Brain imaging in methamphetamine-treated mice using a nitroxide contrast agent for EPR imaging of the redox status and a gadolinium contrast agent for MRI observation of blood-brain barrier function

Methamphetamine (METH)-induced neurotoxicity is associated with mitochondrial dysfunction and enhanced oxidative stress. The aims of the present study conducted in the mouse brain repetitively treated with METH were to (1) examine the redox status using the redox-sensitive imaging probe 3-methoxycarbonyl-2,2,5,5-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (MCP) and (2) non-invasively visualize the brain redox status with electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) imaging. The rate of reduction of MCP was measured from a series of temporal EPR images of mouse heads, and this rate was used to construct a two-dimensional map of rate constants called a "redox map." The obtained redox map clearly illustrated the change in redox balance in the METH-treated mouse brain that is a known result of oxidative damage. Biochemical assays also showed that the level of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance, an index of lipid peroxidation, was increased in mouse brains by METH. The enhanced reduction in MCP observed in mouse brains was remarkably suppressed by treatment with the dopamine synthase inhibitor, α-methyl-p-tyrosine, suggesting that enhancement of the reduction reaction of MCP resulted from enzymatic reduction in the mitochondrial respiratory chain. Furthermore, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of METH-treated mice using a blood-brain barrier (BBB)-impermeable paramagnetic contrast agent revealed BBB dysfunction after treatment with METH for 7 days. MRI also indicated that the impaired BBB recovered after withdrawal of METH. EPR imaging and MRI are useful tools not only for following changes in the redox status and BBB dysfunction in mouse brains repeatedly administered METH, but also for tracing the drug effect after withdrawal of METH.

Carrier-mediated placental transport of cimetidine and valproic acid across differentiating JEG-3 cell layers

Human choriocarcinoma has been used as a model to study trophoblast transcellular drug transport in the placenta. Previous models had limitations regarding low molecular weight drug transport through the intracellular gap junction. The purpose of this study was to evaluate placental carrier-mediated transport across a differentiating JEG-3 choriocarcinoma cell (DJEGs) layer model in which the intracellular gap junction was restricted. Cimetidine is the substrate of an efflux transporter, breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP). BCRP highly expressed in the placenta, and its function in the DJEGs model was investigated. In addition, the placental drug transport of another efflux transporter, multidrug resistance-associated proteins (MRPs), and an influx transporter, monocarboxylate transporter (MCT), were examined with various substrates. Cimetidine permeated from the fetal side to the maternal side at significantly high levels and saturated in a dose-dependent manner. The permeability coefficient of a MRP substrate, fluorescein, across the DJEGs model was significantly increased by inhibiting MRP function with probenecid. On the other hand, permeation in the influx direction to the fetal side with a substrate of MCT, valproic acid, had a gentle dose-dependent saturation. These findings suggest that the DJEGs model could be used to evaluate transcellular placental drug transport mediated by major placental transporters.

Kidney-induced cardiac allograft tolerance in miniature swine is dependent on MHC-matching of donor cardiac and renal parenchyma

Kidney allografts possess the ability to enable a short course of immunosuppression to induce tolerance of themselves and of cardiac allografts across a full-MHC barrier in miniature swine. However, the renal element(s) responsible for kidney-induced cardiac allograft tolerance (KICAT) are unknown. Here we investigated whether MHC disparities between parenchyma versus hematopoietic-derived "passenger" cells of the heart and kidney allografts affected KICAT. Heart and kidney allografts were co-transplanted into MHC-mismatched recipients treated with high-dose tacrolimus for 12 days. Group 1 animals (n = 3) received kidney and heart allografts fully MHC-mismatched to each other and to the recipient. Group 2 animals (n = 3) received kidney and heart allografts MHC-matched to each other but MHC-mismatched to the recipient. Group 3 animals (n = 3) received chimeric kidney allografts whose parenchyma was MHC-mismatched to the donor heart. Group 4 animals (n = 3) received chimeric kidney allografts whose passenger leukocytes were MHC-mismatched to the donor heart. Five of six heart allografts in Groups 1 and 3 rejected <40 days. In contrast, heart allografts in Groups 2 and 4 survived >150 days without rejection (p < 0.05). These data demonstrate that KICAT requires MHC-matching between kidney allograft parenchyma and heart allografts, suggesting that cells intrinsic to the kidney enable cardiac allograft tolerance.

Computational reconstruction of body surfact isopotential maps in myocardial infarction: comparison between nontransmural and transmural infarction

The relationship between the lack of electromotive force in myocardial infarction and body surface potential distribution was investigated on maps reconstructed from a simulated heart model and transfer impedance vectors of human torso model. The heart model, a cluster of 3-mm cubic blocks, was stored in the memory of a computer. Transfer impedance vectors between 81 lead points on the human torso model and 392 positions covering ventricular areas in the torso were measure. Body surface potential values were calculated mathematically by summing up scalar products between the electromotive force of the heart model and the measured transfer impedance vectors. Thus, reconstructed maps changed in their patterns with the alternation in lacation and/or extent of infarcted region in the heart model. In particular, the appearance of the abnormal potential minimum, which projects the infarcted region in the heart model onto the torso surface, was characteristic in both transmural and subendocardial infarction. In addition, delayed activation in the intact layer of the epicardium overlying the infarcted region produced a potential maximum on the same place as the abnormal potential minimum appeared previously.

