Search

Introduction: Increased vascular permeability represents one of the hallmarks of sepsis. In the kidney, vascular permeability is strictly regulated by the 'glomerular filtration barrier' (GFB), which is comprised of glomerular endothelium, podocytes, their interposed basement membranes and the associated glycocalyx. Although it is likely that the GFB and its glycocalyx are altered during sepsis, no study has specifically addressed this issue. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether albuminuria--the hallmark of GFB perm-selectivity--occurs in the initial stage of sepsis and whether it is associated with morphological and biochemical changes of the GFB.Methods: Cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) was used to induce sepsis in the rat. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha levels in plasma and growth of microorganisms in the peritoneal fluid were evaluated at 0, 3 and 7 hours after CLP or sham-operation. At the same times, kidney specimens were collected and structural and ultrastructural alterations in the GFB were assessed. In addition, several components of GFB-associated glycocalyx, syndecan-1, hyluronan (HA) and sialic acids were evaluated by immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry and lectin histochemistry techniques. Serum creatinine and creatinine clearance were measured to assess kidney function and albuminuria for changes in GFB permeability. Analysis of variance followed by Tukey's multiple comparison test was used.Results: Septic rats showed increased TNF-alpha levels and growth of microorganisms in the peritoneal fluid. Only a few renal corpuscles had major ultrastructural and structural alterations and no change in serum creatinine or creatinine clearance was observed. Contrarily, urinary albumin significantly increased after CLP and was associated with diffuse alteration in the glycocalyx of the GFB, which consisted in a decrease in syndecan-1 expression and in HA and sialic acids contents. Sialic acids were also changed in their structure, exhibiting a higher degree of acetylation.Conclusions: In its initial phase, sepsis is associated with a significant alteration in the composition of the GFB-associated glycocalyx, with loss of GFB perm-selectivity as documented by albumin leakage into urine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our In-Vitro Fertilisation Centre is situated in a large developing country, Madagascar, with very bad roads and low income patients. Therefore we try to find ways to reduce as much as possible the number of attempts to obtain a pregnancy. Poor or no response to ovarian stimulation in In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) cycles is a great challenge. Here we describe a method whereby we shift from IVF to Oocyte Donation (OD) during the same cycle for patients whose ovaries do not respond properly to ovulation stimulation. Patients were superovulated with a long protocol agonist treatment and ultrasonically monitored for IVF/ICSI. When, at half way of the stimulation, it was clear that there was a no or poor response, gonadotropin administration was stopped and immediately replaced by estrogens; when the endometrium was considered to be sufficiently receptive, some donated oocytes from our concomitant oocyte donation (OD) program were fertilized with the patient's husband sperm and progesterone was added to the patients' treatment. After 48 hours the resulting embryos were transferred. Five poor responders patients underwent the described procedure. Three conceived, one of which aborted at 9 weeks, while the other two are ongoing. These patients signed the consent form accepting the possibility to shift from IVF to OD during the same cycle and three clinical pregnancies were obtained. OD through this technique seems more acceptable by poor responders than planned OD. This is a preliminary report and to our knowledge it is the first report of such a method.

Objective: We previously showed that photoablative laser therapy followed by multiple photodynamic cycles (PAPD) after scaling/root planing (SRP) improved healing of periodontitis patients as compared with conventional SRP after 1-year follow-up. This study reports the favorable results of PAPD plus SRP in patients with chronic periodontitis at a 4-year follow-up., Materials and Methods: Twenty-four patients were studied. Maxillary left or right quadrants were randomly assigned to PAPD laser treatment or sham-treatment and SRP. PAPD consisted of: (1) photoablative intra/extrapocket de-epithelization with diode laser (λ 810 nm, 1 W), and (2) photodynamic treatments (4-10 weekly) with diode laser (λ 635 nm, 100 mW) and 0.3% methylene blue as photoactive antiseptic, performed after SRP. Sham treatment was performed with switched- off laser. Probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), and bleeding-on-probing (BOP) were evaluated. Additional disease markers, namely polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN), erythrocytes (RBC), damaged epithelial cells (DEC), and bacteria were assayed by cytofluorescence on gingival exfoliative samples., Results: At 4-year follow-up, PAPD plus SRP significantly improved PD, CAL, and BOP, as well as bacterial contamination and PMN-RBC shedding in the exfoliative samples, compared with sham treatment plus SRP. This effect was greater than that observed at 1-year follow-up., Conclusions: PAPD plus SRP provided significant, durable improvement of chronic periodontitis over sham treatment plus SRP alone.

Big efforts have been dedicated up to now to identify novel targets for cancer treatment. The peculiar biophysical profile and the atypical ionic channels activity shown by diverse types of human cancers suggest that ion channels may be possible targets in cancer therapy. Earlier studies have shown that melatonin exerts an oncostatic action on different tumors. In particular, it was shown that melatonin was able to inhibit growth/viability and proliferation, to reduce the invasiveness and metastatic properties of human estrogen-sensitive breast adenocarcinoma MCF-7 cell line cultured in growth medium, with substantial impairments of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and Notch-1-mediated signaling. The purpose of this work was to evaluate on MCF-7 cells the possible effects of melatonin on the biophysical features known to have a role in proliferation and differentiation, by using the patch-clamp technique. Our results show that in cells cultured in growth as well as in differentiation medium melatonin caused a hyperpolarization of resting membrane potential paralleled by significant changes of the inward Ca(2+) currents (T- and L-type), outward delayed rectifier K(+) currents and cell capacitance. All these effects are involved in MCF-7 growth and differentiation. These findings strongly suggest that melatonin, acting as a modulator of different voltage-dependent ion channels, might be considered a new promising tool for specifically disrupting cell viability and differentiation pathways in tumour cells with possible beneficial effects on cancer therapy., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

New Findings: What is the central question of this study? Fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transition is a key mechanism in the reparative response to tissue damage, but myofibroblast persistence in the wound leads to fibrosis and organ failure. The role of relaxin as an antifibrotic agent capable of counteracting the acquisition of biophysical features of differentiated myofibroblasts deserves further investigation. What is the main finding and its importance? Electrophysiological analysis showed that relaxin, administered during profibrotic treatment, hyperpolarizes the membrane potential and attenuates delayed rectifier and inwardly rectifying K(+) currents, which usually increase in the transition to myofibroblasts. These findings provide further clues to the therapeutic potential of relaxin in fibrosis. The hormone relaxin (RLX) is produced by the heart and may be involved in endogenous mechanisms of cardiac protection against ischaemic injury and fibrosis. Recent findings in cultured cardiac stromal cells suggest that RLX can inhibit fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transition, thereby counteracting fibrosis. In order to explore its efficiency as an antifibrotic agent further, we designed the present study to investigate whether RLX may influence the electrophysiological events associated with differentiation of cardiac stromal cells to myofibroblasts. Primary cardiac proto-myofibroblasts and NIH/3T3 fibroblasts were induced to myofibroblasts by transforming growth factor-β1, and the electrophysiological features of both cell populations were investigated by whole-cell patch clamp. We demonstrated that proto-myofibroblasts and myofibroblasts express different membrane passive properties and K(+) currents. Here, we have shown, for the first time, that RLX (100 ng ml(-1) ) significantly reduced both voltage- and Ca(2+) -dependent delayed-rectifier and inward-rectifying K(+) currents that are typically increased in myofibroblasts compared with proto-myofibroblasts, suggesting that this hormone can antagonize the biophysical effects of transforming growth factor-β1 in inducing myofibroblast differentiation. These newly recognized effects of RLX on the electrical properties of cardiac stromal cell membrane correlate well with its well-known ability to suppress myofibroblast differentiation, further supporting the possibility that RLX may be used for the treatment of cardiac fibrosis., (© 2015 The Authors. Experimental Physiology © 2015 The Physiological Society.)

