TR Dizin İndeksli Yayınlar Koleksiyonu / TR Dizin Indexed Publications Collection
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14365/4
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Article A Preliminary Study of Possible Fibrotic Role of Meprin Metalloproteases in Scleroderma Patients(Turkish League Against Rheumatism (TLAR), 2021-12-31) Avşar, Aydan Köken; Merih Birlik, A.; Koçak, Ayşe; Harmancı, Duygu; Akdoğan, Gül; Birlik, Merih; Birlik, A. Merih; Güner, Gül AkdoganObjectives: This study aims to investigate the possible fibrotic role of meprin metalloproteases and possible fibrotic effects of activator protein-1 (AP-1) in scleroderma patients. Patients and methods: Between April 2018 and April 2019, a total of 85 scleroderma patients (9 males, 76 females; mean age: 54.9 +/- 12.1 years; range, 22 to 80 years) who met the 2013 American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism criteria and 80 healthy control individuals (10 males, 70 females; mean age 42.9 +/- 10.2 years; range, 19 to 65 years) were included. Patients' data and blood samples were collected. Messenger ribonucleic acid expressions of interleukin (IL)-6, AP-1 subunits, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Serum meprin alpha and beta protein levels were analyzed using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Meprin alpha and meprin beta protein levels increased in scleroderma patients. The AP-1 subunits (c-Fos, c-Jun), IL-6, and TNF-alpha increased in scleroderma patients, compared to controls. Conclusion: Our results provide evidence showing that increased meprins levels may be related to AP-1 levels and increased meprins levels may responsible for increased inflammatory TNF-alpha and IL-6 levels. All these data suggest meprins as promising therapeutic targets to restore the balance between inflammation and extracellular matrix deposition in scleroderma.Article Citation - WoS: 2Citation - Scopus: 4Effects of Epigallocatechin-3 (egcg) on a Scleroderma Model of Fibrosis(Walter De Gruyter Gmbh, 2018-02-06) Kocak, Ayse; Harmancı, Duygu; Birlik, Merih; Sarioglu, Sulen; Yilmaz, Osman; Cavdar, Zahide; Akdoğan, Gül; Güner, GülObjective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the potential protective effects of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) on fibrosis in bleomycin induced scleroderma model. Materials and methods: Thirty-two healthy female Balb-c mice with the average body weight of 22 +/- 5 g were used in this study. The mice were randomly divided into four groups as control (n=8), Bleomycin (n=8), Bleomycin+ EGCG (n =8) and EGCG (n =8). Skin tissue samples were collected to quantify matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-1, MMP-8, MMP-13), p-SMAD 2/3 and SMAD 2/3 in protein homogenates by western blotting. TGF-beta 1 expression was determined by real-time PCR. Immunohistopathological and histopathological examinations of skin tissues were also done. Results: When measured with Masson Trichrome, EGCG treatment was found to decrease fibrosis in connective tissue compared to the BLM injected control. EGCG was decreased dermal fibrosis. Bleomycin + EGCG group showed a significant reduction in fibrosis at the dermal surface area using hematoxylin measurements compared with the BLM group. MMP-1, MMP-8 protein levels were increased and p-SMAD 2/3 protein level was decreased. TGF-beta mRNA expression was decreased in the EGCG + BLM group compared with the BLM group. Conclusion: These results suggest an antifibrotic role for EGCG.