BIOM-28. AN EXOSOME BASED LIQUID BIOPSY DIAGNOSTIC FOR GLIOMA

BACKGROUND

Liquid biopsy has gained popularity of late in the diagnosis and management of several cancers. This study aims to diagnose suspected lesions suspected of being gliomas on neuro-imaging by obtaining a peripheral venous blood sample- with a specificity and sensitivity that approaches a tissue biopsy. MATERIALS AND

METHODS

After clearance from Ethics Committees, specimens of the tumour tissue along with blood from a peripheral or vein was collected from all 80 adult patients with a suspected diagnosis of glioma. Clinical details along with the neurological status, the functional score, the extent of resection, pathological diagnosis and survival data were also collected. The tumour tissue transported in RNA-later and stored at -80C. Following exosome isolation, RNA-seq was performed on the exosomal sample obtained from the serum and the tumour sample. Exome analysis was performed on the tumour tissue (somatic mutations) and the WBC (for germline mutations) to a depth of 100.

RESULTS

The analysed data was quality checked for all glioma associated genes including but not limited to ATRX, H3F3A, IDH1, MGTM and TERT driver genes related to DNA repair, cytoskeleton and cellular proliferation-related genes EGFR, FLT1/(VEGFR), BRAF, GFAP, MKi67, NES, OLIG2, PIK3CA, SMAD3, S1001A and VIM and tumour suppressor genes SMARCB1/INI1 and TP53. Open-source cloud based genomic analysis platforms were used for analysis. Machine learning clustering algorithms identified serum exosome based clusters that corresponded to already identified glioma tissue based genomic subgroups, with specificity and sensitivity approaching 95%.

CONCLUSION

Liquid biopsies provide a reliable and effective way of diagnosing gliomas in patients who present with an intracranial lesion on radiology.

Advancing quality and safety of perinatal services in India: opportunities for effective midwifery integration

India has made significant progress in improving maternal and child health. However, there are persistent disparities in maternal and child morbidity and mortality in many communities. Mistreatment of women in childbirth and gender-based violence are common and reduce women's sense of safety. Recently, the Government of India committed to establishing a specialized midwifery cadre: Nurse Practitioners in Midwifery (NPMs). Integration of NPMs into the current health system has the potential to increase respectful maternity care, reduce unnecessary interventions, and improve resource allocation, ultimately improving maternal-newborn outcomes. To synthesize the evidence on effective midwifery integration, we conducted a desk review of peer-reviewed articles, reports and regulatory documents describing models of practice, organization of health services and lessons learned from other countries. We also interviewed key informants in India who described the current state of the healthcare system, opportunities, and anticipated challenges to establishing a new cadre of midwives. Using an intersectional feminist theoretical framework, we triangulated the findings from the desk review with interview data to identify levers for change and recommendations. Findings from the desk review highlight that benefits of midwifery on outcomes and experience link to models of midwifery care, and limited scope of practice and prohibitive practice settings are threats to successful integration. Interviews with key informants affirm the importance of meeting global standards for practice, education, inter-professional collaboration and midwifery leadership. Key informants noted that the expansion of respectful maternity care and improved outcomes will depend on the scope and model of practice for the cadre. Domains needing attention include building professional identity; creating a robust, sustainable education system; addressing existing inter-professional issues and strengthening referral and quality monitoring systems. Public and professional education on midwifery roles and scope of practice, improved regulatory conditions and enabling practice environments will be key to successful integration of midwives in India.

