Caspase-mediated Cdk2 activation is a critical step to execute transforming growth factor-beta1-induced apoptosis in human gastric cancer cells

Although TGF-beta1, a growth inhibitor, is known to also induce apoptosis, the molecular mechanism of this apoptosis is largely undefined. Here, we identify the mechanism of TGF-beta1-induced apoptosis in SNU-16 human gastric cancer cells. Cell cycle and TUNEL analysis showed that, upon TGF-beta1 treatment, cells were initially arrested at the G1 phase and then driven into apoptosis. Of note, caspase-3 was activated in accordance with TGF-beta1-induced G1 arrest. Activated caspase-3 is targeted to cleave p21(cip1), p27(kip1), and Rb, which play important roles in TGF-beta-induced G1 arrest, into inactive fragments. Subsequently, Cdk2 was aberrantly activated due to the cleavage of p21 and p27. We found that the inhibition of Cdk2 activity efficiently blocks TGF-beta1-induced apoptosis, whereas it did not prevent caspase-3 activation or the subsequent cleavage of target proteins. In contrast, the suppression of caspase-3 activity inhibited the cleavage of target proteins, the activation of Cdk2, and the induction of apoptosis. Taken together, our results suggest that activation of caspase-3 by TGF-beta1 may initiate the conversion from G1 cell cycle arrest to apoptosis via the cleavage of p21, p27 and Rb, which in turn causes Cdk2 activation and, most significantly, Cdk2 activation as a downstream effector of caspase is a critical step for the execution of TGF-beta1-induced apoptosis.

Lack of cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) induction in the rat liver by starvation without coprophagy

Starvation potentiates the hepatotoxicity of a variety of small molecules, including chlorinated hydrocarbons and nitrosamines, through the induction of CYP2E1. A change in CYP2E1 expression during starvation may also alter the pharmacokinetic profiles of xenobiotics. Northern blot and Western blot analyses revealed that hepatic CYP2E1 was not induced during starvation in rats placed in metabolic or wire-bottom cages in contrast to the induction of CYP2E1 in animals housed in solid-bottom cages. We studied the effect of coprophagy on the expression of hepatic CYP2E1 during starvation. The extent of coprophagy was 24% in fed rats. Fecal matter of starving rats was reduced to 14% of control and starving rats re-ingested ~1.6 g of feces per day. The effect of fecal matter on CYP2E1 expression (i.e., 1.6 g/kg/day for 3 days) was assessed in fed or starving rats. Starving rats gavaged with fecal matter for 3 days resulted in a 3.5-fold increase in the level of CYP2E1 mRNA, while fed rats gavaged with feces failed to show an increase in the mRNA. The increase in the CYP2E1 mRNA level accompanied the induction of CYP2E1. Starving rats gavaged with methanol extract of feces (500 mg/kg/day for 3 days) showed a 3.3-fold increase in CYP2E1 mRNA level in the liver. These results provide evidence that CYP2E1 is not induced by starvation without coprophagy, raising the contention that the mechanistic basis for CYP2E1 induction by starvation should be reevaluated.

Case report: is this SVT or VT? An exception to the rule

This case illustrates the difficulties sometimes encountered by clinicians when using algorithms in diagnosing a wide-complex tachycardia based on a 12-lead EKG.

Expression of cytochrome P-450s and glutathione S-transferases in the rat liver during water deprivation: effects of glucose supplementation

