Feasibility of 2nd generation STS retinal prosthesis in dogs

We developed a 2(nd) generation suprachoroidal transretinal stimulation (STS) system with a 49 channel electrode array and implanted in 2 dogs. One month after surgery, all electrodes were functioning and the ocular fundus was normal in both dogs. The results indicate the 2(nd) generation STS retinal prosthesis is feasible and can be considered for clinical use.

Histone deacetylase inhibitors suppress mechanical stress-induced expression of RUNX-2 and ADAMTS-5 through the inhibition of the MAPK signaling pathway in cultured human chondrocytes

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the inhibitory effects and the regulatory mechanisms of histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors on mechanical stress-induced gene expression of runt-related transcription factor (RUNX)-2 and adisintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motif (ADAMTS)-5 in human chondrocytes.

METHODS

Human chondrocytes were seeded in stretch chambers at a concentration of 5 × 10(4)cells/chamber. Cells were pre-incubated with or without HDAC inhibitors (MS-275 or trichostatin A; TSA) for 12h, followed by uniaxial cyclic tensile strain (CTS) (0.5Hz, 10% elongation), which was applied for 30 min using the ST-140-10 system (STREX, Osaka, Japan). Total RNA was extracted and the expression of RUNX-2, ADAMTS-5, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-3, and MMP-13 at the mRNA and protein levels were examined by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunocytochemistry, respectively. The activation of diverse mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways with or without HDAC inhibitors during CTS was examined by western blotting.

RESULTS

HDAC inhibitors (TSA: 10 nM, MS-275: 100 nM) suppressed CTS-induced expression of RUNX-2, ADAMTS-5, and MMP-3 at both the mRNA and protein levels within 1h. CTS-induced activation of p38 MAPK (p38), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) MAPKs was downregulated by both HDAC inhibitors.

CONCLUSION

The CTS-induced expression of RUNX-2 and ADAMTS-5 was suppressed by HDAC inhibitors via the inhibition of the MAPK pathway activation in human chondrocytes. The results of the current study suggested a novel therapeutic role for HDAC inhibitors against degenerative joint disease such as osteoarthritis.

Timing and dependence upon mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling for pro-developmental actions of insulin-like growth factor 1 on the preimplantation bovine embryo

Insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF1) increases the proportion of embryos that develop to the blastocyst stage. The objective of the present study was to determine whether the pro-developmental actions of IGF1 are exerted before or after Day 4 of development (i.e., on events occurring through the period of genomic activation versus events coincident with compaction and blastocoel formation) and whether mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways mediate effects of IGF1. Treatment with IGF1 increased the proportion becoming blastocysts at concentrations of 10, 100 and 200 ng/mL, with 100 ng/mL being more effective than 10 or 200 ng/mL. At Day 8, the percent of oocytes that became blastocysts was 30, 34, 43, and 36%, respectively (SEM=2.6). As compared to controls (30.4%), IGF1 increased the percent of oocytes that were blastocysts at Day 8 when added from Days 4 to 8 (42%) or Days 0 to 8 post-insemination (40%) but there was no significant effect when IGF1 was added from Days 0 to 4 (37%; SEM=2.2). Actions of IGF1 to increase blastocyst development were reduced when embryos were co-treated with the MAPK inhibitor PD98059. The percentage of oocytes becoming a blastocyst at Day 8 was 21 versus 37% for 0 and 100 ng/mL in the absence of inhibitor and 24 versus 29% in the presence of inhibitor (IGF1×inhibitor interaction, P<0.05; pooled SEM=1.3). In conclusion, IGF1 promotes development to the blastocyst stage by regulating MAPK-dependent events at Day 4 or later of development.

Anterior transposition of the ulnar nerve with endoscopic assistance

We treated 20 patients with cubital tunnel syndrome by anterior transposition of the ulnar nerve with endoscopic assistance. Five elbows were classified preoperatively as McGowan's stage 1, 11 as stage 2 and four as stage 3. Excellent outcomes were obtained in nine and good in eight patients. Three patients had fair results. Improvement of symptoms occurred in all patients. There were no serious complications. All ulnar nerves remained anteriorly transposed.

