Feedback assessment from the audience as part of health literacy training for health professionals: a case from Fukushima after the nuclear accident

Following the accident at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in 2011, a series of health literacy training workshops for local health workers was developed and implemented. This study aimed to analyse who among the intended audience gained the greatest benefit from the training. Nine health workers attended a workshop consisting of classroom training and a follow-up feedback assessment of materials they created in the workshop. The materials were assessed by a total of 131 intended readers. Using Sakai's tool, those items asking readers to rate the accessibility of written information were used to compare the materials before and after revision. The total score for Sakai's measure showed a significant improvement, and the elderly and those without regular doctor visits were more likely to notice improvements after revision. Such health literacy training could serve as a model programme to prevent inequity in access to health information in the face of a regional health crisis.

Oncolytic virotherapy reverses chemoresistance in osteosarcoma by suppressing MDR1 expression

BACKGROUND

Osteosarcoma (OS) is a malignant bone tumor primarily affecting children and adolescents. The prognosis of chemotherapy-refractory OS patients is poor. We developed a tumor suppressor p53-expressing oncolytic adenovirus (OBP-702) that exhibits antitumor effects against human OS cells. Here, we demonstrate the chemosensitizing effect of OBP-702 in human OS cells.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The in vitro and in vivo antitumor activities of doxorubicin (DOX) and OBP-702 were assessed using parental and DOX-resistant OS cells (U2OS, MNNG/HOS) and a DOX-resistant MNNG/HOS xenograft tumor model.

RESULTS

DOX-resistant OS cells exhibited high multidrug resistant 1 (MDR1) expression, which was suppressed by OBP-702 or MDR1 siRNA, resulting in enhanced DOX-induced apoptosis. Compared to monotherapy, OBP-702 and DOX combination therapy significantly suppressed tumor growth in the DOX-resistant MNNG/HOS xenograft tumor model.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that MDR1 is an attractive therapeutic target for chemoresistant OS. Tumor-specific virotherapy is thus a promising strategy for reversing chemoresistance in OS patients via suppression of MDR1 expression.

Quantification of image quality of intra-fractional cone-beam computed tomography for arc irradiation with various imaging condition

Background

3-dimensional intra-cone beam computed tomography (intra-CBCT ) could be a potentially powerful tool for use with arc irradiation such as volumetric modulated arc therapy. The aim of the study was to evaluate the image quality of intra-cone beam computed tomography (intra-CBCT ) for arc irradiation with various imaging condition.

Materials and methods

Two types of intra-CBCT imaging techniques were evaluated — intra-fractional CBCT with flattening filtered (FF) beam (intra-FF CBCT ) and that with flattening filter free (FFF) beam (intra-FFF CBCT ). For the intra-MV beams, four different field sizes (2 cm × 2 cm, 5 cm × 5 cm, 10 cm × 10 cm, and 20 cm × 20 cm) were used with dose rates of 500 MU/min and 1600 MU/min, for 6 MV FF and 6 MV FFF, respectively. For all image acquisitions, two rotation angles (full-arc and half-arc) were investigated. Thereafter, the linearity, contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), and uniformity index (UI) of intra-CBCT image were compared with those of conventional CBCT image.

Results

All acquisition conditions had good linearity of the CT value (R² > 0.99). For CNR, the change rates from conventional CBCT ranged from 0.6–33.7% for a 2 cm × 2 cm beam, whereas that for a 20 cm × 20 cm beam ranged from 62.7–82.3%. Similarly, the UI increased from 1.5% to 7.0% as the field size increased.

Conclusion

Quality of intra-CBCT image was affected by the field size and acquisition angle. Image quality of intra-CBCT was worse than that of conventional CBCT, but it was better under a smaller field and wider correction angle and would be acceptable for clinical use.

Elevated serum carcinoembryonic antigen level after curative surgery is a prognostic biomarker of stage II-III colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

High preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is a well-known risk factor for stage II-III colorectal cancer (CRC); however, in most cases, cancer does not recur. Conversely, postoperative CEA (post-CEA) is occasionally measured, and high post-CEA patients often develop recurrence; however, the clinical significance of post-CEA testing is unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine whether post-CEA elevation might indicate a poor prognosis for stage II-III CRC patients who underwent curative surgery.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

482 patients with pathological stage II-III CRC were included. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate post-CEA levels.

