Trophoblast glycoprotein is required for efficient synaptic vesicle exocytosis from retinal rod bipolar cells

Introduction

Rod bipolar cells (RBCs) faithfully transmit light-driven signals from rod photoreceptors in the outer retina to third order neurons in the inner retina. Recently, significant work has focused on the role of leucine-rich repeat (LRR) proteins in synaptic development and signal transduction at RBC synapses. We previously identified trophoblast glycoprotein (TPBG) as a novel transmembrane LRR protein localized to the dendrites and axon terminals of RBCs.

Methods

We examined the effects on RBC physiology and retinal processing of TPBG genetic knockout in mice using immunofluorescence and electron microscopy, electroretinogram recording, patch-clamp electrophysiology, and time-resolved membrane capacitance measurements.

Results

The scotopic electroretinogram showed a modest increase in the b-wave and a marked attenuation in oscillatory potentials in the TPBG knockout. No effect of TPBG knockout was observed on the RBC dendritic morphology, TRPM1 currents, or RBC excitability. Because scotopic oscillatory potentials primarily reflect RBC-driven rhythmic activity of the inner retina, we investigated the contribution of TPBG to downstream transmission from RBCs to third-order neurons. Using electron microscopy, we found shorter synaptic ribbons in TPBG knockout axon terminals in RBCs. Time-resolved capacitance measurements indicated that TPBG knockout reduces synaptic vesicle exocytosis and subsequent GABAergic reciprocal feedback without altering voltage-gated Ca2+ currents.

Discussion

TPBG is required for normal synaptic ribbon development and efficient neurotransmitter release from RBCs to downstream cells. Our results highlight a novel synaptic role for TPBG at RBC ribbon synapses and support further examination into the mechanisms by which TPBG regulates RBC physiology and circuit function.

Reactive cutaneous capillary endothelial proliferation predicted the efficacy of camrelizumab in patients with recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Reactive cutaneous capillary endothelial proliferation (RCCEP), a special adverse event (AE) only observed in patients treated with camrelizumab, was reported to be correlated with the efficacy of camrelizumab in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. This study to analyze the possible correlation between the occurrence of RCCEP and efficacy of camrelizumab in patients with recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (R/M HNSCC).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

In this study, we retrospectively analyzed the efficacy and RCCEP occurrence of camrelizumab in 58 patients with R/M HNSCC in the Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital affiliated to Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine between January 2019 and June 2022. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to assess the correlation between the occurrence of RCCEP and the survival of enrolled patients, and COX multifactor analysis was adopted to evaluate associated factors that affected the efficacy of camrelizumab immunotherapy.

RESULTS

A significant correlation between the incidence of RCCEP and a higher objective response rate was observed in this study (p=0.008). The occurrence of RCCEP was associated with better median overall survival (17.0 months vs. 8.7 months, p<0.0001, HR=5.944, 95% CI:2.097-16.84) and better median progression-free survival (15.1 months vs. 4.0 months, p<0.0001, HR=4.329,95% CI:1.683-11.13). In COX multifactor analysis, RCCEP occurrence was also an independent prognostic factor affecting OS and PFS in patients with R/M HNSCC.

CONCLUSIONS

The occurrence of RCCEP can show a better prognosis, it could be used as a clinical biomarker to predict the efficacy of camrelizumab treatment.

Development and Validation of a Deep Learning-Based Auto-Delineation of Target Volume and Organs at Risk in Pancreatic Cancer Radiotherapy

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

The delineation of the clinical target volume (CTV), gross target volume (GTV) and organs at risk (OARs) is a crucial and laborious in pancreatic cancer radiotherapy. In this work, we propose and evaluate a three-dimensional (3D) novel convolutional neural network (CNN) for automatic and accurate CTV, GTV and OARs in pancreatic cancer.

MATERIALS/METHODS

A total of 120 computed tomography (CT) scans patients with pancreatic cancer were collected. A novel 3D CNN network, called ResUNet3D, was developed to achieve auto-delineation. 96 patients chosen randomly were used for training, 12 patients for validation, and 12 patients for testing. Meanwhile, the Dice similarity coefficient (DSC) and 95th percentile Hausdorff distance (HD95%) were used to assess the performance.