Pharmacokinetic profiles of therapeutic agents change in dehydrated animals. The present study was designed to determine the expression of xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes in the rat liver and the effect of glucose supplementation during water deprivation. Deprivation of water intake, which reduced food intake, resulted in no significant change in the cytochrome P-450 1A2, 2B1/2, 2C11 and 3A1/2 expression. Cytochrome P-450 2E1, however, was three-fold induced with an increase in the mRNA. Rehydration of 48-h water-deprived rats for the next 24 h with free access to foods restored the P-450 2E1 level to that of the control, although rehydration with 20% food supply failed to normalize the P-450 2E1 expression. Water deprivation caused a reduction in the plasma insulin level, which was prevented by rehydration with a sufficient food supply. The plasma insulin level was inversely related to the P-450 2E1 expression. Glucose feeding instead of foods during dehydration prevented P-450 2E1 induction in the absence of recovering the plasma insulin level. Western blot analysis revealed that the hepatic rGSTA2 level was 30% decreased in dehydrated rats, whereas the rGSTA3, M1 and M2 expression was not affected. Suppression of rGSTA2 accompanied a reduction in the mRNA. Glucose feeding further reduced rGSTA2 expression. The data indicated that expression of major P-450s and glutathione S-transferases, except P-450 2E1, was not greatly affected by water deprivation and that the P-450 2E1 induction and a decrease in plasma insulin resulted from the reduction in food intake but not from dehydration per se. Glucose supplementation restored P-450 2E1 expression but further suppressed rGSTA2 expression during water deprivation.

Temperature effects on the transport properties of molecules

Recent experiments found an unusual temperature-induced large shift in the resonant-tunneling voltage of certain molecules. We report first-principles calculations showing that such behavior can be caused by the excitation of rotational modes of ligands. These modes have classical characteristics, i.e., the maximum excursion is dominant, while at the same time they have a significant effect on the energy levels responsible for resonant tunneling. The proposed mechanism of ligand rotations is unique to molecules and accounts for the fact that the effect is not seen in semiconductor nanostructures.

Functional magnetic resonance imaging of visual object construction and shape discrimination : relations among task, hemispheric lateralization, and gender

We studied the brain activation patterns in two visual image processing tasks requiring judgements on object construction (FIT task) or object sameness (SAME task). Eight right-handed healthy human subjects (four women and four men) performed the two tasks in a randomized block design while 5-mm, multislice functional images of the whole brain were acquired using a 4-tesla system using blood oxygenation dependent (BOLD) activation. Pairs of objects were picked randomly from a set of 25 oriented fragments of a square and presented to the subjects approximately every 5 sec. In the FIT task, subjects had to indicate, by pushing one of two buttons, whether the two fragments could match to form a perfect square, whereas in the SAME task they had to decide whether they were the same or not. In a control task, preceding and following each of the two tasks above, a single square was presented at the same rate and subjects pushed any of the two keys at random. Functional activation maps were constructed based on a combination of conservative criteria. The areas with activated pixels were identified using Talairach coordinates and anatomical landmarks, and the number of activated pixels was determined for each area. Altogether, 379 pixels were activated. The counts of activated pixels did not differ significantly between the two tasks or between the two genders. However, there were significantly more activated pixels in the left (n = 218) than the right side of the brain (n = 161). Of the 379 activated pixels, 371 were located in the cerebral cortex. The Talairach coordinates of these pixels were analyzed with respect to their overall distribution in the two tasks. These distributions differed significantly between the two tasks. With respect to individual dimensions, the two tasks differed significantly in the anterior--posterior and superior--inferior distributions but not in the left--right (including mediolateral, within the left or right side) distribution. Specifically, the FIT distribution was, overall, more anterior and inferior than that of the SAME task. A detailed analysis of the counts and spatial distributions of activated pixels was carried out for 15 brain areas (all in the cerebral cortex) in which a consistent activation (in > or = 3 subjects) was observed (n = 323 activated pixels). We found the following. Except for the inferior temporal gyrus, which was activated exclusively in the FIT task, all other areas showed activation in both tasks but to different extents. Based on the extent of activation, areas fell within two distinct groups (FIT or SAME) depending on which pixel count (i.e., FIT or SAME) was greater. The FIT group consisted of the following areas, in decreasing FIT/SAME order (brackets indicate ties): GTi, GTs, GC, GFi, GFd, [GTm, GF], GO. The SAME group consisted of the following areas, in decreasing SAME/FIT order : GOi, LPs, Sca, GPrC, GPoC, [GFs, GFm]. These results indicate that there are distributed, graded, and partially overlapping patterns of activation during performance of the two tasks. We attribute these overlapping patterns of activation to the engagement of partially shared processes. Activated pixels clustered to three types of clusters : FIT-only (111 pixels), SAME-only (97 pixels), and FIT + SAME (115 pixels). Pixels contained in FIT-only and SAME-only clusters were distributed approximately equally between the left and right hemispheres, whereas pixels in the SAME + FIT clusters were located mostly in the left hemisphere. With respect to gender, the left-right distribution of activated pixels was very similar in women and men for the SAME-only and FIT + SAME clusters but differed for the FIT-only case in which there was a prominent left side preponderance for women, in contrast to a right side preponderance for men. We conclude that (a) cortical mechanisms common for processing visual object construction and discrimination involve mostly the left hemisphere, (b) cortical mechanisms specific for these tasks engage both hemispheres, and (c) in object construction only, men engage predominantly the right hemisphere whereas women show a left-hemisphere preponderance.

