RIP140 is associated with subclinical inflammation in type 2 diabetic patients

AIMS

To evaluate the expression level of RIP140 (receptor interaction protein 140) and its correlation with inflammatory cytokine production and free fatty acids (FFAs) in type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

Plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were collected from 24 diabetic and 30 healthy individuals. The levels of FFAs, TC, TG, HDL-C, LDL-C, FIN, and FBG were measured. The insulin resistance index was calculated using the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA). Additionally, PBMCs from control group were cultured alone or with 500 μmol/L palmitic acid (PA). Levels of RIP140 TNF-α, and IL-6 in PBMCs were analyzed using real-time RT-PCR, Western blots and ELISA. The relationship between RIP140 and other variables was performed using SPSS 11.5 software.

RESULTS

TG, LDL-C, FIN, FBG, HOMA, and HDL-C were significantly different between diabetic patients and the control group. Levels of RIP140, TNF-α, and IL-6 were higher in the diabetic group compared to control. RIP140 expression was positively correlated with FFAs, HDL-c, TNF-α, IL-6, FIN, FBG, and HOMA. Finally, 500 μmol/L PA treatment increased RIP140 expression and the secretion of inflammatory cytokines in cultured control PBMCs.

CONCLUSIONS

Increased RIP140 level may be closely associated with inflammation and disorder of lipid and glucose metabolism in diabetic patients.

SU-E-T-246: Preliminary Normal Tissue Complication Probability (NTCP) Analysis for Radiation Pneumonitis (RP) after Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT)

PURPOSE

NTCP analysis was performed with Lyman model to study the dose tolerance limits for radiation-induced pneumonitis (RP) in hypofractionated SBRT. Since SBRT is increasingly being applied for the treatment of large and central tumors, it is important from a clinical point of view to determine the dose tolerance limits for specific risk of toxicity.

METHODS

Eighteen consecutive patients who were treated using volumetric modulated arc therapy (RapidArc) for lung tumors exceeding 80cc were assessed. The evaluation of toxicity was scored using Common Toxicity Criteria AE4.0. Median follow-up time was 12.8 months. Clinical outcomes have been published, and we performed an NTCP analysis to determine the complication rate in relation to statistical dose tolerance limits. The dose volume histogram (DVH) reduction techniques of the total lung V20Gy, V15Gy, V10Gy, V5Gy and mean lung dose (MLD) were each analyzed, as well as the ipsilateral lung V5Gy and the contralateral lung V5Gy. The framework of the Lyman Model was used except that each DVH reduction method was analyzed independently instead of using the power-law relationship for volume dependence. Model parameters were fitted using the Maximum Likelihood technique.

RESULTS

RP was reported in 5 patients (CTC Grade 2 in 3, and Grade 3 in 2). Total lung V5Gy and contralateral lung V5Gy were the best predictors of RP (p < 0.0001 for both). For V5Gy, the 10% risk level for Grade 2-3 RP was 28.4% for total lung and 21.6% for contralateral lung.

CONCLUSIONS

Analysis of RP endpoints has identified total lung V5Gy and contralateral lung V5Gy as the best predictors of RP following RapidArc. These findings are based on limited clinical data, and longer follow-up in larger patient cohorts is required in order to determine more accurate dose tolerance limits. Dr. Grimm developed the DVH Evaluator, described at www.DiversiLabs.com and distributed by www.LifeLineSoftware.com. The analysis presented here is part of that software. Dr. Senan's department has received research funding from Varian Medical Systems, and Dr. Senan has received speakers honoraria from Varian.

Polymorphic chloroplast microsatellite loci in Nelumbo (Nelumbonaceae)

PREMISE OF THE STUDY

To study population genetics, phylogeography, and hybridization of Nelumbo (Nelumbonaceae), chloroplast microsatellite markers were developed.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Seventeen microsatellite loci were identified from the chloroplast genomes of N. nucifera and N. lutea. Polymorphisms were assessed in three populations of N. nucifera and one population of N. lutea. Nine loci were found to be polymorphic in N. nucifera, and all 17 loci were found to be polymorphic in N. lutea. In N. nucifera, the number of alleles per locus ranged from two to six, and the unbiased haploid diversity per locus ranged from 0.198 to 0.790. In N. lutea, the number of alleles ranged from two to four, and the unbiased haploid diversity per locus ranged from 0.245 to 0.694.

CONCLUSIONS

The identified chloroplast simple sequence repeat markers will be useful for the study of genetic diversity, phylogeography, and identification of Nelumbo cultivars.

