33 PRODUCTION OF A CLONED FOAL USING MITOCHONDRIAL DNA-IDENTICAL OOCYTES

Recently we reported the birth of a viable foal produced by nuclear transfer (NT) using oocytes recovered from immature follicles of live mares by transvaginal ultrasound-guided aspiration (TVA; 2013 Theriogenology 79, 791–796). This procedure opens the door for production of mitochondrial DNA-identical cloned foals; typically, use of heteroplastic oocytes results in cloned offspring that have different mitochondrial DNA from that of the donor. We selected 2 mares (BL and SM) from the maternal line of the donor, a 23-year old stallion. Genetic analysis confirmed that the mares’ mitochondrial genotype was identical to that of the donor. Oocytes were obtained from the mares by TVA of all follicles ≥5 mm diameter, and were matured in vitro for 20 to 26 h. Donor fibroblasts were treated with 15 μM roscovitine for 24 h, then were directly injected into enucleated oocytes using a Piezo drill. Reconstructed oocytes were activated with 5 μM ionomycin for 4 min followed by injection with sperm extract, then incubation in 2 mM 6-dimethylaminopurine for 4 h. Oocytes from mare SM were assigned to treatment with either Scriptaid (500 nM) or Scriptaid plus vitamin C (50 μg mL–1) for 14 to 16 h, starting at the onset of 6-dimethylaminopurine exposure; mare BL did not provide sufficient oocytes for treatment grouping. Presumptive zygotes were cultured in vitro for 7 to 11 days and blastocysts were shipped for transfer to recipient mares, 1 embryo per mare. In mare BL, 10 aspiration sessions were conducted, 78 follicles were aspirated and 45 oocytes were collected, of which 4 were degenerating. After in vitro maturation, 12/40 (30%) oocytes were mature. Five of 12 oocytes lysed during manipulation; the remaining 7 were cultured and 1 blastocyst (14%) was obtained, which did not yield a pregnancy. In mare SM, 3 aspiration sessions were conducted and 53 oocytes were recovered from 81 follicles. After in vitro maturation, 31/53 (58%) were mature. Four oocytes were lysed during manipulation, 27 were cultured, and 4 blastocysts (15%) were produced, 2 from scriptaid treatment and 2 from scriptaid plus vitamin C. Transfer of these blastocysts yielded one pregnancy (scriptaid treatment); the mare delivered a healthy foal at 328 days of gestation. These results indicate that NT can be successful using low numbers of immature oocytes from selected mares. However, the individual mare may greatly affect the outcome in terms of oocyte number and quality; in this case, mare BL not only yielded fewer oocytes per aspiration session (4.5 v. 17.7 for mare SM; P < 0.001, t-test), but also fewer reconstructed oocytes per oocyte recovered (7/45 v. 27/53, respectively; P < 0.001, Fisher's exact test). Efficiency (14 to 15% blastocysts per reconstructed oocyte cultured; 1 foal from 5 embryos transferred) was similar to that achieved previously in our laboratory using heteroplastic oocytes. This work was supported by the Link Equine Research Endowment Fund, Texas A&M University, by Kit Knotts, and by Jack Waggoner.

Incidence of and risk factors for active tuberculosis in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients in South Korea

BACKGROUND

In South Korea, a high-income country with an intermediate tuberculosis (TB) burden and low human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevalence, studies on incidence and risk factors of TB in HIV-infected persons have rarely been reported.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the incidence of and risk factors for active TB in HIV-infected persons in South Korea.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was conducted of 1265 HIV-1 infected patients who visited four hospitals in South Korea between 1985 and 2012. We analysed the incidence of TB during the follow-up period. To investigate risk factors associated with active TB, we conducted a 1:2 matched case-control study of HIV-infected patients with newly active TB and controls without active TB who had similar CD4(+) T-cell counts and dates of first visit.

RESULTS

Over a total of 4457 person-years (py), 185 (14.6%) subjects were diagnosed with active TB; the incidence was 4.2 cases/100 py. In multivariate analysis, low body mass index (P = 0.033) and current smoking (P = 0.003) were independent risk factors for TB in HIV-infected patients.

CONCLUSION

Further strategies on prevention and treatment of active TB among HIV-infected patients should be implemented in South Korea. Encouraging smoking cessation and supporting good nutrition may be ways to reduce the incidence of active TB in HIV-infected patients.

The association between coronary artery calcification and colorectal adenoma

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Both colorectal neoplasm and coronary artery disease are prevalent diseases worldwide and share several risk factors. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between coronary artery calcification and prevalence of colorectal adenoma.

METHODOLOGY

We retrospectively evaluated 3,092 subjects who underwent colonoscopy and coronary artery calcium computed tomography (CT) on the same day or within a 3-month interval, during routine check-ups between January 2006 and June 2009 at the Center for Health Promotion of the Samsung Medical Center. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to calculate adjusted odds ratios (ORs).

RESULTS

Colorectal adenomas were detected in 1,067 (34.5%) of the 3,092 subjects, including 536 (41.0%) individuals with and 531 (29.7%) without coronary calcification (p<0.001). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the presence of coronary artery calcification (OR=1.346; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.122-1.614), age ≥50 years (OR=1.516; 95% CI=1.256-1.829), waist circumference of 90-99cm (OR=1.364; 95% CI=1.008-1.844) and current smoker (OR=1.266; 95% CI=1.045-1.534) were associated with the prevalence of colorectal adenoma.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of colorectal adenoma is significantly higher in patients with coronary artery calcification. Our results support positive relationship between coronary artery disease and colorectal adenoma.

