ABSTRACT
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) occurring in alveolar epithelial cells plays an important role in the development and progression of pulmonary fibrosis. Previous studies showed that antiflammin-1 (the active fragment of uteroglobin) effectively inhibited bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis. However, its mechanism is still far from being clarified. In this study, we investigated the effects of antiflammin-1 on EMT in A549 cells induced by transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and the underlying mechanism by using morphological observation and Western blot. The results showed that the expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) increased significantly while the expression of E-cadherin decreased significantly in A549 cells following treatment with TGF-β1 concomitant with morphological change of A549 cells from pebble-like shape epithelial cells to spindle-like mesenchymal shape. This process of EMT in A549 cells induced by TGF-β1 was significantly inhibited when A549 cells were co-incubated with TGF-β1 and antiflammin-1. Furthermore, the anti-lipocalin interacting membrane receptor (LIMR) antibody and PD98059 (an ERK signaling pathway blocker) attenuated the inhibitory effect of antiflammin-1 on TGF-β1-induced EMT, respectively. Our findings indicate that antiflammin-1 can inhibit EMT in A549 cells induced by TGF-β1, which is related to LIMR and its downstream ERK signaling pathway.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To improve Madigan prostatectomy (MPC) for a much satisfactory effect in open surgery.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 52 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) were treated using MPC. The MPC procedure was modified by exposing anterior prostatic urethra near the bladder neck and conjunction with cystotomy. This modified procedure preserved prostatic urethra intact and could also deal with intracystic lesions at the same time.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The intact of prostatic urethra was kept completely or almost for 48 cases. The hemorrhage amount during modified procedure was a less. The mean operative time was 120 minutes. The 35 patients had been followed up for 1 - 12 months. The average Qmax was 18.9 ml/s. The cystourethrography revealed that the urethra and bladder neck were intact in 8 patients postoperatively. Furthermore, the prostatic urethra was obviously wider after modified MPC.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The modified MPC can reduce the urethra injury and enlarge the MPC indications. The modified technique is easy to perform with little complications and much more satisfactory clinical result. The modified MPC is highly recommended.</p>