Development of terpenoid repellents against Aedes albopictus: a combined study of biological activity evaluation and computational modelling

To explore novel terpenoid repellents, 22 candidate terpenoid derivatives were synthesized and tested for their electroantennogram (EAG) responses and repellent activities against Aedes albopictus. The results from the EAG experiments revealed that 5-(2-hydroxypropan-2-yl)-2-methylcyclohex-2-en-1-yl formate (compound 1) induced distinct EAG responses in female Aedes albopictus. At concentrations of 0.1, 1, 10, 100, and 1000 mg/L, the EAG response values for compound 1 were 179.59, 183.99, 190.38, 193.80, and 196.66 mV, demonstrating comparable or superior effectiveness to DEET. Repellent activity analysis indicated significant repellent activity for compound 1, closest to the positive control DEET. The in silico assessment of the ADMET profile of compound 1 indicates that it successfully passed the ADMET evaluation. Molecular docking studies exhibited favourable binding of compound 1 to the active site of the odorant binding protein (OBP) of Aedes albopictus, involving hydrophobic forces and hydrogen bond interactions with residues in the OBP pocket. The QSAR model highlighted the influential role of hydrogen-bonding receptors, positively charged surface area of weighted atoms, polarity parameters of molecules, and maximum nuclear-nuclear repulsion force of carbon-carbon bonds on the relative EAG response values of the tested compounds. This study holds substantial significance for the advancement of new terpenoid repellents.

Experimental evaluation and structure-activity relationship analysis of bridged-ring terpenoid derivatives as novel Blattella germanica repellent

Cockroaches are urban pests that are very difficult to control. Using repellents is a green, safe and effective strategy for their control. In order to find novel cockroach repellents, the repellent activity of 45 bridged-ring terpenoid derivatives synthesized from β-pinene against Blattella germanica was tested. The relationship between the molecular structure of these bridged-ring terpenoid derivatives and their repellent activity against Blattella germanica was also analysed. The results show that some of the bridged-ring terpenoid derivatives exhibit good repellent activity against Blattella germanica, and six compounds (RR = 60.44-87.32%) show higher repellent activity against Blattella germanica than DEET (RR = 54.77%), making them promising for development as new cockroach repellents. Quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) analysis revealed that the HOMO-1 energy, Kier and Hall index (order 2), Balaban index, and relative positive charged surface area of bridged-ring terpenoid derivatives have effects on repellent activity against Blattella germanica. The present study may provide a theoretical basis for the high-value use of β-pinene and can be helpful to the development of novel repellents against Blattella germanica.

Effects of probiotic and Bidens pilosa on the performance and gut health of chicken during induced Eimeria tenella infection

AIM

In this study, we have examined the individual and combined protective mechanism of probiotic and Bidens pilosa on the performance and gut health of chickens during Eimeria tenella infection over a 29-day experimental trial.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A total of one hundred and fifty 1-day-old chickens were equally distributed into five treatment groups with three biological replicates: two groups were allocated as control groups (control group untreated unchallenged, CG and control positive untreated challenged, CPG) and three groups were fed diets with probiotic (PG), B. pilosa (BPG) and probiotic + B. pilosa (PG + BPG) and challenged with E. tenella. Birds of all groups were assessed for pre and post-infection body weights, oocysts shedding, caecal lesion scores and mRNA expression levels of apoptosis related proteins (Bcl-2, Bax and caspase-3), antioxidant enzymes (CAT and SOD 1), pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and IL-8) and tight junction proteins (CLDN 1 and ZO 1). Our results revealed that during infection (day 21-29), E. tenella challenged chickens significantly decreased the body weight compared with uninfected control chickens; however, there was no significant effect on body weight of chickens fed with probiotic, B. pilosa and probiotic + B. pilosa was observed. Eimeria tenella challenged untreated birds increased (P < 0·05) oocysts shedding, destructive ratio of caeca and mortality as compared to treated challenged birds. CPG group up-regulated the mRNA expression levels of anti-apoptosis protein Bcl-2 while down-regulated the pro-apoptosis protein Bax relative to PG, BPG and PG + BPG groups. Moreover chickens fed probiotic, B. pilosa and probiotic + B. pilosa diets enhanced the activities of antioxidant enzymes, pro-inflammatory cytokines and tight junction proteins with the comparison of control positive untreated challenged chickens.

