Adenoviral vector-mediated gene transfer for human gene therapy

Human gene therapy promises to change the practice of medicine by treating the causes of disease rather than the symptoms. Since the first clinical trial made its debut ten years ago, there are over 400 approved protocols in the United States alone, most of which have failed to show convincing data of clinical efficacy. This setback is largely due to the lack of efficient and adequate gene transfer vehicles. With the recent progress in elucidating the molecular mechanisms of human diseases and the imminent arrival of the post genomic era, there are increasing numbers of therapeutic genes or targets that are available for gene therapy. Therefore, the urgency and need for efficacious gene therapies are greater than ever. Clearly, the current fundamental obstacle is to develop delivery vectors that exhibit high efficacy and specificity of gene transfer. Recombinant adenoviruses have provided a versatile system for gene expression studies and therapeutic applications. Of late, there has been a remarkable increase in adenoviral vector-based clinical trials. Recent endeavors in the development of recombinant adenoviral vectors have focused on modification of virus tropism, accommodation of larger genes, increase in stability and control of transgene expression, and down-modulation of host immune responses. These modifications and continued improvements in adenoviral vectors will provide a great opportunity for human gene therapy to live up to its enormous potential in the second decade.

Sphingosine-1-phosphate induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition of hepatocellular carcinoma via an MMP-7/ syndecan-1/TGF-β autocrine loop

Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) induces epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, its underlying mechanism remains largely unknown. In the present study, we investigated the correlation between S1P and syndecan-1 in HCC, the molecular mechanism involved, as well as their roles in EMT of HCC. Results revealed a high serum S1P level presents in patients with HCC, which positively correlated with the serum syndecan-1 level. A significant inverse correlation existed between S1P₁ and syndecan-1 in HCC tissues. S1P elicits activation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathways via S1P₁, which triggers HPSE, leading to increases in expression and activity of MMP-7 and leading to shedding and suppression of syndecan-1. The loss of syndecan-1 causes an increase in TGF-β1 production. The limited chronic increase in TGF-β1 can convert HCC cells into a mesenchymal phenotype via establishing an MMP-7/Syndecan-1/TGF-β autocrine loop. Finally, TGF-β1 and syndecan-1 are essential for S1P-induced epithelial to mesenchymal transition. Taken together, our study demonstrates that S1P induces advanced tumor phenotypes of HCC via establishing an MMP-7/syndecan-1/TGF-β1 autocrine loop, and implicates targetable S1P₁-PI3K/AKT-HPSE-MMP-7 signaling axe in HCC metastasis.

Assessment of the Chinese version of HIV and homosexuality related stigma scales

OBJECTIVES

To design and assess HIV and homosexuality related stigma scales in a developing world context.

METHODS

A respondent-driven sampling survey was conducted among 351 men who have sex with men (MSM) in Shenzhen, China. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were used to examine and determine the latent factors of stigma subscales.

RESULTS

Factor analyses identified three subscales associated with homosexuality and HIV stigma: public homosexual stigma (10 items), self homosexual stigma (8 items) and public HIV stigma (7 items). There were no items with cross-loadings onto multiple factors, supporting the distinctness of the constructs that these scales were meant to measure. The fit indices in confirmatory factor analysis provide evidence for the hypothesised three-factor structure of associations (the chi2/degree ratio = 1.84, CFI = 0.91, RMSEA = 0.05 and SRMR = 0.05). Reliability of the three scales was excellent (Cronbach's alpha: 0.78-0.85) and stable across split samples and for the data as a whole.

CONCLUSIONS

The selection of three latent factors was supported by both psychometric properties and theories of stigmatisation. The scales are brief and suitable for use in developing countries where less time-consuming measurement is preferable.

