Renal involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a common manifestation and a strong predictor of poor outcome. Renal disease continues to cause major morbidity and some mortality for around 30-40% of patients with SLE. The recommended treatment for patients with lupus nephritis (LN) varies from patient to patient and conventional drugs are associated with marked toxicity. New drugs proposed for LN have to be at least as effective as and less toxic than existing therapies.1-4) Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) including vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), Eselectin and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), are essential for cellular interactions and important in the activation and adhesion of cells. 5,6) The up-regulation and enhanced expression of cell surface adhesion molecules on polymorphonuclear leukocytes and on normally non-adhesive vascular endothelium, lead to the adherence of inflammatory cells to the vessel wall and to their subsequent extravasation.7) Studies have shown that elevated levels of soluble VCAM-1 (sVCAM-1), soluble E-selectin (sE-selectin) and soluble ICAM-1 (sICAM-1) are related to disease activity in patients with various acute and chronic inflammatory diseases. [8][9][10] The same relationships between LN activity and serum level of sVCAM-1 and sICAM-1 have been observed. 11,12) Zicao (purple gromwell), the dried root of Lithospermum erythrorhizon SIEB. et ZUCC., Arnebia euchroma (ROYLE) JOHNST., or Arnebia guttata BUNGE, is a commonly used herbal medicine in China. Shikonin, a major active chemical component isolated from Zicao with a molecular weight of 288, has many pharmacological properties, including anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor properties. It has also been shown to be able to promote wound healing activity. 13,14) Earlier studies have demonstrated that Zicao extract possesses multiple pharmacological activities. For example, the herbal extract can stimulate glucose uptake and potentiate insulinstimulate glucose uptake in a concentration-dependent manner in 3T3-L adipocytes.15) It has been used to prevent or treat diabetic nephropathy and glomerulosclerosis, 16) inhibit human mesangial cells proliferation, apoptosis, and extracellular matrix. 17)The (NZW X BXSB) F1 (W/BF1) mice is known as an autoimmune-prone strain which develops LN, thrombocytopenia due to platelet-specific autoantibodies, leukocytosis, and myocardial infarction.18) To estimate the potential therapeutic effect of Shikonin on LN, in the present study, the NZB/W F1 mice of 28 weeks old with established nephritis were treated orally with vehicle only or the Shikonin for a total of 14 weeks. The change of each group's proteinuria, anti-double stranded (ds)DNA, circulating adhesion molecule were observed in order to estimate the therapeutic effect of Shikonin on LN mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS Animals and Treatment RegimensSixty eight-weekold female NZB/W F1/J mice were purchased from Jackson Laboratory (Bar Harbor, ME, U.S.A.) and maintained in a conventional animal housing facility througho...

A 17 kD heparin-binding protein (HBp17) has a biphasic dose-dependent effect on DNA synthesis in 3T3 cells. Maximal stimulation of DNA synthesis occurs at 8 ng/ml HBp17, but a half-maximal inhibition occurs at approximately 500 ng/ml. This inhibition can easily be reversed by addition of 400 pg/ml aFGF or 100 pg/ml bFGF, whereas EGF had no effect. This biphasic action of HBp17 was also seen in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), whereas it was not found in the malignant cell line, A431-AJC. The functional relationship between HBp17 and FGF is discussed.