Core liver homeostatic co-expression networks are preserved but respond to perturbations in an organism- and disease-specific manner

Findings about chronic complex diseases are difficult to extrapolate from animal models to humans. We reason that organs may have core network modules that are preserved between species and are predictably altered when homeostasis is disrupted. To test this idea, we perturbed hepatic homeostasis in mice by dietary challenge and compared the liver transcriptome with that in human fatty liver disease and liver cancer. Co-expression module preservation analysis pointed to alterations in immune responses and metabolism (core modules) in both human and mouse datasets. The extent of derailment in core modules was predictive of survival in the cancer genome atlas (TCGA) liver cancer dataset. We identified module eigengene quantitative trait loci (module-eQTL) for these predictive co-expression modules, targeting of which may resolve homeostatic perturbations and improve patient outcomes. The framework presented can be used to understand homeostasis at systems levels in pre-clinical models and in humans. A record of this paper's transparent peer review process is included in the supplemental information.

Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Statins

HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (known as statins) are commonly prescribed worldwide for the management of coronary heart disease and the underlying dyslipidemia. This class of drugs has been shown to infer a significant decrease in the risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Only recently though have the beneficial effects of statins in other diseases such as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis been highlighted. Importantly, also, multiple studies have revealed that statin use was associated with lower cancer-associated mortality across multiple types of cancers. This work aims to review those studies with a particular focus on liver cancer. We also provide a review of the proposed mechanisms of action describing how statins can induce chemo-preventive and antitumor effects.

Coordinate expression loss of GKN1 and GKN2 in gastric cancer via impairment of a glucocorticoid-responsive enhancer

Gastrokines (GKNs) are anti-inflammatory proteins secreted by gastric epithelial (surface mucous and pit) cells, with their aberrant loss of expression causally linked to premalignant inflammation and gastric cancer (GC). Transcriptional mechanisms accounting for GKN expression loss have not been elucidated. Using human clinical cohorts, mouse transgenics, bioinformatics, and transfection/reporter assays, we report a novel mechanism of GKN gene transcriptional regulation and its impairment in GC. GKN1/GKN2 loss is highly coordinated, with both genes showing parallel downregulation during human and mouse GC development, suggesting joint transcriptional control. In BAC transgenic studies, we defined a 152-kb genomic region surrounding the human GKN1/GKN2 genes sufficient to direct their tissue- and lineage-restricted expression. A screen of the 152-kb region for candidate regulatory elements identified a DNase I hypersensitive site (CR2) located 4 kb upstream of the GKN1 gene. CR2 showed overlapping enrichment of enhancer-related histone marks (H3K27Ac), a consensus binding site (GRE) for the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), strong GR occupancy in ChIP-seq data sets and, critically, exhibited dexamethasone-sensitive enhancer activity in reporter assays. Strikingly, GR showed progressive expression loss, paralleling that of GKN1/2, in human and mouse GC, suggesting desensitized glucocorticoid signaling as a mechanism underlying GKN loss. Finally, mouse adrenalectomy studies revealed a critical role for endogenous glucocorticoids in sustaining correct expression (and anti-inflammatory restraint) of GKNs in vivo. Together, these data link the coordinate expression of GKNs to a glucocorticoid-responsive and likely shared transcriptional enhancer mechanism, with its compromised activation contributing to dual GKN loss during GC progression.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Gastrokine 2 (GKN2) is an anti-inflammatory protein produced by the gastric epithelium. GKN2 expression is progressively lost during gastric cancer (GC), which is believed to play a casual role in GC development. Here, we use bacterial artificial chromosome transgenic studies to identify a glucocorticoid-responsive enhancer element that likely governs expression of GKN1/GKN2, which, via parallel expression loss of the anti-inflammatory glucocorticoid receptor, reveals a novel mechanism to explain the loss of GKN2 during GC pathogenesis.

A lack of role for antibodies in regulating Helicobacter pylori colonization and associated gastritis

BACKGROUND

Helicobacter pylori occupy a unique niche, located within the mucus layer lining the stomach, and attached to the apical surface of the gastric epithelium. As such, antibodies would be expected to play a major role in regulating infection and/or pathogenesis. However, experiments using antibody-deficient mice to study gastric helicobacter infection have yielded inconsistent results, although some pointed toward antibodies increasing colonization levels and decreasing gastritis severity. The variability in these studies is possibly due to their use of nonmatched wild-type controls. This current study presents the first evaluation of the role of antibodies in H pylori infection by comparing antibody-deficient mice with matched wild-type siblings.

METHODS

Matched wild-type and antibody-deficient μMT mice were generated by heterozygous crossings. In two separate experiments, appropriately genotyped sibling littermates were infected with H pylori for 4 months and then sera and stomachs were collected.

RESULTS

There was no difference in H pylori colonization levels between infected μMT mice and sibling wild-type controls. Similarly, there was no significant difference in the severity of gastritis between these groups of mice, although there was a trend toward less severe gastritis in μMT mice which was supported by a significantly lower IFNγ (Th1) gastric cytokine response.

CONCLUSIONS

Comparing matched antibody-deficient and antibody-competent mice indicates that an antibody response does not influence H pylori colonization levels. Contrary to previous studies, these results suggest antibodies might have a minor pro-inflammatory effect by promoting gastric Th1 cytokines, although this did not translate to a significant effect on gastritis severity.