RESULTS

The DSC values for the test data were 80.9±8.6%, 77.5±5.6%, 94.5±1.3%, 66.2±13.4%, 73.6±7.6%, 79.0±8.7%, 94.1±1.9%, 94.6±1.4%, 87.3±5.8% for CTV, GTV, liver, duodenum, spinal cord, bowel, kidney left, kidney right, stomach. The corresponding HD95% values were 10.7±6.9mm, 7.8±5.7mm, 11.6±5.6mm, 18.6±5.6mm, 2.7±0.7mm, 17.7±8.6mm, 3.9±1.4mm, 3.7±1.9mm, 13.4±5.7mm, respectively. The average delineation time for one patient's CT images was within 5 seconds.

CONCLUSION

The experimental results demonstrate that the CTV, GTV and OARs delineated for pancreatic cancer by ResUNet3D achieved a close agreement with the ground truth. ResUNet3D could significantly reduce the radiation oncologists' contouring time.

Exploration of AI-Assisted On-Board Perfusion Imaging Technique on Patients Undergoing Thoraxradiotherapy

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

Pulmonary function of lung cancer patients can significantly change along the radiation therapy (RT) course. Scholars have synthesized lung function maps from computed tomography (CT) images. Still, there is lack of study exploring the feasibility of generating lung perfusion information from cone-beam CT (CBCT). Our study aims to fill up this gap in the body of literatures.

MATERIALS/METHODS

One-hundred-and-six pairs of planning CT and CBCT images of thoracic cancer patients from XX hospital were collected retrospectively. All CT images were registered to CBCT with a deformable algorithm, and referred as deformed planning CT (dCT). A 2D convolutional neural network (CNN) model built with cycle generative adversarial network (cycle-GAN) was trained to correct CBCT image artifacts and HU value discrepancies. The corrected CBCT was named enhanced CBCT (eCBCT) in this study. All CBCT, eCBCT and dCT images were then input to a pre-trained CT-to-perfusion deep learning (DL) model to synthesize perfusion images (PI), namely PICBCT, PIeCBCT and PIdCT respectively. For model training, 80 image pairs were assigned to the training set while others to the testing set. dCT and PIdCT were respectively regarded as the ground truth in two consecutive models. One extra validation case acquired with SPECT perfusion scan was collected for model performance test. Quantitative evaluation was done between the ground truth and the synthesized images. Peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) and mean absolute error (MAE) were computed to assess efficacy of CBCT enhancement. Correlation (R) and Dice similarity coefficient (DSC) were used to evaluate voxel-wise and function-wise concurrence in CBCT-derived perfusion mapping.

RESULTS

In CBCT enhancement, [eCBCT-dCT] pairs demonstrated higher agreement than [CBCT-dCT] pairs. Quantitatively, PSNR and MAE were improved from 21.10±1.60 to 24.08±1.76, and 68.99±13.51 to 47.06±11.31 (p<0.01), respectively. For perfusion translation, higher correlation was demonstrated in both voxel-wise and function-wise evaluation within [PIeCBCT-PIdCT] than [PICBCT-PIdCT]. R correlation increased from 0.84±0.09 to 0.89±0.06 (p<0.01), whereas DSC in high-functional regions increased from 0.77±0.06 to 0.82±0.05 (p<0.01). In the validation case, strong correlation was observed between SPECT perfusion scan and PIeCBCT, with R increasing from 0.57 to 0.65 when compared to PICBCT.

CONCLUSION

We proposed a novel DL framework that synthesized perfusion images from fractionally acquired CBCT. Our framework met the clinical needs in providing real-time lung perfusion maps. It can be used to track the continuously changing pulmonary function status throughout the RT course using routinely scanned CBCT, without additional imaging modalities. The framework can facilitate functionally guided adaptive radiation therapy by providing immediate pulmonary function information.

MicroRNA-29a-3p regulates chemosensitivity in hypopharyngeal carcinoma via targeting Cdc42

INTRODUCTION

Hypopharyngeal carcinoma is one kind of high malignant tumour followed by poor prognosis in head and neck carcinomas. This study aimed to detect miR-29a-3p and Cdc42 in patients with hypopharyngeal carcinoma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The expression of miR-29a-3p and Cdc42 mRNA were detected, and the correlation between miR-29a-3p/Cdc42 and clinical stages was investigated.

