Hes1 functions downstream of growth factors to maintain oligodendrocyte lineage cells in the early progenitor stage

Expansion of the progenitor pool of oligodendrocytes (OLs) is a critical process for obtaining appropriate amounts of mature myelin-forming OLs in the developing and regenerating central nervous system. In vitro, fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF2), together with platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), is required to expand oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OLPs) in an unlimited manner, maintaining them in the early progenitor stage. However, the intracellular mechanisms that prevent OLP maturation remain elusive. In order to investigate these mechanisms, we established a mouse OLP primary culture, which enabled us to undertake biochemical analyses. We found that the suppressive effects on maturation of early OLP to the late O4(+) progenitor by PDGF+FGF2 treatment was abrogated by Mek inhibitor, while transfecting cells with a constitutively active Mek1 construct prevented OLP maturation, suggesting that the Mek-Erk pathway is implicated in the effects of the growth factor treatment. The activation of Mek-Erk pathway promoted proliferation of OLP suggesting that cell cycle progression has suppressive effects to the maturation of OLP. Furthermore, molecular screening using DNA microarrays revealed that Hes1, a negative regulator of bHLH transcription factors, is one of the downstream molecules induced by PDGF+FGF2 treatment. We confirmed that forced activation of Mek-Erk pathway is sufficient to induce Hes1 expression and that Hes1, in turn, exerts suppressive effects on the maturation of OL lineage by itself. Our observations thus indicate that Mek-Erk pathway plays pivotal role in preventing early OLP maturation to late OLPs and the effect is mediated by cell cycle progression as well as Hes1 induction.

Concomitant expression of HER2 and HIF-1alpha is a predictor of poor prognosis in uterine cervical carcinoma treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy: prospective analysis (KGROG0501)

BACKGROUND

In previously reported retrospective analyses of uterine cervical carcinoma cases, HER2 was correlated with poor radiation sensitivity and poor treatment outcomes and HIF-1alpha was found to be an indicator of poor prognosis. To date, no prospective studies have been performed to evaluate the radiation sensitivity and treatment outcomes of patients with uterine cervical carcinoma relative to HER2 and HIF-1alpha expressions. We conducted a prospective evaluation of HER2 and HIF-1alpha in cases of locally advanced uterine cervical carcinoma treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy.

METHODS

Between June 2005 and April 2008, 25 patients with locally advanced uterine cervical carcinoma were registered in this study, KGROG0501. Their clinical stages were Ib2/IIb/IIIb/IVa in 1/2/22/1 cases, respectively. Nineteen cases had squamous cell carcinoma and six had adenocarcinoma. HER2 expression and HIF-1alpha expression were analyzed using an immunohistochemical kit on pretreatment biopsied specimens. HIF-1alpha expression was studied using another commercial immunohistochemical kit on pretreatment biopsied specimens. The survival rates were compared between patients with and without positive HER2 and HIF-1alpha expressions.

RESULTS

The 20-month survival of HER2(-) and HIF-1alpha(-) cases (n = 6) was 100% and that of HER2(+) and HIF-1alpha(+) cases (n = 4) was 37.5% (p = 0.0032).

CONCLUSIONS

In this first prospective analysis of patients with uterine cervical carcinoma treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy, concomitant expression of HER2 and HIF-1alpha was suggested to be a strong indicator of poor prognosis. A novel therapy including molecular targeted therapy such as anti-HER2 and anti-HIF-1alpha may be worth considering in patients with concomitant expression of HER2 and HIF-1alpha.

Water-quality monitoring technique for dioxins during dredging using on-site solid phase extraction with graphitic carbon and analysis with DR-CALUX

In Japan, water-quality monitoring with the environmental dioxin standard of 1 pg-TEQ/L at basic monitoring points set in a border between operation-area water and normal water is necessary for removal operations for bottom sediments containing dioxins. This paper presents a technique for combining on-site graphitic carbon (GrC) solid-phase extraction and bioassay method for the simplification and facilitation of water-quality monitoring. Using this method, we conducted experiments at an actual sediment removal site. Comparative analyses using high-resolution GC/MS (HRGC-HRMS) between the dioxin concentrations detected using a GrC solid-phase extraction kit and the official analytical method yielded similar concentrations and distributions of isomers for detected PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs. The GrC solid-phase extraction method is inferred to have capacity equal to official analytical method extraction. Toxicity equivalent concentrations estimated using DR-CALUX correlate with equivalent concentrations with HRGC/HRMS. No false positive or false negative result was obtained for the standard value 1 pg-TEQ/L.

