Inhibition of oxidative hemolysis in erythrocytes by mitochondria-targeted antioxidants of SkQ series

In the present work we studied the effect of antioxidants of the SkQ1 family (10-(6′-plastoquinonyl)decyltriphenylphosphonium) on the oxidative hemolysis of erythrocytes induced by a lipophilic free radical initiator 2,2′-azobis(2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile) (AMVN) and a water-soluble free radical initiator 2,2′-azobis(2-methylpropionamidine) dihydrochloride (AAPH). SkQ1 was found to protect erythrocytes from hemolysis, 2 μM being the optimal concentration. Both the oxidized and reduced SkQ1 forms exhibited protective properties. Both forms of SkQ1 also inhibited lipid peroxidation in erythrocytes induced by the lipophilic free radical initiator AMVN as detected by accumulation of malondialdehyde. However, in the case of induction of erythrocyte oxidation by AAPH, the accumulation of malondialdehyde was not inhibited by SkQ1. In the case of AAPH-induced hemolysis, the rhodamine-containing analog SkQR1 exerted a comparable protective effect at the concentration of 0.2 μM. At higher SkQ1 and SkQR1 concentrations, the protective effect was smaller, which was attributed to the ability of these compounds to facilitate hemolysis in the absence of oxidative stress. We found that plastoquinone in the oxidized form of SkQ1 could be reduced by erythrocytes, which apparently accounted for its protective action. Thus, the protective effect of SkQ in erythrocytes, which lack mitochondria, proceeded at concentrations that are two to three orders of magnitude higher than those that were active in isolated mitochondria.     

Secondary biochemical and morphological consequences in lysosomal storage diseases

More than 50 hereditary lysosomal storage disorders (LSDs) are currently described. Most of these disorders are due to a deficiency of certain hydrolases/glycosidases and subsequent accumulation of nonhydrolyzable carbohydrate-containing compounds in lysosomes. Such accumulation causing hypertrophy of the lysosomal compartment is a characteristic feature of affected cells in LSDs. The investigation of biochemical and cellular parameters is of particular interest for understanding “life” of lysosomes in the normal state and in LSDs. This review highlights the wide spectrum of biochemical and morphological changes during developing LSDs that are extremely critical for many metabolic processes inside the various cells and tissues of affected persons. The data presented will help establish new complex strategies for metabolic correction of LSDs.     

Broad Anatomical Variation within a Narrow Wood Density Range—A Study of Twig Wood across 69 Australian Angiosperms

ObjectivesJust as people with the same weight can have different body builds, woods with the same wood density can have different anatomies. Here, our aim was to assess the magnitude of anatomical variation within a restricted range of wood density and explore its potential ecological implications.MethodsTwig wood of 69 angiosperm tree and shrub species was analyzed. Species were selected so that wood density varied within a relatively narrow range (0.38–0.62 g cm^-3). Anatomical traits quantified included wood tissue fractions (fibres, axial parenchyma, ray parenchyma, vessels, and conduits with maximum lumen diameter below 15 μm), vessel properties, and pith area. To search for potential ecological correlates of anatomical variation the species were sampled across rainfall and temperature contrasts, and several other ecologically-relevant traits were measured (plant height, leaf area to sapwood area ratio, and modulus of elasticity).ResultsDespite the limited range in wood density, substantial anatomical variation was observed. Total parenchyma fraction varied from 0.12 to 0.66 and fibre fraction from 0.20 to 0.74, and these two traits were strongly inversely correlated (r = -0.86, P < 0.001). Parenchyma was weakly (0.24 ≤|r|≤ 0.35, P < 0.05) or not associated with vessel properties nor with height, leaf area to sapwood area ratio, and modulus of elasticity (0.24 ≤|r|≤ 0.41, P < 0.05). However, vessel traits were fairly well correlated with height and leaf area to sapwood area ratio (0.47 ≤|r|≤ 0.65, all P < 0.001). Modulus of elasticity was mainly driven by fibre wall plus vessel wall fraction rather than by the parenchyma component.ConclusionsOverall, there seem to be at least three axes of variation in xylem, substantially independent of each other: a wood density spectrum, a fibre-parenchyma spectrum, and a vessel area spectrum. The fibre-parenchyma spectrum does not yet have any clear or convincing ecological interpretation.     

