Macrophage- and RIP3-dependent inflammasome activation exacerbates retinal detachment-induced photoreceptor cell death

Detachment of photoreceptors from the retinal pigment epithelium is seen in various retinal disorders, resulting in photoreceptor death and subsequent vision loss. Cell death results in the release of endogenous molecules that activate molecular platforms containing caspase-1, termed inflammasomes. Inflammasome activation in retinal diseases has been reported in some cases to be protective and in others to be detrimental, causing neuronal cell death. Moreover, the cellular source of inflammasomes in retinal disorders is not clear. Here, we demonstrate that patients with photoreceptor injury by retinal detachment (RD) have increased levels of cleaved IL-1β, an end product of inflammasome activation. In an animal model of RD, photoreceptor cell death led to activation of endogenous inflammasomes, and this activation was diminished by Rip3 deletion. The major source of Il1b expression was found to be infiltrating macrophages in the subretinal space, rather than dying photoreceptors. Inflammasome inhibition attenuated photoreceptor death after RD. Our data implicate the infiltrating macrophages as a source of damaging inflammasomes after photoreceptor detachment in a RIP3-dependent manner and suggest a novel therapeutic target for treatment of retinal diseases.

The effect of changing toe direction on knee kinematics during drop vertical jump: a possible risk factor for anterior cruciate ligament injury

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of changing toe direction on knee kinetics and kinematics associated with anterior cruciate ligament injury during drop vertical jumps.

METHODS

Fourteen females performed drop vertical jumps under three toe conditions (natural, toe-in, and toe-out). The knee kinetics and kinematics during landing were evaluated using a motion analysis system. Results under three toe conditions were compared using a one-way repeated measures analysis of variance and a post hoc Bonferroni test.

RESULTS

Toe-in landing was associated with a significantly greater knee abduction angle, tibial internal rotation angle, and knee abduction moment than the natural and toe-out conditions. Toe-out landing was associated with significantly greater tibial internal rotational angular velocity.

CONCLUSIONS

Changing toe direction significantly affects knee kinetics and kinematics during landing. It is important to avoid changing toe direction excessively inward or outward during landing to prevent the increases in knee abduction and tibial internal rotation which might increase the risk of ACL injury.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Prognosis, Level IV.

Non-invasive electrical and magnetic stimulation of the brain, spinal cord, roots and peripheral nerves: Basic principles and procedures for routine clinical and research application. An updated report from an I.F.C.N. Committee

These guidelines provide an up-date of previous IFCN report on “Non-invasive electrical and magnetic stimulation of the brain, spinal cord and roots: basic principles and procedures for routine clinical application” (Rossini et al., 1994). A new Committee, composed of international experts, some of whom were in the panel of the 1994 “Report”, was selected to produce a current state-of-the-art review of non-invasive stimulation both for clinical application and research in neuroscience.

Since 1994, the international scientific community has seen a rapid increase in non-invasive brain stimulation in studying cognition, brain–behavior relationship and pathophysiology of various neurologic and psychiatric disorders. New paradigms of stimulation and new techniques have been developed. Furthermore, a large number of studies and clinical trials have demonstrated potential therapeutic applications of non-invasive brain stimulation, especially for TMS. Recent guidelines can be found in the literature covering specific aspects of non-invasive brain stimulation, such as safety (Rossi et al., 2009), methodology (Groppa et al., 2012) and therapeutic applications (Lefaucheur et al., 2014).

This up-dated review covers theoretical, physiological and practical aspects of non-invasive stimulation of brain, spinal cord, nerve roots and peripheral nerves in the light of more updated knowledge, and include some recent extensions and developments.

