RNA-sequencing reveals that STRN, ZNF484 and WNK1 add to the value of mitochondrial MT-COI and COX10 as markers of unstable coronary artery disease

Markers in monocytes, precursors of macrophages, which are related to CAD, are largely unknown. Therefore, we aimed to identify genes in monocytes predictive of a new ischemic event in patients with CAD and/or discriminate between stable CAD and acute coronary syndrome. We included 66 patients with stable CAD, of which 24 developed a new ischemic event, and 19 patients with ACS. Circulating CD14+ monocytes were isolated with magnetic beads. RNA sequencing analysis in monocytes of patients with (n = 13) versus without (n = 11) ischemic event at follow-up and in patients with ACS (n = 12) was validated with qPCR (n = 85). MT-COI, STRN and COX10 predicted new ischemic events in CAD patients (power for separation at 1% error rate of 0.97, 0.90 and 0.77 respectively). Low MT-COI and high STRN were also related to shorter time between blood sampling and event. COX10 and ZNF484 together with MT-COI, STRN and WNK1 separated ACS completely from stable CAD patients. RNA expressions in monocytes of MT-COI, COX10, STRN, WNK1 and ZNF484 were independent of cholesterol lowering and antiplatelet treatment. They were independent of troponin T, a marker of myocardial injury. But, COX10 and ZNF484 in human plaques correlated to plaque markers of M1 macrophage polarization, reflecting vascular injury. Expression of MT-COI, COX10, STRN and WNK1, but not that of ZNF484, PBMCs paired with that in monocytes. The prospective study of relation of MT-COI, COX10, STRN, WNK1 and ZNF484 with unstable CAD is warranted.

Nonadverse effects on allergenicity of isopentenyltransferase-transformed broccoli

BACKGROUND

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) provide modern agriculture with improvements in efficiency and the benefits of enhanced food production; however, the potential impact of GMOs on human health has not yet been clarified.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the allergenicity of isopentenyltransferase (ipt)-transformed broccoli compared with non-GM broccoli.

METHODS

Sera from allergic individuals were used to identify the allergenicity of GM and non-GM broccoli. Immunoglobulin (Ig) binding of different lines of GM and non-GM broccoli was identified using immunoblotting, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the histamin release assay.

RESULTS

Positive reactions to broccoli (Brassica Oleracea) were observed in 7.02% of individuals. Specific IgE to broccoli and total IgE fro allergic individuals were well correlated. The different tests performed showed no significant differences in the allergenicity of conventionally raised and GM broccoli, indicating the absence of unexpected effects on allergenicity in ipt-transformed plants. Using Western blot analysis we detected heterogeneous IgE-reactive allergenic components in broccoli-allergic sera, but no significant differences between GM an non-GM broccoli were observed in serum from the same patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrates that there are no differences between GM (ipt-transformed) broccoli and non-GM broccoli, as determined by specific IgE in sera from broccoli-allergic patients. This indicates that there were no unexpected effects on allergenicity in this GM broccoli.

Upregulation of leptin pathway correlates with abnormal expression of SERCA2a, phospholamban and the endothelin pathway in heart failure and reversal by CPU86017

Emerging evidence indicates that leptin may be a potential new target in chronic heart failure (CHF) treatment. We hypothesized that hyperleptinemia may correlate with abnormal expression of SERCA2a, PLB (phospholamban), and the endothelin (ET) pathway in CHF. An activated ET pathway is involved in CHF that is suppressed by CPU86017 (p-chlorobenzyltetrahydroberberine chloride), a complex class III antiarrhythmic agent with an antioxidant effect. Thus, relief of CHF may be mediated by a reversal of abnormalities of the leptin system, the ET-reactive oxygen species (ROS) pathway, SERCA2a, and PLB by CPU86017. CHF was produced by coronary artery ligation for 6 weeks in rats. The rats were divided into 3 groups: sham, CHF untreated, and CHF+CPU86017 (4 mg/kg per day, s.c.). Hemodynamic changes, cardiac morphology, serum biochemistry, messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) and protein expression of the leptin pathway, ET pathway, and redox were measured. In CHF rats, hemodynamic abnormalities, cardiac remodeling, and histological changes with features of cardiac failure were associated with hyperlipidemia accompanied by oxidative stress and upregulated OB-Rb, ECE, pp-ET-1, ET(A)R, and ET(B)R mRNA expression in the myocardium. Protein expression of leptin and ET(A)R in the myocardium was markedly increased in CHF rats. An activated leptin pathway was associated with downregulation of SERCA2a and upregulation of PLB in mRNA and protein expression in CHF. CPU86017 downregulated the leptin system and reversed the above changes in the myocardium. An activated leptin pathway correlates with abnormal expression of SERCA2a and PLB and an activated ET-ROS system in the affected myocardium. The multi-ion-channel-blocking and antioxidative effects of CPU86017 downregulate the leptin pathway and ET system, resulting in reversal of the abnormalities of expression of SERCA2a and PLB and cardiac performance in CHF.