Mitochondria play a crucial role in pathways of stress conditions. They can be transported from one cell to another, bringing their features to the cell where they are transported. It has been shown in cancer cells overexpressing multidrug resistance (MDR) that mitochondria express proteins involved in drug resistance such as P-glycoprotein (P-gp), breast cancer resistant protein and multiple resistance protein-1. The MDR phenotype is associated with the constitutive expression of COX-2 and iNOS, whereas celecoxib, a specific inhibitor of COX-2 activity, reverses drug resistance of MDR cells by releasing cytochrome c from mitochondria. It is possible that COX-2 and iNOS are also expressed in mitochondria of cancer cells overexpressing the MDR phenotype. This study involved experiments using the human HCC PLC/PRF/5 cell line with and without MDR phenotype and melanoma A375 cells that do not express the MDR1 phenotype but they do iNOS. Western blot analysis, confocal immunofluorescence and immune electron microscopy showed that iNOS is localized in mitochondria of MDR1-positive cells, whereas COX-2 is not. Low and moderate concentrations of celecoxib modulate the expression of iNOS and P-gp in mitochondria of MDR cancer cells independently from inhibition of COX-2 activity. However, A375 cells that express iNOS also in mitochondria, were not MDR1 positive. In conclusion, iNOS can be localized in mitochondria of HCC cells overexpressing MDR1 phenotype, however this phenomenon appears independent from the MDR1 phenotype occurrence. The presence of iNOS in mitochondria of human HCC cells phenotype probably concurs to a more aggressive behaviour of cancer cells., (© 2015 The Authors. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd and Foundation for Cellular and Molecular Medicine.)

Growing evidence has shown the promise of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) for the treatment of cutaneous wound healing. We have previously demonstrated that MSCs seeded on an artificial dermal matrix, Integra (Integra Lifesciences Corp., Plainsboro, NJ) enriched with platelet-rich plasma (Ematrix) have enhanced proliferative potential in vitro as compared with those cultured on the scaffold alone. In this study, we extended the experimentation by evaluating the efficacy of the MSCs seeded scaffolds in the healing of skin wounds in an animal model in vivo. It was found that the presence of MSCs within the scaffolds greatly ameliorated the quality of regenerated skin, reduced collagen deposition, enhanced reepithelization, increased neo-angiogenesis, and promoted a greater return of hair follicles and sebaceous glands. The mechanisms involved in these beneficial effects were likely related to the ability of MSCs to release paracrine factors modulating the wound healing response. MSC-seeded scaffolds, in fact, up-regulated matrix metalloproteinase 9 expression in the extracellular matrix and enhanced the recruitment of endogenous progenitors during tissue repair. In conclusion, the results of this study provide evidence that the treatment with MSC-seeded scaffolds of cutaneous wounds contributes to the recreation of a suitable microenvironment for promoting tissue repair/regeneration at the implantation sites., (© 2014 The Authors. Wound Repair and Regeneration published by . Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of The Wound Healing Society.)

In animal models, the cardiotropic hormone relaxin has been shown to protect the heart against ischemia and reperfusion-induced damage, acting by multiple mechanisms that primarily involve the coronary vessels. This in vitro study evaluates whether relaxin also has a direct protective action on cardiac muscle cells. H9c2 rat cardiomyoblasts and primary mouse cardiomyocytes were subjected to hypoxia and reoxygenation. In some experiments, relaxin was added preventatively before hypoxia; in others, at reoxygenation. To elucidate its mechanisms of action, we focused on Notch-1, which is involved in heart pre- and postconditioning to ischemia. Inactivated RLX was used as negative control. Relaxin (17 nmol/L, EC50 4.7 nmol/L), added 24 h before hypoxia or at reoxygenation, protected against cardiomyocyte injury. In fact, relaxin significantly increased cell viability (assayed by trypan blue and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide), decreased apoptosis (assayed by TUNEL and bax/bcl-2 ratio), and reduced nitroxidative damage (assayed by nitrotyrosine expression and 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine levels). These effects were partly attributable to the ability of relaxin to upregulate Notch-1 signaling; indeed, blockade of Notch-1 activation with the specific inhibitor DAPT reduced relaxin-induced cardioprotection during hypoxia and reoxygenation. This study adds new mechanistic insights on the cardioprotective role of relaxin on ischemic and oxidative damage., (© FASEB.)

Bone-marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have the potential to significantly contribute to skeletal muscle healing through the secretion of paracrine factors that support proliferation and enhance participation of the endogenous muscle stem cells in the process of repair/regeneration. However, MSC-derived trophic molecules have been poorly characterized. The aim of this study was to investigate paracrine signaling effects of MSCs on skeletal myoblasts. It was found, using a biochemical and morphological approach that sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P), a natural bioactive lipid exerting a broad range of muscle cell responses, is secreted by MSCs and represents an important factor by which these cells exert their stimulatory effects on C2C12 myoblast and satellite cell proliferation. Indeed, exposure to conditioned medium obtained from MSCs cultured in the presence of the selective sphingosine kinase inhibitor (iSK), blocked increased cell proliferation caused by the conditioned medium from untreated MSCs, and the addition of exogenous S1P in the conditioned medium from MSCs pre-treated with iSK further increased myoblast proliferation. Finally, we also demonstrated that the myoblast response to MSC-secreted vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) involves the release of S1P from C2C12 cells. Our data may have important implications in the optimization of cell-based strategies to promote skeletal muscle regeneration.

