Stress Tolerance Profiling of a Collection of Extant Salt-Tolerant Rice Varieties and Transgenic Plants Overexpressing Abiotic Stress Tolerance Genes

Environmental stress tolerance is an important trait for crop improvement. In recent decades, numerous genes that confer tolerance to abiotic stress such as salinity were reported. However, the levels of salt tolerance differ greatly depending on growth conditions, and mechanisms underlying the complicated nature of stress tolerance are far from being fully understood. In this study, we investigated the profiles of stress tolerance of nine salt-tolerant rice varieties and transgenic rice lines carrying constitutively expressed genes that are potentially involved in salt tolerance, by evaluating their growth and viability under salt, heat, ionic and hyperosmotic stress conditions. Profiling of the extant varieties and selected chromosome segment substitution lines showed that salt tolerance in a greenhouse condition was more tightly correlated with ionic stress tolerance than osmotic stresses. In Nona Bokra, one of the most salt-tolerant varieties, the contribution of the previously identified sodium transporter HKT1;5 to salt tolerance was fairly limited. In addition, Nona Bokra exhibited high tolerance to all the stresses imposed. More surprisingly, comparative evaluation of 74 stress tolerance genes revealed that the most striking effect to enhance salt tolerance was conferred by overexpressing CYP94C2b, which promotes deactivation of jasmonate. In contrast, genes encoding ABA signaling factors conferred multiple stress tolerance. Genes conferring tolerance to both heat and hyperosmotic stresses were preferentially linked to functional categories related to heat shock proteins, scavenging of reactive oxygen species and Ca(2+) signaling. These comparative profiling data provide a new basis for understanding the ability of plants to grow under harsh environmental conditions.

FOXA1 repression is associated with loss of BRCA1 and increased promoter methylation and chromatin silencing in breast cancer

FOXA1 expression correlates with the breast cancer luminal subtype and patient survival. RNA and protein analysis of a panel of breast cancer cell lines revealed that BRCA1 deficiency is associated with the downregulation of FOXA1 expression. Knockdown of BRCA1 resulted in the downregulation of FOXA1 expression and enhancement of FOXA1 promoter methylation in MCF-7 breast cancer cells, whereas the reconstitution of BRCA1 in Brca1-deficent mouse mammary epithelial cells (MMECs) promoted Foxa1 expression and methylation. These data suggest that BRCA1 suppresses FOXA1 hypermethylation and silencing. Consistently, the treatment of MMECs with the DNA methylation inhibitor 5-aza-2'-deoxycitydine induced Foxa1 mRNA expression. Furthermore, treatment with GSK126, an inhibitor of EZH2 methyltransferase activity, induced FOXA1 expression in BRCA1-deficient but not in BRCA1-reconstituted MMECs. Likewise, the depletion of EZH2 by small interfering RNA enhanced FOXA1 mRNA expression. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) analysis demonstrated that BRCA1, EZH2, DNA methyltransferases (DNMT)1/3a/3b and H3K27me3 are recruited to the endogenous FOXA1 promoter, further supporting the hypothesis that these proteins interact to modulate FOXA1 methylation and repression. Further co-immunoprecipitation and ChIP analysis showed that both BRCA1 and DNMT3b form complexes with EZH2 but not with each other, consistent with the notion that BRCA1 binds to EZH2 and negatively regulates its methyltransferase activity. We also found that EZH2 promotes and BRCA1 impairs the deposit of the gene silencing histone mark H3K27me3 on the FOXA1 promoter. These associations were validated in a familial breast cancer patient cohort. Integrated analysis of the global gene methylation and expression profiles of a set of 33 familial breast tumours revealed that FOXA1 promoter methylation is inversely correlated with the transcriptional expression of FOXA1 and that BRCA1 mutation breast cancer is significantly associated with FOXA1 methylation and downregulation of FOXA1 expression, providing physiological evidence to our findings that FOXA1 expression is regulated by methylation and chromatin silencing and that BRCA1 maintains FOXA1 expression through suppressing FOXA1 gene methylation in breast cancer.

