The brain-derived neurotrophic factor is associated with alcohol dependence-related depression and antidepressant response

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays an essential role in neuronal survival, proliferation, and synaptic remodeling and modulates the function of many other neurotransmitters. Additionally, it likely underlies neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders, including alcohol dependence-related depression (AD-D). Here, we investigated the possible association between three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the BDNF gene (rs13306221, rs6265, rs16917204) and AD-D. Of 548 patients with alcohol dependence (AD), 166 had AD-D and 312 healthy controls. Response to 8-week sertraline treatment was also assessed. The frequency of the A allele of rs6265 (Val66Met) was significantly higher in AD-D patients than in the healthy controls (p=0.009 after Bonferroni correction). The analysis revealed a strong association between the rs6265 genotype distribution and AD-D (p=0.005 after Bonferroni correction), and the A allele of rs6265 was significantly overrepresented in AD-D patients compared to AD without depression (AD-nD) patients (p=0.001 after Bonferroni correction). Additionally, carriers of the A allele of rs6265 responded better to sertraline treatment (p=0.001). Our results suggested a novel association between BDNF rs6265 and AD-D. These findings might lead to earlier detection of AD-D, perhaps providing better tools for clinical care of these patients in the future.

Therapeutic effectiveness of intratumorally delivered dendritic cells engineered to express the pro-inflammatory cytokine, interleukin (IL)-32

Interleukin-32 (IL-32) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine conditionally produced by T cells, natural killer (NK) cells, monocytes, epithelial cells and keratinocytes, which has an important role in host resistance against infectious disease. Interestingly, elevated levels of IL-32 transcripts in fine needle aspirates of tumor tissue have also been correlated with objective clinical responses in cancer patients receiving immunotherapy. To evaluate the antitumor impact of IL-32 gene therapy, we treated BALB/c mice bearing established subcutaneous CMS4 sarcomas with intratumoral (i.t.) injections of syngenic dendritic cells (DCs) engineered to express human IL-32β complementary DNA (that is, DC.IL32). Although ectopic expression of IL-32β by DC resulted in only modest phenotypic changes in these antigen-presenting cells, DC.IL32 produced higher levels of IL-12p70 than control DC. DC.IL32 were more potent activators of type-1 T-cell responses in vitro and in vivo, with i.t. administration of DC.IL32 leading to the CD8(+) T-cell-dependent (but CD4(+) T-cell- and NK cell-independent) suppression of tumor growth. Effective DC.IL32-based therapy promoted infiltration of tumors by type-1 (that is, CXCR3(+)VLA-4(+)GrB(+)) CD8(+) T cells and CD11b(+)CD11c(+) host myeloid DC, but led to reductions in the prevalence of CD11b(+)Gr1(+) myeloid-derived suppressor cells and CD31(+) blood vessels.

sFRP-1: A functional prognostic marker for gastric cancer?

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Background: Despite being a leading cause of cancer-related death world wide, gastric adenocarcinoma (GA) lacks distinctive biomarkers and targeted therapies. Underexpression of the E-cadherin gene in GA is associated with an aggressive phenotype and a poor prognosis but the mechanisms of this difference are poorly understood. Developing effective therapies for GA requires identification of critical functional markers and deeper understanding of its pathophysiology.

Methods: Unsupervised hierarchical clustering analysis of a publicly available 230-sample GA microarray dataset identified a prominent cluster (21.7%) associated with underexpression of E-cadherin and overexpression of a Wnt-family protein: secreted frizzled-related protein 1 (sFRP-1). Archival GA specimens were then assessed for the expression of sFRP-1 by immunohistochemistry. Prognostic significance was assessed using univariate and multivariate analyses. GA cell lines transfected with sFRP-1 were used to determine the role of sFRP-1 in gastric cancer.

Results: 85 patients with GA underwent surgery with curative intent; 39 stained positive for sFRP-1 (46%). In this positive group, sFRP-1 staining was focal; was commonly found on the leading edge of the infiltrating tumor mass; and was not restricted to one histopathologic group, grade, or clinical stage. On univariate analysis T stage, nodal involvement, pathologic stage, nuclear grade, E-cadherin status and sFRP-1 status were predictive of overall survival. In a multivariate model, T stage (p < 0.001), nuclear grade (p < 0.001), E-cadherin status (p = 0.031) and sFRP-1 status (p = 0.0097) were predictive of overall survival. Overexpression of sFRP-1 in GA cell lines induced mesenchymal phenotype, enhanced growth and stem cell-like properties. sFRP-1 also attenuated Wnt signaling and E-cadherin expression, but potentiated Notch and Hedgehog signaling known to be involved in GA progression. These findings suggest a Wnt-independent mechanism mediated by sFRP-1.

