Curcumin: from ancient medicine to current clinical trials

Curcumin is the active ingredient in the traditional herbal remedy and dietary spice turmeric (Curcuma longa). Curcumin has a surprisingly wide range of beneficial properties, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic activity. The pleiotropic activities of curcumin derive from its complex chemistry as well as its ability to influence multiple signaling pathways, including survival pathways such as those regulated by NF-kappaB, Akt, and growth factors; cytoprotective pathways dependent on Nrf2; and metastatic and angiogenic pathways. Curcumin is a free radical scavenger and hydrogen donor, and exhibits both pro- and antioxidant activity. It also binds metals, particularly iron and copper, and can function as an iron chelator. Curcumin is remarkably non-toxic and exhibits limited bioavailability. Curcumin exhibits great promise as a therapeutic agent, and is currently in human clinical trials for a variety of conditions, including multiple myeloma, pancreatic cancer, myelodysplastic syndromes, colon cancer, psoriasis and Alzheimer's disease.

The TIGR Gene Indices: analysis of gene transcript sequences in highly sampled eukaryotic species

While genome sequencing projects are advancing rapidly, EST sequencing and analysis remains a primary research tool for the identification and categorization of gene sequences in a wide variety of species and an important resource for annotation of genomic sequence. The TIGR Gene Indices (http://www.tigr.org/tdb/tgi. shtml) are a collection of species-specific databases that use a highly refined protocol to analyze EST sequences in an attempt to identify the genes represented by that data and to provide additional information regarding those genes. Gene Indices are constructed by first clustering, then assembling EST and annotated gene sequences from GenBank for the targeted species. This process produces a set of unique, high-fidelity virtual transcripts, or Tentative Consensus (TC) sequences. The TC sequences can be used to provide putative genes with functional annotation, to link the transcripts to mapping and genomic sequence data, to provide links between orthologous and paralogous genes and as a resource for comparative sequence analysis.

Head direction, place, and movement correlates for cells in the rat retrosplenial cortex

The retrosplenial cortex is strongly connected with brain regions involved in spatial signaling. To test whether it also codes space, single cells were recorded while rats navigated in an open field. As in earlier work (L. L. Chen, L. H. Lin, C. A. Barnes, & B. L. McNaughton, 1994; L. L. Chen, L. H. Lin, E. J. Green, C. A. Barnes, & B. L. McNaughton, 1994), the authors found head direction cells with properties similar to those in other areas. These cells were slightly anticipatory. Another cell type fired to particular combinations of location, direction, and movement, which suggested that they may fire whenever the rat approaches a particular location, using a particular locomotor behavior. The remaining cells could not be clearly categorized but also showed a significant correlation with one or more of the spatial-movement variables examined. The fact that the retrosplenial cortex contains spatial and movement-related signals and is connected with the motor cortex suggests that it may play a role in path integration or navigational motor planning.

FGF-23 inhibits renal tubular phosphate transport and is a PHEX substrate

Oncogenic osteomalacia (OOM), X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH), and autosomal dominant hypophosphatemic rickets (ADHR) are phenotypically similar disorders characterized by hypophosphatemia, decreased renal phosphate reabsorption, normal or low serum calcitriol concentrations, normal serum concentrations of calcium and parathyroid hormone, and defective skeletal mineralization. XLH results from mutations in the PHEX gene, encoding a membrane-bound endopeptidase, whereas ADHR is associated with mutations of the gene encoding FGF-23. Recent evidence that FGF-23 is expressed in mesenchymal tumors associated with OOM suggests that FGF-23 is responsible for the phosphaturic activity previously termed "phosphatonin." Here we show that both wild-type FGF-23 and the ADHR mutant, FGF-23(R179Q), inhibit phosphate uptake in renal epithelial cells. We further show that the endopeptidase, PHEX, degrades native FGF-23 but not the mutant form. Our results suggest that FGF-23 is involved in the pathogenesis of these three hypophosphatemic disorders and directly link PHEX and FGF-23 within the same biochemical pathway.