Objective: The development of sepsis in patients with traumatic brain injury increases mortality, exacerbates morphological and functional cerebral damage, and causes persistent neuroinflammation, including microglial activation. The administration of antibiotics possessing both antimicrobial and immunomodulatory activity might attenuate both sepsis and posttraumatic cerebral inflammation. We compared the potential therapeutic efficacy of two tetracyclines, minocycline and the newer generation tigecycline, on functional neurobehavioral impairment and regional histopathological damage in an experimental model of combined traumatic brain injury and sepsis., Design: Prospective, experimental animal study., Setting: University Research Laboratory., Subjects: Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats., Interventions: Controlled cortical impact was used to induce traumatic brain injury and cecal ligation and puncture for sepsis. Immediately following injury, animals were treated with minocycline (45 mg/kg intraperitoneal), tigecycline (7.5 mg/kg intraperitoneal), or saline every 12 hours for 3 days., Measurements and Main Results: The development of sepsis and cerebral inflammatory response were evaluated, respectively, by 1) growth of peritoneal microorganisms and clinical variables and 2) tumor necrosis factor-α expression in the perilesional cortex. To assess posttraumatic outcome, vestibulomotor and cognitive function were evaluated at different time points for 14 days post injury whereupon animals were killed and cerebral tissue analyzed for lesion volume, regional hippocampal (CA1/CA3) cell death, and microglial activation in the perilesional cortex, lesion core zone, and choroid plexus. Treatment with both antibiotics reduced microorganism growth, body weight loss, and mortality but had no effect on vestibulomotor or cognitive function. Minocycline alone attenuated postinjury cortical lesion volume, hippocampal CA3 neuronal cell loss, tumor necrosis factor-α expression, and the extent of microglial activation and infiltration., Conclusions: The significantly heightened mortality caused by the superimposition of sepsis upon traumatic brain injury can be reduced by administration of both antibiotics but only minocycline can decrease the extent of cell death in selectively cortical and hippocampal brain regions, via, in part, a reduction in cerebral inflammation.

Recent studies indicate that mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) transplantation improves healing of injured and diseased skeletal muscle, although the mechanisms of benefit are poorly understood. In the present study, we investigated whether MSCs and/or their trophic factors were able to regulate matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) expression and activity in different cells of the muscle tissue. MSCs in co-culture with C2C12 cells or their conditioned medium (MSC-CM) up-regulated MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression and function in the myoblastic cells; these effects were concomitant with the down-regulation of the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP)-1 and -2 and with increased cell motility. In the single muscle fiber experiments, MSC-CM administration increased MMP-2/9 expression in Pax-7(+) satellite cells and stimulated their mobilization, differentiation and fusion. The anti-fibrotic properties of MSC-CM involved also the regulation of MMPs by skeletal fibroblasts and the inhibition of their differentiation into myofibroblasts. The treatment with SB-3CT, a potent MMP inhibitor, prevented in these cells, the decrease of α-smooth actin and type-I collagen expression induced by MSC-CM, suggesting that MSC-CM could attenuate the fibrogenic response through mechanisms mediated by MMPs. Our results indicate that growth factors and cytokines released by these cells may modulate the fibrotic response and improve the endogenous mechanisms of muscle repair/regeneration., (Copyright © 2014. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Background: The use of lasers in periodontology is a matter of debate, mainly because of the lack of consensual therapeutic protocols. In this randomized, split-mouth trial, the clinical efficacy of two different photoablative dental lasers, erbium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Er:YAG) and diode, for the treatment of gingival hyperpigmentation is compared., Methods: Twenty-one patients requiring treatment for mild-to-severe gingival hyperpigmentation were enrolled. Maxillary or mandibular left or right quadrants were randomly subjected to photoablative deepithelialization with either Er:YAG or diode laser. Masked clinical assessments of each laser quadrant were made at admission and days 7, 30, and 180 postoperatively by an independent observer. Histologic examination was performed before and soon after treatment and 6 months after irradiation. Patients also compiled a subjective evaluation questionnaire., Results: Both diode and Er:YAG lasers gave excellent results in gingival hyperpigmentation. However, Er:YAG laser induced deeper gingival tissue injury than diode laser, as judged by bleeding at surgery, delayed healing, and histopathologic analysis. The use of diode laser showed additional advantages compared to Er:YAG in terms of less postoperative discomfort and pain., Conclusions: This study highlights the efficacy of diode laser for photoablative deepithelialization of hyperpigmented gingiva. It is suggested that this laser can represent an effective and safe therapeutic option for gingival photoablation.

Cell-to-cell contacts are crucial for cell differentiation. The promyogenic cell surface protein, Cdo, functions as a component of multiprotein clusters to mediate cell adhesion signaling. Connexin 43, the main connexin forming gap junctions, also plays a key role in myogenesis. At least part of its effects is independent of the intercellular channel function, but the mechanisms underlying are unknown. Here, using multiple optical approaches, we provided the first evidence that Cx43 physically interacts with Cdo to form dynamic complexes during myoblast differentiation, offering clues for considering this interaction a structural basis of the channel-independent function of Cx43., (Copyright © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

The hormone relaxin (RLX) is produced by the heart and has beneficial actions on the cardiovascular system. We previously demonstrated that RLX stimulates mouse neonatal cardiomyocyte growth, suggesting its involvement in endogenous mechanisms of myocardial histogenesis and regeneration. In the present study, we extended the experimentation by evaluating the effects of RLX on primary cultures of neonatal cardiac stromal cells. RLX inhibited TGF-β1-induced fibroblast-myofibroblast transition, as judged by its ability to down-regulate α-smooth muscle actin and type I collagen expression. We also found that the hormone up-regulated metalloprotease (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 expression and downregulated the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP)-2 in TGF-β1-stimulated cells. Interestingly, the effects of RLX on cardiac fibroblasts involved the activation of Notch-1 pathway. Indeed, Notch-1 expression was significantly decreased in TGF-β1-stimulatedfibroblasts as compared to the unstimulated controls; this reduction was prevented by the addition of RLX to TGF-β1-stimulated cells. Moreover, pharmacological inhibition of endogenous Notch-1 signaling by N-3,5-difluorophenyl acetyl-L-alanyl-2-phenylglycine-1,1-dimethylethyl ester (DAPT), a γ-secretase specific inhibitor, as well as the silencing of Notch-1 ligand, Jagged-1, potentiated TGF-β1-induced myofibroblast differentiation and abrogated the inhibitory effects of RLX. Interestingly, RLX and Notch-1 exerted their inhibitory effects by interfering with TGF-β1 signaling, since the addition of RLX to TGF-β1-stimulated cells caused a significant decrease in Smad3 phosphorylation, a typical downstream event of TGF-β1 receptor activation, while the treatment with a prevented this effect. These data suggest that Notch signaling can down-regulate TGF-β1/Smad3-induced fibroblast-myofibroblast transition and that RLX could exert its well known anti-fibrotic action through the up-regulation of this pathway. In conclusion, the results of the present study beside supporting the role of RLX in the field of cardiac fibrosis, provide novel experimental evidence on the molecular mechanisms underlying its effects.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to optimize gingival laser photoablation by thermographic and autofluorescent feedbacks., Background Data: Photoablative laser treatment is commonly used for gingival de-epithelization in patients with chronic periodontitis or hyperpigmentation. The reduction of collateral thermal damage of periodontal tissues is crucial for optimal treatment outcome., Methods: Nineteen patients with chronic periodontitis, seven of whom showing gingival hyperpigmentation, were subjected to de-epithelization with an 810 nm diode laser used in continuous (1 W, 66.67 J/cm2) or pulsed wave mode (69 μJ, 18 μs, 8000 Hz, corresponding to peak/mean power of 3.8 W/0.6 W, 40 J/cm2), depending upon individual gingival features. Photoablation was controlled in real time with a 405 nm violet light probe, which stimulated a yellow autofluorescence of the laser-coagulated tissue. The temperature at the target tissue was controlled with an infrared thermographic probe. When appropriate, small biopsies were taken to evaluate epithelial ablation and thermal effects., Results: The energy density transferred to the treated tissue surface was computed based on the irradiation modality of the target tissues. Laser photoablation performed under thermographic control yielded complete removal of the gingival epithelium with minimal injury to the underlying lamina propria. Irradiation-evoked autofluorescence, conceivably the result of epithelial keratins, allowed very sharp recognition of the borders between laser-ablated and intact epithelium, thus preventing repeated irradiation., Conclusions: This study further supports the favorable characteristics of photoablative diode laser for gingival de-epithelization. Concurrent thermographic and fluorescent analysis can provide substantial help to the setup of a safe and well-tolerated protocol.

