Analysis of plasma calprotectin and polymorphisms of S100A8 in patients with aggressive periodontitis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Calprotectin is an important proinflammatory mediator in various inflammatory diseases and is composed of two subunits (S100A8 and S100A9). However, the level of calprotectin in plasma of patients with aggressive periodontitis and its relationship with gene polymorphisms of S100A8 are unclear.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The plasma concentrations of calprotectin were measured, using an enzyme immunoassay, in 139 patients with aggressive periodontitis and in 88 periodontally healthy control subjects. These patients were genotyped for the rs3795391 and rs3806232 polymorphisms of S100A8.

RESULTS

The plasma concentration of calprotectin in patients with aggressive periodontitis was significantly higher than in controls (2.17 mg/L vs. 1.72 mg/L, respectively, p = 0.001). The percentage of the AA genotype of S100A8 rs3795391 was significantly higher in patients than in controls (82% vs. 69.3%, respectively, p = 0.027), while the frequency of the allele G was decreased among patients compared with controls (9.6% vs. 16.1%, respectively, p = 0.036), which was especially apparent in men (rs3795391 genotype, p = 0.005; rs3795391 allele, p = 0.015). The mean probing depth in patients carrying the AA genotype was significantly higher than that of patients carrying the GA + GG genotype of two polymorphisms of S100A8 (rs3795391, p = 0.035; rs3806232, p = 0.040), whereas the levels of calprotectin between different genotypes were not significantly different (rs3795391, p = 0.11; rs3806232, p = 0.15).

CONCLUSION

These findings indicate that aggressive periodontitis is associated with elevated levels of plasma calprotectin and that gene polymorphisms of S100A8 may influence the susceptibility and severity of aggressive periodontitis.

Gene expression profile in the liver tissue of geese after overfeeding

Geese form a fatty liver after feeding on a carbohydrate-rich diet, possibly as an evolutionary adaptation to accumulate reserves for migration. To gain insight into the gene-regulation processes of hepatic steatosis in geese, we examined the profile of transcriptional expression in goose fatty liver and control liver by suppression subtractive hybridization and measured the levels of serum biochemical variables. We found 107 genes whose expression was different between the treatment and control groups. The main functions of these genes are metabolic processes, including the metabolism of carbohydrates, amino acids, and lipids. Twenty-four genes were classified using the Kyoto Encyclopaedia of Genes and Genomes pathways. Twelve genes that related to metabolic and cellular processes were confirmed by quantitative RT-PCR. A specific positive effect of feeding was observed on the expression of genes involved mainly in unsaturated fatty acids and triglyceride synthesis, and a negative effect was observed on genes involved in β-oxidation, cholesterol metabolism, and glycolysis. The results could serve as an important reference for the development of goose breeding for fatty liver production and human liver disease research.

Abstract P1-14-01: Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase (PI3K) Pathway Activation in Breast Cancer Brain Metastases

Background:

Brain metastases (BM) are a devastating consequence of advanced breast cancer (BC) for which novel, targeted therapies are urgently needed. The PI3K pathway plays a critical role in the initiation and progression of BC. Alterations in this pathway are implicated in approximately 50% of BC. The role of PI3K activation in BCBM has yet to be explored. Material and Methods:

Under IRB approval (UNC and Duke), we established a clinically-annotated tumor bank including 54 BCBM and 15 matched primary BC. Activation of the PI3K pathway including pAKT, pS6K, and PTEN was assessed via immunohistochemistry (IHC, score 0-3+). BC subtype was assigned by IHC: HR+ (hormone receptor, ER+ and/or PR+)/HER2-, triple-negative (TN; ER-/PR-/HER2-), and HR +or-/HER2+. Overall survival (OS), recurrence patterns and survival following BM was evaluated by the Kaplan-Meier method and compared by the log-rank test.

