Adipose triglyceride lipase regulates eicosanoid production in activated human mast cells

Human mast cells (MCs) contain TG-rich cytoplasmic lipid droplets (LDs) with high arachidonic acid (AA) content. Here, we investigated the functional role of adipose TG lipase (ATGL) in TG hydrolysis and the ensuing release of AA as substrate for eicosanoid generation by activated human primary MCs in culture. Silencing of ATGL in MCs by siRNAs induced the accumulation of neutral lipids in LDs. IgE-dependent activation of MCs triggered the secretion of the two major eicosanoids, prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) and leukotriene C4 (LTC4). The immediate release of PGD2 from the activated MCs was solely dependent on cyclooxygenase (COX) 1, while during the delayed phase of lipid mediator production, the inducible COX-2 also contributed to its release. Importantly, when ATGL-silenced MCs were activated, the secretion of both PGD2 and LTC4 was significantly reduced. Interestingly, the inhibitory effect on the release of LTC4 was even more pronounced in ATGL-silenced MCs than in cytosolic phospholipase A₂-silenced MCs. These data show that ATGL hydrolyzes AA-containing TGs present in human MC LDs and define ATGL as a novel regulator of the substrate availability of AA for eicosanoid generation upon MC activation.     

Immunopathological Changes in the Brain of Immunosuppressed Mice Experimentally Infected with Toxocara canis

Toxocariasis is a soil-transmitted helminthozoonosis due to infection of humans by larvae of Toxocara canis. The disease could produce cognitive and behavioral disturbances especially in children. Meanwhile, in our modern era, the incidence of immunosuppression has been progressively increasing due to increased incidence of malignancy as well as increased use of immunosuppressive agents. The present study aimed at comparing some of the pathological and immunological alterations in the brain of normal and immunosuppressed mice experimentally infected with T. canis. Therefore, 180 Swiss albino mice were divided into 4 groups including normal (control) group, immunocompetent T. canis-infected group, immunosuppressed group (control), and immunosuppressed infected group. Infected mice were subjected to larval counts in the brain, and the brains from all mice were assessed for histopathological changes, astrogliosis, and IL-5 mRNA expression levels in brain tissues. The results showed that under immunosuppression, there were significant increase in brain larval counts, significant enhancement of reactive gliosis, and significant reduction in IL-5 mRNA expression. All these changes were maximal in the chronic stage of infection. In conclusion, the immunopathological alterations in the brains of infected animals were progressive over time, and were exaggerated under the effect of immunosuppression as did the intensity of cerebral infection.     

The tRNA A76 Hydroxyl Groups Control Partitioning of the tRNA-dependent Pre- and Post-transfer Editing Pathways in Class I tRNA Synthetase

Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases catalyze ATP-dependent covalent coupling of cognate amino acids and tRNAs for ribosomal protein synthesis. Escherichia coli isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase (IleRS) exploits both the tRNA-dependent pre- and post-transfer editing pathways to minimize errors in translation. However, the molecular mechanisms by which tRNA^Ile organizes the synthetic site to enhance pre-transfer editing, an idiosyncratic feature of IleRS, remains elusive. Here we show that tRNA^Ile affects both the synthetic and editing reactions localized within the IleRS synthetic site. In a complex with cognate tRNA, IleRS exhibits a 10-fold faster aminoacyl-AMP hydrolysis and a 10-fold drop in amino acid affinity relative to the free enzyme. Remarkably, the specificity against non-cognate valine was not improved by the presence of tRNA in either of these processes. Instead, amino acid specificity is determined by the protein component per se, whereas the tRNA promotes catalytic performance of the synthetic site, bringing about less error-prone and kinetically optimized isoleucyl-tRNA^Ile synthesis under cellular conditions. Finally, the extent to which tRNA^Ile modulates activation and pre-transfer editing is independent of the intactness of its 3′-end. This finding decouples aminoacylation and pre-transfer editing within the IleRS synthetic site and further demonstrates that the A76 hydroxyl groups participate in post-transfer editing only. The data are consistent with a model whereby the 3′-end of the tRNA remains free to sample different positions within the IleRS·tRNA complex, whereas the fine-tuning of the synthetic site is attained via conformational rearrangement of the enzyme through the interactions with the remaining parts of the tRNA body.     

1-Aryl-2-((6-aryl)pyrimidin-4-yl)amino)ethanols as competitive inhibitors of fatty acid amide hydrolase

A series of 1-aryl-2-(((6-aryl)pyrimidin-4-yl)amino)ethanols have been found to be competitive inhibitors of fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH). One member of this class, JNJ-40413269, was found to have excellent pharmacokinetic properties, demonstrated robust central target engagement, and was efficacious in a rat model of neuropathic pain.     

4-phenylylboronic acid: A new type of enhancer for the horseradish peroxidase catalysed chemiluminescent oxidation of luminol

4-Phenylylboronic acid enhances the light emission from the horseradish peroxidase catalysed oxidation of luminol by hydrogen peroxide. Optimization studies showed that the greatest enhancement was obtained using micromolar concentrations of the new enhancer. The largest degree of enhancement was found with the basic isoenzyme of horseradish peroxidase (Type VIA), and lesser degrees of enhancement were obtained with Type VII and Type IX horseradish peroxidase. The enhancer was also effective in the peroxidase catalysed oxidation of isoluminol by peroxide.     

