Nitric oxide releasing nanofiber stimulates revascularization in response to ischemia via cGMP-dependent protein kinase

Nitric oxide (NO) promotes angiogenesis via various mechanisms; however, the effective transmission of NO in ischemic diseases is unclear. Herein, we tested whether NO-releasing nanofibers modulate therapeutic angiogenesis in an animal hindlimb ischemia model. Male wild-type C57BL/6 mice with surgically-induced hindlimb ischemia were treated with NO-releasing 3-methylaminopropyltrimethoxysilane (MAP3)-derived or control (i.e., non-NO-releasing) nanofibers, by applying them to the wound for 20 min, three times every two days. The amount of NO from the nanofiber into tissues was assessed by NO fluorometric assay. The activity of cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG) was determined by western blot analysis. Perfusion ratios were measured 2, 4, and 14 days after inducing ischemia using laser doppler imaging. On day 4, Immunohistochemistry (IHC) with F4/80 and gelatin zymography were performed. IHC with CD31 was performed on day 14. To determine the angiogenic potential of NO-releasing nanofibers, aorta-ring explants were treated with MAP3 or control fiber for 20 min, and the sprout lengths were examined after 6 days. As per either LDPI (Laser doppler perfusion image) ratio or CD31 capillary density measurement, angiogenesis in the ischemic hindlimb was improved in the MAP3 nanofiber group; further, the total nitrate/nitrite concentration in the adduct muscle increased. The number of macrophage infiltrations and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) activity decreased. Vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP), one of the major substrates for PKG, increased phosphorylation in the MAP3 group. MAP3 nanofiber or NO donor SNAP (s-nitroso-n-acetyl penicillamine)-treated aortic explants showed enhanced sprouting in an ex vivo aortic ring assay, which was partially abrogated by KT5823, a potent inhibitor of PKG. These findings suggest that the novel NO-releasing nanofiber, MAP3 activates PKG and promotes therapeutic angiogenesis in response to hindlimb ischemia.

One-Stop Plasmonic Nanocube-Excited SERS Immunoassay Platform of Multiple Cardiac Biomarkers for Rapid Screening and Progressive Tracing of Acute Myocardial Infarction

Rapid and precise acute myocardial infarction (AMI) diagnosis is essential for preventing patient death. In addition, the complementary roles of creatine kinase muscle brain (CK-MB) and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) cardiac biomarkers in the early and late stages of AMI demand their simultaneous detection, which is difficult to implement using conventional fluorescence and electrochemical technologies. Here, a nanotechnology-based one-stop immuno-surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) detection platform is reported for multiple cardiac indicators for the rapid screening and progressive tracing of AMI events. Optimal SERS is achieved using optical property-based, excitation wavelength-optimized, and high-yield anisotropic plasmonic gold nanocubes. Optimal immunoassay reaction efficiencies are achieved by increasing immobilized antibodies. Multiple simultaneous detection strategies are implemented by incorporating two different Raman reports with narrow wavenumbers corresponding to two indicators and by establishing a computational SERS mapping process to accurately detect their concentrations, irrespective of multiple enzymes in the human serum. The SERS platform precisely estimated AMI onset and progressive timing in human serum and made rapid AMI identification feasible using a portable Raman spectrometer. This integrated platform is hypothesized to significantly contribute to emergency medicine and forensic science by providing timely treatment and observation.

[Epidemiological distribution of mosaic loss of chromosome Y in adult men in 10 areas in China and its prospective association with lung cancer]

Objective: To detect the prevalence of mosaic loss of chromosome Y in adult men in ten study areas in China, describe the epidemiological distribution of mosaic loss of chromosome Y (mLOY) carriers and assess its prospective association with lung cancer. Methods: Based on the data from baseline survey, genetic analysis and follow-up (as of December 31, 2018) from China Kadoorie Biobank, we used Mosaic Chromosomal Alterations pipeline to detect mLOY carriers in 10 areas in China and described the epidemiological characteristics of mLOY carriers in adult men, including age, area distribution, lifestyle and disease history. We used multivariate logistic regression model to identify the potential relevant factor of mLOY. Cox proportional hazard regression model was fitted to assess the prospective association of mLOY with lung cancer. Stratification analysis were conducted to evaluate the potential modification effects of smoking and age. We also conducted mediation analysis to assess the mediating effect of mLOY in the association between smoking and lung cancer. Results: A total of 42 859 adult men were included in our analysis, in whom 2 458 mLOY carriers were detected (5.7%). The detection rate increased with age (P<0.05). The detection rate was higher in urban area (7.3%±0.2%) than that in rural area (4.7%±0.1%). The results of logistic regression analysis indicated that smoking might be a risk factor for the detection of mLOY (OR=1.49, 95%CI:1.36-1.64). After follow-up for average 11.1 years, 1 041 lung cancer cases were observed. The prospective analysis showed that mLOY carriers had an increased risk for lung cancer by 24% compared with non-mLOY carriers (HR=1.24, 95%CI:1.01-1.52) and expanded mLOY carriers (mLOY cell proportion ≥10%) had an increased risk for lung cancer by 50% (HR=1.50, 95%CI:1.13-2.00). Stratification analysis showed no modification effects of smoking and age in the association between mLOY and lung cancer (interaction P>0.05). Mediation analysis showed that mLOY could be a mediating factor in the association between smoking and lung cancer, the estimated effect was 0.09 (0.01-0.17). Conclusions: There were significant differences in the detection rate of mLOY in adult men with different social-economic characteristics and lifestyles in ten areas in China. Besides, mLOY carriers, especially expanded mLOY carriers, had increased risk for lung cancer and mLOY might be a mediating factor in the association between smoking and lung cancer.

[Clinical study of modified Shirodkar transvaginal cervical cerclage during pregnancy in the treatment of cervical insufficiency]

Objective: To investigate the clinical efficacy of modified Shirodkar transvaginal cervical cerclage (TVCC) in the treatment of cervical insufficiency (CI) and its impact on maternal and fetal outcomes. Methods: The clinical data of 218 pregnant women with CI admitted to Fu Xing Hospital, Capital Medical University from January 1, 2015 to August 31, 2021 was retrospectively analyzed. According to different surgical approaches, they were divided into modified Shirodkar TVCC treatment during pregnancy (TVCC group, 108 cases) and non-pregnant women underwent laparoscopic cervical cerclage (LACC) treatment (LACC group, 110 cases). The clinical data and pregnancy outcomes of the two groups were compared. Furthermore, the two groups of pregnant women were stratified according to cervical length (CL) to explore the effects of the two surgical methods on the pregnancy outcomes of CI women with different CL. Results: (1) Related indicators before and during cerclage: there were no complications such as massive hemorrhage, bladder injury and anesthesia accident in the two groups of pregnant women during cerclage. Compared with the LACC group, TVCC group had longer preoperative CL [(2.3±0.6) vs (2.7±0.6) cm], more intraoperative blood loss [(7.5±0.5) vs (14.4±1.4) ml] and longer hospital stay [(6.0±0.1) vs (7.3±0.4) day]. However, the operation time was shorter [(42.9±1.6) vs (25.9±1.4) minute] and the hospitalization cost was less [(9 912±120) vs (5 598±140) yuan], and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). (2) Pregnancy outcomes: live birth rates were 95.4% (103/108) in the TVCC group and 96.4% (106/110) in the LACC group, showing no significant difference between the two groups (χ2=2.211, P=0.232). The preterm birth rate (12.0%, 13/108) in the TVCC group was higher than that in the LACC group (7.3%, 8/110), the neonatal birth weight was lower than that in the LACC group [(3 006±96) vs (3 225±42) g], and the proportion of low birth weight infants was higher than that in the LACC group [15.5% (16/103) vs 1.9% (2/106)], and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). (3) Stratified analysis of CL: for pregnant women with CL<2.0 cm, the miscarriage rate of the TVCC group was higher than that of the LACC group (2/9 vs 3.0%), and the live birth rate was lower than that of the LACC group (7/9 vs 97.0%), and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). For CL 2.0-<2.5 cm, 2.5-<3.0 cm, CL≥3.0 cm, there were no statistically significant differences in preterm birth rate and live birth rate between the two groups (all P>0.05). Conclusions: Modified Shirodkar TVCC is simple and easy to operate, which significantly reduces the cesarean section rate and medical cost compared with LACC, and there is no significant difference in the live birth rate. When there is inevitable late abortion, laparoscopic cerclage removal does not need to be performed again, which could reduce the second operation and is worthy of clinical application.

