Immunological regulation and the role of autophagy in preeclampsia

Autophagy is a bulk degradation system that maintains cellular homeostasis by producing energy and/or recycling excess proteins. During early placentation, extravillous trophoblasts invade the decidua and uterine myometrium, facing maternal immune cells, which participate in the immune suppression of paternal and fetal antigens. Regulatory T cells will likely increase in response to a specific antigen before and during early pregnancy. Insufficient expansion of antigen-specific Treg cells, which possess the same T cell receptor, is associated with the pathophysiology of preeclampsia, suggesting sterile systemic inflammation. Autophagy is involved in reducing inflammation through the degradation of inflammasomes and in the differentiation and function of regulatory T cells. Autophagy dysregulation induces protein aggregation in trophoblasts, resulting in placental dysfunction. In this review, we discuss the role of regulatory T cells in normal pregnancies. In addition, we discuss the association between autophagy and regulatory T cells in the development of preeclampsia based on reports on the role of autophagy in autoimmune diseases.

The Role of Autophagy in the Female Reproduction System: For Beginners to Experts in This Field

Autophagy is a fundamental process involved in regulating cellular homeostasis. Autophagy has been classically discovered as a cellular process that degrades cytoplasmic components non-selectively to produce energy. Over the past few decades, this process has been shown to work in energy production, as well as in the reduction of excessive proteins, damaged organelles, and membrane trafficking. It contributes to many human diseases, such as neurodegenerative diseases, carcinogenesis, diabetes mellitus, development, longevity, and reproduction. In this review, we provide important information for interpreting results related to autophagic experiments and present the role of autophagy in this field.

Chloroquine is a safe autophagy inhibitor for sustaining the expression of antioxidant enzymes in trophoblasts

Inhibition of autophagy contributes to the pathophysiology of preeclampsia. Although chloroquine (CHQ) is an autophagy inhibitor, it can reduce the occurrence of preeclampsia in women with systemic lupus erythematosus. To clarify this important clinical question, this study aimed to address the safety of CHQ in trophoblast cells from the viewpoint of homeostasis, in which the anti-oxidative stress (OS) response and autophagy are involved. We used Western blotting to evaluate the protein levels in the trophoblast cells. The expression levels of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), an anti-OS enzyme, mediate resistance to OS induced by hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) in trophoblast cell lines. Among the autophagy modulators, bafilomycin A1 (BAF), an autophagy inhibitor, but not autophagy activators, suppressed HO-1 expression in BeWo cells; CHQ did not suppress HO-1 expression in BeWo cells. To clarify the role of autophagy in HO-1 induction, we observed no difference in HO-1 induction by H₂O₂ between autophagy-normal and autophagy-deficient cells. As for the mechanism of HO-1 induction by OS, BAF suppressed HO-1 induction by downregulating the expression of neighbor of BRCA1 gene 1 (NBR1) in the selective p62-NBR1-nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) autophagy pathway. CHQ did not inhibit HO-1 expression by sustaining NBR1 expression in human villous tissues compared to BAF treatment. In conclusion, CHQ is a safer medicine than BAF for sustaining NBR1, which resist against OS in trophoblasts by connecting selective autophagy and the anti-OS response.

Silver nanoparticles suppress forskolin-induced syncytialization in BeWo cells

Opportunities for the exposure of pregnant women to engineered nanoparticles have been increasing with the expanding use of these materials. Therefore, there are concerns that nanoparticles could have adverse effects on the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy. The effects of nanoparticles on the mother and fetus have been evaluated from this perspective, but there is still little knowledge about the effects on placentation and function acquisition, which are essential for the successful establishment and maintenance of pregnancy. Formation of the syncytiotrophoblast is indispensable for the acquisition of placental function, and impairment of syncytialization inevitably affects pregnancy outcomes. Here, we assessed the effect of nanoparticles on placental formation by using forskolin-treated BeWo cells, a typical in vitro model of trophoblast syncytialization. Immunofluorescence staining analysis revealed that silver nanoparticles with a diameter of 10 nm (nAg10) (at 0.156 µg/mL) significantly decreased the proportion of syncytialized BeWo cells, but gold nanoparticles with a diameter of 10 nm did not. Consistently, only nAg10 (at 0.156 µg/mL) significantly suppressed forskolin-induced elevation of CGB and SDC1 mRNA expression levels and human chorionic gonadotropin β production in a dose-dependent manner; these molecules are all markers of syncytialization. Besides, nAg10 significantly decreased the expression of ERVFRD-1, which encodes proteins associated with cell fusion. Moreover, nAg10 tended to suppress the expression of sFlt-1 e15a, a placental angiogenesis marker. Collectively, our data suggest that nAg10 could suppress formation of the syncytiotrophoblast and that induce placental dysfunction and the following poor pregnancy outcomes.

Protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type Q in cerebrospinal fluid reflects ependymal cell dysfunction and is a potential biomarker for adult chronic hydrocephalus

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type Q (PTPRQ) was extracted from the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with probable idiopathic normal-pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) by proteome analysis. We aimed to assess the feasibility of using CSF PTPRQ concentrations for the additional diagnostic criterion of iNPH in Japanese and Finnish populations.

METHODS

We compared PTPRQ concentrations among patients with probable iNPH and neurologically healthy individuals (normal control [NC] group), patients with normal-pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) of acquired and congenital/developmental aetiologies, patients with Alzheimer's disease and patients with Parkinson's disease in a Japanese analysis cohort. A corresponding iNPH group and NC group in a Finnish cohort was used for validation. Patients in the Finnish cohort who underwent biopsy were classified into two groups based on amyloid and/or tau deposition. We measured PTPRQ expression levels in autopsied brain specimens of iNPH patients and the NC group.