Results:

Median age was 48 years (range 26-72). Sixty-eight percent of patients (pts) were Caucasian, 30% African-American, and 2% other ethnicities. At median follow-up of 5.9 years (yrs), 70% (38/54) of pts had died. BC subtype was confirmed among 47 pts: 30% (14/47) HR+/HER2-, 45% (21/47) TN and 25% (12/47) HR +or-/HER2+. Subtype concordance between primary BC and BM was 89% (8/9). High expression (IHC score 2-3+) of pAKT and pS6K was observed in 50% (27/54) and 72% (38/54) of the BCBM, respectively. Low expression of PTEN (IHC score 0-1) was observed in 31% (17/54) of BCBM. Concordance of PI3K biomarkers between primary BC and matched BCBM was 47% (7/15), 40% (6/15) and 80% (12/15) for pAKT, pS6K and PTEN, respectively. Both gain and loss of protein expression between primary BC and BCBM was observed in each biomarker evaluated. No significant correlation between BC subtypes and activation status of the PI3K pathway (IHC score 0-1 vs. 2-3+) was observed for pAKT, pS6K or PTEN. Median OS was 7.09 yrs (3.52, 9.21), 4.27 yrs (95% CI 1.84, 5.18), and not reached (NR) for HR+/HER2-, TN and HR +or-/HER2+, respectively (p=0.009). Median OS after BCBM diagnosis was 1.54 yrs (0.27, 2.45), 0.91 yrs (0.51, 1.49) and NR for HR+/HER2-, TN and HR +or-/HER2+, respectively (p=0.0003). Expression (0-1+ vs. 2-3+) of pAKT and pS6K in BCBM was not predictive of OS, time to BCBM recurrence or survival after BCBM (all P>0.1). Although not predictive of inferior survival following BCBM (1.2 vs. 1.5 yrs, p=0.7), low expression (0-1+ vs. 2-3+) of PTEN in BCBM predicted for inferior OS from primary BC diagnosis (5.1 vs. 6.3 yrs, p=0.03) and shorter time to BCBM (2.5 vs. 3.4 yrs, p=0.008). Conclusions:

The PI3K pathway is active in most BCBM regardless of subtype. Considerable discordance exists between PI3K pathway biomarkers in the primary BC and BCBM from the same patient. Low expression of PTEN in BCBM may be prognostic. Given that small molecule inhibitors of the PI3K pathway in clinical development cross the blood brain barrier, inhibition of the PI3K pathway represents a promising therapeutic strategy for a group of patients whose prognosis is poor and for whom systemic therapies are limited.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2010;70(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P1-14-01.

Inhibition of autophagy induced by overexpression of mda-7/interleukin-24 strongly augments the antileukemia activity in vitro and in vivo

Melanoma differentiation-associated gene-7/interleukin-24 (mda-7/IL-24) is a novel candidate of tumor suppressor that can selectively induce apoptosis experimentally in a spectrum of human cancer cells including leukemia cells. However, a recent study suggests that mda-7/IL-24 promotes the survival of chronic lymphocytic leukemia B-cells. In this study, we showed that mda-7/IL-24 was constitutively expressed in leukemia cell lines and primary acute myeloid leukemia samples. Using a conditionally replicating adenovirus expressing mda-7/IL-24 (ZD55-IL-24), we showed that enforced expression of mda-7/IL-24 in leukemia cells induced autophagy, which was triggered by the upregulation of Beclin-1. Immunofluorescence and coimmunoprecipitation studies suggested that mda-7/IL-24 protein interacts with Beclin-1. Class III PI3K/Beclin-1 complex was shown involved in the mda-7/IL-24-induced autophagy. Moreover, autophagy inhibition by phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitor, wortmannin, resulted in a reduced Beclin-1 expression and autophagosome formation associated with significantly enhanced cell death. Importantly, the combination of ZD55-IL-24 with wortmannin elicited a strongly enhanced antileukemia efficacy in established leukemia xenografts. These results suggest that mda-7/IL-24-induced autophagy in leukemia cells may provide survival advantage and mda-7/IL-24 combined with agents that disrupt autophagy is a promising new strategy for the treatment of leukemia.

