A major endogenous glycoside hydrolase mediating quercetin uptake in Bombyx mori

Quercetin is a common plant flavonoid which is involved in herbivore-plant interactions. Mulberry silkworms (domestic silkworm, Bombyx mori, and wild silkworm, Bombyx mandarina) take up quercetin from mulberry leaves and accumulate the metabolites in the cocoon, thereby improving its protective properties. Here we identified a glycoside hydrolase, named glycoside hydrolase family 1 group G 5 (GH1G5), which is expressed in the midgut and is involved in quercetin metabolism in the domestic silkworm. Our results suggest that this enzyme mediates quercetin uptake by deglycosylating the three primary quercetin glycosides present in mulberry leaf: rutin, quercetin-3-O-malonylglucoside, and quercetin-3-O-glucoside. Despite being located in an unstable genomic region that has undergone frequent structural changes in the evolution of Lepidoptera, GH1G5 has retained its hydrolytic activity, suggesting quercetin uptake has adaptive significance for mulberry silkworms. GH1G5 is also important in breeding: defective mutations which result in discoloration of the cocoon and increased silk yield are homozygously conserved in 27 of the 32 Japanese white-cocoon domestic silkworm strains and 12 of the 30 Chinese ones we investigated.

An Effective Chemical Permeabilization of Silkworm Embryos

The lipid layer surrounding the vitelline membrane of insect eggs has a critical role in the waterproofing and desiccation resistance of embryos. However, this lipid layer also prevents the flux of chemicals into the embryos, such as cryoprotectants, which are required for successful cryopreservation. The permeabilization studies of silkworm embryos remain insufficient. Therefore, in this study, we developed a permeabilization method to remove the lipid layer in the silkworm, Bombyx mori, and examined factors affecting the viability of dechorionated embryos, including the types and exposure times of chemicals and embryonic stages. Among the chemicals used, hexane and heptane were effective for permeabilization, whereas Triton X-100 and Tween-80 were less effective. Regarding the embryonic stages, there were significant differences between 160 and 166 h after egg laying (AEL) at 25 °C. Consequently, we found that the treatment of 160 AEL embryos with hexane for 30 s was the best condition for the permeability and viability of embryos, in which over 62% of the permeabilized embryos grew up to the second larval instar and their moths could lay fertilized eggs. Our method can be used for various purposes, including permeability investigations using other chemicals and embryonic cryopreservation.

High-power laser experiment on developing supercritical shock propagating in homogeneously magnetized plasma of ambient gas origin

A developing supercritical collisionless shock propagating in a homogeneously magnetized plasma of ambient gas origin having higher uniformity than the previous experiments is formed by using high-power laser experiment. The ambient plasma is not contaminated by the plasma produced in the early time after the laser shot. While the observed developing shock does not have stationary downstream structure, it possesses some characteristics of a magnetized supercritical shock, which are supported by a one-dimensional full particle-in-cell simulation taking the effect of finite time of laser-target interaction into account.

Observing silkworm embryos at the fertilization stage using a tissue clearing reagent

There are various reports on embryogenesis in silkworm, Bombyx mori, a model organism for lepidopteran insects. New tissue observation methods have been developed with the development of biological science. Applying these methods to silkworm eggs makes it possible to capture morphological and histological features that have not been observed until now. Tissue transparency technology is a method of observation that has advanced remarkably recently. This study emphasized the CUBIC (Clear, Unobstructed Brain/Body Imaging Cocktails and Computational analysis) method. The tissue clearing reagent used in CUBIC is water-soluble, containing urea and amino alcohol, which easily and effectively clears animal tissue by immersing the sample in the reagent. This study showed that silkworm eggs are made transparent using the modified CUBIC method at the fertilization stage. Furthermore, we observed the behavior of egg nucleus, polar body nuclei, and sperm nuclei at the fertilization stage.

Effect of chemical dechorionation on silkworm embryo viability

The chorion covering/protecting insect egg, which has some effective functions such as providing mechanical strength, protecting eggs from external environments, and keeping moisture adjustment, is one of the principal barriers to manipulation, cryopreservation, and study of insect embryos. Here we evaluated the silkworm embryo viability after dechorionation using chemical reagents. We have developed an easy and effective method for chemical dechorionation that enables embryos to develop in culture, so that the larvae could normally grow. Eggs attached to a nylon net were treated with potassium hydroxide (KOH) and sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) to remove the chorion, washed with the Grace's insect medium, and then cultured using a dry-moist method which we created. The most effective treatment with regard to embryonic development, hatching, and production of second instar larvae was 30% KOH for 7 min and 2% NaClO for 5 min at 27 °C. Embryos at later embryonic stages were more tolerant to chemical dechorionation and over 75% of embryos treated at 168 h-old (Stage 25, appearance of taenidium) survived to the second larval instar, moreover, the larvae derived from the dechorionated embryos have developed into the moths which can lay the fertilized eggs. Our method would contribute to the establishment of cryopreservation using embryos and analysis of silkworm embryogenesis and might also be applicable to other insect species.

High-power laser experiment forming a supercritical collisionless shock in a magnetized uniform plasma at rest

We present an experimental method to generate quasiperpendicular supercritical magnetized collisionless shocks. In our experiment, ambient nitrogen (N) plasma is at rest and well magnetized, and it has uniform mass density. The plasma is pushed by laser-driven ablation aluminum (Al) plasma. Streaked optical pyrometry and spatially resolved laser collective Thomson scattering clarify structures of plasma density and temperatures, which are compared with one-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations. It is indicated that just after the laser irradiation, the Al plasma is magnetized by a self-generated Biermann battery field, and the plasma slaps the incident N plasma. The compressed external field in the N plasma reflects N ions, leading to counterstreaming magnetized N flows. Namely, we identify the edge of the reflected N ions. Such interacting plasmas form a magnetized collisionless shock.

