A general requirement for FcγRIIB co-engagement of agonistic anti-TNFR antibodies

Comment on: Li F, et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2012; 109:10966-71.     

Metformin suppresses growth of human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma via global inhibition of protein translation

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth leading cancer in the world; the main risk factors are alcohol and tobacco use. Advancements in therapies have yet to improve the prognosis of HNSCC. The connection between diabetes and cancer is being recognized, and metformin has been shown to decrease cancer incidence in diabetic patients. Accordingly, here, for the first time, we investigated metformin’s efficacy on the growth and viability of human HNSCC FaDU and Detroit cells. Our results show that metformin treatment (5–20 mM) dose-dependently inhibits the growth of both cell lines. In FaDU cells, metformin caused 18–57% and 35–81% growth inhibition after 48 and 72 h treatments, respectively. Similarly, in Detroit 562 cells, 48 and 72 h metformin treatment resulted in 20–57% and 33–82% inhibition, respectively. Mechanistically, metformin caused G₁ arrest, which coincided with a decrease in the protein levels of CDKs (2, 4 and 6), cyclins (D1 and E) and CDK inhibitors (p15, p16, p18 and p27), but no change in p19 and p21. Metformin also decreased the levels of oncogenic proteins Skp2 and β-Trcp. In other studies, metformin decreased the phosphorylation of 4E-BP1 at Ser65, Thr37/46 and Thr70 sites, but drastically increased the phosphorylation of EF2 at Thr56 and AMPK at Thr172, which results in global translational inhibition. In summary, the observed wide spectrum of mechanistic effects of metformin on HNSCC cells provides support for the anticancer capability of the drug and its potential use in future therapies.     

局部应用依那西普治疗强直性脊柱炎髋关节受累的临床疗效分析

目的：评价局部应用依那西普治疗强直性脊柱炎髋关节受累的短期疗效。方法：选择我科2001-2011年收治的强直性脊柱炎髋关节受累的患者50例,在高频超声引导下于髋关节局部注射依那西普50mg,每周1次,连用4次。分别在注射前、注射后2、4、8周观察患者的BASDAI、BASFI、脊柱痛VAS、患者总体评价（PGA）VAS、夜间痛VAS、血沉、CRP和Harris功能评分,同时记录患者出现的不良反应。结果：依那西普治疗2周时,30例达ASAS20的缓解（60％）,13例（26％）达到ASAS50的缓解,8例（16％）达到ASAS70的缓解;治疗8周时,ASAS20／50／70的缓解率分别为38例（64％）、21例（42％）、15例（30％）,其中Harris评分达70以上者占总人数的90％,80分60％,90分30％,1例患者缓解不明显,4例患者处于70分以下,但疾病活动度情况改善。结论：依那西普可有效改善强直性脊柱炎髋关节受累患者的关节症状,降低疾病活动强度,且无明显药物不良反应。     

Chemical Constituents from a Soil‐Derived Actinomycete,Actinomadura miaoliensis BCRC 16873, and Their Inhibitory Activities on Lipopolysaccharide‐Induced Tumor Necrosis Factor Production

An investigation on the secondary metabolites from the BuOH extract of the fermentation broth of the thermotolerant polyester‐degrading actinomycete Actinomadura miaoliensis BCRC 16873 was carried out. One previously undescribed α‐pyrone (=pyran‐2‐one) derivative, designated as miaolienone ( 1 ), and a new butanolide, miaolinolide ( 2 ), together with 13 known compounds, 3 – 15 , were obtained. Their structures were established on the basis of extensive 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR analyses in combination with HR‐MS experiments. In addition, the isolated compounds 1 – 15 were evaluated for the inhibitory effects of the isolates on the production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF‐α) induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Among the isolates, 1 and 2 significantly inhibited TNF‐α production in U937 cells in vitro, and the IC₅₀ values were 0.59 and 0.76 μM , respectively. Compounds 3 – 5 displayed moderate inhibitory activities on LPS‐induced TNF‐α production.     