Activation of Stat1 by mutant fibroblast growth-factor receptor in thanatophoric dysplasia type II dwarfism

The achondroplasia class of chondrodysplasias comprises the most common genetic forms of dwarfism in humans and includes achondroplasia, hypochondroplasia and thanatophoric dysplasia types I and II (TDI and TDII), which are caused by different mutations in a fibroblast growth-factor receptor FGFR3 (ref. 1). The molecular mechanism and the mediators of these FGFR3-related growth abnormalities are not known. Here we show that mutant TDII FGFR3 has a constitutive tyrosine kinase activity which can specifically activate the transcription factor Stat1 (for signal transducer and activator of transcription). Furthermore, expression of TDII FGFR3 induced nuclear translocation of Stat1, expression of the cell-cycle inhibitor p21(WAF1/CIP1), and growth arrest of the cell. Thus, TDII FGFR3 may use Stat1 as a mediator of growth retardation in bone development. Consistent with this, Stat1 activation and increased p21(WAF1/CIP1) expression was found in the cartilage cells from the TDII fetus, but not in those from the normal fetus. Thus, abnormal STAT activation and p21(WAF1/CIP1) expression by the TDII mutant receptor may be responsible for this FGFR3-related bone disease.

alpha-Synuclein gene duplication is present in sporadic Parkinson disease

OBJECTIVE

alpha-Synuclein gene (SNCA) multiplication was found in familial Parkinson disease (PD). We examined SNCA multiplication in patients with familial and sporadic PD and multiple system atrophy (MSA).

METHODS

We screened 1,106 patients with parkinsonism (PD = 906, MSA = 200) for SNCA multiplication by multiplex PCR. Fluorescent in situ hybridization was done to confirm the multiplication. [(123)I]N-omega-Fluoropropyl-2 beta-carbomethoxy-3beta-(4-iodophenyl)-tropane ([(123)I]FP-CIT) SPECT was done in the patients with SNCA multiplication and their family members.

RESULTS

Three patients were identified as having SNCA duplication. One patient had a positive family history, and two patients were sporadic. Each patient had asymptomatic carriers in their families. The familial case had early onset parkinsonism with rapidly progressive course, cognitive impairment, and dysautonomia. Sporadic cases were more typical of PD. [(123)I]FP-CIT SPECT was abnormal in the patients and normal in the asymptomatic carriers.

CONCLUSION

SNCA multiplication is present in sporadic Parkinson disease (PD) and needs to be screened. Low penetrance, clinical heterogeneity, and normal dopamine transporter imaging in asymptomatic carriers may suggest the presence of other genetic modifiers or environmental triggers that play a role in the pathogenesis of PD due to SNCA duplication.

The anatomical and computational basis of the rat head-direction cell signal

As a rat navigates through space, neurons called head-direction (HD) cells provide a signal of the rat's momentary directional heading. Although partly guided by landmarks, the cells also show a remarkable ability to track directional heading based on angular head movement. Theoretical models suggest that the HD cells are linked together to form an attractor network, and that cells which signal angular velocity update the directional setting of the attractor. Recently, cell types similar to those required theoretically have been discovered in the lateral mammillary and dorsal tegmental nuclei. Lesion and anatomical data suggest these nuclei might constitute the postulated attractor-path integration mechanism, and that they provide the HD cell signal to cortical areas where it has been observed.

Cell cycle progression in the developing Drosophila eye: roughex encodes a novel protein required for the establishment of G1

The onset of pattern formation in the developing Drosophila eye is marked by the simultaneous synchronization of all cells in the G1 phase of the cell cycle. These cells will then either commit to another round of cell division or differentiate into neurons. Although cell cycle synchronization occurs in roughex (rux) mutants, cells circumvent G1 and all cells enter S phase, including cells that would normally differentiate. This leads to defects in early steps of pattern formation and cell fate determination. rux is suppressed by mutations in genes that promote cell cycle progression (i.e., cyclin A and string) and enhanced by mutations in genes that promote differentiation (i.e., Ras1 and Star). rux encodes a novel protein of 335 amino acids. We propose that rux functions as a negative regulator of G1 progression in the developing eye.

Posttrauma thromboembolism prophylaxis

PURPOSE

The need to study methods of thromboembolism prophylaxis in high-risk trauma patients is well established. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of a proposed study design, including current methods of prophylaxis, performance of a risk assessment profile scale, and the use of serial color-flow duplex studies in detecting deep venous thrombosis (DVT).

METHODS

Patients were enrolled into the study, stratified as to their ability to receive anticoagulation and randomized to low-dose unfractionated heparin, low molecular weight heparin, pneumatic compression devices, or foot pumps with or without vena caval filters. Serial ultrasound scans were performed at designated intervals for 4 weeks. Pulmonary angiograms were obtained for clinical signs or symptoms of pulmonary embolism.