The effect of stimulus-response compatibility on cortical motor activation

Stimulus-response compatibility (SRC) is a general term describing the relationship between a triggering stimulus and its associated motor response. The relationship between stimulus and response can be manipulated at the level of the set of stimulus and response characteristics (set-level) or at the level of the mapping between the individual elements of the stimulus and response sets (element-level). We used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate the effects of SRC on functional activation in cortical motor areas. Using behavioral tasks to separately evaluate set- and element-level compatibility, and their interaction, we measured the volume of functional activation in 11 cortical motor areas, in the anterior frontal cortex, and in the superior temporal lobe. Element-level compatibility effects were associated with significant activation in the pre-supplementary motor area (preSMA), the dorsal (PMd) and ventral (PMv) premotor areas, and the parietal areas (inferior, superior, intraparietal sulcus, precuneus). The activation was lateralized to the right hemisphere for most of the areas. Set-level compatibility effects resulted in significant activation in the inferior frontal gyri, anterior cingulate and cingulate motor areas, the PMd, PMv, preSMA, the parietal areas (inferior, superior, intraparietal sulcus, precuneus), and in the superior temporal lobe. Activation in the majority of these areas was lateralized to the left hemisphere. Finally, there was an interaction between set and element-level compatibility in the middle and superior frontal gyri, in an area co-extensive with the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, suggesting that this area provided the neural substrate for common processing stages, such as working memory and attention, which are engaged when both levels of SRC are manipulated at once.

The coronoid process for paranasal augmentation in the correction of midfacial concavity

OBJECTIVE

The coronoid process can be easily harvested as a donor bone by an intraoral approach during orthognathic surgery, especially during mandibular ramus surgery. This study was performed to provide an objective assessment of the coronoid process as a candidate material for paranasal augmentation.

STUDY DESIGN

The dimensions of the coronoid process and the paranasal area were directly measured in 15 dry skulls. Based on these data, the coronoid process was used for a paranasal augmentation in 54 patients.

RESULTS

The size and shape of the coronoid process was found suitable for paranasal augmentation; its thickness was 5.4 +/- 0.8 mm on the right and 5.8 +/- 1.2 mm on the left. All patients showed improved facial esthetics without complications when followed up for more than 12 months.

CONCLUSION

The coronoid process seems to be suitable for paranasal augmentation in the dry skull study. Its clinical application is also favorable because its size and morphology fits into the paranasal region, with the additional advantages of biocompatibility, availability, and reduced operation time for harvesting.

