An Arabinogalactan from Extracellular Polysaccharides of Suspension-cultured Tobacco Cells

The structure of an arabinogalactan, separated from extracellular polysaccharides of cultured tobacco cells, has been investigated by methylation analysis of the original polysaccharide and of the products obtained after mild acid hydrolysis and after controlled Smith degradation.

The arabinogalactan consists of l-arabinose, d-galactose and l-rhamnose in the molar ratio of 47: 45: 8. The arabinogalactan has a main chain of (1→3)-linked d-galactopyranosyl residues, half of which are substituted at the 6-position. Most of the side chains consist of three (1→6)-linked D-galactopyranosyl residues, to which l-arabinose residues are attached at C-3. The l-arabinofuranosyl and pyranosyl residues are present as end groups, and l-arabinopyranosyl residues are attached to C-5 of l-arabinofuranosyl residues. Non-reducing terminal l-rhamnopyranosyl residues are also present.     

Triptolide inhibits CD133+/CD44+ colon cancer stem cell growth and migration through triggering apoptosis and represses epithelial-mesenchymal transition via downregulating expressions of snail,slug, and twist

High recurrence and metastatic behavior patterns are the most important reasons for the failure of treatment strategies in patients with colon cancer. Cancer stem cells (CSCs), which are considered root of cancer, are thought to be associated with therapy resistance, relapse, and metastasis, and, therefore, targeting CSCs rather than the bulk population may be an effective approach. In cancer studies, there is an increasing interest in close friendship between epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and CSCs. Triptolide (TPL) isolated from Chinese herb Tripterygium wilfordii has important effects on the prevention of migration and metastasis as well as cytotoxic effect against cancer cells. The potential lethal efficacy of TPL on CSCs that is highly resistant to the drug is an unsolved mystery. Fundamentally, the present study basically aims to find answers to two questions: (a) is it possible to target colon CSCs with TPL? and (b) what are the mechanisms underlying TPL's potential to eliminate CSCs? Cytotoxic effects of TPL on CSCs were evaluated by WST-1 and Muse count and viability assays. Apoptosis assay and cell-cycle analysis were performed to investigate the inhibitory effect of TPL. Moreover, the effects of TPL on spheroid formation capacity, migration, and EMT processes, which are associated with CSC phenotype, were also investigated. The results revealed that TPL triggered cell death and apoptosis and altered cell cycle distribution. Moreover, TPL significantly reduced the snail slug and twist expressions associated with EMT. TPL has been shown to be effective in colon CSCs by in vitro experiments, and it might be a highly effective agent against colon cancer has been implicated in need of supporting in vivo and clinical studies.     

Distribution of albatross remains in the Far East regions during the Holocene, based on zooarchaeological remains

Many albatross remains have been found in the Japanese Islands and the surrounding areas, such as Sakhalin and South Korea. These remains are interesting for two reasons: numerous sites from which albatross remains have been found are located in coastal regions of the Far East where no albatrosses have been distributed recently, and there are some sites in which albatross remains represent a large portion of avian remains, although albatrosses are not easily preyed upon by human beings. We collected data on albatross remains from archaeological sites in the Far East regions during the Holocene and arranged the remains geographically, temporally and in terms of quantity. Based on these results, we showed that coastal areas along the Seas of Okhotsk and Japan have rarely been used by albatrosses in Modern times, though formerly there were many albatrosses. We proposed two explanations for the shrinkage of their distributional range: excessive hunting in the breeding areas, and distributional changes of prey for albatrosses.     

Serum levels of soluble P-selectin are increased and associated with disease activity in patients with Behçet's syndrome