De novo donor HLA-specific antibodies after heart transplantation are an independent predictor of poor patient survival

Preformed donor HLA-specific antibodies are a known indicator for poor patient survival after cardiac transplantation. The role of de novo donor-specific antibodies (DSA) formed after cardiac transplantation is less clear. Here we have retrospectively analyzed 243 cardiac transplant recipients, measuring HLA antibody production every year after transplantation up to 13 years post-transplant. Production of de novo DSA was analyzed in patients who had been negative for DSA prior to their transplant. DSA including transient antibodies were associated with poor patient survival (p = 0.0018, HR = 3.198). However, de novo and persistent DSA was strongly associated with poor patient survival (p = 0.0001 HR = 4.351). Although complement fixing persistent DSA correlated with poor patient survival, this was not increased compared to noncomplement fixing persistent DSA. Multivariable analysis indicated de novo persistent DSA to be an independent predictor of poor patient survival along with HLA-DR mismatch and donor age. Only increasing donor age was found to be an independent risk factor for earlier development of CAV. In conclusion, patients who are transplanted in the absence of pre-existing DSA make de novo DSA after transplantation which are associated with poor survival. Early and regular monitoring of post-transplant DSA is required to identify patients at risk of allograft failure.

Developmental changes in thermoprotective actions of insulin-like growth factor-1 on the preimplantation bovine embryo

Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) is an important endocrine signal for regulation of early embryonic development. It increases the proportion of preimplantation embryos becoming blastocysts, alters blastocyst gene expression, improves resistance of embryos to various stresses and can enhance survival of embryos after transfer to recipients. The present study had two objectives. The first was to determine whether the thermoprotective actions of IGF1 on the preimplantation bovine embryo was developmentally regulated, with the two-cell embryo being refractory to IGF1. The second was to determine the molecular basis for the improved competence of embryos treated with IGF1 to establish pregnancy after transfer to heat-stressed recipients. Treatment of embryos with 100 ng/ml IGF1 reduced the effects of heat shock on embryos ≥16 cells at day 5 after insemination but did not provide thermoprotection to two-cell embryos. Failure of IGF1 to alter embryo survival after heat shock was not associated with reduced expression of genes involved in IGF1 signaling (IGF1R, RAF1, PI3K, and MAPK) or immunoreactive IGF1R protein. Treatment with IGF1 had little effect on the transcriptome at the blastocyst stage of development, with a total of 102 differentially expressed genes identified. Among the differentially expressed genes were several involved in apoptosis, protection against free radicals and development. Changes in gene expression were consistent with IGF1 acting to induce an anti-apoptotic state and inhibit neurulation. In conclusion, thermoprotective actions of IGF1 are developmentally regulated. Failure of IGF1 to protect the two-cell embryo from heat shock could reflect the fact that these embryos are maximally sensitive to damage caused by heat shock or reflect the quiescence of the embryonic genome at this stage of development. Changes in gene expression at the blastocyst stage induced by IGF1 could contribute to the increased survival of IGF1-treated embryos when transferred during periods of heat stress.

141 A NOVEL METHOD FOR PURIFICATION OF INNER CELL MASS AND TROPHECTODERM CELLS FROM BOVINE BLASTOCYSTS USING MAGNETIC ACTIVATED CELL SORTING

The first distinct lineage differentiation in the mammalian embryo occurs at the blastocyst stage when blastomeres are segregated into inner cell mass (ICM) or trophectoderm (TE). Obtaining purified TE or ICM can be useful for understanding regulation of early development and differentiation. Although several methods have been reported to separate TE and ICM (e.g. immunosurgery, mechanical dissection using a micromanipulator, or manual selection following trypsinization), limitations exist with these methods. Here, we describe a simple and effective method to sort cells of the blastocyst using magnetic activated cell sorting (MACS) following disaggregation of the blastocyst into single cells using trypsin. Bovine blastocysts were produced in vitro and the zona pellucida removed with a short exposure to acidic Tyrode’s solution. Zona-free blastocysts were incubated with concanavalin A conjugated to fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) to label the outer layer of the blastocyst. The blastocysts were then exposed to Hoechst 33342 to label nuclei of all blastomeres. The blastocysts were treated with 0.05% (wt/vol) trypsin, and then disaggregated into single blastomeres by repeating pipetting using a finely drawn, flame-polished mouth micropipette. Single blastomeres were incubated with magnetic microbeads conjugated to anti-FITC and subjected to MACS separation. A fraction of sorted cells was observed under a fluorescence microscope. The remainder were subjected to mRNA extraction, and NANOG (ICM marker) and CDX2 (TE marker) mRNA were quantified by quantitative PCR. After disaggregation of the blastocyst, 2 types of single blastomeres were observed: cells that were positive for both FITC and Hoechst 33342 (TE cells) and cells that were negative for FITC but positive for Hoechst 33342 (ICM cells). Before MACS, about two-thirds of the disaggregated blastomeres labelled with Hoechst 33342 were also labelled with FITC, while one-third were FITC negative. After MACS, the percent of dual-labelled cells in the FITC positive fraction was 91.2%, whereas the incidence of dual-labelled cells in the FITC negative fraction was only 7.8 ± 3.0%. A total of 11.5 μg of RNA per blastocyst was recovered from cells isolated by MACS. This represents 80% of the RNA present in intact blastocysts and suggests a high rate of recovery of blastomeres during the purification process. Furthermore, relative expression level of NANOG was lower in the FITC-positive fraction than in the FITC-negative fraction (0.30 ± 0.05 v. 3.1 ± 0.6, respectively, relative to gene expression level in whole blastocysts). Conversely, the relative expression level of CDX2 was higher in the FITC-positive fraction than in the FITC-negative fraction (3.2 ± 0.09 v. 0.30 ± 0.9, respectively). Results indicate that highly purified TE cells or ICM cells can be collected using MACS. This simple method can be used to study differentiation of the mammalian embryo as well as to prepare embryonic cells of specific lineages for cell therapy. Research was supported by Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grant no. 2009-65203-05732 from the USDA NIFA.

