A B2 SINE insertion in the Comt1 gene (Comt1(B2i)) results in an overexpressing, behavior modifying allele present in classical inbred mouse strains

Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) is a key enzyme for dopamine catabolism and COMT is a candidate gene for human psychiatric disorders. In mouse it is located on chromosome 16 in a large genomic region of extremely low variation among the classical inbred strains, with no confirmed single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) between strains C57BL/6J and DBA/2J within a 600-kB window. We found a B2 SINE in the 3′ untranslated region (UTR) of Comt1 which is present in C57BL/6J (Comt1^B2i) and other strains including 129 (multiple sublines), but is not found in DBA/2J (Comt1⁺) and many other strains including wild-derived Mus domesticus, M. musculus, M. molossinus, M.castaneus and M. spretus. Comt1^B2i is absent in strains closely related to C57BL/6, such as C57L and C57BR, indicating that it was polymorphic in the cross that gave rise to these strains. The strain distribution of Comt1^B2i indicates a likely origin of the allele in the parental Lathrop stock. A stringent association test, using 670 highly outbred mice (Boulder Heterogeneous Stock), indicates that this insertion allele may be responsible for a difference in behavior related to exploration. Gene expression differences at the mRNA and enzyme activity level (1.7-fold relative to wild type) indicate a mechanism for this behavioral effect. Taken together, these findings show that Comt1^B2i (a B2 SINE insertion) results in a relatively modest difference in Comt1 expression and enzyme activity (comparable to the human Val-Met polymorphism) which has a demonstrable behavioral phenotype across a variety of outbred genetic backgrounds.

Preparation and lithium storage performances of mesoporous Fe₃O₄@C microcapsules

Fe(3)O(4)@C microcapsules were prepared using carbon-coated α-FeOOH nanorods as precursors, which were synthesized via two-step hydrothermal reactions. During the subsequent sintering procedure, α-FeOOH was reduced to Fe(3)O(4) by carbon, accompanied by the formation of mesopores. In Fe(3)O(4)@C microcapsules, mesoporous Fe(3)O(4) nanorods are coated with amorphorous carbon layers. The Fe(3)O(4)/C composites with such special structures demonstrate high specific capacity and good cyclic stability as anode materials in Li test cells.

Features of Hirayama Disease on Fully Flexed Position Cervical MRI

This study reports on cervical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) performed in the fully flexed position in 13 male patients with Hirayama disease and 12 normal controls (males). The anterior–posterior diameter of the cervical cord at the superior margin of the C6 vertebral body was measured, as well as the angle between adjacent cervical bodies. Localized lower cervical-cord atrophy, cord flattening and abnormal signals in the posterior epidural space were studied. Patients demonstrated an increased angle between C5 and C6, and C6 cord lesions. There were significant differences between patients and controls in localized lower cervical-cord atrophy and cord flattening. Many patients were found to have a crescent-shaped high-intensity mass on T2WI MRI and a low-intensity mass on T1WI MRI in the posterior epidural space. In patients, there were specific imaging features of Hirayama disease on fully flexed MRI. Cervical MRI in the fully flexed position has significant value in the clinical diagnosis of Hirayama disease.

Transcription factors BmPOUM2 and BmβFTZ-F1 are involved in regulation of the expression of the wing cuticle protein gene BmWCP4 in the silkworm, Bombyx mori

In Bombyx mori, the wing cuticle protein gene BmWCP4 is expressed specifically in the epidermis at the onset and mid-stage of pupation and is responsible for the formation of the pupal cuticle during the larval-pupal metamorphosis. The gene consists of four exons and three introns and is present as a single copy in the genome. Its expression was up-regulated by 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) and the 20E-induced expression was suppressed by juvenile hormone (JH) III. The upstream regulatory sequence region of the BmWCP4 gene was cloned and the regulatory elements responsible for 20E induction were identified. Two cis-regulatory elements (CREs) bound by the transcription factors BmPOUM2 and BmβFTZ-F1 were identified that mediated 20E-regulated expression of this gene. An electrophoretic mobility shift assay detected two nuclear proteins isolated from the epidermis and the BmN cell line that specifically bound to the POU and βFTZ-F1 CREs, respectively. BmPOUM2 recombinant protein explicitly bound to the POU CRE. Developmental and 20E-induced expression of the BmWCP4, BmPOUM2 and BmβFTZ-F1 genes showed that BmPOUM2 and BmβFTZ-F1 were initially expressed, followed by BmWCP4. These data suggest that the 20E-induced expression of BmWCP4 is mediated by the transcription factors BmPOUM2 and BmβFTZ-F1 binding to their CREs in the regulatory sequence region of the BmWCP4 gene.