Beh?et's syndrome (BS) is a relapsing, chronic, inflammatory disease characterized by endothelial dysfunction, atherothromboembogenesis, and leukocytoclastic vasculitis with complex immunologic molecular interactions. Generalized derangements of the lymphocyte and neutrophil populations, activated monocytes, and increased PMNLs motility with upregulated cell surface molecules such as ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and E-selectin, which are found on the endothelial cells, leukocytes, and platelets, have all been demonstrated during the course of BS. Our aim is to investigate the association of serum concentrations of soluble P-selectin in patients with BS, and to evaluate whether disease activity has an effect on their blood levels. This multicenter study included 31 patients with BS (15 men and 16 women) and 20 age- and sex-matched healthy control volunteers (11 men and nine women). Neutrophil count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and acute-phase reactants as well as soluble P-selectin levels were determined. The mean age and sex distributions were similar (P > .05) between BS patients (35 years) and control volunteers (36 years). Serum levels of soluble P-selectin in patients with BS (399 +/- 72 ng/mL) were significantly (P < .001) higher when compared with control subjects (164 +/- 40 ng/mL). In addition, active BS patients (453 +/- 37 ng/mL) had significantly (P < .001) elevated levels of soluble P-selectin than those in inactive period (341 +/- 52 ng/mL). This study clearly demonstrated that serum soluble P-selectin levels are increased in BS patients when compared with control subjects, suggesting a modulator role for soluble P-selectin during the course of platelet activation and therefore, atherothrombogenesis formation in BS, especially in active disease.     

Multidrug Resistance-Associated Protein 1 (MRP1) mediated vincristine resistance: effects of N-acetylcysteine and Buthionine Sulfoximine

Background  

Multidrug resistance mediated by the multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 (MRP1) decreases cellular drug accumulation. The exact mechanism of MRP1 involved multidrug resistance has not been clarified yet, though glutathione (GSH) is likely to have a role for the resistance to occur. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is a pro-glutathione drug. DL-Buthionine (S,R)-sulfoximine (BSO) is an inhibitor of GSH synthesis. The aim of our study was to investigate the effect of NAC and BSO on MRP1-mediated vincristine resistance in Human Embryonic Kidney (HEK293) and its MRP1 transfected 293MRP cells. Human Embryonic Kidney (HEK293) cells were transfected with a plasmid encoding whole MRP1 gene. Both cells were incubated with vincristine in the presence or absence of NAC and/or BSO. The viability of both cells was determined under different incubation conditions. GSH, Glutathione S-Transferase (GST) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) levels were measured in the cell extracts obtained from both cells incubated with different drugs.     

Bioprocess parameters and oxygen transfer characteristics in beta-lactamase production by Bacillus species

After screening potential beta-lactamase producers in a medium containing penicillin G, an inducible (Bacillus subtilis NRS 1125) and a constitutive (Bacillus licheniformis 749/C ATCC 25972) beta-lactamase producer were selected. As the highest enzyme activity was obtained with B. licheniformis 749/C, the effects of the concentration of carbon sources, i.e., glucose, fructose, sucrose, citric acid, and glycerol, and nitrogen sources, i.e., (NH(4))(2)HPO(4), NH(4)Cl, yeast extract, casamino acids and peptone, pH, and temperature on beta-lactamase production were investigated with B. licheniformis 749/C in laboratory scale bioreactors. Among the investigated media, the highest volumetric activity was obtained as 270 U cm(-)(3) in the medium containing 10.0 kg m(-)(3) glucose, 1.18 kg m(-)(3) (NH(4))(2)HPO(4), 8.0 kg m(-)(3) yeast extract, and the salt solution at 32 degrees C and pH(0) = 6.0. By using the designed medium, fermentation and oxygen transfer characteristics of the bioprocess were investigated at V = 3.0 dm(3) bioreactor systems with a V(R) = 1.65 dm(3) working volume at Q(O)/V(R) = 0.5 vvm and N = 500 min(-1). At the beginning of the process the Damk?hler number was <1, indicating that the process was at biochemical reaction limited condition; at t = 2-5 h both mass-transfer and biochemical reaction resistances were effective; and at t = 6-10 h (Da >1) the bioprocess was at mass transfer limited condition. Overall oxygen transfer coefficients (K(L)a) varied between 0.01 and 0.03 s(-)(1), enhancement factor (K(L)a/K(L)a(O)) varied between 1.2 and 2.3, and volumetric oxygen uptake rate varied between 0.001 and 0.003 mol m(-)(3) s(-)(1) throughout the bioprocess. The specific oxygen uptake and the specific substrate consumption rates were the highest at t = 2 h and then decreased with the cultivation. The maximum yield of cells on substrate and the maximum yield of cells on oxygen values were obtained, respectively, as Y(X/S) = 0.34 and Y(X/O) = 1.40, at t = 5 h, whereas the highest yield of substrate on oxygen was obtained as Y(S/O) = 6.94 at t = 3.5 h. The rate of oxygen consumption for maintenance and the rate of substrate consumption for maintenance values were found, respectively, as m(O) = 0.13 kg kg(-)(1) h(-)(1) and m(S) = 3.02 kg kg(-)(1) h(-)(1).     

