Regular physical activity improves endothelial function in patients with coronary artery disease by increasing phosphorylation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase

BACKGROUND

In stable coronary artery disease (CAD), exercise training has well-documented positive effects on arterial endothelial function. NO derived from endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) is regarded as a protective factor against atherosclerosis. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of exercise training on the endothelial function in relation to the expression of eNOS and Akt-dependent eNOS phosphorylation in the left internal mammary artery (LIMA) of patients with stable CAD.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In 17 training patients (T) and 18 control patients (C), endothelium-dependent vasodilation and average peak flow velocity (APV) in response to acetylcholine were measured invasively at study beginning and after 4 weeks in the LIMA. In LIMA tissue sampled during bypass surgery, eNOS expression and content of pospho-eNOS-Ser1177, Akt, and phospho-Akt were determined by Western blot and quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. After exercise training, LIMA APV in response to acetylcholine was increased by 56+/-8% (from +48+/-8% at beginning to +104+/-11% after 4 weeks, P<0.001). Patients in T had a 2-fold higher eNOS protein expression (T 1.0+/-0.7 versus C 0.5+/-0.3 arbitrary units, P<0.05) and 4-fold higher eNOS Ser1177-phosphorylation levels in LIMA-endothelium (1.2+/-0.9 versus 0.3+/-0.2 arbitrary units, P<0.01). A linear correlation was confirmed between Akt phosphorylation and phospho-eNOS levels (R=0.80, P<0.05) and between phospho-eNOS and Delta APV (R=0.59, P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Exercise training in stable CAD leads to an improved agonist-mediated endothelium-dependent vasodilatory capacity. The change in acetylcholine-induced vasodilatation was closely related to a shear stress-induced/Akt-dependent phosphorylation of eNOS on Ser1177.

The Biomolecular Interaction Network Database and related tools 2005 update

The Biomolecular Interaction Network Database (BIND) (http://bind.ca) archives biomolecular interaction, reaction, complex and pathway information. Our aim is to curate the details about molecular interactions that arise from published experimental research and to provide this information, as well as tools to enable data analysis, freely to researchers worldwide. BIND data are curated into a comprehensive machine-readable archive of computable information and provides users with methods to discover interactions and molecular mechanisms. BIND has worked to develop new methods for visualization that amplify the underlying annotation of genes and proteins to facilitate the study of molecular interaction networks. BIND has maintained an open database policy since its inception in 1999. Data growth has proceeded at a tremendous rate, approaching over 100 000 records. New services provided include a new BIND Query and Submission interface, a Standard Object Access Protocol service and the Small Molecule Interaction Database (http://smid.blueprint.org) that allows users to determine probable small molecule binding sites of new sequences and examine conserved binding residues.

Effect of genetic variation in the organic cation transporter 1, OCT1, on metformin pharmacokinetics

The goal of this study was to determine the effects of genetic variation in the organic cation transporter 1, OCT1, on the pharmacokinetics of the antidiabetic drug, metformin. Twenty healthy volunteers with known OCT1 genotype agreed to participate in the study. Each subject received two oral doses of metformin followed by collection of blood and urine samples. OCT1 genotypes had a significant (P<0.05) effect on metformin pharmacokinetics, with a higher area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC), higher maximal plasma concentration (Cmax), and lower oral volume of distribution (V/F) in the individuals carrying a reduced function OCT1 allele (R61C, G401S, 420del, or G465R). The effect of OCT1 on metformin pharmacokinetics in mice was less than in humans possibly reflecting species differences in hepatic expression level of the transporter. Our studies suggest that OCT1 genotype is a determinant of metformin pharmacokinetics.

Controlling the physical behavior and biological performance of liposome formulations through use of surface grafted poly(ethylene glycol)

The presence of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) at the surface of a liposomal carrier has been clearly shown to extend the circulation lifetime of the vehicle. To this point, the extended circulation lifetime that the polymer affords has been attributed to the reduction or prevention of protein adsorption. However, there is little evidence that the presence of PEG at the surface of a vehicle actually reduces total serum protein binding. In this review we examine all aspects of PEG in order to gain a better understanding of how the polymer fulfills its biological role. The physical and chemical properties of the polymer are explored and compared to properties of other hydrophilic polymers. An evidence based assessment of several in vitro protein binding studies as well as in vivo pharmacokinetics studies involving PEG is included. The ability of PEG to prevent the self-aggregation of liposomes is considered as a possible means by which it extends circulation longevity. Also, a "dysopsonization" phenomenon where PEG actually promotes binding of certain proteins that then mask the vehicle is discussed.

