Development of an analytical platform for the affinity screening of natural extracts by SEC-MS towards PPARα and PPARγ receptors

BACKGROUND

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) belong to the superfamily of nuclear receptors and represent the targets for the therapeutical treatment of type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia and hyperglycemia associated with metabolic syndrome. Some medicinal plants have been traditionally used to treat this kind of metabolic diseases. Today only few drugs targeting PPARs have been approved and for this reason, the rapid identification of novel ligands and/or chemical scaffolds starting from natural extracts would benefit of a selective affinity ligand fishing assay.

RESULTS

In this paper we describe the development of a new ligand fishing assay based on size exclusion chromatography (SEC) coupled to LC-MS for the analysis of complex samples such as botanical extracts. The known PPARα and PPARγ ligands, WY-14643 and rosiglitazone respectively, were used for system development and evaluation. The system has found application on an Allium lusitanicum methanolic extract, containing saponins, a class of chemical compounds which have attracted interest as PPARs ligands because of their hypolipidemic and insulin-like properties.

SIGNIFICANCE

A new SEC-AS-MS method has been developed for the affinity screening of PPARα and PPARγ ligands. The system proved to be highly specific and will be used to improve the throughput for the identification of new selective metabolites from natural souces targeting PPARα and PPARγ.

Fungal infections of the central nervous system and paranasal sinuses in onco-haematologic patients. Epidemiological study reporting the diagnostic-therapeutic approach and outcome in 89 cases

Invasive fungal infections (IFI) of the Central Nervous System (IFI-CNS) and Paranasal Sinuses (IFI-PS) are rare, life-threatening infections in haematologic patients, and their management remains a challenge despite the availability of new diagnostic techniques and novel antifungal agents. In addition, analyses of large cohorts of patients focusing on these rare IFI are still lacking. Between January 2010 and December 2016, 89 consecutive cases of Proven (53) or Probable (36) IFI-CNS (71/89) and IFI-PS (18/89) were collected in 34 haematological centres. The median age was 40 years (range 5-79); acute leukaemia was the most common underlying disease (69%) and 29% of cases received a previous allogeneic stem cell transplant. Aspergillus spp. were the most common pathogens (69%), followed by mucormycetes (22%), Cryptococcus spp. (4%) and Fusarium spp. (2%). The lung was the primary focus of fungal infection (48% of cases). The nervous system biopsy was performed in 10% of IFI-CNS, and a sinus biopsy was performed in 56% of IFI-PS (P = 0.03). The Galactomannan test on cerebrospinal fluid has been performed in 42% of IFI-CNS (30/71), and it was positive in 67%. Eighty-four pts received a first-line antifungal therapy with Amphotericine B in 58% of cases, Voriconazole in 31% and both in 11%. Moreover, 58% of patients received 2 or more lines of therapy and 38% were treated with a combination of 2 or more antifungal drugs. The median duration of antifungal therapy was 60 days (range 5-835). A surgical intervention was performed in 26% of cases but only 10% of IFI-CNS underwent neurosurgical intervention. The overall response rate to antifungal therapy (complete or partial response) was 57%, and 1-year overall survival was 32% without significant differences between IFI-CNS and IFI-PS. The overall mortality was 69% but the IFI attributable mortality was 33%. Mortality of IFI-CNS/PS remains high but, compared to previous historical data, it seems to be reduced probably due to the availability of newer antifungal drugs. The results arising from this large contemporary cohort of cases may allow a more effective diagnostic and therapeutic management of these very rare IFI complications in haematologic patients.

Late-Time Mixing Sensitivity to Initial Broadband Surface Roughness in High-Energy-Density Shear Layers

Using a large volume high-energy-density fluid shear experiment (8.5  cm^{3}) at the National Ignition Facility, we have demonstrated for the first time the ability to significantly alter the evolution of a supersonic sheared mixing layer by controlling the initial conditions of that layer. By altering the initial surface roughness of the tracer foil, we demonstrate the ability to transition the shear mixing layer from a highly ordered system of coherent structures to a randomly ordered system with a faster growing mix layer, indicative of strong mixing in the layer at a temperature of several tens of electron volts and at near solid density. Simulations using a turbulent-mix model show good agreement with the experimental results and poor agreement without turbulent mix.

