Limited human-to-human transmission of avian influenza A(H7N9) virus, Shanghai, China, March to April 2013

In April 2013, two members of one family were successively confirmed as cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) virus infection in Shanghai, China. Respiratory specimens from the two cases and their close contacts were tested using real-time reverse-transcription (RT)-PCR. Paired serum specimens from contacts were tested by haemagglutination inhibition assay and microneutralisation test. The index patient developed severe pneumonia. Her husband presented with pneumonia shortly thereafter. Both cases had highly similar clinical features and infection with A(H7N9) virus was confirmed in both cases by genetic analysis. Phylogenetic analysis revealed a high level of similarity between the sequences from the two patients and environmental samples collected from wet markets in Minhang and Changning districts. Six samples from the Changning wet market were confirmed as A(H7N9) positive. Of 27 close contacts, one developed mild respiratory symptoms and another tested positive for A(H7N9) antibodies, but both were negative by real-time RT-PCR. The other 25 close contacts of both cases were A(H7N9) negative. Limited human-to-human transmission of the virus most likely occurred in the family cluster. However, other close contacts did not test positive for the virus, suggesting limited potential for extensive human-to-human transmission of the virus.

αNAC inhibition of the FADD-JNK axis plays anti-apoptotic role in multiple cancer cells

Nascent polypeptide-associated complex α (αNAC) is reportedly overexpressed in several types of cancers and regulates cell apoptosis under hypoxic conditions in HeLa cells. The aim of our study was to investigate the apoptotic function of αNAC in cancer progression. First, we observed the cellular effects of αNAC depletion. Mouse αNAC was used to restore the protein level and verify the effect. An Annexin V assay, a caspase activity reporter assay, an apoptotic molecular marker, and a colony formation assay were used as markers to investigate the mechanisms of cell death caused by αNAC depletion. The Cancer 10-pathway reporter assay was used to screen downstream pathways. PCR site-directed deletion based on the functional domains of αNAC was used to construct deletion mutants. Those functional domain deletion mutants were used to recover the apoptotic phenotype caused by αNAC depletion. Finally, the role of αNAC in TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) treatment was investigated in vitro. We found that depletion of αNAC in multiple types of cancer cells induce typical apoptotic cell death. This anti-apoptotic function is mediated by the FADD/c-Jun N-terminal kinase pathway. Intact αNAC is required for the direct binding of FADD as well as its anti-apoptosis function. Either αNAC depletion or the deletion of the ubiquitin-associated domain of αNAC sensitizes L929 cancer cells to mTRAIL treatment. Our study revealed a αNAC anti-apoptotic function in multiple types of cancer cells and suggested its potential in cancer therapy.

Possible pandemic threat from new reassortment of influenza A(H7N9) virus in China

Avian influenza A(H7N9) virus re-emerged in China in December 2013, after a decrease in the number of new cases during the preceding six months. Reassortment between influenza A(H7N9) and local H9N2 strains has spread from China's south-east coast to other regions. Three new reassortments of A(H7N9) virus were identified by phylogenetic analysis: between A(H7N9) and Zhejiang-derived strains, Guangdong/Hong Kong-derived strains or Hunan-derived A(H9N2) strains. Our findings suggest there is a possible risk that a pandemic could develop.

Synergistic Effect of Regeneration and Inflammation via Ibuprofen-Loaded Electrospun Fibrous Scaffolds for Repairing Skeletal Muscle

Adult skeletal muscle regeneration involves serial steps among which inflammation in the wounded area is critical for the healing process. However, accelerated tissue regeneration and the inhibition of excessive inflammation are always the targets of tissue engineering, because excessive inflammation in the early stage can impede the regeneration in the following step. In this study, a feasible ibuprofen-loaded poly (L-lactide) (PLLA) fibrous scaffold was designed to evaluate the ability of preventing excessive inflammatory response and promoting regeneration using 35 Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. The cytotoxicity assay of PLLA and ibuprofen-loaded PLLA fibrous scaffolds (IBU/PLLA) showed that there were no significant cell cytotoxicity on L6 cells. The histological results showed that the IBU/PLLA group had slighter inflammation than PLLA and control groups during the whole process. In the later stage, the regeneration process of the IBU/PLLA group took place on the 7th day, which was almost more than one week earlier than the PLLA and control groups. qRT-PCR analysis further displayed that the IBU/PLLA group had a lower level of inflammatory factors and higher expression of repair factors than the PLLA and control groups, especially from the 7th day, and lasted until the 21st day. Furthermore, there were no statistical differences between the PLLA group and the control group from histological results and qRT-PCR analysis. Taken together, through the muscle wound healing process, the results demonstrated that the ibuprofen-loaded PLLA fibrous scaffolds had better control of excessive inflammation and faster process of healing than non-ibuprofen-loaded groups.

