Biomedical subjects

I Morita

Publications and source records attributed to I Morita.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed2001

Prophylactic intravesical instillation of mitomycin C and cytosine arabinoside for prevention of recurrent bladder tumors following surgery for upper urinary tract tumors: a prospective randomized study.

BACKGROUND: A recurrence of bladder tumors following surgery for transitional cell carcinoma of the upper urinary tract is not rarely observed. A prospective randomized study was conducted to examine the significance of prophylactic intravesical instillation of mitomycin C (MMC) and cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C) to prevent recurrent bladder tumors after surgery for superficial transitional cell carcinoma of the upper urinary tract. METHODS: The patients were randomized into an instillation group, who received postoperative intravesical instillation of MMC (20 mg) and Ara-C (200 mg) 28 times over a period of 2 years, and a non-instillation group. The non-recurrence rate was then compared between the groups. RESULTS: Of the 27 patients registered, 25 patients (13 with instillation and 12 without instillation) were able to be evaluated, with a median follow-up period of 45 months. The non-recurrence rate of bladder tumors in the instillation group was higher than that in the non-instillation group. Although the difference was not statistically significant, the P-value (P = 0.079) demonstrated a strong trend. When any possible bias was allowed for a multivariate analysis, the difference was almost significant (P = 0.0567). No patients withdrew from this study due to any side-effects. CONCLUSION: The postoperative instillation of MMC and Ara-C may be a useful approach for reducing the recurrence of bladder tumors after surgery for upper urinary tract tumors.

Administration, Intravesical↗

PubMed2001

Expression of adipogenesis markers in a murine stromal cell line treated with 15-deoxy Delta(12,14)-prostaglandin J2, interleukin-11, 9-cis retinoic acid and vitamin K2.

Recent studies have demonstrated that bone marrow stromal cells can undergo adipogenesis or osteoblastogenesis in vivo, and in vitro, and that peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR gamma) plays a central role in the control of adipocyte differentiation. In the present study, we treated a murine stromal cell line (TMS-14) with a cocktail of dexamethasone, insulin and glucose (DIG cocktail), which caused the cells to convert to fat-laden cells with adipocyte-like morphology. We also exposed TMS-14 cells to DIG cocktail followed by 15-deoxy Delta(12,14)-prostaglandin J2 (15d-PGJ2), a ligand of PPAR gamma, interleukin- 11 (IL-11), 9-cis retinoic acid (9-cis RA) and vitamin K2. 15d-PGJ2 enhanced DIG cocktail-induced adipogenesis, whereas IL-11, 9-cis RA and vitamin K2 each inhibited adipogenesis induced by DIG cocktail. The gene expressions of four adipogenesis markers, PPAR gamma 2, adipocyte P2 (aP2), adipocyte determination and differentiation factor 1 (ADD1), and fatty acid synthase (FAS) were enhanced by DIG cocktail and these expressions were more enhanced by 15d-PGJ2, in contrast they were attenuated by 9-cis RA. IL-11 also attenuated the adipogenesis markers except ADD1. Western blotting showed that 15d-PGJ2 enhanced the levels of PPAR gamma, C/EBP alpha and RXR alpha proteins, while IL-11 and 9-cis RA decreased the level of PPAR gamma protein, but not C/EBP alpha protein and vitamin K2 decreased the level of C/EBP alpha protein. We also tested the effect of 15d-PGJ2 on osteoblastogenesis, using TMS-12 cells, another stromal cell clone from the same mouse, which differentiate into osteoblasts spontaneously. 15d-PGJ2 did not affect osteoblastogenesis, as detected by von Kossa staining and Cbfa-1 gene expression. These data indicate that 15d-PGJ2 enhances the expression of both PPAR gamma and C/EBP alpha and as a result it stimulates adipogenesis in murine bone marrow cells.

