Dynamin-related protein 2 interacts with the membrane-associated methyltransferase domain of plantago asiatica mosaic virus replicase and promotes viral replication

Positive-strand RNA viruses replicate their RNA in the viral replication complex, a spherical structure formed by remodeling of host intracellular membranes. This process also requires the interaction between viral membrane-associated replication proteins and host factors. We previously identified the membrane-associated determinant of the replicase of plantago asiatica mosaic virus (PlAMV), a positive-strand RNA virus of the genus Potexvirus, in its methyltransferase (MET) domain, and suggested that its interaction with host factors is required to establish viral replication. Here we identified Nicotiana benthamiana dynamin-related protein 2 (NbDRP2) as an interactor of the MET domain of the PlAMV replicase by co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) and mass spectrometry analysis. NbDRP2 is closely related to the DRP2 subfamily proteins in Arabidopsis thaliana, AtDRP2A and AtDRP2B. Confocal microscopy observation and Co-IP confirmed the interaction between the MET domain and NbDRP2. Also, the expression of NbDRP2 was induced by PlAMV infection. PlAMV accumulation was reduced when the expression of NbDRP2 gene was suppressed by virus-induced gene silencing. In addition, PlAMV accumulation was reduced in protoplasts treated with dynamin inhibitor. These results indicate a proviral role of the interaction of NbDRP2 with the MET domain in PlAMV replication.

Between-day reliability and minimum detectable change of the Conventional Gait Model 2 and Plug-in Gait Model during running

BACKGROUND

The Plug-in Gait model (PiG) is commonly used in 3D motion analysis but has limited reliability. Although an improved version of PiG has been developed, called the Conventional Gait Model 2 (CGM2), there is limited evidence on its between-day reliability for running.

RESEARCH QUESTION

What is the between-day intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC3,k) and minimum detectable change (MDC) of lower limb kinematics and kinetics for CGM2 during running and does reliability differ between CGM2 and PiG.

METHODS

Twenty-three healthy participants performed running at a comfortable speed in two identical test sessions at least 5 days apart. Lower limb kinematic and kinetic data in the three planes of motion were calculated using CGM2 and PiG. The ICC and MDC were calculated for the kinematic and kinetic parameters at initial contact and peak during the stance phase of running.

RESULTS

CGM2 kinematics showed good-to-excellent reliability (ICC: 0.75-0.93), except for hip extension and ankle internal rotation, and less than 5° MDC (1.8°-4.9°) of the coronal and sagittal planes, except for hip extension. PiG showed poor-to-moderate reliability (ICC: -0.15 to 0.72) in the coronal and transverse planes and greater than 5° MDC (5.0°-21.8°), except for knee extension, adduction, and ankle dorsiflexion. CGM2 showed good-to-excellent reliability for peak kinetics (ICC: 0.75-0.97), except for hip internal rotation and knee extension. The ICC and MDC were higher for CGM2 than PiG, with significant differences in the coronal plane of the hip and knee joints and transverse plane of the hip joint in kinematics and in the sagittal and coronal plane of the hip and knee joints in kinetics.

SIGNIFICANCE

The between-day reliability of CGM2 was mostly good to excellent for lower limb kinematics and kinetics during running. We believe that CGM2 can more accurately assess kinematic differences between the coronal and transverse planes than the PiG.

Tamoxifen Activates Dormant Primordial Follicles in Mouse Ovaries

Our previous study found that 17β-estradiol (E2) suppresses primordial follicle activation and growth in cultured mouse ovaries. In this study, we administered tamoxifen, an estrogen receptor antagonist, into the abdominal cavity of mice to clarify the relationship between primordial follicle activation and the physiological concentration of E2 in mouse ovaries. The results showed that tamoxifen promoted primordial follicle activation. Administration of tamoxifen promoted degradation of the extracellular matrix surrounding primordial follicles in the ovaries. Furthermore, tamoxifen decreased the expression of stefin A, an inhibitor of cathepsins that digest some proteins and extracellular matrix, in the ovaries. Mechanical stress produced by the extracellular matrix reportedly suppresses the activation of primordial follicles. The collective results show that tamoxifen can promote primordial follicle activation through the degradation of the extracellular matrix surrounding primordial follicles. Our results indicate that E2 suppresses primordial follicle activation in vivo and that tamoxifen may be useful as a therapeutic agent against infertility.

17β-Estradiol and cathepsins control primordial follicle growth in mouse ovaries

This study aimed to clarify the physiological mechanism regulating the growth of primordial follicles in mouse ovaries. In a previous study, we found that increasing the fetal bovine serum concentration in the culture medium promoted the growth of primordial follicles in cultured postnatal day 0 ovaries but not in cultured postnatal day 4 ovaries. Based on these results, we hypothesized that the regulatory system repressing the growth of primordial follicles is established in postnatal day 4 ovaries. To confirm this hypothesis, microarray analysis of postnatal day 0 and 4 ovaries was performed. The results revealed that the expression of mRNA of stefin A homologs increased in postnatal day 4 ovaries. Stefin A belonging to the type 1 cystatin superfamily is an inhibitor of cysteine cathepsins. Consistently, the inhibitor of cathepsins repressed the growth of primordial follicles in cultured postnatal day 0 ovaries. Furthermore, we found that 17β-estradiol promoted the expression of mRNA of stefin A homologs in cultured ovaries and repressed the growth of primordial follicles. Our results demonstrate that 17β-estradiol and cathepsins regulate the growth of primordial follicles in mouse ovaries.