Infectivity, transmission, and pathology of human-isolated H7N9 influenza virus in ferrets and pigs

The emergence of the H7N9 influenza virus in humans in Eastern China has raised concerns that a new influenza pandemic could occur. Here, we used a ferret model to evaluate the infectivity and transmissibility of A/Shanghai/2/2013 (SH2), a human H7N9 virus isolate. This virus replicated in the upper and lower respiratory tracts of the ferrets and was shed at high titers for 6 to 7 days, with ferrets showing relatively mild clinical signs. SH2 was efficiently transmitted between ferrets via direct contact, but less efficiently by airborne exposure. Pigs were productively infected by SH2 and shed virus for 6 days but were unable to transmit the virus to naïve pigs or ferrets. Under appropriate conditions, human-to-human transmission of the H7N9 virus may be possible.

Laparoscopic versus open total mesorectal excision with anal sphincter preservation for low rectal cancer

BACKGROUND

The Laparoscopic approach has been applied to colorectal surgery for many years; however, there are only a few reports on laparoscopic low and ultralow anterior resection with construction of coloanal anastomosis. This study compares open versus laparoscopic low and ultralow anterior resections, assesses the feasibility and efficacy of the laparoscopic approach of total mesorectal excision (TME) with anal sphincter preservation (ASP), and analyzes the short-term results of patients with low rectal cancer.

METHODS

We analyzed our experience via a prospective, randomized control trail. From June 2001 to September 2002, 171 patients with low rectal cancer underwent TME with ASP, 82 by the laparoscopic procedure and 89 by the open technique. The lowest margin of tumors was below peritoneal reflection and 1.5-8 cm above the dentate line (1.5-4.9 cm in 104 cases and 5-8 cm in 67 cases). The grouping was randomized.

RESULTS

Results of operation, postoperative recovery, and short-term oncological follow-up were compared between 82 laparoscopic procedures and 89 controls who underwent open surgery during the same period. In the laparoscopic group, 30 patients in whom low anterior resection was performed had the anastomosis below peritoneal reflection and more than 2 cm above the dentate line, 27 patients in whom ultralow anterior resection was performed had anastomotic height within 2 cm of the dentate line, and 25 patients in whom coloanal anastomosis was performed had the anastomosis at or below the dentate line. In the open group, the numbers were 35, 27, and 27, respectively. There was no statistical difference in operation time, administration of parenteral analgesics, start of food intake, and mortality rate between the two groups. However, blood loss was less, bowel function recovered earlier, and hospitalization time was shorter in the laparoscopic group.

CONCLUSION

Totally laparoscopic TME with ASP is feasible, and it is a minimally invasive technique with the benefits of much less blood loss during operation, earlier return of bowel function, and shorter hospitalization.

Pharmacokinetics of sertraline in relation to genetic polymorphism of CYP2C19

OBJECTIVE

Our objective was to evaluate the relationship between the disposition of sertraline and the presence of the CYP2C19 gene and to define the contribution of cytochrome P450 2C19 (CYP2C19) to sertraline N-demethylation.

METHODS

A single oral 100-mg dose of sertraline was administered to 6 subjects who were extensive metabolizers and 6 subjects who were poor metabolizers recruited from 77 healthy Chinese volunteers whose genotypes were predetermined by polymerase chain reaction-based amplification, followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Phenotypes were determined by use of the omeprazole metabolic rate. The plasma concentrations of sertraline and desmethylsertraline were determined by gas chromatography with electron-capture detection.

RESULTS

Six poor metabolizers with m1 mutation had area under the plasma concentration versus time curve (AUC(0-infinity)) values (983.6 +/- 199.3 microg x h/L versus 697.6 +/- 133.0 microg x h/L; P <.05) and terminal elimination half-life values of sertraline (35.5 +/- 5.6 hours versus 23.5 +/- 4.4 hours; P <.01) that were significantly higher than the values in 6 extensive metabolizers who were either homozygous or heterozygous for CYP2C19*1. The oral clearance of sertraline in poor metabolizers (105.3 +/- 19.4 L/h) was significantly lower than that of extensive metabolizers (148.4 +/- 28.6 L/h). The area under the concentration-time curve from 0 to 144 hours and the maximum plasma concentration of desmethylsertraline in poor metabolizers were significantly lower than the values of extensive metabolizers (627.6 +/- 203.8 microg x h/L versus 972.1 +/- 270.3 microg x h/L; P <.05; and 23.6 +/- 6.5 nmol/L versus 32.4 +/- 8.2 nmol/L; P <.01; respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

The polymorphic CYP2C19 appears to be a major enzyme involved in the N-demethylation of sertraline, and both extensive and poor metabolizers had marked differences in the disposition of sertraline.