RESULTS

The relative expression of miR-29a-3p in stage II, III and IV hypopharyngeal carcinoma tissues was significantly lower than that of stage I (P< 0.05). The relative expression of Cdc42 mRNA in stage I, III and IV tissues was significantly higher than that of stage I (P< 0.05). The expression of miR-29a-3p in hypopharyngeal carcinoma with lymph node metastasis was significantly lower than that without lymph node metastasis (P = 0.045).

CONCLUSION

MiR-29a-3p and Cdc42 mRNA could be potential diagnostic biomarkers of hypopharyngeal carcinoma.

Expression and distribution of trophoblast glycoprotein in the mouse retina

We recently identified the leucine-rich repeat (LRR) adhesion protein, trophoblast glycoprotein (TPBG), as a novel PKCα-dependent phosphoprotein in retinal rod bipolar cells (RBCs). Since TPBG has not been thoroughly examined in the retina, this study characterizes the localization and expression patterns of TPBG in the developing and adult mouse retina using two antibodies, one against the N-terminal LRR domain and the other against the C-terminal PDZ-interacting motif. Both antibodies labeled RBC dendrites in the outer plexiform layer and axon terminals in the IPL, as well as a putative amacrine cell with their cell bodies in the inner nuclear layer (INL) and a dense layer in the middle of the inner plexiform layer (IPL). In live transfected HEK293 cells, TPBG was localized to the plasma membrane with the N-terminal LRR domain facing the extracellular space. TPBG immunofluorescence in RBCs was strongly altered by the loss of TRPM1 in the adult retina, with significantly less dendritic and axon terminal labeling in TRPM1 knockout compared to wild type, despite no change in total TPBG detected by immunoblotting. During retinal development, TPBG expression increases dramatically just prior to eye opening with a time course closely correlated with that of TRPM1 expression. In the retina, LRR proteins have been implicated in the development and maintenance of functional bipolar cell synapses, and TPBG may play a similar role in RBCs.

Identification of PKCα-dependent phosphoproteins in mouse retina

Adjusting to a wide range of light intensities is an essential feature of retinal rod bipolar cell (RBC) function. While persuasive evidence suggests this modulation involves phosphorylation by protein kinase C-alpha (PKCα), the targets of PKCα phosphorylation in the retina have not been identified. PKCα activity and phosphorylation in RBCs was examined by immunofluorescence confocal microscopy using a conformation-specific PKCα antibody and antibodies to phosphorylated PKC motifs. PKCα activity was dependent on light and expression of TRPM1, and RBC dendrites were the primary sites of light-dependent phosphorylation. PKCα-dependent retinal phosphoproteins were identified using a phosphoproteomics approach to compare total protein and phosphopeptide abundance between phorbol ester-treated wild type and PKCα knockout (PKCα-KO) mouse retinas. Phosphopeptide mass spectrometry identified over 1100 phosphopeptides in mouse retina, with 12 displaying significantly greater phosphorylation in WT compared to PKCα-KO samples. The differentially phosphorylated proteins fall into the following functional groups: cytoskeleton/trafficking (4 proteins), ECM/adhesion (2 proteins), signaling (2 proteins), transcriptional regulation (3 proteins), and homeostasis/metabolism (1 protein). Two strongly differentially expressed phosphoproteins, BORG4 and TPBG, were localized to the synaptic layers of the retina, and may play a role in PKCα-dependent modulation of RBC physiology. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD012906. SIGNIFICANCE: Retinal rod bipolar cells (RBCs), the second-order neurons of the mammalian rod visual pathway, are able to modulate their sensitivity to remain functional across a wide range of light intensities, from starlight to daylight. Evidence suggests that this modulation requires the serine/threonine kinase, PKCα, though the specific mechanism by which PKCα modulates RBC physiology is unknown. This study examined PKCα phosophorylation patterns in mouse rod bipolar cells and then used a phosphoproteomics approach to identify PKCα-dependent phosphoproteins in the mouse retina. A small number of retinal proteins showed significant PKCα-dependent phosphorylation, including BORG4 and TPBG, suggesting a potential contribution to PKCα-dependent modulation of RBC physiology.