Initial analysis of relationship between plasma platinum concentration and hematological adverse reaction associated with weekly chemotherapy using nedaplatin in combination with radiotherapy for cervical carcinoma

PURPOSE

Established therapeutic guidelines for cervical carcinoma recommend concurrent chemo- and radiotherapy as standard treatment for locally advanced cervical carcinoma. Nedaplatin (CDGP) is a platinum agent developed in Japan that is less nephrotoxic than cisplatin (CDDP), but with equivalent antitumor potency. In the standard dosage regimen for cervical carcinoma, CDGP is administered once every four weeks (monthly regimen). We investigated the efficacy and safety of a new dosage regimen, in which CDGP was administered once weekly for five weeks (weekly regimen).

METHODS

We measured plasma platinum concentration of patients after administration of CDGP, and analyzed the relationship between plasma platinum concentration and hematological adverse reactions such as thrombocytopenia and leucopenia.

RESULTS

The relative rates of change in platelet and white blood cell counts tended to increase as the plasma concentration of platinum increased. Furthermore, the rate of change in platelet counts in relation to the area under the curve was greater for the monthly regimen as compared to weekly. On the other hand, the relative rates of change in WBC were nearly the same between the regimens.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings indicate that when using chemotherapy with CDGP for a patient with a cervical carcinoma, a weekly regimen might reduce the severity of thrombocytopenia, while still exhibiting the same therapeutic efficacy as the monthly regimen.

Adaptability of the semi-invariant natural killer T-cell receptor towards structurally diverse CD1d-restricted ligands

The semi-invariant natural killer (NK) T-cell receptor (NKTcr) recognises structurally diverse glycolipid antigens presented by the monomorphic CD1d molecule. While the alpha-chain of the NKTcr is invariant, the beta-chain is more diverse, but how this diversity enables the NKTcr to recognise diverse antigens, such as an alpha-linked monosaccharide (alpha-galactosylceramide and alpha-galactosyldiacylglycerol) and the beta-linked trisaccharide (isoglobotriaosylceramide), is unclear. We demonstrate here that NKTcrs, which varied in their beta-chain usage, recognised diverse glycolipid antigens with a similar binding mode on CD1d. Nevertheless, the NKTcrs recognised distinct epitopic sites within these antigens, including alpha-galactosylceramide, the structurally similar alpha-galactosyldiacylglycerol and the very distinct isoglobotriaosylceramide. We also show that the relative roles of the CDR loops within the NKTcr beta-chain varied as a function of the antigen. Thus, while NKTcrs characteristically use a conserved docking mode, the NKTcr beta-chain allows these cells to recognise unique aspects of structurally diverse CD1d-restricted ligands.

Curative intended radiation therapy for young patients with invasive uterine cervical carcinoma: Clinical outcomes in 105 patients in a Japanese multi-institutional study

e16558

Background: Recently, the number of young patients with invasive uterine cervical carcinoma is increasing in Japan because of earlier sexual activity and low rate of receiving screening test of uterine cervical carcinoma in Japan. However, no large studies have been performed so far to evaluate the clinical outcomes of curative intended radiation therapy for young patients with invasive uterine cervical carcinoma in Japan. Then, the current study was designed. Methods: One hundred and five patients under 40 years old were registered in the mulitiinstitutional study. The median age was 34.5 years old (range: 24–39 years old). According to FIGO, clinical stage was as follows. Stage Ib/IIa/IIb/IIIa/IIIb/IVa were 10/4/38/2/47/3, respectively. The median maximal tumor diameter was 5.5 cm (range: 2–9.2 cm). Curative intended radiation therapy was the combination of high-dose rate intracavitary brachytherapy (HDR-ICBT) combined with external beam radiation therapy (ERT). The total dose of ERT ranged from 44 Gy to 68 Gy. The total dose of HDR-ICBT to point A ranged from 12 Gy to 48 Gy. Eighty five patients received chemotherapy. Results: The 5-year overall survival rate and local control rate of all patients was 58.4 % and 59.3 %, respectively. The 5-year overall survival rates of stage Ib/IIa/IIb/IIIa/IIIb/IVa were 90.0 %/not available (NA)/73.8%/100%/37.4%/0%, respectively. The 5-year local control rates of Stage Ib/IIa/IIb/IIIa/IIIb/IVa were 80.0 %/50.0 %/73.8 %/100 %/54.6 %/NA, respectively. Sixteen patients experienced grade 3 or greater late radiation morbidity. Conclusions: Clinical outcomes of stage I-II in the young were equivalent to the Japanese standard treatment results of all ages. However, clinical outcomes of stage IIIb and IVa in the young were worse than those of all ages (5-year OS of all ages in Japan: IIIb: 50 %, IVa: 25 %).

