Sirt7-dependent inhibition of cell growth and proliferation might be instrumental to mediate tissue integrity during aging

Mammalian sirtuins, Sirt1-Sirt7, are recently discovered regulatory proteins, which play decisive roles in cellular metabolism, stress resistance, and proliferation. Sirtuins are homologs of the founder member of the sirtuin family, the yeast Sir2. Sir2 encodes a NAD(+)-dependent histone deacetylase and its overexpression extends the lifespan through silencing of specific chromatin regions. Lifespan extension by Sir2 homologs was also demonstrated in more complex species such as C. elegans and D. melanogaster. A longevity function has been also postulated for mammalian sirtuins, however definitive proof is still lacking. Here, we have investigated the role of the mouse Sirt7 in the control of cellular growth and proliferation. Using Sirt7 knockout and overexpressing cells we demonstrate an anti-proliferative role of Sirt7. We also show that Sirt7 expression inversely correlates with the tumorigenic potential of several murine cell lines. Considering the known role of Sirt7 as an activator of rDNA transcription we propose that Sirt7 may enable cells to sustain critical metabolic functions by inhibiting cell growth even under severe stress conditions. We conclude, that these Sirt7 functions may improve tissue integrity in aged animals.

Search for anomalous Wtb couplings in single top quark production

In 0.9 fb(-1) of pp[over] collisions, the D0 Collaboration presented evidence for single top quark production in events with an isolated lepton, missing transverse momentum, and two to four jets. We examine these data to study the Lorentz structure of the Wtb coupling. The standard model predicts a left-handed vector coupling at the Wtb vertex. The most general lowest dimension, CP-conserving Lagrangian admits right-handed vector and left- or right-handed tensor couplings as well. We find that the data prefer the left-handed vector coupling and set upper limits on the anomalous couplings. These are the first direct constraints on a general Wtb interaction and the first direct limits on left- and right-handed tensor couplings.

Search for neutral Higgs bosons in multi-b-jet events in pp[over] collisions at sqrt[s]=1.96 TeV

Data recorded by the D0 experiment at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider are analyzed to search for neutral Higgs bosons produced in association with b quarks. This production mode can be enhanced in the minimal supersymmetric standard model (MSSM). The search is performed in the three b quark channel using multijet triggered events corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1 fb(-1). No statistically significant excess of events with respect to the predicted background is observed and limits are set in the MSSM parameter space.

Laser micro/nano fabrication in glass with tunable-focus particle lens array

Based on medium-tuned optical field enhancement effect around a self-assembled particle-lens array (PLA) irradiated with a femtosecond (fs) laser source, we demonstrated that high-precision periodical array of micro/nano-structures can be readily fabricated on glass surface or inside glass in large areas in parallel without any cracks or debris. The technique has potential for rapid fabrication of three-dimensional structures in multiple layers inside glass.

Measurement of the electron charge asymmetry in pp[over ]-->W+X-->enu+X events at sqrt[s]=1.96 TeV

We present a measurement of the electron charge asymmetry in pp[over ]-->W+X-->enu+X events at a center of mass energy of 1.96 TeV using 0.75 fb(-1) of data collected with the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider. The asymmetry is measured as a function of the electron transverse momentum and pseudorapidity in the interval (-3.2, 3.2) and is compared with expectations from next-to-leading order calculations in perturbative quantum chromodynamics. These measurements will allow more accurate determinations of the proton parton distribution functions.