Instrumentation, control and automation in wastewater--from London 1973 to Narbonne 2013

Key developments of instrumentation, control and automation (ICA) applications in wastewater systems during the past 40 years are highlighted in this paper. From the first ICA conference in 1973 through to today there has been a tremendous increase in the understanding of the processes, instrumentation, computer systems and control theory. However, many developments have not been addressed here, such as sewer control, drinking water treatment and water distribution control. It is hoped that this review can stimulate new attempts to more effectively apply control and automation in water systems in the coming years.

Electrolytic partitioning of uranium and plutonium based on a new type of electrolytic mixer-settler

The design of a new type of electroreduction mixer-settler for the partitioning of uranium and plutonium during the Purex process, which is featured with E-shaped cathodes and U-shaped anodes in settling chamber, is described and the operational results achieved using this equipment are presented. The results show that this new type of mixer-settler has excellent separation performances. The flow rate of organic feed solution is 3 mL/min and the flow ratio of feed solution (1BF) to aqueous back extraction stream (1BX) and to organic wash stream (1BS) is 4/1/1. For an organic feed of 84 g/L uranium and 1.40 ⁓ 2.64 g/L plutonium, both the separation factor of plutonium from uranium and that of uranium from plutonium are apparently higher than 104

17β-estradiol suppresses the macrophage foam cell formation associated with SOCS3

Evidence from clinical trials and animal experiments has shown that estrogen has anti-atherosclerotic effects when administered to young women or experimental animals. The mechanisms involve the modulation of vascular inflammation, growth factor expression, and oxidative stress injured arteries. However, whether estrogen modulates the foam cell formation in plaque remains unknown. Here, we investigated the effects of 17β-estradiol (E2) on cholesterol efflux in vivo and in vitro. ApoE null mice underwent an ovariectomy at 5(th) week of age and then were treated with E2 or vehicle for the following 8 weeks. Compared with the vehicle-treated mice, the serum total cholesterol level, atherosclerotic plaque size, and lipid deposits were decreased and meanwhile ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) expression in the plaque was increased in mice with E2 treatment. E2 also increased suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3) expression in the atherosclerotic plaques and in RAW264.7 cells. In vitro, E2 treatment reversed janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription (JAK/STAT)-inhibited ABCA1 expression in RAW264.7 cells but had no effect on ABCA1 expression in SOCS3 knockdown cells. SOCS3 overexpression elevated ABCA1 expression through the inhibition of JAK2/STAT3 phosphorylation. Finally, we also found that E2 enhanced the cholesterol efflux to apoA I in RAW264.7 cells. In summary, E2 reduces atherosclerosis in ApoE null mice associated with upregulating ABCA1 expression and modulating the cholesterol efflux, which are dependent on SOCS3 upregulation. These results provide new insight into the athero-protective effects of estrogen.

A meta-analysis of the relationship between lymphatic microvessel density and the survival of patient with colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a frequently observed malignant neoplasm that is a leading cause of cancer death despite recent advances in treatment and research. The role of lymphangiogenesis in CRC development is a source of controversy in current research. We undertook this study to examine the relationship between lymphatic microvessel density (LMVD) and the overall survival (OS) or disease free survival (DFS) of CRC using meta-analysis of recent studies. PubMed and Embase databeases were searched and nine relevant studies including 799 total patients were included. Six studies including 575 patients focused on overall survival (OS) and 3 studies with 224 patients focused on disease free survival (DFS). We performed a meta-analysis to estimate the prognostic role of lymphatic microvessel density by combining separately estimated hazard ratios. A remarkable correlation between LMVD and DFS was observed in pooled analyses using a fixed-effect model (HR 2.29; 95% CI 1.11, 3.48). LMVD and OS showed a pooled HR value of 1.02 (95% CI 0.71,1.33), indicating no significant correlation between LMVD and OS. There was no evidence for significant heterogeneity or publishing bias in both DFS and OS (I2 = 0.0%, P = 0.861; I2 = 48.1%, P = 0.086, respectively). A close relationship was observed between LMVD and DFS, though no correlation between LMVD and OS was apparent. The current meta-analysis suggests that LMVD may be a poor prognostic factor for CRC patients. However, these results should be regarded cautiously and future confirmatory studies are necessary.

