Methods SSc was induced in BALB/c mice by subcutaneous injections of HOCl daily for 6 weeks. Mice were randomized to treatment with sunitinib, sorafenib, or vehicle. The levels of native and phosphorylated PDGF receptor beta (PDGFR beta) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) in the skin were assessed by Western blot and immunohistochemical analyses. Skin and lung fibrosis were evaluated by histologic and biochemical methods. Autoantibodies were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and spleen cell populations were analyzed by flow cytometry. Results Phosphorylation of PDGFR beta

and VEGFR was higher in fibrotic selleck chemical skin from HOCl-injected mice with SSc than from PBS-injected mice. Injections of HOCl induced cutaneous and lung fibrosis, increased the proliferation rate of fibroblasts in areas of fibrotic skin, increased splenic B cell and T cell counts, and increased antiDNA topoisomerase I autoantibody levels in BALB/c mice. All of these features were reduced by sunitinib but not by sorafenib. Sunitinib significantly reduced the phosphorylation

of both PDGF and VEGF receptors. Conclusion Inhibition of the hyperactivated PDGF and selleck products VEGF pathways by sunitinib prevented the development of fibrosis in HOCl-induced murine SSc and may represent a new SSc treatment for testing in clinical trials.”
“Isorhamnetin 3-O-glucoside, which was. contained together with isorhamnetin 3,7-di-O-glucoside in atsumi-kabu leaves, suppressed increases in the plasma ALT and selleckchem AST activities of mice with liver injury induced by the injection of carbon tetrachloride, but no suppression by isorhamnetin 3,7-di-O-glucoside was apparent. This result indicates that the release

of glucose at the 7-position in isorhamnetin 3,7-di-O-glucoside was very important to mitigating liver injury.”
“Imber AN, Putnam RW. Postnatal development and activation of L-type Ca2+ currents in locus ceruleus neurons: implications for a role for Ca2+ in central chemosensitivity. J Appl Physiol 112: 1715-1726, 2012. First published March 8, 2012; doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.01585.2011.-Little is known about the role of Ca2+ in central chemosensitive signaling. We use electrophysiology to examine the chemosensitive responses of tetrodotoxin (TTX)-insensitive oscillations and spikes in neurons of the locus ceruleus (LC), a chemosensitive region involved in respiratory control. We show that both TTX-insensitive spikes and oscillations in LC neurons are sensitive to L-type Ca2+ channel inhibition and are activated by increased CO2/H+. Spikes appear to arise from L-type Ca2+ channels on the soma whereas oscillations arise from L-type Ca2+ channels that are distal to the soma. In HEPES-buffered solution (nominal absence of CO2/HCO3-), acidification does not activate either oscillations or spikes.