Overexpression of HMGA2 in bladder cancer and its association with clinicopathologic features and prognosis HMGA2 as a prognostic marker of bladder cancer

PURPOSE

To examine HMGA2 expression and investigate its clinical and prognostic significance in human urothelial bladder cancer (BUC).

METHODS

We detected HMGA2 mRNA and protein expression by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction and western blotting, respectively in 44 frozen bladder cancer tissues and 18 adjacent normal bladder tissues. HMGA2 protein expression was assessed by immunohistochemical analysis of 148 paraffin-embedded specimens of human BUC and 30 specimens of adjacent normal bladder tissue. Correlations between HMGA2 and clinicopathologic features and prognosis were tested by statistical analyses.

RESULTS

HMGA2 mRNA and protein levels in bladder cancer samples were significantly increased compared with adjacent normal bladder tissues (P < 0.001). mRNA overexpression correlated with high stage and grade of the bladder cancer (P < 0.001 and P = 0.002 respectively). HMGA2 protein expression was negative in all normal urothelial tissue samples, but positive in 52% (77/148) of bladder cancers (P < 0.001). HMGA2 expression correlated with tumor grade and stage (P < 0.001 and P = 0.003 respectively), Overexpression of HMGA2 protein in non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer was significantly associated with shorter recurrence-free survival (P < 0.001), and progression-free survival (P = 0.0004). Multivariate analysis showed that HMGA2 expression was an independent prognostic factor for both tumor recurrence (P < 0.001) and tumor progression (P = 0.006).

CONCLUSIONS

HMGA2 is up-regulated in bladder cancer at both the transcriptional and translational levels compared with normal bladder tissue, HMGA2 protein is thus a potential prognostic marker for predicting tumor recurrence and progression.

Characterization of hemin-binding protein 35 (HBP35) in Porphyromonas gingivalis: its cellular distribution, thioredoxin activity and role in heme utilization

Background

The periodontal pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis is an obligate anaerobe that requires heme for growth. To understand its heme acquisition mechanism, we focused on a hemin-binding protein (HBP35 protein), possessing one thioredoxin-like motif and a conserved C-terminal domain, which are proposed to be involved in redox regulation and cell surface attachment, respectively.

Results

We observed that the hbp35 gene was transcribed as a 1.1-kb mRNA with subsequent translation resulting in three proteins with molecular masses of 40, 29 and 27 kDa in the cytoplasm, and one modified form of the 40-kDa protein on the cell surface. A recombinant 40-kDa HBP35 exhibited thioredoxin activity in vitro and mutation of the two putative active site cysteine residues abolished this activity. Both recombinant 40- and 27-kDa proteins had the ability to bind hemin, and growth of an hbp35 deletion mutant was substantially retarded under hemin-depleted conditions compared with growth of the wild type under the same conditions.

Conclusion

P. gingivalis HBP35 exhibits thioredoxin and hemin-binding activities and is essential for growth in hemin-depleted conditions suggesting that the protein plays a significant role in hemin acquisition.