Molecular genetic analysis of Rts1p, a B' regulatory subunit of Saccharomyces cerevisiae protein phosphatase 2A

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae gene RTS1 encodes a protein homologous to a variable B-type regulatory subunit of the mammalian heterotrimeric serine/threonine protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A). We present evidence showing that Rts1p assembles into similar heterotrimeric complexes in yeast. Strains in which RTS1 has been disrupted are temperature sensitive (ts) for growth, are hypersensitive to ethanol, are unable to grow with glycerol as their only carbon source, and accumulate at nonpermissive temperatures predominantly as large-budded cells with a 2N DNA content and a nondivided nucleus. This cell cycle arrest can be overcome and partial suppression of the ts phenotype of rts1-null cells occurs if the gene CLB2, encoding a Cdc28 kinase-associated B-type cyclin, is expressed on a high-copy-number plasmid. However, CLB2 overexpression has no suppressive effects on other aspects of the rts1-null phenotype. Expression of truncated forms of Rts1p can also partially suppress the ts phenotype and can fully suppress the inability of cells to grow on glycerol and the hypersensitivity of cells to ethanol. By contrast, the truncated forms do not suppress the accumulation of large-budded cells at high temperatures. Coexpression of truncated Rts1p and high levels of Clb2p fully suppresses the ts phenotype, indicating that the inhibition of growth of rts1-null cells at high temperatures is due to both stress-related and cell cycle-related defects. Genetic analyses show that the role played by Rts1p in PP2A regulation is distinctly different from that played by the other known variable B regulatory subunit, Cdc55p, a protein recently implicated in checkpoint control regulation.

Prostaglandin E2 production in astrocytes: regulation by cytokines, extracellular ATP, and oxidative agents

Upregulation and activation of phospholipases A2 (PLA2) and cyclooxygenases (COX) leading to prostaglandin E2(PGE2) production have been implicated in a number of neurodegenerative diseases. In this study, we investigated PGE2 production in primary rat astrocytes in response to agents that activate PLA2 including pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1beta, TNFalpha and IFNgamma), the P2 nucleotide receptor agonist ATP, and oxidants (H2O2 and menadione). Exposure of astrocytes to cytokines resulted in a time-dependent increase in PGE2 production that was marked by increased expression of secretory sPLA2 and COX-2, but not COX-1 and cytosolic cPLA2. Although astrocytes responded to ATP or phorbol ester (PMA) with increased cPLA2 phosphorylation and arachidonic acid release, ATP or PMA only caused a small increase in levels of PGE2. However, when astrocytes were first treated with cytokines, further exposure to ATP or PMA, but not H2O2 or menadione, markedly increased PGE2 production. These results suggest that ATP release during neuronal excitation or injury can enhance the inflammatory effects of cytokines on PGE2 production and may contribute to chronic inflammation seen in Alzheimer's disease.

Phenotypic polymorphism and gender-related differences of CYP1A2 activity in a Chinese population

AIMS

To investigate the distribution characteristics of CYP1A2 in a Chinese population, and to examine gender-related differences in CYP1A2 activity.

METHODS

Two hundred and twenty-nine healthy subjects, 120 men and 109 women, were enrolled in this study. CYP1A2 activity was measured by plasma paraxanthine/caffeine (1,7X/1,3,7X) ratio 6 h after administration of 300 mg caffeine. The concentrations of paraxanthine and caffeine in plasma were detected by h.p.l.c.

RESULTS

A 16-fold variation of CYP1A2 activity (range 0. 09 to 1.46) was shown in this study. The coefficient of variation (CV %) of CYP1A2 activity was 62.9%. Non-normal distribution of CYP1A2 activity was indicated by the Shapiro-Wilk test (P<0.001). Probit plots of CYP1A2 activity revealed a bimodal distribution with breakpoint of 1,7X/1,3,7X ratio of 0.12. The percentage of poor metabolizers (PMs) was 5.24% (95% CI: 2.35% approximately 8.13%) in this Chinese population. Residual analysis of the data also supported bimodality (P<0.01). The CYP1A2 activity of men was higher than that of women (median: 0.33 vs 0.23, P<0.001). A probit plot of CYP1A2 activity in men was shifted to the left compared with that in women. Based on phenotype, the gender-related difference was observed in extensive metabolizers (EMs) (P<0.001), but not in PMs (P >0.1). In addition, there was no sex-related difference in the incidence of PMs (P >0.1).