Electrospun fiber-based strategies for controlling early innate immune cell responses: Towards immunomodulatory mesh designs that facilitate robust tissue repair

Electrospun fibrous meshes are widely used for tissue repair due to their ability to guide a host of cell responses including phenotypic differentiation and tissue maturation. A critical factor determining the eventual biological outcomes of mesh-based regeneration strategies is the early innate immune response following implantation. The natural healing process involves a sequence of tightly regulated, temporally varying and delicately balanced pro-/anti-inflammatory events which together promote mesh integration with host tissue. Matrix designs that do not account for the immune milieu can result in dysregulation, chronic inflammation and fibrous capsule formation, thus obliterating potential therapeutic outcomes. In this review, we provide systematic insights into the effects of specific fiber/mesh properties and mechanical stimulation on the responses of early innate immune modulators viz., neutrophils, monocytes and macrophages. We identify matrix characteristics that promote anti-inflammatory immune phenotypes, and we correlate such responses with pro-regenerative in vivo outcomes. We also discuss recent advances in 3D fabrication technologies, bioactive functionalization approaches and biomimetic/bioinspired immunomodulatory mesh design strategies for tissue repair and wound healing. The mechanobiological insights and immunoregulatory strategies discussed herein can help improve the translational outcomes of fiber-based regeneration and may also be leveraged for intervention in degenerative diseases associated with dysfunctional immune responses. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: The crucial role played by immune cells in promoting biomaterial-based tissue regeneration is being increasingly recognized. In this review focusing on the interactions of innate immune cells (primarily neutrophils, monocytes and macrophages) with electrospun fibrous meshes, we systematically elucidate the effects of the fiber microenvironment and mechanical stimulation on biological responses, and build upon these insights to inform the rational design of immunomodulatory meshes for effective tissue repair. We discuss state-of-the-art fabrication methods and mechanobiological advances that permit the orchestration of temporally controlled phenotypic switches in immune cells during different phases of healing. The design strategies discussed herein can also be leveraged to target several complex autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.

Defining ER-mitochondria contact dynamics in Plasmodium falciparum by targeting component of phospholipid synthesis pathway, Phosphatidylserine synthase (PfPSS)

The malaria parasite completes the asexual cycle inside the host erythrocyte, which requires extensive membrane biogenesis for its development and multiplication. Metabolic pathways for the synthesis of membrane phospholipids (PL), including phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and phosphatidylserine (PS), are crucial for parasite survival. Here, we have studied the P. falciparum enzyme responsible for PS synthesis, Phosphatidylserine synthase (PfPSS), GFP targeting approach confirmed it to be localized in the parasite ER as well as in ER-protrusions. Detailed high resolution microscopy, using these transgenic parasites expressing PfPSS-GFP, redefined the dynamics of ER during the intraerythrocytic life cycle and its association with the mitochondria. We report for the first time presence of ER-mitochondria contact (ERMC) in Plasmodium; ERMC is formed by PfPSS containing ER-protrusions, which associate with the mitochondria surface throughout the parasite growth cycle. Further, ERMC is found to be stable and refractory to ER and mitochondrial stresses, suggesting that it is formed through strong tethering complexes. PfPSS was found to interact with other major key enzyme involved in PL synthesis, choline/Etn-phosphotransferase (CEPT), which suggest that ER is the major site for PL biosynthesis. Overall, this study defines the morphological organisation of ERMC which mediates PL synthesis/transport in the Plasmodium.

Targeting UDP-Glycosyltransferase, Glucosamine-6-Phosphate Synthase and Chitin Synthase by Using Bioactive 1,8 Cineole for “Aspergillosis” Fungal Disease Mutilating COVID-19 Patients: Insights from Molecular Docking, Pharmacokinetics and In-vitro Studies

SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19)-associated co-infections like “Aspergillosis”, has recently baffled the world. Due to its key role in cell wall synthesis, in the present study UDP-glycosyltransferase, glucosamine-6-phosphate synthase and chitin synthase have been chosen as appropriate targets for molecular docking. The objective of the present study was molecular docking of eucalyptus essential oil component 1,8 cineole against cell wall enzymes followed by in vitro validation. For molecular docking, patch-dock web based online tool was used. Ligand–Protein 2D and 3D Interactions were also studied. Drug likeliness, toxicity profile and cancer cell line toxicity were also studied. Molecular docking results indicated that 1,8 cineole form hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions with UDP-glycosyltransferase, glucosamine-6-phosphate synthase and chitin synthase enzymes. 1,8 cineole also depicted drug likeliness by showing compliance with the LIPINSKY rule, sufficient level of bioactivity and cancer cell line toxicity thus signifying its role as a potent anti-fungal drug.