RESULTS

Multivariate analysis showed that elevated post-CEA (hazard ratio (HR): 3.14, P < 0.001), pathological lymph node metastasis (pN+), and pathological T4 (pT4) are associated with poor recurrence-free survival (RFS), and that elevated post-CEA (HR: 3.12; P = 0.002), pN+, pT4, age >70, and smoking are independently associated with poor overall survival. Subgroup analysis among stage III patients, in combination with the risk classification of the International Duration Evaluation of Adjuvant Chemotherapy (IDEA) study, showed that elevated post-CEA is a significant indicator of poor prognosis for RFS in both low-risk (73.8% vs. 21.2%, P < 0.001) and high-risk (49.9% vs. 25.0%, P = 0.04) groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Post-surgical CEA elevation is independently associated with poor prognosis in stage II-III CRC. Adding post-CEA levels to the IDEA risk classification may provide a more reliable indicator of the need for individualized surveillance and adjuvant chemotherapeutic strategies.

Helicobacter pylori CagA elicits BRCAness to induce genome instability that may underlie bacterial gastric carcinogenesis

Infection with CagA-producing Helicobacter pylori plays a causative role in the development of gastric cancer. Upon delivery into gastric epithelial cells, CagA deregulates prooncogenic phosphatase SHP2 while inhibiting polarity-regulating kinase PAR1b through complex formation. Here, we show that CagA/PAR1b interaction subverts nuclear translocation of BRCA1 by inhibiting PAR1b-mediated BRCA1 phosphorylation. It hereby induces BRCAness that promotes DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) while disabling error-free homologous recombination-mediated DNA repair. The CagA/PAR1b interaction also stimulates Hippo signaling that circumvents apoptosis of DNA-damaged cells, giving cells time to repair DSBs through error-prone mechanisms. The DSB-activated p53-p21^Cip1 axis inhibits proliferation of CagA-delivered cells, but the inhibition can be overcome by p53 inactivation. Indeed, sequential pulses of CagA in TP53-mutant cells drove somatic mutation with BRCAness-associated genetic signatures. Expansion of CagA-delivered cells with BRCAness-mediated genome instability, from which CagA-independent cancer-predisposing cells arise, provides a plausible "hit-and-run mechanism" of H. pylori CagA for gastric carcinogenesis.

Mitochondria as a Platform for Dictating the Cell Fate of Cultured Human Corneal Endothelial Cells

Purpose

Aiming to clarify the role of mitochondria in cell fate decision of cultured human corneal endothelial cell (cHCEC) subpopulations.

Methods

The mitochondrial respiratory ability were examined with Mito stress and Mito fuel flex test assays using an extracellular flux analyzer (XFe24; Agilent Technologies; Santa Clara, CA) for human corneal endothelium tissues, mature cHCECs and a variety of cell state transitioned cHCECs. Tricarboxylic acid cycle and acetyl-coenzyme A–related enzymes was analyzed by proteomics for cell lysates using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry for cHCEC subpopulations.

Results

The maximum oxygen consumption rate was found to become stable depending on the maturation of cHCECs. In the Mito stress tests, culture supplements, epidermal growth factor, SB203580, and SB431543 significantly repressed oxygen consumption rate, whereas a Rho-associated protein kinase inhibitor Y-27632 increased. Tricarboxylic acid cycle and mitochondria acetyl-coenzyme A–related enzymes were selectively upregulated in mature cHCECs, but not in cell state transitioned cHCECs. The maximum oxygen consumption rate was found to be higher in healthy human corneal endothelium tissues than those with deeply reduced cell density. An upregulated tricarboxylic acid cycle was linked with metabolic rewiring converting cHCECs to acquire the mitochondria-dependent oxidative phenotype.

Conclusions

Mitochondrial metabolic intermediates and energy metabolism are tightly linked to the endothelial cell fate and function. These findings will help us to standardize a protocol for endothelial cell injection.

Descemet stripping endothelial keratoplasty after cytomegalovirus corneal endotheliitis and immunosuppression for Mooren's ulcer

Purpose

The aim of this report was to describe a case of cataract surgery and Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) after cytomegalovirus (CMV) corneal endotheliitis and bullous keratopathy (BK) following immunosuppressive treatment for Mooren's ulcer.