Small Heat-Shock Proteins,IbpAB, Protect Non-Pathogenic Escherichia coli from Killing by Macrophage-Derived Reactive Oxygen Species

Many intracellular bacterial pathogens possess virulence factors that prevent detection and killing by macrophages. However, similar virulence factors in non-pathogenic bacteria are less well-characterized and may contribute to the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory conditions such as Crohn’s disease. We hypothesize that the small heat shock proteins IbpAB, which have previously been shown to reduce oxidative damage to proteins in vitro and be upregulated in luminal non-pathogenic Escherichia strain NC101 during experimental colitis in vivo, protect commensal E. coli from killing by macrophage-derived reactive oxygen species (ROS). Using real-time PCR, we measured ibpAB expression in commensal E. coli NC101 within wild-type (wt) and ROS-deficient (gp91phox^-/-) macrophages and in NC101 treated with the ROS generator paraquat. We also quantified survival of NC101 and isogenic mutants in wt and gp91phox^-/- macrophages using gentamicin protection assays. Similar assays were performed using a pathogenic E. coli strain O157:H7. We show that non-pathogenic E. coli NC101inside macrophages upregulate ibpAB within 2 hrs of phagocytosis in a ROS-dependent manner and that ibpAB protect E. coli from killing by macrophage-derived ROS. Moreover, we demonstrate that ROS-induced ibpAB expression is mediated by the small E. coli regulatory RNA, oxyS. IbpAB are not upregulated in pathogenic E. coli O157:H7 and do not affect its survival within macrophages. Together, these findings indicate that ibpAB may be novel virulence factors for certain non-pathogenic E. coli strains.     

Malthusian Parameters as Estimators of the Fitness of Microbes: A Cautionary Tale about the Low Side of High Throughput

The maximum exponential growth rate, the Malthusian parameter (MP), is commonly used as a measure of fitness in experimental studies of adaptive evolution and of the effects of antibiotic resistance and other genes on the fitness of planktonic microbes. Thanks to automated, multi-well optical density plate readers and computers, with little hands-on effort investigators can readily obtain hundreds of estimates of MPs in less than a day. Here we compare estimates of the relative fitness of antibiotic susceptible and resistant strains of E. coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus based on MP data obtained with automated multi-well plate readers with the results from pairwise competition experiments. This leads us to question the reliability of estimates of MP obtained with these high throughput devices and the utility of these estimates of the maximum growth rates to detect fitness differences.     

Subgroups of Paediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia Might Differ Significantly in Genetic Predisposition to Asparaginase Hypersensitivity

L-asparaginase (ASP) is a key element in the treatment of paediatric acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). However, hypersensitivity reactions (HSRs) to ASP are major challenges in paediatric patients. Our aim was to investigate genetic variants that may influence the risk to Escherichia coli-derived ASP hypersensitivity. Sample and clinical data collection was carried out from 576 paediatric ALL patients who were treated according to protocols from the Berlin—Frankfurt—Münster Study Group. A total of 20 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in GRIA1 and GALNT10 genes were genotyped. Patients with GRIA1 rs4958351 AA/AG genotype showed significantly reduced risk to ASP hypersensitivity compared to patients with GG genotype in the T-cell ALL subgroup (OR = 0.05 (0.01–0.26); p = 4.70E-04), while no such association was found in pre-B-cell ALL. In the medium risk group two SNPs of GRIA1 (rs2055083 and rs707176) were associated significantly with the occurrence of ASP hypersensitivity (OR = 0.21 (0.09–0.53); p = 8.48E-04 and OR = 3.02 (1.36–6.73); p = 6.76E-03, respectively). Evaluating the genders separately, however, the association of rs707176 with ASP HSRs was confined only to females. Our results suggest that genetic variants of GRIA1 might influence the risk to ASP hypersensitivity, but subgroups of patients can differ significantly in this respect.     

Electrocardiographic Screening for Prolonged QT Interval to Reduce Sudden Cardiac Death in Psychiatric Patients: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis

ImportanceSudden cardiac death is a leading cause of mortality in psychiatric patients. Long QT (LQT) is common in this population and predisposes to Torsades-de-Pointes (TdP) and subsequent mortality.ObjectiveTo estimate the cost-effectiveness of electrocardiographic screening to detect LQT in psychiatric inpatients.ResultsIn the base-case scenario, the numbers of patients needed to screen were 1128 and 2817 to avoid one TdP and one death, respectively. The ICER of systematic ECG screening was $8644 (95%CI, 3144-82 498) per QALY. The probability of cost-effectiveness was 96% at a willingness-to-pay of $50 000 for one QALY. In sensitivity analyses, results were sensitive to the case-fatality of TdP episodes and to the TdP reduction following the diagnosis of LQT.

Conclusion and Relevance

In psychiatric hospitals, performing systematic ECG screening at admission help reduce the number of sudden cardiac deaths in a cost-effective fashion.