Cerebrospinal fluid levels of CXCL13 are elevated in neuromyelitis optica

BACKGROUND

B cells are believed to play an important role in the pathogenesis of NMO. Chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 13 (CXCL13), the most potent B-cell chemoattractant, is a chemokine which is critical for secondary lymphoid tissue development and for B-cell migration. Concentration of CXCL13 in cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) is elevated in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). However, whether levels of CSF CXCL13 are elevated in NMO patients still remain unknown.

OBJECTIVE

To measure the CSF concentration of CXCL13 in NMO patients, and to determine its relationship with NMO disease activity.

METHODS

CSF CXCL13 was measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in NMO (n=22), MS (n=18) patients and controls (CTLs) (n=12).

RESULTS

CSF CXCL13 levels in NMO were notable higher than MS (p=0.015) and CTLs (p<0.001), and were related to the NMO disease activity indicated by relapse rate and Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores. NMO Patients with the higher relapse rates exhibited the higher CXCL13 concentrations in their CSF; and a trend of increased disease disability with increased CSF CXCL13 level was revealed. The CSF CXCL13 concentrations seemed to associate with CSF white blood cell counting, total protein concentration in NMO subgroup, thought did not quite reach statistical significance (WBC, p=0.473; TP, p=0.276).

CONCLUSIONS

The concentration of CSF CXCL13 was elevated in NMO patients, and correlated with NMO activity.

Simvastatin prevents dopaminergic neurodegeneration in experimental parkinsonian models: the association with anti-inflammatory responses

BACKGROUND

In addition to their original applications to lowering cholesterol, statins display multiple neuroprotective effects. N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors interact closely with the dopaminergic system and are strongly implicated in therapeutic paradigms of Parkinson's disease (PD). This study aims to investigate how simvastatin impacts on experimental parkinsonian models via regulating NMDA receptors.

METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS

Regional changes in NMDA receptors in the rat brain and anxiolytic-like activity were examined after unilateral medial forebrain bundle lesion by 6-hydroxydopamine via a 3-week administration of simvastatin. NMDA receptor alterations in the post-mortem rat brain were detected by [³H]MK-801(Dizocilpine) binding autoradiography. 6-hydroxydopamine treated PC12 was applied to investigate the neuroprotection of simvastatin, the association with NMDA receptors, and the anti-inflammation. 6-hydroxydopamine induced anxiety and the downregulation of NMDA receptors in the hippocampus, CA1(Cornu Ammonis 1 Area), amygdala and caudate putamen was observed in 6-OHDA(6-hydroxydopamine) lesioned rats whereas simvastatin significantly ameliorated the anxiety-like activity and restored the expression of NMDA receptors in examined brain regions. Significant positive correlations were identified between anxiolytic-like activity and the restoration of expression of NMDA receptors in the hippocampus, amygdala and CA1 following simvastatin administration. Simvastatin exerted neuroprotection in 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned rat brain and 6-hydroxydopamine treated PC12, partially by regulating NMDA receptors, MMP9 (matrix metalloproteinase-9), and TNF-a (tumour necrosis factor-alpha).

CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE

Our results provide strong evidence that NMDA receptor modulation after simvastatin treatment could partially explain its anxiolytic-like activity and anti-inflammatory mechanisms in experimental parkinsonian models. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the critical roles of simvastatin in treating PD via NMDA receptors.

Optical beam steering based on the symmetry of resonant modes of nanoparticles

We report a phenomenon that an optical beam transmits in a negative direction when passing through a single array of high-refractive-index dielectric nanorods. The mechanism of the negative directional transmission is believed to be due to the symmetry of resonant modes in the dielectric nanoparticles. It is expected to find applications in designing compact optical components to achieve the on-chip beam steering in photonic circuits.

An engineered anti-CA19-9 cys-diabody for PET imaging of pancreas cancer and targeting of polymerized liposomal nanoparticles

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Background: Antibody-based therapeutics is a rapidly growing field. Small engineered antibody fragments, such as the cys-diabody demonstrate similar antigen affinity compared to the parental antibody but have a shorter serum half-life (4hrs) and possess the ability to be conjugated to nanoparticles. Our goal was to engineer an anti-CA19-9 cys-diabody fragment in hopes of imaging and targeting pancreatic cancer.

Methods: The anti-CA19-9 cys-diabody was created by cloning the variable region of the parental antibody, engineering a C-terminus cysteine, expressing in NS0 cells followed by protein purification utilizing HPLC. Maleimide chemistry was used to conjugate the cys-diabody to PLNs through the engineered cysteine residues. Immunofluorescence and flow cytometry were used to evaluate targeting of cys-diabody and diabody conjugated PLNs to human pancreatic cancer cell lines. The cys-diabody was evaluated in a mouse xenograft model harboring CA19-9 positive (BxPC3) and negative (MiaPaca) tumors. The cys-diabody was radiolabeled with a positron emitter (I-124) and microPET/CT were performed after tail vein injection. Percent of injected dose per gram (%ID/g) of radioactivity was measured in blood and tumor to provide objective confirmation of the microPET images.