Observations

A 64-year-old man was referred to our hospital because of peripheral ulcerative keratitis in his left eye. He had a history of trabeculectomy for open angle glaucoma in his left eye. He was diagnosed with Mooren's ulcer and treated with topical betamethasone and tacrolimus with systemic cyclosporine. The corneal ulcer improved, but the peripheral cornea thinned from 6 to 12 and 0-2 o'clock. Five months later, cells were observed in the left anterior chamber, and real-time polymerase chain reaction examination of the aqueous humor showed CMV-DNA-positive results. The patient was diagnosed with CMV corneal endotheliitis, and oral ganciclovir was administered. Fifteen months after the initial presentation, BK appeared with decreased vision to 20 cm/n. d. After confirmation of negative CMV-DNA in the aqueous humor, DSAEK was performed following cataract surgery. The postoperative visual acuity recovered to 0.3. Mooren's ulcer exacerbation and CMV corneal endotheliitis did not recur postoperatively.

Conclusions and Importance

This is the first report of a case in which a patient with Mooren's ulcer developed BK due to CMV corneal endotheliitis and required DSAEK. Cataract surgery and DSAEK could be performed without issue by creating the main wound and side ports in a manner that avoids the thinned parts of the cornea.

Liquid Biopsy Targeting Monocarboxylate Transporter 1 on the Surface Membrane of Tumor-Derived Extracellular Vesicles from Synovial Sarcoma

The lack of noninvasive biomarkers that can be used for tumor monitoring is a major problem for soft-tissue sarcomas. Here we describe a sensitive analytical technique for tumor monitoring by detecting circulating extracellular vesicles (EVs) of patients with synovial sarcoma (SS). The proteomic analysis of purified EVs from SYO-1, HS-SY-II, and YaFuSS identified 199 common proteins. DAVID GO analysis identified monocarboxylate transporter 1 (MCT1) as a surface marker of SS-derived EVs, which was also highly expressed in SS patient-derived EVs compared with healthy individuals. MCT1+CD9+ EVs were also detected from SS-bearing mice and their expression levels were significantly correlated with tumor volume (p = 0.003). Furthermore, serum levels of MCT1+CD9+ EVs reflected tumor burden in SS patients. Immunohistochemistry revealed that MCT1 was positive in 96.7% of SS specimens and its expression on the cytoplasm/plasma membrane was significantly associated with worse overall survival (p = 0.002). Silencing of MCT1 reduced the cellular viability, and migration and invasion capability of SS cells. This work describes a new liquid biopsy technique to sensitively monitor SS using circulating MCT1+CD9+ EVs and indicates the therapeutic potential of MCT1 in SS.

Specimen-specific drift of densities defines distinct subclasses of extracellular vesicles from human whole saliva

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) in body fluids constitute heterogenous populations, which mirror their diverse parental cells as well as distinct EV-generation pathways. Various methodologies have been proposed to differentiate EVs in order to deepen the current understanding of EV biology. Equilibrium density-gradient centrifugation has often been used to separate EVs based on their buoyant densities; however, the standard conditions used for the method do not necessarily allow all EVs to move to their equilibrium density positions, which complicates the categorization of EVs. Here, by prolonging ultracentrifugation time to 96 h and fractionating EVs both by floating up or spinning down directions, we allowed 111 EV-associated protein markers from the whole saliva of three healthy volunteers to attain equilibrium. Interestingly, the determined buoyant densities of the markers drifted in a specimen-specific manner, and drift patterns differentiated EVs into at least two subclasses. One class carried classical exosomal markers, such as CD63 and CD81, and the other was characterized by the molecules involved in membrane remodeling or vesicle trafficking. Distinct patterns of density drift may represent the differences in generation pathways of EVs.

Proteomics of serum extracellular vesicles identifies a novel COPD biomarker, fibulin-3 from elastic fibres

There is an unmet need for novel biomarkers in the diagnosis of multifactorial COPD. We applied next-generation proteomics to serum extracellular vesicles (EVs) to discover novel COPD biomarkers.