CONCLUSION

These findings elaborated that feed supplementation of probiotic and B. pilosa (individually or in combination) appeared to be effective in inhibiting the occurrence of disease and decreasing the severity of Eimeria infection in chickens.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

This study explained the underlying anti-coccidial mechanism in which probiotic and B. pilosa (individually and/or in combination) improve the performance of chicken and protect against gut inflammatory responses caused by E. tenella.

Brain-specific monoallelic expression of bovine UBE3A is associated with genomic position

Genomic imprinting is a rare epigenetic process in mammalian cells that leads to monoallelic expression of a gene with a parent-specific pattern. The UBE3A (ubiquitin protein ligase E3A) gene is imprinted with maternal allelic expression in the brain but biallelically expressed in all other tissues in humans. The silencing of the paternal UBE3A allele is thought to be caused by the paternally expressed antisense RNA transcript of UBE3A-ATS. The aberrant imprinted expression of the UBE3A is associated with several neurodevelopmental syndromes and psychological disorders. Cattle are a valuable model species in determining the genetic etiology of sporadic human disorder, and maternal expression of UEB3A has been revealed by next-generation sequencing study in the bovine conceptus. In this study, we investigated the allelic expression of UBE3A and UBE3A-ATS in adult bovine somatic tissues. To confirm the splicing pattern of bovine UBE3A, five 5' alternative transcripts (MT210534-MT210538) were first obtained from bovine brain tissue by RT-PCR. Based on 10 SNP genotypes, we found that the brain-specific monoallelic expression of bovine UBE3A did not occur along the entire locus, and there was a shift from biallelic expression to monoallelic expression in exon 14 of the UBE3A gene. However, the brain-specific monoallelic expression of bovine UBE3A-ATS occurred in the entire gene. These observations demonstrated that the monoallelic expression did not occur along the bovine UBE3A entire locus and was associated with the genomic position.

Comparing Diagnostic Properties of the FRAIL-NH Scale and 4 Frailty Screening Instruments among Chinese Institutionalized Older Adults

OBJECTIVE

To examine the diagnostic test accuracy (DTA) of the FRAIL-NH and four frailty screening instruments among institutionalized older adults.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Institutionalized setting, Jinan, China.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 305 older adults (mean age 79.3 ± 8.4 years, 57.0% female) were enrolled from nursing homes.

MEASUREMENTS

Frailty was assessed by the FRAIL-NH, Physical Frailty Phenotype (PFP), FRAIL, Tilburg Frailty Indicator (TFI), and Groningen Frailty Indicator (GFI), respectively. The Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) was used as a reference standard of frailty. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted to examine the DTA of five frailty screening instruments against the CGA. The optimal cut-point was determined by the maximum value of the Youden index (YI, calculated as sensitivity + specificity - 1).

RESULTS

The prevalence of frailty ranged from 25.9% (FRAIL) to 56.4% (GFI). Areas under the curve (AUCs) against the CGA ranged from 0.80 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.74 - 0.85: FRAIL] to 0.83 (95% CI 0.78 - 0.88: PFP). At their original cut-points, all five frailty screening instruments presented low sensitivity (32.9% - 69.3%) and high specificity (80.0% - 93.8%), as well as high positive predictive values (90.7% - 94.9%) and low negative predictive values (33.2% - 48.1%). At their optimal cut-points, the sensitivity and specificity of the FRAIL-NH, PFP, and FRAIL tended to be balanced, and their correctly classified rates (76.1% - 81.3%) and kappa values (0.465 - 0.523) increased a lot. ROC contrasts showed that all five frailty screening instruments had similarly good diagnostic accuracy (χ2: 0.0003 - 1.38, P > .05).

CONCLUSION

In the institutionalized setting, the specific FRAIL-NH, self-report FRAIL, TFI, and GFI as well as hybrid PFP, show similarly good diagnostic properties in identifying frailty against the CGA.

[Study on the risk of mortality and associated factors among HIV-exposed children in Henan province, 2002-2014]