Cavin-1 modulates BMP/Smad signaling through the interaction of Caveolin-1 with BMPRII in pulmonary artery endothelial cells

Background

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a progressive disease associated with poor outcomes. Caveolin-1 (Cav1) and Cavin-1 are components of caveolae, and Cav1 is identified as a related gene of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Gene mutations of bone morphogenetic protein type II receptor (BMPRII) is the most common cause of PAH. BMPRII is localized in caveolae and associates with Cav1. However, the role of the Caveolin-Cavin system on the BMP/Smad signaling and the PAH progression has not been well-known.

Purpose

Our study aims to investigate the relationship between Caveolin-Cavin system and BMP/Smad signaling pathway in pulmonary artery endothelial cells (PAECs). [Methods] Cav1 knockout mice were used to assess PH, and caveolae in PAECs were observed by electron microscope. After knocking down Cav1 and/or Cavin-1 in human PAECs (hPAECs) using siRNA, we evaluated the phosphorylation of Smad by Western blotting. Apoptosis was explored by flow cytometry. To assess the interaction between Cav1 and BMPRII, and the effect of Cavin-1 for this interaction and BMP/Smad signaling, we performed immunoprecipitation, Co-immunostaining, Proximal Ligation Assay (PLA), GST pulldown assay, and Western blotting.

Results

As in previous reports, Cav1 knockout mice exhibited PH with pulmonary vascular remodeling and right ventricular hypertrophy and PAECs isolated from Cav1 knockout mice showed caveolae disappearance. Cav1 knockdown in hPAECs reduced BMPRII at the plasma membrane and Smad 1/5/9 phosphorylation. Cav1 knockdown also significantly increased hypoxia-induced apoptosis in hPAECs. Co-immunostaining revealed that Cav1 was associated with BMPRII at the membrane of hPAECs. Cavin-1 inhibited the interaction of BMPRII with Cav1 and reduced BMPRII localization on the membrane of hPAECs. GST pulldown assay revealed that Cavin-1 and BMPRII were associated with Cav1 through the scaffolding domain in Cav1. These findings suggest that Cavin-1 and BMPRII are competitively associated with Cav1. Cavin-1 knockdown improved the interaction between Cav1 and BMPRII and inhibited both BMPRII reduction at the plasma membrane and Smad 1/5/9 dephosphorylation.

Conclusions

Cavin-1 affects the interaction of Cav1 with BMPRII at the plasma membrane and modulates BMP/Smad signaling in PAECs. The binding of Cavin-1 to Cav1 enhances the interaction between BMPR2 and Cav1, resulting in stabilization of BMPRII localization at the plasma membrane in PAECs and prevention of BMP/Smad signaling attenuation, which is important for PAH development.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.

Seasonal monitoring of Hida salamander Hynobius kimurae using environmental DNA with a genus-specific primer set

The diversity and the abundance of amphibians have dramatically declined globally over the past 30 years, and the monitoring and conservation of their habitats is essential. However, traditional methods such as bait trapping and mark-recapture are costly, and morphological identification usually requires a high level of taxonomic expertise. Here, seasonal surveillances of Hida salamanderHynobius kimuraewere performed by means of environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis withHynobius-specific primers and a species-specific TaqMan probe. Water sampling and visual surveys were conducted seasonally in a stream in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. Detection rates of eDNA were then calculated by real-time PCR, and eDNA site occupancy probability was estimated by multi-scale occupancy modeling. The eDNA-based detection rate of Hida salamander was 76.7%, whereas the visual survey-based detection rate was 23.3%, and target eDNA was detected at almost all sites where the presence of target species was visually confirmed. Moreover, factors relating to the site- and sample-level occurrence probabilities of the target eDNA differed depending on the developmental stage of the target species. Our findings support previous studies showing that eDNA analysis enables an effective assessment of amphibian distributions without damaging the organisms or their habitat, and we compare for the first time the site occupancy probability of amphibian eDNA throughout the life cycle of an amphibian species. The present study contributes to the development of eDNA analysis as a tool for understanding the distribution and seasonal activity of amphibian species and will thus aid in the planning of conservation measures and habitat restoration for these species.

Efficacy of neuromuscular electro stimulation on muscle strength in elderly patients with diabetes mellitus underwent cardiovascular surgery – a multicenter randomized controlled trial

Introduction

Cardiovascular surgery causes muscle weakness probably due to a postoperative increase in inflammatory cytokine production, and diabetes mellitus (DM) may promote the postoperative muscle weakness because of increased insulin resistance.

Purpose

A multicenter randomized controlled trial was conducted to examine the effects of postoperative neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) on muscle strength for elderly patients with DM after cardiovascular surgery (UMIN000029940).

Methods

Patients underwent cardiovascular surgery were consecutive screened for eligibility (With DM and age ≥65 years) as study subjects. If eligible, patients were randomly assigned either to the NMES or the sham group. Both of group underwent NMES or sham stimulation (60 minutes / 5 times) and usual postoperative early mobilization program until postoperative day (POD) 7. The primary outcome was the percent change in knee extensor isometric muscle strength (%ΔKEIS) between preoperative to POD 7. Secondary outcomes were the percent change in usual (%ΔUsual walking speed) and maximum walking speed (%ΔMaximum walking speed) and grip strength (%ΔGS). Assessors for physical function were blinded to the outcomes. The statistician who was blinded to the allocation analyzed the data using preoperative value adjusted ANCOVA.