Effect of long-term starvation conditions on polyphosphate- and glycogen-accumulating organisms

Endogenous processes such as biomass decay and intracellular polymers degradation of polyphosphate-accumulating organisms (PAOs) and glycogen-accumulating organisms (GAOs) were investigated. Cultures enriched in Accumulibacter (a well known PAO) or Competibacter (a well known GAO) were subjected to 21 and 26 days of alternating anaerobic/aerobic conditions respectively. The main energy source for PAOs during starvation was their intracellular polyphosphate released into the medium during the first 14 days of starvation. In contrast, GAOs used their intracellular glycogen during the 26 days of starvation. Biomass decay rates were 0.029 d(-1) for PAOs and almost negligible for GAOs. The reduction in acetate uptake rate during the starvation period, referred to as activity decay, was 0.25 and 0.047 d(-1) for PAOs and GAOs, respectively. Once wastewater was reintroduced, both populations recovered their initial substrate uptake rate after 1 day. The results obtained show that PAOs are more affected than GAOs by starvation conditions.

Neuropeptide Y loses its orexigenic effect in rats with lesions of the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus

BACKGROUND

Both neuropeptide Y (NPY) and ghrelin can enhance the feeding behavior. The purpose of this study was to determine whether NPY and ghrelin are involved in hyperphagia and obesity induced by lesions of the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN).

METHODS

Sham-operated control rats and rats subjected to bilateral electrolytic lesions of the PVN were administered NPY (5 μg/rat) by intracerebroventricular infusion or ghrelin (20 μg/kg) by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection. Control rats were administered the appropriate vehicle by the same route as the drug. We measured the cumulative food intake (FI) for 2 h after infusion of NPY and for 4 h after ghrelin injection.

RESULTS

NPY significantly increased the cumulative FI in sham-operated rats. In PVN-lesioned rats, however, the cumulative FI at each time point (15 min, 30 min, 1 h, and 2 h) after NPY infusion was not significantly different from vehicle infusion, showing that NPY lost its orexigenic effect in PVN-lesioned rats. Following ghrelin injection, the cumulative FI was greater in PVN-lesioned rats than sham-operated rats, indicating that PVN lesions enhanced the orexigenic effects of ghrelin.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that the hyperphagia and obesity induced by PVN lesions may be related to an increased orexigenic action of ghrelin, but not NPY.

Protective role of Shenfu on ischemia-reperfusion injury of rat liver grafts

AIMS

We sought to investigate the protective role of Shenfu (SF),a traditional Chinese formulation comprising Radix Ginseng and Radix Aconitum Carmichaeli on ischemia-reperfusion injury in rat liver grafts.

METHODS

Ninety-six male Sprague Dawley rats were used as donors (n = 48) and recipients (n = 48) of orthotopic liver transplantation. They were randomly divided into a control group with donor livers injected with saline through the portal vein immediately after recovery versus the SF group, with livers injected with SF. Each group was further divided into 3 subgroups equally to obtain bood and hepatic tissues samples at 2, 4, and 6 hours reperfusion.

RESULTS

At each phase, the SF group, showed significantly higher bile production (P < .05) with lower serum levels of alanine aminotransferase and tumor necrosis factor-α, and nuclear factor-κB expression in the hepatic tissues. (P < .05). SF group hepatic tissues showed less injury compared with controls.

CONCLUSION

SF injection seemed to protect hepatocytes from injury during the early reperfusion phase and to improve subsequent rat liver graft function.

Determining the mechanisms for aerobic granulation from mixed seed of floccular and crushed granules in activated sludge wastewater treatment

Aerobic granulation is a novel and promising technology for wastewater treatment. However, long start-up periods required for the development of granules from floccular sludge, and the loss of biomass in this period leading to poor nutrient removal performance are key challenges. In a recent study the addition of crushed granules to a floccular sludge significantly reduced the start-up period, and also maintained the nutrient removal performance during granulation. In this study, we examined the mechanisms responsible for the fast granulation from a mixture of floccular and granular sludges. Fluorescent microbead particles (4 μm diameter) were successfully applied to differentially label the surfaces of floccular and crushed granular aggregates. Labelled flocs and crushed granules were added to a laboratory scale wastewater treatment reactor, and the granule formation process was monitored using confocal laser scanning microscopy over an 80 day period. Flocs were observed to attach to the surface of the seeding granules, resulting in reduced biomass washout during granulation. This mechanism not only reduces the granulation period, but also maintains the nutrient removal performance of the reactor. The results indicate that the granules acted as nuclei for floccular particle attachment, which accelerated granule formation.

