The ELISA-based detection of anti-Opisthorchis viverriniIgG and IgG4in samples of human urine and serum from an endemic area of north–eastern Thailand

The levels of correlation between the number of Opisthorchis viverrini eggs excreted in the faeces and levels of anti-Opisthorchis IgG and IgG(4) in the serum and urine (as indicated by absorbances in ELISA) have recently been evaluated in north-eastern Thailand. The 225 subjects investigated in detail, all of whom came from an endemic village in Chaiyaphum province, were selected on the basis of the numbers of O. viverrini eggs that they were excreting. ELISA based on a crude antigen extract of the trematode were then used to determine the levels of specific IgG and IgG(4) in serum and urine samples. Compared with the egg-negative, the villagers who were found to be egg-positive for O. viverrini had significantly higher levels of specific IgG in their urine and serum and significantly higher levels of specific IgG(4) in their serum. The serum levels of specific IgG and IgG(4) and the urine levels of specific IgG all correlated with the numbers of O. viverrini eggs/g faeces [with correlation coefficients (r) of 0.251, 0.121 and 0.142, respectively]. Although the serum levels of IgG were positively correlated with the urine levels of IgG (r=0.098), there was no significant relationship between the serum and urine levels of specific IgG(4) (r=0.051). When the 225 subjects investigated in the ELISA were divided according to whether they had no detectable Opisthorchis eggs in their faeces (N=57), or 1-100 (N=154), 101-1000 (N=5), 1001-1500 (N=5) or >1501 (N=4) eggs/g faeces, the serum and urine levels of specific IgG and the serum (but not urine) levels of specific IgG4 were also found to correlate significantly with the infection-intensity categories (with r-values of 0.550, 0.146 and 0.578, respectively). When the results of the faecal examinations were treated as the 'gold standard', the ELISA for the detection of (Opisthorchis-specific) serum IgG, serum IgG(4), urine IgG and urine IgG(4) had sensitivities of 99.2%, 23.1%, 43.0% and 45.9% and specificities of 93.0%, 29.6%, 45.9% and 67.2%, respectively. Although the study was limited by the small number of subjects with intense infections, it appears worth investigating urine samples for subclasses of specific IgG other than IgG(4).

Chronological changes of delayed-type hypersensitivity in mice immunised with testicular germ cells alone

Experimental autoimmune orchitis (EAO), comprising a breakdown of the testicular immune privilege, is one of the models of immunological male infertility. EAO is characterised by CD4 + T-cell-dependent lymphocytic inflammation and augmented delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) against testicular antigens. We previously established an EAO model in mice by immunisation with viable syngeneic testicular germ cells (TGC) alone. However, the sequential change of DTH during development of this EAO has not been analysed yet. In this study, the DTH response during TGC-induced EAO was investigated by the injection of syngeneic TGC protein into the ears of mice. The results showed that a significant DTH response was observed on injection of 20 μg TGC protein, but not on that of 0.2 or 2 μg TGC protein. Also, the level of the DTH response to 20 μg TGC protein was highly relevant to the pathology of EAO development. These results indicate that the DTH response on injection of 20 μg TGC protein into the ears of mice is effective for predicting the pathology of EAO development.

A case of severe progressive early-onset epileptic encephalopathy: unique GABAergic interneuron distribution and imaging