Increased supply from blood vessels promotes the activation of dormant primordial follicles in mouse ovaries

The controlled activation of dormant primordial follicles is important for the maintenance of periodic ovulation. Previous reports have clearly identified the signaling pathway in granulosa cells and oocytes that controls the activation of primordial follicles; however, the exact cue for the in vivo activation of dormant primordial follicles is yet to be elucidated. In this study, we found that almost all activated primordial follicles made contact with blood vessels. Based on this result, we speculated that the contact between primordial follicles and blood vessels may provide a cue for the activation of dormant primordial follicles. To confirm this hypothesis, we attempted to activate dormant primordial follicles within the ovaries by inducing angiogenesis through the use of biodegradable gels containing recombinant vascular endothelial growth factor and in cultured ovarian tissues by increasing the serum concentration within the culture medium. The activation of dormant primordial follicles was promoted in both experiments, and our results indicated that an increase in the supply of the serum component, from new blood vessels formed via angiogenesis, to the dormant primordial follicles is the cue for their in vivo activation. In the ovaries, angiogenesis often occurs during every estrous cycle, and it is therefore likely that angiogenesis is the crucial event that influences the activation of primordial follicles.

Mouse oocytes connect with granulosa cells by fusing with cell membranes and form a large complex during follicle development

Proper development and maturation of oocytes requires interaction with granulosa cells. Previous reports have indicated that mammalian oocytes connect with cumulus cells through gap junctions at the tip of transzonal projections that extend from the cells. Although the gap junctions between oocytes and transzonal projections provide a pathway through which small molecules (<1 kDa) can travel, it is unclear how molecules >1 kDa are transported between the oocytes and cumulus cells. In this study, we presented new connections between oocytes and granulosa cells. The green fluorescein protein Aequorea coerulescens green fluorescein protein (AcGFP1) localizing in oocyte cell membrane, 1,1'-dioctadecyl-3,3,3',3'-tetramethylindocarbocyanine perchlorate and dextran conjugates (10,000 MW) injected into the oocytes, which were unable to pass through gap junctions, were diffused from the oocytes into the surrounding granulosa cells through these connections. These connect an oocyte to the surrounding cumulus and granulosa cells by fusing with the cell membranes and forming a large complex during follicle development. Furthermore, we show two characteristics of these connections during follicle development—the localization of growth and differentiation factor-9 within the connections and the dynamics of the connections at ovulation. This article presents for the first time that mammalian oocytes directly connect to granulosa cells by fusing with the cell membrane, similar to that in Drosophila.

Utility of state-level influenza disease burden and severity estimates to investigate an apparent increase in reported severe cases of influenza A(H1N1) pdm09 - Arizona, 2015-2016

The Arizona Department of Health Services identified unusually high levels of influenza activity and severe complications during the 2015-2016 influenza season leading to concerns about potential increased disease severity compared with prior seasons. We estimated state-level burden and severity to compare across three seasons using multiple data sources for community-level illness, hospitalisation and death. Severity ratios were calculated as the number of hospitalisations or deaths per community case. Community influenza-like illness rates, hospitalisation rates and mortality rates in 2015-2016 were higher than the previous two seasons. However, ratios of severe disease to community illness were similar. Arizona experienced overall increased disease burden in 2015-2016, but not increased severity compared with prior seasons. Timely estimates of state-specific burden and severity are potentially feasible and may provide important information during seemingly unusual influenza seasons or pandemic situations.

Pressure-induced stacking disorder in boehmite

The structure of an aluminum layered hydroxide, boehmite (γ-AlOOH), as a function of pressure was studied by using in situ synchrotron X-ray and neutron diffraction. Peak broadening, which is only found for hkl (h ≠ 0) peaks in the X-ray diffraction patterns, is explained by stacking disorder accompanying a continuously increasing displacement of the AlO6 octahedral layer along the a-axis. This finding could be the first experimental result for pressure-induced stacking disorder driven by continuous layer displacement. The magnitude of the layer displacement was estimated from the X-ray scattering profile calculation based on the stacking disordered structure model. Hydrogen bond geometries of boehmite, obtained by structure refinements of the observed neutron diffraction patterns for the deuterated sample up to 10 GPa, show linearly approaching O-D covalent and DO hydrogen bond distances and they merge below 26 GPa. Pressure-induced stacking disorder makes the electrostatic potential of hydrogen bonds asymmetric, yielding less chance for proton-tunnelling.

Ovarian Tissue Culture to Visualize Phenomena in Mouse Ovary

Mammalian females periodically ovulate an almost constant number of oocytes during each estrus cycle. To sustain such regularity and periodicity, regulation occurs at the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis level and on developing follicles in the ovary. Despite active studies, follicle development mechanisms are not clear because of the several steps involved from the dormant primordial follicle activation to ovulation, and because of the regulation complexity that differs at each follicular stage. To investigate the mechanisms of follicle development, and the dynamics of follicles throughout the estrus cycle, we developed a mouse ovarian tissue culture model that can be used to observe follicle development using a microscope. Systematic follicle development, periodical ovulation, and follicle atresia can all be reproduced in the cultured ovary model, and the culture conditions can be experimentally modulated. Here, we demonstrate the usefulness of this method in the study of the regulatory mechanisms of follicle development and other ovarian phenomena.

Frequency-Domain Multiplexing Readout with a Self-Trigger System for Pulse Signals from Kinetic Inductance Detectors

We present the development of a frequency-domain multiplexing readout of kinetic inductance detectors (KIDs) for pulse signals with a self-trigger system. The KIDs consist of an array of superconducting resonators that have different resonant frequencies individually, allowing us to read out multiple channels in the frequency domain with a single wire using a microwave-frequency comb. The energy deposited to the resonators break Cooper pairs, changing the kinetic inductance and, hence, the amplitude and the phase of the probing microwaves. For some applications such as X-ray detections, the deposited energy is detected as a pulse signal shaped by the time constants of the quasiparticle lifetime, the resonator quality factor, and the ballistic phonon lifetime in the substrate, ranging from microseconds to milliseconds. A readout system commonly used converts the frequency-domain data to the time-domain data. For the short pulse signals, the data rate may exceed the data transfer bandwidth, as the short time constant pulses require us to have a high sampling rate. In order to overcome this circumstance, we have developed a KID readout system that contains a self-trigger system to extract relevant signal data and reduces the total data rate with a commercial off-the-shelf FPGA board. We have demonstrated that the system can read out pulse signals of 15 resonators simultaneously with about 10 Hz event rate by irradiating α particles from 241 Am to the silicon substrate on whose surface aluminum KID resonators are formed.

