Detection of lung, breast, colorectal, and prostate cancers from exhaled breath using a single array of nanosensors

Background:

Tumour growth is accompanied by gene and/or protein changes that may lead to peroxidation of the cell membrane species and, hence, to the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). In this study, we investigated the ability of a nanosensor array to discriminate between breath VOCs that characterise healthy states and the most widespread cancer states in the developed world: lung, breast, colorectal, and prostate cancers.

Methods:

Exhaled alveolar breath was collected from 177 volunteers aged 20–75 years (patients with lung, colon, breast, and prostate cancers and healthy controls). Breath from cancerous subjects was collected before any treatment. The healthy population was healthy according to subjective patient's data. The breath of volunteers was examined by a tailor-made array of cross-reactive nanosensors based on organically functionalised gold nanoparticles and gas chromatography linked to the mass spectrometry technique (GC-MS).

Results:

The results showed that the nanosensor array could differentiate between ‘healthy’ and ‘cancerous’ breath, and, furthermore, between the breath of patients having different cancer types. Moreover, the nanosensor array could distinguish between the breath patterns of different cancers in the same statistical analysis, irrespective of age, gender, lifestyle, and other confounding factors. The GC-MS results showed that each cancer could have a unique pattern of VOCs, when compared with healthy states, but not when compared with other cancer types.

Conclusions:

The reported results could lead to the development of an inexpensive, easy-to-use, portable, non-invasive tool that overcomes many of the deficiencies associated with the currently available diagnostic methods for cancer.

Altered microbiomes distinguish Alzheimer's disease from amnestic mild cognitive impairment and health in a Chinese cohort

OBJECTIVE

(Background): Alzheimer's disease (AD), clinically characterized by the progressive neurodegenerative condition and cognitive impairment, is one of the main causes of disability in elder people worldwide. Recently, several animal studies indicated that the 'gut-brain' axis might contribute to the amyloid deposition of AD. However, data about gut dysbiosis in human AD remains scarce in the literature, especially including the whole process of AD. In this prospective and cross-sectional study, we aimed at identifying differences in microbiome between patients with AD (Pre-onset stage amnestic mild cognitive impairment, aMCI; and AD) and the normal cognition healthy controls (HC). Additionally, the potential association between IM and clinical characteristics of AD was evaluated.

METHODS

A total of 97 subjects (33 AD, 32 aMCI, and 32 HC) were recruited in the study. The composition of gut bacterial communities was determined by 16S ribosomal RNA Miseq sequencing. In addition, Phylogenetic Investigation of Communities by Reconstruction of Unobserved States (PICRUSt) was used to predict function shift of intestinal microbiota. The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) or Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) scores were used to evaluate the severity of cognitive impairment in patients.

RESULTS

The fecal microbial diversity was decreased in AD patients compared with aMCI patients and HC. And the microbial composition was distinct among aMCI, AD and healthy control groups. Among bacterial taxa, the proportion of phylum Firmicutes was significantly reduced (P = 0.008), whereas Proteobacteria (P = 0.024) was highly enriched in the AD compared with HC. In addition, similar alterations were observed at the order, class and family levels of these two phyla. And Gammaproteobacteria, Enterobacteriales and Enterobacteriaceae showed a progressive enriched prevalence from HC to aMCI and AD patients. Further, a significant correlation was observed between the clinical severity scores of AD patients and the abundance of altered microbiomes. Moreover, the KEGG results showed the increased modules related to glycan biosynthesis and metabolism in AD and aMCI patients and decreased pathways related to immune system in AD patients. Importantly, the discriminating models based on predominant microbiota could effectively distinguish aMCI and AD from HC (AUC = 0.890, 0.940, respectively), and also AD from aMCI (AUC = 0.925). Notably, the models based on the abundance of family Enterobacteriaceae could distinguish AD from both aMCI (AUC = 0.688) and HC (AUC = 0.698).

