Relationships between squamous cell carcinoma antigen and cytokeratin 19 fragment values and renal function in oral cancer patients

Squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC-Ag) and cytokeratin 19 fragment (CYFRA) are used to screen and monitor oral cancer patients. However, recent studies have reported that tumour markers become elevated as renal function decreases, regardless of tumour progression. A retrospective study was performed of 423 oral cancer patients who underwent blood testing for these tumour markers and other blood analytes during a 10-year period. The values of SCC-Ag and CYFRA increased significantly with decreasing renal function (P < 0.01), and the values were abnormal at a median 2.6 ng/ml for SCC-Ag and 4.7 ng/ml for CYFRA in the group with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) values of< 30 ml/min/1.73 m². The factors that were related to the variation in tumour markers were albumin and creatinine. The cut-off values of eGFR were 59.7 ml/min/1.73 m² for SCC-Ag and 63.6 ml/min/1.73 m² for CYFRA, and the cut-off age when the tumour markers might rise due to the effect of renal function were 72 years for SCC-Ag and 73 years for CYFRA. In conclusion, decreased renal function should be taken into account when evaluating tumour markers in oral cancer. In addition, tumour markers are likely to be overestimated in patients over the age of 72-73 years.

Short communication: Effects of feeding purple corn (Zea mays L.) silage on productivity and blood superoxide dismutase concentration in lactating cows

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of feeding purple corn (Zea mays L.) silage on productivity and blood superoxide dismutase concentration in lactating cows. We hypothesized that feeding purple corn silage (AX-152; Nagano Animal Industry Experiment Station, Nagano, Japan, and Takii and Co. Ltd., Tokyo, Japan), which is high in anthocyanin content, would increase milk production and blood concentration of superoxide dismutase. We assigned 16 Holstein cows (8 primiparous and 8 multiparous) in mid lactation to 1 of 2 treatments in a randomized block design, with efforts to balance parity, body weight, and days in milk between treatments. Experimental diets contained either purple corn silage [PCS; 31.2% dry matter (DM), 8.4% crude protein, 40.2% neutral detergent fiber, and 26.6% starch] or conventional corn silage (CONT; 30.5% dry matter, 8.7% crude protein, 42.1% neutral detergent fiber, and 26.5% starch) at approximately 32% of diet DM. Both PCS and CONT were ensiled for 5 mo before the study. Treatment diets were fed as total mixed rations ad libitum for 12 wk from February 1 to April 25, 2016. Cows fed the PCS had increased milk yield (31.7 vs. 29.2 kg/d) and blood superoxide dismutase concentrations (9,333 vs. 8,467 U/mL) compared with those fed CONT. However, anthocyanin concentration in the PCS decreased over the 12-wk experiment: 70 mg/kg of DM for the first 4 wk, 20 mg/kg of DM for the second 4 wk, and undetectable for the last 4 wk. We did not detect anthocyanins in the CONT group at any time point. Feeding PCS may increase antioxidant capacity and milk production in dairy cows, but anthocyanin in PCS may be degraded during storage.

A new calpain inhibitor protects left ventricular dysfunction induced by mild ischemia-reperfusion in in situ rat hearts

We have previously indicated that a new soluble calpain inhibitor, SNJ-1945 (SNJ), attenuates cardiac dysfunction after cardioplegia arrest-reperfusion by inhibiting the proteolysis of α-fodrin in in vitro study. Nevertheless, the in vivo study design is indispensable to explore realistic therapeutic approaches for clinical use. The aim of the present in situ study was to investigate whether SNJ attenuated left ventricular (LV) dysfunction (stunning) after mild ischemic-reperfusion (mI-R) in rat hearts. SNJ (60 μmol/l, 5 ml i.p.) was injected 30 min before gradual and partial coronary occlusion at proximal left anterior descending artery. To investigate LV function, we obtained curvilinear end-systolic pressure-volume relationship by increasing afterload 60 min after reperfusion. In the mI-R group, specific LV functional indices at midrange LV volume (mLVV), end-systolic pressure (ESP(mLVV)), and pressure-volume area (PVA(mLVV): a total mechanical energy per beat, linearly related to oxygen consumption) significantly decreased, but SNJ reversed these decreases to time control level. Furthermore, SNJ prevented the α-fodrin degradation and attenuated degradation of Ca(2+) handling proteins after mI-R. Our results indicate that improvements in LV function following mI-R injury are associated with inhibition of the proteolysis of α-fodrin in in situ rat hearts. In conclusion, SNJ should be a promising tool to protect the heart from the stunning.

