Chimeric provirus of bovine leukemia virus/SMAD family member 3 in cattle with enzootic bovine leukosis

Bovine leukemia virus (BLV) is a member of the family Retroviridae that causes enzootic bovine leukemia (EBL). However, the association between BLV infection and EBL development remains unclear. In this study, we identified a BLV/SMAD3 chimeric provirus within CC2D2A intron 30 in monoclonal expanded malignant cells from a cow with EBL. The chimeric provirus harbored a spliced SMAD3 sequence composed of exons 3-9, encoding the short isoform protein, and the BLV-SMAD3 chimeric transcript was detectable in cattle with EBL. This is the first report of a BLV chimeric provirus that might be involved in EBL tumorigenesis.

A versatile method to profile hepatitis B virus DNA integration

BACKGROUND

HBV DNA integration into the host genome is frequently found in HBV-associated HCC tissues and is associated with hepatocarcinogenesis. Multiple detection methods, including hybrid capture-sequencing, have identified integration sites and provided clinical implications; however, each has advantages and disadvantages concerning sensitivity, cost, and throughput. Therefore, methods that can comprehensively and cost-effectively detect integration sites with high sensitivity are required. Here, we investigated the efficiency of RAISING (Rapid Amplification of Integration Site without Interference by Genomic DNA contamination) as a simple and inexpensive method to detect viral integration by amplifying HBV-integrated fragments using virus-specific primers covering the entire HBV genome.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Illumina sequencing of RAISING products from HCC-derived cell lines (PLC/PRF/5 and Hep3B cells) identified HBV-human junction sequences as well as their frequencies. The HBV-human junction profiles identified using RAISING were consistent with those determined using hybrid capture-sequencing, and the representative junctions could be validated by junction-specific nested PCR. The comparison of these detection methods revealed that RAISING-sequencing outperforms hybrid capture-sequencing in concentrating junction sequences. RAISING-sequencing was also demonstrated to determine the sites of de novo integration in HBV-infected HepG2-NTCP cells, primary human hepatocytes, liver-humanized mice, and clinical specimens. Furthermore, we made use of xenograft mice subcutaneously engrafted with PLC/PRF/5 or Hep3B cells, and HBV-human junctions determined by RAISING-sequencing were detectable in the plasma cell-free DNA using droplet digital PCR.

CONCLUSIONS

RAISING successfully profiles HBV-human junction sequences with smaller amounts of sequencing data and at a lower cost than hybrid capture-sequencing. This method is expected to aid basic HBV integration and clinical diagnosis research.

Relationship between skin fungal and bacterial microbiomes and skin pH

OBJECTIVE

The present study investigated the relationship between the skin bacterial and fungal microbiomes and skin pH at sebaceous sites, namely, the forehead, cheek, and upper chest. We also examined the relationship between the skin microbiome and transepidermal water loss (TEWL), which is an index of rough skin.

METHODS

Thirty healthy Japanese subjects (15 females and 15 males) were enrolled as subjects. The forehead, cheek, and upper chest were examined in August (summer) and February (winter). Skin surface samples were collected using the swab method, and the 16s rRNA and ITS regions were analyzed using next-generation sequencing. Skin pH and TEWL were also assessed.

RESULTS

The changes observed in the skin microbiome were associated with season-dependent changes in skin pH. An increase in skin pH at the forehead and cheek was associated with a higher relative abundance of Cutibacterium spp. and a reduction in bacterial diversity, as well as a lower relative abundance of Staphylococcus spp. A decrease in skin pH at the upper chest was associated with a higher relative abundance of Malassezia restricta and a lower relative abundance of M. sympodialis, as well as fungal diversity. Moreover, these changes were also associated with an increase in TEWL.

CONCLUSION

The present results indicate that changes in skin pH are associated with changes in the skin bacterial and fungal microbiomes at sebaceous sites. The changes observed in the skin microbiome were also associated with rough skin.

