Plasmatic membrane toll-like receptor expressions in human astrocytomas

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are the first to identify disturbances in the immune system, recognizing pathogens such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Since the inflammation process plays an important role in several diseases, TLRs have been considered potential therapeutic targets, including treatment for cancer. However, TLRs’ role in cancer remains ambiguous. This study aims to analyze the expression levels of plasmatic cell membrane TLRs (TLR1, TLR2, TLR4, TLR5, and TLR6) in human astrocytomas the most prevalent tumors of CNS different grades (II-IV). We demonstrated that TLR expressions were higher in astrocytoma samples compared to non-neoplastic brain tissue. The gene and protein expressions were observed in GBM cell lines U87MG and A172, proving their presence in the tumor cells. Associated expressions between the known heterodimers TLR1-TLR2 were found in all astrocytoma grades. In GBMs, the mesenchymal subtype showed higher levels of TLR expressions in relation to classical and proneural subtypes. A strong association of TLRs with the activation of cell cycle process and signaling through canonical, inflammasome and ripoptosome pathways was observed by in silico analysis, further highlighting TLRs as interesting targets for cancer treatment.

Abstract 1458: Toll-like receptors 1, 2, 4 and 6 expression levels in diffusely infiltrative astrocytomas

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are the first receptors of the immune system that identify disturbances in homeostasis, capable of recognizing molecules associated to cell and tissue damage. TLRs signaling pathway activates inflammatory transcription factors, mainly Nuclear Factor-kappa B (NF-kB) and Interferon Regulatory Factors (IRF3/7). Due to their importance in inflammatory process, TLRs are research hot targets for therapy in several diseases, including cancer. This study aims to analyze TLRs (1, 2, 4 and 6) expressions in human diffusely infiltrative astrocytomas, WHO grades II to IV of malignancy (AGII-AGIV), and correlate their expressions among them and with the clinical outcome of AGIV (glioblastoma, GBM) patients. TLRs mRNA levels were evaluated by qRT-PCR in 143 astrocytoma samples and 22 non-neoplastic (NN) brain specimens from epilepsy surgery. Upregulated mRNA levels of all studied TLRs were observed in astrocytomas compared to NN cases (p<0.05), except for TLR2 in AGII. TLR1 and TLR2 median expression values increased according to astrocytoma malignancy. TLRs mRNA expressions presented positive correlation with significance (p<0.05) in all grades of astrocytoma, except for TLR2 and TLR4 in AGIII. Strong associations (r<0.7) were detected with TLR1-TLR2 mRNA expressions among AGII, AGIII and AGIV, TLR1-TLR4 in AGIII, and TLR6-TLR1 in AGII. In GBM patients, TLR2 upregulation was associated to better outcome with longer overall survival (p<0.007). The same was verified for concomitant upregulation of TLR1, 2 and 4 (p<0.05). Aiming to analyze the distribution of these receptors in different cells present in the tumor, we performed immunofluorescence staining of GBM cell lines (A172 and U87MG). All TLRs were detected in both cell lines, indicating that their expression were not limited to immune cells. The current literature has described controversial roles for the TLRs in cancer, either activating an anti-inflammatory condition leading to tumor progression or a pro-inflammatory state leading to tumor abrogation. TLRs distribution among different cells in the tumor environment might be relevant for the inflammatory process. Our findings of TLRs on tumor cells may suggest a tendency towards an anti-inflammatory state. The comprehension of TLRs role in each cell type, that compose the tumor, may help to determine the signaling pathways involved in diffusely infiltrative astrocytoma progression, and potential new therapeutic strategies.

Citation Format: Isabele F. Moretti, Daiane Gil Franco, Roseli Silva, Thais F. Galatro, Sueli M. Oba-Shinjo, Suely K.N. Marie. Toll-like receptors 1, 2, 4 and 6 expression levels in diffusely infiltrative astrocytomas. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 1458.

A new LaCo0.71(1)V0.29(1)O2.97(3) perovskite containing vanadium in octahedral sites: synthesis and structural and magnetic characterization

In the course of an investigation to prepare the hypothetic new double perovskite La(3)Co(2)VO(9) with Co(2+) and V(5+) in octahedral sites, we obtained the new simple perovskite LaCo(0.71(1))V(0.29(1))O(2.97(3)) as the main phase. The pure compound was then synthesized by the citrate decomposition method. The crystal structure was studied by X-ray (PXRD) and powder neutron diffraction (PND). Physical properties were characterized by X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), X-ray emission spectroscopy (XES) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Rietveld refinements were performed in the orthorhombic space group Pnma (#62). Refined cell parameters were a = 5.4762(2) Å, b = 7.7609(2) Å and c = 5.5122(1) Å. Magnetization measurements showed that this perovskite is an antiferromagnet with a Neel temperature of 15 K. At high T the magnetization follows the Curie-Weiss law corrected by temperature independent paramagnetism (TIP) showing an effective magnetic moment of 3.03μ(B) well described by the contribution of Co(2+) (HS), Co(3+) (IS), V(3+) and V(4+) ions. The crystallographic formula was refined by PND and oxidation state distribution was determined by the combination of PND, XAS, TGA and magnetic measurements.

