Faster acquisition of magnetic resonance imaging sequences of the knee via deep learning reconstruction: a volunteer study

AIM

To evaluate whether deep learning reconstruction (DLR) can accelerate the acquisition of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences of the knee for clinical use.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Using a 1.5-T MRI scanner, sagittal fat-suppressed T2-weighted imaging (fs-T2WI), coronal proton density-weighted imaging (PDWI), and coronal T1-weighted imaging (T1WI) were performed. DLR was applied to images with a number of signal averages (NSA) of 1 to obtain 1DLR images. Then 1NSA, 1DLR, and 4NSA images were compared subjectively, and by noise (standard deviation of intra-articular water or medial meniscus) and contrast-to-noise ratio between two anatomical structures or between an anatomical structure and intra-articular water.

RESULTS

Twenty-seven healthy volunteers (age: 40.6 ± 11.9 years) were enrolled. Three 1DLR image sequences were obtained within 200 s (approximately 12 minutes for 4NSA image). According to objective evaluations, PDWI 1DLR images showed the smallest noise and significantly higher contrast than 1NSA and 4NSA images. For fs-T2WI, smaller noise and higher contrast were observed in the order of 4NSA, 1DLR, and 1NSA images. According to the subjective analysis, structure visibility, image noise, and overall image quality were significantly better for PDWI 1DLR than 1NSA images; moreover, the visibility of the meniscus and bone, image noise, and overall image quality were significantly better for 1DLR than 4NSA images. Fs-T2WI and T1WI 1DLR images showed no difference between 1DLR and 4NSA images.

CONCLUSION

Compared to PDWI 4NSA images, PDWI 1DLR images were of higher quality, while the quality of fs-T2WI and T1WI 1DLR images was similar to that of 4NSA images.

Role of NT5DC2 in tyrosine hydroxylase phosphorylation based on the analysis of NT5DC2-binding proteins

The gene encoding 5'-nucleotidase domain-containing protein 2 (NT5DC2) has been associated with neuropsychiatric disorders related to the abnormality of dopamine activity in the brain. However, its physiological functions remain unclear. In this study, we analyzed the features of NT5DC2 that influence its binding with tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and its effects on dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) synthesis, using NT5DC2 overexpressed in PC12D cells by the pCMV vector. Western blot analysis revealed that the purified NT5DC2-DYKDDDDK-tag (NT5DC2-tag) protein can bind with the phosphorylated form of recombinant human TH type 1 (rhTH1), apart from the endogenous TH in PC12D cells. Proteomic analysis by mass spectrometry revealed that the purified NT5DC2-tag protein has the potential to bind to 41 proteins with multiple phosphorylation sites in PC12D cells (NT5DC2 binding proteins: positive, 391 sites/41 proteins; and negative, 85 sites/27 proteins). Overexpression of NT5DC2 in PC12D cells decreased DOPA levels in the medium. When the lysate of PC12D cells overexpressing NT5DC2 was incubated at 37 °C, the phosphorylated form of endogenous TH in PC12D cells decreased. This decrease was also detected when phosphorylated rhTH1 was incubated with purified NT5DC2-tag. Overall, our results suggest that NT5DC2 regulates DOPA synthesis by promoting the dephosphorylation of TH, similar to a phosphatase. Therefore, our study provides useful information for understanding various disorders associated with abnormalities in dopamine levels in the brain.

The Japanese Nationwide Cohort Data of Particle Beam Therapy for Liver Oligometastasis in Esophagogastric Cancer Patients

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

A nationwide multicenter cohort study on particle therapy was launched by the Japanese Society for Radiation Oncology (JASTRO) in Japan in May 2016. We analyzed the outcome of proton beam therapy (PBT) for liver oligometastasis of esophagogastric cancers.

MATERIALS/METHODS

Cases in which PBT was performed at all PBT facilities in Japan between May 2016 and February 2019 were enrolled. The patients were selected based on the following criteria: controlled primary cancer; liver recurrence without extrahepatic tumors; and no more than three liver lesions. The dose and fraction of PBT were determined using unified treatment policy established by JASTRO. We used the following protocol, 64 gray (relative biological effect) (Gy (RBE))/8 fractions (fr) for the peripheral region, and 72.6 GyE/22fr for the central region. For safety aspect, the hepatocellular carcinoma irradiation protocols of 66 Gy (RBE)/10fr, 72.6-76 Gy (RBE)/20-22fr, and 74-76 Gy (RBE)/37-38fr could be allowed. The overall survival (OS), local control (LC), and adverse events (AEs) were examined. The OS and LC rates were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Factors possibly related to OS, such as tumor size (for multiple lesions, the largest size), number of liver tumors, as well as the presence or absence of prior, concurrent, and post-PBT chemotherapy, were investigated. The cut-off values were estimated using the receiver operating characteristic curve and area under the curve. Univariate analysis was performed using the log-rank test. Statistical significance was P-values < 0.05.

RESULTS

Twenty-three males and two females with a median age of 69 (range, 52-80) years and 36 lesions were included. This study included six patients with esophageal and 19 patients with gastric cancer. The median lesion size, fraction size, and biological effective dose (BED)10 were 31 (7-104) mm, 3.8 gray (relative biological effect)/fractions (Gy (RBE)/fr) (2-8 Gy (RBE)/fr), and 96.9 (88.8-115.2) Gy, respectively. The median follow-up period was 18 (4-47) months. The 1-, 2-, and 3-year OS rates were 76.0, 49.5, and 43.3%, respectively, and the median OS was 19 months. The 1-, 2-, and 3-year OS rates of esophageal cancer were 83.3% for all. The 1-, 2-, and 3-year OS rates of gastric cancer were 73.7, 40.2, and 32.2%, respectively, and the median OS was 18 months. The 1-, 2-, and 3-year LC rates were 96.3, 91.5, and 91.5%, respectively. The 1-, 2-, and 3-year LC rates of esophageal cancer were 100% for all. The 1-, 2-, and 3-year LC rates of gastric cancers were 94.7, 88.0, and 88.0%, respectively. Tumor size was the only significant OS-related factor (P < 0.01). No grade 3 or higher adverse events were observed.

CONCLUSION

Owing to the low incidence of adverse events and the high LC rate, PBT is a feasible option for liver oligometastasis of esophagogastric cancers.

The Japanese Nationwide Cohort Data of Proton Beam Therapy for Liver Oligometastasis in Breast Cancer Patients

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

A nationwide multicenter cohort study on particle therapy was launched by the Japanese Society for Radiation Oncology (JASTRO) in Japan. We analyzed the outcome of proton beam therapy (PBT) for liver oligometastasis in breast cancers.