RAISING is a high-performance method for identifying random transgene integration sites

Both natural viral infections and therapeutic interventions using viral vectors pose significant risks of malignant transformation. Monitoring for clonal expansion of infected cells is important for detecting cancer. Here we developed a novel method of tracking clonality via the detection of transgene integration sites. RAISING (Rapid Amplification of Integration Sites without Interference by Genomic DNA contamination) is a sensitive, inexpensive alternative to established methods. Its compatibility with Sanger sequencing combined with our CLOVA (Clonality Value) software is critical for those without access to expensive high throughput sequencing. We analyzed samples from 688 individuals infected with the retrovirus HTLV-1, which causes adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) to model our method. We defined a clonality value identifying ATL patients with 100% sensitivity and 94.8% specificity, and our longitudinal analysis also demonstrates the usefulness of ATL risk assessment. Future studies will confirm the broad applicability of our technology, especially in the emerging gene therapy sector.

Water pre-filtration methods to improve environmental DNA detection by real-time PCR and metabarcoding

Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis is a novel approach for biomonitoring and has been mostly used in clear water. It is difficult to detect eDNA in turbid water as filter clogging occurs, and environmental samples contain various substances that inhibit the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and affect the accuracy of eDNA analysis. Therefore, we applied a pre-filtration method to better detect the fish species (particularly pale chub, Opsariichthys platypus) present in a water body by measuring eDNA in environmental samples containing PCR inhibitors. Upon conducting 12S rRNA metabarcoding analysis (MiFish), we found that pre-filtration did not affect the number or identities of fish species detected in our samples, but pre-filtration through pore sizes resulted in significantly reduced variance among replicate samples. Additionally, PCR amplification was improved by the pre-filtration of environmental samples containing PCR inhibitors such as humic substances. Although this study may appear to be a conservative and ancillary experiment, pre-filtration is a simple technique that can not only improve the physical properties of water, such as turbidity, but also the quality of eDNA biomonitoring.

A high-throughput detection method for the clonality of Human T-cell leukemia virus type-1-infected cells in vivo

Approximately 10-20 million of Human T-cell leukemia virus type-1 (HTLV-1)-infected carriers have been previously reported, and approximately 5% of these carriers develop adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) with a characteristic poor prognosis. In Japan, Southern blotting has long been routinely performed for detection of clonally expanded ATL cells in vivo, and as a confirmatory diagnostic test for ATL. However, alternative methods to Southern blotting, such as sensitive, quantitative, and rapid analytical methods, are currently required in clinical practice. In this study, we developed a high-throughput method called rapid amplification of integration site (RAIS) that could amplify HTLV-1-integrated fragments within 4 h and detect the integration sites in > 0.16% of infected cells. Furthermore, we established a novel quantification method for HTLV-1 clonality using Sanger sequencing with RAIS products, and the validity of the quantification method was confirmed by comparing it with next-generation sequencing in terms of the clonality. Thus, we believe that RAIS has a high potential for use as an alternative routine molecular confirmatory test for the clonality analysis of HTLV-1-infected cells.

[Cyclin protein expression on malignant glioma cells]

Cyclins are key components of the cell cycle progression machinery. Immunohistochemical detection of cyclins in relation to cell position, DNA content, by multiparameter flow cytometry has provided new cell cycle studies. T98G, U373MG, and U251MG were scheduled expression of cyclin A, B1 which are maximal in late S and G2M phase cells. T98G was scheduled expression of cyclin E. being maximal in G1 and S phase cells, but U251MG, U373MG were unscheduled expression of cyclin E. The expression of cyclin D1 were not expressed a pattern. These result may mean that cyclin E in an important protein of cell cycle machinery of malignant brain tumor.

Characterization of peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPC) mobilized by filgrastim (rHuG-CSF) in normal volunteers: dose-effect relationship for filgrastim with the character of mobilized PBPC

Filgrastim (rHuG-CSF)-mobilized peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPC) in healthy Japanese volunteers were characterized in detail using two clonal cell culture systems and double-colour flow cytometry to detect multilineage colony-forming cells and subsets of CD34+ cells. The kinetics of PBPC during the administration of filgrastim was studied, and possible differences in the character of progenitor cells relative to given doses of filgrastim were investigated. Filgrastim was administered subcutaneously to normal volunteers for 7 d at doses of 100, 200 or 400 microgram/m2 (10 per cohort). Treatment with 100 or 200 microgram/m2 filgrastim was well tolerated; however, the 400 microgram/m2 dose level was not completed because of bone pain and myalgia. The treatment strikingly mobilized various types of progenitor cells, including highly proliferative megakaryocytic colony-forming cells. The number of progenitor cells peaked on days 5 and 6. The fold increase of circulating progenitor cells from the baseline value in the volunteers treated with 200 microgram/m2 filgrastim was more pronounced than in those treated with 100 microgram/m2. Treatment with 200 microgram/m2 also released the less mature progenitor cells (i.e. mixed colony-forming cells CD34+/33- cells, and CD34+/HLA-DR-cells) into circulation better than the 100 microgram/m2 dose. These results suggest that daily subcutaneous injection with 200 microgram/m/2 filgrastim for 5 d will effectively mobilize, both qualitatively and quantitatively, PBPC in healthy donors.