CONCLUSIONS

There is a phenotypic polymorphism in CYP1A2 activity in this Chinese population, and CYP1A2 activity is higher in men than that in women.

Regulatory circuit of PKM2/NF-κB/miR-148a/152-modulated tumor angiogenesis and cancer progression

Upregulation of the embryonic M2 isoform of pyruvate kinase (PKM2) emerges as a critical player in the cancer development and metabolism, yet the underlying mechanism of PKM2 overexpression remains to be elucidated. Here we demonstrate that IGF-1/IGF-IR regulates PKM2 expression by enhancing HIF-1α-p65 complex binding to PKM2 promoter. PKM2 expression is regulated by miR-148a/152 suppression. PKM2 directly interacts with NF-κB p65 subunit to promote EGR1 expression for regulating miR-148a/152 feedback circuit in normal cells, but not in cancer cells because of the DNA hypermethylation of miR-148a and miR-152 gene promoters. The silencing of miR-148a/152 contributes to the overexpression of PKM2, NF-κB or/and IGF-IR in some cancer cells. We show that disruption of PKM2/NF-κB/miR-148a/152 feedback loop can regulate cancer cell growth and angiogenesis, and is also associated with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) phenotype, which may have clinical implication for providing novel biomarker(s) of TNBC and potential therapeutic target(s) in the future.

Plasma caffeine metabolite ratio (17X/137X) in vivo associated with G-2964A and C734A polymorphisms of human CYP1A2

Either G-2964 or A734 in the human CYP1A2 gene was confirmed to be associated with high inducible enzyme activity in smokers, but not in nonsmokers. In this study, for the first time, we observed an association between phenotypes and genotypes of CYP1A2 with respect to the two genetic polymorphisms in 163 healthy Chinese volunteers living in Qidong. The ratio of plasma 17X/137X at 6 h after oral administration of 300 mg caffeine was employed in CYP1A2 phenotyping analysis, while genotyping analysis was carried out by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. The allele frequencies of A at -2964 and A at 734 in 139 non-smoking subjects were 0.25 and 0.67, respectively. The A/A-2964C/C734, G/A-2964C/C734 or A/A-2964C/A734 genotype that was thought to have lower inducibility/activity of CYP1A2 than the other genotypes did not exist in the tested Chinese subjects. The ratio of 17X/137X was 0.46 +/- 0.26 in G/G-2964A/A734 genotypes (n = 22) and 0.36 +/- 0.19 in non-G/G-2964A/A734 (n = 117). In addition, there was significant difference between them (P = 0.036). A similar result was also achieved in 24 smokers. Since Qidong is a special region with particularly high incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma in China, the association of phenotypes with genotypes of CYP1A2 in the Qidong population might result from some inducible environmental factors such as those of cigarettes in smokers.

Genetic tuning of the novel avian influenza A(H7N9) virus during interspecies transmission, China, 2013

A novel avian influenza A(H7N9) virus causing human infection emerged in February 2013 in China. To elucidate the mechanism of interspecies transmission, we compared the signature amino acids of avian influenza A(H7N9) viruses from human and non-human hosts and analysed the reassortants of 146 influenza A(H7N9) viruses with full genome sequences. We propose a genetic tuning procedure with continuous amino acid substitutions and reassorting that mediates host adaptation and interspecies transmission. When the early influenza A(H7N9) virus, containing ancestor haemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) genes similar to A/Shanghai/05 virus, circulated in waterfowl and transmitted to terrestrial poultry, it acquired an NA stalk deletion at amino acid positions 69 to 73. Then, receptor binding preference was tuned to increase the affinity to human-like receptors through HA G186V and Q226L mutations in terrestrial poultry. Additional mammalian adaptations such as PB2 E627K were selected in humans. The continual reassortation between H7N9 and H9N2 viruses resulted in multiple genotypes for further host adaptation. When we analysed a potential association of mutations and reassortants with clinical outcome, only the PB2 E627K mutation slightly increased the case fatality rate. Genetic tuning may create opportunities for further adaptation of influenza A(H7N9) and its potential to cause a pandemic.

