Low Temperature Fabrication of (Ba, Sr)TiO3 Thin Films by ECR Plasma CVD

Physical and electrical properties are investigated for (Ba, Sr)TiO3 (BST) films prepared by electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) plasma chemical vapor deposition (CVD) at relatively low temperatures, between 450 °C and 500 °C. The crystallinity of BST, estimated by X-ray diffraction and from the grain size, is greatly improved when the temperature is raised from 450 °C to 500 °C. Also better crystallinity is obtained for films grown at a deposition rate of 1.1 nn/min than at 2.7 nm/min. The mass transport rates of metal organic sources under our deposition conditions are estimated. The BST film composition is precisely controlled using the results of the investigation on mass transport. At near stoichiometric composition, i.e., (Ba+Sr)/Ti=0.97, and Ba/(Ba+Sr)=0.4, the films grown at 500 °C are found to have the largest dielectric constant, measured using flat capacitors with Pt bottom electrodes. A dielectric constant of 160 is obtained for 27 nm thick films grown at 500 °C and at 1.1 nm/min, without post-deposition annealing. These films exhibit the smallest SiO2 equivalent thickness of 0.65 nm and a leakage current density of 4.6x10−7 A/cm2 at plus IV.

Blockade of Th1 chemokine receptors ameliorates pulmonary granulomatosis in mice

Sarcoidosis is a granulomatous disease of unknown aetiology. We identified immunological targets for the treatment of pulmonary granulomatosis using a murine model generated with Propionibacterium acnes. Sensitisation and challenge using heat-killed P. acnes and dendritic cells (DCs) were performed to produce pulmonary granulomatosis in C57BL/6 mice. Immunological analyses using ELISA as well as cDNA microarray analysis were used to search for cytokines or chemokines associated with the formation of granulomas in the lungs. Co-administration of P. acnes and DCs reproducibly induced the formation of pulmonary granulomas, which resembled sarcoid granulomas. The cDNA microarray assay demonstrated that the gene expression of CXCL9 and CXCL10, ligands for CXCR3, and of CCL4, a ligand for CCR5, was strongly upregulated during granulomatosis. ELISA confirmed that levels of CXCL9 and CXCL10 as well as T-helper (Th)1 cytokines and chemokines including tumour necrosis factor-α and interferon-γ were elevated in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). The blockade of Th1 chemokine receptors using TAK-779, a dual blocker for CXCR3 and CCR5, led to reduced numbers of CXCR3+CD4+ and CCR5+CD4+ T-cells in BALF. Furthermore, administration of TAK-779 ameliorated the granulomatosis. The targeted inhibition of Th1 chemokines might be useful for inhibiting Th1-biased granulomatous diseases, including sarcoidosis.

Hepatocyte growth factor as inducer of gefitinib resistance in non-small cell lung cancer harboring EGFR activating mutations

e19034

Background: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-activating mutations (EGFRmu) responds favorably to the EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs), gefitinib or erlotinib. However, 25–30% of patients with EGFRmu show intrinsic resistance, and the responders invariably acquire resistance to EGFR-TKIs. Here, we examined the role of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), a specific ligand of MET, in gefitinib resistance of NSCLC with EGFRmu. Methods: NSCLC cells, PC-9 and HCC827, with EGFRmu, but not T790M second mutation in EGFR or MET amplification, were used in this study. Sensitivity to gefitinib was determined by MTT assay. Phosphorylation of MET, EGFR, ERBB3, and the PI3K/Akt pathway were examined by Western blotting. HGF expression in 20 tumors from 16 NSCLC patients with EGFRmu who were treated with gefitinib was determined by immunohistochemistry. Results: HGF induced resistance to gefitinib by restoring Akt phosphorylation independently of ErbB3. Specific down-regulation of MET, but not ErbB3, reversed gefitinib resistance and Akt phosphorylation induced by HGF. Importantly, high levels of immunoreactivity for HGF were detected in cancer cells of 3 of 3 intrinsic resistant tumors and in one of 2 tumors with acquired resistance without T790M second mutation or MET amplification. Conclusions: The findings indicate that HGF-mediated MET activation is a novel mechanism of intrinsic and acquired gefitinib-resistance in NSCLC with EGFRmu. Therefore, inhibition of HGF-MET signaling may be considerable strategy for more successful treatment with EGFR-TKIs.