The Rapid Alert System: implementation in NA 2 North LHA over the five-year period from 2008 to 2012

INTRODUCTION

The Rapid Alert System was established by the European Union (EC Regulation 178/2002 Art.50, paragraph 1) for food intended for human consumption and for animal feed, with the aim of ensuring the protection of public, animal and environmental health. The purpose of the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) is to provide the control authorities with the means of exchanging information on the measures taken to ensure food safety. This system allows for a rapid intervention following the discovery of food or feed already placed on the market and which represent, directly or indirectly, a serious risk for human, animal or environmental health.

METHODS

Our work intends to examine all alert and information notified to the Hygiene Department of Food and Nutrition of what was formerly NA3 LHU in the last 5 years (2008-2012), and is now Naples 2 North LHU, bearing in mind that, according to regional law 16/2008 (10), the Local Health Units in Campania have been redefined. The types of risk regarding the food subject of the alerts received are: chemical, physical and biological. Food frauds (adulteration, counterfeiting, sophistication and alteration) and the poor state of preservation were considered separately.

RESULTS

Out of 146 cases of non-conformity reported, 87 involved chemical risk, 28 biological risk and 17 included foreign bodies; there were also 7 food frauds and 1 case of poor state of preservation. As for the origin, the food subject of non-conformity were for the most part (61,64%) of national origin, while 34.24% came from abroad. Of these, about 66% were of non-EU origin.

CONCLUSIONS

The experience gained during the period from 2008 to 2012 allows us to state that the information flow has been improved allowing local services that have been assigned the control to act more rapidly. A critical issue sometimes remains concerning the completeness of the given data, above all regarding the type of risk that, when well reported, provides a valuable contribution to the success of a comprehensive and responsible risk management programme. The encouraging fact that emerges from this study, however, is that, despite the premises made about the characteristics of the area examined, the number of alerts we received involving production sites located in the area of the LHU jurisdiction is less than what we might have expected.

Resveratrol and its metabolites bind to PPARs

Resveratrol, a modulator of several signaling proteins, can exert off-target effects involving the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) transcription factors. However, evidence for the direct interaction between this polyphenol and PPARs is lacking. Here, we addressed the hypothesis that resveratrol and its metabolites control aspects of PPAR transcriptional activity through direct interaction with PPARs. Bioaffinity chromatographic studies with the immobilized ligand-binding domains (LBDs) of PPARγ and PPARα and isothermal titration calorimetry allowed the binding affinities of resveratrol, resveratrol 3-O-glucuronide, resveratrol 4-O-glucuronide, and resveratrol 3-O-sulfate to both PPAR-LBDs to be determined. Interaction of resveratrol, resveratrol 3-O-glucuronide, and resveratrol 4-O-glucuronide with PPARγ-LBD occurred with binding affinities of 1.4, 1.1, and 0.8 μM, respectively, although only resveratrol bound to the PPARα-LBD with a binding affinity of 2.7 μM. Subsequently, X-ray crystallographic studies were carried out to characterize resveratrol binding to the PPARγ-LBD at the molecular level. The electron density map from the crystal structure of the complex between PPARγ-LBD and resveratrol revealed the presence of one molecule of resveratrol bound to the LBD of PPARγ, with the ligand occupying a position close to that of other known PPARγ ligands. Transactivation assays were also performed in HepG2 cells, with the results showing that resveratrol was not a PPAR agonist but instead was able to displace rosiglitazone from PPARγ and Wy-14643 from PPARα with IC50 values of (27.4±1.8) μM and (31.7±2.5) μM, respectively. We propose that resveratrol acts as a PPAR antagonist through its direct interaction with PPARγ and PPARα.

