Establishment of a new cell line susceptible to Cyprinid herpesvirus 3 (CyHV-3) and possible latency of CyHV-3 by temperature shift in the cells

A new cell line named CCF-K104 predominantly consisting of fibroblastic cells showed optimal growth at temperatures from 25 °C to 30 °C. Serial morphological changes in the cells induced by Cyprinid herpesvirus 3 (CyHV-3) included cytoplasmic vacuolar formation, cell rounding and detachment. Mature virions were purified from CyHV-3-infected CCF-K104 cells by sucrose gradient ultracentrifugation and had a typical herpesvirus structure on electron microscopy. Infectious CyHV-3 was produced stably in CCF-K104 cells over 30 viral passages. Our findings showed that CCF-K104 is a useful cell line for isolation and productive replication of CyHV-3. A temperature shift from 25 °C to 15 °C or 35 °C did not allow serial morphological changes as observed at 25 °C for 14 days. Under the same conditions, real-time PCR showed that CyHV-3 was present with low viral DNA loads, suggesting that CyHV-3 may establish latent infection in CCF-K104 cells. Amplification of the left and right terminal repeat sequences of the CyHV-3 genome arranged in a head-to-tail manner was detected by nested PCR following an upshift in temperature from 25 °C to 35 °C. The PCR results suggested that the circular genome may represent a latent form of CyHV-3.

Establishment of a model of acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in different weekly-aged ICR mice

Acetaminophen (APAP), a widely used analgesic and antipyretic drug, has the potential to cause lethal hepatotoxicity. Mice are widely used for developing murine models of APAP-induced hepatotoxicity, and many researchers have used these models for APAP-related studies including the fields of biology, pharmacology and toxicology. Although drug-induced hepatotoxicity is dependent on a number of factors (species, gender and age), very few studies have investigated the effect of aging on APAP hepatotoxicity. In this study, we evaluated the effect of age on APAP-induced hepatotoxicity in different weekly-aged mice to establish a model of APAP-induced hepatotoxicity that is an accurate reflection of general experimental conditions. Male ICR mice 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 weeks old were given APAP intraperitoneally, and mortality, hepatic damage and the plasma concentration of APAP metabolites were evaluated. It was found that younger male ICR mice were relatively resistant to hepatotoxicity induced by intraperitoneal APAP administration. In addition, the APAP-glucuronide concentration in plasma remained essentially the same among the differently-aged mice, while APAP-sulfate levels were dramatically decreased in an age-dependent manner. Thus, it is recommended that mice of the same ages be used in studies related to APAP-induced hepatotoxixity. These results provide evidence in support of not only the age-related changes in susceptibility to APAP-derived hepatotoxicity in mice but also in developing mouse models for APAP-related studies.

Second transmembrane helix (M2) and long range coupling in Ca²⁺-ATPase

The actuator (A) domain of sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase not only plays a catalytic role but also undergoes large rotational movements that influence the distant transport sites through connections with transmembrane helices M1 and M2. Here we explore the importance of long helix M2 and its junction with the A domain by disrupting the helix structure and elongating with insertions of five glycine residues. Insertions into the membrane region of M2 and the top junctional segment impair Ca(2+) transport despite reasonable ATPase activity, indicating that they are uncoupled. These mutants fail to occlude Ca(2+). Those at the top segment also exhibited accelerated phosphoenzyme isomerization E1P → E2P. Insertions into the middle of M2 markedly accelerate E2P hydrolysis and cause strong resistance to inhibition by luminal Ca(2+). Insertions along almost the entire M2 region inhibit the dephosphorylated enzyme transition E2 → E1. The results pinpoint which parts of M2 control cytoplasm gating and which are critical for luminal gating at each stage in the transport cycle and suggest that proper gate function requires appropriate interactions, tension, and/or rigidity in the M2 region at appropriate times for coupling with A domain movements and catalysis.

An Acetylated Eudesmane Glucoside from Apodytes dimidiata Growing in Madagascar

A new eudesmane glucoside has been isolated from the aerial part of Apodytes dimidiata, an Icacinaceous plant widely used in the Southern African countries for its molluscicidal activities. The structure of the new compound was determined by spectroscopic methods. The chemosystematics of the genus belonging to the family Icacinaceae is discussed.

Effectiveness of ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane block and rectus sheath block in pain control and recovery after gynecological transumbilical single-incision laparoscopic surgery

PURPOSE

To evaluate the effectiveness of ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane (TAP) and rectus sheath (RS) blocks in pain management and recovery after gynecological single-incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Abilateral TAP block (Group A, n = 9), bilateral TAP and RS blocks (Group B, n = 10), and a bilateral RS block (Group C, n = 9) with 40 ml ropivacaine per patient were conducted in 28 patients undergoing SILS for ovarian tumors. A pain score and walking distance in a 6-minute walk test (6MWT) were examined.

RESULTS

Pain scores were significantly lower on postoperative day (POD) 3 than on POD 1 in Groups B (p = 0.03) and C (p = 0.02). The walking distance on POD 3 was comparable with that before surgery in Group C (p = 0.75), but shorter in Groups A (p = 0.004) and B (p = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

The RS block alone was the most effective in relieving pain and accelerating general recovery after gynecological SILS.

