Coordinate expansion of murine hematopoietic and mesenchymal stem cell compartments by SHIPi

Promoting the expansion of adult stem cell populations offers the potential to ameliorate radiation or chemotherapy-induced bone marrow failure and allows for expedited recovery for patients undergoing these therapies. Previous genetic studies suggested a pivotal role for SH2 domain-containing inositol-5-phosphatase 1 (SHIP1) in limiting the size of the hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) compartment. The aim of this study was to determine whether our recent development of small molecule SHIP1 inhibitors offers the potential for pharmacological expansion of the HSC compartment in vivo. We show here that treatment of mice with aminosteroid inhibitors of SHIP1 (SHIPi) more than doubles the size of the adult mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) compartment while simultaneously expanding the HSC pool sixfold. Consistent with its ability to target SHIP1 function in vivo, SHIPi also significantly increases plasma granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) levels, a growth factor that supports proliferation of HSC. Here, we show that SHIPi-induced G-CSF production mediates HSC and MSC expansion, as in vivo neutralization of G-CSF abrogates the SHIPi-induced expansion of both the HSC and MSC compartments. Due to its expansionary effect on adult stem cell compartments, SHIPi represents a potential novel strategy to improve declining stem cell function in both therapy induced and genetically derived bone marrow failure syndromes.

Effect of the E200K mutation on prion protein metabolism. Comparative study of a cell model and human brain

The hallmark of prion diseases is the cerebral accumulation of a conformationally altered isoform (PrP(Sc)) of a normal cellular protein, the prion protein (PrP(C)). In the inherited form, mutations in the prion protein gene are thought to cause the disease by altering the metabolism of the mutant PrP (PrP(M)) engendering its conversion into PrP(Sc). We used a cell model to study biosynthesis and processing of PrP(M) carrying the glutamic acid to lysine substitution at residue 200 (E200K), which is linked to the most common inherited human prion disease. PrP(M) contained an aberrant glycan at residue 197 and generated an increased quantity of truncated fragments. In addition, PrP(M) showed impaired transport of the unglycosylated isoform to the cell surface. Similar changes were found in the PrP isolated from brains of patients affected by the E200K variant of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Although the cellular PrP(M) displayed some characteristics of PrP(Sc), the PrP(Sc) found in the E200K brains was quantitatively and qualitatively different. We propose that the E200K mutation cause the same metabolic changes of PrP(M) in the cell model and in the brain. However, in the brain, PrP(M) undergoes additional modifications, by an age-dependent mechanism that leads to the formation of PrP(Sc) and the development of the disease.

Chronic pain

Chronic pain is an emotional experience and is defined as pain lasting greater than six months. It is important to understand the neurophysiology of pain in order to treat it. Nociceptors in the periphery travel to the substantia gelatinosa of the spinal cord while secondary and tertiary afferents transmit information from the dorsal horn to the brain. Modification of pain information may take place in these ascending pathways or in descending pathways. Treatment of chronic pain is most successful when it is approached in a multidisciplinary fashion with the focus not only on treatment of underlying etiology, but also on the secondary impacts of pain on the patient's life. The management of chronic pain requires special expertise. Most of the experts in chronic pain assessment and management organize themselves into pain treatment centers. These centers vary widely in their approach to the problem. The most sophisticated is a multidisciplinary center that is university-based and includes teaching and research. Treatment of chronic pain includes a variety of medications, psychological support, and rehabilitation. Multidisciplinary pain management is also an integral part of the palliative care and hospice concept used to treat cancer pain.

Antigen-stimulated human interferon-gamma generation: role of accessory cells and their expressed or secreted products

In response to cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Toxoplasma gondii antigens, T4+ cells from seropositive donors produce interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) by different mechanisms; one (T. gondii) dependent upon and the other (CMV) largely independent of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and its receptor. To determine whether IFN-gamma-generating mechanisms unrelated to IL-2 also differ, we examined the requirement for accessory cells and their expressed or secreted products. In response to both specific antigens, IFN-gamma secretion was strictly dependent upon the presence of accessory cells (monocytes), and was largely inhibited by monoclonal antibodies to class II (HLA-DR and -DQ) but not class I MHC antigens. Both CMV and T. gondii antigens stimulated monocytes to release interleukin-1 (IL-1), and IFN-gamma production in response to both antigens was abolished by pretreatment with anti-IL-1 antibody. In contrast, the secretion of tumour necrosis factor (TNF) was not stimulated by either antigen, and IFN-gamma production was not diminished by antisera directed at TNF-alpha or TNF-beta. We conclude that CMV and T. gondii antigen-induced IFN-gamma production requires a similar accessory cell mechanism, and that soluble antigen-stimulated IFN-gamma secretion by human T4+ cells is dependent on monocytes, expression of class II MHC antigens, and the presence of IL-1.