Conclusions: The aggressive biological subtype of gastric cancer may be linked to overexpression of sFRP-1. Our findings identify sFRP-1 as a functional prognostic biomarker for gastric cancer, which may serve as a potential therapeutic target.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Carbon monoxide releasing molecule-3 inhibits concurrent tumor necrosis factor-α- and interleukin-1β-induced expression of adhesion molecules on human gingival fibroblasts

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Carbon monoxide releasing molecule-3 (CORM-3) is a newly reported compound that has shown anti-inflammatory effects in a number of cells. In this study, we aimed to investigate the influence of CORM-3 on concurrent tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)- and interleukin (IL)-1β-induced expression of adhesion molecules on human gingival fibroblasts (HGF).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

HGF were cultured from the explants of normal gingival tissues. Cells were costimulated with TNF-α and IL-1β in the presence or absence of CORM-3 for different periods of time. The expression of adhesion molecules, nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) and phosphorylated p38 was studied using western blotting. RT-PCR was applied to check the expression of the adhesion molecules at the mRNA level. The activity of NF-κB was analysed using a reporter gene assay.

RESULTS

CORM-3 inhibited the up-regulation of intercellular adhesion molecule 1, vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 and endothelial leukocyte adhesion molecule in HGF after costimulation with TNF-α and IL-1β, which resulted in the decreased adhesion of peripheral blood mononuclear cells to these cells. Sustained activation of the NF-κB pathway by costimulation with TNF-α and IL-1β was suppressed by CORM-3, which was reflected by a reduced NF-κB response element-dependent luciferase activity and decreased nuclear NF-κB-p65 expression. CORM-3 inhibited MAPK p38 phosphorylation in response to stimulation with proinflammatory cytokines.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study bode well for the application of CORM-3 as an anti-inflammatory agent to inhibit NF-κB activity and to suppress the expression of adhesion molecules on HGF, which suggests a promising potential for CORM-3 in the treatment of inflammatory periodontal disease.

Microcalorimetric assay on the antimicrobial property of five hydroxyanthraquinone derivatives in rhubarb (Rheum palmatum L.) to Bifidobacterium adolescentis

It was found that the intestinal bacteria balance would be deteriorated by rhubarb especially in long term treatment. Bifidobacteria is one of the most common species of probiotics in human intestine. The suppression of this particular probiotic, such as Bifidobacterium adolescentis, one of the dominant anaerobes in the intestines of humans, might lead to imbalance of intestinal flora and is considered to be potentially riskful for human health. Hence, the inhibitory effects of the five main components of hydroxyanthraquinones (HAQs) contained in rhubarb on B. adolescentis growth were investigated by microcalorimetry to discover the suppression potential of rhubarb and the structure-function relationship of such HAQs. The value of the maximum power- output (P(max)) and slope (k) of the thermogenic growth curves of B. adolescentis were found of decrease in the presence of the five HAQs, while the peak time (T(p)) of the thermogenic curves were found to be delayed. The sequence of antimicrobial activity of the five HAQs is rhein>emodin>aloe-emodin>chrysophanol>physicion. The functional groups carboxyl, hydroxyl and hydroxylmethyl on phenyl ring in HAQs could improve the antimicrobial activity. The influence of substituent groups on anti- B. adolescentis activity might be related with the polarity and the sequence was carboxyl>hydroxyl>hydroxylmethyl>methyl and methoxyl.