First Report of Cucurbit yellow stunting disorder virus on Melon in China

Melon (Cucumis melo L.) plants in commercial fields in Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang exhibited stunting, deformation, interveinal chlorosis, and leaf mottling in the spring of 2008. In addition, adult and immature whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci biotype B) were present in these melon fields. Thirty-two symptomatic leaf samples were collected from these fields for further analysis (9 from Nanhui County in Shanghai, 11 from Fengxian County in Shanghai, 6 from Kunshan County of Jiangsu, and 6 from Jiashan County of Zhejiang). Total RNA was extracted from these samples along with asymptomatic control plants and screened for the presence of Cucurbit yellow stunting disorder virus (CYSDV) by using primers specific to genes encoding coat protein (2) and HSP70h (1) of CYSDV through reverse transcription (RT)-PCR methods. RNA was successfully extracted from 31 of 32 symptomatic samples. All 31 symptomatic leaf samples tested with coat protein primers were positive for CYSDV and yielded the expected fragment length of 394 bp. The RT-PCR products of the coat protein gene from all 31 isolates were cloned and found to be identical in sequence. Thus, only one was deposited in GenBank (No. GU189240). The submitted sequence of the amplified part of the coat protein gene was 99% identical to the sequence of coat protein gene of CYSDV from Jordan, France, and Florida (GenBank Accession Nos. DQ903107, AY204220, and EU596528, respectively) and 98% identical to that of an isolate from Spain (GenBank Accession No. AJ243000). Similarly, all 31 samples were also positive for CYSDV with the primers specific to HSP70h and yielded the expected fragment length of 175 bp. The RT-PCR products of the HSP70h gene from these isolates were also cloned and found to be identical in sequence. The sequence of the amplified portion of the HSP70h gene was found to be identical to the sequence of HSP70h of CYSDV deposited in GenBank (No. AJ439690.2). CYSDV was noticed in all three surveyed regions and the percentage of disease incidence was approximately 68% in all these regions. The occurrence of CYSDV has been previously reported in Europe (Spain and France), southern Asia (Iran and Jordan), North America (United States and Mexico), and other countries (1). To our knowledge, this is first report of CYSDV in China. References: (1) Y.-W. Kuo et al. Plant Dis. 91:330, 2007. (2) J. E. Polston et al. Plant Dis. 92:1251, 2008.

Magnetic order in the double pyrochlore Tb₂Ru₂O₇

Polycrystalline Tb(2)Ru(2)O(7) has been studied using dc susceptibility, specific heat and neutron scattering techniques. The high temperature paramagnetic state is dominated by the single ion character of Tb(3 + ) and very similar to that of the well-studied spin liquid Tb(2)Ti(2)O(7). However, both the Ru(4 + ) and Tb(3 + ) sublattices order, at about 110 K and 3.5 K, respectively. Although the Tb sublattice does not fully order until 3.5 K, it is polarized in the presence of the internal field generated by the Ru(4 + ) sublattice and possesses a significant moment at 7 K. Magnetic entropy measurements suggest that four levels exist in the first 30 K and inelastic neutron scattering investigations revealed two more levels at 10 and 14 meV. As the magnetic sublattices order, the excitations are perturbed from that measured in the paramagnetic state. These data are compared to data for other terbium based and double pyrochlores.

Mineralogy and heavy metal leachability of magnetic fractions separated from some Chinese coal fly ashes

Magnetic fractions (MFs) in fly ashes from eight coal-burning power plants were extracted by magnetic separation procedure. Their mineralogy and potential leachability of heavy metals were analyzed using rock magnetism, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy equipped with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDX) and leaching procedures (toxicity characteristics leaching procedure by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, TCLP, and gastric juice simulation test, GJST). Results show that the MFs in the fly ashes range between 2.2 and 16.3wt%, and are generally composed of magnetite, hematite, quartz and mullite. Thermomagnetic analysis and SEM/EDX indicate that the main magnetic carrier magnetite is substituted with small amounts of impure ions, and its structures are featured by rough, dendritic and granular iron spherules. The MFs are found to be rich in Fe, Mn, Cr, Cu, Cd and Pb. Compared with the non-magnetic fractions (NMFs), the MFs have about 5 times higher iron, and 1.6 times higher Mn, Cr, Cu and Cd concentrations. The TCLP test shows that the TCLP-extractable Cr, Cu, and Pb concentrations in the MFs are higher than those in the NMFs, while the TCLP-extractable Cd concentration in the MFs and NMFs is below the detection limit (<0.1mg/L). The GJST-extractable Cd, Cr, Cu, and Pb concentrations in the MFs are higher those in the NMFs. No significant difference in the leachability ratio of Cr, Cu and Pb with TCLP and GJST is found in the MFs and NMFs. However, the GJST test showed that Pb has higher leachability in MFs than that in NMFs. The leachability ratio of heavy metals has an order of Cu>Cr>Pb>Cd. The heavy metals of fly ashes have a great potential to be released into the environment under acid environment.