Objective: To investigate the status of survival and related risk factors among HIV-exposed children in Henan province from 2002 to 2014. Methods: A follow-up program was set up when infants as 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 18 month olds. Data regarding the HIV-exposed children and their mothers were collected, including service of PMTCT, antiviral therapy, incidence of infectious disease and survival status of infants. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to explore the risk factors. Results: A total number of 1 705 HIV-infected infants were reported from 2002 to 2014. Among them, 1 536 infants (90.09%) were still alive when they were at one and a half years old, with another 58 (3.40%) lost to follow up and 111 (6.51%) infants were dead. The cumulative mortality rates in HIV-exposed children, newborn, and HIV-exposed infants were 67.39‰, 23.07‰, and 57.01‰, respectively. No statistical significance was found on the decreasing tendency of mortality in different years. The leading cause of death was noticed as pneumonia, with a proportion of 32.43%, followed by suspected AIDS. Early diagnosis had not been made in infants. Low-birth weight (OR=4.97, 95%CI: 3.12-7.92) seemed to be a risk factor. Early detection in pregnancy (OR= 0.46, 95%CI: 0.26-0.80) and HARRT provided to children (OR=0.25, 95%CI: 0.15-0.42) were recognized as protective factors. Conclusions: The mortality of HIV-exposed children were high, which called for the development of programs on early infant diagnosis and HARRT. Measures should be taken to prevent pneumonia and other infectious diseases, together with nutrition support and monitor program on growth.

[Effectiveness of prevention of mother to child HIV transmission in Henan province, 2002-2013]

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention on preventing mother to child transmission of HIV and identify the influencing factors. Methods: The data regarding the pregnant women and their infants were collected, including demographic characteristics, pregnancy and delivery, access to antiviral therapy, HIV infection status at age 18 months and survival of infants between 2002 and 2013 through follow-up, Multivariate logistic regression model were used to identify the influencing factors. Results: By the end of 2013, a total of 8 621 554 pregnant women received HIV test, among them 2 264 were infected with HIV. The positive rate of HIV is 0.03%. The HIV positive rate decreased year by year (χ(2) =4.871, P=0.027). A total of 1 530 infants were born from 2002 to 2013, among them 1 384 survived and 92 died at age of 18 months, and 54 were lost for follow up. Sixty infants were tested to be HIV-positive, 1 324 infants were tested to be HIV-negative. The mother to child transmission rate was 4.34%, the corrective mother to child transmission rate was 6.33%. Receiving HIV prevention service in early pregnancy (OR=0.26, 95% CI: 0.09-0.77), standardized antiviral therapy (OR=0.42, 95% CI: 0.21-0.82), artificial feeding (OR=0.06, 95% CI: 0.02-0.21) might be the main protective factors, episiotomy on delivery (OR=3.91, 95% CI: 1.74-8.80) might be the risk factors. Conclusion: The HIV tested positive rate remained to be low and decreased year by year in pregnant women in Henan, but the mother to child HIV transmission rate was high. It is necessary to improve the prevention of mother to child HIV transmission.

Abstract A11: Airway gene expression indicates an increase in oxidative phosphorylation in the field of injury of individuals with premalignant lesions

Lung squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) claims the lives of approximately 50,000 individuals in the United States annually due to late stage diagnosis and lack of effective treatment options. Lung SCC arises in the epithelial layer of the bronchial airways and is preceded by the development of premalignant lesions (PMLs). The molecular events involved in the progression of PMLs to lung SCC are not clearly understood as not all PMLs that develop go on to form carcinoma. Our group is now using high-throughput genomic techniques to characterize the process of premalignant progression by examining PMLs and non-lesion areas in the airway of individuals with lesions (i.e. the “field of injury”,) to identify events that lead to the development of SCC.

mRNA-Seq was conducted on cytologically-normal proximal airway epithelium collected by brushing the mainstem bronchus from current and former smokers with (n=43) and without (n=32) PMLs (metaplatic lesions excluded). Linear modeling strategies were used to identify genes altered between subjects with and without PMLs (n=801 out of 13,916 genes at FDR&lt;0.01). Genes were significantly concordantly enriched (FDR&lt;0.01) in an overlapping sample set profiled by microarray (n=57 out of the 75 samples, 33/57 with PMLs) and enriched among up-regulated genes in the independent sample set (n=158, 38/158 with PMLs). Pathway analysis by GSEA revealed enrichment (FDR&lt;0.05) of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) /respiratory electron transport among genes up-regulated in the airways of subjects with PMLs.

