Suppression of early experimental osteoarthritis by in vivo delivery of the adenoviral vector-mediated NF-kappaBp65-specific siRNA

OBJECTIVE

This study was to use adenoviral vector-mediated nuclear factor-kappaBp65 (NF-kappaBp65)-specific siRNA (Ad-siRNA(NF-kappaBp65)) to suppress the progression of early osteoarthritis (OA) in rat model, and therefore to explore a new gene therapy for OA.

METHODS

Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was performed to confirm the silencing effect of Ad-siRNA(NF-kappaBp65) in cultured rat chondrocytes. Transection of the medial collateral ligament plus partial medial meniscectomy was operated in the knee of rats to establish OA model. Histological analysis was made to assess the morphological change of cartilage and synovium, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was made to measure the expression of cytokines, such as interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), in synovial fluid. The silencing effect of Ad-siRNA(NF-kappaBp65) on NF-kappaBp65 in cartilage and synovium of knee was measured with Western blot and the activation of NF-kappaB was measured with electrophoretic mobility shift assays.

RESULTS

Ad-siRNA(NF-kappaBp65) can inhibit the activation of NF-kappaB and the expression of NF-kappaBp65 in cartilage and synovium of the knee, restrain the induction of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha in synovial fluid, alleviate the inflammation of synovium and reduce the degradation of cartilage in early phase of experimental OA.

CONCLUSIONS

Ad-siRNA(NF-kappaBp65) can suppress the progression of the early experimental OA which suggests that Ad-siRNA(NF-kappaBp65) has potential to be a useful preventive and therapeutic agent for OA.

Ischemia and reperfusion reduce the endogenous basic fibroblast growth factor in rat skeletal muscles: an immunohistochemical study

Polyclonal antibodies directed against human recombinant basic fibroblast growth factor were used in immunohistochemical studies to localize this growth factor in normal and wounded rat skeletal muscles. According to the intensity of the stain, three main classes of fibers could be identified: the strongly, moderately, and weakly stained fibers. Basic fibroblast growth factor immunoreactivity was found mainly in the extracellular matrix, primarily in the endomysium, which includes the heparin-containing basal lamina, and also in the capillary basal membrane of both normal and wounded muscles; however, the signal intensity was much stronger in normal muscles. The distribution of basic fibroblast growth factor in wounded muscles became markedly heterogeneous and sparse. After 4 hours of ischemia, about 40% of skeletal muscle fibers lost their basic fibroblast growth factor immuno-reactivity. Muscles which underwent 4 hours of ischemia and 24 hours of reperfusion had only a diminished basic fibroblast growth factor immunoreactivity. The pathologic results supported the concept of destroyed cell connection and fiber necrosis in ischemic and reperfused muscles. Potential mechanisms involved in this reduced concentration of basic fibroblast growth factor in wounded muscles may include oxygen free radical activation, a generalized effect of the inflammatory response, and reduced secretion of endogenous basic fibroblast growth factor. These results are only partially compatible with the established mitogenic role of this growth factor and suggest that a reduction of endogenous fibroblast growth factor may partly contribute to a delay in wound healing.

Acidic fibroblast growth factor reduces renal morphologic and functional indicators of injury caused by ischemia and reperfusion

Therapeutic effects of acidic fibroblast growth factor on postischemic renal injury were evaluated in a rat model of bilateral renal ischemia (60 minutes) and reperfusion (7 days). Twenty-four rats were randomly divided into two groups (12 rats each). After 60 minutes of ischemia and at the onset of reperfusion, rats in the acidic fibroblast growth factor-treated group received 2.6 microg of acidic fibroblast growth factor/rat in 50 microl of phosphate-buffered saline solution containing 0.1% heparin (w/v) through the jugular vein, whereas the rats in the phosphate-buffered saline solution-treated group received the same vehicle without acidic fibroblast growth factor. Compared with the phosphate-buffered saline solution-treated group, rats in the acidic fibroblast growth factor-treated group had significantly lower blood urea nitrogen (83.13 +/- 26.07 versus 176.36 +/- 62.36, p < 0.05) and serum creatinine (0.73 +/- 0.14 versus 1.14 +/- 0.36, p < 0.05) levels 1 day after occlusion. Histopathologic scores showed much less renal damage on day 1 in the acidic fibroblast growth factor-treated rats compared with the phosphate-buffered saline solution controls. We conclude that intravenous administration of acidic fibroblast growth factor offers significant protection against postischemic renal injury and these protective effects may come from its nonmitogenic effects such as the regulation of vessel tone and calcium concentration in the body.

