Crystal structures of wild-type and mutant plastocyanins from a higher plant, Silene

Plastocyanin functions as an electron carrier between the cytochrome b6f complex and photosystem I. The crystal structures of the wild-type and E43K/D44K double mutant from the higher plant, Silene, have been determined at 2.0 and 1.75 A resolution, respectively. The wild-type plastocyanin comprises two monomers per asymmetric unit, one of which shows the unusually great distance between the copper ion and the Ndelta1 atom of H87 because of the hydrogen bond network formation between H87 and symmetry-related G10. The root mean square deviation for Ca atoms between the wild-type and mutant plastocyanins is 0.44 A, however, the electrostatic potential maps of their molecular surfaces are remarkably different. The low electron-transfer rate in the E43K/D44K mutant results from the hindrance of electrostatic interactions, not from the structural change due to the mutation.

Investigation on SCH00013, a novel cardiotonic agent with Ca++ sensitizing action. 1st communication: phosphodiesterase III inhibitory effect and class III antiarrhythmic effect in guinea-pig heart

In order to clarify the mechanism of action of 4,5-dihydro-6-[1-[2-hydroxy-2-(4-cyanophenyl)ethyl]-1,2,5,6- tetrahydropyrido-4-yl]pyridazin-3(2H)-one (SCH00013), a novel cardiotonic agent with Ca++ sensitizing action, its effects on contractile force, atrial rate and action potential, and on the activity of Na+, K(+)-ATPase and phosphodiesterase (PDE) I-IV were studied in the guinea-pig heart. SCH00013 exerted a positive inotropic effect (PIE) on isolated right ventricular papillary muscles in a concentration-dependent manner (EC50 = 9.2 mumol/l): the relative potency was milrinone > SCH00013 > vesnarinone. The PIE of SCH00013 was not influenced by propranolol, a beta-blocker, and SCH00013 did not affect the activity of cardiac Na+, K(+)-ATPase. The PIE of SCH00013 was partially inhibited by carbachol, a muscarinic receptor agonist, which implies a partial contribution of the cAMP-dependent mechanism to the PIE. SCH00013 inhibited the activity of PDE III selectively, but the potency was weak: the IC50 value was 64.9 mumol/l, which was 46 and 3.9 times less potent than those of milrinone and vesnarinone, respectively. SCH00013 and vesnarinone elicited a moderate decrease in the rate of beating of isolated right atria, while milrinone increased it. SCH00013 markedly prolonged the action potential duration and the effective refractory period with no change in the resting membrane potential and dV/dtmax, an indication that SCH00013 may suppress the activity of delayed rectifying K+ channels. These results indicate that SCH00013, that primarily acts as a Ca++ sensitizer, possesses a weak selective PDE III inhibitory effect. The potential positive chronotropic effect of SCH00013 due to PDE III inhibition may be offset by its effect on K+ channels.

Role of Na+/Ca2+ exchange in endothelin-1-induced increases in Ca2+ transient and contractility in rabbit ventricular myocytes: pharmacological analysis with KB-R7943

1. The effects of endothelin-1 (ET-1) on intracellular Ca2+ ion level and cell contraction were simultaneously investigated in rabbit ventricular cardiac myocytes loaded with indo-1/A1. The role of Na+/Ca2+ exchange in ET-1-induced positive inotropic effect (PIE) was examined by using KB-R7943 (2-[2-[4-(4-nitrobenzyloxy)phenyl]ethyl]isothiourea methanesulphonate), a selective inhibitor of reverse mode Na+/Ca2+ exchange. 2. ET-1 at 0.3 pM - 1 nM increased cell contraction and Ca2+ transient (CaT) with EC50 values of 2.9 pM and 1.2 pM, respectively, and the increase in amplitude of CaT was much smaller relative to the PIE: ET-1 at 1 nM increased peak cell shortening by 237%, while it increased peak CaT by 167%. For a given level of PIE, ET-1-induced increase in CaT was much smaller than that induced by elevation of [Ca2+]o and by isoprenaline. Therefore, ET-1 shifted the relationship between peak CaT and cell shortening to the left relative to the relationship for increase in [Ca2+]o, an indication that ET-1 increased myofibrillar Ca2+ sensitivity. 3. KB-R7943 at 0.1 microM and higher inhibited contraction and CaT induced by 0.1 nM ET-1 and at 0.3 microM it abolished the increase in CaT while inhibiting the PIE by 48.1%. Over concentration range of 0.1-0.3 microM, KB-R7943 neither inhibited baseline contraction and CaT nor the isoprenaline-induced response, although at 1 microM and higher it had a significant inhibitory action on these responses. 4. These results indicate that in rabbit ventricular myocytes both increases in CaT and myofibrillar Ca2+ sensitivity contribute to the ET-induced PIE, and the activation of reverse mode Na+/Ca2+ exchange may play a crucial role in increase in CaT induced by ET-1 in rabbit ventricular cardiac myocytes.