Results

Of 1151 consecutive patients screened for eligibility from February 2018 to January 2020, 158 participants (NMES group, n=79; sham group, n=79) were enrolled. NMES group demonstrated significantly lower %ΔKEIS compared with those in the sham group (Table). Among secondary outcomes, NMES group showed significantly lower %ΔMaximum walking speed and tendency of lower %ΔUsual walking speed and %ΔGS (Table).

Conclusion

NMES prevented postoperative muscle weakness in the elderly patients with DM, indicating that NMES along with early mobilization could be implicated as specific intervention to those populations.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None

Cavin-1 regulates BMP/Smad signaling through the interaction of Caveolin-1 with BMPRII in pulmonary artery endothelial cells

Background

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a progressive disease associated with poor outcome. Caveolin-1 (Cav1) is a component of caveolae and classified as a related gene of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Gene mutations of bone morphogenetic protein type II receptor (BMPRII) is a most common cause of PAH. BMPRII is localized in caveolae and associates with Cav1. However, the role of the Caveolin-Cavin system on the BMP/Smad signaling and the PAH progression has not been well-known.

Purpose

The aim of our study is to investigate the relationship between Caveolin-Cavin system and BMP/Smad signaling pathway and explore the mechanism of downstream signal transduction of BMP signaling by the interaction between Caveolin and BMPRII.

Methods

Cav1 knockout mice were used to assess PH and caveolae in pulmonary artery endothelial cells were observed by electron microscope. Cav1 and Cavin-1, which is a component of caveolae and form a complex with Cav1, were knocked-down in human pulmonary artery endothelial cell (hPAEC) using siRNA and phosphorylation of Smad signal was evaluated. Apoptosis of these cells was explored by flow cytometry. We investigated the interaction between Cav1 and BMPRII, and evaluated whether Cavin-1 affects this interaction and signal transduction of BMP signaling.

Results

As previously described, deletion of Cav1 revealed disappearance of caveolae in pulmonary artery endothelial cells (PAECs), and Cav1 knockout mice exhibited PH with pulmonary vascular remodeling and right ventricular hypertrophy. We then examined roles of Cav1 in human PAECs (hPAECs). Cav1 knockdown in hPAECs reduced phosphorylation of Smad 1/5/9. In addition, Cav1 knockdown significantly increased hypoxia-induced apoptosis in hPAEC. Knockdown of Cavin-1 reversed phosphorylation of Smad 1/5/9 decreased by Cav1 knockdown in BMP9 stimulation. Cavin-1 reversed the expression of BMPRII decreased by overexpression of Cav1. Cav1 was associated with Cavin-1 at the plasma membrane in PAECs. Cav1 also associated with BMPRII at the membrane of hPAECs that was inhibited by Cavin-1, and Cavin-1 reduced the localization of BMPRII to the membrane of hPAECs. These results suggest that BMPRII interacts with Cav1 via Cavin-1-associated localization at the plasma membrane in hPAECs, resulting in regulating BMP/Smad signaling pathway and involving in the development of PAH.

Conclusions

Cavin-1 affects the interaction of Cav1 with BMPRII at the membrane of PAECs, and regulates BMP/Smad signaling. These results reveal a previously undescribed function of Cavin-Caveolin system in the development of PAH through regulation of BMP/Smad signaling.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None

SDPR/Cavin-2 loss inhibits monocyte adhesion to endothelial cells in abdominal aortic aneurysm via suppressing the expression of adhesion molecules

Background

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a common and life-threatening vascular disease. The initial phase of AAA progression is vascular inflammation. Inflammation sites present adhesion molecules, such as vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and intracellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). These molecules play a crucial role in recruiting inflammatory cells to endothelial cells through NF-κB signaling. Endothelial cells express serum deprivation response (SDPR)/Cavin-2 localized in caveolae on the cell membrane. Although Cavin-2 is involved in such as cell proliferation, migration, and signal transduction, the role of Cavin-2 in vascular inflammation in the development of AAA is still unclear.

Purpose

To assess the influence of Cavin-2 deficiency in AAA development and clarify the role of Cavin-2 in the regulation of inflammatory cell adhesion in endothelial cells.

Methods

CaCl2-induced AAAs were induced by the periaortic application of 0.5 M CaCl2 in male SDPR-knockout (KO) and wild-type (WT) mice at 8–10 weeks of age. Angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced AAAs were created by 4-week-subcutaneous drug infusion in male ApoE-KO and ApoE/Cavin-2-double KO (DKO) mice at 24 weeks of age. Inflammatory response and cell adhesion were evaluated using human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs) and human monocytes (THP-1 cells).

Results

Six weeks after CaCl2 treatment, Cavin-2 deficiency significantly attenuated the development of AAAs. Elastin degradation was markedly suppressed and F4/80-positive macrophages infiltration in aortic walls were decreased in Cavin-2-KO mice. Although Ang II infusion for 4 weeks formed AAAs in ApoE KO mice and ApoE/Cavin-2-DKO mice, ApoE/Cavin-2-DKO mice exhibited the suppression of AAA formation independently of blood pressure. Immunohistochemical staining showed VCAM-1 expression on endothelial cells was suppressed in ApoE/Cavin-2-DKO mice. Further, in vitro co-culture experiment, the number of THP-1 cells adhered to TNF-treated SDPR-knockdown HAECs was decreased compared with that to control HAECs. Moreover, mRNA expression of VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 was decreased in TNFα-treated SDPR-knockdown HAECSs. Protein expression of VCAM-1 was also suppressed in TNFα-treated SDPR-knockdown HAECSs. The activity of NF-κB p65, an upstream regulator of VCAM-1 and ICAM-1,tended to be suppressed in TNFα-treated SDPR-knockdown HAECs.