MATERIALS/METHODS

Cases in which PBT was performed at all Japanese proton therapy facilities between May 2016 and February 2019 were enrolled. The patients were selected based on the following criteria: the primary cancer was controlled, liver recurrence without extrahepatic tumors, and no more than three liver lesions. The treatment indication and strategy were discussed at cancer boards in each institution. The dose and fraction of PBT were determined by referring to the unified treatment policy established by JASTRO. We used the following protocol: 64 gray (Gy) (relative biological effectiveness [RBE])/8 fraction (fr) for the hepatic periphery area away from the GI tract, and 72.6 GyE/22 fr for the adjacent hilar region type. Regarding safety, the HCC irradiation protocols of 66 GyE/10 fr, 72.6-76 GyE/20-22 fr, and 74-76 GyE/37-38 fr could be used. The local control (LC), overall survival (OS), and progression free survival (PFS) rates were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Factors possibly related to OS, such as tumor size, number of liver tumors, intervention of chemotherapy, and/or hormone therapy, were investigated. The cut-off values were estimated using the receiver operating characteristic curve and area under the curve. Univariate analysis was performed using the log-rank test.

RESULTS

Fourteen females, with a median age of 57 (range, 44-73) years and twenty-two lesions were included. Nine patients had one lesion, two patients had two lesions, and three patients had three lesions. PBT was selected because nine patients had underlying disease and five patients had general conditions (age, etc.). The median lesion size, fraction size, and biological effective dose using the linear-quadratic model with α/β = 10 Gy ((BED)10) were 44 (20-130) mm, 6.6 (2-8) (relative biological effectiveness [RBE])/fraction (fr), and 109.6 (52.7-115.2) Gy, respectively. The median follow-up period of breast cancers was 22.8 (4-54) months. The 1-, 2-, and 3-year LC rates of liver metastasis from breast cancers were 100% for all. The 1-, 2-, and 3-year OS rates were 85.7%, 62.5%, and 62.5%, respectively. The 1-, 2-, and 3-year PFS rates were 50.0%, 33.3%, and 16.7%, respectively, and median PFS time was 16 months. Tumor size, the number of liver tumors, and the intervention of chemotherapy and/or hormone therapy at any time were not significantly related to the OS. Only one patient did not complete PBT due to current disease progression. The other patients completed PBT without interruption. One patient had grade 3 radiation-induced dermatitis.

CONCLUSION

Based on the low incidence of adverse events and the high LC rate, PBT appears to be a feasible option for liver oligometastasis in breast cancer patients.

Proteomic Analysis Reveals Salt-Tolerant Mechanism in Soybean Applied with Plant-Derived Smoke Solution

Salt stress of soybean is a serious problem because it reduces plant growth and seed yield. To investigate the salt-tolerant mechanism of soybean, a plant-derived smoke (PDS) solution was used. Three-day-old soybeans were subjected to PDS solution under 100 mM NaCl for 2 days, resulting in PDS solution improving soybean root growth, even under salt stress. Under the same condition, proteins were analyzed using the proteomic technique. Differential abundance proteins were associated with transport/formaldehyde catabolic process/sucrose metabolism/glutathione metabolism/cell wall organization in the biological process and membrane/Golgi in the cellular component with or without PDS solution under salt stress. Immuno-blot analysis confirmed that osmotin, alcohol dehydrogenase, and sucrose synthase increased with salt stress and decreased with additional PDS solution; however, H+ATPase showed opposite effects. Cellulose synthase and xyloglucan endotransglucosylase/hydrolase increased with salt and decreased with additional PDS solution. Furthermore, glycoproteins decreased with salt stress and recovered with additional treatment. As mitochondrion-related events, the contents of ATP and gamma-aminobutyric acid increased with salt stress and recovered with additional treatment. These results suggest that PDS solution improves the soybean growth by alleviating salt stress. Additionally, the regulation of energy metabolism, protein glycosylation, and cell wall construction might be an important factor for the acquisition of salt tolerance in soybean.

RIB induced reactions: Studying astrophysical reactions with low-energy RI beam at CRIB

Astrophysical reactions involving radioactive isotopes (RI) often play an important role in high-temperature stellar environments. The experimental studies on the reaction rates for those are still limited mainly due to the technical difficulties in producing high-quality RI beams. A direct measurement of those reactions would be still challenging in many cases, however, we can make a reliable evaluation of the reaction rates by an indirect method or by studying the resonance prorerties. Here we ntroduce recent examples of experimental studies on such RI-involving astrophysical reactions, performed at Center for Nuclear Study, the University of Tokyo, using the low-energy RI beam separator CRIB. One is for the neutron-induced destruction reactions of 7Be in the Big-Bang nucleosynthesis, and the other is the study on the 22Mg(α, p) reaction relevant in X-ray bursts, which was performed with the resonant scattering method from the inverse reaction channel.

Simultaneous loss of skeletal muscle myosin heavy chain IIx and IIb causes severe skeletal muscle hypoplasia in postnatal mice

The skeletal muscle myosin heavy chain (MyHC) is a fundamental component of the sarcomere structure and muscle contraction. Two of the three adult fast MyHCs, MyHC-IIx and MyHC-IIb, are encoded by Myh1 and Myh4, respectively. However, skeletal muscle disorders have not yet been linked to these genes in humans. MyHC-IIb is barely detectable in human skeletal muscles. Thus, to characterize the molecular function of skeletal muscle MyHCs in humans, investigation of the effect of simultaneous loss of MyHC-IIb and other MyHCs on skeletal muscle in mice is essential. Here, we generated double knockout (dKO) mice with simultaneous loss of adult fast MyHCs by introducing nonsense frameshift mutations into the Myh1 and Myh4 genes. The dKO mice appeared normal after birth and until 2 weeks of age but showed severe skeletal muscle hypoplasia after 2 weeks. In 3-week-old dKO mice, increased expression of other skeletal muscle MyHCs, such as MyHC-I, MyHC-IIa, MyHC-neo, and MyHC-emb, was observed. However, these expressions were not sufficient to compensate for the loss of MyHC-IIb and MyHC-IIx. Moreover, the aberrant sarcomere structure with altered expression of sarcomere components was observed in dKO mice. Our findings imply that the simultaneous loss of MyHC-IIb and MyHC-IIx is substantially detrimental to postnatal skeletal muscle function and will contribute to elucidating the molecular mechanisms of skeletal muscle wasting disorders caused by the loss of skeletal muscle MyHCs.