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of plastocyanin from cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. PCC 7942

A plastocyanin from the cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. PCC 7942 has been crystallized in two different forms by hanging-drop vapour diffusion with ammonium sulfate as precipitant. Form I is hexagonal, space group P61 or P65, with unit-cell dimensions a = b = 34.62 and c = 107.22 A. Form II is tetragonal, space group P41 or P43, with unit-cell dimensions a = b = 43.05 and c = 56.94 A. Form I crystals diffract to 2.5 A using graphite-monochromated Cu Kalpha radiation from a Rigaku RU-300 rotating-anode generator operated at 40 kV and 100 mA. Form II crystals diffract to 1.9 A using synchrotron radiation at beamline BL6A of the Photon Factory (KEK). Molecular-replacement calculations using the structure of plastocyanin from Ulva pertusa have been performed.

DNA Data Bank of Japan dealing with large-scale data submission

The DNA Data Bank of Japan (DDBJ) (http//:www.ddbj.nig.ac.jp) has developed a software system for mass submissions to cope with a recent expansion of EST and genome data submissions. The system is composed of four parts, the WWW data submission, large-scale submission, submission management and storing. Using this system one can submit data on a large number of sequences or a very long sequence while checking the consistency between the annotation and sequence without much effort. DDBJ has received large scale data of Homo sapiens, Arabidopsis and Pyrococcus from Japanese researchers who made full use of the new submission system.

Mechanical properties of bone in a paraplegic rat model

Pathologic fractures may occur with minimal trauma after spinal cord injury (SCI) because of osteoporosis. Rats were evaluated to determine whether they could be used as an SCI animal model. Male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent spinal cord transection at the ninth thoracic vertebrae. Control rats underwent a sham procedure. Mechanical testing of the humeral shaft, femoral shaft, tibial shaft, femoral neck, distal femur, and proximal tibia was performed separately at 0, 8, and 24 weeks after surgery. At 24 weeks, significant differences between SCI and control rats were found in maximum torque needed to produce failure in the femoral shaft (63 percent of control, p < 0.05) and tibial shaft (63 percent, p < 0.01), and in compressive load to produce failure in cross-sectional specimens of the distal femur (51 percent, p < 0.05) and proximal tibia (50 percent, p < 0.01). No differences were found in the maximum torque needed to produce failure of the humeral shaft (106 percent, p = 0.77) between SCI and control rats. Reductions in relative bone strength in SCI rats at 24 weeks were similar in magnitude to bone mineral density changes reported in humans with chronic paraplegia. Thus, Sprague-Dawley rats appear to be good animal models in which to evaluate changes in bone strength following SCI.

A novel cardiotonic agent SCH00013 acts as a Ca++ sensitizer with no chronotropic activity in mammalian cardiac muscle