Spontaneous suprachoroidal hemorrhage associated with age-related macular degeneration and anticoagulation therapy

Suprachoroidal hemorrhage is a rare but dreadful event. We report the case of an 86-year-old man with age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) in both eyes. He had been receiving anticoagulation therapy for several years for systemic disease. He presented with severe headache and intractable pain in his right eye. Vision was no light perception, and the intraocular pressure was 50 mmHg in the right eye despite maximal antiglaucoma medications. Slit-lamp and B-scan examination disclosed suprachoroidal hemorrhage in the right eye. Nine days later, he underwent choroidal drainage, which only relieved the symptoms for 1 day. Suprachoroidal hemorrhage recurred and evisceration was performed. This case illustrates how ARMD with anticoagulation therapy could cause spontaneous suprachoroidal hemorrhage. Therefore, anticoagulants should be meticulously prescribed with prothrombin time monitored regularly in ARMD patients.

A new Kondo antiferromagnet Ce(Ni(0.25)In(1.75))

We find that Ce(Ni(0.25)In(1.75)) crystallizes in the hexagonal AlB(2)-type structure with lattice parameters a = 0.4850(5) nm and c = 0.3908(5) nm. Magnetic susceptibility, electrical resistivity and low-temperature specific heat data reveal that the bulk phase transition at 3.7 ± 0.2 K in Ce(Ni(0.25)In(1.75)) is to an antiferromagnetic state. The magnetic contribution to the resistivity ρ(mag) of Ce(Ni(0.25)In(1.75)) increases as ln(T) when temperature is lowered from room temperature and reaches a plateau at 9 K, followed by a rapid decrease around 4 K. These results associated with a reduction of the Ce magnetic moment and of the magnetic entropy at T(N) suggest that Ce(Ni(0.25)In(1.75)) could be a Kondo antiferromagnet. The Kondo temperature is estimated to be of order 6 K.

Paired box 6 (PAX6) regulates glucose metabolism via proinsulin processing mediated by prohormone convertase 1/3 (PC1/3)

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

Human patients with aniridia caused by heterozygous PAX6 mutations display abnormal glucose metabolism, but the underlying molecular mechanism is largely unknown. Disturbed islet architecture has been proposed as the reason why mice with complete inactivation of paired box 6 (PAX6) in the pancreas develop diabetes. This is not, however, the case in human aniridia patients with heterozygous PAX6 deficiency and no apparent defects in pancreatic development. We investigated the molecular mechanism underlying the development of abnormal glucose metabolism in these patients.

METHODS

A human aniridia pedigree with a PAX6 R240Stop mutation was examined for abnormal glucose metabolism using an OGTT. The underlying mechanism was further investigated using Pax6 R266Stop mutant small-eye mice, which also have abnormal glucose metabolism similar to that in PAX6 R240Stop mutation human aniridia patients.

RESULTS

Paired box 6 (PAX6) deficiency, both in aniridia patients with a heterozygous PAX6 R240Stop mutation and in mice with a heterozygous Pax6 R266Stop mutation, causes defective proinsulin processing and abnormal glucose metabolism. PAX6 can bind to the promoter and directly upregulate production of prohormone convertase (PC)1/3, an enzyme essential for conversion of proinsulin to insulin. Pax6 mutations lead to PC1/3 deficiency, resulting in defective proinsulin processing and abnormal glucose metabolism.

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

This study indicates a novel function for PAX6 in the regulation of proinsulin processing and glucose metabolism via modulation of PC1/3 production. It also provides an insight into the abnormal glucose metabolism caused by heterozygous PAX6 mutations in humans and mice.