Effect of hyperoxia, hypercapnia, and hypoxia on cerebral interstitial oxygen tension and cerebral blood flow

The assessment of cerebral interstitial oxygen tension (piO(2)) can provide valuable information regarding cerebrovascular physiology and brain function. Compartment-specific cerebral piO(2) was measured by (19)F NMR following the infusion of an oxygen-sensitive perfluorocarbon directly into the interstitial and ventricular space of the in vivo rat brain. (19)F T(1) measurements were made and cerebral piO(2) were obtained through in vitro calibrations. The effects of graded hyperoxia, hypercapnia, and hypoxia on piO(2) and cerebral blood flow (CBF) were investigated. Under normoxia (arterial pO(2) approximately 120 mm Hg), piO(2) was approximately 30 mm Hg and jugular venous pO(2) was approximately 50 mm Hg. During hyperoxia (arterial pO(2) = 90-300 mm Hg), piO(2) increased linearly with the arterial pO(2). Following hypercapnia (arterial pCO(2) = 20-60 mm Hg), the piO(2) increased sigmoidally with increasing CBF. With hypoxia (arterial pO(2) = 30-40 mm Hg), CBF increased approximately 56% and piO(2) decreased to approximately 15 mm Hg. The hypoxia-induced CBF increase was effective to some extent in compensating for the reduced piO(2). This methodology may prove useful for investigating cerebral piO(2) under pathologically or functionally altered conditions. Magn Reson Med 45:61-70, 2001.

Prevention of c-Jun/activator protein-1 activation and microsomal epoxide hydrolase induction in the rat liver by cysteine during protein-calorie malnutrition

Protein-calorie malnutrition (PCM), a major global health problem, arises during protein and/or energy deficit due to disease and nutritional inadequacy. To date, cellular adaptive responses and gene expression associated with PCM remain poorly understood. In view of the primary role of the liver in energy conversion, the present study was designed to investigate changes in hepatic morphology and molecular alterations during PCM. PCM caused marked decreases in the cytoplasmic eosinophilic content and nuclear shrinkage in the hepatocytes with a decrease in glutathione content. The nuclear activator protein-1 (AP-1) complex was activated in the liver of PCM rats. AP-1-binding activity of nuclear extracts produced from PCM rats was reduced by the presence of anti-c-Jun antibody. Microsomal epoxide hydrolase (mEH), a phase II detoxifying enzyme, was 4-fold induced, with a 20-fold increase in the mRNA level during PCM. In contrast to the PCM-induced changes in hepatic morphology, PCM rats supplemented with cysteine showed an increase in the GSH level and well-preserved hepatic structures with mild fat degeneration. Cysteine supplementation inhibited the activation of AP-1 and the induction of mEH in PCM rats. These results provided evidence: (i) that PCM alters liver morphology with a decrease in the glutathione level; (ii) that cysteine may serve as a key element responsible for preserving hepatic morphology and maintaining the glutathione level; and (iii) that cysteine was active in preventing the activation of AP-1 and mEH induction in the liver during PCM.

Internal transcardiac pericardiocentesis for acute tamponade

If the catheter is still in the pericardium when tamponade is recognized during catheterization or electrophysiologic procedures, it can be used for definitive aspiration and relief of tamponade. This is physiologically beneficial to the patient, and psychologically beneficial to both patient and medical staff.

The essential role of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase activation in the antioxidant response element-mediated rGSTA2 induction by decreased glutathione in H4IIE hepatoma cells

The protective adaptive response to electrophiles and reactive oxygen species is mediated by the enhanced expression of the phase II detoxifying genes through antioxidant response elements (AREs). The current study was designed to identify the signaling pathways responsible for the expression of rGSTA2 in response to cellular oxidative stress and to establish the molecular mechanistic basis. Deprivation of cystine and methionine caused oxidative stress in H4IIE hepatoma cells as evidenced by a marked decrease in the reduced glutathione (first order rate constant = 0.056 h(-1); t(1/2) = 12.6 h) and an increase in pro-oxidant production. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay revealed that the ARE complex, consisting of Nrf-1/2 and Maf proteins, was activated 12 to 48 h after sulfur amino acid deprivation (SAAD). The rGSTA2 mRNA level was elevated by SAAD beginning at 24 h, whereas the rGSTA2 subunit was maximally induced at 48 h. Nuclear ARE activation and rGSTA2 mRNA increase were both completely inhibited by wortmannin or LY294002, the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase) inhibitors. The p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase was activated at 0.5 to 3 h after SAAD, followed by sustained diminished activation up to 12 h. Inhibition of p38 MAP kinase by SB203580 prevented the ARE-mediated rGSTA2 induction. The activation of p38 MAP kinase, however, failed to be inhibited by wortmannin or LY294002, showing that PI3-kinase is not involved in the activation of p38 MAP kinase. Data showed that PI3-kinase plays an essential role in the ARE-mediated rGSTA2 induction by oxidative stress after SAAD, which activates the p38 MAP kinase and leads to rGSTA2 induction.

