Critical role of the HDAC6-cortactin axis in human megakaryocyte maturation leading to a proplatelet-formation defect

Thrombocytopenia is a major side effect of a new class of anticancer agents that target histone deacetylase (HDAC). Their mechanism is poorly understood. Here, we show that HDAC6 inhibition and genetic knockdown lead to a strong decrease in human proplatelet formation (PPF). Unexpectedly, HDAC6 inhibition-induced tubulin hyperacetylation has no effect on PPF. The PPF decrease induced by HDAC6 inhibition is related to cortactin (CTTN) hyperacetylation associated with actin disorganization inducing important changes in the distribution of megakaryocyte (MK) organelles. CTTN silencing in human MKs phenocopies HDAC6 inactivation and knockdown leads to a strong PPF defect. This is rescued by forced expression of a deacetylated CTTN mimetic. Unexpectedly, unlike human-derived MKs, HDAC6 and CTTN are shown to be dispensable for mouse PPF in vitro and platelet production in vivo. Our results highlight an unexpected function of HDAC6–CTTN axis as a positive regulator of human but not mouse MK maturation.

Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors, a class of cancer therapeutics, cause thrombocytopenia via an unknown mechanism. Here, the authors show that HDAC6 inhibition impairs proplatelet formation in human megakaryocytes, and show that this is linked to hyperacetylation of the actin-binding protein cortactin.

PCNs, PCDD/Fs, and non-orthoPCBs, in water and bottom sediments from the industrialized Norwegian Grenlandsfjords

Chlorinated toxic planar aromatic compounds were analyzed in the heavily industrialized Grenlandsfjords, which is a system of silled fjords in southern Norway. Surface water samples contained 7.4-160 ng/m3 polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans (PCDD/Fs), 14-410 ng/m3 polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs), and 0.31-2.4 ng/m3 non-orthochlorinated biphenyls (non-orthoPCBs). The concentrations of PCDD/Fs were about 300 times higher than in the Baltic Sea. Highest level of the compounds wasfound near a magnesium production plant Hepta-CDFs and penta-CNs dominated in the inner-fjord waters, and tetra-CB 77 was the major non-orthoPCB congener. Sediment samples had PCDD/F concentration of 25-730 ng/g dw. Highest concentration was detected close to the magnesium plant. Octa-CDFdominated in the fjord sediments, especially near the magnesium plant indicating a discharge-specific contamination with this congener. The isomer composition of PCDD/Fs and of PCNs, was unchanged when comparing samples from different layers of a sediment core from the deep anoxic water. This concludes that essentially zero degradation had occurred during approximately 50 years in this environment.

Soot-carbon influenced distribution of PCDD/Fs in the marine environment of the Grenlandsfjords, Norway

The particle associations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) were studied in both the water column and the surface sediments of a marine fiord system and were found to poorly obey expectations from the organic matter partitioning (OMP) paradigm. The field observations were instead consistent with the presence of a stronger sorbent subdomain such as pyrogenic soot-carbon (SC) playing an important role in affecting the environmental distribution and fate of PCDD/Fs. Solid-water distribution coefficients (Kd) of PCDD/ Fs actually observed in the water column were several orders of magnitude above predictions from a commonly used OMP model. Even when these elevated Kd values were normalized to the particulate organic carbon (POC) content (i.e., K(OC)), the variability in K(OC) for individual PCDD/ Fs at different fjord locations and seasons of factors 100-1,000 suggested that bulk organic matter was not the governing sorbent domain of the suspended particles. Further, POC-normalized particle concentrations of PCDD/ Fs (C(OC)) in a vertical profile (surface water-bottom water-surface sediment) revealed a strong increasing trend with depth. Factors of about 100 higher Coc for all PCDD/Fs in the sediment than in the surface water could not be explained by higher fugacity in the surrounding deep water nor with C:N or delta13C indexes of selective aging of the bulk organic matter. Instead this was hypothesized to reflect selective preservation of a more recalcitrant and highly sorbing, but minor, subdomain such as soot. The extent of enhanced PCDD/F sorption, above the OMP predictions, was positively correlated with the SC:POC ratio of the suspended particles in surface and deep waters. Finally, the geographical distribution of sedimentary PCDD/F concentrations were better explained by the SC content than by the bulk OC content of the sediment. Altogether, these field-based findings add to recent laboratory-based sorption studies to suggest that we need to consider both amorphous OC partitioning domains and SC particles as carriers of planar aromatic contaminants if we are to explain the environmental distribution and fate of pollutants such as PCDD/Fs.