Clinical significance of ERG rearrangement subtype and its association with increased p53 expression in Japanese and German prostate cancer

This study investigated differences in prevalence of the androgen-regulated transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2) and ETS transcription factor family member, v-ets erythroblastosis virus E26 oncogene homolog (ERG) fusion gene (TMPRSS2-ERG fusions) in clinically localized prostate cancer Japanese and German patients. A total of 105 specimens, including 69 Japanese and 36 German patients, were collected. The status of TMPRSS2-ERG fusion was determined by fluorescence in situ hybridization, and correlations of the TMPRSS2-ERG fusion with clinicopathological characteristics and immunohistochemistry were studied. Gene fusions were identified in 20% (14/69) of Japanese and 53% (19/36) of German patients (P < 0.001). The difference in the type of gene fusion between the two ethnic groups was statistically significant (P=0.024). Overexpression of ERG protein was significantly associated with gene fusion. Biochemical recurrence was significantly higher in patients with ERG overexpression than in those without, and not related to TMPRSS2-ERG fusion status. Interestingly, two types of gene fusions (deletion and increase of copy number) were significantly associated with increased p53 expression (P = 0.005). Association of specific gene fusions harboring higher genomic alterations with p53 expression levels suggests that p53 mutation might drive more aggressive arrangements of TMPRSS2-ERG fusion in prostate cancer.

KEYWORDS

ERG, p53, prostate cancer, TMPRSS2-ERG fusion.

Clinical efficacy and treatment persistence of monthly minodronate for osteoporotic patients unsatisfied with, and shifted from, daily or weekly bisphosphonates: the BP-MUSASHI study

This multi-center, prospective, open-label, observational study evaluated the effects of once-monthly minodronate (50 mg) on treatment persistence, bone turnover markers, bone mineral density, low back pain, and upper gastrointestinal symptoms in outpatients with osteoporosis previously treated with daily or weekly bisphosphonate products.

INTRODUCTION

The purposes of this study were to investigate the effects of once-monthly oral minodronate (MIN 50 mg) on bone turnover markers and bone mineral density, low back pain, and upper gastrointestinal symptoms, as well as preference for and treatment persistence of MIN 50 mg among Japanese osteoporosis patients currently treated with daily or weekly bisphosphonates.

METHODS

Study patients were allocated based on their preference to either the Switch group (patients willing to switch over to MIN 50 mg) or the Continue group (patients wanting to continue their current therapies). Patients' treatment persistence and satisfaction levels with the therapies were assessed using a self-administered questionnaire. The study endpoints were serum TRACP-5b, serum P1NP, bone mineral density, upper gastrointestinal symptoms, and low back pain.

RESULTS

In total, 264 and 133 patients were allocated into the Switch and Continue groups, respectively. Approximately, 65 % of patients were willing to switch to MIN 50 mg, with the predominant reason being "less frequent dosing more convenient." Treatment persistence was significantly higher in the Switch group (MIN 50 mg) than the Continue group. Almost all patients with abnormal bone metabolism markers demonstrated normalization after switchover. MIN 50 mg alleviated low back pain and upper gastrointestinal symptoms induced by prior bisphosphonate use.

CONCLUSIONS

MIN 50 mg alleviates low back pain, reduces bone turnover markers and increases bone density, and induces fewer upper gastrointestinal symptoms after switchover from prior bisphosphonate products, and therefore, it may provide patients with a more convenient treatment option and enhance long-term treatment persistence.

Metabolic enrichment of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids does not reduce the onset of idiopathic knee osteoarthritis in mice

OBJECTIVE

We evaluated the effect of a reduction in the systemic ratio of n-6:n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) on changes in inflammation, glucose metabolism, and the idiopathic development of knee osteoarthritis (OA) in mice. We hypothesized that a lower ratio of n-6:n-3 PUFAs would protect against OA markers in cartilage and synovium, but not bone.

DESIGN

Male and female fat-1 transgenic mice (Fat-1), which convert dietary n-6 to n-3 PUFAs endogenously, and their wild-type (WT) littermates were fed an n-6 PUFA enriched diet for 9-14 months. The effect of gender and genotype on serum PUFAs, interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and glucose tolerance was tested by 2-factor analysis of variance (ANOVA). Cortical and trabecular subchondral bone changes were documented by micro-focal computed tomography (CT), and knee OA was assessed by semi-quantitative histomorphometry grading.