The 12C +16 O fusion reaction in carbon burning: Study at energies of astrophysical interest using the Trojan Horse Method

The carbon-burning process in massive stars mainly occurs via the 12C +12 C. However, at temperatures higher than 109K and considering the increased abundance of 16O produced during the later stages of the heliumburning,the 12C+16O fusion can also become relevant. Moreover, 12C+16O also plays a role in the scenario of explosive carbon burning. Thus, the astrophysical energy region of interest ranges from 3 to 7.2 MeV in the center-of-mass frame. However, the various measurements of the cross-section available in the literature stop around 4 MeV, making extrapolation necessary. To solve this uncertainty and corroborate direct measurement we applied the Trojan Horse Method to three-body processes 16O(14N, α24Mg)2H and 16O(14N, p27Al)2H to study the 12C(16O, α)24Mg and 12C(16O, p)27Al reactions in their entire energy region of astrophysical interest. In this contribution, after briefly describing the method used, the experiment and the preliminary phases of the data analysis will be presented and discussed.

CBMS-1 TARGETING GLUTAMINE METABOLISM IN IDH-MUTANT GLIOMAS

IDH-wildtype and IDH-mutant glioma have different genetical and metabolic background although their histological appearances are similar. To reveal the difference in metabolites between IDH-wildtype and IDH-mutant glioma, two artificial cell lines made from normal human astrocyte, NHAE6E7hTERTRas (IDH-wildtype) and NHAE6E7hTERTIDHmut (IDH-mutant), were investigated. Capillary electrophoresis- and ion chromatography-coupled mass spectrometry revealed the lower amount of glutamine, glutamate and 2-oxoglutarate in NHAE6E7hTERTIDHmut cells than NHAE6E7hTERTRas cells. Pharmacological or genetical inhibition of GLUD1 which converts glutamate to 2-oxoglutarate, suppressed proliferation of the cells by inducing ROS and apoptosis in NHAE6E7hTERTIDHmut cells. ROS inhibitor, NAC suppressed GLUD1 inhibitor-induced ROS, apoptosis, and cytotoxicity in NHAE6E7hTERTIDHmut cells, revealing that cytotoxicity by GLUD1 inhibitor was at least partially due to the inhibitor-induced ROS. Exogeneous dimethyl 2-oxoglutarate rescued the cytotoxicity by GLUD1 inhibitor, suggesting decreased 2-oxoglutarate was associated with GLUD1 inhibitor-induced cytotoxicity. Mutant IDH1 overexpressed glioma cell line showed similar sensitivity to GLUD1 inhibitor to NHAE6E7hTERTIDHmut, which suggested that the difference of sensitivity to GLUD1 inhibitor was due to the status of mutant IDH. In conclusion, GLUD1 inhibitor will be new therapeutic options for IDH-mutant glioma.

A Novel High-Throughput Screening Method for a Human Multicentric Osteosarcoma-Specific Antibody and Biomarker Using a Phage Display-Derived Monoclonal Antibody

Osteosarcoma is a malignant tumor that produces neoplastic bone or osteoid osteoma. In human multicentric osteosarcoma (HMOS), a unique variant of human osteosarcoma (HOS), multiple bone lesions occur simultaneously or asynchronously before lung metastasis. HMOS is associated with an extremely poor prognosis, and effective treatment options are lacking. Using the proteins in our previously generated HMOS cell lines as antigens, we generated antibodies using a human antibody phage library. We obtained antibody clones recognizing 95 independent antigens and developed a fluorescence probe-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique capable of evaluating the reactivity of these antibodies by fluorescence intensity, allowing simple, rapid, and high-throughput selection of antibody clones. These results were highly correlated with those using flow cytometry. Subsequently, the HMOS cell lysate was incubated with the antibody, the antigen-antibody complex was recovered with magnetic beads, and the protein bands from electrophoresis were analyzed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC/MS). CAVIN1/polymerase I transcript release factor was specifically detected in the HMOS cells. In conclusion, we found via a novel high-throughput screening method that CAVIN1/PTRF is an HMOS-specific cell membrane biomarker and an antigen capable of producing human antibodies. In the future, antibody-drug conjugate targeting of these specific proteins may be promising for clinical applications.

Racial heterogeneity of IgA1 hinge-region O-glycoforms in patients with IgA nephropathy

Galactose (Gal)-deficient IgA1 (Gd-IgA1) is involved in IgA nephropathy (IgAN) pathogenesis. To reflect racial differences in clinical characteristics, we assessed disease- and race-specific heterogeneity in the O-glycosylation of the IgA1 hinge region (HR). We determined serum Gd-IgA1 levels in Caucasians (healthy controls [HCs], n = 31; IgAN patients, n = 63) and Asians (HCs, n = 20; IgAN patients, n = 60) and analyzed profiles of serum IgA1 HR O-glycoforms. Elevated serum Gd-IgA1 levels and reduced number of Gal residues per HR were observed in Caucasians. Reduced number of N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc) residues per HR and elevated relative abundance of IgA1 with three HR O-glycans were common features in IgAN patients; these features were associated with elevated blood pressure and reduced renal function. We speculate that the mechanisms underlying the reduced GalNAc content in IgA1 HR may be relevant to IgAN pathogenesis.

Morphological and Proteomic Analyses of Soybean Seedling Interaction Mechanism Affected by Fiber Crosslinked with Zinc-Oxide Nanoparticles

Nanoparticles (NPs) enhance soybean growth; however, their precise mechanism is not clearly understood. To develop a more effective method using NPs for the enhancement of soybean growth, fiber crosslinked with zinc oxide (ZnO) NPs was prepared. The solution of ZnO NPs with 200 nm promoted soybean growth at the concentration of 10 ppm, while fibers crosslinked with ZnO NPs promoted growth at a 1 ppm concentration. Soybeans grown on fiber cross-linked with ZnO NPs had higher Zn content in their roots than those grown in ZnO NPs solution. To study the positive mechanism of fiber crosslinked with ZnO NPs on soybean growth, a proteomic technique was used. Proteins categorized in photosynthesis and secondary metabolism accumulated more in soybeans grown on fiber crosslinked with ZnO NPs than in those grown in ZnO NPs solution. Furthermore, significantly accumulated proteins, which were NADPH oxidoreductase and tubulins, were confirmed using immunoblot analysis. The abundance of NADPH oxidoreductase increased in soybean by ZnO NPs application. These results suggest that fiber crosslinked with ZnO NPs enhances soybean growth through the increase of photosynthesis and secondary metabolism. Additionally, the accumulation of NADPH oxidoreductase might relate to the effect of auxin with fiber crosslinked with ZnO NPs on soybean growth.