Two closely related cDNAs encoding actin-depolymerizing factors of petunia are mainly expressed in vegetative tissues

Actin-depolymerizing factor (ADF) is one of the small actin-binding proteins that regulate actin dynamics in cells. We have isolated two cDNA clones, PhADF1 and PhADF2, encoding ADF from cDNA libraries constructed from petal protoplast cultures and flowers of Petunia hybrida. PhADF1 and PhADF2 encode polypeptides of 139 and 143 amino acids with a calculated molecular mass of 16.04 and 16.51kDa, respectively. Co-sedimentation assay showed that the recombinant PhADF1 protein produced in Escherichia coli binds to F-actin at pH7. 0 and preferentially depolymerizes it at pH8.0. Gene tree analysis indicates that the plant ADF family can be grouped into four classes, and PhADFs are included in class I. Southern blot analyses revealed that one or two copies of PhADF genes are present in petunia genome, and several other related isoforms also exist. Northern blot analyses indicated that PhADF1 and PhADF2 are closely related and abundantly expressed in every plant organ except pollen. In addition, they are highly accumulated in mature vegetative tissue (petal, leaf, and stem). Our results indicate that the transcription of petunia ADF genes is differentially regulated by developmental signals.

The effect of cysteine on the altered expression of class alpha and mu glutathione S-transferase genes in the rat liver during protein-calorie malnutrition

Protein-calorie malnutrition (PCM) represents a global health problem. The breakdown rate of glutathione S-transferase (GST) subunits determines their differential contents during protein depletion. Hepatic GST expression and the underlying mechanistic basis were investigated in PCM rats. PCM caused no change in rGSTA1/2 subunit. In contrast, rGSTA3/5 subunit was 2.4-fold induced during PCM, while the levels for rGSTM1 and M2 subunits were 30% and 70% suppressed. Increased GSTA3/5 expression was significantly prevented by cysteine or methionine treatment, although such treatment failed to restore the rGSTM2 level. In contrast to differential GST protein expression, PCM caused a 5-10-fold increase in rGSTA2/A3/A5 and M1 mRNAs, whereas rGSTM2 mRNA was 70% decreased. The elevations in rGSTA2/A3/A5 and M1 mRNAs were completely abolished by cysteine or methionine treatment during PCM, although the rGSTM2 mRNA level was not restored. PCM induced oxidative stress in the liver, as evidenced by protein carbonylation. Antioxidant response element (ARE)-binding activity of nuclear extracts from PCM rats was increased, which was immunodepleted with anti-Nrf-1/2 antibodies. Activation of nuclear ARE-binding proteins was inhibited by cysteine. Data showed that hepatic GSTs were differentially expressed during PCM, that certain GST mRNAs were increased with the ARE activation, and that cysteine was active in preventing increases in GST mRNAs and ARE activation.

Incidence of presbycusis of Korean populations in Seoul, Kyunggi and Kangwon provinces