A study for maternal thyroid hormone deficiency during the first half of pregnancy in China

BACKGROUND

Maternal thyroid hormone deficiency is the most common disorder of thyroid function during pregnancy and can influence the outcome for mother and foetus. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of thyroid hormone deficiency during the first half of pregnancy in iodine sufficient areas of China.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Four thousand eight hundred pregnant women from 10 hospitals during the first 20 weeks of gestation were enrolled in this study. All sera obtained from pregnant women were measured for thyrotropin, free thyroxine and thyroid peroxidase antibody. Screening for thyroid hormone deficiency was performed on pregnant women using gestational age-specific reference intervals or non-pregnant population reference intervals.

RESULTS

With gestational age-specific reference intervals as the criterion, the prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism at 4, 8, 12,16 and 20 weeks of gestation was 4.59%, 6.15%, 4.68%, 4.53% and 5.96%, respectively, and the prevalence of hypothyroxinaemia was 3.69%, 1.11%, 2.92%, 1.29% and 2.29%, respectively. Different prevalence was obtained when non-pregnant population reference intervals was used as the criterion. If non-pregnant population reference intervals were used, the percentage of potentially misclassified cases of subclinical hypothyroidism were 0.18%, 2.85%, 4.1%, 3.24%, and 3.21%, respectively, and 3.45%, 0.66%, 2.34%, 1.29%, and 1.83%, respectively, in potentially misclassified cases of hypothyroxinaemia.

CONCLUSIONS

The percentage of potentially misclassified cases of subclinical hypothyroidism and hypothyroxinaemia in pregnant women decreased by using the gestational age-specific reference intervals as a diagnostic criteria during the first half of pregnancy.

First Report of Rhizome Blight of Ginger Caused by Binucleate Rhizoctonia AG-R in China

In 2004, rhizome blight of ginger (Zingiber officinale (Willd.) Roscoe) (cv. Yunnanxiaojiang) occurred in the Kunming District of China. The surface of ginger rhizome after harvest was crimpled and covered with white hyphae. Initial symptoms on ginger were wilting on the stem and the color of the rhizome turned from white to light brown with no lesion formation. After 2 weeks, the surface of ginger rhizome was covered with white hyphae and a dry rot set in under humid conditions. The yield loss in ginger almost reached 50% because of the disease. An AG-R tester isolate paired with the unknown 37 isolates of Rhizoctonia spp. from the diseased ginger rhizomes caused a C2 reaction that confirmed their identity. Isolates of AG-R (GenBank Accession Nos. DQ885780 and DQ885781) had 100% sequence similarity with 5.8S rDNA-ITS with the AG-R tester isolate (GenBank Accession No. AF354082). To produce infected soil inoculum, 10 isolates were cultured on potato dextrose agar in a 9-cm petri dish for 3 to 4 days and then covered with approximately 20 g of autoclaved soil and kept at 25°C for 3 to 4 days. Seedlings of ginger (cv, Yunanxiaojiang) were planted in natural potting soil at a density of one plant per vinyl pot (8 cm in diameter, 9 cm high) and grown in the greenhouse for 7 days. Each seedling was inoculated with 7 g of infested soil by placing it around the rhizome. Control plants were inoculated with autoclaved soil. The experiments were carried out three times, each time with three replicates in a growth chamber kept at 25 and 16°C with a 16-h light and 8-h dark photoperiod. After 14 days, the disease severity was recorded based on a scale in which - = no symptoms; + = small lesions on seedlings, no blight; ++ = seedling blight; and +++ = plant dead. All of the 10 tested AG-R isolates caused ginger seedling blight. Rhizoctonia spp. was reisolated from these plants, confirming its pathogenicity. To our knowledge, this is the first report of rhizome blight of ginger caused by Rhizoctonia spp. and binucleate Rhizoctonia AG-R in China. References: (1) B. Sneh et al. Page 135 in: Identification of Rhizoctonia Species. The American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN, 1998.