We investigated the inotropic effect of SCH00013 (4, 5-dihydro-6-[1-[2-hydroxy-2-(4-cyanophenyl)ethyl]-1,2,5, 6-tetrahydropyrido-4-yl]pyridazin-3(2H)-one) on isolated dog and rabbit ventricular muscles and in indo-1 loaded rabbit ventricular cardiomyocytes. SCH00013 elicited a positive inotropic effect in a concentration-dependent manner (10(-6) to 10(-4) M) in both species in the presence of bupranolol. The positive inotropic effects of 10(-4) M SCH00013 on the dog and rabbit were 38% and 29% of the maximal response to isoproterenol. SCH00013 did not alter the rate of beating in isolated rabbit right atria. In indo-1 loaded rabbit ventricular cardiomyocytes, SCH00013 at 10(-4) M increased the systolic cell shortening by 52% above the base-line value in association with an insignificant increase in the systolic fluorescence ratio by 15% above the control. SCH00013 shifted the relationship between the Ca++ transients and cell shortening to the left as compared with that of elevation of [Ca++]o. In the dog and rabbit ventricular muscles, carbachol partially inhibited the positive inotropic effect of SCH00013. SCH00013 did not affect the positive inotropic effect of isoproterenol at 3 x 10(-6) M, but enhanced it at 3 x 10(-5) M. These results indicate that SCH00013 is a cardiotonic agent that primarily acts via an increase in myofibrillar Ca++ sensitivity with a moderate contribution of the cAMP-dependent mechanism at higher concentrations. SCH00013 has no chronotropic activity. The pharmacological profile of SCH00013 implies that the compound may be a promising cardiotonic agent for the treatment of congestive heart failure.

Increased expression of vascular endothelial growth factor is associated with tumor progression in hepatocellular carcinoma

Vascular endothelial growth factor is a potent direct-acting angiogenic factor. Early in hepatocarcinogenesis, hepatocellular carcinomas do not show hypervascularity; at later stages, they require abundant arterial blood flow. We investigated the role of vascular endothelial growth factor in hepatocellular carcinoma arterialization. We studied 51 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. All patients had undergone hepatic arteriography. Vascular endothelial growth factor expression was investigated by immunohistochemistry (n = 51) and in situ hybridization (n = 13), and the changes in vascular endothelial growth factor expression were evaluated in relation to tumor differentiation and changes in tumor vascularity. The expression of vascular endothelial growth factor isoforms in hepatocellular carcinomas was also analyzed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (n = 10). Vascular endothelial growth factor expression was detected in hepatoma cells and hepatic stellate cells, and increased vascular endothelial growth factor expression was associated with tumor dedifferentiation. Vascular endothelial growth factor expression in hypervascular hepatocellular carcinomas was greater than in those not showing hypervascularity. The major vascular endothelial growth factor isoforms expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma were 121 and 165. These findings indicate that vascular endothelial growth factors 121 and 165 play a critical role in the process of angiogenesis in hepatocellular carcinomas.

Towards the Asia-Pacific Bioinformatics Network

A vigorous effort has been undertaken to develop a robust and high speed network in the Asia-Pacific region which satisfies the needs of the scientific community. Consortium for Asia-Pacific Advanced Network (APAN) are established in some countries in this region. Our group, along with collaborators in Singapore and Australia, is moving towards the establishment of Asia-Pacific Bioinformatics Network (APBioNet) based on APAN. In this paper, we describe the concept of APBioNet and introduce the activities of DNA Data Bank of Japan (DDBJ) which will play an important role in APBioNet. Some salient features of APBioNet are also discussed.

Formal design and implementation of an improved DDBJ DNA database with a new schema and object-oriented library

MOTIVATION

The DNA Data Bank of Japan (DDBJ) has developed a new DNA database system with a new schema design to accommodate rapid change and growth of requirements on the system.

RESULTS

The new schema and systems were created using an object-oriented design approach. The design was accomplished in accordance with ANSI/SPARC three-level schema architecture. First, the conceptual schema was designed using a functional model named AIS (associative information structure) and was visualized in extended diagram format. The model is a natural extension of an ER (entity relationship) model and describes real-world objects in binary associations between entities with the concept of order. Second, the schema was mapped on a relational database as a physical schema. All details are concentrated in this schema and the layer lying above enjoys physical independence. Finally, as another layer, external modeling was introduced for the database applications interface. It provides set-at-a-time basis operations and was implemented as a C++ object-oriented library. On this common framework of a new schema, a new annotator's workbench named Yamato II and a World Wide Web (WWW) submission system named Sakura have been successfully developed to improve drastically daily transactions in the DDBJ.

AVAILABILITY

Sakura is available at the following address: http://sakura.ddbj.nig.ac.jp.