Roles of long-range electrostatic domain interactions and K+ in phosphoenzyme transition of Ca2+-ATPase

Sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase couples the motions and rearrangements of three cytoplasmic domains (A, P, and N) with Ca(2+) transport. We explored the role of electrostatic force in the domain dynamics in a rate-limiting phosphoenzyme (EP) transition by a systematic approach combining electrostatic screening with salts, computer analysis of electric fields in crystal structures, and mutations. Low KCl concentration activated and increasing salt above 0.1 m inhibited the EP transition. A plot of the logarithm of the transition rate versus the square of the mean activity coefficient of the protein gave a linear relationship allowing division of the activation energy into an electrostatic component and a non-electrostatic component in which the screenable electrostatic forces are shielded by salt. Results show that the structural change in the transition is sterically restricted, but that strong electrostatic forces, when K(+) is specifically bound at the P domain, come into play to accelerate the reaction. Electric field analysis revealed long-range electrostatic interactions between the N and P domains around their hinge. Mutations of the residues directly involved and other charged residues at the hinge disrupted in parallel the electric field and the structural transition. Favorable electrostatics evidently provides a low energy path for the critical N domain motion toward the P domain, overcoming steric restriction. The systematic approach employed here is, in general, a powerful tool for understanding the structural mechanisms of enzymes.

Efflux transporter mRNA expression profiles in differentiating JEG-3 human choriocarcinoma cells as a placental transport model

The kinetics of drug transport across the trophoblast layer is determined by several factors. Human choriocarcinoma cell lines like BeWo and JEG-3 have been used as models of the trophoblast layer to examine the placental transport of drugs. Previously, the drugs examined in these models have been readily transported across the trophoblast layer via cellular gap junctions. These backgrounds enabled us to establish the differentiating JEG-3 cell (DJEG) layer model, which suppresses paracellular drug transport, as an evaluation system of placental drug transport. The efflux transporters on the trophoblast layer assume the meaningful role of protecting the fetus from xenobiotic substances. In order to clarify the usefulness of our DJEG placental drug transport model, this study examined the mRNA expression profiles of the efflux transporters MRPs, MDR1, and BCRP in JEG-3 cells and compared them with those of BeWo cells and their known placental expression. We suggest that the mRNA of efflux transporters MRP 1-8 and BCRP are expressed widely in JEG-3 cells; however, expression levels of MDR1 mRNA were undetectable. It was also indicated that polymorphisms of BCRP C421A in both the BeWo and JEG-3 cells are of the wild-type. We demonstrated the efflux transporters' expression profiles, as well as those of the BeWo cells, was demonstrated in the DJEG placental drug transport evaluating model as well as the BeWo cells, in the DJEG placental drug transport evaluation model. Based on these findings, we hope that the DJEG model will be adequate for use in evaluating placental drug transport in relation to the transporter proteins.

Emergence of El Niño as an autonomous component in the climate network

We construct and analyze a climate network which represents the interdependent structure of the climate in different geographical zones and find that the network responds in a unique way to El Niño events. Analyzing the dynamics of the climate network shows that when El Niño events begin, the El Niño basin partially loses its influence on its surroundings. After typically three months, this influence is restored while the basin loses almost all dependence on its surroundings and becomes autonomous. The formation of an autonomous basin is the missing link to understand the seemingly contradicting phenomena of the afore-noticed weakening of the interdependencies in the climate network during El Niño and the known impact of the anomalies inside the El Niño basin on the global climate system.

Nuclear localization of activated STAT6 and STAT3 in epidermis of prurigo nodularis

BACKGROUND

Prurigo nodularis (PN) is a chronic dermatitis characterized by discrete, raised, and firm papulonodules with intense pruritus. The pathogenesis still remains to be elucidated.

OBJECTIVES

To clarify the role of Th1 and Th2 cytokines in the pathogenesis of PN.

METHODS

We examined the cytokine signatures, such as phosphorylation of STAT1, STAT3 and STAT6, HLA-DR and hyaluronan accumulation, to reveal the Th1 and Th2 cytokine influence on the lesional epidermis of PN.

RESULTS

We first optimized antigen retrieval methods to detect these signatures with antibodies for phospho-STAT1 (pSTAT1), phospho-STAT3 (pSTAT3), phospho-STAT6 (pSTAT6), HLA-DR and hyaluronic acid binding protein (HABP) on the formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded sections of psoriasis, lichen planus and atopic dermatitis biopsy samples. Activation of STAT1 and STAT6 in epidermis by Th1 and Th2 cytokines was further confirmed in a cultured skin equivalent model treated with interferon-γ or interleukin (IL)-4/IL-13. With the relevant immunostaining methods, we examined the cytokine signatures in 22 cases of PN. The results revealed that (i) the entire epidermis of 19 cases was stained with anti-pSTAT6 antibody, (ii) 21 cases demonstrated nuclear staining with anti-pSTAT3 antibody, (iii) the entire epidermis of 21 cases was stained with HABP, (iv) the epidermis of eight cases showed scattered staining with anti-pSTAT1 antibody, and (v) six cases were positive for HLA-DR membrane expression.

CONCLUSIONS

These data indicated that Th2 cytokines related to STAT6 activation together with some unknown stimuli that activate STAT3 play a principal role in the pathogenesis of PN.