CONCLUSIONS

Distinct microbial communities, especially enriched Enterobacteriaceae, were associated with patients with AD when compared with predementia stage aMCI and healthy subjects. These novel findings will give new clues to understand the disease and provide new therapeutic target for intervention or a marker for this disease.

NMR structure reveals intramolecular regulation mechanism for pheromone binding and release

Odorants are transmitted by small hydrophobic molecules that cross the aqueous sensillar lymph surrounding the dendrites of the olfactory neurons to stimulate the olfactory receptors. In insects, the transport of pheromones, which are a special class of odorants, is mediated by pheromone-binding proteins (PBPs), which occur at high concentrations in the sensillar lymph. The PBP from the silk moth Bombyx mori (BmPBP) undergoes a pH-dependent conformational transition between the forms BmPBP(A) present at pH 4.5 and BmPBP(B) present at pH 6.5. Here, we describe the NMR structure of BmPBP(A), which consists of a tightly packed arrangement of seven alpha-helices linked by well defined peptide segments and knitted together by three disulfide bridges. A scaffold of four alpha-helices that forms the ligand binding site in the crystal structure of a BmPBP-pheromone complex is preserved in BmPBP(A). The C-terminal dodecapeptide segment, which is in an extended conformation and located on the protein surface in the pheromone complex, forms a regular helix, alpha(7), which is located in the pheromone-binding site in the core of the unliganded BmPBP(A). Because investigations by others indicate that the pH value near the membrane surface is reduced with respect to the bulk sensillar lymph, the pH-dependent conformational transition of BmPBP suggests a novel physiological mechanism of intramolecular regulation of protein function, with the formation of alpha(7) triggering the release of the pheromone from BmPBP to the membrane-standing receptor.

Disulfide structure of the pheromone binding protein from the silkworm moth, Bombyx mori

Disulfide bond formation is the only known posttranslational modification of insect pheromone binding proteins (PBPs). In the PBPs from moths (Lepidoptera), six cysteine residues are highly conserved at positions 19, 50, 54, 97, 108 and 117, but to date nothing is known about their respective linkage or redox status. We used a multiple approach of enzymatic digestion, chemical cleavage, partial reduction with Tris-(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine, followed by digestion with endoproteinase Lys-C to determine the disulfide connectivity in the PBP from Bombyx mori (BmPBP). Identification of the reaction products by on-line liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-MS) and protein sequencing supported the assignment of disulfide bridges at Cys-19-Cys-54, Cys-50-Cys-108 and Cys-97-Cys-117. The disulfide linkages were identical in the protein obtained by periplasmic expression in Escherichia coli and in the native BmPBP.

PD-1 upregulation is associated with HBV-specific T cell dysfunction in chronic hepatitis B patients

Programmed death-1 (PD-1) is demonstrated to have an increased expression on antigen-specific T cells during chronic virus infections, and the blockage of PD-1/PD-ligand (PD-L1) pathway could restore the function of exhausted T cells. We measured the PD-1 expression levels on HBV-specific CD8 T cells and investigated the role of PD-1/PD-L1 pathway in T-cell responses of patients with different HBV infection statuses. Compared to the patients with convalescent acute hepatitis B, PD-1 expression on total CD8 T cells from chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients was significantly upregulated, especially on the HBV pentamer-positive CD8 T cells. And PD-L1, but not PD-L2, was also significantly upregulated on PBMC from CHB patients. In CHB patients, HBV-specific T cells and cellular proliferation could be observed under the recombinant HBV-Ag stimulation in vitro, and blockade of PD-1 pathway significantly enhanced the IFN-gamma production and cellular proliferation of PBMC. Furthermore, PD-1 expression level on HBV-pentamers positive CD8 T cells was positively associated with plasma viral load in CHB patients. Thus, PD-1 upregulation on HBV-specific CD8 T cells is engaged in the dysfunction of T cells and high viraemia in CHB patients, and the antiviral T-cell responses could be improved by the blockade of this inhibitory PD-1/PD-L1 pathway.

