Keloid is characterized by fibroblastic cell proliferation and abundant collagen synthesis. Numerous studies have shown that the Wingless type (Wnt) signaling pathways play key roles in various cellular functions including proliferation, differentiation, survival, apoptosis and migration. The aim of this study was to clarify the role of Wnt signaling pathway in keloid pathogenesis. Primary fibroblast cultures and tissue samples from keloid and normal appearing dermis were used. The expression of Wnt family members, frizzled (FZD)4 receptor, receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor (ROR)2 and the Wnt signaling downstream targets, glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)3-β and β-catenin were assessed using semi-quantitative RT-PCR, Western blot, or immunohistochemical methods. Of the Wnt family members, Wnt5a mRNA and protein levels were elevated in keloid fibroblasts (KF) as compared to normal fibroblasts (NF). A higher expression of β-catenin protein was also found in KF. No detectable levels of FZD4 receptor and ROR2 proteins were observed in both NF and KF. Functional analysis showed that treatment of NF and KF with recombinant Wnt5a peptide resulted in an increase in protein levels of total β-catenin and phosphorylated β-catenin at Ser33/37/Thr 41 but no significant change in phosphorylated β-catenin at Ser45/Thr 41 positions. In addition, the expression of total GSK3-β protein was not affected but its phosphorylated/inactivated form was increased in NF and KF. Our findings highlight a potential role for a Wnt/β-catenin canonical signaling pathway triggered by Wnt5a in keloid pathogenesis thereby providing a new molecular target for therapeutic modulations.

Background:Keloid is a fibroproliferative skin disorder that is characterized by collagen accumulation and blood vessel proliferation in the reticular layer of the dermis. It is caused by prolonged inflammation after cutaneous injury. Several studies suggested recently that epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) is involved in the development of fibrosis. This study assessed whether EMT also participates in keloid development and/or aggravation.Methods:Resected keloid (n = 19) and normal skin (n = 13) samples were subjected to immunohistochemical, immunofluorescent, and Western blot analyses of their expression of epidermal (E-cadherin) and mesenchymal (vimentin) proteins.Results:Immunohistochemical analysis showed that the keloid tissues had more vimentin-positive cells in the epidermis than the normal tissues. When normal primary keratinocytes were cultured with proinflammatory cytokines, the cobblestone-shaped cells changed to a spindle shape and many vimentin-positive cells were detected. When immortalized HaCaT keratinocytes were cocultured in split-well plates with normal or keloid-derived fibroblasts, they also underwent EMT, as indicated by their greater vimentin expression on Western blot analysis compared with HaCaT cells that were cultured alone.Conclusions:EMT was observed in keloid specimens. EMT was induced by inflammatory cytokines and fibroblasts. EMT may be involved in keloid generation and/or aggravation and may have potential as a keloid treatment target.

To provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the effect of irradiation on esophageal squamous cell carcinomas (ESCCs), we used a cDNA microarray screening of more than 4,000 genes with known functions to identify genes involved in the early response to ionizing irradiation. Two human ESCC cell lines, one each of well (TE-1) and poorly (TE-2) differentiated phenotypes were screened. Subconfluent cells of each phenotype were treated with single doses of 2.0 Gy or 8.0 Gy irradiations. After a 15 min incubation time-point, the cells were collected and analyzed. Compared with non-irradiated cells, many genes revealed at least 2-fold upregulation or downregulation at both doses in well or poorly differentiated ESCC cells. The common upregulated genes in well and poorly differentiated cell types at both irradiation doses included SCYA5, CYP51, SMARCD2, COX6C, MAPK8, FOS, UBE2M, RPL6, PDGFRL, TRAF2, TNFAIP6, ITGB4, GSTM3, and SP3 and common downregulated genes involved NFIL3, SMARCA2, CAPZA1, MetAP2, CITED2, DAP3, MGAT2, ATRX, CIAO1, and STAT6. Several of these genes were novel and not previously known to be associated with irradiation. Functional annotations of the modulated genes suggested that at the molecular level, irradiation appears to induce a regularizing balance in ESCC cell function. The genes modulated in the early response to irradiation may be useful in our understanding of the molecular basis of radiotherapy and in developing strategies to augment its effect or establish novel less hazardous alternative adjuvant therapies.