Essential oil from Cymbopogon citratus exhibits "anti-aspergillosis" potential: in-silico molecular docking and in vitro studies

BACKGROUND

Aspergillosis, has recently confounded some states of India. Due to major role in fungal cell wall synthesis, in the present study UDP-glycosyltransferase, Glucosamine-6-phosphate synthase and chitin synthase were chosen as an appropriate sites to design drug. The objective of present study was molecular docking of lemon grass essential oil component citral and in vitro validation. GC-FID analysis was used to find out aromatic profile. For docking, Patch-dock analysis was used. Ligand Protein 2D and 3D Interactions were also studied. Drug likeliness, and toxicity profile were also studied. Docking analysis indicated effective binding of citral to UDP-glycosyltransferase, Glucosamine-6-phosphate synthase and chitin synthase. In vitro validation was performed by fungal strain Aspergillus fumigatum.

RESULTS

GC-FID profiling revealed the presence of citral as major bioactive compound. Interactions results indicated that, UDP-glycosyltransferase, Glucosamine-6-phosphate synthase and chitin synthase enzymes and citral complexes forms hydrogen and hydrophobic interactions. Citral also depicted drug likeliness by LIPINSKY rule, sufficient level of bioactivity, drug likeliness and toxicity.

CONCLUSION

In vitro results revealed that lemon grass oil was able to inhibit growth of fungal strains toxicity thus signifying its role as potent anti-fungal drug.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s42269-022-00711-5.

125 WARD-BASED MEDICAL TEAMS: IMPACT ON THE CARE OF THE OLDER PERSON WARD

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic forced healthcare management to make structural adaptations in the interest of infection control. One such adaptation is the introduction of ward-based medical teams. The multidisciplinary team (MDT) is one of the cornerstones of geriatric medicine. Therefore, we aimed to explore the perception of the care of the older person MDT on the introduction of ward-based medical teams.

Methods

Qualitative data was collected on a geriatric ward in October 2020 via written questionnaire. The questionnaire analysed how the transition to ward based medical teams was perceived in terms of inter-professional collaboration and clinical service delivered to patients.

Results

There were 14 respondents, 10 of whom were nursing staff (71%). 86% strongly agreed that the medical team was more accessible, with most interactions occurring face-to-face. Patient care and safety was thought to have improved, 79% and 71% of respondents respectively. 93% felt they had a better rapport with the medical team. 71% felt the MDT meeting is more effective, 57% believed the meeting had greater impact on patient care.

However, 93% felt there was less workspace. 21% believed there were more daily admissions and 57% felt the majority of patient transfers from other wards were inappropriate.

Overall 86% favoured ward-based medical teams, with 57% of staff reporting that the change led to increased personal job satisfaction.

Conclusion

By increasing the geographic proximity of doctors to other professionals, doctors were more accessible, issues were tackled quicker, and there was less time wasted bleeping medical teams. Overall staff favoured a ward-based system. However, there are challenges implementing this system. Particular attention should be paid to the availability of adequate workspace, including telephones and computers. Ward transfers should be minimized as continuity of care can be compromised. Strategies should be implemented so medical charts are available to the MDT during consultant-led ward rounds.

Artemisinin Binds and Inhibits the Activity of Plasmodium falciparum Ddi1, a Retroviral Aspartyl Protease