OXPHOS is the most efficient metabolic pathway that generates energy in the form of ATP by utilizing the structures and enzymes of the mitochondria and OXPHOS is often elevated during repair epithelial tissue. However, OXPHOS metabolism is often superseded in the development of cancer by glycolysis. To validate these computational findings related to the OXPHOS pathway, we examined oxygen consumption rates (OCR) and extracellular acidification rates (ECAR) in lung cell lines. These cell lines have either high OXPHOS and low glycolytic gene expression (H1299) or low OXPHOS and high glycolytic gene expression (HCC4006). Consistent with the gene expression pattern in these cell lines, The OCR for H1299s and HBECs were 10% higher than HCC4006 cells reflecting higher OXPHOS activity (p = 0.06). Whereas the ECAR was 39% higher in HCC4006 than H1299 cells and 46 % higher than HBECs (p&lt;0.001and p&lt;0.001 respectively), reflecting higher glycolytic metabolism corresponding to the gene expression. Next, we measured protein expression of genes that were elevated in the field of injury of PMLs, which included: mitochondrial membrane protein, translocase of the outer membrane (TOMM 22) and a subunit of complex IV of the electron transport chain, cytochrome C oxidase (COX-IV), in FFPE sections of lung tissue from the N-nitroso-tris-chloroethylurea (NTCU) mouse model of lung SCC. The NTCU model develops PMLs in the bronchial epithelium that progress to lung SCC in a histologically similar pattern to that observed in humans; it is important to note the carcinogen is administered cutaneously and not inhaled thus the field of injury may differ from inhaled carcinogens such as tobacco smoke. Protein levels of TOMM 22, and COX-IV were found to be elevated in dysplastic lesions compared to untreated controls. Together these data suggest that metabolism-associated gene expression is correlated with cellular metabolism and furthermore there is an increase in OXPHOS associated with the development of PMLs. While we are currently in the process of validating these findings in human normal and PMLs, our results suggest that there is potential that therapeutically increasing or maintaining OXPHOS in premalignant lesions or the field of injury may be a mechanism of prevention for lung cancer.

Citation Format: Sarah A. Mazzilli, Gang Liu, Xiaohui Zhang, Huiqing Si, Stephen Lam, Marc Lenburg, Avrum Spira, Jennifer E. Beane. Airway gene expression indicates an increase in oxidative phosphorylation in the field of injury of individuals with premalignant lesions. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirteenth Annual AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research; 2014 Sep 27-Oct 1; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Can Prev Res 2015;8(10 Suppl): Abstract nr A11.

γδ T cells are required for pulmonary IL-17A expression after ozone exposure in mice: role of TNFα

Ozone is an air pollutant that causes pulmonary symptoms. In mice, ozone exposure causes pulmonary injury and increases bronchoalveolar lavage macrophages and neutrophils. We have shown that IL-17A is important in the recruitment of neutrophils after subacute ozone exposure (0.3 ppm for 24–72 h). We hypothesized that γδ T cells are the main producers of IL-17A after subacute ozone. To explore this hypothesis we exposed wildtype mice and mice deficient in γδ T cells (TCRδ^−/−) to ozone or room air. Ozone-induced increases in BAL macrophages and neutrophils were attenuated in TCRδ^−/− mice. Ozone increased the number of γδ T cells in the lungs and increased pulmonary Il17a mRNA expression and the number of IL-17A⁺ CD45⁺ cells in the lungs and these effects were abolished in TCRδ^−/− mice. Ozone-induced increases in factors downstream of IL-17A signaling, including G-CSF, IL-6, IP-10 and KC were also decreased in TCRδ^−/− versus wildtype mice. Neutralization of IL-17A during ozone exposure in wildtype mice mimicked the effects of γδ T cell deficiency. TNFR2 deficiency and etanercept, a TNFα antagonist, also reduced ozone-induced increases in Il17a mRNA, IL-17A⁺ CD45⁺ cells and BAL G-CSF as well as BAL neutrophils. TNFR2 deficient mice also had decreased ozone-induced increases in Ccl20, a chemoattractant for IL-17A⁺ γδ T cells. Il17a mRNA and IL-17A⁺ γδ T cells were also lower in obese Cpe^fat versus lean WT mice exposed to subacute ozone, consistent with the reduced neutrophil recruitment observed in the obese mice. Taken together, our data indicate that pulmonary inflammation induced by subacute ozone requires γδ T cells and TNFα-dependent recruitment of IL-17A⁺ γδ T cells to the lung.

A dynamic bronchial airway gene expression signature of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung function impairment

RATIONALE

Molecular phenotyping of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been impeded in part by the difficulty in obtaining lung tissue samples from individuals with impaired lung function.

OBJECTIVES

We sought to determine whether COPD-associated processes are reflected in gene expression profiles of bronchial airway epithelial cells obtained by bronchoscopy.

