Abstract P6-12-26: The axonal damage marker, serum phosphorylated neurofilament heavy subunit, as a potential marker of chemotherapy-induced neuropathy

Background: Chemotherapy-induced neurologic disorders such as peripheral neuropathy and cognitive disturbance are clinically significant problems for cancer survivors, but their objective assessment methods have not been established. We previously reported in a cross-sectional study that the serum phosphorylated neurofilament heavy subunit (pNF-H), a biomarker of axonal damage, was increased in breast cancer patients treated with chemotherapy. The aim of this study is to temporally assess the neurological adverse events and evaluate the association of serum pNF-H level with cognitive functions and neuropathy following sequential chemotherapy.

Methods: Thirty-five breast cancer patients who received neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy were enrolled prospectively. They underwent brain MRI and cognitive function tests including Controlled Oral Word Association (COWA), Trail Making Test (TMT), and Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised (HVLT-R) before chemotherapy (baseline), one month after completing sequential chemotherapy (post-phase) and more than six months after completing chemotherapy (late-phase). Serum pNF-H levels and questionnaires reporting peripheral neuropathy were measured at the three phases, and every 3 weeks during chemotherapy. Brain MRI volumetry was calculated by the automatic analysis software, BAAD® (Brain Anatomical Analysis using Dartel). The correlations among cognitive functions, brain volume, peripheral neuropathy and serum pNF-H levels were statistically analyzed.

Results: Patients' median age was 48 years (range 24-71). A decrease of more than 10% in cognitive function test (COWA) scores was seen in 10 cases (31%) at post-phase. A brain volume loss of more than 10% was seen in 5 cases (15%) at post-phase. The correlation between brain volume change and cognitive disturbance was not significant (p=0.45) and both changes were improved at late-phase. A peripheral neuropathy grade above CTCAE grade 2 was seen in 19 cases (54%). The neuropathy was significantly more severe in anthracycline followed by taxane regimen than taxane followed by anthracycline during chemotherapy (p=0.016), although this difference was not seen at the late-phase (p=0.08). An elevated serum pNF-H level at baseline was seen in only one case, and this case demonstrated the cognitive disturbance, brain volume loss, and peripheral neuropathy following chemotherapy. During chemotherapy, pNF-H was elevated in 24 patients (69%), with especially higher levels noted during the taxane regimen compared to the anthracycline regimen (p=0.019). In the cases treated with anthracycline followed by taxane, the taxane-phase elevation was especially significant (p=0.014). The maximum pNF-H level during taxane therapy was significantly correlated with peripheral neuropathy grade (p=0.002). At late-phase, the significant reduction of pNF-H level was seen in all cases.

Conclusions: Change of cognitive function, brain volume and peripheral neuropathy was observed following chemotherapy in breast cancer patients. This study suggests that the serum axonal damage marker, pNF-H, may reflect chemotherapy-induced neuropathy.

Citation Format: Kida K, Sumitani M, Ogata T, Kotake R, Natori A, Hashimoto J, Shimokawa T, Yamauchi H, Yamauchi T. The axonal damage marker, serum phosphorylated neurofilament heavy subunit, as a potential marker of chemotherapy-induced neuropathy [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 P6-12-26.

Knockout of a transgene by transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs) in the sawfly, Athalia rosae (Hymenoptera) and the ladybird beetle, Harmonia axyridis (Coleoptera)

Transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs) are efficient tools for targeted genome editing and have been utilized in a number of insects. Here, we demonstrate the gene disruption (knockout) caused by TALENs targeting a transgene, 3xP3-driven enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP), that is integrated in the genome of two species, the sawfly Athalia rosae (Hymenoptera) and the ladybird beetle Harmonia axyridis (Coleoptera). Messenger RNAs of TALENs targeting the sequences adjacent to the chromophore region were microinjected into the eggs/embryos of each species. In At. rosae, when microinjection was performed at the posterior end of eggs, 15% of G(0) individuals showed a somatic mosaic phenotype for eye EGFP fluorescence. Three-quarters of the somatic mosaics produced EGFP-negative G(1) progeny. When eggs were injected at the anterior end, 63% of the G(0) individuals showed somatic mosaicism, and 17% of them produced EGFP-negative G(1) progeny. In H. axyridis, 25% of posterior-injected and 8% of anterior-injected G(0) individuals produced EGFP-negative G(1) progeny. In both species, the EGFP-negative progeny retained the EGFP gene, and various deletions were detected in the target sequences, indicating that gene disruption was successfully induced. Finally, for both species, 18-21% of G(0) founders produced gene knockout progeny sufficient for establishing knockout strains.