Newly appreciated roles for basophils in allergy and protective immunity

Basophils are evolutionarily conserved in many animal species, in spite of the fact that they account for <1% of peripheral blood leukocyte. This suggests that basophils have an indispensable and nonredundant role in vivo, even though they show some phenotypic similarity with tissue-resident mast cells. However, their functional significance remained uncertain long after Paul Ehrlich discovered them as blood-circulating cells with basophilic granules more than 130 years ago. The study of basophils has been far behind that of mast cells, owing to the rarity of basophils and the paucity of tools for their detection and functional analysis. Recent development of novel analytical tools, including basophil-depleting antibodies and genetically engineered mice deficient only in basophils, has greatly advanced basophil research and illuminated previously unrecognized roles of basophils. We now appreciate that basophils and mast cells play distinct roles in immune responses. Basophils have crucial roles in the development of acute and chronic allergic responses, the protective immunity against ecto- and endoparasites, and the regulation of acquired immunity, including the augmentation of humoral memory responses and the initiation of Th2 responses. Thus, basophils are no longer the neglected minority and are key players in the immune system.

Kv3.1b and Kv3.3 channel subunit expression in murine spinal dorsal horn GABAergic interneurones

GABAergic interneurones, including those within spinal dorsal horn, contain one of the two isoforms of the synthesizing enzyme glutamate decarboxylase (GAD), either GAD65 or GAD67. The physiological significance of these two GABAergic phenotypes is unknown but a more detailed anatomical and functional characterization may help resolve this issue. In this study, two transgenic Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) knock-in murine lines, namely GAD65-GFP and GAD67-GFP (Δneo) mice, were used to profile expression of Shaw-related Kv3.1b and Kv3.3 K(+)-channel subunits in dorsal horn interneurones. Neuronal expression of these subunits confers specific biophysical characteristic referred to as 'fast-spiking'. Immuno-labelling for Kv3.1b or Kv3.3 revealed the presence of both of these subunits across the dorsal horn, most abundantly in laminae I-III. Co-localization studies in transgenic mice indicated that Kv3.1b but not Kv3.3 was associated with GAD65-GFP and GAD67-GFP immunopositive neurones. For comparison the distributions of Kv4.2 and Kv4.3 K(+)-channel subunits which are linked to an excitatory neuronal phenotype were characterized. No co-localization was found between GAD-GFP +ve neurones and Kv4.2 or Kv4.3. In functional studies to evaluate whether either GABAergic population is activated by noxious stimulation, hindpaw intradermal injection of capsaicin followed by c-fos quantification in dorsal horn revealed co-expression c-fos and GAD65-GFP (quantified as 20-30% of GFP +ve population). Co-expression was also detected for GAD67-GFP +ve neurones and capsaicin-induced c-fos but at a much reduced level of 4-5%. These data suggest that whilst both GAD65-GFP and GAD67-GFP +ve neurones express Kv3.1b and therefore may share certain biophysical traits, their responses to peripheral noxious stimulation are distinct.

Sorption Behavior of Uranium(VI) on a Biotite Mineral

Biotite has the most important role for the sorption of radionuclides in granitic rocks. Experiments on the sorption of uranium (VI) on biotite were conducted to understand the fundamental controls on uranium sorption on biotite mineral, including the effects of pH and uranium concentration in solution. Biotite powder (mesh 32 – 60) were washed with 1N HC1 for a week and were rinsed twice with deionized water for a week. This HC1 treatment was necessary to avoid the effects by other minerals. The agreement between surface adsorption coefficient, Ka, of both biotites with and without HC1 treatment was within one order of magnitude. The peak Ka value was in the range of 0.1 to 0.01 cm3/cm2 around pH 6. A comparison of aqueous uranium speciations and sorption results indicates that neutral uranyl hydroxide could be an important species sorbed on the biotite.