Conclusion

In this study, we revealed that SDPR/Cavin-2 loss attenuated AAA development with the suppression of elastin degradation and macrophage infiltration. Our findings suggest that SDPR/Cavin-2 in the endothelial cells regulates the expression of adhesion molecules via NF-κB signaling and promotes the adhesion and infiltration of inflammatory cells to the aortic wall.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None

Multicomponent structures in camouflage and mimicry in butterfly wing patterns

Understanding how morphological structures are built is essential for appreciating the morphological complexity and divergence of organisms. One representative case of morphological structures is the camouflage and mimicry of butterfly wing patterns. Some previous studies have questioned whether camouflage and mimicry are truly structures, considering that they rely on coloration. Nevertheless, our recent study revealed that the leaf pattern of Kallima inachus butterfly wings evolved through the combination of changes in several pigment components in a block-wise manner; it remains unclear whether such block-wise structures are common in other cases of camouflage and mimicry in butterflies and how they come about. Previous studies focused solely on a set of homologous components, termed the nymphalid ground plan. In the present study, we extended the scope of the description of components by including not only the nymphalid ground plan but also other common components (i.e., ripple patterns, dependent patterns, and color fields). This extension allowed us to analyze the combinatorial building logic of structures and examine multicomponent structures of camouflage and mimicry in butterfly wing patterns. We investigated various patterns of camouflage and mimicry (e.g., masquerade, crypsis, Müllerian mimicry, Batesian mimicry) in nine species and decomposed them into an assembly of multiple components. These structural component analyses suggested that camouflage and mimicry in butterfly wing patterns are built up by combining multiple types of components. We also investigated associations between components and the kinds of camouflage and mimicry. Several components are statistically more often used to produce specific types of camouflage or mimicry. Thus, our work provides empirical evidence that camouflage and mimicry patterns of butterfly wings are mosaic structures, opening up a new avenue of studying camouflage, and mimicry from a structural perspective.

HIGH BACKGROUND AREA FOR RADIATION EDUCATION

This paper describes our trial experience of the use of high radiation area for radiation education. We used environmental samples collected from the high radiation area in Fukushima prefecture and India, for the practice of radiation measurement and health risk assessment in Nagasaki University Medical School. We also carried out the field monitoring seminar for students in the existing exposure areas in Tottori prefecture and the Yamakiya observatory in Fukushima. Although the evaluation of educational effectiveness is still underway, both types of education appeared attractive for the students mostly due to the exposure from natural environment in our real life which was not achieved by using an artificial radiation source in a classroom.

Abstract P4-13-16: Impact of immediate breast reconstruction after mastectomy on the outcome of patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy

Background and purpose

In breast cancer patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC), immediate breast reconstruction (IBR) is controversial. IBR might favor recurrences and metastases due to delayed adjuvant radiation therapy.

We retrospectively investigated whether IBR after mastectomy influenced the outcome of patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Patients and methods

Between 2006 and 2016, 243 breast cancer patients received total mastectomy after NAC, 48 of whom underwent IBR. Patients receiving IBR (IBR group) were compared to patients who did not receive IBR (no-IBR group) over a prolonged median follow-up time (72.3 moths).

The regimen was 4 cycles of epirubicin (100 or 75 mg/m2), 5-fluorouracil (500 mg/m2), and cyclophosphamide (500 mg/m2) followed by 4 cycles of docetaxel (75 mg/m2). Post-mastectomy radiation was applied in cases treated by IBR following the same selection criteria as for standard mastectomy regardless of the reconstruction approach.

Results

Patients in the IBR group were on average younger than patients in no-IBR

group (p<0.001). The percentage of patients with clinical T1/2 tumor was 81.2% in the IBR group and 58.4% in no-IBR group (p=0.0042). 2 patients (4.2%) in the IBR group and 9 patients (4.6%) in no-IBR group showed the locoregional recurrences. 2 patients (4.2%) in the IBR group and 20 patients (10.3%) showed distant metastases. There were no significant differences.

Conclusions

IBR after total mastectomy was not associated with worse rate of locoregional recurrences in patients receiving NAC.

Citation Format: Nogi H, Tomita S, Kamio M, Shioya H, Toriumi Y, Takeyama H. Impact of immediate breast reconstruction after mastectomy on the outcome of patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy [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 P4-13-16.

Clinicopahological features of superficial basaloid squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus

Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma (BSC) of the esophagus is classified as an epithelial malignant tumor and is a rare variant of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Most previous reports have suggested that advanced BSC has a poorer prognosis than typical SCC because of its high biological malignancy, but the biological activity of superficial BSC remains unclear. Twenty cases of superficial BSC, which underwent surgical resection in Tokai University Hospital between January 2004 and December 2013, were analyzed retrospectively. Among these cases, 19 cases with a T1 depth of invasion (BSC group) were compared with 180 cases of SCC that were resected during the same period and were pathologically diagnosed as T1 (SCC group). The frequency of lymph node metastasis in the T1 BSC group was significantly lower (2 patients, 11%) than that in the SCC group (84 patients, 47%) (P = 0.005). The frequency of lymphatic invasion in the BSC group was also lower (9 patients, 47%) than that in the SCC group (131 patients, 73%) (P = 0.021). The pathological type of the metastatic lymph node was BSC in all the superficial BSC cases with lymph node metastasis. This study demonstrated that lymph node metastasis was less likely to occur in cases with superficial BSC than in cases with superficial SCC.

