Monocarbonyl Analogs of Curcumin with Potential to Treat Colorectal Cancer

Curcumin has a plethora of biological properties, making this compound potentially effective in the treatment of several diseases, including cancer. However, curcumin clinical use is compromised by its poor pharmacokinetics, being crucial to find novel analogs with better pharmacokinetic and pharmacological properties. Here, we aimed to evaluate the stability, bioavailability and pharmacokinetic profiles of monocarbonyl analogs of curcumin. A small library of monocarbonyl analogs of curcumin 1a–q was synthesized. Lipophilicity and stability in physiological conditions were both assessed by HPLC-UV, while two different methods assessed the electrophilic character of each compound monitored by NMR and by UV-spectroscopy. The potential therapeutic effect of the analogs 1a–q was evaluated in human colon carcinoma cells and toxicity in immortalized hepatocytes. Our results showed that the curcumin analog 1e is a promising agent against colorectal cancer, with improved stability and efficacy/safety profile.     

Bartonella spp. Bacteremia in Blood Donors from Campinas,Brazil

Bartonella species are blood-borne, re-emerging organisms, capable of causing prolonged infection with diverse disease manifestations, from asymptomatic bacteremia to chronic debilitating disease and death. This pathogen can survive for over a month in stored blood. However, its prevalence among blood donors is unknown, and screening of blood supplies for this pathogen is not routinely performed. We investigated Bartonella spp. prevalence in 500 blood donors from Campinas, Brazil, based on a cross-sectional design. Blood samples were inoculated into an enrichment liquid growth medium and sub-inoculated onto blood agar. Liquid culture samples and Gram-negative isolates were tested using a genus specific ITS PCR with amplicons sequenced for species identification. Bartonella henselae and Bartonella quintana antibodies were assayed by indirect immunofluorescence. B. henselae was isolated from six donors (1.2%). Sixteen donors (3.2%) were Bartonella-PCR positive after culture in liquid or on solid media, with 15 donors infected with B. henselae and one donor infected with Bartonella clarridgeiae. Antibodies against B. henselae or B. quintana were found in 16% and 32% of 500 blood donors, respectively. Serology was not associated with infection, with only three of 16 Bartonella-infected subjects seropositive for B. henselae or B. quintana. Bartonella DNA was present in the bloodstream of approximately one out of 30 donors from a major blood bank in South America. Negative serology does not rule out Bartonella spp. infection in healthy subjects. Using a combination of liquid and solid cultures, PCR, and DNA sequencing, this study documents for the first time that Bartonella spp. bacteremia occurs in asymptomatic blood donors. Our findings support further evaluation of Bartonella spp. transmission which can occur through blood transfusions.     

Are atopy and eosinophilic bronchial inflammation associated with relapsing forms of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps?

Background

The aetiopathogenesis of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is still unknown. The role of atopy and the concept of united airways in such patients are still a matter of debate. In this pilot study we aimed at evaluating the degree of eosinophilic inflammation and the frequency of atopy in a cohort of CRSwNP patients candidate for Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS) and assessing the association between these factors and relapsing forms of CRSwNP.

Methods

30 patients (18 men, 12 women) with CRSwNP eligible for FESS were evaluated before and after surgery. Preoperative investigation included: history of previous relapse after FESS, clinical and laboratory allergologic assessment, spirometry, methacholine challenge, blood eosinophilia and determination of the fraction of nitric oxide in exhaled air (FeNO). Nasal fibroendoscopy, spirometry and FeNO determination were also assessed prospectively at 3 and 27 months post-FESS.

Results

18/30 subjects were atopic, 6/18 (33 %) were monosensitized, 16/30 (53 %) were asthmatics and 10/30 (33 %) had non steroidalantinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) hypersensitivity. Twenty-one patients (70 %) were classified as relapsers, 15/18 (83 %) among atopics, 6/12 (50 %) among non atopics (p = 0.05). Among patients with NSAIDs hypersensitivity, 9/10 (90 %) were relapsers. The median IgE concentration was 161.5 UI/mL in relapsers and 79 UI/mL in non-relapsers (ns). The mean FeNO decreased after FESS (43.1–26.6 ppb) in 84 % of patients, but this effect disappeared over time (FeNO = 37.7 ppb at 27 months). Higher levels of FeNO pre-FESS were detected in atopics, and in particular in relapsing ones (median 51.1 ppb vs 22.1, ns). Higher levels of FeNO pre-FESS were detected in asthmatic patients, especially in those who relapsed (median: 67 vs 64.85 ppb in non-relapsed patients, ns). The Tiffeneau Index (FEV1/FVC) was significantly lower in asthmatic relapsers than in non relapsers asthmatics (94.7 ± 11.1 versus 105 ± 5.9—p = 0.04). Patients with asthma and atopy had a major risk of relapse (p = 0.05).