New 2-(aryloxy)-3-phenylpropanoic acids as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α/γ dual agonists able to upregulate mitochondrial carnitine shuttle system gene expression

The preparation of a series of 2-(aryloxy)-3-phenylpropanoic acids, resulting from the introduction of different substituents into the biphenyl system of the previously reported peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α/γ (PPARα/γ) dual agonist 1, allowed the identification of new ligands with higher potency on PPARα and fine-tuned moderate PPARγ activity. For the most promising stereoisomer (S)-16, X-ray and calorimetric studies in PPARγ revealed, at high ligand concentration, the presence of two molecules simultaneously bound to the receptor. On the basis of these results and docking experiments in both receptor subtypes, a molecular explanation was provided for its different behavior as a full and partial agonist of PPARα and PPARγ, respectively. The effects of (S)-16 on mitochondrial acylcarnitine carrier and carnitine-palmitoyl-transferase 1 gene expression, two key components of the carnitine shuttle system, were also investigated, allowing the hypothesis of a more beneficial pharmacological profile of this compound compared to the less potent PPARα agonist fibrates currently used in therapy.

Consolidation therapy for adult acute myeloid leukemia: a systematic analysis according to evidence based medicine

Post-remission therapy in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remains problematic. It has been demonstrated that younger patients can maintain longer complete remissions (CR) with aggressive post-remission therapies after induction treatment: allogeneic (allo), autologous (auto) stem cell transplantation (SCT), or intensive chemotherapy (ICC). The purpose of our study was to identify the most important randomized and controlled studies comparing these three therapeutic options, in order to draw conclusions and possible suggestions for post-remission therapy of AML, according to the evidence based medicine (EBM) rules. We performed an exhaustive analysis of the literature, searching either in electronic databases or among the references of the identified articles (hand searching). We searched the MEDLINE computer database for reports from 1985 through January 2005 and selected for analysis the clinical trials conducted over adults affected by newly diagnosed AML aged less than 65 years. The study design had to satisfy strict methodological criteria and must consider global mortality and/or disease free survival as primary outcomes. Overall we found 7750 papers; by using the limits "clinical trial" as publication type, "all adults 19+ years", we were able to select 344 papers. Among these, a further selection was made, based on two main clinical queries: 1) is auto-SCT superior to ICC/no other therapy in improving DFS and/or OS in adult AML patients in first CR? 2) is allo-SCT superior to auto-SCT/other therapeutic options in improving DFS and/or OS in adult AML patients in first CR? Concerning the first query, a possible advantage of auto-SCT over ICC was not clearly supported by data from clinical trials; there is no evidence that auto-SCT is superior in terms of OS to chemotherapy. Nevertheless, the reported TRM has been significantly reduced within the past years. Thus, the percentage of patients suitable for auto-SCT in CR has increased. Moreover, the scarce data concerning the comparison between auto-SCT and chemotherapy in different subsets of patients are unable to suggest a differentiated approach in patients with high-risk, standard-risk or low-risk AML. Data from the literature show that patients with unfavorable risk disease are more often addressed to allo-SCT and patients with low-risk disease receive more often intensive consolidation chemotherapy. Concerning the second query, interpretation of data from the main prospective studies about the role of allo-SCT in previously untreated AML is not easy. The first problem is the lack of real randomized clinical trials; in fact, according to the reported studies, AML patients generally receive allo-SCT on the basis of donor availability (the so called "genetic randomization"). The second problem is the frequent absence of intention to treat analysis. Despite methodological limitations, it was possible to compare allo-SCT with auto-SCT on a donor versus no-donor analysis and within risk groups. No overall benefit of allo-grafting on survival was demonstrated by any trial. In conclusion, the EBM approach highlighted the limitations observed in the published studies concerning consolidation therapy in AML; some suggestions, emerging from non-randomized, as well as randomized studies, are adequate, but not conclusive. This point, coupled with the intrinsic complexity to study AML biological heterogeneity, is probably a major obstacle to draw conclusive evidences for consolidation therapy in AML. These observations should plan to address new randomized studies on AML therapy; however, due to the emergence of genetic subgroups and new drugs targeting specific abnormalities, these trials should probably be designed directly focusing on the single entities. In this way, the cure of AML could eventually become the cure of each specific AML subset with its peculiar biological, molecular and prognostic features.