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Risk factors for severe impetiginized atopic dermatitis in Japan and assessment of its microbiological features

Patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) are susceptible to cutaneous bacterial infection. When such patients develop infection, some have extensive impetiginized dermatitis with high fever. To clarify the risk factors for severe impetiginized AD and its microbiological features, we reviewed clinical and microbiological data of 14 patients with impetiginized AD who were admitted to our hospital between the years 1999 and 2006. All patients had poorly controlled AD with eczematous lesions on the extensive body surface. The mean age was 28.2 years (range 18-35). Cultures of the lesional skin yielded both Streptococcus pyogenes and Staphylococcus aureus in 12 patients. S. pyogenes alone was isolated in two cases. These observations suggest that poorly controlled AD in adults is a risk factor for severe impetiginized AD and that S. pyogenes might play an important role in the development of severe clinical symptoms.

Uniaxial cyclic stretch increases glucose uptake into C2C12 myotubes through a signaling pathway independent of insulin-like growth factor I

Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), an autocrine/paracrine growth factor involved in myogenesis, has rapid effects on muscle metabolism. In a manner analogous to insulin and mechanical stimuli such as stretch, IGF-I stimulates glucose transport through recruitment of glucose transporters to surface membranes in skeletal muscles. It is known that IGF-I is secreted from skeletal muscle cells in response to stretch. Therefore, we examined whether IGF-I is involved in the mechanism by which mechanical stretch regulates glucose transport using cultured C2C12 myotubes. IGF-I increased 2-deoxy- D-glucose (2-DG) uptake, and this created an additive effect with mechanical stretch, suggesting that these stimuli enhance glucose transport through different mechanisms. In fact, IGF-I-stimulated 2-DG uptake was not blocked by dantrolene (an inhibitor of Ca (2+)release from sarcoplasmic reticulum), whereas the stretch-stimulated effect was abolished. Conversely, the IGF-I-stimulated 2-DG uptake was prevented by phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitor wortmannin, which did not prevent the stretch-stimulated 2-DG uptake. In addition, experiments using media conditioned by stretched myotubes indicated that a mechanically induced release of locally acting autocrine/paracrine growth factors was not sufficient for induction of 2-DG uptake. Thus, our results demonstrate that mechanical stretch signaling for glucose transport is independent of the mechanism through which IGF-I increases this transport.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers in human serum and sperm quality

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are widely used flame retardants; currently, they are identified as ubiquitous environmental contaminants. Several studies indicate that PBDEs might affect male fertility. We present the results of a pilot study on the relationship between human serum PBDEs and sperm quality. The PBDE levels in Japan are comparable to those found in European countries. Strong inverse correlations were observed between the serum concentration of 2,2',4,4',5,5'-hexabromodiphenyl ether and sperm concentration (r = -0.841, p = 0.002) and testis size (r = -0.764, p = 0.01). Extensive studies on the relationship between PBDEs and sperm quality are required.

Pontine hypoplasia in children with periventricular leukomalacia

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The brain stem in patients with periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) appears smaller than normal on MR imaging, but few reports have described this feature, and the number of patients has been relatively small. The present study was conducted to examine the hypothesis that the pons in patients with PVL is smaller than normal.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Using MR imaging, we examined 80 children (43 boys and 37 girls) with PVL and 80 age-matched control children (41 boys and 39 girls). The control children were diagnosed as neurologically and developmentally normal by pediatric neurologists and also showed normal MR imaging findings. MR imaging was performed at a corrected age range of 0-5 years in both groups. We measured the anteroposterior diameter of the whole pons, the tegmentum and the basis, and the corpus callosal length by using midline T1-weighted sagittal images and compared each parameter between the PVL groups and the control groups.