RESULTS

Fifty-three patients, 32 male and 21 female patients with a mean age of 44 years, completed the study. The incidence of DVT was 43% (23 of 53 patients) and significantly higher in older patients. There were no pulmonary embolisms. Color-flow duplex proved to be a sensitive method for detecting both proximal and distal thrombi. The risk assessment profile for thromboembolism (RAPT) scale identified a group of patients with a high incidence of DVT. However, the occurrence of DVT was not correlated with the magnitude of the RAPT score.

CONCLUSION

The ability to identify a population with a high incidence of thromboembolism by using the RAPT score to detect asymptomatic DVT, and the suggested advantage of low molecular weight heparin, all support the need for an appropriately powered randomized clinical trial.

Role of the lateral mammillary nucleus in the rat head direction circuit: a combined single unit recording and lesion study

We recorded head direction (HD) cells from the lateral mammillary nucleus (LMN) and anterior thalamus (ATN) of freely behaving rats and also made bilateral lesions of LMN while recording HD cells from ATN. We discovered that the tuning functions of LMN HD cells become narrower during contraversive head turns, but not ipsiversive head turns, compared to when the head is not turning. This narrowing effect does not occur for ATN HD cells. We also found that the HD signal in LMN leads that in ATN by about 15-20 ms. When LMN was lesioned bilaterally, HD cells in ATN immediately lost their directional firing properties and never recovered them. Based on these findings, we argue that LMN may be an essential component of an attractor-integrator network that participates in generating the HD signal.

A novel big defensin identified in horseshoe crab hemocytes: isolation, amino acid sequence, and antibacterial activity

Hemocytes of the horseshoe crab (limulus) contain a family of arthropodous peptide antibiotics, termed the tachyplesin family, and antibacterial protein, called anti-LPS factor, of which the former is located in the small (S) granules and the latter in the large (L) granules of the hemocytes. In our ongoing studies on granular components, we have identified here a novel defensin-like substance present in both L- and S-granules. This substance strongly inhibits the growth of Gram-negative and -positive bacteria, and fungi, such as Candida albicans. The isolated substance, tentatively termed "big defensin," consists of 79 amino acid residues, of which the COOH-terminal 37 residues have a sequence similar to those of mammalian neutrophil-derived defensins, especially rat defensin. Characterization of the disulfide motif in big defensin indicated that the disulfide array is identical to that of beta-defensins from bovine neutrophils. One clear structural difference is that the limulus hemocyte-derived big defensin has an extension of the NH2-terminal hydrophobic sequence with 35 amino acid residues followed by the COOH-terminal cationic defensin portion. This amphipathic nature of big defensin seems likely to be associated with its potent antibacterial activity. Furthermore, antibacterial activities of the NH2-terminal hydrophobic region and the COOH-terminal defensin portion separated by tryptic digestion are significantly different: the former displays a more potent activity against Gram-positive bacteria, whereas the latter is more potent against Gram-negative bacteria. Big defensin, therefore, may prove to represent a new class of defensin family possessing two functional domains with different antimicrobial activities.

Tachycitin, a small granular component in horseshoe crab hemocytes, is an antimicrobial protein with chitin-binding activity

Small granules of horseshoe crab hemocytes contain two known major antimicrobial substances, tachyplesin and big defensin (S5), and at least five protein components (S1 to S6), with unknown functions. In the present study, we examined the biological properties and primary structure of a small granular component S2, named tachycitin. This component was purified from the acid extract of hemocyte debris by two steps of chromatography. The purified tachycitin was a single chain protein with an apparent M(r) = 8,500 on Tricine-SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Ultracentrifugation analysis revealed tachycitin to be present in monomer form in solution. Tachycitin inhibited the growth of both Gram-negative and -positive bacteria, and fungi, with a bacterial agglutinating property. Moreover, tachycitin and big defensin acted synergistically in antimicrobial activities. The amino acid sequence and intrachain disulfide bonds of tachycitin were determined by amino acid and sequence analyses of peptides produced by enzymatic cleavages. The mature tachycitin consisted of 73 amino acid residues containing five disulfide bonds with no N-linked sugar. A cDNA coding for tachycitin was isolated from a hemocyte cDNA library. The open reading frame coded for an NH2-terminal signal sequence followed by the mature peptide and an extension sequence of -Gly-Arg-Lys at the COOH-terminus, which is a putative amidating signal. The COOH-terminal threonine amide released after digestion of tachycitin with lysylendopeptidase was identified. The NH2-terminal 28 residues of tachycitin shows sequence homology to a part of chitin-binding regions found in antifungal chitin-binding peptides, chitin-binding lectins, and chitinases, all of which have been isolated from plants. Tachycitin showed a specific binding to chitin but did not bind with the polysaccharides cellulose, mannan, xylan, and laminarin. Tachycitin may represent a new class of chitin-binding protein family in animals.

