Visfatin as a therapeutic target for rheumatoid arthritis

Introduction: The rising prevalence of musculoskeletal pathologies in developed countries has caused a dramatic impact on social welfare. Amidst these musculoskeletal pathologies is Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a chronic systemic autoimmune disease that mostly affects the synovium. RA metabolic-associated alterations, including distorted adipokine production, enhance RA inflammatory environment. Among the altered adipokines, visfatin is particularly involved in RA inflammation and catabolism and stands out as an essential enzyme linked to critical cell features.

Areas covered: We discuss the potential mechanism supporting the contribution of visfatin to RA and the association between RA and obesity. We discuss the repurposing of cancer-tested drugs to inhibit visfatin in the context of RA. Additionally, we address the possibility of combining these drugs with current RA therapy. Finally, we explore the future of visfatin as an RA biomarker or therapeutic target.

Expert opinion: Inhibition of visfatin has become an interesting therapeutic approach for RA pathology. Such a feat has already been attained in oncology using small molecule inhibitors, which suggest that a similar course of action would be worth pursuing in the RA context. Visfatin will become an important biomarker and therapeutic target for RA.     

FK506-壳聚糖膜与体外培养雪旺细胞生物相容性的研究

目的 探讨FK506-壳聚糖膜片与培养的雪旺细胞生物相容性.方法 将生长状况和纯度较好的第3代雪旺细胞,分别传代接种于含有FK506-壳聚糖膜片、单纯壳聚糖膜片的培养皿中培养,以盖玻片作为对照组.计算3组雪旺细胞倍增时间、雪旺细胞纯度;用MTT法比较不同膜片上雪旺细胞的生长活力,绘制生长曲线;S-100免疫荧光染色.结果 雪旺细胞倍增时间对照组为5.9 d,单纯壳聚糖膜片及FK506-壳聚糖膜片组均为4.0 d;雪旺细胞纯度分别为80%、89%,93%;雪旺细胞增殖情况以FK506-壳聚糖组最佳,单纯壳聚糖组次之,对照组最差;各组雪旺细胞均呈S-100阳性,FK506-壳聚糖组与单纯壳聚糖组雪旺细胞排列呈典型的漩涡状或栅栏状.结论 FK506-壳聚糖膜片具有更显著的组织相容性与生物功能性,并保持了雪旺细胞的生物学特性.     

Protective effects of cyclophosphamide, cyclosporin A and FK506 against antigen-induced lung eosinophilia in guinea-pigs.

A close association has been recognized between activated T cells and eosinophils in asthma, albeit circumstantial. The present study attempted to investigate this relationship in an animal model of lung eosinophilia using the new generation of T cell-selective immunosuppressants, cyclosporin A and FK506, compared with the myelotoxic immunosuppressive agent cyclophosphamide. Antigen challenge of ovalbumin-sensitized guinea-pigs resulted in a lung eosinophilia which was assessed by bronchoalveolar lavage. All three agents caused a marked suppression of lung eosinophilia at 24 h post-challenge when the compounds were administered at the time of sensitization but not when administered for 3 days before lavage. However, the lung eosinophilia at 72 h post-challenge was reduced significantly by FK506 and by cyclophosphamide, but not by cyclosporin A, when the drugs were administered for 3 days, before lavage. These results strongly suggest the involvement of T cells in antigen-induced late phase (72 h) eosinophilia in guinea-pigs but not at 24 h. The effects of cyclophosphamide were always associated with a reduction in circulating white cell counts, whereas cyclosporin A and FK506 showed no myelotoxic properties. These results suggest the potential therapeutic use of selective, non-cytotoxic immunosuppressive agents in asthma.     

小剂量FK778对大鼠移植肾慢性排斥反应的预防作用

目的探讨小剂量FK778对大鼠移植肾慢性排斥反应的预防作用。方法应用显微外科技术制作移植肾慢性排斥反应大鼠模型，将肾移植大鼠分为两组。肾移植后第16周开始治疗组大鼠接受FK778每日5mg／kg体重灌胃，对照组接受赋形剂。移植后每4周行24h尿蛋白含量测定，第24周处死大鼠，对移植肾组织行组织学、免疫组织化学及实时定量RT—PCR检测。结果治疗组大鼠蛋白尿、肾组织病理损害程度，淋巴细胞和单核／巨噬细胞浸润程度和对照组比较显著减轻，肾组织生长因子TGF-β基因的表达也减少。结论小剂量FK778能预防大鼠移植肾慢性排斥反应。移植肾组织T淋巴细胞和单核／巨噬细胞浸润减轻，TGF-β生长因子基因表达的减少，可能是其预防同种移植肾慢性排斥反应机制中的重要环节。     

