Takashige Masuo

Cyclosporine A inhibits colorectal cancer proliferation probably by regulating expression levels of c-Myc, p21WAF1/CIP1 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen

The present study investigated the role of calcineurin (CaN) in the proliferation of human colorectal cancers. CaN activity and protein expression were increased in human colorectal cancers. Nuclear transcription factor NFAT, a physiological substrate for CaN, was activated in human colon cancer specimen as well as in the human colon cancer cell lines. CaN inhibitor cyclosporine A (CsA) reduced cell growth in these cell lines. CsA decreased the expressions of c-Myc and the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) but also increased p21(WAF1/CIP1) expression. Our results suggest that CaN promotes colorectal cancer proliferation probably by regulating levels of c-Myc, p21(WAF1/CIP1), and PCNA.

Topical application of glycyrrhizin preparation ameliorates experimentally induced colitis in rats.

AIM To examine the efficacy of glycyrrhizin preparation (GL-p) in the treatment of a rat model of ulcerative colitis (UC). METHODS Experimental colitis was induced by oral administration of dextran sodium sulfate. Rats with colitis were intrarectally administered GL-p or saline. The extent of colitis was evaluated based on body weight gain, colon wet weight, and macroscopic damage score. The expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in the inflamed mucosa were measured by cytokine antibody array analysis. The effect of GL-p on myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in the inflamed mucosa and purified enzyme was assayed. RESULTS GL-p treatment significantly ameliorated the extent of colitis compared to sham treatment with saline. Cytokine antibody array analysis showed that GL-p treatment significantly decreased the expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, including interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant-2, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 in the inflamed mucosa. Furthermore, GL-p inhibited the oxidative activity of mucosal and purified MPO. CONCLUSION GL-p enema has a therapeutic effect on experimental colitis in rats and may be useful in the treatment of UC.

Calcineurin inhibition by polaprezinc in rats with experimentally-induced colitis.

AIMS We investigated the therapeutic effect of polaprezinc (PZ), N-(3-aminopropionyl)-L-histidinato zinc, in rats with experimentally-induced colitis by focusing on calcineurin (CN) inhibition. CN plays a crucial role in T-cell activation and cytokine gene expression and is targeted by immunosuppressants such as cyclosporine and FK506. MAIN METHODS Colitis was induced into male Wistar rats by trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid and was treated with intrarectally administered PZ. The inflammation was assessed by the macroscopic damage score, colon wet weight, and proinflammatory mediator expression by RT-PCR analysis. Protein expression of calcineurin and the activation of its substrate, the nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) transcription factor, were also studied. Calcineurin inhibition by PZ was investigated in in vitro experiments using colonic mucosa, purified calcineurin enzyme, and Jurkat T cells. KEY FINDINGS CN was activated in the colitic mucosa; PZ treatment inhibited CN activation, the expression of proinflammatory cytokines in the mucosa, and thereby ameliorated the experimental colitis in rats. In in vitro experiments, PZ inhibited CN activity, NFAT activation, interleukin-2 expression, and the growth of Jurkat T cells. In the effective concentrations, PZ did not affect cell viability. SIGNIFICANCE Our results suggest that PZ can be used as an immunosuppressive agent for the treatment of colitis through its inhibitory effect on CN activity.