METHODS

Gene expression profiling of bronchial brushings obtained from 238 current and former smokers with and without COPD was performed using Affymetrix Human Gene 1.0 ST Arrays.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

We identified 98 genes whose expression levels were associated with COPD status, FEV1% predicted, and FEV1/FVC. In silico analysis identified activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) as a potential transcriptional regulator of genes with COPD-associated airway expression, and ATF4 overexpression in airway epithelial cells in vitro recapitulates COPD-associated gene expression changes. Genes with COPD-associated expression in the bronchial airway epithelium had similarly altered expression profiles in prior studies performed on small-airway epithelium and lung parenchyma, suggesting that transcriptomic alterations in the bronchial airway epithelium reflect molecular events found at more distal sites of disease activity. Many of the airway COPD-associated gene expression changes revert toward baseline after therapy with the inhaled corticosteroid fluticasone in independent cohorts.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings demonstrate a molecular field of injury throughout the bronchial airway of active and former smokers with COPD that may be driven in part by ATF4 and is modifiable with therapy. Bronchial airway epithelium may ultimately serve as a relatively accessible tissue in which to measure biomarkers of disease activity for guiding clinical management of COPD.

Augmented pulmonary responses to acute ozone exposure in obese mice: roles of TNFR2 and IL-13

BACKGROUND

Acute ozone (O(3)) exposure results in greater inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) in obese versus lean mice.

OBJECTIVES

We examined the hypothesis that these augmented responses to O(3) are the result of greater signaling through tumor necrosis factor receptor 2 (TNFR2) and/or interleukin (IL)-13.

METHODS

We exposed lean wild-type (WT) and TNFR2-deficient (TNFR2(-/-)) mice, and obese Cpe(fat) and TNFR2-deficient Cpe(fat) mice (Cpe(fat)/TNFR2(-/-)), to O(3) (2 ppm for 3 hr) either with or without treatment with anti-IL-13 or left them unexposed.

RESULTS

O(3)-induced increases in baseline pulmonary mechanics, airway responsiveness, and cellular inflammation were greater in Cpe(fat) than in WT mice. In lean mice, TNFR2 deficiency ablated O(3)-induced AHR without affecting pulmonary inflammation; whereas in obese mice, TNFR2 deficiency augmented O(3)-induced AHR but reduced inflammatory cell recruitment. O(3) increased pulmonary expression of IL-13 in Cpe(fat) but not WT mice. Flow cytometry analysis of lung cells indicated greater IL-13-expressing CD(4+) cells in Cpe(fat) versus WT mice after O(3) exposure. In Cpe(fat) mice, anti-IL-13 treatment attenuated O(3)-induced increases in pulmonary mechanics and inflammatory cell recruitment, but did not affect AHR. These effects of anti-IL-13 treatment were not observed in Cpe(fat)/TNFR2(-/-) mice. There was no effect of anti-IL-13 treatment in WT mice.

CONCLUSIONS

Pulmonary responses to O(3) are not just greater, but qualitatively different, in obese versus lean mice. In particular, in obese mice, O(3) induces IL-13 and IL-13 synergizes with TNF via TNFR2 to exacerbate O(3)-induced changes in pulmonary mechanics and inflammatory cell recruitment but not AHR.

Pulmonary inflammation induced by subacute ozone is augmented in adiponectin-deficient mice: role of IL-17A

Pulmonary responses to ozone, a common air pollutant, are augmented in obese individuals. Adiponectin, an adipose-derived hormone that declines in obesity, has regulatory effects on the immune system. To determine the role of adiponectin in the pulmonary inflammation induced by extended (48-72 h) low-dose (0.3 parts per million) exposure to ozone, adiponectin-deficient (Adipo(-/-)) and wild-type mice were exposed to ozone or to room air. In wild-type mice, ozone exposure increased total bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) adiponectin. Ozone-induced lung inflammation, including increases in BAL neutrophils, protein (an index of lung injury), IL-6, keratinocyte-derived chemokine, LPS-induced CXC chemokine, and G-CSF were augmented in Adipo(-/-) versus wild-type mice. Ozone also increased IL-17A mRNA expression to a greater extent in Adipo(-/-) versus wild-type mice. Moreover, compared with control Ab, anti-IL-17A Ab attenuated ozone-induced increases in BAL neutrophils and G-CSF in Adipo(-/-) but not in wild-type mice, suggesting that IL-17A, by promoting G-CSF release, contributed to augmented neutrophilia in Adipo(-/-) mice. Flow cytometric analysis of lung cells revealed that the number of CD45(+)/F4/80(+)/IL-17A(+) macrophages and γδ T cells expressing IL-17A increased after ozone exposure in wild-type mice and further increased in Adipo(-/-) mice. The IL-17(+) macrophages were CD11c(-) (interstitial macrophages), whereas CD11c(+) macrophages (alveolar macrophages) did not express IL-17A. Taken together, the data are consistent with the hypothesis that adiponectin protects against neutrophil recruitment induced by extended low-dose ozone exposure by inhibiting the induction and/or recruitment of IL-17A in interstitial macrophages and/or γδ T cells.