离体肾脏保存过程中bcl-2蛋白、bcl-2 mRNA表达变化及FK506对其的影响

目的探讨离体肾脏保存过程中bcl-2蛋白、bcl-2mRNA表达及他可莫司（FKS06）对其的影响。方法将40只Wistar雄性大鼠随机分为实验组和对照组各20只，建立离体肾脏模型。对照组将离体肾脏置于常规4℃ UW保存液中；实验组在上液中加入FK506，分别检测肾脏保存2、4、8、16h后bcl-2蛋白、bcl-2m RNA表达。结果实验组4、8、16h后bcl-2蛋白、bcl-2mRNA表达明显高于对照组（P〈0．05）。结论FK506可能通过上调bcl-2蛋白、bcl-2mRNA表达，减轻离体肾脏保存过程中的损伤。     

FK506和RS-61443对大鼠异体肢体移植的联合免疫抑制作用

目的　通过大鼠异体肢体移植模型 ,旨在分析 FK5 0 6和 RS- 6 14 4 3对大鼠异体肢体移植中急性排斥反应的免疫抑制作用。　方法　选择雄性 Wistar和 SD大鼠为供、受体 ,以 FK5 0 6和 RS- 6 14 4 3为免疫抑制剂 ,对照组为术后不用药组 ,实验组根据用药剂量和药物不同分为 6组 ,各组用药时间均为 5周 (每日 1次共 2周 ,然后每周 2次共 3周 ) ,进行了 10 1例异体肢体移植动物实验。观察大鼠一般情况、移植肢体排斥反应及存活时间。　结果　对照组肢体平均存活时间为 (7.0 0± 0 .78)天 ;实验组 1～ 6组移植肢体平均存活时间分别为 (17.0 8± 4 .5 0、2 3.2 0± 5 .0 5、11.19±2 .2 8、16 .33± 1.83、13.33± 3.2 2和 5 8.76± 6 .81)天。　结论　 FK5 0 6和 RS- 6 14 4 3能抑制大鼠同种异体肢体移植术后急性移植排斥反应的发生 ,并能延长移植肢体的存活时间。     

Comparison of FK-506 and cyclosporine regimens in pediatric renal transplantation

Clinical aspects of FK-506 or cyclosporine immunosuppression regimens were evaluated in 48 consecutive pediatric renal transplant recipients. Tapering and discontinuation of prednisone was employed only in children receiving FK-506 who experienced minor or no rejection episodes during the 1st posttransplant month. At 1 year follow-up, 17 of 22 (77%) of all children with functioning allografts were receiving no prednisone (n=13) or a mean dosage of 0.07 mg/kg per day (n=4). During the 1st month, acute cellular rejection was more common in the FK-506 group (0.58 vs. 0.21 rejections per patient,P<0.05) but allograft survival (92%) and renal function at 1 year posttransplant were identical in both groups. Compared with the cyclosporine regimen, FK-506 immunosuppression may be associated with a higher incidence of cytomegalovirus or reversible Epstein-Barr virus-induced lymphoproliferative disease. However, the FK-506 group had less hirsutism and gingival hypertrophy and required fewer antihypertensive medications independent of steroid use. Height standard deviation scores and weight-for-height index improved only in preadolescents receiving FK-506 but no prednisone (P<0.02 andP<0.05, respectively), but did not differ between children on FK-506 plus prednisone and those in the cyclosporine group. We conclude that the major advantages of FK-506 over cyclosporine immunosuppression are a reduced severity of hypertension and an improved cosmetic appearance which may improve long-term medical compliance. When used as monotherapy, FK-506 also shows promise in relieving the growth retardation associated with cyclosporine regimens that include prednisone.     