[Clinical efficacy of single/double 125I-seed strands combined with biliary stents in the treatment of malignant obstructive jaundice]

Objective: To compare the clinical efficacy of single/double 125I-seed strands combined with biliary stents in the treatment of malignant obstructive jaundice. Methods: Totally 67 cases of patients with malignant obstructive jaundice who received single/double125I-seed strands combined with biliary stents implantation from September 2018 to December 2021 were analyzed retrospectively. Among them, 36 patients received single 125I-seed strands combined with biliary stents (single strand group) and 31 patients received double 125I-seed strands combined with biliary stents(double strands group). The technical success rate, clinical success rate, complications, biochemical and tumor indexes at 8 weeks after operation [total bilirubin (TB), direct bilirubin (DB), alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9)], stent patency time (SP), median progression-free survival time (mPFS) and median survival time (mOS) were analyzed. Results: There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in technical success rate (100% vs 100%), clinical success rate (97.2% vs 96.8%) and major complications (5.6% vs 6.5%) between single strand group and double strands group. There were significant differences in TB, DB, ALT, AST and CA19-9 indicators between the two groups before and 8 weeks after operation (all P<0.05), but there was no significant difference in the difference value of preoperative and postoperative 8-week indicators between the two groups (all P>0.05).The SP and mPFS of double-stranded stents were longer than those of single-stranded stents.[8.6 months (95%CI:6.9-10.4) vs 6.2 months (95%CI:5.8-6.6), 3.2 months (95%CI:3.0-3.4) vs 3.0 months (95%CI:2.9-3.1), all P<0.05]. The mOS of single and double strands groups was 11.2 months (95%CI:8.3-14.1) and 13.4 months (95%CI:9.9-16.9) respectively, with no statistical difference (P=0.137). Conclusion: Compared with single 125I-seed strands, double 125I-seed strands can prolong biliary SP and mPFS, but the long-term survival index still needs further observation.

[Epidemiological distribution characteristics of peripheral blood mosaic chromosomal alteration in adults from 10 regions of China]

Objective: To describe the epidemiological distribution characteristics of peripheral blood mosaic chromosomal alteration (mCA) in community adults aged 30-79 years in 10 regions of China. Methods: A total of 100 297 participants with complete baseline information (demographic characteristics, lifestyle, physical examination, etc.) and genotyping data of blood-derived DNA in ten regions of the China Kadoorie Biobank study were included. The mCAs were detected with the Mosaic Chromosomal Alterations pipeline, and logistic regression models were used to compare the differences in the detection rate of mCAs in different regions and populations. Results: A total of 5 810 mCA carriers were detected, with the detection rate of 5.8%. The standardized detection rate was 5.1%. The baseline detection rate of mCA increased with age, which were 3.4%, 5.0%, and 9.4% in those aged 30-, 51-, and >60 years, respectively (trend test P<0.001). A more significant proportion of mCAs were found in men (8.0%) than women (4.0%), as well as in urban areas (6.4%) than in rural areas (5.3%), the difference was significant (P<0.001). After adjusting for age and gender, the detection rate of mCA was higher in current smokers or people quitting smoking due to illness and people with low physical activity level, and the mCA detection rate was lower in obesy people (5.3%) than that in people with normal body weight (5.9%) (P=0.006). Conclusions: The detection rate of mCAs varied with region and population in community adults aged 30-79 years in 10 regions of China. The study results might contribute to the molecular identification of aging populations and guide precision prevention of age-related diseases such as cancers.

[Progress on genome-wide association studies on mosaic chromosomal alterations]

Mosaic chromosomal alteration (mCA) is referred to as large-scale somatic mutations on chromosomes, which results in diverse karyotypes in body. The mCA is regarded as one of the phenotypes of aging. Studies have revealed its associations with many chronic diseases such as hematopoietic cancers and cardiovascular diseases, but its genetic basis (e.g. genetic susceptibility variants) is still under-investigated. This paper reviews GWAS studies for mCA on autosomal chromosomes and sex chromosomes [mosaic loss of the Y chromosome (mLOY) and mosaic loss of the X chromosome (mLOX)] based on large population, respectively. Most of the genetic susceptibility loci found in studies for autosomal mCA were associated with copy-neutral loss of heterozygosity. The study of sex chromosome mCA focused on mosaic loss mutations. The number of genetic susceptibility loci for mLOY was high (up to 156), but it was relatively less for mLOX.

[Immune function and research progress of pentraxin 3 in pulmonary infectious diseases]

Pentraxins3 (PTX3) is an acute-phase protein of the pentraxin family that is synthetized and stored in a variety of cells. As an important mediator of innate immunity, PTX3 is rapidly released during microbial invasion and inflammatory response. It promotes the recognition of pathogens by myeloid cells through regulating complement activation. Recent studies have indicated that PTX3 concentrations in peripheral blood or tissues increase rapidly after infection, and the increased level is associated with the severity of the disease. Thus, PTX3 appears to be a vital clinical biomarker in the diagnosis and prognosis of pulmonary infectious diseases.

[Research progress on the epidemiological distribution and influencing factors of autosomal mosaic chromosomal alteration]

Somatic mosaicism is defined as the occurrence and accumulation of somatic mutations in humans, and mosaic chromosomal alterations (mCA) are recognized as one of the aging phenotypes due to their impact on genome integrity. With the coming acceleration of global population aging, understanding the prevalence and influencing factors of mCA will help to explore the "genomic instability" of human aging and its biological mechanisms and provide the scientific basis for the primary prevention of age-related diseases. This review aims to summarize the epidemiological distribution and influencing factors of autosomal mCA in peripheral blood based on previous large-scale population-based studies.

[Review of genome-wide association research of aging phenotypes]

"Active health" has been emphasized in "Healthy China 2030" in dealing with the challenges of population aging, so the anti-aging strategies are requires to be more precise and effective at both individual and population levels. Aging is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. In the recent 20 years, the research of genetics of human ageing has been greatly facilitated owning to the development of high-throughput sequencing techniques, statistical methodology for multi-omics data, as well as the growing qualified evidence of large-scale population-based genomic research. This paper provides a review of genome-wide association research of aging.