TRPM1 Autoantibodies in Melanoma Patients Without Self-Reported Visual Symptoms

Purpose

Melanoma-associated retinopathy (MAR) is a paraneoplastic syndrome associated with cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM). Visual symptoms include night blindness, photopsia, and reduced-contrast sensitivity. An abnormal ERG b-wave and the presence of anti-bipolar cell autoantibodies, including autoantibodies reacting with the ON-bipolar cell TRPM1 channel, help to confirm the diagnosis. The goal of this study was to determine if CMM patients without visual symptoms also express anti-TRPM1 autoantibodies.

Methods

Serum samples from 15 CMM patients were tested using three assays: immunofluorescent labeling of TRPM1-transfected HEK cells, immunofluorescent labeling of retinal sections from wild-type and TRPM1 knockout mice, and immunoblot detection of a bacterially produced recombinant TRPM1 peptide.

Results

Serum specimens from 5 of the 15 CMM patients without declared visual symptoms were positive for anti-TRPM1 autoantibodies in at least one of the three assays. One of 50 control sera from patients not known to have cancer was also weakly reactive with the TRPM1 peptide.

Conclusions

Autoantibodies against TRPM1 are present in CMM patient sera without self-reported visual symptoms. Most patients had advanced (stage III and IV) disease and were undergoing aggressive treatments, including immunotherapy. It is unknown if immunotherapy affects the expression of TRPM1 autoantibodies. The presence of TRPM1 autoantibodies may predispose patients for MAR.

Population structure and genetic diversity of four Henan pig populations

To investigate the population structure and genetic diversity of Henan indigenous pig breeds, samples from a total of 78 pigs of 11 breeds were collected, including four pig populations from Henan Province, three Western commercial breeds, three Chinese native pig breeds from other provinces and one Asian wild boar. The genotyping datasets were obtained by genotyping-by-sequencing technology. We found a high degree of polymorphism and rapid linkage disequilibrium decay in Henan pigs. A neighbor-joining tree, principal component analysis and structure analysis revealed that the Huainan and Erhualian pigs were clustered together and that the Queshan black pigs were clearly grouped together but that the Nanyang and Yuxi pigs were extensively admixed with Western pigs. In addition, heterozygosity values might indicate that Henan indigenous pigs, especially the Queshan black and Huainan pigs, were subjected to little selection during domestication. The results presented here indicate that Henan pig breeds were admixed from Western breeds, especially Nanyang and Yuxi pigs. Therefore, establishment of purification and rejuvenation systems to implement conservation strategies is urgent. In addition, it is also necessary to accelerate genetic resources improvement and utilization using modern breeding technologies, such as genomic selection and genome-wide association studies.

Serum cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) expression in individuals who sustained a youth sport-related intra-articular knee injury 3-10 years previously and uninjured matched controls

OBJECTIVE

This study investigates the relationship between a youth sport-related intra-articular knee injury and cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP), a biomarker of cartilage turnover.

DESIGN

Participants included a sub-sample (n = 170) of the Alberta Youth Prevention of Early Osteoarthritis (PrE-OA) study group. Specifically, 85 individuals with a 3-10 year history of sport-related intra-articular knee injury and 85 age, sex and sport-matched controls. COMP levels were investigated in serum. Between group differences in COMP levels, COMP fragmentation patterns and, the relationship between serum COMP and clinical outcomes (i.e., Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Osteoarthritis Knee Score; MOAKS, Knee Osteoarthritis Outcome Score; KOOS, Fat mass index; FMI) were examined.

RESULTS

Participant median age was 22.3 years (range 16-26) and 63% were female. Although there was no difference in COMP levels between previously injured and uninjured females, previously injured males demonstrated an ∼15% greater (171.5 ng/ml, 95% CI 11.0-428.0, P = 0.04) serum COMP level than uninjured males. However after controlling for FMI, this difference was absent. Within the injured participants, COMP levels were associated with MOAKS_SYNOVITIS and FMI. Furthermore, COMP fragmentation patterns were distinct between injured and uninjured individuals.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study group, serum COMP levels were greater in injured males, but not females, compared to matched controls. However, after controlling for FMI, no differences in COMP were observed. A unique COMP fragmentation pattern was observed in injured vs uninjured participants. These results further the hypothesis that COMP levels and/or degradation of the protein may be a marker of cartilage injury which could predispose to later OA.

