ABSTRACT
In order to investigate the role of Caspase-3 and Bax in the pathogenesis of lichen planus, immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of Caspase-3 and Bax in skin lesions of the patients with lichen planus and skin tissues of normal subjects. The results showed that positive rate of Caspase-3 and Bax expression in lichen planus were significantly higher than that in normal skins (both P<0.05). Meanwhile, there was a obvious correlation between the increase of Caspase-3 and that of Bax in lichen planus. The expression of Caspase-3 and Bax might play an important role in the development of lichen planus.
ABSTRACT
The inhibitory effects of (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) on the invasion of human malignant melanoma cell line A375 and the possible molecular mechanisms of this effect were investiaged. A375 cells were pretreated with 20μg/mL EGCG for 24,48 and 72h respectively and the E-cadherin expression was detected by Western blot analysis. A375 cells were also pretreated with different concentrations of EGCG (1,5,10 and 20μg/mL) for 72h and the expression of E-cadherin was measured by RT-PCR. The adhesion and invasion of A375 cells were tested by cell-matrigel adhesion assay and matrigel invasion assay respectively. The results showed that EGCG could significantly up-regulate the expression of E-cadherin time- and concentration-dependently (both P<0.05). Statistical analysis showed that A375 cells invasion was inhibited by EGCG and correlated with the up-regulation of E-cadherin expression. It was suggested that EGCG strongly inhibited invasion of A375 cells, and the inhibition mechanism was possibly associated with the up-regulation of E-cadherin expression.
ABSTRACT
In order to investigate the role of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis, the expression of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 was immunohistochemically detected in skin lesions of the patients with diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis, skin lesions of the patients with limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis, and skin tissues of normal subjects. The results showed that the expression of MMP-9 in lesions of diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis was significantly lower than that of normal skins (P＜0.05). However, no significant difference in the level of MMP-9 in the limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis and normal skin was found. Meanwhile, the expression of TIMP-1 in lesions of diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis and limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis were significantly higher than that of normal skins (both P＜0.05). It was suggested that the expression of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 might play an important role in the development of systemic sclerosis.