Differential expression of sphingosine-1-phosphate receptors 1-5 in the developing nervous system

Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) binds to G protein-coupled receptors and can regulate a wide range of cellular functions. In a previous study, we isolated two key enzymes in the S1P pathway that were expressed in migrating neural crest cells. To determine if S1P receptors are present in neural crest cells or peripheral nervous system, we examine the expression patterns of S1P receptors (S1pr1-5) in mouse, and s1pr1 and s1pr3 in chick embryos. Here, we present a comprehensive expression analysis of these receptors using in situ hybridizations, which provide spatiotemporal information. We showed that S1pr2 was expressed in migrating cranial neural crest cells and enteric neurons. S1pr1 was prominently expressed in the neuroepithelium whereas S1pr4 and S1pr5 were in neurons at later stages. On the contrary, S1pr3 was predominantly detected in non-neuronal cells within and surrounding neural structures. We also described novel expression sites for S1P receptors in the developing nervous system.

Monophyletic origin of domestic bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus) and its evolutionary relationship with the extant wild camel (Camelus bactrianus ferus)

The evolutionary relationship between the domestic bactrian camel and the extant wild two-humped camel and the factual origin of the domestic bactrian camel remain elusive. We determined the sequence of mitochondrial cytb gene from 21 camel samples, including 18 domestic camels (three Camelus bactrianus xinjiang, three Camelus bactrianus sunite, three Camelus bactrianus alashan, three Camelus bactrianus red, three Camelus bactrianus brown and three Camelus bactrianus normal) and three wild camels (Camelus bactrianus ferus). Our phylogenetic analyses revealed that the extant wild two-humped camel may not share a common ancestor with the domestic bactrian camel and they are not the same subspecies at least in their maternal origins. Molecular clock analysis based on complete mitochondrial genome sequences indicated that the sub-speciation of the two lineages had begun in the early Pleistocene, about 0.7 million years ago. According to the archaeological dating of the earliest known two-humped camel domestication (5000-6000 years ago), we could conclude that the extant wild camel is a separate lineage but not the direct progenitor of the domestic bactrian camel. Further phylogenetic analysis suggested that the bactrian camel appeared monophyletic in evolutionary origin and that the domestic bactrian camel could originate from a single wild population. The data presented here show how conservation strategies should be implemented to protect the critically endangered wild camel, as it is the last extant form of the wild tribe Camelina.

Inhibition of gene expression directed by small interfering RNAs in infectious bronchitis virus

In this study, fourteen small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) were synthesized for targeting of coding gene sequences, specific 5'-leader sequence of mRNA and 3'-end sequence of the Infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) genome. The expression of viral genes in Vero-E6 cells was detected by real-time PCR. Obtained results indicated that the majority of siRNAs could effectively inhibit the expression of viral genes. The inhibition effect of siRNAs significantly differed among various genes and sites on the virus genome.

Pretreatment social functioning predicts 1-year outcome in early onset psychosis

OBJECTIVE

The aim was to investigate the association of pretreatment social functioning (12 months before initial presentation) with symptom dimensions and social functioning at 1-year follow-up.

METHOD

Fifty-six adolescents, age 14-18, first admitted for early onset psychosis, were evaluated at baseline and 1-year follow-up assessing psychopathology (PANSS), social functioning (Strauss and Carpenter Prognostic Scale), and duration of untreated psychosis (DUP).

RESULTS

Adolescents with low pretreatment social functioning were at risk of more severe negative symptoms and lower social functioning at follow-up. Negative symptoms at baseline were less predictive and DUP was not predictive in this sample.

CONCLUSION

Results of this study suggest a strong longitudinal inter-relatedness between social functioning and negative symptoms in this age group. An integrative treatment approach including family interventions, social skills training, long-term specialized work/school rehabilitation, and adequate antipsychotic treatment is warranted to improve both, social functioning and negative symptoms.

Saccular aneurysms on straight and curved vessels are subject to different hemodynamics: implications of intravascular stenting

Our aim was to examine hemodynamic implications of intravascular stenting in the canine venous pouch (sidewall or straight-vessel) and rabbit elastase (curved-vessel) aneurysm models. Flow dynamics in stented (Wallstent) and nonstented versions were studied by using computational fluid dynamics simulations and in vitro flow visualization, with a focus on stent placement effects on aneurysmal flow stagnancy and flow impingement. Results show that sidewall and curved aneurysm models have fundamentally different hemodynamics (shear-driven versus inertia-driven) and thus stent placement outcomes.

