OBJECTIVETo observe the effective of presurgical nasoalveolar molding (PNAM) therapy in the treatment of complete cleft lip and palate infant.

METHODSPNAM was performed as presurgical orthodontic treatment in 45 infants (aged 18.33 d) with nonsyndromic complete cleft lip and palate. The columella deviation, columella length, nostril width, nostril height and width of alveolar cleft were measured before and after treatment. The data were analyzed by SPSS 10.0.

RESULTSAfter PNAM treatment, the columella deviation, columella length, nostril width and width of alveolar cleft obviously decreased, while the nostril height increased. Except for smaller cleft nostril width of bilateral complete cleft lip and palate infant, other measurement items had statistics difference (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONPNAM can improve nasal profile of complete cleft lip and palate infant and decrease the width of alveolar cleft, and make it easy for the operation of cleft lip and palate.

Cleft Lip ; Cleft Palate ; Humans ; Infant ; Nose ; Preoperative Care ; Tyrphostins

Although the interaction between gp130 and the ErbB family has frequently been shown in cancer cells, the mechanism of this interaction remains unclear and controversial. In the present study, we found that specific tyrphostin inhibitors of ErbB2 (AG825 and AG879), but not ErbB1 inhibitor (AG1478), suppressed IL-6-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of STAT3 in schwannoma cells. However, biochemical evidence for transactivation of ErbB2 by IL-6 was not observed. Additionally, the inhibition of ErbB2 expression, with either a specific RNAi or transfection of an ErbB2 mutant lacking the intracellular domain did not inhibit the IL-6-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of STAT3. Thus, it seems that tyrphostins, which are known as specific inhibitors of the ErbB2 kinase, may have non-specific suppressive effects on the IL-6/STAT3 pathway.
Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; Neurilemmoma ; Phosphorylation ; Phosphotransferases ; Transcriptional Activation ; Transfection ; Tyrosine ; Tyrphostins

This study was aimed to explore the effect of homoharringtonine in combination with AG490 on JAK2-STAT5 associated signal pathway in HEL cells, and analyze its mechanism so as to provide theoretical basis for therapy of chronic myeloproliferative neoplasma by new program. The cell survival rates were tested by MTT, apoptosis was tested by flow cytometry after HEL cells were treated by 20 ng/ml HHT, 100 µmol/L AG490 and 20 ng/ml HHT in combination with 100 µmol/L AG490, while the signal proteins such as P-JAK2, P-STAT5 and BCL-xL activated by abnormal activated JAK2 were tested by Western blot. The results showed that both HHT and AG490 could inhabit the HEL cell proliferation after being treated for 24 hours, and Annexin V-PI double staining confirmed early apoptosis while HHT effect was more obvious, Western blot showed that the expressions of P-JAK2 and P-STAT5 were down-regulated, while the total protein levels of JAK2 and STAT5 were stable. It is concluded that HHT combined with AG490 can obviously inhibit the proliferation and induce early apoptosis of HEL cells, and there is synergistic effect between the two drugs. HHT possibly acts as a broad-spectrum PTK inhibitor and synergistically with AG490 inhibits the phosphorylation of signal proteins caused by JAK2V617F, thus down-regulating the transcription of STAT5.
Cell Line, Tumor ; Harringtonines ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Janus Kinase 2 ; metabolism ; STAT5 Transcription Factor ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Tyrphostins ; pharmacology

This study was aimed to investigate the effect of AG490, a JAK2 inhibitor, on expression of PHLPP and p-Akt in K562. K562 cells were treated with different concentrations of AG490. The proliferation of K562 cells was examined by WST-1 assay and apoptosis of K562 cells was detected by flow cytometry with Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining. The expressions of PHLPP, phosphorate-Akt (p-Akt) and total Akt protein were detected by Western blot. The results indicated that AG490 inhibited the proliferation of K562 cells in concentration-and time-dependent manners, with the IC(50) 338.0 µmol/L in 48 h. AG490 100 µmol/L also induced apoptosis of K562 cells in a time-dependent manner. AG490 100 µmol/L time-dependently down-regulated the protein expression of p-Akt and PHLPP, but without significant effect on expression of total Akt. It is concluded that AG490 can inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis of K562 cells through down-regulation of p-Akt expression, but inhibiting efficacy of AG490 on K562 proliferation also may be limited due to the down-regulation of p-Akt regulatory protein PHLPP expression.
Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Down-Regulation ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; Nuclear Proteins ; metabolism ; Phosphoprotein Phosphatases ; metabolism ; Tyrphostins ; pharmacology