CCL22 is a biomarker of cartilage injury and plays a functional role in chondrocyte apoptosis

BACKGROUND

Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide. Previous history of knee injury is a significant risk factor for OA. It has been established that low-level chronic inflammation plays a pivotal role in the onset and pathogenesis of OA. The primary aim of this research was to determine if a history of knee joint injury is associated with systemic inflammation. A secondary aim was to determine if systemic inflammation is related to knee pain and joint structure.

METHODS

Differences in serum cytokine association networks, knee joint structural changes (MRI), and self-reported pain (i.e., Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score Pain subscale, KOOS_PAIN and Intermittent and Constant Osteoarthritis Pain score, ICOAP) between individuals who had sustained a youth (aged 15-26 years) sport-related knee injury 3-10 years previously and age- and sex-matched controls were examined. Proteins of interest were also examined in an OA rat model.

RESULTS

Cytokine association networks were found to differ significantly between study groups, yet no significant associations were found between networks and KOOS_PAIN or MRI-defined OA. A group of cytokines (MCP1/CCL2, CCL22 and TNFα) were differentially associated with other cytokines between study groups. In a pre-clinical rat OA model, serum CCL22 levels were associated with pain (r = 0.255, p = 0.045) and structural changes to the cartilage. CCL22 expression was also observed in human OA cartilage and furthermore, CCL22 induced apoptosis of isolated human chondrocytes.

DISCUSSION

These results suggest that CCL22 may be an early factor in the onset/pathogenic process of cartilage degeneration and/or related to pain OA.

[Genetic characterization of rubella virus isolated in Guizhou Province from 2012 to 2015]

Objective: To analyze the genetic characteristics of rubella virus isolated from 2012 to 2015 in Guizhou province. Methods: A total of 390 cases of suspected measles were collected from Guizhou measles network laboratory from 2012 to 2015 and 25 cases of rubella cases were diagnosed. Rubella virus isolation was performed using Vero/SLAM cells. The presence of rubella viral RNA was detected using Real-time RT-PCR after RNA extraction from infected tissue culture cells. Fragments of 480 bp and 633 bp nucleotides of E1 genes of the isolates were amplified by RT-PCR and the PCR products were sequenced and spliced. The phylogenetic tree was conducted based on the 739 bp nucleotide sequences of E1 genes and gene characteristic analysis was performed. Results: There were 19 cases of rubella outbreaks and 6 cases of rubella sporadic cases in 25 cases of suspected rubella cases. There were 11 males (44.0%) and 14 females (56.0%). The mean age and standard deviation were (12.3±3.9) years. A total of 10 rubella strains were isolated. The results of phylogenetic analysis showed that 7 strains of rubella virus isolates belonged to genotype 1E and the other belonged to genotype 2B. The nucleotide acid and amino acid homology among 7 strains 1E genotype were 99.0%-100% and 100% respectively. 2B genotype of 3 strains of nucleotide and amino acid homology were 99.4%-100% and 99.5%-100% respectively. Ten strains of rubella virus were not mutated in the E1 glycoprotein gene, Asn 177 and Asn 209 N-type glycosylation sites and E1 antigen epitopes between 213 and 285aa.Among them, 7 strains of 1E genotype had a mutation from leucine to phenylalanine in 338 amino acid, 2 strains of 2B genotype at 377 amino acids from valine to alanine. Conclusion: Rubella virus epidemic was caused by 1E and 2B genotypes in Guizhou from 2012 to 2015.Ten strains of rubella virus were highly conserved in nucleotide and amino acid sequences and there was no variation of important functional sites.

Autoantibodies in Melanoma-Associated Retinopathy Recognize an Epitope Conserved Between TRPM1 and TRPM3

Purpose

Melanoma-associated retinopathy (MAR) is a paraneoplastic syndrome associated with malignant melanoma and the presence of anti-retinal autoantibodies, including autoantibodies against transient receptor potential melanopsin 1 (TRPM1), a cation channel expressed by both melanocytes and retinal bipolar cells. The goal of this study was to further map the antigenic epitope.