Aberrant expression of long noncoding RNA PVT1 and its diagnostic and prognostic significance in patients with gastric cancer

Emerging evidences indicate that dysregulated long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are implicated in cancer tumorigenesis and progression and might be used as diagnosis and prognosis biomarker, or potential therapeutic targets. LncRNA PVT1 has been reported to be upregulated in diverse human cancers; however, its clinical significance in gastric cancer (GC) remains elusive. This study was to evaluate the expression of PVT1 in GC and further explore its clinical significance.Previous microarray datasets were analyzed to conduct a preliminary screening for candidate lncRNAs of gastric cancer biomarkers in human gastric cancer tissues. Expression levels of PVT1 in 111pairs of gastric cancer and adjacent normal tissues, gastric cancer cell lines and gastric cancer juices compared to their corresponding controls were detected by real-time quantitative RT-PCR assay. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and Kaplan-Meier analysis were constructed to evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic values. Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed using the Cox proportional hazard analysis.PVT1 expression was remarkably increased in gastric cancer tissues and cell lines compared with that in the normal control, and its up-regulation was significantly correlated to invasion depth (P < 0.001), advanced TNM stage (P = 0.002) and regional lymph nodes metastasis (P < 0.001) in gastric cancer. PVT1 levels were robust in differentiating gastric cancer tissues from controls [area under the curve (AUC) = 0.728; 95 % confidence interval (CI) = 0.665-0.786, p<0.01]. Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated that increased PVT1 expression contributed to poor overall survival (P < 0.01) and disease-free survival (P < 0.01) of patients. A multivariate survival analysis also indicated that PVT1 could be an independent prognostic marker. The levels of PVT1 in gastric juice from gastric patients were significantly higher than those from normal subjects (P = 0.03). PVT1 might serve as a promising biomarker for early detection and prognosis prediction of gastric cancer.

DNA hypermethylation of the forkhead box protein 3 (FOXP3) promoter in CD4+ T cells of patients with systemic sclerosis

BACKGROUND

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a complex autoimmune disease that involves dysregulation of immune homeostasis. The failure of impaired regulatory T cells (Tregs) to maintain immune homeostasis plays a major role in the development of SSc. Transcriptional silencing of the forkhead box protein 3 gene (FOXP3) via hypermethylation of regulatory regions has been identified as a hallmark of committed Tregs and several autoimmune disorders.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate whether aberrant expression and methylation of FOXP3 occurs in CD4+ T cells of patients with SSc and their roles in the pathogenesis of SSc.

METHODS

FOXP3 expression in CD4+ T cells was measured by real-time quantitative reverse-itranscriptase polymerase chain reaction and western blot. Bisulfite sequencing was performed to determine the methylation status of the FOXP3 proximal promoter sequence. The percentage of Treg cells was estimated by flow cytometry.

RESULTS

Decreased FOXP3 expression was observed in CD4+ T cells from patients with SSc. The methylation levels of the FOXP3 regulatory sequences were elevated and inversely correlated with FOXP3 mRNA expression in patients with SSc. The number of Tregs was significantly reduced in patients with SSc. Treatment of SSc CD4+ T cells with a DNA methylation inhibitor, 5-azacytidine, reduced the mean methylation levels, and enhanced FOXP3 expression and Treg generation. The promoter methylation status and expression level of FOXP3 are significantly associated with disease activity.

CONCLUSIONS

The contribution of the hypermethylation of the FOXP3 promoter to decreased FOXP3 expression and the subsequent quantitative defects of Tregs may mediate the immune dysfunction in SSc.

Arginine 454 and lysine 370 are essential for the anion specificity of the organic anion transporter, rOAT3