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Protein biomarker analysis by mass spectrometry in patients with rheumatoid arthritis receiving anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha antibody therapy

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the mechanism of action of anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) antibody in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), we analyzed serum or plasma proteins by mass spectrometry system.

METHODS

Ten RA patients who received treatment with anti-TNF-alpha antibody were studied. Samples obtained before and after therapy were analyzed by a two-dimensional liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (2D LC-MS/MS) system after pretreatment by a recently developed method to remove high molecular weight proteins.

RESULTS

Using this system, certain proteins were identified after treatment with anti-TNF-alpha antibody, including proteins related to the TNF-alpha-mediated pathway for nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) activation and/or to the metabolism (including regeneration) of articular cartilage.

CONCLUSION

Our mass spectrometry system appears to be useful for proteomic analysis. The efficacy of anti-TNF-alpha antibody therapy for RA may be related to various consequence of the inhibition of TNF-alpha activity.

CXCL9 and 11 in patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis: a role of alveolar macrophages

Interferon-inducible protein-10 (IP-10)/CXCL10, which is a ligand for CXC chemokine receptor 3 (CXCR3), is known to be involved in the pathogenesis of pulmonary sarcoidosis. However, the roles of monokine induced by interferon gamma (Mig)/CXCL9 and interferon-inducible T cell alpha chemoattractant (I-TAC)/CXCL11, which are also CXCR3 ligands, remain unclear. Mig/CXCL9, IP-10/CXCL10 and I-TAC/CXCL11 in both bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and serum in patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The expression of these chemokines in alveolar macrophages was examined using ELISA, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunostaining. In BALF, Mig/CXCL9 and IP-10/CXCL10 were significantly elevated in stage II sarcoidosis as compared with the levels in healthy volunteers. In serum, Mig/CXCL9 and I-TAC/CXCL11 were increased in stage II of the disease. The levels of all CXCR3 ligands in BALF were correlated with the numbers of both total and CD4(+) lymphocytes. Alveolar macrophages were stained positive for all CXCR3 ligands and produced increased amounts of these chemokines. Positive staining of the three chemokines was also observed in the epithelioid and giant cells in the sarcoid lungs. These findings suggest that Mig/CXCL9 and I-TAC/CXCL11 as well as IP-10/CXCL10 play important roles in the accumulation of Th1 lymphocytes in sarcoid lungs.

Quantitative RT-PCR analysing expression of gefitinib resistance related genes predicts clinical outcome of non-small cell lung cancer patients treated with gefitinib

7181

Background: Gefitinib, an inhibitor of epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase, has shown favorable anti-tumor activity to a subset of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, gefitinib failed to significantly prolong survival in comparison to placebo in unselected population. Consequently, selection of patients who will benefit from this treatment is clinically important. In the previous study, we identified gefitinib-resistance related genes (GRRGs) by cDNA microarray analyses and reported that the responsiveness of individual patients with NSCLC to gefitinib could be predicted by expression of GRRGs. The goal of this study is to establish clinically adoptive prediction system of clinical outcome of NSCLC patients treated by gefitinib. Methods: Tumors from 30 NSCLC patients treated daily with 250mg of gefitinib were evaluated for the expression of GRRGs by quantitative RT-PCR. Gefitinib response score (GRS) reflecting gene expression was calculated based on weighted vote method and this numerical scoring system was validated by leave-one-out approach and independent test cases. Results: The sensitivity of 15 learning cases (five partial response (PR) cases and 10 progressive disease (PD) cases) were predicted by leave-one-out cross validation with 93.3% (14/15) accuracy. This numerical scoring system correctly predicted responses to the drug in all of nine additional test cases (three PR cases and six PD cases). Notably, this system also could predict two stable disease (SD) cases who successfully controlled by gefitinib more than four months as responder. On the other hand, four patients who had been judged as SD but showed progression of the disease within three months were judged as non-responders. Moreover, gefitinib-treated patients with good signature had a statistically significant improvement in time to progression, and survival compared with patients with bad signature (13.0 vs 1.7 months, P < .0001; 27.7 vs 6.6 months, P = .0007, respectively). Conclusions: Our results suggest that clinical outcome of NSCLC patients treated with gefitinib could be predicted by expression levels of GRRGs determined by quantitative RT-PCR analyses.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Long-term follow-up of pulmonary function in bronchial asthma patients treated with pranlukast