Prevalence of Metabolically Healthy Obese and Metabolically Obese but Normal Weight in Adults Worldwide: A Meta-Analysis

The objective of the present study was to summarize the prevalence and influencing factors of metabolically healthy obese (MHO) and metabolically obese but normal weight (MONW) among people ≥ 18 years old in the general population worldwide. We searched for studies of the prevalence of MHO and MONW published in English and Chinese up to October 2013. Pooled prevalence estimates were calculated by a random-effects model according to a Q test. The effects of gender, region, age, sample size, smoking, and alcohol consumption on MHO and MONW were analyzed. Differences between subgroups were assessed by chi-square test. Publication bias was estimated by Egger's test. Studies of MHO and MONW showed heterogeneity (I(2)=99.4% and I(2)=99.7%, respectively). The overall prevalence of MHO and MONW was 7.27% (95% CI 5.92-8.90%) and 19.98% (95% CI 16.54-23.94%), respectively. American populations had the highest MHO prevalence and European populations the highest MONW prevalence. Different patterns of MHO and MONW were observed in the subgroup analysis with respect to gender, age, sample size, smoking, alcohol consumption, and metabolically healthy criteria. The prevalence of both MHO and MONW were affected by gender, region, age, sample size, smoking, alcohol consumption, and metabolically healthy criteria, but studies showed high heterogeneity.

Diabetes mellitus, blood glucose and the risk of heart failure: A systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective studies

BACKGROUND AND AIM

The strength of the association between diabetes and risk of heart failure has differed between previous studies and the available studies have not been summarized in a meta-analysis. We therefore quantified the association between diabetes and blood glucose and heart failure in a systematic review and meta-analysis.

METHODS AND RESULTS

PubMed and Embase databases were searched up to May 3rd 2018. Prospective studies on diabetes mellitus or blood glucose and heart failure risk were included. A random effects model was used to calculate summary relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Seventy seven studies were included. Among the population-based prospective studies, the summary RR for individuals with diabetes vs. no diabetes was 2.06 (95% CIs: 1.73-2.46, I² = 99.8%, n = 30 studies, 401495 cases, 21416780 participants). The summary RR was 1.23 (95% CI: 1.15-1.32, I² = 78.2%, n = 10, 5344 cases, 91758 participants) per 20 mg/dl increase in blood glucose and there was evidence of a J-shaped association with nadir around 90 mg/dl and increased risk even within the pre-diabetic blood glucose range. Among the patient-based studies the summary RR was 1.69 (95% CI: 1.57-1.81, I² = 85.5%, p_{heterogeneity}<0.0001) for diabetes vs. no diabetes (n = 41, 100284 cases and >613925 participants) and 1.25 (95% CI: 0.89-1.75, I² = 95.6%, p_{heterogeneity}<0.0001) per 20 mg/dl increase in blood glucose (1016 cases, 34309 participants, n = 2). In the analyses of diabetes and heart failure there was low or no heterogeneity among the population-based studies that adjusted for alcohol intake and physical activity and among the patient-based studies there was no heterogeneity among studies with ≥10 years follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that individuals with diabetes are at an increased risk of developing heart failure and there is evidence of increased risk even within the pre-diabetic range of blood glucose.

The interrelationship between salivary epidermal growth factor and the functional integrity of the esophageal mucosal barrier in the rat

The role of salivary epidermal growth factor (sEGF) in the maintenance of the esophageal mucosal mucus coat and its permselective properties was investigated for this study. Eighteen Sprague-Dawley male rats underwent sialoadenectomy (SAD), while 18 others with sham operation served as a control. Nine SAD rats in each group received EGF in a dose of 15 micrograms/kg/d for five consecutive days prior to sacrifice. Esophageal mucosa dissected from the muscle layer was placed in the central port of a specially designed permeability chamber filled on both sides with equimolar solutions of NaCl or HCl (0.155 M). The rate of hydrogen ion diffusion from the mucosal to the serosal side was estimated by continuous recording of pH in the NaCl compartment. In addition, the mucosal mucus coat was evaluated by Alcian blue uptake methodology. SAD led to a 108% increase in the rate of permeability of the esophageal mucosa to hydrogen ion. Simultaneously, an 83% decrease in the mucus content on the surface of the esophageal mucosa was observed. A five-day supplementation of EGF substantially improved the permeability of esophageal mucosa (67%) and the mucous layer of esophagus (41%). sEGF seems to play an important physiological role in the maintenance of the functional integrity of the esophageal mucosa.