Circulating CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T cells correlate with chronic hepatitis B infection

Circulating CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) have been demonstrated to maintain immunotolerance and suppress the antigen-specific or antigen-non-specific T-cell responses, but their role in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection in humans has not been well characterized. In this study, we analysed the frequency and phenotypic characteristics of CD4+ CD25+ Tregs in patients of different hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection status, and investigated the effect of Tregs on antiviral immune responses in CHB patients, and the mechanism of this effect. A total of 137 subjects, including 79 CHB patients, 26 asymptomatic HBV carriers (ASCs), 12 acute hepatitis B (AHB) patients and 20 healthy controls, were enrolled in the study. We found that the frequency of CD4+ CD25(high) Tregs in AHB patients was comparable to that in healthy controls, while it was significantly increased in CHB patients. CD4+ CD25+ Tregs produced interleukin (IL)-10 but little or no interferon (IFN)-gamma under anti-CD3 stimulation. In CHB patients, the frequency of CD4+ CD25(high) Tregs positively correlated with serum viral load, and the Tregs were capable of suppressing the proliferation and IFN-gamma production of autologous peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) mediated by HBV antigen stimulation in vitro. However, combined administration of anti-programmed death-1 (PD-1) and anti-cytotoxic lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) monoclonal antibody slightly enhanced the cellular proliferation and significantly increased the IFN-gamma production of PBMC cocultured with Tregs at a ratio of 2:1. Thus, the frequency of circulating CD4+ CD25+ Tregs is increased in patients with CHB, and this may play an important role in viral persistence by modulating virus-specific immune responses.

Diagnosis of head-and-neck cancer from exhaled breath

Background:

Head-and-neck cancer (HNC) is the eighth most common malignancy worldwide. It is often diagnosed late due to a lack of screening methods and overall cure is achieved in <50% of patients. Head-and-neck cancer sufferers often develop a second primary tumour that can affect the entire aero-digestive tract, mostly HNC or lung cancer (LC), making lifelong follow-up necessary.

Methods:

Alveolar breath was collected from 87 volunteers (HNC and LC patients and healthy controls) in a cross-sectional clinical trial. The discriminative power of a tailor-made Nanoscale Artificial Nose (NA-NOSE) based on an array of five gold nanoparticle sensors was tested, using 62 breath samples. The NA-NOSE signals were analysed to detect statistically significant differences between the sub-populations using (i) principal component analysis with ANOVA and Student's t-test and (ii) support vector machines and cross-validation. The identification of NA-NOSE patterns was supported by comparative analysis of the chemical composition of the breath through gas chromatography in conjunction with mass spectrometry (GC–MS), using 40 breath samples.

Results:

The NA-NOSE could clearly distinguish between (i) HNC patients and healthy controls, (ii) LC patients and healthy controls, and (iii) HNC and LC patients. The GC–MS analysis showed statistically significant differences in the chemical composition of the breath of the three groups.

Conclusion:

The presented results could lead to the development of a cost-effective, fast, and reliable method for the differential diagnosis of HNC that is based on breath testing with an NA-NOSE, with a future potential as screening tool.

Forming supramolecular networks from nanoscale rods in binary, phase-separating mixtures

Simulations show that when low-volume fractions of nanoscale rods are immersed in a binary, phase-separating blend, the rods self-assemble into needle-like, percolating networks. The interconnected network arises through the dynamic interplay of phase-separation between the fluids, through preferential adsorption of the minority component onto the mobile rods, and through rod-rod repulsion. Such cooperative effects provide a means of manipulating the motion of nanoscopic objects and directing their association into supramolecular structures. Increasing the rod concentration beyond the effective percolation threshold drives the system to self-assemble into a lamellar morphology, with layers of wetted rods alternating with layers of the majority-component fluid. This approach can potentially yield organic/inorganic composites that are ordered on nanometer scales and exhibit electrical or structural integrity.