Emergence of resistance to fluoroquinolones and third-generation cephalosporins in Shigella flexneri subserotype 1c isolates from China

We report here on the first identification of Shigella flexneri subserotype 1c in China. We also report the emergence of resistance to ciprofloxacin and third-generation cephalosporins in this subserotype 1c for the first time. Isolates of seven strains circulating in China yielded three new sequence types and seven pulsed-field gel electrophoresis patterns, thus demonstrating the existence of high genetic diversity within the isolates. Overall, the seven isolates showed reduced susceptibility to ciprofloxacin; one isolate was ciprofloxacin resistant, whilst another developed resistance to ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, cefotaxime and ceftriaxone.

Integrated modelling of sewer system and wastewater treatment plant for investigating the impacts of chemical dosing in sewers

Chemicals are often dosed to control the production and accumulation of hydrogen sulfide in sewers. The biological and/or chemical actions of these chemicals have profound impacts on the composition of wastewater entering a WWTP, thereby affecting its performance. In this paper, an integrated modelling methodology for simultaneously investigating the effects of dosing of chemicals in sewer network and N and P removal at the downstream WWTP is reported. The sewer system is modelled using a sewer model (SeweX), and the WWTP is modelled using ASM2d model with some modifications. The importance of integrated modelling in sewer management is also demonstrated.

Towards a benchmarking tool for minimizing wastewater utility greenhouse gas footprints

A benchmark simulation model, which includes a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP)-wide model and a rising main sewer model, is proposed for testing mitigation strategies to reduce the system's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The sewer model was run to predict methane emissions, and its output was used as the WWTP model input. An activated sludge model for GHG (ASMG) was used to describe nitrous oxide (N(2)O) generation and release in activated sludge process. N(2)O production through both heterotrophic and autotrophic pathways was included. Other GHG emissions were estimated using empirical relationships. Different scenarios were evaluated comparing GHG emissions, effluent quality and energy consumption. Aeration control played a clear role in N(2)O emissions, through concentrations and distributions of dissolved oxygen (DO) along the length of the bioreactor. The average value of N(2)O emission under dynamic influent cannot be simulated by a steady-state model subjected to a similar influent quality, stressing the importance of dynamic simulation and control. As the GHG models have yet to be validated, these results carry a degree of uncertainty; however, they fulfilled the objective of this study, i.e. to demonstrate the potential of a dynamic system-wide modelling and benchmarking approach for balancing water quality, operational costs and GHG emissions.

Enhancing aerobic granulation for biological nutrient removal from domestic wastewater

This study focuses on the enhancement of aerobic granulation and biological nutrient removal maintenance treating domestic wastewater. Two sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) were inoculated with either only floccular sludge (100%-floc SBR) or supplemented with 10% crushed granules (90%-floc SBR). Granules developed in both reactors. The 100%-floc SBR achieved 75% of nitrogen and 93% of phosphorus removal at the end of the performance, but some floccular sludge remained in the system. The 90%-floc SBR became fully granulated and finished with 84% and 99% of nitrogen and phosphorus removal, respectively. Regarding biological phosphorus removal, nitrite was identified as an inhibitor of the process. Nitrite levels lower than 5 mg N-NO2-L(-1) were used for anoxic phosphate uptake while higher concentrations inhibited the process.

Molecular level dynamics of genetic oscillator--the effect of protein-protein interaction

Uncovering how interactions of a set of molecular components influence the system's dynamic behavior is important for understanding intracellular processes and elucidating design principles, but unfortunately, there are limited efforts for studying this issue. Here, we study the effect of distinct post-translational dynamics controlled by protein dimerization on oscillations in the repressilator. For this, we propose three biologically motivated model scenarios of the repressilator with monomer or dimer being the active form of repressor, and with protein-protein interactions. It is found that the dimer dissociation constant can tune oscillatory regions, frequency and amplitude. Introducing a modified linear noise approximation to evaluate fluctuations of amplitude and period in the oscillatory systems, we show that different dimerization leads to a different effect on period and amplitude in reducing noise. The manipulation of the circuit's biochemical properties provides a practical strategy for designing a robust and tunable oscillator.