Adipocytes↗

PubMed2001

Pharmacological characterization of cepharanthin in chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Cepharanthin, a bisbenzylisoquinoline (biscolaurine) alkaloid drug, has been reported to improve the symptoms of intractable or steroid-resistant chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). To clarify the mechanism by which the cepharanthin is beneficial to ITP, we examined the effects of cepharanthin on thrombocytopenia in (NZW x BXSB) F1 (W/B F1) mice and on the formation of colony forming unit of megakaryocyte (CFU-MK) derived from human CD34-positive progenitor cells. The decrease in platelet numbers in W/B F1 was diminished by the administration of 5 mg/kg cepharanthin for 6 weeks as well as by 2 mg/kg prednisolone. Furthermore, the administration of over 0.2 mg/kg cepharanthin enhanced the therapeutic effect of prednisolone. From the data in this animal model, it is suggested that cepharanthin may prolong the platelet lifespan. The treatment of CD34-positive progenitor cells isolated from cord blood with cepharanthin (over 5 x 10(-10)g/ml) caused an increase in the formation of CFU-MK induced by the cocktail of thrombopoietin, interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-3. The addition of 0.1% normal human serum dramatically increased the number of CFU-MK. In contrast, the serum isolated from patients with ITP at the same concentration decreased the number of CFU-MK. However, the simultaneous addition of 5 x 10(-8)g/ml cepharanthin recovered the number of CFU-MK to the level induced by normal serum. These findings indicate that cepharanthin has the potent therapeutic activity not only on the platelet destruction process, but also on the platelet production process of thrombocytopenia in chronic ITP.

Alkaloids↗

PubMed2001

Eicosapentaenoic acid protects endothelial cell function injured by hypoxia/reoxygenation.

Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) may protect against atherosclerosis by improving lipid metabolism and modulating vascular cell function. Ischemia/ reperfusion injury is one risk factor for atherosclerosis. We investigated if EPA could improve hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R)-induced endothelial cell dysfunction of gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC). GJIC in human umbilical vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs) was measured using a photobleaching technique. Results demonstrated that H (24h)/R 2h) induced a GJIC reduction in HUVECs; however, it was inhibited by EPA pretreatment. H/R produced reactive oxygen species, but it was not affected by EPA, and it contributed little to GJIC dysfunction. By contrast, tyrosine kinase activated by H/R was inhibited by EPA pretreatment, and tyrosine kinase inhibitors also abolished H/R-induced GJIC reduction. The protective effects of EPA on the H/R-induced GJIC reduction was also observed in cells treated with tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor. These data indicate the EPA improves H/R-induced endothelial dysfunction through inhibition of tyrosine kinase activation, and it could lead to prevention of progression and/or initiation of atherosclerosis.

Cell Communication↗

PubMed2001

Correlation with redox potentials and inhibitory effects on Epstein-Barr virus activation of azaanthraquinones.

The redox potentials have been determined for nine azaanthraquinones in phosphate buffer at pH 7.2 by means of cyclic voltammetry. A definite correlation has been found between the redox potentials and the inhibitory effects of the azaanthraquinones on Epstein-Barr virus early antigen (EBV-EA) activation. It has further been shown that the correlation can be made better by introducing an electronic property, i.e., the atomic charge at O11 as an additional parameter.

Anthraquinones↗

PubMed2001

Human uterine myometrial smooth muscle cell proliferation and vascular endothelial growth-factor production in response to platelet-derived growth factor.

It has been recognized that tissue-specific growth factors and angiogenic factors play important roles in the growth of tumors and in the tissue-repair system. In uterine myometrial smooth muscle cells, it has also been reported that the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) binds to PDGF receptors and stimulates proliferation. In this paper, we examine whether or not PDGF is able to stimulate production of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in cultured human myometrial smooth muscle cells. PDGF treatment enhanced immunoreactive VEGF production as well as cell proliferation. Production of VEGF121 and VEGF165 in the cells was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis, but the PDGF treatment did not change the ratio of VEGF165 to VEGF121. The effect of PDGF on cell proliferation leveled off at 10 ng/ml, whereas its effect on VEGF production continued to increase linearly at concentrations above 10 ng/ml. Upon treatment of the cells with antibody against VEGF, the cell proliferation increased linearly even at PDGF concentrations above 10 ng/ml. The enhanced [3H]thymidine incorporation by PDGF was abolished by either mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MAPKK) inhibitor or protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor. In contrast, VEGF production was abolished by MAPKK inhibitor, but not by PKC inhibitor. These results indicate that PDGF stimulates both cell proliferation and VEGF production in partly different signal pathways, and thus PDGF might play a role in the physiology and pathology of the myometrium.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

Hepatocyte growth factor protects cultured rat cerebellar granule neurons from apoptosis via the phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase/Akt pathway.