119 FGF2 AND FGF10 STIMULATES BOVINE AND OVINE TROPHOBLAST CELL MIGRATION

Following hatching, bovine and ovine conceptuses undergo a phase of massive development and remodelling that causes elongation and filamentation. Proper trophoblast cell development and interaction with the uterus is critical for the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy. Various growth factors, including several fibroblast growth factors (FGFs), are produced by the uterus, and at least two of these, FGF2 and FGF10, are released into uterus lumen during early pregnancy. Microarray analysis found that gene products associated with migration and invasion were altered in bovine blastocysts exposed to FGF2 or 10. The objective of this work was to determine if FGF2 and FGF10 impact bovine and ovine trophoblast cell migration. The ability of FGF2 and FGF10 to influence migratory ability of trophoblast cells was examined by using an in vitro transwell migration assay. The bovine trophoblast line, CT1, was used in the first study. After serum starvation, CT1 cells were seeded on the top of each transwell membrane (50 000/transwell) in the presence of vehicle, 0.5, 5, or 50 ng mL–1 bovine recombinant FGF2 or human recombinant FGF10. After 12 h, the transwell was fixed and stained with Hoechst 33342 (0.5 μg mL–1). Migrated cells were counted on five non-overlapping areas of each filter using epifluorescence microscopy. Supplementation with 0.5 ng mL–1 FGF2 increased the number of migrated CT1 cells when compared with controls (268.3 ± 58.3 v. 167.3 ± 47.7; P < 0.01). Supplementation with 5 or 50 ng mL–1 FGF2 further increased the number of migrated CT1 cells (297.0 ± 51.4 and 429.4 ± 98.3, respectively; P < 0.001). Adding 0.5 ng mL–1 FGF10 did not affect CT1 migration but providing 5 or 50 ng mL–1 FGF10 increased CT1 migration (399.8 ± 29.7 and 392.7 ± 58.6 v. 194.2 ± 40.3 for controls; P < 0.005). A subsequent study utilised the ovine trophoblast line, oTR1 in the migration assay (30 000 cells/transwell; 8 h migration assay). Adding 0.5 ng mL–1 FGF2 or FGF10 did not affect oTR1 migration number but exposure to holdout 5 or 50 ng mL–1 FGF2 or FGF10 increased oTR1 migrated cell numbers v. controls (P < 0.05). In a subsequent study, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), ERK1/2 and JNK signalling cascades utilised by FGF2 and FGF10 in oTR1 cells were investigated. Western blot analysis indicated that both FGF2 and FGF10 induced ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK phosphorylation status. Interestingly FGF10 activated JNK but not p38 MAPK. Taken together, FGF2 and FGF10 stimulate trophoblast cell migration. This response could be mediated by an ERK1/2- or p38 MAPK-dependent system. This project was supported by NRICGP number 2008-35203-19106 from the USDA-NIFA.