Altered Gut Microbial Metabolites in Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer's Disease: Signals in Host-Microbe Interplay

Intimate metabolic host-microbiome crosstalk regulates immune, metabolic, and neuronal response in health and disease, yet remains untapped for biomarkers or intervention for disease. Our recent study identified an altered microbiome in patients with pre-onset amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and dementia Alzheimer's disease (AD). Thus, we aimed to characterize the gut microbial metabolites among AD, aMCI, and healthy controls (HC). Here, a cohort of 77 individuals (22 aMCI, 27 AD, and 28 HC) was recruited. With the use of liquid-chromatography/gas chromatography mass spectrometry metabolomics profiling, we identified significant differences between AD and HC for tryptophan metabolites, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and lithocholic acid, the majority of which correlated with altered microbiota and cognitive impairment. Notably, tryptophan disorders presented in aMCI and SCFAs decreased progressively from aMCI to AD. Importantly, indole-3-pyruvic acid, a metabolite from tryptophan, was identified as a signature for discrimination and prediction of AD, and five SCFAs for pre-onset and progression of AD. This study showed fecal-based gut microbial signatures were associated with the presence and progression of AD, providing a potential target for microbiota or dietary intervention in AD prevention and support for the host-microbe crosstalk signals in AD pathophysiology.

Molecular Pathophysiology of Congenital Long QT Syndrome

Ion channels represent the molecular entities that give rise to the cardiac action potential, the fundamental cellular electrical event in the heart. The concerted function of these channels leads to normal cyclical excitation and resultant contraction of cardiac muscle. Research into cardiac ion channel regulation and mutations that underlie disease pathogenesis has greatly enhanced our knowledge of the causes and clinical management of cardiac arrhythmia. Here we review the molecular determinants, pathogenesis, and pharmacology of congenital Long QT Syndrome. We examine mechanisms of dysfunction associated with three critical cardiac currents that comprise the majority of congenital Long QT Syndrome cases: 1) IKs, the slow delayed rectifier current; 2) IKr, the rapid delayed rectifier current; and 3) INa, the voltage-dependent sodium current. Less common subtypes of congenital Long QT Syndrome affect other cardiac ionic currents that contribute to the dynamic nature of cardiac electrophysiology. Through the study of mutations that cause congenital Long QT Syndrome, the scientific community has advanced understanding of ion channel structure-function relationships, physiology, and pharmacological response to clinically employed and experimental pharmacological agents. Our understanding of congenital Long QT Syndrome continues to evolve rapidly and with great benefits: genotype-driven clinical management of the disease has improved patient care as precision medicine becomes even more a reality.

Inhibition of P2X7 receptor ameliorates transient global cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury via modulating inflammatory responses in the rat hippocampus

Background

Neuroinflammation plays an important role in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. The P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) has been reported to be involved in the inflammatory response of many central nervous system diseases. However, the role of P2X7Rs in transient global cerebral I/R injury remains unclear. The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of inhibiting the P2X7R in a rat model of transient global cerebral I/R injury, and then to explore the association between the P2X7R and neuroinflammation after transient global cerebral I/R injury.

Methods

Immediately after infusion with the P2X7R antagonists Brilliant blue G (BBG), adenosine 5′-triphosphate-2′,3′-dialdehyde (OxATP) or A-438079, 20 minutes of transient global cerebral I/R was induced using the four-vessel occlusion (4-VO) method in rats. Survival rate was calculated, neuronal death in the hippocampal CA1 region was observed using H & E staining, and DNA cleavage was observed by deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated UTP nick end labeling TUNEL). In addition, behavioral deficits were measured using the Morris water maze, and RT-PCR and immunohistochemical staining were performed to measure the expression of IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-6, and to identify activated microglia and astrocytes.

Results

The P2X7R antagonists protected against transient global cerebral I/R injury in a dosage-dependent manner. A high dosage of BBG (10 μg) and A-0438079 (3 μg), and a low dosage of OxATP (1 μg) significantly increased survival rates, reduced I/R-induced learning memory deficit, and reduced I/R-induced neuronal death, DNA cleavage, and glial activation and inflammatory cytokine overexpression in the hippocampus.