Abstract P2-01-08: Enumeration of heterogeneous circulating tumor cells (CTCs) using size-based method in early, and metastatic, breast cancer patients

Background

The detection of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in peripheral blood is an independent predictor of the efficacy of systemic therapy, and also a prognostic marker for patients with metastatic breast cancer. One of the main methods to detect CTCs is CellSearch system, which uses immune-magnetic separation followed by immunocytochemistry. A microdevice (CTChip from ClearCell system) can capture and enumerate CTCs based on distinctive physiological differences (size and deformability) between cancer cells and blood cells. CTChip thus obtains a larger CTC yield than affinity-based separation, which enriches a particular subgroup of cells expressing EpCAM. In this study, we enumerate CTCs in peripheral blood from early and metastatic breast cancer patients using a size-based method.

Patients and methods

We examined blood samples from a total of 18 early and metastatic breast cancer patients, after obtaining written informed consent. Blood samples were taken in sodium EDTA tubes after discarding the first 1ml of blood from the syringe. Two ml blood samples were applied to CTChip (ClearCell system), and CTCs were eventually trapped in the microwells of the CTChip. Trapped cells were analyzed by immunocytochemistry with monoclonal antibodies specific for leukocytes (CD45) and epithelial cells (CK8/18), along with 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) for nuclei: CK8/18-positive, DAPI-positive and CD45-negative cells more than 10 μm in diameter were defined as CTCs. Eight patients were examined using both the CTChip and CellSearch system to compare the yield of CTCs.

Results

Of 18 patients, 6 were de novo stage IV, 6 were recurrent and 6 were early stage breast cancer patients. Of primary tumors, 8 were HER2- and ER and/or PR +, 6 were HER2-and ER- and PR-, 3 were HER2+ and ER and/or PR +, and one was HER2+ and ER- and PR-. Using CTChip, detected CTCs ranged from 3 - 107 cells/2 ml in all cases: 3 - 83 for early stage, 19 - 156 for stage IV and 21 - 146 for recurrent. The number of CTCs found in recurrent patients tended to be higher than in early stage patients. Size-based method using CTChip clearly showed high sensitivity compared with the CellSearch system, which detected CTCs in only 2 cases out of 8. In analysis by immunochemistry, we found CK-negative, CD45-negative and DAPI positive cells with larger diameter (&gt;16 μm) than CK-positive CTCs in most patients, and the numbers were higher in stage IV (8.5 cells of median value) and recurrent (13 cells) patients than in early stage patients (1.5 cells). Our study suggested that CK-negative large cells might be CTCs with epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT).

Conclusion

This size-based technology enables us to capture CTCs regardless of EpCAM expression. Enumerated CTCs varied in size and positivity of CK8/18, suggesting the heterogeneity of CTCs. Further research, especially focusing on EMT will be crucial to understand the key mechanism of metastasis and drug resistance.

Citation Format: Tozuka K, Nagai SE, Kubo K, Komatsu K, Takai K, Inoue K, Matsumoto H, Hayashi Y, Tsuboi M, Yamada Y, Wang X, Suganuma M. Enumeration of heterogeneous circulating tumor cells (CTCs) using size-based method in early, and metastatic, breast cancer patients [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2017 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2017 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P2-01-08.

Note: Development of a new Bridgman-type high pressure cell for accurate dielectric measurements

We developed a new high pressure cell which allows us to perform accurate dielectric measurements above 3 GPa. The developed cell is based on Bridgman type opposed anvil cells with electrodes immersed into holes in the anvils in order to make the electrode area constant under compression. As a feasibility experiment, dielectric measurements for H₂O were conducted up to 6.6 GPa and obtained dielectric constants are well consistent with previous studies.

The concentration-dependent effect of progesterone on follicle growth in the mouse ovary

Follicle growth in the mammalian ovary is coordinately controlled by multiple factors to sustain periodic ovulation. In this study, we investigated the role of progesterone on follicle growth in the mouse ovary. As the concentration of progesterone changes during the estrus cycle, we cultured the sliced mouse ovary in a medium containing 10 ng/ml, 100 ng/ml, and 1 μg/ml progesterone. Progesterone promoted the growth of primordial to primary follicles at 100 ng/ml, while it suppressed the growth of secondary follicles at 1 μg/ml. Follicles at other developmental stages in the cultured ovary were unaffected with different concentrations of progesterone. The number of ovulated oocytes increased in the medium containing 100 ng/ml progesterone but decreased in the presence of 1 μg/ml progesterone. Follicles expressed two types of progesterone receptors, progesterone receptor (PGR) and PGR membrane component 1 (PGRMC1). While PGR shows transient expression on granulosa cells of Graafian follicles, PGRMC1 expresses in granulosa cells of developing follicles. These results suggest that progesterone controls the growth of developing follicles through PGRMC1. Our study shows that the effect of progesterone on ovulation and follicle growth in mouse ovary is dependent on the concentration of progesterone and the follicle stage.

Observation of the dynamics of follicular development in the ovary

The number of ovulated oocytes is different among mammals but does not vary much within the same species. In order to sustain periodic ovulation, follicular development must be coordinated at the tissue level. Elucidating the regulatory mechanisms of follicular development is difficult because the ovary has a complicated structure and it takes a long time for primordial follicles to develop into Graafian follicles. Therefore, it is not possible to observe follicular development by conventional experiments. The authors previously developed a new ovarian tissue culture method that enabled the observation of follicular development from the early follicle stage. These findings indicated that follicular interactions are important in regulating follicular development and ovulation. This review describes the current methods of observing follicular development in the ovary and the regulatory mechanisms of follicular development.