Recent studies suggest that hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) functions as a neurotrophic factor in the central nervous system. In this study, we investigated the neuroprotective effect of HGF and its mechanism of action. We used cultured cerebellar granule neurons that underwent apoptosis when the culture medium was changed from that containing serum with 25 mM K(+) to serum-free medium containing 5 mM K(+), and HGF prevented apoptotic cell death. HGF stimulated both mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase and phosphatidylinositol-3 (PI3)-kinase activity in cerebellar granule neurons. Two specific inhibitors of PI3-kinase, wortmannin and LY294002, efficiently blocked this neuroprotective effect of HGF. In contrast, PD98059, a selective inhibitor of MAP kinase kinase (MEK), did not affect the anti-apoptotic effect of HGF. The downstream signal of PI3-kinase in this protection was further investigated. HGF-induced phosphorylation of Akt and pretreatment of the cells with wortmannin completely impaired Akt activation. These results suggest that HGF prevents apoptosis in cerebellar granule neurons via the PI3-kinase/Akt pathway.

Animals↗

PubMed2000

Simvastatin enhanced sodium nitroprusside-induced apoptosis of smooth muscle cells. An involvement of geranylgeraniol.

A decrease in serum cholesterol is one of the most beneficial effects in anti-atherogenesis. Nitric oxide is also an anti-atherogenic substance, inducing vasodilation and inhibits proliferation of smooth muscle cells (SMC). Therefore, we examined sodium nitroprusside (SNP)-induced apoptosis of vascular SMC with respect to cholesterol metabolism. Cultured vascular SMC from bovine carotid arteries and rat aorta were used. Apoptosis was determined by propidium iodide assay. Treatment of the SMC with SNP(100 micromol/l-1 mmol/l ) for 6 h induced a little nuclear fragmentation. SNP (1 mmol/l ) elicited apoptosis in 4.4+/-2.2% of cells. Pretreatment of SMC with simvastatin (1 microg/ml, 2 days), a hydroxymethylglutaryl Coenzyme A (HMG CoA) reductase inhibitor, synergistically enhanced SNP-induced apoptosis (% apoptosis =15. 9+/-3.3%). Either mevalonate (100 micromol/l) or geranylgeraniol (30 micromol/l) recovered the simvastatin (1 microg/ml)-enhanced SMC apoptosis induced by SNP. Neither squalene (10 mmol/l) nor farnesol (30 micromol/l) had a recovery effect on the simvastatin-enhanced SMC apoptosis induced by SNP. Pretreatment with simvastatin (1 microg/ml) reduced total cholesterol content in SMC. Mevalonate (100 micromol/l) restored a decrease in total cholesterol content. However, incubation with LDL deficient serum did not enhance SNP-induced apoptosis of SMC, although treatment with LDL deficient serum decreased the total cholesterol content in SMC. These data suggested that decrease in HMG CoA reductase metabolites, especially geranylgeraniol might enhance the SNP-induced apoptosis of SMC, and that, apoptosis was not involved in a decrease in cholesterol of SMC.

Animals↗

PubMed2000

Cyclopentene dialdehydes from Tabebuia impetiginosa.

The isolation of two cyclopentene dialdehydes, 2-formyl-5-(4'-methoxybenzoyloxy)-3-methyl-2-cyclopentene-1-acetal dehyde, and 2-formyl-5-(3', 4'-dimethoxybenzoyloxy)-3-methyl-2-cyclopentene-1-acetaldehyde, from the bark of Tabebuia impetiginosa is reported. The structures were established by analysis of spectroscopic data. These compounds showed anti-inflammatory activity.

Aldehydes↗

PubMed2000

Human oral squamous cell carcinoma cell lines promote angiogenesis via expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and upregulation of KDR/flk-1 expression in endothelial cells.