A randomized phase II study of gemcitabine (G) plus the cardiac glycoside huachansu (H) in the treatment of patients with locally advanced (LAPC) or metastatic pancreatic cancer (MPC)

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Background: Wild toad venom has been used for over 1,000 years as a traditional Chinese medicine; H, the extract of dried toad skin glands, is a potent cardiac glycoside without significant toxicity. H has demonstrated preliminary evidence of antitumor activity in phase I clinical trial evaluation (Cancer 2009, 115:5309-18).

Methods: We conducted a randomized, single-blind, phase II clinical trial of G + H versus G + placebo in patients with LAPC or MPC. Plasma bufalin levels were performed in H-treated subjects. 80 evaluable subjects accrued from October 2007 to May 2010 and were treated with G 1,000mg/m2 (iv on days 1, 8, 15, q 28d) plus either H (20 mL/m2 iv daily for 21 days followed by 7 days off, q 28d) or placebo. Demographic data is demonstrated in the table below.

Results: Grade 3/4 adverse events, objective radiographic response rates (ORR), time to progression (TTP), quality of life (QOL), and overall survival (OS) were similar in the two groups (Table). There was not a statistically significant difference in the average plasma bufalin levels in patients with a radiographic partial response (PR) or stable disease versus those with progressive disease (PD) (0.098 ± 0.093 ng/mL vs. 0.071 ± 0.048 ng/mL, p=0.679).

Conclusions: H when added to G was well tolerated but did not improve OS, TTP, QOL, or ORR. Further investigation of a more potent oral formulation of H is planned. H provided by Shenzhen 999 Traditional Chinese Medicine & Development Co., Ltd. Supported by NIH U19CA121503-01.

[Table: see text]

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Tissue-specific dysregulation of hexose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and glucose-6-phosphate transporter production in db/db mice as a model of type 2 diabetes

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

Tissue-specific amplification of glucocorticoid action through 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1) affects the development of the metabolic syndrome. Hexose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (H6PDH) mediates intracellular NADPH availability for 11β-HSD1 and depends on the glucose-6-phosphate transporter (G6PT). Little is known about the tissue-specific alterations of H6PDH and G6PT and their contributions to local glucocorticoid action in db/db mice.

METHODS

We characterised the role of H6PDH and G6PT in pre-receptor metabolism of glucocorticoids by examining the production of the hepatic 11β-HSD1-H6PDH-G6PT system in db/db mice.

RESULTS

We observed that increased production of hepatic H6PDH in db/db mice was paralleled by upregulation of hepatic G6PT production and responded to elevated circulating levels of corticosterone. Treatment of db/db mice with the glucocorticoid antagonist RU486 markedly reduced production of both H6PDH and 11β-HSD1 and improved hyperglycaemia and insulin resistance. The reduction of H6PDH and 11β-HSD1 production by RU486 was accompanied by RU486-induced suppression of hepatic G6pt (also known as Slc37a4) mRNA. Incubation of mouse primary hepatocytes with corticosterone enhanced G6PT and H6PDH production with corresponding activation of 11β-HSD1 and PEPCK: effects that were blocked by RU486. Knockdown of H6pd by small interfering RNA showed effects comparable with those of RU486 for attenuating the corticosterone-induced H6PDH production and 11ß-HSD1 reductase activity in these intact cells. Addition of the G6PT inhibitor chlorogenic acid to primary hepatocytes suppressed H6PDH production.

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

These findings suggest that increased hepatic H6PDH and G6PT production contribute to 11β-HSD1 upregulation of local glucocorticoid action that may be related to the development of type 2 diabetes.

Centrality dependence of the charged-particle multiplicity density at midrapidity in Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt[s(NN)] = 2.76 TeV

The centrality dependence of the charged-particle multiplicity density at midrapidity in Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=2.76  TeV is presented. The charged-particle density normalized per participating nucleon pair increases by about a factor of 2 from peripheral (70%-80%) to central (0%-5%) collisions. The centrality dependence is found to be similar to that observed at lower collision energies. The data are compared with models based on different mechanisms for particle production in nuclear collisions.