Molecular cloning of mouse collectin liver 1

Collectins are members of the superfamily of vertebrate C-type lectins that contain a collagen-like region, and are involved in first-line host defense. We earlier cloned and characterized a new kind of collectin, collectin liver 1 (CL-L1). In this study, we isolated the mouse homologue of CL-L1 encoding 277 amino acid residues; its deduced protein sequence was 88% identical with human CL-L1. Mouse CL-L1 mRNA was expressed mainly in the liver and stomach, but was found also in muscles, testes, intestines, and embryos. In mouse embryos, the level of CL-L1 mRNA gradually increased with embryonic age. In 16-day-old mouse embryos, CL-L1 mRNA was expressed in the liver, amnion, and visceral yolk sac. The mouse CL-L1 gene, Cll1 was found on chromosome 15 in a region syntenic with human chromosome 8q. CL-L1 was a highly conserved protein in mammals, birds, and fish.     

Genetic variants of SDF-1 and CXCR4 genes in endometrial carcinoma

In this study, we aimed to investigate a possible association between the Stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) and CXCR4 polymorphisms and the risk of developing endometrial carcinoma. SDF-1 3??A and CXCR4 gene polymorphisms was performed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism in 139 healthy individuals and 113 patients with endometrial carcinoma. In our study groups SDF-1 3??A AA genotype frequency was higher in patients that of controls and individuals who had AA genotype showed a 2.6-fold increased risk for endometrial cancer. The carriers of CXCR4 T allele were higher in patients compared with controls and individuals who had TT genotype had a 2.5-fold high risk for endometrial carcinoma. Our finding suggest that there was no significant association between the (SDF-1) and CXCR4 polymorphisms and endometrium cancer risk. Further studies in a larger population are needed to better elucidate the role of (SDF-1) and CXCR4 gene polymorphisms in the risk of endometrial carcinogenesis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to show such an association.     

Cervical leiomyoma in a dairy cow during pregnancy

In the present report we describe a case of cervical leiomyoma that was diagnosed at parturition in a Holstein cow. The tumor mass, which measured 25.5 cm x 21.5 cm x 14.5 cm in size and weighed 4.5 kg, was removed surgically. The tumor was solid, well circumscribed, whitish-pink colored, and encapsulated. The tumor was diagnosed as leiomyoma. The leiomyoma had no adverse effects on pregnancy. This is the first report of a bovine cervical leiomyoma during parturition.     

Serum IL-18 levels in patients with type 1 diabetes: relations to metabolic control and microvascular complications

The study was designed to examine serum IL-18 level and its relation to metabolic control parameters and microvascular complications in type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM). Sixty two patients with type 1 DM and 30 healthy individuals were enrolled in the study. Serum IL-18 levels of patients with type 1 DM were significantly increased compared to controls (293.4+/-133.4 vs 211.2+/-63.9 pg/ml, P=0.003). Patients with poor glycemic control had higher levels of IL-18 than patients with well glycemic control (329.9+/-141.0 vs 226.3+/-89.6 pg/ml, P=0.02). There was no significant difference between the serum IL-18 levels of patients with microvascular complications and those of patients without microvascular complications (307.6+/-127.6 vs 293.2+/-145.6 pg/ml, P>0.05). IL-18 correlated positively with HbA(1c) (r=0.32, P=0.01) and postprandial blood glucose (PPBG) (r=0.26, P=0.02); and negatively with HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) (r=-0.38, P=0.007). By linear regression analysis, PPBG was determined as the most explanatory parameter for the alterations in serum IL-18 levels (P=0.02). High levels of IL-18 in patients with type 1 DM is related to short and long term glycemic control and HDL-C levels but not to microvascular complications.