Biosynthetic processing of fibrillar procollagens is essential for producing mature collagen monomers that polymerize into fibrils by a self-assembly process. The metalloproteinase ADAMTS-2 is the major enzyme that processes the N-propeptide of type I procollagen in the skin and also of type II and type III procollagens. Mutations in the ADAMTS-2 gene cause dermatospraxis in animals and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome VIIC in humans, both of which are characterized by the accumulation of type I pN-collagen and the formation of abnormal collagen fibrils in the skin. Despite its importance in procollagen processing, little is known about the regulation of ADAMTS-2 expression. Here, we demonstrate that ADAMTS-2 can be regulated by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, an inducer of type I procollagen synthesis. This steroid hormone induced ADAMTS-2 mRNA ~3-fold in MG-63 human osteosarcoma cells and MC3T3-E1 murine osteoblastic cells. This induction was dose- and time-dependent in MG-63 cells. In contrast, secreted ADAMTS-2 protein was increased only 1.4-fold with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. Finally, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 in the presence of ascorbate increased levels of secreted ADAMTS-2 1.9-fold over ascorbate treatment alone, which did not appreciably change ADAMTS-2 expression. These data indicate that the regulation of ADAMTS-2 is coupled with the synthesis of type I procollagen through 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 signaling and may involve translational or posttranslational control.

Although it has been known that TGF-β1 acts as a crucial cofactor in osteoclast differentiation, its mode of action is still unclear. In the present study, we studied the effect of TGF-β1 on the differentiation of osteoclast depending on the developmental stages. Murine bone marrow cells were induced to differentiate into mature osteoclasts in the presence of receptor activator of NF-xβ ligand (RANKL) and macrophage colony stimulating factor (M-CSF). In the early stage of the differentiation TRAP(-) mononuclear precursor cells were obtained from nonadherent M-CSF dependent bone marrow cells, which further differentiated into mature osteoclasts. TGF-β1 stimulated osteoclast differentiation, which was stronger when cells were stimulated by TGF-β1 in the early stage than the later differentiation. TGF-β1 increased the expression of RANK and synergistically stimulated RANKL-induced activation of NF-xβ MAP kinase in TRAP(-) mononuclear precursor cells. These results suggest that activation of osteoclast differentiation by TGF-β1 may be ascribed to the both increased expression and activation of RANK in the osteoclast differentiation, especially in the early stage of differentiation.

Nitrate in edible vegetables is converted to nitrite by nitrate reductase(NR) and/or bacteria in intestines. Nitrite and amino, in the intestine of some animals and human, bind to form nitrosamine, which is toxic and known as carcinogen. This study was carried out to examine the effect of added chlorides and their concentrations on growth, yield and nitrate content in leaf lettuce plants in hydroponics. Seeds of lettuce cv, "Samsunjokchukmyon" were planted on April 29, and seedlings were planted on June 2, and were cultured until July 5 in 1998. KCI and CaCl₂ were used as chloride source and their concentrations were 1, 2 and 4 me/L, respectively, in the lettuce standard nutrient solution for National Horticultural Research Institute(NHRI). Completely randomized design with 3 replications was used. Nitrate content and NR activity were measured 2 and 5 weeks after planting(WAP). The obtained results were summarized as the follows : Leaf weight per plant was difference from harvest dates and treatments, but total leaf weight was not significantly different among treatments. Number of leaves was higher in KCI 2 me/L, CaCl₂1 me/L and control at 2 WAP than the others, and was higher in KCI 1 me/L, and control at 3 WAP than others, and was higher in control at 5 WAP. Total number of harvested leaves was the highest in control with 14, which followed by KCI 2 me/L and CaCl₂1 me/L. Nitrate content was decreased by addition of chloride in nutrient solution. Nitrate content in the 3rd and 9th leaves was significantly decreased. NR activity was higher in control and CaCl₂ addition treatments, while KCI addition treatments reduced NR activity. However, no direct relationship with nitrate was observed. Growth characteristics such leaf length and leaf width were not significantly influenced by chloride addition.