RESULTS

Cerebrospinal fluid PTPRQ concentrations in the patients with NPH of idiopathic, acquired and congenital/developmental aetiologies were significantly higher than those in the NC group and those with Parkinson's disease, but iNPH showed no significant differences when compared with those in the Alzheimer's disease group. For the patients with iNPH, the area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve was 0.860 in the Japanese iNPH and 0.849 in the Finnish iNPH cohorts. Immunostaining and in situ hybridization revealed PTPRQ expression in the ependymal cells and choroid plexus. It is highly possible that the elevated PTPRQ levels in the CSF are related to ependymal dysfunction from ventricular expansion.

CONCLUSIONS

Cerebrospinal fluid PTPRQ levels indicated the validity of this assay for auxiliary diagnosis of adult chronic hydrocephalus.

Four Aromatic Sulfates with an Inhibitory Effect against HCV NS3 Helicase from the Crinoid Alloeocomatella polycladia

Bioassay-guided separation of a lipophilic extract of the crinoid Alloeocomatella polycladia, inhibiting the activity of HCV NS3 helicase, yielded two groups of molecules: cholesterol sulfate and four new aromatic sulfates 1–4. The structures of the aromatics were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis in addition to theoretical studies. The aromatic sulfates 1–4 showed moderate inhibition against NS3 helicase with IC₅₀ values of 71, 95, 7, and 5 μM, respectively.

A fluorescence-based screening assay for identification of hepatitis C virus NS3 helicase inhibitors and characterization of their inhibitory mechanism

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) can establish a chronic infection in the majority of individuals infected, resulting in liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Because the current standard treatment for HCV infection has limitations in terms of severe side effects, the emergence of drug resistance, and drug-drug interactions, it is desirable to develop novel antivirals that target viral proteins involved in viral replication. HCV nonstructural protein 3 (NS3) helicase, which unwinds double-stranded nucleic acids to yield single-stranded nucleic acids, is one possible target for new drug development, because it plays an essential role in viral replication. In this chapter, we describe a helicase assay based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) that can be used for high-throughput screening of HCV NS3 helicase inhibitors. The assay uses a double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) substrate with a fluorophore-labeled strand hybridized to a quencher-labeled strand and monitors the increase in fluorescence intensity resulting from helicase-catalyzed unwinding of the dsRNA substrate. We further describe radioactive assays to directly visualize RNA strands unwound by helicase and to evaluate the ATPase and RNA-binding activities of NS3, which are linked to helicase activity, for characterization of the inhibitory mechanism.

Identification of Hydroxyanthraquinones as Novel Inhibitors of Hepatitis C Virus NS3 Helicase

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is an important etiological agent of severe liver diseases, including cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The HCV genome encodes nonstructural protein 3 (NS3) helicase, which is a potential anti-HCV drug target because its enzymatic activity is essential for viral replication. Some anthracyclines are known to be NS3 helicase inhibitors and have a hydroxyanthraquinone moiety in their structures; mitoxantrone, a hydroxyanthraquinone analogue, is also known to inhibit NS3 helicase. Therefore, we hypothesized that the hydroxyanthraquinone moiety alone could also inhibit NS3 helicase. Here, we performed a structure-activity relationship study on a series of hydroxyanthraquinones by using a fluorescence-based helicase assay. Hydroxyanthraquinones inhibited NS3 helicase with IC50 values in the micromolar range. The inhibitory activity varied depending on the number and position of the phenolic hydroxyl groups, and among different hydroxyanthraquinones examined, 1,4,5,8-tetrahydroxyanthraquinone strongly inhibited NS3 helicase with an IC50 value of 6 µM. Furthermore, hypericin and sennidin A, which both have two hydroxyanthraquinone-like moieties, were found to exert even stronger inhibition with IC50 values of 3 and 0.8 µM, respectively. These results indicate that the hydroxyanthraquinone moiety can inhibit NS3 helicase and suggest that several key chemical structures are important for the inhibition.

BMI is associated with larger index tumors and worse outcome after radical prostatectomy

BACKGROUND

To investigate the impact of body mass index (BMI) on tumor characteristics and biochemical recurrence (BCR) after radical prostatectomy (RP) for prostate cancer (PCa) in Japanese men.

METHODS

We evaluated data from consecutive patients who had undergone RP. Data analyzed included age, preoperative serum PSA, prostatic volume, BMI (continuous or categorized (≤ 25 kg/m(2)) values), clinical and pathological findings including index tumor volume (ITV), and current status in areas such as smoker or nonsmoker and presence or absence of diabetes. We analyzed association between BMI and BCR, especially based on ITV using univariate and multivariate analysis.

RESULTS

We analyzed data from a total of 703 patients. The median follow-up time was 38.4 months. BCR was diagnosed in 154 patients (21.9%) at a median of 9.7 months postoperatively. Multivariate linear regression analysis adjusted for preoperative variables showed a significant positive association between BMI and ITV (continuous BMI: P=0.002; categorical BMI: P<0.001, respectively), especially for higher-grade tumors (Gleason score ≥ 7). Cox proportional hazards analysis showed a significant association between continuous BMI and BCR after surgery (preoperative variables, hazard ratio (HR) 1.09, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02-1.16, P=0.008), independent of clinical and pathological findings. In patients with high-risk cancer, the positive association between BMI and BCR was strengthened (preoperative variables, continuous BMI, HR 1.16, 95% CI 1.07-1.26, P<0.001; categorical BMI, HR 2.11, 95% CI 1.29-3.45, P=0.003, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Greater BMI significantly correlates with higher rates of BCR after surgery; BMI is a preoperative variable associated with high-grade ITV. Our results suggest that the biological environment created by greater BMI may contribute to increasing tumor aggressiveness.