Antioxidant treatment ameliorates diabetes-induced dysfunction of the vas deferens in a rat model

Diabetes mellitus (DM) affects the male ejaculatory function. This study was designed to evaluate the role of oxidative stress in the development of diabetes-induced dysfunction of vas deferens (VD) in the rat. DM was induced by streptozotocin in 40 male Wistar rats. Subsequently, the diabetic animals were divided into three groups: DM group, DM + Eda group and DM + Tau group. These groups were administered saline, edaravone and taurine, respectively, daily for 4 weeks. Another group of ten rats served as a control group. DM was diagnosed in the 40 streptozotocin-injected rats. DM significantly reduced the VD weight. Additionally, DM induced in vitro VD hypercontractility, VD histological abnormalities and increased the serum and VD tissue concentration of malondialdehyde. VD immunohistochemistry revealed overexpression of three markers of oxidative stress. DM significantly reduced serum testosterone levels. No live birth was documented in all DM rats in mating experiments. Antioxidants significantly improved all the aforementioned parameters, except the testosterone levels. This study indicates a deleterious impact of DM-induced oxidative stress on VD histological and functional features. Antioxidant treatment may provide an adjunct tool to alleviate ejaculatory disorders for male patients with type 1 diabetes.

Abstract P2-11-10: Epigenetic immune modulation by entinostat in breast cancer: Correlative analysis of ENCORE 301 trial

Background: Entinostat, a class I HDAC inhibitor (HDACi), has shown promising activity in ENCORE 301, a randomized, placebo-controlled, phase II trial of entinostat + exemestane (EE) vs. exemestane + placebo (EP) in advanced hormone receptor-positive breast cancer progressed on nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitors. ENCORE 301 met the primary progression free survival endpoint and showed a median 8.3-month improvement in the overall survival (OS) exploratory endpoint for the EE arm. Emerging preclinical work suggests that entinostat has immunomodulatory effects and can eradicate modestly immunogenic mouse tumors in combination with immune checkpoint blockade agents via reduction of circulating myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC). Based on these data, we conducted an analysis of immune subsets in blood samples from ENCORE 301 breast cancer patients.

Method: Blood was collected from a subset of 49 patients (27 EE and 22 EP) representative of the 130 patients enrolled in ENCORE 301 on cycle 1 day 1 (C1D1; pre-treatment), C1D2, C1D8, and C1D15 for biomarker analysis. Of these, 34 patient samples (20 EE and 14 EP) were analyzed for circulating immune subsets. The percent change in subsets at C1D15 vs. baseline was assessed based on the following surface markers: Lin-MDSC (lin; CD3, CD19, CD56)-HLA-DR-CD11b+CD33+), granulocytic MDSC (CD14-CD11b+CD33+), monocytic MDSC (Lin-HLA-DR-CD11b+CD33+CD14+), immature MDSC (Lin-HLA-DR-CD11b+CD33+CD14-), CD8+ T-cells (CD4-CD8+), Foxp3-CD4+ T-cells (CD8-CD4+Foxp3-), and Tregs (CD4+CD8-CD25hiFoxp3+). Monocytes were analyzed for three populations: CD14+, CD14+HLA-DRhi, and CD14+HLA-DRlow/negative. In addition, PD-1, CTLA-4, and TIM-3 were measured on T-cell subsets, and CD40 was measured on MDSCs.

Results: In line with preclinical data, we observed a significant reduction in granulocytic MDSC (-14.67% vs. +20.56%, p 0.029) and monocytic MDSC (-62.3% vs. +1.97%, p 0.002) in EE. Entinostat did not alter immature MDSC levels (-20.9% vs. -15.0%, p 0.93) suggesting a downstream effect of entinostat on MDSC subsets. Interestingly, CD40, a costimulatory receptor required for MDSC-mediated immune suppression was significantly down-regulated in all MDSC subsets except granulocytic MDSC where a downward trend was observed. Entinostat did not significantly impact the ratio of CD8+ T-cells per CD4+ T-cells or per Tregs or alter expression of CTLA4, PD-1, or TIM3 on T-cell subsets. Reduced expression of HLA-DR on monocytes has been associated with poor prognosis in cancer. Consistent with entinostat-mediated immunomodulatory effects, a significant increase in the number of HLA-DR+ monocytes (34.1% vs. -11.38%, p 0.0004) and level of HLA-DR expression on monocytes (16.3% vs. -4.7%; p 0.015) was observed.

Conclusion: Data with entinostat combined with exemestane in ENCORE 301 provide the first evidence of HDACi-mediated reduction of immunosuppressive MDSCs and increased immunocompetent CD14+HLA-DRhi monocytes in patients. These findings may explain the improved OS seen with EE in ENCORE 301 and provide strong rationale for planned combination studies of entinostat with immune checkpoint blockade agents.

Citation Format: Chumsri S, Lee M-J, Tomita Y, Lee S, Tomita S, Cruickshank S, Ordentlich P, Trepel JB. Epigenetic immune modulation by entinostat in breast cancer: Correlative analysis of ENCORE 301 trial. [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 P2-11-10.

Abstract P3-05-10: Non-coding RNAs derived from near the ESR1 gene acts as a transcriptional regulator during estrogen deprivation adaptation of ER positive breast cancer cells

Endocrine therapies that blocks estrogen production are effective for estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer. However, endocrine therapy treated patients eventually experience relapse after a long period of estrogen deprivation. The mechanism underlying acquisition of estrogen independent growth by ER positive breast cancer cells remains unclear.

To understand such molecular mechanism, we used a cell model LTED (long term estrogen deprivation) which MCF7 cells were cultured under estrogen deprivation for 4-10 months. In LTED cells, we found that ER encoded gene ESR1 was up-regulated and ER overproduction was essential for estrogen-independent cell growth. We also revealed that RNA transcriptions of the ESR1 and several neighbor genes were co-induced from both coding and non-coding regions in LTED cells, using RNA-sequence. These highly transcribed regions were corresponded to active histone modifications and transcription factor bindings according to publically available genome-wide analyses data. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analyses indicated that RNA from the chromatin domain region nearby ESR1 were co-localized and made foci in nucleus.

We found non-coding regions that are particularly highly transcribed. FISH analyses indicated that RNAs from these regions might interact with the parental ESR1 gene locus. Recent studies have shown that non-coding RNAs are involved in transcriptional regulation and chromatin regulation. To understand the role of the non-coding RNA, we have generated MCF7 cells lines that lack the non-coding site, using CRISPR/CAS9 system. We found that mRNA transcription of multiple genes including ESR1 were impaired by the deletion. These findings suggested that these non-coding RNAs may be involved in chromatin regulation of the chromatin domain nearby ESR1.

In this study, we found non-coding RNAs that control transcription of chromatin domain genes in ER positive breast cancer cells. Such non-coding RNA mediated transcriptional regulation might be critical for endocrine therapy resistance adaptation.

Citation Format: Fujiwara S, Saitoh N, Tomita S, Abdalla MO, Iwase H, Nakao M. Non-coding RNAs derived from near the ESR1 gene acts as a transcriptional regulator during estrogen deprivation adaptation of ER positive breast cancer cells. [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 P3-05-10.

A Hox Gene, Antennapedia, Regulates Expression of Multiple Major Silk Protein Genes in the Silkworm Bombyx mori

Hoxgenes play a pivotal role in the determination of anteroposterior axis specificity during bilaterian animal development. They do so by acting as a master control and regulating the expression of genes important for development. Recently, however, we showed that Hoxgenes can also function in terminally differentiated tissue of the lepidopteranBombyx mori In this species,Antennapedia(Antp) regulates expression of sericin-1, a major silk protein gene, in the silk gland. Here, we investigated whether Antpcan regulate expression of multiple genes in this tissue. By means of proteomic, RT-PCR, and in situ hybridization analyses, we demonstrate that misexpression of Antpin the posterior silk gland induced ectopic expression of major silk protein genes such assericin-3,fhxh4, and fhxh5 These genes are normally expressed specifically in the middle silk gland as is Antp Therefore, the evidence strongly suggests that Antpactivates these silk protein genes in the middle silk gland. The putativesericin-1 activator complex (middle silk gland-intermolt-specific complex) can bind to the upstream regions of these genes, suggesting that Antpdirectly activates their expression. We also found that the pattern of gene expression was well conserved between B. moriand the wild species Bombyx mandarina, indicating that the gene regulation mechanism identified here is an evolutionarily conserved mechanism and not an artifact of the domestication of B. mori We suggest that Hoxgenes have a role as a master control in terminally differentiated tissues, possibly acting as a primary regulator for a range of physiological processes.

Gradual and contingent evolutionary emergence of leaf mimicry in butterfly wing patterns

Background

Special resemblance of animals to natural objects such as leaves provides a representative example of evolutionary adaptation. The existence of such sophisticated features challenges our understanding of how complex adaptive phenotypes evolved. Leaf mimicry typically consists of several pattern elements, the spatial arrangement of which generates the leaf venation-like appearance. However, the process by which leaf patterns evolved remains unclear.

Results

In this study we show the evolutionary origin and process for the leaf pattern in Kallima (Nymphalidae) butterflies. Using comparative morphological analyses, we reveal that the wing patterns of Kallima and 45 closely related species share the same ground plan, suggesting that the pattern elements of leaf mimicry have been inherited across species with lineage-specific changes of their character states. On the basis of these analyses, phylogenetic comparative methods estimated past states of the pattern elements and enabled reconstruction of the wing patterns of the most recent common ancestor. This analysis shows that the leaf pattern has evolved through several intermediate patterns. Further, we use Bayesian statistical methods to estimate the temporal order of character-state changes in the pattern elements by which leaf mimesis evolved, and show that the pattern elements changed their spatial arrangement (e.g., from a curved line to a straight line) in a stepwise manner and finally establish a close resemblance to a leaf venation-like appearance.

Conclusions

Our study provides the first evidence for stepwise and contingent evolution of leaf mimicry.　 Leaf mimicry patterns evolved in a gradual, rather than a sudden, manner from a non-mimetic ancestor. Through a lineage of Kallima butterflies, the leaf patterns evolutionarily originated through temporal accumulation of orchestrated changes in multiple pattern elements.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12862-014-0229-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Comparison of the T2 relaxation time of the temporomandibular joint articular disk between patients with temporomandibular disorders and asymptomatic volunteers

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

T2 relaxation time is a quantitative MR imaging parameter used to detect degenerated cartilage in the knee and lumbar intervertebral disks. We measured the T2 relaxation time of the articular disk of the temporomandibular joint in patients with temporomandibular disorders and asymptomatic volunteers to demonstrate an association between T2 relaxation time and temporomandibular disorder MR imaging findings.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

One hundred forty-four patients with temporomandibular disorders and 17 volunteers were enrolled in this study. An 8-echo spin-echo sequence for measuring the T2 relaxation times was performed in the closed mouth position, and the T2 relaxation time of the entire articular disk was measured. Patients were classified according to the articular disk location and function, articular disk configuration, presence of joint effusion, osteoarthritis, and bone marrow abnormalities.