Photodynamic therapy increases brain edema and intracranial pressure in a rabbit brain tumor model

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of a single photodynamic therapy (PDT) on brain edema and intracranial pressure (ICP) in a rabbit model of brain tumor. A total of 57 adult New Zealand rabbits were assigned to 3 groups: the PDT group, the tumor group, and the tumor plus PDT group. Rabbits in the PDT group (n = 9) received PDT but no tumor implantation; rabbits in the tumor group (n = 18) received VX2 carcinoma implantation but no PDT; rabbits in the tumor plus PDT group (n = 30) received tumor implantation with subsequent PDT 16 days later. Brain edema and ICP levels were then evaluated. We found that ICP in the PDT group was 7.43 +/- 0.50 mmHg. After tumor implantation, ICP increased rapidly (18.43 +/- 1.10 mmHg, 21 days later). PDT alone did not increase ICP, but compared with that in the tumor group, ICP increased significantly in the tumor plus PDT group (9.55 +/- 1.32 vs. 13.31 +/- 1.13 mmHg, p < 0.01) 24 hours after treatment. Brain water content in the tumor group increased rapidly after tumor implantation. PDT again increased perineoplastic brain edema 24 hours after treatment (81.09 +/- 0.97% vs. 78.32 +/- 0.49%, p < 0.01). It should be noted that PDT alone did not induce brain edema. In conclusion, PDT causes transient brain edema and increases ICP in a rabbit brain tumor model.

Photobiomodulation partially rescues visual cortical neurons from cyanide-induced apoptosis

Near-infrared light via light-emitting diode treatment has documented therapeutic effects on neurons functionally inactivated by tetrodotoxin or methanol intoxication. Light-emitting diode pretreatment also reduced potassium cyanide-induced cell death, but the mode of death via the apoptotic or necrotic pathway was unclear. The current study tested our hypothesis that light-emitting diode rescues neurons from apoptotic cell death. Primary neuronal cultures from postnatal rat visual cortex were pretreated with light-emitting diode for 10 min at a total energy density of 30 J/cm2 before exposing to potassium cyanide for 28 h. With 100 or 300 microM potassium cyanide, neurons died mainly via the apoptotic pathway, as confirmed by electron microscopy, Hoechst 33258, single-stranded DNA, Bax, and active caspase-3. In the presence of caspase inhibitor I, the percentage of apoptotic cells in 300microM potassium cyanide was significantly decreased. Light-emitting diode pretreatment reduced apoptosis from 36% to 17.9% (100 microM potassium cyanide) and from 58.9% to 39.6% (300 microM potassium cyanide), representing a 50.3% and 32.8% reduction, respectively. Light-emitting diode pretreatment significantly decreased the expression of caspase-3 elicited by potassium cyanide. It also reversed the potassium cyanide-induced increased expression of Bax and decreased expression of Bcl-2 to control levels. Moreover, light-emitting diode decreased the intensity of 5-(and -6) chloromethy-2', 7-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate acetyl ester, a marker of reactive oxygen species, in neurons exposed to 300 microM potassium cyanide. These results indicate that light-emitting diode pretreatment partially protects neurons against cyanide-induced caspase-mediated apoptosis, most likely by decreasing reactive oxygen species production, down-regulating pro-apoptotic proteins and activating anti-apoptotic proteins, as well as increasing energy metabolism in neurons as reported previously.