PBDE: structure-activity studies for the inhibition of hepatitis C virus NS3 helicase

The helicase portion of the hepatitis C virus nonstructural protein 3 (NS3) is considered one of the most validated targets for developing direct acting antiviral agents. We isolated polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) 1 from a marine sponge as an NS3 helicase inhibitor. In this study, we evaluated the inhibitory effects of PBDE (1) on the essential activities of NS3 protein such as RNA helicase, ATPase, and RNA binding activities. The structure-activity relationship analysis of PBDE (1) against the HCV ATPase revealed that the biphenyl ring, bromine, and phenolic hydroxyl group on the benzene backbone might be a basic scaffold for the inhibitory potency.

Identification and biochemical characterization of halisulfate 3 and suvanine as novel inhibitors of hepatitis C virus NS3 helicase from a marine sponge

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is an important etiological agent that is responsible for the development of chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. HCV nonstructural protein 3 (NS3) helicase is a possible target for novel drug development due to its essential role in viral replication. In this study, we identified halisulfate 3 (hal3) and suvanine as novel NS3 helicase inhibitors, with IC₅₀ values of 4 and 3 µM, respectively, from a marine sponge by screening extracts of marine organisms. Both hal3 and suvanine inhibited the ATPase, RNA binding, and serine protease activities of NS3 helicase with IC₅₀ values of 8, 8, and 14 µM, and 7, 3, and 34 µM, respectively. However, the dengue virus (DENV) NS3 helicase, which shares a catalytic core (consisting mainly of ATPase and RNA binding sites) with HCV NS3 helicase, was not inhibited by hal3 and suvanine, even at concentrations of 100 µM. Therefore, we conclude that hal3 and suvanine specifically inhibit HCV NS3 helicase via an interaction with an allosteric site in NS3 rather than binding to the catalytic core. This led to the inhibition of all NS3 activities, presumably by inducing conformational changes.

Abstract P2-12-04: Evaluation of BRCA 1/2 mutation-carrier probability models, BRCAPRO and myriad II, in the Japanese population

Background:

It is important to select high-risk group with a BRCA1/2 mutation and recommend them to provide genetic counseling and genetic testing. BRCAPRO and Myriad II are widely used for predicting BRCA mutation-carrier probability and useful for selecting eligible person of genetic testing. However, It is reported that BRCAPRO tends to underestimate the risk of BRCA1/2 mutation probability in Asian. The validation of these models are not sufficiently known in Japanese population.

Methods:

Twenty-six hundred sixty-five people visited to Ishinomaki Red Cross Hospital between 2011 and 2012.They were surveyed family history as a risk factor of inheriting breast cancer according to NCCN guideline. We calculated BRCA1/2 mutation probability by BRCAPRO and Myriad II. Those who had more than 10% mutation probability and early-onset breast cancer, triple negative breast cancer were received genetic counseling and genetic testing for applicants. We analyzed association between family history of the probands and BRCA 1/2 mutation. We also calculated sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value(PPV) at the10% threshold in BRCAPRO and Myriad II.

Results:

Two handred forty-three(9.1%) people were selected as a risk of inheriting breast cancer, of which sixty-eight people (2.5%) were constructed family tree. The number of people who had more than 10% and 30% mutation probability by BRCAPRO was eight (0.30%) and five (0.18%).Fourteen people performed BRCA1/2 genetic testing (proband : thirteen, relative: one). Seven people carried a deleterious BRCA mutation (BRCA1: five, BRCA2: two). In the cases which had more than 30% mutation probability, all of them carried a deleterious BRCA mutation. Most of their mutation site was L63X which was most frequent in Japan.

People who had personal or family history of breast and ovarian cancer, triple negative breast cancer were significantly associated with BRCA1/2 mutation.(p = 0.035,p = 0.015,p = 0.009)

Using a 10% threshold, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value in BRCAPRO was 75%,83%,85% and 63%,67%,71% in Myriad II respectively. When it comes to the cases which had more than 30% mutation probability, Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value were all 100% in BRCAPRO.

Conclusions:

It is recommended to perform genetic testing for especially those who have personal or family history of both breast and ovarian cancer, triple negative breast cancer. 10% threshold of BRCAPRO and Myriad II is generally applicable to selecting eligible person in the Japanese population. BRCAPRO is superior to Myriad II in terms of sensitivity, specificity, PPV in our study. The cases which have more than 30% mutation probability need to have genetic testing.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2013;73(24 Suppl): Abstract nr P2-12-04.

Cholesterol sulfate as a potential inhibitor of hepatitis C virus NS3 helicase

Hepatitis C virus nonstructural protein 3 (NS3) helicase is a promising target for developing new therapeutics. In this study, we identified cholesterol sulfate (CS) as a novel NS3 helicase inhibitor (IC50 = 1.7 ± 0.2 µM with a Hill coefficient of 3.9) by screening the extracts from marine organisms. The lack of the sulfate group, sterol structure or alkyl side chain of CS diminished the inhibition, suggesting that an anion binding and hydrophobic region in NS3 may be a target site of CS. It was further found that CS partly inhibits NS3-RNA binding activity, but exerted no or less inhibition against ATPase and serine protease activities. Moreover, we demonstrated that CS probably does not bind to RNA. Our findings suggest that CS may inhibit NS3 helicase not by abolishing the other NS3 activities but by inducing conformational changes via interaction with possible allosteric sites of NS3.

