Aging phenotype(s) in kidneys of diabetic mice are p66ShcA dependent

The p66ShcA protein controls cellular responses to oxidative stress, senescence, and apoptosis. Here, we test the hypothesis that aging phenotype(s) commonly associated with the broad category of chronic kidney disease are accelerated in diabetic kidneys and linked to the p66ShcA locus. At the organ level, tissue stem cells antagonize senescent phenotypes by replacing old dysfunctional cells. Using established methods, we isolated a highly purified population of stem cell antigen-1-positive mesenchymal stem cells (Sca-1⁺ MSCs) from kidneys of wild-type (WT) and p66 knockout (p66 KO) mice. Cells were plated in culture medium containing normal glucose (NG) or high glucose (HG). Reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolism was substantially increased in WT MSCs in HG medium in association with increased cell death by apoptosis and acquisition of the senescent phenotype. DNA microarray analysis detected striking differences in the expression profiles of WT and p66 KO-MSCs in HG medium. Unexpectedly, the analysis for p66 KO-MSCs revealed upregulation of Wnt genes implicated in self-renewal and differentiation. To test the in vivo consequences of constitutive p66 expression in diabetic kidneys, we crossed the Akita diabetic mouse with the p66KO mouse. Homozygous mutation at the p66 locus delays or prevents aging phenotype(s) in the kidney that may be precursors to diabetic nephropathy.

IL-7Rα deficiency in p53null mice exacerbates thymocyte telomere erosion and lymphomagenesis

Interleukin-7 (IL-7) is an essential T-cell survival cytokine. IL-7 receptor (IL-7Rα) deficiency severely impairs T-cell development due to substantial apoptosis. We hypothesized that IL-7Rα(null)-induced apoptosis is partially contributed by an elevated p53 activity. To investigate the genetic association of IL-7/IL-7Rα signaling with the p53 pathway, we generated IL-7Rα(null)p53(null) (DKO) mice. DKO mice exhibited a marked reduction of apoptosis in developing T cells and an augmented thymic lymphomagenesis with telomere erosions and exacerbated chromosomal anomalies, including chromosome duplications, breaks, and translocations. In particular, Robertsonian translocations, in which telocentric chromosomes fuse at the centromeric region, and a complete loss of telomeres at the fusion site occurred frequently in DKO thymic lymphomas. Cellular and molecular investigations revealed that IL-7/IL-7Rα signaling withdrawal diminished the protein synthesis of protection of telomere 1 (POT1), a subunit of telomere protective complex shelterin, leading to telomere erosion and the activation of the p53 pathway. Blockade of IL-7/IL-7Rα signaling in IL-7-dependent p53(null) cells reduced POT1 expression and caused telomere and chromosome abnormalities similar to those observed in DKO lymphomas. This study underscores a novel function of IL-7/IL-7Rα during T-cell development in regulating telomere integrity via POT1 expression and provides new insights into cytokine-mediated survival signals and T-cell lymphomagenesis.

A constitutively active ERBB4/HER4 allele with enhanced transcriptional coactivation and cell-killing activities

In the normal breast, ERBB4 regulates epithelial differentiation and functions as a nuclear chaperone for signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 5A, thereby stimulating milk-gene expression. In addition, ERBB4 functions as a proapoptotic protein, suppressing the growth of malignant cells. We hypothesize that these ERBB4 activities can be marshaled to suppress the growth of breast tumors. To this end, we have created an ERBB4 allele harboring an activating transmembrane mutation (ERBB4-CA) by substituting isoleucine 658 for glutamic acid. This base substitution forms a valine-glutamic acid-glycine activation domain first identified in oncogenic ERBB2/HER2/Neu. Ectopic expression of ERBB4-CA in HEK293T cells resulted in a fivefold increase in receptor tyrosine phosphorylation. Functionally, ERBB4-CA exhibited higher levels of nuclear translocation than wild-type ERBB4, leading to significantly enhanced ERBB4-induced STAT5A simulation of the beta-casein promoter. Activated ERBB4 has been demonstrated to induce cell killing of breast tumor cells. Significantly, ERBB4-CA potentiated the proapoptotic function of ERBB4 in each breast, prostate and ovarian cancer cell line tested. Untransformed cell lines were resistant to both ERBB4 and ERBB4-CA-mediated apoptosis underscoring the potential utility of active ERBB4 signaling for the therapeutic intervention of human cancer.