Species and characteristics of volatile organic compounds emitted from an auto-repair painting workshop

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are secondary pollutant precursors having adverse impacts on the environment and human health. Although VOC emissions, their sources, and impacts have been investigated, the focus has been on large-scale industrial sources or indoor environments; studies on relatively small-scale enterprises (e.g., auto-repair workshops) are lacking. Here, we performed field VOC measurements for an auto-repair painting facility in Korea and analyzed the characteristics of VOCs emitted from the main painting workshop (top coat). The total VOC concentration was 5069-8058 ppb, and 24-35 species were detected. The VOCs were mainly identified as butyl acetate, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene compounds. VOC characteristics differed depending on the paint type. Butyl acetate had the highest concentration in both water- and oil-based paints; however, its concentration and proportion were higher in the former (3256 ppb, 65.5%) than in the latter (2449 ppb, 31.1%). Comparing VOC concentration before and after passing through adsorption systems, concentrations of most VOCs were lower at the outlets than the inlets of the adsorption systems, but were found to be high at the outlets in some workshops. These results provide a theoretical basis for developing effective VOC control systems and managing VOC emissions from auto-repair painting workshops.

Potential neuron-autonomous Purkinje cell degeneration by 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase promoter/Cre-mediated autophagy impairments

Studies of neuroglial interaction largely depend on cell-specific gene knockout (KO) experiments using Cre recombinase. However, genes known as glial-specific genes have recently been reported to be expressed in neuroglial stem cells, leading to the possibility that a glia-specific Cre driver results in unwanted gene deletion in neurons, which may affect sound interpretation. 2',3'-Cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase (CNP) is generally considered to be an oligodendrocyte (OL) marker. Accordingly, Cnp promoter-controlled Cre recombinase has been used to create OL-specific gene targeting mice. However, in this study, using Rosa26-tdTomato-reporter/Cnp-Cre mice, we found that many forebrain neurons and cerebellar Purkinje neurons belong to the lineages of Cnp-expressing neuroglial stem cells. To answer whether gene targeting by Cnp-Cre can induce neuron-autonomous defects, we conditionally deleted an essential autophagy gene, Atg7, in Cnp-Cre mice. The Cnp-Cre-mediated Atg7 KO mice showed extensive p62 inclusion in neurons, including cerebellar Purkinje neurons with extensive neurodegeneration. Furthermore, neuronal areas showing p62 inclusion in Cnp-Cre-mediated Atg7 KO mice overlapped with the neuronal lineage of Cnp-expressing neuroglial stem cells. Moreover, Cnp-Cre-mediated Atg7-KO mice did not develop critical defects in myelination. Our results demonstrate that a large population of central neurons are derived from Cnp-expressing neuroglial stem cells; thus, conditional gene targeting using the Cnp promoter, which is known to be OL-specific, can induce neuron-autonomous phenotypes.

Tyrosine Phosphorylation of the Kv2.1 Channel Contributes to Injury in Brain Ischemia

In brain ischemia, oxidative stress induces neuronal apoptosis, which is mediated by increased activity of the voltage-gated K⁺ channel K_v2.1 and results in an efflux of intracellular K⁺. The molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of K_v2.1 and its activity during brain ischemia are not yet fully understood. Here this study provides evidence that oxidant-induced apoptosis resulting from brain ischemia promotes rapid tyrosine phosphorylation of K_v2.1. When the tyrosine phosphorylation sites Y124, Y686, and Y810 on the K_v2.1 channel are mutated to non-phosphorylatable residues, PARP-1 cleavage levels decrease, indicating suppression of neuronal cell death. The tyrosine residue Y810 on K_v2.1 was a major phosphorylation site. In fact, cells mutated Y810 were more viable in our study than were wild-type cells, suggesting an important role for this site during ischemic neuronal injury. In an animal model, tyrosine phosphorylation of K_v2.1 increased after ischemic brain injury, with an observable sustained increase for at least 2 h after reperfusion. These results demonstrate that tyrosine phosphorylation of the K_v2.1 channel in the brain may play a critical role in regulating neuronal ischemia and is therefore a potential therapeutic target in patients with brain ischemia.

[Effects of smoking on the wound healing of stage 4 pressure ulcers in rats]

Objective: To explore the effect of smoking on the wound healing of stage 4 pressure ulcers in rats. Methods: Fifty male Sprague-Dawley rats aged 6-8 weeks were divided into simple pressure ulcer group and smoking+ pressure ulcer group according to the random number table, with 25 rats in each group. After the rats in the smoking+ pressure ulcer group received passive smoking intervention for 12 weeks, an iron plate was placed in the back muscle of each rat in 2 groups, and a magnet was placed outside the skin at the corresponding position of the iron plate for 2 h at each time, with 5 times a day and continuously for 6 days to reproduce stage 4 pressure ulcer model. Immediately after establishing the model, 3 rats in each group were sacrificed and wound tissue was collected, and hematoxylin-eosin staining was applied to observe the pathological changes of the wounds. On 1, 3, 7, and 14 day (s) after establishing the model, 3 rats in each group were collected to measure the pressure ulcer wound area by the paper jam method. After measurement of the wound area, the rats were sacrificed and the wound tissue was collected, and the protein expression levels of matrix metalloproteinases 9 (MMP-9) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1) in wound tissue were detected by immunohistochemical method, and the ratio of MMP-9/TIMP-1 was calculated.The wound healing time of the remaining 10 rats in each group was recorded. Data were statistically analyzed with analysis of variance for factorial design, two independent sample t test, and Bonferroni correction. Results: (1) Immediately after establishing the model, muscle fiber necrosis and dissolution with large areas were seen on the wound, the myofibrils arranged loosely, and more lymphocytes and monocytes infiltration were seen around the wound of rats in simple pressure ulcer group. A large number of necrotic myofibers were dissolved and gradually disappeared, the myofibrils arranged loosely, and the number of diffuse lymphocytes and monocyte infiltration in wound of rats in smoking+ pressure ulcer group were significantly higher than those in simple pressure ulcer group. (2) The wound areas of rats in smoking+ pressure ulcer group were significantly larger than those in simple pressure ulcer group on 1, 3, 7, and 14 day (s) after establishing the model (t=3.019, 2.549, 2.181, 3.674, P<0.05 or P<0.01). (3) On 1 to 14 days after establishing the model, the protein expression levels of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in the wound tissue and the ratio of MMP-9/TIMP-1 of rats in the two groups increased first and then decreased. On 1, 3, 7, and 14 day (s) after establishing the model, the protein expression levels of MMP-9 in the wound tissue and the ratio of MMP-9/TIMP-1 of rats in smoking+ pressure ulcer group were significantly higher than those in simple pressure ulcer group (t=4.783, 4.508, 6.325, 7.204, 3.078, 2.989, 4.081, 4.696, P<0.05 or P<0.01), and the protein expression levels of TIMP-1 in wound tissue of rats in the two groups were similar. (4) The wound healing time of rats in smoking+ pressure ulcer group was (48.9±2.6) d, which was significantly longer than (35.2±2.3) d of simple pressure ulcer group (t=12.477, P<0.05). Conclusions: Smoking can up-regulate the expression of MMP-9 in pressure ulcer wound and result in an imbalance of MMP-9/TIMP-1, thereby affecting the wound healing of stage 4 pressure ulcers in rats.