Exploring the transcriptome of the malaria sporozoite stage

Most studies of gene expression in Plasmodium have been concerned with asexual and/or sexual erythrocytic stages. Identification and cloning of genes expressed in the preerythrocytic stages lag far behind. We have constructed a high quality cDNA library of the Plasmodium sporozoite stage by using the rodent malaria parasite P. yoelii, an important model for malaria vaccine development. The technical obstacles associated with limited amounts of RNA material were overcome by PCR-amplifying the transcriptome before cloning. Contamination with mosquito RNA was negligible. Generation of 1,972 expressed sequence tags (EST) resulted in a total of 1,547 unique sequences, allowing insight into sporozoite gene expression. The circumsporozoite protein (CS) and the sporozoite surface protein 2 (SSP2) are well represented in the data set. A BLASTX search with all tags of the nonredundant protein database gave only 161 unique significant matches (P(N) < or = 10(-4)), whereas 1,386 of the unique sequences represented novel sporozoite-expressed genes. We identified ESTs for three proteins that may be involved in host cell invasion and documented their expression in sporozoites. These data should facilitate our understanding of the preerythrocytic Plasmodium life cycle stages and the development of preerythrocytic vaccines.

Role of fibronectin assembly in platelet thrombus formation

Fibronectin is a component of subendothelial matrices and abundant in plasma. A role of fibronectin in thrombogenesis has been suspected for three decades. Soluble fibronectin is assembled by adherent fibroblasts and platelets and thus converted to an insoluble form that mediates cell adhesion. Recently, in vivo studies using intravital videomicroscopy revealed that plasma fibronectin is important for stabilization of platelet aggregates after vascular injury. This review goes over roles of fibronectin in platelet functions with a focus on fibronectin assembly within developing platelet thrombi.

Targeting dexamethasone to Kupffer cells: effects on liver inflammation and fibrosis in rats

Kupffer cells (KC) play an important role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory liver diseases leading to fibrosis. Anti-inflammatory drugs are only effective when administered at high doses that may cause side effects. Therefore, dexamethasone coupled to mannosylated albumin (Dexa(5)-Man(10)-HSA) was designed by us to selectively deliver this anti-inflammatory drug to the KC. The effectiveness of Dexa(5)-Man(10)-HSA was studied both in organ cultures and fibrosis induced by bile duct ligation (BDL) in rats. Dexa(5)-Man(10)-HSA accumulated in livers of both healthy and fibrotic rats (67% +/- 5% and 70% +/- 9% of the dose, respectively) and uptake was found almost exclusively in KC. Active dexamethasone was liberated from its carrier, because Dexa(5)-Man(10)-HSA could effectively inhibit nitric oxide (NO) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) release in endotoxin-activated liver slices. In vivo, however, this was associated with increased collagen I and III depositions and enhanced tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) mRNA expression. This was accompanied by a decreased influx of reactive oxygen species (ROS) producing cells in the livers of BDL animals treated with Dexa(5)-Man(10)-HSA as compared with untreated BDL rats. Dexa(5)-Man(10)-HSA treatment also replenished the depleted glycogen stores in hepatocytes of BDL livers. In conclusion, our studies showed selective delivery of dexamethasone to KC with Dexa(5)-Man(10)-HSA. This conjugate reduced intrahepatic ROS in vivo and TNF-alpha production in vitro and prevented glycogen depletion in vivo, indicating effective pharmacologic targeting. Dexa(5)-Man(10)-HSA, however, also accelerated fibrogenesis, which was paralleled by TIMP-1 mRNA induction. Targeting of dexamethasone to KC provides evidence for a dual role of this cell type in fibrogenesis of BDL rats.

Sequence evaluation of four pooled-tissue normalized bovine cDNA libraries and construction of a gene index for cattle

An essential component of functional genomics studies is the sequence of DNA expressed in tissues of interest. To provide a resource of bovine-specific expressed sequence data and facilitate this powerful approach in cattle research, four normalized cDNA libraries were produced and arrayed for high-throughput sequencing. The libraries were made with RNA pooled from multiple tissues to increase efficiency of normalization and maximize the number of independent genes for which sequence data were obtained. Target tissues included those with highest likelihood to have impact on production parameters of animal health, growth, reproductive efficiency, and carcass merit. Success of normalization and inter- and intralibrary redundancy were assessed by collecting 6000-23,000 sequences from each of the libraries (68,520 total sequences deposited in GenBank). Sequence comparison and assembly of these sequences was performed in combination with 56,500 other bovine EST sequences present in the GenBank dbEST database to construct a cattle Gene Index (available from The Institute for Genomic Research at http://www.tigr.org/tdb/tgi.shtml). The 124,381 bovine ESTs present in GenBank at the time of the analysis form 16,740 assemblies that are listed and annotated on the Web site. Analysis of individual library sequence data indicates that the pooled-tissue approach was highly effective in preparing libraries for efficient deep sequencing.