Revealing the dynamics of gene expression during embryonic genome activation and first differentiation in the rabbit embryo with a dedicated array screening

Early mammalian development is characterized by extensive changes in nuclear functions that result from epigenetic modifications of the newly formed embryonic genome. While the first embryonic cells are totipotent, this status spans only a few cell cycles. At the blastocyst stage, the embryo already contains differentiated trophectoderm cells and pluripotent inner cell mass cells. Concomitantly, the embryonic genome becomes progressively transcriptionally active. During this unique period of development, the gene expression pattern has been mainly characterized in the mouse, in which embryonic genome activation (EGA) spans a single cell cycle after abrupt epigenetic modifications. To further characterize this period, we chose to analyze it in the rabbit, in which, as in most mammals, EGA is more progressive and occurs closer to the first cell differentiation events. In this species, for which no transcriptomic arrays were available, we focused on genes expressed at EGA and first differentiation and established a 2,000-gene dedicated cDNA array. Screening this with pre-EGA, early post-EGA, and blastocyst embryos divided genes into seven clusters of expression according to their regulation during this period and revealed their dynamics of expression during EGA and first differentiation. Our results point to transient properties of embryo transcriptome at EGA, due not only to the transition between maternal and embryonic transcripts but also to the transient expression of a subset of embryonic genes whose functions remained largely uncharacterized. They also provide a first view of the functional consequences of the changes in gene expression program.

Measurement of the forward-backward charge asymmetry and extraction of sin2thetaWeff in pp-->Z/gamma* + X-->e+e- +X events produced at sqrt[s] = 1.96 TeV

We present a measurement of the forward-backward charge asymmetry (A FB) in pp-->Z/gamma* + X-->e+e(-) + X events at a center-of-mass energy of 1.96 TeV using 1.1 fb(-1) of data collected with the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron collider. A FB is measured as a function of the invariant mass of the electron-positron pair, and found to be consistent with the standard model prediction. We use the A FB measurement to extract the effective weak mixing angle sin2thetaWeff = 0.2326+/-0.0018(stat)+/-0.0006(syst).

Measurement of the polarization of the upsilon(1S) and upsilon(2S) states in pp collisions at square root[s]=1.96 TeV

We present a study of the polarization of the Upsilon(1S) and Upsilon(2S) states using a 1.3 fb;{-1} data sample collected by the D0 experiment in 2002-2006 during run II of the Fermilab Tevatron Collider. We measure the polarization parameter alpha=(sigma_{T}-2sigma_{L})/(sigma_{T}+2sigma_{L}), where sigma_{T} and sigma_{L} are the transversely and longitudinally polarized components of the production cross section, as a function of the transverse momentum (p_{T};{Upsilon}) for the Upsilon(1S) and Upsilon(2S). Significant p_{T};{Upsilon}-dependent longitudinal polarization is observed for the Upsilon(1S). A comparison with theoretical models is presented.

Precise measurement of the top-quark mass from lepton + jets events

We measure the mass of the top quark using top-quark pair candidate events in the lepton+jets channel from data corresponding to 1 fb;{-1} of integrated luminosity collected by the D0 experiment at the Fermilab Tevatron collider. We use a likelihood technique that reduces the jet energy scale uncertainty by combining an in situ jet energy calibration with the independent constraint on the jet energy scale (JES) from the calibration derived using photon+jets and dijet samples. We find the mass of the top quark to be 171.5+/-1.8(stat.+JES)+/-1.1(syst.) GeV.

Observation of ZZ production in p-p collisions at sqrt s=1.96 TeV

We present an observation for ZZ-->l+l-l'+l'- (l, l'=e or mu) production in p[over]p collisions at a center-of-mass energy of sqrt[s]=1.96 TeV. Using 1.7 fb(-1) of data collected by the D0 experiment at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider, we observe three candidate events with an expected background of 0.14(+0.03)_(-0.02) events. The significance of this observation is 5.3 standard deviations. The combination of D0 results in this channel, as well as in ZZ-->l+l- nu[over]nu, yields a significance of 5.7 standard deviations and a combined cross section of sigma(ZZ)=1.60+/-0.63(stat)+0.16_-0.17(syst) pb.