RESULTS

The T2 relaxation time of the entire articular disk was 29.3 ± 3.8 ms in the volunteer group and 30.7 ± 5.1 ms in the patient group (P = .177). When subgroups were analyzed, however, the T2 relaxation times of the entire articular disk in the anterior disk displacement without reduction group, the marked or extensive joint effusion group, the osteoarthritis-positive group, and the bone marrow abnormality-positive group were significantly longer than those in the volunteer group (P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS

The T2 relaxation times of the articular disk of the temporomandibular joint in patients with progressive temporomandibular disorders were longer than those of healthy volunteers.

Blocking of the ATP sensitive potassium channel ameliorates the ischaemia-reperfusion injury in the rat testis

There is increasing evidence that the effects of administered ATP sensitive potassium (KATP ) channel openers or blockers during ischaemia are still controversial in many organs/tissues. Testicular torsion detorsion which causes ischaemia-reperfusion (IR) injury, cannot be predicted, thus an effective drug should be administered during or after the ischaemia. The aim of this study was to examine whether the administration of KATP channel openers or blockers during ischaemia ameliorates IR injury in the testis. Eight-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to 2 h right testicular ischaemia followed by 24 h reperfusion. The selective mitochondrial (mito) KATP channel blocker, 5-hydroxydecanoate (5-HD) (40 mg/kg), the non-selective KATP channel blocker glibenclamide (5 mg/kg), the selective mito KATP channel opener diazoxide (10 mg/kg) and the non-selective KATP channel opener cromakalim (300 μg/kg) were administered intraperitoneally 15 min prior to the ischaemia or 75 min after the induction of ischaemia. Tissue damage was evaluated by malondialdehyde concentration, myeloperoxidase activity, histological evaluation and TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labelling assay in the testis. There was a significant increase in oxidative stress, neutrophil infiltration, histological damage and apoptosis in the testicular IR model. A significant reduction in the testicular IR injury was observed with the administration of glibenclamide, but not 5-HD, diazoxide or cromakalim during ischaemia. The administration of non-selective KATP channel blocker glibenclamide ameliorated the testicular IR injury. On the other hand, the selective mito KATP channel blocker, 5-HD and KATP channel openers did not reduce the testicular IR injury. These data suggest that blocking of the membrane KATP channel may have a protective effect during the testicular ischaemia. Glibenclamide could be an effective drug to manage the post-ischaemic injury caused by the testicular torsion-detorsion.

Evaluation of the presence of the 35delG mutation in patients with severe to profound hearing loss based on ethnicity

INTRODUCTION

The 35delG mutation in the connexin 26 gene is the most common mutation that generates deafness, but its frequency in different countries is strongly based on its ethnicity. Brazilians belong to different ethnic groups.

OBJECTIVES

To report the frequency of homo and heterozygosis 35delG mutation in a population with severe to profound bilateral sensorineural deafness, and separate them by ethnicity.

METHODS

100 individuals were studied with severe to profound hearing loss, with no other etiology found, and tested for 35delG mutation. The group presented the following ethnicity distribution: 25% Blacks; 30% Latin Europeans; 26.2% Blacks/Latin Europeans and 2.3% native.

RESULTS

The 35delG mutation was found in 20% of patients: 15% were heterozygous and 5% homozygous. All homozygous were of Latin European origin.

CONCLUSION

Ethnicity shows marked determination of the presence of the 35delG mutation, and it was only found in homozygosis in the group of Latin Europeans.

The combined effects of midazolam and propofol sedation on muscle power

We performed a randomised, crossover study to investigate the effects of intravenous sedation on grip strength and bite force. Twenty male volunteers received a bolus intravenous injection of midazolam (0.02 mg.kg(-1)) together with a 30-min propofol infusion designed to achieve an effect-site concentration of 1.0 μg.ml(-1). Observed variables included bispectral index, observer's assessment of alertness/sedation, correct answer rate of Stroop colour-word test, grip strength and bite force. Grip strength decreased from a median (IQR [range]) of 483 (443-517 [380-586]) N to 358 (280-405 [108-580]) N (p < 0.001) during sedation and recovered following flumazenil administration, while bite force increased from 818 (593-1026 [405-1406]) N to 1377 (1243-1585 [836-2357]) N (p < 0.001) during sedation. Although bite force gradually returned to baseline following flumazenil administration, it remained increased throughout the experimental period. We conclude that bite force increased during intravenous sedation and that this may have clinical implications.

Soaking RNAi in Bombyx mori BmN4-SID1 cells arrests cell cycle progression

RNA interference (RNAi) is an evolutionarily conserved mechanism for sequence-specific gene silencing. Previously, the BmN4-SID1 cell expressing Caenorhabditis ele gans SID-1 was established, in which soaking RNAi could induce effective gene silencing. To establish its utility, 6 cell cycle progression related cDNAs, CDK1, MYC, MYB, RNRS, CDT1, and GEMININ, were isolated from the silkworm, Bombyx mori L. (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae), and their expressions were further silenced by soaking RNAi in the BmN4-SID1 cells. The cell cycle progression analysis using flow cytometer demonstrated that the small amount of double stranded RNA was enough to arrest cell cycle progression at the specific cell phases. These data suggest that RNAi in the BmN4-SID1 cells can be used as a powerful tool for loss-of-function analysis of B. mori genes.

Abstract P2-14-03: “Ethinylestradiol” is beneficial for postmenopausal advanced breast cancer patients heavily pre-treated with endocrine agents

Purpose and Methods: Estrogen deprivation therapy using aromatase inhibitors is a standard therapy in postmenopausal hormone-dependent breast cancer. Paradoxically, low-dose estradiol was reported to be beneficial for the postmenopausal patients who have been heavily pre-treated with long-term sequential anti-estrogen therapies. To determine efficacy and safety of ethinylestradiol (3mg/day oral), a phase 2 study has been performed for the postmenopausal patients with advanced or recurrent breast cancer who became resistant to sequential endocrine treatments. The primary endpoint was clinical benefit rate, secondary were safety, objective response rate and time to progression. The interim data will be reported because of the extremely beneficial results.