Loss of developing cholinergic basal forebrain neurons following excitotoxic lesions of the hippocampus: rescue by neurotrophins

Previous studies have demonstrated that the viability of developing cholinergic basal forebrain neurons is dependent upon the integrity of neurotrophin-secreting target cells. In the present study, we examined whether infusions of nerve growth factor (NGF) or brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) could prevent the loss of cholinergic septal/diagonal band neurons following excitotoxic lesions of their target neurons within the hippocampus. Postnatal Day 10 rat pups received unilateral intrahippocampal injections of ibotenic acid. Rats then received intracerebroventricular (icv) injections of nerve growth factor (30 micrograms/injection), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (60 micrograms/injection), or saline immediately following the lesion and continuing every third day for 27 days. Both saline- and BNDF-treated rats displayed a significant loss of septal/diagonal band neurons expressing the protein and mRNA for choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and p75 low-affinity nerve growth factor receptor ipsilateral to the lesion. The magnitude of this loss was significantly attenuated in BNDF-treated rats. Many remaining neurons were atrophic with stunted dendritic processes. In contrast, NGF treatment completely rescued these cells and prevented the shrinkage of remaining cholinergic septal neurons. In addition, both NGF and BDNF induced a sprouting of cholinergic processes within the residual hippocampal remnant ipsilateral to the infusions. The present study demonstrates that icv injections of NGF, and to a lesser extent BDNF, prevent the loss of developing basal forebrain neurons which occurs following removal of normal target cells. Diffusion studies revealed relatively poor penetration of BDNF into brain parenchyma.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Toll, a muscle cell surface molecule, locally inhibits synaptic initiation of the RP3 motoneuron growth cone in Drosophila

Toll, a transmembrane molecule with extracellular leucine-rich repeats, is dynamically expressed by the Drosophila embryonic musculature. Growth cones of RP3 and other motoneurons normally grow past Toll-positive muscle cells and innervate more distal muscle cells, which have down-regulated their Toll expression. In this study, we show that reciprocal genetic manipulations of Toll proteins can produce reciprocal RP3 phenotypes. In Toll null mutants, the RP3 growth cone sometimes innervates incorrect muscle cells, including those that are normally Toll-positive. In contrast, heterochronic misexpression of Toll in the musculature leads to the same growth cone reaching its correct target region but delaying synaptic initiation. We propose that Toll acts locally to inhibit synaptogenesis of specific motoneuron growth cones and that both temporal and spatial control of Toll expression is crucial for its role in development.

Alveolar soft part sarcoma: MR and angiographic findings

OBJECTIVE

To present the MR and angiographic findings of alveolar soft part sarcoma (ASPS).

DESIGN AND PATIENTS

MR examinations (12 tumors of 10 patients) of ASPS performed at multiple hospitals were retrospectively reviewed. The tumors were found in the thigh (n=4), lower leg (n=4), femur (n=2, local metastasis), scalp (n=1) and arm (n=1). The MR signal characteristics including signal intensity, homogeneity and signal void of lesions and bony invasion including direct invasion or local metastasis were evaluated. Angiographic findings (n=4) and post-embolotherapy follow-up MR imaging (n=2) findings were also assessed.

RESULTS

Local bony metastasis was found in two cases. Seven tumors showed heterogeneous high signal intensity on T - and T2-weighted images with good enhancement. One tumor had a very high signal on T1-weighted images. Eight tumors (67%) showed numerous signal voids in or near the tumors. All four angiographic studies showed numerous enlarged vessels, arteriovenous shunts and delayed washout. Two cases mimicked arteriovenous malformations on angiographic studies but MR images demonstrated solid soft tissue components as well as tortuous vessels.

CONCLUSIONS

High signal on T1 -weighted image and numerous signal voids are highly suggestive of ASPS, although they are not universal as has been suggested and arteriovenous malformation should be included in the differential diagnosis. Local bony metastases in ASPS were seen in two cases and should be carefully investigated.