Morphological, Biochemical, and Proteomic Analyses to Understand the Promotive Effects of Plant-Derived Smoke Solution on Wheat Growth under Flooding Stress

Wheat is an important staple food crop for one-third of the global population; however, its growth is reduced by flooding. On the other hand, a plant-derived smoke solution enhances plant growth; however, its mechanism is not fully understood. To reveal the effects of the plant-derived smoke solution on wheat under flooding, morphological, biochemical, and proteomic analyses were conducted. The plant-derived smoke solution improved wheat-leaf growth, even under flooding. According to the functional categorization of proteomic results, oppositely changed proteins were correlated with photosynthesis, glycolysis, biotic stress, and amino-acid metabolism with or without the plant-derived smoke solution under flooding. Immunoblot analysis confirmed that RuBisCO activase and RuBisCO large/small subunits, which decreased under flooding, were recovered by the application of the plant-derived smoke solution. Furthermore, the contents of chlorophylls a and b significantly decreased by flooding stress; however, they were recovered by the application of the plant-derived smoke solution. In glycolysis, fructose-bisphosphate aldolase and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase decreased with the application of the plant-derived smoke solution under flooding as compared with flooding alone. Additionally, glutamine, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, and serine decreased under flooding; however, they were recovered by the plant-derived smoke solution. These results suggest that the application of the plant-derived smoke solution improves the recovery of wheat growth through the regulation of photosynthesis and glycolysis even under flooding conditions. Furthermore, the plant-derived smoke solution might promote wheat tolerance against flooding stress through the regulation of amino-acid metabolism.

Proteomic, Biochemical, and Morphological Analyses of the Effect of Silver Nanoparticles Mixed with Organic and Inorganic Chemicals on Wheat Growth

Wheat is vulnerable to numerous diseases; on the other hand, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) exhibit a sterilizing action. To understand the combined effects of AgNPs with nicotinate and potassium nitrate (KNO3) for plant growth and sterilization, a gel- and label-free proteomics was performed. Root weight was promoted by the treatment of AgNPs mixed with nicotinate and KNO3. From a total of 5557 detected proteins, 90 proteins were changed by the mixture of AgNPs, nicotinate, and KNO3; among them, 25 and 65 proteins increased and decreased, respectively. The changed proteins were mainly associated with redox and biotic stress in the functional categorization. By immunoblot analysis, the abundance of glutathione reductase/peroxiredoxin and pathogen-related protein three significantly decreased with the mixture. Furthermore, from the changed proteins, the abundance of starch synthase and lipoxygenase significantly increased and decreased, respectively. Through biochemical analysis, the starch contents increased with the mixture. The application of esculetin, which is a lipoxygenase inhibitor, increased the weight and length of the root. These results suggest that the AgNPs mixed with nicotinate and KNO3 cause positive effects on wheat seedlings by regulating pathogen-related protein and reactive-oxygen species scavenging. Furthermore, increasing starch and decreasing lipoxygenase might improve wheat growth.

First measurement of 25Al+p resonant scattering relevant to the astrophysical reaction 22Mg(α,p)25Al

Type I X-ray bursts (XRBs) are the most frequently observed thermonuclear explosions in nature. The 22Mg(α,p)25Al reaction plays a critical role in XRB models. However, experimental information is insufficient to deduce a precise 22Mg(α,p)25Al reaction rate for the respective XRB temperature range. A new measurement of 25Al+p resonant scattring was performed up to the astrophysically interested energy region of 22Mg(α,p)25Al. Several resonances were observed in the excitation functions, and their level properties have been determined based on an R-matrix analysis. In particular, proton widths and spin-parities of four natural-parity resonances above the α threshold of 26Si, which can contribute the reaction rate of 22Mg(α,p)25Al, were first experimentally determined.

Experimental studies on astrophysical reactions at the low-energy RI beam separator CRIB

Experimental studies on astrophysical reactions involving radioactive isotopes (RI) often accompany technical challenges. Studies on such nuclear reactions have been conducted at the low-energy RI beam separator CRIB, operated by Center for Nuclear Study, the University of Tokyo. We discuss two cases of astrophysical reaction studies at CRIB; one is for the 7Be+n reactions which may affect the primordial 7Li abundance in the Big-Bang nucleosynthesis, and the other is for the 22Mg(α, p) reaction relevantin X-raybursts.

Iron lamination and interlaminar insulation for high-frequency pulsed magnets

In high-frequency pulsed magnets, such as kickers in particle accelerators, it is essential to reduce eddy currents that could be induced in the magnet core during excitation not to distort and attenuate the magnetic field pulse. A novel iron lamination scheme with additional interlaminar insulation is proposed for the magnet core of such pulsed magnets. A laminated steel sheet core is formed by alternately stacking thin steel and insulation sheets. For application to matched kicker magnets for accelerators, test magnets with the new and conventional iron lamination were designed, assembled, and extensively evaluated. The pulsed magnetic field waveforms of two test magnets with the new lamination successfully matched to below 0.1% over the entire pulse duration, which was significantly better than those with the conventional lamination. Among the applications of the developed high-frequency pulsed magnets, beam injection kickers for the coming next generation light sources and future colliders, where suppression of the transient stored-beam oscillation during beam injection is crucial, are considered to be promising.

CBMS-1 Targeting amino acid metabolic vulnerabilities in IDH-mutant and IDH-wildtype gliomas

IDH-wildtype glioma and IDH-mutant glioma have different genetical and metabolic background although their histological appearances are similar. To reveal the difference in metabolites between IDH-wildtype and IDH-mutant glioma, and to find the effective treatment targeting cancer metabolism according to the status of IDH in gliomas, two artificial cell lines made from normal human astrocyte, NHAE6E7hTERTRas (IDH-wildtype) and NHAE6E7hTERTIDHmut (IDH-mutant), were investigated. RNA-seq analysis revealed that about 10% of changed genes were involved with metabolism. Capillary electrophoresis- and ion chromatography-coupled mass spectrometry revealed that the amount of asparagine was lower in NHAE6E7hTERTRas cells compared with NHAE6E7hTERTIDHmut cells. L-asparaginase, which converts asparagine into aspartate, was more effective in former cells. L-asparaginase induced autophagy and inhibition of autophagy by 3-MA suppressed L-asparaginase-induced antitumor effect. Adding asparagine into the culture medium rescued the antitumor effect of L-asparaginase. L-asparaginase increased the expression of asparagine synthetase (ASNS) and inhibition of ASNS enhanced the antitumor effect of L-asparaginase. Metabolic assay also showed the lower amount of glutamine, glutamate and 2-oxoglutarate in NHAE6E7hTERTIDHmut cells than NHAE6E7hTERTRas cells. Inhibition of GLUD1 which converts glutamate to 2-oxoglutarate, suppressed proliferation of the cells by inducing ROS and apoptosis in NHAE6E7hTERTIDHmut cells. Exogeneous dimethyl 2-oxoglutarate rescued the cytotoxicity by GLUD1 inhibitor, suggesting decreased 2-oxoglutarate was associated with GLUD1 inhibitor-induced cytotoxicity. ROS inhibitor, NAC suppressed GLUD1 inhibitor-induced ROS, apoptosis, and cytotoxicity in NHAE6E7hTERTIDHmut cells, revealing that cytotoxicity by GLUD1 inhibitor was at least partially due to the inhibitor-induced ROS. Other IDH-wildtype glioma cells, U251 and U87 showed similar sensitivity to L-asparaginase and GLUD1 inhibitor to NHAE6E7hTERTRas, whereas U251 expressing mutant IDH1 showed similar sensitivity to GLUD1 inhibitor to NHAE6E7hTERTIDHmut, which suggested that the difference of sensitivity to each reagent was due to the status of mutant IDH. L-asparaginase and GLUD1 inhibitor will be new therapeutic options for IDH-wildtype glioma and IDH-mutant glioma, respectively.