CONTACT

hsugawar@genes.nig.ac.jp

Serum carboxy-terminal cross-linked telopeptide of type I collagen reflects bone metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma

Carboxy-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (ICTP) is a degradation product of type I collagen. In this study, we investigated the usefulness of measuring the serum ICTP concentration for diagnosing and monitoring bone metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The serum concentrations of ICTP, type I procollagen carboxy-terminal propeptide (PICP), type III procollagen aminoterminal propeptide (PIIIP), type IV collagen (Ty IV), type IV collagen 7S-domain (7S), and hyaluronic acid (HA) were measured in patients with liver cirrhosis, HCC with or HCC without bone metastasis, and in healthy controls. The diagnostic efficiency of the serum ICTP and fibrosis marker levels in the HCC patients with and without bone metastasis was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic curves. We also retrospectively examined the changes in the serum ICTP levels before and after bone metastasis in the HCC patients. The serum ICTP level was significantly higher in the HCC patients with bone metastasis than in the patients with other diseases and the healthy controls. The serum PICP, PIIIP, Ty IV, 7S and HA levels of the HCC patients with bone metastasis did not differ significantly from those of the patients without bone metastasis. The diagnostic efficiency for HCC with bone metastasis was 87% for ICTP, 51% for PICP, 65% for Ty IV, 55% for PIIIP and 51% for HA. During the follow-up, the changes in the serum ICTP values paralleled the behavior of bone metastasis. These results indicate that the measurement of serum ICTP concentration is useful for detecting and monitoring HCC patients with bone metastasis.

Relationship between interleukin-6 and proliferation and differentiation in cholangiocarcinoma

AIMS

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) has been implicated as a mediator of growth control in several human neoplasms. The significance of IL-6 expression in human cholangiocarcinoma was examined in this study.

METHODS AND RESULTS

IL-6 expression was examined in 43 surgically resected cholangiocarcinomas and a cholangiocarcinoma cell line CCKS1, derived from abdominal metastasis of moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma, by immunohistochemical and in-situ hybridization techniques. In non-neoplastic bile ducts, IL-6 was constitutively but weakly expressed. In surgical cases of cholangiocarcinoma, IL-6 was frequently and strongly expressed in the cytoplasm of well-differentiated cholangiocarcinoma, while its expression was decreased, and less intense or absent in moderately and poorly differentiated areas, respectively. IL-6 mRNA was detected in the cytoplasm of carcinoma cells of two cases of cholangiocarcinomas positive for IL-6. IL-6 was detected in hepatic bile from two cholangiocarcinoma cases studied. The proliferation antigen Ki67 was found to be more frequently expressed in IL-6 negative carcinoma cells than in IL-6 positive carcinoma cells (P < 0.01). In cultured carcinoma cells line CCKS1, IL-6, IL-6 mRNA and IL-6 receptor alpha chain were detected in the cytoplasm of carcinoma cells, suggesting an autocrine effect of IL-6 on carcinoma cells.

CONCLUSION

IL-6 expression is inversely related to cell proliferation and positively related to differentiation in cholangiocarcinoma.

Effects of levosimendan on myocardial contractility and Ca2+ transients in aequorin-loaded right-ventricular papillary muscles and indo-1-loaded single ventricular cardiomyocytes of the rabbit

Effects of levosimendan on myocardial contractility and Ca2+ transients were assessed in the ventricular myocardium of the rabbit. Levosimendan at and above 0.1 microM had a concentration-dependent positive inotropic effect (PIE) on isolated papillary muscles that had been loaded with aqeuorin. The maximum inotropic response to levosimendan at 3 microM was approximately 20% of the maximum response to isoproterenol (ISOmax), whereas the maximum increase in the amplitude of Ca2+ transients was approximately 11% of ISOmax. For a given PIE, levosimendan increased the amplitude of Ca2+ transients much less than an elevation of [Ca2+]o. Levosimendan did not prolong the relaxation time. Similar results were obtained in single ventricular cardiomyocytes that had been loaded with indo-1. In the presence of the muscarinic receptor agonist carbachol, both the PIE and the increase in the Ca2+ transient induced by levosimendan were markedly attenuated. During wash-out of both carbachol and levosimendan, the contractile force increased conspicuously with little change in the amplitude of Ca2+ transients, an indication that the increase in myofibrillar sensitivity to Ca2+ ions elicited by levosimendan was susceptible to carbachol. Levosimendan at and above 0.03 microM shifted the concentration-response curve for isoproterenol to the left. Levosimendan had a positive chronotropic effect at 0.01 microM and higher in the isolated right atrium of the rabbit. These findings indicate that, in addition to the increase by levosimendan of the sensitivity of contractile proteins to Ca2+ ions, the accumulation of cyclic AMP due to the phosphodiesterase-inhibitory action of levosimendan might contribute to the PIE of this drug.