Transcatheter Embolization of Testicular Vein for Varicocele Testis

Percutaneous transcatheter embolization of the testicular vein was performed on 28 patients with angiographically proven varicocele testis. In 2 patients bilateral and in 26 only the left vein was embolized using 3-, 5-, or 8-mm stainless steel coils. All patients had clinically palpable varicoceles and male infertility. The grade of varicoceles improved after embolization in 23 of 28 cases (82%). Effective sperm count increased significantly from 34.5 ± 44.6 to 65.1 ± 71.0 following embolization. However, pregnancy was achieved only in one of 28 cases. Technically, the basilic vein approach was felt to be superior to the femoral vein or jugular vein approach for this procedure.

Ice VII from aqueous salt solutions: From a glass to a crystal with broken H-bonds

It has been known for decades that certain aqueous salt solutions of LiCl and LiBr readily form glasses when cooled to below ≈160 K. This fact has recently been exploited to produce a « salty » high-pressure ice form: When the glass is compressed at low temperatures to pressures higher than 4 GPa and subsequently warmed, it crystallizes into ice VII with the ionic species trapped inside the ice lattice. Here we report the extreme limit of salt incorporation into ice VII, using high pressure neutron diffraction and molecular dynamics simulations. We show that high-pressure crystallisation of aqueous solutions of LiCl∙RH₂O and LiBr∙RH₂O with R = 5.6 leads to solids with strongly expanded volume, a destruction of the hydrogen-bond network with an isotropic distribution of water-dipole moments, as well as a crystal-to-amorphous transition on decompression. This highly unusual behaviour constitutes an interesting pathway from a glass to a crystal where translational periodicity is restored but the rotational degrees of freedom remaining completely random.

Detection and differentiation of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici race 1 using loop-mediated isothermal amplification with three primer sets

Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (Fol) causes tomato wilt. Based on the difference in pathogenicity towards tomato cultivars, Fol is classified into three races. In this study, a rapid method is developed for the detection and discrimination of Fol race 1 using a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay with two primer sets targeting a region of the nucleotide sequence of the SIX4 gene specific for race 1 and a primer set targeting the SIX5 gene, conserved in all known Fol isolates. Upon LAMP reaction, amplification using all three primer sets was observed only when DNA of Fol race 1 was used as a template, and not when DNA of other Fol races or other fungal species was used. This method could detect 300 fg of Fol race 1 DNA, a 100-fold higher sensitivity than that obtained by conventional PCR. The method can also detect DNA extracted from soil artificially infested with Fol race 1. It is now possible to detect Fol race 1 in colonies and infected tomato stems without DNA isolation. This method is a rapid and simple tool for discrimination of Fol race 1.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

This study developed a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay for detection and differentiation of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (Fol) race 1 by using three primer sets targeting for the SIX4 and SIX5 genes. These genes are present together only in Fol race 1. This method can detect Fol race 1 in infected tomato stems without DNA extraction, affording an efficient diagnosis of Fusarium wilt on tomatoes in the field.

Partially ordered state of ice XV

Most ice polymorphs have order-disorder "pairs" in terms of hydrogen positions, which contributes to the rich variety of ice polymorphs; in fact, three recently discovered polymorphs- ices XIII, XIV, and XV-are ordered counter forms to already identified disordered phases. Despite the considerable effort to understand order-disorder transition in ice crystals, there is an inconsistency among the various experiments and calculations for ice XV, the ordered counter form of ice VI, i.e., neutron diffraction observations suggest antiferroelectrically ordered structures, which disagree with dielectric measurement and theoretical studies, implying ferroelectrically ordered structures. Here we investigate in-situ neutron diffraction measurements and density functional theory calculations to revisit the structure and stability of ice XV. We find that none of the completely ordered configurations are particular favored; instead, partially ordered states are established as a mixture of ordered domains in disordered ice VI. This scenario in which several kinds of ordered configuration coexist dispels the contradictions in previous studies. It means that the order-disorder pairs in ice polymorphs are not one-to-one correspondent pairs but rather have one-to-n correspondence, where there are n possible configurations at finite temperature.

Dynamics of planar cell polarity protein Vangl2 in the mouse oviduct epithelium

The planar cell polarity (PCP) pathway regulates morphogenesis in various organs. The polarized localization is a key feature of core PCP factors for orchestrating cell polarity in an epithelial sheet. Several studies using Drosophila melanogaster have investigated the mechanism of the polarized localization. However, to what extent these mechanisms are conserved and how the polarization of core PCP factors is maintained in mature vertebrates are still open questions. Here, we addressed these questions by analyzing the dynamics of Vangl2, a member of core PCP factors, in the mouse oviduct epithelium. Multiple core PCP factors including Vangl2 were expressed in the mouse oviduct in postnatal stages. Vangl1, Vangl2 and Frizzled6 had polarized localization in the oviduct epithelium. Exogenously introduced expression of green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged core PCP factors by electroporation revealed that Vangl1, Vangl2 and Prickle2 are localized on the ovarian side of the cell periphery in the oviduct. To visualize the Vangl2 dynamics, we generated the R26-Vangl2-EGFP transgenic mice. In these mice, Vangl2-EGFP was ubiquitously expressed and showed polarized localization in multiple organs including the oviduct, the trachea, the lateral ventricle and the uterus. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) analysis in the mature oviduct revealed that Vangl2 in the enriched subdomain of cell periphery (cellular edge) was more stable than Vangl2 in the less-enriched cellular edge. Furthermore, when a subregion of a Vangl2-enriched cellular edge was bleached, the Vangl2-enriched subregion neighboring the bleached region in the same cellular edge tended to decrease more intensities than the neighboring sub-region in the next Vangl2-enriched cellular edge. Finally, the polarization of Vangl2 was observed in nocodazole treated mouse viduct, suggesting the maintenance of Vangl2 asymmetry is independent of microtubule formation. Taken together, we revealed the characteristics of Vangl2 dynamics in the oviduct epithelium, and found that Vangl2 forms stable complex at the enriched cellular edge and forms compartments. Our data collectively suggest that the mechanism for maintenance of Vangl2 asymmetry in mature mouse oviduct is different from the microtubule dependent polarized transport model, which has been proposed for the reinforcement of the asymmetry of two core PCP proteins, Flamingo and Dishevelled, in the developing fly.