BAY60-2770 attenuates doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity by decreased oxidative stress and enhanced autophagy

BACKGROUND

Doxorubicin (DOX) administration decreases cardiac soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) activity. We hypothesized that bypassing impaired NO-sGC-cGMP pathway resulting from the activation of oxidized and heme-free soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) could be a therapeutic target for DOX-mediated cardiomyopathy (DOX-CM). The present study investigated the therapeutic roles and mechanism of BAY60-2770, an activator of oxidized sGC, in alleviating DOX-CM.

METHODS

H9c2 cardiomyocytes were pretreated with BAY60-2770 followed by DOX. Cell viability and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) were subsequently measured. To determine the role BAY60-2770 in mitochondrial ROS generation and mitochondrial membrane potential, we examined mitoSOX RED and TMRE fluorescence under DOX exposure. As animal experiments, rats were orally administered with 5 mg/kg of BAY60-2770 at 1 h prior to every DOX treatment and then assessed by echocardiography and apoptotic marker and autophagy.

RESULTS

BAY60-2770 ameliorated cell viability and DOX-induced oxidative stress in H9c2 cells, which was mediated by PKG activation. Mitochondrial ROS and TMRE fluorescence were attenuated by BAY60-2770 in DOX-treated H9c2 cells. DOX-induced caspase-3 activation decreased after pretreatment with BAY60-2770 in vivo and in vitro. Echocardiography showed that BAY60-2770 significantly improved DOX-induced myocardial dysfunction. Autophagosome was increased by BAY60-2770 in vivo.

CONCLUSIONS

BAY60-2770 appears to mitigate DOX-induced mitochondrial ROS, membrane potential loss, autophagy, and subsequent apoptosis, leading to protection of myocardial injury and dysfunction. These novel results highlighted the therapeutic potential of BAY60-2770 in preventing DOX-CM.

A Proteotranscriptomic-Based Computational Drug-Repositioning Method for Alzheimer's Disease

Numerous clinical trials of drug candidates for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) have failed, and computational drug repositioning approaches using omics data have been proposed as effective alternative approaches to the discovery of drug candidates. However, little multi-omics data is available for AD, due to limited availability of brain tissues. Even if omics data exist, systematic drug repurposing study for AD has suffered from lack of big data, insufficient clinical information, and difficulty in data integration on account of sample heterogeneity derived from poor diagnosis or shortage of qualified post-mortem tissue. In this study, we developed a proteotranscriptomic-based computational drug repositioning method named Drug Repositioning Perturbation Score/Class (DRPS/C) based on inverse associations between disease- and drug-induced gene and protein perturbation patterns, incorporating pharmacogenomic knowledge. We constructed a Drug-induced Gene Perturbation Signature Database (DGPSD) comprised of 61,019 gene signatures perturbed by 1,520 drugs from the Connectivity Map (CMap) and the L1000 CMap. Drugs were classified into three DRPCs (High, Intermediate, and Low) according to DRPSs that were calculated using drug- and disease-induced gene perturbation signatures from DGPSD and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), respectively. The DRPS/C method was evaluated using the area under the ROC curve, with a prescribed drug list from TCGA as the gold standard. Glioblastoma had the highest AUC. To predict anti-AD drugs, DRPS were calculated using DGPSD and AD-induced gene/protein perturbation signatures generated from RNA-seq, microarray and proteomic datasets in the Synapse database, and the drugs were classified into DRPCs. We predicted 31 potential anti-AD drug candidates commonly belonged to high DRPCs of transcriptomic and proteomic signatures. Of these, four drugs classified into the nervous system group of Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) system are voltage-gated sodium channel blockers (bupivacaine, topiramate) and monamine oxidase inhibitors (selegiline, iproniazid), and their mechanism of action was inferred from a potential anti-AD drug perspective. Our approach suggests a shortcut to discover new efficacy of drugs for AD.

Effect of Step Quenching on Multi-Step Aging Behavior in Al-Mg-Si Alloys

Two types of nanoclusters were detected using DSC thermal analysis operating at -50 °C with liquid nitrogen. The formation of Cluster (1) was substantially suppressed by the formation of Cluster (2) during step quenching at 100 °C for 0.06 ks. The hardness increase was retarded for a period during two-step aging at 170 °C in the case of natural aging for 604.8 ks. The hardness decrease was determined to be due to the dissolution of nanoclusters in the early stage of two-step aging at 170 °C. On the other hand, hardness was directly increased in the step-quenched samples during multi-step aging at 170 °C. It is noted that Cluster (2) directly transforms into the strengthening phase. The bake hardening response is fairly enhanced by the formation of Cluster (2), which is formed by the step quenching process. It was confirmed that the step-quenched samples had a higher number of precipitates than the naturally-aged ones based on TEM images. The structure of the precipitate was identified to be the β″ phase by analyzing HRTEM image.

Pi5 and Pii Paired NLRs Are Functionally Exchangeable and Confer Similar Disease Resistance Specificity

Effector-triggered immunity (ETI) is an effective layer of plant defense initiated upon recognition of avirulence (Avr) effectors from pathogens by cognate plant disease resistance (R) proteins. In rice, a large number of R genes have been characterized from various cultivars and have greatly contributed to breeding programs to improve resistance against the rice blast pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae. The extreme diversity of R gene repertoires is thought to be a result of co-evolutionary history between rice and its pathogens including M. oryzae. Here we show that Pii is an allele of Pi5 by DNA sequence characterization and complementation analysis. Pii-1 and Pii-2 cDNAs were cloned by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction from the Pii -carrying cultivar Fujisaka5 . The complementation test in susceptible rice cultivar Dongjin demonstrated that the rice blast resistance mediated by Pii , similar to Pi5 , requires the presence of two nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat genes, Pii-1 and Pii-2 . Consistent with our hypothesis that Pi5 and Pii are functionally indistinguishable, the replacement of Pii-1 by Pi5-1 and Pii-2 by Pi5-2 , respectively, does not change the level of disease resistance to M. oryzae carrying AVR-Pii. Surprisingly, Exo70F3, required for Pii-mediated resistance, is dispensable for Pi5-mediated resistance. Based on our results, despite similarities observed between Pi5 and Pii, we hypothesize that Pi5 and Pii pairs require partially distinct mechanisms to function.

Cell-penetrating artificial mitochondria-targeting peptide-conjugated metallothionein 1A alleviates mitochondrial damage in Parkinson's disease models

An excess of reactive oxygen species (ROS) relative to the antioxidant capacity causes oxidative stress, which plays a role in the development of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Because mitochondria are both sites of ROS generation and targets of ROS damage, the delivery of antioxidants to mitochondria might prevent or alleviate PD. To transduce the antioxidant protein human metallothionein 1A (hMT1A) into mitochondria, we computationally designed a cell-penetrating artificial mitochondria-targeting peptide (CAMP). The recombinant CAMP-conjugated hMT1A fusion protein (CAMP-hMT1A) successfully localized to the mitochondria. Treating a cell culture model of PD with CAMP-hMT1A restored tyrosine hydroxylase expression and mitochondrial activity and reduced ROS production. Furthermore, injection of CAMP-hMT1A into the brain of a mouse model of PD rescued movement impairment and dopaminergic neuronal degeneration. CAMP-hMT1A delivery into mitochondria might be therapeutic against PD by alleviating mitochondrial damage, and we predict that CAMP could be used to deliver other cargo proteins to the mitochondria.