Reduced antigenicity of formaldehyde-fixed arterial allografts and their potential clinical application

This study was performed to examine the antigenicity of formaldehyde-fixed arterial allografts and their potential clinical application for hemodialysis access. Human femoral arteries were fixed with formaldehyde. New Zealand white rabbits were immunized with antigens prepared from fixed or unfixed grafts followed by anti-serum collection. The antigenicity of fixed grafts was evaluated using double-diffusion in two dimensions. Seventy-six fixed allografts were transplanted into 50 patients with end-stage renal diseases as hemodialysis access and monitored for acute rejection, blood flow, and patency rates. Anti-HLA antibody was evaluated using a panel-reactive antibody (PRA) assay in 6 patients. Formaldehyde-fixed grafts demonstrated reduced antigenicity as determined using double-diffusion in two dimensions when compared with unfixed grafts. Histological evaluation of allografts demonstrated absence of cell-mediated acute rejection after transplantation. Allografts demonstrated satisfactory blood flow with primary and secondary patency rates at 1, 2, and 3 years after allotransplantation. Serum collected from 6 patients after transplantation (mean, 3.3 +/- 3.2 years) did not demonstrate increased anti-HLA antibody levels. The allograft intimal hyperplasia was characterized by proliferation of actin-expressing smooth muscle cells. This study demonstrated that formaldehyde fixation reduced the antigenicity of arterial allografts. Acute rejection was absent after allotransplantation. The lack of increased PRA levels after allotransplantation suggested that allo-sensitization is not induced by fixed allografts. The use of formaldehyde-fixed allografts as hemodialysis access demonstrated blood flow and patency rates. Intimal hyperplasia of allografts is characterized by proliferation of actin-expressing cells. Our results supported the clinical use of formaldehyde-fixed arterial allografts for hemodialysis access.

CD4+ T-cell and monocyte interdependence during discordant xenoimmune responses

This study was designed to examine our hypothesis that human monocytes provide missing constimulatory signals to host CD4+ cells during interactions with porcine endothelial cells (PECs). PECs were isolated from the aorta. Human CD4+ T cells and monocytes were purified from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). A xenogeneic mixed lymphocyte-PEC reaction (xMLER) was performed to determine the proliferation of PBMCs or CD4+ cells in response to PEC. Monocyte-PEC cocultures with or without CD4+ cells were followed by analysis using fluorescence-activated cell scanning (FACS). We evaluated the CD4+ cells proliferation induced by PEC-conditioned monocytes with or without costimulation blockade. xMLER demonstrated strong lymphocyte proliferation in response to PECs. However, purified CD4+ cells showed reduced proliferative responses to PECs when compared with PBMCs. FACS analysis found that CD14+ monocytes up-regulated CD40 and CD80 expressions in the presence of CD4+ cells. PEC-activated but not resting monocytes induced CD4+-cell proliferation, which was inhibited by anti-CD154, anti-CD80, or anti-CD86 antibodies. In summary, human monocytes exposed to PECs are conditioned to up-regulate costimulatory molecules upon exposure to T cells. PEC-conditioned monocytes induced T-cell proliferation by indirect presentation. Costimulation blockade inhibited T-cell proliferation induced by PEC-conditioned monocytes. Our findings suggested that monocytes play an important role in indirect xenoantigen presentation, providing costimulation to T cells. This interaction can occur distant from the initial site of xenoantigen, but monocytes remaide void of costimulatory signals until their interaction with T cells.

Prosaposin is an AR-target gene and its neurotrophic domain upregulates AR expression and activity in prostate stromal cells