Sequential desorption experiments with KC1 and HC1 solutions were also carried out after sorption experiments to investigate sorption forms of uranium. Approximately 20 % of uranium in solution were sorbed on the biotite as an exchangeable ion. The fraction of exchangeable uranium had a little dependence on pH. The other uranium could not be extracted even by 6N HC1 solution. It is possible that most of the uranium could be precipitated as U(IV) via Fe(II) reduction on the biotite surface.

Role of transient receptor potential A1 in gastric nociception

Afferent fibers innervating the gastrointestinal tract have major roles in consciously evoked sensations including pain. However, little is known about the molecules involved in mechanonociception from the upper gastrointestinal tract. We recently reported that activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), a member of the mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade in primary afferent neurons, was induced by noxious gastric distention in the rat, and that the activation of ERK1/2 in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons can be implicated in acute visceral pain. Transient receptor potential (TRP) A1, a member of the TRP family of cation channels, was expressed in both DRG and nodose ganglion (NG) neurons innervating the stomach and in nerve fibers in the gastric wall. TRPA1 was coexpressed with ERK1/2 in gastric primary afferent neurons, and attenuation of TRPA1 activation using antisense peptides and a specific blocker led to suppression of both ERK1/2 activation and visceromotor responses. TRPA1 also significantly colocalized with substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in the thoracolumbar DRG, NG and stomach. These data indicate that SP and CGRP may also be released by TRPA1 activation in primary afferent neurons to elicit neurogenic inflammation and promote visceral hyperalgesia.

Toll-like receptor 3 contributes to spinal glial activation and tactile allodynia after nerve injury

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play an essential role in innate immune responses and in the initiation of adaptive immune responses. Microglia, the resident innate immune cells in the CNS, express TLRs. In this study, we show that TLR3 is crucial for spinal cord glial activation and tactile allodynia after peripheral nerve injury. Intrathecal administration of TLR3 antisense oligodeoxynucleotide suppressed nerve injury-induced tactile allodynia, and decreased the phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, but not extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases 1/2, in spinal glial cells. Antisense knockdown of TLR3 also attenuated the activation of spinal microglia, but not astrocytes, caused by nerve injury. Furthermore, down-regulation of TLR3 inhibited nerve injury-induced up-regulation of spinal pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-1beta, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. Conversely, intrathecal injection of the TLR3 agonist polyinosine-polycytidylic acid induced behavioral, morphological, and biochemical changes similar to those observed after nerve injury. Indeed, TLR3-deficient mice did not develop tactile allodynia after nerve injury or polyinosine-polycytidylic acid injection. Our results indicate that TLR3 has a substantial role in the activation of spinal glial cells and the development of tactile allodynia after nerve injury. Thus, blocking TLR3 in the spinal glial cells might provide a fruitful strategy for treating neuropathic pain.

A 5-HT(4)-receptor activation-induced neural plasticity enhances in vivo reconstructs of enteric nerve circuit insult

BACKGROUND

It was recently reported that some 5-HT(4)-receptor agonists increased neuronal numbers and length of neurites in enteric neurons developing in vitro from immunoselected neural crest-derived precursors. We aimed to explore a novel approach in vivo to reconstruct the enteric neural circuitry that mediates a fundamental distal gut reflex.

METHODS

The neural circuit insult was performed in guinea pigs by rectal transection and subsequent end-to-end one layer anastomosis. A 5-HT(4)-receptor agonist, mosapride citrate (10-100 micromol L(-1)) (applied for a patent) was applied locally at the anastomotic site.

KEY RESULTS

Mosapride promoted the regeneration of the neural circuit in the impaired myenteric plexus and the recovery of the defecation reflex in the distal gut. Furthermore, mosapride generated neurofilament (NF)-, 5-HT(4)-receptor- and 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU)-positive cells and surprisingly formed neural network in the newly formed granulation tissue at the anastomotic site 2 weeks after enteric nerve circuit insult. Possible neural stem cell markers, anti-distal less homeobox 2 (DLX2)- and p75-positive and NF-positive cells increased during the same time period. All actions by mosapride were inhibited by the specific 5-HT(4)-receptor antagonist, GR113808 (10 micromol L(-1)).

CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES

These results indicate that activation of enteric neural 5-HT(4)-receptors promotes reconstruction of an enteric neural circuit leading to the recovery of the defecation reflex in the distal gut, and that this reconstruction involves possibly neural stem cells. These findings indicate that treatment with 5-HT(4) agonists could be a novel therapy for generating new enteric neurons to rescue aganglionic gut disorders.

Transient receptor potential A1 mediates gastric distention-induced visceral pain in rats

BACKGROUND

Transient receptor potential (TRP)A1, a member of the TRP family of ion channels, has been proposed to function in diverse sensory processes, including thermosensation and pain. However, TRPA1 has not been directly implicated in stomach mechanosensation, and its contribution to acute visceral pain from this organ is unknown. Here, we investigated the expression of TRPA1 in primary sensory afferents and its involvement in visceral hypersensitivity in rats.

METHODS

We examined TRPA1 expression in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG), nodose ganglion (NG), and stomach of rats by using immunohistochemistry. Electromyographic responses to gastric distention (GD) were recorded from the acromiotrapezius muscle in TRPA1 knockdown rats and in control rats.

RESULTS

TRPA1 was predominantly expressed with sensory neuropeptides in DRG and NG neurons, and in nerve fibres in the rat stomach. Gastric distention induced the activation of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) in DRG and NG neurons 2 min after stimulation, and most of the phosphorylated-ERK1/2-labelled DRG neurons were TRPA1-positive neurons. Intrathecal injection of TRPA1 antisense attenuated the visceromotor response, and suppressed ERK1/2 activation in the DRG, but not NG, neurons produced by GD. Furthermore, intrathecal and intraperitoneal injections of the TRPA1 inhibitor HC-03003 suppressed the response to noxious GD.

CONCLUSIONS

The activation of TRPA1 in DRG neurons by noxious GD may be involved in acute visceral pain. Our findings point to the potential blockade of TRPA1 in primary afferents as a new therapeutic target for the reduction of visceral hypersensitivity.

Preferential labeling of inhibitory and excitatory cortical neurons by endogenous tropism of adeno-associated virus and lentivirus vectors

Despite increasingly widespread use of recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV) and lentiviral (LV) vectors for transduction of neurons in a wide range of brain structures and species, the diversity of cell types within a given brain structure is rarely considered. For example, the ability of a vector to transduce neurons within a brain structure is often assumed to indicate that all neuron types within the structure are transduced. We have characterized the transduction of mouse somatosensory cortical neuron types by recombinant AAV pseudotyped with serotype 1 capsid (rAAV2/1) and by recombinant lentivirus pseudotyped with the vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) glycoprotein. Both vectors used human synapsin (hSyn) promoter driving DsRed-Express. We demonstrate that high titer rAAV2/1-hSyn efficiently transduces both cortical excitatory and inhibitory neuronal populations, but use of lower titers exposes a strong preference for transduction of cortical inhibitory neurons and layer 5 pyramidal neurons. In contrast, we find that VSV-G-LV-hSyn principally labels excitatory cortical neurons at the highest viral titer generated. These findings demonstrate that endogenous tropism of rAAV2/1 and VSV-G-LV can be used to obtain preferential gene expression in mouse somatosensory cortical inhibitory and excitatory neuron populations, respectively.

Comparative study of the distribution of the alpha-subunits of voltage-gated sodium channels in normal and axotomized rat dorsal root ganglion neurons