Beyond first-line non-anthracycline-based chemotherapy for extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma: clinical outcome and current perspectives on salvage therapy for patients after first relapse and progression of disease

Background

Current standard treatment, including non-anthracycline-based chemotherapy and optimal combining of radiotherapy, has dramatically improved outcomes of patients with extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma (ENKTL) during the last decade. This study was conducted to investigate the clinical outcome of ENKTL patients with relapsed or progressive disease after initial current standard therapy.

Patients and methods

We retrospectively reviewed patients diagnosed with ENKTL at six centers in four countries (China, France, Singapore, and South Korea) from 1997 to 2015 and analyzed 179 patients who had relapsed or progressed after initial current standard therapy.

Results

After a median follow-up of 58.6 months (range 27.9-89.2), the median second progression-free survival (PFS) was 4.1 months [95% confidence interval (CI) 3.04-5.16] and overall survival (OS) was 6.4 months (95% CI 4.36-8.51). Multivariate Cox-regression analysis revealed that elevated lactate dehydrogenase, multiple extranodal sites (≥2), and presence of B symptoms were associated with inferior OS (P < 0.05). OS and PFS were significantly different according to both prognostic index of natural killer lymphoma (PINK) and PINK-E (Epstein-Barr virus) models. Salvage chemotherapy with l-asparaginase (l-Asp)-based regimens showed a significantly better clinical benefit to response rate and PFS, although it did not lead to OS improvement. First use of l-Asp in the salvage setting and l-Asp rechallenge at least 6 months after initial treatment were the best candidates for salvage l-Asp containing chemotherapy.

Conclusions

Most patients with relapsed or refractory ENKTL had poor prognosis with short survival. Further studies are warranted to determine the optimal treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory ENKTL.

Placental glucose transporter 3 (GLUT3) is up-regulated in human pregnancies complicated by late-onset intrauterine growth restriction

INTRODUCTION

Transport of glucose from maternal blood across the placental trophoblastic tissue barrier is critical to sustain fetal growth. The mechanism by which GLUTs are regulated in trophoblasts in response to ischemic hypoxia encountered with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) has not been suitably investigated.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate placental expression of GLUT1, GLUT3 and GLUT4 and possible mechanisms of GLUT regulation in idiopathic IUGR.

METHODS

We analyzed clinical, biochemical and histological data from placentas collected from women affected by idiopathic full-term IUGR (n = 10) and gestational age-matched healthy controls (n = 10).

RESULTS

We found increased GLUT3 protein expression in the trophoblast (cytotrophoblast greater than syncytiotrophoblast) on the maternal aspect of the placenta in IUGR compared to normal placenta, but no differences in GLUT1 or GLUT4 were found. No differential methylation of the GLUT3 promoter between normal and IUGR placentas was observed. Increased GLUT3 expression was associated with an increased nuclear concentration of HIF-1α, suggesting hypoxia may play a role in the up-regulation of GLUT3.

DISCUSSION

Further studies are needed to elucidate whether increased GLUT3 expression in IUGR is a marker for defective villous maturation or an adaptive response of the trophoblast in response to chronic hypoxia.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with IUGR have increased trophoblast expression of GLUT3, as found under the low-oxygen conditions of the first trimester.

NMDA recepter-mediated neuroprotection by essential oils from the rhizomes of Acorus gramineus

Acori graminei Rhizoma (AGR) is shown to exhibit a number of pharmacological actions including sedation and anticonvulsive action. To further characterize its actions in the CNS, the present study evaluated the effects of essential oils (EO) from AGR on the excitotoxic neuronal cell death induced in primary rat cortical cell cultures. EO inhibited the glutamate-induced excitotoxicity in a concentration-dependent manner, with the IC50 of 0.241 mg/ml. EO exerted more potent neuroprotection against the toxicity induced by NMDA (IC50 = 0.139 mg/ml). In contrast, the AMPA-induced toxicity was not inhibited by EO. Receptor-ligand binding studies were performed to investigate the neuroprotective action mechanism. EO dramatically inhibited the specific bindings of a use-dependent NMDA receptorion channel blocker [3H]MK-801, indicating an NMDA receptor antagonist-like action. However, the bindings of [3H]MDL 105,519, a ligand selective for the glycine binding site of NMDA receptor, were not considerably inhibited. These results demonstrated that EO extracted from AGR exhibited neuroprotective effects on cultured cortical neurons through the blockade of NMDA receptor activity, and that the glycine binding site appeared not to be the major site of action.