RESULTS

The n-6:n-3 ratio was reduced 12-fold and 7-fold in male and female Fat-1 mice, respectively, compared to WT littermates. IL-6 and TNF-α levels were reduced modestly in Fat-1 mice. However, these systemic changes did not reduce osteophyte development, synovial hyperplasia, or cartilage degeneration. Also the fat-1 transgene did not alter subchondral cortical or trabecular bone morphology or bone mineral density.

CONCLUSIONS

Reducing the systemic n-6:n-3 ratio does not slow idiopathic changes in cartilage, synovium, or bone associated with early-stage knee OA in mice. The anti-inflammatory and anti-catabolic effects of n-3 PUFAs previously reported for cartilage may be more evident at later stages of disease or in post-traumatic and other inflammatory models of OA.

Mammalian STE20-like kinase 2, not kinase 1, mediates photoreceptor cell death during retinal detachment

Photoreceptor cell death is the definitive cause of vision loss in retinal detachment (RD). Mammalian STE20-like kinase (MST) is a master regulator of both cell death and proliferation and a critical factor in development and tumorigenesis. However, to date the role of MST in neurodegeneration has not been fully explored. Utilizing MST1^−/− and MST2^−/− mice we identified MST2, but not MST1, as a regulator of photoreceptor cell death in a mouse model of RD. MST2^−/− mice demonstrated significantly decreased photoreceptor cell death and outer nuclear layer (ONL) thinning after RD. Additionally, caspase-3 activation was attenuated in MST2^−/− mice compared to control mice after RD. The transcription of p53 upregulated modulator of apoptosis (PUMA) and Fas was also reduced in MST2^−/− mice post-RD. Retinas of MST2^−/− mice displayed suppressed nuclear relocalization of phosphorylated YAP after RD. Consistent with the reduction of photoreceptor cell death, MST2^−/− mice showed decreased levels of proinflammatory cytokines such as monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 and interleukin 6 as well as attenuated inflammatory CD11b cell infiltration during the early phase of RD. These results identify MST2, not MST1, as a critical regulator of caspase-mediated photoreceptor cell death in the detached retina and indicate its potential as a future neuroprotection target.

GLCCI1 variant accelerates pulmonary function decline in patients with asthma receiving inhaled corticosteroids

BACKGROUND

In steroid-naive patients with asthma, several gene variants are associated with a short-term response to inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) treatment; this has mostly been observed in Caucasians. However, not many studies have been conducted for other ethnicities. Here, we aimed to determine the relationship between the annual decline in forced expiratory flow volume in one second (FEV1 ) and the variant of the glucocorticoid-induced transcript 1 gene (GLCCI1) in Japanese patients with asthma receiving long-term ICS treatment, taking into account the effect of high serum periostin levels, a known association factor of pulmonary function decline and a marker of refractory eosinophilic/Th2 inflammation.

METHODS

In this study, 224 patients with asthma receiving ICS treatment for at least 4 years were enrolled. The effects of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in GLCCI1, stress-induced phosphoprotein 1 (STIP1), and T gene on the decline in FEV1 of 30 ml/year or greater were determined.

RESULTS

Besides the known contributing factors, that is, the most intensive treatment step, ex-smoking, and high serum periostin levels (≥95 ng/ml), the GG genotype of GLCCI1 rs37973, and not other SNPs, was independently associated with a decline in FEV1 of 30 ml/year or greater. When patients were stratified according to their serum periostin levels, the GG genotype of rs37973 was significantly associated with blood eosinophilia (≥250/μl) in the high serum periostin group.

CONCLUSIONS

A GLCCI1 variant is a risk factor of pulmonary function decline in Japanese patients with asthma receiving long-term ICS treatment. Thus, GLCCI1 may be associated with response to ICS across ethnicities.

Dobutamine stress echocardiography for assessment of systolic function in dogs with experimentally induced mitral regurgitation

Background

Systolic dysfunction is associated with poor outcomes in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease. However, assessment of systolic variables by conventional echocardiographic methods is difficult in these dogs because of mitral regurgitation (MR).

Hypothesis

We hypothesized that assessment of systolic function by dobutamine stress may identify systolic dysfunction in dogs with MR, and that 2‐dimensional speckle‐tracking echocardiography (2D‐STE) could quantitatively evaluate myocardial function.