We compared the distribution of the alpha-subunit mRNAs of voltage-gated sodium channels Nav1.1-1.3 and Nav1.6-1.9 and a related channel, Nax, in histochemically identified neuronal subpopulations of the rat dorsal root ganglia (DRG). In the naïve DRG, the expression of Nav1.1 and Nav1.6 was restricted to A-fiber neurons, and they were preferentially expressed by TrkC neurons, suggesting that proprioceptive neurons possess these channels. Nav1.7, -1.8, and -1.9 mRNAs were more abundant in C-fiber neurons compared with A-fiber ones. Nax was evenly expressed in both populations. Although Nav1.8 and -1.9 were preferentially expressed by TrkA neurons, other alpha-subunits were expressed independently of TrkA expression. Actually, all IB4(+) neurons expressed both Nav1.8 and -1.9, and relatively limited subpopulations of IB4(+) neurons (3% and 12%, respectively) expressed Nav1.1 and/or Nav1.6. These findings provide useful information in interpreting the electrophysiological characteristics of some neuronal subpopulations of naïve DRG. After L5 spinal nerve ligation, Nav1.3 mRNA was up-regulated mainly in A-fiber neurons in the ipsilateral L5 DRG. Although previous studies demonstrated that nerve growth factor (NGF) and glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) reversed this up-regulation, the Nav1.3 induction was independent of either TrkA or GFRalpha1 expression, suggesting that the induction of Nav1.3 may be one of the common responses of axotomized DRG neurons without a direct relationship to NGF/GDNF supply.

Noradrenergic excitation of a subpopulation of GABAergic cells in the basolateral amygdala via both activation of nonselective cationic conductance and suppression of resting K+ conductance: a study using glutamate decarboxylase 67-green fluorescent protein knock-in mice

GABAergic interneurons play central roles in the regulation of neuronal activity in the basolateral nucleus of the amygdala (BLA). They are also suggested to be the principal targets of the brainstem noradrenergic afferents which are involved in the enhancement of the BLA-related memory. In addition, behavioral stress has been shown to impair noradrenergic facilitation of GABAergic transmission. However, the noradrenaline (NA) effects in the BLA have not been differentiated among medium- to large-sized GABAergic neurons and principal cells, and remain to be elucidated in terms of their underlying mechanisms. Glutamate decarboxylase 67 (GAD67) is a biosynthetic enzyme of GABA and is specifically expressed in GABAergic neurons. To facilitate the study of the NA effects on GABAergic neurons in live preparations, we generated GAD67-green fluorescent protein (GFP) knock-in mice, in which GFP was expressed under the control of an endogenous GAD67 gene promoter. Here, we show that GFP was specifically expressed in GABAergic neurons in the BLA of this GAD67-GFP knock-in mouse. Under whole-cell patch-clamp recordings in vitro, we identified a certain subpopulation of GABAergic neurons in the BLA chiefly on the basis of the electrophysiological properties. When depolarized by a current injection, these neurons, which are referred to as type A, generated action potentials at relatively low frequency. We found that NA directly excited type-A cells via alpha1-adrenoceptors, whereas its effects on the other types of neurons were negligible. Two ionic mechanisms were involved in this excitability: the activation of nonselective cationic conductance and the suppression of the resting K+ conductance. NA also increased the frequency of spontaneous IPSCs in the principal cells of the BLA. It is suggested that the NA-dependent excitation of type-A cells attenuates the BLA output for a certain period.

Transforming growth factor-activated kinase 1 induced in spinal astrocytes contributes to mechanical hypersensitivity after nerve injury

Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) plays an important role in the induction and maintenance of neuropathic pain. Transforming growth factor-activated kinase 1 (TAK1), a member of the MAPK kinase kinase family, is indispensable for the activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 MAPK. We now show that TAK1 induced in spinal cord astrocytes is crucial for mechanical hypersensitivity after peripheral nerve injury. Nerve injury induced a striking increase in the expression of TAK1 in the ipsilateral dorsal horn, and TAK1 was increased in hyperactive astrocytes, but not in neurons or microglia. Intrathecal administration of TAK1 antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (AS-ODN) prevented and reversed nerve injury-induced mechanical, but not heat hypersensitivity. Furthermore, TAK1 AS-ODN suppressed the activation of JNK1, but not p38 MAPK, in spinal astrocytes. In contrast, there was no change in TAK1 expression in primary sensory neurons, and TAK1 AS-ODN did not attenuate the induction of transient receptor potential ion channel TRPV1 in sensory neurons. Taken together, these results demonstrate that TAK1 upregulation in spinal astrocytes has a substantial role in the development and maintenance of mechanical hypersensitivity through the JNK1 pathway. Thus, preventing the TAK1/JNK1 signaling cascade in astrocytes might provide a fruitful strategy for treating intractable neuropathic pain.