TAMI-56. TARGETING AMINO ACID METABOLIC VULNERABILITIES IN IDH-MUTANT AND IDH-WILDTYPE GLIOMAS

IDH-wildtype glioma and IDH-mutant glioma have different genetical and metabolic background although their histological appearances are similar. The aim of the study is to reveal the difference in metabolites between IDH-wildtype glioma and IDH-mutant glioma, and to find the effective treatment targeting cancer metabolism according to the status of IDH in gliomas. Two artificial cell lines made from normal human astrocyte were used: NHAE6E7hTERTRas (IDH-wildtype) and NHAE6E7hTERTIDHmut (IDH-mutant). Capillary electrophoresis time-of-flight-mass spectrometry (CE-TOFMS) revealed that the amount of asparagine was lower in NHAE6E7hTERTRas cells compared with NHAE6E7hTERTIDHmut cells. L-asparaginase, which converts asparagine into aspartate, was more effective in the former cells than the latter cells. L-asparaginase induced autophagy and inhibition of autophagy by 3-MA suppressed L-asparaginase-induced antitumor effect. Adding asparagine into the culture medium rescued the antitumor effect of L-asparaginase. L-asparaginase increased the expression of asparagine synthetase (ASNS) and genetical or pharmacological inhibition of ASNS enhanced the antitumor effect of L-asparaginase. CE-TOFMS showed the lower amount of glutamine, glutamate and 2-oxoglutarate in NHAE6E7hTERTIDHmut cells than NHAE6E7hTERTRas cells. GLUD1 inhibitor inhibited proliferation by inducing higher ROS level and apoptosis in NHAE6E7hTERTIDHmut cells than NHAE6E7hTERTRas cells. ROS inhibitor, NAC suppressed GLUD1 inhibitor-induced ROS, apoptosis, and cytotoxicity in NHAE6E7hTERTIDHmut cells. Exogeneous dimethyl 2-oxoglutarate rescued the cytotoxicity induced by GLUD1 inhibitor. L-asparaginase and GLUD1 inhibitor will be new therapeutic option for IDH-wildtype glioma and IDH-mutant glioma, respectively.

Investigation of mouse amniotic fluid for stimulating ability of keratinocyte differentiation depending on the fetal stage

During fetal development, the barrier function of the fetal skin is developed under specific conditions for epidermis formation. In keratinocyte differentiation, the well-orchestrated production and modification of various structural proteins are induced. We assessed the epidermal barrier function in different fetal stages by evaluating the enzymatic activity of cross-linking proteins, transglutaminases, and the permeation of fluorescence dye in the stained epidermal sections. During days 15.5-17.5 in gestation, the enzymatic activities in the epidermis appeared to increase significantly; meanwhile, dye permeation was substantially decreased, suggesting the formation of a protective barrier. For the fetal epidermis formation in the earlier stage, unclarified stimulating factors in the amniotic fluid (AF) are possible to promote barrier function by stimulating keratinocyte differentiation. Thus, we performed proteomic spectrometric (MS) analysis on the components in the AF at different fetal stages. Also, we investigated the promotive ability of the components using a cultured keratinocyte differentiation system. According to the MS analysis, the AF components appeared to exhibit stage-specific variations, where possible unique functions have been identified. We also found that adding the AF from each stage to the medium for cultured keratinocytes specifically enhanced the levels of the differentiation markers. These results provide information on the possible role of AF that contains regulatory factors on keratinocyte differentiation.

Advancement of Photospheric Radius Expansion and Clocked Type-I X-Ray Burst Models with the New ^{22}Mg(α,p)^{25}Al Reaction Rate Determined at the Gamow Energy

We report the first (in)elastic scattering measurement of ^{25}Al+p with the capability to select and measure in a broad energy range the proton resonances in ^{26}Si contributing to the ^{22}Mg(α,p) reaction at type I x-ray burst energies. We measured spin-parities of four resonances above the α threshold of ^{26}Si that are found to strongly impact the ^{22}Mg(α,p) rate. The new rate advances a state-of-the-art model to remarkably reproduce light curves of the GS 1826-24 clocked burster with mean deviation <9% and permits us to discover a strong correlation between the He abundance in the accreting envelope of the photospheric radius expansion burster and the dominance of ^{22}Mg(α,p) branch.

Proteomic and Biological Analyses Reveal the Effect on Growth under Flooding Stress of Chickpea Irradiated with Millimeter Waves

Chickpea cultivated on marginal lands in arid and semiarid tropics is one of the food legumes, and its growth is reduced by flooding stress. Millimeter-wave irradiation has influences on organisms, and it improves the growth of plants such as soybean. To reveal the dynamic effects of millimeter-wave irradiation on chickpea under flooding, gel- and label-free proteomic analysis was conducted. Millimeter-wave irradiation improved chickpea growth and its tolerance to flooding stress. According to functional categorization, oppositely changed proteins were correlated with photosynthesis, fermentation, and protein degradation. Immunoblot analysis confirmed that RuBisCO activase and large subunits decreased in leaves under flooding; however, they are recovered in irradiated chickpea even if it was in this condition. The activity and accumulation of alcohol dehydrogenase increased in roots under flooding; however, this followed the same pattern. Cell death was significantly increased and decreased by flooding on unirradiated and irradiated chickpeas, respectively. These findings suggest that irradiation with millimeter waves on chickpea seeds improves the recovery of plant growth through regulation of photosynthesis in leaves and fermentation in roots. Furthermore, millimeter-wave irradiation might promote chickpea tolerance under flooding via the regulation of cell death.