Optimal selection for multiple quantitative trait loci and contributions of individuals using genetic algorithm

Two methods (Scheme A and Scheme B) were developed to optimize the relative weights on quantitative trait loci (QTL) and contributions of selected individuals simultaneously to maximize selection response while constraining the rate of inbreeding to the rate observed in gene assisted selection (GAS). In Scheme A, both the relative weights give to QTL and contributions of the selected individuals were optimized using a genetic algorithm. The possible solutions for relative weights of QTL and contributions of the selected individuals were encoded simultaneously. A physical selection population was used to evaluate the fitness of each encoded solution using stochastic simulation with 50 replicates. The fitness of each solution was the mean of all replicates for accumulative discounted sum of genetic means of all generations in physical selection population. In Scheme B, the optimization for relative weights on QTL was similar to Scheme A, and also was implemented based on a genetic algorithm. However, unlike Scheme A, an optimal contribution algorithm (OC) was used to optimize contributions of selection candidates. When compared with GAS, Schemes A and B resulted in up to 15.88 and 22.26% extra discounted sum of genetic value of all generations in a long planning horizon, respectively. Compared GAS+OC and Scheme B, most of the increase (about 78%) in genetic gain was produced by only optimizing contributions of selected individuals. The optimization for relative weight given to QTL just avoided the long-term loss (about 22%) observed in GAS scheme.

Telomerase inhibition strategies by siRNAs against either hTR or hTERT in oral squamous cell carcinoma

Human telomerase RNA (hTR) and human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) are considered effective molecular targets for current anticancer therapy. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic effects of targeting hTR and hTERT individually or in combination by recombinant adenovirus-delivered small interfering RNA (siRNA) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) Tca8113. Further, we screened the optimal strategy for RNA interference. Our results show that these different recombinant adenoviruses specifically reduced the levels of hTR mRNA, hTERT mRNA, hTERT protein and telomerase activity in Tca8113 cells. Moreover, they successfully inhibited xenograft tumor growth in nude mice. The potency of their antitumor activities was ranked as follows: anti-hTR >anti-hTR+anti-hTERT >anti-hTERT. Therefore, we demonstrated that the siRNA-expressing recombinant adenoviruses were an effective anticancer tool for treatment of OSCC. Furthermore, the anticancer effect of solely targeting hTR was more direct and efficient, compared with the effect of targeting hTR and hTERT in combination, or hTERT exclusively. The mechanism of this anticancer effect in OSCC was not only related to the inhibition of cell proliferation and the induction of cell apoptosis, but might also involve the inhibition of tumor angiogenesis.

Pioglitazone modulates the balance of effector and regulatory T cells in apolipoprotein E deficient mice

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Pioglitazone (PIO) affects T cell-mediated immunity through actions of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ (PPARγ). Effector and regulatory T cells control the development of atherosclerosis, a chronic inflammatory disease affecting the arterial blood vessels. The aim of this study was to examine whether PIO ameliorates atherosclerosis by altering the balance of effector and regulatory T cells.

METHODS AND RESULTS

To explore the effect of PIO on early and advanced atherosclerosis, apolipoprotein E deficient (ApoE-/-) mice were fed western diet and received PIO (20 mg/kg/day) by gastric gavage at 6 or 14 weeks of age, respectively for 8 weeks. Data showed PIO markedly inhibited early fatty streak formation. Further, although the advanced fibrofatty plaque sizes were not significantly reduced, the numbers of smooth muscle cells within lesions were increased and higher collagen concentrations were produced. In general, macrophage expression in lesions was decreased. Additionally, the expression of Foxp3(+) cells was increased in lesions and spleens in mice at all PIO treatment stages, whereas the CD4(+)IFN-γ(+)/CD4(+)IL-4(+) cell ratios were reduced.

CONCLUSION

PIO inhibited early atherosclerotic lesion formation and increased the stability of advanced atherosclerotic plaques in ApoE-/- mice, which was associated with altering the balance of effector and regulatory T cells.

No association of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist VNTR polymorphism and rheumatoid arthritis susceptibility: a meta analysis

OBJECTIVES

Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) is a natural anti-inflammatory molecule that blocks the action of IL-1 signaling. A variable-number tandem repeat polymorphism (VNTR) in IL-1Ra gene (IL-1RN) intron 2 has been reported to be associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), with inconsistent results. Here, we perform a meta-analysis to assess the common effect size of this polymorphism on RA susceptibility.

METHODS

Case-control studies on IL-1RN VNTR association with RA were searched up to January 2010. The effect summary odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals was obtained by meta- analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 15 studies involving in IL-1RN VNTR with RA susceptibility were included in this meta-analysis. No association between A2/A2 genotype and risk of RA to other genotypes (odds ratio [OR], 0.96; 95% CI =0.75-1.24, p=0.77), and between A2 allele and risk of RA (OR, 0.98; 95% CI=0.83-1.16, p=0.85), were demonstrated in the total meta-analysis. In both Asian and European subgroups, the overall effect of A2/A2 genotype and A2 allele also showed no significant difference.

CONCLUSIONS

This meta-analysis demonstrates that the IL-1RN VNTR polymorphism is not related to susceptibility to RA.