Needle sharing and sex-related risk behaviours among drug users in Shenzhen, a city in Guangdong, southern China

Intravenous drug users (IDUs) are at high risk of contracting HIV, but there is a geographic bias in such research efforts in China. The aim was to study the pattern of needle sharing and sex-related risk behaviours among drug users in southern China. About 260 drug users in a detoxification centre completed an anonymous questionnaire (response rate=87.3%). The results show that needle sharing among IDUs was prevalent (60.6% and 45.3% for male and female IDUs, respectively); the sharers were often friends, spouses, and acquaintances. Few IDUs sterilized the used needles properly. Commercial sex behaviours (males: 44%; females: 60%) as well as multiple partnership (males: 60%; females: 53%) were also prevalent among all male and female drug users studied. Inconsistent condom use with commercial sex partners, spouses, and regular sex partners was also very common. Yet, few of all drug users studied perceived the susceptibility of contracting HIV (11%) or sexually transmitted diseases (24%) in the future. A better HIV-related knowledge level was associated with lower levels of risk behaviours. It is concluded that harm reduction programmes are urgently warranted in China.

Organoamido- and Aryloxo-Lanthanoids. V. Preparations of Low-Coordinate Lanthanoid(II) Phenolates, Ln (OC6H2But2-2,6-X-4)2( thf )n (Ln = Yb or Eu; X = H, Me or BuT; N = 2 or 3) and the X-Ray Crystal Structure of Five-Coordinate [Yb (OC6H2But2-2,6-X-4)2( thf )3].thf

Lanthanoid (II) complexes of bulky aryl oxides, Ln (OC6H2But2-2,6-X-4)2 ( Ln = Yb or Eu ; X = H, Me or But) have been prepared by one or more of the following methods: ( i ) reaction of Ln (C6F5)2 with the appropriate phenol, (ii) reaction of the lanthanoid metal, Hg(C6F5)2 and the phenol, and (iii) reaction of the lanthanoid metal with the corresponding thallium(I) phenolate, in tetrahydrofuran ( thf ), and they have been isolated as Ln (OC6H2But2-2,6-X-4)2(thf)3 complexes. Crystallization of Yb (OC6H2But2-2,6-X-4)2( thf )3 (X = H or Me) from toluene yields Yb (OC6H2But2-2,6-X-4)2( thf )2. The X-ray crystal structure of [ Yb (OC6H2But3-2,4,6)2( thf )3]. thf [monoclinic, a 10.20(1), b 32.97(2), c 16.018(4) Ǻ, β 93.52(8)°, V 5375 Ǻ3, Z 4, 2734 'observed' data refined to R 0.070] shows distorted square pyramidal five coordination for ytterbium with an apical thf oxygen [ Yb -O 2.44(1)Ǻ], and transoid phenolate oxygens [ Yb -O 2.21(1), 2.22(1)Ǻ, O- Yb -O 149.0(6)°] and trans thf oxygens [ Yb -O 2.47(2), 2.48(1)Ǻ, O-Yb -O 177.3(5)°] in the square plane. Four methyl groups ( Yb…C 3.89-4.15 Ǻ) across the square plane away from the apical oxygen may block coordination of an additional ligand. X-Ray structures of Yb (OC6H2But2-2,6-Me-4)2(thf)n showing four coordination (n = 2) and five coordination (n = 3), given in a preliminary communication,1 are further discussed.