Methods

Patient sera were tested by immunofluorescence and Western blotting on HEK293 cells transfected with enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP)-TRPM1 fusion constructs and mouse retina sections.

Results

The epitope recognized by MAR patient sera was mapped to a region encoded by exons 9 and 10 of the human TRPM1 gene. This region of TRPM1 is highly conserved with TRPM3, and indeed MAR sera were found to cross-react with TRPM3, a closely related channel expressed in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE).

Conclusions

These results indicate that TRPM1 autoantibodies in MAR patient sera recognize a short, intracellular segment of TRPM1. Cross-reactivity with TRPM3 in the RPE may account for other visual symptoms that are experienced by some MAR patients such as retinal and RPE detachments. We propose that TRPM1 autoantibodies are generated in response to abnormal TRPM1 polypeptides encoded by an alternate mRNA splice variant expressed by malignant melanocytes.

Ultrasound hyperthermia induces apoptosis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: An in vitro study

Background

Hyperthermia is considered an efficient complement in the treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Hyperthermia induces cell apoptosis in a temperature- and time-dependent manner. However, the molecular mechanism of hyperthermia remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanism of apoptosis induced by ultrasound hyperthermia in HNSCC cell lines HN-30 and HN-13.

Material and Methods

We examined the dynamic changes of early apoptosis and secondary necrosis in HN-30 and HN-13 cells treated by hyperthermia at 42°C for 10 min. We further examined mitochondrial membrane potential in vitro by ultrasound hyperthermia for different heating temperatures (38-44°C, 10 min) and heating times (42°C, 10-50 min). After heating by ultrasound at 42°C for 10 min, the apoptosis index achieved its highest level at 8 h after treatment, decreased rapidly and remained constant at a reduced level at 12 h.

Results

The level of secondary necrosis increased with the level of early apoptosis but remained at a higher level until 14 h. The level of secondary necrosis correlated with the level of early apoptosis (HN-13: r=0.7523, P=0.0030; HN-30: r=0.6510, P=0.016). The fractions of cells with low mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψ) in the heating-temperature grads group and heating-time grads group decreased significantly over time. Therefore, HN-30 and HN-13 cells developed apoptosis after ultrasound hyperthermia treatment with decreases in the mitochondrial transmembrane potential level.

Conclusions

Ultrasound hyperthermia induces apoptosis in HN-30 and HN-13 cells, possibly via the mitochondrial caspase pathway.

Key words:Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, apoptosis, mitochondrial membrane potential, ultrasound hyperthermia.

Neutron Generation by Laser-Driven Spherically Convergent Plasma Fusion

We investigate a new laser-driven spherically convergent plasma fusion scheme (SCPF) that can produce thermonuclear neutrons stably and efficiently. In the SCPF scheme, laser beams of nanosecond pulse duration and 10^{14}-10^{15}  W/cm^{2} intensity uniformly irradiate the fuel layer lined inside a spherical hohlraum. The fuel layer is ablated and heated to expand inwards. Eventually, the hot fuel plasmas converge, collide, merge, and stagnate at the central region, converting most of their kinetic energy to internal energy, forming a thermonuclear fusion fireball. With the assumptions of steady ablation and adiabatic expansion, we theoretically predict the neutron yield Y_{n} to be related to the laser energy E_{L}, the hohlraum radius R_{h}, and the pulse duration τ through a scaling law of Y_{n}∝(E_{L}/R_{h}^{1.2}τ^{0.2})^{2.5}. We have done experiments at the ShengGuangIII-prototype facility to demonstrate the principle of the SCPF scheme. Some important implications are discussed.

Engineering Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells to Release Adenosine Using miRNA Technology

Adenosine is an important modulator of metabolic activity with powerful tissue and cell protective functions. Adenosine kinase (ADK), the major adenosine-regulating enzyme, is critical to adapt its intra- and extracellular levels in response to environmental changes. Lentiviral RNAi-mediated downregulation of ADK in human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) has therefore been considered an effective tool for engineering therapeutically effective adenosine-releasing cell grafts that could constitute patient-identical autologous implants for clinical application. We constructed lentiviral vectors that co-express miRNA directed against ADK and an emerald green fluorescent protein (EmGFP) reporter gene. Following lentiviral transduction of hMSCs, we demonstrated up to 80% downregulation of ADK and 98% transduction efficiency. Transduced hMSCs continued to express EmGFP after four to six consecutive passages, and EmGFP-positive hMSC grafts survived in the hippocampal fissure of mouse brains and provided efficient adenosine-dependent neuroprotection in a mouse model of seizure-induced cell loss.