Conclusion

In our pilot study, atopy, severe asthma, bronchial inflammation, NSAIDs hypersensitivity and high level of total IgE are possible useful prognostic factors for the proneness to relapse after FESS. The role of allergy in CRSwNP pathogenesis should consequently be given deeper consideration. Allergen specific immunotherapy, combined with anti-IgE therapy, may have an immunomodulatory effect preventing polyps relapse and need to be investigated.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12948-015-0026-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Association Between the <Emphasis Type="Italic">cfx</Emphasis>A Gene and Transposon Tn<Emphasis Type="Italic">4555</Emphasis> in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacteroides distasonis</Emphasis> Strains and Other <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacteroides</Emphasis> Species

The Bacteroides genus, the most prevalent anaerobic bacteria of the intestinal tract, carries a plethora of the mobile elements, such as plasmids and conjugative and mobilizable transposons, which are probably responsible for the spreading of resistance genes. Production of β-lactamases is the most important resistance mechanism including cephalosporin resistance to β-lactam agents in species of the Bacteroides fragilis group. In our previous study, the cfxA gene was detected in B. distasonis species, which encodes a clinically significant broad-spectrum β-lactamase responsible for widespread resistance to cefoxitin and other β-lactams. Such gene has been associated with the mobilizable transposon Tn4555. Therefore, the aim of this study was to detect the association between the cfxA gene and the presence of transposon Tn4555 in 53 Bacteroides strains isolated in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, by PCR assay. The cfxA gene was detected in 11 strains and the Tn4555 in 15. The transposon sequence revealed similarities of approximately 96% with the B. vulgatus sequence which has been deposited in GenBank. Hybridization assay was performed in attempt to detect the cfxA gene in the transposon. It was possible to associate the cfxA gene in 11 of 15 strains that harbored Tn4555. Among such strains, 9 presented the cfxA gene as well as Tn4555, but in 2 strains the cfxA gene was not detected by PCR assay. Our results confirm the involvement of Tn4555 in spreading the cfxA gene in Bacteroides species.     

Sampling properties of DNA sequence data in phylogenetic analysis

We inferred phylogenetic trees from individual genes and random samples of nucleotides from the mitochondrial genomes of 10 vertebrates and compared the results to those obtained by analyzing the whole genomes. Individual genes are poor samples in that they infrequently lead to the whole-genome tree. A large number of nucleotide sites is needed to exactly determine the whole-genome tree. A relatively small number of sites, however, often results in a tree close to the whole-genome tree. We found that blocks of contiguous sites were less likely to lead to the whole-genome tree than samples composed of sites drawn individually from throughout the genome. Samples of contiguous sites are not representative of the entire genome, a condition that violates a basic assumption of the bootstrap method as it is applied in phylogenetic studies.      

ADAM10 is the physiologically relevant, constitutive ��-secretase of the amyloid precursor protein in primary neurons

The amyloid precursor protein (APP) undergoes constitutive shedding by a protease activity called α‐secretase. This is considered an important mechanism preventing the generation of the Alzheimer's disease amyloid‐β peptide (Aβ). α‐Secretase appears to be a metalloprotease of the ADAM family, but its identity remains to be established. Using a novel α‐secretase‐cleavage site‐specific antibody, we found that RNAi‐mediated knockdown of ADAM10, but surprisingly not of ADAM9 or 17, completely suppressed APP α‐secretase cleavage in different cell lines and in primary murine neurons. Other proteases were not able to compensate for this loss of α‐cleavage. This finding was further confirmed by mass‐spectrometric detection of APP‐cleavage fragments. Surprisingly, in different cell lines, the reduction of α‐secretase cleavage was not paralleled by a corresponding increase in the Aβ‐generating β‐secretase cleavage, revealing that both proteases do not always compete for APP as a substrate. Instead, our data suggest a novel pathway for APP processing, in which ADAM10 can partially compete with γ‐secretase for the cleavage of a C‐terminal APP fragment generated by β‐secretase. We conclude that ADAM10 is the physiologically relevant, constitutive α‐secretase of APP.     

IL-12 inhibition of endothelial cell functions and angiogenesis depends on lymphocyte-endothelial cell cross-talk

In vivo IL-12-dependent tumor inhibition rests on the ability of IL-12 to activate a CD8-mediated cytotoxicity, inhibit angiogenesis, and cause vascular injury. Although in vivo studies have shown that such inhibition stems from complex interactions of immune cells and the production of IFN-gamma and other downstream angiostatic chemokines, the mechanisms involved are still poorly defined. Here we show that IL-12 activates an anti-angiogenic program in Con A-activated mouse spleen cells (activated spc) or human PBMC (activated PBMC). The soluble factors they release in its presence arrest the cycle of endothelial cells (EC), inhibit in vitro angiogenesis, negatively modulate the production of matrix metalloproteinase-9, and the ability of EC to adhere to vitronectin and up-regulate ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expression. These effects do not require direct cell-cell contact, yet result from continuous interaction between activated lymphoid cells and EC. We used neutralizing Abs to show that the IFN-inducible protein-10 and monokine-induced by IFN-gamma chemokines are pivotal in inducing these effects. Experiments with nu/nu mice, nonobese diabetic-SCID mice, or activated spc enriched in specific cell subpopulations demonstrated that CD4(+), CD8(+), and NK cells are all needed to mediate the full anti-angiogenetic effect of IL-12.     