121 DEVELOPMENTAL CHANGES IN THERMOPROTECTIVE ACTIONS OF INSULIN-LIKE GROWTH FACTOR-1 ON THE PREIMPLANTATION BOVINE EMBRYO

Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF1) is an important endocrine signal for regulation of early embryonic development. It increases the proportion of preimplantation embryos becoming blastocysts, alters blastocyst gene expression, improves resistance of embryos to various stresses and can enhance survival of embryos after transfer to recipients. The present study had 2 objectives. The first was to determine whether the thermoprotective actions of IGF1 on the preimplantation bovine embryo were developmentally regulated, with the 2-cell embryo being refractory to IGF1. The second was to determine the molecular basis for the improved competence of embryos treated with IGF1 to establish pregnancy after transfer to heat-stressed recipients. Heat shock at 41°C decreased (P < 0.005) the percentage of 2-cell embryos becoming a blastocyst at day 8 (39.5 v. 21% for 38.5 and 41°C, respectively), and treatment of embryos with 100 ng mL–1 IGF1 did not provide thermoprotection to 2-cell embryos heat shocked at 41°C (21 v. 21% for control and IGF1-treated embryos, respectively). Heat shock at 41°C had no effect on blastocyst development of day 5 embryos. However, exposure to 42°C reduced (P < 0.001) blastocyst development of day 5 embryos (87 v. 47.6% for 38.5 and 42°C, respectively). Furthermore, treatment of embryos with 100 ng mL–1 IGF1 reduced (P = 0.05) the effect of heat shock at 42°C on day 5 embryos (48 v. 66% control and IGF1-treated embryos, respectively). Failure of IGF1 to alter 2-cell embryo survival after heat shock was not associated with reduced expression of genes involved in IGF1 signaling (IGF1R, RAF1, PI3K, and MAPK), as shown by quantitative real-time RT-PCR assay, or in amounts of immunoreactive IGF1R protein. Treatment with IGF1 had little effect on the transcriptome at the blastocyst stage, with a total of 102 differentially expressed genes identified. Among the differentially expressed genes were several involved in apoptosis, protection against free radicals, and development. Changes in gene expression are consistent with IGF1 acting to induce an anti-apoptotic state and inhibit neurulation. In conclusion, thermoprotective actions of IGF1 are developmentally regulated. Failure of IGF1 to protect the 2-cell embryo from heat shock could reflect the fact that these embryos are maximally sensitive to damage caused by heat shock or reflect the quiescence of the embryonic genome at this early stage in development. Changes in gene expression at the blastocyst stage induced by IGF1 could contribute to the increased survival of IGF1-treated embryos when transferred during periods of heat stress. Support: USDA NRI 2007-35203-18070 and 2009-65203-05732.

In vitro selection of influenza B viruses with reduced sensitivity to neuraminidase inhibitors

We and others have previously isolated influenza B viruses with reduced sensitivity to neuraminidase (NA) inhibitors (oseltamivir and zanamivir) from patients who were never exposed to these drugs. It was unclear whether the NA substitutions found in these influenza B isolates arose spontaneously or were caused by selective pressure. Here, we obtained influenza B viruses with reduced NA inhibitor sensitivity by in vitro selection with NA inhibitors. We found that these viruses possessed the same NA substitutions as those previously found in viruses isolated from untreated patients. These results suggest that these NA substitutions were selected in patients who were treated with an NA inhibitor and that the resistant variants were then transmitted to others.

Adjuvant Effects of Aluminum Silicate on IgE and IgG1 Antibody Production in Mice

The adjuvant effects of aluminum silicate on IgE and IgG1 antibody production were investigated. BALB/c mice were immunized intraperitoneally with 10 micrograms ovalbumin (OA) adsorbed on 0.2, 2, or 20 mg aluminum silicate. The enhancement of anti-OA IgE antibody production was observed in the mice injected with aluminum silicate and antigen compared with the mice injected with antigen alone. Anti-OA IgE antibody production with 2 and 20 mg aluminum silicate was greater than that with aluminum hydroxide (alum) as an adjuvant. Similar adjuvant effects with 2 mg aluminum silicate or alum were observed in AKR and C57BL/6 mice using 10 micrograms OA, and in BALB/c mice using 2 micrograms DNP-KLH (dinitrophenyl keyhole limpet hemocyanin): IgE antibody production induced by aluminum silicate adjuvant persisted for weeks in these experiments. The enhancement of IgG1 antibody production to OA mixed with aluminum silicate was also demonstrated. However, no difference between aluminum silicate and alum was observed on the IgG1 antibody production.

Reappraisal of HLA antibody analysis and crossmatching in kidney transplantation

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and flow cytometric techniques have been introduced to overcome the limited sensitivity and specificity of the CDC assay. This retrospective study used lambda antigen tray-mixed screening and Luminex HLA class I and II specificity assays to re-examine: (1) the accuracy with which detection of HLA antibody and specificity by ELISA predicts pretransplantation National Institutes of Health (NIH)/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) crossmatch; and (2) a comparison of Luminex and ELISA methods to detect HLA antibodies. Sera from 481 patients awaiting kidney transplantation were tested using the ELISA method lambda antigen tray-mixed and using NIH-CDC to determine how well HLA antibodies detected using ELISA predicted crossmatches using CDC. Pretransplantation sera from 48 patients with follow-up data were retested using both ELISA lambda antigen tray-mixed and Luminex to compare the efficacy of the 2 methods.

