Ameliorative effect of PACAP and VIP against increased permeability in a model of outer blood retinal barrier dysfunction

Breakdown of outer blood retinal barrier (BRB) due to the disruption of tight junctions (TJs) is one of the main factors accounting for diabetic macular edema (DME), a major complication of diabetic retinopathy. Previously it has been shown that PACAP and VIP are protective against several types of retinal injuries. However, their involvement in the maintenance of outer BRB function during DME remains uncovered. Here, using an in vitro model of DME, we explored the effects of both PACAP and VIP. Human retinal pigment epithelial cells (ARPE19) were cultured for 26 days either in normal glucose (5.5 mM, NG) or in high glucose (25 mM, HG). In addition, to mimic the inflammatory aspect of the diabetic milieu, cells were also treated with IL-1β (NG + IL-1β and HG + IL-1β). Effects of PACAP or VIP on cells permeability were evaluated by measuring both apical-to-basolateral movements of fluorescein isothyocyanate (FITC) dextran and transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER). Expression of TJ-related proteins was evaluated by immunoblot. Results demonstrated that NG + IL-1β and, to a greater extent, HG + IL-1β significantly increased FITC-dextran diffusion, paralleled by decreased TEER. PACAP or VIP reversed both of these effects. Furthermore, HG + IL-1β-induced reduction of claudin-1 and ZO-1 expression was reversed by PACAP and VIP. Occludin expression was not affected in any of the conditions tested. Altogether, these finding show that both peptides counteract HG + IL-1β-induced damage in ARPE19 cells, suggesting that they might be relevant to the maintenance of outer BRB function in DME. © 2012 Elsevier Inc

Expression and localization of aquaporin-1 in temporomandibular joint disc with internal derangement

J Oral Pathol Med. 2012 May 3. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0714.2012.01156.x. [Epub ahead of print] Expression and localization of aquaporin-1 in temporomandibular joint disc with internal derangement. Loreto C, Galanti C, Almeida LE, Leonardi R, Pannone G, Musumeci G, Carnazza ML, Caltabiano R. Source Department of Bio-Medical Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy Department of Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Catania, Policlinico Universitario, Catania, Italy Center for Health and Biological Sciences, Pontifical Catholic, University of Panarà, Curitibe, Brazil Department of Surgical Sciences, Institute of Pathology and Cytopathology, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy Department of Anatomy, Diagnostic Pathology, Forensic Medicine, Hygiene and Public Health, University of Catania, Catania, Italy. Abstract Internal derangement is the most J Oral Pathol Med (2012) Background: frequent arthropathy affecting the temporomandibular joint, where its commonest form is anterior disc displacement with or without reduction. Despite the frequency of the disorder, the biochemical features of displaced discs are still We investigated the expression pattern and localization of unclear. Methods: aquaporin-1, an important channel protein involved in plasma membrane water permeability, in patients with anterior disc displacement (both with and without reduction), with a view to assessing the characteristics of local tissue responses to the microenvironmental changes induced by abnormal mechanical loading of the displaced disc. Protein expression was studied by immunohistochemistry in different areas of discs from 18 patients with anterior disc displacement with or without reduction and in four normal controls. A greater proportion of cells immunopositive for aquaporin-1 were Results: detected in diseased than in normal discs. Whereas protein expression was substantially similar in the different areas of normal discs, a significantly larger number of immunopositive cells were detected in the posterior band of displaced discs without reduction and in the anterior and intermediate bands of These findings suggest that aquaporin-1 is those with reduction. Conclusions: expressed and upregulated in temporomandibular joint with anterior disc displacement (both with and without reduction)

Mineral fiber-mediated activation of phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase c in human bronchoalveolar carcinoma-derived alveolar epithelial A549 cells.

Given the role of phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C (PLC) isozymes in the control of cell growth and differentiation we were prompted to analyze the expression of some of these PLC in human bronchoalveolar carcinoma-derived alveolar epithelial A549 cells. The effects of several fluoro-edenite fibers were compared with those of tremolite, a member of the calcic amphibole group of asbestos that originates from Calabria (Italy), and crocidolite, that, due to its high toxicity, is one of the most studied asbestos amphiboles. Our data show an increased expression of both PLC f1 and PLC \u3b31 in A549 cells treated with asbestos-like fibers, hinting at a role of PLC signalling in those cancerous cell

Trattato di Anatomia Umana

Apparati: digerente, respiratorio, urinario, genitali, endocrino

Trattato di Anatomia

Apparati: tegumentario, locomotore, circolatorio, organi linfoidi ed emopoietici

Trattato di Anatomia Umana

Sistema nervoso centrale, periferico. Apparato della vista e dell'udito

Secretoglobin expression in ovarian carcinoma: lipophilin B gene upregulation as an independent marker of better prognosis.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to investigate within ovarian carcinoma and normal ovarian biopsies the gene expression of multiple secretoglobin family members relative to mammaglobin B, which we previously reported as a promising novel ovarian carcinoma prognostic marker. METHODS: Using quantitative real-time Reverse Transcription PCR we tested 53 ovarian carcinoma and 30 normal ovaries for the expression of 8 genes belonging to the secretoglobin family: mammaglobin A, lipophilin A, lipophilin B, uteroglobin, HIN-1, UGRP-1, RYD5 and IIS. Next, we decided to expand the LipB gene expression analysis to a further 48 ovarian carcinoma samples, for a total of 101 tumor tissues of various histologies and to study its protein expression by immunohistochemistry in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumors and normal ovaries. Finally, we correlated lipophilin B gene and protein expression to conventional patient clinico-pathological features and outcome. RESULTS: We found significant mammaglobin A, lipophilin A, lipophilin B and RYD5 gene overexpression in ovarian carcinomas compared to normal ovaries. Lipophilin B mRNA showed a higher presence in tumors (75.4%) compared to normal ovaries (16.6%) and the most significant correlation with mammaglobin B mRNA (r(s) =0.77, p < 0.001). By immunohistochemical analysis, we showed higher lipophilin B expression in the cytoplasm of tumor cells compared to normal ovaries (p < 0.001). Moreover, lipophilin B gene overexpression was significantly associated with serous histology (serous vs clear cell p = 0.027; serous vs undifferentiated p = 0.007) and lower tumor grade (p = 0.02). Lower LipB mRNA levels (low versus high tertiles) were associated to a shorter progression-free (p = 0.03, HR = 2.2) and disease-free survival (p = 0.02, HR = 2.5) by univariate survival analysis and, importantly, they remain an independent prognostic marker for decreased disease-free (p = 0.001, HR = 3.9) and progression-free survival (p = 0.004, HR = 2.8) in multivariate Cox regression analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The present study represents the first quantitative evaluation of secretoglobin gene expression in normal and neoplastic ovarian tissues. Our results demonstrate lipophilin B gene and protein upregulation in ovarian carcinoma compared to normal ovary. Moreover, lipophilin B gene overexpression correlates with a less aggressive tumor phenotype and represents a novel ovarian carcinoma prognostic factor