Repression of YEATS2 induces cellular senescence in hepatocellular carcinoma and inhibits tumor growth

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) stands as the third leading cause of cancer-related fatalities globally. In this study, we observed a significant increase in the expression level of the YEATS2 gene in HCC patients, and it is negatively correlated with the patients' survival rate. While we have previously identified the association between YEATS2 and the survival of pancreatic cancer cells, the regulatory mechanisms and significance in HCC are still to be fully elucidated. Our study shows that knockdown (KD) of YEATS2 expression leads to DNA damage, which in turn results in an upregulation of γ-H2A.X expression and activation of the canonical senescence-related pathway p53/p21Cip1. Moreover, our transcriptomic analysis reveals that YEATS2 KD cells can enhance the expression of p21Cip1 via the c-Myc/miR-93-5p pathway, consequently fostering the senescence of HCC cells. The initiation of cellular senescence through dual-channel activation suggests that YEATS2 plays a pivotal regulatory role in the process of cell proliferation. Ultimately, our in vivo research utilizing a nude mouse tumor model revealed a notable decrease in both tumor volume and weight after the suppression of YEATS2 expression. This phenomenon is likely attributable to the attenuation of proliferative cell activity, coupled with a concurrent augmentation in the population of natural killer (NK) cells. In summary, our research results have supplemented the understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of HCC cell proliferation and indicated that targeting YEATS2 may potentially inhibit liver tumor growth.

Aging induces region-specific dysregulation of hormone synthesis in the primate adrenal gland

Adrenal glands, vital for steroid secretion and the regulation of metabolism, stress responses and immune activation, experience age-related decline, impacting systemic health. However, the regulatory mechanisms underlying adrenal aging remain largely uninvestigated. Here we established a single-nucleus transcriptomic atlas of both young and aged primate suprarenal glands, identifying lipid metabolism and steroidogenic pathways as core processes impacted by aging. We found dysregulation in centripetal adrenocortical differentiation in aged adrenal tissues and cells in the zona reticularis region, responsible for producing dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), were highly susceptible to aging, reflected by senescence, exhaustion and disturbed hormone production. Remarkably, LDLR was downregulated in all cell types of the outer cortex, and its targeted inactivation in human adrenal cells compromised cholesterol uptake and secretion of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, as observed in aged primate adrenal glands. Our study provides crucial insights into endocrine physiology, holding therapeutic promise for addressing aging-related adrenal insufficiency and delaying systemic aging.

A critical signal for phenotype transition driven by negative feedback loops

The biological rhythms governed by negative feedback loops have undergone extensive investigation. However, developing reliable and versatile warning signals to predict periodic fluctuations in physiological processes and behaviors associated with these rhythms remains a challenge. Here, we monitored the heart rate and tracked ovulation dates of 91 fertile women. The finding strongly links the velocity (derivative) of heart rate with ovulation in menstrual cycles, providing a predictive warning signal. Similarly, an analysis of calcium signaling in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of mice reveals that the maximum velocity of rising calcium signal aligns with locomotor activity offsets. To demonstrate the generality of derivative-transitions link, numerical simulations using a negative feedback loop model were conducted. Statistical analysis indicated that over 90% of the oscillations exhibited a correlation between maximum velocity and transition points. Consequently, the maximum velocity derived from oscillatory curves holds significant potential as an early warning signal for critical transitions.

HALL: a comprehensive database for human aging and longevity studies

Diverse individuals age at different rates and display variable susceptibilities to tissue aging, functional decline and aging-related diseases. Centenarians, exemplifying extreme longevity, serve as models for healthy aging. The field of human aging and longevity research is rapidly advancing, garnering significant attention and accumulating substantial data in recent years. Omics technologies, encompassing phenomics, genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics and microbiomics, have provided multidimensional insights and revolutionized cohort-based investigations into human aging and longevity. Accumulated data, covering diverse cells, tissues and cohorts across the lifespan necessitates the establishment of an open and integrated database. Addressing this, we established the Human Aging and Longevity Landscape (HALL), a comprehensive multi-omics repository encompassing a diverse spectrum of human cohorts, spanning from young adults to centenarians. The core objective of HALL is to foster healthy aging by offering an extensive repository of information on biomarkers that gauge the trajectory of human aging. Moreover, the database facilitates the development of diagnostic tools for aging-related conditions and empowers targeted interventions to enhance longevity. HALL is publicly available at https://ngdc.cncb.ac.cn/hall/index.

Factors associated with nocturnal and diurnal glycemic variability in patients with type 2 diabetes: a cross-sectional study

PURPOSE

There is little information on factors that influence the glycemic variability (GV) during the nocturnal and diurnal periods. We aimed to examine the relationship between clinical factors and GV during these two periods.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study included 134 patients with type 2 diabetes. 24-h changes in blood glucose were recorded by a continuous glucose monitoring system. Nocturnal and diurnal GV were assessed by standard deviation of blood glucose (SDBG), coefficient of variation (CV), and mean amplitude of glycemic excursions (MAGE), respectively. Robust regression analyses were performed to identify the factors associated with GV. Restricted cubic splines were used to determine dose-response relationship.

RESULTS

During the nocturnal period, age and glycemic level at 12:00 A.M. were positively associated with GV, whereas alanine aminotransferase was negatively associated with GV. During the diurnal period, homeostatic model assessment 2-insulin sensitivity (HOMA2-S) was positively associated with GV, whereas insulin secretion-sensitivity index-2 (ISSI2) was negatively associated with GV. Additionally, we found a J-shape association between the glycemic level at 12:00 A.M. and MAGE, with 9.0 mmol/L blood glucose level as a cutoff point. Similar nonlinear associations were found between ISSI2 and SDBG, and between ISSI2 and MAGE, with ISSI2 value of 175 as a cutoff point.

CONCLUSION

Factors associated with GV were different between nocturnal and diurnal periods. The cutoff points we found in this study may provide the therapeutic targets for beta-cell function and pre-sleep glycemic level in clinical practice.

Dose-related effects of early-life intake of sn-2 palmitate, a specific positionally distributed human milk fatty acid, on the composition and metabolism of the intestinal microbiota

sn2 Palmitate in human milk plays an important role in the physiological health of infants by reducing mineral loss, improving stool hardness, and relieving constipation. Also, sn-2 palmitate modulates intestinal microbiota. However, it remains unclear whether the effects of sn-2 palmitate on infant gut microbiota are dose-dependent. In this study, we investigated the effects of low, medium, and high doses (600, 1,800, and 5,400 mg/kg body weight, respectively) of sn-2 palmitate on the structure, composition, and metabolic function of intestinal microbes in mice. Our results showed that high doses of sn-2 palmitate significantly modulated α- and β-diversity of the intestinal microbiota. The relative abundance of Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group decreased with increasing doses of sn-2 palmitate. In contrast, the abundances of Bacteroidetes phylum, Bacteroides, uncultured_Lachnospiraceae, and uncultured_Muribaculaceae were positively correlated with sn-2 palmitate doses. The number of genes predicted encoding autophagy-yeast, phospholipase D signaling pathway, and pentose and glucuronate interconversion metabolic functions of intestinal microbiota increased with increasing doses of sn-2 palmitate. In addition, low and medium doses of sn-2 palmitate significantly upregulated the arginine and proline metabolic pathways, and high doses of sn-2 palmitate significantly increased purine metabolism. Our results revealed that the effects of sn-2 palmitate intake early in life on the composition and metabolism of the intestinal microbiota of mice showed dose-related differences. The study is expected to provide a scientific basis for the development of infant formulas.

Multitissue Circadian Proteome Atlas of WT and Per1-/-/Per2-/- Mice

The molecular basis of circadian rhythm, driven by core clock genes such as Per1/2, has been investigated on the transcriptome level, but not comprehensively on the proteome level. Here we quantified over 11,000 proteins expressed in eight types of tissues over 46 h with an interval of 2 h, using WT and Per1/Per2 double knockout mouse models. The multitissue circadian proteome landscape of WT mice shows tissue-specific patterns and reflects circadian anticipatory phenomena, which are less obvious on the transcript level. In most peripheral tissues of double knockout mice, reduced protein cyclers are identified when compared with those in WT mice. In addition, PER1/2 contributes to controlling the anticipation of the circadian rhythm, modulating tissue-specific cyclers as well as key pathways including nucleotide excision repair. Severe intertissue temporal dissonance of circadian proteome has been observed in the absence of Per1 and Per2. The γ-aminobutyric acid might modulate some of these temporally correlated cyclers in WT mice. Our study deepens our understanding of rhythmic proteins across multiple tissues and provides valuable insights into chronochemotherapy. The data are accessible at https://prot-rhythm.prottalks.com/.

Osteoporotic bone loss from excess iron accumulation is driven by NOX4-triggered ferroptosis in osteoblasts

Excess iron accumulation is a risk factor for osteopenia and osteoporosis, and ferroptosis is becoming well understood as iron-dependent form of cell death resulting from lipid peroxide accumulation. However, any pathological impacts of ferroptosis on osteoporosis remain unknown. Here, we show that ferroptosis is involved in excess-iron-induced bone loss and demonstrate that osteoporotic mice and humans have elevated skeletal accumulation of the NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4) enzyme. Mechanistically, we found that the NOX4 locus contains iron-response element-like (IRE-like) sequences that are normally bound (and repressed) by the iron regulatory protein 1 (IRP1) protein. Binding with iron induces dissociation of IRP1 from the IRE-like sequences and thereby activates NOX4 transcription. Elevated NOX4 increases lipid peroxide accumulation and causes obvious dysregulation of mitochondrial morphology and function in osteoblasts. Excitingly, the osteoporotic bone loss which we initially observed in an excessive-iron accumulating mouse line (Hepc1^-/-) was blocked upon treatment with the ferroptosis-inhibitor ferrostatin-1 (Ferr-1) and with the iron chelator deferoxamine (DFO), suggesting a potential therapeutic strategy for preventing osteoporotic bone loss based on disruption of ferroptosis.

Nuclear receptor modulators inhibit osteosarcoma cell proliferation and tumour growth by regulating the mTOR signaling pathway

Osteosarcoma is the most common primary malignant bone tumour in children and adolescents. Chemoresistance leads to poor responses to conventional therapy in patients with osteosarcoma. The discovery of novel effective therapeutic targets and drugs is still the main focus of osteosarcoma research. Nuclear receptors (NRs) have shown substantial promise as novel therapeutic targets for various cancers. In the present study, we performed a drug screen using 29 chemicals that specifically target 17 NRs in several different human osteosarcoma and osteoblast cell lines. The retinoic acid receptor beta (RARb) antagonist LE135, peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPARg) antagonist T0070907, liver X receptor (LXR) agonist T0901317 and Rev-Erba agonist SR9011 significantly inhibited the proliferation of malignant osteosarcoma cells (U2OS, HOS-MNNG and Saos-2 cells) but did not inhibit the growth of normal osteoblasts. The effects of these NR modulators on osteosarcoma cells occurred in a dose-dependent manner and were not observed in NR-knockout osteosarcoma cells. These NR modulators also significantly inhibited osteosarcoma growth in vivo and enhanced the antitumour effect of doxorubicin (DOX). Transcriptomic and immunoblotting results showed that these NR modulators may inhibit the growth of osteosarcoma cells by regulating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR and ERK/mTOR pathways. DDIT4, which blocks mTOR activation, was identified as one of the common downstream target genes of these NRs. DDIT4 knockout significantly attenuated the inhibitory effects of these NR modulators on osteosarcoma cell growth. Together, our results revealed that modulators of RARb, PPARg, LXRs and Rev-Erba inhibit osteosarcoma growth both in vitro and in vivo through the mTOR signaling pathway, suggesting that treatment with these NR modulators is a novel potential therapeutic strategy.