Enhancing and suppressive effects of immunosuppressants cyclosporin A, FK506, and KM2210 on the colony formation of murine bone marrow cells

Immunosuppressants cyclosporin A (CsA), FK506, and KM2210 modulated colony formations of murine hematopoietic progenitor cells. In a 4-h treatment with CsA, 10 micrograms/ml increased the formation of colony-forming units of mixed lineages (CFU-Mix) but decreased the formation of highly proliferative potential colony-forming units (CFU-HPP); 1 microgram/ml of CsA increased the formations of CFU-HPP, CFU-Mix, and colony-forming units of granulocytes/macrophages (CFU-GM); 0.1 microgram of CsA increased the formation of CFU-Mix and burst-forming units of erythroid lineage (BFU-E). Lower doses of CsA appeared to induce an increase in various colony formations. FK506 increased CFU-HPP and CFU-Mix formations at lower doses. Another immunosuppressant, KM2210, increased CFU-HPP and CFU-GM formations but decreased CFU-Mix and BFU-E formations. In a 24-h treatment, 10 micrograms/ml and 1 microgram/ml of CsA inhibited all the colony formations, but 0.1 microgram/ml of CsA increased CFU-Mix, CFU-GM, and BFU-E formations. Similarly, 100 ng/ml and 10 ng/ml of FK506 decreased all the colony formations but 1 ng/ml of FK506 increased CFU-HPP and CFU-GM formations. KM2210 inhibited all the colony formations. These findings showed that lower doses of CsA and FK506 appeared to increase the colony formations, although higher doses of these drugs decreased the colony formations, similar to the findings in a 4-h treatment. On the other hand, KM2210 showed opposing effects on colony formation with 4-h and 24-h treatments.

[Chemosensitivity of cultured meningiomas]

Meningioma is one of the popular benign brain tumors. However, the recurrence of this tumor is not infrequently encountered. In an attempt to establish the useful adjuvant therapy for the recurrent meningioma, in vitro chemosensitivity study for meningioma was conducted. Among various chemotherapeutic agents tested here, cisplatin showed highest cytotoxicity on cultured meningioma cells. In conclusion, cisplatin may be useful in adjuvant chemotherapy for the recurrent meningioma.

Differential effects of the immunosuppressants cyclosporin A, FK506 and KM2210 on cytokine gene expression

Cyclosporin A (CsA) inhibited interleukin 2 (IL-2), IL-3, interferon gamma (IFN gamma), GM-CSF and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) mRNA expression in spleen cells stimulated with concavalin A (Con A) when determined by the semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method. FK506 which has a similar immunosuppressive mechanism to that of CsA also showed the same inhibitory effects except for decreased IL-5 and IL-6 mRNA expression. In contrast, both CsA and FK506 enhanced transforming growth factor beta (TGF beta) and IL-1 beta mRNA expression. Another immunosuppressant KM2210 did not show any inhibitory effects on cytokine gene expression but rather enhanced IL-10, IL-6, TGF beta and IL-1 mRNA expression, thus suggesting that KM2210 has a completely different immunosuppressive mechanism from that of CsA and FK506. Anti-TFG beta 1 antibody abrogated the suppression by KM2210 of BALB/c anti-3H/He mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) whereas this antibody did not abrogate the suppression by CsA and FK506 of BALB/c anti-C3H/He MLR. These results indicate that TGF beta is one of the major cytokines in KM2210 immunosuppression, in addition to IL-10, but not in immunosuppression by CsA and FK506.

