Cholinergic agonists and interleukin 1 regulate processing and secretion of the Alzheimer beta/A4 amyloid protein precursor

Activation of protein kinase C by phorbol esters is known to accelerate the processing and secretion of the beta/A4 amyloid protein precursor. We have now examined various first messengers that increase protein kinase C activity of target cells for their ability to affect beta/A4 amyloid protein precursor metabolism. Acetylcholine and interleukin 1, which are altered in Alzheimer disease, were shown to increase processing of the beta/A4 amyloid protein precursor via the secretory cleavage pathway. Cholinergic agonists stimulated secretion in human glioma and neuroblastoma cells as well as in PC12 cells transfected with the M1 receptor, while interleukin 1 stimulated secretion in human endothelial and glioma cells.

Development of a novel systemic gene delivery system for cancer therapy with a tumor-specific cleavable PEG-lipid

For successful cancer gene therapy via intravenous (i.v.) administration, it is essential to optimize the stability of carriers in the systemic circulation and the cellular association after the accumulation of the carrier in tumor tissue. However, a dilemma exists regarding the use of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), which is useful for conferring stability in the systemic circulation, but is undesirable for the cellular uptake and the following processes. We report the development of a PEG-peptide-lipid ternary conjugate (PEG-Peptide-DOPE conjugate (PPD)). In this strategy, the PEG is removed from the carriers via cleavage by a matrix metalloproteinase (MMP), which is specifically expressed in tumor tissues. An in vitro study revealed that the PPD-modified gene carrier (Multifunctional Envelope-type Nano Device: MEND) exhibited pDNA expression activity that was dependent on the MMP expression level in the host cells. In vivo studies further revealed that the PPD was potent in stabilizing MEND in the systemic circulation and facilitating tumor accumulation. Moreover, the i.v. administration of PPD or PEG/PPD dually-modified MEND resulted in the stimulation of pDNA expression in tumor tissue, as compared with a conventional PEG-modified MEND. Thus, MEND modified with PPD is a promising device, which has the potential to make in vivo cancer gene therapy achievable.

Induction of the cytokine signal regulator SOCS3/CIS3 as a therapeutic strategy for treating inflammatory arthritis

Immune and inflammatory systems are controlled by multiple cytokines, including ILs and INFs. These cytokines exert their biological functions through Janus tyrosine kinases and STAT transcription factors. One such cytokine, IL-6, has been proposed to contribute to the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We found that STAT3 was strongly tyrosine phosphorylated in synovial tissue of RA patients, but not those with osteoarthritis. Blockade of the IL-6-gp130-JAK-STAT3-signaling pathway might therefore be beneficial in the treatment of RA. We show here that the mRNA for the endogenous cytokine signaling repressor CIS3/SOCS3 is abundantly expressed in RA patients. To determine whether CIS3 is effective in treating experimental arthritis, a recombinant adenovirus carrying the CIS3 cDNA was injected periarticularly into the ankle joints of mice with antigen-induced arthritis or collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). Periarticular injection of CIS3 adenovirus drastically reduced the severity of arthritis and joint swelling compared with control groups. CIS3 was more effective than a dominant-negative form of STAT3 in the CIA model. Thus, induction of CIS3 could represent a new approach for effective treatment of RA.

Comparison of the prognostic value of inflammation-based prognostic scores in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

Background:

Inflammation-based prognostic scores including the Glasgow Prognostic Score (GPS), neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI) are associated with survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic value of these inflammation-based prognostic scores in patients with HCC.

Methods:

In total, 150 patients with newly diagnosed HCC were prospectively evaluated. Patients were divided according to the GPS, modified GPS, NLR, platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR), Prognostic Index (PI), and PNI. The area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC) was calculated to compare the predictive ability of each of the scoring systems. A univariate and multivariate analysis were performed to identify the clinicopathological variables associated with overall survival.

Results:

The GPS consistently had a higher AUC value at 6 months (0.768), 12 months (0.787), and 24 months (0.758) in comparison with other inflammation-based prognostic scores. A multivariate analysis showed that the GPS was independently associated with overall survival.

Conclusion:

This study demonstrates that the GPS, an inflammation-based prognostic score, is an independent marker of poor prognosis in patients with HCC and is superior to the other inflammation-based prognostic scores in terms of prognostic ability.

