CARASIL is associated with mutations in the HTRA1 gene. Our findings indicate a link between repressed inhibition of signaling by the TGF-beta family and ischemic cerebral small-vessel disease, alopecia, and spondylosis.

Fridovich identified CuZnSOD in 1969 and manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) in 1973, and proposed ”the Superoxide Theory,” which postulates that superoxide (O2•−) is the origin of most reactive oxygen species (ROS) and that it undergoes a chain reaction in a cell, playing a central role in the ROS producing system. Increased oxidative stress on an organism causes damage to cells, the smallest constituent unit of an organism, which can lead to the onset of a variety of chronic diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and other neurological diseases caused by abnormalities in biological defenses or increased intracellular reactive oxygen levels. Oxidative stress also plays a role in aging. Antioxidant systems, including non-enzyme low-molecular-weight antioxidants (such as, vitamins A, C and E, polyphenols, glutathione, and coenzyme Q10) and antioxidant enzymes, fight against oxidants in cells. Superoxide is considered to be a major factor in oxidant toxicity, and mitochondrial MnSOD enzymes constitute an essential defense against superoxide. Mitochondria are the major source of superoxide. The reaction of superoxide generated from mitochondria with nitric oxide is faster than SOD catalyzed reaction, and produces peroxynitrite. Thus, based on research conducted after Fridovich’s seminal studies, we now propose a modified superoxide theory; i.e., superoxide is the origin of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) and, as such, causes various redox related diseases and aging.

Loss of function of the Wnt co-receptor, lipoprotein receptorrelated protein 5, decreases bone formation, and a point mutation in this gene results in high bone mass, indicating the importance of this signaling pathway in bone formation. However, the exact mechanism is currently unknown. We examined a potential role for Wnt signaling and functional cross-talk of bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2) in osteoblast differentiation. To assess the contribution of Wnt, we generated C2C12 cells over-expressing Wnt3a or Wnt5a and treated these with BMP-2. We showed that expression of matrix extracellular phosphoglycoprotein was induced by BMP-2 in Wnt3a over-expressing C2C12 cells but not in Wnt5a over-expressing C2C12 cells. Over-expression of Wnt3a blocked BMP-2-induced inhibition of myotube formation in C2C12 cells when switched to low mitogen medium. In these cultures, expression of inhibitor of DNA binding/differentiation (Id) 1, a helix-loop-helix protein induced by BMP-2, decreased in stable Wnt3a-but not in Wnt5a-expressing cells. This suppression is mediated by a GC-rich region of the BMP-2-responsive element of the Id1 gene promoter, and interaction between Smad1/4 and ␤-catenin is crucial for Wntmediated suppression of the BMP-2 response in C2C12 cells. Overexpression of the inhibitor of canonical Wnt signaling, Dickkopf, inhibits this suppression. In contrast, BMP-2 or Smad1/4 up-regulated Wnt3a or activated ␤-catenin-induced lymphoid-enhancing factor 1/T cell factor-dependent transcriptional activity. These findings identify functional cross-talk of Id1 expression between Wnt and BMP signaling and demonstrate a novel mechanism for Wnt regulation of the BMP-2 response, linking Id1 expression to Wnt/␤-catenin signaling.

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Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) prepared from Bacteroides intermedius (Prevotela intermedia) and Bacteroides (Porphyromonas) gingivalis by hot phenol-water extraction induced interleukin-8 (IL-8) mRNA in normal human gingival fibroblast cultures, as demonstrated by Northern (RNA) blot analysis. IL-8 mRNA levels began to increase after a 2-h exposure, reached a maximum after 12 h, and then dropped to the unstimulated level at 48 h. IL-8 mRNA levels were also enhanced in a dose-dependent manner. By contrast, LPS specimens from various SalmoneUla species with S and R chemotypes and from bacterial and synthetic lipid A preparations did not increase IL-8 mRNA levels in fibroblasts. Although recombinant human IL-la induced IL-8 mRNA expression in fibroblast cultures, an antiserum to recombinant human IL-la did not decrease the IL-8 mRNA accumulation induced by B. intermedius LPS. Fibroblasts primed with natural human gamma interferon (IFN-y) expressed higher IL-8 mRNA levels upon stimulation with B. intermedius LPS, but not with SalmoneUla LPS, compared with nontreated cells. Natural human EFN-j exhibited a similar priming effect on the fibroblasts, and antiserum to IFN-I added to the cultures together with B. intermedius LPS decreased the IL-8 mRNA levels. Therefore, endogenous IFN-I enhanced IL-8 mRNA production in response to B. intermedius LPS in fibroblasts.