In vitro induction of tetraploid plants from diploid Zizyphus jujuba Mill. cv. Zhanhua

Tetraploid plants of Zizyphus jujuba Mill. cv. Zhanhua were obtained with in vitro colchicine treatment. Shoot tips from in vitro-grown plants were treated with five different concentrations of colchicine (0.01, 0.03, 0.05, 0.1, 0.3%) in liquid MS medium (Murashige and Skoog 1962), and shaken (100 rpm) at 25 degrees C in darkness for 24, 48, 72 or 96 h, respectively. Tetraploids were obtained at a frequency of over 3% by using 0.05% colchicine (48 h, 72 h) and 0.1% colchicine (24 h, 48 h) treatment as determined by flow cytometry. Cytological and morphological evidence confirmed the results of flow cytometric analysis. The chromosome number of diploid plants was 24 and that of tetraploid plants was 48. The stomata sizes of tetraploid plants were significantly larger than those of diploid plants, while the frequency of stomata were reduced significantly. Similarly, the chloroplast number of guard cells of tetraploid plants increased significantly. The selected tetraploid plants were grafted onto mature trees of Z. jujuba Mill. cv. Zhanhua in the field, resulted in thicker stems, rounder and succulent leaves, larger flowers and a delay in florescence time (3-4 days later) than diploid plants.

Identifying potential risk haplotypes for schizophrenia at the DTNBP1 locus in Han Chinese and Scottish populations

The dystrobrevin-binding protein 1 (DTNBP1) gene on chromosome 6p has emerged as a potential susceptibility gene for schizophrenia. Although a number of attempts to replicate the original association finding have been successful, they have not identified any obvious pathogenic variants or a single at risk haplotype common to all populations studied. In the present study we attempted further replication in an independent sample of 638 nuclear families from the Han Chinese population of Sichuan Province, SW China. We also examined 580 Scottish schizophrenic cases and 620 controls. We genotyped 10 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in DTNBP1 that were used in the original report of association, plus rs2619538 (SNP 'A') in the putative promoter region, which has also been associated with schizophrenia. In the Chinese trios we found that two SNPs (P1635 and P1765) were significantly overtransmitted, but with alleles opposite to those reported in the original studies. SNPs P1757 and P1765 formed a common haplotype, which also showed significant overtransmission. In the Scottish cases and controls, no individual markers were significantly associated with schizophrenia. A single haplotype, which included rs2619538 and P1583, and one rare haplotype, composed of P1320 and P1757, were significantly associated with schizophrenia, but no previously reported haplotypes were associated. Based on the data from the Chinese population, our results provide statistical support for DTNBP1 as a susceptibility gene for schizophrenia, albeit with haplotypes different from those of the original study. However, our lack of replication in the Scottish samples also indicates that caution is warranted when evaluating the robustness of the evidence for DTNBP1 as genetic risk factor for schizophrenia.

Association analysis of the RGS4 gene in Han Chinese and Scottish populations with schizophrenia

We investigated the RGS4 as a susceptibility gene for schizophrenia in Chinese Han (184 trios and 138 sibling pairs, a total of 322 families) and Scottish (580 cases and 620 controls) populations using both a family trio and case-control design. Both the samples had statistical power greater than 70% to detect a heterozygote genotype relative risk of >1.2 for frequent RGS4-risk alleles. We genotyped four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) which have previously been associated with schizophrenia as either individually or part of haplotypes. Allele frequencies and linkage disequilibrium between the SNPs was similar in the two populations. In the Chinese sample, no individual SNPs or any of their haplotypes were associated with schizophrenia. In the Scottish population, one SNP (SNP7) was significantly over-represented in the cases compared with the controls (0.44 vs. 0.38; A allele; chi(2) 7.08, P = 0.011 after correction for correlation between markers by permutation testing). One two-marker haplotype, composed of alleles T and A of SNP4 and SNP7, respectively, showed individual significance after correction by permutation testing (chi(2) 6.8; P = 0.04). None of the full four-marker haplotypes showed association, including the G-G-G-G haplotype previously associated with schizophrenia in more than one sample and the A-T-A-A haplotype. Thus, our data do not directly replicate previous associations of RGS4, but association with SNP 7 in the Scottish population provides some support for a role in schizophrenia susceptibility. We cannot conclusively exclude RGS4, as associated haplotypes are likely to be surrogates for unknown causative alleles, whose relationship with overlying haplotypes may differ between the population groups. Differences in the association seen across the two populations could result from methodological factors such as diagnostic differences but most likely result from ethnic differences in haplotype structures within RGS4.