Intermediate-range chemical ordering of cations in molten RbCl-AgCl

A first sharp diffraction peak (FSDP) is observed in the X-ray total structure factor of a molten mixture of RbCl-AgCl, while both pure melts of RbCl and AgCl do not exhibit FSDP individually. Molecular dynamics simulations were performed to investigate the origin of the FSDP with the polarizable ion model (PIM). Coexistence of covalent Ag-Cl and ionic Rb-Cl bonds leads the system to evolve intermediate range ordering, which is simulated by introducing the induced polarization in different ways between Ag-Cl with fully polarizable treatment based on Vashishta-Raman potential and Rb-Cl with suppression over-polarization in the nearest neighbor contribution based on Born-Meyer potential. The partial structure factors for both the Ag-Ag and Rb-Rb correlations, SAgAg(Q) and SRbRb(Q), show a positive contribution to the FSDP, while SAgRb(Q) for the Ag-Rb correlation exhibits a negative contribution, indicating that Ag and Rb ions are distributed in an alternating manner within the intermediate-range length scale. The origin of the intermediate-range chemical ordering of cations can be ascribed to the preferred direction of the dipole moments of anions in the PIM.

Gastric adenocarcinoma of fundic gland type (chief cell predominant type) with unique endoscopic appearance curatively treated by endoscopic submucosal resection

Gastric adenocarcinoma of fundic gland type [chief cell predominant type; (GA-FD-CCP)] is a rare gastric cancer variant arising from non-atrophic mucosa without Helicobacter pylori infection in the upper third portion of the stomach. GA-FD-CCP originates deep in the mucosal layer; hence, endoscopic lesion detection is often difficult at an early stage because of a minimal change in the mucosal surface. Here we present a 66-year-old man with an early stage of GA-FD-CCP showing characteristic endoscopic features. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy demonstrated a flat, slightly reddish area with black pigment dispersion and irregular micro-surface structure at the gastric fornix. The tumor was resected by endoscopic submucosal dissection and was pathologically diagnosed as GA-FD-CCP. Prussian blue staining revealed that the black pigment was a hemosiderin deposition. We reported a rare case of successfully treated GA-FD-CCP with black pigmentation that aided in early lesion detection.

Development of automated 3-dimensional tissue fabrication system Tissue Factory - Automated cell isolation from tissue for regenerative medicine

We have developed a new automated cell isolation system as one of the modules of automated cell sheet production system named Tissue-Factory (T-Factory). This system enables isolation of the target cells from tissue. Using this new system, we successfully isolated skeletal myoblast from skeletal muscle tissue. The cell isolation system makes us stably prepare cell suspension from each tissue automatically and safely. Isolation of skeletal myoblasts will contribute to labor-saving cell cultivation and operational stability, and lead further process in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

Figure correction of a metallic ellipsoidal neutron focusing mirror

An increasing number of neutron focusing mirrors is being adopted in neutron scattering experiments in order to provide high fluxes at sample positions, reduce measurement time, and/or increase statistical reliability. To realize a small focusing spot and high beam intensity, mirrors with both high form accuracy and low surface roughness are required. To achieve this, we propose a new figure correction technique to fabricate a two-dimensional neutron focusing mirror made with electroless nickel-phosphorus (NiP) by effectively combining ultraprecision shaper cutting and fine polishing. An arc envelope shaper cutting method is introduced to generate high form accuracy, while a fine polishing method, in which the material is removed effectively without losing profile accuracy, is developed to reduce the surface roughness of the mirror. High form accuracy in the minor-axis and the major-axis is obtained through tool profile error compensation and corrective polishing, respectively, and low surface roughness is acquired under a low polishing load. As a result, an ellipsoidal neutron focusing mirror is successfully fabricated with high form accuracy of 0.5 μm peak-to-valley and low surface roughness of 0.2 nm root-mean-square.

Elevated levels of CYP94 family gene expression alleviate the jasmonate response and enhance salt tolerance in rice

The plant hormone jasmonate and its conjugates (JAs) have important roles in growth control, leaf senescence and defense responses against insects and microbial attacks. JA biosynthesis is induced by several stresses, including mechanical wounding, pathogen attacks, drought and salinity stresses. However, the roles of JAs under abiotic stress conditions are unclear. Here we report that increased expression of the Cyt P450 family gene CYP94C2b enhanced viability of rice plants under saline conditions. This gene encodes an enzyme closely related to CYP94C1 that catalyzes conversion of bioactive jasmonate-isoleucine (JA-Ile) into 12OH-JA-Ile and 12COOH-JA-Ile. Inactivation of JA was facilitated in a rice line with enhanced CYP94C2b expression, and responses to exogenous JA and wounding were alleviated. Moreover, salt stress-induced leaf senescence but not natural senescence was delayed in the transgenic rice. These results suggest that bioactive JAs have a negative effect on viability under salt stress conditions and demonstrate that manipulating JA metabolism confers enhanced salt tolerance in rice.

