Leptin pro-angiogenic signature in breast cancer is linked to IL-1 signalling

BACKGROUND

Leptin and interleukin-1 (IL-1) upregulate vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), promote angiogenesis and are related to worse prognosis of breast cancer. However, it is unknown whether leptin regulates IL-1, and whether these effects are related to leptin-induction of VEGF/VEGFR2 in breast cancer.

METHODS

Several genetic and pharmacological approaches were used to determine the mechanisms involved in leptin regulation of IL-1 system (IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-1Ra and IL-1R tI) and the impact of IL-1 signalling on leptin-induced VEGF/VEGFR2 expression in mouse mammary cancer 4T1 cells (a model that resembles invasive and highly metastatic human breast cancer).

RESULTS

Leptin increased protein and mRNA levels of all components of the IL-1 system. IL-1 upregulation involved leptin activation of JAK2/STAT3, MAPK/ERK 1/2, PI-3K/AKT1, PKC, p38 and JNK. Leptin-induced phosphorylation of mTOR/4E-BP1 increased IL-1β and IL-1Ra expression, but downregulated IL-1α. Leptin upregulation of IL-1α promoter was linked to SP1 and NF-κB transcription factors. In addition, leptin receptor (Ob-Rb) was upregulated by leptin. Interestingly, leptin upregulation of VEGF/VEGFR2 was partially mediated by IL-1/IL-1R tI signalling.

CONCLUSIONS

We show for the first time that leptin induces several signalling pathways to upregulate the translational and transcriptional expression of IL-1 system in breast cancer cells. Moreover, leptin upregulation of VEGF/VEGFR2 was impaired by IL-1 signalling blockade. These data suggest that leptin pro-angiogenic signature in breast cancer is linked to, or regulated, in part by IL-1 signalling.

Measurement of the bottom quark contribution to nonphotonic electron production in p + p collisions at √s=200 GeV

The contribution of B meson decays to nonphotonic electrons, which are mainly produced by the semileptonic decays of heavy-flavor mesons, in p + p collisions at √s=200  GeV has been measured using azimuthal correlations between nonphotonic electrons and hadrons. The extracted B decay contribution is approximately 50% at a transverse momentum of pT≥5  GeV/c. These measurements constrain the nuclear modification factor for electrons from B and D meson decays. The result indicates that B meson production in heavy ion collisions is also suppressed at high pT.

Biological characteristics and pathogenicity of a highly pathogenic Shewanella marisflavi infecting sea cucumber, Apostichopus japonicus

Shewanella marisflavi isolate AP629 is described as a novel pathogen of sea cucumber. The LD(50) values (14 days) in sea cucumber, mice and swordtail fish were 3.89 × 10(6) , 6.80 × 10(4) and 4.85 × 10(4) CFU g(-1) body weight, respectively. Studies on S. marisflavi were conducted, including morphology, physiological and biochemical characteristics, haemolysis, whole-cell protein and 16S rDNA gene sequence. Colonies of S. marisflavi appeared faint red on marine agar and green on thiosulphate-citrate-bile salt-sucrose media. Shewanella marisflavi had polar flagella. The cells were Gram-negative, oxidase- and catalase-positive and not sensitive to O/129. The bacterium exhibited β-haemolysis on sheep blood agar and produced H(2) S. Shewanella marisflavi survived and grew at 4-35°C, pH 6.0-9.2 and in the presence of 0-8% NaCl. The whole-cell proteins included 13 discrete bands, and proteins of molecular weight 87, 44 and 39 kDa were found in all five strains of Shewanella spp. The difference in 16S rDNA gene sequences in S. marisflavi was at the 446 bp site: S. marisflavi (KCCM 41822) - G, isolate AP629 - A. This is the first report that Shewanella is pathogenic to sea cucumber.

Carbon deposition and phase transformations in red mud on exposure to methane

A characterization study detailing the phase transformations and microstructural nature of the carbon deposited during methane decomposition over red mud has been undertaken. In situ XRD was carried out to study the phase transformation sequences of red mud during the reaction. Scanning electron microscopy, high resolution transmission electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, BET surface area determination and CHN analysis were carried out to investigate the properties of the post-reaction samples. Exposure to methane with increasing temperature caused a stepwise reduction of iron oxides in red mud and promoted methane cracking leading to carbon deposition. The presence of carbon nanostructures was confirmed by HRTEM observations. The carbon formed was graphitic in nature and the spent red mud, rich in Fe and Fe(3)C formed as a result of the reduction of the iron oxide, was magnetic in nature. The surface area of the material was enhanced upon reaction. In addition, reactivity comparisons between goethite and red mud were carried out to study the formation of carbon oxides during reaction.