Novel SNPs of butyrophilin (BTN1A1) and milk fat globule epidermal growth factor (EGF) 8 (MFG-E8) are associated with milk traits in dairy goat

Butyrophilin (BTN1A1) and milk fat globule epidermal growth factor (EGF) 8 (MFG-E8) genes are both milk fat globule membrane proteins. BTN1A1 plays a key role in the secretion of milk lipid and production which has effects on performance traits, while the MFG-E8 is vital for the development of the mammary gland and phagocytic clearance of apoptotic cells. Therefore, BTN1A1 and MFG-E8 gene are candidate genes for quantitative traits in mammalian animals with respect to milk performance traits. The objective of this study is to investigate variations in goat BTN1A1 and MFG-E8 gene and analyze their associations with growth trait and milk performance. In this study, the goat BTN1A1 gene showed a novel single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP): XM_001494179:g.8659C>T, resulting in a missense mutation: CTT (Leu)>TTT (Phe) at position 377 aa of the BTN1A1 (526 aa); the goat MFG-E8 gene showed four novel SNPs: NC_007319: g.843delA, 6417delC, 14892T>C and 14996A>C, only the 14892T>C result in a synonymous mutation. The associations between genotypes and production traits were analyzed. Significant statistical results implied that HinfI locus of BTN1A1 gene is associated with milk fat yield (P=0.004), total solid (P=0.002), solid-non fat (P=0.018) and first milk yield (P=0.030). The DA and EcoRV loci of MFG-E8 gene are associated with milk fat yield (DA locus: P=0.000; EcoRV locus: P=0.033) and total solid (DA locus: P=0.002; EcoRV locus: P=0.015) in the Xinong Saanen dairy goat.

Two novel cSNPs of weaver gene in Chinese indigenous goat and their associations with milk yield

Weaver gene plays an essential physiological role in the function of many organs, including brain, heart, kidney and endocrine cells, and also in the regulation of insulin secretion by glucose and/or neurotransmitters. Thus, weaver gene is an important potential candidate gene effecting on performance traits. The objective of this study was to detect the genetic variation of five loci within weaver gene by PCR-SSCP, DNA sequencing and forced PCR-RFLP methods in 1,019 Chinese indigenous goats. Two novel coding SNPs (XM_598993:m.864G>A; XM_598993:m.1224T>A) locating on P3 and P4 loci were identified and detected by MluI and AsuII forced PCR-RFLP, respectively. In the MluI analysis, the frequencies of goat MluI-A allele in the analyzed populations were 0.226, 0.248, 0.096 and 0.088 for XNSN, GZ, SBWC and XJWC, respectively. Genotypic frequencies were found to be significantly different in four breeds (chi2 = 75.842, df = 6, P < 0.001); In the AsuII analysis, the frequencies of goat AsuII-A allele in the analyzed populations were 0.584, 0.441, 0.073 and 0.063 for XNSN, GZ, SBWC and XJWC, respectively. Genotypic frequencies were found to be significantly different among four breeds (chi2 = 399.464, df = 6, P < 0.001). The frequencies of allele MluI-A and AsuII-A in XNSN and GZ populations were significantly higher than those of SBWC and XJWC goats. Association analysis with adjusted milk yield in the XNSN breed indicated that the animals with AsuII-AA genotype owned significantly higher adjusted milk yield than the ones with AsuII-TT genotype in the second lactation (P < 0.05). The observation suggested that the allele "AsuII-A" had the positive effects on adjusted milk yield in the second lactation.

Depression, anxiety and quality of life in parents of children with epilepsy

OBJECTIVES

To assess the impact of childhood epilepsy on parental quality of life (QOL) and psychological health, and to investigate possible correlations between parental QOL and background variables as well as parental anxiety and depression.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Parents having an epileptic child (n = 263) and parents having a healthy child (n = 270) were enrolled. Groups were in balance for background variables. Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) Questionnaire, Zung Depression Scale (ZDS) and Zung Anxiety Scale (ZAS) were applied to all parents. Patients were divided into the first visit group (newly diagnosed epilepsy) and follow-up visit group.

RESULTS

The parents of children with epilepsy had significantly lower QOL scores in SF-36 for all subscales and higher levels of depression and anxiety by using ZDS and ZAS. The factors correlated with parental QOL were seizure control, visit status, anxiety, depression, employment, cost of epilepsy, status epilepticus, drug side effect and age of parents.

CONCLUSIONS

Childhood epilepsy has a severe impact on parental QOL and psychological health, and recognition of possible correlations between parental QOL and background variables will be helpful to improve parental QOL.