Psammaplin A inhibits hepatitis C virus NS3 helicase

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the causative agent of hepatitis C, a chronic infectious disease that can lead to development of hepatocellular carcinoma. The NS3 nucleoside triphosphatase (NTPase)/helicase has an essential role in HCV replication, and is therefore an attractive target for direct-acting antiviral strategies. In this study, we employed high-throughput screening using a photo-induced electron transfer (PET) system to identify an inhibitor of NS3 helicase from marine organism extracts. We successfully identified psammaplin A as a novel NS3 inhibitor. The dose-response relationship clearly demonstrates the inhibition of NS3 RNA helicase and ATPase activities by psammaplin A, with IC₅₀ values of 17 and 32 μM, respectively. Psammaplin A has no influence on the apparent Km value (0.4 mM) of NS3 ATPase activity, and acts as a non-competitive inhibitor. Additionally, it inhibits the binding of NS3 to single-stranded RNA in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, psammaplin A shows an inhibitory effect on viral replication, with EC₅₀ values of 6.1 and 6.3 μM in subgenomic replicon cells derived from genotypes 1b and 2a, respectively. We postulate that psammaplin A is a potential anti-viral agent through the inhibition of ATPase, RNA binding and helicase activities of NS3.

Inhibition of hepatitis C virus NS3 helicase by manoalide

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) causes one of the most prevalent chronic infectious diseases in the world, hepatitis C, which ultimately develops into liver cancer through cirrhosis. The NS3 protein of HCV possesses nucleoside triphosphatase (NTPase) and RNA helicase activities. As both activities are essential for viral replication, NS3 is proposed as an ideal target for antiviral drug development. In this study, we identified manoalide (1) from marine sponge extracts as an RNA helicase inhibitor using a high-throughput screening photoinduced electron transfer (PET) system that we previously developed. Compound 1 inhibits the RNA helicase and ATPase activities of NS3 in a dose-dependent manner, with IC(50) values of 15 and 70 μM, respectively. Biochemical kinetic analysis demonstrated that 1 does not affect the apparent K(m) value (0.31 mM) of NS3 ATPase activity, suggesting that 1 acts as a noncompetitive inhibitor. The binding of NS3 to single-stranded RNA was inhibited by 1. Manoalide (1) also has the ability to inhibit the ATPase activity of human DHX36/RHAU, a putative RNA helicase. Taken together, we conclude that 1 inhibits the ATPase, RNA binding, and helicase activities of NS3 by targeting the helicase core domain conserved in both HCV NS3 and DHX36/RHAU.

Quantitative detection of Cryptosporidium oocyst in water source based on 18S rRNA by alternately binding probe competitive reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (ABC-RT-PCR)

We describe an assay for simple and cost-effective quantification of Cryptosporidium oocysts in water samples using a recently developed quantification method named alternately binding probe competitive PCR (ABC-PCR). The assay is based on the detection of 18S rRNA specific for Cryptosporidium oocysts. The standard curve of the ABC-PCR assay had a good fitting to a rectangular hyperbola with a correlation coefficient (R) of 0.9997. Concentrations of Cryptosporidium oocysts in real river water samples were successfully quantified by the ABC-reverse transcription (RT)-PCR assay. The quantified values by the ABC-RT-PCR assay very closely resemble those by the real-time RT-PCR assay. In addition, the quantified concentration in most water samples by the ABC-RT-PCR assay was comparable to that by conventional microscopic observation. Thus, Cryptosporidium oocysts in water samples can be accurately and specifically determined by the ABC-RT-PCR assay. As the only equipment that is needed for this end-point fluorescence assay is a simple fluorometer and a relatively inexpensive thermal cycler, this method can markedly reduce time and cost to quantify Cryptosporidium oocysts and other health-related water microorganisms.

Molecular Characterization and Diagnosis of QoI Resistance in Cucumber and Eggplant Fungal Pathogens

ABSTRACT The molecular mechanism of QoI fungicide resistance was studied using isolates of cucumber Corynespora leaf spot fungus (Corynespora cassiicola) and the eggplant leaf mold (Mycovellosiella nattrassii). In both pathogens, a mutation at position 143 from glycine to alanine (G143A) was detected in the cytochrome b gene that encodes for the fungicide-targeted protein. Moreover, the nucleotide sequence at amino acid position 143 was converted from GGT or GGA in sensitive (wild-type) to GCT or GCA in resistant (mutant-type) isolates. The methods of polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism commonly used for QoI resistance monitoring were employed successfully, leading to the amplified gene fragment from resistant isolates being cut with the restriction enzyme ItaI. However, heteroplasmy (the coexistence of wild-type and mutated alleles) was found when the resistant isolates of C. cassiicola, M. nattrassii, and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (strawberry anthracnose fungus) were subcultured in the presence or absence of QoI fungicides. QoI resistance of cucumber powdery and downy mildew isolates persisted for a few years following the removal of the selection pressure imposed by the fungicide under both laboratory and commercial greenhouse conditions. The proportion of mutated sequences in cytochrome b gene decreased over time in the pathogen population. The protective efficacy of the full dose of azoxystrobin decreased when the populations of powdery and downy mildews contained resistant isolates at 10%. Using FMBIO, a fluorescence bio-imaging analyzer, the mutant allele from the QoI-resistant isolates could be detected at the level of 1%, whereas the detection sensitivity of ethidium-bromide-stained gels was approximately 10 times lower.

Severe hypertension associated with multiple intrarenal microaneurysms in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus and antiphospholipid antibodies

Abstract  A 26-year-old Japanese woman with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) developed severe hyperten-sion and an increased active renin concentration (ARC), ischemic colitis, and splenic infarction. She had antiphospholipid antibodies (APA), multiple intrarenal microaneurysms, and multiple stenoses of the mesenteric arteries. Combination therapy with antihypertensive agents, aspirin, warfarin, and corticosteroids (30 mg daily) controlled her abdominal symptoms and hypertension. Multiple intrarenal microaneurysms in SLE with APA may be the cause of severe hypertension and elevated serum ARC.