Combined administration of alpha-erythropoietin and filgrastim can improve the outcome and cost balance of autologous stem cell transplantation in patients with lymphoproliferative disorders

We compared the use of G-CSF plus EPO in a group of 32 multiple myeloma and lymphoma patients with historical controls receiving G-CSF alone. Haemopoietic reconstitution was significantly faster in patients receiving G-CSF+EPO (group B), with a median time of 10 days to achieve an ANC count >0.5 x 10(9)/l, compared to 11 days in the historical group (A). The median duration of severe neutropenia (ANC count <100/ml) was significantly shorter in group B compared to group A; platelet counts >20 x 10(9) and >50 x 10(9)/l were achieved at days + 13 and + 17, respectively in group B, compared to days + 14 and + 24, respectively, in group A (P = 0.015, 0.002) patients. The transfusion requirement was reduced in group B, with 0 (0-6) RBC units and 1 (0-5) platelet unit transfused in group B vs 2 RBC (0-9) and 2 platelet units (0-8) in group A. Median days of fever, antibiotic therapy and hospital stay were reduced in group B (9.5 days vs 22). The mean cost of autotransplantation per group A patient was 23,988 Euro, compared with 18,394 Euro for a group B patient. Our study suggests that the EPO + G-CSF combination not only accelerates engraftment kinetics, but can also improve the clinical course of ASCT.

Normal and chronic phase CML hematopoietic cells repopulate NOD/SCID bone marrow with different kinetics and cell lineage representation

INTRODUCTION

Chronic myelogenous leukemia is characterized by a clonal expansion of abnormal hematopoietic cells, which eventually replaces normal hematopoiesis. We wanted to test the hypothesis that the growth kinetics of CML and normal hematopoietic cells are different.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We compared the growth kinetics and the phenotype of engraftment of chronic phase CML and normal human CD34(+) precursor cells in the bone marrow of immune deficient mice.

RESULTS

High levels of engraftment of normal precursors occurred early and consisted of myeloid, erythroid, megakaryocytic, and lymphoid elements. This level and pattern of engraftment were maintained at later assessments. The level of CML cell engraftment was initially much lower, but it increased progressively at late time-points with no indication of a plateau in growth. Early engraftment of CML cells consisted almost entirely of myeloid and mast cells but soon after only mast cells were detectable. Conversely mast cells were infrequent in mice engrafted with normal progenitors.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that in contrast to normal cell engraftment, engraftment of CML cells in NOD/SCID mice is characterized by a slow but progressive myeloid infiltration, which eventually consists almost entirely of mast cells.

Very low toxicity and good quality of life in 48 elderly patients autotransplanted for hematological malignancies: a single center experience

Between May 1994 and May 2000, we autotransplanted 48 consecutive patients, 21 females and 27 males aged over 60 years (range: 60-78, median: 63). Sixteen patients had multiple myeloma (MM), 14 high-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (HGNHL), six low-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (LGNHL), nine acute myeloid leukemia (AML), one chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), one Hodgkin's disease (HD) and one breast cancer; the performance status (WHO) was 0-1. Seventeen patients were in 1st CR (35.4%) and one in 2nd CR (2.1%), 25 in PR (52.1%), while five patients had been transplanted with progressive disease (10.4%); seven patients with MM received a double transplant. Patients received high-dose therapy including melphalan alone (13) or associated with other drugs (26), busulfan-cyclophosphamide (three), BEAM (11) and TBI (two). All patients took a median of 11 (range: 8-25) days to reach neutrophils >500/microl, 13 (range: 9-83) days to reach platelets > 20,000/microl and 17 (range: 11-83) days to reach platelets > 50,000/microl. Hematological toxicity, hospital stay and supportive care did not differ from those of a cohort of younger patients. At present, 31 patients are alive (14 in CR, five in PR, five in PD and seven in relapse) and 16 died from PD at a median follow-up of 37 months (1-67). Only one patient died from transplant-related toxicity. Quality of life, evaluated using a QLQ-C30 questionnaire in 25 patients at day +90, was good. In our experience PBPC mobilization and transplantation is feasible in patients aged > or = 60 years and the toxicity of this procedure is acceptable, with an early transplant-related mortality of 1.8%; therefore patients with hematological malignancies potentially curable with high-dose therapy (HDT) should also be candidates for HDT.