Abstract P2-02-20: Enumeration of heterogeneous circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in metastatic breast cancer patients based on size and deformability

Background :

The detection of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in peripheral blood is an independent predictor of the efficacy of systemic therapy and a prognostic marker for patients with metastatic breast cancer. One of the leading techniques to detect CTCs uses immune-magnetic separation followed by immunocytochemistry. A microdevice can capture and enumerate CTCs using distinctive physiological difference (size and deformability) between cancer cells and blood cells. This microdevice thus obtains a larger CTC yield than that of affinity based separation which enriches the samples from a particular subgroup of cells based on biomarker (EpCAM) used. In this study, we investigated CTCs in peripheral blood from metastatic breast cancer patients using this microdevice.

Patients and methods:

We examined blood samples of 9 patients with heavily treated locally recurrent or metastatic breast cancer. Informed consent from these patients was obtained before blood extraction. Blood samples were taken into sodium EDTA tubes after discarding the first 1ml of blood samples. Two ml whole blood were subjected to the microdevice (Clear cell system), and CTCs were trapped in the microwells: Trapped cells were analyzed by immunocytochemistry with monoclonal antibodies specific for leukocytes (CD45) and epithelial cells (CK8/18), along with 4,2-diamidino-2-phenylndole dihydrochloride (DAPI) for nuclei. CK8/18- positive, DAPI-positive and CD45-negative cells were defined as CTCs. Three patients were examined using both this microdevice and affinity-based separation with EpCAM, to compare the yield of CTCs.

Results:

Of the 9 patients: 7 had ER-positive primary tumors, and 6 had PgR-positive ones, HER2 overexpression was detected in 2 primary tumors. CTCs were detected in 8 patients. The single patient in whom CTCs were not detected suffered from local recurrence (axillary lymph node metastasis) only, with no distant metastases. We were also unable to detect CTCs using EpCAM affinity method for this patient. The number of detected CTCs in the other patients ranged from 19/2ml to 156/2ml (mean 90/2ml), and the sizes of CTCs varied from 5 to 16μm. CK8/18-negative and DAPI positive were detected in most patients, and these cells tended to be larger than CK8/18-positive cells, suggesting that epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) might occur in CTCs. The total number of CTCs detected by the microdevice from 2 patients was larger than that of CTCs detected by EpCAM affinity method (107/2ml vs 1/7.5ml, and 19/2ml vs 39/7.5ml).

Conclusion:

CTCs detected by this microdevice varied in regard to the size of trapped cells and characteristics examined by immunochemistry, suggesting the heterogeneity of CTCs. Further research on this heterogeneity is vital in order to develop personalized treatment for patients with metastatic breast cancer.

Citation Format: Tozuka K, Nagai SE, Inoue K, Komatsu K, Matsumoto H, Hayashi Y, Kurozumi S, Suganuma M. Enumeration of heterogeneous circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in metastatic breast cancer patients based on size and deformability. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Eighth Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2015 Dec 8-12; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P2-02-20.

Abstract P4-14-17: Prognostic value of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in residual tumors after neoadjuvant chemotherapy concomitant with trastuzumab for HER2-positive breast cancer

Background:

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) with taxanes, followed by fluorouracil, epirubicin, and cyclophosphamide (FEC), with concurrent trastuzumab is known to achieve a high pCR rate of more than 60% for HER2-positive breast cancer (BC) as well as good prognoses in those obtaining pCR. On the other hand, the prognostic significance of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) has recently been described in triple-negative BC. However, the prognostic and predictive values of TILs in HER2-positive BC remain unclear. In the present study, we examined the grades of TILs in pre-treatment cancer tissues and residual tumors after NAC with trastuzumab, and also investigated its predictive utility for pCR and prognostic power for HER2-positive BC.

Patients and Methods:

A total of 128 Japanese women with HER2-positive BC received either paclitaxel or docetaxel followed by FEC, with concomitant trastuzumab. The proportional grades of stromal (Str)-TILs in pre-treatment biopsy specimens and residual tumors after NAC with trastuzumab were determined as follows: low grade (0-10%), intermediate grade (10-40%), and high grade (40-90%), using the criteria of the International Working Group for TILs in BC. Analysis 1: The relationship between the grades of Str-TILs in pre-treatment tumors and pCR rates was investigated. Relapse-free survival (RFS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) were analyzed for a correlation with pre-treatment Str-TILs. Analysis 2: Alterations in the grade of Str-TILs were examined in the residual tumors of non-pCR patients, and RFS and CSS were analyzed for a correlation with residual Str-TILs.

Results:

pCR was achieved in 83 out of the 128 patients (pCR rate, 64.8%) who received NAC with trastuzumab, and RFS was significantly better in the pCR group than in the non-pCR group (p = 0.0071). Analysis 1: The patient distribution of the Str-TILs grade in pre-treatment tumors was as follows: high: 24 (18.8%); intermediate: 38 (29.7%); and low: 66 (51.6%). pCR rates correlated with the Str-TILs grade in pre-treatment tumors: 83.3% in the high group, 71.1% in the intermediate group, and 54.5% in the low group (p = 0.026); however, the Str-TILs grade in pre-treatment tumors did not correlate with survival. Analysis 2: In 45 non-pCR patients, the distribution of the Str-TILs grade in residual tumors was as follows: high: 9 (20.0%); intermediate: 8 (17.8%); and low: 28 (62.2%), respectively. In non-pCR patients, the rate of a high Str-TILs grade was greater in residual tumors than in pre-treatment tumors (residual, 20.0%, pre-treatment, 8.9%). RFS was significantly better with a high grade than with a low grade of residual Str-TILs (p = 0.033).