Altered expressions of glutamate transporter subtypes in rat model of neonatal cerebral hypoxia-ischemia

Glutamate transporters are essential for maintaining the extracellular levels of glutamate at synaptic clefts and are regulated developmentally in a subtype-specific manner. We investigated chronological changes of immunoreactivities for glial glutamate transporters GLAST and GLT-1 and a neuronal glutamate transporter, EAAC1, in postnatal 7-day-old rat neocortices and hippocampi at 12, 24, 48 and 72 h after hypoxia-ischemia. Glutamate transporter subtypes are differentially expressed in the ischemic core and the boundary area of the neonatal rat brain with hypoxia-ischemia. Expressions of these glutamate transporters decreased in the ischemic core at 12 h, then immunoreactivities for GLAST and GLT-1 were recovered at the hippocampus. This was accompanied by a GFAP-positive gliosis at 72 h, whereas these immunoreactivities were reduced at the neocortex in the ischemic core. Glial glutamate transporters, especially GLAST, were noted in some astrocytes appearing as apoptosis as well as shrunken pyramidal neurons mainly in the boundary area of the neocortex. Increased perikaryal expression of EAAC1 was associated with that of MAP2 at the border of the boundary area. These temporal and regional expressions of glutamate transporters may contribute towards understanding the excitotoxic cell death mechanism in hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy during the perinatal period.

Effect of oral treatment of Perilla frutescens and its constituents on type-I allergy in mice

Perilla frutescens Britton (perilla, Labiatae) is a medicinal herb prescribed in Saiboku-to [Japanese letters: see text], which is a Kampo formula effective for allergic diseases such as bronchial asthma. The present study was conducted to evaluate the anti-allergic effect of orally administered perilla decoction and to identify the active constituents using mice ear-passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA)-reaction, which is one of the animal models for type I allergy. Perilla decoction significantly suppressed PCA-reaction, and the inhibition % at the dose of 500 mg/kg was 43%. The perilla decoction contains 5.3% of luteolin 7-O-[beta-glucuronosyl(2-->1)beta-glucuronide], 1.6% of apigenin 7-O-[beta-glucuronosyl(2-->1)beta-glucuronide], 0.49% of scutellarin, and 2.5% of rosmarinic acid (weight of compound/dried weight of perilla decoction %), respectively. When these constituents were orally administered to mice at the dose equivalent to 500 mg/kg of perilla decoction, rosmarinic acid and apigenin 7-O-[beta-glucuronosyl(2-->1)beta-glucuronide] significantly suppressed PCA-reaction, and their inhibition % was 41% (p<0.01) and 32% (p<0.05), respectively. Since the inhibition % or perilla decoction and rosmarinic acid were nearly equal, the anti-allergic effect of perilla decoction depends primarily on rosmarinic acid. The standard Saiboku-to decoction contained 0.013% of rosmarinic acid, which was too low to exhibit anti-allergic activity in a daily dose of Saiboku-to in adults, suggesting that perilla would be prescribed in Saiboku-to to exhibit other pharmacological effects than its anti-allergic activity, such as a sedative.

Expression of hMTH1 in the hippocampi of control and Alzheimer's disease

The oxidized purine nucleoside triphosphatase, hMTH1, has a critical role towards preventing errors caused by oxidized purine nucleoside triphosphates such as 8-oxo-dGTP and 2-hydroxy-dATP. We investigated the immunohistochemical expression of hMTH1 in human hippocampal postmortem tissues representing non-neurological disease and Alzheimer's disease (AD). In the non-neurological subjects the hMTH1 protein was enriched in the stratum lucidum at CA3 corresponding to mossy fiber synapses. In AD subjects, the synaptic immunoreactivities at CA3 were significantly decreased, whereas they tended to be increased at the entorhinal cortex. We suggest that the expression of hMTH1 indicates indirect evidence of oxidative stress and its regulation is regionally differentiated in AD.

Magnesium deficiency differentially affects the retina and visual cortex of intact rats

To determine the influence of magnesium (Mg) on the visual system, electroretinograms (ERG) and visual evoked potentials (VEP) were recorded under dark-(DA) and light-adapted (LA) conditions in intact rats. Weanling rats were fed either a Mg-deficient (Mg-D) or a control diet for 17 d before the tests, and ERG, VEP and immunohistopathological analyses of retinae and cortices were made. In the Mg-D rats, ear congestion, hair loss and loss of body weight were observed, and serum Mg concentration was approximately 25% of that in the control rats (P < 0.01). The amplitudes of the DA a-wave and the second positive peak of the oscillatory potentials (OP2) of the ERG, and the negative component of the VEP (N1) in Mg-D rats were significantly greater than those of control rats. However, the amplitudes of the DA b-wave, LA 2 Hz b-wave, the 20 Hz flicker responses and the implicit times of all response components did not differ between the two groups. The immunohistopathologic results also were not altered in the Mg-D rats. We suggest that the functional abnormalities induced by Mg deficiency may depend not only on the hyperactivity of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor, but also on the behavior of the Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) ions in the intact eye.