EVs from 10 patients with COPD and six healthy controls were analysed by tandem mass tag-based non-targeted proteomics, and those from elastase-treated mouse models of emphysema were also analysed by non-targeted proteomics. For validation, EVs from 23 patients with COPD and 20 healthy controls were validated by targeted proteomics.

Using non-targeted proteomics, we identified 406 proteins, 34 of which were significantly upregulated in patients with COPD. Of note, the EV protein signature from patients with COPD reflected inflammation and remodelling. We also identified 63 upregulated candidates from 1956 proteins by analysing EVs isolated from mouse models. Combining human and mouse biomarker candidates, we validated 45 proteins by targeted proteomics, selected reaction monitoring. Notably, levels of fibulin-3, tripeptidyl-peptidase 2, fibulin-1, and soluble scavenger receptor cysteine-rich domain-containing protein were significantly higher in patients with COPD. Moreover, six proteins; fibulin-3, tripeptidyl-peptidase 2, UTP-glucose-1-phosphate uridylyl transferase, CD81, CD177, and oncoprotein-induced transcript 3, were correlated with emphysema. Upregulation of fibulin-3 was confirmed by immunoblotting of EVs and immunohistochemistry in lungs. Strikingly, fibulin-3 knockout mice spontaneously developed emphysema with age, as evidenced by alveolar enlargement and elastin destruction.

We discovered potential pathogenic biomarkers for COPD using next-generation proteomics of EVs. This is a novel strategy for biomarker discovery and precision medicine.

This study identified novel biomarkers for COPD using next-generation proteomics of serum extracellular vesicles. Notably, the expression of fibulin-3 is correlated with lung function and emphysema. This could be useful for personalised medicine.https://bit.ly/2JfRCgk

The impact of molecular profile on the lymphatic spread pattern in stage III colon cancer

The anatomical spread of lymph node (LN) metastasis is of practical importance in the surgical management of colon cancer (CC). We examined the effect of KRAS, BRAF, and microsatellite instability (MSI) on LN count and anatomical spread pattern in stage III CC. We determined KRAS, BRAF, and MSI status from stage III CC patients. Biomarker status was correlated with LN count and anatomical spread pattern, which was classified as sequential or skipped. Relapse-free survival (RFS) was estimated using Kaplan-Meier method, and correlations were assessed using log-rank and Cox regression analyses. We analyzed 369 stage III CC patients. The proportion of KRAS mutant (mt), BRAF mt, and MSI-high (H) were 44.2% (163/344), 6.8% (25/344), and 6.8% (25/344), respectively. The mean number of metastatic LN was higher in microsatellite-stable (MSS) compared with MSI patients (3.5 vs. 2.7, P = .0406), although no differences were observed in accordance with KRAS or BRAF status. Interestingly, patients with BRAF mt and MSI-H were less likely to harbor skipped metastatic LN (9.3% vs 20% and 4% vs 10.5% compared with BRAF wild-type (wt) and MSS, respectively), but KRAS status did not predict anatomical spread pattern. Patients with KRAS wt and MSI-H showed superior RFS compared with KRAS mt and MSS patients, respectively, whereas BRAF status did not affect RFS. Differences exist in the anatomical pattern of invaded LN in accordance with the molecular status of stage III CC. Patients with MSI-H CC have less invaded and skipped LN, suggesting that a tailored surgical approach is possible.

Colorectal Cancer-Derived CAT1-Positive Extracellular Vesicles Alter Nitric Oxide Metabolism in Endothelial Cells and Promote Angiogenesis

Accumulating scientific evidences strongly support the importance of cancer-derived extracellular vesicles (EV) in organization of tumor microenvironment and metastatic niches, which are also considered as ideal tools for cancer liquid biopsy. To uncover the full scope of proteomic information packaged within EVs secreted directly from human colorectal cancer, we cultured surgically resected viable tissues and obtained tissue-exudative EVs (Te-EV). Our quantitative profiling of 6,307 Te-EV proteins and 8,565 tissue proteins from primary colorectal cancer and adjacent normal mucosa (n = 17) allowed identification of a specific cargo in colorectal cancer-derived Te-EVs, high-affinity cationic amino acid transporter 1 (CAT1, P = 5.0 × 10^-3, fold change = 6.2), in addition to discovery of a new class of EV markers, VPS family proteins. The EV sandwich ELISA confirmed escalation of the EV-CAT1 level in plasma from patients with colorectal cancer compared with healthy donors (n = 119, P = 3.8 × 10^-7). Further metabolomic analysis revealed that CAT1-overexpressed EVs drastically enhanced vascular endothelial cell growth and tubule formation via upregulation of arginine transport and downstream NO metabolic pathway. These findings demonstrate the potency of CAT1 as an EV-based biomarker for colorectal cancer and its functional significance on tumor angiogenesis. IMPLICATIONS: This study provides a proteome-wide compositional dataset for viable colorectal cancer tissue-derived EVs and especially emphasizes importance of EV-CAT1 as a key regulator of angiogenesis.