Amifostine can reduce mucosal damage after high-dose melphalan conditioning for peripheral blood progenitor cellautotransplant: a retrospective study

Amifostine (WR-2721; Ethyol) is a well-known cytoprotector, but a possible role in preventing extrahaematological toxicity after high-dose therapy (HDT) has never been investigated. We compared two historical groups of patients who either received (group A, n = 35) or did not receive (group B, n = 33) amifostine (740 mg/m2) before high-dose (HD) melphalan, followed by autologous infusion of peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPCs). Amifostine was well tolerated at this dose level. Emesis grade 1-2 was the most important side-effect, but the interruption of infusion was never required. The incidence and median duration of severe mucositis (grade 3-4) was 21% and 0 d (range 0-11 d) in group A and 53% and 7 d (range 0-11 d) in group B. The duration of analgesic therapy was also significantly lower in group A (0 d; range 0-12) than in group B (6 d, range 0-20) (P = 0.0001). Severe diarrhoea (3% vs. 25%; P = 0.01) and emesis (9% vs. 34%; P = 0.01) were also reduced in group A in comparison with group B. No differences were observed between the two groups for haematological recovery. This retrospective study strongly suggests that amifostine can reduce severe mucositis and the use of analgesic drugs in this setting. A randomized study is warranted to confirm these preliminary results.

The kinetics and extent of engraftment of chronic myelogenous leukemia cells in non-obese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficiency mice reflect the phase of the donor's disease: an in vivo model of chronic myelogenous leukemia biology

In vitro studies have provided little consensus on the kinetic abnormality underlying the myeloid expansion of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). Transplantation of human CML cells into non-obese diabetic mice with severe immunodeficiency disease (NOD/SCID mice) may therefore be a useful model. A CML cell line (BV173) and peripheral blood cells collected from CML patients in chronic phase (CP), accelerated phase (AP), or blastic phase (BP) were injected into preirradiated NOD/SCID mice. Animals were killed at serial intervals; cell suspensions and/or tissue sections from different organs were studied by immunohistochemistry and/or flow cytometry using antihuman CD45 monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs), and by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for the BCR-ABL fusion gene. One hour after injection, cells were sequestered in the lungs and liver, but 2 weeks later they were no longer detectable in either site. Similar short-term kinetics were observed using 51Cr-labeled cells. The first signs of engraftment for BV173, AP, and BP cells were detected in the bone marrow (BM) at 4 weeks. At 8 weeks the median percentages of human cells in murine marrow were 4% (range, 1 to 9) for CP, 11% (range, 5 to 36) for AP, 38.5% (range, 18 to 79) for BP, and 54% (range, 31 to 69) for BV173. CP cells progressively infiltrated BM (21%) and spleen (6%) by 18 to 20 weeks; no animals injected with the cell line or BP cells survived beyond 12 weeks. The rate of increase in human cell numbers was higher for BP (7.3%/week) as compared with CP (0.9%/week) and AP (0. 5%/week). FISH analysis with BCR and ABL probes showed that some of the human cells engrafting after injection of CP cells lacked a BCR-ABL gene and were presumably normal. We conclude that CML cells proliferate in NOD/SCID mice with kinetics that recapitulate the phase of the donor's disease, thus providing an in vivo model of CML biology.