Results: Immunofluorescence and flow cytometry showed specific binding of the anti-CA19-9 cys- diabody. Tumor xenograft imaging of the anti-CA19-9 cys-diabody demonstrated an average tumor:blood (%ID/g) ratio of 3.3 and positive:negative tumor ratio of 7.4. Successful conjugation of the cys-diabody to PLNs was indicated by immunofluorescence showing specific targeting of PLN-cys- diabody conjugate to human pancreatic cancer cells in vitro.

Conclusions: Our results show that the anti-CA19.9 cys- diabody targets pancreatic cancer providing specific molecular imaging in tumor xenograft models. Furthermore, the PLN-cys-diabody conjugate targets human pancreatic cancer cells with the potential to deliver targeted treatment. Further studies evaluating the in vivo ability of the PLN-cys-diabody conjugate to target pancreatic cancer need to be performed.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

HLA-DPB1 0501 is associated with susceptibility to anti-aquaporin-4 antibodies positive neuromyelitis optica in southern Han Chinese

OBJECTIVES

To analyze the role of HLA-DRB1 and -DPB1 alleles in the pathogenesis of neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and multiple sclerosis in Southern Han Chinese.

METHODS

Thirty serum anti-aquaporin 4 antibodies (AQP4-Ab)-positive NMO patients, 53 conventional multiple sclerosis (C-MS) patients, and 93 controls (CTLs) were enrolled. The HLA-DRB1 and -DPB1 alleles of the subjects were determined by sequencing-based typing (SBT).

RESULTS

The frequency of the DRB1 0901 was lower in NMO patients than in CTLs (P(uncorr)=0.022, OR: 0.194, 95% CI: 0.043-0.876), and DRB1 1602 was higher in NMO patients than in C-MS (P(uncorr)=0.038, OR: 3.491, 95% CI: 1.024-11.896) and CTLs (P(uncorr)=0.051, OR: 2.711, 95% CI: 0.971-7.556). The frequency of DPB1 0501 was significant higher in NMO patients than in C-MS (P(uncorr)=0.018, OR: 4.629, 95% CI: 1.235-17.350) and CTLs (P(uncorr)=0.001, P(corr)=0.022, OR: 7.096, 95% CI: 2.011-25.044).

CONCLUSIONS

DPB1 0501 correlates with risk of AQP4-Ab positive NMO in Southern Han Chinese.

Innovative DNA vaccine for human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated head and neck cancer

Human papillomavirus (HPV), particularly type 16, has been associated with a subset of head and neck cancers. The viral-encoded oncogenic proteins E6 and E7 represent ideal targets for immunotherapy against HPV-associated head and neck cancers. DNA vaccines have emerged as attractive approaches for immunotherapy due to its simplicity, safety, and ease of preparation. Intradermal administration of DNA vaccine via gene gun represents an efficient method to deliver DNA directly into dendritic cells for priming antigen-specific T cells. We have previously shown that a DNA vaccine encoding an invariant chain (Ii), in which the class II-associated Ii peptide (CLIP) region has been replaced by a Pan-DR-epitope (PADRE) sequence to form Ii-PADRE, is capable of generating PADRE-specific CD4+ T cells in vaccinated mice. In the current study, we hypothesize a DNA vaccine encoding Ii-PADRE linked to E6 (Ii-PADRE-E6) will further enhance E6-specific CD8+ T cell immune responses through PADRE-specific CD4+ T helper cells. We found that mice vaccinated with Ii-PADRE-E6 DNA generated comparable levels of PADRE-specific CD4+ T cell immune responses as well as significantly stronger E6-specific CD8+ T cell immune responses and antitumor effects against the lethal challenge of E6-expressing tumor compared to mice vaccinated with Ii-E6 DNA. Taken together, our data indicates that vaccination with Ii-E6 DNA with PADRE replacing the CLIP region is capable of enhancing the E6-specific CD8+ T cell immune response generated by the Ii-E6 DNA. Thus, Ii-PADRE-E6 represents a novel DNA vaccine for the treatment of HPV-associated head and neck cancer and other HPV-associated malignancies.

Berberine attenuates experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in C57 BL/6 mice

Background

Berberine, an isoquinoline derivative alkaloid, has a wide range of pharmacological properties and is considered to have anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects. However, there are no reports about the effects and mechanisms of berberine in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an established model of multiple sclerosis (MS).

