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

Osteopontin (OPN) is an extracellular matrix protein with multifunctions, expressed in various tissues and body fluids, involved in various physiological and pathological processes. It is also detected in the reproductive tract of both males and females, and participates in the implantation, development and differentiation of embryos. Recent studies have indicated that OPN is closely related with male fertility and may affect sperm quality and fertilization. An insight into the functions of OPN may help to explain the mechanisms of male infertility and improve the success rate of assisted reproductive technology.
Animals ; Fertility ; Genitalia, Male ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Mammals ; Osteopontin ; metabolism ; Spermatozoa ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the mechanism of new bone formation and remodeling of distraction osteogenesis (DO) by analysis of the expression of osteopontin (OPN) and osteocalcin (OC).

METHODSRhesus were operated to reconstruct the animal model of cleft palate (CP). The CP was closed by DO in experimental group(n = 21). After consolidation of 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24 weeks, every 3 animals were killed to collect the specimens, respectively. The OPN and OC and their mRNA were detected quantitatively by Real-time RT-PCR and ELISA, respectively. The animals in control group (n = 2) and sham group (n = 2) were used as control.

RESULTSThe mRNA expression of OPN increased since 2nd week of consolidation and reached the peak at 4th week (7.59 +/- 0.37). The mRNA expression of OC was up-regulated since 4th week, and reach the peak at 6th week (7.94 +/- 0.31). Then they decreased to about the level in sham group at 24th week (P > 0.05). The OPN and OC were highly expressed during 4 to 6 weeks of consolidation. During 8 to 12 weeks, they decreased like their mRNA expression.

CONCLUSIONThe intramembraneous new bone formation after DO can reconstruct the bone defect of CP. The new formed bone can be remodeled to be quite normal bone tissue.

Animals ; Cleft Palate ; metabolism ; surgery ; Macaca mulatta ; Osteocalcin ; metabolism ; Osteogenesis, Distraction ; Osteopontin ; metabolism

Animals ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Myocarditis ; metabolism ; virology ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; Osteopontin ; metabolism ; Virus Diseases ; metabolism

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; Glycoproteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Humans ; Hyaluronan Receptors ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Liver ; metabolism ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Osteopontin ; biosynthesis ; genetics

BACKGROUNDThe precise mechanisms responsible for the development and growth of intracranial arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) remain unclear. Osteopontin (OPN) is a phosphorylated glycoprotein with diverse functions. This study aimed to analyze the expression of OPN in human brain AVMs.

METHODSThe AVM nidus was surgically obtained from patients with AVM, whereas control brain artery specimens were surgically obtained from patients with epilepsy. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to examine the expression of OPN mRNA in biopsy specimens. OPN protein expression was localized by immunohistochemistry. The statistical differences between different groups were assessed by two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA).

RESULTSWe analyzed 36 brain AVM specimens and 8 control brain artery specimens. Eleven patients with brain AVM received embolization treatment, and five underwent gamma knife radiotherapy before resection. Nineteen patients with brain AVM had a history of hemorrhage from AVMs. The expression of OPN mRNA was significantly higher in AVMs than that in the control specimens (25.76 ± 2.71 vs. 21.46 ± 2.01, P < 0.01). There was no statistically significant difference in the extent of OPN mRNA expression between the AVM group with and that without history of hemorrhage (26.13 ± 2.45 vs. 25.34 ± 2.99) or gamma knife radiotherapy (24.39 ± 2.10 vs. 24.53 ± 1.85). However, the difference between the AVM group with and that without embolization treatment history was statistically significant (24.39 ± 2.10 vs. 28.80 ± 1.13, P < 0.01). In the group with gamma knife radiotherapy history, OPN expression was found in arteries with early-stage radio-effect.

CONCLUSIONSOPN may contribute to the vascular instability of brain AVMs. It may play an important role in the pathophysiological process related to embolization treatment.

Analysis of Variance ; Brain ; metabolism ; pathology ; Immunohistochemistry ; Intracranial Arteriovenous Malformations ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Osteopontin ; genetics ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes of osteopontin (OPN) in the liver tissues during nonalcoholic fatty liver fibrosis in rats and to explore the effect of OPN in the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver fibrosis.