A peptide targeting mitochondria can help deliver an antioxidant protein to mitigate the effects of Parkinson’s disease in cellular and mouse models. Youngmi Pak from Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea, and co-workers engineered bacteria to express the human version of an antioxidant protein called metallothionein 1A fused to a short peptide sequence so that it localizes to mitochondria, the cellular power plants. Once inside the mitochondria, the peptide is removed, leaving the mature antioxidant protein to mop up damaging free radicals, a common problem seen in the cells of patients with Parkinson’s disease, and restore mitochondria to a healthier state. The protein improved mitochondrial function in both a human cell line and in the neurons of mice with a Parkinson’s-like disease, suggesting it might also help patients with this devastating neurological condition.

Potential urine proteomics biomarkers for primary nephrotic syndrome

BACKGROUND

Nephrotic syndrome (NS) is a nonspecific kidney disorder, commonly caused by minimal change disease (MCD), focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), and membranous nephropathy (MN). Here we analyzed urinary protein profiles, aiming to discover disease-specific biomarkers of these three common diseases in NS.

METHODS

Sixteen urine samples were collected from patients with biopsy-proven NS and healthy controls. After removal of high-abundance proteins, the urinary protein profile was analyzed by LC-MS/MS to generate a discovery set. For validation, ELISA was used to analyze the selected proteins in 61 urine samples.

RESULTS

The discovery set included 228 urine proteins, of which 22 proteins were differently expressed in MCD, MN, and FSGS. Among these, C9, CD14, and SERPINA1 were validated by ELISA. All three proteins were elevated in MCD, MN, and FSGS groups compared with in IgA nephropathy and healthy controls. When a regression model was applied, receiver operating characteristic analysis clearly discriminated MCD from the other causative diseases in NS.

CONCLUSIONS

We developed a disease-specific protein panel that discriminated between three main causes of NS. Through this pilot study, we suggest that urine proteomics could be a non-invasive and clinically available tool to discriminate MCD from MN and FSGS.

Activation of back and lower limb muscles during squat exercises with different trunk flexion

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate the activation of back and lower limb muscles in subjects who were performing a squat exercise at different angles of trunk flexion. [Subjects and Methods] Twenty healthy subjects (age 21.1± 1.8 years, height 168.7 ± 8.2 cm, weight 66.1 ± 12.3 kg) volunteered. The activation of the erector spinae muscle, rectus femoris muscle, gluteus maximus muscle and biceps femoris muscle was observed while the subjects performed squat exercises with a trunk flexion of 0°, 15°, and 30°. [Results] The erector spinae muscle, gluteus maximus muscle, and biceps femoris muscle were activated more during the squat exercise with the trunk flexion at 30° than the exercise with the trunk flexion at 0°. The rectus femoris muscle showed a tendency to decrease as the truck flexion increased. [Conclusion] Squat exercise be executed while maintaining an erect trunk posture if one wishes to strengthen the quadriceps muscle while reducing the load on the lower back.

Effects of aerobic and anaerobic exercise on spatial learning ability in hypothyroid rats: a pilot study

[Purpose] This pilot study analyzed the degradation of spatial learning ability caused by hypothyroidism using aerobic and anaerobic exercise. [Subjects and Methods] The experiments were performed on 11, four-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats. Hypothyroidism-induced rats receiving propylthiouracil (PTU) treatment were divided into aerobic exercise, anaerobic exercise, and control groups. Each group performed exercise and rest for four weeks. Changes in lethargy, memory deterioration, and thyroid function were measured in each group by blood analysis and open field and Morris water maze tests. [Results] After four weeks, blood analysis revealed that the thyroid hormone levels had returned to normal in the aerobic exercise, anaerobic exercise, and control groups, whereas the open field and Morris water maze tests showed that the aerobic and anaerobic exercise groups had faster recovery compared to that of the control group. In addition, comparison of aerobic and anaerobic groups showed that the anaerobic exercise group had faster recovery compared to that of the aerobic group. [Conclusion] The findings of this study suggest that exercise helped to improve lethargy and deteriorated spatial learning ability caused by hypothyroidism and to recover function in rats. Anaerobic exercise was more beneficial than aerobic exercise in alleviating symptoms.

Global analysis of ginsenoside Rg1 protective effects in β-amyloid-treated neuronal cells

BACKGROUND

A number of reports have described the protective effects of ginsenoside Rg1 (Rg1) in Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the protective mechanisms of Rg1 in AD remain elusive.

METHODS

To investigate the potential mechanisms of Rg1 in β-amyloid peptide-treated SH-SY5Y cells, a comparative proteomic analysis was performed using stable isotope labeling with amino acids in cell culture combined with nano-LC-MS/MS.

RESULTS

We identified a total of 1,149 proteins in three independent experiments. Forty-nine proteins were significantly altered by Rg1 after exposure of the cells to β-amyloid peptides. The protein interaction network analysis showed that these altered proteins were clustered in ribosomal proteins, mitochondria, the actin cytoskeleton, and splicing proteins. Among these proteins, mitochondrial proteins containing HSD17B10, AARS2, TOMM40, VDAC1, COX5A, and NDUFA4 were associated with mitochondrial dysfunction in the pathogenesis of AD.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that mitochondrial proteins may be related to the protective mechanisms of Rg1 in AD.

[Relationship between gestational glucose, lipid metabolism parameters and fetal distress]

OBJECTIVE

To study the relationship between gestational glucose, lipid metabolism parameters and fetal distress.

METHODS

Retrospectively, 82 cases of primipara with fetal distress and 246 cases of primipara without any obstetric complications were analyzed. The latter were treated as control group. All the patients were from the same hospital between January, 2014 and January, 2016. Factors as fasting plasma-glucose (FPG), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC),high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C) parameters during early pregnancy, blood glucose of fasting, 1 hour and 2 hours in 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), at 24 to 28 weeks of gestation, hemoglobin and blood pressure parameters during ante partum were recorded for all the cases while parameters as glucose and lipid, hemoglobin, blood pressure and cesarean section rate were compared between the 2 groups.

RESULTS

FPG during early gestation, blood glucose of fasting, 1 hour and 2 hours 75 g OGTT during mid gestation, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure during late gestation in the'fetal distress'group were significantly higher than that of the control group. Hemoglobin during late gestation in the fetal distress group was lower than that of the control group, with statistically significant difference (P<0.05). The rate of cesarean section in the fetal distress group was higher than that in the control group (χ(2)=4.489, P=0.034).

CONCLUSIONS

High BMI at pre-pregnancy, high blood glucose during early and mid-gestation, high blood pressure and anemia during late gestation were related to the fetal distress group. Cesarean section rate was high for pregnancy women with fetal distress.

Comparative genomics identifies the Magnaporthe oryzae avirulence effector AvrPi9 that triggers Pi9-mediated blast resistance in rice

We identified the Magnaporthe oryzae avirulence effector AvrPi9 cognate to rice blast resistance gene Pi9 by comparative genomics of requisite strains derived from a sequential planting method. AvrPi9 encodes a small secreted protein that appears to localize in the biotrophic interfacial complex and is translocated to the host cell during rice infection. AvrPi9 forms a tandem gene array with its paralogue proximal to centromeric region of chromosome 7. AvrPi9 is expressed highly at early stages during initiation of blast disease. Virulent isolate strains contain Mg-SINE within the AvrPi9 coding sequence. Loss of AvrPi9 did not lead to any discernible defects during growth or pathogenesis in M. oryzae. This study reiterates the role of diverse transposable elements as off-switch agents in acquisition of gain-of-virulence in the rice blast fungus. The prevalence of AvrPi9 correlates well with the avirulence pathotype in diverse blast isolates from the Philippines and China, thus supporting the broad-spectrum resistance conferred by Pi9 in different rice growing areas. Our results revealed that Pi9 and Piz-t at the Pi2/9 locus activate race specific resistance by recognizing sequence-unrelated AvrPi9 and AvrPiz-t genes, respectively.