浙江赤霉病抗性不同的大麦地方品种遗传多样性分析

采用SSR标记方法研究了43份对大麦赤霉病有不同抗性的浙江地方品种的遗传多样性。结果显示29对SSR引物在上述品种中共检测到87个等位基因,每对引物等位基因数在2~9之间,平均为3个;平均多态性信息含量（PIC）为0.3509,平均Shannon指数(I)为0.6951,平均Nei’s基因多样性指数(H)为0.4268。品种间的遗传相似系数变幅为0.082~0.986,平均值为0.467。聚类分析将参试品种分为4大类。浙江省地方品种遗传多样性较高,二棱品种的遗传变异明显高于六棱品种;抗和中抗赤霉病品种的遗传变异也较大。聚类结果与品种来源无任何关系;主成分分析结果与聚类分析结果基本一致。     

Differences in methylation profiles between HPV-positive and HPV-negative oropharynx squamous cell carcinoma

Oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) is associated with human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV-positive OPSCC is considered a distinct molecular entity with a better prognosis than HPV-negative cases of OPSCC. However, the exact pathogenic mechanisms underlying the differences in clinical and molecular behavior between HPV-positive and HPV-negative OPSCC remain poorly understood. Epigenetic events play an important role in the development of cancer. Hypermethylation of DNA in promoter regions and global hypomethylation are 2 epigenetic changes that have been frequently observed in human cancers. It is suggested that heterogeneous epigenetic changes play a role in the clinical and biological differences between HPV-positive and HPV-negative tumors. Unraveling the differences in methylation profiles of HPV-associated OPSCC may provide for promising clinical applications and may pave the road for personalized cancer treatment. This systematic review aims to assess the current state of knowledge regarding differences in promoter hypermethylation and global methylation between HPV-positive and HPV-negative OPSCC.     

Autophagy

The role of autophagy in the response of human hepatocytes to oxidative stress remains unknown. Understanding this process may have important implications for the understanding of basic liver epithelial cell biology and the responses of hepatocytes during liver disease. To address this we isolated primary hepatocytes from human liver tissue and exposed them ex vivo to hypoxia and hypoxia-reoxygenation (H-R). We showed that oxidative stress increased hepatocyte autophagy in a reactive oxygen species (ROS) and class III PtdIns3K-dependent manner. Specifically, mitochondrial ROS and NADPH oxidase were found to be key regulators of autophagy. Autophagy involved the upregulation of BECN1, LC3A, Atg7, Atg5 and Atg 12 during hypoxia and H-R. Autophagy was seen to occur within the mitochondria of the hepatocyte and inhibition of autophagy resulted in the lowering a mitochondrial membrane potential and onset of cell death. Autophagic responses were primarily observed in the large peri-venular (PV) hepatocyte subpopulation. Inhibition of autophagy, using 3-methyladenine, increased apoptosis during H-R. Specifically, PV human hepatocytes were more susceptible to apoptosis after inhibition of autophagy. These findings show for the first time that during oxidative stress autophagy serves as a cell survival mechanism for primary human hepatocytes.     

Autophagy proteins play cytoprotective and cytocidal roles in leucine starvation-induced cell death in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Autophagy is essential for prolonging yeast survival during nutrient deprivation; however, this report shows that some autophagy proteins may also be accelerating population death in those conditions. While leucine starvation caused YCA1-mediated apoptosis characterized by increased annexin V staining, nitrogen deprivation triggered necrotic death characterized by increased propidium iodide uptake. Although a Δatg8 strain died faster than its parental strain during nitrogen starvation, this mutant died slower than its parent during leucine starvation. Conversely, a Δatg11 strain died slower than its parent during nitrogen starvation, but faster during leucine starvation. Curiously, although GFP-Atg8 complemented the Δatg8 mutation, this protein made ATG8 cells more sensitive to nitrogen starvation, and less sensitive to leucine starvation. These results were difficult to explain if autophagy only extended life but could be an indication that a second form of autophagy could concurrently facilitate either apoptotic or necrotic cell death.