Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic disease characterized by synovial inflammation and polyarthritis. Inflammatory mediators activate fibroblast-like synovial cells which exhibit very unique characteristics in the process of bone resorption. The rheumatoid synoviocytes produce high levels of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production through increased cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 expression. PGE2 is thoug...

Invasive cytotrophoblasts play a key role in the development of human placenta and is therefore essential for subsequent development of the embryo. Human implantation is characterized by a major trophoblastic invasion that offers a unique model of a controlled and oriented tumor-like process. The ligand-activated nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) modu...

Rosiglitazone (RGZ), a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) ligand, is a novel dilator of small airways in mouse precision cut lung slices (PCLS). In this study, relaxation to RGZ and β-adrenoceptor agonists were compared in trachea from naïve mice and guinea pigs and trachea and PCLS from a mouse model of chronic allergic airways disease (AAD). Airways were precontracted with m...

The epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) is believed to represent the rate-limiting step for sodium absorption in the renal collecting duct. Consequently, ENaC is a central effector affecting systemic blood volume and pressure. Sodium and water transport are dysregulated in diabetes mellitus. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) agonists are currently used in the treatment o...

Nuclear factorB (NFB), a transcription factor with a critical role in promoting inflammation and cell survival, is constitutively activated in estrogen-receptor (ER)-negative breast cancer and is considered a potential therapeutic target for this type of neoplasia. We have previously demonstrated that cyclopentenone prostaglandins are potent inhibitors of NFB activation by inflammatory cytokine...

Background—Peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor-g (PPARg) is expressed in atherosclerotic plaques and in endothelial cells. The possible effects of PPARg activators on endothelial activation and inflammatory response within the plaque are currently unknown. Methods and Results—We tested the hypothesis that PPARg activators inhibit vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM-1) and intercellular...

Han, ShouWei, Jeffrey D. Ritzenthaler, Hilda N. Rivera, and Jesse Roman. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptorligands suppress fibronectin gene expression in human lung carcinoma cells: involvement of both CRE and Sp1. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 289: L419–L428, 2005. First published May 20, 2005; doi:10.1152/ajplung.00002.2005.—Lung carcinoma often occurs in patients with chronic l...

Cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 selective inhibitors suppress non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD); however, the precise mechanism of action remains unknown. The aim of this study was to examine how the COX-2 selective inhibitor nimesulide suppresses NAFLD in a murine model of high-fat diet (HFD)‑induced obesity. Mice were fed either a normal chow diet (NC), an HFD, or HFD plus nimesulide (HFD-nime...

Purpose: To investigate the effects and potential mechanisms of Shaoyao-Gangcao-Tang (SGT) on acute and resolution phases of carrageenin-induced pleurisy in rats. Methods: To determine the effects of SGT at 2 h, Sprague-Dawley rats received injection of 0.2 ml of 1 % λ-carrageenin into the pleural cavity after treatment with 4.0, 13.3 and 40.0 g/kg SGT for three days. At 2 h after pleurisy indu...

BACKGROUND Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARgamma) is expressed in atherosclerotic plaques and in endothelial cells. The possible effects of PPARgamma activators on endothelial activation and inflammatory response within the plaque are currently unknown. METHODS AND RESULTS We tested the hypothesis that PPARgamma activators inhibit vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM-1)...