Clinical studies have shown that pranlukast, a selective cysteinyl leukotriene antagonist, is effective for bronchial asthma. In the present paper, we retrospectively analyzed long-term asthma control by pranlukast treatment in patients treated with inhaled corticosteroids. We analyzed medical records and asthma diaries of 21 patients (9 males, 12 females) (52.1 +/- 3.5 years of age) with bronchial asthma who experienced increase of more than 10 L/min in peak expiratory flow in the first 4 weeks of treatment with pranlukast (450 mg/day) and were subsequently treated with pranlukast for more than 1 year. They all received inhaled corticosteroids (400-1600 microg/day of beclomethasone dipropionate or equivalent). We examined clinical control in terms of time course of self-monitored peak expiratory flow. During the analyzed period, the dose of inhaled corticosteroids was tapered in 4 patients, constant in 15 patients and increased in 2 patients. In 19 patients treated with unchanged or tapered dose of inhaled corticosteroids, improvement in the increase of mean PEF at 4-week treatment was maintained for 1 year. No difference in the add-on effect of pranlukast was observed in patients treated with less than 800 microg and more than or equal to 800 microg of inhaled corticosteroids. Four patients underwent reduction of inhaled corticosteroids in the analyzed period and PEF was well-maintained and even increased by pranlukast treatment. In 11 patients in whom data for 3 years were available, the improvement in PEF persisted for 3 years. Although the present investigation is a retrospective analysis, these data may suggest that pranlukast has no tachyphylaxis and its effect continues for more than 1 year.

Add-on effects of suplatast tosilate in bronchial asthma patients treated with inhaled corticosteroids

Th2 cytokines play an important role in the pathogenesis of asthma. In the present study, we investigated the effect of suplatast tosilate, a selective Th2 cytokine inhibitor, on asthma control, in terms of subjective symptoms and pulmonary function in patients treated with inhaled corticosteroids. Thirty-eight patients with bronchial asthma being treated with inhaled corticosteroids were given suplatast tosilate (100 mg three times daily) for 12 weeks, in a multicenter setting. During the study period, other medications were continued. Morning and evening peak expiratory flow, asthma symptoms, blood eosinophil count and serum IgE levels were monitored. Suplatast tosilate treatment was associated with a significant improvement in mean morning peak expiratory flow (from 295 L/min to 348 L/min, P < 0.01) and evening peak expiratory flow (from 313 L/min to 357 L/min, P < 0.01). The mean daily variation in peak expiratory flow was significantly reduced (from 11.6% to 7.3%, P < 0.01) by suplatast tosilate treatment. The greatest improvement in peak expiratory flow was observed in patients whose blood eosinophil counts were decreased by suplatast tosilate treatment. Treatment with suplatast tosilate improved pulmonary function in patients with bronchial asthma. Our results suggest the therapeutic effects observed may occur through suppression of eosinophilic inflammation.

Adenoviral interleukin-12 gene transduction into human bronchial epithelial cells: up-regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines and its prevention by corticosteroids

BACKGROUND

One of the potential effects of IL-12 is to restore Th1/Th2 balance. Therefore, we investigated the possibility of developing a system for local delivery of IL-12 into the airways by examining protein expression in a human bronchial epithelial cell line (BEAS-2B) after adenoviral IL-12 gene transduction. The effects of dexamethasone on the gene-modified cells were also examined.

METHODS

Adenoviral vectors AxCAegfp and Ax1CIhp40ip35 were used to transduce enhanced green fluorescence protein and IL-12 genes, respectively, into BEAS-2B cells. Wild-type and IL-12 gene-transduced BEAS-2B cells were then incubated with or without dexamethasone, and concentrations of IL-12, IFN-gamma, IL-6, IL-8, granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor and chemokines (TARC and RANTES) in the supernatant were measured by ELISA. IL-12 receptor expression was analysed by flow cytometry and RT-PCR.