An HSV-2-based oncolytic virus deleted in the PK domain of the ICP10 gene is a potent inducer of apoptotic death in tumor cells

The N-terminus of the ICP10 gene of type 2 herpes simplex virus (HSV-2) encodes a serine/threonine protein kinase (PK) domain that facilitates HSV-2 replication by activating the Ras/MEK/MAPK mitogenic pathway and suppressing apoptosis. We recently demonstrated that deletion of this oncogenic PK domain converts it to a potent oncolytic agent. This mutant, which we have designated FusOn-H2, preferentially replicates in and thus lyses tumor cells in which the Ras signaling pathway is constitutively activated. Here we show that FusOn-H2 exerts strong ability in inducing apoptosis in different lines of human tumor cells and in esophageal tumors growing in mice. The apoptotic effect produced by FusOn-H2 was not restricted to infected cells but extended to uninfected bystander cells, thereby increasing the lethality of the virus. These results add a novel killing mechanism to those previously assigned to FusOn-H2, rendering it an attractive candidate for clinical trials.

An oncolytic virus derived from type 2 herpes simplex virus has potent therapeutic effect against metastatic ovarian cancer

Oncolytic viruses derived from herpes simplex virus (HSV) have shown considerable promise as antitumor agents against solid tumors including ovarian cancer. The current group of oncolytic HSVs was constructed exclusively from type 1 HSV. To exploit further the therapeutic potential of replication-selective viruses, we constructed an oncolytic virus from type 2 HSV by deleting the protein kinase domain of the viral ICP10 gene, which targets the activated Ras signaling pathway in tumor cells. In the study reported here, we administered this HSV-2-derived virus intraperitoneally (i.p.) to nude mice bearing metastatic human ovarian tumor xenografts, evaluated its oncolytic activity, and compared with to that of a virus constructed from HSV-1. Two injections of the HSV-2-derived virus (3 x 10(6) pfu per dose) led to complete eradication of disseminated tumors in the peritoneal cavity in more than 87% of the mice, whereas the HSV-1-based oncolytic virus, administered at the same dose and on the same schedule, eradicated tumor nodules in only 12% of mice (P<0.01). We conclude that i.p. administration of this HSV-2-based oncolytic virus may provide effective treatment for metastatic human ovarian cancer.

Regulation of proinflammatory cytokines gene expression by nociceptin/orphanin FQ in the spinal cord and the cultured astrocytes

Peripheral inflammation induces central sensitization characterized by the development of allodynia and hyperalgesia to thermal stimuli. Recent evidence suggests that activation of glial cells and a subsequent increase in proinflammatory cytokines contribute to the development of behavioral hypersensitivity after nerve injury or peripheral inflammation. The neuropeptide nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ), the endogenous agonist of the N/OFQ peptide receptor (ORL1 receptor), has been demonstrated to play an important role in modulation of nociceptive signals. In the present study, we investigated: (1) astrocyte activation and proinflammatory cytokine expression at the lumbar spinal cord following intraplantar administration of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) in rats; (2) the mechanism of N/OFQ on nociception modulation, the relationship between N/OFQ and cytokines in the rat CNS in vivo and in vitro. The results showed: (1) CFA-induced peripheral inflammation evoked robust astrocyte activation and proinflammatory cytokines spinally; (2) down-regulation of cytokine mRNA transcripts by intrathecal administration of N/OFQ, the effects produced by N/OFQ were abolished by combination with ORL1 receptor-specific antagonist [Nphe(1)]N/OFQ(1-13)NH2; (3) ORL1 receptor was expressed on astrocytes of rat spinal cord; (4) cytokine gene expression was inhibited in astrocyte cultures exposed to N/OFQ, the inhibiting effects of N/OFQ were significantly blocked by [Nphe(1)]N/OFQ(1-13)NH2. The present data demonstrated that astrocyte activation and enhanced cytokine expression at the CNS had a role in eliciting behavioral hypersensitivity; the anti-nociception function of N/OFQ might be dependent on cytokines derived from astrocytes, the effects were attributable to the ORL1 receptor pathway.