Reduced sensitivity of the human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, to Artemisinin and its derivatives (ARTs) threatens the global efforts towards eliminating malaria. ARTs have been shown to cause ubiquitous cellular and genetic insults, which results in the activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR) pathways. The UPR restores protein homeostasis, which otherwise would be toxic to cellular survival. Here, we interrogated the role of DNA-damage inducible protein 1 (PfDdi1), a unique proteasome-interacting retropepsin in mediating the actions of the ARTs. We demonstrate that PfDdi1 is an active A₂ family protease that hydrolyzes ubiquitinated proteasome substrates. Treatment of P. falciparum parasites with ARTs leads to the accumulation of ubiquitinated proteins in the parasites and blocks the destruction of ubiquitinated proteins by inhibiting the PfDdi1 protease activity. Besides, whereas the PfDdi1 is predominantly localized in the cytoplasm, exposure of the parasites to ARTs leads to DNA fragmentation and increased recruitment of the PfDdi1 into the nucleus. Furthermore, we show that Ddi1 knock-out Saccharomycescerevisiae cells are more susceptible to ARTs and the PfDdI1 protein robustly restores the corresponding functions in the knock-out cells. Together, these results show that ARTs act in multiple ways; by inducing DNA and protein damage and might be impairing the damage recovery by inhibiting the activity of PfDdi1, an essential ubiquitin-proteasome retropepsin.

Clinical outcomes in COVID-19 patients with in-hospital cardiac arrest – an insight from multi-centre data

Background

In general, rates of in-hospital cardiac arrest are reportedly 9 to 10 arrests per 1000 admissions, with survival rates of approximately 20–25%. Data regarding clinical characteristics and outcomes in patients with COVID-19 who received in-hospital CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) are limited. This information can help guide end-of-life care conversations between families and health care workers based on real-world experience.

Purpose

To observe the outcomes (survival to discharged alive from the hospital) in critically sick COVID-19 patients who experienced in-hospital cardiac arrest.

Methods

This is a multi-centre institutional review board (IRB) approved retrospective study. The RT-PCR confirmed adult COVID-19 patients consecutively admitted from March 1st to April 30, 2020, were included. Data were extracted manually using the hospital's electronic medical record. The final date of follow-up to monitor clinical outcomes was January 2021.

Results

A total of 721 patients were admitted to the hospital. Of these, only 64 (8.87%) patients had “no CPR” orders.Cardiac arrest occurred in 141 (19.5%) patients. The mean duration of beginning of resuscitation was less than a minute and the mean duration of CPR was 19 minutes. The median age was 65 years; 62.4% were male. The most common co-morbidities were hypertension (66%) and diabetes mellitus (56%). The initial rhythm was non-shockable in 93.7% of patients [asystole in 48.4% and Pulseless Electrical Activity (PEA) in 45.3% of patients]. Only six (4.2%) patients had pulseless ventricular tachycardia and three (2.1%) patients had ventricular fibrillation. A total of eight patients (5.6%) survived and were discharged from the hospital; six (4.25%) had non-shockable and two (0.82%) had shockable initial rhythms. The median age of those who survived was 60 years (Figure 1).

Conclusions

Our study showed that critically sick patients with COVID-19 have a high rate of cardiac arrest and poor outcomes in those who received CPR. A non-shockable initial rhythm indicates that non-cardiac reasons might be playing a major role. These include acute respiratory insufficiency, severe sepsis, or multiorgan failure. These data should inform end-of-life care discussions between providers and patients' families.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.

Netnography

Netnography has emerged as the dominant social media research that allows researchers to understand and assimilate available knowledge for practical insights. However, limited awareness inhibits its development. This systematic literature review attempts to understand the evolution of netnography under the research domain to promote its usage and determine future research directions. The study revealed four broad clusters of the literature based on their prevalence: consumer experience and behaviour, phenomena and events, social media, and digital government. The study also highlights the limited development of new-age phenomena such as brand hate, cyber tourism, and special interest tourism. The study contributes to the domain of netnography in two ways: first by providing a thematic classification of the studies conducted in the decade of 2009-21 and second by suggesting potential future research directions, including scientific inquiry on the new-age phenomena blooming due to high internet penetration.