Diagnosis of DIC in newborn infants

Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) occurs most frequently during the newborn period. Some clinical and laboratory criteria are available for the diagnosis of DIC in adults. However, they are not necessarily applicable in the diagnosis of DIC in newborn infants since the physiological state of coagulation during the newborn period differs from that in adults. We therefore reviewed 74 cases of DIC in newborns, including 34 cases at our own newborn care units. Criteria for the diagnosis of DIC in newborn infants were established.

High incidence of xenogenic bone marrow engraftment in pig-to-baboon intra-bone bone marrow transplantation

Previous attempts of α-1,3-galactocyltransferase knockout (GalTKO) pig bone marrow (BM) transplantation (Tx) into baboons have demonstrated a loss of macro-chimerism within 24 h in most cases. In order to achieve improved engraftment with persistence of peripheral chimerism, we have developed a new strategy of intra-bone BM (IBBM) Tx. Six baboons received GalTKO BM cells, with one-half of the cells transplanted into the bilateral tibiae directly and the remaining cells injected intravenously (IBBM/BM-Tx) with a conditioning immunosuppressive regimen. In order to assess immune responses induced by the combined IBBM/BM-Tx, three recipients received donor SLA-matched GalTKO kidneys in the peri-operative period of IBBM/BM-Tx (Group 1), and the others received kidneys 2 months after IBBM/BM-Tx (Group 2). Peripheral macro-chimerism was continuously detectable for up to 13 days (mean 7.7 days; range 3-13) post-IBBM/BM-Tx and in three animals, macro-chimerism reappeared at days 10, 14 and 21. Pig CFUs, indicating porcine progenitor cell engraftment, were detected in the host BM in four of six recipients on days 14, 15, 19 and 28. In addition, anti-pig unresponsiveness was observed by in vitro assays. GalTKO/pCMV-kidneys survived for extended periods (47 and 60 days). This strategy may provide a potent adjunct for inducing xenogeneic tolerance through BM-Tx.

V, Blancho G. Bortezomib, C1-inhibitor and plasma exchange do not prolong the survival of multi-transgenic GalT-KO pig kidney xenografts in baboons

Galactosyl-transferase KO (GalT-KO) pigs represent a potential solution to xenograft rejection, particularly in the context of additional genetic modifications. We have performed life supporting kidney xenotransplantation into baboons utilizing GalT-KO pigs transgenic for human CD55/CD59/CD39/HT. Baboons received tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, corticosteroids and recombinant human C1 inhibitor combined with cyclophosphamide or bortezomib with or without 2-3 plasma exchanges. One baboon received a control GalT-KO xenograft with the latter immunosuppression. All immunosuppressed baboons rejected the xenografts between days 9 and 15 with signs of acute humoral rejection, in contrast to untreated controls (n = 2) that lost their grafts on days 3 and 4. Immunofluorescence analyses showed deposition of IgM, C3, C5b-9 in rejected grafts, without C4d staining, indicating classical complement pathway blockade but alternate pathway activation. Moreover, rejected organs exhibited predominantly monocyte/macrophage infiltration with minimal lymphocyte representation. None of the recipients showed any signs of porcine endogenous retrovirus transmission but some showed evidence of porcine cytomegalovirus (PCMV) replication within the xenografts. Our work indicates that the addition of bortezomib and plasma exchange to the immunosuppressive regimen did not significantly prolong the survival of multi-transgenic GalT-KO renal xenografts. Non-Gal antibodies, the alternative complement pathway, innate mechanisms with monocyte activation and PCMV replication may have contributed to rejection.

The AURKA/TPX2 axis drives colon tumorigenesis cooperatively with MYC

BACKGROUND

The MYC oncogene has long been established as a central driver in many types of human cancers including colorectal cancer. However, the realization of MYC-targeting therapies remains elusive; as a result, synthetic lethal therapeutic approaches are alternatively being explored. A synthetic lethal therapeutic approach aims to kill MYC-driven tumors by targeting a certain co-regulator on the MYC pathway.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We analyzed copy number and expression profiles from 130 colorectal cancer tumors together with publicly available datasets to identify co-regulators on the MYC pathway. Candidates were functionally tested by in vitro assays using colorectal cancer and normal fibroblast cell lines. Additionally, survival analyses were carried out on another 159 colorectal cancer patients and public datasets.

RESULTS

Our in silico screening identified two MYC co-regulator candidates, AURKA and TPX2, which are interacting mitotic regulators located on chromosome 20q. We found the two candidates showed frequent co-amplification with the MYC locus while expression levels of MYC and the two genes were positively correlated with those of MYC downstream target genes across multiple cancer types. In vitro, the aberrant expression of MYC, AURKA and TPX2 resulted in more aggressive anchorage-independent growth in normal fibroblast cells. Furthermore, knockdown of AURKA or TPX2, or treatment with an AURKA-specific inhibitor effectively suppressed the proliferation of MYC-expressing colorectal cancer cells. Additionally, combined high expression of MYC, AURKA and TPX2 proved to be a poor prognostic indicator of colorectal cancer patient survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Through bioinformatic analyses and experiments, we proposed TPX2 and AURKA as novel co-regulators on the MYC pathway. Inhibiting the AURKA/TPX2 axis would be a novel synthetic lethal therapeutic approach for MYC-driven cancers.