Idiopathic saccular azygos vein aneurysm

We present a case of asymptomatic saccular aneurysm of the azygos vein. This abnormality is exceedingly rare. Dynamic computed tomography revealed strong enhancement of the mass, suggesting a vascular structure, which was very important for preoperative diagnosis. It is unclear whether the mass should be resected if the preoperative diagnosis has been made and the mass is not so large.

Bone remodeling with resorbable bioactive glass and hydroxyapatite

Particulate resorbable bioactive glass and resorbable hydroxyapatite did not inhibit the growth of periodontal ligament cells and osteoblasts in cultures. Both cell types promoted the activation of alkaline phosphatase around the surface of bioactive glass particles. When bioactive glass and hydroxyapatite were cultured with peripheral blood lymphocytes/monocytes, the number of nonadherent and adherent cells was the same as observed with a control. Resorbable bioactive glass activated the cells necessary for bone formation better than hydroxyapatite and suppressed the formation of osteoclasts for bone resorption. Resorbable bioactive glass and resorbable hydroxyapatite were found to be harmless to periodontium cells and lymphocytes/monocytes.

Inhibitory effect of OPC-15161, a component of fungus Thielavia minor, on proliferation and extracellular matrix production of rat cultured hepatic stellate cells

A component of fungus Thielavia minor, OPC-15161, has been shown to inhibit the proliferation and extracellular matrix production of extracellular matrix-producing mesangial cells in the kidney in vivo. In this study, we examined the effects of OPC-15161 on the proliferation and extracellular matrix production of rat cultured hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). To determine the effect of OPC-15161 on proliferation of HSCs, the cell number and the uptake of [3H]thymidine were investigated in the presence and absence of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta). IL-1beta significantly increased the uptake of [3H]thymidine in the HSCs, and the addition of OPC-15161 inhibited the uptake in a dose-dependent manner. The cell number of HSCs was also increased by IL-1beta, which was inhibited by OPC-15161. Production of extracellular matrix by OPC-15161 was studied by the production of [3H]-hydroxyproline in the presence and absence of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1). TGF-beta1 significantly increased the production of [3H]-hydroxyproline in the cells, whereas the addition of OPC-15161 inhibited this effect dose dependently. We also investigated the effects of OPC-15161 on Ca2+ mobilization and measured D-myo-inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate (IP3) in the HSCs. IL-1beta induced the increase of intracellular Ca2+ and IP3 concentrations in the HSCs, which were decreased by OPC-15161. Based on these results, we conclude that OPC-1 5161 inhibited the proliferation and production of hydroxyproline in cultured rat HSCs, and thus, it may have a role in prevention of liver fibrosis in vivo.

DNA Data Bank of Japan at work on genome sequence data

We at the DNA Data Bank of Japan (DDBJ) (http://www.ddbj.nig.ac.jp) have recently begun receiving, processing and releasing EST and genome sequence data submitted by various Japanese genome projects. The data include those for human, Arabidopsis thaliana, rice, nematode, Synechocystis sp. and Escherichia coli. Since the quantity of data is very large, we organized teams to conduct preliminary discussions with project teams about data submission and handling for release to the public. We also developed a mass submission tool to cope with a large quantity of data. In addition, to provide genome data on WWW, we developed a genome information system using Java. This system (http://mol.genes.nig.ac.jp/ecoli/) can in theory be used for any genome sequence data. These activities will facilitate processing of large quantities of EST and genome data.