Establishment of a specific cell death induction system in Bombyx mori by a transgene with the conserved apoptotic regulator, mouse Bcl-2-associated X protein (mouse Bax)

The induction of apoptosis in vivo is a useful tool for investigating the functions and importance of particular tissues. B-cell leukaemia/lymphoma 2-associated X protein (Bax) functions as a pro-apoptotic factor and induces apoptosis in several organisms. The Bax-mediated apoptotic system is widely conserved from Caenorhabditis elegans to humans. In order to establish a tissue-specific cell death system in the domestic silkworm, Bombyx mori, we constructed a transgenic silkworm that overexpressed mouse Bax (mBax) in particular tissues by the Gal4-upstream activation sequence system. We found that the expression of mBax induced specific cell death in the silk gland, fat body and sensory cells. Fragmentation of genomic DNA was observed in the fat body, which expressed mBax, thereby supporting apoptotic cell death in this tissue. Using this system, we also demonstrated that specific cell death in sensory cells attenuated the response to the sex pheromone bombykol. These results show that we successfully established a tissue-specific cell death system in vivo that enabled specific deficiencies in particular tissues. The inducible cell death system may provide useful means for industrial applications of the silkworm and possible utilization for other species.

Visualization and live imaging analysis of a mosquito saliva protein in host animal skin using a transgenic mosquito with a secreted luciferase reporter system

Mosquitoes inject saliva into a vertebrate host during blood feeding. The analysis of mosquito saliva in host skin is important for the elucidation of the inflammatory responses to mosquito bites, the development of antithrombotic drugs, and the transmission-blocking of vector-borne diseases. We produced transgenic Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes expressing the secretory luciferase protein (MetLuc) fused to a saliva protein (AAPP) in the salivary glands. The transgene product (AAPP-MetLuc) of transgenic mosquitoes exhibited both luciferase activity as a MetLuc and binding activity to collagen as an AAPP. The detection of luminescence in the skin of mice bitten by transgenic mosquitoes showed that AAPP-MetLuc was injected into the skin as a component of saliva via blood feeding. AAPP-MetLuc remained at the mosquito bite site in host skin with luciferase activity for at least 4 h after blood feeding. AAPP was also suspected of remaining at the site of injury caused by the mosquito bite and blocking platelet aggregation by binding to collagen. These results demonstrated the establishment of visualization and time-lapse analysis of mosquito saliva in living vertebrate host skin. This technique may facilitate the analysis of mosquito saliva after its injection into host skin, and the development of new drugs and disease control strategies.

Reduction of malaria transmission by transgenic mosquitoes expressing an antisporozoite antibody in their salivary glands

We have previously developed a robust salivary gland-specific expression system in transgenic Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes. To establish transgenic mosquito lines refractory to Plasmodium falciparum using this system, we generated a transgenic mosquito harbouring the gene encoding an anti-P. falciparum circumsporozoite protein (PfCSP) single-chain antibody (scFv) fused to DsRed in a secretory form (mDsRed-2A10 scFv). Fluorescence microscopy showed that the mDsRed-2A10 scFv was localized in the secretory cavities and ducts of the salivary glands in a secreted form. To evaluate P. falciparum transmission-blocking in a rodent malaria model, a transgenic Plasmodium berghei line expressing PfCSP in place of PbCSP (PfCSP/Pb) was constructed. The PfCSP/Pb parasites were able to bind to the mDsRed-2A10 scFv in the salivary glands of the transgenic mosquitoes. Importantly, the infectivity of the transgenic mosquitoes to mice was strongly impaired, indicating that the parasites had been inactivated. These results suggest that salivary gland-specific expression of antisporozoite molecules could be a promising strategy for blocking malaria transmission to humans.

Induction of antisporozoite antibodies by biting of transgenic Anopheles stephensi delivering malarial antigen via blood feeding

We produced a transgenic mosquito expressing a rodent malaria vaccine candidate antigen in the salivary gland. Three tandemly repeated amino acid units from the repeat region of circumsporozoite protein of Plasmodium berghei (PbCS3R) fused to red fluorescent protein (monomeric DsRed) was chosen as a vaccine candidate antigen. Immunoblot and fluorescence microscopic analyses showed the transgene expression in the female salivary gland. The transgene product was released from the proboscis as a component of saliva. The monomeric DsRed-fusion expression system could be suitable for transgene secretion in the saliva of female mosquitoes. Mice repeatedly bitten by transgenic mosquitoes raised antibodies against P. berghei sporozoites, and the sera had protective ability against sporozoite invasion of human hepatoma HepG2 cells. These results suggest that transgene products are immunogenically active in saliva, and induce the antibodies to malaria parasite. These findings indicate that this technology has the potential for production of a 'flying vaccinator' for rodent malaria parasites.

Prism adaptation to optical deviation alleviates pathologic pain

BACKGROUND

The human visual and somatosensory systems are interdependent. Using a visual subjective body-midline (SM) judgment task, we previously confirmed that pathologic pain and deafferentation can modify visuospatial perception, indicating that altered somatosensory experience can modify visual perception. Conversely, in the present study we investigated whether a change in visual experience can modify perception of pathologic pain.

METHODS

We used prism adaptation (PA) to modify subjects' visual experience. Five patients with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) adapted to wedge prisms, producing a 20-degree visual displacement toward the unaffected side. Further, we used several types of prisms in a longitudinal single-case study. Wearing prismatic goggles, the subjects performed a target-pointing task once a day for 2 weeks. We evaluated pain intensity and visual SM judgment to measure the adaptive aftereffects at three time points: before PA (pre-test), immediately after the first PA exposure (IA-test), and after a 14-day sequence of PA exposure (post-test).

RESULTS

PA toward the unaffected side alleviated pathologic pain and other CRPS pathologic features, when measured at post-test. None of the IA-test results showed an analgesic effect. In the longitudinal study, sham PA and 5-degree PA did not produce any effects, and PA toward the affected side actually exacerbated the subjective pain.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that vision can influence pathologic pain, and preliminarily suggest that prism adaptation has a direction-specific and reproducible effect on not only pathologic pain but also other CRPS pathologic features. Thus, prism adaptation may be a viable cognitive treatment for CRPS.

Pathologic pain distorts visuospatial perception

Spatial perception is achieved by integrating multisensory information. Using visual subjective body midline (vSM) judgments in patients with unilateral limb pain (complex regional pain syndrome [CRPS]), we found that their vSM deviated toward the affected side; however, deafferentation of the affected limb caused a transient pain decrease and a transient shift of the vSM deviation toward the unaffected side. Our results indicate that the persistent pain state in CRPS distorts visuospatial perception.

Preservation of a transgenic strain of the sawfly, Athalia rosae (Hymenoptera) by artificial fertilization using cryopreserved sperm

Germline transformation using a piggyBac-derived vector is feasible in the sawfly, Athalia rosae. A previously generated transgenic line carrying green fluorescence protein (GFP) genes as reporters was successfully maintained and preserved without consecutive rearing. Sperm taken from males that were frozen directly in liquid nitrogen and stored at -80 degrees C for a year were microinjected into mature unfertilized eggs dissected from female ovaries. A fraction of the sperm-injected eggs was fertilized and developed into diploid females, and all of them expressed GFP. Haploid male progeny from these females segregated into GFP-positive and GFP-negative individuals in a ratio of 1:1 indicating heterozygosity of the parental females. The GFP genes were stably inherited staying at the location where they were originally integrated.