Early-onset epileptic encephalopathies include various diseases such as early-infantile epileptic encephalopathy with suppression burst. We experimentally investigated the unique clinicopathological features of a 28-month-old girl with early-onset epileptic encephalopathy. Her initial symptom was intractable epilepsy with a suppression-burst pattern of electroencephalography (EEG) from 7 days of age. The suppression-burst pattern was novel, appearing during sleep, but disappearing upon waking and after becoming 2 months old. The EEG showed multifocal spikes and altered with age. Her seizures demonstrated various clinical features and continued until death. She did not show any developmental features, including no social smiling or head control. Head MRI revealed progressive atrophy of the cerebral cortex and white matter after 1 month of age. (123)IMZ-SPECT demonstrated hypo-perfusion of the cerebral cortex, but normo-perfusion of the diencephalon and cerebellum. Such imaging information indicated GABA-A receptor dysfunction of the cerebral cortex. The genetic analyses of major neonatal epilepsies showed no mutation. The neuropathology revealed atrophy and severe edema of the cerebral cortex and white matter. GAD-immunohistochemistry exhibited imbalanced distribution of GABAergic interneurons between the striatum and cerebral cortex. The results were similar to those of focal cortical dysplasia with transmantle sign and X-linked lissencephaly with ARX mutation. We performed various metabolic examinations, detailed pathological investigations and genetic analyses, but could not identify the cause. To our knowledge, her clinical and pathological courses have never been described in the literature.

Resistance exercise enhances cognitive function in mouse

Physical exercise has been shown to increase adult neurogenesis in the hippocampus and to enhance synaptic plasticity. It has been demonstrated that these neuroprotective effects can be observed following aerobic exercise. However, it remains unknown whether plasticity molecules, such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and cyclic AMP response element-binding protein (CREB), are expressed in the hippocampus following resistance exercise. We applied voluntary progressive-resistance wheel exercise (RE) for 14 days, and measured BDNF and CREB in the hippocampus. The Morris water maze was also performed to estimate learning and memory. Furthermore, we measured RE effects on mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and 70-kDa ribosomal protein S6 kinase (p70S6K) mediating muscle protein synthesis in the soleus. As a result, we found that RE enhanced cognition and elevated BDNF and CREB expressions in the hippocampus. Also, RE activated the mTOR-p70S6K signaling pathway in the soleus. We found that phosphorylated mTOR and p70S6K were significantly positively correlated with BDNF expression. Our results indicated that resistance exercise drove the protein synthesis signaling pathway in the soleus and enhanced hippocampal synaptic plasticity-related molecules. These results suggest the beneficial effects of resistance exercise on cognitive function.

Dexamethasone inhibits invasiveness of a human pancreatic cancer cell line

Recent studies have shown that dexamethasone inhibits gelatinases. We investigated the effect of dexamethasone on the invasiveness of a human pancreatic cancer cell line. Tumor cells were treated with dexamethasone at various concentrations for 24 h. Cells were examined in an invasion assay. The expression and activity of MMP-9 in culture media were quantitated by Western blotting and gelatin zymogram. The invasiveness of cancer cells and expression of MMP-9 were decreased by dexamethasone in a dose-dependent manner. Dexamethasone may be a useful therapeutic agent in the treatment of pancreatic cancer.

Peptide inhibitors for angiotensin I-converting enzyme from enzymatic hydrolysates of porcine skeletal muscle proteins

Inhibitors of angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) have been shown to have antihypertensive effects and have been utilized for pharmaceuticals and physiologically functional foods. In the present study, efforts were directed to find ACE inhibitory activities derived from muscle proteins. Porcine skeletal muscle proteins were hydrolyzed by eight proteases, and the inhibitory activities of the hydrolysates toward ACE were measured. Among the digests of the water-insoluble protein fraction prepared from muscle, thermolysin digest demonstrated the highest activity. Also, among hydrolysates of porcine myosin produced by the same enzymes, thermolysin digest showed the most potent inhibitory activity. Two ACE inhibitory peptides were purified from thermolysin digest of myosin. The sequences of these inhibitory peptides, named myopentapeptides A and B, were Met-Asn-Pro-Pro-Lys and Ile-Thr-Thr-Asn-Pro. These sequences were found in the primary structure of the myosin heavy chain. The concentrations of the peptides showing 50% inhibition values (IC(50)) of ACE were 945.5 and 549.0 μM, respectively. Also, six tripeptides, Met-Asn-Pro, Asn-Pro-Pro, Pro-Pro-Lys, Ile-Thr-Thr, Thr-Thr-Asn, and Thr-Asn-Pro, which have parts of the sequences of the myopentapeptides, demonstrated activity. Their IC(50) values were 66.6, 290.5, >1000, 678.2, 672.7, and 207.4 μM, respectively.