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are a promising cell candidate in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Their proliferative potential can be increased by low-level laser irradiation (LLLI), but the mechanisms involved remain to be clarified. With the aim of expanding the therapeutic application of LLLI to MSC therapy, in the present study we investigated the effects of 635 nm diode laser on mouse MSC proliferation and investigated the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms, focusing the attention on the effects of laser irradiation on Notch-1 signal activation and membrane ion channel modulation. It was found that MSC proliferation was significantly enhanced after laser irradiation, as judged by time lapse videomicroscopy and EdU incorporation. This phenomenon was associated with the up-regulation and activation of Notch-1 pathway, and with increased membrane conductance through voltage-gated K(+) , BK and Kir, channels and T- and L-type Ca(2+) channels. We also showed that MSC proliferation was mainly dependent on Kir channel activity, on the basis that the cell growth and Notch-1 up-regulation were severely decreased by the pre-treatment with the channel inhibitor Ba(2+) (0.5 mM). Interestingly, the channel inhibition was also able to attenuate the stimulatory effects of diode laser on MSCs, thus providing novel evidence to expand our knowledge on the mechanisms of biostimulation after LLLI. In conclusions, our findings suggest that diode laser may be a valid approach for the preconditioning of MSCs in vitro prior cell transplantation., (Copyright © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

The notion that the adult heart of mammals including humans contain a small population of resident cardiac progenitor/stem cells (CSCs) have questioned the traditional paradigm of the myocardium as a post-mitotic terminally differentiated tissue. These cells, however, are relatively scarce and unable to be recruited in large number at the site of tissue damage. This has sparkled novel interest in the identification of molecules capable of stimulating the regenerative potentials of CSCs in their microenvironment. In this context, the peptide hormone relaxin (RLX), recently validated as a cardiovascular hormone, deserves a key place. This article summarizes the most recent findings of our group on the ability of RLX to modulate growth and differentiation of mouse neonatal cardiomyocytes, suggesting that this hormone, for which the heart is both a source and target organ, may participate in the endogenous mechanisms of myocardial repair/regeneration. Moreover, we have recently observed that RLX, by a Notch-1-mediated mechanism, inhibits cardiac myofibroblast differentiation and function, suggesting that the known anti-fibrotic effects of RLX may be part of a complex network of actions whereby this hormone facilitates cardiac stem cell growth and improves myocardial regeneration.

Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (BM-MSCs) represent the leading candidate cell in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. These cells can be easily isolated, expanded in vitro and are capable of providing significant functional benefits after implantation in the damaged muscle tissues. Despite their plasticity, the participation of BM-MSCs to new muscle fiber formation is controversial; in fact, emerging evidence indicates that their therapeutic effects occur without signs of long-term tissue engraftment and involve the paracrine secretion of cytokines and growth factors with multiple effects on the injured tissue, including modulation of inflammation and immune reaction, positive extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, angiogenesis and protection from apoptosis. Recently, a new role for BM-MSCs in the stimulation of muscle progenitor cells proliferation has been demonstrated, suggesting the potential ability of these cells to influence the fate of local stem cells and augment the endogenous mechanisms of repair/regeneration in the damaged tissues.

Aim: Comparing the efficacy of photoablative and photodynamic diode laser in adjunct to scaling -root planing (SRP) and SRP alone for the treatment of chronic periodontitis., Materials and Methods: Twenty-six patients were studied. Maxillary left or right quadrants were randomly assigned to sham-laser treatment + SRP or laser + SRP. This consisted of photoablative intra/extra-pocket de-epithelization with diode laser (λ = 810 nm), followed by single SRP and multiple photodynamic treatments (once weekly, 4-10 applications, mean ± SD: 3.7 ± 2.4) using diode laser (λ = 635 nm) and 0.3% methylene blue as photosensitizer. The patients were monitored at days 0 and 365 by clinical assessment (probing depth, PD; clinical attachment level, CAL; bleeding on probing, BOP) and at days 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, 365 by cytofluorescence analysis of gingival exfoliative samples taken in proximity of the teeth to be treated (polymorphonuclear leukocytes, PMN; red blood cells, RBC; damaged epithelial cells, DEC; bacteria)., Results: At day 365, compared with the control quadrants, the laser + SRP therapy yielded a significant (p < 0.001) reduction in PD (-1.9 mm), CAL (-1.7 mm) and BOP (-33.2% bleeding sites), as well as in bacterial contamination - especially spirochetes - and PMN and RBC shedding in the gingival samples (p < 0.001)., Conclusions: Diode laser treatment (photoablation followed by multiple photodynamic cycles) adjunctive to conventional SRP improves healing in chronic periodontitis patients., (© 2012 John Wiley & Sons A/S.)

