The Local Complement Activation on Vascular Bed of Patients with Systemic Sclerosis: A Hypothesis-Generating Study

ObjectiveThe role of complement system in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis (SSc) has been debated during the last decade but an evident implication in this disease has never been found. We carried out an explorative study on SSc patients to evaluate the expression of soluble and local C5b-9 complement complex and its relation with a complement regulator, the Membrane Cofactor Protein (MCP, CD46) on skin vascular bed as target distinctive of SSc disease. We also analyzed two polymorphic variants in the complement activation gene cluster involving the MCP region.MethodsC5b-9 plasma levels of SSc patients and healthy subjects were analyzed by ELISA assay. Archival skin biopsies of SSc patients and controls were subjected to immunofluorescence analysis to detect C5b-9 and MCP on vascular endothelial cells. The expression of MCP was validated by immunoblot analysis with specific antibody. Polymorphic variants in the MCP gene promoter were tested by a quantitative PCR technique-based allelic discrimination method.ResultsEven though circulating levels of C5b-9 did not differ between SSc and controls, C5b-9 deposition was detected in skin biopsies of SSc patients but not in healthy subjects. MCP was significantly lower in skin vessels of SSc patients than in healthy controls and was associated with the over-expression of two polymorphic variants in the MCP gene promoter, which has been related to more aggressive phenotypes in other immune-mediated diseases.ConclusionsOur results firsty document the local complement activation with an abnormal expression of MCP in skin vessels of SSc patients, suggesting that a subset of SSc patients might be exposed to more severe organ complications and clinical evolution due to abnormal local complement activation.     

Molecular Typing of Lung Adenocarcinoma on Cytological Samples Using a Multigene Next Generation Sequencing Panel

Identification of driver mutations in lung adenocarcinoma has led to development of targeted agents that are already approved for clinical use or are in clinical trials. Therefore, the number of biomarkers that will be needed to assess is expected to rapidly increase. This calls for the implementation of methods probing the mutational status of multiple genes for inoperable cases, for which limited cytological or bioptic material is available. Cytology specimens from 38 lung adenocarcinomas were subjected to the simultaneous assessment of 504 mutational hotspots of 22 lung cancer-associated genes using 10 nanograms of DNA and Ion Torrent PGM next-generation sequencing. Thirty-six cases were successfully sequenced (95%). In 24/36 cases (67%) at least one mutated gene was observed, including EGFR, KRAS, PIK3CA, BRAF, TP53, PTEN, MET, SMAD4, FGFR3, STK11, MAP2K1. EGFR and KRAS mutations, respectively found in 6/36 (16%) and 10/36 (28%) cases, were mutually exclusive. Nine samples (25%) showed concurrent alterations in different genes. The next-generation sequencing test used is superior to current standard methodologies, as it interrogates multiple genes and requires limited amounts of DNA. Its applicability to routine cytology samples might allow a significant increase in the fraction of lung cancer patients eligible for personalized therapy.     

Neuroprotective activities of bacopa,lycopene, astaxanthin, and vitamin B12 combination on oxidative stress-dependent neuronal death

Oxidative stress is considered the common effector of the cascade of degenerative events in many neurological conditions. Thus, in this paper we tested different nutraceuticals in H₂O₂ in vitro model to understand if could represent an adjuvant treatment for neurological diseases. In this study, nutraceuticals bacopa, lycopene, astaxanthin, and vitamin B12 were used alone or in combination in human neuronal differentiated SH-SY5Y cells upon hydrogen peroxide-induced injury and neuroprotective, neuronal death pathways were analyzed. The nutraceuticals analyzed were able to protect H₂O₂ cytotoxic effects, through increasing cell viability and proteins involved in neuroprotection pathways and restoring proteins involved in cell death pathways. On this basis, it is possible to propose the use of these compounds as dietary supplement for the prevention or as adjuvant to the only symptomatic treatments so far available for neurodegenerative diseases.     

Binding of flunitrazepam to differentiating neurons cultured in a chemically defined,hormone-supplemented medium

[³H]Flunitrazepam (FNZ) binding to cortical neurons from fetal rat brain was investigated in vitro. The use of a synthetic medium specific for neurons made it possible to plot a developmental curve of³H-FNZ binding in an almost pure neuronal culture. Detectable specific binding was present in vitro at time 0 (that is, the 16th gestational day). A progressive increase of binding, due to an increment in the number of recognition sites, was observed on the subsequent days. The affinity of the specific binding sites to³H-FNZ was enhanced by the addition of exogenous GABA, whereas the density was not affected.     