Global analysis of differentially expressed genes in androgen-independent prostate cancer

Progression to androgen independent (AI) is the main cause of death in prostate cancer, and the mechanism is still unclear. By reviewing the expression profiles of 26 prostate cancer samples in a holistic view, we found a group of genes differentially expressed in AI compared with androgen-dependent groups (P-value<0.01, t-test). Focusing on apoptosis, proliferation, hormone and angiogenesis, we found a group of genes such as thioredoxin domain containing 5 , tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily, member 10a , ribosomal protein S19 and Janus kinase 2 upregulated in AI prostate cancer, could play important roles in the transition from AD to AI and could be biomarkers of prognosis.

L-carnitine protects neurons from 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium-induced neuronal apoptosis in rat forebrain culture

1-Methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion (MPP+), an inhibitor of mitochondrial complex I, has been widely used as a neurotoxin because it elicits a severe Parkinson's disease-like syndrome with an elevation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and apoptosis. L-carnitine plays an integral role in attenuating the brain injury associated with mitochondrial neurodegenerative disorders. The present study investigates the effects of L-carnitine against the toxicity of MPP+ in rat forebrain primary cultures. Cells in culture were treated for 24 h with 100, 250, 500 and 1000 microM MPP+ alone or co-incubated with L-carnitine. MPP+ produced a dose-related increase in DNA fragmentation as measured by cell death ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay), an increase in the number of TUNEL (terminal dUTP nick-end labeling)-positive cells and a reduction in the mitochondrial metabolism of 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT). No significant effect was observed with the release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), indicating that cell death presumably occurred via apoptotic mechanisms. Co-incubation of MPP+ with L-carnitine significantly reduced MPP+-induced apoptosis. Western blot analyses showed that neurotoxic concentrations of MPP+ decreased the ratio of BCL-X(L) to Bax and decreased the protein levels of polysialic acid neural cell adhesion molecules (PSA-NCAM), a neuron specific marker. L-carnitine blocked these effects of MPP+ suggesting its potential therapeutic utility in degenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency and other mitochondrial diseases.

A phase II study of R-CHOP in treatment of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) subgroups

17540

Background: Recent studies with genes expression profiling and tissue microarray have divided the diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) into prognostically important subgroups with germinal center B cell like (GCB) and non-GCB. However, these results are based on the samples of patients who were received standard CHOP regimen. Combination with CHOP and Rituximab (R-CHOP) has been proved to improve the survival of patients with DLBCL. To evaluate the efficacy of R-CHOP in different subgroups of DLBCL, this phase II study has been conducted. Methods: Previously untreated patients with DLBCL were enrolled in this study. No upper age limit was specified. Patients received six cycles of R-CHOP (rituximab 375 mg/m2, cyclophosphamide 750 mg/m2, doxorubicin 50 mg/m2, vincristine 1.4 mg/m2, and prednisone 40 mg/m2 for 5 days) every 3 weeks. Immunohistochemical stains on paraffin-embedded tissues from diagnostic biopsies from these patients with antibodies against GCB cell (CD10 and Bcl-6) and activation (MUM1). These patients are divided into GCB and non-GCB groups according to the expression of antibodies against CD10, BCL-6 and MUM1. Results: A total of 64 patients were evaluated, 19 in GCB group and 45 in non-GCB group. Complete Remission (CR) rate was achieved 57.9% and 53.3%, in GCB group and in non-GCB group, respectively. (p = 0.737). A median follow-up of 2.2 years, the two-year failure free survival was no different between two groups (p = 0.566). Conclusions: In patients with GCB group or non-GCB group of DLBCL, addition of Rituximab in CHOP regimen, preliminary result was showed in similar response and survival.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Prognostic value of hemoglobin in natural killer cell lymphoma