RESULTS

The efficiency of transgene expression in BEAS-2B cells at a multiplicity of infection of 30 was approximately 80%. Gene-modified BEAS-2B cells produced biologically active IL-12, regardless of dexamethasone treatment. While IL-12 gene transduction led to increased production of IL-6 and IL-8 by BEAS-2B cells, expressions of these proteins were suppressed by dexamethasone. Addition of exogenous IL-12 failed to augment BEAS-2B cell IL-6 and IL-8 production, and IL-12 receptor expression by BEAS-2B cells was not detected.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that adenoviral IL-12 gene transduction may be effective in inducing IL-12 expression in the airways, and could be a potential approach in the management of bronchial asthma.

Proliferation of type II pneumocytes in the lung biopsy specimens reflecting alveolar damage

Proliferation of type II pneumocytes may be the most sensitive pathological indicator of alveolitis, and the density of type II pneumocytes reflecting the severity of the recent alveolar damage. Twenty-nine patients were divided into three groups by the severity of ground-glass opacities on the CT scans; the severe (acute), the moderate (subacute) and the mild (chronic) groups. We compared the density of type II pneumocytes in the transbronchial lung biopsy specimens and cell analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid with the ground-glass opacities. Clinical and laboratory findings and BAL fluid analysis also corresponded well with this grouping. Type II pneumocytes were selectively stained with an antibody against Thomsen-Friedenreich and the density of the type II pneumocytes was expressed as the number per 1 mm alveolar septal length. The densities of the type II pneumocytes in the severe, the moderate, the mild, and the control groups were 21.2+/-1.1, 14.4+/-7.2, 11.0+/-3.3 and 7.5+/-0.9/mm, respectively. There were significant differences between the acute group and the other three groups, and between the control and chronic groups. The density of type II pneumocytes is a useful index for evaluating alveolar damage even in mild alveolitis.

Demethylation by 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-azadC) of p16INK4A gene results in downregulation of vascular endothelial growth factor expression in human lung cancer cell lines

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a pivotal role in tumor progression via angiogenesis. Recently, gene transduction of wild-type p16INK4A, tumor suppressor gene, has been shown to result in downregulation of VEGF expression in p16INK4A-deleted glioma cells. Because expression of p16INK4A is regulated by methylation of the p16INK4A gene, we examined whether demethylation of the p16INK4A gene by 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-azadC) could cause the protein expression of VEGF as well as of p16INK4A in human lung cancer cells. For this, five different lung cancer cell lines with or without loss of p16 activity were used. H841 and Ma-10 cells had the methylated p16INK4A gene without expression of p16INK4A protein, whereas Ma-1 and H209 cells had the unmethylated p16INK4A gene with constitutive expression of p16INK4A protein. Neither the p16INK4A gene nor p16INK4A protein was detected in A549 cells. Treatment with 5-azadC caused demethylation of the p16INK4A gene with reexpression of p16INK4A protein in H841 and Ma-10 (methylated p16INK4A gene dominant) cell, but not in other cell lines such as Ma-1, H209 (unmethylated p16INK4A gene dominant), or A549 (p16INK4A gene deleted). In a parallel experiment, 5-azadC inhibited production of VEGF protein by H841 and Ma-10 cells, especially in the later hypermethylated cells, but not Ma-1, H209, or A549 cells. RT-PCR analysis showed that Ma-10 cells expressed VEGF isoforms 121, 165, and 189, all of which were inhibited by 5-azadC. These findings indicate that the methylation status of the p16INK4A gene plays an important role in the regulation of angiogenesis associated with progression of lung cancer, through regulation of VEGF expression.