甜菜夜蛾谷氧还蛋白SeGrx原核表达、纯化及酶学性质分析

【目的】谷氧还蛋白(glutaredoxin, Grx)是生物体内依赖硫醇的抗氧化酶,在生物氧化胁迫和细胞凋亡等许多重要的生命活动中发挥作用。本研究旨在测定甜菜夜蛾Spodoptera exigua谷氧还蛋白家族成员SeGrx1的基因序列以及酶催化反应特性,为揭示其在昆虫体内功能奠定基础。【方法】以前期获得的甜菜夜蛾转录组数据为基础,采用RACE-PCR技术克隆甜菜夜蛾Grx1基因cDNA全长序列。将甜菜夜蛾Grx1基因的ORF序列连接至pET-16b原核表达载体,转化至大肠杆菌Escherichia coli BL21菌株中,IPTG诱导融合蛋白表达后用镍柱和Superdex75/200分子筛纯化;采用荧光酶标仪测定纯化的SeGrx1的活性及酶促反应动力学参数。【结果】甜菜夜蛾SeGrx1基因(GenBank登录号: MK318813) cDNA全长738 bp,其中5′非编码区长40 bp,3′非编码区长347 bp,开放阅读框(ORF)全长351 bp,编码116个氨基酸,预测蛋白的相对分子量为12.57 kD,活性位点为CPYC,为双巯基谷氧还蛋白。SeGrx1中心由4个平行和反向平行的β-strand混合组成,外围被5个α螺旋包围。成功构建pET-16b-SeGrx1重组质粒并在大肠杆菌中高表达,经过诱导和纯化条件的优化,获得纯度在95%以上的SeGrx1目的蛋白。以人类谷氧还蛋白hGrx1为标准,SeGrx1比活力为0.577 U/mg pro,最大反应速度V_max为20.5 U/mg pro,米氏常数Km为14.3 nmol/L。【结论】本研究成功地在体外大量表达了甜菜夜蛾谷氧还蛋白SeGrx1,并且获得了它的酶促动力学参数,为进一步挖掘谷氧还蛋白的生物学功能,探索其在害虫防治中的应用提供了基础。     

Genomic signatures of fifth autotrophic carbon assimilation pathway in bathypelagic Crenarchaeota

Marine Crenarchaeota, ubiquitous and abundant organisms in the oceans worldwide, remain metabolically uncharacterized, largely due to their low cultivability. Identification of candidate genes for bicarbonate fixation pathway in the Cenarchaeum symbiosum A was an initial step in understanding the physiology and ecology of marine Crenarchaeota. Recent cultivation and genome sequencing of obligate chemoautotrophic Nitrosopumilus maritimus SCM1 were a major breakthrough towards understanding of their functioning and provide a valuable model for experimental validation of genomic data. Here we present the identification of multiple key components of 3-hydroxipropionate/4-hydroxybutyrate cycle, the fifth pathway in carbon fixation, found in data sets of environmental sequences representing uncultivated superficial and bathypelagic Crenarchaeota from Sargasso sea (GOS data set) and KM3 (Mediterranean Sea) and ALOHA (Atlantic ocean) stations. These organisms are likely to use acetyl-CoA/propionyl-CoA carboxylase(s) as CO₂-fixing enzyme(s) to form succinyl-CoA, from which one molecule of acetyl-CoA is regenerated via 4-hydroxybutyrate cleavage and another acetyl-CoA to be the pathway product. The genetic distinctiveness and matching sympatric abundance imply that marine crenarchaeal genotypes from the three different geographic sites share similar ecophysiological properties, and therefore may represent fundamental units of marine ecosystem functioning. To couple results of sequence comparison with the dark ocean primary production, dissolved inorganic carbon fixation rates were measured at KM3 Station (3000 m depth, Eastern Mediterranean Sea), i.e. at the same site and depth used for metagenomic library construction.     

Interaction between Diclofenac and Soil Humic Acids

The interaction between the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac and standard humic acids (HAs) in bulk solution was studied using two complementary analytical methods: UV-Visible spectroscopy and square wave voltammetry. The observed UV-Vis spectra and Ip/V curves suggested that, at our experimental conditions, albeit both substances being negatively charged at pH 6.5, interaction between the pharmaceutical and the soil humic acids may led to the formation of diclofenac-humic acids supramolecules.

Our results could contribute to give information on the behaviour of diclofenac into the soil environment, thus suggesting its migration as HAs-micelles through the coarse soil profile.     

How I Treat Histoplasmosis

Histoplasmosis is an endemic mycosis caused by the dimorphic fungus Histoplasma capsulatum. Some important manifestations of infection include acute or chronic pulmonary disease, histoplasmomas, progressive disseminated histoplasmosis, and central nervous system infection. Depending on the clinical presentation, site of infection and severity of disease, either amphotericin B preparations followed by itraconazole, or itraconazole alone have become the preferred treatments. Because prolonged therapy (6 weeks to 24 months) may be required, careful monitoring for nephrotoxicity in patients on amphotericin B preparations is necessary. In addition, in patients receiving itraconazole, vigilance for drug interactions and pharmacokinetic properties is warranted. Histoplasma antigen testing has improved rapidity of diagnosis and the ability of long-term monitoring for clinical response in patients with histoplasmosis.     

AMPKα loss promotes KRAS-mediated lung tumorigenesis

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a critical sensor of energy status that coordinates cell growth with energy balance. In non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) the role of AMPKα is controversial and its contribution to lung carcinogenesis is not well-defined. Furthermore, it remains largely unknown whether long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in the regulation of AMPK-mediated pathways. Here, we found that loss of AMPKα in combination with activation of mutant KRAS^G12D increased lung tumour burden and reduced survival in Kras^LSLG12D/+/AMPKα^fl/fl mice. In agreement, functional in vitro studies revealed that AMPKα silencing increased growth and migration of NSCLC cells. In addition, we identified an AMPKα-modulated lncRNA, KIMAT1 (ENSG00000228709), which in turn regulates AMPKα activation by stabilizing the lactate dehydrogenase B (LDHB). Collectively, our study indicates that AMPKα loss promotes KRAS-mediated lung tumorigenesis and proposes a novel KRAS/KIMAT1/LDHB/AMPKα axis that could be exploited for therapeutic purposes.Subject terms: Cancer models, Non-small-cell lung cancer