Influence of Food Intake on the Healing Process of Postoperative Pancreatic Fistula After Pancreatoduodenectomy: A Multi-institutional Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND

The usefulness of enteral nutrition via a nasointestinal tube for patients who develop postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) after miscellaneous pancreatectomy procedures has been reported. However, no clear evidence regarding whether oral intake is possible during management of POPF after pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) is currently available. We investigated the effects of oral food intake on the healing process of POPF after PD by a multi-institutional randomized controlled trial.

METHODS

Patients who developed POPF were randomly assigned to the dietary intake (DI) group (n = 30) or the fasted group [no dietary intake (NDI) group] (n = 29). The primary endpoint was the length of drain placement.

RESULTS

No significant differences were found in the length of drain placement between the DI and NDI groups [27 (7-80) vs. 26 (7-70) days, respectively; p = .8858]. POPF progressed to a clinically relevant status (grade B/C) in 20 patients in the DI group and 19 patients in the NDI group (p = .9257). POPF-related intra-abdominal hemorrhage was found in 2 patients in the NDI group, but in no patients in the DI group (p = .1434). There were no significant differences in POPF-related intra-abdominal hemorrhage, the incidence of other complications, or the length of the postoperative hospital stay between the 2 groups.

CONCLUSION

Food intake did not aggravate POPF and did not prolong the length of drain placement or hospital stay after PD. There may be no need to avoid oral dietary intake in patients with POPF.

MicroRNA-574-3p, identified by microRNA library-based functional screening, modulates tamoxifen response in breast cancer

Most primary breast cancers express estrogen receptor α and can be treated via endocrine therapy using anti-estrogens such as tamoxifen; however, acquired endocrine resistance is a critical issue. To identify tamoxifen response-related microRNAs (miRNAs) in breast cancer, MCF-7 cells infected with a lentiviral miRNA library were treated with 4-hydroxytamoxifen (OHT) or vehicle for 4 weeks, and the amounts of individual miRNA precursors that had integrated into the genome were evaluated by microarray. Compared to the vehicle-treated cells, 5 'dropout' miRNAs, which were downregulated in OHT-treated cells, and 6 'retained' miRNAs, which were upregulated in OHT-treated cells, were identified. Of the dropout miRNAs, we found that miR-574-3p expression was downregulated in clinical breast cancer tissues as compared with their paired adjacent tissues. In addition, anti-miR-574-3p reversed tamoxifen-mediated suppression of MCF-7 cell growth. Clathrin heavy chain (CLTC) was identified as a miR-574-3p target gene by in silico algorithms and luciferase reporter assay using the 3' untranslated region of CLTC mRNA. Interestingly, loss and gain of miR-574-3p function in MCF-7 cells causes CLTC to be upregulated and downregulated, respectively. These results suggest that functional screening mediated by miRNA libraries can provide new insights into the genes essential for tamoxifen response in breast cancer.

Overexpression of a CYP94 family gene CYP94C2b increases internode length and plant height in rice

Plant growth is controlled by intrinsic developmental programmes and environmental cues. Jasmonate (JA) has important roles in both processes, by regulating cell division and differentiation, as well as in defense responses and senescence. We report an increase in rice plant height caused by overexpression of a gene encoding a cytochrome P450 enzyme, CYP94C2b, which promoted deactivation of JA-Ile. The height increase occurred through enhanced elongation of internodes in the absence of concomitant cell elongation, unlike previous findings with coi1 knock-down plants. Thus, modulating JA metabolism can increase the number of elongated cells in an internode. Based on these and previous findings, we discuss the difference in the effects of CYP94C2b overexpression vs. coi1 knock-down.

The Arabidopsis transcription factor NAI1 is required for enhancing the active histone mark but not for removing the repressive mark on PYK10, a seedling-specific gene upon embryonic-to-postgerminative developmental phase transition

We have recently shown that the expression onset of a seedling-specific gene, PYK10, occurs in a cell-by-cell manner upon the transition from the embryonic to the postgerminative phase and during embryogenesis in seed maturation regulator mutants such as lec1, and implicated epigenetic mechanisms in the process. Here, the role of the NAI1 transcription factor required for PYK10 expression in the developmental switching of PYK10 was investigated. The cell-by-cell onset of PYK10-EGFP in lec1 embryo was still observed in the nai1 background, but at greatly reduced levels. Decreases in the level of the repressive histone mark, H3K27 trimethylation observed upon the transition to the postgeminative phase normally occurred in nai1. However, concomitant increases in the level of the active mark, H3K4 trimethylation observed in wild type was significantly compromised in nai1. These results indicate that the switching of PYK10 upon developmental phase transition involves 2 separable steps of chromatin state change.