17557

Background: Natural Killer (NK) cell lymphoma is a group of increasingly recognized but poorly defined disease entities. This study investigated its clinical features and prognostic factors for southern China population. Methods: Patients with pathologically confirmed NK cell lymphoma in one center since 1999 to 2004 were included. Central histological and immunohistochemical review was undertaken to every case. The major study endpoint was overall survival. Survival curves were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Detailed clinical, pathological and laboratory data were included in univariate analysis and statistically significant factors in univariate analysis were then included in multivariate analysis. Results: Totally 64 eligible patients were identified. Of these, 59 patients were extranodal NK cell lymphoma nasal type, 3 patients were aggressive NK cell lymphoma and 2 patients were blastic NK cell lymphoma. From the basic analysis, 47% of the patients had stage I disease, 42% were stage II, 11% were stage III or IV. B-symptoms were present in 39%. 73% of these patients had International Prognostic Index (IPI) 0 or 1. Before treatment, 25% complicated with anemia. As to the therapy, 38% received chemotherapy alone, 3% received radiotherapy alone and 59% received a multidisciplinary therapy. After initial therapy, 59% achieved CR, 22% achieved PR and 19% were refractory disease. With a median follow-up duration of 20 months, the median overall survival was 28 months (95% CI: 10, 45). Hb lower than 110 g/l before treatment was statistically significant in multivariate analysis (p = 0.031). Presenting B-symptoms and ECOG PS score higher than 1 were also independent prognostic factors (P = 0.001 and 0.006 respectively). Conclusions: The outcome of patients with NK cell lymphoma was poor even for Stage I or II cases. Our data suggested Hemoglobin < 110 g/l had more prognostic value than IPI and Ann Arbor staging system for NK cell lymphoma in southern China, but it needs further confirmation.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Pluggable application server framework

Building a system based on variants of disparate individual components/programs is usually a challenging task. The components/programs are not designed to communicate with each other but the whole system construction does require a seamless collaboration among them. In this paper, targeting at protein structure prediction, a pluggable application server framework is presented. The framework is capable of combining various existing programs into an efficient unit and the design is devoted to provide a model which is able to integrate heterogeneous components/programs into the system quickly without modifying their codes. Based on the model, different components can be plugged into the system with easy configuration, which would lead to a self-configurable and adaptive system. A protein structure prediction server implementation was developed by applying the design model and the real implementation emphasizes the efficiency and simplicity of the system construction. The method and model are generic and can be applied to other system design as well.

The role of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor in ketamine-induced apoptosis in rat forebrain culture

Recent data suggest that anesthetic drugs may cause widespread and dose-dependent apoptotic neurodegeneration during development. The window of vulnerability to this neurotoxic effect, particularly with N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonists such as ketamine, is restricted to the period of synaptogenesis. The purposes of this study are to determine whether treatment of forebrain cultures with ketamine results in a dose-related increase in neurotoxicity and whether upregulation of NMDA receptor subunit NR1 promotes ketamine-induced apoptosis. Forebrain cultures were treated for 12 h with 0.1, 1, 10 and 20 microM ketamine or co-incubated with NR1 antisense oligonucleotide (2 microM). After washout of the ketamine, cultures were kept in serum-containing medium (in presence of glutamate) for 24 h. Application of ketamine (10 and 20 microM) resulted in a substantial increase in DNA fragmentation as measured by cell death enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, increased number of terminal dUTP nick-end labeling positive cells, and a reduction in mitochondrial metabolism of the dye 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide. No significant effect was seen in the release of lactate dehydrogenase, indicating that cell death presumably occurred via an apoptotic mechanism. Co-incubation of ketamine with NR1 antisense significantly reduced ketamine-induced apoptosis. Western analysis showed that neurotoxic concentrations of ketamine increased Bax and NR1 protein levels. NR1 antisense prevented this increase caused by ketamine, suggesting that ketamine-induced cell death is associated with a compensatory upregulation of the NMDA receptor. These data suggest that NR1 antisense offers neuroprotection from apoptosis in vitro, and that upregulation of the NR1 following ketamine administration is, at least, partially responsible for the observed apoptosis.