Direct patterning in sub-surface of stainless steel using laser pulses

This paper reports for the first time on the direct creating microcavities in sub-surface of stainless steel using a single Nd:YAG laser pulse. The low peak power density is used in the process, which is in the order of 1 MW/cm(2). The formation of the microcavities in the sub-surface of stainless steel is an evidence of volume expulsion during laser-metal interaction. Direct patterning in the sub-surface of stainless steel is demonstrated by realizing a series of microcavities to form a pre-designed pattern. Potential applications of sub-surface patterning in metal, such as security marking, micro-heater, micro-insulator and micro-sensor, are discussed.

Higher moments of net proton multiplicity distributions at RHIC

We report the first measurements of the kurtosis (κ), skewness (S), and variance (σ2) of net-proton multiplicity (Np-Np) distributions at midrapidity for Au+Au collisions at square root of s(NN)=19.6, 62.4, and 200 GeV corresponding to baryon chemical potentials (μB) between 200 and 20 MeV. Our measurements of the products κσ2 and Sσ, which can be related to theoretical calculations sensitive to baryon number susceptibilities and long-range correlations, are constant as functions of collision centrality. We compare these products with results from lattice QCD and various models without a critical point and study the square root of s(NN) dependence of κσ2. From the measurements at the three beam energies, we find no evidence for a critical point in the QCD phase diagram for μB below 200 MeV.

Three-particle coincidence of the long range pseudorapidity correlation in high energy nucleus-nucleus collisions

We report the first three-particle coincidence measurement in pseudorapidity (Δη) between a high transverse momentum (p⊥) trigger particle and two lower p⊥ associated particles within azimuth |Δϕ|<0.7 in square root of s(NN)=200 GeV d+Au and Au+Au collisions. Charge ordering properties are exploited to separate the jetlike component and the ridge (long range Δη correlation). The results indicate that the correlation of ridge particles are uniform not only with respect to the trigger particle but also between themselves event by event in our measured Δη. In addition, the production of the ridge appears to be uncorrelated to the presence of the narrow jetlike component.

Carcinoid crisis 24 hours after bland embolization: A case report

Within 24 h of bland embolization of carcinoid liver metastasis, patient developed flushing and severe hypotension consistent with carcinoid crisis. Octreotide pre- and post-procedure remains the mainstay for prevention and treatment of carcinoid crisis.

Programmed death-1 receptor and interleukin-10 in liver transplant recipients at high risk for late cytomegalovirus disease

Despite significant advances in antiviral treatment, solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients remain at heightened risk for developing late cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease. Elevated inhibitory immune signaling suggests a state of immune impairment in SOT recipients, who do not control CMV infection and develop severe clinical symptoms after discontinuation of antiviral prophylaxis. We longitudinally monitored the negative immune modulator programmed death (PD)-1 receptor on both CD4 and CD8 T cells, co-expressing the CD137 surface marker of recent activation, in a liver transplant cohort. Liver recipients who progressed to CMV disease expressed elevated levels of PD-1 on CD137(+) CD4 and CD8 T cells, following stimulation with either full-length peptide libraries or CMV lysate. This novel approach, applicable to a multitude of human leukocyte antigen types, enhances the usefulness of the PD-1 measurements as a clinical strategy to predict late CMV disease. In parallel, we detected an increased level of the immunosuppressive cytokine interleukin (IL)-10, in plasma of liver recipients diagnosed with CMV disease. CMV-specific T cells were still functional when both PD-1 and IL-10 were upregulated; however they showed a marked proliferation deficit, which may limit their ability to contain viremia and lead to CMV disease. Our preliminary observations support further investigation of dual monitoring of PD-1 and IL-10, as potential immune markers of CMV disease.

Full-length apolipoprotein E protects against the neurotoxicity of an apoE-related peptide

Apolipoprotein E was found to protect against the neurotoxic effects of a dimeric peptide derived from the receptor-binding region of this protein (residues 141-149). Both apoE3 and apoE4 conferred protection but the major N-terminal fragment of each isoform did not. Nor was significant protection provided by bovine serum albumin or apoA-I. Full-length apoE3 and apoE4 also inhibited the uptake of a fluorescent-labeled derivative of the peptide, suggesting that the mechanism of inhibition might involve competition for cell surface receptors/proteoglycans that mediate endocytosis and/or signaling pathways. These results might bear on the question of the role of apoE in neuronal degeneration, such as occurs in Alzheimer's disease where apoE4 confers a significantly greater risk of pathology.