Cloning and sequencing of two tandem genes involved in degradation of 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl to benzoic acid in the polychlorinated biphenyl-degrading soil bacterium Pseudomonas sp. strain KKS102

Two genes involved in the degradation of biphenyl were isolated from a gene library of a polychlorinated biphenyl-degrading soil bacterium, Pseudomonas sp. strain KKS102, by using a broad-host-range cosmid vector, pKS13. When a 3.2-kilobase (kb) PstI fragment of a 29-kb cosmid DNA insert was subcloned into pUC18 at the PstI site downstream of the lacZ promoter, Escherichia coli cells carrying this recombinant plasmid expressed 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl dioxygenase activity. Nucleotide sequencing of the 3.2-kb PstI fragment revealed that there were two open reading frames (ORFI [882 base pairs] and ORFII [834 base pairs], in this gene order). Results of analysis of Tn5 insertion mutants and unidirectional deletion mutants suggested that the ORFI coded for 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl dioxygenase. When the sequence of ORFI was compared with that of bphC of Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes KF707 (K. Furukawa, N. Arima, and T. Miyazaki, J. Bacteriol. 169:427-429, 1987), the homology was 68%, with both strains having the same Shine-Dalgarno sequence. The result of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of the metabolic product suggested that the ORFII had meta cleavage compound hydrolase activity to produce benzoic acid. DNA sequencing suggested that these two genes were contained in one operon.

Cell cycle-dependent regulation of the phosphorylation and metabolism of the Alzheimer amyloid precursor protein

Accumulation of the amyloid A beta peptide, which is derived from a larger precursor protein (APP), and the formation of plaques, are major events believed to be involved in the etiology of Alzheimer's disease. Abnormal regulation of the metabolism of APP may contribute to the deposition of plaques. APP is an integral membrane protein containing several putative phosphorylation sites within its cytoplasmic domain. We report here that APP is phosphorylated at Thr668 by p34cdc2 protein kinase (cdc2 kinase) in vitro, and in a cell cycle-dependent manner in vivo. At the G2/M phase of the cell cycle, when APP phosphorylation is maximal, the levels of mature APP (mAPP) and immature APP (imAPP) do not change significantly. However, imAPP is altered qualitatively. Furthermore, the level of the secreted extracellular N-terminal domain (APPS) is decreased and that of the truncated intracellular C-terminal fragment (APPCOOH) is increased. These findings suggest the possibility that phosphorylation-dependent events occurring during the cell cycle affect the metabolism of APP. Alterations in these events might play a role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease.

An ATP-dependent deoxyribonuclease from Escherichia coli with a possible role in genetic recombination

A DNase which requires ATP for its function was purified from E. coli and some of the characteristics of the purified enzyme were studied. This enzyme activity could not be detected in certain (recB and recC) recombination deficient mutant strains. The possible role of the enzyme in genetic recombination is discussed.

Genetic transformation in Escherichia coli K12

An auxotrophic strain of E. coli K12 treated with CaCl(2) was transformed for several markers at a frequency of up to 10(-6) per recipient cell by a DNA preparation isolated from a prototrophic strain. The transforming activity of the DNA preparation was eliminated by treatment with DNase, heat, or sonication, whereas RNase or Pronase treatment had little effect. Two closely linked genetic markers (leu and ara) showed a high degree of cotransformation linkage when high molecular weight DNA was used, but the linkage was almost completely eliminated when sheared, smaller molecular weight DNA was used. There is genetic evidence that the transformation is a result of the replacement of the preexisting genetic marker on the chromosome by that of the donor DNA.

Clinical factors of recurrent chronic subdural hematoma

The clinical, radiological, and operative factors of recurrent chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) were retrospectively analyzed in 116 patients with CSDH in 134 hemispheres, treated by one burr hole surgery. The correlation of recurrence was evaluated with personal and clinical factors such as age, sex, history of head injury, and interval from onset of initial symptoms to hospitalization; laboratory findings such as bleeding tendency and liver function; computed tomography (CT) findings such as hematoma density and brain atrophy; and operative findings such as additional procedures and postoperative residual air. The recurrence group (RG) included 10 hemispheres (7.5%) in 10 patients (8.6%). The interval from onset of symptoms to hospitalization was significantly shorter in the RG than in the nonrecurrence group (NRG). Headache was more frequently seen in the RG than in the NRG. Density of hematoma on CT was classified into five types: Low, iso, and high density, niveau, and mixed, and the incidence of recurrence was 0%, 2.3%, 17.2%, 12.5%, and 6.5%, respectively. Larger amounts of residual air in the postoperative hematoma cavity were associated with recurrence of CSDH. CSDH that progresses rapidly in the acute stage and appears as high density on preoperative CT is associated with a high incidence of recurrence. Intraoperative air invasion to the hematoma cavity should be avoided to prevent recurrence.