Melatonin has been shown to inhibit breast cancer cell growth in numerous studies. However, our understanding of the therapeutic effects of this hormone is still marginal and there is little information concerning its combination with other antitumor agents to achieve additional potential benefits. All-trans retinoic acids or somatostatin have been used in combination with melatonin in several pre-clinical and clinical trials, but they have never been combined altogether as an anti-breast cancer treatment. In the present study, we investigated whether the association of melatonin, all-trans retinoic acid and somatostatin leads to an enhanced anticancer activity in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. In such conditions, MCF-7 cells were investigated for cell growth/viability and proliferation, as well as for the expression of cyclin A, and components of the Notch and EGFR pathways, by Western blotting and confocal immunofluorescence. Electrophysiological, morphological, and biochemical analysis were also performed to reveal signs of cell damage and death. We found that melatonin in combination with all-trans retinoic acid and somatostatin potentiated the effects of melatonin alone on MCF-7 cell viability and growth inhibition; this phenomenon was associated with altered conductance through Ca²⁺ and voltage-activated K⁺ (BK) channels, and with substantial impairments of Notch-1 and epidermal growth factor (EGF)-mediated signaling. The combined treatment also caused a marked reduction in mitochondrial membrane potential and intracellular ATP production as well as induction of necrotic cell death. Taken together our results indicate that co-administration of melatonin with all-trans retinoic acid and somatostatin may be of significant therapeutic benefit in breast cancer.

Objective: We aimed at quantifying the presence of periodontopathogens in gingival biopsies from periodontitis patients treated with different photoablative lasers (diode GaAs, Er:YAG, Nd:YAG, and CO(2) lasers) and histologically analyzing their effects on the gingiva., Background Data: Substantial evidence indicates that intracellular location of periodontal bacteria in the gingival epithelium may contribute to chronic periodontitis., Methods: Sixteen adult subjects with chronic periodontitis were subjected to conventional scaling/root planing and topical chlorhexidine, and immediately laser-irradiated on the inner and outer free gingiva. Small gingival biopsies were subjected to real-time polymerase chain reaction and cytofluorescence to identify periodontopathogens; tissue damage and endothelial ICAM-1 expression were assessed by histological and immunofluorescence analyses., Results: High DNA levels of Porphyromonas gingivalis, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Treponema denticola, Prevotella intermedia, and Ekenella corrodens, were detected in all samples. Nd:YAG and diode lasers were capable of eradicating periodontopathogenic bacteria endowed within gingival epithelial cells outside periodontal pockets, without causing connective tissue damage and microvessel rupture. They also reduced ICAM-1 immunolabelling by the vascular endothelium. Conversely, Er:YAG lasers induced marked microvessel rupture and bleeding and failed to completely and selectively ablate the infected gingival epithelium, whereas CO(2) laser caused heat-induced coagulation of the lamina propria., Conclusions: This study indicates that periodontopathogens can persist within cells outside the pocket epithelium, despite conventional periodontal treatment. Nd:YAG and diode lasers are able to eradicate intra- and extracellular bacteria from these sites, suggesting that they can be considered suitable devices to improve the clinical outcome of periodontal disease.

The demonstration that the adult heart contains myocardial progenitor cells which can be recruited in an attempt to replace the injured myocardium has sparkled interest towards novel molecules capable of improving the differentiation of these cells. In this context, the peptide hormone relaxin (RLX), recently validated as a cardiovascular hormone, is a promising candidate. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that RLX may promote the growth and maturation of mouse neonatal immature cardiomyocytes in primary culture. The cultures were studied at 2, 12, 24 and 48 hrs after the addition of human recombinant H2 RLX (100 ng/ml), the main circulating form of the hormone, or plain medium by combining molecular biology, morphology and electrophysiology. RLX modulated cell proliferation, promoting it at 2 and 12 hrs and inhibiting it at 24 hrs; RLX also induced the expression of both cardiac-specific transcription factors (GATA-4 and Nkx2-5) and cardiac-specific structural genes (connexin 43, troponin T and HCN4 ion channel) at both the mRNA and protein level. Consistently, RLX induced the appearance of ultrastructural and electrophysiological signs of functionally competent, mature cardiomyocytes. In conclusion, this study provides novel circumstantial evidence that RLX specifically acts on immature cardiomyocytes by promoting their proliferation and maturation. This notion suggests that RLX, for which the heart is both a source and target organ, may be an endogenous regulator of cardiac morphogenesis during pre-natal life and could participate in heart regeneration and repair, both as endogenous myocardium-derived factor and exogenous cardiotropic drug, during adult life., (© 2012 Foundation for Cellular and Molecular Medicine/Blackwell Publishing Ltd.)

The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of Integra, an artificial dermal matrix used as a dermal template for skin regeneration, to form a multifunctional scaffold with human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for tissue engineering and regenerative technology. First, we showed that PRP, used as a supplement for growth medium, represented an optimal substitute for animal serum as well as a source of multiple growth factors, was able to satisfactorily support cell viability and cell proliferation and influence stemness gene expression in hMSCs. Moreover, Integra appeared to be a suitable substrate for hMSCs colonization, as judged by two-photon microscopy combined with fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) and confocal analysis. The cells were then seeded on Integra + PRP for 24 and 48 h. Notably, in these conditions, the seeded cells exhibited a greater aptitude to colonize the scaffold, showed improved cell adhesion and spreading as compared with those cultured on Integra alone, and acquired a fibroblast-like phenotype, indicating that the bioengineered scaffold provided an appropriate environment for cellular growth and differentiation. In conclusion, these results, although preliminary, provide clues for the design of new therapeutic strategies for skin regeneration, consisting in the combination of mesenchymal stem cells with engineered biomaterials., (Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

The interaction of amyloid aggregates with the cell plasma membrane is currently considered among the basic mechanisms of neuronal dysfunction in amyloid neurodegeneration. We used amyloid oligomers and fibrils grown from the yeast prion Sup35p, responsible for the specific prion trait [PSI(+)], to investigate how membrane lipids modulate fibril interaction with the membranes of cultured H-END cells and cytotoxicity. Sup35p shares no homology with endogenous mammalian polypeptide chains. Thus, the generic toxicity of amyloids and the molecular events underlying cell degeneration can be investigated without interference with analogous polypeptides encoded by the cell genome. Sup35 fibrils bound to the cell membrane without increasing its permeability to Ca(2+). Fibril binding resulted in structural reorganization and aggregation of membrane rafts, with GM1 clustering and alteration of its mobility. Sup35 fibril binding was affected by GM1 or its sialic acid moiety, but not by cholesterol membrane content, with complete inhibition after treatment with fumonisin B1 or neuraminidase. Finally, cell impairment resulted from caspase-8 activation after Fas receptor translocation on fibril binding to the plasma membrane. Our observations suggest that amyloid fibrils induce abnormal accumulation and overstabilization of raft domains in the cell membrane and provide a reasonable, although not unique, mechanistic and molecular explanation for fibril toxicity.