BACKGROUND: Formation of cholesterol oxidation products is a suggested mechanism of neurodegenerative disorders. Neuronal cell death is mediated by an increased release of excitotoxic glutamate from the presynaptic nerve endings. Tyrosine-specific protein kinases modulate neurotransmitter release at the nerve terminals. Tyrphostin AG126 has anti-inflammatory and cytoprotective effects. However, it remains uncertain whether tyrphostin AG126 has a preventive effect on the alteration of nerve terminal function induced by cholesterol oxidation products. METHODS: The present study was performed to assess the effect of cholesterol oxidation products against nerve terminal function using synaptosomes isolated from rat cerebrum. We determined the preventive effect of tyrphostin AG126 against oxysterol toxicity by measuring the effects on the glutamate release, depolarization of the membrane potential, changes in Ca2+ levels, and Na+/K+-ATPase activity. RESULTS: Synaptosomes treated with 7-ketocholesterol or 25-hydroxycholesterol exhibited a sustained release of glutamate, depolarization of membrane potential, early rapid increase in cellular Ca2+ levels and decrease in Na+/K+-ATPase activity. Those responses were concentration-dependent. Treatment of tyrphostin AG126 interfered with alteration of synaptosomal functions and decrease in Na+/K+-ATPase activity induced by 7-ketocholesterol or 25-hydroxycholesterol. CONCLUSIONS: The results show that 7-ketocholesterol and 25-hydroxycholesterol seem to cause the release of glutamate by inducing depolarization of the membrane potential and early rapid increase in cellular Ca2+ levels and by inactivating Na+/K+-ATPase in the cerebral synaptosomes. Treatment of tyrphostin AG126 may prevent the oxysterol-induced nerve terminal dysfunction.
Animals ; Brain ; Cell Death ; Cerebrum ; Cholesterol ; Glutamic Acid ; Hydroxycholesterols ; Ketocholesterols ; Membrane Potentials ; Neurodegenerative Diseases ; Neurons ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; Presynaptic Terminals ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; Rats ; Synaptosomes ; Tyrphostins

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of TGF-beta1 and STAT3 signaling in liver fibrosis using a rat model system and to determine the therapeutic mechanism of AG490 in relation to this signaling pathway.

METHODSRats were randomly divided into a control group and DENA-induced liver fibrosis model group, and then subdivided into AG490 treatment groups. During fibrosis development, liver tissue samples were collected at different time points (0, 4 and 8 weeks) and evaluated according to the Scheuer scoring system. Expression of STAT3, TGFbeta1, alpha-SMA, E-cadherin, MMP2 and TIMP1 was measured by PCR (mRNA) and immunohistochemistry and western blotting (protein).

RESULTSIncreasing degrees of inflammation and fibrosis were observed in liver tissues of DENA-treated rats throughout model establishment. The mRNA expression of TGFbeta1 and STAT3 was significantly increased in DENA-induced rats with advanced fibrosis (AF) compared to those with early fibrosis (EF) (P = 0.034 and P = 0.012 respectively). The protein expression of TGF-beta1, phospho-Smad2, alpha-SMA, E-cadherin, STAT3 and phospho-STAT3 was significantly increased in DENA-induced rats with AF compared to the unmodeled control group (P = 0.048, P = 0.003, P = 0.002, P = 0.028, P = 0.009 and P = 0.039). The protein expression of E-cadherin was lower in the DENA-induced rats with AF than in those with EF (P = 0.026). STAT3 and TGF-beta1 co-expression was detected in AF tissues. DENA-induced AG490-treated rats with AF showed substantially lower protein expression of STAT3, TGF-beta1, MMP2 and TIMP1 compared to DENA-induced untreated rats with AF (P = 0.006, P = 0.018, P = 0.010 and P = 0.005); in addition, the degrees of fibrosis and inflammation were also greatly reduced in the DENA-induced AG490-treated rats with AF compared to DENA-induced untreated rats with AF (P = 0.042 and P = 0.021). Conclusions STAT3 signal transduction may regulate the TGF-beta1 pathway and affect liver fibrosis, especially in the advanced phase. AG490 can inhibit TGFbeta1-STAT3 signaling, resulting in reversal of liver fibrosis.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Liver Cirrhosis ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; STAT3 Transcription Factor ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism ; Tyrphostins ; pharmacology

Osteoclasts are cells of hemopoietic origin that play an critical role in bone resorption and responsible for bone diseases, including osteoporosis, periodontal disease, and rheumatoid arthritis. In this study, we examined the effect of AG490, a Jak2-specific inhibitor on osteoclast differentiation. AG490 significantly inhibited receptor activator of NF-kappaB ligand (RANKL)-mediated osteoclast differentiation in a dose-dependent manner. RANKL stimulated the phosphorylation of p38, ERK, and JNK and promoted I-kappaB degradation. However, AG490 suppressed the phosphorylation of p38 induced by RANKL treatment. AG490 suppressed the mRNA expression of TRAP, c-Fos, NFATc1, and OSCAR in bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMs) treated with RANKL. Also, AG490 significantly inhibited the protein expression of c-Fos and NFATc1 in response to RANKL. These results suggest that AG490 inhibited osteoclast differentiation by suppressing the expression of c-Fos and NFATc1.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Bone Diseases ; Bone Resorption ; Macrophages ; Osteoclasts ; Osteoporosis ; Periodontal Diseases ; Phosphorylation ; Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor-kappa B ; RNA, Messenger ; Tyrphostins

