HBV infection is a major causal agent for severe hepatitis related to chemotherapy in Japanese individuals. Chemotherapy, including corticosteroids, to treat hematologic malignancies should be considered risky in HBV carriers, especially those with chronic hepatitis or serologies negative for HBeAg and positive for anti-HBe.
Light-harvesting antenna core (LH1-RC) complexes isolated from Rhodoseudomonas palustris were self-assembled on a gold electrode modified with self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of the alkanethiols NH2(CH2)nSH, n = 2, 6, 8, 11; HOOC(CH2)7SH; and CH3(CH2)7SH, respectively. Adsorption of the LH1-RC complexes on the SAMs depended on the terminating group of the alkanethiols, where the adsoption increased in the following order for the terminating groups: amino groups > carboxylic acid groups > methyl groups. Further, the adsorption on a gold electrode modified with SAMs of NH2(CH2)nSH, n = 2, 6, 8, 11, depended on the methylene chain length, where the adsorption increased with increasing the methylene chain length. The presence of the well-known light-harvesting and reaction center peaks of the near infrared (NIR) absorption spectra of the LH1-RC complexes indicated that these complexes were only fully stable on the SAM gold electrodes modified with the amino group. In the case of modification with the carboxyl group, the complexes were partially stable, while in the presence of the terminal methyl group the complexes were extensively denatured. An efficient photocurrent response of these complexes on the SAMs of NH2(CH2)nSH, n = 2, 6, 8, 11, was observed upon illumination at 880 nm. The photocurrent depended on the methylene chain length (n), where the maximum photocurrent response was observed at n = 6, which corresponds to a distance between the amino terminal group in NH2(CH2)6SH and the gold surface of 1.0 nm.
Light-harvesting antenna core (LH1-RC) complexes isolated from Rhodospirillum rubrum and Rhodopseudomonas palustris were successfully self-assembled on an ITO electrode modified with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane. Near infra-red (NIR) absorption, fluorescence, and IR spectra of these LH1-RC complexes indicated that these LH1-RC complexes on the electrode were stable on the electrode. An efficient energy transfer and photocurrent responses of these LH1-RC complexes on the electrode were observed upon illumination of the LH1 complex at 880 nm.
Although growth differentiation factor-5 (GDF5) has been implicated in skeletal development and joint morphogenesis in mammals, little is known about its functionality in adipogenesis and energy homeostasis. Here, we show a critical role of GDF5 in regulating brown adipogenesis for systemic energy expenditure in mice. GDF5 expression was preferentially upregulated in brown adipose tissues from inborn and acquired obesity mice. Transgenic overexpression of GDF5 in adipose tissues led to a lean phenotype and reduced susceptibility to diet-induced obesity through increased systemic energy expenditure. Overexpression of GDF5 facilitated the development of brown fat-like cells, called brite or beige cells, along with the expression of uncoupling protein-1 in inguinal subcutaneous white adipose tissue. In mutant mice harboring the dominant-negative GDF5, marked impairment in energy expenditure and thermogenesis was seen under obesogenic conditions. Recombinant GDF5 promoted brown adipogenesis through the mothers against decapentaplegic homolog (Smad) and peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) pathways after activation of bone morphogenetic protein receptor (BMPR). These results suggest that brown adipogenesis and energy homeostasis are both positively regulated by the GDF5/BMPR/Smad/PGC-1α signaling pathway in adipose tissues. Modulation of these pathways might be an effective therapeutic strategy for obesity and type 2 diabetes.
Bone homeostasis is maintained by the synergistic actions of bone-resorbing osteoclasts and bone-forming osteoblasts. Although interferon-related developmental regulator 1 (Ifrd1) has been identified as a transcriptional coactivator/repressor in various cells, little attention has been paid to its role in osteoblastogenesis and bone homeostasis thus far. Here, we show that Ifrd1 is a critical mediator of both the cell-autonomous regulation of osteoblastogenesis and osteoblast-dependent regulation of osteoclastogenesis. Osteoblast-specific deletion of murine Ifrd1 increased bone formation and decreased bone resorption, causing high bone mass. Ifrd1 deficiency enhanced osteoblast differentiation and maturation along with increased expression of Runx2 and osterix (Osx). Mechanistically, Ifrd1 deficiency increased the acetylation status of p65, a component of NF-kB, at residues K122 and K123 via the attenuation of the interaction between p65 and histone deacetylase (HDAC). This led to the nuclear export of p65 and a decrease in NF-kB-dependent Smad7 expression and the subsequent enhancement of Smad1/Smad5/Smad8-dependent transcription. Moreover, a high bone mass phenotype in the osteoblast-specific deletion of Ifrd1 was markedly rescued by the introduction of one Osx-floxed allele but not of Runx2-floxed allele. Coculture experiments revealed that Ifrd1-deficient osteoblasts have a higher osteoprotegerin (OPG) expression and a lower ability to support osteoclastogenesis. Ifrd1 deficiency attenuated the interaction between b-catenin and HDAC, subsequently increasing the acetylation of b-catenin at K49, leading to its nuclear accumulation and the activation of the b-catenin-dependent transcription of OPG. Collectively, the expression of Ifrd1 in osteoblasts repressed osteoblastogenesis and activated osteoclastogenesis through modulating the NF-kB/Smad/Osx and b-catenin/OPG pathways, respectively. These findings suggest that Ifrd1 has a pivotal role in bone homeostasis through its expression in osteoblasts in vivo and represents a therapeutic target for bone diseases.