Evaluation of fornix-based trabeculectomy outcomes in Japanese glaucoma patients based on concrete long-term preoperative data

PURPOSE

To investigate the outcomes of fornix-based trabeculectomy in Japanese patients with glaucoma based on more than five years of preoperative data.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective case series METHODS: This study consisted of 35 eyes of 35 Japanese glaucoma patients (mean age: 60.6, standard deviation (SD) 11.5 years) who received initial fornix-based trabeculectomy from a single ophthalmology clinic, with one or more reliable visual field test results per year from at least five years before and after the surgery. Measurements included postoperative mean intraocular pressure (IOP), standard deviation of IOP, medication scores, mean deviation slope, and total deviation slope were evaluated based on preoperative data. The relationship between mean IOP, SD-IOP and the visual field (VF) deterioration speed was also analysed.

RESULTS

The mean follow-up period before surgery was 6.15 (SD 0.97) years and post surgery it was 5.95 (SD 0.63) years. The preoperative mean IOP of 14.6 (SD 2.3) mmHg significantly decreased to 9.2 (SD 2.2) mmHg (P <.001). The preoperative medication score 2.7 (SD 0.5) significantly decreased to 0.1 (SD 0.4, P <.001). The preoperative MD slope of -0.52 (SE 0.047) dB/year significantly improved to -0.31 (SE 0.14) dB/year (P <.01), with improvement in the superior hemifield (P ≤.018). Inferior hemifield (P >.10) did not follow the trend. Neither mean IOP nor SD-IOP correlated with the VF deterioration speed.

CONCLUSIONS

Fornix-based trabeculectomy is an acceptable procedure for initial surgical management of glaucoma, especially for maintenance of superior VF.

G-quadruplex-forming nucleic acids interact with splicing factor 3B subunit 2 and suppress innate immune gene expression

G‐quadruplex (G4), a non‐canonical higher‐order structure formed by guanine‐rich nucleic acid sequences, affects various genetic events in cis, including replication, transcription and translation. Whereas up‐regulation of innate immune/interferon‐stimulated genes (ISGs) is implicated in cancer progression, G4‐forming oligonucleotides that mimic telomeric repeat‐containing RNA suppress ISG induction in three‐dimensional (3D) culture of cancer cells. However, it is unclear how G4 suppresses ISG expression in trans. In this study, we found that G4 binding to splicing factor 3B subunit 2 (SF3B2) down‐regulated STAT1 phosphorylation and ISG expression in 3D‐cultured cancer cells. Liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry analysis identified SF3B2 as a G4‐binding protein. Either G4‐forming oligonucleotides or SF3B2 knockdown suppressed ISG induction, whereas Phen‐DC3, a G4‐stabilizing compound, reversed the inhibitory effect of G4‐forming oligonucleotides on ISG induction. Phen‐DC3 inhibited SF3B2 binding to G4 in vitro. SF3B2‐mediated ISG induction appeared to occur independently of RNA splicing because SF3B2 knockdown did not affect pre‐mRNA splicing under the experimental conditions, and pharmacological inhibition of splicing by pladienolide B did not repress ISG induction. These observations suggest that G4 disrupts the ability of SF3B2 to induce ISGs in cancer. We propose a new mode for gene regulation, which employs G4 as an inhibitory trans‐element.

Dose Prescription Methods in Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy for Small Peripheral Lung Tumors: Approaches Based on the Gross Tumor Volume Are Superior to Prescribing a Dose That Covers 95% of the Planning Target Volume

Background and Purpose:

We aimed to validate the usefulness of prescriptions based on gross tumor volume for stereotactic body radiotherapy for small peripheral lung tumors.