Rice SNF2 family helicase ENL1 is essential for syncytial endosperm development

The endosperm of cereal grains represents the most important source of human nutrition. In addition, the endosperm provides many investigatory opportunities for biologists because of the unique processes that occur during its ontogeny, including syncytial development at early stages. Rice endospermless 1 (enl1) develops seeds lacking an endosperm but carrying a functional embryo. The enl1 endosperm produces strikingly enlarged amoeboid nuclei. These abnormal nuclei result from a malfunction in mitotic chromosomal segregation during syncytial endosperm development. The molecular identification of the causal gene revealed that ENL1 encodes an SNF2 helicase family protein that is orthologous to human Plk1-Interacting Checkpoint Helicase (PICH), which has been implicated in the resolution of persistent DNA catenation during anaphase. ENL1-Venus (enhanced yellow fluorescent protein (YFP)) localizes to the cytoplasm during interphase but moves to the chromosome arms during mitosis. ENL1-Venus is also detected on a thread-like structure that connects separating sister chromosomes. These observations indicate the functional conservation between PICH and ENL1 and confirm the proposed role of PICH. Although ENL1 dysfunction also affects karyokinesis in the root meristem, enl1 plants can grow in a field and set seeds, indicating that its indispensability is tissue-dependent. Notably, despite the wide conservation of ENL1/PICH among eukaryotes, the loss of function of the ENL1 ortholog in Arabidopsis (CHR24) has only marginal effects on endosperm nuclei and results in normal plant development. Our results suggest that ENL1 is endowed with an indispensable role to secure the extremely rapid nuclear cycle during syncytial endosperm development in rice.

New fabrication method for an ellipsoidal neutron focusing mirror with a metal substrate

We propose an ellipsoidal neutron focusing mirror using a metal substrate made with electroless nickel-phosphorus (NiP) plated material for the first time. Electroless NiP has great advantages for realizing an ellipsoidal neutron mirror because of its amorphous structure, good machinability and relatively large critical angle of total reflection for neutrons. We manufactured the mirror by combining ultrahigh precision cutting and fine polishing to generate high form accuracy and low surface roughness. The form accuracy of the mirror was estimated to be 5.3 μm P-V and 0.8 μm P-V for the minor-axis and major-axis direction respectively, while the surface roughness was reduced to 0.2 nm rms. The effect of form error on focusing spot size was evaluated by using a laser beam and the focusing performance of the mirror was verified by neutron experiments.

Abstract 4717: Detection of the Cyclin J (CCNJ) as a new cancer-related gene in human hepatocellular carcinoma by using a method of triple combination array analysis

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has a high rate of recurrence and a poor prognosis. To detect genes correlated with HCC, we have developed a new technique, triple combination array analysis, consisting of methylation array, gene expression array and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array analysis.

Methods: A surgical specimen obtained from a 68-year-old female HCC patient was analyzed using triple combination array analysis, which identified a candidate cancer-related gene of HCC. Subsequently, samples from nine cell lines and 48 HCC patients were evaluated for their methylation and expression status of the identified gene using methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP) and quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase PCR, respectively.

Results: Using the triple combination array analysis, cyclin J (CCNJ) was detected as a candidate cancer-related gene. CCNJ was located on chromosome 10q24.1 and the copy number, using SNP chip array, revealed no loss of heterozygosity. According to expression array results, The expression of CCNJ in tumor tissue decreased at two points of the expression array chip, and the decreased values of the chip were −1.3 and −2.3. CCNJ was found to be hypermethylated (methylation value 0.906, range 0-1.0) in cancer tissue compared with adjacent normal tissue (0.112) using the methylation array. Using MSP, hypermethylation of the promoter region of CCNJ was shown to occur in 37 (77.1%) tumor samples. CCNJ expression was significantly decreased in cases with methylation (p<0.0001). Furthermore, HCC patients with methylated CCNJ had a significantly worse prognosis for recurrence-free survival (p=0.0353) and tended to have a worse prognosis for overall survival than those with unmethylated CCNJ (p=0.0838).

Conclusion: The present study indicates that triple combination array analysis is an effective method to detect novel genes related to HCC. We suggest that CCNJ acts as a cancer-related gene in HCC.