Conclusions:

The status of TILs in pre-treatment tumors predicted responses to NAC concomitant with trastuzumab in HER2-positive BC. The grade of TILs was higher in residual tumors than in pre-treatment tumors, and, among non-pCR patients, the prognosis of patients with a high residual-TILs grade was better prognosis than that of patients with a low residual-TILs grade. We speculate that an examination of TILs in residual tumors after NAC with trastuzumab may be necessary for selecting patients with a good prognosis from non-pCR patients.

Citation Format: Kurozumi S, Inoue K, Matsumoto H, Hayashi Y, Tozuka K, Kubo K, Komatsu K, Takai K, Nagai SE, Oba H, Horiguchi J, Takeyoshi I, Kurosumi M. Prognostic value of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in residual tumors after neoadjuvant chemotherapy concomitant with trastuzumab for HER2-positive breast cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Eighth Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2015 Dec 8-12; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P4-14-17.

Cationized gelatin hydrogels mixed with plasmid DNA induce stronger and more sustained gene expression than atelocollagen at calvarial bone defects in vivo

Gene transduction of exogenous factors at local sites in vivo is a promising approach to promote regeneration of tissue defects owing to its simplicity and capacity for expression of a variety of genes. Gene transduction by viral vectors is highly efficient; however, there are safety concerns associated with viruses. As a method for nonviral gene transduction, plasmid DNA delivery is safer and simpler, but requires an efficient carrier substance. Here, we aimed to develop a simple, efficient method for bone regeneration by gene transduction and to identify optimal conditions for plasmid DNA delivery at bone defect sites. We focused on carrier substances and compared the efficiencies of two collagen derivatives, atelocollagen, and gelatin hydrogel, as substrates for plasmid DNA delivery in vivo. To assess the efficiencies of these substrates, we examined exogenous expression of green fluorescence protein (GFP) by fluorescence microscopy, polymerase chain reaction, and immunohistochemistry. GFP expression at the bone defect site was higher when gelatin hydrogel was used as a substrate to deliver plasmids than when atelocollagen was used. Moreover, the gelatin hydrogel was almost completely absorbed at the defect site, whereas some atelocollagen remained. When a plasmid harboring bone morphogenic protein 2 was delivered with the substrate to bony defect sites, more new bone formation was observed in the gelatin group than in the atelocollagen group. These results suggested that the gelatin hydrogel was more efficient than atelocollagen as a substrate for local gene delivery and may be a superior material for induction of bone regeneration.

A case-control study of risk factors for death from 2009 pandemic influenza A(H1N1): is American Indian racial status an independent risk factor?

Historically, American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations have suffered excess morbidity and mortality from influenza. We investigated the risk factors for death from 2009 pandemic influenza A(H1N1) in persons residing in five states with substantial AI/AN populations. We conducted a case-control investigation using pandemic influenza fatalities from 2009 in Alaska, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Wyoming. Controls were outpatients with influenza. We reviewed medical records and interviewed case proxies and controls. We used multiple imputation to predict missing data and multivariable conditional logistic regression to determine risk factors. We included 145 fatal cases and 236 controls; 22% of cases were AI/AN. Risk factors (P 45 years vs. <18 years], pre-existing medical conditions (mOR 7·1), smoking (mOR 3·0), delayed receipt of antivirals (mOR 6·5), and barriers to healthcare access (mOR 5·3). AI/AN race was not significantly associated with death. The increased influenza mortality in AI/AN individuals was due to factors other than racial status. Prevention of influenza deaths should focus on modifiable factors (smoking, early antiviral use, access to care) and identifying high-risk persons for immunization and prompt medical attention.

Multiple phases in regulation of Nanog expression during pre-implantation development

Nanog is a key transcriptional factor for the maintenance of pluripotency of ES cells, iPS cells or cells in early mammalian embryos. The expression of Nanog is mainly localized to the epiblast in the late blastocyst. The Nanog gene expression pattern varies between embryos and between blastomeres during blastocyst formation. In this report, we traced the changes of Nanog expression in each cell in developing preimplantation mouse embryos through time-lapse observation of Nanog-GFP transgenic mouse embryos. The expression pattern of Nanog was classified into four phases depending on the developmental stage. Nanog expression started at very low levels during cleavage stages. It increased stochastically during the morula stage, but its expression level had no clear correlation with future cell fates. After the 32-cell stage, when embryos form the blastocyst cavity, Nanog expression was upregulated mainly in ICM cells while it was repressed in the future primitive endoderm lineage in an FGF signaling-dependent manner in the later stages. These results indicate that there are multiple phases in the transcriptional regulation of Nanog during blastocyst formation.

Analysis of the Effect of Leukemia Inhibitory Factor on Follicular Growth in Cultured Murine Ovarian Tissue

Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) is expressed in the ovary and controls follicular growth. LIF has been reported to accelerate the primordial to primary follicle transition, the growth of cultured preantral follicles, and the maturation of oocytes. Previous reports on factors that regulate follicular growth have largely employed cultured follicles. However, there are several types of follicles and somatic cells in the ovary that are likely to interact with one another to regulate follicular growth. Therefore, a novel approach is essential for understanding the function of factors that regulate follicular growth in the ovary. In this study, we evaluated the function of LIF using cultured ovarian tissue. Ovarian tissue slices were cultured in the presence or absence of recombinant LIF and neutralizing anti-LIF antibody to enable continuous monitoring of follicular growth within the context of the ovary as well as analysis of the process of follicular growth. The results revealed that LIF inhibited the growth of primary, secondary, and antral follicles. Furthermore, we verified the inhibitory function of LIF using the neutralizing antibody, which accelerated follicular growth. These results suggest that LIF is likely to coordinate follicular growth in the ovary. The culture and analysis methods employed in this study are thus effective for clarifying the tissue-level functions of factors that regulate follicular growth within the ovary.