Conclusions

Our study indicates that inhibiting P2X7Rs protects against transient global cerebral I/R injury by reducing the I/R-induced inflammatory response, which suggests inhibition of P2X7Rs may be a promising therapeutic strategy for clinical treatment of transient global cerebral I/R injury.

A 36-week multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, phase 3 clinical trial of sodium oligomannate for mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's dementia

BACKGROUND

New therapies are urgently needed for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Sodium oligomannate (GV-971) is a marine-derived oligosaccharide with a novel proposed mechanism of action. The first phase 3 clinical trial of GV-971 has been completed in China.

METHODS

We conducted a phase 3, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in participants with mild-to-moderate AD to assess GV-971 efficacy and safety. Participants were randomized to placebo or GV-971 (900 mg) for 36 weeks. The primary outcome was the drug-placebo difference in change from baseline on the 12-item cognitive subscale of the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale (ADAS-cog12). Secondary endpoints were drug-placebo differences on the Clinician's Interview-Based Impression of Change with caregiver input (CIBIC+), Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study-Activities of Daily Living (ADCS-ADL) scale, and Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI). Safety and tolerability were monitored.

RESULTS

A total of 818 participants were randomized: 408 to GV-971 and 410 to placebo. A significant drug-placebo difference on the ADAS-Cog12 favoring GV-971 was present at each measurement time point, measurable at the week 4 visit and continuing throughout the trial. The difference between the groups in change from baseline was - 2.15 points (95% confidence interval, - 3.07 to - 1.23; p < 0.0001; effect size 0.531) after 36 weeks of treatment. Treatment-emergent adverse event incidence was comparable between active treatment and placebo (73.9%, 75.4%). Two deaths determined to be unrelated to drug effects occurred in the GV-971 group.

CONCLUSIONS

GV-971 demonstrated significant efficacy in improving cognition with sustained improvement across all observation periods of a 36-week trial. GV-971 was safe and well-tolerated.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT0229391 5. Registered on November 19, 2014.

Keratinocytes: innate immune cells in atopic dermatitis

The skin is a unique immune organ that constitutes a complex network of physical, chemical and microbiological barriers against external insults. Keratinocytes are the most abundant cell type in the epidermis. These cells form the physical skin barrier and represent the first line of the host defense system by sensing pathogens via innate immune receptors, initiating anti-microbial responses and producing various cytokines, chemokines and anti-microbial peptides, which are important events in immunity. A damaged epidermal barrier in atopic dermatitis allows the penetration of potential allergens and pathogens to activate keratinocytes. Among the dysregulation of immune responses in atopic dermatitis, activated keratinocytes play a role in several biological processes that contribute to the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of the innate immune functions of keratinocytes in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis, with a special emphasis on skin-derived anti-microbial peptides and atopic dermatitis-related cytokines and chemokines in keratinocytes. An improved understanding of the innate immunity mediated by keratinocytes can provide helpful insight into the pathophysiological processes of atopic dermatitis and support new therapeutic efforts.

NMR characterization of a pH-dependent equilibrium between two folded solution conformations of the pheromone-binding protein from Bombyx mori

NMR spectroscopic changes as a function of pH in solutions of the pheromone-binding protein of Bombyx mori (BmPBP) show that BmPBP undergoes a conformational transition between pH 4.9 and 6.0. At pH below 4.9 there is a single "acid form" (A), and a homogeneous "basic form" (B) exists at pH above 6.0. Between pH 5 and 6, BmPBP exists as a mixture of A and B in slow exchange on the NMR chemical shift time scale, with the transition midpoint at pH 5.4. The form B has a well-dispersed NMR spectrum, indicating that it represents a more structured, "closed" conformation than form A, which has a significantly narrower chemical shift dispersion. Conformational transitions of the kind observed here may explain heterogeneity reported for a variety of odorant-binding proteins, and it will be of interest to further investigate possible correlations with pH-dependent regulation of ligand binding and release in the biological function of this class of proteins.