First Report of Damping-Off of Swiss Chard Caused by Rhizoctonia solani AG-4 HG I and Binucleate Rhizoctonia AG-A in China

During July, 2003, damping-off of Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris subsp. cicla L.) was observed in a seedling (approximately 1 month after germination) field (approximately 2 ha) in Yuanmou County in the Cuxiong District of Yunnan, China. More than 80% of the seedlings showed symptoms of the disease. Symptoms on newly emerged plants consisted of wilting, a brown necrosis of the lower taproot, and eventual death of seedlings. Among the 15 isolates of Rhizoctonia spp. isolated from Swiss chard with damping-off symptoms, 12 isolates of Rhizoctonia solani with dark brown sclerotia on potato dextrose agar (PDA) anastomosed with tester isolates of each subgroup AG-4 HG I, AG-4 HG II, and AG-4 HG III, giving a C2 hyphal fusion (1) reaction at a high frequency. The other three binucleate Rhizoctonia spp. (BNR) isolates whose mycelia were white with floccose aerial hyphae on PDA anastomosed freely with two BNR AG-A tester isolates producing a C2 hyphal reaction. The 5.8S rDNA-ITS of a single isolate of R. solani and a single isolate of BNR was sequenced. The sequence of the AG-4 isolate (GenBank Accession No. EF679777) exhibited 99 to 100% homology with isolates of R. solani AG-4, subgroup 4HG I (GenBank Accession No. AY154307). The sequence from the AG-A isolate (GenBank Accession No. EF679778) exhibited 98% homology with BNR AG-A (GenBank Accession Nos. AB000040 and AF354092). Swiss chard (cv. Baijin) seedlings (approximately 5 cm high) were planted in potting soil at a density of one seedling per vinyl pot (8 cm diameter, 9 cm high). Two isolates each of R. solani and BNR were used in pathogenicity testing. Each seedling was inoculated in the root zone with approximately 7 g of artificially infested soil. Control plants were inoculated with autoclaved soil. The experiments were conducted three times, each time with three replicates, in a greenhouse with a photoperiod of 16 h of light and 8 of h dark at 30 and 16°C, respectively. After 7 days, disease severity was measured based on a scale in which 0 = no symptom; 1 = small lesions on seedlings, no blight; 2 = leaves blight, no stem blight; 3 = stem blight; and 4 = plant dead. The two AG-4 and two of AG-A isolates were pathogenic on the Swiss chard seedlings and caused damping-off symptoms with a disease index 1.7 to 4.0, and there were no significant differences (P = 0.05) among them. We reisolated and confirmed the presence of R. solani and BNR AG-A from diseased plants. AG-3 isolates were reported to cause the damping-off of Swiss chard in the United States (2). To our knowledge, this is the first report of damping-off of Swiss chard caused by Rhizoctonia solani AG-4 HG I and BNR AG-A. References: (1) D. E. Carling. Page 37 in: Grouping in Rhizoctonia solani by Hyphal Anastomosis Reaction. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordecht, the Netherlands, 1996. (2) S. T. Koike and K. V. Subbarao. Plant Dis. 83:695, 1999.

Dynamic evaluation of [18F]-FDG uptake in the rat brain by microPET imaging

This study aims to acquire the functional image of the rat brain, small animal positron emission tomography (microPET) with high resolution and sensitivity is adopted to assess the metabolic activity corresponding to the neuronal activity induced by the electrical stimulation of the rat tail using [18F] fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) as the radiotracer. The microPET imaging technology can provide anatomical and functional information on neuronal activity used to analyze responses in pathway sequence relationships between the thalamus and the cerebral cortex.