Loss of leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 causes age-dependent bi-phasic alterations of the autophagy pathway

Background

Dominantly inherited missense mutations in leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) are the most common genetic cause of Parkinson's disease, but its normal physiological function remains unclear. We previously reported that loss of LRRK2 causes impairment of protein degradation pathways as well as increases of apoptotic cell death and inflammatory responses in the kidney of aged mice.

Results

Our analysis of LRRK2-/- kidneys at multiple ages, such as 1, 4, 7, and 20 months, revealed unique age-dependent development of a variety of molecular, cellular, and ultrastructural changes. Gross morphological abnormalities of the kidney, including altered size, weight, texture, and color, are evident in LRRK2-/- mice at 3-4 months of age, along with increased accumulation of autofluorescent granules in proximal renal tubules. The ratio of kidney/body weight in LRRK2-/- mice is increased at 1, 4, and 7 months of age (~10% at 1 month, and ~20% at 4 and 7 months), whereas the ratio is drastically decreased at 20 months of age (~50%). While kidney filtration function evaluated by levels of blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine is not significantly affected in LRRK2-/- mice at 12-14 months of age, expression of kidney injury molecule-1, a sensitive and specific biomarker for epithelial cell injury of proximal renal tubules, is up-regulated (~10-fold). Surprisingly, loss of LRRK2 causes age-dependent bi-phasic alterations of the autophagic activity in LRRK2-/- kidneys, which is unchanged at 1 month of age, enhanced at 7 months but reduced at 20 months, as evidenced by corresponding changes in the levels of LC3-I/II, a reliable autophagy marker, and p62, an autophagy substrate. Levels of α-synuclein and protein carbonyls, a general oxidative damage marker, are also decreased in LRRK2-/- kidneys at 7 months of age but increased at 20 months. Interestingly, the age-dependent bi-phasic alterations in autophagic activity in LRRK2-/- kidneys is accompanied by increased levels of lysosomal proteins and proteases at 1, 7, and 20 months of age as well as progressive accumulation of autolysosomes and lipofuscin granules at 4, 7-10, and 20 months of age.

Conclusions

LRRK2 is important for the dynamic regulation of autophagy function in vivo.

Respiration in adipocytes is inhibited by reactive oxygen species

It is a desirable goal to stimulate fuel oxidation in adipocytes and shift the balance toward less fuel storage and more burning. To understand this regulatory process, respiration was measured in primary rat adipocytes, mitochondria, and fat-fed mice. Maximum O(2) consumption, in vitro, was determined with a chemical uncoupler of oxidative phosphorylation (carbonylcyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone (FCCP)). The adenosine triphosphate/adenosine diphosphate (ATP/ADP) ratio was measured by luminescence. Mitochondria were localized by confocal microscopy with MitoTracker Green and their membrane potential (Delta psi(M)) measured using tetramethylrhodamine ethyl ester perchlorate (TMRE). The effect of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on respiration and body composition in vivo was assessed in mice. Addition of FCCP collapsed Delta psi(M) and decreased the ATP/ADP ratio. However, we demonstrated the same rate of adipocyte O(2) consumption in the absence or presence of fuels and FCCP. Respiration was only stimulated when reactive oxygen species (ROS) were scavenged by pyruvate or NAC: other fuels or fuel combinations had little effect. Importantly, the ROS scavenging role of pyruvate was not affected by rotenone, an inhibitor of mitochondrial complex I. In addition, mice that consumed NAC exhibited increased O(2) consumption and decreased body fat in vivo. These studies suggest for the first time that adipocyte O(2) consumption may be inhibited by ROS, because pyruvate and NAC stimulated respiration. ROS inhibition of O(2) consumption may explain the difficulty to identify effective strategies to increase fat burning in adipocytes. Stimulating fuel oxidation in adipocytes by decreasing ROS may provide a novel means to shift the balance from fuel storage to fuel burning.