Angiogenesis is an important phenomenon for the growth and metastasis of solid tumors. The present study examined the characterization of angiogenic factors produced by human oral squamous cell carcinoma (oral SCC) cell lines established from lymph node metastatic tumors and primary tumor in different patients. The conditioned medium of HSC3 with the strongest metastatic ability among the examined lines enhanced a tube-forming activity of bovine carotid artery endothelial (BAE) cells in collagen gel cultures. The treatment of HSC3 with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) antibody or anti-basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) antibody, either alone or in combination, attenuated the activity of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) in the endothelial cells stimulated by the conditioned medium of HSC3. In contrast, neither anti-interleukin-8 (IL-8) antibody nor anti-hepatocyte growth factor (HGF beta) antibody affected uPA activity in the endothelial cells. Among these HSC cell lines, HSC3 secreted VEGF with the highest (1.92 +/- 0.24 ng/10(6) cells/24 h) level and bFGF. The level of bFGF secreted by HSC3 was lower than that secreted by BAE cells. Other oral SCC cell lines secreted lower levels of VEGF and undetectable levels of bFGF. By reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis of mRNA the production of VEGF121, VEGF145, VEGF165, VEGF189, and VEGF206 in these cell lines was able to be detected. Moreover, the conditioned medium of HSC3 enhanced the tyrosine phosphorylation and expression of kinase insert domain-containing receptor (KDR/flk-1) in the endothelial cells. These results suggest that oral SCC promotes angiogenesis via expression of VEGF and upregulation of their receptor KDR/flk-1 expression in endothelial cells.

Aged↗

PubMed2000

Changes in patterns of left ventricular hypertrophy after aortic valve replacement for aortic stenosis and regurgitation with St. Jude Medical cardiac valves.

In this study, we analyzed the extent and pattern of regression of left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy after aortic valve replacement in patients with aortic stenosis (AS) and compared the results with those of another group of patients with aortic regurgitation (AR). Seventy patients who underwent isolated aortic valve replacement were divided into 2 groups. Group 1 was comprised of 29 patients who underwent aortic valve replacement for aortic stenosis, and Group 2 of 41 patients who underwent aortic valve replacement for aortic regurgitation. A third group of 10 healthy subjects served as a healthy control group. Echocardiographic studies were done before the operation and 5 years postoperatively. At follow-up, a significant reduction in the left ventricular mass was found in both groups, but it remained significantly greater than in the healthy control group. The ratio of LV wall thickness to radius (th/r) in Group 1 decreased significantly, and at follow-up it was within the normal value. In Group 2, the th/r ratio increased, and at follow-up it was within the normal value. After aortic valve replacement, the wall thickness remained significantly greater than normal for patients with AS, and the chamber radius remained significantly greater than normal for patients with AR. For these reasons, LV hypertrophy still existed in both groups at postoperative follow-up. The actuarial survival rate was 85.3% at 16 years for Group 1 and 83.4% at 18 years for Group 2. There was no significant difference in the long-term survival rates between the 2 groups. Actuarial freedom from valve-related events was 91.9% at 16 years for Group 1 and 82% at 18 years for Group 2. There was no significant difference in the valve-related event free curves between groups. After 5 years of follow-up, th/r reached normal for both groups, indicating remodeling of the LV geometry after aortic valve replacement.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

Relationship between the ability to support differentiation of osteoclast-like cells and adipogenesis in murine stromal cells derived from bone marrow.

In vitro osteoclast differentiation is supported by stromal cells. In order to isolate a stromal cell line that can support osteoclast differentiation, 22 cell lines were cloned from mouse bone marrow. One of these clones, TMS-14, is a line of preadipocytes that supports osteoclast-like cell formation without any bone resorbing factors; and another, TMS-12, is a line of preosteoblasts that supports osteoclast-like cell formation with bone resorbing factors such as prostaglandin E(2)(PGE(2)). The difference of these two lines for osteoclast formation was not related with their abilities of PGE(2)production, but with the expression of osteoclast differentiation factor (ODF, also called OPGL, RANKL, and TRANCE), which detected with RT-PCR, in both cell lines. In TMS-14 cells, ODF mRNA was detected with or without PGE(2). In TMS-12 cells, ODF expression was detected in the PGE(2)-treated cells alone. When TMS-14 cells were induced to undergo adipogenic differentiation in response to treatment with thiazolidinedione, a ligand and activator of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma), the ability of TMS-14 cells to support osteoclast-like cell formation was prevented in the presence or absence of 1,25(OH)(2)D(3). The gene expression of ODF in TMS-14 cells was also inhibited by treatment with thiazolidinedione. These results suggest that adipogenesis in bone marrow cells is related to the ability to support osteoclast differentiation. This is the first report of a cloned stromal cell line that can support osteoclastogenesis without the treatment with any osteotropic factors. Furthermore, this murine clonal preadipose cell line may be useful for studying senescence-dependent osteoporosis.