Abstract LB-502: Development of three dimensional cancer cell-CAF co-culture system

Purpose A large number of cell lines have been established and used for cancer research. Monolayer culture of cancer cells alone is a simplified and effective method, however, it does not always reflect the physiological conditions. In this study, we tried to establish a simple co-culture method of cancer cells and CAF (cancer associated fibroblast), to develop three dimensional model of stroma rich tumor with cells such as pancreatic cancer and scirrhous cancer. Method Human tumor tissue samples were obtained from patients who had undergone surgery at the National Cancer Center Hospital East, Japan. Written informed consents were obtained from all patients. BxPC-3 (pancreatic cancer cell line) and A549 (lung cancer cell line) were stained with red-fluorescent dye, PKH-26. Pancreatic cancer derived- and lung cancer derived-CAF were stained with green-fluorescent dye, PKH-67. Cancer cells and CAF are seeded into the microtiter plates for 3D cell culture (NanoCulture® Plate) at a same cell number, and spheroid formation was measured by a fluorescent time lapse microscopy for 3-days. Result BxPC-3 (red) and Pancreatic CAF (green) merged well and formed mosaic spheroids. BxPC-3 (red) and lung CAF (green) did not merge and separately formed spheroids of each cell types. A549 and lung CAF merged, but A549 and Pancreatic CAF did not merge clearly. It is suggested that a specific recognition mechanisms exist by organ types or tumor types, with the adhesion between cancer cell and CAF. A) BxPC-3 and Pancreatic CAF B) BxPC-3 and lung CAF Conclusion In this study, mosaic spheroid were formed by co-culturing of same organ derived cancer cells and CAF. This co-culture system is expected as an effective tool for cancer microenvironment study and/or drug screening targeting with stroma rich tumor.

Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-502. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-LB-502

Twelve oxo-eicosatetraenoic acid induces fetal membrane release after delivery in cows

Fetal fibroblast cell culture from cotyledons of bovine placenta and animal experiments close to term were used to elucidate afterbirth release and factors missing in the signal transduction mechanism for retained fetal membranes (RFM) after delivery. In cell culture the addition of arachidonic acid (Ara) to the medium caused rapid release to free floating cell in the culture dish, accompanied by matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activation, being consistent with previous in vivo observations, where a relation between MMP and fetal membrane release had been shown. Ara-induced cell floating was not inhibited by the addition of cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitor, and not induced by the addition of PGF2α or PGE2 to replace Ara, while 12-lipoxygenase (12-LOX) metabolite of Ara, 12-oxo-eicosatetraenoic acid (12-oxoETE), strongly induced cell floating. In the animal experiments, 12-oxoETE injection to delivery-induced cows (n = 6) using prostaglandin (PG) and dexamethazone resulted in rapid release of fetal membranes. In cows with natural calf delivery, a 12-oxoETE peak (11.7-16.8 ng/ml) was observed in maternal blood plasma prior to release of fetal membranes. This investigation thus gives new indications for that the mediator for fetal membrane release is 12-oxoETE and not PG.

Complete electric dipole response and the neutron skin in 208Pb

A benchmark experiment on (208)Pb shows that polarized proton inelastic scattering at very forward angles including 0° is a powerful tool for high-resolution studies of electric dipole (E1) and spin magnetic dipole (M1) modes in nuclei over a broad excitation energy range to test up-to-date nuclear models. The extracted E1 polarizability leads to a neutron skin thickness r(skin) = 0.156(-0.021)(+0.025) fm in (208)Pb derived within a mean-field model [Phys. Rev. C 81, 051303 (2010)], thereby constraining the symmetry energy and its density dependence relevant to the description of neutron stars.