METHODSFifty-six male Wistar rats were randomly divided into a control group (8 rats) and a high-fat diet group. The high-fat diet group was divided into 6 subgroups (8 rats in each subgroup) with high-fat feedings for 4, 8, 12, 16, 20 or 24 weeks. Conventional histochemical, HE, Masson-trichrome and immunohistochemical staining for alpha-smooth muscle actin (a-SMA) were performed with the liver histological preparations. The expression of OPN was detected with reverse transcription and polymerase chain reactions and Western blot.

RESULTSLevels of OPN in liver tissues in rat nonalcoholic fatty liver fibrosis induced by high-fat diet were significantly increased over those in the control group (F=7.15, P less than 0.01). OPN expressions were closely correlated with a-SMA and nonalcoholic fatty liver fibrosis, and correlation coefficients of the two groups were 0.94 and 0.82, and both P values were less than 0.01.

CONCLUSIONExpression of OPN increases dramatically in the livers during the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver fibrosis, and OPN may play an important role in this event.

Animals ; Fatty Liver ; metabolism ; pathology ; Liver ; pathology ; Liver Cirrhosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Osteopontin ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo test expression level and glycosylation level of OPN in HCC cell lines with different metastatic potential and HCC tissues, and investigate the correlation between the glycosylation change and the liver cancer transporting as well as its significance.

METHODSThe level of OPN expression in liver cancer tissue(6 cases of non-metastasis and 7 cases of metastasis)as well as HCC cell lines with different metastatic potential (L02, Hep3B, MHCC97L, MHCC97H, HCCLM3, HCCLM6)was identified by immunohistochemistry and Western Blot, and then OPN was purified from HCC tissues by immunoprecipitation, followed by glycosylation detection of OPN from non-metastatic and metastatic HCC tissues by multiple lectin blot. Data were analyzed by t-test and variance analysis.

RESULTSDifferent levels of OPN expression were observed in HCC cell lines with different metastatic potential (F = 5.04, P = 0.008). Additionally, OPN expression level in HCC tissues with metastasis was higher than that in non-metastasis group (t = 2.447, P < 0.05). Relative optical density value was 0.69 ± 0.21 and 0.45 ± 0.14 respectively. OPN in liver cancer tissue was successfully purified using immunoprecipitation. Followed lectin blotting result showed that OPN protein in metastasis group showed lower affinity to MAL, PHAE, DSA, ConA as compared with that in non-metastasis group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe expression of OPN was positively correlated with the enhanced metastasis potential of HCC. OPN from metastasis HCC tissues presented lower level of some specific glycan structures such as a2, 3- sialic acid, bisecting GlcNAc, biantennary, muti-antennary and high mannose type N-glycan structure. This study not only indicates the role of OPN in HCC metastasis for the first time, but also provide experimental support for the mechanism of the function of OPN in the transportation of liver cancer cells as well as offer potential target for clinical treatment.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Glycosylation ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Osteopontin ; metabolism

Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Coxsackievirus Infections ; metabolism ; Enterovirus B, Human ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; cytology ; metabolism ; virology ; Osteopontin ; metabolism ; Rats

OBJECTIVETo investigate the potential of synovial mesenchymal stem cells (SMSC) in osteogenic differentiation.

METHODSSMSC were obtained by limited dilution method and expanded to culture in 25-milliliter flasks. The attached cells were treated with inductive medium containing dexamethasone, glycerophosphate and vitamin C at 3rd passage SMSC. The mineralized nodule was stained by Von Kossa method. The expression of ALP and osteopontin were detected by histochemical, immunohistological staining technique, respectively, while the expression of cbfa1 mRNA by RT-PCR.

RESULTSPure SMSC which were of spindle shape and star shape, uniform in size, could be induced to pleomorphism osteoblast in vitro, which were intensive positive in ALP and osteopontin. The expression of cbfa1 mRNA were also verified by RT-PCR and the polygonal cells formed nodular structure at 4 weeks. All these were coincident with the characters of osteoblast.

CONCLUSIONSMSC can be purified and induced into osteoblast in vitro.

Ascorbic Acid ; Cell Differentiation ; Dexamethasone ; Glycerophosphates ; Humans ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; Osteoblasts ; Osteogenesis ; Osteopontin ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism