In utero transplantation of neural stem cells ameliorates maternal inflammation-induced prenatal white matter injury

Prenatal white matter injury is a serious problem due to maternal inflammation leading to postnatal disabilities. In this study, we used the periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) model as a common prenatal white matter injury by maternal administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Neural stem cells (NSCs) have shown therapeutic ability in neurological disorders through a different mechanism such as immunomodulation. Here, we studied the preventive potential of NSCs following in utero transplantation into the embryonic lateral ventricle in an LPS-induced white matter injury model. Pregnant animals were divided into three groups and received phosphate buffered saline, LPS, or LPS + NSCs. The brains of offspring were obtained and evaluated by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), immunohistochemy, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated biotinylated-dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL), and caspase-3 activity assay. The LPS-induced maternal inflammation degenerated the myelin sheath in the offspring periventricular region which was associated with an increased microglial number, oligodendrocytes degeneration, proinflammatory cytokine secretion, and cell apoptosis. The transplanted NSCs homed into the brain and ameliorated the evaluated parameters. The expression of proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), cell apoptosis and caspase-3 activity were inhibited by NSCs. In addition, Olig2 and myelin basic protein immunohistochemy staining showed that prenatal NSCs transplantation augmented the myelination in the periventricular white matter of offspring. In conclusion, we think that prenatal therapeutic strategies, such as in utero NSCs transplantation, may prevent prenatal white matter injury after birth.     

Roles for Kisspeptin in proliferation and differentiation of spermatogonial cells isolated from mice offspring when the cells are cocultured with somatic cells

Kisspeptin (Kp) expression in testis has caused most of the recent research surveying its functional role in this organ. This peptide influences spermatogenesis and sperm capacitation, so it is considered as a regulator of reproduction. Kp roles exert through hypothalamic/pituitary/gonadal axis. We aimed to evaluate direct roles for Kp on proliferation and differentiation of spermatogonial cells (SCs) when the cells are cocultured with somatic cells. Somatic cells and SCs were isolated from adult azoospermic and newborn mice and then enriched using a differential attachment technique. After the evaluation of identity and colonization for SCs, the cells were cocultured with somatic cells, and three doses of Kp (10⁻⁸-10⁻⁶ M) was assessed on proliferation (through evaluation of MVH and ID4 markers) and differentiation (via evaluation of c-Kit and SCP₃, TP_1, TP₂, and, Prm₁ markers) of the coculture system. Investigations were continued for four succeeding weeks. At the end of each level of testosterone in the culture media was also evaluated. We found positive influence from Kp on proliferative and differentiative markers in SCs cocultured with somatic cells. These effects were dose-dependent. There was no effect for Kp on testosterone level. From our findings, we simply conclude that Kp as a neuropeptide for influencing central part of reproductive axis could also positively affect peripheral processes related to spermatogenesis without having an effect on steroidogenesis.     

A novel VHH nanobody against the active site (the CA domain) of tumor-associated, carbonic anhydrase isoform IX and its usefulness for cancer diagnosis

Expression of carbonic anhydrase IX (CAIX) significantly increases under hypoxic conditions in tumor cells. CAIX activity is executed by the catalytic domain (CA) located on the extracellular part of the enzyme. Neutralization of CAIX enzymatic activity reduces malignancy and survival of tumor cells. To inhibit the enzymatic activity, a VHH nanobody was developed against the CA domain of CAIX using phage display technology. Following immunization of a camel with the recombinant CAIX, VHH fragments were isolated by nested PCR on lymphocyte cDNA. Binding affinity of isolated nanobodies was tested by ELISA. A clone (K24) with the highest binding affinity was expressed in a soluble form. Affinity of K24 nanobody was determined to be approx. 2.3 × 10^?5. K24 nanobody recognized the expressed CAIX in the HeLa cell lines with high selectivity and specificity. These findings thus have usefulness for the diagnosis and treatment of cancers.     

Genetic polymorphisms of GSTO2, GSTM1, and GSTT1 and risk of gastric cancer

Objective The glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are a superfamily of proteins that participates in detoxification. The GSTs were dividing into several classes including omega (GSTO), mu (GSTM) and theta (GSTT) classes. In human GSTO2, GSTM1, and GSTT1 are polymorphic. In order to study whether GSTO2, GSTM1, and GSTT1 polymorphisms are associated with increased gastric cancer risk in Iranian patients, the present case–control study was done. Methods Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood of 67 gastric cancer patients and 134 control subjects. The genotyping was performed using PCR-based method. The possible association of gastric cancer with the GSTO2 N142D polymorphism was estimated with assuming additive, dominant, and recessive effect of the variant 142D allele. To investigate whether profiles of GST genotypes are associated with the risk of gastric cancer, we used unconditional logistic regression analysis. Results The GSTO2 142D allele in additive, dominant and recessive models was not associated with the risk. Because GSTM1, GSTT1, and GSTO2 genes belong to low-penetrance genes which might be involved in the carcinogenesis, patients and controls without family of cancer in first-degree relatives were also analyzes separately. To investigate whether profiles of GST genotypes are associated with the risk of gastric cancer, we used unconditional logistic regression analysis with GSTM1, GSTT1, and GSTO2 genotypes as predictor factors. The GSTO2 DD genotype was associated with decreased risk as compared to GSTO2 NN genotype (OR = 0.21, 95% CI: 0.05–0.92, P = 0.038). Conclusions Present findings show that GSTO2 DD genotype decreases the risk of gastric cancer in individuals without history of cancer in their first-degree relatives.     

Lack of association of Toll-like receptor 2 Arg753Gln with cutaneous leishmaniasis

The aim of the present study was to investigate the frequency of Arg753Gln and Arg677Trp polymorphisms of TLR2 in patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) compared to healthy controls. The polymorphisms were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and amplification refractory mutation system assay (ARMS-PCR). The results showed that the frequency of Arg753Gln genotype was 14.3% and 10.1% in CL patients and normal controls, respectively. No one in either group was homozygous for the mutation. There was no significant difference in the genotype frequency. In contrast to the results for Arg753Gln polymorphism, we did not detect any case with Arg677Trp polymorphism in either control or patient group. In conclusion the TLR2 mutations are found equally in CL patients and healthy subjects.     

Cloning,high level expression and immunogenicity of 1163-1256 residues of C-terminal heavy chain of C. botulinum neurotoxin type E

Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) inhibit neurotransmitter release from peripheral cholinergic synapses. BoNTs consist of a toxifying light chain and a heavy chain (HC) linked through a disulfide bond. In the present study we explored the immunogenicity and protective capability of the most effective part corresponding to 1163-1256 residues of botulinum type E neurotoxin HC gene. DNA encoding the 93 C-terminal amino acid of HC residues was synthesized with optimal codon usage for expression. These DNA fragments were ligated into a pLivSelect vector and subcloned into expression vector pET32a. Recombinant plasmids were then transformed into Escherichia coli strain BL21 DE3. The recombinant protein was purified by nickel affinity gel column chromatography. The HC1163-1256 was identified by antibodies raised against BoNT/E. HC1163-1256 was shown to bind with synaptotagmin and gangliosides, indicating that the expressed and purified HC1163-1256 protein retains a functionally active conformation. The immunization with recombinant protein induced a protection level in mice. The immunization with 2 μg of the recombinant protein induced a significant protection level in mice. In conclusion, availability of the recombinant protein provides an effective system to study the biochemical and physical interactions involved during BoNT binding to nerve cells and protection against its toxicity.     

Deletion of a conserved, central ribosomal intersubunit RNA bridge

Elucidation of the structure of the ribosome has stimulated numerous proposals for the roles of specific rRNA elements, including the universally conserved helix 69 (H69) of 23S rRNA, which forms intersubunit bridge B2a and contacts the D stems of A- and P-site tRNAs. H69 has been proposed to be involved not only in subunit association and tRNA binding but also in initiation, translocation, translational accuracy, the peptidyl transferase reaction, and ribosome recycling. Consistent with such proposals, deletion of H69 confers a dominant lethal phenotype. Remarkably, in vitro assays show that affinity-purified Deltah69 ribosomes have normal translational accuracy, synthesize a full-length protein from a natural mRNA template, and support EF-G-dependent translocation at wild-type rates. However, Deltah69 50S subunits are unable to associate with 30S subunits in the absence of tRNA, are defective in RF1-catalyzed peptide release, and can be recycled in the absence of RRF.