Short interfering RNA against the PDCD5 attenuates cell apoptosis and caspase-3 activity induced by Bax overexpression

The programmed cell death 5 (PDCD5) protein plays an important apoptosis-accelerating role in cells undergoing apoptosis. Decreased expression of PDCD5 has been detected in various human carcinomas. Here we describe that one potent short interfering RNA (siRNA) against the PDCD5 (siPDCD5) specifically inhibits the expression of PDCD5 at both the mRNA and protein level. Cells with decreased PDCD5 expression displayed reduced sensitivity to an apoptotic stimulus induced by Bax overexpression in HeLa, HEK293 and 293T cell lines. Furthermore, we also show that siPDCD5 inhibited both caspase-3 activity and procaspase-3 cleavage. Suppressed expression of PDCD5 attenuates the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria to cytosol induced by Bax overexpression. This phenomenon is accompanied by the reduced translocation of Bax from the cytosol to mitochondria. MTT assay shows that targeted suppression of PDCD5 expression markedly promoted cell proliferation in Hela and HEK293 cell lines. Our data suggests that PDCD5 may exert its effects through pathway of mitochondria by modulating Bax translocation, cytochrome c release and caspase 3 activation directly or indirectly, and that decreased PDCD5 expression may be one of the mechanisms by which tumor cells achieve resistance to apoptotic stimulus induced by anticancer drugs.

Kondo interactions and magnetic correlations in CePt2 nanocrystals

The evolution of the Kondo effect and antiferromagnetic (AF) correlations with size reduction in CePt2 nanoparticles (3.1-26 nm) is studied by analysis of the temperature-dependent specific heat and magnetic susceptibility. The AF correlations diminish with size reduction. The Kondo effect predominates at small particle size with trivalent, small Kondo temperature (TK) magnetic regions coexisting with strongly mixed-valent, large TK nonmagnetic regions. We discuss the role of structural disorder, background density of states and the electronic quantum size effect on the results.

Estimation of beat-to-beat systolic blood pressure using pulse arrive time and pulse width derived from the photoplethysmogram

Continuous arterial blood pressure monitoring is essential in monitoring patients during surgical operation or in intensive care units. In this study, we propose a new method to estimate beat-to-beat systolic blood pressure by combining the pulse arrive time and normalized pulse width measurement. The method was examined in nine patients who were in ICU. Results shows the new method has higher linearity (0.8218) and better precision (3.0775) than the methods using either pulse arrive time or pulse width only.

The RgpB C-terminal domain has a role in attachment of RgpB to the outer membrane and belongs to a novel C-terminal-domain family found in Porphyromonas gingivalis

Porphyromonas gingivalis produces outer membrane-attached proteins that include the virulence-associated proteinases RgpA and RgpB (Arg-gingipains) and Kgp (Lys-gingipain). We analyzed the P. gingivalis outer membrane proteome and identified numerous proteins with C-terminal domains similar in sequence to those of RgpB, RgpA, and Kgp, indicating that these domains may have a common function. Using RgpB as a model to investigate the role of the C-terminal domain, we expressed RgpB as a full-length zymogen (recombinant RgpB [rRgpB]), with a catalytic Cys244Ala mutation [rRgpB(C244A)], or with the C-terminal 72 amino acids deleted (rRgpB435) in an Arg-gingipain P. gingivalis mutant (YH522AB) and an Arg- and Lys-gingipain mutant (YH522KAB). rRgpB was catalytically active and located predominantly attached to the outer membrane of both background strains. rRgpB(C244A) was inactive and outer membrane attached, with a typical attachment profile for both background strains according to sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, but in YH522KAB, the prodomain was not removed. Thus, in vivo, RgpB export and membrane attachment are independent of the proteolytic activity of RgpA, RgpB, or Kgp. However, for maturation involving proteolytic processing of RgpB, the proteolytic activity of RgpB, RgpA, or Kgp is required. The C-terminally-truncated rRgpB435 was not attached to the outer membrane and was located as largely inactive, discrete 71-kDa and 48-kDa isoforms in the culture supernatant and the periplasm. These results suggest that the C-terminal domain is essential for outer membrane attachment and may be involved in a coordinated process of export and attachment to the cell surface.