Tissue distribution of polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) and non-ortho chlorinated biphenyls (non-ortho CBs) in harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) from Swedish waters

Polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) and non-ortho chlorinated biphenyls (non-ortho CBs) were analysed in blubber, nuchal fat, liver, muscle, kidney and brain of three male harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) from the west coast of Sweden. To estimate spatial variation, PCNs and non-ortho CBs were analysed in six blubber samples collected at different anatomical sites of each animal. Highest wet weight concentrations of sigma PCNs were detected in the lipid rich tissues (blubber and nuchal fat) and liver (520-730 and 520 pg/g, respectively) and lowest in brain (22 pg/g). TetraCNs were most abundant in muscle, kidney and brain, while the hexaCNs were most abundant in the lipid rich tissues and liver. The highest lipid weight concentration recorded (11 ng/g) was for the hexaCN congeners no. 66/67 in liver. These coeluting hexaCN congeners accounted for 80-100% of total hexaCNs in all tissues examined. Concentrations of sigma non-ortho CBs were highest in lipid rich tissues (220-280 pg/g wet weight). Non-ortho CB no. 77 and 169 constituted between 62-86% and 4.9-9.3%, respectively, of total sigma non-ortho CBs. No major variation of sigma non-ortho CB concentrations was found between the six different blubber sites but higher sigma PCN concentrations (wet weight) were found dorsally at the peduncle. Toxic equivalent concentrations (TEQs) showed that non-ortho CB no. 126 was the main contributor to total TEQs in all tissues, except liver in which hexaCN congener nos. 66/67 contributed to about 50% of total TEQs.

PCBs, DDTs and methyl sulphone metabolites in various tissues of harbour porpoises from Swedish waters

Aryl methyl sulphones of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and 3-p,p'-DDE (MeSO(2)-PCBs and 3-MeSO(2)-p,p'-DDE), PCBs and Sigma DDTs were analysed in five different tissues (blubber, nuchal fat, liver, muscle, brain) of adult male harbour porpoises from the west coast of Sweden. Two different methods for MeSO(2)-PCBs and 3-MeSO(2)-p,p'-DDE determination were used, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and gas chromatography-atomic emission detection. Highest concentrations of Sigma MeSO(2)-PCBs were found in liver (0.15-0.49 microg/g lipid wt.), which corresponded to 2.0-2.8% of the Sigma PCBs concentrations. Blubber and nuchal fat showed Sigma MeSO(2)-PCB concentrations that were three to five times lower than those in liver. Concentrations of 3-MeSO(2)-p,p'-DDE in liver, muscle and brain corresponded to 0.26-4.6% of the p,p'-DDE concentrations, while in blubber and nuchal fat, 3-MeSO(2)-p,p'-DDE constituted 0.033-0.21% of p,p'-DDE. The different tissues analysed showed similar levels (lipid wt.) of Sigma PCBs and Sigma DDTs, except for brain that had almost 10 times lower levels compared to the other tissues. Using the Sigma PCBs/Sigma MeSO(2)-PCBs ratio to estimate MeSO(2)-PCB formation and secondary metabolism capacity, the harbour porpoise showed a relatively low capacity of MeSO(2)-PCB formation compared to other small toothed whales and seals. Blubber sampled from five different anatomical locations showed that concentrations of contaminants may be unevenly distributed in blubber in certain animals. This should be taken into account when choosing sampling sites on the porpoise.

Organochlorine compounds in the Gulf of Bothnia: sediment and benthic species

Surface sediment, amphipods (Monoporeia affinis), isopods (Saduria entomon) and fourhorn sculpins (Oncocottus quadricornis) were collected at two coastal stations in the Gulf of Bothnia, one in the Bothnian Bay and the other in the Bothnian Sea. The objective was to study the concentrations, composition profiles, bioaccumulation features and spatial differences of organochlorine compounds such as hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs), DDTs, hexachlorobenzene (HCBz), chlordanes (CHLs), dieldrin, Mirex and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). All groups of compounds were found in every sample investigated, with the exception of Mirex that was not detected in the sediment samples. The concentrations for e.g. PCBs and CHLs ranged from 700 to 2400 and 70 to 400 ng/g lipid in the specimens. For the corresponding sediments the results were 9.0-9.3 ng/g dw for PCBs and 0.54-0.57 ng/g dw for CHLs, respectively. Bioaccumulation differences between the species with regard to both degree of and type of compound were observed. The highest accumulation potential was found for the cyclodiene compounds including CHLs and Mirex in isopod. Finally, there were only small concentration and bioaccumulation differences between the two stations.

Prevalence of chlamydial infection in females attending antenatal and family planning clinics in Karachi Pakistan

A prospective study was undertaken to investigate the relative prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis in asymptomatic pregnant women of 2 socioeconomic groups and those attending the family planning clinics. Group 1 consisted of women attending the antenatal clinics of the Aga Khan University Hospital which caters to the affluent strata of our society (n = 100). Group 2 comprised women attending the antenatal clinics of Lady Dufferin Hospital which provides free obstetric care to women belonging to the lower socioeconomic groups of Karachi (n = 100). Group 3 consisted of sexually active women attending the family planning clinics of Lady Dufferin Hospital (n = 100). Endocervical swabs were taken from women assigned to each group. Chlamydiazyme, an enzyme linked immunoassay, was used to detect chlamydia antigen. The positive samples were retested by using the direct fluorescent monoclonal antibody technique. Chlamydia positive patients and their sexual partners were treated with Erythromycin stearate 500 mg 8-hourly for 7 days. These patients were retested after antibiotic therapy to assess the efficacy of the therapy. In groups 1 and 2, 2% and in Group 3, 12% of the females tested positive. Selective screening of sexually active women for chlamydial infection is advocated as a cost-effective public health measure.