Animals

Anesthetized dogs with experimentally induced MR.

Methods

Dogs were examined for systolic myocardial deformations using 2D‐STE during dobutamine infusion before and 3 and 6 months after MR induction. We evaluated peak systolic rotation and rotation rate in each basal and apical view; peak systolic torsion and torsion rate were also calculated.

Results

Invasive peak positive first derivatives of left ventricular pressure (dp/dt) were significantly decreased in dogs 6 months after induction of MR compared with pre‐MR results. After 3 and 6 months of MR, dogs had diminished peak systolic torsion values and torsion rates in response to dobutamine infusion compared with pre‐MR results (3 months, P < .001 and P = .006; 6 months, P = .003 and P = .021). These results were significantly correlated with overall invasive dp/dt (r = 0.644, P < .001; r = 0.696, P < .001).

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Decreased torsion during dobutamine infusion in dogs with MR may reflect latent systolic dysfunction. Dobutamine infusion, therefore, may be useful for the assessment of systolic function in dogs with MR.

Smoking attenuates the age-related decrease in IgE levels and maintains eosinophilic inflammation

BACKGROUND

Epidemiological studies have shown that smoking increases the propensity for atopy and asthma. However, the effects of smoking on atopy and eosinophilic inflammation in asthmatics, including the elderly, remain unknown.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the effects of smoking on serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels and eosinophilic inflammation in asthmatics of all ages.

METHODS

The associations of serum IgE levels, blood eosinophil counts and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) levels with smoking and age in steroid-naive asthmatics were cross-sectionally assessed (n = 307). Levels of sputum eosinophil and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) that promotes Th2 inflammation were also analysed. Current smokers were excluded when analysing contributing factors of FeNO.

RESULTS

Levels of serum IgE, blood eosinophil and FeNO decreased with increasing age in never-smokers, whereas decrease in serum IgE levels with increasing age was not observed in current smokers. In addition, current smoking was associated with higher blood eosinophil counts. In atopic asthmatics, age-related declines in serum IgE levels were less steep in ex-smokers than in never-smokers, and atopic ex-smokers with asthma showed higher blood eosinophil counts and higher FeNO irrespective of age. Lastly, sputum TSLP levels were associated with sputum eosinophil proportions and pack-years. Current and ex-smokers had higher TSLP levels than never-smokers.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE

In steroid-naive asthmatics, smoking may attenuate the age-related decrease in IgE levels and maintain eosinophilic inflammation, in which TSLP may be involved.

Extravillous trophoblast cell invasion is promoted by the CD44-hyaluronic acid interaction

INTRODUCTION

Extravillous trophoblast (EVT) cell invasion plays a crucial role in establishment of successful pregnancy. CD44, a cell-surface receptor for hyaluronic acid (HA), plays a key role in HA-mediated remodeling and degradation that triggers cancer cell invasion. However, few studies have reported on the expression or functions of CD44 in human EVT cells. We hypothesized that CD44-HA interaction was involved in invasion by EVT cells.

METHODS

To test our hypothesis, we conducted in situ examinations of CD44 and HA expression in the human first-trimester placenta. We also assessed the methylation status of CD44 promoter and exon 1 regions in EVT cells. Finally, we conducted transwell cell invasion assays using EVT cell lines and EVT cells isolated from first-trimester human villous explant cultures.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

EVT cells, but not villous trophoblast cells, in the first-trimester placenta expressed CD44. HA was strongly expressed in adventitia surrounding the spiral uterine arterial walls of the decidua. The extent of demethylation of CD44 promoter and exon 1 CpG islands was increased in EVT cells compared to those of first-trimester chorionic villi (including villous trophoblast cells), suggesting that CD44 expression was, at least in part, associated with methylation status. Data from transwell cell invasion assay with siRNA knockdown of CD44 revealed that CD44 expression significantly promoted invasion by EVT cells in an HA-dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONS

The discovery of a CD44-HA interaction between EVT cells and the extracellular matrix contributes to our understanding of the mechanism underlying invasion by EVT cells.