Lattice disorder and size-induced kondo behavior in CeAl2 and CePt(2+x)

When the size of CeAl2 and CePt(2+x) particles is reduced to the nanometer scale, antiferromagnetism is suppressed and Kondo behavior predominates, with the Kondo temperature T(K) either decreasing (CeAl2) or increasing (CePt(2+x)) relative to the bulk. Local structure measurements show that these nanoparticles are significantly distorted. While such distortions should strongly affect magnetic and electronic properties, we find they cannot explain the observed changes in T(K). Other size-induced changes to the electronic structure must, therefore, play a significant role.

Protein tyrosine phosphatase interacting protein 51 (PTPIP51) is a novel mitochondria protein with an N-terminal mitochondrial targeting sequence and induces apoptosis

Apoptosis is a genetically determined cell suicide program. Mitochondria play a central role in this process and various molecules have been shown to regulate apoptosis in this organelle. In the present study, we firstly identified that protein tyrosine phosphatase interacting protein 51 (PTPIP51) is a novel mitochondrial protein, which may induce apoptosis in HEK293T and HeLa cell lines. PTPIP51 transfection resulted in the externalization of phosphatidylserine (PS), activation of caspase-3, cleavage of PARP, and condensation of nuclear DNA. Further investigation revealed that PTPIP51 over-expression caused a decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential and release of cytochrome c, suggesting that it may be involved in a mitochondria/cytochrome c mediated apoptosis pathway. We also found that a putative TM domain near the N terminus of PTPIP51 is required for its targeting to mitochondria, as evidenced by the finding that deletion of the PTPIP51 TM domain prevented the protein's mitochondiral localization. Furthermore, this deletion significantly influenced the ability of PTPIP51 to induce apoptosis. Taken together, the results of the present study suggest that PTPIP51 is a mitochondrial protein with apoptosis-inducing function and that the N-terminal TM domain is required for both the correct targeting of the protein to mitochondria and its apoptotic functions.

Effect of a periodized exercise training and active recovery program on antitumor activity and development of dendritic cells

AIM

Dendritic cells (DCs) are potent antigen-presenting cells that promote antitumor immunity in vivo when pulsed with tumor antigen. No studies have indicated that exercise training affects DC function. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a 5-week periodized exercise training and active recovery program on the development of DCs, and to test their effect on the antitumor immunity of mononuclear cells (MNC) from blood and spleen against human leukemic U937 and murine lymphoma Yac-1 cells, respectively.

METHODS

Male Fisher 344 rats were divided into 2 groups: exercise and non-exercise group. The training protocol consisted of running on a motor-driven treadmill 6 days a week for consecutive 5 weeks, during which the running time, treadmill speed, and incline gradient were increased weekly. Active recovery parameters were set at 30% of the intensity of the previous day.

RESULTS

DC numbers increased significantly (P<0.05) in the exercise group compared to controls, but there were no significant changes in the expression of surface antigens CD80 and CD86. In exercise group MNC-conditioned medium (CM) prepared with 50 microg/mL phytohemagglutinin (PHA) significantly inhibited proliferation of U937 cells, and splenocyte-CM with PHA at 20 and 40 microg/mL significantly inhibited proliferation of YAC-1 cells greater than control group.

CONCLUSIONS

The 5-week periodized exercise training with active recovery promotes the number of DCs and enhances the activity of DCs against tumor cells.