Mesenchymal Bmp3b expression maintains skeletal muscle integrity and decreases in age-related sarcopenia

Age-related sarcopenia constitutes an important health problem associated with adverse outcomes. Sarcopenia is closely associated with fat infiltration in muscle, which is attributable to interstitial mesenchymal progenitors. Mesenchymal progenitors are nonmyogenic in nature but are required for homeostatic muscle maintenance. However, the underlying mechanism of mesenchymal progenitor-dependent muscle maintenance is not clear, nor is the precise role of mesenchymal progenitors in sarcopenia. Here, we show that mice genetically engineered to specifically deplete mesenchymal progenitors exhibited phenotypes markedly similar to sarcopenia, including muscle weakness, myofiber atrophy, alterations of fiber types, and denervation at neuromuscular junctions. Through searching for genes responsible for mesenchymal progenitor-dependent muscle maintenance, we found that Bmp3b is specifically expressed in mesenchymal progenitors, whereas its expression level is significantly decreased during aging or adipogenic differentiation. The functional importance of BMP3B in maintaining myofiber mass as well as muscle-nerve interaction was demonstrated using knockout mice and cultured cells treated with BMP3B. Furthermore, the administration of recombinant BMP3B in aged mice reversed their sarcopenic phenotypes. These results reveal previously unrecognized mechanisms by which the mesenchymal progenitors ensure muscle integrity and suggest that age-related changes in mesenchymal progenitors have a considerable impact on the development of sarcopenia.

Proteomic and Biochemical Analyses of the Mechanism of Tolerance in Mutant Soybean Responding to Flooding Stress

To investigate the mechanism of flooding tolerance of soybean, flooding-tolerant mutants derived from gamma-ray irradiated soybean were crossed with parent cultivar Enrei for removal of other factors besides the genes related to flooding tolerance in primary generated mutant soybean. Although the growth of the wild type was significantly suppressed by flooding compared with the non-flooding condition, that of the mutant lines was better than that of the wild type even if it was treated with flooding. A two-day-old mutant line was subjected to flooding for 2 days and proteins were analyzed using a gel-free/label-free proteomic technique. Oppositely changed proteins in abundance between the wild type and mutant line under flooding stress were associated in endoplasmic reticulum according to gene-ontology categorization. Immunoblot analysis confirmed that calnexin accumulation increased in both the wild type and mutant line; however, calreticulin accumulated in only the mutant line under flooding stress. Furthermore, although glycoproteins in the wild type decreased by flooding compared with the non-flooding condition, those in the mutant line increased even if it was under flooding stress. Alcohol dehydrogenase accumulated in the wild type and mutant line; however, this enzyme activity significantly increased and mildly increased in the wild type and mutant line, respectively, under flooding stress compared with the non-flooding condition. Cell death increased and decreased in the wild type and mutant line, respectively, by flooding stress. These results suggest that the regulation of cell death through the fermentation system and glycoprotein folding might be an important factor for the acquisition of flooding tolerance in mutant soybean.

Mesoscopic engineering materials for visual detection and selective removal of copper ions from drinking and waste water sources

The monitoring and removal of abundant heavy metals such as Cu ions are considerable global concerns because of their severe impact on the health of humans and other living organisms. To meet this global challenge, we engineered a novel mesoscopic capture protocol for the highly selective removal and visual monitoring of copper (Cu²⁺) ions from wide-ranging water sources. The capture hierarchy carriers featured three-dimensional, microsized MgO mesoarchitecture rectangular sheet-like mosaics that were randomly built in horizontal and vertical directions, uniformly arranged sheet faces, corners, and edges, smoothly quadrilateral surface coverage for strong Cu²⁺-to-ligand binding exposure, and multidiffusible pathways. The Cu²⁺ ion-selectively active captor surface design was engineered through the simple incorporation/encapsulation of a synthetic molecular chelation agent into hierarchical mesoporous MgO rectangular sheet platforms to produce a selective, visual mesoscopic captor (VMC). The nanoscale VMC dressing of MgO rectangular mosaic hierarchy by molecularly electron-enriched chelates with actively double core bindings of azo- and sulfonamide- groups and hydrophobic dodecyl tail showed potential to selectively trap and efficiently remove ultratrace Cu²⁺-ions with an extreme removal capability of ~233 mg/g from watery solutions, such as drinking water, hospital effluent, and food-processing wastewater at specific pH values. In addition to the Cu²⁺ ion-selective removal, the VMC design enabled the continuous visual monitoring of ultratrace Cu²⁺ ions (~3.35 × 10^-8 M) as a consequence of strong chelate-to-Cu²⁺ binding events among all accumulated matrices in water sources. Our experimental recycle protocol provided evidence of reusability and recyclability of VMC (≥10 cycles). With our mesoscopic capture protocol, the VMC can be a promising candidate for the selective decontamination/removal and sensitive detection of hazardous inorganic pollutants from different water sources with indoor or outdoor applications.

Body Weight Loss After Orthognathic Surgery: Comparison Between Postoperative Intermaxillary Fixation with Metal Wire and Elastic Traction, Factors Related to Body Weight Loss

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study was to compare body weight loss between postoperative intermaxillary fixation with metal wire and elastic traction and to investigate factors related to body weight loss after orthognathic surgery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Subjects were 59 patients with dentofacial deformity, comprising 31 patients treated with intermaxillary fixation (IMF) and 28 patients treated with elastic traction without IMF (ELT) just after surgery. Body weight loss was measured at 1 week (T1) and 2 weeks (T2) after surgery. Body weight loss was compared between IMF and ELT, and factors related to body weight loss were statistically analyzed.

RESULTS

Body weight loss ratio was significantly increased in IMF (2.6%) rather than in ELT (1.4%) at T1, but only tended to be increased in both groups at T2, showing no statistical difference. Body weight loss ratio was significantly increased at T2 compared to T1 in both groups. Body weight loss was significantly greater at T2 than at T1.

CONCLUSION

Both IMF and ELT cause body weight loss after orthognathic surgery, but IMF causes body weight loss earlier than ELT and increased early body weight loss increases continuous body weight loss after orthognathic surgery.