Development of a vaccine against Streptococcus agalactiae in fish based on truncated cell wall surface anchor proteins

Streptococcus agalactiae is an important fish pathogen and a leading cause of major economic losses to the aquaculture industry worldwide. In the present study, the two truncated recombinant proteins of cell wall surface anchor family of S agalactiae, CWSAP465 and CWSAP1035, were expressed in Escherichia coli, and their immunogenicity and efficacy against the bacterium were evaluated in tilapia and turbot. The results showed that the prokaryotic expression of the two constructs, p32a-CWSAP465 and p32a-CWSAP1035, gave rise to a high yield of soluble proteins with good immunogenicity. The immunisation-challenge study revealed that tilapia and turbot immunised with recombinant truncated proteins produced high levels of antibodies with a peak at four weeks after immunisation and were protected from a challenge by a virulent S agalactiae at a dose of 1×10⁹ colony forming units/ml. The recombinant truncated proteins had higher efficacy than the whole-cell inactivated vaccine. Therefore, the study demonstrated that CWSAP465 and CWSAP1035 are two viable vaccine candidates against S agalactiae in fish.

[Head and neck alveolar soft-part sarcoma: a review in diagnosis and treatment]

Head and neck alveolar soft part sarcoma(ASPS) is a rare, distinctive sarcoma, typically occurring in infants and children.It displays a relatively fast clinical course, and the ultimate prognosis is poor and is often characterised by late metastases. It is now clear that they are caused by the formation of an ASPL TFE3 fusion gene,and the new molecular target therapies under study may change the possible approach to primary disease.The diagnosis and treatment of head and neck ASPS are reviewed in this article.

Lubricin/Proteoglycan 4 binds to and regulates the activity of Toll-Like Receptors In Vitro

Proteoglycan 4 (PRG4/lubricin) is secreted by cells that reside in articular cartilage and line the synovial joint. Lubricin may play a role in modulating inflammatory responses through interaction with CD44. This led us to examine if lubricin could be playing a larger role in the modulation of inflammation/immunity through interaction with Toll-like receptors (TLRs). Human Embryonic Kidney (HEK) cells overexpressing TLRs 2, 4 or 5 and surface plasmon resonance were employed to determine if full length recombinant human lubricin was able to bind to and activate TLRs. Primary human synovial fibroblasts were also examined using flow cytometry and Luminex multiplex ELISA. A rat destabilization model of osteoarthritis (OA) was used to determine if lubricin injections were able to regulate pain and/or inflammation in vivo. Lubricin can bind to and regulate the activity of TLRs, leading to downstream changes in inflammatory signalling independent of HA. We confirmed these findings in vivo through intra-articular injections of lubricin in a rat OA model where the inhibition of systemic inflammatory signaling and reduction in pain were observed. Lubricin plays an important role in regulating the inflammatory environment under both homeostatic and tissue injury states.

Interferon-α-2b as an adjuvant therapy prolongs survival of patients with previously resected oral muscosal melanoma

Two major subtypes of melanoma include cutaneous melanoma and mucosal melanoma. The latter type is rare and usually occurs in the head and neck region. High-dose interferon-α-2b (IFN-α-2b) has proven effective in the treatment of cutaneous melanoma. Recently, a regimen of temozolomide plus cisplatin was reported more likely to improve relapse-free survival and overall survival than high-dose IFN-α-2b for mucosal melanoma. We conducted this study to analyze the therapeutic effect of high-dose IFN-α-2b for patients with oral mucosal melanoma who had received prior chemotherapy. One hundred and seventeen patients with stage III-IVa oral mucosal melanoma who had received chemotherapy were analyzed. The overall survival and relapse-free survival were compared between the patients with/without high-dose IFN-α-2b. The results indicate that the IFN-α-2b treatment group had a longer relapse-free survival rate (P = 0.0169) as compared to the control group. However, the overall survival was not significant between the two groups (P = 0.096), except in patients in stage IVa, whose overall survival increased by 20 months (P = 0.0146). The adverse reactions included a drug-induced influenza-like syndrome, gastrointestinal responses, myelosuppression, and hepatoxicity, which were predominantly of grade 1-2 and reversible. Thus, patients with resected oral mucosal melanoma, even those who have received chemotherapy, could benefit from the treatment of high-dose IFN-α-2b.