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are the leading cell candidates in the field of regenerative medicine. These cells have also been successfully used to improve skeletal muscle repair/regeneration; however, the mechanisms responsible for their beneficial effects remain to be clarified. On this basis, in the present study, we evaluated in a co-culture system, the ability of bone-marrow MSCs to influence C2C12 myoblast behavior and analyzed the cross-talk between the two cell types at the cellular and molecular level. We found that myoblast proliferation was greatly enhanced in the co-culture as judged by time lapse videomicroscopy, cyclin A expression and EdU incorporation. Moreover, myoblasts immunomagnetically separated from MSCs after co-culture expressed higher mRNA and protein levels of Notch-1, a key determinant of myoblast activation and proliferation, as compared with the single culture. Notch-1 intracellular domain and nuclear localization of Hes-1, a Notch-1 target gene, were also increased in the co-culture. Interestingly, the myoblastic response was mainly dependent on the paracrine release of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) by MSCs. Indeed, the addition of MSC-derived conditioned medium (CM) to C2C12 cells yielded similar results as those observed in the co-culture and increased the phosphorylation and expression levels of VEGFR. The treatment with the selective pharmacological VEGFR inhibitor, KRN633, resulted in a marked attenuation of the receptor activation and concomitantly inhibited the effects of MSC-CM on C2C12 cell growth and Notch-1 signaling. In conclusion, this study provides novel evidence for a role of MSCs in stimulating myoblast cell proliferation and suggests that the functional interaction between the two cell types may be exploited for the development of new and more efficient cell-based skeletal muscle repair strategies.

Skeletal muscle regeneration is severely compromised in the case of extended damage. The current challenge is to find factors capable of limiting muscle degeneration and/or potentiating the inherent regenerative program mediated by a specific type of myoblastic cells, the satellite cells. Recent studies from our groups and others have shown that the bioactive lipid, sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P), promotes myoblast differentiation and exerts a trophic action on denervated skeletal muscle fibres. In the present study, we examined the effects of S1P on eccentric contraction (EC)-injured extensor digitorum longus muscle fibres and resident satellite cells. After EC, skeletal muscle showed evidence of structural and biochemical damage along with significant electrophysiological changes, i.e. reduced plasma membrane resistance and resting membrane potential and altered Na(+) and Ca(2+) current amplitude and kinetics. Treatment with exogenous S1P attenuated the EC-induced tissue damage, protecting skeletal muscle fibre from apoptosis, preserving satellite cell viability and affecting extracellular matrix remodelling, through the up-regulation of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) expression. S1P also promoted satellite cell renewal and differentiation in the damaged muscle. Notably, EC was associated with the activation of sphingosine kinase 1 (SphK1) and with increased endogenous S1P synthesis, further stressing the relevance of S1P in skeletal muscle protection and repair/regeneration. In line with this, the treatment with a selective SphK1 inhibitor during EC, caused an exacerbation of the muscle damage and attenuated MMP-9 expression. Together, these findings are in favour for a role of S1P in skeletal muscle healing and offer new clues for the identification of novel therapeutic approaches to counteract skeletal muscle damage and disease., (© 2011 The Authors Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine © 2011 Foundation for Cellular and Molecular Medicine/Blackwell Publishing Ltd.)

The possibility to induce myocardial regeneration by the activation of resident cardiac stem cells (CSCs) has raised great interest. However, to propose endogenous CSCs as therapeutic options, a better understanding of the complex mechanisms controlling heart morphogenesis is needed, including the cellular and molecular interactions that cardiomyocyte precursors establish with cells of the stromal compartment. In the present study, we co-cultured immature cardiomyocytes from neonatal mouse hearts with mouse bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) to investigate whether these cells could influence cardiomyocyte growth in vitro. We found that cardiomyocyte proliferation was enhanced by direct co-culture with MSCs compared with the single cultures. We also showed that the proliferative response of the neonatal cardiomyocytes involved the activation of Notch-1 receptor by its ligand Jagged-1 expressed by the adjacent MSCs. In fact, the cardiomyocytes in contact with MSCs revealed a stronger immunoreactivity for the activated Notch-intracellular domain (Notch-ICD) as compared with those cultured alone and this response was significantly attenuated when MSCs were silenced for Jagged-1. The presence of various cardiotropic cytokines and growth factors in the conditioned medium of MSCs underscored the contribution of paracrine mechanisms to Notch-1 up-regulation by the cardiomyocytes. In conclusions these findings unveil a previously unrecognized function of MSCs in regulating cardiomyocyte proliferation through Notch-1/Jagged-1 pathway and suggest that stromal-myocardial cell juxtacrine and paracrine interactions may contribute to the development of new and more efficient cell-based myocardial repair strategies., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective and Background: The present in vitro study was designed to evaluate and compare the efficacy of: 1) different dental laser devices used in photoablative (PA) mode, namely commercial CO(2), Er:YAG, and Nd:YAG lasers and a prototype diode laser (wavelength = 810  nm); 2) prototype low-energy laser diode or light-emitting diode (LED) (wavelength = 630  nm), used in photodynamic (PD) mode together with the photoactivated agent methylene blue; and 3) chlorhexidine, used as reference drug, to reduce the activation of macrophages by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a major pro-inflammatory gram-negative bacterial endotoxin, adherent to titanium surface., Methods: RAW 264-7 macrophages were cultured on titanium discs, cut from commercial dental implants and precoated with Porphyromonas gingivalis LPS. Before cell seeding, the discs were treated or not with the noted lasers and LED in PA and PD modes, or with chlorhexidine. The release of nitric oxide (NO), assumed to be a marker of macrophage inflammatory activation, in the conditioned medium was related to cell viability, evaluated by the MTS assay and ultrastructural analysis., Results: PA laser irradiation of the LPS-coated discs with Er:YAG, Nd:YAG, CO(2,) and diode (810  nm) significantly reduced NO production, with a maximal inhibition achieved by Nd:YAG and diode (810  nm). Similar effects were also obtained by PD treatment with diode laser and LED (630  nm) and methylene blue. Notably, both treatments were superior to chlorhexidine in terms of efficiency/toxicity ratio., Conclusions: These findings suggest that laser and LED irradiation are capable of effectively reducing the inflammatory response to LPS adherent to titanium surface, a notion that may have clinical relevance.

We recently demonstrated that skeletal muscle differentiation induced by sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) requires gap junctions and transient receptor potential canonical 1 (TRPC1) channels. Here, we searched for the signaling pathway linking the channel activity with Cx43 expression/function, investigating the involvement of the Ca(2+)-sensitive protease, m-calpain, and its targets in S1P-induced C2C12 myoblast differentiation. Gene silencing and pharmacological inhibition of TRPC1 significantly reduced Cx43 up-regulation and Cx43/cytoskeletal interaction elicited by S1P. TRPC1-dependent functions were also required for the transient increase of m-calpain activity/expression and the subsequent decrease of PKCα levels. Remarkably, Cx43 expression in S1P-treated myoblasts was reduced by m-calpain-siRNA and enhanced by pharmacological inhibition of classical PKCs, stressing the relevance for calpain/PKCα axis in Cx43 protein remodeling. The contribution of this pathway in myogenesis was also investigated. In conclusion, these findings provide novel mechanisms by which S1P regulates myoblast differentiation and offer interesting therapeutic options to improve skeletal muscle regeneration.

