones and contralateral non-distracted control bones were harvested and processed for histological and immunohistochemical examinations. RESULTS: The new bone was arranged to tension direction after distraction osteogenesis. 7 days after distraction, numerous osteoblasts lining the immature trabecular bone and fibroblast-like cells in the fibrous intrezone were observed. 14 days after distraction, the new formed trabecular bones were thickened compared with 7 days after distraction. 28 days after distraction, the fibrous interzone was almost filled with newly calcified bone, and it was more hardened at 56 days after distraction. Increased OPN signals detected in the osteoblasts lining the trabecular bone and fibroblast-like cells in the fibrous interzone at 7 and 14 days after distraction. At 28 days after distraction, the OPN was weakly expressed in the osteoblasts, and it was not detected in all cellular components of distracted bone at 56 days later of distraction. CONCLUSIONS: After distraction osteogenesis, the distracted zone was completely calcified during the 56 days of consolidation period. In this study, the staining intensity of OPN increased in the osteoblasts and fibroblast-like cells at 7 and 14 days after distraction. The expression pattern of this protein shown here suggested that OPN play an important role in the osteogenesis during the early consolidation period.
Adult ; Animals ; Dogs ; Humans ; Osteoblasts ; Osteogenesis ; Osteogenesis, Distraction* ; Osteopontin*

Coronary Restenosis ; metabolism ; Heart Valve Diseases ; Humans ; Osteopontin ; metabolism

BACKGROUND: Although basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common human skin tumor, with calcification reportedly taking place in about 20% of all BCC cases, the pathogenesis of calcification in BCC has not yet been studied. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate factors related to the pathogenesis of calcification in BCC. METHODS: We performed immunohistochemical staining for beta-catenin, frizzled-2, BMP-4, osteopontin, osteocalcin, and osteonectin using frozen skin tissue from 15 cases of BCC with calcification and 11 cases of BCC without calcification. RESULTS: The expression of beta-catenin showed positive in 14 of the 15 cases in BCC with calcification, but negative in all 11 cases of BCC without calcification. The expression of frizzled-2 was observed in 14 of the 15 cases in BCC with calcification, and in 10 of the 11 cases in BCC without calcification. The difference did not reach statistical significance (p=0.236). The expression of BMP-4 was observed in all 26 samples of BCC, but the intensity of expression did not reach statistical significance between the two groups (p=0.293). Furthermore, osteopontin and osteocalcin showed no statistical significance between two the groups (p=0.567, p=0.401). The expression of osteonectin was observed in all of the BCC cases, and was stronger in BCC with calcification than in BCC without calcification (p=0.042). CONCLUSION: We suggest that the calcification in BCC might be related to the increase of beta-catenin expression and that osteonectin might also influence the process of calcification in BCC.
beta Catenin* ; Carcinoma, Basal Cell* ; Humans ; Osteocalcin* ; Osteonectin* ; Osteopontin* ; Skin

PURPOSE: Osteopontin (OPN) binds to CD44 and nuclear factor-kappaB (NFkappaB) and OPN mediates tumorigenesis, invasion and metastasis, but the interrelationships between OPN, CD44 and NFkappaB are not fully understood, and especially in gastric carcinogenesis. We examined the expressions of OPN, CD44, and NFkappaB in untreated gastric adenocarcinomas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The materials from 211 cases of gastric adenocarcinoma were immunostained for OPN, CD44 and NFkappaB by using a tissue microarray. The OPN mRNA expression was measured in 10 cases by performing real-time RT-PCR. RESULTS: The expression of OPN, CD44 and NFkappaB was noted in 61.7%, 11.4% and 26.6% of the adenocarcinoma tissues, respectively. No significant correlation was detected among the expressions of these proteins. The OPN protein expression was negatively correlated with angioinvasion (p<0.05) and patient survival (p<0.05), whereas the CD44 and NFkappaB protein expressions were not correlated with any of the clinicopathological factors we examined. The depth of invasion, lymph node status and perineural invasions were prognostic factors based on the Cox analysis. The OPN mRNA expression showed no significant difference between the adenocarcinoma and the paired normal mucosa on real-time RT-PCR. CONCLUSION: OPN may have a currently undetermined role in gastric carcinogenesis, and CD44 and NFkappaB may have minor roles in gastric adenocarcinoma.
Adenocarcinoma ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Mucous Membrane ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Osteopontin ; Proteins ; RNA, Messenger ; Stomach