Quantitative proteomic analysis reveals mitochondrial protein changes in MPP(+)-induced neuronal cells

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder pathologically characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. To further explore potential functional mechanisms of PD, we performed a comparative proteomic analysis using stable isotope labeling with amino acids in cell culture (SILAC) combined with nano-LC tandem mass spectrometry (nano-LC MS). In total, 1740 proteins were identified in MPP(+)-treated SH-SY5Y cells. Our comparative proteomic analysis indicated that a total of 39 proteins were differentially expressed in SH-SY5Y cells responding to MPP(+) treatment. Of these, 14 altered proteins were clustered in the mitochondria, 5 proteins were already reported as related to PD, and the remaining proteins were newly identified in this study. Together, our data further define that the mitochondria play an important role in regulating PD through multiple and complex mechanisms and provide new insights into the functional contribution of mitochondrial proteins in PD.

Effects of different types of contraction in abdominal bracing on the asymmetry of left and right abdominal muscles

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate the effective strength levels of abdominal muscle contraction using the bracing contraction method. [Subjects] The experiment was conducted with 31 healthy male (M=15) and female (F=16) adults attending D University in Busan; all participants had less than obesity level BMI (BMI<30). [Methods] Bracing contraction was performed by the subjects in the hook-lying position at maximum and minimum pressure levels, five times each, using a Pressure Biofeedback Unit (PBU), and the mean measurement value was calculated. The maximum pressure level was set at 100% and the half maximum pressure level was set at 50%. Each subject’s left and right abdominal muscle thicknesses were then measured by ultrasound imaging in each state: at rest, 100% contraction, and 50% contraction. [Results] No significant differences were found between the left and right sides of the transversus abdominis (TrA) at rest, 50%, or 100% contraction. The external oblique abdominis (EO) and internal oblique abdominis (IO) showed no significant difference at rest or at the 50% contraction. However, a significant difference was noted at 100% contraction for the EO and IO. [Conclusion] Application of abdominal contraction using bracing can achieve symmetry in the left and right abdominal muscles at less than the maximum contractile strength. The occurrence of asymmetry in the left and right abdominal muscles at the maximum contractile strength suggests that the most suitable contractile strength in this exercise is less than the maximum contractile strength.

Rice BiP3 regulates immunity mediated by the PRRs XA3 and XA21 but not immunity mediated by the NB-LRR protein, Pi5

Plant innate immunity is mediated by pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) and intracellular NB-LRR (nucleotide-binding domain and leucine-rich repeat) proteins. Overexpression of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) chaperone, luminal-binding protein 3 (BiP3) compromises resistance to Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) mediated by the rice PRR XA21 [12]. Here we show that BiP3 overexpression also compromises resistance mediated by rice XA3, a PRR that provides broad-spectrum resistance to Xoo. In contrast, BiP3 overexpression has no effect on resistance mediated by rice Pi5, an NB-LRR protein that confers resistance to the fungal pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae (M. oryzae). Our results suggest that rice BiP3 regulates membrane-resident PRR-mediated immunity.

Acetylation of cyclin-dependent kinase 5 is mediated by GCN5

Cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (CDK5), a member of atypical serine/threonine cyclin-dependent kinase family, plays a crucial role in pathophysiology of neurodegenerative disorders. Its kinase activity and substrate specificity are regulated by several independent pathways including binding with its activator, phosphorylation and S-nitrosylation. In the present study, we report that acetylation of CDK5 comprises an additional posttranslational modification within the cells. Among many candidates, we confirmed that its acetylation is enhanced by GCN5, a member of the GCN5-related N-acetyl-transferase family of histone acetyltransferase. Co-immunoprecipitation assay and fluorescent localization study indicated that GCN5 physically interacts with CDK5 and they are co-localized at the specific nuclear foci. Furthermore, liquid chromatography in conjunction with a mass spectrometry indicated that CDK5 is acetylated at Lys33 residue of ATP binding domain. Considering this lysine site is conserved among a wide range of species and other related cyclin-dependent kinases, therefore, we speculate that acetylation may alter the kinase activity of CDK5 via affecting efficacy of ATP coordination.

Calsyntenins function as synaptogenic adhesion molecules in concert with neurexins

Multiple synaptic adhesion molecules govern synapse formation. Here, we propose calsyntenin-3/alcadein-β as a synapse organizer that specifically induces presynaptic differentiation in heterologous synapse-formation assays. Calsyntenin-3 (CST-3) is highly expressed during various postnatal periods of mouse brain development. The simultaneous knockdown of all three CSTs, but not CST-3 alone, decreases inhibitory, but not excitatory, synapse densities in cultured hippocampal neurons. Moreover, the knockdown of CSTs specifically reduces inhibitory synaptic transmission in vitro and in vivo. Remarkably, the loss of CSTs induces a concomitant decrease in neuron soma size in a non-cell-autonomous manner. Furthermore, α-neurexins (α-Nrxs) are components of a CST-3 complex involved in CST-3-mediated presynaptic differentiation. However, CST-3 does not directly bind to Nrxs. Viewed together, these data suggest that the three CSTs redundantly regulate inhibitory synapse formation, inhibitory synapse function, and neuron development in concert with Nrxs.

Effect of cocaine on ion channels and glutamatergic EPSCs in noradrenergic locus coeruleus neurons

The locus coeruleus (LC) is an important brainstem area involved in cocaine addiction. However, evidence to elucidate how cocaine modulates the activity of LC neurons remains incomplete. Here, we performed whole recordings in brain slices to evaluate the effects of cocaine on the sodium (Na(+)), potassium (K(+)), calcium (Ca(2+)) channels, and glutamatergic synaptic transmission in the locus coeruleus neurons. Local application of cocaine significantly and reversibly reduced the spontaneous firing rate but did not affect action potential amplitude, rising time, decay time, or half width of noradrenergic locus coeruleus neurons. Moreover, cocaine attenuated the sodium current but did not affect potassium and calcium currents. The N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor mediated excitatory postsynaptic currents were reduced by neuropeptide galanin but not cocaine. All those data demonstrate that cocaine has inhibitory effect on the spontaneous activities and sodium current in locus coeruleus neurons. Therefore, neuromodulation of sodium channel in locus coeruleus neurons may play an important role in drug addiction.

Differential requirement of Oryza sativa RAR1 in immune receptor-mediated resistance of rice to Magnaporthe oryzae

The required for Mla12 resistance (RAR1) protein is essential for the plant immune response. In rice, a model monocot species, the function of Oryza sativa RAR1 (OsRAR1) has been little explored. In our current study, we characterized the response of a rice osrar1 T-DNA insertion mutant to infection by Magnaporthe oryzae, the causal agent of rice blast disease. osrar1 mutants displayed reduced resistance compared with wild type rice when inoculated with the normally virulent M. oryzae isolate PO6-6, indicating that OsRAR1 is required for an immune response to this pathogen. We also investigated the function of OsRAR1 in the resistance mechanism mediated by the immune receptor genes Pib and Pi5 that encode nucleotide binding-leucine rich repeat (NB-LRR) proteins. We inoculated progeny from Pib/osrar1 and Pi5/osrar1 heterozygous plants with the avirulent M. oryzae isolates, race 007 and PO6-6, respectively. We found that only Pib-mediated resistance was compromised by the osrar1 mutation and that the introduction of the OsRAR1 cDNA into Pib/osrar1 rescued Pib-mediated resistance. These results indicate that OsRAR1 is required for Pib-mediated resistance but not Pi5-mediated resistance to M. oryzae.