A novel p53-based strategy for protection of gastrointestinal track and bone marrow (BM) from 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)

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Background: Acute toxicity from DNA damaging agents such as radiation and chemotherapy is mainly mediated by p53 which, upon activation, induces massive apoptotic cell death in sensitive tissues such as GI track and BM. Expanding from our recent finding that low-dose arsenic can temporarily and reversibly suppress p53 activation and subsequent tissue damages in normal tissues but not in carcinomas due to distinct differences in p53 status, we used a mouse tumor xenograft model to test the potential of arsenic in protecting the GI track and BM from one of the most commonly used chemotherapeutic agents for GI malignancies, 5-FU, without compromising tumor control.

Methods: Arsenic pretreatment was done by feeding sex-matched mice (4-6 weeks old) with water with or without 1.0 mg/L sodium arsenic for 3 days. Mice were randomized into 4 groups: A. control; B. arsenic only; C. 5-FU (30 mg/kg body weight i.v. for 5 days) only; D. arsenic and 5-FU. 5- FU-induced GI track and BM damages were analyzed histologically with H&E staining 4 weeks after last treatment. Body weight was monitored as a measure of toxicity. Lung carcinoma NCI-H358 was used to generate a mouse xenograft model. Treatments were initiated 3 weeks after implantation when the lung carcinomas reached an average volume of 100 mm3. Tumor volumes were measured periodically. Two independent experiments were done with10 mice per group.

Results: Tumor sizes at 9 weeks were (mean±SE in mm3): 528.1±62.81, 504.04±55.19, 133.02±35.74, 114.47±17.49 for groups A,B,C and D respectively (p=ns, C vs. D). The corresponding body weights were (in gm): 34.6±1.5, 36.4±2.1, 31±1.2, and 35.4±1.8 (p=0.0001, t-test, C vs D). 5-FU treatment was associated with severe damages to small intestine and BM, and such damages were significantly reduced by low-dose arsenic pretreatment by histological examination.

Conclusions: Our data demonstrate that a brief treatment with low-dose arsenic is associated with a marked protection of GI track and BM without compromising the ability of 5-FU to kill carcinoma cells.Our data have provided proof-of- principle for the use of low-dose arsenic to protect GI track and BM from toxicity of 5-FU, and for potential 5-FU dose intensification in clinical settings.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Simultaneous determination of lincomycin and spectinomycin residues in animal tissues by gas chromatography-nitrogen phosphorus detection and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with accelerated solvent extraction

A new multi-dimensional analytical method using gas chromatography-nitrogen phosphorus detection (GC-NPD) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was developed for qualitative and quantitative measurement of lincomycin and spectinomycin residues in food animal tissues. This method is based on a new extraction procedure using accelerated solvent extraction (ASE). The analytes were extracted by phosphate buffer with trichloroacetic acid deproteinization and clean-up by C₁₈ solid-phase extraction (SPE) adding dodecanesulfonic acid sodium salt as an ion-pair reagent. The eluted fraction was evaporated and derivatised with N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl) trifluoroacetamide (BSTFA) for GC-NPD analysis and GC-MS confirmation. Parameters for extraction pressure, temperature and cycle of ASE, clean-up, derivatisation and analysis procedure were optimised. The method was validated in muscle, kidney and liver of swine, bovine with a low concentration (limit of quantification) of 16.4 and 21.4 µg kg⁻¹ for these two analytes using GC-NPD. For GC-MS, the limits of quantification were 4.1 and 5.6 µg kg⁻¹, respectively. Spiked recoveries from levels of 20 to 200 µg kg⁻¹ were found to be between 73% and 99% with a relative standard deviation (RSD) of less than 17% in GC-NPD. For GC-MS, levels from 5 to 20 µg kg⁻¹ had between 70% and 93% with an RSD of less than 21%. This rapid and reliable method can be used for the characterisation and quantification of residues of lincomycin and spectinomycin in animal tissues.