Comparison of PEGylated FGF-21 with insulin glargine for long-lasting hypoglycaemic effect in db/db mice

AIM

This study investigated the long-acting antidiabetic efficacy of PEGylated fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-21 in type 2 diabetic db/db mice.

METHODS

PEGylated FGF-21 was prepared by modifying the N-terminus of human FGF-21 (hFGF-21) using mPEG-ALD. To compare the long-lasting hypoglycaemic effects of PEGylated FGF-21 and insulin glargine in diabetic db/db mice, their pharmacological efficacy was evaluated by changes in blood glucose levels, body weight, insulin levels, glycosylated haemoglobin levels, lipid profile and liver function parameters, and by oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTTs).

RESULTS

Both PEGylated FGF-21 and insulin glargine decreased plasma glucose in db/db mice. However, compared with insulin glargine treatment, PEGylated FGF-21 therapy had more significant effects in lowering blood glucose and glycosylated haemoglobin levels, improving lipid profile and liver function parameters, alleviating insulin resistance and reducing the glucose area under the curve in OGTTs.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that PEGylated FGF-21 is an ideal candidate as a long-acting antidiabetes drug, and holds significant promise as an effective therapeutic agent in the treatment of type 2 diabetes patients.

Polymorphism in the 5ꞌ-UTR of the insulin-like growth factor I gene associated with production traits in Chinese cattle

The insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-1) gene plays important roles in the growth and body composition of animals. Serum IGF1 concentration has been associated with growth traits in many livestock species. We found a polymorphism of cattle IGF1-TasI locus and analyzed the distribution of alleles in three cattle breeds, including Qinchuan, Nanyang, and Chinese Holstein. PCR-RFLP analysis showed that allele A was the dominant allele. The frequencies of allele A varied from 0.84 to 0.97. Distributions of genotypic and allelic frequencies were significantly different among breeds. Polymorphism of the IGF1 gene was significantly affecting hucklebone width at 6 months in the Nanyang breed and protein and fat yield of the third lactation in Chinese Holstein cattle. Individuals with allele C had a significantly higher performance in production traits.

Molecular characterization and expression pattern of an α-amylase gene (HcAmy) from the freshwater pearl mussel, Hyriopsis cumingii

The freshwater pearl mussel Hyriopsis cumingii is of commercial importance because it produces the freshwater pearl; however, knowledge about the molecular characterization and regulation mechanisms of α-amylase remains unknown for this species. In this study, the full-length cDNA of the α-amylase gene (HcAmy) was isolated from H. cumingii by the rapid amplification of cDNA ends. Tissue-specific expression analysis showed that HcAmy mRNA was mainly expressed in the hepatopancreas; although, the gene was also expressed in the adductor muscle, intestine, gill, and crystalline style. After 2 weeks starvation, the expression of HcAmy mRNA in the hepatopancreas was upregulated at 24 h after re-feeding or when exposed to algal concentration of 32 μg/L chlorophyll-a, indicating that the HcAmy mRNA expression in H. cumingii is regulated by algal availability. The results of this study confirm that the HcAmy gene is an important component of the carbohydrate metabolism of H. cumingii fed phytoplankton. In addition, this study demonstrates that the modulation of this gene is dependent on environmental food availability, including starvation, re-feeding time following a period of starvation, and algal concentrations during re-feeding.

The effects of polymorphisms on human gene targeting

DNA mismatches that occur between vector homology arms and chromosomal target sequences reduce gene targeting frequencies in several species; however, this has not been reported in human cells. Here we demonstrate that even a single mismatched base pair can significantly decrease human gene targeting frequencies. In addition, we show that homology arm polymorphisms can be used to direct allele-specific targeting or to improve unfavorable vector designs that introduce deletions.