O-GlcNAc transferase promotes influenza A virus-induced cytokine storm by targeting interferon regulatory factor-5

In this study, we demonstrated an essential function of the hexosamine biosynthesis pathway (HBP)-associated O-linked β-N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) signaling in influenza A virus (IAV)-induced cytokine storm. O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT), a key enzyme for protein O-GlcNAcylation, mediated IAV-induced cytokine production. Upon investigating the mechanisms driving this event, we determined that IAV induced OGT to bind to interferon regulatory factor-5 (IRF5), leading to O-GlcNAcylation of IRF5 on serine-430. O-GlcNAcylation of IRF5 is required for K63-linked ubiquitination of IRF5 and subsequent cytokine production. Analysis of clinical samples revealed that IRF5 is O-GlcNAcylated, and higher levels of proinflammatory cytokines correlated with higher levels of blood glucose in IAV-infected patients. We identified a molecular mechanism by which HBP-mediated O-GlcNAcylation regulates IRF5 function during IAV infection, highlighting the importance of glucose metabolism in IAV-induced cytokine storm.

Weekly fluconazole for the prevention of mucosal candidiasis in women with HIV infection. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Terry Beirn Community Programs for Clinical Research on AIDS

BACKGROUND

Candidiasis is a frequent complication of infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV); however, few data exist about the natural history, prevention, and treatment of mucosal candidiasis in women.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of weekly fluconazole prophylaxis for mucosal candidiasis in women infected with HIV.

DESIGN

Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

SETTING

14 sites participating in the Community Programs for Clinical Research on AIDS (CPCRA).

PATIENTS

323 women with HIV infection and CD4+ cell counts of 300 cells/mm3 or less.

INTERVENTION

200 mg of fluconazole per week or placebo. Open-label fluconazole for candidiasis prophylaxis was permitted after two oropharyngeal or vaginal episodes or one esophageal episode.

MEASUREMENTS

Development of mucosal candidiasis, clinical and in vitro resistance of Candida species to fluconazole, survival, and adverse events.

RESULTS

After a median follow-up of 29 months, 72 of 162 patients receiving fluconazole and 93 of 161 patients receiving placebo had at least one episode of candidiasis (relative risk [RR], 0.56 [95% Cl, 0.41 to 0.77); P < 0.001). Weekly fluconazole was effective in preventing oropharyngeal candidiasis (RR, 0.50 [Cl, 0.33 to 0.74]; P < 0.001) and vaginal candidiasis (RR, 0.64 [Cl, 0.40 to 1.00]; P = 0.05) but not esophageal candidiasis (RR, 0.91 [Cl, 0.48 to 1.72]; P > 0.2). Relative risks were similar for women who had a history of mucosal candidiasis (RR, 0.5 [Cl, 0.35 to 0.75]) and those who did not (RR, 0.69 [Cl, 0.35 to 1.34]). Absolute risk reduction for patients with a history of infection was 25.6 per 100 person-years, which is more than twice the reduction of 11.2 per 100 person-years seen in patients with no history of infection. This difference reflects the higher risk of patients who previously had an infection. Candida albicans was not usually resistant to fluconazole in vaginal specimens in clinical or in vitro settings; such resistance occurred in less than 5% of patients in each group.

CONCLUSIONS

Weekly fluconazole (200 mg) seems to be safe and effective in preventing oropharyngeal and vaginal candidiasis. This regimen has a useful role in the management of HIV-infected women who are at risk for recurrent mucosal candidiasis.

Guaiane-type sesquiterpenoids from Alisma orientalis

Two guaiane-type sesquiterpenoids named orientalol E (1) and orientalol F (3) were isolated from the rhizome of Alisma orientalis (SAM) JUZEP together with two known guaiane-type sesquiterpenoids alismol (2) and alismoxide (4). Their relative stereostructures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, whereas absolute stereostructures were determined on the basis of chemical correlation.