Pioglitazone modulates the balance of effector and regulatory T cells in apolipoprotein E deficient mice

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Pioglitazone (PIO) affects T cell-mediated immunity through actions of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ (PPARγ). Effector and regulatory T cells control the development of atherosclerosis, a chronic inflammatory disease affecting the arterial blood vessels. The aim of this study was to examine whether PIO ameliorates atherosclerosis by altering the balance of effector and regulatory T cells.

METHODS AND RESULTS

To explore the effect of PIO on early and advanced atherosclerosis, apolipoprotein E deficient (ApoE-/-) mice were fed western diet and received PIO (20 mg/kg/day) by gastric gavage at 6 or 14 weeks of age, respectively for 8 weeks. Data showed PIO markedly inhibited early fatty streak formation. Further, although the advanced fibrofatty plaque sizes were not significantly reduced, the numbers of smooth muscle cells within lesions were increased and higher collagen concentrations were produced. In general, macrophage expression in lesions was decreased. Additionally, the expression of Foxp3(+) cells was increased in lesions and spleens in mice at all PIO treatment stages, whereas the CD4(+)IFN-γ(+)/CD4(+)IL-4(+) cell ratios were reduced.

CONCLUSION

PIO inhibited early atherosclerotic lesion formation and increased the stability of advanced atherosclerotic plaques in ApoE-/- mice, which was associated with altering the balance of effector and regulatory T cells.

Could nitrite/free nitrous acid favour GAOs over PAOs in enhanced biological phosphorus removal systems?

Enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) normally occurs together with nitrogen removal in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). In recent years, efforts have been devoted to remove nitrogen via the nitrite pathway (oxidation of ammonia to nitrite and reduction of nitrite to nitrogen gas without going through nitrate), reducing the requirement for carbon and oxygen in the plant. However nitrite and free nitrous acid (FNA), the protonated species of nitrite, have been shown to cause EBPR deterioration under certain concentrations. This study provides a direct comparison between the different levels of FNA inhibition in the aerobic processes of polyphosphate accumulating organisms (PAOs) and glycogen accumulating organisms (GAOs) by reviewing the studies published in this area. Also, new data is presented assessing the FNA effect on the anaerobic metabolism of these two groups of bacteria. Overall, FNA has shown inhibitory effects on most of the processes involved in the metabolism of PAOs and GAOs. However, the inhibition-initiation levels are different between different processes and, even more importantly between the two groups. In general, PAOs appear to be more affected than GAOs at the same level of FNA, thus giving GAOs competitive advantage over PAOs in EBPR systems when nitrite is present.

Abstract P5-05-11: The Cellular Impact of HuR (Human (Hu) Antigen R) in Breast Cancer Cells on the Growth and Invasion In Vitro and the Expression of Cyclin D1 and MMP-9

Introduction: HuR, a ubiquitously expressed member of the Hu family, selectively binds and stabilizes ARE-containing mRNAs encoding proto-oncogenes, cell cycle regulators, cytokines and growth factors. The role of HuR and its cellular function in breast cancer remains unclear. In the present study, we aimed to provide new insights into the molecular and cellular implication of HuR in breast cancer.

Materials and methods. We first constructed a set of anti-HuR ribozyme transgenes that targeted human HuR. Breast cancer cells were transfected with the transgene, in order to establish new sublines with HuR expression knocked down. Cell growth and invasiveness were investigated using in vitro cell models. The expression of cyclin-D1 and MMP2 were determined using immunocytochemistry, Western blotting and polymerase chain reaction.

Results: Here, we show that MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells breast cancer cells stability transfected with a hammerhead ribozyme transgene specifically targeted to HuR (MCF7HuRKO and MDA-MB-231HuRKO) have a reduction in HuR expression both at mRNA and protein levels. Using these new sublines of breast cancer cells, the in vitro growth was evaluated. We showed that that HuR knockdown dramatically reduced cell growth in MCF7 cells (P &lt; 0.001) and to a lesser degree reduced that in MDA MB 231 cells. We further demonstrated that reduction of HuR in MDA MB 231 cells (MDA-MB-231HuRKO) resulted in a significant reduction of the in vitro invasiveness in MDA-MB-231 cells (P &lt; 0.001), although the same failed to occur to MCF-7 cells. Furthermore, we found that the decreased cell growth rate in MCF7 cells following HuR knockdown was seen together with a reduction in cyclin D1 transcript and protein levels. It was also interest to observe that the change in invasiveness in MDA-MB-231 cells after HuR knockdown was accompanied by a decrease in MMP-9 levels.