Y chromosome haplogroup D2a1 is significantly associated with high levels of luteinizing hormone in Japanese men

The association between the Y chromosome haplogroup D2 and risk of azoospermia and low sperm motility has been previously studied, and it was indicated that haplogroups DE (YAP lineage) are associated with prostate cancer risk in Japanese males. Our assumption had been that Y chromosome haplogroups may be associated with sex hormone levels, because sex hormones have been deemed responsible for spermatogenesis and carcinogenesis. In this study, we assessed the association between Y chromosome haplogroups and sex hormone levels, including those of testosterone, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), inhibin-B, and calculated free testosterone (cFT), in 901 young men from the general Japanese population (cohort 1) and 786 Japanese men of proven fertility (cohort 2). We found that the haplogroup D2a1 was significantly associated with high LH levels in a combined analysis involving two cohorts (β = 0.068, SE = 0.025, p = 0.0075), following correction for multiple testing. To date, this result is the first evidence that implicates Y chromosome haplogroups in an association with sex hormone levels.

Constipation is not associated with colonic diverticula: a multicenter study in Japan

BACKGROUND

The association of diverticula with bowel habits is unclear. We therefore analyzed the association between diverticula and bowel habits in over 1000 Japanese individuals.

METHODS

Japanese subjects who underwent total colonoscopies at seven centers in Japan from June to September 2013 were analyzed. Bowel habits were evaluated using the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale, and stool form was assessed using a part of the Bristol Scale and Rome ΙΙΙ criteria. Diverticula were diagnosed by colonoscopy with a transparent soft-short hood.

KEY RESULTS

The study evaluated 1066 subjects, 648 males and 418 females (ratio, 1.55 : 1), of mean age 63.9 ± 13.0 years. After adjusting for age and sex, the presence of constipation was associated with a significantly reduced likelihood of diverticula (odds ratio [OR] = 0.70, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.52-0.93). When assessed according to the location of diverticula, the presence of constipation was associated with a significantly decreased likelihood of left-sided (OR = 0.39, 95% CI 0.16-0.93), but not right-sided (OR = 1.10, 95% CI 0.48-2.53), diverticula. Furthermore, stool form was unrelated with the presence or absence of diverticula.

CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES

The wide-spread hypothesis that constipation was associated with colonic diverticula was not supported. Rather, we found that the absence of diverticula was associated with constipation, suggesting the need to reassess the etiology of colonic diverticula.

Regulation of secondary follicle growth by theca cells and insulin-like growth factor 1

Ovaries contain follicles at various stages of development, including primordial, primary, secondary, antral and Graafian follicles. Although the growth of these follicles is controlled to maintain regular ovulation, the mechanism through which this occurs remains unclear. In our study, we found that the growth rate of cultured secondary follicles separated from mice ovaries differed between follicles. After 4 days of culture, the size of some secondary follicles was markedly increased, while that of others had either slightly increased, remained unchanged or shrunk. We compared the expression levels of growth factors between these secondary follicles and found that the growth rate of cultured secondary follicles correlated with the expression level of insulin-like growth factor 1 (Igf1) mRNA. Igf1 mRNA expression level in secondary follicles containing theca cells was higher than that in secondary follicles without theca cells, and the granulosa cell proliferation around follicles containing theca cells was increased. Furthermore, an IGF1 inhibitor also inhibited the granulosa cell proliferation, and administration of IGF1 to secondary follicles without growth promoted granulosa cell proliferation. These results indicated that the theca cells of secondary follicles induced the expression of IGF1 and promoted the follicle growth.

DNA damage signaling guards against perturbation of cyclin D1 expression triggered by low-dose long-term fractionated radiation

Cyclin D1 expression is precisely controlled during cell-cycle progression. However, repeated exposure to low-dose fractionated radiation (FR) abrogates cell cycle-dependent cyclin D1 degradation by constitutive activation of AKT survival signaling in normal human fibroblasts. The resulting abnormal nuclear cyclin D1 accumulation induces defects in DNA replication and resulting DNA double-strand breaks, and is associated with induction of genomic instability in low-dose irradiated cells. Here, we investigated the role of DNA damage signaling against such perturbed cell-cycle control of cyclin D1 expression. Nuclear cyclin D1 accumulation was induced within 7 days after low-dose FR (0.01 Gy or 0.05 Gy per fraction) in ATM-deficient cells (AT5BIVA), but appeared later in AT5BIVA cells harboring human ATM cDNA. Thus, ATM prevents abnormal nuclear cyclin D1 accumulation at early time points after low-dose FR. We further demonstrated that ATM-mediated downregulation of protein phosphatase 2A activity caused activation of the AKT/cyclin D1 pathway after long-term FR. Perturbation of cyclin D1 expression induced Rad51 foci that indicate homologous recombination repair (HRR) in control cells, while ATM- and NBS1-deficient cells (GM7166) failed to induce Rad51 foci after long-term low-dose FR. After 21 days of FR, NBS1- and ATM-deficient cells showed a decrease in nuclear cyclin D1-positive cells, and an increase in apoptotic cells. Similarly, inhibition of ATM with KU55933 abrogated nuclear cyclin D1 accumulation by induction of apoptosis in ATM-complemented cells exposed to low-dose FR. In conclusion, we here demonstrate that ATM is involved in controlling cyclin D1 levels after low-dose FR. DNA damage signaling mitigates the harmful effects of low-dose long-term FR by suppression of cell death induced by perturbation of cyclin D1 expression.

Celsr1 is required for the generation of polarity at multiple levels of the mouse oviduct

The oviduct is an important organ in reproduction where fertilization occurs, and through which the fertilized eggs are carried to the uterus in mammals. This organ is highly polarized, where the epithelium forms longitudinal folds along the ovary-uterus axis, and the epithelial multicilia beat towards the uterus to transport the ovulated ova. Here, we analyzed the postnatal development of mouse oviduct and report that multilevel polarities of the oviduct are regulated by a planar cell polarity (PCP) gene, Celsr1. In the epithelium, Celsr1 is concentrated in the specific cellular boundaries perpendicular to the ovary-uterus axis from postnatal day 2. We found a new feature of cellular polarity in the oviduct - the apical surface of epithelial cells is elongated along the ovary-uterus axis. In Celsr1-deficient mice, the ciliary motion is not orchestrated along the ovary-uterus axis and the transport ability of beating cilia is impaired. Epithelial cells show less elongation and randomized orientation, and epithelial folds show randomized directionality and ectopic branches in the mutant. Our mosaic analysis suggests that the geometry of epithelial cells is primarily regulated by Celsr1 and as a consequence the epithelial folds are aligned. Taken together, we reveal the characteristics of the multilevel polarity formation processes in the mouse oviduct epithelium and suggest a novel function of the PCP pathway for proper tissue morphogenesis.