Toxicology of FK506 in the cynomolgus monkey: a clinical,biochemical, and histopathological study

We investigated clinical, biochemical, and histopathological parameters in FK506-treated cynomolgus monkeys. Eight monkeys given oral FK506, 1 (n = 4) or 10 (n = 4) mg/kg daily, survived the 90 days of treatment apparently in good health and without significant changes in biochemical and histopathological parameters, as did 2 control monkeys except one monkey on 10 mg/kg/day FK506 orally, who was found to have a malignant lymphoma. In contrast, monkeys given intramuscular FK506 1 mg/kg daily (n = 4) had to be sacrificed at day 20, 25, 32, and 47 because of severe illness. They showed abnormal biochemical parameters (increased serum urea and aspartate aminotransferase activity) and major histopathological changes in the kidney (mesangial cell proliferation and acute tubular necrosis), pancreas (depletion of beta cells), liver (steatosis), and heart (cardiomyopathy). Intramuscular administration of 1 mg/kg daily resulted in serum levels ranging from 10 to 15 ng/ml, while oral administration at a dose of 1 or 10 mg/kg daily resulted in equal or even higher serum levels (range 2–70 ng/ml). Thus, the height of the serum trough level of FK506 using the enzyme immunoassay is not related to the toxicity of FK506 in cynomolgus monkeys.     

Distribution kinetics of FK-506, a novel immunosuppressant, after intravenous administration to rats in comparison with cyclosporin A.

The distribution kinetics of a novel potent immunosuppressant, FK-506 (FK) has been studied in comparison with cyclosporin A (CyA) both in vivo and in vitro using blood specimens. The infusion studies on FK, 5.0 mg kg-1 through the portal and femoral veins showed that the mean hepatic extraction ratio of FK was 27.9 per cent. The effect of clamping both the hepatic artery and the portal vein on the plasma disappearance profiles of FK, 5.0 mg kg-1, and CyA, 3.5 mg kg-1 was studied. The plasma disposition kinetics of CyA was almost the same as in the normal rats. However, the plasma FK levels were about 10 times higher than those obtained in the control group rats. This difference is attributed to the restricted initial distribution of FK to the liver, because the volume of the initial distribution space, V1, of FK was about 10 times smaller than that obtained in normal rats. In in vitro experiments, drug distribution was studied in blood samples (2.0 ml) spiked with FK or CyA, 1.0 micrograms ml-1. The plasma drug levels measured at 2 min after drug administration were 0.842 +/- 0.012 micrograms ml-1 and 0.769 +/- 0.047 micrograms ml-1 for FK and CyA, respectively. The distribution volume in the blood compartment, VB, was determined by dividing the spiked amount of drugs with these plasma concentrations. The VB was 2.38 +/- 0.04 ml for FK and 2.62 +/- 0.16 ml for CyA. There was no significant difference in VB between FK and CyA. The plasma free fraction, fp of the drugs was measured by the equilibrium dialysis method. For FK, the mean fp values (+/- SE) were 1.31 +/- 0.18 per cent (2.0 micrograms ml-1) and 1.93 +/- 0.18 per cent (5.0 micrograms ml-1). For CyA, the fp values were 4.85 +/- 0.36 per cent (1.0 micrograms ml-1) and 5.75 +/- 0.82 per cent (5.0 micrograms ml-1). The hydrophobicity parameter, logP' determined through the HPLC method was 0.386 for FK and 0.545 for CyA. Although FK was less hydrophobic than CyA, its protein binding was higher than CyA.     

FK506-壳聚糖膜与体外培养雪旺细胞生物相容性的研究

目的 探讨FK506-壳聚糖膜片与培养的雪旺细胞生物相容性.方法 将生长状况和纯度较好的第3代雪旺细胞,分别传代接种于含有FK506-壳聚糖膜片、单纯壳聚糖膜片的培养皿中培养,以盖玻片作为对照组.计算3组雪旺细胞倍增时间、雪旺细胞纯度;用MTT法比较不同膜片上雪旺细胞的生长活力,绘制生长曲线;S-100免疫荧光染色.结果 雪旺细胞倍增时间对照组为5.9 d,单纯壳聚糖膜片及FK506-壳聚糖膜片组均为4.0 d;雪旺细胞纯度分别为80%、89%,93%;雪旺细胞增殖情况以FK506-壳聚糖组最佳,单纯壳聚糖组次之,对照组最差;各组雪旺细胞均呈S-100阳性,FK506-壳聚糖组与单纯壳聚糖组雪旺细胞排列呈典型的漩涡状或栅栏状.结论 FK506-壳聚糖膜片具有更显著的组织相容性与生物功能性,并保持了雪旺细胞的生物学特性.