Plasmodium falciparum PhIL1-associated complex plays an essential role in merozoite reorientation and invasion of host erythrocytes

The human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum possesses unique gliding machinery referred to as the glideosome that powers its entry into the insect and vertebrate hosts. Several parasite proteins including Photosensitized INA-labelled protein 1 (PhIL1) have been shown to associate with glideosome machinery. Here we describe a novel PhIL1 associated protein complex that co-exists with the glideosome motor complex in the inner membrane complex of the merozoite. Using an experimental genetics approach, we characterized the role(s) of three proteins associated with PhIL1: a glideosome associated protein- PfGAPM2, an IMC structural protein- PfALV5, and an uncharacterized protein—referred here as PfPhIP (PhIL1 Interacting Protein). Parasites lacking PfPhIP or PfGAPM2 were unable to invade host RBCs. Additionally, the downregulation of PfPhIP resulted in significant defects in merozoite segmentation. Furthermore, the PfPhIP and PfGAPM2 depleted parasites showed abrogation of reorientation/gliding. However, initial attachment with host RBCs was not affected in these parasites. Together, the data presented here show that proteins of the PhIL1-associated complex play an important role in the orientation of P. falciparum merozoites following initial attachment, which is crucial for the formation of a tight junction and hence invasion of host erythrocytes.

Invasion of Plasmodium merozoites into RBCs is a multistep process that involves initial attachment of merozoites to the RBC surface, their reorientation, and subsequent gliding into RBCs using glideosome machinery. The glideosome machinery lies between the plasma membrane and inner membrane complex (IMC) and consists of MyoA, its interacting protein; MTIP, gliding associated proteins (GAPs), and a Photosensitized INA labeled protein (PhIL1)-associated protein complex. Here, we demonstrate that the deletion of any of two components of the PhIL1-associated complex, PfPhIP or PfGAPM2, aborts merozoite reorientation and blocks their invasion into RBCs. The study thus provides new molecular and mechanistic insights into merozoite invasion of RBCs.

Intellectual Structure and Publication Pattern in Journal of Global Information Management

The Journal of Global Information Management has been publishing high-quality research related to information systems since 1993. The current study provides a retrospective of its magnificent journey. The study recognizes prominent authors, institutions, countries, and publications of JGIM using bibliometric analysis. D.C. Yen and M. Srite are the most productive and influential authors of the journal, while the National University of Singapore is the most contributing institution. The USA emerges as the leading contributor to the journal; however, China exhibits a large number of collaboration links. Along with the description of these trends, the study employs graphical analysis to investigate collaboration links among authors, affiliated institutions, and countries. Furthermore, the study examines the intellectual similarity structures among the authors and countries through the bibliographic coupling. The selected publications have been clustered into six groups based on the similarity of the reference list. The evolution of these themes over time has also been discussed.

Phytochemical analysis using GC-FID, FPLC fingerprinting, antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti- inflammatory activities analysis of traditionally used Eucalyptus globulus essential oil

Eucalyptus globules is an widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions. It has been widely used as folk medicine, and folk cosmetic owing to its antioxidant values. Despite its importance, phytochemical and pharmacological studies remain infancy. This study was aimed at extraction of essential oil by steam-distillation and evaluation of bioactive components, antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory activities along with analysis by UV-VIS, FT-IR and Fluorescent techniques. Fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) was used to confirm the presence of polyphenols. Different antioxidant activities like DPPH., ABTS.+, .OH, superoxide, nitric oxide and reducing power of the essential oil. Essential oil was analyzed by UV-VIS, FT-IR and Fluorescent techniques. In vitro antimicrobial activity was also monitored. FT-IR fingerprint qualitative analysis was performed using commercial standards. Considerable amount of flavonoids were detected in essential oil.  Oil exhibited considerable scavenging activities of ABTS.+, .OH, superoxide, nitric oxide and reducing power. UV-VIS, FT-IR analysis revealed the presence of polyphenolics in essential oil. Fluorescent spectroscopy revealed the presence of fluorophores in essential oil. FPLC and FT-IR fingerprint analysis revealed the presence of bioactive constituents like rutin, tannic acid, vanillic acid and ascorbic acid in the essential oil. A strong anti-inflammatory activity of oil was observed using fluorescent spectroscopy. An appreciable in vitro antibacterial activity against gram-negative bacteria like Acetobacter aceti and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was detected. The data provides the scientific support to the use of essential oil from Eucalyptus globules as a potent herbal source of bioactive compounds possessing natural antioxidant activities in food and pharmaceutical industries.