Efficacy of Supportive Therapy of Allergic Rhinitis by Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica) root extract: a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo- Controlled, Clinical Trial

The aim of this study was to survey the exact benefit of this herb in the management of clinical and laboratory signs and symptoms of allergic rhinitis. In a randomized double blind clinical trial, 74 patients with the signs and symptoms of allergic rhinitis and a positive skin prick test were selected and randomly divided into 2 groups who were takenUrtica dioica 150-mg, Urtidin^® F.C Tablet) or placebo for one month. Their signs and symptoms, eosinophil percentage on nasal smear, serum IgE, and interleukin IL-4, IL-5, interferon- γ) levels were recorded. Forty patients completed the trial. Based on the Sino- Nasal Outcome Test 22 SNOT-22), a significant improvement in clinical symptom severity was observed in both groups P < .001). Furthermore, a statistically significant reduction in mean nasal smear eosinophil count was observed after treatment with Nettle P < .01). However, the mean IgE and IL4 and IL5 levels in the study group before and after treatment with Nettle saw no significant changes P > .1). Intergroup pre- and post-treatment laboratory findings suggested that there was a significant difference in post-treatment changes of mean IFN γ levels between the study and placebo group P = 0.017). Although the current study showed certain positive effects of Nettle in the management of allergic rhinitis on controlling the symptoms based on the SNOT-22, similar effects were demonstrated by placebo as well. We believe that our limitations underscore the need for larger, longer term studies of Nettle for the treatment of allergic rhinitis.

Poly (I:C)-DOTAP cationic nanoliposome containing multi-epitope HER2-derived peptide promotes vaccine-elicited anti-tumor immunity in a murine model

In the current study we aimed at developing a vaccine delivery/adjuvant system to enhance anti-tumor immunity against the natural multi-epitope HER2/Neu-derived P5 peptide. Polyriboinosinic: polyribocytidylic acid [Poly (I:C)] is a strong immunoadjuvant able to enhance specific antitumor immunity induced by peptide-based vaccines. Nevertheless, delivering the peptide and adjuvant intracellularly into their target site remains a challenging issue. We hypothesized this barrier could be overcome through the use of a cationic nanoliposome carrier system which can carry and protect the antigen and adjuvant in the extracellular environment and augment the induction of antitumor immunity. P5 was encapsulated in cationic nanoliposomes composed of 1,2-dioleoyl-3-trimethylammonium propane (DOTAP)-Cholesterol either alone or complexed with Poly (I:C). Immunocompetent BALB/c mice were immunized with the formulations 3 times in two-week intervals and the efficiency and type of immune response were then evaluated both in vitro and in vivo. The groups immunized with Lip-P5+PIC (DOTAP-Cholestrol-P5+Poly (I:C)) and Lip+PIC (DOTAP-Cholestrol+Poly (I:C)) enhanced the release of Interferon (IFN)-γ in comparison with other groups. Flow cytometry analysis revealed that Lip-P5+PIC formulation induced the highest level of IFN-γ in CD8(+) lymphocytes. Lip-P5+PIC, Lip+PIC and Lip-P5 (DOTAP-Cholestrol-P5) provided some extent of protection in terms of tumor regression in TUBO tumor mice model during the first 65days post tumor challenge but at the end only the tumors of mice immunized with Lip-P5+PIC were significantly smaller than all other groups. Furthermore, tumors of mice receiving Lip-P5+PIC grew at a significantly slower rate throughout the observation period. Our results showed that the combination of Poly (I:C) and DOTAP with the tumor antigen and without applying additional T-helper epitope induced strong antitumor responses. The observations presented here are of great interest for future vaccine studies.

Tramadol half life is dose dependent in overdose

Background

Tramalol overdose is disproportionately more common in Iran. In recent years, Tramadol overdose has become one of the most common causes of poisoning admissions to emergency departments in this country. To the best of our knowledge, there is little or no information regarding the toxicokinetic properties of Tramadol such as its half life. Given the fact that poisoning management should be based on the toxicokinetic of substances, we aimed at investigating the half life of Tramadol in man as a critical toxicokinetic variable in overdose.

Methods

Blood samples of each patient were collected on admission and repeated later. Plasma was harvested after separation from blood cells by centrifugation and quantified using HPLC method. Calculations were performed on Tramadol blood concentration quantities.

Findings

Demographic: Most of cases were men (81.81%). Mean (Standard Deviation (SD), min-max) age was 23 (8.142, 17-40). Serum Tramadol levels: Mean (SD, min-max) first Tramadol concentration was 786.91 (394.53, 391-1495). Mean (SD, min-max) second Tramadol concentration was 433.09 (269.63, 148-950). Mean (SD, min-max) of Tramadol half life was calculated as 9.24 hour (2.310, 4.99-13.45) Associations: Half life was associated with higher concentrations (r=0.708 Sig=0.015).

Conclusion

We report the mean half life of tramadol in overdose to be 9.24 hours which is remarkably higher than that measured in previous pharmacokinetic studies. We also concluded that Tramadol half life is dose dependent in overdose which may explain the further consequences of severe overdoses.