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Background. The value of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) still remains controversial, prompting a need for further improvement. The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate a sequential analysis of cell content in fractional BAL (FBAL) from the airways and alveolar sacs with incorporation of the cellular morphologic features. Methods. Initially, 30 ml saline was infused into a subsegmental lobe of the lung and the recovered fluid was assigned as FBAL-I being mainly originated from whole airways. The second and third lavages (FBAL-II and FBAL-III) each were performed using 50 ml saline being from more distal portions of airways and alveolar sacs respectively in the same lobe. Total cell number/ml and percentages of macrophages, lymphocytes, neutrophils, and eosinophils in each fraction together with their morphological alterations and mast cells, basophils and Masson bodies were assessed. Results. In the 12 controls, percentage of neutrophils was high and lymphocytes and macrophages were low in FBAL-I while in FBAL-III, neutrophils decreased to nearly nil and lymphocytes and macrophages were increased. Analysis of FBAL from 76 patients with sarcoidosis and 14 with hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) revealed that a predominance of small, round and well-differentiated lymphocytes with relative absence of neutrophils, basophils and Masson bodies correlated best with sarcoidosis. In contrast, neutrophil predominance and presence of lymphocytes having deep nuclear indentations and abundant cytoplasm with a process resembling a “hand-mirror” correlated well with HP. Conclusions. Evaluation of FBAL together with cellular morphological features especially characteristics of lymphocytes provides valuable information for establishing the diagnosis in interstitial lung diseases.

The migration and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) induced by growth factors play a critical role in in-stent stenosis after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The present study tested the hypothesis that sunitinib malate (sunitinib), a tyrosine kinase inhibitor of multiple receptors for growth factors, can reduce neointimal formation after arterial injury in vivo and sought to reveal the underlying mechanism in vitro. Male Wistar rats with balloon-injured carotid arteries were administered either sunitinib or a vehicle orally for 2 weeks. Sunitinib significantly inhibited neointimal hyperplasia relative to control by reducing active cell proliferation. In cultured human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMCs), sunitinib significantly inhibited platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-induced increases of DNA synthesis, cell proliferation, and migration relative to controls as evaluated by [(3)H] thymidine incorporation, cell number, and the Boyden chamber assay, respectively. Immunoblot analyses showed that sunitinib suppressed phosphorylation of PDGF-BB inducible extracellular signal-regulated kinase and autophosphorylation of PDGF β-receptor, which are the key signaling steps involved in HASMC activation. These results indicate that sunitinib inhibits neointimal formation after arterial injury by suppressing VSMC proliferation and migration presumably through inactivation of PDGF signaling. As such, it may be a potential therapeutic agent, which targets arterial restenosis after PCI.

Introduction:Epigenetics is now considered to be crucially involved in normal genetics and differentiation and in pathological conditions, such as cancer, aging, and inflammation. Epigenetic mechanisms involve DNA methylation and histone modifications. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of inflammation on epigenetics in young subjects and the effect of aging. Materials and Methods:The palatine tonsils were extracted from child and adult patients with chronic tonsillitis. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was performed to examine the morphology of the palatine tonsils. A fluorescence immunological examination was also performed to detect acetyl-histone H3 or dimethyl-histone H3. Confocal scanning microscopy was used for observations.Results: Acetylated histone H3 was detected in tonsils from child patients but not from adult patients.Dimethylated histone H3 was not detected in tonsils from either group of patients. Degeneration of the tonsillar structures was apparent in tonsils from adult patients. Discussion:The differential expression of acetylated histone H3 Lys9 may reflect immunological differences between young and aged tonsils. The decrease observed in the activity of histone methyltransferase induced the down-regulated expression of methylated histone H3. Conclusion:Our results suggest that epigenetic changes participate in chronic inflammation and aging in the palatine tonsils. Although the results do not lead to a direct treatment, the epigenetic pathogenesis of chronic inflammation, such as immunoglobulin A nephropathy, by focal infections will be described in greater detail in future studies, which will lead to new treatments being developed. (J Nippon Med Sch 2016; 83: 54 61)

Aims: Previous studies suggest that both statins and calcium-channel blockers inhibit cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases by their pleiotropic effects, such as antioxidation and anti-inflammatory actions. By using stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSPs), the isolated effect of each pharmaceutical has been reported, but the effect of a combination of both pharmaceuticals has not been reported. In this study, we evaluated combination therapy of atorvastatin and amlodipine for its efficacy in preventing stroke in the SHRSP model. Main Methods: We initiated treatment of SHRSPs at 8 weeks of age with atorvastatin (2 mg/kg), amlodipine (1 mg/kg), a combination of atorvastatin (2 mg/kg) and amlodipine (1 mg/kg), or vehicle.Measurement of physiological parameters and immunohistochemical assessments for oxidative stress and inflammation were done at each group. Key findings: At 13 weeks of age, the combination therapy group showed greater inhibition of an antioxidation and anti-inflammatory marker than the vehicle group, although there were no differences in blood pressure. Significance: Our study suggests that the combination therapy of atorvastatin and amlodipine may protect against hypertension-induced stroke by the additive effect of the antioxidation and the anti-inflammatory action of the both agents.Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism 25: 23-30, 2014