Impact of adiponectin deficiency on pulmonary responses to acute ozone exposure in mice

Obese mice have increased responses to acute ozone (O(3)) exposure. T-cadherin is a binding protein for the high-molecular weight isoforms of adiponectin, an anti-inflammatory hormone that declines in obesity. The objective of the present study was to determine whether adiponectin affects pulmonary responses to O(3), and whether these effects are mediated through T-cadherin. We performed bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and measured pulmonary responsiveness to methacholine after acute air or O(3) exposure (2 ppm for 3 h) in adiponectin-deficient (Adipo(-/-)) or T-cadherin-deficient (T-Cad(-/-)) mice. O(3) increased pulmonary responses to methacholine and increased BAL neutrophils and protein to a greater extent in wild-type than in Adipo(-/-) mice, whereas T-cadherin deficiency had no effect. O(3)-induced increases in BAL IL-6 and keratinocyte-derived chemokine (KC), which contribute to O(3)-induced pulmonary neutrophilia, were also greater in wild-type than in Adipo(-/-) mice. In contrast, responses to O(3) were not altered by transgenic overexpression of adiponectin. To determine which adiponectin isoforms are present in the lung, Western blotting was performed. The hexameric isoform of adiponectin dominated in serum, whereas BAL was dominated by the high-molecular weight isoform of adiponectin. Interestingly, serum adiponectin was greater in T-Cad(-/-) versus wild-type mice, whereas BAL adiponectin was lower in T-Cad(-/-) versus wild-type mice, suggesting that T-cadherin may be important for transit of high-molecular weight adiponectin from the blood to the lung. Our results indicate that adiponectin deficiency inhibits pulmonary inflammation induced by acute O(3) exposure, and that T-cadherin does not mediate the effects of adiponectin responsible for these events.

Pulmonary responses to subacute ozone exposure in obese vs. lean mice

The purpose of this study was to determine whether obesity affects pulmonary responses following a 3-day ozone exposure. Obese db/db and lean wild-type mice were exposed to ozone (0.3 ppm) for 72 h. In wild-type mice, ozone exposure caused pulmonary injury and inflammation, and these events were associated with reduced pulmonary compliance. In db/db mice, ozone-induced neutrophil recruitment to the lung was reduced and no reduction in compliance was observed. Similar results were obtained in obese Cpe(fat) mice, indicating that loss of leptin signaling in db/db mice does not account for these obesity-related changes. To examine the role of interleukin (IL)-6 in this obesity-related difference in ozone responsiveness, wild-type and IL-6-deficient mice were raised on 10% or 60% fat diets. Compared with 10% fat-fed mice, wild-type 60% fat-fed mice were obese and had reduced neutrophil recruitment following ozone. IL-6 deficiency reduced ozone-induced neutrophil recruitment in 10% fat-fed mice. In contrast, in obese mice, no effect of IL-6 deficiency on neutrophil recruitment was observed. Obesity-related differences in the effect of ozone on compliance were observed in both wild-type and IL-6-deficient mice. Obesity-related differences in serum IL-6 were observed and may account for obesity-related differences in the effect of IL-6 deficiency on neutrophil recruitment. In summary, the neutrophilic inflammation induced by prolonged low level ozone exposure was attenuated in obese mice and appeared to result from an absence of IL-6-dependent neutrophil recruitment in the obese mice.

A full subtraction approach for finite element method based source analysis using constrained Delaunay tetrahedralisation

A mathematical dipole is widely used as a model for the primary current source in electroencephalography (EEG) source analysis. In the governing Poisson-type differential equation, the dipole leads to a singularity on the right-hand side, which has to be treated specifically. In this paper, we will present a full subtraction approach where the total potential is divided into a singularity and a correction potential. The singularity potential is due to a dipole in an infinite region of homogeneous conductivity. The correction potential is computed using the finite element (FE) method. Special care is taken in order to evaluate the right-hand side integral appropriately with the objective of achieving highest possible convergence order for linear basis functions. Our new approach allows the construction of transfer matrices for fast computation of the inverse problem for anisotropic volume conductors. A constrained Delaunay tetrahedralisation (CDT) approach is used for the generation of high-quality FE meshes. We validate the new approach in a four-layer sphere model with a highly conductive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and an anisotropic skull compartment. For radial and tangential sources with eccentricities up to 1 mm below the CSF compartment, we achieve a maximal relative error of 0.71% in a CDT-FE model with 360 k nodes which is not locally refined around the source singularity and therefore useful for arbitrary dipole locations. The combination of the full subtraction approach with the high quality CDT meshes leads to accuracies that, to the best of the author's knowledge, have not yet been presented before.