Mass spectrometric analysis of novel phosphorylation sites in the TRPC4β channel

RATIONALE

The transient receptor potential canonical (TRPC) channel 4β is a non-selective cation channel that is regulated by intracellular Ca(2+) and G protein-coupled receptors. Tyrosine phosphorylation of TRPC4β is important in mediating the activity and membrane expression of this channel protein. However, studies of TRPC4β Ser/Thr phosphorylation are lacking.

METHODS

To investigate the phosphorylation sites involved in regulating the diverse functions of TRPC4β in mammalian cells, we used nano-liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry to identify key phosphorylation sites in TRPC4β that was immunopurified from HEK293 cells with monoclonal anti-TRPC4β antibody.

RESULTS

We identified four phosphorylation sites in the C-terminus of TRPC4β, none of which had been previously reported. Our data show that TRPC4β in mammalian cells is highly phosphorylated under basal conditions at multiple sites, and that a mass spectrometric proteomic technique combined with antibody-based affinity purification is an effective approach to define the phosphorylation sites of TRPC4β channels in mammalian cells.

CONCLUSIONS

These novel phosphorylation sites on TRPC4β may play a potential role in the phosphorylation-mediated regulation of TRPC4β channel activity and function in mammalian cells.

Rosiglitazone prevents graft-versus-host disease (GVHD)

The effect of rosiglitazone, an agonist of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ), was investigated in a mouse parent-to-F1 GVHD model. Rosiglitazone inhibited mixed lymphocyte reactions, inducing enhanced apoptosis in CD4+, CD8+, and B220+ cells, but not in NK1.1+, Mac-1+, CD4+/CD25+ and CD3+/NK1.1+ cells. Rosiglitazone administration prevented GVHD in the liver, skin, spleen and intestine. Rosiglitazone inhibited GVHD-induced increases in serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interferon-gamma, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-12, and the GVHD-induced decreases in transforming growth factor-beta and IL-10. Immunophenotyping of splenic leukocytes demonstrated that while rosiglitazone treatment increased the population percentages of both donor and host CD4+/CD25+ and CD3+/NK1.1+ cells, the treatment resulted in lower fractions of both donor and host CD8+ cells. Rosiglitazone inhibited the GVHD-induced decreases in the expression of phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN), as well as the GVHD-induced increase in the splenic p-Akt and nuclear factor-kappa B expression. These results indicate that rosiglitazone and PPARγ activation may be useful in protecting the host from GVHD.

Frequent amplification of CENPF, GMNN and CDK13 genes in hepatocellular carcinomas

Genomic changes frequently occur in cancer cells during tumorigenesis from normal cells. Using the Illumina Human NS-12 single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) chip to screen for gene copy number changes in primary hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs), we initially detected amplification of 35 genes from four genomic regions (1q21–41, 6p21.2–24.1, 7p13 and 8q13–23). By integrated screening of these genes for both DNA copy number and gene expression in HCC and colorectal cancer, we selected CENPF (centromere protein F/mitosin), GMNN (geminin, DNA replication inhibitor), CDK13 (cyclin-dependent kinase 13), and FAM82B (family with sequence similarity 82, member B) as common cancer genes. Each gene exhibited an amplification frequency of ∼30% (range, 20–50%) in primary HCC (n = 57) and colorectal cancer (n = 12), as well as in a panel of human cancer cell lines (n = 70). Clonogenic and invasion assays of NIH3T3 cells transfected with each of the four amplified genes showed that CENPF, GMNN, and CDK13 were highly oncogenic whereas FAM82B was not. Interestingly, the oncogenic activity of these genes (excluding FAM82B) was highly correlated with gene-copy numbers in tumor samples (correlation coefficient, r>0.423), indicating that amplifications of CENPF, GMNN, and CDK13 genes are tightly linked and coincident in tumors. Furthermore, we confirmed that CDK13 gene copy number was significantly associated with clinical onset age in patients with HCC (P = 0.0037). Taken together, our results suggest that coincidently amplified CDK13, GMNN, and CENPF genes can play a role as common cancer-driver genes in human cancers.

Abstract 4413: Rosiglitazone prevents graft-versus-host disease (GVHD)

GVHD is a host tissue injury mediated by donor-host immune reactions, and a major complication in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (PPARδ) plays an important role in regulating immune responses. We investigated the role of rosiglitazone, a synthetic PPARδ agonist, in a murine parent-to-F1 GVHD model. During mixed lymphocyte reactions (MLR), rosiglitazone inhibited the proliferative response and cytotoxicity of responder cells, and induced more apoptosis in CD4+, CD8+, and B220+ cells than in NK1.1+, Mac-1+, CD4/CD25+ and CD3/NK1.1+ cells. The in vivo administration of rosiglitazone demonstrated histologic improvements of GVHD in the liver, skin, spleen and intestine. Rosiglitazone treatment inhibited GVHD-induced increases in serum levels of TNFα, IFNα, IL-6, and IL-12, and the decreases in TGFβ and IL-10. Splenic leukocyte immunophenotyping demonstrated that while the proportions of both donor and host CD4/CD25+ and CD3/NK1.1+ cells were increased by the treatment with rosiglitazone, both donor and host CD8+ cells were decreased. Rosiglitazone treatment inhibited GVHD-induced decreases in the expression of phosphate and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome ten (PTEN), and the increases in the expression of p-Akt and nuclear NF-κB in the spleen. These results indicate that rosiglitazone and activation of PPARδ may be useful to protect the host from GVHD.

Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4413. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-4413

Dynamic modulation of the kv2.1 channel by SRC-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation

The voltage-gated K(+) channel Kv2.1 is expressed as a highly phosphorylated protein in most central neurons, where it plays a key role in regulating neuronal membrane excitability. Previous studies have shown that Kv2.1 channel activity is upregulated by Src-mediated phosphorylation through an unknown mechanism. However, a systematic analysis of the molecular mechanism of Kv2.1 channel phosphorylation by Src is lacking. Here, we show that tyrosine phosphorylation by Src plays a fundamental role in regulating Kv2.1-mediated K(+) current enhancement. We found that the level of expression of the Kv2.1 protein is increased by Src kinase. Using mass spectrometric proteomic techniques, we identified two novel phosphotyrosine sites, Y686 and Y810, in the cytoplasmic domains of Kv2.1. We found that Src-dependent phosphorylation at these sites affects Kv2.1 through distinct regulatory mechanisms. Whereas phosphorylation at Y686 regulates Kv2.1 activity similarly to the known site Y124, phosphorylation at Y810 plays a significant role in regulating the intracellular trafficking of Kv2.1 channels. Our results show that these two novel tyrosine phosphorylation sites of Kv2.1 are crucial to regulating diverse aspects of Kv2.1 channel function and provide novel insights into molecular mechanisms for the regulation of Src-dependent modulation of Kv2.1 channels.