The synthetic peptide PFWT disrupts AF4–AF9 protein complexes and induces apoptosis in t(4;11) leukemia cells

The MLL gene at chromosome band 11q23 is commonly involved in reciprocal translocations detected in acute leukemias. A number of experiments show that the resulting MLL fusion genes directly contribute to leukemogenesis. Among the many known MLL fusion partners, AF4 is relatively common, particularly in acute lymphoblastic leukemia in infants. The AF4 protein interacts with the product of another gene, AF9, which is also fused to MLL in acute leukemias. Based on mapping studies of the AF9-binding domain of AF4, we have developed a peptide, designated PFWT, which disrupts the AF4-AF9 interaction in vitro and in vivo. We provide evidence that this peptide is able to inhibit the proliferation of leukemia cells with t(4;11) chromosomal translocations expressing MLL-AF4 fusion genes. Further, we show that this inhibition is mediated through apoptosis. Importantly, the peptide does not affect the proliferative capacity of hematopoietic progenitor cells. Our findings indicate that the AF4-AF9 protein complex is a promising new target for leukemia therapy and that the PFWT peptide may serve as a lead compound for drug development.

CD4+ T cell-independent vaccination against Pneumocystis carinii in mice

Host defenses are profoundly compromised in HIV-infected hosts due to progressive depletion of CD4+ T lymphocytes. Moreover, deficient CD4+ T lymphocytes impair vaccination approaches to prevent opportunistic infection. Therefore, we investigated a CD4+ T cell-independent vaccine approach to a prototypic AIDS-defining infection, Pneumocystis carinii (PC) pneumonia. Here, we demonstrate that bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (DCs) expressing the murine CD40 ligand, when pulsed ex vivo by PC antigen, elicited significant titers of anti-PC IgG in CD4-deficient mice. Vaccinated animals demonstrated significant protection from PC infection, and this protection was the result of an effective humoral response, since adoptive transfer of CD4-depleted splenocytes or serum conferred this protection to CD4-deficient mice. Western blot analysis of PC antigen revealed that DC-vaccinated, CD4-deficient mice predominantly reacted to a 55-kDa PC antigen. These studies show promise for advances in CD4-independent vaccination against HIV-related pathogens.

[Idiopathic facial hemispasm: a case report]

A case of prolonged, slowly progressive, idiopathic hemifacial spasm in a 68-year-old man is presented. A suspected cerebellopontine angle lesion was confirmed by MRI and digital angiography. Cerebellopontine angle lesions have to be differentiated from idiopathic hemifacial spasm.

[Paraplegia following surgical repair of a ductus and of a coarctation of the aorta in childhood]

The cases of two girls with 4 and 7 years of age presented. They had a patent ductus and an aortic coarcation which were subsequently surgically repaired. After the operation paraplegia was diagnosed. With rehabilitation they are able to walk, however paraparexis persist. Anatomy of the arterial irrigation of the spinal cord is reviewed and also the pathophysiology and mechanisms of medullar ischemia.

Patterns of cell movement in early organ primordia of the chick embryo

Purse-string constriction of the cytoskeleton at cell poles is generally accepted as the causal mechanism for invagination during early stages of organ formation. However, it is known that other cell movements, including intercalation, play a role in the organotypic shape changes that occur during gastrulation and neurulation. Such cell movements have not been investigated in pouching and branching epithelial primordia. There is reason to suspect that cells within these organ primordia might exchange their neighbors for others, that is, intercalate or translocate, at sites of sharp folding such as borders with the surrounding epithelial sheet or where a bend occurs within the primordium. The greatest difficulty in identifying these movements has been the need to use intact embryos so that the processes are not distorted. This study explores the possibility of using time-lapse video recording to identify cell movement at these locations. Three organ primordia were tested: otic and thyroid placodes, which had not been tested previously, and neural plate as a control, where movements of this sort have been documented. Embryos or parts containing the primordia were immobilized and cell apices visualized with Hoffman modulation contrast optics. Recordings to an optical memory disc recorder were transferred to a microcomputer for image analysis. The viewing procedure allows reasonably clear visualization of cell apices, and image analysis permits tracking of a number of adjacent cell apices over an extended time period. Several types of movement were found to occur within cell sheets, and the relative abundance of each type depends on the specific primordium. In the neural plate, some cells move many cell diameters from their neighbors. In the other two primordia, most cells show limited shifts in position relative to their neighbors except at regions where folds are formed. In other regions, adjacent cells move as a unit. Knowledge of the movements which occur in any particular primordium is essential to an understanding of the mechanisms controlling its formation.