Prevention and regression of atopic dermatitis by ointment containing NF-kB decoy oligodeoxynucleotides in NC/Nga atopic mouse model

Atopic dermatitis, a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by relapsing eczema and intense prurigo, requires effective and safe pharmacological therapy. In this study, we examined the efficacy of ointment containing NF-kB decoy oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) on atopic dermatitis lesions in NC/Nga mice, which are characterized by the spontaneous onset of atopic dermatitis in conventional conditions. Topical administration of NF-kB decoy ODN twice a month resulted in a significant reduction in clinical skin condition score and marked improvement of histological findings. Reduction of the atopic skin condition by NF-kB decoy ODN was accompanied by a significant decrease in migration of mast cells into the dermis and an increase in apoptotic cells. Here, we demonstrated the successful treatment of atopic dermatitis with ointment containing NF-kB decoy ODN in a mouse model, promising new therapy for atopic dermatitis.

Distribution of apoptosis-mediating Fas antigen in human skin and effects of anti-Fas monoclonal antibody on human epidermal keratinocyte and squamous cell carcinoma cell lines

Fast antigen is a cell surface protein that mediates apoptosis. Using immunohistological, flow cytometry and electron microscopic analyses, we investigated the expression of Fas antigen on various skin tissues, and on cultured SV40-transformed human epidermal keratinocyte cell line KJD and human skin squamous cell carcinoma cell line HSC. The Fas antigen was widely distributed in skin components such as the keratinocytes in the lower portion of the epidermis, epidermal dendritic cells, endothelial cells, fibroblasts, apocrine glands, eccrine sweat glands, sebaceous glands, some normal melanocytes and infiltrating lymphoid cells. It was also strongly expressed on the keratinocytes of lichenoid eruptions seen in lupus erythematosus and lichen planus, and on the spongiotic or acanthotic epidermis seen in chronic eczema, adult T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma (ATLL) and atopic dermatitis. Its expression was closely correlated with lymphoid infiltrating cells and it was strongly expressed in lymphoid neoplastic cells, particularly ATLL cells, and fibroblasts seen in dermatofibroma. However, the antigen was not detected on basal cell epithelioma cells, some malignant melanomas or any junctional naevi. The cell lines KJD and HSC strongly expressed the Fas antigen, and crosslinking of the Fas antigen by an anti-Fas monoclonal antibody induced apoptosis of these cell lines. These results indicate that the apoptosis-mediating Fas antigen may play an important role in normal skin turnover and cell differentiation, in immune regulation of skin tumours, and in the pathogenesis of various skin diseases.

Facial nerve motor-evoked potential monitoring during skull base surgery predicts facial nerve outcome

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether monitoring facial nerve motor-evoked potentials (FNMEPs) elicited by transcranial electrical stimulation during skull base tumour surgery is useful for predicting facial nerve outcome.

METHODS

This study analysed FNMEP findings in 26 patients with skull base tumours. Corkscrew electrodes positioned at C3 or C4 and Cz were used to deliver supramaximal stimuli (180-550 V). FNMEPs were recorded from the orbicularis oculi and oris muscles. The correlation between the final-to-baseline FNMEP ratio and postoperative facial nerve function was examined.

RESULTS

Postoperative facial nerve function correlated significantly with the FNMEP ratios in the orbicularis oculi (p = 0.004) and orbicularis oris (p<0.001) muscles. An FNMEP ratio of <50% consistently predicted immediate postoperative facial palsy, although the degree of palsy differed among patients. All patients had satisfactory facial nerve function (House and Brackmann grades I and II) postoperatively if the FNMEP ratio remained at >50%.

CONCLUSIONS

Intraoperative FNMEP monitoring can be useful for predicting facial nerve function after skull base surgery. This new method is a valuable adjunct to conventional facial nerve monitoring.