Conclusion: Our study shows that targeting HuR can influences breast cancer cell growth and invasion and suggests a role for HuR in vitro in enhancing breast cancer cell growth and invasion. These changes may be facilitated through changes in the level of cyclin D1 and MMP-9.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2010;70(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P5-05-11.

Phase I and pharmacological study of the broad-spectrum tyrosine kinase inhibitor JNJ-26483327 in patients with advanced solid tumours

Background:

JNJ-26483327 is an oral, potent, multi-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor, inhibiting kinases of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-1, -2 and -4, rearranged during transfection (RET) receptor, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR)-3 and Src family (Lyn, Fyn, Yes) at low nanomolar concentrations. This phase I, accelerated titration study assessed maximum tolerated dose, safety, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamic effects of JNJ-26483327.

Methods:

Nineteen patients with advanced cancers received JNJ-26483327 continuous twice daily (BID) in escalating dose cohorts ranging from 100 to 2100 mg. Pharmacodynamic effects were assessed in paired skin biopsies and blood.

Results:

JNJ-26483327 was well tolerated in doses up to 1500 mg BID, with target-inhibition-related toxicity such as diarrhoea and skin rash, and other common reported toxicities being nausea, vomiting, anorexia and fatigue. At 2100 mg, two episodes of dose-limiting toxicity were observed, consisting of grade 3 anorexia and a combination of grade 3 anorexia and fatigue, respectively. Pharmacokinetics were dose proportional up to 1500 mg in which plasma levels were obtained showing anti-tumour activity in xenograft mouse models. Pharmacodynamic analysis did not show a substantial effect on expression of Ki-67, p27^kip1, phosphorylated mitogen-activated protein kinase, phosphorylated Akt and EGFR, and serum levels of sVEGFR-2, VEGF-C and VEGF-D remained unchanged. Stable disease was noted in six patients (32%).

Conclusion:

JNJ-26483327 is well tolerated and shows a predictable pharmacokinetic profile; the recommended dose for further studies is 1500 mg BID.

The regulation of muscle glycogen: the granule and its proteins

Despite decades of studying muscle glycogen in many metabolic situations, surprisingly little is known regarding its regulation. Glycogen is a dynamic and vital metabolic fuel that has very limited energetic capacity. Thus its regulation is highly complex and multifaceted. The stores in muscle are not homogeneous and there appear to be various metabolic pools. Each granule is capable of independent regulation and fundamental aspects of the regulation appear to be associated with a complex set of proteins (some are enzymes and others serve scaffolding roles) that associate both with the granule and with each other in a dynamic fashion. The regulation includes altered phosphorylation status and often translocation as well. The understanding of the roles and the regulation of glycogenin, protein phosphatase 1, glycogen targeting proteins, laforin and malin are in their infancy. These various processes appear to be the mechanisms that give the glycogen granule precise, yet dynamic regulation.

Efficient inhibition of B-cell lymphoma xenografts with a novel recombinant fusion protein: anti-CD20Fab-LDM

Lidamycin (LDM) is a new member of enediyne antitumor antibiotics family that can be separated and reconstituted. It consists of a labile active enediyne chromophore (AE) and a noncovalently bound apoprotein (LDP). LDM is now in phase II clinical trials. In this study, we described the antitumor features of a fusion protein of LDM, anti-CD20Fab-LDM, targeted to CD20 expressed by B-lymphoid malignancies. Especially, LDM was prepared by a novel two-step method including DNA recombination and molecular reconstitution. Anti-CD20Fab-LDM exerted potent cytotoxicity against CD20+ B-cell lymphoma cell lines in vitro (IC50: 10-30 pM) and in the Raji xenograft model. Two Raji xenografts were allowed to grow to an initial mass of 80 and 500 mm³, respectively, and then anti-CD20Fab-LDM was administered intravenously with the highest dose of 4 nmol kg⁻¹ . The inhibition rates of tumor growth were 90.1 and 85%, which were saliently superior to those of nontargeted LDM. It is noteworthy that anti-CD20Fab-LDM can inhibit the growth of patient-derived cells, including rituximab-resistant patient-derived cells. Thus, CD20-targeted delivery of LDM is a specific and potent therapeutic strategy for B-lymphoid malignancies. In addition, the two-step approach could serve as a new technology platform for making a series of highly potent engineered antibody-based drugs.