Brachial artery flow pattern and clinical backgrounds in patients with angina pectoris

Blood flow velocity of the brachial artery was measured noninvasively by ultrasound pulsed Doppler technique under the guidance of a B-mode ultrasound image in 56 patients with angina pectoris. There was no significant stenosis along the brachial artery on a B-mode image. The authors investigated seven clinical backgrounds for each patient, ie, age, gender, absence or presence of smoking, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and the number of significantly stenosed (> or =50%) coronary arteries. Among these variables, the determinants of the brachial artery velocity profile were selected by stepwise multiple regression analysis. Selected variables were the presence of hypertension for peak systolic velocity (R=0.276), age and the number of diseased vessels for peak reverse velocity (R=0.624), and age for peak diastolic velocity (R=0.609). The peak systolic velocity was larger in patients with hypertension than in those without it (0.565+/-0.023 vs 0.490+/-0.013 m/see, P<0.05), and the peak reverse velocity was larger in patients with multivessel disease than those without it (-0.117+/-0.071 vs -0.053+/-0.081 m/sec, P<0.01). Thus, the level of flow velocity of the brachial artery in patients with angina pectoris was partly determined by age, hypertension, and severity of coronary artery disease. The simple measurement of brachial artery flow velocity suggests changes in peripheral vasculature related to atherosclerosis.

Increased expression of interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in pathologic biliary epithelial cells: in situ and culture study

We examined the pathologic significance of the expression of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), both proinflammatory cytokines, on intrahepatic biliary epithelial cells, using immunohistochemical and in situ hybridization techniques as well as culture study. IL-6 and TNF-alpha were expressed in the cytoplasm of biliary epithelial cells of damaged small bile ducts and bile ductules, particularly in primary biliary cirrhosis. Their expression on the bile ducts was mild to moderate in other hepatobiliary diseases and mild or absent in normal livers. Signals of IL-6 mRNA and TNF-alpha mRNA were detected in the cytoplasm of biliary epithelial cells, especially in primary biliary cirrhosis. Immunoelectron microscopic study supported this. TNF receptor and to a lesser degree IL-6 receptor alpha-chain were detected on these damaged bile ducts, suggesting an autocrine effect. By Western blotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, IL-6 and TNF-alpha were frequently detected in gallbladder bile from primary biliary cirrhosis, and their titers were higher compared with other hepatobiliary diseases. Culture of intrahepatic biliary epithelial cells revealed that they expressed IL-6 and secreted IL-6 in the culture media. These results suggest that the intrahepatic biliary epithelial cells are able to synthesize IL-6 and probably TNF-alpha and are involved in the production of bile duct lesions by means of receptor-mediated processes, particularly biliary epithelial proliferation and destruction and autoimmune augmentation, in primary biliary cirrhosis.

Coordinated expression of integrin alpha6beta1 and laminin in hepatocellular carcinoma

The interaction between tumor cells and laminin mediated by laminin-binding integrins is critical for tumor invasion and metastasis. The aim of this study was to clarify the altered expression of laminin-binding integrins with the change of laminin deposition in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in comparison with cirrhotic or normal liver by immunohistochemistry. In HCC, hepatoma cells and sinusoidal endothelial cells expressed integrins alpha1beta1, alpha2beta1, alpha3beta1, and alpha6beta1. Integrins alpha1beta1 and alpha6beta1 were detected in a continuous pattern along the sinusoids in accordance with laminin assembly. Integrins alpha2beta1 and alpha3beta1 were detected in a discontinuous pattern at these sites. Integrin alpha6beta4 was not detected. In cirrhotic liver, although integrins alpha1beta1 and alpha6beta1 as well as laminin were detected in a continuous pattern along the sinusoids, integrins alpha2beta1, alpha3beta1, and alpha6beta4 were not detected. In normal liver, although integrin alpha1beta1 was detected in a continuous pattern along the sinusoids, neither integrins alpha2beta1, alpha3beta1, alpha6beta1, alpha6beta4, nor laminin were detected. We have clarified that, of laminin-binding integrins, the localization of integrin alpha6beta1 shows the best correspondence with the localization of laminin. These results suggest that of laminin-binding integrins, integrin alpha6beta1 is very important for cell-laminin interactions in HCC.