Germline transformation of the sawfly, Athalia rosae (Hymenoptera: Symphyta), mediated by a piggyBac-derived vector

A piggyBac construct carrying two green fluorescent protein (GFP)-coding sequences one driven by Bombyx mori actin gene promoter and the other by Drosophila melanogaster heat-shock protein 70 (hsp70) promoter were injected together with a nonautonomous helper plasmid containing an active piggyBac transposase gene into the posterior end of mature unfertilized eggs dissected from the ovaries of Athalia rosae (Hymenoptera: Symphyta). These injected eggs, which developed as haploid male embryos upon artificial activation, were cultured to adulthood. Of 278 injected eggs, 61 grew to G(0) haploid adult males. These G(0) haploid males were individually mated to diploid females. The progeny embryos (G(1) generation) were examined for GFP expression. Four GFP-positive embryos (from three independent G(0) matings) were obtained. Two eclosed as diploid adult G(1) females. Mature unfertilized eggs dissected from the GFP-positive G(1) diploid females were activated artificially, and the resultant embryos were examined for GFP expression, separated and cultured to adulthood (G(2) generation). The G(2) haploid embryos segregated to GFP-positive and -negative individuals. By mating the G(2) adult haploid males individually to diploid females, stocks were established in which the piggyBac construct was stably integrated into the genome, as evidenced by GFP expression and Southern blot hybridization. The piggyBac transposition occurred at its canonical target TTAA sequence. These results, which demonstrate the first successful stable transposon-mediated germline transformation in Hymenoptera, will expand the usefulness of the piggyBac vector.

Dietary soy isoflavone intake in older Japanese American women

OBJECTIVE

In a sample of older Japanese American women, we aimed to: (1) describe the most commonly consumed soy foods, (2) estimate dietary soy isoflavone intake, (3) describe characteristics associated with dietary soy isoflavone intake, and (4) compare our estimates with previously published estimates in other Japanese samples.

DESIGN

A 14-item soy food-frequency questionnaire was administered to older Japanese American women and responses were converted to quantitative estimates of soy isoflavones (genistein plus daidzein). Multiple regression was used to examine characteristics associated with dietary soy isoflavone intake, including self-reported lifestyle and cultural factors and dietary intake of various foods ascertained from a semi-quantitative food-frequency questionnaire. To compare our estimates with other samples, a review of the literature was conducted.

SETTING/SUBJECTS

Data are from 274 women aged 65+ years, recruited from a longitudinal cohort study of Japanese Americans in King County, Washington State.

RESULTS

The soy foods most commonly consumed were tofu (soybean curd), miso (fermented soybean paste) and aburaage (fried thin soybean curd). The mean intake of dietary soy isoflavones was 10.2 (standard deviation (SD), 12.4) mg day(-1), approximately a quarter to a half that of previously published estimates in Japanese samples. Dietary soy isoflavone intake was positively associated with speaking Japanese, the consumption of traditional Japanese dishes (kamaboko, manju and mochi), low-fat/non-fat milk and yellow/red vegetables, vitamin E supplement use, and walking several blocks each day. Dietary soy isoflavone intake was negatively associated with the consumption of butter.

CONCLUSIONS

The estimated dietary soy isoflavone intake in Japanese American women living in King County, Washington State was about a quarter to a half that of women living in Japan. Dietary soy isoflavone intake was associated with speaking Japanese and healthy lifestyle and dietary habits.

A linkage map of the turnip sawfly Athalia rosae (Hymenoptera: Symphyta) based on random amplified polymorphic DNAs

A linkage map was constructed for the sawfly, Athalia rosae (Hymenoptera), based on the segregation of random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers and a visible mutation, yellow fat body (yfb). Forty haploid male progeny (20 yfb and 20+) from a single diploid female parent (yfb/+) were examined. Sixty-one of the 180 arbitrary primers tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) produced one or more RAPD bands. A total of 79 RAPD markers were detected. Of these, seven showed significant deviation from the expected 1:1 ratio, and were therefore excluded from further analysis. The remaining 72 RAPD markers and the marker mutation, yfb, were subjected to linkage analysis. Sixty RAPD markers and the yfb marker were organized into 16 linkage groups, spanning a distance of 517.2 cM. Twelve RAPD markers showed no linkage relationship to any group. Thirteen gel-purified RAPD bands were cloned and sequenced to generate the sequence-tagged sites (STSs). A single locus was represented by two markers, with one of them having a short internal deletion.