Resveratrol, a naturally occurring polyphenol, induces sister chromatid exchanges in a Chinese hamster lung (CHL) cell line

We tested the genotoxicity of 3,5,4'-trihydroxystilbene (resveratrol), a polyphenolic phytoalexin found in grapes, in a bacterial reverse mutation assay, in vitro chromosome aberration (CA) test, in vitro micronucleus (MN) test, and sister chromatid exchange (SCE) test. Resveratrol was negative in the strains we used in the bacterial reverse mutation assay (S. typhimurium TA98 and TA100 and E. coli WP2uvrA) in the absence and presence of a microsomal metabolizing system. It induced structural CAs at 2.5-20 microg/ml and showed weak aneuploidy induction in a Chinese hamster lung (CHL) cell line. It induced MN cells and polynuclear and karyorrhectic cells after 48h treatments in the in vitro MN test. In the SCE test, resveratrol caused a clear cell-cycle delay; at 10 microg/ml, the cell cycle took twice as long as it did in the control. Resveratrol induced SCEs dose-dependently at up to 10 microg/ml, at which it increased SCE six-fold, and the number was almost as large as mitomycin C, a strong SCE inducer. No second mitoses were observed at 20 microg/ml even after 54h. Cell cycle analysis by FACScan indicated that resveratrol caused S phase arrest, and 48h treatment induced apoptosis. Our results suggest that resveratrol may preferentially induce SCE but not CA, that is, it may cause S phase arrest only when SCEs are induced.

Limbic encephalitis associated with recurrent thymoma: a postmortem study

The authors report an autopsied patient with limbic encephalitis and recurrent thymoma. The immunohistochemical study showed selective depositions of immunoglobulin G on the neurons in the limbic system and the tumor cells of the recurrent thymoma. The immunoblotting study detected two types of antibodies that react with the human brain, rat brain, and rat thymus.

Expression of the lysosome-associated membrane proteins in myopathies with rimmed vacuoles

Lysosome-associated membrane proteins (LAMPs) are structural glycoproteins located on the lysosomal membrane and are thought to have an important role in protein degradation. Increased lysosomal activity is associated with the formation of rimmed vacuoles, which are observed in various muscle disorders such as inclusion body myositis (IBM) and distal myopathy with rimmed vacuole (DMRV). In the present study, we examined LAMP-1 and LAMP-2 in biopsied muscle specimens from four cases of sporadic IBM and two of DMRV, as well as six of myopathies without rimmed vacuoles. In all cases of IBM and DMRV, immunohistochemistry showed accumulation of LAMPs in the rimmed vacuoles and the subsarcolemmal portion of the vacuolated fibers. Immunoreactivities of LAMPs in the vacuolated fibers were often associated with those of cathepsin D; however, cathepsin D was not expressed on some LAMP-positive fibers. Further, atrophic muscle fibers were sometimes positive for LAMPs expression. These findings were more prominent in LAMP-2 than in LAMP-1. Thus, LAMP-2 may play an important role in the increased protein degradation in diseased muscle fibers. The increased expression of LAMPs in the vacuolated muscle fibers may be associated with the formation of rimmed vacuoles in IBM and DMRV.

Accumulation of 8-oxo-2'-deoxyguanosine and increased expression of hMTH1 protein in brain tumors

Oxidative DNA damage generated by an attack of reactive oxygen species causes mutation or cell death that may lead to various diseases and may be related to initiation or progression of carcinogenesis. 8-Oxo-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxo-dG) is a major oxidative DNA damage product that can result in mutation, and hMTH1, human MutT homolog protein 1, has been identified as an enzyme that hydrolyzes 8-oxo-dGTP to the monophosphate, thus preventing accumulation of 8-oxo-dG in DNA. With immunohistochemical approaches, we investigated accumulation of 8-oxo-dG and expression of hMTH1 in brain tumor tissues obtained from surgical and autopsy cases, including 42 neuroepithelial tumors, 5 meningiomas, 2 metastatic brain tumors, and 1 schwannoma. 8-Oxo-dG accumulation and hMTH1 expression were increased in various brain tumors. Nuclei of brain tumor cells were immunoreactive for 8-oxo-dG in all cases. In most cases, both nuclei and cytoplasm of the tumor cells were immunoreactive for hMTH1. Both 8-oxo-dG accumulation and hMTH1 expression were most evident in high-grade gliomas, indicating that oxidative stress was high in these gliomas. Thus, the defense mechanism against such oxidative stress may be enhanced as well. These results suggest that oxidative stress may play a role in tumor progression.

Dorsal horn lesion resulting from spinal root avulsion leads to the accumulation of stress-responsive proteins

The aim of this study was to demonstrate acute to subacute molecular episodes in the dorsal horn following root avulsion using immunohistochemical methods with the markers for synapses, astrocytes and such stress-responsive molecules as heat shock proteins (Hsps) and p38 MAP kinase (p38). Among them, Hsp27 was accumulated selectively in the injured substantia gelatinosa 24 h after avulsion injury. The localization of Hsp27 in astrocytes within the substantia gelatinosa was confirmed by the double immunofluorescence method using anti-Hsp27 antibody and either anti-synaptophysin antibody or anti-glutamine synthetase antibody and by immunoelectron microscopy for Hsp27. The pattern of Hsp27 expression subsequently changed from glial pattern to punctate pattern by 7 days. Immunoelectron microscopy revealed that the punctate pattern in the subacute stage corresponded to distal parts of the astrocytic processes. Hsp27 immunoreaction was decreased 21 days after root avulsion. In the distal axotomy model, Hsp27 was accumulated later in the ipsilateral dorsal horn in a punctate pattern from 7 days after the axotomy. Phosphorylation of p38 was detected in microglia in the dorsal horn following both avulsion and axotomy. Substance P was slightly decreased in the injured substantia gelatinosa in both the avulsion and axotomy models around 14-21 days. We conclude that Hsp27 is a useful marker for demonstrating dorsal horn lesions following avulsion injury and that avulsion injury may induce Hsp27 in the dorsal horn more rapidly than distal axotomy.