Recent studies have introduced prosaposin (PSAP) as a pleiotrophic growth factor for prostate cancer (PCa). We have previously reported that PSAP or one of its known active molecular derivatives, saposin C functions as an androgen-agonist and androgen-regulated gene (ARG) for androgen-sensitive (AS) PCa cell lines. Due to the potential significance of androgen receptor (AR)-expressing stroma in PCa, we evaluated a possible bi-directional paracrine regulatory interactions between DHT and PSAP in AR-positive prostate stromal (PrSt) cells. We report that saposin C in a ligand-independent manner increased AR expression, its nuclear content, and tyrosine phosphorylation. DHT treatment of PrSt cells increased PSAP expression. We also demonstrated both serum- and androgen-inducibility of a previously characterized hormone-responsive element (HRE) located in the proximal region of PSAP promoter. In addition, conditioned-media derived from PrSt cells and bone fibroblasts (i.e., MSF) differentially increased PSAP-promoter activity in androgen-independent (AI) PC-3 and AS LNCaP cells. Our data for the first time demonstrate that not only saposin C or PSAP regulates AR expression/activity, but also function as an ARG in PrSt. Ligand-independent activation of AR by PSAP or saposin C in PCa and stromal cells may contribute not only to prostate carcinogenesis at an early stage, but also in AI progression of the disease in an androgen-deprived tumor microenvironment.

luxS-based quorum-sensing signaling affects Biofilm formation in Streptococcus mutans

BACKGROUND

Quorum sensing (QS) is a process by which bacteria communicate with diffusible chemical signaling molecules called autoinducers (AIs). The autoinducer-2 signal (AI-2) produced by the LuxS protein mediates interspecies communication among Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. In this study, we report that luxS-dependent QS is involved in the formation of Streptococcus mutans biofilms.

METHODS

An S. mutans luxS mutant was constructed, and the differences in growth and biofilm formation were compared between the wild-type strain and the mutant strain. To quantificationally analyze the kinetic biofilm formation of the mutant strain, an assay of BioFilm Ring Test(R) was applied.

RESULTS

There is a small increase in the growth of the luxS mutant strain after the stationary phase, compared with the parent strain. However during the exponential period, there were no significant differences. Using the BioFilm Ring Test(R), it was demonstrated that this luxS mutation was able to accelerate biofilm formation on a polystyrene surface during the mid-exponential growth phase. With 1% glucose treatment, even greater differences were observed between the mutant strain and its parental strain.

CONCLUSION

These data suggest that a luxS-dependent signal may play an important role in the biofilm formation of S. mutans.

Systematic review and economic analysis of the comparative effectiveness of different inhaled corticosteroids and their usage with long-acting beta2 agonists for the treatment of chronic asthma in children under the age of 12 years

OBJECTIVES

To assess the clinical and cost-effectiveness of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) alone and ICS used in combination with a long-acting beta2 agonist (LABA) in the treatment of chronic asthma in children aged under 12 years.

DATA SOURCES

Major electronic bibliographic databases, e.g. MEDLINE and EMBASE, were searched up to February/March 2006 (and updated again in October 2006).

REVIEW METHODS

A systematic review of clinical and cost-effectiveness studies and economic analyses were carried out. A flexible framework was used to allow different types of economic analyses as appropriate, with either a cost comparison or cost-consequence comparison conducted.

RESULTS

Of 5175 records identified through systematic literature searching, 34 records describing 25 studies were included (16 were fully published randomised controlled trials, six were systematic reviews, and three were post-2004 conference abstracts). The most frequently reported relevant outcomes in the 16 RCTs were peak expiratory flow rate (13 trials), FEV1 (13 trials), symptoms (13 trials), adverse events or exacerbations (13 trials), use of rescue medication (12 trials), markers of adrenal function (e.g. blood or urine cortisol concentrations) (13 trials), height and/or growth rate (seven trials) and markers of bone metabolism (two trials). In the trials that compared low-dose ICS versus ICS and high-dose ICS versus ICS, no consistent significant differences or patterns in differential treatment effect among the outcomes were evident. Where differences were statistically significant at high doses, such as for lung function and growth, they favoured formoterol fumarate (FF), but this was generally in studies that did not compare the ICS at the accepted clinically equivalent doses. Differences between the drugs in impact on adrenal suppression were only significant in two studies. At doses of 200, 400 and 800 microg/day, beclometasone dipropionate (BDP) appears to be the current cheapest ICS product both with the inclusion and exclusion of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC)-propelled products. In the trials comparing ICS at a higher dose with ICS and LABA in combination, most outcomes favoured the combined inhaler. Only the combination inhaler, Seretide Evohaler, is slightly cheaper than the weighted mean cost of all types of ICS at increased dose except BDP 400 microg/day (including CFC-propelled products). Both the combination inhalers, Seretide Accuhaler and Symbicort Turbohaler, are more expensive than the weighted mean cost for all types of ICS at a two-fold increased dose. Compared with the lowest cost preparation for each ICS drug, all the combination inhalers are always more expensive than the ICS products at increased dose.