Recent evidence indicates that the adult heart contains sub-epicardial cardiogenic niches where cardiac stem cells and stromal supporting cells reside together. Such stromal cells include a special population, previously identified as interstitial Cajal-like cells and recently termed telocytes because of their long, slender processes (telopodes) embracing the myocardial precursors. Specific stromal cells, presumptively originated from the epicardium, have been postulated to populate the developing heart where they are thought to play a role in its morphogenesis. This study is designed to investigate the occurrence of telocytes in the developing heart and provide clues to better understand their role as supporting cells involved in the architectural organization of the myocardium during heart development. Our results showed that stromal cells with the immunophenotypical (vimentin, CD34) and ultrastructural features of telocytes were present in the mouse heart since early embryonic to adult life, as well as in primary cultures of neonatal mouse cardiac cells. These cells formed an extended network of telopodes which closely embraced the growing cardiomyocytes and appeared to contribute to the aggregation of cardiomyocyte clusters in vitro. In conclusion, the present findings strongly suggest that, during heart development, stromal cells identifiable as telocytes could play a nursing and guiding role for myocardial precursors to form the correct three-dimensional tissue pattern and contribute to compaction of the embryonic myocardial trabeculae. It is tempting to speculate that telocytes could be a novel, possible target for therapeutic strategies aimed at potentiating cardiac repair and regeneration after ischemic injury., (© 2010 The Authors Journal compilation © 2010 Foundation for Cellular and Molecular Medicine/Blackwell Publishing Ltd.)

Background and Objectives: Dental lasers represent a promising therapeutic tool in the treatment of periodontal and peri-implant diseases. However, their clinical application remains still limited. Here, we investigated the potential biostimulatory effect of low pulse energy neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser irradiation on different cells representative of the oral microenvironment and elucidated the underlying molecular mechanisms., Materials and Methods: Saos-2 osteoblasts, H-end endothelial cells, and NIH/3T3 fibroblasts pre-treated or not with photosensitizing dye methylene blue (MB), were irradiated with low pulse energy (20 mJ) and high repetition rate (50-70 Hz) Nd:YAG laser, and evaluated for cell viability and proliferation as well as for the expression of specific differentiation markers by confocal immunofluorescence and real-time RT-PCR. Changes in intracellular Ca(2+) levels after laser exposure were also evaluated in living osteoblasts., Results: Nd:YAG laser irradiation did not affect cell viability in all the tested cell types, even when combined with pre-treatment with MB, and efficiently stimulated cell growth in the non-sensitized osteoblasts. Moreover, a significant induction in the expression of osteopontin, ALP, and Runx2 in osteoblasts, type I collagen in fibroblasts, and vinculin in endothelial cells could be observed in the irradiated cells. Pre-treatment with MB negatively affected cell differentiation in the unstimulated and laser-stimulated cells. Notably, laser irradiation also caused an increase in the intracellular Ca(2+) in osteoblasts through the activation of TRPC1 ion channels. Moreover, the pharmacologic or genetic inhibition of these channels strongly attenuated laser-induced osteopontin expression, suggesting a role for the laser-mediated Ca(2+) influx in regulating osteoblast differentiation., Conclusion: Low pulse energy and high repetition rate Nd:YAG laser irradiation may exert a biostimulative effect on different cells representative of the oral microenvironment, particularly osteoblasts. Pre-treatment with MB prior to irradiation hampers this effect and limits the potential clinical application of photosensitizing dyes in dental practice., ((c) 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)

Previous works reported that a mild increase in homocysteine level is a risk factor for cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases in humans. Homocysteine thiolactone is a cyclic thioester, most of which is produced by an error-editing function of methionyl-tRNA synthetase, causing in vivo post-translational protein modifications by reacting with the epsilon-amino group of lysine residues. In cells, the rate of homocysteine thiolactone synthesis is strictly dependent on the levels of the precursor metabolite, homocysteine. In this work, using bovine serum albumin as a model, we investigated the impact of N-homocysteinylation on protein conformation as well as its cellular actions. Previous works demonstrated that protein N-homocysteinylation causes enzyme inactivation, protein aggregation, and precipitation. In addition, in the last few years, several pieces of evidence have indicated that protein unfolding and aggregation are crucial events leading to the formation of amyloid fibrils associated with a wide range of human pathologies. For the first time, our results reveal how the low level of protein N-homocysteinylation can induce mild conformational changes leading to the formation of native-like aggregates evolving over time, producing amyloid-like structures. Taking into account the fact that in humans about 70% of circulating homocysteine is N-linked to blood proteins such as serum albumin and hemoglobin, the results reported in this article could have pathophysiological relevance and could contribute to clarify the mechanisms underlying some pathological consequences described in patients affected by hyperhomocysteinemia., (Copyright (c) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The multidrug resistance (MDR) phenotype is characterized by the overexpression of a few transport proteins at the plasma membrane level, one of which is the breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP). These proteins are expressed in excretory organs, in the placenta and blood-brain barrier, and are involved in the transport of drugs and endogenous compounds. Because some of these proteins are expressed in the mitochondria, this study was designed to determine whether BCRP is expressed at a mitochondrial level and to investigate its function in various MDR and parental drug-sensitive cell lines. By using Western blot analysis, immunofluorescence confocal and electron microscopy, flow cytometry analysis, and the BCRP (ABCG-2) small interfering RNA, these experiments showed that BCRP is expressed in the mitochondrial cristae, in which it is functionally active. Mitoxantrone accumulation was significantly reduced in mitochondria and in cells that overexpress BCRP, in comparison to parental drug-sensitive cells. The specific inhibitor of BCRP, fumitremorgin c, increased the accumulation of mitoxantrone significantly in comparison with basal conditions in both whole cells and in mitochondria of BCRP-overexpressing cell lines. In conclusion, this study shows that BCRP is overexpressed and functionally active in the mitochondria of MDR-positive cancer cell lines. However, its presence in the mitochondria of parental drug-sensitive cells suggests that BCRP can be involved in the physiology of cancer cells.