Recombinant human glycosylated granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF)-combined regimen for allogeneic bone marrow transplantation in refractory acute myeloid leukemia

Recombinant human glycosylated G-CSF (rhG-CSF) may stimulate proliferation of myeloid leukemia cells and thereby increase their susceptibility to anti-cancer agents. By in vitro colony assay, the rhG-CSF-responsive NFS-60 leukemic cell clones are more effectively killed by Ara C in the presence of rhG-CSF than in the absence of rhG-CSF, while the killing of the rhG-CSF-unresponsive HL-60 cell clones is unaffected by rhG-CSF. Leukemia cell colony forming units (L-CFU) derived from most AML patients demonstrate similar results to those of the NFS-60 cell clone when treated in vitro. Encouraged by these in vitro results, we used rhG-CSF as a component of a conditioning regimen for 15 relapsed AML patients who were receiving allogeneic BMT. The patients were conditioned with total body irradiation (TBI) and high-dose Ara C. rhG-CSF was infused continuously at a dose of 5 micrograms/kg/day from 24 h before the beginning of TBI to the end of Ara C therapy. Proliferation of the leukemia cells in vivo in response to rhG-CSF was confirmed in 7 of 14 patients tested and the combined use of rhG-CSF had no additional adverse effects. After BMT, four patients died of non-leukemic causes and three patients had leukemic relapse: the other eight patients have remained disease-free for 200-1600 (median 417) days. The actuarial probabilities of relapse and disease-free survival (DFS) at 4.4 years after BMT were 43.2% and 41.7%, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult T-cell leukemia developing during immunosuppressive treatment in a renal transplant recipient

We report a case of a 32-year-old male, an asymptomatic carrier of human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1), who underwent a renal transplantation and developed adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) during the course of posttransplant immunosuppressive treatment. He was treated with combination chemotherapies consisting of cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin, prednisolone, cisplatin, cytosine arabinoside, etoposide, and methyl-prednisolone, without any improvement. Bestrabucil (KM2210), a conjugate of chlorambucil and estradiol, was administered as an alternative therapy; this therapy successfully suppressed his leukemic cell growth, and partial remission was achieved. Posttransplant immunosuppressive therapy with prednisolone, mizoribine, and cyclosporin A might have been the predominant cause of the transition from an asymptomatic HTLV-1 infection to overt ATL. A careful approach is required with HTLV-1 asymptomatic carriers who need organ transplantation followed by immunosuppressive treatment.

The alloantigen-specific immunosuppressive activity of estradiol-chlorambucil conjugate (KM2210) and its beneficial effect on allogeneic bone marrow transplantation in mice

KM2210, a conjugate of estradiol and chlorambucil (CBL), which was originally developed as an anti-breast cancer agent, inhibits proliferative response of human mononuclear cells to alloantigens in mixed lymphocyte culture in a dose-dependent manner, but has no effect on their response to phytohemagglutinin. Neither estradiol benzoate nor CBL alone showed these unique actions. The suppressive effect of KM2210 on MLC was abrogated by adding of anti-transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) antibody to the culture, but was not affected by the addition of interleukin-2, suggesting that KM2210, unlike CBL, displays its actions via TGF-beta. In experimental allogeneic bone marrow transplantation using mice, daily oral administration of KM2210 (2 mg/kg/day) for 30 days posttransplant significantly inhibited the alloantigen-specific immune reactions. Furthermore, the survival rate of the KM2210-treated mice was significantly higher than that of the cyclosporine-treated (2 mg/kg/day, p.o.) mice, and no adverse effect of KM2210 on hematopoietic recovery was found. These results strongly suggest possible clinical benefits of KM2210 as a new immunosuppressive agent for the prevention and treatment of graft-versus-host disease and other allospecific immune reactions.

Implantation of fibroblasts transfected with human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor cDNA into mice as a model of cytokine-supplement gene therapy

A fibroblast-mediated gene delivery method was used for the endogenous expression of human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) as a model for cytokine supplement therapy. Human G-CSF cDNA was inserted into the plasmid expression vector BMGNeo, which contains a partial sequence of bovine papilloma virus and a selectable marker gene. The recombinant plasmid (BMGNeo-GCSF) was transfected into NIH/3T3 fibroblasts by the calcium phosphate coprecipitation method, and the stably transformed cells were isolated by G418 selection. An appropriate clone producing a large amount of G-CSF was selected by enzyme immunoassay of the culture supernatants. Southern blot analysis suggested that the BMGNeo-GCSF plasmid replicated mainly as an episome, and Northern blot analysis demonstrated the high expression of human G-CSF mRNA in the cells. After the implantation of the G-CSF-producing fibroblasts into nude mice, prominent neutrophilia, about 30-fold the level of normal control, was observed within seven days. Moreover, the number of hematopoietic progenitor cells in spleen remarkably increased for all cell lineages in these mice. To regulate the in vivo expression of G-CSF, we designed a subcutaneous diffusion chamber apparatus that contains the G-CSF-producing fibroblasts. The leukocytosis (neutrophilia) induced in C3H mice after embedding the device quickly disappeared after ethanol treatment of the chamber. Furthermore, reinjection of the G-CSF-producing fibroblasts into the chamber caused a second neutrophilia.