Alteration of free amino acid concentrations in insect galls induced by Andricus mukaigawae (Hymenoptera; Cynipidae)

1. Insect galls are abnormal plant growths that develop in response to a stimulus provided by a galling insect. The nutrition hypothesis suggests that the concentrations of nutritive compounds in galls are changed to provide optimum nutrition for the larvae and adults of galling insects. 2. To test the nutrition hypothesis, we determined the concentrations of 20 free amino acids in galls and in galled and ungalled twigs of Quercus fabri during the larval and adult stages of Andricus mukaigawae using high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet–visible detection. 3. At the larval stage, the concentrations of 12 out of 20 amino acids in A. mukaigawae galls were significantly higher than those in galled and ungalled twigs. Asparagine and tryptophan were the most abundant nonessential and essential amino acids, respectively, in A. mukaigawae galls. 4. At the adult stage, the concentrations of most amino acids, except proline, were significantly lower in A. mukaigawae galls than in galled and ungalled twigs. The A. mukaigawae adults may not manipulate amino acid levels because the adults do not feed on galls. The decrease of amino acid levels in adult galls may be viewed as a depletion. 5. The composition of free amino acids in A. mukaigawae galls was significantly different from the composition in galled and ungalled twigs in both the larval and adult stages. 6. Our results may support the nutrition hypothesis. We suggest that a high concentration of proline in A. mukaigawae galls may protect larvae and adults from plant defense responses.     

N-phenyl ureidobenzenesulfonates,a novel class of promising human dihydroorotate dehydrogenase inhibitors

N-phenyl ureidobenzenesulfonates (PUB-SOs) is a new class of promising anticancer agents inducing replication stresses and cell cycle arrest in S-phase. However, the pharmacological target of PUB-SOs was still unidentified. Consequently, the objective of the present study was to identify and confirm the pharmacological target of the prototypical PUB-SO named 2-ethylphenyl 4-(3-ethylureido)benzenesulfonate (SFOM-0046) leading to the cell cycle arrest in S-phase. The antiproliferative and the cytotoxic activities of SFOM-0046 were characterized using the NCI-60 screening program and its fingerprint was analyzed by COMPARE algorithm. Then, human dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (hDHODH) colorimetric assay, uridine rescuing cell proliferation and molecular docking in the brequinar-binding site were performed. As a result, SFOM-0046 exhibited a mean antiproliferative activity of 3.5 μM in the NCI-60 screening program and evidenced that leukemia and colon cancer cell panels were more sensitive to SFOM-0046. COMPARE algorithm showed that the SFOM-0046 cytotoxic profile is equivalent to the ones of brequinar and dichloroallyl lawsone, two inhibitors of hDHODH. SFOM-0046 inhibited the hDHODH in the low nanomolar range (IC₅₀ = 72 nM) and uridine rescued the cell proliferation of HT-29, HT-1080, M21 and MCF-7 cancer cell lines in the presence of SFOM-0046. Finally, molecular docking showed a binding pose of SFOM-0046 interacting with Met43 and Phe62 present in the brequinar-binding site. In conclusion, PUB-SOs and notably SFOM-0046 are new small molecules hDHODH inhibitors triggering replication stresses and S-phase arrest.     

EPA,not DHA,prevents fibrosis in pressure overload-induced heart failure: potential role of free fatty acid receptor 4

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is half of all HF, but standard HF therapies are ineffective. Diastolic dysfunction, often secondary to interstitial fibrosis, is common in HFpEF. Previously, we found that supra-physiologic levels of ω3-PUFAs produced by 12 weeks of ω3-dietary supplementation prevented fibrosis and contractile dysfunction following pressure overload [transverse aortic constriction (TAC)], a model that resembles aspects of remodeling in HFpEF. This raised several questions regarding ω3-concentration-dependent cardioprotection, the specific role of EPA and DHA, and the relationship between prevention of fibrosis and contractile dysfunction. To achieve more clinically relevant ω3-levels and test individual ω3-PUFAs, we shortened the ω3-diet regimen and used EPA- and DHA-specific diets to examine remodeling following TAC. The shorter diet regimen produced ω3-PUFA levels closer to Western clinics. Further, EPA, but not DHA, prevented fibrosis following TAC. However, neither ω3-PUFA prevented contractile dysfunction, perhaps due to reduced uptake of ω3-PUFA. Interestingly, EPA did not accumulate in cardiac fibroblasts. However, FFA receptor 4, a G protein-coupled receptor for ω3-PUFAs, was sufficient and required to block transforming growth factor β1-fibrotic signaling in cultured cardiac fibroblasts, suggesting a novel mechanism for EPA. In summary, EPA-mediated prevention of fibrosis could represent a novel therapy for HFpEF.     

Predominance of terrestrial organic matter in sediments from a cyanobacteria- blooming hypereutrophic lake

Although an understanding of the quantity and quality of sedimentary organic matter (SOM) pools is necessary to design sound environmental management strategies for lacustrine systems, the characterization of organic matter sources and the assessment of their relative contributions to eutrophic and inland lake sediments remain insufficient. In this study, the contribution of potential organic matter sources to sediments in shallow and hypereutrophic lake Taihu, China was assessed on the molecular level using source-specific fatty acid biomarkers. The results indicated that SOM was composed mainly of terrestrial plants with a maximal contribution of 45.3 ± 2.4% to the total organic carbon, which accounted for approximately 66% among the determined organic matter sources. Evidence suggests the terrestrial plants remained in a fresh state in surface sediments: the correlation (R² = 0.62, p < 0.05) between bacterial and terrestrial plant carbon was strong. On the other hand, aquatic plant and bacterial carbon contributed 5–15% to the total organic carbon, which was followed by the faint contribution (<5% of total organic carbon) of algae-derived organic carbon including cyanobacteria, diatoms, and dinoflagellates. The results provided details of the contributions of SOM sources, illustrating the usefulness of fatty acid biomarkers in discriminating organic matter sources within lake environments. Although organic matter sources of sediments varied in spatial and temporal patterns, the strong correlation between terrestrial plant and total organic carbon (R² = 0.60, p < 0.05) indicates that terrestrial plants were the dominant source in lake sediments.