[Prognostic factors in acute nonlymphoid leukemias]

Our retrospective study was aimed at assessing parameters affecting the prognosis of acute non lymphoid leukemia (ANLL). Since 1988 to 1994 we observed 84 patients: 52 males, 32 females. For each patient we considered at diagnosis: age, fever, performance status, platelets, hemoglobin and white blood cell count, extramidollary disease, bone marrow blastosis, phenotype and cytogenetic abnormalities of blasts cells. All the parameters listed above were correlated with the time to achieve the complete remission (CR), CR duration and the overall survival. Statistical tests as t-student and chi square test were used. Statistical analysis of the parameters considered revealed that the only value affecting the achievement of a CR was the age. The prognostic significance of immunophenotyping in ANLL has been a controversial issue, with a number of conflicting reports. In our study only the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase was significantly associated with prognosis. Our study, as data reported in literature, confirms that the prognostic impact of the various parameters in ANLL is controversial. The study of prognostic factors and of the immunophenotype is important to identify the clinical and the biologic profile of the disease and to evaluate the optimal post-remission treatment.

Longitudinal dynamics of infection and serum antibody in A. actinomycetemcomitans periodontitis

OBJECTS

This report describes one of the first prospective studies delineating the relationship between infection, host antibody responses and disease exacerbations and remissions in a distinct subset of periodontitis patients infected with A. actinomycetemcomitans.

DESIGN

The design of this longitudinal study included visits for each patient approximately every 2 months for up to 3 years.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Subjects (n=51) included 16 adult periodontitis (AP) and 11 early-onset periodontitis (EOP) patients with elevated serum IgG antibody to A. actinomycetemcomitans and infection with this microorganism, 12 AP patients with normal levels of anti-Aa antibody, and 12 normal subjects. MEASUREMENT OUTCOMES: Clinical parameters included a gingival index, plaque index, bleeding on probing, pocket depth, and attachment level. Disease activity was defined as loss of attachment during the monitoring intervals. Serum IgG, IgM and IgA antibody to A. actinomycetemcomitans Y4 (serotype b) was quantitated using an ELISA. Subgingival plaque samples were examined for A. actinomycetemcomitans using colony immunoblotting. Human serum IgG antibody specificities to outer membrane antigens (OMA) of A. actinomycetemcomitans Y4 were determined using Western immunoblotting.

RESULTS

A. actinomycetemcomitans-infected AP patients had a higher frequency of teeth infected when compared to the EOP patients. However, the EOP patients exhibited a trend for higher levels of A. actinomycetemcomitans in those teeth that were infected. Active disease patients demonstrated a significantly greater frequency of infected sites, as well as significant elevations in the proportions of A. actinomycetemcomitans. Both EOP and AP groups showed significantly elevated IgG, IgM and IgA antibody to A. actinomycetemcomitans when compared to a periodontally normal group. The level of IgG antibody was significantly elevated in A. actinomycetemcomitans-positive patients with active disease, while IgA antibody was decreased in a number of the active group patients. Plaque samples derived from active sites showed a clear and significant increase in A. actinomycetemcomitans that occurred from 2-6 months prior to the identification of disease activity. Approximately 70% of the active disease patients showed an increase in IgG antibody level by 2-4 months prior to disease activity. Studies of the antigen reactivity patterns of serum IgG indicated that antibody to antigens of 65, 58, 48, 29 and 24 kDa were more frequent in patients who showed active disease, while those patients with the greatest frequency of active disease appeared to show a general decrease in the recognition of the A. actinomycetemcomitans OMA.

CONCLUSIONS

It appears that A. actinomycetemcomitans infection relates to a particular type of disease with accompanying antibody responses that reflect periods of active disease. The dynamics of A. actinomycetemcomitans infection and the level and specificity of systemic antibody responses to this pathogen support an important contribution of the immune response to managing this infection.

Autochthonous strongyloidiasis in Italy: an epidemiological and clinical review of 150 cases

The Pavia District, Northern Italy, is an endemic area of strongyloidiasis. This study reviews the epidemiology and clinics of 150 cases. For this purpose, subjects were categorized for sex, age, origin, profession, acute and chronic disease, symptoms due to larval migration, immunodepression (if present). The incidence, with male predominance (74.7%), peaked among adults (94.6%), and in rural areas (69.3%). Patients experienced digestive (58.6%), cutaneous (34.6%) and respiratory complaints (16.7%). Thiabendazole was successful in most cases, except for 6 gastroresected subjects. Mebendazole at high doses (1 g t. i. d. X 10 days), was no valid alternative drug for 12 patients.