CONCLUSIONS

The limited evidence available indicates that there are no consistent significant differences in effectiveness between the three ICS licensed for use in children at either low or high dose. BDP CFC-propelled products are often the cheapest ICS currently available at both low and high dose, and may remain so even when CFC-propelled products are excluded. Exclusion of CFC-propelled products increases the mean annual cost of all budesonide (BUD) and BDP, while the overall cost differences between the comparators diminish. There is very limited evidence available for the efficacy and safety of ICS and LABAs in children. From this limited evidence, there appear to be no significant clinical differences in effects between the use of a combination inhaler versus the same drugs in separate inhalers. There is a lack of evidence comparing ICS at a higher dose with ICS and LABA in combination and comparing the combination products with each other. In the absence of any evidence concerning the effectiveness of ICS at higher dose with ICS and LABA, a cost-consequence analysis gives mixed results. There are potential cost savings with the use of combination inhalers compared to separate inhalers. At present prices, the BUD/FF combination is more expensive than those containing FP/SAL, but it is not known whether there are clinically significant differences between them. A scoping review is required to assess the requirements for additional primary research on the clinical effectiveness of treatment for asthma in children under 5 years old. Such a review could also usefully include all treatment options, pharmacological and non-pharmacological, for asthma. A direct head-to-head trial that compares the two combination therapies of FP/SAL and BUD/FF is warranted, and it is important to assess whether the addition of a LABA to a lower dose of ICS could potentially be as effective as an increased dose of ICS alone, but also be steroid sparing. There is also a need for the long-term adverse events associated with ICS use to be assessed systematically. Future trials of treatment for chronic asthma in children should aim to standardise further the way in which outcome measures are defined. There should be a greater focus on patient-centred outcomes to provide a more meaningful estimation of the impact of treatment on asthma control. Methods of reporting also require standardisation.

Systematic review and economic analysis of the comparative effectiveness of different inhaled corticosteroids and their usage with long-acting beta2 agonists for the treatment of chronic asthma in adults and children aged 12 years and over

OBJECTIVES

To assess the clinical and cost-effectiveness of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) alone and ICS used in combination with a long-acting beta2 agonist (LABA) in the treatment of chronic asthma in adults and children aged over 12 years.

DATA SOURCES

Major electronic bibliographic databases, e.g. MEDLINE and EMBASE, were searched up to February/March 2006 (and updated again in October 2006).

REVIEW METHODS

A systematic review of clinical and cost-effectiveness studies was conducted. Cost comparison and cost-consequence analyses were performed where appropriate.