The cellular state determines the effect of melatonin on the survival of mixed cerebellar cell culture

The constitutive activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), a key transcription factor involved in neuroinflammation, is essential for the survival of neurons in situ and of cerebellar granule cells in culture. Melatonin is known to inhibit the activation of NF-κB and has a cytoprotective function. In this study, we evaluated whether the cytoprotective effect of melatonin depends on the state of activation of a mixed cerebellar culture that is composed predominantly of granule cells; we tested the effect of melatonin on cultured rat cerebellar cells stimulated or not with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The addition of melatonin (0.1 nM–1 µM) reduced the survival of naïve cells while inhibiting LPS-induced cell death. Melatonin (100 nM) transiently (15 min) inhibited the nuclear translocation of both NF-κB dimers (p50/p50, p50/RelA) and, after 60 min, increased the activation of p50/RelA. Melatonin-induced p50/RelA activity in naïve cells resulted in the transcription of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and the production of NO. Otherwise, in cultures treated with LPS, melatonin blocked the LPS-induced activation of p50/RelA and the reduction in p50/p50 levels and inhibited iNOS expression and NO synthesis. Therefore, melatonin in vehicle-treated cells induces cell death, while it protects against LPS-induced cytotoxicity. In summary, we confirmed that melatonin is a neuroprotective drug when cerebellar cells are challenged; however, melatonin can also lead to cell death when the normal balance of the NF-κB pathway is disturbed. Our data provide a mechanistic basis for understanding the influence of cell context on the final output response of melatonin.

6‐Sulfatoxymelatonin as a predictor of clinical outcome in depressive patients

OBJECTIVES

This study established the value of the 6‐sulfatoxymelatonin (aMT6s) urine concentration as a predictor of the therapeutic response to noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors in depressive patients.

METHODS

Twenty-two women aged 18-60 years were selected. Depressive symptoms were assessed by using the Hamilton Depression Scale. Urine samples were collected at 0600-1200 h, 1200-1800 h, 1800-2400 h, and 2400-0600 h intervals, 1 day before and 1 day after starting on the nortriptyline treatment. Urine aMT6s concentration was analyzed by a one-way analysis of variance/Bonferroni test. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was used to analyze the correlation between depressive symptoms after 2 weeks of antidepressant treatment and the increase in aMT6s urine concentration.

RESULTS

Higher and lower size effect groups were compared by independent Student's t-tests. At baseline, the 2400‐ to 0600‐h interval differed from all other intervals presenting a significantly higher aMT6s urine concentration. A significant difference in aMT6s urine concentrations was found 1 day after treatment in all four intervals. Higher size effect group had lower levels of depressive symptoms 2 weeks after the treatment. A positive correlation between depressive symptoms and the delta of aMT6s in the 2400-0600 h interval was observed.

CONCLUSION

Our results reinforce the hypothesis that aMT6s excretion is a predictor of clinical outcome in depression, especially in regard to noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors.

Acute increase in urinary 6-sulfatoximelatonin after clomipramine, as a predictive measure for emotional improvement

Nocturnal melatonin pineal output is triggered by sympathetic outflow. Antidepressants that block norepinephrine neuronal uptake should increase pineal function. This can be monitored by measuring 6-sulfatoximelatonin (aMT6s), the main melatonin metabolite, in the urine. In this study, we compared the excretion of aMT6s before (baseline), one, and 21 days after administration of clomipramine to healthy subjects (n = 32). At the end of treatment, subjects were divided into responders (n = 12) and non-responders (n = 20) according to the improvement in their emotional state in three out of four domains (interpersonal tolerance, efficiency, well-being and feeling different from the usual self). There was no difference in aMT6s before clomipramine between responders and non-responders in any of the time intervals analysed (06:00-12:00, 12:00-18:00, 18:00-24:00 and 24:00-06:00 hours). At day one, but not at day 21, the fraction of aMT6s excreted during the time interval 24:00-06:00, relative to the total amount excreted by each subject per day, was significantly higher (P = 0.0287) than baseline (0.57 +/- 0.04) in responders. No significant difference was observed in non-responders. The increase in pineal function induced by clomipramine was restricted to day one, indicating that long-lasting adaptation restores pineal function. In addition, the day one increase in aMT6s was significantly increased only in the responders group, raising the possibility that the blocking of neuronal uptake is predictive of emotional improvement.

Is modulation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors by melatonin relevant for therapy with cholinergic drugs?

Melatonin, the darkness hormone, synchronizes several physiological functions to light/dark cycle. Besides the awake/sleep cycle that is intuitively linked to day/night, daily variations in memory acquisition and innate or acquired immune responses are some of the major activities linked to melatonin rhythm. The daily variation of these complex processes is due to changes in specific mechanisms. In the last years we focused on the influence of melatonin on the expression and function of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). Melatonin, either "in vivo" or "in vitro", increases, in a selective manner, the efficiency of alpha-bungarotoxin (alpha-BTX)-sensitive nAChRs. Melatonin's effect on receptors located in rat sympathetic nerve terminals, cerebellum, skeletal muscle and chick retina, was tested. We observed that melatonin is essential for the development of alpha-BTX-sensitive nAChRs, and important for receptor maintenance in aging models. Taking into account that both melatonin and alpha-7 nAChRs (one of the subtypes sensitive to alpha-BTX) are involved in the development of Alzheimer's disease, here we discuss the possibility of a therapeutic strategy focused on both melatonin replacement and its potential association with cholinergic drugs.