Significance of gonad and renal prostaglandin E2 in the antihypertensive effect of pindolol in spontaneously hypertensive rats

The effect of gonadectomy on the antihypertensive action of pindolol in male spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) was investigated. And we also examined the relationship between the antihypertensive effect of this drug and the renal prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) level. In gonadectomized SHR, the reduction of blood pressure was not observed by the oral administration of pindolol, although the drug exhibited a marked antihypertensive activity in sham operated SHR. Urinary PGE2 in sham operated SHR was increased following the administration of pindolol, but not in gonadectomized SHR. Similar results were obtained in the experiments using Wistar rats. The PG synthesis inhibition induced by indomethacin suppressed the antihypertensive action of pindolol. Results in the present study suggest that renal PGs, particularly PGE2, are involved in the antihypertensive mechanism of pindolol, and that male gonad takes part in the regulation of the stimulation of the renal PGE2 producing system induced by pindolol.

A possible role of antihypertensive polar renomedullary lipid (APRL) and prostaglandin E2 in the kidney in the antihypertensive action of pindolol

The influence of the pretreatment with CV-3988, a specific antagonist of antihypertensive polar renomedullary lipid (APRL), and/or indomethacin on the antihypertensive effect of pindolol was examined in order to clarify a possible role of APRL and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in the kidney in the effect of pindolol in male spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). CV-3988 effectively attenuated the antihypertensive effect of pindolol, although pindolol still significantly lowered blood pressure following CV-3988 treatment. Besides, the pretreatment with CV-3988 showed no significant effect on an increased PGE2 level and a decreased volume of urine after pindolol treatment. The antihypertensive effect of pindolol disappeared after the CV-3988 treatment in combination with indomethacin.

A possible role of gonad and renal prostaglandin E2 on the development of hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats

A possible role of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in the regulation of blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) was investigated. The inhibition of PG synthesis by chronic indomethacin treatment accelerated the elevation of blood pressure with the tendency to decrease renal PGE2. We, therefore, confirmed that PGE2 in SHR may play a role in the antihypertensive mechanism. In this connection, the participation of renal PGE2 in the retardation of the development of hypertension in male SHR induced by orchiectomy was examined. Urinary PGE2 which reflects the renal PGE2 level tended to keep a higher level in the castrated group. Urinary electrolytes excretion also inclined to augment in the castrated group throughout the experiment. These results indicate that renal PGE2 may participate in the gonads-mediated blood pressure regulation system, although the mechanism of the retardation of spontaneous hypertension induced by orchiectomy remains obscure.

[Effect of difluprednate on adrenocortical and gonadal function]

The effects of difluprednate on the deposition of liver glycogen, the inhibition of adrenocortical function, the estrogenic, progestational and androgenic activities, and the excretion of electrolytes were investigated by comparing them with those of fluocinonide. The following results were obtained: 1) the deposition of liver glycogen was remarkably increased by subcutaneous administration of these two glucocorticoids, and in the dose of 0.1 mg/kg, the effect of difluprednate (35.1-fold the control value) was larger than that of fluocinonide (19.4-fold the control value) in mice. 2) the administration of difluprednate and fluocinonide greatly induced the decrease in the corticosterone concentration in the rat serum and adrenal gland (0.1 and 1 mg/kg, s.c.). 3) the estrogenic, progestational and androgenic activities were not recognized by administration of difluprednate in rats. 4) the two glucocorticoids induced an increase in the electrolytes excretion (especially K+) and the urine volume. 5) by the repeated injection of difluprednate (1.0 mg/kg) and fluocinonide (0.1 mg/kg), decrease of the body weight was observed in all of the experimental animals. In these experiments, it was recognized that the glucocortical action of difluprednate was similar or more potent in comparison with the action of fluocinonide and that the systemic effects of fluocinonide such as body weight loss was larger than that of difluprednate.