Materials and Methods:

Radiotherapy treatment planning data of 50 patients with small peripheral lung tumors (adenocarcinoma: 24, squamous cell carcinoma: 10, other: 1, unknown: 15) receiving breath-hold computed tomography-guided stereotactic body radiotherapy at our institution during 2013–2016 were analyzed. For each case, 3 dose prescription methods were applied: one based on 95% (PTVD_95%) of the planning target volume, one based on 50% of the gross tumor volume (GTVD_50%), and one based on 98% (GTVD_98%) of the gross tumor volume. The maximum (GTVDmax), minimum (GTVDmin), and mean gross tumor volume dose (GTVDmean) and the dose covering 98% of the gross tumor volume were calculated to evaluate variations in the gross tumor volume dose.

Results:

Upon switching to GTVD_50%, the variations in GTVDmax and GTVDmean decreased significantly, compared with variations observed for PTVD_95% (p < 0.01), but the variation in GTVDmin increased significantly (p < 0.01). Upon switching to the GTVD_98%, the variation in GTVDmean decreased significantly compared with that observed for PTVD_95% (p < 0.01).

Conclusion:

Switching from prescriptions based on 95% of the planning target volume to those based on 98% of the gross tumor volume decreased variations among cases in the overall gross tumor volume dose. Overall, prescriptions based on 98% of the gross tumor volume appear to be more suitable than those based on 95% of the planning target volume in cases of small peripheral lung tumors treated with stereotactic body radiotherapy.

[A Case of Peritoneal Dissemination of Colorectal Cancer in Which Conversion Surgery Could Be Performed after Reduction with CAPOX/Bevacizumab]

A woman in her 60s underwent lower endoscopy due to a positive fecal occult blood test. A type 2 tumor was found in the cecum, and a biopsy resulted in the diagnosis of adenocarcinoma(tub2). Contrast-enhanced CT showed an enlarged paracolonic lymph node but no distant metastasis, so the patient underwent a laparoscopic-assisted ileocolic resection and D3 lymph node dissection for cecum cancer. The pathology was pT3, pN2b, pM0, pStage Ⅲc, and 12 courses of FOLFOX were administered as adjuvant chemotherapy. Twenty-four months after the completion of adjuvant chemotherapy, an elevated CEA was observed, and a PET-CT was performed, which showed multiple peritoneal disseminated nodules with FDG accumulation. Based on this finding, CAPOX/bevacizumab therapy was introduced, and on completion of 4 courses, the PET-CT showed a decrease in the size of the nodules and the disappearance of FDG accumulation. Based on this, the patient underwent resection. A peritoneal dissemination resection and bilateral ovariectomy were laparoscopically performed, and the patient is currently under observation. In patients with metastatic recurrence of peritoneal dissemination who underwent complete resection, treatment with CAPOX/bevacizumab may allow for disease control and provide a long-term prognosis.

Melanin concentration and depolarization metrics measurement by polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography

Imaging of melanin in the eye is important as the melanin is structurally associated with some ocular diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration. Although optical coherence tomography (OCT) cannot distinguish tissues containing the melanin from other tissues intrinsically, polarization-sensitive OCT (PS-OCT) can detect the melanin through spatial depolarization of the backscattered light from the melanin granules. Entropy is one of the depolarization metrics that can be used to detect malanin granules in PS-OCT and valuable quantitative information on ocular tissue abnormalities can be retrived by correlating entropy with the melanin concentration. In this study, we investigate a relationship between the melanin concentration and some depolarization metrics including the entropy, and show that the entropy is linearly proportional to the melanin concentration in double logarithmic scale when noise bias is corrected for the entropy. In addition, we also confirm that the entropy does not depend on the incident state of polarization using the experimental data, which is one of important attributes that depolarization metrics should have. The dependence on the incident state of polarization is also analyzed for other depolarization metrics.