The fungicide ciclopirox inhibits lymphatic endothelial cell tube formation by suppressing VEGFR-3-mediated ERK signaling pathway

Ciclopirox olamine (CPX), an off-patent antifungal agent used to treat mycoses of skin and nails, has recently been demonstrated to be a potential anticancer agent. However, the underlying mechanism is not well understood. Here for the first time we show that CPX inhibited lymphangiogenesis in an in vitro model (tube formation). This effect was in part associated with inhibition of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 3 (VEGFR-3) expression, as overexpression of VEGFR-3 conferred partial resistance to CPX inhibitory effect on tube formation in lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs), whereas downregulation of VEGFR-3 mimicked the effect of CPX, blocking the tube formation. Further study revealed that CPX did not alter mRNA level, but inhibited protein synthesis and promoted protein degradation of VEGFR-3. In addition, we found that CPX inhibited phosphorylation of the extracellular signal-related kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), a downstream effector of VEGFR-3. Overexpression of VEGFR-3 attenuated CPX inhibition of ERK1/2 phosphorylation, whereas downregulation of VEGFR-3 inhibited extracellular signal-related kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) phosphorylation in LECs. Ectopic expression of constitutively active mitogen -activated protein kinase kinase 1 (MKK1) resulted in activation of ERK1/2, and partially prevented CPX inhibition of LEC tube formation. The results suggest that CPX inhibits LEC tube formation at least in part through inhibiting VEGFR-3-mediated ERK signaling pathway.

Effect of incremental levels of fish oil supplementation on specific bacterial populations in bovine ruminal fluid

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of incremental replacement of dietary linoleic acid by >20-carbon polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) on changes in population of ruminal micro-organisms associated with fibre digestion and biohydrogenation using real-time PCR of bacterial 16S rRNA sequences. Four beef steers with ruminal cannulas were randomly assigned to control (CK, 65:35 forage to concentrate), CK with 3% sunflower oil plus 1% fish oil (S3F1), 2.5% sunflower oil plus 1.5% fish oil (S2.5F1.5) or 2% sunflower oil plus 2% fish oil (S2F2) in a 4 × 4 Latin square design with 21-day periods. Ruminal fluid was collected on day 15 of each period. Compared with CK, oil addition led to lower ruminal acetate and butyrate but greater propionate concentration. DNA copy number of Anaerovibrio lipolytica in ruminal fluid was greater with oil (average 5.38 vs. 3.62 × 10(5) DNA copy number), particularly with S2F2 relative to CK. Fibrobacter succinogenes and Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens DNA copy number decreased by 74% (1.06 vs. 4.01 × 10(5)) and 39% (5.16 vs. 8.42 × 10(7)) in response to S2F2 compared with CK. DNA copy numbers of Ruminococcus flavefaciens and Ruminococcus albus were not affected by incremental fish oil. Results suggest that greater availability of PUFA with >20 carbons (i.e. eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid) promoted changes in bacterial populations that are relevant for fibre digestion and biohydrogenation.

Treatability and fate of various phosphorus fractions in different wastewater treatment processes

The increasingly more stringent phosphorus (P) discharge limits, which are below the concentrations reliably achievable with currently available technologies, demand for better understanding of phosphorus removal mechanisms. This study investigated the compositional fractions of phosphorus (P) in various effluents as well as the efficacy of different levels of treatment processes for removing different fractions of P in wastewater. The results showed that BNR can effectively remove most fractions of P, with relatively higher efficiencies (>93%) towards bioavailable forms of P including soluble reactive P (sRP), particulate reactive P (pRP) portion and particulate acid hydrolysable P (pAHP) and, it showed relatively lower efficiency (78%) towards organic P. Soluble acid hydrolysable P (sAHP) was not effectively removed (<40%). Chemical P removal process was more effective for elimination of sRP, sAHP and particulate organic P (pOP), but was not as effective for removing pAHP and, it exhibited nearly no removal of dissolved organic P (DOP). We found that chemical P removal process led to a significant increase in the concentration of pRP by up to 255%, indicating that these pRP (presumably as chemically bounded P) are likely formed through chemical precipitation/co-adsorption. Only 22% and 64% of the pRP was removed through tertiary clarifier and filtration, respectively. This implies that chemical addition converts sRP into particulate-associated P, mostly as pRP that was not easily removed by sedimentation and filtration, therefore, the efficacy of chemical P removal highly depends on the effectiveness of solid and liquid separation process. As more sRP and particulate P were removed through the series of treatment processes, the percentage contribution from organic P increases with the level of treatment due to its recalcitrant nature. Our results indicated that in order to achieve extremely low effluent P levels, technologies and processes that can enhance pRP and DOP removal will be required.