To investigate the role of spinal interleukin-6-Janus kinase 2 (IL-6-JAK2) signaling transduction pathway in regulating astrocytes activation during the maintenance of bone cancer pain (BCP).
 Methods: NCTC 2472 fibrosarcoma cells were injected into the femur marrow cavity in C3H/HeNCrlVr male mice to establish BCP model and they were replaced by the equal volume of α-MEM in the sham model. The paw withdrawal latency (PWL) was measured after inoculation of tumor cells. The lumbar enlargement of spinal cord (L3-L5) was isolated, and Real-time RT-PCR and Western blot were used to detect the expression of spinal glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and JAK2 mRNA and protein, respectively. The expression level of spinal GFAP mRNA indirectly reflect astrocytes activation level. Pain behaviors and spinal cord GFAP mRNA and protein expression were observed at the given time points after intrathecal administration of JAK2 antagonist AG-490.
 Results: The PWL at 10, 14, 21 d after operation in BCP model group were significantly shorter than that in the sham group (P<0.05); the spinal GFAP and JAK2 mRNA and protein levels were higher in the BCP model group in comparison to mice in the sham group (P<0.05); intrathecal injection of JAK2 agonist AG-490 (30 or 90 nmol) significantly alleviated PWL, and downregulated the expression of spinal GFAP mRNA and protein (P<0.05).
 Conclusion: The IL-6-JAK2 signaling pathway plays an important role in maintaining the BCP by regulating the expression of GFAP in the spinal cord. Intrathecal injection of AG-490 can reduce the BCP, and inhibit the activation of IL-6-JAK2 signaling pathway, which may be one of the mechanisms for spinal astrocyte activation.
Animals ; Astrocytes ; pathology ; Bone Neoplasms ; complications ; Hyperalgesia ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Injections, Spinal ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C3H ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spinal Cord ; cytology ; pathology ; Tyrphostins ; administration & dosage

OBJECTIVETo study the mechanism by which AG490 improves the survival rate of rats following extensive liver resection.

METHODSThirty-eight rats were randomly divided into two groups after surgery: control group (n=10), without treatment; (2) AG490 group (n=28), with AG490 (1 mg x kg(-1) x 12 h(-1)) administrated intraperitoneally immediately and 36 hours after the operation. The survival rate was observed and the serum liver functions were measured.

RESULTSThe survival rates of control group and AG490 group were 0% and 25%. AG490 group had significantly better blood glucose and aminotransferase levels (P < 0.05) than control group; serum bilirubin levels significantly decreased 48 hours after the operation. Serum protein levels in both two groups had slow decrease but without statistical significance (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSAG490 can significantly increase the survival rate of rats following extensive liver resection. Such a benefit mainly results from the protection towards residual liver function rather than from the promotion of liver regeneration.

Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; Bilirubin ; blood ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Enzyme Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Hepatectomy ; methods ; Male ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Survival Rate ; Tyrphostins ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(STAT3) in glioma apoptosis and possible mechanisms of its interaction.

METHODSTwo glioblastomamultiforme (GBM) cell lines: U87 (wild-type p53) and U251 (mutant p53) were used in this study and divided into normal control group, mock group and experiment group.Small interfering RNA-carried recombinant lentivirus, LV-bFGFsiRNA and LV-STAT3siRNA, targeting bFGF and STAT3 were constructed respectively. After 48 hours of lentivirus transfection, small molecular inhibitors were used to block specific signaling pathways, AG490 20 µmol/L blocking JAK, LY294002 20 µmol/L blocking PI3K/Akt pathways for 24 hours, 48 hours and 72 hours, respectively. Then, apoptosis, changes in apoptosis-related proteins and mitochondrial membrane potential were detected through the methods of flow cytometry, protein chip and confocal microscopy, respectively.Groups were compared using single factor analysis of variance (One-way ANOVA).

RESULTSWestern blot results revealed the levels of Tyr705 and Ser727 phosphorylationin reduced in a time dependent manner by blocking JAK and PI3K/Akt pathway respectively. The results of flow cytometry showed that the apoptosis rate in normal control group, mock group, experiment group were 17.97% ± 0.24%, 18.26% ± 0.88%, 46.57% ± 1.63% in U87 cells and 15.94% ± 1.18%, 16.88% ± 0.17%, 39.34% ± 0.87% in U251 cells, respectively. There was no statistically significant change between the normal control group and the mock group (P > 0.05) , while when compared with the experiment group, both group showed statistically significant difference (F = 697.41, 729.58, both P < 0.05). The results of protein chip demonstrated that protein expression of Bad, Caspase3, Cytochrome C, p27 were higher and XIAP was lower in the experiment group compared with the normal control group and mock group. Also, confocal microscopy could detect apoptosis and mitochondrial membrane potential reduced significantly in the experimental group compared with the normal control group and the mock group.

CONCLUSIONSbFGF mainly interacts with STAT3 tyrosine site-pSTAT3(Tyr705) to influence the level of STAT3 phosphorylation;blocking bFGF/STAT3 signaling pathway can induce glioma cell apoptosis through mitochondrial pathway.

Apoptosis ; Brain Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cytochromes c ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 ; metabolism ; Glioma ; metabolism ; Humans ; Mitochondria ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; Phosphorylation ; RNA, Small Interfering ; STAT3 Transcription Factor ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Transfection ; Tyrphostins