RESULTS

The assessment of clinical effectiveness was based on the 67 randomised controlled trials selected from the 5175 reports identified through the systematic literature search. The most frequently reported relevant outcomes were lung function, symptoms, use of rescue medication and adverse events. The trials varied considerably. In the trials that compared low-dose ICS versus ICS and high-dose ICS versus ICS, there were few significant differences in clinical effectiveness, although a few of the trials had assessed non-inferiority between the comparators rather than superiority. At doses of 400, 800 and 'high-level' doses of 1500 or 1600 microg/day, beclometasone dipropionate (BDP) appears to be the current cheapest ICS product both with the inclusion and exclusion of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC)-propelled products. A significant treatment benefit for combination ICS/LABA therapy across a range of outcomes compared with ICS alone was identified [when the ICS was double the accepted clinically equivalent dose of the ICS in the combination inhaler, and dry powder inhalers (DPIS) were used to deliver the drugs]. When a formoterol fumarate (FF)/salmeterol (SAL) combination inhaler and a budesonide (BUD)/FF combination inhaler were each compared with their constituent drugs delivered in separate inhalers, there were very few statistically significant differences between the treatments across the various efficacy outcomes and the rate of adverse events. Combination inhalers were more often cheaper than doubling the dose of ICS alone. However, the costs were highly variable and dependent on both the dose required and the preparation used in the trials. The estimated mean annual cost of FP/SAL combination varied from being 94 pounds cheaper to 109 pounds more expensive than the alternative of BUD at a higher dose. The BUD/FF combination varied from being 163 pounds cheaper to 66 pounds more expensive than the higher dose of either BUD or FP. When the combination inhalers were compared to each other, the results were mixed, with the FP/SAL combination significantly superior on some outcomes and the BUD/FF combination superior on others; however, meta-analysis showed that there were no significant differences between the two treatments in the rate of adverse events. Taking an ICS with a LABA as either of the two currently available combination products, FP/SAL and BUD/FF, is usually cheaper than taking the relevant constituent drugs in separate inhalers. At very high doses of BUD (1600 microg/day), however, the BUD/FF combination inhaler can be up to 156 pounds more expensive than having the same drugs in separate inhalers. In terms of the relative costs associated with taking one of the combination inhalers, at low dose (400 microg BUD or 200 microg FP/day) the cheapest combination inhaler is FP/SAL as a pressurised metered dose inhaler (pMDI) (Seretide Evohaler). However, this is only slightly cheaper than using BUD/FF as a DPI (Symbicort Turbohaler). At higher dose levels (800 microg BUD or 500 microg FP/day) FP/SAL as either pMDI aerosol (Seretide Evohaler) or a DPI (Seretide Accuhaler) is the cheapest combination product available, but again only slightly cheaper than the DPI BUD/FF combination (Symbicort Turbohaler). It should be highlighted, however, that the three head-to-head trials that compared the effects of FP/SAL with BUD/FF used the FP/SAL DPI combination inhaler, Seretide Accuhaler.

CONCLUSIONS

The evidence indicates that there are few consistent significant differences in effects between the five ICS licensed for use in adults and adolescents over the age of 12 years, at either low or high dose. On average, BDP products currently tend to be the cheapest ICS available and tend to remain so as the daily ICS dose required increases. There is evidence that the addition of a LABA to an ICS is potentially more clinically effective than doubling the dose of ICS alone, although consistent significant differences between the two treatment strategies are not observed for all outcome measures. The cost differences between combination therapy compared with ICS monotherapy are highly variable and dependent on the dose required and the particular preparations used. For the combination therapies of ICS/LABA there are potential cost savings with the use of combination inhalers compared with separate inhalers, with few differences between the two treatment strategies in terms of effects. The only exception to this cost saving is with BUD/FF at doses higher than 1200 microg/day, where separate inhaler devices can become equivalent to or cheaper than combination inhalers. Neither of the two combination inhalers (FP/SAL or BUD/FF) is consistently superior in terms of treatment effect. A comparison of the costs associated with each combination therapy indicates that at low dose FP/SAL delivered via a pMDI is currently the cheapest combination inhaler but only marginally cheaper than BUD/FF delivered as a DPI. At higher doses, both the FP/SAL combination inhalers (PMDI and DPI) are marginally cheaper than BUD/FF (DPI). Future trials of treatment for chronic asthma should standardise the way in which outcome measures are defined and measured, with a greater focus on patient-centred outcomes. For informing future cost-utility and cost-effectiveness analyses from a UK NHS perspective, there is a need for longitudinal studies that comprehensively track the care pathways followed when people experience asthma exacerbations of different severity. Further research synthesis, quantifying the adverse effects of the different ICS, is required for treatment choices by patients and clinicians to be fully informed.