Association of bovine dentine phosphophoryn with collagen fragments

Bovine dentine phosphophoryn (BDP), a protein rich in aspartyl (Asp) and O-phosphoseryl (Ser(P)) residues, is synthesized by odontoblasts and believed to be involved in matrix-mediated biomineralization of dentine. Phosphophoryn was purified from bovine dentine using EDTA extraction, Ca(2+) precipitation, anion exchange and size exclusion chromatography. The purified protein migrated on SDS-PAGGE as a single band. The protein was dephosphorylated using a chelex alkaline dialysis procedure, repurified using anion exchange and size exclusion chromatography and then subjected to cleavage with trypsin. The digest was subjected to reversed-phase HPLC and analysed by Q-TOF mass spectrometry. The only non-trypsin peptides that could be identified were two collagen Type I alpha2 peptides whose sequence was determined by fragmentation analysis. The association of collagen fragments with highly purified phosphophoryn suggests that the EDTA extraction method yields BDP that is strongly bound to collagen fragments. This association now helps explain discrepancies in molecular weight and amino acid composition data for various phosphophoryn preparations compared with the same data calculated from the C-terminal extension of mouse, rat and human dentine sialophosphoprotein (DSPP) gene products. Analysis of the mutation pattern of the clinical disorder Osteogenesis Imperfecta within the region enclosed by the identified collagen fragments reveals that phosphophoryn associates with a segment of collagen that is crucial for structure and/or function.

An immune response directed to proteinase and adhesin functional epitopes protects against Porphyromonas gingivalis-induced periodontal bone loss

Porphyromonas gingivalis, a pathogen associated with periodontitis, bound to fibrinogen, fibronectin, hemoglobin, and collagen type V with a similar profile to that of its major virulence factor, the cell surface RgpA-Kgp proteinase-adhesin complex. Using peptide-specific, purified Abs in competitive inhibition ELISAs and epitope mapping assays, we have identified potential adhesin binding motifs (ABMs) of the RgpA-Kgp complex responsible for binding to host proteins. The RgpA-Kgp complex and synthetic ABM and proteinase active site peptides conjugated to diphtheria toxoid, when used as vaccines, protected against P. gingivalis-induced periodontal bone loss in the murine periodontitis model. The most efficacious peptide and protein vaccines were found to induce a high-titer IgG1 Ab response. Furthermore, mice protected in the lesion and periodontitis models had a predominant P. gingivalis-specific IL-4 response, whereas mice with disease had a predominant IFN-gamma response. The peptide-specific Abs directed to the ABM2 sequence (EGLATATTFEEDGVA) protected against periodontal bone loss and inhibited binding of the RgpA-Kgp complex to fibrinogen, fibronectin, and collagen type V. Furthermore, the peptide-specific Abs directed to the ABM3 sequence (GTPNPNPNPNPNPNPGT) protected against periodontal bone loss and inhibited binding to hemoglobin. However, the most protective Abs were those directed to the active sites of the RgpA and Kgp proteinases. The results suggest that when the RgpA-Kgp complex, or functional binding motif or active site peptides are used as a vaccine, they induce a Th2 response that blocks function of the RgpA-Kgp complex and protects against periodontal bone loss.

Posterior cranial fossa crowdedness is related to age and sex: an magnetic resonance volumetric study

PURPOSE

To measure 3-dimensional (3D) posterior cranial fossa (PCF) crowdedness and to evaluate the effect of age, sex, and body height on PCF.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Fifty-two healthy volunteers (24 M and 28 F; mean age 55.4 +/- 17.2 years; range 24-82 years) were recruited. Using a semi-automated magnetic resonance technique, we calculated a PCF crowdedness index (CI) as the ratio of hindbrain (HB) volume to PCF volume x 100% and correlated this index with age, sex, body height, and other crowdedness parameters.

RESULTS

The mean PCF CI was 93.7 +/- 2.7%. Women had a more crowded PCF than men (95.0+1.7% versus 92.1 +/- 2.7%; P<0.001). PCF CI declined with age for both men (r = -0.61; P=0.002) and women (r = -0.68; P<0.001). The association with age--but not HB volume was maintained after we controlled for sex and body height. On multiple regression, both age and sex accounted for 57.5% of the PCF CI variance.

CONCLUSION

Our study shows that PCF CI is associated with age and sex, and can therefore be used as a surrogate to assess hindbrain atrophy in a cross-sectional sample. Moreover, sex- and age-specific normal ranges may be needed to evaluate the PCF CI in clinical practice.