Bone metastasis model with multiorgan dissemination of human small-cell lung cancer (SBC-5) cells in natural killer cell-depleted SCID mice

Lung cancer is commonly associated with multiorgan metastasis, and bone is a frequent metastatic site for lung cancer. Nevertheless, no bone metastasis model of lung cancer with multiorgan dissemination is available, which could provide opportunity to study the molecular pathogenesis. We examined the abilities of eight human lung cancer cell lines injected intravenously into natural killer (NK) cell-depleted SCID mice to generate metastatic nodules in bone and multiple organs, and explored the correlation of the parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) with the bone metastasis. Although all the small-cell carcinoma cell lines (SBC-5, SBC-3, SBC-3/ADM, H69, H69/VP) formed metastatic nodules in multiple organs (liver, kidney, and lymph nodes), only SBC-5 cells reproducibly developed bone metastases. Squamous cell carcinoma (RERF-LC-AI) cells metastasized mainly into the liver and kidneys, whereas adenocarcinoma (PC-14, A549) mainly produced colonies in the lungs. As assessed by X-ray photography, the osteolytic bone metastases produced by SBC-5 cells were detected as early as on day 28, and all recipient mice developed bone metastasis by day 35. The expression of PTHrP in eight cell lines was directly correlated with the formation of bone metastasis. No correlation was observed between the formation of bone metastasis and the expression of other metastasis-related cytokines (IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-11, TNF-alpha, VEGF, M-CSF). Consistent with the formation of bone metastasis by SBC-5 cells, the levels of PTHrP and calcium in the mouse serum were increased in a time-dependent manner, suggesting that PTHrP produced by human lung cancer may play a crucial role in the formation of bone metastasis and hypercalcemia. These findings indicate that a bone metastasis model of SBC-5 cells may be useful for clarifying the molecular aspects of the metastatic processes in different organ microenvironments and the development of therapeutic modalities for lung cancer patients with bone metastases.

MR imaging of primary malignant lymphoma in the larynx

We present MR findings in a patient with primary laryngeal lymphoma. The MR images showed a homogeneous mass in the right supraglottic larynx extending to the true vocal cord through the paraglottic space, of which signal intensity was intermediate both on T1- and T2-weighted images. The tumor was moderately enhanced and preserved mucosal layers were demonstrated as hyperintense bands on gadolinium-enhanced fat-suppressed T1-weighted images. Primary laryngeal lymphoma should be included in the differential diagnosis for a homogeneous solid mass in the supraglottic submucosal area.

Efficient generation of dendritic cells from alveolar and pleural macrophages as well as blood monocytes in patients with lung cancer

In this study, we investigated the generation of dendritic cells (DCs) from blood monocytes and mature macrophages from untreated primary lung cancer patients. Blood monocytes were separated by adherence from blood mononuclear cells (MNC) from ten lung cancer patients and ten control subjects, and cultured for 7 days in medium with granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) plus interleukin (IL-) 4. In all cases examined, DCs with typical characteristics were obtained even in lung cancer patients after 7 days culture with these cytokines, and there was no significant difference in phenotype and stimulatory activity in allogeneic lymphocyte proliferation between DCs derived from monocytes from lung cancer patients and those from control subjects. Next, we examined whether alveolar and pleural macrophages in malignant pleural effusion separated by magnetic beads could differentiate to immunostimulatory DCs. Conventional culture conditions with GM-CSF and IL-4 did not induce efficient numbers of DCs from mature macrophages, whereas the addition of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) to GM-CSF and IL-4 effectively contributed to generate DCs. These findings suggest that both mature macrophages and blood monocytes from lung cancer patients could differentiate to DCs, and might be a useful source of DCs for immunotherapy.

Increased CCR4 expression in active systemic lupus erythematosus

CC chemokine receptor (CCR)4 is selectively expressed on Th2-type T cells and has been shown to be responsible for Th2-dominant immune responses. In this study, we analyzed the expression of CCR4 in active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients by FACS analysis using anti-human CCR4 monoclonal antibody and determined the clinical relevance in this disease. Higher expression of CCR4 was found on peripheral blood CD4+ T lymphocytes of active SLE patients than was found with healthy controls and inactive SLE patients. The CCR4 expression significantly correlated with the SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI) scores. The expression was dramatically decreased after the corticosteroid therapy in parallel with a serum level of double-stranded DNA antibody and SLEDAI scores. Moreover, we found that serum levels of IL-10 were increased in active SLE patients and significantly correlated with the CCR4 expression. This study suggests that Th2 immune response is predominant in the active state of SLE, and CCR4 may have relevance in regard to the disease course in SLE patients.