A Western diet increases serotonin availability in rat small intestine

Diet-induced obesity is associated with changes in gastrointestinal function and induction of a mild inflammatory state. Serotonin (5-HT) containing enterochromaffin (EC) cells within the intestine respond to nutrients and are altered by inflammation. Thus, our aim was to characterize the uptake and release of 5-HT from EC cells of the rat ileum in a physiologically relevant model of diet-induced obesity. In chow-fed (CF) and Western diet-fed (WD) rats electrochemical methods were used to measure compression evoked (peak) and steady state (SS) 5-HT levels with fluoxetine used to block the serotonin reuptake transporter (SERT). The levels of mRNA for tryptophan hydroxylase 1 (TPH1) and SERT were determined by quantitative PCR, while EC cell numbers were determined immunohistochemically. In WD rats, the levels of 5-HT were significantly increased (SS: 19.2 ± 3.7 μm; peak: 73.5 ± 14.1 μm) compared with CF rats (SS: 12.3 ± 1.8 μm; peak: 32.2 ± 7.2 μm), while SERT-dependent uptake of 5-HT was reduced (peak WD: 108% of control versus peak CF: 212% control). In WD rats, there was a significant increase in TPH1 mRNA, a decrease in SERT mRNA and protein, and an increase in EC cells. In conclusion, our data show that foods typical of a Western diet are associated with an increased 5-HT availability in the rat ileum. Increased 5-HT availability is driven by the up-regulation of 5-HT synthesis genes, decreased re-uptake of 5-HT, and increased numbers and/or 5-HT content of EC cells which are likely to cause altered intestinal motility and sensation in vivo.

Impaired amyloid β-degrading enzymes in brain of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Enzymes that degrade the amyloid β-peptide (Aβ) are important regulators of cerebral Aβ levels. High level of Aβ was found in the brain of diabetic patients and diabetic animals. Aim of the study was to investigate whether activities of Aβ-degrading enzymes neprilysin (NEP), endothelin-converting enzyme 1 (ECE-1) and insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE) were impaired in the brain of diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced in rats by ip administration of 65 mg/kg streptozotocin. The temporal cortex and hippocampus were obtained for activity and mRNA level assays of the three enzymes on the 35th day after induction. ECE-1 activity was significantly decreased both in the hippocampus and cortex of diabetic rats, while for IDE significantly lower activity occurred only in the cortex. NEP activity was slightly decreased in both brain regions. The hippocampus of diabetic rats showed significant decrease in mRNA levels of NEP and ECE-1 and moderate increase in IDE mRNA level. The cortex of diabetic rats showed slight decrease in mRNA levels of the three enzymes. The results indicated that the three Aβ-degrading enzymes were damaged to different extents in the brain of diabetic rats, and impairment of ECE-1 and IDE partly contributed to the elevated Aβ(1-40) levels in brain of diabetic rats.

Elliptic flow of charged particles in Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt[S(NN)] = 2.76 TeV

We report the first measurement of charged particle elliptic flow in Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt[S(NN)] =2.76 TeV with the ALICE detector at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. The measurement is performed in the central pseudorapidity region (|η|<0.8) and transverse momentum range 0.2<p t<5.0 GeV/c. The elliptic flow signal v₂, measured using the 4-particle correlation method, averaged over transverse momentum and pseudorapidity is 0.087 ± 0.002(stat) ± 0.003(syst) in the 40%-50% centrality class. The differential elliptic flow v₂ p t reaches a maximum of 0.2 near p t =3 GeV/c. Compared to RHIC Au-Au collisions at sqrt[S(NN)] 200 GeV, the elliptic flow increases by about 30%. Some hydrodynamic model predictions which include viscous corrections are in agreement with the observed increase.

Charged-particle multiplicity density at midrapidity in central Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt[S(NN)] = 2.76 TeV

The first measurement of the charged-particle multiplicity density at midrapidity in Pb-Pb collisions at a center-of-mass energy per nucleon pair √ S NN = 2.76 TeV is presented. For an event sample corresponding to the most central 5% of the hadronic cross section, the pseudorapidity density of primary charged particles at midrapidity is 1584 ± 4(stat) ± 76(syst), which corresponds to 8.3 ± 0.4(syst) per participating nucleon pair. This represents an increase of about a factor 1.9 relative to pp collisions at similar collision energies, and about a factor 2.2 to central Au-Au collisions at √ S NN = 2.76 TeV. This measurement provides the first experimental constraint for models of nucleus-nucleus collisions at LHC energies.