Results: Eighteen cases with ER-positive tumor which showed resistance to previous sequential-endocrine therapies including SERMs and/or aromatase inhibitors were registered from Oct 2010 to May 2012. Their mean age was 62 years-old and the mean observation time was 9.2 months. Nine cases were evaluated as partial response, 1 case as long NC, 3 cases as stable disease, and another 2 cases as progressive disease. In three cases of all 18 cases, the estradiol administration was withdrawn within 1 week with their early endocrine-related symptoms, such as nausea, general fatigue and fever. Duration of effect in the case of the PR (including the 4 ongoing cases) was more than 24 weeks. All of 9 responders had high ER expression in the primary or metastatic tumor and had a history of long-term endocrine therapies in metastatic setting and had response to previous endocrine therapies. Serum estradiol levels elevated as 30–100pg/mL, and FSH was suppressed below premenopausal levels in 4 weeks later administration. Although the weight gain, irregular vaginal bleeding, or endometrial thickening was observed in patients treated with long-term treatment, there was no severe adverse event, such as deep venous thrombosis or other malignancies in this series.

Discussion: The mechanism of low-dose estrogen treatment can be considered the estrogen-induced apoptosis. The high ER expression and the response to previous endocrine therapies might be recognized as predictive factor of this treatment. This low-dose estrogen therapy may contribute to overturn the common sense of the endocrine therapy for breast cancer.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2012;72(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P2-14-03.

[The problem of cardiac surgery with neoplasm]

Neoplasm and cardiac diseases are rarely found at the same time. If the standard treatment for both of these diseases is operation, several problems arise;1 stage or 2 stage operation, which operation should be done 1st etc. Especially, if cardiac operation needs cardiopulmonary bypass, neoplasm may grow faster. In such cases, we must decide operative procedure carefully.

Novel gene rearrangements in the mitochondrial genome of a webspinner, Aposthonia japonica (Insecta: Embioptera)

Webspinners (order Embioptera) are polyneopteran insects characterized by enlarged foretarsi with silk glands, whose silk is used to produce galleries in which the insects live gregariously. The phylogenetic position of webspinners has been debated. In the present study, an almost complete mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequence of Embioptera is reported for the first time. The mtDNA of a webspinner, Aposthonia japonica , has the 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs) generally found in metazoan mtDNA sequences. There is a translocation of a large region including atp6, atp8, cox3, nad3, and nad5 as well as a duplication of the 12S rRNA gene. The rearrangement does not seem to affect nucleotide composition, although amino acid composition in some parts of the mtDNA is biased compared with other Polyneoptera species. Based on phylogenetic analyses using nucleotide sequences of all PCGs concatenated with two rRNA genes and the amino acid sequences of all PCGs, A. japonica is sister to Verophasmatodea, a suborder of typical stick and leaf insects.

SID-1 protein of Caenorhabditis elegans mediates uptake of dsRNA into Bombyx cells

RNA interference is one of the most revolutionary tools in the study of gene function, particularly in non-model systems. However, in Bombyx mori, as with many lepidopteran species, attempts at systemic RNAi have had mixed success. Gene identification and phylogenetic analyses suggest that Bombyx has the core RNAi machinery, which is necessary to undergo RNAi as a cellular response. We introduced sid genes from Caenorhabditis elegans into Bombyx BmN4 cells to enhance the uptake of dsRNA and revealed that the SID-1 protein, but not SID-2, has the ability to endow the RNAi effect with the addition of dsRNA to the medium. Observed RNAi effect was dependent on both the levels of sid-1 expression and the concentration of the dsRNA. These results suggest that SID-1 promotes the uptake of dsRNA from the medium into Bombyx cells. We generated transgenic animals that express sid-1 but have not detected significant enhancements of in vivo phenotype in response to the injection of the dsRNA into hemocoel.

Effective RNA interference in cultured silkworm cells mediated by overexpression of Caenorhabditis elegans SID-1

RNA interference (RNAi) is a conserved mechanism that catalyzes sequence-specific gene silencing and has been used for loss-of-function genetic screens in many organisms. Here, we demonstrated that the expression of Caenorhabditis elegans SID-1 (CeSID-1) could trigger effective gene silencing in the cultured silkworm cell line, BmN4 (BmN4-SID1). Soaking the BmN4-SID1 in dsRNA corresponding to endogenous target genes induced a significant decrease of the amount of mRNA or protein. A small amount of dsRNA was enough to silence the target gene in a few days. Overexpression of CeSID-1 did not affect the cell viability. Our results suggest that BmN4-SID1 can be used in many applications in silkworm cells and will become a valuable resource for gene analysis.

[One-stage coronary artery bypass grafting and revascularization in a patient with ischemic heart disease and arteriosclerosis obliterans]

With the overall increase in ischemic heart disease (IHD), cases combining arteriosclerosis obliterans (ASO) of the lower extremities and IHD are on the rise. Therefore, it is necessary to consider methods and timing of operation. These cases have occasionally large collateral pathways from the internal thoracic artery (ITA) to the femoral artery via the epigastric artery. To prevent irreversible ischemia of the lower limbs after harvesting of ITA, we planned to perform a one-stage operation for ASO-combined IHD. Revascularization of the lower extremities was performed 1st. Subsequently coronary artery bypass grafting with ITA was completed. The operative courses were uneventful.