Insulin-like growth factor signaling regulates zebrafish embryonic growth and development by promoting cell survival and cell cycle progression

Although much is known about the global effects of insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R)-mediated signaling on fetal growth and the clinical manifestations resulting from IGF/IGF1R deficiencies, we have an incomplete understanding of the cellular actions of this essential pathway during vertebrate embryogenesis. In this study, we inhibited IGF1R signaling during zebrafish embryogenesis using antisense morpholino oligonucleotides or a dominant-negative IGF1R fusion protein. IGF1R inhibition resulted in reduced embryonic growth, arrested development and increased lethality. IGF1R-deficient embryos had significant defects in the retina, inner ear, motoneurons and heart. No patterning abnormalities, however, were found in the brain or other embryonic tissues. At the cellular level, IGF1R inhibition increased caspase 3 activity and induced neuronal apoptosis. Coinjection of antiapoptotic bcl2-like mRNA attenuated the elevated apoptosis and rescued the retinal and motoneuron defects, but not the developmental arrest. Subsequent cell cycle analysis indicated an increased percentage of cells in G1 and a decreased percentage in S phase in IGF1R-deficient embryos independent of apoptosis. These results provide novel insight into the cellular basis of IGF1R function and show that IGF1R signaling does not function as an anteriorizing signal but regulates embryonic growth and development by promoting cell survival and cell cycle progression.

Circulating Th17 cells frequency is associated with the disease progression in HBV infected patients

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Th17 cells have been shown to mediate host defensive mechanisms in various infections, but their role in HBV infection in humans has not been well characterized. In this study, we analyzed the frequency and cytokines secretion of circulating Th17 cells in HBV infected patients with different statuses, and also evaluated the potential association of Th17 frequency with the levels of liver injury.

METHODS

The study population consisted of 133 subjects, including 40 mild chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients, 37 severe CHB patients, 20 acute hepatitis B (AHB) patients and 36 healthy controls. The frequency of circulating Th17 cells were carried out by intracellular cytokine staining analysis and serum IL-10 levels were measured by ELISA.

RESULTS

Our data shown that AHB and severe CHB patients had a significant increase of Th17 cells frequency in peripheral blood compared with mild CHB patients and healthy control (both P < 0.05). The elevated prevalence of Th17 cells is positively associated with the increased serum ALT levels in severe CHB patients (r= 0.457, P= 0.004) but had no correlation with serum HBV DNA load. In addition, the serum IL-10 were negatively correlated with the frequency of Th17 cells in PBMC from patients with chronic HBV infection (r=-0.452, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Th17 cells may contribute to the disease progression and pathogenesis of liver injury in HBV infected patients, and the induction of IL-10 may be one mechanism of constraining pro-inflammatory Th17 responses.

The structure of eukaryotic and prokaryotic complex I

The structures of the NADH dehydrogenases from Bos taurus and Aquifex aeolicus have been determined by 3D electron microscopy, and have been analyzed in comparison with the previously determined structure of Complex I from Yarrowia lipolytica. The results show a clearly preserved domain structure in the peripheral arm of complex I, which is similar in the bacterial and eukaryotic complex. The membrane arms of both eukaryotic complexes show a similar shape but also significant differences in distinctive domains. One of the major protuberances observed in Y. lipolytica complex I appears missing in the bovine complex, while a protuberance not found in Y. lipolytica connects in bovine complex I a domain of the peripheral arm to the membrane arm. The structural similarities of the peripheral arm agree with the common functional principle of all complex Is. The differences seen in the membrane arm may indicate differences in the regulatory mechanism of the enzyme in different species.