Organic anion transporters (OATs) and organic cation transporters (OCTs) mediate the flux of xenobiotics across the plasma membranes of epithelia. Substrates of OATs generally carry negative charge(s) whereas substrates of OCTs are cations. The goal of this study was to determine the domains and amino acid residues essential for recognition and transport of organic anions by the rat organic anion transporter, rOAT3. An rOAT3/rOCT1 chimera containing transmembrane domains 1-5 of rOAT3 and 6-12 of rOCT1 retained the specificity of rOCT1, suggesting that residues involved in substrate recognition reside within the carboxyl-terminal half of these transporters. Mutagenesis of a conserved basic amino acid residue, arginine 454 to aspartic acid (R454D), revealed that this amino acid is required for organic anion transport. The uptakes of p-aminohippurate (PAH), estrone sulfate, and ochratoxin A were approximately 10-, approximately 48-, and approximately 32-fold enhanced in oocytes expressing rOAT3 and were only approximately 2-, approximately 6-, and approximately 5-fold enhanced for R454D. Similarly, mutagenesis of the conserved lysine 370 to alanine (K370A) suggested that K370 is important for organic anion transport. Interestingly, the charge specificity of the double mutant, R454DK370A, was reversed in comparison to rOAT3-R454DK370A preferentially transported the organic cation, MPP(+), in comparison to PAH (MPP(+) uptake/PAH uptake = 3.21 for the double mutant vs 0.037 for rOAT3). These data indicate that arginine 454 and lysine 370 are essential for the anion specificity of rOAT3. The studies provide the first insights into the molecular determinants that are critical for recognition and translocation of organic anions by a member of the organic anion transporter family.

Human infection with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus re-emerges in China in winter 2013

Through a national surveillance system for unexplained pneumonia, a severe case of influenza A(H7N9) in a man in his mid-30s was identified in Zhejiang Province, China on 14 October 2013. Epidemiological and clinical findings were consistent with the patterns reported during the outbreak in spring 2013, and laboratory findings showed that the virus had 99.6% identity with earlier H7N9 viruses identified in humans in the spring except for five mutations in the NA gene.

Phenotypic characteristics and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors repression in hyperplastic epithelial pathology in idiopathic focal segmental glomerulosclerosis

Hyperplastic glomerular epithelial lesion is an important determinant of the progression of idiopathic focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FGS). The proliferation and differentiation of glomerular epithelial cells and parietal epithelial cells (PECs) are regulated differently by cyclin and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors (CKIs) during nephrogenesis. To access the cellular mechanism underlying epithelial hyperplasia in the development of FGS, the present study applied immunohistochemistry to 21 cases of FGS to demonstrate expression of cell-cycle molecules and phenotypic characterization in proliferative epithelial lesions in FGS. The materials included segmental sclerosis (18.1%), which was divided into monolayer epithelial lesions (64.6%) and cellular lesions (35.4%). All of the cellular lesions expressed cytokeratin, frequently with Ki-67 (82.4%) and less frequently with cyclin A (17.7%), but were invariably negative for podocyte markers (PHM-5 and synaptopodin) and CKIs (p27kip1 and p57kip2). Podocytes in nonsclerotic tuft in the same glomeruli with cellular lesions strongly expressed CKIs and podocyte markers. Moreover, electron microscopy showed that some large proliferating cells with prominent nucleoli have a broad cell base attached to Bowman's capsule. These cells have cilia and a junctional complex with neighboring hyperplastic cells, some of which directly cover the glomerular basement membrane. This suggests that cellular lesions are of PEC origin. Monolayer epithelial lesions also exclusively exhibited a PEC phenotype with reciprocal expression of podocyte markers and cytokeratin. In addition, CKIs are weakly expressed in monolayer epithelial lesions, suggesting a re-entry of cell-cycle quiescent. In conclusion, proliferation of PEC, sustained by repression of CKIs in nature and simultaneous activation of cyclin A, is the actual molecular background to the cellular lesions in FGS. Cellular lesions may result in monolayer epithelial lesions that retain the PEC phenotype and enter a common pathway to glomerulosclerosis.

A systematic-analysis of predicted miR-21 targets identifies a signature for lung cancer

INTRODUCTION

The well-known oncomiR-miR-21 was previously reported oncogenic activity in lung cancer. We sought to determine the expression of all predicted target genes of miR-21 and their potential function, pathways and networks, which are involved in the biological behavior of lung cancer.

METHODS

After a systematic review of English language studies of lung cancer-related molecules were pooled; genes were classified in three functional groups by gene ontology (GO) analysis. The key molecules were indentified by establishing lung cancer related networks and pathways. MiR-21 targets were predicted by computational method, followed by screening for matched gene symbols in NCBI human sequences and GO, pathway and network analysis. MiR-21 targets and their network, which are involved in the malignant mechanisms of lung cancer, were obtained by the final integrative analysis.