Citation Format: Nao Takano, Shuji Nomoto, Mitsuhiro Hishida, Yoshikuni Inokawa, Masamichi Hayashi, Mitsuro Kanda, Yukiyasu Okamura, Yoko Nishikawa, Chie Tanaka, Daisuke Kobayashi, Suguru Yamada, Goro Nakayama, Tsutomu Fujii, Hiroyuki Sugimoto, Masahiko Koike, Michitaka Fujii, Shin Takeda, Yasuhiro Kodera. Detection of the Cyclin J (CCNJ) as a new cancer-related gene in human hepatocellular carcinoma by using a method of triple combination array analysis. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 4717. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-4717

Abstract 2981: Combination therapy of oncolytic herpes virus HF10 and bevacizumab against experimental model of human breast carcinoma xenograft

Background: Breast cancer is one of the most common and feared cancers in women. Multimodal therapy with a more specific and effective strategy is urgently needed. Oncolytic HSV is a good candidate because of broad host range and tumor selective viral distribution. In our study, the combination effect of oncolytic herpes virus HF10 and Bevacizumab in the treatment of experimental model of human breast carcinoma xenograft is evaluated.

Method: The VEGFA gene transcription and protein expression was measured in three human breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7,T47D and MDA-MB-231) by RT-PCR, Western blot and ELISA. The MTT analysis was performed to evaluate the efficiency of combination therapy in vitro. The effect on viral replication was evaluated by PCR and titering of the virus replicating under various doses of Bevacizumab. The advanced tumor model was formed by 12 female BALB/c nude mice which were implanted 4 pieces of 5 mm x 5mm MDA-MB-231 tumor to the flank site. The single tumor model was made by 28 female BALB/c nude mice which were implanted 1 piece of 5 mm x 5mm MDA-MB-231 tumor to the right flank site. Control group received no treatment. The HF10 group of advanced tumor model received two single injections of 10^6 pfu/dose intratumorally on Day 1 and Day 14. The HF10 group of single tumor model received one single injection of 10^6 pfu/dose intratumorally on Day 1. Bevacizumab group received 5mg/kg Bevacizumab intra-peritoneally twice a week for 2 weeks. Combination group received both intratumoral HF10 and intraperitoneally Bevacizumab at the same dose. The tumor diameter was measured weekly. On Day 2 and Day 35 following the last dose of the treatment tumors were collected. Histopathological parameters were HIF1A, VEGFA, Thrombospondin 1, CD31 driven microvascular density, CD4, CD8, Caspase 3, Cyr61 and HSV-1 antigen.

Results: Among the three candidate cell lines, MDA-MB-231 has the highest level of VEGFA expression, while T47D has the lowest level of VEGFA expression. The cytotoxic effect of HF10 is time- and dose- dependent in vitro. Combination therapy does not affect viral replication in vitro. In the in vivo study, combination group had the smallest tumor volume comparing with other groups in both animal models (P<0.05). Combination therapy induced synergistic effect in vivo in both animal models. Viral distribution was significantly enhanced in the combination group when compared to HF10 group on both Day 2 and Day 35.

Conclusion: Enhanced angiogenesis effect following viral treatment remains as an obstacle of oncolytic viral therapy. Anti-angiogenesis reagent is effective to achieve better antitumor effect. Our result shows that Bevacizumab enhances the viral distribution by antagonizing vascular permeability and decreasing tumor interstitial pressure and therefore promotes the oncolytic effect. It can be a promising virus-associated agent in the anticancer treatment.

Citation Format: Gewen Tan, Hideki Kasuya, Tevfik Tolga Sahin, Toshio Shikano, Suguru Yamada, Akiyuki Kanzaki, Kazuo Yamamura, Tsutomu Fujii, Hiro-yuki Sugimoto, Shuji Nomoto, Yoko Nishikawa, Maki Tanaka, Naoko Tsurumaru, Shin Takeda, Akimasa Nakao, Yasuhiro Kodera. Combination therapy of oncolytic herpes virus HF10 and bevacizumab against experimental model of human breast carcinoma xenograft. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 2981. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-2981

Combination therapy of oncolytic herpes simplex virus HF10 and bevacizumab against experimental model of human breast carcinoma xenograft

Breast cancer is one of the most common and feared cancers faced by women. The prognosis of patients with advanced or recurrent breast cancer remains poor despite refinements in multimodality therapies involving chemotherapeutic and hormonal agents. Multimodal therapy with more specific and effective strategy is urgently needed. The oncolytic herpes simplex virus (HSV) has potential to become a new effective treatment option because of its broad host range and tumor selective viral distribution. Bevacizumab is a monoclonal antibody against VEGFA, which inhibits angiogenesis and therefore tumor growth. Our approach to enhance the antitumor effect of the oncolytic HSV is to combine oncolytic HSV HF10 and bevacizumab in the treatment of breast cancer. Our results showed that bevacizumab enhanced viral distribution as well as tumor hypoxia and expanded the population of apoptotic cells and therefore induced a synergistic antitumor effect. HF10 is expected to be a promising agent in combination with bevacizumab in the anticancer treatment.