Adipocytes↗

PubMed2000

Screening of anti-hypoxia/reoxygenation agents by an in vitro method. Part 2: Inhibition of tyrosine kinase activation prevented hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced injury in endothelial gap junctional intercellular communication.

In this study, we demonstrated that hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) induced an injury in gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) after 2 h of reoxygenation in cultured HUVEC. Free radical scavenger (DMSO) and antioxidant (SOD) did not prevent this GJIC injury at all. Protein kinase C inhibitor (calphostin C) partly blocked this injury. However, the protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) inhibitor genistein completely inhibited this GJIC injury. Compounds 1 [laxogenin-3-O-alpha-L-arabinosyl-(1-->6)- beta-D-glucopyranoside], 2 (macrostemososide A), 3 [laxogenin-3-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->4)-alpha- L-arabinopyranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside], 4 (chinenoside II), 5 (beta-sitosterol), 6 (daucosterine), 7 (ginsenoside-Rd), 29 (isocumarine), 52 (icariin), 53 (icariside), and 54 (icaritin), which showed obvious influence on H/R-induced PTK activation as stated in Part 1 (except 1), were explored for their effects on GJIC. The results showed that compounds 2-7 and 52-57 partly protected H/R-induced GJIC injury. Compounds 5 and 6 (especially 5), which showed the strongest inhibitory effects on PTK activation, completely blocked H/R-provoked GJIC injury. Compound 1, which did not influence PTK activation, failed to prevent this GJIC injury. In contrast, compound 29, which significantly promoted PTK activation, enhanced this H/R-induced GJIC injury further. Western blotting of connexin 43, an important gap junctional protein for modulating GJIC in HUVEC, revealed that interference with the gap junctional protein might be the most direct mechanism for compounds 2, 5, 29, and 53 to affect H/R-injured GJIC.

Cell Communication↗

PubMed2000

Screening of anti-hypoxia/reoxygenation agents by an in vitro model. Part 1: Natural inhibitors for protein tyrosine kinase activated by hypoxia/reoxygenation in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

Protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) signaling pathways play important roles in ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) or hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) injuries. Inhibition of PTK activation can protect against I/R- or H/R-induced damages. As one part of our work for seeking bioactive compounds from natural sources against I/R or H/R, in the present study we examined the effects of 54 compounds purified from various traditional Chinese herbs on H/R-induced PTK activation by means of an in vitro H/R model in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). The results demonstrated that an increase in PTK activation was induced after 2 h of reoxygenation. Compounds 2 (macrostemososide A), 3 (laxogenin-3-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->4)-alpha-L-arabinopyra nosyl- (1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside), 4 (chinenoside II), 7 (ginsenoside-Rd), 52 (icariin), 53 (icariside), and 54 (icaritin) showed relatively obvious inhibition on this H/R-induced PTK activation. Compounds 5 (beta-sitosterol) and 6 (daucosterine), especially 5, completely blocked such an increased activation of PTK induced by H/R. On the contrary, compound 29 (isocumarine) significantly promoted PTK activation further. Moreover, the effects of these compounds on PTK activation were dose-dependent.

Cell Hypoxia↗

PubMed2000

Sera from patients with sepsis induce nitric oxide production in vascular smooth muscle cells.