Conversion from mycophenolate mofetil to azathioprine in renal allograft [corrected] patients within the first month posttransplantation

This retrospective study evaluated the safety of conversion from mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) to azathioprine (Aza) within the first month posttransplantation in 117 renal allograft patients concomittantly treated with cyclosporine (CsA) and prednisone. In 52 Conversion from MMF to Aza was conducted at 2 to 4 weeks posttransplantation in 52 patients (conversion group). Thirty-six patients received MMF (MMF group) and 29 patients were treated with Aza (Aza group). Patients were monitored for allograft function, acute rejection episodes, and CsA levels. The demographics were comparable between groups with respect to age, as well as warm and cold ischemic times of allografts. The cumulative allograft survival rates at 1, 2, 3, and 5 years were 98% +/- 2%, 96% +/- 3%, 90% +/- 4%, 90% +/- 4% in the conversion (n = 52) group versus 79% +/- 7%, 79% +/- 7%, 79% +/- 7%, and 75% +/- 8% in the MMF group (n = 36) versus 93% +/- 5%, 93% +/- 5%, 82% +/- 7%, and 78% +/- 8% in the Aza group (n = 29). The CsA trough levels at 1 year posttransplantation were 208.39 +/- 93.79 ng/mL in the conversion group; 159.30 +/- 52.99 ng/mL in the MMF group; and 241.82 +/- 112.76 ng/mL in the Aza group. The acute rejection rates during a 5-year follow-up were 28.85% in the conversion group; 27.78% in the MMF group; and 24.14% in the Aza group. The rejection-free allograft survival between the conversion group and the MMF group was identical (P < .921). However, allograft survival in the conversion group with acute rejection was significantly higher than the MMF group (P < .024). In conclusion, early conversion from MMF to Aza among renal allograft patients was safe without increased acute allograft rejection during a 5-year follow-up. The overall allograft survival in the conversion group was comparable to patients treated with MMF or Aza therapies.

Molecular characterization of hypoxia-hypothermia-conditioned human endothelial cells and their interaction with human monocytes

This in vitro study was designed to characterize the molecular profiling of human endothelial cells (ECs) during the early phase of hypoxia-hypothermia (HH) conditioning and to evaluate their interactions with allogeneic monocytes. The HH-conditioned ECs were analyzed using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). A cell adhesion assay was performed to assess adhesion of purified allogeneic monocytes as well as CD4- and CD8-positive T cells to HH-conditioned ECs with or without blocking antibodies specific for CD15s and CD162. Uptake of EC membrane by monocytes with or without scavenger receptor blockade was examined using fluorescence-activated cell scanning. The RT-PCR revealed up-regulation of gene transcripts for inflammatory cytokines, monocyte-associated growth factors, costimulatory, and apoptosis-related molecules in HH-conditioned ECs. Analysis using fluorescence-activated cell scanning showed minimal CD54 up-regulation in HH-conditioned ECs. We noted low-level adhesion of CD4- or CD8-positive cells to resting and HH-conditioned ECs. High-level adhesion of monocytes to HH-conditioned ECs was observed when compared with resting ECs. Blockade of CD15s and CD162 dramatically reduced monocyte adhesion to normal and HH-conditioned ECs. Monocytes but not T cells showed uptake of EC membranes during their interactions with HH-conditioned ECs, which was inhibited by scavenger receptor blockade. These data characterized the molecular features of ECs during early HH-conditioning. The EC transcripts related to monocyte recruitment and interaction between monocytes and HH-conditioned ECs dominated the early post-HH condition. Blockade of CD15s and CD162 prevented monocyte adhesion to ECs. These findings suggest that the initial interaction between monocytes and HH-conditioned ECs has a central role during the early phase of reperfusion injury.