Incidence of bone fracture in patients receiving luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonists for prostate cancer

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the incidence of bone fractures in patients receiving luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonists (LHRH-a) for prostate cancer (in whom a continued low testosterone level after the long-term administration of these drugs reduces bone mineral density), and thus determine the risk of secondary osteoporosis.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between 1994 and 1999, 218 patients (mean age 77.3 years) were treated for >/= 6 months with LHRH-a for prostate cancer; of these, 14 (6%) had a bone fracture during their treatment. Patients with fracture associated with motor vehicle accidents were excluded. The bone density in the third lumbar vertebra was meas-ured using quantitative computed tomography. Osteocalcin, 1,25-(OH)2 vitamin D, urinary type 1 collagen cross-linked N-telopeptides (NTx), parathyroid hormone and calcitonin were measured as metabolic markers.

RESULTS

The mean age of the patients with fracture was 78 years; the mean (range) interval from the start of treatment to fracture was 28 (11-46) months. There was no case of a bone fracture at the site of a metastasis from prostate cancer. The bone density was significantly lower in the patients with a fracture than in those without. Of the bone metabolic markers, NTx was higher in those with a fracture.

CONCLUSION

There is a need to measure bone mineral density and bone metabolic markers periodically, and to evaluate secondary osteoporosis in patients receiving long-term LHRH-a for prostate cancer.

[Effects of calcium channel blockers on nocturnal polyuria in the elderly]

Factors reducing the quality of life (QOL) related to micturition and their treatment were studied based on frequency volume chart for 52 consecutive patients with hypertension (the administration of calcium channel blockers) and 28 controls without hypertension, aged 50 years and over (mean age 68.6, range 50-85) without lower urinary tract dysfunction. The micturition records for two days and the QOL index related to urinary symptoms were reviewed. The factors reducing the QOL were increase of the voided volume and frequency during the night and the ratio of night-time voided volume to 24-hour urine output, which significantly increased in the controls (p < 0.05, respectively). Especially, the voiding frequency during the night and the ratio of night-time voided volume increased significantly in the controls aged 70 years and over (p < 0.01, p < 0.05, respectively). Overall, it was suggested that the administration of calcium channel blockers for control of blood pressure might be effective to reduce the nocturnal polyuria in the elderly.

Differential expression of metallothioneins in human prion diseases

We herein report an immunohistochemical and a Western blot analysis on metal/free radical chelating proteins, metallothioneins (MTs; MT-I/II and MT-III), in the brains of human prion disease patients with or without prion protein gene mutation and polymorphism. Irrespective of the isoforms of MTs, the immunoreaction was detected in the cytoplasm and processes of the astrocytes in the cerebral cortex and white matter in normal controls and prion disease brains. Although the immunoreactivities for MTs in Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) brains varied from case to case, they were generally dependent upon the disease duration. In CJD patients with a relatively long disease course, the immunoreaction for both MT-I/II and MT-III in the astrocytes was significantly reduced, and this finding was not modified by the genotypes of the patients. On the other hand, in patients with Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker syndrome, MT-I/II immunoreactivity in the astrocytes was exclusively reduced, while the immunoreaction for MT-III was relatively well preserved. Especially the astrocytes in the vicinities of the kuru plaques exhibited a weak or no immunoreaction even for MTs but a strong immunoreaction for glial fibrillary acidic protein. A quantitative Western blot analysis also revealed that MT-I/II protein accumulated in CJD brain with a short disease duration, whereas MT-III in CJD brain with a long disease duration was statistically significantly reduced in comparison to the normal brains. These findings suggest that the protein expression of MTs in the astrocytes is thus regulated differentially among human prion diseases and modified locally by such abnormal prion protein depositions as kuru plaques.

[A clinical study of secondary osteoporosis induced by endocrine therapy for prostate cancer]

PURPOSE

There is one of the big problems that endocrine therapy for prostate cancer causes to induce secondary osteoporosis. The risk factors and future treatments for osteoporosis were investigated.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

31 patients treated with luteinizing hormone releasing hormone agonists (LHRH-a) or combination of chlormadinone acetate (CMA) and LHRH-a, and 19 patients with no treatments for prostate cancer were included in the analysis. Lumber spine bone mineral density (BMD) was measured by quantitative computed tomography.

RESULTS

Aging had much influence on decreases of BMD than the other risk factors (p < 0.01). There were statistically decreases of BMD in the patients with CMA + LHRH-a compared with no treatments (p < 0.05). Adrenal androgen which had an important role of maintenance in BMD was statistically decreased by the administration of CMA (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Measurement of BMD before endocrine therapy is necessary for the patients with prostate cancer. It is important for the patients with decreases of BMD that CMA is not combined or the therapy for osteoporosis is preventively employed.

Ubiquitin-immunoreactive skein-like inclusions in the neostriatum are not restricted to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, but are rather aging-related structures

We examined the presence of ubiquitin-immunoreactive skein-like inclusions (SLI) in the neostriatum and spinal cord in normal individuals and patients with different neurodegenerative diseases. Ubiquitin-immunoreactive SLI in the neostriatum were observed both in the normal individuals and in the patients with a variety of neurodegenerative diseases. In particular, SLI were frequently seen in normal aged subjects and certain neurodegenerative diseases, such as progressive supranuclear palsy and myotonic dystrophy. In contrast, the occurrence rate of SLI in cases with Pick's disease and multiple system atrophy tended to decrease. On the other hand, SLI in the spinal anterior horn were detected in cases of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, but not in any cases with other neurodegenerative diseases. SLI in the neostriatum were also identifiable using phosphotungstic acid-hematoxylin and Gomori trichrome staining. Ubiquitin immunoelectron microscopy demonstrated that the SLI in the neostriatum corresponded to bundles of filaments. These features of SLI in the neostriatum were quite similar to those of intracytoplasmic rod-like inclusions (RLI) in the large neurons of caudate nucleus, which were first described by Kojima and Ogawa in 1974. Our findings indicate that SLI in the neostriatum are ubiquitin-related structures whose occurrence increases by aging, and less frequently accompany several neurodegenerative diseases, and are identical to at least some RLI.