The possibility that resident myocardial progenitor cells may be re-activated by transplantation of exogenous stem cells into the post-infarcted heart has been suggested as a possible mechanism to explain the heart's functional improvement after stem cell therapy. Here we studied whether differentiation of mouse neonatal immature cardiomyocytes in vitro was influenced by mouse skeletal myoblasts C2C12, wild type or engineered to secrete the cardiotropic hormone relaxin. The cultured cardiomyocytes formed spontaneously beating clusters and temporally exhibited cardiac immunophenotypical (cKit, atrial natriuretic peptide, troponin T, connexin-43, HCN4) and electrical features (inward voltage-dependent Na(+), T- and L-type Ca(2+) currents, outward and inward K(+) currents, I(f) pacemaker current). These clusters were functionally connected through nanotubular structures and undifferentiated cardiac cells in the form of flattened stripes, bridging the clusters through connexin-43-containing gap junctions. These findings suggested the existence of long distance cell-to-cell communications among the cardiomyocyte aggregates involved in the intercellular transfer of Ca(2+) signals and organelles, likely required for coordination of myocardial differentiation. Co-presence of the myoblasts greatly increased cardiomyocyte differentiation and the amount of intercellular connections. In fact, these cells formed a structural support guiding elongation of nanotubules and stripe-like cells. The secretion of relaxin by the engineered myoblasts accelerated and enhanced the cardiomyogenic potential of the co-culture. These findings underscore the possibility that grafted myoblasts and cardiotropic factors, such as relaxin, may influence regeneration of resident immature cardiac cells, thus adding a tile to the mosaic of mechanisms involved in the functional benefits of cell transplantation for cardiac repair.

Background: The bacterial endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS) represents a prime pathogenic factor of peri-implantitis because of its ability to adhere tenaciously to dental titanium implants. Despite this, the current therapeutic approach to this disease remains based mainly on bacterial decontamination, paying little attention to the neutralization of bioactive bacterial products. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate whether irradiation with low-energy neodymium-doped:yttrium, aluminum, and garnet (Nd:YAG) laser, in addition to the effects on bacterial implant decontamination, was capable of attenuating the LPS-induced inflammatory response., Methods: RAW 264.7 macrophages or human umbilical vein endothelial cells were cultured on titanium disks coated with Porphyromonas gingivalis LPS, subjected or not to irradiation with the Nd:YAG laser, and examined for the production of inflammatory cytokines and the expression of morphologic and molecular markers of cell activation., Results: Laser irradiation of LPS-coated titanium disks significantly reduced LPS-induced nitric oxide production and cell activation by the macrophages and strongly attenuated intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule expression, as well as interleukin-8 production by the endothelial cells., Conclusion: By blunting the LPS-induced inflammatory response, Nd:YAG laser irradiation may be viewed as a promising tool for the therapeutic management of peri-implantitis.

Transient receptor potential canonical (TRPC) channels provide cation and Ca(2+) entry pathways, which have important regulatory roles in many physio-pathological processes, including muscle dystrophy. However, the mechanisms of activation of these channels remain poorly understood. Using siRNA, we provide the first experimental evidence that TRPC channel 1 (TRPC1), besides acting as a store-operated channel, represents an essential component of stretch-activated channels in C2C12 skeletal myoblasts, as assayed by whole-cell patch-clamp and atomic force microscopic pulling. The channel's activity and stretch-induced Ca(2+) influx were modulated by sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P), a bioactive lipid involved in satellite cell biology and tissue regeneration. We also found that TRPC1 was functionally assembled in lipid rafts, as shown by the fact that cholesterol depletion resulted in the reduction of transmembrane ion current and conductance. Association between TRPC1 and lipid rafts was increased by formation of stress fibres, which was elicited by S1P and abolished by treatment with the actin-disrupting dihydrocytochalasin B, suggesting a role for cytoskeleton in TRPC1 membrane recruitment. Moreover, TRPC1 expression was significantly upregulated during myogenesis, especially in the presence of S1P, implicating a crucial role for TRPC1 in myoblast differentiation. Collectively, these findings may offer new tools for understanding the role of TRPC1 and sphingolipid signalling in skeletal muscle regeneration and provide new therapeutic approaches for skeletal muscle disorders.

Stem cell transplantation is a promising approach for treatment of the postinfarcted heart and prevention of deleterious cardiac remodeling and heart failure. We explored this issue by transplanting mouse C2C12 myoblasts, genetically engineered to express enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) or eGFP and relaxin (eGFP/RLX), into swine with chronic myocardial infarction. One month later, C2C12 myoblasts selectively settled in the ischemic scar around blood vessels, showing an activated endothelium (ICAM-1 and VCAM positive). Although unable to differentiate to a muscle phenotype, these cells induced extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling by matrix metalloprotease secretion and increased microvessel density by vascular endothelial growth factor expression. C2C12/RLX myoblasts gave better results than C2C12/GFP. By echocardiography, C2C12-engrafted swine, especially those that received C2C12/RLX, showed better heart contractility than the untreated controls. Hence, the advantage afforded by the grafted myoblasts on cardiac function is primarily dependent on their paracrine effects on ECM remodeling and vascularization.

A substantial lack of information is recognized on the features underlying the variable susceptibility to amyloid aggregate toxicity of cells with different phenotypes. Recently, we showed that different cell types are variously affected by early aggregates of a prokaryotic hydrogenase domain (HypF-N). In the present study we investigated whether differentiation affects cell susceptibility to amyloid injury using a human neurotypic SH-SY5Y cell differentiation model. We found that retinoic acid-differentiated cells were significantly more resistant against Abeta1-40, Abeta1-42 and HypF-N prefibrillar aggregate toxicity respect to undifferentiated cells treated similarly. Earlier and sharper increases in cytosolic Ca(2+) and ROS with marked lipid peroxidation and mitochondrial dysfunction were also detected in exposed undifferentiated cells resulting in apoptosis activation. The reduced vulnerability of differentiated cells matched a more efficient Ca(2+)-ATPase equipment and a higher total antioxidant capacity. Finally, increasing the content of membrane cholesterol resulted in a remarkable reduction of vulnerability and ability to bind the aggregates in either undifferentiated and differentiated cells.

Membrane-cytoskeleton interaction regulates transmembrane currents through stretch-activated channels (SACs); however, the mechanisms involved have not been tested in living cells. We combined atomic force microscopy, confocal immunofluorescence, and patch-clamp analysis to show that stress fibers (SFs) in C2C12 myoblasts behave as cables that, tensed by myosin II motor, activate SACs by modifying the topography and the viscoelastic (Young's modulus and hysteresis) and electrical passive (membrane capacitance, C(m)) properties of the cell surface. Stimulation with sphingosine 1-phosphate to elicit SF formation, the inhibition of Rho-dependent SF formation by Y-27632 and of myosin II-driven SF contraction by blebbistatin, showed that not SF polymerization alone but the generation of tensional forces by SF contraction were involved in the stiffness response of the cell surface. Notably, this event was associated with a significant reduction in the amplitude of the cytoskeleton-mediated corrugations in the cell surface topography, suggesting a contribution of SF contraction to plasma membrane stretching. Moreover, C(m), used as an index of cell surface area, showed a linear inverse relationship with cell stiffness, indicating participation of the actin cytoskeleton in plasma membrane remodeling and the ability of SF formation to cause internalization of plasma membrane patches to reduce C(m) and increase membrane tension. SF contraction also increased hysteresis. Together, these data provide the first experimental evidence for a crucial role of SF contraction in SAC activation. The related changes in cell viscosity may prevent SAC from abnormal activation.