Electrospun meshes intrinsically promote M2 polarization of microglia under hypoxia and offer protection from hypoxia-driven cell death

In this study, we offer new insights into the contrasting effects of electrospun fiber orientation on microglial polarization under normoxia and hypoxia, and establish for the first time, the intrinsically protective roles of electrospun meshes against hypoxia-induced microglial responses. First, resting microglia were cultured under normoxia on poly(caprolactone) fibers possessing two distinctly different fiber orientations. Matrix-guided differences in cell shape/orientation and differentially expressed Rho GTPases (RhoA, Rac1, Cdc42) were well-correlated with the randomly oriented fibers inducing a pro-inflammatory phenotype and the aligned fibers sustaining a resting phenotype. Upon subsequent hypoxia induction, both sets of meshes offered protection from hypoxia-induced damage by promoting a radical phenotypic switch and beneficially altering the M2/M1 ratio to different extents. Compared to 2D hypoxic controls, meshes significantly suppressed the expression of pro-inflammatory markers (IL-6, TNF-α) and induced drastically higher expression of anti-inflammatory (IL-4, IL-10, VEGF-189) and neuroprotective (Nrf-2) markers. Consistent with this M2 polarization, the expression of Rho GTPases was significantly lower in the mesh groups under hypoxia compared to normoxic culture. Moreover, meshes-particularly with aligned fibers-promoted higher cell viability, suppressed caspase 3/8 and LC-3 expression and promoted LAMP-1 and LAMP-2 expression, which suggested the mitigation of apoptotic/autophagic cell death via a lysosomal membrane-stabilization mechanism. Notably, all protective effects under hypoxia were observed in the absence of additional soluble cues. Our results offer promise for leveraging the intrinsic therapeutic potential of electrospun meshes in degenerative diseases where microglial dysfunction, hypoxia and inflammation are implicated.

Differential effects of online signals on sales performance of local brand clothing products

Purpose

Businesses need to make quick decisions and adjustments to fulfill the growing online demand. Previous studies examined various factors affecting the online sales performance of products such as books, electronics and movies; however, they paid limited attention toward the local brand clothing products. The current study investigates the importance of different kinds of seller-generated and consumer-generated signals such as price, discount, product ratings, review volume, review sentiment, number of questions and interaction between some of these factors for predicting the sales performance of clothing products.

Design/methodology/approach

The multiple linear regressions has been employed to investigate the influence of various predictor variables on sales performance. The study also examines the importance of these predictor variables by using different machine learning models, including random forest (RF), neural networks and support vector regression (SVR).

Findings

The findings of the study emphasize the importance of price and discount rates offered on the product. The quantitative characteristics of reviews, such as review volume and average rating, have been found to be more important predictors than sentiment strengths. However, the sentiment strength of reviews with higher helpfulness scores plays a significant role in predicting sales performance.

Originality/value

The study highlights the varying importance of seller-based and consumer-based signals in predicting sales performance. It also investigates the interaction effect of these two kinds of signals. The consumer-generated signals have been further divided into two components based on social influence theory, and the interaction effects of these components have also been examined.

LncRNA VEAL2 regulates PRKCB2 to modulate endothelial permeability in diabetic retinopathy

Long non‐coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are emerging as key regulators of endothelial cell function. Here, we investigated the role of a novel vascular endothelial‐associated lncRNA (VEAL2) in regulating endothelial permeability. Precise editing of veal2 loci in zebrafish (veal2^gib005Δ8/+) induced cranial hemorrhage. In vitro and in vivo studies revealed that veal2 competes with diacylglycerol for interaction with protein kinase C beta‐b (Prkcbb) and regulates its kinase activity. Using PRKCB2 as bait, we identified functional ortholog of veal2 in humans from HUVECs and named it as VEAL2. Overexpression and knockdown of VEAL2 affected tubulogenesis and permeability in HUVECs. VEAL2 was differentially expressed in choroid tissue in eye and blood from patients with diabetic retinopathy, a disease where PRKCB2 is known to be hyperactivated. Further, VEAL2 could rescue the effects of PRKCB2‐mediated turnover of endothelial junctional proteins thus reducing hyperpermeability in hyperglycemic HUVEC model of diabetic retinopathy. Based on evidence from zebrafish and hyperglycemic HUVEC models and diabetic retinopathy patients, we report a hitherto unknown VEAL2 lncRNA‐mediated regulation of PRKCB2, for modulating junctional dynamics and maintenance of endothelial permeability.