Gestational age-specific birthweights of twins versus singletons

In order to more adequately characterize patterns of intrauterine growth retardation in twins, the mean birthweights of all nonanomalous white or black twins born between 24 and 41 weeks of gestation and surviving until discharge over an 11-year period (547 infants) and all similar singletons (19,072 infants) were compared by completed weeks of gestation. Between 24 and 35 weeks of gestation, the mean birthweights for the 547 twins and the 19,072 singletons were comparable and did not consistently differ statistically. From 36 to 41 weeks gestation, however, the difference became large, consistent, and statistically significant for each week at P less than 0.0001. This difference was present among all subgroups of twins, ie, in all males, females, blacks, and whites; it was still evident when the sample was further stratified by both race and sex (black males, white males, black females, white females). These data suggest a pattern of growth retardation in twins compared to singletons which is large, consistent, and statistically significant beginning at 36 weeks gestation. Clinically, these data also suggest the need for ultrasonic examination early in gestation (24-32 weeks) to document normal growth and to provide baseline data, and show the importance of such monitoring later in gestation, specifically after 36 weeks.

Chemical Composition and Some Rheological Properties of Mesona Blumes Gum

A gum was extracted from the leaves of Liangfen Cao ( Mesona Blumes), the extraction yield was 29.36%. The crude gum contains 9.74% protein, 30.89% ash, 2.98% crude fibre and 42.19% total sugar (w/w). Monosaccharide components of the gum were mainly galactose, glucose, arabinose and uronic acid with mole ratios of 3.1:2.3:2.3:1.4, respectively. Minerals in the ash were mainly 40.26mg/g sodium, 10.57mg/g potassium, 1.42mg/g magnesium and 2.81mg/g calcium. Molecular weight of the two fractions of the gum were 16,264 and 7,372 Da, respectively. The intrinsic viscosity of the gum was 91.01 mL/g in distilled water at 25°C. Its rheological properties were dependent on shear rate, gum concentration, sugar, temperature, pH, and salt. The gum exhibited pseudoplastic behaviour with shear rate increment. The apparent viscosity increased with the increase of the gum concentration, also increased with the sugar addition and varied according to pH, the highest viscosity was reached at pH 10.0 and the lowest at pH 6.0. Decrease of apparent viscosity was observed with increase of temperature. The activation energy of 10% (w/w) gum was 17.58kJ/mol. The apparent viscosity decreased with Na+ addition and also with the addition of [Ca++]<1%, while it increased with the addition of [Ca++]> 1% (w/w).

Fluid Shear Stress Promotes Autophagy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells

The autophagy in cancer cells is recognized as an essential hallmark of tumors, which can enhance cancer cell migration and invasion, and result in high incidence of tumor metastasis. The fluid shear stress (FSS) in tumor mechanical microenvironment plays a pivotal role in mediating the behaviors and functions of cells. In this study, the hepatocellular carcinoma cells were exposed to 1.4 dyn/cm² FSS to explore whether FSS could induce autophagy. The results of TEM, Ad-mCherry-GFP labeled LC3B, and mRNA and protein expression of autophagy markers confirmed that FSS could induce autophagy in a time-dependent manner. Additionally, the inhibition of autophagy significantly downregulated the expression of PI3K, FAK and Rho GTPases, and attenuated the ability of cell migration, suggesting that FSS-induced autophagy depended on PI3K- FAK-Rho GTPases pathway. This study elucidated the role of FSS in inducing autophagy during tumor progression, which has emerged as a promising clinical strategy for cancer.

Temperature-Programmed Desorption Study of the Selective Oxidation of Alcohols on Silica-Supported Vanadium Oxide

The partial oxidation of methanol and ethanol on silica-supported vanadium oxide catalysts was studied using temperature-programmed desorption (TPD), Raman spectroscopy, and diffuse reflectance infrared spectroscopy (DRIFTS). Methanol TPD results for V2O5/SiO2 samples as a function of vanadia loading in conjunction with X-ray diffraction data and Raman spectra indicated that dispersed vanadia on silica agglomerates into vanadia crystallites during a CH3OH TPD experiment. For ethanol-dosed samples, agglomeration of the dispersed vanadia was less severe, and it was possible to measure the activation energy for the dehydrogenation of adsorbed ethoxides to produce CH3CHO. Assuming a preexponential factor of 10(13) s(-1), the activation energy for this reaction was estimated to be 132 kJ/mol. The results of this study further demonstrate that there is a relatively weak interaction between vanadia and silica and suggest that adsorbed methoxide species help facilitate agglomeration of dispersed vanadia.