Antiproliferative activity and toxicity of 2-methoxyestradiol in cervical cancer xenograft mice

2-methoxyestradiol (2-ME) is considered to be an effective anticancer compound for many types of tumors. We have previously demonstrated that 2-ME inhibits the growth of human cervical cancer HeLaS3 cells in vitro. In this study, we investigated the antitumoral effects of 2-ME on human cervical carcinoma in severe combined immune deficient (SCID) mice. The potential side effects of 2-ME on the SCID mice were also investigated. SCID mice were injected with HeLaS3 cells (3 x 10(6) to 4 x 10(6)/mouse) and a 15-day administration of 2-ME followed after a 1-week cell implantation. Tumor weight, volume, body weight, and blood chemistry were determined. Tumor tissues were examined with an antibody against the proliferative cell nuclear antigen and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL) staining. Liver, spleen, kidney, heart, and lung were screened by pathologic examinations. 2-ME (75 mg/kg p.o.) inhibited growth of human cervical carcinoma by 34% (P < 0.05) as compared with control. Necrosis was found in both 2-ME-treated and untreated tumor tissues, but the necrotic area was larger in 2-ME-treated mice. A low expression of proliferative cell nuclear antigen and an increased number of apoptotic cells were found in 2-ME-treated tumor sections as compared to those in controls. No significant difference was detected in blood chemistry. In addition, the liver showed hyperplastic Kupffer cells, hydropic swelling of hepatocytes, and liquefactive necrosis. The spleen showed an increased number of megakaryocytes and apoptotic cells after 2-ME treatment. Thus, 2-ME has an antitumor effect on human cervical carcinoma, and it is toxic to liver and spleen in this mouse model.

Antiproliferative activity and toxicity of 2-methoxyestradiol in cervical cancer xenograft mice

2-Methoxyestradiol (2-ME) is considered to be an effective anticancer compound for many types of tumors. We have previously demonstrated that 2-ME inhibits the growth of human cervical cancer HeLaS3 cells in vitro. In this study, we investigated the antitumoral effects of 2-ME on human cervical carcinoma in severe combined immune deficient (SCID) mice. The potential side effects of 2-ME on the SCID mice were also investigated. SCID mice were injected with HeLaS3 cells (3 × 106 to 4 × 106/mouse) and a 15-day administration of 2-ME followed after a 1-week cell implantation. Tumor weight, volume, body weight, and blood chemistry were determined. Tumor tissues were examined with an antibody against the proliferative cell nuclear antigen and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL) staining. Liver, spleen, kidney, heart, and lung were screened by pathologic examinations. 2-ME (75 mg/kg p.o.) inhibited growth of human cervical carcinoma by 34% (P < 0.05) as compared with control. Necrosis was found in both 2-ME–treated and untreated tumor tissues, but the necrotic area was larger in 2-ME–treated mice. A low expression of proliferative cell nuclear antigen and an increased number of apoptotic cells were found in 2-ME–treated tumor sections as compared to those in controls. No significant difference was detected in blood chemistry. In addition, the liver showed hyperplastic Kupffer cells, hydropic swelling of hepatocytes, and liquefactive necrosis. The spleen showed an increased number of megakaryocytes and apoptotic cells after 2-ME treatment. Thus, 2-ME has an antitumor effect on human cervical carcinoma, and it is toxic to liver and spleen in this mouse model.