Molecular changes associated with migratory departure from wintering areas in obligate songbird migrants

Day length regulates the development of spring migratory and subsequent reproductive phenotypes in avian migrants. This study used molecular approaches, and compared mRNA and proteome-wide expression in captive redheaded buntings that were photostimulated under long-day (LD) conditions for 4 days (early stimulated, LD-eS) or for ∼3 weeks until each bird had shown 4 successive nights of Zugunruhe (stimulated, LD-S); controls were maintained under short days. After ∼3 weeks of LD, photostimulated indices of the migratory preparedness (fattening, weight gain and Zugunruhe) were paralleled with upregulated expression of acc, dgat2 and apoa1 genes in the liver, and of cd36, fabp3 and cpt1 genes in the flight muscle, suggesting enhanced fatty acid (FA) synthesis and transport in the LD-S state. Concurrently, elevated expression of genes involved in the calcium ion signalling and transport (camk1 and atp2a2; camk2a in LD-eS), cellular stress (hspa8 and sod1, not nos2) and metabolic pathways (apoa1 and sirt1), but not of genes associated with migratory behaviour (adcyap1 and vps13a), were found in the mediobasal hypothalamus (MBH). Further, MBH-specific quantitative proteomics revealed that out of 503 annotated proteins, 28 were differentially expressed (LD-eS versus LD-S: 21 up-regulated and 7 down-regulated) and they enriched five physiological pathways that are associated with FA transport and metabolism. These first comprehensive results on gene and protein expression suggest that changes in molecular correlates of FA transport and metabolism may aid the decision for migratory departure from wintering areas in obligate songbird migrants.

Human primary retinal cells as an in-vitro model for investigating defective signalling caused by OPTN mutants associated with glaucoma

Studies carried out on the pathogenesis of glaucoma using murine cell lines and animal models require to be validated in human cells. Therefore, we explored the possibility of using human primary retinal cells (hPRCs) in culture as a model for molecular studies and testing of potential therapeutic drugs. For this purpose, central retinal tissue, obtained from the enucleated eyes of patients with anterior staphyloma, was digested with trypsin and grown in a medium containing supplements (basic fibroblast growth factor and fetal bovine serum). hPRCs at passage 1 and 2, show expression of either GFAP, a glial cell marker, or β-III tubulin, a retinal ganglion cell (RGC)-specific marker. But at passages 3-5 nearly all of hPRCs express several RGC-specific markers (Brn3 proteins, Thy-1, β-III tubulin, RBPMS and NeuN) but not GFAP. Expression of these markers indicated that these cells may have functional properties of RGCs. As RGCs are sensitive to glaucoma-associated mutants of OPTN, we analysed the survival of hPRCs upon overexpression of OPTN mutants. Glaucoma-associated mutants, E50K-OPTN and M98K-OPTN, induced significantly higher cell death in hPRCs compared to WT-OPTN, whereas an amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-associated mutant, E478G-OPTN, did not. TBK1 inhibitor Amlexanox protected hPRCs from E50K-OPTN and M98K-OPTN induced cell death. M98K-OPTN induced cell death was suppressed by inhibitors of CaMKKβ and AMPK in hPRCs as well as in 661W, a mouse cell line that expresses several markers of RGCs and RGC precursor cells. Our results suggest that hPRCs under appropriate culture condition show RGC-like properties. These cells can be used to explore the molecular mechanisms of cell death relevant for glaucoma pathogenesis and for testing of cytoprotective compounds.