[Bone fracture receiving LH-RH agonists for prostatic cancer]

BACKGROUND

Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonists are popularly used drugs in the treatment of prostatic cancer. However, it has been reported that continuation of a low testosterone level following a longterm administration of these drugs reduces the bone mineral density and makes for osteoporosis, which is accountable for fracture, we measured the bone mineral density and bone metabolic markers in the cases who suffered fracture receiving LHRH agonists for prostatic cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between 1994 and 1998, 196 patients (mean age 78.1 years) were treated with LHRH agonists for prostatic cancer. Of these patients, 13(7%) who had bone fracture during treated with LHRH agonists were divided into fracture group, and 70 patients who had not bone fracture divided into non-fracture group. Fracture by traffic accident was excluded. The bone density in the third lumbar vertebra was measured using quantitative computed tomography (QCT). Osteocalcin, 1, 25- (OH)2 vitamin D, urinary type 1 collagen cross-linked N-telopeptides (NTx), parathyroid hormone (PTH) and calcitonin were measured as bone metabolic markers.

RESULTS

The mean age of fractured cases was 78 years. The period from the start of treatment to fracture was 11 to 45 months (mean 27 months). No case of fracture at the site of metastasis of prostatic cancer was found. The bone density was significantly low in the fracture group compared with that of non-fracture group. Of the bone metabolic markers, NTx showed high values in the fracture group.

CONCLUSION

There is a need to measure bone mineral density and bone metabolic markers periodically and to evaluate secondary osteoporosis in the patients receiving LHRH agonists for prostatic cancer.

[Clinical efficacy of low-dose weekly docetaxel combined with oral 5'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine (5'-DFUR) in advanced or metastatic breast cancer: a pilot trial]

Docetaxel (TXT) has been shown to be an up-regulator of human pyrimidine nucleoside phosphorylase (PyNPase) in tumors. We have tried to use the combination of low-dose weekly TXT with 5'-DFUR (LD + D) in patients with advanced or metastatic breast cancer. In this study, we compared the clinical efficacy of LD + D with that of conventional full-dose TXT (FD) and that of low-dose weekly TXT (LD). Twenty-one patients received 3 or 4 cycles of FD 60 mg/m2 every 3 or 4 weeks (group I), 14 patients received 8 cycles of LD 20-30 mg/m2 every week (group II) and 25 patients received 8 cycles of LD 20-30 mg/m2 weekly with oral 5'-DFUR 600-1,200 mg per day (group III). The overall response rates of groups I, II and III were 29%, 29% and 52% (p = 0.24), respectively. Grade 3-4 neutropenia was observed in 91% of group I, 6% of group II and 3% of group III. Nausea was present in 27% of group I, 28% of group II and 40% of group III. Higher incidence of gastrointestinal symptoms was found in LD + D, but the symptoms abated when the doses of 5'-DFUR were reduced. Low-dose weekly TXT with oral 5'-DFUR produced a higher response rate, but less hematologic toxicity than full-dose TXT, suggesting that this combination therapy is clinically useful and may be effective for patients with advanced or metastatic breast cancer.

Aspirin and salicylic acid do not inhibit methyl jasmonate-inducible expression of a gene for ornithine decarboxylase in tobacco BY-2 cells

Similar to the prostanoid-mediated inflammatory response in mammals, jasmonate-mediated wound response in plant leaves is inhibited by salicylic acid (SA) or acetylsalicylate (aspirin). In tobacco BY-2 cells, expression of the gene for ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) involved in putrescine synthesis is rapidly inducible by methyl jasmonate (MeJA). A nuclear gene for ODC isolated from tobacco, gNtODC-1, was an intron-less gene and MeJA induced the expression of a GUS fusion gene with the gNtODC-1 promoter in transformed tobacco cells. Although SA alone did not induce the expression, 0.2 to 20 microM SA increased the MeJA-induced expression of the fusion gene to about two-fold. A similar increase was observed with aspirin but not with 3- or 4-hydroxybenzoic acids. SA at concentrations up to 200 microM did not inhibit the MeJA-induction of mRNAs for the GUS fusion gene and the endogenous gene for ODC.

Immunohistochemical analysis in a case of idiopathic Lennox-Gastaut syndrome

We herein report a neuropathological and immunohistochemical analysis of a brain from a 25-year-old male with idiopathic type of Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS). The clinical pictures, such as seizure type and progressive mental deterioration with an initial normal psychomotor and mental development in a man were typical of LGS. A routine neuropathological examination showed no pronounced changes, such as neuronal loss, morphologically abnormal neurons, inflammation, vascular changes, Lafora bodies and tumor cells, except that mild gliosis was seen only in CA4 of the hippocampus. Numerous corpora amylacea were observed throughout the cerebral cortices subjacent to the pia mater. An immunohistochemical analysis showed no marked findings for such proteins as glutamate transporters, glutamate decarboxylase, glutamine synthetase, neuronal cytoskeleton proteins and heat-shock proteins. However, intense ubiquitin-immunostained neurons were only found in CA4 of the hippocampus, whereas numerous astrocytes showed a strong immunoreaction for glial fibrillary acidic protein, but showed an exclusively reduced immunoreactivity for metallothionein-I/II, zinc-chelating protein. Our findings thus suggest that the pathology in the hippocampus is either causally or consequentially associated with the seizures occurring in LGS.