Evidence for Gal3p's cytoplasmic location and Gal80p's dual cytoplasmic-nuclear location implicates new mechanisms for controlling Gal4p activity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Genetics and in vitro studies have shown that the direct interaction between Gal3p and Gal80p plays a central role in galactose-dependent Gal4p-mediated GAL gene expression in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Precisely how Gal3p-Gal80p interaction effects induction is not clear. It has been assumed that Gal3p interacts with Gal80p in the nucleus upon galactose addition to release Gal80p inhibition of Gal4p. Although Gal80p has been shown to possess nuclear localization signal (NLS) peptides, the subcellular distribution of neither Gal80p nor Gal3p was previously determined. Here we report that Gal3p is located in the cytoplasm and apparently excluded from the nucleus. We show that Gal80p is located in both the cytoplasm and the nucleus. Converting Gal80p into a nucleus-localized protein (NLS-Gal80p) by exogenous NLS addition impairs GAL gene induction. The impaired induction can be partially suppressed by targeting Gal3p to the nucleus (NLS-Gal3p). We document a very rapid association between NLS-Gal3p and Gal80p in vivo in response to galactose, illustrating that the nuclear import of Gal80p is very rapid and efficient. We also demonstrate that nucleus-localized NLS-Gal80p can move out of the nucleus and shuttle between nuclei in yeast heterokaryons. These results are the first indication that the subcellular distribution dynamics of the Gal3 and Gal80 proteins play a role in regulating Gal4p-mediated GAL gene expression in vivo.

Correlation of hippocampal volume and cognitive performances in patients with either mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer's disease

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate hippocampal volume changes and neuropsychological performances in patients with either amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) or Alzheimer's disease (AD).

METHODS

Thirty-eight AD dementia, 22 aMCI patients, and 20 healthy controls were enrolled. Bilateral hippocampal volume was measured concurrently with mini-mental state examination (MMSE), auditory verbal learning test (AVLT), Boston naming test (BNT), and activities of daily living (ADL) test. Baseline and two additional follow-up examinations were conducted.

RESULTS

Baseline hippocampal volumes were significantly smaller in AD group than that in aMCI and control groups. MMSE, AVLT, ADL, and BNT scores for the AD group were significantly different from that of both aMCI and control groups. Baseline hippocampal volumes were positively correlated with MMSE and AVLT scores in AD and aMCI patients. At follow-up, left hippocampal volume loss was positively correlated with decreased MMSE and AVLT scores both in AD and aMCI groups, while right hippocampal volume loss was positively associated with decreased AVLT performance only in AD group. Increased ADL and decreased BNT scores were positively associated with left hippocampal volume reduction only in the AD group.

CONCLUSIONS

Current findings provide evidence of a close relationship between hippocampal volume and cognitive performances in patients with AD and aMCI, both at baseline and over follow-up.

Interspecies transmission of influenza C virus between humans and pigs

The antigenic and genetic characteristics of the 18 human strains of influenza C virus isolated in Yamagata and Sendai Cities, Japan between January 1991 and February 1993 were investigated. Antigenic analysis with monoclonal antibodies to the hemagglutinin-esterase glycoprotein showed that the isolates could be divided into three distinct groups closely related to C/Yamagata/26/81, C/Aichi/1/81 and C/Mississippi/80, respectively. T1-oligonucleotide fingerprinting of total vRNA revealed that the six isolates belonging to the C/Yamagata/26/81 virus group had the genomes greatly similar to one another but considerably different from those of the 1988/1990 isolates (except C/Yamagata/10/89) of the same antigenic group. Comparison of total or partial nucleotide sequences of the seven RNA segments of the three strains (C/Miyagi/3/91, C/Miyagi/9/91 and C/Miyagi/2/92) representative of the 1991/1993 strains of the C/Yamagata/26/81 virus group with those of the previous influenza C isolates obtained from humans and pigs during 1980/1989 showed that the 1991/1993 strains, like C/Yamagata/10/89, are more closely related to viruses isolated from pigs in Beijing, China in 1981/1982 than to any of the isolates from humans. This observation suggests strongly that interspecies transmission of influenza C virus between humans and pigs has occurred in nature, although it is not known whether the virus has been transmitted from pigs to humans or from humans to pigs.