Nuclear replacement of in vitro-matured porcine oocytes by a serial centrifugation and fusion method

The objective of the present study was to establish a method for nuclear replacement in metaphase-II (M-II) stage porcine oocytes. Karyoplasts containing M-II chromosomes (K) and cytoplasts without chromosomes (C) were produced from in vitro-matured oocytes by a serial centrifugation method. The oocytes were then reconstructed by fusion of one karyoplast with 1, 2, 3 or 4 cytoplasts (K + 1C, K + 2C, K + 3C and K + 4C, respectively). Reconstructed oocytes, karyoplasts without fusion of any cytoplast (K) and zona-free M-II oocytes (control) were used for experiments. The rates of female pronucleus formation after parthenogenetic activation in all groups of reconstructed oocytes (58.2-77.4%) were not different from those of the K and control groups (58.2% and 66.0%, respectively). In vitro fertilization was carried out to assay the fertilization ability and subsequent embryonic development of the reconstructed oocytes. The cytoplast : karyoplast ratio did not affect the fertilization status (penetration and male pronuclear formation rates) of the oocytes. A significantly high monospermy rate was found in K oocytes (p < 0.05, 61.6%) compared with the other groups (18.2-32.8%). Blastocyst formation rates increased significantly as the number of the cytoplasts fused with karyoplasts increased (p < 0.05, 0.0-15.3%). The blastocyst rate in the K + 4C group (15.3%) was comparable with that of the control (17.8%). Total cell numbers in both the K + 3C and K + 4C groups (16.0 and 15.3 cells, respectively) were comparable with that of the control (26.2 cells). Our results demonstrate that a serial centrifugation and fusion (Centri-Fusion) is an effective method for producing M-II chromosome transferred oocytes with normal fertilization ability and in vitro development. It is suggested that the number of cytoplasts fused with a karyoplast plays a critical role in embryonic development.

Generation of porcine diploid blastocysts after injection of spermatozoa grown in nude mice

It is anticipated that the utilization of spermatogonia through testicular xenografting will open new avenues for the conservation of male gametes. With the aim of establishing this new technique for genetic preservation of pigs, we used it in combination with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Testicular tissues derived from neonatal piglets, which contained seminiferous cords consisting of only gonocytes/spermatogonia, were transplanted under the back skin of castrated nude mice. Between 125 and 192 d after xenografting, sperm (morphologically similar to epididymal sperm) were recovered from 41 of the 65 host mice (63.1%). Testicular spermatozoa from adult boars were used as a positive control. A single spermatozoon was injected into an in vitro matured porcine oocyte, and the oocytes were electro-stimulated and cultured (graft-ICSI and testis-ICSI, respectively). Blastocyst rates in both ICSI groups (24.9% and 37.4%, respectively) were higher (P<0.05) than those without the injection procedure (parthenogenetic; 12.7%) and after injection of a small amount of injection buffer (sham; 13.0%). Rates of diploid blastocysts in both graft-ICSI and testis-ICSI groups (48.9% and 60.6%) were higher (P<0.05) than those in the parthenogenetic and sham groups (13.5% and 28.0%). Therefore, we demonstrated that porcine oocytes injected with xenogeneic sperm have in vitro developmental ability to the blastocyst stage.

Up-regulated expression of Toll-like receptors mRNAs in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Recent studies in animal models for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have shown that Toll-like receptors (TLR-7 and TLR-9) and interferon (IFN)-alpha are involved in the pathogenesis of murine lupus. Recent studies using flow cytometry have also shown increased expression of TLR-9 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from SLE patients. In this study, we performed quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analyses of PBMCs from 21 SLE patients and 21 healthy subjects, to estimate TLR2, TLR3, TLR4, TLR5, TLR7, TLR8, TLR9, IFN-alpha and LY6E (a type I IFN-inducible gene) mRNA expression levels. Expression levels of TLR2, TLR7, TLR9, IFN-alpha and LY6E mRNAs in SLE patients were significantly higher than those in healthy controls. Expression levels of TLR7 and TLR9 mRNAs correlated with that of IFN-alpha mRNA in SLE patients. These results suggest that up-regulated expression of TLR7 and TLR9 mRNAs together with increased expression of IFN-alpha mRNA in PBMCs may also contribute to the pathogenesis of human lupus.