The eps15 homology (EH) domain-based interaction between eps15 and hrb connects the molecular machinery of endocytosis to that of nucleocytosolic transport

The Eps15 homology (EH) module is a protein-protein interaction domain that establishes a network of connections involved in various aspects of endocytosis and sorting. The finding that EH-containing proteins bind to Hrb (a cellular cofactor of the Rev protein) and to the related protein Hrbl raised the possibility that the EH network might also influence the so-called Rev export pathway, which mediates nucleocytoplasmic transfer of proteins and RNAs. In this study, we demonstrate that Eps15 and Eps15R, two EH-containing proteins, synergize with Hrb and Hrbl to enhance the function of Rev in the export pathway. In addition, the EH-mediated association between Eps15 and Hrb is required for the synergistic effect. The interaction between Eps15 and Hrb occurs in the cytoplasm, thus pointing to an unexpected site of action of Hrb, and to a possible role of the Eps15-Hrb complex in regulating the stability of Rev.     

Angiopoietin decoy secreted at tumor site impairs tumor growth and metastases by inducing local inflammation and altering neoangiogenesis

The extracellular domain of the receptor tyrosine kinase Tie2/TEK (exTEK) has been used as an angiopoietin decoy to study the role of angiopoietins in the tumor–host interactions, using a syngeneic model of experimental metastases and subcutaneous tumor. Soluble exTEK secreted by transfected tumor cells inhibited HUVECs from forming tubes in Matrigel. ExTEK-transfected C26 colon carcinoma and TS/A mammary tumor cells displayed reduced growth rate when injected subcutaneously, and reduced ability to form experimental metastases when injected intravenously. Immunohistochemical analysis of tumors and metastases showed increased leukocytes infiltration and signs of inflammation in exTEK-secreting compared to parental tumor, as well as impairment in neo-vessel growth and organization. However, while neoangiogenesis eventually rescued in the subcutis, it failed to organize in the experimental metastases of exTEK-secreting tumor, contributing to the hampering of metastatic growth and to increased mice survival. The reactive infiltrate of C26TEK contained a different percentage of leukocytes and was responsible for the tumor inhibition. In fact, leukopenia induced by -irradiation of recipient mice or injection into interferon gamma (IFN-) gene knockout (GKO) mice resulted in reduced mouse survival and an increased number of lung metastases. On the other hand, interleukin (IL)-12 treatment prolonged the survival of mice bearing subcutaneous C26TEK but not of those bearing lung metastases, suggesting that IL-12 could exert further antiangiogenic effects at the site where the tumor can restore neoangiogenesis. These results show in vivo that reduced angiopoietin availability at the tumor site induces a local inflammatory response and impairment of neoangiogenesis which act synergistically to limit tumor growth and metastasis.Abbreviations AEC amino-ethylcarbazole - ELISA enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay - HRP horseradish peroxidase - HUVEC human umbilical vascular endothelial cell - i.v. intravenous - s.c. subcutaneous - TBS Tris-HCl buffered solution     

RIC-8 is required for GPR-1/2-dependent Galpha function during asymmetric division of C. elegans embryos

Heterotrimeric G proteins are crucial for asymmetric cell division, but the mechanisms of signal activation remain poorly understood. Here, we establish that the evolutionarily conserved protein RIC-8 is required for proper asymmetric division of one-cell stage C. elegans embryos. Spindle severing experiments demonstrate that RIC-8 is required for generation of substantial pulling forces on astral microtubules. RIC-8 physically interacts with GOA-1 and GPA-16, two Galpha subunits that act in a partially redundant manner in one-cell stage embryos. RIC-8 preferentially binds to GDP bound GOA-1 and is a guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) for GOA-1. Our analysis suggests that RIC-8 acts before the GoLoco protein GPR-1/2 in the sequence of events leading to Galpha activation. Furthermore, coimmunoprecipitation and in vivo epistasis demonstrate that inactivation of the Gbeta subunit GPB-1 alleviates the need for RIC-8 in one-cell stage embryos. Our findings suggest a mechanism in which RIC-8 favors generation of Galpha free from Gbetagamma and enables GPR-1/2 to mediate asymmetric cell division.