BACKGROUND: Nitric oxide (NO) is an important physiological mediator of vascular tone and is involved in pathophysiology of septic shock. Although plasma nitrite is a stable end product of NO oxidation derived from endogenous NO, the plasma nitrite level is also easily affected by the intake of various foods, bacterial products and renal functional status. AIMS: We propose an excellent alternative assay technique for measuring endogenous NO production. METHODS: We measured the nitrite level in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (SMC) treated with serum obtained from patients with sepsis (4 patients), by means of a chemiluminescence detector. RESULTS: The nitrite concentrations in such cells were significantly higher as compared to those in the cells treated with normal serum. Moreover, the increased nitrite levels in the SMC treated with the sera obtained from patients with sepsis were completely inhibited by L-nitroarginine (1 mmol/L), a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that this assay method enable us to know the ability of endogenous NO production in each patient.

Aged↗

PubMed2000

Expression of adhesion molecules LFA-I and ICAM-I on osteoclast precursors during osteoclast differentiation and involvement of estrogen deficiency.

OBJECTIVES: Estrogen deficiency caused by the menopause or ovariectomy leads to stimulation of osteoclastogenesis. The adhesion molecules, leukocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), are necessary for osteoclast formation. In this study, the expression of LFA-1 and ICAM-1 on osteoclast precursors during osteoclast differentiation, and the involvement of ovariectomy in the expression, were investigated. METHODS: Spleen cells isolated from normal or ovariectomized (OVX) mice were co-cultured with TMS14, stromal cells derived from mouse bone marrow, in the absence or presence of 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1 alpha,25(OH)2D3) for 7 days. On days 3, 5 and 7 of culture, the expression of LFA-1 and ICAM-1 on osteoclast precursors was quantitated using indirect immunofluorescence and confocal laser cytometry, and, on day 7, the number of formed osteoclasts was measured by tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) stain. RESULTS: The level of ICAM-1 expression on osteoclast precursors gradually increased with osteoclast differentiation, whereas that of LFA-1 did not change. A high level of ICAM-1 was observed on the integrin beta 3-positive mononuclear cells. On the osteoclast precursors isolated from OVX mice, both the level of ICAM-1 expression per cell and the number of cells showing a high expression of ICAM-1 significantly increased, with an increase in the number of osteoclast-like cells. However, the level of LFA-1 did not change. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that the expression level of ICAM-1, but not that of LFA-1, is involved in osteoclast differentiation. Estrogen deficiency results in an increase in ICAM-1 expression on osteoclast precursors, which may be one of the mechanisms underlying bone loss following the menopause or ovariectomy.

Acid Phosphatase↗

PubMed2000

Regulation of angiogenesis by controlling VEGF receptor.

The endothelial cells cultured in collagen gel caused upregulation of KDR expression, which resulted in an increase in tube formation. Endothelial cells exposed to high glucose (33 mmol/l) for 30 days increased the tube formation induced by VEGF, but not by serum and bFGF. Immunohistochemical study showed that KDR expression was upregulated by the high-glucose treatment. The endothelial cells treated with 0.5-5 micrograms/ml eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5, n-3) for 48 h displayed a dose-dependent suppression of tube formation, VEGF-induced proliferation, and activation of p42/p44 MAP kinase but not bFGF-induced ones. Pretreatment with arachidonic acid (20:4, n-6) and docosahexaenoic acid (22:6, n-3) did not show such effects. The expression of KDR was downregulated by the EPA pretreatment. The bone is the richest tissue in microvessel networks except for the liver. Osteoblasts produced VEGF and some factor(s) that could induce KDR upregulation in endothelial cells and could enhance tube formation. These results lead to the speculation that the regulation of KDR expression as well as VEGF production is deeply involved in angiogenesis under various conditions.

Animals↗

PubMed2000

Enantiomeric separation by cyclodextrin modified capillary zone electrophoresis (CD-CZE) of quaternary tetrahydroprotoberberine alkaloids.

A cyclodextrin modified capillary zone electrophoresis (CD-CZE) for the enantiomeric separation of tetrahydroprotoberberine N-metho salts was established. The resolution was optimized by changing the concentration of the electrolyte solution, hydroxypropyl-beta-CD (0.02 M, 0.07 M, or 0.14 M) or dimethyl-beta-CD (0.05 M or 0.15 M) in phosphate buffer (pH 2.5 or 3) containing 10% acetonitrile with an applied voltage of 20 kV. This method was applied toward the enantioselective bio-conversion of quaternary tetrahydroprotoberberine N-metho salts in cultured cells of Corydalis species.

Berberine↗