β-Glucan attenuates inflammatory responses in oxidized LDL-induced THP-1 cells via the p38 MAPK pathway

AIM

To investigate the immunomodulatory effects of β-(1,3/1,6)-d-glucan on atherosclerosis as well as on the molecular mechanisms of its transition.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Human monocytic leukemia (THP-1) cells were differentiated into the macrophage phenotype by incubation with oxLDL in the absence or presence of β-glucan. β-glucan attenuated CD86 and CD80 expression and simultaneously reduced secretion of the inflammatory cytokines IL-2, IL-8, IL-12, TNF-α and IFN-γ. Western blot analysis showed that oxLDL treatment induced phosphorylation of p38 MAPK and ERK1/2 in PMA-differentiated THP-1 cells. However, β-glucan inhibited p38 MAPK activation. In experiments with monocytes derived from healthy donors, β-glucan inhibited IL-8, IL-12 and TNF-α production. The anti-inflammatory effects of β-glucan were also observed in atherosclerotic plaque cells.

CONCLUSIONS

β-glucan inhibited oxLDL-induced pro-inflammatory effects in macrophages via regulation of p38 MAPK phosphorylation. This novel finding may provide insight for new therapeutic strategies.

GDF9 as a candidate gene for prolificacy of Small Tail Han sheep

Growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9) which controls the fecundity of Belclare, Cambridge, Santa Ines, Moghani, Ghezel and Thoka ewes was studied as a candidate gene for the prolificacy of Small Tail Han sheep. According to the sequence of ovine GDF9 gene, six pairs of primers were designed to detect single nucleotide polymorphisms of two exons of GDF9 gene in both high fecundity breed (Small Tail Han sheep) and low fecundity breed (Dorset sheep) by polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP). Only the products amplified by primers 2-1 and 2-2 displayed polymorphisms. For primer 2-1, three genotypes (AA, AB and BB) were detected in both sheep breeds. Sequencing revealed one silent mutation (G477A) in exon 2 of GDF9 gene in the BB genotype in comparison with the AA, which was known as G3 mutation of GDF9 gene in Belclare and Cambridge ewes. The relationship of least squares means for litter size was AA > AB > BB in Small Tail Han sheep (P > 0.05). For primer 2-2, two genotypes (CC and CD) were detected in both sheep breeds. Sequencing revealed one novel single nucleotide mutation (G729T) in exon 2 of GDF9 gene in the CD genotype in comparison with the CC, which resulted in an amino acid change (Gln243His). The ewes with mutation heterozygous genotype CD had 0.77 (P < 0.01) lambs more than those with wild type CC in Small Tail Han sheep. These results preliminarily indicated that allele D of GDF9 gene was a potential genetic marker for improving litter size in Small Tail Han sheep.

Fluorescence-based functional assay for Wnt/beta-catenin signaling activity

Aberrant activation of beta-catenin signaling has been implicated in the development of human cancers. As a Wnt signal transducer, beta-catenin forms a complex with the lymphocyte enhancer-binding factor/T cell factor transcription factor and activates downstream targets that promote cell proliferation. Here we developed a Wnt-dependent beta-catenin-mediated heterologous transactivation system, which consisted of a chimeric transcription factor constructed by fusing the GAL4 DNA-binding domain with the full-length beta-catenin, and a GAL4-responsive reporter expressing GFP. The chimeric transcription factor was highly unstable and exerted no detectable transactivating effect on the GAL4-responsive reporter. However, lithium and Wnt1 significantly stabilized this chimeric transactivator, indicating that this transactivation system is regulated by beta-catenin in a Wnt-responsive fashion. Thus, this transactivation system could be used as a functional reporter to identify potential upstream factors that deregulate beta-catenin signaling during tumorigenesis, as well as to screen for potential anti-cancer agents that specifically inhibit beta-catenin signaling in human tumors.