Identification of the phosphorylation sites on intact TRPM7 channels from mammalian cells

Transient receptor potential melastatin 7 (TRPM7) channels are divalent cation-selective ion channels that are permeable to Ca(2+) and Mg(2+). TRPM7 is ubiquitously expressed in vertebrate cells and contains both an ion channel and a kinase domain. TRPM7 plays an important role in regulating cellular homeostatic levels of Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) in mammalian cells. Although studies have shown that the kinase domain of TRPM7 is required for channel activation and can phosphorylate other target proteins, a systematic analysis of intact TRPM7 channel phosphorylation sites expressed in mammalian cells is lacking. We applied mass spectrometric proteomic techniques to identify and characterize the key phosphorylation sites in TRPM7 channels. We identified 14 phosphorylation sites in the cytoplasmic domain of TRPM7, eight of which have not been previously reported. The identification of phosphorylation sites using antibody-based immunopurification and mass spectrometry is an effective approach for defining the phosphorylation status of TRPM7 channels. The present results show that TRPM7 channels are phosphorylated at multiple sites, which serves as a mechanism to modulate the dynamic functions of TRPM7 channels in mammalian cells.

SNP-based large-scale identification of allele-specific gene expression in human B cells

Polymorphism and variations in gene expression provide the genetic basis for human variation. Allelic variation of gene expression, in particular, may play a crucial role in phenotypic variation and disease susceptibility. To identify genes with allelic expression in human cells, we genotyped genomic DNA and cDNA isolated from 31 immortalized B cell lines from three Centre d'Etude du Polymorphisme Humain (CEPH) families using high-density single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) chips containing 13,900 exonic SNPs. We identified seven SNPs in five genes with monoallelic expression, 146 SNPs in 125 genes with allelic imbalance in expression with preferentially higher expression of one allele in a heterozygous individual. The monoallelically expressed genes (ERAP2, MDGA1, LOC644422, SDCCAG3P1 and CLTCL1) were regulated by cis-acting, non-imprinted differential allelic control. In addition, all monoallelic gene expression patterns and allelic imbalances in gene expression in B cells were transmitted from parents to offspring in the pedigree, indicating genetic transmission of allelic gene expression. Furthermore, frequent allele substitution, probably due to RNA editing, was also observed in 21 genes in 23 SNPs as well as in 48 SNPs located in regions containing no known genes. In this study, we demonstrated that allelic gene expression is frequently observed in human B cells, and SNP chips are very useful tools for detecting allelic gene expression. Overall, our data provide a valuable framework for better understanding allelic gene expression in human B cells.

Contribution of the delayed-rectifier potassium channel Kv2.1 to acute spinal cord injury in rats

Recent studies have reported that delayed-rectifier Kv channels regulate apoptosis in the nervous system. Herein, we investigated changes in the expression of the delayed-rectifier Kv channels Kv1.2, Kv2.1, and Kv3.1 after acute spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats. We performed RT-PCR analysis and found an increase in the level of Kv2.1 mRNA after SCI but no significant changes in the levels of Kv1.2 and Kv3.1 mRNA. Western blot analysis revealed that Kv2.1 protein levels rapidly decreased and then dramatically increased from 1 day, whereas Kv3.1b protein levels gradually and sharply decreased at 5 days. Kv1.2 protein levels did not change significantly. In addition, Kv2.1 clusters were disrupted in the plasma membranes of motor neurons after SCI. Interestingly, the expressional changes and translocation of Kv2.1 were consistent with the apoptotic changes on day 1. Therefore, these results suggest that Kv2.1 channels probably contribute to neuronal cell responses to SCI.

Ectopic expression of rice Xa21 overcomes developmentally controlled resistance to Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae

Recognition of pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) by pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) activates the innate immune response. The rice PRR, XA21, confers robust resistance at adult stages to most strains of the bacterial pathogen Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo). Seedlings are still easily infected by Xoo, causing severe yield losses. Here we report that Xa21 is induced by Xoo infection and that ectopic expression of Xa21 confers resistance at three leaf stage (three-week-old), overcoming the developmental limitation of XA21-mediated resistance. Ectopic expression of Xa21 also up-regulates a larger set of defense-related genes as compared to Xa21 driven by the native promoter. These results indicate that altered regulation of Xa21 expression is useful for developing enhanced resistance to Xoo at multiple developmental stages.

The identification of candidate rice genes that confer resistance to the brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens) through representational difference analysis

The development of rice varieties (Oryza sativa L.) that are resistant to the brown planthopper (BPH; Nilaparvata lugens Stål) is an important objective in current breeding programs. In this study, we generated 132 BC(5)F(5) near-isogenic rice lines (NILs) by five backcrosses of Samgangbyeo, a BPH resistant indica variety carrying the Bph1 locus, with Nagdongbyeo, a BPH susceptible japonica variety. To identify genes that confer BPH resistance, we employed representational difference analysis (RDA) to detect transcripts that were exclusively expressed in one of our BPH resistant NIL, SNBC61, during insect feeding. The chromosomal mapping of the RDA clones that we subsequently isolated revealed that they are located in close proximity either to known quantitative trait loci or to an introgressed SSR marker from the BPH resistant donor parent Samgangbyeo. Genomic DNA gel-blot analysis further revealed that loci of all RDA clones in SNBC61 correspond to the alleles of Samgangbyeo. Most of the RDA clones were found to be exclusively expressed in SNBC61 and could be assigned to functional groups involved in plant defense. These RDA clones therefore represent candidate defense genes for BPH resistance.

Foreign-body granuloma occurring in the mandible subsequent to orthognathic surgery: a case report

We report the first case of foreign-body granuloma occurring in the mandible of a patient with a history of orthognathic surgery. A 20-year-old male patient had a hard swelling and pain in the left mandibular angle and the parotid area. Plain radiographs showed a radiolucent lesion extending from the buccal area under the left sigmoid notch of the mandible to the mandibular angle. Computed tomographs showed an expanded osteolytic mass in the same area, with destruction of most of the bone on the buccal side. A microscopic examination revealed filamentous foreign material associated with chronic inflammatory cell infiltration and an aggregation of multinucleated giant cells. Foreign-body granuloma in the mandible, although rare, should be included in the differential diagnosis in cases of postoperative masses.

A comparative study of the radiological diagnosis of postoperative maxillary cyst

OBJECTIVES

To compare the diagnostic accuracy for the postoperative maxillary cyst (POMC) of panoramic in combination with Waters' radiography with computed tomography (CT) and of oral and maxillofacial radiologists with non-specialists.

STUDY DESIGN

Nineteen cases of POMC and 19 of postoperative changes were assessed using panoramic in combination with Waters' radiographs and CT by five oral and maxillofacial radiologists and five non-specialists on a five-point scale. The areas under the ROC curves were analysed using the Wilcoxon rank sum test to determine any differences in diagnostic accuracy between the two methods and between the two groups.

RESULTS

The diagnostic accuracy of CT was higher than that of combined panoramic and Waters' radiographs for the oral and maxillofacial radiologists (P < 0.05), but not for the non-specialists (P > 0.05). The diagnostic accuracy of the oral and maxillofacial radiologists for each method was higher than that of the non-specialists group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

CT improves the evaluation of POMC. Radiological training and experience leads to more accurate diagnoses.