Cyclin I: a new cyclin encoded by a gene isolated from human brain

A new member of the cyclin family has been isolated from an equalized cDNA library derived from human forebrain cortex. This putative cyclin, designated cyclin I, contains a typical cyclin box near the N-terminus and a PEST sequence near the C-terminus. Cyclin I shows the highest sequence similarity in the cyclin box to cyclins G and E, while the similarity between cyclins I and G also extends toward the C-terminus from the cyclin box. Cyclin I mRNA was expressed at high levels in postmitotic tissues, including skeletal muscle, heart, and brain, and was expressed constantly during cell cycle progression. The expression of cyclin I mRNA does not correlate directly to the cell cycle, and therefore cyclin I may be a novel cyclin member that functions independently of the cell cycle control.

Large-scale evaluation of imprinting status in the Prader-Willi syndrome region: an imprinted direct repeat cluster resembling small nucleolar RNA genes

Loss of paternal gene expression at the imprinted domain on proximal human chromosome 15 causes Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), a complex multiple-anomaly disorder involving variable mental retardation, hyperphasia leading to obesity and infantile hypotonia with failure to thrive. Although numerous paternally expressed transcripts have been identified that reside in the candidate region, the individual contributions to the development of PWS have not been firmly established. Recent studies of mouse models carrying a cytogenetic deletion suggest that paternal deficiency of the SNRPN-IPW interval is critical for perinatal lethality of potential relevance to PWS. Here we determined the allelic expression profiles of a total of 118 cDNA clones using monochromosomal hybrids retaining either a paternal or maternal human chromosome 15. Our results demonstrated a preponderance of unusual transcripts lacking protein-coding potential that were expressed exclusively from the paternal copy of the critical interval. This interval was also found to encompass a large direct repeat (DR) cluster displaying a potentially active chromatin conformation of paternal origin, as suggested by enhanced sensitivity to nuclease digestion. Database searches revealed an unexpected organization of tandemly repeated consensus elements, all of which possessed well-defined box C and D sequences characteristic of small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs). Southern blot analysis further demonstrated a considerable degree of phylogenetic conservation of the DR locus in the genomes of all mammalian species tested, but not in chicken, Xenopus and Drosophila. These findings imply a potential direct contribution of the DR locus, representing a cluster of multiple snoRNA genes, to certain phenotypic features of PWS.

Endoscopic evaluation of the effect of sucralfate therapy and other clinical parameters on the recurrence rate of gastric ulcers

A randomized controlled clinical study was conducted to determine (a) whether basic aluminum sucrose sulfate (sucralfate) is effective in preventing or reducing gastric ulcer recurrence, and (b) the clinical parameters contributing to ulcer recurrence after endoscopically proved healing has been effected. A total of 167 patients were assigned on a random basis to either of two treatment groups, control (aluminum hydroxide and magnesium oxide) or sucralfate, and given these medications for 6 months. At the end of this period all medication was withdrawn from both groups and the patients were followed for an additional 12 months. Each patient was examined endoscopically at bimonthly intervals throughout the 18-month observation period. Treatment (sucralfate), ulcer history, size of previous ulcer(s), prestudy healing time, and prestudy healing stage attained (red or white scarring) were associated with a significant reduction in recurrence rate. Ulcer recurrence was markedly reduced in sucralfate patients as compared to control when the pretreatment ulcers had healed slowly (P less than 0.001).

Prevention of abdominal aortic aneurysms by simultaneous inhibition of NFkappaB and ets using chimeric decoy oligonucleotides in a rabbit model

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is one of the major vascular diseases caused by atherosclerosis. Because treatment for AAA mainly consists of surgery to prevent deaths from AAA rupture and there is a conspicuous absence of alternative therapeutic strategies, the development of minimally invasive treatment is needed. To develop a novel therapeutic approach, we examined the simultaneous inhibition of the transcription factors NFkappaB and ets, which regulate inflammation and matrix degradation, in a rabbit AAA model. In this study, we employed chimeric decoy oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN), containing the consensus sequences of both the NFkappaB- and ets-binding sites, to inhibit both the transcription factors simultaneously. Using a delivery sheet, we examined the inhibitory effect of chimeric decoy ODN on aortic dilatation. Ultrasound and angiographic analysis demonstrated that treatment with chimeric decoy ODN significantly prevented the progression of elastase-induced aortic dilatation. The inhibitory effect of chimeric decoy ODN on aortic dilatation was also confirmed by histological studies. Treatment with chimeric decoy ODN reduced the activities of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 and markedly inhibited the proteolysis of elastin as compared to scrambled decoy ODN. Interestingly, treatment with chimeric decoy ODN also suppressed VCAM-1 and MCP-1 gene expression, leading to inhibition of macrophage infiltration in the adventitia and media. The present study in a rabbit model provides a novel strategy to treat AAA by the simultaneous inhibition of both NFkappaB and ets using chimeric decoy ODN. Further modification of chimeric decoy ODN would be useful to treat AAA as a decoy-based therapy.