Long-term SCN calcium signal recording in freely moving mice

The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) is the master circadian pacemaker of the mammalian biological clock. Here, we provide a detailed protocol for long-term recording of calcium signals in SCN neurons of freely moving mice through a multichannel optical fiber recording system. This system can simultaneously collect calcium signals from up to seven animals. The calcium signals can be visualized by the appropriate software and code. This protocol can be used to explore the long-term response of SCN to external environmental stimulation.

For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Zhai et al. (2022).

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Simultaneous recording of calcium signals from multiple freely moving mice

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Screening of mice with rhythmic SCN calcium signal

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Long-term rhythmic calcium signal processing and visual analysis

Publisher’s note: Undertaking any experimental protocol requires adherence to local institutional guidelines for laboratory safety and ethics.

Anti-Cancer Effects of Disulfiram in Cervical Cancer Cell Lines Are Mediated by Both Autophagy and Apoptosis

Disulfiram (DSF), which is used to treat alcohol dependence, has been reported to have anticancer effects in various malignant tumors. We studied the anti-cancer effects and mechanism of action of DSF on cervical cancer cell lines HeLa and SiHa. The anti-cancer effects of DSF were confirmed in vivo using a xenograft tumor model. The anti-cancer effects of DSF in human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma were found to be copper (Cu)-dependent. The anti-tumor effects of DSF/Cu were time- and dose-dependent and were mediated by both autophagy and apoptosis. DSF/Cu shows stronger cytotoxicity to adenocarcinoma cell lines with higher malignant behavior, and valosin-containing protein (VCP) is its potential target. The cytotoxic effect of DSF/Cu against cervical cancer cell lines in vitro was mediated by apoptosis and autophagy simultaneously. Analysis of the clinical relevance of DSF/Cu on a xenograft animal model showed that DSF markedly stimulated tumor necrosis. DSF may contribute to improved survival of patients with cervical cancer. The antitumor characteristic of DSF can be used in the development of a new drug for advanced and refractory patients with cervical cancer.

Physical training for patients with depression and anxiety - a randomized controlled study

Introduction

Pharmaceutical treatment and psychotherapy constitute the most common treatment methods for depression and anxiety. Physical training has been shown to have comparable effect to cognitive behavioral therapy in treatment of mild to moderate depression and anxiety. Physically active individuals also show lower risks to develop depression and relapse in depression.

Objectives

The objectives are to evaluate how physical activity can affect depressive and anxiety symptoms, by examining biomarkers in the blood and from the gut and also by measuring cognitive functions. Hopefully, this can lead to new treatment strategies for patients with depression and anxiety.

Methods

102 patients are randomized to two groups and undergo 12 weeks intervention as add-on to standard outpatient psychiatric treatment. The first group will participate in physical training three times per week and the other group will receive relaxation therapy on a weekly basis. Daily activity intensity will be measured before and at the last week of intervention with an accelerometer. Blood and faeces sample collection, symptom grading by clinician together with self-rating scales and cognitive screening will be performed at baseline, week 12 and one year of follow-up. The cognitive screenings are performed digitally in cooperation with Mindmore.

Results

The RCT is currently recruiting patients at the Department of Psychiatry of Örebro University Hospital.

Conclusions

The project aims to be holistic in its approach, combining the defining clinical psychiatric symptoms in patients who have both depression and anxiety with the finding and evaluation of new biomarkers from blood and gut to improve cognitive functions.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.

Scaling Law Describes the Spin-Glass Response in Theory, Experiments, and Simulations

The correlation length ξ, a key quantity in glassy dynamics, can now be precisely measured for spin glasses both in experiments and in simulations. However, known analysis methods lead to discrepancies either for large external fields or close to the glass temperature. We solve this problem by introducing a scaling law that takes into account both the magnetic field and the time-dependent spin-glass correlation length. The scaling law is successfully tested against experimental measurements in a CuMn single crystal and against large-scale simulations on the Janus II dedicated computer.

Impaired function of the suprachiasmatic nucleus rescues the loss of body temperature homeostasis caused by time-restricted feeding

The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) is the master circadian pacemaker that drives body temperature rhythm. Time-restricted feeding (TRF) has potential as a preventative or therapeutic approach against many diseases. The potential side effects of TRF remain unknown. Here we show that a 4-hour TRF stimulus in mice can severely impair body temperature homeostasis and can result in lethality. Nearly half of the mice died at 21 °C, and all mice died at 18 °C during 4-hour TRF. Moreover, this effect was modulated by the circadian clock and was associated with severe hypothermia due to loss of body temperature homeostasis, which is different from "torpor", an adaptive response under food deprivation. Disrupting the circadian clock by the SCN lesions or a non-invasive method (constant light) which disrupts circadian clock rescued lethality during TRF. Analysis of circadian gene expression in the dorsomedial hypothalamus (DMH) demonstrated that TRF reprograms rhythmic transcriptome in DMH and suppresses expression of genes, such as Ccr5 and Calcrl, which are involved in thermoregulation. We demonstrate a side effect of 4-hour TRF on the homeostasis of body temperature and a rescue function by impairing the SCN function. Altogether, our results suggested that constructing a circadian arrhythmicity may have a beneficial effect on the host response to an acute stress.

High-throughput discovery of genetic determinants of circadian misalignment

Circadian systems provide a fitness advantage to organisms by allowing them to adapt to daily changes of environmental cues, such as light/dark cycles. The molecular mechanism underlying the circadian clock has been well characterized. However, how internal circadian clocks are entrained with regular daily light/dark cycles remains unclear. By collecting and analyzing indirect calorimetry (IC) data from more than 2000 wild-type mice available from the International Mouse Phenotyping Consortium (IMPC), we show that the onset time and peak phase of activity and food intake rhythms are reliable parameters for screening defects of circadian misalignment. We developed a machine learning algorithm to quantify these two parameters in our misalignment screen (SyncScreener) with existing datasets and used it to screen 750 mutant mouse lines from five IMPC phenotyping centres. Mutants of five genes (Slc7a11, Rhbdl1, Spop, Ctc1 and Oxtr) were found to be associated with altered patterns of activity or food intake. By further studying the Slc7a11^tm1a/tm1a mice, we confirmed its advanced activity phase phenotype in response to a simulated jetlag and skeleton photoperiod stimuli. Disruption of Slc7a11 affected the intercellular communication in the suprachiasmatic nucleus, suggesting a defect in synchronization of clock neurons. Our study has established a systematic phenotype analysis approach that can be used to uncover the mechanism of circadian entrainment in mice.

Synchronization to environmental changes such as day and night cycles and seasonal cycles is critical for survival. Organisms have therefore evolved a specialized circadian system to anticipate and adapt to daily changes in the environment. Loss of synchrony between the internal circadian clock and environment day and night changes is responsible for jet lag, but may also promote sleep disorders, metabolic disorders and many diseases. The availability of large amounts of mouse data from the International Mouse Phenotype Consortium provides new opportunities to identify novel genetic components of mouse behaviour and metabolism. In this study, we performed a high-throughput identification of genetic components of circadian misalignment by developing a machine learning-based algorithm. By analyzing the indirect calorimetry parameters from more than 2000 C57BL/6N mice and mice from 750 mutant lines, we identified 5 genes involved in circadian misalignment of activity and feeding behaviour. Further analyzing genetic knock-out mice for one of these genes, we were able to validate our screening method by functional studies. Our systemic analysis thus paves the way for searching the genetic determinants for circadian misalignment.

A mixture of Lactobacillus species isolated from traditional fermented foods promote recovery from antibiotic-induced intestinal disruption in mice

AIMS

This study evaluated the antibiotic-induced changes in microbial ecology, intestinal dysbiosis and low-grade inflammation; and the combined effect of four different Lactobacillus species on recovery of microbiota composition and improvement of gut barrier function in mice.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Administration of the antibiotic ampicillin for 2 weeks decreased microbial community diversity, induced caecum tumefaction and increased gut permeability in mice. Application of a probiotic cocktail of four Lactobacillus species (JUP-Y4) modulated the microbiota community structure and promoted the abundance of potentially beneficial bacteria such as Akkermansia. Ampicillin administration led to a decline in Bacteroidetes from 46·6 ± 3·91% to 0·264 ± 0·0362%; the addition of JUP-Y4 restored this to 41·4 ± 2·87%. This probiotic supplementation was more effective than natural restoration, where the levels of Bacteroidetes were only restored to 29·3 ± 2·07%. Interestingly, JUP-Y4 treatment was more effective in the restoration of microbiota in faecal samples than in caecal samples. JUP-Y4 also significantly reduced the levels of d-lactate and endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide, LPS) in the serum of mice, and increased the expression of tight-junction proteins while reducing the production of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, MCP-1, IFN-γ and IL-1β) in the ileum and the colon of antibiotic-treated mice.

CONCLUSIONS

JUP-Y4 not only promoted recovery from antibiotic-induced gut dysbiosis, but also enhanced the function of the gut barrier, reduced inflammation and lowered levels of circulating endotoxin in mice.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

Consumption of a mixture of Lactobacillus species may encourage faster recovery from antibiotic-induced gut dysbiosis and gut microbiota-related immune disturbance.

Functional analysis of p.Ala253_Leu254insAsn mutation in PLS3 responsible for X-linked osteoporosis

Mutations in Plastin-3 (PLS3) have been identified as a cause of X-linked osteoporosis. To reveal the molecular mechanism of PLS3 on osteoporosis, we characterized the p.Ala253_Leu254insAsn mutation in PLS3. We first identified Lymphocyte cytosolic protein 1 (LCP1) as a binding partner of PLS3 and the mutation disrupted the interaction between them. We then confirmed the roles of PLS3 and LCP1 in the regulation of intracellular Ca²⁺ , which was weakened by the mutant PLS3. Moreover, the interaction between PLS3 and LCP1 was enhanced under a low concentration of extracellular Ca²⁺ . However, the mutation in PLS3 weakened the responsiveness. The reduced regulation on Ca²⁺ caused by p.Ala253_Leu254insAsn may be the possible molecular mechanism of osteoporosis.

Pharyngeal amyloidomas: Variable appearance on imaging

Amyloidomas are rare tumor-like depositions of abnormally folded, insoluble proteins that may be seen in the setting of systemic amyloidosis or as isolated tumoral deposits. Focal, isolated amyloidomas carry an excellent prognosis whereas systemic amyloidoses do not. The ability to identify or suggest amyloidoma on imaging studies may help direct laboratory testing and eventual diagnosis. Amyloidomas involving the head and neck have been variably described from homogeneously T2 hypointense to iso-slightly hyperintense relative to skeletal muscle. Herein we present two patients with pharyngeal submucosal amyloidomas of differing sizes and imaging characteristics to emphasize their potential widely variable imaging appearance and broaden our knowledge of these rare lesions.

Early onset of inflammation during ontogeny of bipolar disorder: the NLRP2 inflammasome gene distinctly differentiates between patients and healthy controls in the transition between iPS cell and neural stem cell stages

Neuro-inflammation and neuronal communication are considered as mis-regulated processes in the aetiology and pathology of bipolar disorder (BD). Which and when specific signal pathways become abnormal during the ontogeny of bipolar disorder patients is unknown. To address this question, we applied induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology followed by cortical neural differentiation on adipocyte-derived cells from BD type I patients (with psychotic episodes in psychiatric history) and healthy volunteers (controls). RNA sequencing in iPSC and cortical neural stem cell (NSC) lines were used to examine alterations between the transcriptomes from BD I and control samples during transition from the pluripotent stage towards the neural developmental stage. At the iPSC stage, the most highly significant differentially expressed gene (DEG) was the NLRP2 inflammasome (P=2.66 × 10^-10). Also among 42 DEGs at the NSC stage, NLRP2 showed the strongest statistical significance (P=3.07 × 10^-19). In addition, we have also identified several cytoskeleton-associated genes as DEGs from the NSC stage, such as TMP2, TAGLN and ACTA2; the former two genes are recognised for the first time to be associated with BD. Our results also suggest that iPSC-derived BD-cortical NSCs carry several abnormalities in dopamine and GABA receptor canonical pathways, underlining that our in vitro BD model reflects pathology in the central nervous system. This would indicate that mis-regulated gene expression of inflammatory, neurotransmitter and cytoskeletal signalling occurs during early fetal brain development of BD I patients.

Monoenergetic positronium emission from metal-organic framework crystals

Recently it has been discovered that positronium (Ps), after forming in metal-organic framework (MOF) crystals, is emitted into vacuum with a high efficiency and low energy that can only be explained by its propagating as delocalized Bloch states. We show that the Ps atoms are emitted from MOFs in a series of narrow energy peaks consistent with Ps at Bloch-state energy minima being emitted adiabatically into the vacuum. This implies that the Ps emission energy spectra can be directly compared with calculations to obtain detailed information about the Ps band structure in the MOF crystal. The narrow energy width of the lowest energy Ps peak from one MOF sample (2-Methylimidazole zinc salt ZIF-8) suggests it originates from a polaronic Ps surface state. Other peaks can be assigned to Ps with an effective mass of about twice that of bare Ps. Given the immense catalog of available MOF crystals, it should be possible to tune the Ps properties to make vastly improved sources with high production efficiency and a narrow energy spread, for use in fundamental physics experiments.

TLX activates MMP-2, promotes self-renewal of tumor spheres in neuroblastoma and correlates with poor patient survival

Nuclear orphan receptor TLX (Drosophilatailless homolog) is essential for the maintenance of neural stem/progenitor cell self-renewal, but its role in neuroblastoma (NB) is not well understood. Here, we show that TLX is essential for the formation of tumor spheres in three different NB cell lines, when grown in neural stem cell media. We demonstrate that the knock down of TLX in IMR-32 cells diminishes its tumor sphere-forming capacity. In tumor spheres, TLX is coexpressed with the neural progenitor markers Nestin, CD133 and Oct-4. In addition, TLX is coexpressed with the migratory neural progenitor markers CD15 and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) in xenografts of primary NB cells from patients. Subsequently, we show the effect of TLX on the proliferative, invasive and migratory properties of IMR-32 cells. We attribute this to the recruitment of TLX to both MMP-2 and Oct-4 gene promoters, which resulted in the respective gene activation. In support of our findings, we found that TLX expression was high in NB patient tissues when compared with normal peripheral nervous system tissues. Further, the Kaplan–Meier estimator indicated a negative correlation between TLX expression and survival in 88 NB patients. Therefore, our results point at TLX being a crucial player in progression of NB, by promoting self-renewal of NB tumor-initiating cells and altering their migratory and invasive properties.

ZIP4 is a novel diagnostic and prognostic marker in human pancreatic cancer: a systemic comparison between EUS-FNA and surgical specimens

Aberrant expression of a zinc transporter ZIP4 in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has been shown to contribute to tumor progression and is a potential target for individualized therapy. The overall objective of this study was to determine whether ZIP4 could serve as a novel diagnostic and prognostic marker in human PDAC, and if it can be assessed by minimally invasive sampling using endoscopic ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA). Immunohistochemistry was performed to compare ZIP4 expression in the PDAC samples obtained from EUS-FNA and matched surgical tumors (parallel control). Samples were reported by sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values, all with 95% confidence intervals (CI). A total of 23 cases with both FNA and surgical specimens were evaluated. We found that ZIP4 was significantly overexpressed in tumor cells from both sets of samples. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of ZIP4 for the diagnosis of PDAC were 72.9%, 72.5%, 76.1%, and 69.0% in EUS-FNA samples, and were 97.9%, 65.4%, 83.9%, and 94.4% in surgical specimens, respectively. The association between the positive rate of ZIP4 expression in FNA and surgical samples is statistically significant (P=0.0216). Both the intensity and percentage of ZIP4 positive cells from the surgical samples correlated significantly with tumor stage (P=0.0025 and P=0.0002). ZIP4 intensity level in FNA samples was significantly associated with tumor differentiation and patient survival. These results indicate that EUS-FNA is capable of non-operative detection of ZIP4, thus offering the potential to direct pre-operative detection and targeted therapy of PDAC.

Isolation of Photobacterium sp. LuB-1 and its application in rapid assays for chemical toxicants in water

AIMS

To isolate marine bacteria with strong bioluminescence in a wide range of NaCl concentration, especially at low salt conditions.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A luminous bacterium named LuB-1 was isolated from China. It was identified by biochemical analysis and phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene and designated as Photobacterium sp. The isolate is capable of emitting strong and stable luminescence in a wide range of NaCl concentration from 0.2 to 5% (w/v). For most toxic agents tested in this study, the response of LuB-1 was better than that of MicrotoxVibrio fischeri under both low salt (0.9% NaCl) and high salt (2.0% NaCl) conditions.

CONCLUSION

The strain LuB-1 had an obvious predominance of bioluminescence in a wide range of NaCl concentration and better response for heavy metal pollutants and some organic toxicants in both low and high salt toxicity test systems.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

Because of its good sensitivity in a wide range of salt concentration, the strain LuB-1 should have its unique advantage in rapid assay for toxicants in water with different salt concentrations.

Number fluctuation dynamics of atomic spin mixing inside a condensate

We investigate the quantum dynamics of number fluctuations inside an atomic condensate during coherent spin mixing among internal states of the ground state hyperfine manifold, by quantizing the semiclassical nonrigid pendulum model in terms of the conjugate variable pair: the relative phase and the atom number. Our result provides a theoretical basis that resolves the resolution limit, or the effective "shot-noise" level, for counting atoms that is needed to clearly detect quantum correlation effects in spin mixing.

A phase II trial of intra-patient dose-escalated sorafenib in patients (pts) with metastatic renal cell cancer (MRCC)

5026

Background: Sorafenib has demonstrated activity with limited toxicity at a dose of 400 mg bid in MRCC pts. This presents an opportunity to explore a more intensive drug administration. This study allowed individual pt titration designed to evaluate the ability for pts to dose escalate. Response rate (RR), time to progression (TTP) and overall survival (OS) will be assessed. Methods: Eligibility included; pathologic diagnosis of a component of clear cell, progressive measurable MRCC, no more than 1 prior therapy, karnofsky performance status (KPS) = 70%, adequate organ/marrow function and no active CNS involvement. Initial dose 400 mg bid, daily. Dose escalation defined in the table below: Re-evaluation is performed every 8 weeks. RECIST criteria is utilized. Results: 46 patients have been enrolled. 44 are evaluable. 37 male/7 female, median age 50 years (43–79). 19 pts received prior therapy. 39 pts had a KPS of 100%, 5/90%. Sites of disease included; lung, nodal, liver, bone, adrenal, pancreas and kidney. 26 pts 1 metastatic site, 12 /2, 6/3 or more. 22 pts continue to receive sorafenib therapy; 2/800 mg, 7/1,200 mg, and 13/1,600 mg. 8 pts complete response (CR), 14 pts/partial response (PR) and 14 pts stable for 3+ months. Median duration of therapy is 6+ (range 0.2+ - 12+) months. 2 pts have not been reevaluated. Treatment related adverse events to-date; hand/foot syndrome, skin rash, diarrhea, alopecia, fatigue, hypertension, hypophosphatemia, and elevated amylase/lipase. Conclusion: 91% of pts were escalated to 1,200 mg or 1,600 mg per day. Dose escalated sorafenib has promising anti-tumor activity in pts with MRCC as demonstrated by a 52% CR/PR rate. Anti-tumor activity is further suggested by prolonged TTP = 3 months for 33% of pts. Independent radiology review is in progress. Intra-patient dose escalation data in association with anti-tumor activity and toxicity will be presented.

[Table: see text]

[Table: see text]

Interferon-alpha (INF) and gefitinib or imatinib in patients (pts) with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC)

14616

Background: Overexpression of EGFR is associated with aggressive clinical behavior in several solid tumors and is frequent in RCC. We recently found that the majority of RCCs express c-kit and PDGFR-beta. EGFR tyrosine kinase (TK) is inhibited by GEF, while IM is an inhibitor of Bcr-Abl, c-kit and PDGFR TKs. IFN has activity in MRCC and is used in front-line therapy. This trial evaluates time to progression (TTP) determined from time of study entry and response rate of INF in combination with GEF or IM, as well as tumor expression of c-kit and EGFR-beta. Methods: Pts with MRCC were assigned to a treatment arm: IFN/GEF or IFN/IM. Eligibility included: MRCC, any previous therapy, PS ≤2, adequate organ/marrow function and no active CNS involvement. Pts received IFN 3MU subcutaneously TIW on week 1, then 6MU TIW thereafter. GEF dose is 500 mg and IM 600 mg daily. Tumor response is assessed using RECIST every 12 weeks. Results: 16 MRCC pts (12 M/4 F) with a median age of 58 (24–77) have been enrolled. Histology: 6 papillary, 7 clear cell, 1 chromophobe, 1 collecting duct and 1 unclassified. 14 pts received IFN/GEF and 4 pts IFN/IM. Two pts crossed over from IFN/IM to IFN/GEF. Of 14 pts on IFN/GEF, 3 demonstrated a partial response (PR) and 7 had stable disease at 12 weeks. Of 6 papillary, 3 had PR. 8 pts progressed on IFN/GEF at a median of 20 weeks (1–36). 4 pts are still on treatment. On IFN/IM, 3 pts had stable disease at 12 weeks, 2 at 24. 2 pts progressed at 4 and 14 weeks, two crossed over to GEF at 24 weeks. Adverse events of IFN/GEF included skin rash and diarrhea and of IFN/IM skin rash, thrombocytopenia and leukopenia. Both arms had flu-like symptoms and fatigue. Conclusions: IFN/GEF and IFN/IM combinations are well tolerated. Preliminary results show the potential of delaying TTP in pts with MRCC. The observed high tumor response rate of the papillary type to IFN/GEF requires validation in a larger number of pts. Enrollment is ongoing. Updated response data and tissue correlates will be presented.

[Table: see text]

Tumor-suppression function of transcription factor USF2 in prostate carcinogenesis

Although the transcription factor USF2 has been implicated in the regulation of cellular growth and proliferation, it is unknown whether alterations in USF2 contribute to tumorigenesis and tumor development. We examined the role of USF2 in prostate tumorigenesis. Western blot analysis revealed markedly decreased USF2 levels in three androgen-independent prostate cancer cell lines, PC-3, DU145, and M12, as compared to nontumorigenic prostate epithelial cells or the androgen-dependent cell line, LNCaP. Ectopic expression of USF2 in PC-3 cells did not affect the cell proliferation rate of PC-3 cells on plastic surfaces. However, it dramatically decreased anchorage-independent growth of PC-3 cells in soft agar (90-98% inhibition) and the invasion capability (80% inhibition) of PC-3 cells in matrix gel assay. Importantly, expression of USF2 in PC-3 cells inhibited the tumorigenicity of PC-3 cells in an in vivo nude mice xenograft model (80-90% inhibition). These results suggest that USF2 has tumor-suppression function. Consistent with its function in tumor suppression, we found that the USF2 protein is present in normal prostate epithelial cells but absent in 18 of 42 (43%) human prostate cancer tissues (P = 0.015). To further examine the functional role of USF2 in vivo, we generated mice with genetic deletion of USF2 gene. We found that USF2-null mice displayed marked prostate hyperplasia at a young age, suggesting that USF2 is involved in the normal growth and differentiation of prostate. Together, these studies demonstrate that USF2 has tumor-suppressor function and plays a role in prostate carcinogenesis.

NMDA receptor antagonists attenuate noxious and nonnoxious colorectal distention-induced Fos expression in the spinal cord and the visceromotor reflex

In the present three-part study, the effects of intrathecally administered N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists on responses to noxious and innocuous colorectal distention (CRD) were examined. In the first part, a passive-avoidance paradigm was used to confirm that 80 mm Hg CRD is a noxious stimulus since it produced avoidance behavior. Acquisition of this behavior was blocked by the NMDA receptor antagonist D(-)-2-amino-5-phosphonopetanoic acid (APV, 60 nmol, intrathecal). In contrast, 20 mm Hg CRD is an innocuous stimulus since there was no difference in the behavior of these animals compared to nondistended controls. In the second part, the effects of the NMDA receptor antagonist dizocilpine maleate (MK-801, 0-100 nmol, intrathecal) on CRD-induced Fos expression in the lumbosacral spinal cord were examined. Noxious and innocuous CRD induced 98+/-4 and 50+/-2 Fos labeled cells per section per side of the spinal cord, respectively. MK-801 dose-dependently attenuated noxious CRD-induced Fos. Compared to saline, the peak attenuation was 55%. Innocuous CRD-induced Fos was attenuated by 36% following 100 nmol MK-801. In the third part, the effects of APV (0-240 nmol, intrathecal) on the visceromotor reflex were examined. APV dose-dependently attenuated the visceromotor reflex to graded intensities of CRD that went from the innocuous into the noxious range. In separate animals that only received innocuous stimulation, APV dose-dependently attenuated the visceromotor reflex. The magnitude of attenuation was similar for both stimulus paradigms. These data expand upon our previous dorsal horn neuronal recordings which showed that spinal NMDA receptors partially mediate the processing of both noxious and innocuous colorectal stimuli. They further underscore a difference from somatic tissue in the role of NMDA receptors in processing acute or transient visceral stimuli in the absence of tissue injury.

[Etiological study on patients with seronegative viral hepatitis]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the etiology of hepatitis patients who were seronegative for viral hepatitis A through E.

METHODS

By using PCR, HBV DNA, HCV RNA, HEV RNA and HGV RNA were detected in sera of 104 patients with seronegative viral hepatitis. The partial nucleotide sequences of 2 HCV and 17 HEV isolates were analysed by direct sequencing.

RESULTS

Among the 104 patients with seronegative viral hepatitis, the positive rates of HBV DNA, HCV RNA, HEV RNA and HGV RNA were 29.8%, 3.8%, 22.1% and 7.7%, respectively, with only 38 cases (36.6%) negative for the genome of all known hepatitis viruses.

CONCLUSION

In addition to serological tests, the polymerase chain reaction of all known hepatitis viruses should be used to make the diagnosis of non-A - E hepatitis.

Copper induces apoptosis in BA/F3beta cells: Bax, reactive oxygen species, and NFkappaB are involved

Copper, an essential trace element, can be toxic to some cells when present in excess. But thorough investigations into the cytotoxicity of copper and subsequent molecular mechanisms are rare, although the cytotoxicity of copper has been applied to cancer chemotherapy. The present study demonstrates that Cu(2+) inhibits [(3)H] thymidine incorporation in mouse pro-B cell line BA/F3beta and induces apoptosis. Apoptosis was mainly judged by morphology of cells, quantification of subdiploid DNA contents by flow cytometry, and detection of DNA fragmentation by gel electrophoresis. The apoptotic effect is dose and time dependent. Western blotting shows Bax is upregulated by Cu(2+). Bcl-2 overexpression can partially inhibit this apoptosis. Moreover, Cu(2+) increases the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in a dose-dependent manner. The antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) not only significantly inhibited copper-induced apoptosis but also totally blocked generation of ROS, while Bcl-2 overexpression has no effect on the generation of ROS. Furthermore, our results show that NFkappaB is downregulated by Cu(2+). Bcl-2 overexpression or NAC can sustain the activity of NFkappaB. These data indicate that Cu(2+) might induce apoptosis in BA/F3beta cells via upregulation of Bax and ROS and subsequent inactivation of NFkappaB.

A novel protein MAJN binds to Jak3 and inhibits apoptosis induced by IL-2 deprival

To find a possible signal interacting with the Jak3 N-terminal, we screened the human peripheral blood cDNA library through both a two-hybrid system and a tyrosine-phosphorylation-modified two-hybrid system using the N-terminal of Jak3 as bait. Results showed that one new homologue of myosin heavy chain, designated MAJN (molecule associated with Jak3 N-terminal), could bind to Jak3 in a tyrosine-phosphorylation-independent manner. The interaction between Jak3 and MAJN was further confirmed by immunoprecipitation in BAF-B03 beta cells. To investigate the function of MAJN, we have constructed the BAF-B03 beta/MAJN cell line that stably expresses MAJN and found that overexpression of MAJN can partially inhibit the apoptosis induced by interleukin-2 deprival. Further studies are needed to elucidate how MAJN executes its function to antagonize BAF-B03beta cell death in the absence of IL-2.

[A preliminary study on hepatitis E virus antibody IgG and IgM for the diagnosis of acute hepatitis E]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the significance of hepatitis E virus antibody (anti-HEV) IgG and IgM for the diagnosis of acute hepatitis E.

METHODS

Acute phase sera from a total of 143 patients with sporadic hepatitis E in 7 cities of China were determined for anti-HEV IgM and IgG by using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (EIA). 359 serial sera of 56 patients with hepatitis E and 68 serial sera of 4 rhesus macaques experimentally infected with hepatitis E virus (HEV) were also detected for anti-HEV IgG and IgM.