Role of FOXC1 in regulation of basal-like/triple-negative breast cancer

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Background: Class identification studies have proposed 3 prognostically relevant molecular subtypes of breast cancer: luminal, HER2 and basal-like. The latter is associated with poor prognosis but its molecular basis is not clear. We hypothesized a direct correlation between FOXC1 expression and basal-like breast cancer. Methods: Expression of FOXC1, CK5, CK14, EGFR, c-Kit, αB-crystallin, ITGB4 and FOXC2 in basal-like breast cancer was examined using publicly available microarray datasets. A molecular signature of 40 genes sharing co-ordinate up or down regulation with FOXC1 was identified on one microarray (49 patients) and validated on 5 other microarrays (1,232 patients). The clinical significance of FOXC1 gene expression and the FOXC1 gene signature was evaluated using censored survival data. FOXC1 protein expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) of a 96-sample breast cancer tissue microarray. Normal breast epithelial, luminal and basal breast cancer cells transfected with FOXC1 vectors were evaluated for cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Results: FOXC1 was found to be consistently and exclusively upregulated in basal-like triple negative breast cancer and was associated with poor overall survival (p<0.0001). The FOXC1 gene signature accurately predicted the basal-like phenotype. IHC analysis of FOXC1 protein expression in human breast cancers confirmed its potential to be used as a clinical biomarker of basal-like breast cancer. Normal breast epithelial cells and luminal breast cancer cells with low or no FOXC1 expression underwent epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and displayed increased cellular proliferation, migration, invasion, and expression of basal cell markers when FOXC1 was overexpressed. In contrast, knockdown of FOXC1 by shRNA in basal-like breast cancer cells conferred luminal phenotype. Breast cancer progression-linked signaling pathways like NF-κB and p38MAPK were significantly stimulated in basal-like breast cancer as well as by in vitro FOXC1 overexpression. Conclusions: FOXC1 is a dominant determinant of the basal-like phenotype of breast cancer. We propose FOXC1 to be the single best molecular marker of and a potential therapeutic target for basal-like / triple negative breast cancer.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Effects of DNAzymes targeting Aurora kinase A on the growth of human prostate cancer

Aurora kinase A has been demonstrated to be involved in the malignant progression of many types of cancer including prostate cancer, we therefore hypothesized that Aurora kinase A might work as a valuable target for prostate cancer treatment. To test this hypothesis, we used DNAzyme technology to inhibit Aurora kinase A expression and evaluated the effects of DNAzymes as therapeutic agents to treat prostate cancer. In an in vitro cleavage assay, we found that a DNAzyme (DZ2) targeting Aurora kinase A could effectively cleave Aurora kinase A mRNA. When transfected into the prostate cancer cell line PC3, DZ2 was found to strongly inhibit the expression of Aurora kinase A examined by western blot analysis, and thus suppressed cell growth, arrested the progression of cell cycle, induced cell apoptosis and attenuated cell migration, as measured by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium assay, flow cytometry and Boyden chamber assay. Through in vivo study, we also found that DZ2 could significantly inhibit the growth of human prostate cancer xenografts in nude mice. In conclusion, DZ2 could effectively attenuate malignant progression of prostate cancer both in vitro and in vivo, suggesting that DNAzyme targeting Aurora kinase A may be used as a valuable therapy to treat prostate cancer.

Protein kinase C activation inhibits alpha1D L-type Ca channel: a single-channel analysis

The recently reported alpha1D Ca channel in the heart is known to be regulated by protein kinase C (PKC) at the whole cell level and has been implicated in atrial fibrillation. The biophysical basis of this regulation at the single-channel level is not known. Therefore, the effect of PKC activation was studied on alpha1D Ca channel expressed in tsA201 cells using cell-attached configuration. Unitary currents were recorded in the presence of 70 mM Ba2+ as the charge carrier at room temperature. Under basal condition, channel activity was rare and infrequent; however, Bay K 8644 (1 microM) induced channel openings with a conductance of 22.3 pS. Single channel analysis of open and closed time distributions were best fitted with a single exponential. PKC activation by 4alpha-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA; 10 nM), a phorbol ester derivative, resulted in a decrease in open probability and increase in closed-time without any significant effect on the conductance of the alpha1D Ca channel. This is consistent with a decreased entry of alpha1D Ca channel into open states in the presence of PMA. PMA effects could not be reproduced by 4-alpha Phorbol, an inactive PMA analogue. These data show, for the first time, (1) the alpha1D Ca channel activity at the single-channel level and (2) the biophysical basis by which PKC activation inhibits the alpha1D Ca channel. The shortening of the open-time and the lengthening of the closed-time constants and the increase in blank sweeps may explain the inhibition of the previously reported whole-cell alpha1D Ca current. Altogether, these data are essential for understanding the complex role of alpha1D Ca channel not only in physiological settings but also in pathological settings such as atrial fibrillation.