Tetracycline-regulated gene expression mediated by a novel chimeric repressor that recruits histone deacetylases in mammalian cells

Regulated gene expression will provide important platforms from which gene functions can be investigated and safer means of gene therapy may be developed. Histone deacetylases have recently been shown to play an important role in regulating gene expression. Here we investigated whether a more tightly controlled expression could be achieved by using a novel chimeric repressor that recruits histone deacetylases to a tetracycline-responsive promoter. This chimeric repressor was engineered by fusing the tetracycline repressor (TetR) with an mSin3-interacting domain of human Mad1 and was shown to bind the tetO(2) element with high affinity, and its binding was efficiently abrogated by doxycycline. The chimeric repressor was shown to directly interact with mSin3 of the histone deacetylase complex. This inducible system was further simplified by using a single vector that contained both a chimeric repressor expression cassette and a tetracycline-responsive promoter. When transiently introduced into mammalian cells, the chimeric repressor system exhibited a significantly lower basal level of luciferase activity (up to 25-fold) than that of the TetR control. When stably transfected into HEK 293 cells, the chimeric repressor system was shown to exert a tight control of green fluorescent protein expression in a doxycycline dose- and time-dependent fashion. Therefore, this novel chimeric repressor provides an effective means for more tightly regulated gene expression, and the simplified inducible system may be used for a broad range of basic and clinical studies.

Matrix Vesicles as a Therapeutic Target for Vascular Calcification

Vascular calcification (VC) is linked to an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, and atherosclerotic plaque rupture. It is a cell-active process regulated by vascular cells rather than pure passive calcium (Ca) deposition. In recent years, extracellular vesicles (EVs) have attracted extensive attention because of their essential role in the process of VC. Matrix vesicles (MVs), one type of EVs, are especially critical in extracellular matrix mineralization and the early stages of the development of VC. Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) have the potential to undergo phenotypic transformation and to serve as a nucleation site for hydroxyapatite crystals upon extracellular stimulation. However, it is not clear what underlying mechanism that MVs drive the VSMCs phenotype switching and to result in calcification. This article aims to review the detailed role of MVs in the progression of VC and compare the difference with other major drivers of calcification, including aging, uremia, mechanical stress, oxidative stress, and inflammation. We will also bring attention to the novel findings in the isolation and characterization of MVs, and the therapeutic application of MVs in VC.

Anterior cranial base morphology in mice with midfacial retrusion

The role of the anterior cranial base in the morphogenesis of class III malocclusions remains uncertain. This study was conducted to determine whether morphologic deficiencies occur in the anterior cranial base in the Brachyrrhine (Br) mouse mutant showing severe midfacial retrusion, which is characteristic of a class III malocclusion. Crania from three groups of C3H/Hej, 3H1 Br/+, and 3H1+/+ mice, each consisting of 15 animals, were collected at 1, 3, and 5 days of age (total = 135). The anterior cranial base from each specimen was subjected to computerized reconstruction and ten landmarks were digitized from each model. The landmark configurations were compared using Procrustes analysis. Significant differences between models were determined at each age. In order to localize differences between forms, average landmark configurations derived from Procrustes analysis were subjected to finite-element analysis. Size-change values for the 3H1 Br/+ animals showed magnitudes that increased in an anteroposterior direction when compared to the 3H1 +/+ and C3H/Hej animals at all ages. The largest values were located posteriorly along the ossifying front of the presphenoid. In five of six comparisons, the size-change values separated into two distinct clusters. The posterior region of the anterior cranial base was divisible into two subclusters, one located superiorly and the other inferiorly. These data suggest that midfacial retrusion in the Br mouse may be caused, in part, by growth deficiencies in the posterior region of the anterior cranial base, particularly the presphenoidal and sphenoethmoidal regions.