Abstract P6-01-06: Identification of Molecular Subtypes of DCIS and Invasive Breast Cancer Using Computerized Image Analysis for Data Integration

Background: Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease with different putative therapeutic targets based upon the particular subtype. The particular subtype can have profound implications for therapy, as in the case of basal-like carcinomas which tend to be more aggressive with less therapeutic options. Although many studies have examined the transition from Ductal Carcinoma in-situ (DCIS) to Invasive Breast Cancer (IBC), the mechanisms involving the transformation are poorly understood. DCIS cases that are more likely to progress to IBC can be treated more aggressively. This study used image analysis to examine the association between predictive molecular biomarkers between pure DCIS, DCIS associated with IBC and IBC.

Methods: With approval by the Institutional Review Board, we evaluated tissue microarrays comprising 453 tissue cores from 149 patients. Five immunohistochemical biomarkers were utilized: estrogen (ER), progesterone (PR), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and cytokeratin 5/6 (CK-5/6). We then employed the Automated Cellular Image Analysis (ACIS) to score the biomarker status. We compared regional scoring (rated 0, 1, 2, or 3) between an experienced pathologist's subjective assessment and an automated score derived from ACIS. An image library was generated and integrated to our Translational Data Mart (TraM: http://tram.uchicago. edu). Statistical analyses included a comparison of histological grade, race, age, tumor size, and lymph node status associated with the prevalence of subtypes between pure DCIS tumors and those that advanced to IBCs. Results: The concordance between ACIS-based and pathologist-based scoring was moderate (kappa = 0.38). There was more variability in the pathologist's scoring with a standard deviation of 1.14 as compared to 0.85 for ACIS. Subtypes associated with IBC were also present in DCIS. In the pure DCIS cases, there was a higher proportion of the luminal A subtype (74.1%, n = 54) as compared to DCIS adjacent to IBC (54.2%, n=24) or pure IBC cases (57.4%, n = 115) (p=0.05). In contrast, there was more basal-like subtypes in DCIS juxtaposed with IBC (20.8%) and IBC (27.8%) than in pure DCIS tumors (9.3%).

Discussion: Molecular subtype analysis of DCIS could be useful in predicting DCIS with high risk of progressing to invasive cancer. The resemblance between subtypes bolsters the hypothesis that IBCs and DCIS originate from the same precursor lesion. Although the automated scoring featured by ACIS would be useful in expediting readings, it must be validated by a pathologist's assessment.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2010;70(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P6-01-06.

Schwann-like cell differentiation of rat adipose-derived stem cells by indirect co-culture with Schwann cells in vitro

OBJECTIVES

Schwann cell (SC) transplantation is a promising therapy for peripheral nerve transaction, however, clinical use of SCs is limited due to their very limited availability. Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) have been identified as an alternative source of adult stem cells in recent years. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of using ADSCs as a source of stem cells for differentiation into Schwann-like cells by an indirect co-culture approach, in vitro.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Multilineage differentiation potential of the obtained ADSCs was assayed by testing their ability to differentiate into osteoblasts and adipocytes. The ADSCs were co-cultured with SCs to be induced into Schwann-like cells through proximity, using a Millicell system. Expression of typical SC markers S-100, GFAP and P75NTR of the treated ADSCs was determined by immunocytochemical staining, western blotting and RT-PCR. Myelination capacity of the differentiated ADSCs (dADSCs) was evaluated in dADSC/dorsal root ganglia neuron (DRGN) co-cultures.

RESULTS

The treated ADSCs adopted a spindle shaped-like morphology after co-cultured with SCs for 6 days. All results of immunocytochemical staining, western blotting and RT-PCR showed that the treated cells expressed S-100, GFAP and P75NTR, indications of differentiation. dADSCs could form Schwann-like cell myelin in co-culture with DRGNs. Undifferentiated ADSCs (uADSCs) did not form myelin compared to DRGNs cultured alone, but could produce neurite extension.

CONCLUSIONS

These results demonstrate that this indirect co-culture microenvironment could induce ADSCs to differentiate into Schwann-like cells in vitro, which may be beneficial for treatment of peripheral nerve injuries in the near future.