Presbycusis, a bilateral sensorineural hearing loss caused by changes in the inner ear, is related to multiple factors such as noise exposure and otologic disease. In institute-based studies, we tried to determine the incidence of presbycusis in Korean populations living in Seoul, Kyunggi and Kangwon provinces by gender and age groups. The subjects were people who had visited health promotion centers. Pure tone audiometry was done over 20 years on 6,028 subjects. In a community-based study, the subjects were elderly residents of Kanghwa-do area. There were no obvious factors that could cause hearing impairment in the subjects. For the pure tone audiometry, hearing threshold was obtained by using the six-dimension method. The incidence of presbycusis for subjects aged 65 years and older was 37.8% and 8.3% for > or = 27 dB HL criterion and > or = 41 dB HL criterion, respectively. The incidence increased with age. A statistically significant difference in the hearing threshold was found between men and women aged 65 years or older. No differences were found between the community-based study and the institute- based studies. There was a high incidence (about 40%) of presbycusis among Koreans aged 65 years or older (for > or = 27 dB HL criterion). With an aging population, we anticipate that this report could be used to provide a basic data for the study of presbycusis.

Inhibition of lipopolysaccharide-induced I-kappaB degradation and tumor necrosis factor-alpha expression by acriflavine, an antimicrobial agent

Acriflavine neutral (ACF) has been used for treatment of microbial infections for humans and fishes. Effects of ACF on the nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) activation and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) production by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), an endotoxin, were examined in rat and RAW264.7 cells. Gel retardation analysis revealed that LPS (1 microg/kg) activated NF-kappaB in the liver, whereas pretreatment of rats with ACF (10 mg/kg) completely prevented the NF-kappaB activation. Selectivity of the NF-kappaB DNA binding was confirmed by immunodepletion with anti-p65 and anti-p50 antibodies. Translocation of NF-kappaB to the nucleus is preceded by phosphorylation and proteolytic degradation of inhibitor-kappaBalpha (I-kappaBalpha) subunit. Whereas the level of I-kappaBalpha protein was rapidly decreased after treatment of rats with LPS (1 microg/kg), ACF treatment prior to LPS attenuated the decrease in I-kappaBalpha protein level. LPS-induced increase in the production of TNF-alpha, the principal inflammatory mediator, was prevented by ACF pretreatment by 80%. Stimulation of RAW264.7 cells with 1 microg/ml of LPS caused an increase in DNA binding activity of NF-kappaB, which was 80% inhibited by 1 microg/ml of ACF. LPS reduced I-kappaBalpha level in RAW264.7 cells by 77%. ACF attenuated LPS-induced decrease in I-kappaBalpha protein in a concentration-dependent manner. Production of TNF-alpha by LPS from RAW264.7 cells was decreased by 84% in the presence of ACF. Data showed that ACF inhibited LPS-induced NF-kappaB activation through inhibition of I-kappaBalpha degradation and TNF-alpha production in both rat and RAW264.7 cells. Inhibition of NF-kappaB activation and TNF-alpha production may be associated with the anti-inflammatory activity of ACF.

The effect of antagonists selective for mu- and delta-opioid receptor subtypes on alcohol consumption in C57BL/6 mice

Several studies have demonstrated that non-selective opioid receptor antagonists effectively reduce alcohol consumption in both animal models and at the clinical level. However, research examining the contribution of specific opioid receptor subtypes to this effect has yielded conflicting results. Some of these studies have shown that the effect is contingent upon the action of mu receptors while others have suggested that delta receptors are primarily responsible. The data reported here re-examine this question using the alcohol-preferring C57BL/6 mice. The results of this experiment demonstrate that D-Phe-Cys-Tyr-D-Trp-Orn-Thr-Pen-Thr-NH(2) (CTOP), a mu-selective antagonist, and naltrindole, a delta-selective antagonist, are equally effective at reducing alcohol consumption in a limited access model compared to a saline control group. While there was no specific comparison of the effects of these drugs on alternative appetitive behavior, neither of these drugs had effects on measured off-session food or water consumption. The results of this experiment suggest that alcohol consumption is mediated by both mu- and delta-opioid receptor subtypes.