Tubuolointerstitial inflammation and tubular injury account for most types of glomerulonephritis. The injury is characterized by an infiltration of mononuclear cells with atrophy and dilation of tubules and increased deposition of collagen in the interstitium. Despite the fact that the degree of tubulointerstitial injury in glomerular diseases may be the best predictor of overall outcome, the pathogenic mechanism by which the tubular injury develops remains unknown. Osteopontin, a highly acidic, phosphorylated, secreted glycoprotein, is up-regulated in renal cortex in many experimental models of tubulointerstitial fibrosis. In this study, we examined the expression of osteopontin in tubulointerstitium in experimental renal failure mouse, FGS/KIST. Mice were assigned three groups and sacrificed at 1 month, 2 months, and 3 months, in each. Proteinuria, GFR, the degree of tubulointerstitial inflammation, tubular atrophy, glomerulosclerosis and osteopontin expression were measured. Three-month-old group showed severely decreased GFR and marked tubulointerstitial inflammation and glomerulosclerosis compared with other groups. The expression of osteopontin increased with the severity of tubulointerstitial injury. These data suggest that osteopontin may act as a chemotactic or adhesive factor in the recruitment of the monocyte/macrophages and have a role in the pathogenesis of the tubulointerstitial injury.
Adhesives ; Animals ; Atrophy ; Collagen ; Fibrosis ; Glomerulonephritis ; Glycoproteins ; Inflammation ; Mice ; Models, Theoretical ; Osteopontin* ; Proteinuria ; Renal Insufficiency*

Silica is known as a promising osteoconductive material, and polycaprolactone is a bioactive and degradable material. The purpose of this study was to monitor the differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells cultured on the layer-built silica/poly caprolactone non-woven fabric produced by electrospinning. Non-woven fabric (silica, polycaprolactone, PSP, SPS) was made by electrospinning and they were inserted in the 48 well cell culture plate. MC3T3-E1 cells were prepared by subculture. Cells were seeded to each well 1x10(5) concentration per well. Dulbecco's modified eagle medium with 10% FBS and 1% antibiotic-antimycotic solution was used. Confocal laser scanning microscope was taken 4 hours after incubation (95% air, 5% CO2, 37degrees C). Cell proliferation was monitored by spectrophotometer on 1, 7, 14 days, and the morphology of the growing cells was observed by field emission scanning electron microscope. To monitor the differentiation of osteoblasts on the materials, MC3T3-E1 cells were incubated in 48 well culture plate after seeding with the density of 1x10(5) concentration. Then ELISA kit & EIA kit were used on to assess osteocalcin and osteopontin expression respectively. The other conditions were the same as above. MC3T3-E1 cells were proliferated well on all of the materials. There were no statistical differences among them. The osteopontin expression of silica, PSP, SPS was significantly higher than other groups on day 3 (p<0.05), but after that time, there were no statistically signigicant differences. The osteocalcin expression was significantly higher in silica and PSP than other groups on day 14. These findings show that PSP was as good as silica on the effect of osteoblast differentiation. The PSP non-woven fabric may have the possibility as bone graft materials.
Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Proliferation ; Eagles ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Osteoblasts ; Osteocalcin ; Osteopontin ; Silicon Dioxide ; Transplants