RESULTS

Pontine diameters in all of the regions were significantly smaller in the PVL group than in the control group (mean +/- SD, whole pontine diameters, 1.66 +/- 0.21 and 1.87 +/- 0.23 cm [P < .001]; basis diameters, 0.42 +/- 0.10 and 0.51 +/- 0.14 [P < .001]; tegmentum diameters, 1.23 +/- 0.20 and 1.36 +/- 0.19 [P < .001], respectively). The respective corpus callosal lengths were 5.02 +/- 0.90 and 5.51 +/- 0.76 (P < .001). There was no significant difference in the basis/tegmentum ratio between the PVL group and the control group. When the age-related pontine diameter differences were examined, there was already a significant difference at 0 years of age between the 2 groups. There was a significant correlation between whole pontine diameter and corpus callosal length in the PVL group (correlation coefficient, 0.52; P < .001) and the control group (correlation coefficient, 0.63; P < .001).

CONCLUSION

We have proven that pontine diameter in patients with PVL is significantly smaller than that in normal control subjects, including each diameter of basis and tegmentum.

Phase II study of radiation therapy combined with weekly nedaplatin in locally advanced uterine cervical carcinoma (LAUCC): Kitasato Gynecologic Radiation Oncology Group (KGROG 0501)--initial analysis

OBJECTIVE

Locally advanced uterine cervical carcinoma (LAUCC) treated with chemoradiotherapy is considered to be the standard treatment regimen. However, no evidence of its efficacy and safety has been obtained from the Japanese population. Furthermore, the total dose of Japanese radiation therapy protocol is less than that of the USA which indicated that chemoradiotherapy for LAUCC is better than radiation therapy alone by phase III clinical trials. Thus, the current phase II study was designed to evaluate chemoradiotherapy with a lower radiation dose for LAUCC using weekly nedaplatin effectively and safely in the Japanese population. Nedaplatin is a platinum drug and no hydration is required to infuse patients because it is less toxic on renal function. If this phase II trial is successful, chemoradiotherapy for LAUCC in out-patient clinics could be possible.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients registered in the current study were found to have LAUCC based on the following criteria i) pathologically proven squamous cell carcinoma or adenocarcinoma, ii) FIGO clinical Stage Ib, IIa, IIb with bulky tumor (diameter > 40 mm assessed by pelvic magnetic resonance imaging) or pelvic lymph node swelling (diameter > 10 mm assessed by pelvic computed tomography); iii) FIGO clinical Stage IIIa, IIIb and IVa with no paraaortic lymph node swelling (diameter > 10 mm) observed by abdominal computed tomography; iv) age: 20-75 years; v) performance status: 0-2. The treatment protocol was as follows: Radiation therapy in a combination of external beam radiation therapy (total dose: 50 Gy-52 Gy/25-27 fractions with central shielding after 30-32 Gy) with high-dose rate intracavitary irradiation (24-30 Gy/4-6 fractions to point A). Chemotherapy applied in the current study was weekly nedaplatin infused intravenously (30 mg/mm2/time, once a week, total 150 mg/mm2/5 weeks). Sample size in the current study was 45 LAUCC patients recruited for three years at a single institution. This protocol was permitted by the ethics committee of Kitasato University Hospital.

RESULTS

Ten patients were registered in this study between June 2005 and March 2006. The median age was 57.5 years (range 36-73). PS0 was five and PS1 was five. As for clinical stage, nine were IIIb and only one was IIb. Nine patients were proven to have squamous cell carcinoma and one adenocarcinoma. The median maximum tumor diameter was 62.5 mm (range 30-100 mm). As for initial response, eight had CR and two had PR (100% response rate). As for hematological acute morbidity, three were grade 2, six were grade 3, and one was grade 4.

CONCLUSIONS

This initial analysis of the phase II study confirmed that concurrent chemoradiotherapy using nedaplatin is safe and efficacious, thus we decided to undergo further studies.