Methodology/Principal Findings

Female C57 BL/6 mice immunized with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein 35–55 amino acid peptide were treated with berberine at the day of disease onset and medication was administered daily until mice were sacrificed. Blood–brain barrier (BBB) permeability and the alteration of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2, 72 kDa) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9, 92 kDa) in the brain and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of EAE mice were detected by quantitative measurement for Evan's blue (EB) content, Western blot and gelatin zymography respectively. The results showed that berberine attenuated clinical and pathological parameters of EAE, reduced the permeability of BBB, inhibited the activity and expression of MMP-9 but not MMP-2 in the CSF and brain of EAE mice.

Conclusions/Significance

These findings suggest that berberine is effective to attenuate the clinical severity of EAE in C57 BL/6 mice by reducing the permeability of BBB, decreasing the expression and activity of MMP-9, and decreasing the inflammatory infiltration. We think that berberine might be a potential therapeutic agent for MS.

Mechanical and electronic properties of B12-based ternary crystals of orthorhombic phase

Using first-principles calculations, the structural, mechanical and electronic properties of the experimentally synthesized B(12)-based ternary crystals (AlMgB(14), AlNaB(14), AlLiB(14), Mg(2)B(14), MgSi(2)B(12), MgC(2)B(12), Li(2)Si(2)B(12) and Li(2)C(2)B(12)) have been investigated. The theoretical equilibrium lattice constants of these crystals agree with the experimental values. The Vickers hardness (H(v)) estimated from the theoretical Young's moduli ranges from 20 to 30 GPa, and the MgC(2)B(12) compound (H(v) = 31.4 GPa) is harder than α-boron. Based on the electron density of states and Mulliken population analysis, the origination of hardness and interaction between the interstitial atoms and the B(12) framework were discussed. Scaled bond order of the B-B bonds was used to interpret the hardness of these B(12)-based ternary compounds. The crystal hardness is primarily determined by the B(12) icosahedral skeleton, whereas the contributions of metal atoms manifest as the electron transfer from metal to B atoms. We also calculated the ideal tensile strength of AlMgB(14) and MgC(2)B(12) and found that the <001> and <010> directions are their cleavage directions under tensile strains, respectively.

Alterations in 5-HT2A receptor binding in various brain regions among 6-hydroxydopamine-induced Parkinsonian rats

The serotonergic system has close interactions with the dopaminergic system and is strongly implicated in the pathophysiological mechanisms and therapeutic paradigms of Parkinson's disease (PD). This study aims to investigate regional changes in 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) 2A receptors in the rat brain 3 weeks after unilateral medial forebrain bundle lesion by 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA). 5-HT 2A receptor distributions and alterations in the postmortem rat brain were detected by [(3)H]ketanserin-binding autoradiography. In the 6-OHDA-induced Parkinson's rat model, nigrostriatal dopaminergic neuron loss significantly mediated the decreased [(3)H]ketanserin binding, predominantly in the agranular insular cortex (17.3%, P = 0.03), cingulate cortex (18.2%, P < 0.001), prefrontal cortex (8%, P = 0.043), primary somatosensory cortex (17.7%, P = 0.002), and caudate putamen (14.5%, P = 0.02) compared to controls while a profound reduction of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunostaining in the striatum was also observed. Alterations in [(3)H]ketanserin binding in the examined brain areas may represent the specific regions that mediate cognitive dysfunctions via the serotonin system. The downregulation of 5-HT(2A) receptor binding in this study also provides indirect evidence for plasticity in the serotonergic system in the rat brains. This study contributes to a better understanding of the critical roles of 5-HT(2A) receptors in treating neurodegenerative disorders and implicates 5-HT(2A) receptors as a novel therapeutic target in the treatment of PD.

352 nm ultraviolet emission from high-quality crystalline AlN whiskers

High-quality, crystalline AlN whiskers with large yield have been synthesized through the direct nitridation of Al vapor at high temperature. The AlN whiskers exhibited a strong and uniform ultraviolet emission at approximately 352 nm, which is notably shorter compared with the wavelength of previously reported one-dimensional AlN nanostructures. Energy filtered transmission electron microscope (TEM) analyses indicated that nitrogen deficiency and rather lower oxygen content in the AlN lattice might be responsible for the strong 352 nm ultraviolet emission.

The synthesis, structure and cathodoluminescence of ellipsoid-shaped ZnGa2O4 nanorods

We fabricated ellipsoid-shaped ZnGa(2)O(4) nanorods using a newly-designed chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process, different from the conventional methods. The optical properties of nanorods were studied using cathodoluminescence (CL) measurements. The nanorods displayed three distinct emissions centered at 360, 450 and 550 nm. The luminescence mechanism is thoroughly discussed and explained based on a detailed structural and compositional study with a transmission electron microscope (TEM) equipped with an electron energy loss spectrometer (EELS).