Catecholamine oxidation-mediated transcriptional inhibition in Mn neurotoxicity

Manganese (Mn) poisoning may result in a neurological disorder called manganism. Although the neurotoxic mechanism of Mn is unclear, oxidative stress may be involved based on the interactions between neurotransmitter catecholamines and metals such as iron. Here, we propose a novel mechanism in which Mn oxidizes catecholamines and inhibits cellular transcription. Mn accelerated the oxidation of adrenaline (Ad) and produced adrenochrome (AdC) more effectively than iron. Furthermore, the oxidation of DNA bases increased when Ad, Mn, and iron were present. However, despite the absence of iron, cell viability decreased in the presence of AdC or Ad with Mn, which suggests there is another mechanism independent of oxidative DNA damage. AdC or preincubated Ad with Mn reduced mRNA synthesis in T7 RNA polymerase-driven transcription. RNA synthesis decreased in AdC-treated cells dose-dependently. These results show that Mn disrupts neuronal function via catecholamine oxidation-mediated transcriptional inhibition.

Endothelial-specific Ablation of Non-nuclear Estrogen Receptor alpha Signaling Deteriorates Vascular Remodelling Response

Background and introduction

The difference in cardiovascular disease risk between age-matched women and men narrows as transition through menopause in observational studies. Estrogen exerts complex physiological effects via its non-nuclear and nuclear actions. Experimental studies have shown that endothelial estrogen receptors mediate vasoprotection via endothelial nitric oxide production, reendothelialization, and atherosclerosis. Prior studies in vitro addressed estrogen's effects on endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells, leading to vasoprotection. However, the in vivo evidences are lacking for beneficial effects of endothelium non-nuclear ERα signaling on vascular remodelling in response to injury.

Purpose

This study aims to clarify the impact of endothelial ERα non-nuclear signaling in the vasoprotection, using a novel mouse model lacking tissue-specific ERα non-nuclear signaling.

Methods

We identified the amino acids of ERα which were responsible for its binding to p85α subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase in vitro. We generated a novel mouse model in which non-nuclear signaling of ERα was ablated in endothelial cells by crossing Tie2-Cre transgenic mice with floxed ERα mutants (RR259/260AA) in which p85α and ERα interaction was disrupted.

Results

In endothelial cells isolated from ERαKI/KITie2 cre/+ animals, E2 failed to induce phosphorylation of Akt, confirming the absence of ERα non-nuclear signaling. Baseline characteristics at 8 to 12 weeks of age were undistinguishable between the genotypes, including body weight, systolic blood pressure, uterine weight and echocardiographic fractional shortening. We then assessed how vascular remodelling process was impacted in a carotid artery wire injury model. Histological analyses with Elastica van Gieson staining two weeks after injury revealed that estrogen dependent suppression of remodelling response (intima to medial ratio) was abolished in ERαki/kiTie2cre/+mice (P=0.0004). Masson's Trichrome staining showed that in the presence of E2 fibrosis was significantly higher in ERαki/kiTie2cre/+ mice than ERαki/kiTie2cre/− mice (P=0.0015).

Conclusions

We generated a novel mouse model for tissue-specific ablation of ERα non-nuclear signaling by interfering ERα-PI3K interaction. Our results demonstrate that the pivotal role for ERα non-nuclear signaling of endothelial cells in carotid arterial protection following injury with its minimal impact on baseline cardiovascular phenotype.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: Foundation. Main funding source(s): Japan Heart Foundation Research Grant, SENSHIN Medical Research Foundation

Multiresolution Imaging Using Bioluminescence Resonance Energy Transfer Identifies Distinct Biodistribution Profiles of Extracellular Vesicles and Exomeres with Redirected Tropism

Extracellular particles (EPs) including extracellular vesicles (EVs) and exomeres play significant roles in diseases and therapeutic applications. However, their spatiotemporal dynamics in vivo have remained largely unresolved in detail due to the lack of a suitable method. Therefore, a bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET)-based reporter, PalmGRET, is created to enable pan-EP labeling ranging from exomeres (<50 nm) to small (<200 nm) and medium and large (>200 nm) EVs. PalmGRET emits robust, sustained signals and allows the visualization, tracking, and quantification of the EPs from whole animal to nanoscopic resolutions under different imaging modalities, including bioluminescence, BRET, and fluorescence. Using PalmGRET, it is shown that EPs released by lung metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) exhibit lung tropism with varying distributions to other major organs in immunocompetent mice. It is further demonstrated that gene knockdown of lung-tropic membrane proteins, solute carrier organic anion transporter family member 2A1, alanine aminopeptidase/Cd13, and chloride intracellular channel 1 decreases HCC-EP distribution to the lungs and yields distinct biodistribution profiles. It is anticipated that EP-specific imaging, quantitative assays, and detailed in vivo characterization are a starting point for more accurate and comprehensive in vivo models of EP biology and therapeutic design.