RESULTS

In the 143 patients the positive rate of anti-HEV IgG was 100.0%, which was significantly higher than that of anti-HEV IgM (73.4%, 105/143). 97.2% of anti-HEV IgG positive patients had a titer over 1:40. The positive rate of anti-HEV IgM increased with the titer of anti-HEV IgG in sera. It was 0% (0/4), 44.4% (8/18) and 80.2% (97/121), respectively in patients with the anti-HEV IgG titer of 1:20, 1:40 and >or=1:80 (P < 0.001). All the anti-HEV IgM positive patients were also anti-HEV IgG positive. No patients were found to be anti-HEV IgM positive alone. Anti-HEV IgG was detected as early as 2 days after onset of the disease, with a cumulative positive seroconversion rate of 100% by 1 month. The negative seroconversion rate of anti-HEV IgG increased with course of the disease and 43.3% of the patients lost their anti-HEV IgG by 6 months after illness. Though anti-HEV IgM also seroconverted at the same time as anti-HEV IgG, its cumulative positive seroconversion rate was only 71.4% and declined rapidly. Up to 37.5% of anti-HEV IgM positive patients became negative by 1 month after onset. Similar antibody responses were observed in 4 rhesus macaques experimentally infected with HEV.

CONCLUSION

It is suggested that as a result of the poor sensitivity of currently available anti-HEV IgM EIA kits, anti-HEV IgG will be a more reliable marker for the diagnosis of acute hepatitis E as compared with anti-HEV IgM.

Morphine-induced prolactin release precedes a down-regulation of prolactin receptors in the male rat choroid plexus and hypothalamus

In previous studies we provided evidence for changes in prolactin (PRL) receptor levels in the male rat brain after continuously infusing morphine using subcutaneously implanted miniosmotic pumps. In this work we have studied the binding of PRL in the male rat brain following morphine administration by both subcutaneous (s.c.) and intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injections. The binding in the choroid plexus and the hypothalamus was measured using iodinated ovine PRL (oPRL) as a radiolabel. The results indicated that the density of the PRL-binding sites in the hypothalamus and the choroid plexus were significantly decreased 4 h and 24 h after s.c. injections, and also 30 min and 4 h after i.c.v. injections. However, no decrease in PRL-binding was observed 15 min after i.c.v. injection of morphine. The plasma levels of PRL were measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA) and were found to be significantly increased after 30 min and 4 h in all treated animals. Following i.c.v. injection a significant increase in plasma PRL was observed after just 15 min. It was suggested that the down-regulation in PRL binding to some extent at least resulted from receptor overstimulation caused by the morphine-induced elevation in the concentrations of the endogenous hormone.

Characterization of growth hormone binding sites in rat brain

The binding of 125I-labelled rat growth hormone (GH) to different areas in the brain was studied in male Sprague-Dawley rats. A high density of GH binding was found in the choroid plexus, hypothalamus, hippocampus, pituitary and spinal cord, whereas a lower binding density was observed in the cortex. Binding of the hormone to the various brain regions was age dependent. Binding was also dependent on time, pH and protein concentration. The binding affinity of the labelled hormone to choroid plexus was 4.3 per nmol/l and the binding capacity was 33.4 nmol/mg protein. The corresponding figures for binding of 125I-labelled GH to hypothalamus were 5.6 per nmol/l and 21.6 nmol/mg protein. By sodium dodecyl sulphate electrophoresis of the cross-linked hormone-receptor complexes, molecular weights of 60,000 and 61,000 were determined for the binding units in the choroid plexus and hypothalamus, respectively. It was further indicated that the binding unit for rat GH was distinct from that for prolactin.

Immunohistochemical study of hepatitis E virus antigen in liver tissues from patients with hepatitis E

Hepatitis E virus antigen (HEVAg) has been identified in liver tissue of 6 out of 14 patients with hepatitis E using anti-HEV-IgG-horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and direct immunoperoxidase staining methods. HEVAg was found only in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes, but nor in the nuclei. The HEVAg positive hepatocytes were scattered singly, but in a few parts, where the liver damage was severe, the HEVAg positive cells were quite concentrated. We also observed the invasion of lymphocytes into the HEVAg positive hepatocytes. These phenomena suggest that the liver damage may be related to the immune reaction. No HEVAg was found in the liver tissues of stillborn fetus and neonate from woman patients with hepatitis E.

Effects of morphine on prolactin receptors in the rat brain

The effect of chronically given morphine on the binding of ovine prolactin (oPRL) to specific areas in the male rat brain was studied. The drug was delivered through subcutaneously implanted miniosmotic pumps. The results indicated that the density of prolactin binding sites in the hypothalamus and the choroid plexus was significantly decreased in the acute phase of morphine administration but restored to control levels when tolerance to morphine was developed. The decrease in prolactin binding was contrasted by elevated plasma levels of the hormone. A negative correlation was found between the hormone concentration in plasma and the density of its binding sites in the hypothalamus and choroid plexus. The hormone-binding sites in these two regions were further characterized with regard to binding constants and molecular sizes. The relevance of the present results with respect to the hypothalamic control of prolactin secretion is discussed.

[Immunohistochemical study of hepatitis E virus antigen in liver tissues from patients with type E hepatitis]

Hepatitis E virus antigen (HEV Ag) has been identified in liver tissues of 6 out of 14 patients with type E hepatitis by direct immunoperoxidase staining, using anti-HEV-IgG-HRP. HEV Ag was found to be diffusive or inclusive in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes were scattered and isolated, but might aggregate in some parts where the liver damage was severe. We found that lymphocyte invaded the HEV Ag positive hepatocyte. These phenomena suggest that the liver damage is related to immunoreaction. HEV Ag was not found in the liver tissues of stillborn fetus and newborn baby from woman patients with hepatitis E. To detect HEV Ag in liver with direct immunoperoxidase method, using anti-HEV-IgG-HRP is more efficient than using anti-HEV-IgM-HRP.