A ginseng metabolite, compound K, induces autophagy and apoptosis via generation of reactive oxygen species and activation of JNK in human colon cancer cells

Compound K (20-O-(β-D-glucopyranosyl)-20(S)-protopanaxadiol) is an active metabolite of ginsenosides and induces apoptosis in various types of cancer cells. This study investigated the role of autophagy in compound K-induced cell death of human HCT-116 colon cancer cells. Compound K activated an autophagy pathway characterized by the accumulation of vesicles, the increased positive acridine orange-stained cells, the accumulation of LC3-II, and the elevation of autophagic flux. Whereas blockade of compound K-induced autophagy by 3-methyladenein and bafilomycin A1 significantly increased cell viability. In addition, compound K augmented the time-dependent expression of the autophagy-related proteins Atg5, Atg6, and Atg7. However, knockdown of Atg5, Atg6, and Atg7 markedly inhibited the detrimental impact of compound K on LC3-II accumulation and cell vitality. Compound K-provoked autophagy was also linked to the generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS); both of these processes were mitigated by the pre-treatment of cells with the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine. Moreover, compound K activated the c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling pathway, whereas downregulation of JNK by its specific inhibitor SP600125 or by small interfering RNA against JNK attenuated autophagy-mediated cell death in response to compound K. Compound K also provoked apoptosis, as evidenced by an increased number of apoptotic bodies and sub-G1 hypodiploid cells, enhanced activation of caspase-3 and caspase-9, and modulation of Bcl-2 and Bcl-2-associated X protein expression. Notably, compound K-stimulated autophagy as well as apoptosis was induced by disrupting the interaction between Atg6 and Bcl-2. Taken together, these results indicate that the induction of autophagy and apoptosis by compound K is mediated through ROS generation and JNK activation in human colon cancer cells.

61 APPLICATION OF AN OPEN DEVICE TO VITRIFY EQUINE IN VITRO-PRODUCED EMBRYOS

Recently, we reported a >50% normal pregnancy rate for vitrified/warmed equine expanded blastocysts after blastocoele collapse via micromanipulation and vitrification in fine-diameter (250-µm) pipettes (Choi et al. 2011 Theriogenology 76, 143). This vitrification system has also yielded high pregnancy rates after transfer of blastocysts produced by intracytoplasmic sperm injection and embryo culture (IVP embryos) in our clinical program (unpublished data). However, the pipettes are difficult to load and must be manipulated to expel the embryo after warming. To improve this technique, we modified the pipettes by cutting their tip lengthwise and flaming the surface smooth, and we investigated the use of these open devices (designated “Sujo”) for vitrification of equine IVP embryos. Embryos were held in 1.5 M ethylene glycol in DMEM/F-12 + 20% FBS for 5 min; then moved to 7 M ethylene glycol and 0.6 M galactose; and within 1 min loaded on a Sujo with a minimum amount of medium, plunged into liquid N2, and inserted into a 5-mL cryovial or 0.5-mL straw before being stored in liquid N2. Embryos were warmed by placing the Sujo tip in 0.3 M sucrose in base medium (Dulbecco’s phosphate buffered saline with 0.1% glucose, 36 mg L–1 of pyruvate, and 0.4% BSA). Embryos were left in this medium for 1 min and then moved to 0.15 M and then 0 M sucrose in base medium for 5 min each. In Experiment 1, we examined whether embryos stayed on the Sujo device. A total of 23 cleaved embryos were vitrified individually on Sujos; all of them were successfully recovered after warming. In Experiment 2, 18 IVP blastocysts were vitrified on Sujos (1 to 3 per Sujo), then warmed and cultured in 500-µL DMEM/F-12 + 20% FBS in an atmosphere of 5.5% CO2, 5% O2, and 89.5% N2 at 38.2°C for 3 days. All 18 embryos grew in vitro. The average percentage increase in diameter (mean ± SEM) for embryos vitrified at 1 per Sujo was 73% (from 167 ± 4 to 289 ± 16 µm, 11 embryos); 2 per Sujo, 98% (from 187 ± 27 to 387 ± 106 µm, 4 embryos); and 3 per Sujo, 96% (from 176 ± 4 to 342 ± 51 µm, 3 embryos). There was no significant difference in percentage growth among treatments (one-way ANOVA; SigmaPlot 11.0). In Experiment 3, 11 IVP embryos were vitrified after loading singly on Cryolocks®, then warmed and cultured as above. One embryo did not grow; the remaining 10 embryos grew an average of 73% (from 170 ± 3 to 294 ± 31 µm). In a preliminary study, 2 in vivo-recovered blastocysts (277 and 411 µm) were vitrified singly on Sujos and then warmed and cultured in vitro for 24 h under the above conditions increased in diameter to 594 and 729 µm, respectively. In conclusion, an open device can be used effectively for vitrification of equine IVP embryos. Further studies are needed to determine the efficiency of this system for vitrification of expanded equine blastocysts and the pregnancy rate of these embryos after transfer. Supported by the American Quarter Horse Foundation, the Link Equine Research Endowment Fund, Texas A&M University, and by Ms. Kit Knotts.

Synthesis and biological activity of 4,5-polymethylenepyrazole-derived HMG-COA reductase inhibitors

New HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, in which 3-substituted 4,5-polymethylenepyrazoles are employed as a hydrophobic anchor connected to tetrahydro-4-hydroxy-2H-pyran-2-one by a two-carbon bridge, were designed and synthesized to exhibit significant inhibitory activity comparable to mevinolin. The most potent enzyme inhibitor (11cc, IC(50)=0.01 muM) is 4-fold more potent than lovastatin.