Distribution of tonin- and kallikrein-like activities in rat brain

Tonin- and kallikrein-like activities were investigated in different regions of the rat brain. The highest values of specific tonin activity, expressed as picomoles of angiotensin II liberated per minute per milligram of protein, were found in the neurohypophysis (359 +/- 190) and in the archicerebellum (200 +/- 68). The highest level of total tonin activity (picomoles of angiotensin II liberated per minute) was observed in the archicerebellum (902 +/- 308) which retained 97% of total tonin activity of whole cerebellum. Tonin activity was not detected in the cortex of cerebellum and in the choroid plexus. Low to intermediate values of specific (1.09 +/- 0.33 to 5.32 +/- 2.37) and total (1.38 +/- 0.55 to 93.00 +/- 49.30) tonin activity were observed in adenohypophysis, cerebellar nuclei, hypothalamus, thalamus, midbrain, pons, medulla and neurohypophysis. The lowest values of specific (0.11 +/- 0.05) and total (0.69 +/- 0.31) activities were observed in the hippocampus. Kallikrein-like activity was expressed as picomoles of p-nitroaniline liberated per minute per milligram of protein. No activity was detected in the neurohypophysis. For other regions, the values of the specific activity ranged between 72 +/- 18 and 282 +/- 14 except for the choroid plexus which was 5 +/- 2. The total kallikrein activity was also homogeneous ranging from 330 +/- 100 to 1870 +/- 112. For the choroid plexus and adenohypophysis the total kallikrein activity was 2.0 +/- 0.8 and 27 +/- 11, respectively.

In vivo adaptive responses of the aorta to hypertension and aging

To investigate the dynamic behavior of the aorta of freely moving rats during the maintenance of hypertension, a longitudinal study was performed in renal hypertensive (Goldblatt 1 kidney, 1 clip) rats aged 3, 6, and 9 mo in which hypertension was maintained for 1, 3, and 6 mo, respectively. The pulsatile caliber of the thoracic aorta was measured (electrolytic strain gauge chronically implanted) simultaneously with aortic pressure under basal conditions and during transient changes of blood pressure. Aortic thickness was determined postmortem by morphometry. Establishment of hypertension (179 +/- 5 mmHg) by increasing the stress developed by the aorta caused increases in the resting values of caliber (20%), thickness (21%), and strain (95%); the maintenance of hypertension for a 6-mo period caused a further increase in thickness (58% vs. age-matched normotensive aortas) but not in aortic caliber and strain, the subsequent alterations of which were due only to growth/aging. Although different calibers, thicknesses, and dynamic strains were presented, the stress-strain relationship during transient blood pressure changes was similar for all hypertensive and normotensive groups with the exception of renal hypertensive rats aged 6 mo, which presented a steeper relationship (a large transitory increase in aortic distensibility was observed at that age). Dynamic adaptive responses of the aorta to hypertension compensate for geometric changes in such a way as to maintain a near-constant distensibility. It was concluded that, in contrast to the extrathoracic vessels, the adaptive responses of the aorta to hypertension were directed to maintain its compliance without changing the distensibility and stress-strain relationship, contributing to partially counterbalance the increased pressure and the decreased compliance of the more peripheral components of the arterial tree.

Regression of the baroreceptor resetting in hypertension of long duration in rats

1. The extent of reversal of baroreceptor resetting after pressure normalization was studied in rats with renal hypertension of up to 6 months duration. The aortas of these rats when compared with those of 2 month hypertensive rats were thicker (44%) and had a larger calibre (29%). 2. The more severe morphological alterations found in the 6 month hypertensive rats did not interfere with the reversibility of the resetting process. The entire range of pressure for baroreceptor activation showed a small downward displacement after 1 h and was functioning at a completely normal pressure 6 h after pressure normalization. 3. The data show that reversal of resetting from hypertension is a very rapid process that is independent of the duration of hypertension and the severity of morphological lesions. Moreover, they indicate that reversal is a permanent phenomenon because it was also observed after 2 days of pressure normalization.

Oral microorganisms in the gingiva of individuals with periodontal disease

By use of immunofluorescent techniques we found oral microorganisms on the surface of the sulcular epithelium and in the epithelial and connective tissues of the gingiva of individuals with periodontal disease. Anaerobic oral microorganisms frequently were found in these areas.

Salivary, serum, and microbial components of human carious dentin

By use of immunohistochemical staining methods, salivary and serum components, ie, γ-globulin and serum albumin, were found in sound and carious human dentin. Most notable reactions were observed in dentinal tubules beneath a translucent zone (radiopaque zone) in carious dentin. Oral microorganisms also were found in soft carious dentin.