Osmotic stress in banana is relieved by exogenous nitric oxide

Drought is one of the severe environmental stresses threatening agriculture around the globe. Nitric oxide plays diverse roles in plant growth and defensive responses. Despite a few studies supporting the role of nitric oxide in plants under drought responses, little is known about its pivotal molecular amendment in the regulation of stress signaling. In this study, a label-free nano-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry approach was used to determine the effects of sodium nitroprusside (SNP) on polyethylene glycol (PEG)-induced osmotic stress in banana roots. Plant treatment with SNP improved plant growth and reduced the percentage of yellow leaves. A total of 30 and 90 proteins were differentially identified in PEG+SNP against PEG and PEG+SNP against the control, respectively. The majority of proteins differing between them were related to carbohydrate and energy metabolisms. Antioxidant enzyme activities, such as superoxide dismutase and ascorbate peroxidase, decreased in SNP-treated banana roots compared to PEG-treated banana. These results suggest that the nitric oxide-induced osmotic stress tolerance could be associated with improved carbohydrate and energy metabolism capability in higher plants.

An Optimized Protein Extraction Method for Gel-Free Proteomic Analysis of Opuntia Ficus-Indica

Opuntia spp. is an economically important vegetable crop with high stress-tolerance and health benefits. However, proteomic analysis of the plant has been difficult due to the composition of its succulent cladodes; the abundant polysaccharides interfere with protein extraction. To facilitate proteomic analysis of this plant, we present a rapid and simple protein extraction method for Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Miller. The optimized method produced highly reproducible protein patterns and was compatible with a gel-free quantitative workflow without the need for additional purification. We successfully analyzed the cladode mesocarp and exocarp tissues, resulting in the identification of 319 proteins. In addition, we used this method to examine the relative changes in the Opuntia proteome in response to salt stress to determine whether physiological changes could be captured. Qualified observations were obtained, revealing that salt stress increased phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase abundance and decreased ribulose-bisphosphate carboxylase in young O. ficus-indica plants. These findings suggest that Crassulacean acid metabolism is promoted under salinity. This study highlights the efficacy of our optimized protein extraction method for elucidating the metabolic adaptations of Opuntia using gel-free proteomic analysis.

Aberrant (pro)renin receptor expression induces genomic instability in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma through upregulation of SMARCA5/SNF2H

(Pro)renin receptor [(P)RR] has a role in various diseases, such as cardiovascular and renal disorders and cancer. Aberrant (P)RR expression is prevalent in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) which is the most common pancreatic cancer. Here we show whether aberrant expression of (P)RR directly leads to genomic instability in human pancreatic ductal epithelial (HPDE) cells. (P)RR-expressing HPDE cells show obvious cellular atypia. Whole genome sequencing reveals that aberrant (P)RR expression induces large numbers of point mutations and structural variations at the genome level. A (P)RR-expressing cell population exhibits tumour-forming ability, showing both atypical nuclei characterised by distinctive nuclear bodies and chromosomal abnormalities. (P)RR overexpression upregulates SWItch/Sucrose Non-Fermentable (SWI/SNF)-related, matrix-associated, actin-dependent regulator of chromatin, subfamily a, member 5 (SMARCA5) through a direct molecular interaction, which results in the failure of several genomic stability pathways. These data reveal that aberrant (P)RR expression contributes to the early carcinogenesis of PDAC.

Yuki Shibayama et al. find that high expression of (pro)renin receptor [(P)RR] in human pancreatic ductal cells causes increased genomic instability, leading to the development of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. They show that (P)RR exerts its carcinogenic effects through direct binding and activation of the chromatin regulator SMARCA5.

NT5DC2 affects the phosphorylation of tyrosine hydroxylase regulating its catalytic activity

5'-Nucleotidase domain-containing protein 2 (NT5DC2) has been revealed by genome-wide association studies (GWAS) as a gene implicated in neuropsychiatric disorders related to the abnormality of dopamine (DA) activity in the brain. Based on its amino acid sequence, NT5DC2 is assumed to be a member of the family of haloacid dehalogenase-type phosphatases; although there is no information about its function and structural conformation. We recently reported that NT5DC2 binds to tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and that the down-regulation of NT5DC2 tended to increase DA synthesis. In this study, we investigated whether NT5DC2 could regulate the catalytic activity of TH, which converts tyrosine to DOPA, because the phosphorylation level of TH, controlled by protein kinases and phosphatases, is well known to regulate its catalytic activity. The down-regulation of NT5DC2 by siRNA increased mainly DOPA synthesis by TH in PC12D cells, although this down-regulation tended to increase the conversion of DOPA to DA by aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase. The increased DOPA synthesis should be attributed to the catalytic activity of TH controlled by its phosphorylation, because Western blot analysis revealed that the down-regulation of NT5DC2 tended to increase the level of TH phosphorylated at its Ser residues, but not that of the TH protein. Moreover, the induction of kinase activity by forskolin markedly potentiated the phosphorylation of TH at its Ser40 in PC12D cells having down-regulated NT5DC2. Immunocytochemical analysis of PC12D cells demonstrated that NT5DC2, TH protein, and TH phosphorylated at its Ser40 were predominantly localized in the cytoplasm and that the localization of NT5DC2 and TH proteins partially overlapped. Collectively, our results indicate that NT5DC2 could work to inhibit the DOPA synthesis by decreasing the phosphorylation of TH at its Ser40. We propose that NT5DC2 might decrease this phosphorylation of TH by promoting dephosphorylation or by inhibiting kinase activity.

The Effect of Mung Bean (Vigna radiata (L.)) Coat Extract on Mouse Liver Metabolism During Progesterone Withdrawal

Mung bean (Vigna radiata) is an immunomodulatory medicinal plant, which is recognized as a component of a traditional postpartum diet. The liver plays a crucial role in fatty acid synthesis under the control of various hormones that are affected by pregnancy. This study was designed to establish whether the mung bean water extract, which contains prostaglandins that can regulate corpus luteum maturation, provided any benefits to liver metabolism after the dynamic hormonal change associated with pregnancy. Female C57BL/6J mice were used, and all mice received daily injections of progesterone (5.0 mg/kg) for 5 days, after which progesterone was withdrawn for 3 days. Gel-free/label-free proteomic analysis revealed that the abundance of several proteins was affected in the liver. Hormone manipulation induced changes in lipid metabolism-related protein abundance; oral administration of mung bean coat extract (MBC) for 3 days mitigated the changes and downregulated the expression of Cpt1α, Akr1β, and Srebp1 in the liver. Together with immunological leukocyte modulation assessed via proteomic analysis, we suggest that MBC may exert health-promoting effects through the modulation of lipid synthesis during postpartum recovery.