New method for measurement of chest surface motion in lung cancer patients: Quantification using a technique of deformable image registration

The purpose of this study was to measure the motion of the chest surface during breath-holding treatment for lung cancer using deformable image registration (DIR). Forty non-small-cell lung cancer patients treated with breath-holding stereotactic body radiation therapy were retrospectively examined. First, intensity-based DIR between 2 breath-holding computed tomography (CT) images was performed. Subsequently, deformation vector field (DVF) for all dimensions (left-right, anterior-posterior, and superior-inferior) was calculated from the result. For the analysis of chest surface, the DVF value of the only chest surface area was extracted after the chest surface was divided into 12 regions of interest (ROI) based on anatomy. Additionally, for the analysis of the correlation with the internal tumor motion, the median value of DVF for each surface ROI and the motion of the center of gravity of the tumor volume were used. It was possible to calculate the motion of chest surface without any outliers for all patients. For the average of 12 surface ROIs, the motion of 3D chest surface was within 2 mm (30 cases), 3 mm (8 cases), and 4 mm (2 cases). There was no correlation between the motion of the chest surface and that of the tumor for all 12 surface ROIs. We proposed a technique to evaluate the surface motion using DIR between multiple CT images. It could be a useful tool to calculate the motion of chest surface.

Polarized Expression of Ion Channels and Solute Carrier Family Transporters on Heterogeneous Cultured Human Corneal Endothelial Cells

Purpose

To clarify the expression profiles of ion channels and transporters of metabolic substrates among heterogeneous cultured human corneal endothelial cells (cHCECs) distinct in their effectiveness in reconstituting the corneal endothelium.

Methods

Integrated proteomics for cell lysates by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry was carried out from three aliquots of cHCECs enriched in either cluster of definition (CD)44^−/+ (mature) cHCECs or CD44^++/+++ cell-state transition (CST) cHCECs. The expression profiles of cations/anions, monocarboxylic acid transporters (MCTs), and solute carrier (SLC) family proteins, as well as carbonic anhydrases (CAs), were investigated.

Results

The polarized expression of cations/anions, MCTs, and SLC family proteins, as well as CAs, was clarified for mature and CST cHCECs. Most SLC4 family members, including SLC4A11 and SLC4A4 (NBCe1), were upregulated in the CST cHCECs, whereas SLC9A1 (Na⁺/H⁺ exchanger isoform one [NHE1]) and CA5B were detected only in the mature cHCECs. In addition, SLC25A42, catalyzing the entry of coenzyme A into the mitochondria, and SLC25A18, functioning as a mitochondrial glutamate carrier 2 (both relevant for providing the substrates for mitochondrial bioenergetics), were selectively expressed in the mature cHCECs.

Conclusions

Our findings may suggest the relevance of qualifying the polarized expression of these ion channels and transporter-like proteins to ensure not only the suitability but also the in vivo biological functionality of cHCECs selected for use in a cell-injection therapy.

Giant magneto-optical responses in magnetic Weyl semimetal Co3Sn2S2

The Weyl semimetal (WSM), which hosts pairs of Weyl points and accompanying Berry curvature in momentum space near Fermi level, is expected to exhibit novel electromagnetic phenomena. Although the large optical/electronic responses such as nonlinear optical effects and intrinsic anomalous Hall effect (AHE) have recently been demonstrated indeed, the conclusive evidence for their topological origins has remained elusive. Here, we report the gigantic magneto-optical (MO) response arising from the topological electronic structure with intense Berry curvature in magnetic WSM Co₃Sn₂S₂. The low-energy MO spectroscopy and the first-principles calculation reveal that the interband transitions on the nodal rings connected to the Weyl points show the resonance of the optical Hall conductivity and give rise to the giant intrinsic AHE in dc limit. The terahertz Faraday and infrared Kerr rotations are found to be remarkably enhanced by these resonances with topological electronic structures, demonstrating the novel low-energy optical response inherent to the magnetic WSM.