Although tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate induced sequence-7 (TIS7) has been identified as a co-activator/repressor of gene transcription in different eukaryotic cells, little attention has been paid to the functionality of TIS7 in adipocytes. Here, we evaluated the possible role of TIS7 in mechanisms underlying the regulation of adipogenesis. TIS7 expression was preferentially up-regulated in white adipose tissues (WAT) of obesity model mice as well as in pre-adipocytic 3T3-L1 cells cultured under hypoxic conditions. TIS7 promoter activity was selectively enhanced by activating transcription factor-6 (ATF6) among different transcription factors tested, while induction of TIS7 by hypoxic stress was markedly prevented by knockdown of ATF6 by shRNA in 3T3-L1 cells. Overexpression of TIS7 markedly inhibited Oil Red O staining and expression of particular adipogenic genes in 3T3-L1 cells. TIS7 synergistically promoted gene transactivation mediated by Wingless-type mouse mammary tumor virus integration site family (Wnt)/β-catenin, while blockade of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway by a dominant negative form of T-cell factor-4 (DN-TCF4) markedly prevented the inhibition of adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells with TIS7 overexpression. TIS7 predominantly interacted with β-catenin in the nucleus of WAT in the genetically obese ob/ob mice as well as in 3T3-L1 cells cultured under hypoxic conditions. Both knockdown of TIS7 by shRNA and introduction of DN-TCF4 similarly reversed the hypoxia-induced inhibition of adipogenic gene expression in 3T3-L1 cells. These findings suggest that TIS7 could play a pivotal role in adipogenesis through interacting with β-catenin to promote the canonical Wnt signaling in pre-adipocytes under hypoxic stress such as obesity.
Abstract. Tacrolimus (FK506) has been used as a therapeutic drug beneficial for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in humans. In this study, we investigated the effects of FK506 on cellular differentiation in cultured chondrogenic cells. Culture with FK506 led to a significant and concentration-dependent increase in Alcian blue staining for matrix proteoglycan at 0.1 to 1,000 ng/ml, but not in alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, in ATDC5 cells, a mouse prechondrogenic cell line, cultured for 7 to 28 days, while the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug indomethacin significantly decreased Alcian blue staining in a concentration-dependent manner, without altering ALP activity. FK506 significantly increased the expression of mRNA for both type II and type X collagen, but not for osteopontin, in ATDC5 cells. Similar promotion was seen in chondrogenic differentiation in both mouse metatarsals and chondrocytes cultured with FK506. However, FK506 failed to significantly affect transcriptional activity of the reporter construct for either sry-type HMG box 9 (Sox9) or runt-related transcription factor-2 (Runx2), which are both transcription factors responsible for chondrocytic maturation as a master regulator. These results suggest that FK506 may predominantly promote cellular differentiation into proliferating chondrocytes through a mechanism not relevant to the transactivation by either Sox9 or Runx2 in chondrogenic cells.
A generic form of vancomycin for I.V. infusion (MEEK) is more soluble and stable than the brand-name form of vancomycin hydrochloride (VCM) due to the addition of two inactive ingredients: D-mannitol and Macrogol400 (PEG400). The aim of the present study was to compare the nephrotoxicity of MEEK with that of brand-name VCM (S-VCM) and to analyze the pharmacokinetics of these preparations. Following administration to rats at the clinical dose of 40 mg/kg, there was no difference between MEEK and S-VCM with regard to pharmacokinetics and effects on the kidneys, indicating that MEEK should be as effective as S-VCM. When administered at the nephrotoxic dose of 400 mg/kg, S-VCM caused impairment of renal function and kidney damage, and an increase of the plasma concentration due to decreased renal clearance was observed. In contrast, MEEK had virtually no effect on renal function or the kidneys and did not cause a marked change of renal clearance. These findings suggest that the inactive ingredients in MEEK play a role in reducing the nephrotoxicity of VCM.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.