Novel artificial receptors for alkylammonium ions with remarkable selectivity and affinity

The benzene-based tripodal tris(oxazolines) have been developed as the most selective and strong receptors toward linear alkylammonium ions reported to date. Among six tris(oxazolines) based on 2,4,6-trimethylbenzene framework, the phenylglycinol-derived receptor 4 exhibits the largest association constant toward nBuNH3+ (logK(ass) = 6.65 +/- 0.02), while a similar value toward tBuNH3+, (logK(ass) = 3.80 +/- 0.01) compared with others, which corresponds to the selectivity ratio of nBuNH3+/tBuNH3+ as high as approximately equals 700. The tris(oxazoline) 6 that has bare oxazoline ring exhibits still a large association constant toward sterically hindered tBuNH3+ (logK(ass) = 5.26 +/- 0.02). Both receptors 4 and 6 extract beta-phenethylammonium ion from water into chloroform almost completely. When the benzene frame is changed from 2,4,6-trimethylbenzene to 2,4,6-triethylbenzene, dramatic changes in the affinity as well as in the selectivity are observed. The association constant observed by tris(oxazoline) 8 toward nBuNH3+ approaches 10(8)M(-1) and the selectivity ratio of nBuNH3+/tBuNH3+ is increased to 2,700. This selectivity is even more enhanced to 4,000 with tris(oxazoline) 9. The enhanced binding affinity and high selectivity observed with receptors 4 and related derivatives 7-9 compared with others can be explained by an optimized steric and electronic environment provided by the phenyl substituents, which has been unambiguously demonstrated by X-ray crystallographic and 1H NMR spectroscopic studies on the host-guest complexes. The new receptor system has several unique features such as ready availability, structural simplicity, and in particular, versatility in derivatization. By virtue of these advantages, it can be readily tailored as selective receptors toward biologically important amines.

Local blockade of allergic airway hyperreactivity and inflammation by the poxvirus-derived pan-CC-chemokine inhibitor vCCI

Allergen-induced asthma is characterized by chronic pulmonary inflammation, reversible bronchoconstriction, and airway hyperreactivity to provocative stimuli. Multiple CC-chemokines, which are produced by pulmonary tissue in response to local allergen challenge of asthmatic patients or experimentally sensitized rodents, chemoattract leukocytes from the circulation into the lung parenchyma and airway, and may also modify nonchemotactic function. To determine the therapeutic potential of local intrapulmonary CC-chemokine blockade to modify asthma, a recombinant poxvirus-derived viral CC-chemokine inhibitor protein (vCCI), which binds with high affinity to rodent and human CC-chemokines in vitro and neutralizes their biological activity, was administered by the intranasal route. Administration of vCCI to the respiratory tract resulted in dramatically improved pulmonary physiological function and decreased inflammation of the airway and the lung parenchyma. In contrast, vCCI had no significant effect on the circulating levels of total or allergen-specific IgE, allergen-specific cytokine production by peripheral lymph node T cells, or peritoneal inflammation after local allergen challenge, indicating that vCCI did not alter systemic Ag-specific immunity or chemoattraction at extrapulmonary sites. Together, these findings emphasize the importance of intrapulmonary CC-chemokines in the pathogenesis of asthma, and the therapeutic potential of generic and local CC-chemokine blockade for this and other chronic diseases in which CC-chemokines are locally produced.

The AGAMOUS-LIKE 20 MADS domain protein integrates floral inductive pathways in Arabidopsis

The very late-flowering behavior of Arabidopsis winter-annual ecotypes is conferred mainly by two genes, FRIGIDA (FRI) and FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC). A MADS-domain gene, AGAMOUS-LIKE 20 (AGL20), was identified as a dominant FRI suppressor in activation tagging mutagenesis. Overexpression of AGL20 suppresses not only the late flowering of plants that have functional FRI and FLC alleles but also the delayed phase transitions during the vegetative stages of plant development. Interestingly, AGL20 expression is positively regulated not only by the redundant vernalization and autonomous pathways of flowering but also by the photoperiod pathway. Our results indicate that AGL20 is an important integrator of three pathways controlling flowering in Arabidopsis.