Performance of the newly installed vertical neutron cameras for low neutron yield discharges in the Large Helical Device

Two new vertical neutron cameras characterized by high detection efficiency were developed on the Large Helical Device in order to observe poloidal structures of helically trapped beam ions created by the perpendicularly injected positive-ion based neutral beam (P-NB) and are newly operated since 2018. In this work, the neutron fields at the vertical neutron cameras are investigated using the Monte Carlo N-particle transport code to evaluate the performance of its collimators. The results indicate that neutrons are attenuated by the heavy concrete and are well collimated through the collimator to detectors. Neutron spectra at the detector position show over 99% of uncollided 2.45 MeV neutrons. Time evolution of neutron emission profiles during the short pulse of P-NB injection is measured by the vertical neutron cameras. Peaks on the neutron emission profiles corresponding to the helically trapped beam ion are successfully obtained, as designed. The decrease in line integrated neutron flux at the peak positions after the P-NB stops is consistent with the behavior of the total neutron emission rate measured by the neutron flux monitor.

A comparative proteomic analysis of engineered and bio synthesized silver nanoparticles on soybean seedlings

Nanoparticles (NPs) are synthesized by different methods and response mechanism of plants varied towards NPs based on their origin. To study the effects of bio synthesized (BS) and chemically synthesized (CS) silver NPs on soybean, a gel-free/ label-free proteomic technique was used. Length of root and hypocotyl was enhanced by BS compared to CS silver NPs. 10 ppm BS silver NPs enhanced the length of root and hypocotyl compared to 1 and 50 ppm. A total of 190 and 173 differentially changed proteins were identified in BS and CS silver NPs treated soybean, respectively. Twenty proteins commonly changed between BS and CS silver NPs treated soybean. Differentially-changed proteins were associated with protein-degradation and stress according to functional categorization. From proteomics, abundances of peroxidases were increased under CS silver NPs. Immunoblot analysis depicted that accumulation of ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and peroxiredoxin remained unchanged under both BS and CS silver NPs. ATP content decreased under CS silver NPs compared to BS silver NPs. ADH activity increased in CS silver NPs treated soybean. These results suggest that BS silver NPs enhanced the growth of soybean by regulating proteins related to protein-degradation and ATP contents, which are negatively affected by CS silver NPs. BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE: This study highlighted the response mechanism of soybean towards bio synthesized (BS) and chemically synthesized (CS) silver nanoparticles (NPs) using a gel-free/ label-free proteomics technique. Length of root and hypocotyl was enhanced by BS silver NPs compared to CS silver NPs. 10 ppm BS silver NPs enhanced the length of root and hypocotyl compared to other concentrations. Differentially changed proteins were associated with protein degradation and stress. From the proteomics, the abundances of peroxidases were increased under CS silver NPs. Immunoblot analysis depicted that accumulation of ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and peroxiredoxin remained unchanged under both BS and CS silver NPs. ATP content decreased under CS silver NPs compared to BS silver NPs. ADH activity increased in CS silver NPs compared to BS silver NPs treated soybean. These results suggest that the BS silver NPs enhanced the growth of soybean by regulating the proteins related to protein degradation and ATP contents, which are negatively affected by the CS silver NPs.

P0473LONGITUDINAL CHANGES OF IGA1 O-GLYCOFORM IN IGA NEPHROPATHY

Background and Aims

Elevation of circulatory IgA1 with galactose-deficient (Gd) hinge-region (HR) O-glycans (Gd-IgA1) has been detected in most IgA nephropathy (IgAN) patients based on lectin ELISA. However, new approaches are needed for molecular-level characterization of IgA1 HR glycoform(s) in IgAN. We established a high-throughput method for analysis of IgA1 HR O-glycoforms using liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS). To identify IgAN-associated IgA1 HR O-glycoforms and to assess their changes after therapy (with or without corticosteroids (CS)), we profiled IgA1 HR glycopeptides from sera collected at two time points (before and after therapy) from Japanese IgAN patients.

Method

Of the 10 Japanese IgAN patients recruited, 4 received CS treatment (CS group) and 6 have not (non-CS group). Japanese healthy volunteers (HC, n=10) were recruited as controls. Serum IgA1 was purified by affinity chromatography from HC and IgAN patients before and after therapy. After neuraminidase treatment and trypsin digestion, IgA1 HR glycosylation heterogeneity was analyzed by LC-HRMS. The relative abundance (RA, %) for each glycopeptide was calculated as percentage to the total IgA1 HR glycopeptide. The amount of each glycopeptide was then calculated by multiplying serum IgA concentration (mg/dL) by RA.

Results

Approximately 60% of IgA1 HR O-glycoforms in IgAN patients and HC were Gd O-glycoforms; these glycoforms contained one to three Gd-glycan(s), designated as 1 Gd-glycoform, 2 Gd-glycoform and 3 Gd-glycoform, respectively. In IgAN patients, the RA of non Gd-IgA1 glycoforms was elevated (P=0.002) and correlated with proteinuria (g/gCr) at renal biopsy (P=0.039, R=0.657). The amounts of non Gd- and 1Gd-glycoforms were higher in IgAN patients compared to HC (each P&lt;0.001). After several years of follow up (2.77 years (1.44-3.85)), the RA of non Gd-glycoforms decreased in CS group of IgAN patients (P=0.039) whereas it remained unchanged in the non-CS group (P=0.488). The amount of non Gd-glycoforms exhibited similar trends, i.e., decreased in CS group (P=0.068) whereas it remained unchanged in the non-CS group (P=0.943).

Conclusion

This study profiled serum IgA1 for IgAN-associated IgA1 HR O-glycoforms at the molecular level and assessed their changes in response to CS vs. non-CS therapy. IgA1 HR O-glycoforms altered by treatment may serve as a biomarker(s) for monitoring patients’ responses to therapy.

Proteomic Analysis of Irradiation with Millimeter Waves on Soybean Growth under Flooding Conditions

Improving soybean growth and tolerance under environmental stress is crucial for sustainable development. Millimeter waves are a radio-frequency band with a wavelength range of 1-10 mm that has dynamic effects on organisms. To investigate the potential effects of millimeter-waves irradiation on soybean seedlings, morphological and proteomic analyses were performed. Millimeter-waves irradiation improved the growth of roots/hypocotyl and the tolerance of soybean to flooding stress. Proteomic analysis indicated that the irradiated soybean seedlings recovered under oxidative stress during growth, whereas proteins related to glycolysis and ascorbate/glutathione metabolism were not affected. Immunoblot analysis confirmed the promotive effect of millimeter waves to glycolysis- and redox-related pathways under flooding conditions. Sugar metabolism was suppressed under flooding in unirradiated soybean seedlings, whereas it was activated in the irradiated ones, especially trehalose synthesis. These results suggest that millimeter-waves irradiation on soybean seeds promotes the recovery of soybean seedlings under oxidative stress, which positively regulates soybean growth through the regulation of glycolysis and redox related pathways.