BACKGROUND: Osteopontin (OPN) is a cytokine associated with a cell-matrix via integrins. Fibroblast specific protein-1 (FSP-1), known as S100A4, has been implicated in cell migration by non-muscle myosin. We investigated whether the role of OPN and FSP-1/S100A4 expression in their contribution to the podocyte phenotype change to form podocyte bridge and cellular crescent. METHODS: Glomerular expression of OPN and FSP-1/S100A4 in renal biopsies of 16 patients with crescentic glomerulonephritis (CrGN) and 13 normal renal biopsies were studied by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The expression of OPN and FSP-1/S100A4 was increased in the podocytes of glomeruli, with and without crescents, in patients with CrGN. Neither OPN nor FSP-1/S100A4 was expressed in glomeruli from the normal controls (p<0.01). A significant positive correlation was found between the expression of OPN in glomerular tufts and cellular crescents, and the expression of OPN and FSP-1/S100A4 in glomerular tufts (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that OPN plays a role in early podocyte attachment to Bowman's capsule, and FSP-1/S100A4 potentiate podocyte contribution to cellular crescent formation by inducing cellular migration and growth.
Biopsy ; Bowman Capsule ; Cell Movement ; Fibroblasts ; Glomerulonephritis ; Humans ; Integrins ; Myosins ; Osteopontin ; Phenotype ; Podocytes

Osteopontin (OPN) is a secreted glycoprotein that is expressed in various tissues, including brain, and mediates a wide range of cellular activities. In a previous study, the authors observed the robust neuroprotective effects of recombinant OPN and of RGD and SLAYGLR-containing OPN-peptide icosamer (OPNpt20) in an animal model of transient focal ischemia, and demonstrated anti-inflammatory and pro-angiogenic effects of OPNpt20 in the postischemic brain. In the present study, we investigated the effects of OPNpt20 on the motility and phagocytic activity of BV2 cells (a microglia cell line). F-actin polymerization and cell motility were significantly enhanced in OPNpt20-treated BV2 cells, and numbers of filopodia-like processes increased and lamellipodia-like structures enlarged and thickened. In addition, treatment of cells with either of three mutant OPN icosamers containing mutation within RGD, SLAY, or RGDSLAY showed that the RGD and SLAY motifs of OPNpt20 play critical roles in the enhancement of cell motility, and the interaction between exogenous OPNpt20 and endogenous αv and α4 integrin and the activations of FAK, Erk, and Akt signaling pathways were found to be involved in the OPNpt20-mediated induction of cell motility. Furthermore, phagocytic activity of microglia was also significantly enhanced by OPNpt20 in a RGD and SLAY dependent manner. These results indicate OPNpt20 containing RGD and SLAY motifs triggers microglial motility and phagocytic activity and OPNpt20-integrin mediated signaling plays a critical role in these activities.
Actins ; Brain ; Cell Movement ; Glycoproteins ; Ischemia ; Microglia* ; Models, Animal ; Neuroprotective Agents ; Osteopontin* ; Phagocytosis ; Polymerization ; Polymers

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of both exogenous and endogenous osteopontin on normal and malignant ovarian epithelial cell growth, and on paclitaxel chemo-resistance. METHODS: The ovarian cancer cell line OV429, which showed low level of endogenous osteopontin and paclitaxel sensitive cell line OV420, which showed high level of endogenous osteopontin, and a normal ovarian epithelial (HOSE: Human ovarian surface epithelial) cells were treated with purified osteopontin. Furthermore, OV420 was treated with osteopontin siRNA alone or in combination with paclitaxel. Proliferation rates and cell cycle progression of treated cells were determined by the tetrazolium colorimetric (XTT) assay and FACS analysis, respectively. RESULTS: Exogenous osteopontin increased the proliferation rate of OV429 and OV420 but had negligible effect on normal HOSE. Ovarian cancer cell lines treated with siRNA showed significantly reduced the growth rates (P<0.05), and they were arrested in G2/M phase of the cell cycle. Furthermore, OV420 treated with paclitaxel in the presence of osteopontin siRNA showed significantly decreased the survival rate. CONCLUSION: Osteopontin promote cell growth in malignant but not in normal ovarian epithelial cells, and may confer paclitaxel-resistance by adhesion to each cell and minimized the cell surface which exposure to chemo-agents.
Cell Cycle ; Cell Line ; Epithelial Cells* ; Humans ; Osteopontin* ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Paclitaxel ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Survival Rate