Here, we identify that early growth response-1 (Egr-1) is a downstream target of RAGE in hepatic I/R injury.\n\nMethods: Hepatic I/R was induced in male mice. Liver remnants were analyzed for induction of Egr-1 and cytokines, as well as regulation of apoptotic pathways after reperfusion.\n\nResults: Egr-1 was upregulated in the liver remnants after hepatic I/R injury and was suppressed by administration of soluble RAGE or deletion of the RAGE gene. RAGE-mediated increased expression of Egr-1 upregulates a central downstream

EPZ5676 gene, M1P2. In contrast, RAGE-stimulated Egr(-/-)independent pathways regulate TNF-alpha production and apoptosis in response to I/R. Consistent with these findings, phospho-p44/42 and phospho-JNK MAPK and c-Jun were strikingly suppressed in RAGE(-/-) versus WT mice, but not in Egr-1(-/-) mice. RAGE ligand HMGB1 was upregulated after I/R in the liver remnants. In vitro, incubation of RAGE-expressing liver dendritic cells (DCs) with recombinant HMGB-1 resulted in increased Egr-1 transcripts, in a manner suppressed by RAGE gene deletion, soluble RAGE and inhibitors of p44/p42 or JNK

MAP kinase.\n\nConclusions: Suppression of Egr-1 may contribute to the protective mechanisms underlying the beneficial impact of RAGE blockade or deletion. (c) 2008 European Association for the Study of the Liver. Published CH5183284 mouse by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.”
“The common Grape L. (Vitaceae) is regarded

as an important medicinal plant. European healers have suggested the use of grapevine sap, juice, and whole grape in the treatment of pain, allergic reactions, inflammation, and to promote wound healing. We evaluated grape-skin powder for its wound-healing activity using an excision wound model in rats. Animals were randomly divided into three groups of six (n = 6) each. The test group animals were treated topically with the grape-skin powder (100 mg/kg/day). The controls and standard group animals were treated with petroleum jelly and mupirocin ointment respectively. Semaxanib nmr Healing was assessed by the rate of wound contraction, period of epithelialization, and hydroxyproline content. On day 13, treatment of the wounds with grape-skin powder enhanced significantly the rate of wound contraction (100 %). Treated animals showed significant decrease in the epithelialization period (p < 0.000) and increase in the hydroxyproline content (p < 0.05) when compared to control and the standard. Histological analysis was also consistent with the proposal that grape-skin powder exhibits significant wound-healing potential. Increased rate of wound contraction, hydroxyproline content, and decrease in epithelialization time in the treated animals support the use of grape-skin powder in the management of wound healing. Copyright (C) 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Lid. and Crown in the Right of Canada.