The recBC deoxyribonuclease of Escherichia coli: isolation and characterization of the subunit proteins and reconstitution of the enzyme

After dissociation of the E. coli recBc DNase (ATP-dependent DNase) with concentrated NaCl, two subunit proteins were isolated by ion exchange chromatography. Combination and subsequent incubation of the subunits resulted in the appearance of the original DNase. The subunit proteins, designated alpha and beta, have s(20,omega) of 4.1 S and 8.1 S, respectively. The alpha subunit possesses neither the ATP-dependent Dnase nor the DNA-dependent ATPase of the original enzyme. The beta subunit contains a low level of both enzymatic activities in a ratio markedly different from that of the original enzyme. The beta subunit complemented extracts from both recB and recC mutant strains to produce recBC DNase, while the alpha subunit did not complement either extract. These results suggest that recB and recC genes are both required for the production of beta subunit and that the recBC DNase molecule contains a protein component (alpha) that is not determined by either the recB or the recC gene.

A repetitive DNA family (Sau3A family) in human chromosomes: extrachromosomal DNA and DNA polymorphism

In this paper, we report a tandemly repeated DNA sequence found in human chromosomes. The DNA sequence, which is present at approximately 1000 copies per haploid genome, consists of a basic unit 849 base pairs (bp) long with a single specific restriction enzyme (Sau3AI) cutting site. The unit is further composed of five subunits, each approximately 170 bp long. When DNAs from various sources were examined by Southern hybridization using the repetitive DNA as a probe, a considerable degree of restriction fragment length polymorphism was observed. Furthermore, a substantial percentage (approximately 1.0%) of the same DNA sequence was also found extrachromosomally in the cultured human (HeLa) cells as monomers and oligomers of the basic unit in the form of covalently closed circular DNA. These results suggest that the repetitive DNA is unstable and prone to be excised from the chromosomes through homologous recombination.

Early events and mechanisms in the induction of bacterial SOS functions: analysis of the phage repressor inactivation process in vivo

Different inducing agents and treatments produced distinctly different kinetic patterns of inactivation of prophage repressor molecules. The different patterns were related to differences in the initial altered states of DNA that were produced. The timing of appearance of DNA degradation was correlated with the time needed for repressor inactivation. These characteristics suggest that all the inducing treatments lead to the formation of a final predegradative DNA structure(s) (probably involving scissions) that is acted on by specific DNases, including the recBC DNase, to produce the signals for the induction of prophage.

Phosphorylation of Alzheimer beta-amyloid precursor-like proteins

Amyloid precursor-like proteins (APLPs), APLP1 and APLP2, are members of a gene family which include the Alzheimer beta-amyloid precursor protein (APP). APLP1, APLP2, and APP contain highly homologous amino acid sequences, especially in their cytoplasmic domains, although APLPs lack the beta-amyloid domain derived by proteolytic processing from APP. APP is phosphorylated at three sites in the cytoplasmic domain in cultured cells and adult rat brain [Suzuki et al. (1994) EMBO J. 13, 1114-1122; Oishi, et al. (1997) Mol. Med. 3, 109-121] and at sites in the extracellular domain in cultured cells [Knops et al. (1993) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 197, 380-385; Hung & Selkoe (1994) EMBO J. 13, 534-542; Walter et al. (1997) J. Biol. Chem. 272, 1896-1903]. We report here that a cytoplasmic domain peptide from APLP1 is phosphorylated in vitro by protein kinase C and that a cytoplasmic domain peptide from APLP2 is phosphorylated in vitro by protein kinase C and cdc2 kinase. APLP2 is phosphorylated by cdc2 kinase at a site homologous to the cdc2 kinase site phosphorylated in APP. Furthermore, phosphorylation of this site occurs in a cell cycle-dependent manner in cultured cells. These findings indicate that in intact cells the phosphorylation of APLP2 appears to be regulated in a similar fashion to that of APP.