Isolation and characterization of a Lactobacillus fermentum temperate bacteriophage from Chinese yogurt

AIMS

The aim of this study was to investigate the properties of temperate bacteriophage of Lactobacillus fermentum, based on its morphology, restriction patterns, protein profile and the impact on the growth of host strain.

METHODS AND RESULTS

With Mitomycin C, seven temperate phages were induced from Lactobacilli derived from Chinese yogurt. The temperate phages induced belong to the most common Bradley's group B, having hexagonal head and long, noncontractile tail. They were furthermore confirmed to be the same bacteriophage by identical restriction patterns. SDS-PAGE profile showed that the phage studied had one major structure protein about 31.9 kDa. The presence of the prophage influenced the cell shape and colony size of its lysogenic strain.

CONCLUSIONS

The phage obtained had similar, but not complete identical properties with other L. fermentum phages reported. It influenced the growth behaviour of its lysogenic strain.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

This study provides some information about bacteriophages occurring in the Chinese yoghurt manufacture and contributes to our knowledge on the bacteriophage diversity in the dairy industry.

Structure determination of a new protein from backbone-centered NMR data and NMR-assisted structure prediction

Targeting of proteins for structure determination in structural genomic programs often includes the use of threading and fold recognition methods to exclude proteins belonging to well-populated fold families, but such methods can still fail to recognize preexisting folds. The authors illustrate here a method in which limited amounts of structural data are used to improve an initial homology search and the data are subsequently used to produce a structure by data-constrained refinement of an identified structural template. The data used are primarily NMR-based residual dipolar couplings, but they also include additional chemical shift and backbone-nuclear Overhauser effect data. Using this methodology, a backbone structure was efficiently produced for a 10 kDa protein (PF1455) from Pyrococcus furiosus. Its relationship to existing structures and its probable function are discussed.

Coagulase-negative staphylococci in very-low-birth-weight infants: inability of genetic markers to distinguish invasive strains from blood culture contaminants

Selected coagulase-negative staphylococci from the blood of very-low-birth-weight infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne, collected over a 5-year period were examined. Isolates were classified as invasive or contaminants, speciated, typed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, and examined for biofilm genes (icaA, icaC, and icaD), adhesion genes (atlE, fbe), and the number of copies of IS256. Of the 24 isolates studied, there were 13 contaminants and 11 invasive isolates. The collection included 15 Staphylococcus epidermidis, eight Staphylococcus capitis, and one each of Staphylococcus warneri and Staphylococcus haemolyticus. Two small clusters of S. epidermidis that belonged to the same molecular type were identified. All S. capitis isolates belonged to the same molecular type or subtype, suggesting that a particular clone was circulating in the unit. There was no significant difference in the species found, the presence of icaA, icaC, icaD, atlE, or fbe, or the number of copies of IS256 between invasive isolates and contaminants. A series of nasal isolates from nonhospitalized adults differed from hospital isolates in the absence of IS256 and the low prevalence of icaC. There was no evidence of IS256-mediated insertion into ica genes as a mechanism of phase variation. These findings suggest that contaminants and invasive isolates derived from the same pool of hospital strains capable of causing sepsis in compromised hosts and that other mechanisms of phase variation exist, apart from IS256 insertion into ica genes.

Preparation of bioactive nanotitania ceramics with biomechanical compatibility

In this article, bioactive nanotitania ceramics with biomechanical compatibility was prepared by using an additive of hydroxyapatite or MgO as particle growth inhibitor. After sintering at 1000 degrees C, the particle size of nanotitania ceramics prepared by using HA as additive (HT) was much smaller than that prepared by using MgO as additive (MT). In simulated body fluid (SBF), HT could induce apatite formation in 4 days, while no apatite could be found on MT even after it was soaked in SBF for 14 days. After Ros17/28 osteoblasts were cultured on the materials for 1, 4, and 6 days, MTT results showed that the osteoblasts on the HT differentiated faster than that on the MT. Mechanical tests results showed that the bending and compressive strength of HT were 160 and 200 MPa, while those of MT were 70 and 88 MPa, respectively. These results demonstrated that it is suitable to prepare bioactive nanotitania ceramics, with biomechanical compatibility, by using HA as particle growth inhibitor.