Dent’s disease: identification of a novel mutation in the renal chloride channel CLCN5

Dent's disease is an inherited tubulopathy caused by a mutation in the CLCN5 chloride channel gene. It is characterized by low-molecular weight proteinuria, hypercalciuria, nephrolithiasis or nephrocalcinosis, rickets and eventual-progressive renal failure. Onset of clinical symptoms show a great variability, making a diagnosis at an early stage of the disease often difficult. Given the variably clinical picture, genetic analysis can provide a reliable method to confirm the diagnosis. Here, we report on the case of a patient with progressive renal failure showing signs of a tubular lesion and symptoms of Dent's disease. Although this rare disease was suspected by means of the clinical features, it was genetic analysis that confirmed the diagnosis and revealed a novel mutation in the CLCN5 gene.

[Study on the physicochemical properties of Campylobacter jejuni enterotoxin]

Precipitate of Campylobacter jejuni cytotonic enterotoxin(CE) performed in an 80% saturated solution of ammonium sulfateit indicated that there were some little molecular proteins except the 68 kD main band on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis(SDS-PAGE), whereas the eluate from GM1 ganglioside affinity column chromatography exhibited only one 68 kD band on SDS-PAGE. The results suggest that CE mainly be consisted of 68 kD protein. The toxin is heat-labile, pH dependent and resistant to trypsin, It could be completely inactivated by heating at either 56 degrees C and 60 degrees C for 30 min or 100 degrees C for 15 min. The activity was maximum at pH 6.0 and was completely inactivate at pH 3.0 and pH 9.0, and rapidly reduced after storage over 3 d at 4 degrees C. The anti-LT serum could completely inhibited the activity of CE.

B7-1 antigen expression in tumor cells from cancerous human tissues

OBJECTIVE

To explore the expression of B7-1 antigen (Ag), the most important costimulatory molecule for T-lymphocyte activation, on tumor cells from cancerous human tissues.

STUDY DESIGN

The study group consisted of 82 biopsies taken from a variety of cancerous human tissues. Ten normal cervical specimens, used as controls, were taken from uteri removed for leiomyomas or leiomyomatosis. B7-1 molecule expression was identified using monoclonal antibody (Ab) with CD80 and the SABC technique.

RESULTS

In most cases (50/82), the tumor cells were totally or partially B7-1 Ag positive. The positive products were distributed mainly on the cell surface and, in some cases, also in the cytoplasm. Although in transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder, all tumor cells in all three cases stained strongly with CD80, in squamous cell carcinoma and adnocarcinoma, the B7-1 expression in cancer cells was detected in 3/56 and 15/23 cases, respectively. The intensity and distribution of B7-1 expression from case to case were heterogeneous: half the cases had relatively homogeneous and stronger B7-1 expression in cancer cells. Additionally, there were B7-1+ dendritic cells and lymphocytes scattered or densely infiltrating interstitial tissue. In some cases, the endothelia of small vessels were proved to be B7-1+. There was one esophageal cancer specimen containing normal-looking mucosa in which B7-1 molecule expression was also demonstrated in the squamous and glandular epithelia.

CONCLUSION

Our findings demonstrate that the tumor cells in cancerous human tissues do not all fail to express B7-1. The mechanism of the failure of hosts to reject tumors can be attributed not only to the lack of costimulatory molecules in tumor cells but also to events after the Ag-presenting process.

[Types of flowering branch of Magnolia denudata Desr. under high yield conditions]

The types of flowering branch of Magnolia denudata under high yield conditions were investigated. The action of axillary flowering branches on yield increase and the cultural techniques of promoting axillary flowering branch formation were evaluated. Under the same culturing conditions M. denudata var. dilutipurpurascens has hardly any axillary flowering branches.

[Differentiation of Magnolia denudata Desr. flower buds]

The article gives the results of an observation on the differentiation of Magnolia denudata buds. In Huaining County, Anhui Province, differentiation of the buds starts at the beginning of May. By the end of June the differentiation of various parts of the flower is completed. The process takes about 50 days. The differentiation of buds goes on at a fairly fast speed and in a fairly uniform way. Based on the results of the observation, the authors advise that application of fertilizer, especially the top application should not be late. The beginning of March is a very important time for the development of buds in length and size, and for the final harvest as well. The proper time to pick the flower buds comes when they are fully developed before the perianth appears.