RESULT

We indentified the potential functions, pathways and networks of lung cancer relating molecules and miR-21 targets respectively in the initial analysis. In the final integrative analysis of lung cancer related miR-21-targets analysis, 24 hub genes were identified by overlap calculation, suggesting that miR-21 may play an important role in the development and progression of lung cancer through JAK/STAT signal pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, Wnt signaling pathway, cell cycle, PPAR signaling pathway, apoptosis pathway and other pathways.

CONCLUSION

Our data may help researchers to predict the molecular mechanisms of miR-21 in the development and progression of lung cancer comprehensively. Moreover, the present data indicate that miR-21-targets may be a series of promising candidates as biomarkers for lung cancer.

Evidence for involvement of polymorphic CYP2C19 and 2C9 in the N-demethylation of sertraline in human liver microsomes

AIMS

The present study was designed to define the kinetic behaviour of sertraline N-demethylation in human liver microsomes and to identify the isoforms of cytochrome P450 involved in this metabolic pathway.

METHODS

The kinetics of the formation of N-demethylsertraline were determined in human liver microsomes from six genotyped CYP2C19 extensive (EM) and three poor metabolisers (PM). Selective inhibitors of and specific monoclonal antibodies to various cytochrome P450 isoforms were also employed.

RESULTS

The kinetics of N-demethylsertraline formation in all EM liver microsomes were fitted by a two-enzyme Michaelis-Menten equation, whereas the kinetics in all PM liver microsomes were best described by a single-enzyme Michaelis-Menten equation similar to the low-affinity component found in EM microsomes. Mean apparent Km values for the high-and low-affinity components were 1.9 and 88 microm and V max values were 33 and 554 pmol min-1 mg-1 protein, respectively, in the EM liver microsomes. Omeprazole (a CYP2C19 substrate) at high concentrations and sulphaphenazole (a selective inhibitor of CYP2C9) substantially inhibited N-demethylsertraline formation. Of five monoclonal antibodies to various cytochrome P450 forms tested, only anti-CYP2C8/9/19 had any inhibitory effect on this reaction. The inhibition of sertraline N-demethylation by anti-CYP2C8/9/19 was greater in EM livers than in PM livers at both low and high substrate concentrations. However, anti-CYP2C8/9/19 did not abolish the formation of N-demethylsertraline in the microsomes from any of the livers.

CONCLUSIONS

The polymorphic enzyme CYP2C19 catalyses the high-affinity N-demethylation of sertraline, while CYP2C9 is one of the low-affinity components of this metabolic pathway.

Comparing nanoparticle polymeric micellar paclitaxel and solvent-based paclitaxel as first-line treatment of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: an open-label, randomized, multicenter, phase III trial

BACKGROUND

Polymeric micellar paclitaxel (pm-Pac) is a novel Cremophor EL-free, nanoparticle micellar formulation of paclitaxel. We aimed to compare the efficacy and safety between pm-Pac plus cisplatin and solvent-based paclitaxel (sb-Pac) plus cisplatin in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 448 stage IIIB to IV NSCLC patients were randomly assigned (2:1) to receive six 3-week cycles of either pm-Pac (230 mg/m²) plus cisplatin (70 mg/m²; n = 300), followed by dose escalation of pm-Pac to 300 mg/m² from the second 3-week cycle if prespecified toxic effects were not observed after the first cycle, or sb-Pac (175 mg/m²) plus cisplatin (70 mg/m²; n = 148). The primary end point was objective response rate (ORR) assessed by independent review committees (IRCs). The secondary end points included IRC-assessed progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and safety.

RESULTS

Patients in the pm-Pac-plus-cisplatin group showed significant improvements in IRC-assessed ORR compared with those in the sb-Pac-plus-cisplatin group (50% versus 26%; rate ratio 1.91; P < 0.0001). Additionally, subgroup analysis showed that a higher ORR was consistently observed in both squamous and nonsquamous histological types. IRC-assessed median PFS was significantly higher in the pm-Pac-plus-cisplatin group than in the sb-Pac-plus-cisplatin group (6.4-month versus 5.3-month; hazard ratio 0.63; P = 0.0001). Median OS was not significantly different between the two groups. The incidence of treatment-related serious adverse events (9% versus 18%; P = 0.0090) was significantly lower in the pm-Pac-plus-cisplatin group than in the sb-Pac-plus-cisplatin group.

CONCLUSION

Pm-Pac plus cisplatin yielded superior ORR and PFS along with a favorable safety profile and should become an option for patients with advanced NSCLC.

CLINICAL TRIAL IDENTIFIER

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02667743; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02667743.