Spatiotemporal dynamics of the BOLD fMRI signals: toward mapping submillimeter cortical columns using the early negative response

The existence of the early-negative blood-oxygenation-level-dependent (BOLD) response is controversial and its practical utility for mapping brain functions with columnar spatial specificity remains questionable. To address these issues, gradient-echo BOLD fMRI studies were performed at 4.7 T and 9.4 T using the well-established orientation column model in the cat visual cortex. A robust transient early-negative BOLD response was consistently observed in anesthetized cat (-0.35 +/- 0.09%, mean +/- SD, n = 8 at 2.9 +/- 0.5 sec poststimulus onset for 4.7 T, TE = 31 ms; -0.29 +/- 0.10%, n = 4 at 3.0 +/- 0.8 sec poststimulus onset for 9.4 T, TE = 12 ms). In addition to its temporal evolution, the BOLD response also evolved dynamically in the spatial domain. The initially spatially localized early-negative signal appeared to dynamically drain from the active sites toward large vessels, followed by a wave of the delayed positive signal, which exhibited similar spatiotemporal dynamics. Only the early-negative BOLD response within 2 sec of the stimulus onset (not the entire dip) yielded columnar layouts without differential subtraction. The functional maps of two orthogonal orientations using the first 2-sec dip were indeed complementary. On the other hand, the delayed positive BOLD response appeared diffused and extended beyond the active sites. It was thus less suitable to resolve columnar layouts. These results have implications for the design and interpretation of the BOLD fMRI at columnar resolution. Magn Reson Med 44:231-242, 2000.

Imaging blood flow in brain tumors using arterial spin labeling

Measurements of tumor blood flow (TBF) are important for understanding tumor physiology and can be valuable in selecting and evaluating therapies. Brain tumors typically present reduced blood flows compared to normal brain tissue. This study shows that the arterial spin labeling (ASL) technique can be used to measure TBF non-invasively in a rat glioma model. Results show that TBF in the core (36.3 +/- 18.9 ml/100g/min, n=4) and peripheral regions (85.3 +/- 26.9 ml/100g/min, n=4) of the tumor are significantly reduced and show considerable heterogeneity compared to cerebral blood flow (CBF) of normal brain tissue (147.7 +/- 31.1 ml/100g/min, n=4), while T(1) in the tumor (2.6 +/- 0.1 sec) is significantly elevated compared to normal tissue T(1) (2.0 +/- 0.0 sec). These results strongly support the feasibility of using the ASL technique to evaluate different cancer treatment strategies, to monitor the effects of agents designed to modulate TBF and oxygenation (e.g., carbogen gas), and to assess and guide the use of anti-angiogenic agents. Magn Reson Med 44:169-173, 2000.

Dual anticancer activity of 8-Cl-cAMP: inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of apoptotic cell death

8-Cl-cAMP induces apoptotic cell death in human cancer cells. To look at this more closely, we examined the changes in the levels of Bcl-2 family proteins during 8-Cl-cAMP-induced apoptosis of SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells. Following the treatment with 8-Cl-cAMP, Bcl-2 was transiently down-regulated and Bad was increased continuously up to day 5. In addition, overexpression of Bcl-2 efficiently blocked the 8-Cl-cAMP-induced apoptosis, suggesting Bcl-2 family proteins may be involved in the 8-Cl-cAMP-induced apoptosis. The contribution of the apoptotic cell death and the inhibition of cell proliferation in the 8-Cl-cAMP-induced growth inhibition was closely monitored in the Bcl-2-overexpressing cells. Though the apoptosis was reduced significantly, no significant difference was observed in the inhibition of cell proliferation up to day 2 of 8-Cl-cAMP treatment. These results suggest that 8-Cl-cAMP exerts anticancer activity by two distinct mechanisms, i.e. , through the inhibition of cell proliferation as well as the induction of apoptosis. Supporting this notion was the observations that (1) suppression of apoptosis by zVAD did not abrogate 8-Cl-cAMP-induced inhibition of cell proliferation, and (2) 8-Cl-cAMP did not show additive inhibition of cell proliferation in RIIbeta-overexpressing cells.