Differential diagnosis of vertical root fractures using reconstructed three-dimensional models of bone defects

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of diagnosing vertical root fractures (VRFs) by comparing the volume of bone defects in VRFs with those in non-VRFs on reconstructed three-dimensional (3D) models (TDMs) using CBCT.

METHODS

32 maxillary pre-molars and anterior teeth with radiolucent areas were evaluated on pre-operative CBCT images. Of the 32 teeth, 16 had a fractured root (VRF group) and 16 had a non-fractured root (non-VRF group). The radiolucent area of each tooth was traced in each dimension [mesiodistal, buccolingual and horizontal (the apicoincisal aspect)] by two observers, and 3D images were reconstructed with the Amira(®) software (Visage Imaging Inc., Richmond, Australia). The volume, V, of the TDM was divided into the coronal side and the periapical side at the horizontal slice through the apical foramen, and v was defined as the volume of the coronal side. The values of v/V were calculated for all cases. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare values between the VRF group and the non-VRF group (p < 0.05). A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was constructed to select the optimal cut-point.

RESULTS

There was a statistically significant difference in the value of v/V between the two groups (p < 0.05). With a cut-point derived from the ROC curve, and the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of predicting the VRFs were 1.00, 0.75 and 0.88, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Lesions resulting from VRFs can be distinguished from those of non-VRFs on 3D CBCT images with a high degree of accuracy, based on their different 3D shapes.

Mitochondrial membrane potential in 2-cell stage embryos correlates with the success of preimplantation development

Hormonal stimulation in superovulation induces female mice to ovulate more oocytes than spontaneous ovulation. Because the superovulated oocytes contain a number of oocytes that normally regress before spontaneous ovulation or immature oocytes, the development of some embryos that derive from these oocytes by IVF is prevented. Therefore, the quality of superovulated oocytes should differ from that of spontaneously ovulated oocytes. In this study, we evaluated the quality of superovulated oocytes, by examining 1- and 2-cell stage embryos, in which the development mainly depends on the maternal mRNA, proteins, and mitochondria that are contained in the oocytes, and we then measured the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) of the 1- and 2-cell stage,in vivo-fertilized, and IVF embryos. The ΔΨmof 1-cell stage IVF embryos was lower than that ofin vivo-fertilized embryos; however, there was no difference between IVF embryos. During the developmental process from 1- to 2-cell stage, the ΔΨmofin vivo-fertilized embryos was highly upregulated, whereas a number of IVF embryos remained unchanged. As a result, 2-cell stage embryos were divided into two groups: high- and low- ΔΨm2-cell stage IVF embryos. The development of low-ΔΨm2-cell stage IVF embryos tended to be arrested after the 2-cell stage. These results indicated that the upregulation of ΔΨmduring the 1- to 2-cell stage was important in the development of early preimplantation embryos; there were some defects in the mitochondria of superovulated oocytes, which prevented their development.

Infrared spectroscopy of small-molecule endofullerenes

Hydrogen is one of the few molecules that has been incarcerated in the molecular cage of C₆₀ to form the endohedral supramolecular complex H₂@C₆₀. In this confinement, hydrogen acquires new properties. Its translation motion, within the C₆₀ cavity, becomes quantized, is correlated with its rotation and breaks inversion symmetry that induces infrared (IR) activity of H₂. We apply IR spectroscopy to study the dynamics of hydrogen isotopologues H₂, D₂ and HD incarcerated in C₆₀. The translation and rotation modes appear as side bands to the hydrogen vibration mode in the mid-IR part of the absorption spectrum. Because of the large mass difference of hydrogen and C₆₀ and the high symmetry of C₆₀ the problem is almost identical to a vibrating rotor moving in a three-dimensional spherical potential. We derive potential, rotation, vibration and dipole moment parameters from the analysis of the IR absorption spectra. Our results were used to derive the parameters of a pairwise additive five-dimensional potential energy surface for H₂@C₆₀. The same parameters were used to predict H₂ energies inside C₇₀. We compare the predicted energies and the low-temperature IR absorption spectra of H₂@C₇₀.

Application of microsatellite primers developed for Polistes in the independent-founding wasp Polists satan Bequaert (Hymenoptera: Vespidae)

Microsatellite primers developed for a given species are sometimes useful for another in the same genus and in other genera within the same family, making possible to search for pre-existing suitable primers in the databanks such as GenBank. We examined whether existing primers developed for Polistes could be used for Polistes satan Bequaert. We tested 50 microsatellite primers from three Polistes species and found that six microsatellite loci show polymorphism in size in P. satan. These six loci were highly polymorphic, having four to 15 alleles in P. satan with an expected heterozygosity of 0.525-0.832. These loci can be used to study parameters concerning genetic relatedness such as social interactions in colonies and genetic conflicts of interest among nestmate individuals.

Formation of NaCl-type monodeuteride LaD by the disproportionation reaction of LaD2

Previous x-ray diffraction measurements revealed the pressure-induced decomposition of an fcc LaH2.3 into H-rich and H-poor fcc phases around 11 GPa. The present neutron diffraction measurements on LaD2 confirm the formation of NaCl-type LaD as a counterpart of the D-rich LaD2+δ by disproportionation. First-principles enthalpy and lattice dynamic calculations demonstrate that the NaCl-type LaH is stabilized at high pressures and can be recovered at ambient conditions. Finding the NaCl-type LaH will pave the way for investigations on the site-dependent nature of hydrogen-metal interactions.