Effect of dietary copper exposure on accumulation, growth and hematological parameters of the juvenile rockfish, Sebastes schlegeli

Copper accumulation, and its effect on growth and hematological parameters were investigated in juvenile rockfish, Sebastes schlegeli (mean length 11.83+/-0.03 cm, and mean weight 26.02+/-0.23 g), after sub-chronic dietary Cu exposure (0, 50, 125, 250 and 500 mg/kg) for 60 days. The profile of Cu accumulation among tissues in rockfish is dependent on the exposure periods and Cu concentration. Liver of rockfish is a more important storage tissue than other tissues, and the order of Cu accumulation in tissues was liver > intestine > kidney > gill > muscle. Cu reduced the growth rate, and there was an inverse relationship between growth and Cu concentration (> 50 mg/kg). The RNA:DNA ratios were not affected by exposure and there was no correlation between growth rate and RNA:DNA ratio in the liver and muscle. There was no significant effect of exposure on blood parameters except for magnesium. Cu exposure increased GOT and GPT serum concentrations with increasing time and dose.

Hepatoprotective principles from the flowers of Tilia argentea (linden): structure requirements of tiliroside and mechanisms of action

The methanolic extract from the flowers of Tilia argentea (linden) was found to show a hepatoprotective effect against D-galactosamine (D-GalN)/lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced liver injury in mice. By bioassay-guided separation using in vitro D-GalN-induced damage to hepatocytes, five flavonol glycosides were isolated as the hepatoprotective constituents of the methanolic extract. Tiliroside, the principal flavonol glycoside, strongly inhibited serum GPT and GOT elevations at doses of 25-100 mg/kg (p.o.) in D-GalN/LPS-treated mice. By comparing the inhibitory effects of tiliroside with those of its components alone, the kaempferol 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside moiety was found to be essential for the activity, and its effect was suggested to depend on the inhibition of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) production, decreased sensitivity of hepatocytes to TNF-alpha, and on the protection of hepatocytes against D-GalN.

Anti-stress and anti-fatigue effects of fermented rice bran

The anti-stress and anti-fatigue effects on rats and mice of a hot water extract of rice bran fermented with Saccharomyces cerevisae IFO 2346 were investigated. Oral administration (1 g/kg/day) of the hot water extract of fermented rice bran (FRB) inhibited major changes in the weight of the adrenal, thymus, spleen and thyroid, showing an anti-stress effect. The hot water extract of FRB also inhibited increases in the GPT and LDH activity, cholesterol and glucose in the serum. The administration (1 g/kg/day) for 2 weeks significantly prolonged the swimming time, resulting in an increase in the anti-fatigue effect. It is considered from these results that FRB had anti-stress and anti-fatigue effects.

O6-benzylguanine in humans: metabolic, pharmacokinetic, and pharmacodynamic findings

PURPOSE

O6-Benzylguanine is a potent inactivator of the DNA-repair protein, O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyl-transferase (AGT), that enhances sensitivity to nitrosoureas in tumor-cell lines and tumor-bearing animals. The objective of this study was to determine the pharmacokinetics and metabolic fate of O6-Benzylguanine in humans and its effect on AGT activity in peripheral-blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Twenty-five cancer patients were treated with O6-Benzylguanine at a dose level of 10, 20, 40, and 80 mg/m2 intravenously (IV) over 1 hour. Plasma and urine samples were collected and analyzed for O6-Benzylguanine and O6-Benzyl-8-oxoguanine concentrations. AGT activity in PBMCs was determined up to 2 weeks postinfusion.

RESULTS

There was no toxicity attributable to O6-Benzylguanine alone at all doses tested. O6-Benzylguanine rapidly disappeared from plasma and was converted to a major metabolite, O6-Benzyl-8-oxoguanine. The half-life of O6-Benzyl-8-oxoguanine increased with dose from 2.8 to 9.2 hours at doses of 10 and 80 mg/m2, respectively. The maximum concentration Cmax and area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) for O6-Benzyl-8-oxoguanine were, respectively, 2.2- and 12- to 29-fold greater than those of O6-Benzylguanine. At all doses, depletion of AGT activity was observed in lymphocytes with a return to baseline by 1 week posttreatment.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates that administration of O6-Benzylguanine to humans results in a rapid conversion to O6-Benzyl-8-oxoguanine, which follows nonlinear kinetics. Both compounds contribute to an effective depletion of AGT activity in lymphocytes; however, prolonged depletion of AGT activity is likely due primarily to the effect of O6-Benzyl-8-oxoguanine.